Natural Medicine Chest: Tea Tree Oil
by Cynthia Lewis - Natural Health Consultant
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) also known as Melaleuca Oil makes a great addition to your natural medicine cabinet. The essential oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia (commonly known as narrow-leaved paperbark) native to Eastern Australia. Tea tree oil can also be derived from the shrub (Melaleuca dissitiflora F.Muell) and Snow-in-summer (Melaleuca linariifolia). The oil is pale yellow to clear in colour. It has a strong smell like Camphor and Eucalyptus.
You can purchase Tea Tree Oil at any local health food stores, pharmacies, super stores and online.
So what makes Tea Tree Oil so valuable in the medicine chest? It is a natural antiseptic, it's anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and it's an analgesic. This powerful oil is a must have in your medicine cabinet. Not only is it good for health applications, it can also be used as a natural disinfectant and household cleaner.
Some of the medicinal applications for Tea Tree Oil:
1. Skin Conditions - (acne, boils) -- 2 drops tea tree oil to 1 tablespoon (15ml) pure aloe vera gel, or virgin olive oil. Apply to spots. (best to use at night, has a strong smell) For dark skin types, don't use tea tree oil instead use a solution of 25% water to 75% Apple Cider Vinegar to prevent darkening of the skin around the acne.
For boils, in a bowl of 1 cup ( 250 ml) of warm-hot water add 1 teaspoon (5ml) of tea tree oil, wring out most but not all from the cloth, apply to the boil, when compress begins to cool redip into solution. Use on boil for a at least 10 minutes then wipe some tea tree oil directly onto boil. Reapply several times a day.
2. Chest Congestion -- Mix 2 drops with 1/3 cup (83ml) almond oil, massage on chest and back to help relieve chest congestion.
3. Eczema -- Lightly dab a few drops of Tea Tree Oil mixed with 1/4 teaspoon (1ml) of either almond or olive oil on the eczema. Apply a few times a day.
4. Nail Fungus -- Apply a few drops of the Tea Tree oil mixed with 1 tablespoon (15ml) of almond oil directly onto the nail bed and around the toes. Wipe them with the Tea Tree Oil every night before bed for a week.
5. Head Lice -- Mix 1/4 cup (60ml) of Olive or Almond Oil with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Tea Tree Oil, massage solution into scalp then comb through with a fine toothed comb making sure that all hair is saturated, then wrap hair in a warm towel. Let the solution sit for 20 minutes then wash hair with shampoo and conditioner. Use this treatment for 1 week to make sure the lice and nits are killed off. (You can also use a shampoo made with Tea Tree Oil that treats lice.) Final step is to vacuum bedding, and furniture. Wash all clothing and sheets in hot soapy water with 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil added to the soap. Continue to check scalp for any new eggs every week, check around ears and the nape of neck.
6. Antispectic - A general antiseptic, helps wounds heal faster. (Dilute with a little water.)
7. Common Warts - Dab on a drop of pure Tea Tree Oil onto the wart, cover with a bandage. Change daily for a few weeks or until gone.
8. Dandruff -- Add 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo.
9. Oily Skin -- Dilute 2 drops of the Tea Tree Oil with 2 tablespoons (30ml) of filtered water. After cleansing, use this as a toner. Take a cottonball and dip into the toner and wipe your face.
10. Cold Sores - Dab onto the cold sore a mixture of 1 drop of tea tree oil and 1/4 teaspoon (1ml) almond oil. Use several times a day until healed.
11. Bed Sores -- Mix 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil with 2 tablespoons (30ml) of almond oil. Wipe the sores and surrounding areas with the oils. Apply 2-3 times a day.
12. Ring Worm - Mix 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil with a teaspoon (15ml) of virgin Olive Oil. Dip a cottonball into the solution then apply onto the ringworm 3 times a day for a week.
Safety:
Do not use Tea Tree Oil neat (directly on skin), always blend it with water or an oil base such as almond oil.
Using it directly on skin may cause 2nd degree burns, or rashes on sensitive skin.
Toxic if swallowed. Never take internally. (can cause impaired immune fuction). Seek medical help immediately if ingested.
Avoid contact with eyes. Flush out immediately will cool water.
If rash occurs, discontinue use. Do not use if you have allergies to Tea Tree Oil. (serious allergic reactions are rare.)
Do not use on boys in their development stage ......Lavender and Tea Tree Oils May Cause Breast Growth in Boys (National Institutes of Health) The researchers found an association between the use of products containing these oils and the rare disorder prepubertal gynecomastia (enlarged breasts), but cautioned more research is needed.
Don't use if you are pregnant or nursing. (may change hormone levels in pregnant women, it is not known if the Tea Tree Oil will be aborbed into the milk of nursing mothers so avoid it all together.)
Tea tree oil when stored properly has a shelf life of 1 - 2 years.
From WebMD.com
Shared By: Sharon Brown
Home Remedies for Colds
Are cold symptoms making you feel miserable? Here are 12 cold remedies you can use right now -- at home -- to feel better.
Cold Remedy #1: Drink plenty of fluids to help break up your congestion. Drinking water or juice will prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. You should drink at least 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water daily. Include fluids such as water, sports drinks, herbal teas, fruit drinks, or ginger ale. Your mother's chicken soup might help too! (Avoid cola, coffee, and other drinks with caffeine because it acts like a diuretic and may dehydrate you.)
Cold Remedy #2: Inhale steam to ease your congestion and drippy nose. Hold your head over a pot of boiling water and breathe through your nose. Be careful. If the steam burns your nose, breathe in more slowly. You can buy a humidifier, but the steam will be the same as the water on the stove. Moisture from a hot shower with the door closed, saline nasal spray, or a room humidifier is just as helpful to ease congestion.
Cold Remedy #3: Blow your nose often, but do it the proper way. It's important to blow your nose regularly when you have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your head. But when you blow hard, pressure can carry germ-carrying phlegm back into your ear passages, causing earache. The best way to blow your nose is to press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other.
Cold Remedy #4: Use saline nasal sprays or make your own salt water rinse to irrigate your nose. Salt-water rinsing helps break nasal congestion while also removing virus particles and bacteria from your nose. Here's a popular recipe:
Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Fill a bulb syringe with this mixture (or use a Neti pot, available at most health foods stores). Lean your head over a basin, and using the bulb syringe, gently squirt the salt water into your nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat two to three times, and then treat the other nostril.
Cold Remedy #5: Stay warm and rested. Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by lying down under a blanket to stay warm if necessary.
Cold Remedy #6: Gargle with warm salt water. Gargling can moisten a sore or scratchy throat and bring temporary relief. Try a half teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water four times daily. To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle -- such as tea that contains tannin -- to tighten the membranes. Or use a thick, viscous gargle made with honey, popular in folk medicine. Steep one tablespoon of raspberry leaves or lemon juice in two cups of hot water; mix with one teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling.
Cold Remedy #7: Drink hot liquids. Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. If you're so congested you can't sleep at night, try a hot toddy, an age-old remedy. Make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and one small shot (about 1 ounce) of whiskey or bourbon if you wish. Limit yourself to one. Too much alcohol inflames those membranes and is counterproductive.
Cold Remedy #8: Take a steamy shower. Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
Cold Remedy #9: Try a small dab of mentholated salve under your nose to help open breathing passages and help restore the irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw.
Cold Remedy #10: Apply hot packs around your congested sinuses. You can buy reusable hot packs at a drugstore. Or make your own. Take a damp washcloth and heat it for 30 seconds in a microwave. (Test the temperature first to make sure it's right for you.)
Cold Remedy #11: Sleep with an extra pillow under your head. This will help relieve congested nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and the box springs to create a more gradual slope.
Cold Remedy #12: Learn about natural remedies like zinc, echinacea, and vitamin C. People looking for natural cold remedies often turn to supplements.
Home Remedies for Athlete's Foot
source unknown
Shared by: Sharon Brown
My Home Remedies
Apple Cider...Apple Cider...I'll say it again, Apple Cider
-foot soak with 8 cups warm water and 1 cup Epsom salt
-rinse
-foot soak with 8 cups lukewarm water and 2 cups vinegar for 10 minutes
-rinse
-a quarter-sized amount of Cortisone 10, rubbed in well
-light dusting of baking soda
Also, Tree Tea Oil will work too!
19 Natural Foods to Detoxify Radiation
With radioactive isotopes detected in rainwater in Minnesota and other states, some people are looking into iodine supplements and other ways to protect the long-term health of their families.
While there are a lot of drawbacks to using iodine, there are plenty of foods that naturally protect our bodies from radiation.
Here's 19 of the best...:
1.Brown rice
2.Seaweed
3.Kelp
4.Miso
5.Pumpkin
6.Spirulina
7.Bee pollen
8.Wheat grass
9.Rosemary
10.Blue-green algae
11.Beets
12.Garlic
13.Ginger
14.Alfalfa sprouts
15.Broccoli
16.Onions
17.Olive oil
18.Leafy greens
19.Apples and other sources of pectin
These foods protect the body from radiation in different ways. For instance, brown rice is high in fiber and phosphorous, which help remove harmful toxins from the body. Sea vegetables contain a polysaccharide that binds to radioactive strontium to help eliminate it from the body, as well as being high in natural iodine. Pectin has also been shown to bind to radioactive residues, and Cysteine (in onions) binds with and deactivates radioactive isotopes. Alfalfa sprouts and greens are high in chlorophyll, which has been shown to help protect against radiation damage, as well.
HOME REMEDIES FOR HEAT STROKE
How to Use Natural Remedies for Heat Stroke
By an eHow Contributor
Heat stroke occurs when you're in a warm environment and your body loses its ability to sweat and naturally cool itself down. It can become serious or even fatal if left untreated. There are natural remedies, however, that can effectively cool your body down. Follow these steps to... naturally healing yourself.
Difficulty:
Easy
Instructions
things you'll need:
- Mango
- Onion
- Mineral supplement
- Peppermint oil
- Plums
- Coconut milk
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- 1
Boil a raw mango and soak it in cold water. Once it's cool, peel away the skin. Add the pulp to a blender. Add some cumin seeds, salt, pepper, jaggery and coriander. Blend until smooth. Drink a cup three or four times a day.
- 2
Eat some raw mango. It's very effective at cooling down your body and helping you cope with heat stroke. You can also find raw mango in drink form, called Panha.
- 3
Shred an onion. Wrap it in a cloth and squeeze to get the juice into the cloth. Hold the compress behind your ears and on your chest. This will treat inflammation caused by heat stroke.
- 4
Take a mineral supplement. Make sure it's one with a natural source. Minerals will boost your vitality and restore the electrolytes you lose during heat stroke.
- 5
Apply peppermint oil to your skin to cool down. It has proven affects on your body temperature. Dab some on your temples. You can also add two or three drops of peppermint oil to water and drink.
- 6
Place plums in cold water. Soak until the fruit becomes soft. Use your hands to mash the plums in the water. Pour it through a filter or colander and drink the fruity water. This will relieve the burning sensation caused by heat stroke.
- 7
Read more: How to Use Natural Remedies for Heat Stroke | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2191003_use-natural-remedies-heat-stroke.html#ixzz1JFzcHKCI
Grind some peppercorns and add to coconut milk. Mix until it's pasty. Apply the paste to your chest and pressure points to cool your body down.
- 1
HOME REMEDY- HOW TO KILL POISON IVY & OAK
A Home Remedy for How to Kill Poison Ivy & Oak
By Mario Calhoun, eHow Contributor
updated: January 17, 2011
Rid your garden of poison ivy and poison oak using home remedies and extreme precaution.
...ReferencesPoison ivy and poison oak are not only nuisances in your garden, but also highly irritating if the plant's oil, known as urushiol, comes in contact with your skin or lungs. While herbicides are available to kill the weeds, the toxic chemicals in the products are unsafe for your garden as it kills all vegetation it contacts. The use of natural home remedies for poison ivy and poison oak is safer for your other plants.
Instructions
things you'll need:
- Watering can
- Gloves
- Shovel
- Garbage bag
- Dishwashing soap
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle
Get what you need for every
project at HomeDepot.com
-
- 1
Wear gardening gloves and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket to protect your hands and arms from the poison ivy and poison oak.
- 2
Wet the soil around the poison ivy and poison oak, and dig the plant out with a shovel. Place the removed plants in a garbage bag.
- 3
Tie the garbage bag at the top and place it in an outdoor trash bin.
- 4
Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 tbsp. of dishwashing soap in a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with hot water and shake it to mix the ingredients.
- 5
Spray the area from which the poison ivy and poison oak were removed to kill remaining traces of the plants. Avoid spraying other plants, as the vinegar will burn them.
- 6
Wash your gloves and long-sleeved top separately from other clothes with laundry detergent to thoroughly clean the plants' oils from the clothing.
- 1
- "Gardening Basics For Dummies"; Steven A. Frowine; 2007
- The Police Notebook: The University of Oklahoma Police Department - Poison Ivy
Read more: A Home Remedy for How to Kill Poison Ivy & Oak | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7800385_home-kill-poison-ivy-oak.html#ixzz1JFyf7i1o
SUN POISONING REMEDIES
By Mel Frank, eHow Contributor
Sun poisoning can be painful, and ruin a day of outdoor fun. While it is always important to protect the skin with sunblock when spending long periods of time outdoors, people often do not remember to re-apply the sunblock every few hours, which can lead to sun poisoning.
-
Aloe Vera Juice
...-
Aloe vera juice's soothing and cooling properties make it perfect for treatment of sun poison. Purchase an aloe vera juice or gel, and apply every few hours as pain persists. You can apply this as often as you like, as it works to remedy itching and redness as well.
Milk
-
Milk is another soothing and cooling agent, and also is high in vitamins that nourish the skin. Soak a cloth in cold milk, and lay over the affected area of skin for fifteen to twenty minutes. This will greatly assist in pain relief and soothing, while putting moisture back into the skin.
Potato Juice
-
Potato juice has long been known to soothe and nourish injured skin. Puree a potato into liquid form, then soak a cotton ball in the juice, and gently rub it over the skin. Alternatively, slice a potato into 1/4-inch slices, place them in the refrigerator to chill, and then place the slices directly over the area affected by the sun poisoning.
Cold Compress
-
A cold compress is also essential in reducing swelling or inflammation associated with sun poison. Wrap a soft cloth in ice cubes, or use a bag of frozen vegetables. A wash cloth or towel soaked in ice cold water will work as well. Place the cold compress over the sun poisoned skin for fifteen minutes, or as long as you can handle the cold temperature. This will greatly ease pain and inflammation, and should be repeated as often as possible.
Hydration
-
Keep your body hydrated, so the skin can heal more quickly. Drink as much water as possible, at least two liters per day, and take cool baths to keep the skin hydrated. Gently pat the skin dry. Do not rub as this can cause further damage and irritation.
When to Seek Medical Attention
-
Usually sun poison can be treated at home, but in some instances will require medical attention. Pay attention to your temperature. Use a thermometer every few hours; if your temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit, you need to see a doctor immediately. Sometimes extreme pain and sickness are associated with sun poison (vomiting, nausea, etc.) and require medical attention in this instance as well. Doctors are able to provide more intense treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs that will remedy the problem more quickly and effectively.
-
Read more: Sun Poison Remedies | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5426926_sun-poison-remedies.html#ixzz1JFzHjr51
HOMEMADE CURES FOR POISON IVY
Homemade Cures for Poison Ivy
By Robert Vaux, eHow Contributor
Poison ivy and poison oak create rashes, blisters and horrible itching when they brush up against bare skin. Their leaves and stems are coated with urushiol oil, to which most people are allergic. That's why scratching a poison ivy itch only makes things worse; it spreads the oil furt...her across the skin. Numerous forms of medication exist to treat poison ivy rash, from calamine lotion to corticosteroids prescribed by a doctor. You can apply home remedies to the problem as well using common ingredients to help soothe the rash and itching.
-
Baking Soda
-
Baking soda helps the blisters dry up and heal, which reduces the itching considerably. You can apply it topically by adding 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, then mixing it to form a paste. Gently apply the paste to the rash and keep it there until it dries. Another option is to draw a bath, then add half a cup of baking soda and blend it thoroughly with the water. This works best with areas of widespread rash on the body. Soak in the bath for 15 to 30 minutes and use cool or lukewarm water instead of hot water. Hot water exacerbates the poison ivy symptoms.
Oatmeal
-
Colloidal oatmeal is sold for treating skin conditions, but you can use the breakfast kind in a pinch. Cook it up and apply it to the rash until it cools and hardens. It will draw out the oozing blisters and reduce the rash. You can also use it in a bath as you would with baking soda. Fill the tub with cool or lukewarm water, adding 1 cup of oatmeal as the water rises. Blend it thoroughly, then soak in it for 15 minutes to half an hour. Avoid using oatmeal with flavorings such as maple syrup or apple for these treatments; just the pure, unblemished variety.
Cold Compresses
-
Cold compresses are the simplest home remedy there is, requiring nothing more than ice, cold water and a soft wash cloth. They work particularly well if you're camping or don't have access to other types of remedy. Drench the cloth in water and wrap it around some ice, then hold it carefully against the rash for 15 to 30 minutes. By cooling the skin down, it causes blood vessels near the surface to contract, which reduces oozing and helps with itching. Add more ice or dip the cloth in cold water as needed.
-
References
- Chiff.com's article on homemade remedies
- Mayo Clinic on poison ivy
Read more: Homemade Cures for Poison Ivy | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5166718_homemade-cures-poison-ivy.html#ixzz1JFgxOCHF
inexpensive medical kit
ORIGINAL SOURCE UNKNOWN
A relatively inexpensive medical kit with a list of must have on hand items. All items can be generic.
The three things that can turn into a deadly situation, but you can be prepared for.
...
Upper respiratory infections: cough drops (menthol and/or eucalyptus), Mentholatum or vicks, Nyquil decongestant tablets, nasal spray, saline solution, mucinex dm, benadryl.
Diarrhea: Immodium ad, pepto bismol tablets, zantac, ginger.
General wound care and skin integrity: sterile pads, gauze strips, band aids, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, apple cider vinegar, ibuprofen, acetamenaphen tablets, naproxen tablets, tape, flashlight, feminine pads, hydro cortisone cream, triple antibiotic cream, a&d ointment or other diaper rash ointment, utter butter, zinc oxide, latex gloves, cold packs, thermometer, ace wraps, fluoride rinse, dental mirror, floss, clove oil, aspirin, bandanas, new skin, crazy glue, castor oil, chap stick, acidopholus, Dramamine, eye glass repair kit,
Vitamins (multi, calcium, magnesium, vitamin c, D3, B complex)
Suggested books: Nurses guide drug book, first aid pamphlet
