Cherish Wellness » General

Muscle Aches and Pains? Try Yoga

Marcus — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:45:44 +0000

I have always had a fascination with yoga. When I was younger, I thought of it as a technology that will take one to samadhic bliss. I was hooked on yogis floating in the air …WOW!

Well, now I believe that deep meditation is great for the end of a hard day but is limited. However, I am now WOWed by the physical benefits of doing yoga postures.

I tried out yoga – with a DVD yesterday. Yes that is the one you see at the header of this write. And I must say I recommend it.

Not trying to plant negative messages in your mind but irrespective of whether you have or do not have a problem with muscles and joints, prevention is better than cure. Yoga stretches are a great way to give those muscles a good stretch and workout.

The truth is that muscles lose their strength and tone as the years go by. The solution is to keep them toned. That way, the aches and stiffness which may account for bad backs and what-nots will not become trouble.

Simple stretches in yoga works out our entire torso. I find the mountain pose great for the neck, the upward facing dog great for the shoulders and the forward bend great for the back.

If you hate DVDs and a DIY sort of person, here are two sites you can visit. These sites provide good instructions.

http://www.yogasite.com/postures.html

http://yoga.org.nz/postures/yoga_postures_main_page.htm

Natural Cure for Armpit Sweating

Marcus — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:14:17 +0000

With the weather change it is getting warmer and more humid and we tend to sweat more. The sweat is out so easily and soon we find ourselves soaked.

Armpit sweating is one way our body keeps itself from overheating. However, excessive sweating is more of a bane than a boon. We feel sweaty and smelly too. It can be embarrassing.

We could use antiperspirant and deodorants but there is one natural way – baking powder.

Baking powder is a natural antiperspirant. It composes of an alkaline baking soda, some acid salts and an inert starch like corn flour.

We can add corn starch to get the consistency we like. We could also mix with talcum powder. Talc is also an inert compound.

I first saw this home remedy used effectively in Indonesia.

Of course the best advice is to bathe more often.

Here is a link on hyperhidrosis:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007259.htm

Gastritis Cure – Drink Mineral Water

Marcus — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:25:50 +0000

Today I shall share a tip for those who suffer from gastritis or bloating of the stomach.

Gastritis or gastric pains is a terrible thing to suffer from. I know this from experience. It was by accident that I found myself cured.

When people suffer from sour stomach, indigestion, gas or a general stomach upset, the first thing that most would reach for would be antacids. It works by neutralizing the the acid in the stomach. The active ingredient could be aluminium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and a host of other similar chemicals. Some may have simethicone, which relieves gas.

These are not meant to be taken over long periods.

What helped me was mineral water. I was working in jakarta then and had constant gastric pains before I arrived. Now Jakarta was not known for its great hygiene and the solution was to buy drinking water. In fact, I had a dispenser and had a store house of mineral water bottles. Real mineral water fresh from the spring. I believe so because then, fake bottled water was not in vogue.

I used the water for soup, for cooking never the tap water. Over a few months, I noticed the gastritis did not bother me so much and my appetite improved. Before I realized it, I was cured. I could indulged in spicy and oily food without problems. Other than an increased cholesterol level!

The trick is to drink lots of water when the symptoms start. I found that drinking a big glass helps to neutralize the pain at the same time pushes the gas out resulting in a burp providing relief. Mineral water does not contain the chlorine and what-have-you which cause stomach lining irritations. Maybe the pH value was neutral which aids the stomach wall to heal.

Try it but as a word of caution, if your suffering persists, it is wise to see a doctor to check for other underlying problems.

Visit this link for info on antacids

http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/50/Antacids.html

Lose Weight? Drink Black Coffee

Marcus — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:45:28 +0000

This is good news for coffee drinkers!

Apart from the anti-oxidant benefit, drinking coffee boosts our metabolic rate.

Although it is a short term boost, said to be over the next four hours after your favorite cuppa, that morning cup of coffee helps to burn about 25 calories. If we look at a 700 calorie daily intake as a guide, that equates to about 3.5% which is something.

The calorie requirement of course varies from individual but the point is that it has to be black coffee. If you add cream, syrup or sugar then you will be taking in more calories than what that cup of coffee is going to help your body burn.

I like my coffee without sugar but my tummy still grows some simply because I add in milk.

How about you?

Perspectives on exercising and aging – Importance of walking

Sandie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:40:16 +0000

A good laugh is just as healthy as a good walk, if not even better.

My grandpa started walking
five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he’s 97 years old
and we don’t know where the hell he is.

I like long walks,
especially when they are taken
by people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking
is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I’m doing..

I joined a health club last year,
spent about 400 bucks.
Haven’t lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.

Every time I hear the dirty word ‘exercise’,
I wash my mouth out with chocolate…

I do have flabby thighs,
but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they’ll say,
’Well, she looks good doesn’t she.’

If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
    start with a small country.

I know I got a lot of exercise
the last few years,……
just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older,
because there’s a lot more information in our heads.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Get that Pain off Your Back

Marcus — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:43:27 +0000

Hamstring Stretch A

Lower back pain can make a person miserable. Those who suffer from it know.

If you are one of those unfortunate majority, you must have tried many forms of treatments or therapies. You would also have received much well-intentioned advice from well meaning friends and even from strangers who have noticed you wincing in pain.

Well, here is another well-meaning tip. Through experimenting with the many exercises and postures, I have found that stretching the hamstring muscles helps.

The image at the beginning of this write is the hamstring stretch referred to. The hamstring is that muscle at the back of our thighs that go all the way from the back of the knees to the pelvis. It is a big and strong muscle and one of the work it does is provide stability to the pelvic area.

When the hamstring is cold, it contracts and over a prolonged period of time, it may not relax and release. When this happens, lower back muscle comes into action and if they are weak, pain is the result.

How and when to stretch? The best is to sit on the floor as shown in the picture A. Lean forward towards the out-stretched leg until the tension is felt at the back of the thigh. That is the hamstring stretching. If there is no stretch try leaning away or twisting your torso.

Hamstring Stretch B

Posture B works better for me. The trick to get that stretch feeling is to maintain your torso erect. By maintaining the torso erect, the hamstring is stretched rather than the back muscles.

Hold the stretch for at least 30 seconds. Release the stretch slowly to allow the muscle to contract gently. Stretch one leg and then the other. Important to remember not to do bouncing or pumping motions as you stretch. We often see people do this and it is incorrect. Bouncing only makes the muscle contract some more.

This stretching can be done at anytime. I have found that a good morning stretch is most effective inn having a less painful day. When we sleep,the heart works less and the blood supply to our muscles are not so good which explains why we often feel stiffer in the mornings.

It is also recommended to do this stretch after walking or exercise as it helps to make the hamstring limber. The sports people call this warming down.

Try it and see if it works. If you have other suggestions, I will be the first to want to know. Anything that helps me get this pain off my back is very welcome.

Fungus Treatment Tip for your Dog

Marcus — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:12:36 +0000

My dog, who happens to be a scraggy looking fella had a problem. To us it was a problem, but to him, it was a very doggy thing – he has a very strong odor. Even though I have tried using the regular dog shampoo for his baths, the smell just would not go away.

Then this pharmacist friend taught me a neat little trick. She said it was fungus and recommended I used Selsun. I remember we used Selsun for dandruff but have not heard of it being used nowadays let alone for dogs..

So, I bought one small little bottle to try. It has to be the yellow one, my pharmacist said. There is another one which comes in a blue bottle.

It is a little coarse on the coat of my canine friend and he has to be given a conditioner rub down after this Selsun treatment.

Glad to say, it worked. Little doggy did not smell so bad for a few days but the smell returned. I guess a few more treatments may do the trick.

I had earlier used some fungal liquid sold at the pet store but that did not work. I would suggest try the blue bottle which is non-prescription. Understand it contains selenium sulfide at 1% concentration which may work in mild cases of fungus. Don’t forget the conditioner.

(for info on Selsun, click here)

Getting rid of Toenail Fungus

Marcus — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:35:47 +0000

Embarrassed by Ugly Nails from Fungus?

Toenails that look shriveled or discolored could probably point to the presence of fungus. Fungus makes them ugly but how to cure them?

The obvious choice seems to be to run to the neighborhood pharmacist who will likely prescribe you some drug. Prescribed drugs do work as that is what they were meant for but it also warrants a word of caution. It seems anti-fungal drugs is linked to liver cancer so if you have liver problems or have a sluggish liver, it is best to seek proper medical advice.

Here are three natural remedies using kits we can get in any corner store.

1. Vicks Vapor Rub – ? ? yes, there is no typo error. It does seem to be a magic balm. Apart for treating cold and for coughs and such, it helps treat fungus. And athlete’s foot too. Just rub it on. It is the essential oils and herbs in it that does the magic.

2. Listerine and Vinegar – it does look like what works as a mouth wash also works on the feet too. Mix Listerine and vinegar in double its volume of water and use this concoction as a foot bath. Soak for about 20 minutes. Listerine works on bacteria and vinegar is acidic which inhibits bacterial and fungal growth. If you have mild problems, try it.

3. This does not really count as a remedy but rather more as a preventive measure and good practice. Keep your feet clean and dry, air your feet regularly, wear shoes when outdoors and on cold days, wear socks.

Nail fungus belong to the group dermatophytes. It is found in wet places. They also grow in our bathrooms which is not that much of a problem as they can be easily removed using bleach-based toilet or floor cleaners.

Crocs Craze

Sandie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:48:10 +0000

Recently there has been a proliferation of imitation Crocs in the market. The hot topic you can hear daily is “I bought a pair of Crocs for only RM35. It’s real one. The pasar malam guy told me Crocs is closing down and they are dumping their goods now”. Or “they are original Crocs but are rejects”. If the manufacturer of Crocs has that amount of rejects, then we have to think twice about wearing the original Crocs because there is no guarantee that a reject pair may just pass through the quality control.

I bought some 10 pairs back from Guangzhou recently and the shopkeeper also sold me the same line that they are originals. I bought them because they were cheap and were comfortable as well. I do own a pair of original Crocs and if I compare the fake to that of the original, I must say the fake pass the test. Until yesterday.

I can’t say the blister on my left foot was caused by the imitation Crocs but yesterday I had this challenge so I decided not to wear it to give the foot time to heal. I have seen bizarre pictures circulating on the net on how footwear from China created blisters on foot. So a note of caution here.

In the Star sometime in early September, they had an article on how to differentiate an original Crocs to that of a fake.

The originals come with the following :

1. The material, Crosslite, is odourless

2. Every pair of Crocs has its own barcode on its handtag. If you see the same serial number appearing on the same model or different model then you know you are the owner of a pair of imitation.

3, On the handtag of orignal Crocs are information of the model of the shoe, size and colour description.

Even with these guidelines there is no guarantee that you are buying a pair of original Crocs if you are not purchasing them from the authorised retailers. Just know what you are buying and don’t get sold.

What to do when an insect gets into the ear?

Sandie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:44:21 +0000

I had an experience of a mosquito going into my ear and my whole ear was humming and drumming for a split second or so before I dug my fingers into the ear. All was forgotten about non-killing then. For adults we will know what to do when such things occur but what about toddlers and children.

There was a story related to me about a child having an insect in her ear. She was complaining and crying – saying that she felt pain in her ear. After some consultation on the phone with a doctor friend, the mother was advised to pour some baby oil into the child’s ear. With some coaxing the little girl relented and allowed her mother to drip some oil into her ear.

Next morning the little girl complained about difficulty in hearing. The parents brought her to the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Specialist. The Specialist inserted a little camera into the girl’s ear and what they saw on the TV screen was the leg of an insect which caused her the pain the previous night and the hearing problem. The insect was subsequently sucked out. The doctor advised that they had done the right thing otherwise it could have resulted in the ear being damaged if the alive insect had gone deeper into the ear.

So parents do take note. If you find that you do not have baby oil – even cooking oil can do the job. And take the child to the doctor immediately.

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What to do when an insect gets into the ear? is a post from: Cherish Wellness

Cherish Wellness » General

Muscle Aches and Pains? Try Yoga

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Natural Cure for Armpit Sweating

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Gastritis Cure – Drink Mineral Water

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Lose Weight? Drink Black Coffee

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Perspectives on exercising and aging – Importance of walking

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Get that Pain off Your Back

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Fungus Treatment Tip for your Dog

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Getting rid of Toenail Fungus

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Crocs Craze

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What to do when an insect gets into the ear?

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