Home Remedies Archives - Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Effective Stink Bug Home Remedies For Home & Yard

July 10, 2017

Stink bugs are a huge pain in the a**. Once these small pests take over your home, most people call for pest control professionals with their chemicals to eradicate them for good. Before you resort to the professionals spraying your entire home with chemical insecticides, why not give some of these traditional stink bug home remedies a try fist?

Before we get to the stink bug remedies, I should point out that once you have stink bugs in your home, the number one most effective (safe) way of getting rid of them is with stink bug traps. A while back we wrote a post showing how to build your own, incredibly effective DIY stink bug trap (see the link!), instead of purchasing the largely ineffective and expensive store-bought versions. I highly recommend you check out this stink bug post first. You can then build some DIY stink bug traps and use them in conjunction with some of the traditional stink bug remedies below.

Soapy Water Stink Bug Spray

A soapy water solution sprayed on stink bugs basically causes them to dry up and die. It works on eggs as well as the adult bugs, but the problem is that you must spray it directly on the bugs for it to work properly. This solution works best when combined with other natural remedies for a full home eradication of the pests.

To make the solution, combine around a liter (32 oz) of warm water with 180 ml (3/4 cup) liquid dish detergent. Put the solution in a spray bottle and get hunting.

Garlic Stink Bug Spray

This solution is perfect for fleas as well, both inside and outside of the home. Garlic spray is made by mixing boiling water with garlic and allowing it to steep overnight. Once added to a spray bottle, the concentrated solution can be sprayed on entryways as a barrier to prevent the stink bugs from entering your home, or practically anywhere else within the home. It needs to be sprayed at least once a week to prevent stink bugs from returning.

Mint Spray Stink Bug Repellent

The scent of garlic may be something that you simply do not want to have in your home in which case there is a less odorous way to prevent stink bugs. Mint is a deterrent for many bugs including stink bugs. Mix the spray by adding around 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to two cups of water. Again, you can spray the solution throughout your home on any type of surface to prevent bugs from entering and ward off the ones that are already there.

Eradicate Stink Bugs in the Garden

One of the easiest ways to prevent stink bugs is by eliminating their favorite places to hide. Although most stink bug infestations are not noticed until the bugs find their way into the home, they all start outside. A well-groomed yard free of weeds and debris is the best way to keep away stink bugs; they tend to hide out in weeds of all types and simply wait for an opportunity to enter the home. You can also use a garlic yard spray to kill stink bugs outdoors. See our garden yard spray for fleas post. This same spray is equally effective against both stink bugs and fleas.

A stink bug infestation should not be ignored. It will not simply go away and will only get worse if not dealt with properly. Stink bugs can find their way into any home at any time of the year, so make sure that you keep your home as clean as possible and employ some of these preventative solutions. Your home is for you and your family and not for the hordes of pests attempting to infiltrate it. Try these stink bug remedies first, before resorting to spraying potent chemical insecticides throughout you home and outdoor spaces.

(Stink bug images from: Wikipedia)

5 MORE Natural Home Remedies For Fleas

June 22, 2017

Fleas are one of the biggest problems any pet owner has. Once your pet has fleas and has brought them into the home they get into the carpets, couches, and even into the beds causing bites and irritation to you, your children and pets. For those of you who don’t wish to use chemical insecticides on their pets, or throughout your home, here are five more flea home remedies to try out to keep fleas out of your home.

Firstly though – be sure to check out our previous post on flea home remedies, as the diatomaceous earth flea remedy and the homemade flea trap in that post are two of the most effective of all the flea home remedies you can try. That said. When using natural remedies, more often than not, you’ll want to combine several natural remedies for maximum protection from fleas. My advice is make the diatomaceous earth remedy your main focus, but then experiment by adding in some of the other home remedies until you find what works best.

Homemade Herbal Flea Powder

This herbal flea powder contains a beneficial mix of herbs that effectively repel fleas. It is made using an equal portion mixture of dried rosemary, eucalyptus leaf, fennel, yellow dock, and wormwood. Crush these herbs together into a powder and gently rub them once or twice per week into your dog’s fur.

Repel Fleas With Mint

This form of deterrent is more of an add-on preventative measure rather than an eliminator. I recommend growing some mint in your garden for a constant supply of mint leaves. The mint leaves can then be crushed to release their fragrant oils and placed in the usual flea hiding places throughout the home – replace the leaves regularly. Mint is known to be an effective flea repellent and will keep your home smelling fresh!

Homemade Flea Collar

Cedar oil and lavender oil are both excellent deterrents for fleas, but it is not recommended to apply these essential oils directly to your pet as they can irritate the skin. Instead, simply take 3 to 5 tablespoons of water and place in a bowl. Place about 5 drops of either lavender or cedar oil into the water. Mix it in until it is completely combined with the water and soak a bandana with the liquid. Tie it loosely around the neck of your animal and you have a natural flea repellent collar. Re-soak the bandana in the mixture every few days, and it can be used over and over again.

Remember, do not tie the bandana too tightly. It needs to be able to slip off over your dog’s head if he gets it stuck on something. If you are concerned about your dog catching the bandana collar and getting stuck, why not sew on a button or a popper and attach the bandana this way for a quick-release collar.

ACV Drinkable Flea Prevention

Flea prevention these days comes in a wide variety of topical treatments as well as some ingestible medicines. The ingestible flea treatments tend to only be available at the veterinarian offices and can be very high priced, but there is a natural solution… This remedy calls for the addition of apple cider vinegar to the dog’s drinking water. The ratio is 1 teaspoon for every quart of water. It may take a bit of time for the dog to get used to the slightly different flavor, but once they do, many owners report this is an excellent flea prevention home remedy and your dog will also likely enjoy healthier skin from the nutrients of the vinegar.

Homemade Flea Dip

Bathing your dog is essential to keeping them healthy and happy, but generic dog soap does not do anything to help prevent fleas. If you are among the many who give their dog a weekly bath, try this remedy. The mixture calls for ½ cup lemon juice, 2 cups warm water, and ¼ cup baby shampoo. Mix these three ingredients together and place in a bottle. Wash your dog once each week with this mixture to keep fleas at bay.

Bonus: Homemade Yard Spray For Fleas

If you feel you have a flea problem in your garden and your pet is getting reinfested when he/she goes outside, check out our recent post about how to make a garlic yard spray for fleas. This garlic spray is very effective as it disrupts the breeding cycle of the fleas.

Fleas may be among the biggest pests, but that does not mean that they should be allowed to take over your world within your home. Your pets are precious and should be flea treated regularly to keep them healthy and happy. It is not essential to spend a fortune on flea treatments. These remedies, and the flea home remedies in our other post, will keep your pet healthy and happy throughout the year.

How To Remove Skin Tags At Home (UPDATED)

March 17, 2017

Despite being relatively harmless from a medical point of view, skin tags can have a significant impact on a person’s self esteem and general happiness.

The good news is, there are a host of effective home remedies that can be used to remove skin tags. With this in mind, let’s find out how to get rid of skin tags quickly and cheaply, in the privacy of your own home.

TagBand Skin Tag Removal Device

Whilst creating this post, I decided to have a look and see if there are any skin tag removal products on the market. There are a few creams and potions, but the TagBand skin tag removal device seems to be the most popular option. I have zero experience of the TagBand device, but a quick look on Amazon shows the device comes in two sizes – one for small to medium skin tags, and another for medium to large skin tags. Combined, these devices currently have around 1100 reviews on Amazon, with an average ranking of 4/5. A 4/5 ranking from 1100 reviewers would suggest that the TagBand Devices are definitely worthy of your consideration.

How Does TagBand Work?

The TagBand basically comprises a TagBand cone, 10 x TagBand bands, and a TagBand remover tool, for pushing off the bands onto the skin tag.

Directions for use

Simply slide one of the bands from the narrow end of the cone, to the wider/larger end of the cone.
Now place the larger end of the TagBand cone over the skin tag. Apply gentle pressure so the cone is pressed over the skin tag, and against the surrounding skin.
Finally, use the supplied tool to push the rubber band off. The band will now tighten around the base of the skin tag, cutting off the blood supply. This will cause the skin tag to die and fall off.

Below is a video demonstrating how the to remove skin tags, with the TagBand device.

If you’d like more information about the TagBand device, check it, and it’s 100s of reviews on Amazon.

Below, you will find a number of skin tag removal home remedies. Some appear a little odd at first, but all the home remedies listed are said to be effective at getting rid of skin tags. By far and away, the most popular home remedy for skin tags, is apple cider vinegar. ACV has shown to be safe and effective, over and over. With this in mind, the apple cider vinegar remedy is the one I would start with. This is why it is first in the list, and why we have created an apple cider vinegar skin tag removal infographic.

How To Remove Skin Tags With Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is probably one of the best known home remedies for removing skin tags at home.

How to remove skin tags with apple cider vinegar – despite the intensity of its smell often putting many people off, this home remedy is renowned for removing the skin tag completely. It’s also a home remedy that most of us will find lurking in the bottom of our store cupboard!

Apple cider vinegar is both highly effective and responsive to the removal of skin tags but, before you use this skin tag solution, it’s important to note that apple cider vinegar can sometimes cause very mild itching or stinging. This is nothing to worry about though, and kind of shows that it is doing its job!

It’s worthwhile diluting the vinegar with water before applying it to your skin tag – this will minimize any discomfort or stinging.

Directions for use

First of all, before using apple cider vinegar (ACV), it’s important that you thoroughly cleanse and dry your skin in and around the skin tag.
Now, soak a cotton ball in the apple cider vinegar. Squeeze off any excess ACV.
Start to gently apply the apple cider vinegar to the skin tag. Try to insure the whole skin tag is coated with ACV, whilst trying to minimize contact with the surrounding area, then leave to dry naturally.
Follow this procedure and apply the apple cider vinegar up three times a day.
After a few days, the skin tag should begin to turn brown and dry out. Over the coming days, the skin tag will continue to darken and dry out.
Usually, within 7-10 days, the skin tag will have turned black and completely dried out. When ready, the skin tag will now simply fall off.

How To Remove Skin Tags With Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is commonly used to treat and prevent a host of skin problems, including blemishes, spots and skin tags. Oh, and it’s most likely that you will find a bottle nestled deep in the bottom of your bathroom cupboard!

It’s also known as the most painless way to remove skin tags from your body. This is because the oil contains a wealth of anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties that actively join forces to dry out your skin, causing your skin tag to fall off on its own. Find out how to remove skin tags at home with tea tree oil below.

Directions for use

Start by taking a clean cotton ball and soak it in warm or cold water.
Now, squeeze out most of the water, and add three drops of tea tree oil onto the cotton ball. (Alternatively, if your tea tree oil has a pipette dropper, you can instead, carefully dispense some undiluted tea tree oil directly onto the skin tag, whilst being careful not to get any on the surrounding skin)
Before you apply the oil, make sure that you clean your skin tag thoroughly in order to remove any access dirt or oil (your skin tag must also be clean to achieve the most effective results!).
Now take your cotton ball and gently massage the skin tag, as well as the surrounding area, being careful not to apply too much pressure.
The results are not instant but, in time, the skin tag will fall off of its own accord. For the best results, repeat this process up to 3 times a day.

How To Remove Skin Tags With Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is not only super tasty and good for you, it’s also a powerful antiseptic, making it one of the best home remedies for removing skin tags from the body.

This is because it also contains citric acids, which actively seek to dry out skin tags by decomposing their cells – who knew?

Directions for use

Simply cut a fresh lemon in half and carefully apply its juice to a cotton ball.
Now, apply this directly to the skin tag and surrounding areas.
For best results, do not wash it off.
Integrate this into your daily routine and you should start to see results in no time at all (obviously, as with all of these skin tag removal at home methods, results are not always instant, so keep repeating the process up to three times a day.)

Remove Skin Tags With Dandelions

Yes, dandelions are much more than those never-ending, annoying weeds that populate your back yard!

In fact, dandelion stem juice is used around the world to help with a host of skin issues including the removal of skin tags! And it’s so easy to start making the most of this effective skin tag home remedy at home.

Directions for use

First of all, you will need to get your hands dirty and collect a handful of dandelions from your back yard, ensuring that they are still attached to their stems.
This is important as the stem is where you will need to extract the juice from and is integral to the process.
Simply squeeze the stems tightly and this should remove all of the juice you need.
You will see that a milky liquid will come out of the stem, this is the liquid that you will then apply to your skin.
Now you need to cover your skin tag and the surrounding area with the liquid.
Once you have done this, take a band-aid and cover it to ensure that it remains in place.

The dandelion stem juice works by drying out your skin tag, causing it to eventually fall off. This is a proven method that has worked on thousands of people around the world however, it’s not suitable for everyone. If you are allergic to marigolds, daisies, ragweed or other similar plants, you will also most definitely be allergic to dandelions so avoid this natural remedy!

Remove Skin Tags With Oregano Oil

Applying oregano oil is another great way of removing skin tags at home, quickly and painlessly. Using Oregano Oil regularly can result in skin tag removal in as little as 4 weeks and, providing you apply the oil to your skin tag up to three times a day, it will eventually drop off of its own accord.

This is because the oil contains three types of phenolic terpenoids components (thymol, arvacrol and p-cymene). All three of these components contain powerful antibacterial properties that actively work together to remove the skin tag.

Alongside these powerful components and properties, oregano oil also contains antispasmodic, antimelanomic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic properties and anti-oxidatives.

Directions for use

Start by creating a mixture of 4 to 6 drops of coconut oil and 2 to 3 drops of oregano oil.
Next, apply this formula to your skin tag and the surrounding areas up to 3 times a day to achieve the most effective and long lasting results.
The system will eventually dry out your skin tag and cause it to drop off your skin.

If you have a skin tag near to your eyes this is not a remedy you should use as it can causes redness or skin irritation. It is also important to always dilute oregano oil with another oil.

Remove Skin Tags With Garlic

Despite being deliciously stinky, garlic is also great for removing skin tags yourself (if you can stand the smell of course!).

This is because fresh garlic contains a whole host of anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that work together to help improve a variety of skin issues. Fresh garlic works by drying out your skin tag, causing it to eventually drop off. And, it’s easy to use.

Directions for use

All you need is three or four fresh garlic cloves that should be ground into a paste. Then simply apply the paste directly to your skin and place a band-aid over it to keep it secure.

Remove Skin Tags With Fig Stem Juice

Fig stem juice is well known for it’s connection to assisting with a whole host of skin related issuing, including skin tag removal, due to its ability to help balance the alkaline-acid balance.

Directions for use

Simply pick up some fresh fig stems and blend them together in order to extract the juice.
Once the juice has been blended together, apply it to the affected areas up to four times a day.
The majority of people notice a difference within four weeks however, results indicate that cases vary from person to person, so don’t be disheartened if you do not see the results you want within this period of time!

Remove Skin Tags With Onion juice

We all know the effect it has on our eyes when we are cooking but did you know that it is also a proven method of helping to remove skin tags?

So, how to use onion juice for skin tag removal at home?

Directions for use

Well, simply cut an onion up into small segments and leave it in a vessel overnight, ensuring that the vessel also contains some salt.
Make sure that you leave it for at least 7 hours, then extract the juice from the onion when you wake up.
Now, simply apply the juice to the skin tag for at least 10 -12 days.
This should then remove the skin tag completely!

Remove Skin Tags With Nail Polish

Now this is a skin tag remover that almost all of us will have in our bathroom cupboard or beauty box. Nail polish works by drying out the skin tag, which then results in it dropping off completely.

Directions for use

Like the majority of home removal solutions mentioned, this is not a one off skin tag removal solution. It’s important that you apply the nail polish up to three times a day until you the skin tag fades away.

Remove Skin Tags With Banana Peel

How to remove skin tags with bananas! Bananas are not only super nutritious and healthy, their peels are also perfect for helping with skin tag removal from all parts of the body.

Directions for use

Start by cutting off a small piece of banana peel.
Next, place the inside part of the banana over your skin tag, ensuring that it is completely covered!
Now cover it with gauze and keep it on overnight. If you repeat this on a daily basis, the skin tag should naturally fall off!

Remove Skin Tags With Potato

Using potato as a natural solution to remove skin tags at home is another tried and tested solution that has proven to be extremely successful. It’s super easy to do too, but best done at night when you are not out and about!

Directions for use

Simply take one piece of potato, place it over your skin, and secure it in place with a band aid. Continue to do this for a few days, and you should start to notice a difference.

What Is A Skin Tag (Acrochordon) Anyway?

A skin tag, also know as an acrochordon, and sometimes refereed to as fibroepithelial polyps, is a type of benign skin growth. In non-technical terms, they are basically soft skin growths that look like a small piece of skin, which can often be found hanging from your body. Although some are barely noticeable, others can occur in sensitive areas such as on the eyelids, groin folds, armpits and under the breasts.

And there’s no limit to how many skin tags (acrochordons) can appear on your body at any one time. In fact, it’s possible for an individual to have up to 100 skin tags present on their skin in a lifetime, so you can see how they can become an annoyance!

What Causes Skin Tags?

There isn’t one trigger associated with skin tags (remember medically known as acrochordons), although obese adults are more prone as experts have regularly identified a corresponding link between the two. Chaffing and skin rubbing together is also thought to be a trigger This said, it’s predicted that each and every one of us will develop a skin tag at some point in our lives.

Luckily, there are a host of skin tag removal treatments available, many of which you can do yourself, at home. We’ve compiled a list of helpful skin tag removal treatments and home remedies that should help you to remove your skin tags. Just to note – we don’t recommend just cutting off skin tags. Cutting off skin tags can lead to injury and infection.

So there you go! With the TagBand device, plus a host of natural ways to remove skin tags at home options, hopefully you’ll find a solution that works for you.

(Image from: Wikipedia)

How To Get Rid Of Spiders Naturally (Guaranteed Effective!)

September 20, 2016

My wife is terrified of spiders so we needed to find a safe/natural way to reduce the number of spiders coming into our home. A while back I stumbled on a method using basic white vinegar and peppermint oil. We tried this last winter and the results were amazing. I think I only had to relocate one or two spiders the whole winter! Later I discovered the method using diatomaceous earth. When used correctly, this method is 100% effective. The downside is rather than repel the spiders unharmed, it kills the spiders.

By the way, if you are unlucky enough to get bitten by a spider, here is a great post on spider bite identification. If you are unsure of which venomous spiders live in your state, here’s a handy guide.

METHOD 1: How To Deter Spiders Naturally With Vinegar & Peppermint Oil

Here’s how we did it – get some white vinegar and some peppermint oil; mix 1/2 cup of vinegar with 1 cup of water, and then add around 20 drops of peppermint oil.

Add the mixture to a spray bottle, shake like crazy and then spray around windows, doors, air ducts and anywhere else you think spiders may be entering your home. Another thing you can do if you have lots of air vents or holes in your walls/floors is to soak some cotton balls in the mixture, and place them in the ducts and holes etc.

If you do this once a week, you’ll notice a dramatic reduction in the numbers of spiders entering your home. We tend to have a big tidy up and vacuum once a week or so, and we just sprayed when we did this, it just became part of the routine.

Amazon has a huge range of peppermint oil, some of which have free shipping.

METHOD 2: How To Kill Spiders With Diatomaceous Earth

( ***Also works for ants, cockroaches, and fleas***)

Firstly, to clarify things, bugs are great when they live outdoors, they serve an important and vital purpose in nature. This post is intended for people who have a home infestation or a phobia of spiders etc. Outside I say live and let live, but if you have bedbugs, fleas or cockroaches etc invading your home, in and around your food and kids, it’s a different matter.

What if I told you there is a natural product that will get rid of ALL of the above? In fact, it will kill any bug with an exoskeleton, so that covers most of the other bugs we don’t like too. This product is 100% natural, non-toxic to humans and mammals, and safe to use around kids and pets, it’s also inexpensive. Want to know what it is? It’s called Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous Earth (sometimes called diatomite) is the fossilized remains of hard-shelled algae (known as diatoms). It is 100% natural and looks like an off-white talc powder.

How does it work and where to use it

The way it works is simple – diatomaceous earth sticks to the bugs and absorbs the lipids from their exoskeleton which causes them to quickly die through dehydration. Most, apart from beetles, will die within 24 hours.

To get rid of all these critters from your home, simply sprinkle the DE powder in the places where they are getting into your home and hiding. Some of the best places to use it are around doorways, windows, and air ducts – and sprinkle it under all of your furniture. You can also use diatomaceous earth directly on ants‘ nests if they are too close to the house. Whether you use it indoors or out, it is vital that you keep DE dry as it becomes ineffective when it gets wet.

What to buy and where to get it

When buying diatomaceous earth, you want to make sure you buy ‘food grade’ diatomaceous earth. There are other types of diatomaceous earth such as ‘pool grade’ that can contain added ingredients which may be harmful. ‘Food grade’ diatomaceous earth is totally non-toxic to humans and mammals. In fact, it is often mixed in with grain-based food to keep it safe from bugs.

***Click here to purchase recommended ‘food grade’ ‘Diatomaceous Earth****

5 Turmeric Tea Recipes – Plus The Health Benefits Of Turmeric

January 29, 2016

You can use turmeric to reduce inflammation and pain related to inflammation. Make a tea from it is one of the easiest ways to consume turmeric. In fact, turmeric tea is often known as the anti-inflammatory tea! Making turmeric tea is nice and simple, and there are all sorts of variations and adaptations of the recipe, allowing you to customize it to suit your personal tastes. Whichever recipe you use (or even if you get creative and make up your own version), it’s important that you only use good quality turmeric powder, or alternatively, you can use grated fresh turmeric root for a stronger flavour. There are numerous turmeric health benefits, and you can read more about the benefits of consuming turmeric regularly, further down the page.

Turmeric should be easy to find in your local grocery store or supermarket. Additionally, Amazon has the most extensive range of turmeric powder. We use and recommend Starwest Botanicals Organic Turmeric Root Powder from Amazon as it is organic, high quality and exceptional value.

***Please note that, despite turmeric’s benefits, you shouldn’t drink tea made from turmeric, or take turmeric supplements whilst you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If in doubt please contact your doctor first.***

Turmeric Tea Recipe Infographic

Check out the recipes below and discover how to make turmeric tea. Many people are concerned that making tea with turmeric is difficult, but that is not the case at all. Give one of these anti-inflammatory tea recipes below a try and see.

Basic Turmeric Tea Recipe

Ingredients

4 cups of water
1 teaspoon turmeric
Lemon or honey (or both!) to serve

How To Make the Tea

Heat 4 cups of water, bringing it to the boil.
Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric.
Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for around 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and strain using a fine sieve.
Pour into serving cups and add lemon or honey to taste.

Turmeric Tea With A Twist Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 inch fresh ginger root, minced
2-teaspoon ground turmeric
1-teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 lemongrass tea bag
6 peppercorns (you can leave these out if you prefer!)
Pinch of sea salt

How To Make the Tea

Bring the water to the boil in a small saucepan.
Add the peeled, minced ginger root, turmeric, cinnamon, peppercorns (remember, these are optional!), sliced oranges, and sea-salt.
Allow the mixture to simmer on a medium low heat for 10-15 minutes.
Add the lemongrass teabag and allow to steep for around 3 minutes.
Remove the teabag and pour the mixture into a mug.

Creamy Turmeric Tea Recipe

Why not give your tea a creamy twist with some coconut milk?

Ingredients

1 cup coconut or almond milk
½ teaspoon turmeric
A pinch cayenne pepper
½ inch finely chopped ginger root
1 ½ teaspoon of honey (or an alternative sweetener)

How To Make the Tea

In a pan, gently warm the cup of coconut or almond milk.
Mix together the turmeric, cayenne pepper, finely chopped ginger root, and the honey.
Add a small amount of the warmed milk and stir it into the mixture.
Mix well until all of the lumps have disappeared.
Add the rest of the milk and mix.
Strain and then serve.

Sweet Turmeric Black Pepper Tea Recipe

Ingredients

1/3 cup honey
2 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
Lemon
Freshly ground black pepper

How To Make the Tea

Mash the turmeric and honey into a paste (you can then store this in a jar to ensure you have it on hand whenever the need arises).
For each cup of sweet turmeric black pepper tea, take a heaped teaspoon of the turmeric and honey paste.
Top with boiling water.
Add a squeeze of lemon and a few generous twists of freshly ground black pepper.
Stir and enjoy!

Turmeric Lemon Tea Recipe

Turmeric lemon tea combines the sweet, tangy flavours of lemon and ginger, with a gentle kick from the cayenne pepper.

Ingredients

1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 tablespoon ground ginger
1/8 tablespoon turmeric
Cayenne
Honey to taste

How To Make the Tea

In a mug, mix together the lemon juice, turmeric, ginger and cayenne.
Top with boiling water.
Stir well.
Add honey to sweeten to your personal taste.

Additional Serving Suggestions

There are numerous ways to serve your turmeric tea, here are a few of our favorites…

Add a slice of orange, a dash of honey, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
Turmeric also works perfectly with a slice of apple or cucumber.
If you want a milder taste why not add extra water.
Serve chilled in the summer for a refreshing and healthy drink.

Now that you have some turmeric tea recipes to try, let’s find out a bit more about turmeric itself and the many health benefits of turmeric.

What Is Turmeric?

For centuries, turmeric has been widely used as a spice, medicine, food, and coloring agent across large parts of Asia. In India, it has been considered holy and auspicious for hundreds of thousands of years, not only due to its eye-catching color and unique flavor, but also because of the extensive range of health benefits that are associated with it. In fact, it is often referred to as the ‘Queen of Spices’!

Recent research has seen it promoted in the eyes of western science and it has been deemed as highly effective for treating osteoarthritis and various other health issues such as Crohn’s disease, stomach ulcers, skin wounds, kidney inflammation, and many, many more. It is also full of plenty of healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc.

A member of the ginger family, turmeric is a root that usually comes in a powdered form, although it is also available in capsules, tincture, fluid extracts, and tea.

Turmeric Root

Turmeric is used in many recipes, especially in curries and other Asian dishes but it’s earthy, spicy, and often bitter taste can be an acquired taste for some (although once they’ve acquired the taste, many people become addicted!). Additionally turmeric can be consumed as a super healthy, anti-inflammatory drink – turmeric tea!

Turmeric Benefits

Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a potent antioxidant with many health benefits, most notably its anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric and tea made from turmeric are renowned for the multiple health benefits it offers, particularly when it comes to inflammation and many people use turmeric for inflammation related pain relief – helping to treat health issues such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. It can also help patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and high cholesterol, to name but a few.

Turmeric can also help to prevent the blood from clotting and reduces the often-painful inflammation caused by wounds, acne, and various other skin conditions. In fact as research progresses, more and more turmeric health benefits are being discovered.

Anti-inflammatory

When it comes to pain relief, so many people across the globe call upon anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin, to relieve the symptoms of everything from headaches, backaches, and other muscular aches and pains. Whilst these medicines are really effective at relieving the pain and inflammation caused by a whole range of conditions, they can cause many adverse side effects, especially with long-term use.

In fact, the side effects of the long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs include, but are by no means limited to, nausea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension (high blood pressure), increased risk of heart attack, increased risk of kidney cancer, and erectile dysfunction.

But the truth is, natural home remedies such as turmeric (anti-inflammatory tea) for pain relief can often deliver the same effects as these medications, without many of the potential side effects.

Turmeric powder used for the tea

So, how does Turmeric help with inflammation?

Well, in exactly the same way as anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. These drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme, COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase 2), which causes inflamed areas of the body to become painful and more inflamed. By blocking this enzyme, the medication blocks the pain and reduces the inflammation.

Turmeric works so well because it contains high levels of a compound called curcumin, which is a COX-2 inhibitor too. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant with many health benefits, most notably its anti-inflammatory properties. However, whilst turmeric has the same positive effects as the anti-inflammatory drugs, it rarely causes side effects. After all, it has been eaten and drunk across most of Southeast Asia for thousands of years without causing any problems. These anti-inflammatory properties are also at least partly responsible for all the other turmeric health benefits listed below.

Liver cleansing

As well as being a great anti-inflammatory, another turmeric health benefit is that it is also a powerful liver cleansing spice. In today’s toxin and chemical filled world, it’s easy for your liver to become stressed and overworked. Think about it, there are toxins all around us, in our air, our food, and our water. If your liver can’t keep up with the level of toxins feeding into it, they start to accumulate in the body and can have a serious effect on your health.

As well as avoiding processed foods and using lots of natural personal care and cleaning products, you can also help your liver out by incorporating herbs and spices into your diet to support your body’s detox pathways. As well as being a great anti-inflammatory, turmeric is also a powerful liver cleansing spice. So, if you’re looking to give your liver a boost, then a daily cup of this anti-inflammatory tea could offer the perfect solution.

Prevents Cancer

It is believed that turmeric can help to prevent prostate cancer, slow or even stop the growth of existing prostate cancer, and even destroy cancer cells. Research has also shown that the active components in turmeric make it one of the best protectors against radiation-induced tumors, and it is also has preventive effect against

Relieves Arthritis

Turmeric has also been linked to arthritis, providing an effective form of pain relief to those who suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as many other forms of the disease. This is because the anti-inflammatory properties that can be found in turmeric work to destroy the free radicals in the body that are renowned for damaging body cells. In fact, case studies have proven that those suffering from arthritis who consume turmeric on a daily or regular basis, experienced far more relief from symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation, compared to those who didn’t consume turmeric. Given the benefits of turmeric for those with arthritis, it is definitely worth trying turmeric tea for a week or two to see if symptoms improve.

Controls Diabetes

Turmeric is also regularly used to treat diabetes. It works by helping to moderate and control insulin levels in the body. But not only does it assist in the moderation of insulin levels, it is also renowned for improving glucose control, whilst increasing the effect of the medications that are used to treat diabetes.

Another significant benefit of turmeric in treating diabetes is that it is able to reduce insulin resistance in the body, and it’s also been suggested that it could even prevent the onset of Type-2 diabetes! It’s important to note though that, if combined with other strong medications, turmeric can cause low blood sugar, so it’s always best to check with your doctor before using it alongside any other medications.

Reduces Cholesterol Levels

It’s highly likely that, at some point in your lifetime, you will suffer from high cholesterol, especially as you grow older. However, research has proven that, by regularly using turmeric as a food seasoning, it can significantly decrease cholesterol levels. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level is paramount, as it is a well known fact that high cholesterol notoriously leads to a whole host of serious health problems such heart disease and stroke. If you have high cholesterol, it may be time to start seasoning your food with turmeric, or drinking some turmeric tea, especially given all the other turmeric health benefits list here.

Immunity Booster

Also known as lipopolysaccharide, turmeric can help to stimulate and strengthen your body’s immune system. This is because it is full of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents that work together to fight against colds, flu and coughs, ensuring that your immune system is healthy and strong.

If you do find yourself suffering from cold or flu like symptoms, try one of the turmeric tea recipes above, or simply mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder into a glass of warm milk, and drink daily until you feel better.

Heals Wounds

It’s inevitable that, from time to time, we all find ourselves nursing a cut or graze caused by a silly accident. However, even the smallest cuts or grazes can cause infection or take a long time to heal.

Both a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, turmeric can also be used as a highly effective disinfectant, protecting your skin or graze against infection whilst speeding up the healing process. All you need to do is sprinkle a small amount of turmeric powder onto the affected areas and you will instantly be protected. But that’s not all, turmeric can also be used to help to repair damaged skin, treat burns and even be used to effectively treat psoriasis along with a whole host of other common inflammatory skin conditions. See also: How To Stop Bleeding With Black Pepper.

(Turmeric tea image credit: Jules)

Restless Leg Syndrome Home Remedies: Relief From RLS

August 7, 2015

We’ve all had moments where our legs seems to have a mind of their own. While your brain and body may be filled with exhaustion from your busy schedule, your legs seem to ignore the pull to sleep. However, momentary sensations of needing to move your legs is not necessarily a cause of alarm. It’s when these sensations begin to overwhelm your peace and relaxation on a regular basis that you should begin to consider the possibility of restless leg syndrome.

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

Before delving into restless leg syndrome home remedies, it’s important to understand this mysterious condition. Officially classified as a neurological disorder, the most common symptoms of RLS are pulling, creeping, throbbing sensations within your legs, which are often combined with an overwhelming desire to move them. These symptoms primarily occur at night when you’re trying to relax. The majority of RLS sufferers only find relief from these symptoms by thrashing their legs back and forth. Although the severity of these symptoms can range from barely noticeable to painful, the presence of RLS is unpleasant and can disrupt your normal sleeping cycle.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, roughly 10 percent of the American population suffers from restless leg syndrome in some capacity, with over 5 million persons suffering from moderate to severe symptoms. Because of the proliferation of RLS throughout the American population, there are many treatment options in the form of prescription medications, such as dopaminergic agents, benzodiazepines, opioids and anticonvulsants; however, many of these medications feature adverse side effects.

If you’re searching for a natural way to find relief from this aggravating and painful conditions, then continue reading to uncover the most effective restless leg syndrome home remedies.

Restless Leg Syndrome Home Remedies – A Natural Approach

When it domes to restless leg syndrome home remedies, the approach to finding relief is slightly different than the pharmaceutical approach. There isn’t a “one size fits all” remedy. For example, what works great for one person may not produce the same quality of results. This being noted, the following restless leg syndrome home remedies are chosen for their ability to provide immediate and long-term relief from this annoying condition.

Yoga is one of the most effective remedies for restless leg syndrome

Exercise – Movement to Calm Your Legs

Perhaps one of the most effective restless leg syndrome home remedies is also one of the easiest – exercise. According to information outlined by the Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation, those who engage in 30 to 60 minutes of moderately-intense exercise per day experience:

Less Fatigue
Reduced Symptom Severity
Higher Quality Sleep

Although any type of exercise is beneficial, research has shown yoga to be the best type of exercise for restless leg syndrome relief. It may be the gentle stretching action of yoga that helps calm the neurological attributes of RLS.

Reduce Your Stress – Calmness Begets Calm Legs

When dealing with neurological conditions, you must tackle these conditions through a combination of the physical and emotional tactics. As your body undergoes mental stress from work, school, social life – or practically any combination of the three – a complex biological process releases various hormones and enzymes to combat the internal mechanisms responsible for handling these stressors.

In the realm of restless leg syndrome, there is a direct connection between stress and symptom severity. Engaging in relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises can significantly calm not only your mind, but also RLS symptoms.

Vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) helps calm restless leg syndrome

Supplementation for Calm Legs

Although many findings regarding supplements to reduce restless leg syndrome symptoms, initial findings are promising. In particular, a study outlined in the May 2015 edition of “Sleep Breath” found participants who took vitamin D supplements experienced a significant reduction in RLS symptoms and severity. This leads researchers to suggest a vitamin D deficiency may aggravate the various biological markers associated with restless leg syndrome. Other studies suggest low levels of vitamins C and E as well as iron are found among those with RLS. Consider taking a natural supplement for each of these nutrients to reduce the severity of restless leg syndrome.

Watch What You Eat – The Role of Diet in Restless Leg Syndrome

Eating a healthy diet not only promotes better overall health, but also the quality of your sleep. Avoid highly processed foods and limit your intake of caffeine. This is especially important during the four to six hours before bedtime. The stimulating nature of caffeine may trigger the various neurological markers of restless leg syndrome. You should also limit or completely avoid alcohol.

Soothe Legs With a Hot Bath

In many cases, the severity of restless leg syndrome is due to how the muscles feel during an episode. Before bedtime, or whenever you feel the uncomfortable symptoms of RLS begin to peak, soak for at least 20 minutes in a warm bath. Add 1 cup of Epsom salt to further calm muscles and your nervous system.

Herbal Relief for RLS Symptoms

Many prescription treatment options call upon the power of relaxation agents to calm muscles and the nervous system. Although these can be quite powerful, they also produce a myriad of unwanted side effects. To achieve the same relaxation qualities without the use of harsh synthetic medicines, consider adding herbal supplements to your nightly routine. Kava Kava Extract, Valerian Root and Chamomile tea are some of the most potent herbs capable of calming your nervous system and muscles. When taken regularly, its active compounds may help stimulate long-lasting relief from RLS.

Alternate Temperatures on Your Legs

In many cases, changing the surface temperature of your legs can bring immediate RLS relief. Begin by wrapping a hot towel or a heating pad around your legs. If this does not bring on relief, drape a cold towel over your legs or submerge your feet in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes. Many find the simple change in temperature reduces symptoms.

Stretch Your Legs Before Bed

Immediately before bed, stretch your hamstrings, calves, buttocks and quadriceps. This restless leg syndrome home remedy may help calm muscles so you can sleep soundly throughout the night. As an added bonus, stretching keeps your bones and muscles healthy and strong.

So there you are – a number of natural restless leg syndrome home remedies to calm you legs and enable you to relax and get a good nights sleep.