Chapped lips are a fact of life those who live in dry climates or places with harsh winters. Even if you have conditioned yourself to carry lip balm at all times you might still get chapped lips from time to time. Chapped lips are often caused by dry weather but can also be the result of open-mouth breating, sunburn, excessive lip licking or even be a side effect of dehydrating medication.

• Dip your finger in olive oil and rub on the affected area 2-3 times a day
• Rub a slice of cucumber over your lips
• Since dehydration is the main cause of chapped lips be sure to consume 2-3 liters of water a day
• Aloe vera is amazing for chapped lips, the fresh kind of course
• Coconut oil is also amazing (also great for any skin condition that involves dehydration)
• Put some honey on your lips and let it dry for a few seconds, without moving your lips apply some vaseline, leave both on for 10-15 minutes, then dip a q-tip in hot water and remove the vaseline and honey. Do this a couple of times a day for a week or so (this is for extreme cases)

So we will not being going in to the symptoms of cracked heels, kind of self explanatory. However, we did find some home remedies online that had 3-4 paragraphs explaining their symptoms, a simple Google search should suffice.

We would like to explain the cause(s) of cracked heels, even though it is mainly caused by extremely dry skin. You might be surprised to find out that it can also be caused by: 

• Prolonged standing on hard flooring
• Being overweight can cause cracked heels due to excess weight on the feet forcing the skin to separate
• Back-opened shoes or sandals because they allow the fat under the heel to expand sideways
• Athlete's foot, Psoriasis, Eczema, Thyroid Disease, Diabetes, and other skin conditions
• Excessive exposure to running water because the oils on the skin are removed thus leaving the skin dry and rough
• Uncomfortable shoes
• Bad hygiene
• Deficiency in vitamins, minerals (especially zinc)

Exfoliating is extremely crucial in keeping your skin clean and healthy, we do advise making your own exfoliant. The store bought or cosmetic exfoliates are full of unwanted preservatives and chemicals.

To make your own all you need to do is combine honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. First you will need to grind rice into a flour-like consistency. After that you can add a few teaspoons of honey and enough apple cider vinegar to make a nice thick paste. You can also add some olive oil, we prefer doing about equal parts olive oil and almond oil and just a touch of the apple cider vinegar. The honey and the oils will also moisturize the skin leaving it nice and smooth after applying. To apply you should soak your feet for about 15 minutes and then gently rub the mixture in a circular motion. When finished simply rinse and dry.

Do not exfoliate daily though, it is best to do so twice a week.

Make Your Own Moisturizer

To avoid the harsh chemicals in most store bought lotions you can try to make your own moisturizer. It is easy and sometimes more affordable.

Mix together:

A spoonful of olive oil
A few drops of lemon or lavender oil
Put this mixture in a container with equal amounts of water (or a little less). Shake the mixture thoroughly until a thick paste has formed.

You can use this whenever you want to, but be sure to mix before you use each time.

Here are some pictures of us making our own!

(Everything is combined)

(My handy dandy assistant helping me)

(All finished!)

Paraffin Wax

Melt paraffin wax and mix it well with a tiny bit of mustard oil. Apply on the affected area and remove in the morning. You should keep doing this for about two weeks or until your skin is healed. Be sure to apply 3-4 days after symptoms have disappeared.

Glycerin

Apply glycerin to the area daily. Some say adding rose water to the glycerin is also beneficial.

Lemons

I swear lemons are amazing! It is extremely beneficial to soak the feet in lemon juice for about 10 minutes daily for a couple of weeks. We recommend applying lotion afterwards (make your own!).

Lemon juice is a very mild natural acids and will help dissolve the dead skin cells so it can be easily removed.

Banana

Apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the dry area and keep it pressed for about 10 minutes. You can also add some avocado, coconut, and olive oil. Simply make a paste and apply daily!

Oil

It is highly beneficial to apply olive oil or vegetable oil to the feet before going to bed. Be sure to wear soaks overnight. This will keep the oil on the area overnight so you can truly benefit from it.

Even if you do not have dry or cracked feet this is an excellent treatment to do weekly or monthly.

Diet

It is highly recommended to include more:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (flaxseeds are an amazing source)
Zinc rich foods (oysters, chicken, crab, yogurt,spaghetti, etc.)
Iron
Calcium
Vitamin E (this oil is also amazing when applied on directly on the skin)

We have found some really effective remedies to aide patients suffering from a cough. Although not a serious ailment a cough can still be very irritating and can actually caused irritation to the larynx, trachea, & bronchi.

Grapes

Believe it or not, grapes actually tone up the lungs and act as an expectorant, relieving a simple cold and cough in a couple of days if taken regularly. The best way to consume grapes for relieving a cough is to drink one cup with two teaspoons of honey. Be sure the grape juice is real and organic, no Welches. 

Almonds

Almonds are extremely beneficial for relieving a cough, especially a dry cough. Seven kernals should be soaked in water overnight and the skin removed. Then they should be ground to form a paste. Drink the water used to soak the almonds and consume the paste in the morning and in the evening. You can also add some sugar and butter to the paste. 

Raisins

Grind 100 gm of raisins with water and add about 100 gm of minimally processed sugar. Then heat the mixture until a sauce-like consistency. Take 20 grams of this before going to bed and repeat daily. Be sure to store the mixture in an air tight container and place in a dry area .

Onions

To make a truly amazing cough syrup mix raw onion juice (fresh) with equal parts of honey. Let this mixture sit for a couple of hours and consume as a cough syrup. We recommend taking the syrup 3-4 times a day, you will be amazed at how effective this is compared to store bought medicine.

This term covers a group of clinical syndromes arising particularly from failure of the coronary arteries to supply the correct amount of blood to the heart. These include: angina pectoris, coronary thrombosis, and sudden death without infarction.

Some common symptoms include shortness of breath which is usually caused by the blood being deprived of enough oxygen, chest pain, pain down either arm, fainting, palpitations, emotional instability, cold hands, and fatigue.

Honey

Honey, as we have said many times before, is an amazing food and should never be taken for granted. Honey tones up the heart and can even improve circulation. We recommend one or two tablespoons daily or after each meal. An added bonus: honey drastically improves the immune system.

Onion

The more we research home remedies we have found that onions are an amazing food. Even if you hate them you should find ways to sneak them in your diet. Onions have been found to normalize the percentage of blood cholesterol by oxidising excess cholesterol. We recommend one teaspoon of raw onion juice first thing in the morning or before you go to bed. If the taste makes your skin crawl you can chase the mixture with one cup of water and fresh lemon juice (this helps with absorbtion).

Apple

Apples have heart-stimulating properties and are amazing for almost every area of your body. Patients who suffer from a weak heart should make this food their best friend. The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" definitely applies to this!

Alfafa

The juice from alfalfa has been found to be very helpful in most patients suffering from ailments regarding their arteries or heart disease in general. Since alfalfa juice is very potent we recommend consuming it with carrot juice in equal quantities 125ml twice a day. 

Asparagus

This is an excellent food for a weak or enlarged heart. To truly benefit from asparagus the patient should juice the vegetable and add honey (2 parts juice 1 part honey) and take twice a day. Be sure the juice is fresh and do not worry about quantity because even a teaspoon of the juice is packed with the nutrients you need. Also, if you really want to up the anty be sure to include this vegetable (best if steamed) into your daily diet. Asparagus has also been linked to a decrease in cancerous cells.

A corn is basically a localized thickening of the skin which often times occurs on the toes and other areas of the foot. Although this is not life threatening or in anyway a serious problem they are usually very painful.

Corns are usually present over the joints on and around the foot. They are shaped like a pyramin and are very tender when touched. Sometimes people mistake warts that occur on the coles of the feet as a corn.

The cause for corns is simple: they are formed as a redult of pressure on the toes and skin surfaces due to incorrect footwear.

Lemons

A fresh slice of lemon should be tied over the painful area at night. Be sure to wash the area before you put the lemon on it and secure the peeling so it remains over the sore all night.

Papaya

Apply half a teaspoon of raw papaya juice to the affected area three times a day. Papaya juice is an irritant and is very useful in the treatment of corns.

Chalk Powder

A small piece of chalk may be ground into a paste with water and applied over the affected area. Be sure to do this atleast two times a day.

Indian Squill (Urginea Indica)

A bulb should be roasted and applied over the corn. Be sure to secure with a bandage before going to bed, remove in the morning and repeat until the corn is reduced or removed completely.

Liqourice

When the corn is just forming this is one of the most beneficial remedies in reducing and eliminating the corn before it becomes a real problem. Make a paste of 3-4 liquorice sticks mixed with half a teaspoon of sesame oil or mustard oil (we prefer sesame oil). When paste is formed rub on the affected area before bed, the skin will gradually soften and the corn with decrease in size.

Constipation is a common disturbance of the digestive tract and the bowels to not move regularly or not completely emptied when they do move. This can actually cause many diseases since toxins are released into the bloodstream and carried to different parts of the body. Some of the main diseases that are believed to be caused by constipation are appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract, and many cancers.

One of the most common causes of constipation is a diet of little or no fiber and a lifestyle that does not permit going to the restroom when needed. Refined and rich foods that lack in vitamins and minerals the body needs, to much meat, and excessive intake of tea and coffee can cause constipation. Dehydration, insufficient chewing, overeating, and irregular eating habits can also be strong contributing factors.

Bael Fruit

Most all fruits are great in treating constipation, but bael fruit is one of the best. Bael fruit cleans and tones the intestines thus preventing previous bouts of constipation. Eat regularly for 2-3 months.

Pear

A medium sized pear consumed before breakfast or after dinner will most certainly help.

Apple Juice

Do NOT think that mainstream apple juice is real, it is mostly sugar, water, and some apples. Make sure to buy Simply or an organic juice with NO sugar. Drink as much as possible.

Cabbage Juice

We know it is gross, drink 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day, you will notice a difference.

Dates and milk

Consume dried dates with skim milk.

Guava and Mango

Consume both on an empty stomach in the morning, eat breakfast one hour later.

Fiber

Snack on almonds, flax seed, and granola. We like to combine all with honey then put them in the refrigerator for an hour or so.

Spinach

Spinach is great for the entire digestive tract, especially when eaten raw. You can also juice spinach for even better results. Juice 100 ml, mix with equal amounts of water, and consume fresh twice a day.

Other Remedies

-1/2 of a lime, 1/2 a teaspoon of salt, mixed with hot water.

-Drink water, that has been kept in a copper container overnight, first thing in the morning

-Linseed (alse) is great for bad cases of constipation. Take a teaspoon of linseed taken with water before each meal, this will provide roughage and lubrication.

Common digestive disorders do not have serious symptoms and are often ignored. However, these disorders can contribute to other more serious health issues.

The Japanese consider the belly, or Hara, to be the root of a persons energy and therefore extremely important. This, in a way, has been scientifically proven. Most health issues can be treated or cured by ridding the gut of its problems. In addition to the Japanese thinking the belly is important the Chinese and most Indian cultures believe it is also a crucial part of our bodies.

Therefore having any digestive disorder can truly cause you some grief.

Some symptoms of digestive issues are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Acid Reflux
• Abdominal Discomfort
• Passing stool soon after eating
• Piles (passing painful and bloody stool)

Ginger

The feeling of nausea can be controlled or eliminated by consuming ginger or sipping real ginger ale.

Treating Diarrhea

It is very important that you replace the lost salts and fluids caused by the diarrhea. The best way to do this is to regularly administer oral rehydration salts. You should also considering eating more bananas and curd to treat the diarrhea.

Figs

Dried figs are the most common and effective home remedy for treating hemorrhoids and piles. To fully absorb the benefits of figs be sure to soak them overnight in a bowl of water. The next morning consume both the water and the figs.

Diet

With any digestive disorder it is best to consume a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and anything with high(er) amounts of fiber.

Some specific foods you should be eating:

• Apples
• Cabbage
• Yogurt 
• Sauerkraut
• Miso Soup
• Soft cheese
• Kefir
• Sourdough bread
• Milk with probiotics
• Sour pickles (Opt for pickles without vinegar)
• Tempeh
• Probiotic supplements
• Artichokes
• Honey
• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Red wine
• Maple syrup
• Legumes

A common cold, also known as acute coryza, is the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract that is caused by infection with common cold viruses. A person may suffer from a common cold several times in a year which usually lasts between 3-10 days.

Some of the main symptoms are a soreness in the throat and congestion of the nasal passages. Usually the disease proceeds to pain other areas of the body.  The common cold is highly contagious (hence the name) and no matter how healthy you are the common cold cannot be completely avoided. Generally the symptoms of a common cold infection appear within a day or two after exposure to the virus.

Garlic

Garlic soup is an old remedy used to reduce the symptoms or severity of a cold and should be consumed daily. Prepare the soup by boiling three or four cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water. Garlic has many amazing properties, the oil contained in this vegetable helps to open up the respiratory passages. 

Five drops of garlic oil combined with a teaspoon of onion juice and diluted in a cup of waters should also be consumed 2-3 times a day.

Ginger

Ginger is an excellent remedy for colds and coughs. The patient should consume about ten grams of ginger that has been cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water then strained. You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar to the tea. Please consume this while it is hot.

If you do not like this you can add ginger to boiling water, strain, and then add tea leaves.

You can drink this as much as you want.

Lemon

Lemon is an amazing fruit that contains live enzymes, loads of vitamins, and rids the body of toxins. While sick it is wise to juice one lemon and drink the juice within 3 minutes, we suggest taking it quickly. Then drink 2-3 glasses of luke warm water. This will help the body absorb the maximum benefits from the lemon.

*We suggest doing this for 2-3 weeks after the symptoms have decreased.

Tamarind & Pepper

Tamarind-pepper rasam is a South Indian remedy for a cold. Dilute 50 mg tamarind in 250 ml of water. Boil the diluted tamarind water for a few minutes with a teaspoon of clarified butter and a half a teaspoon of black pepper powder. Drink this three times a day and be sure it is hot. While the patient drinks the concoction the nose, eyes, and nasal blockage begins to clear.

Lady's Fingers

Lady's fingers are highly effective when it comes to treating a sore throat and a dry cough. This vegetable is rich in mucilage and helps alleviate irritation, swelling, and pain. You can prepare about 100gm of lady's fingers into pieces and boil in one half a liter of water to make a decoction. Drink this 2-3 times a day. You can also inhale the steam once or twice a day to further help your symptoms.

Bitter Gourd Roots

Bitter gourd roots are used in folk medicinal practices to cure a cold. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal quantity of honey or even holy basil leaf juice. Be sure to consume this every night until the symptoms have been subdued for a couple of days.

Stuffy Nose Remedies

Inhale turmeric fumes, for this tie some turmeric in a clean cloth and light it. Boil some water and allow it to cool, now add ¼ teaspoon table salt to it. Put 2 to 3 drops of this solution in your both the nostrils before meals and going to bed. Mix natural apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts. Boil this solution in a pan, when the fumes rises lean over the pan and inhale the fumes. Prepare a solution using 4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and Pine Essential Oil, 3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and 7 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Inhale vapors of this solution by putting it on a cotton ball or an aromatherapy diffuser.

Some More Tips

• While the cold is in full swing and a fever is present the patient should abstain from all solid foods. We recommend juice, fruit, and water for a couple of days. Give the body the ability to transfer it's energy to healing instead of digesting.
• After the peak start adding nuts and seeds to your diet as well as vegetables and grains.
• Avoid meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and starchy foods.
• Have a mild sun bath, the vitamin D is really beneficial
• Be sure to breathy deeply and consume a lot fo fresh air
• Be sure to get a great night sleep every night

Chickenpox is an extremely contagious virus mostly affecting 3-4 year olds, but occassionally affecting older patients (those cases are more severe). The disease usually begins with a low grade fever, headache, and a feeling of weakness. A rash will appear within the first 24-36 hours in the form of tiny red spots on the skin.

Most rashes are more severe on the upper back and/or chest. The papules will turn in to blisters (usually itching) and soon scab over and fall off. Soon the skin will clear and the patient will feel better, but beware it can return a couple of days later so the patient should continue treatment.

Also, this disease usually lasts for about ten to twenty days.

Some more information you might want to know:

• Chickenpox is caused by the herpes virus
• It is believed that Chickenpox is closely related to a much more serious condition known as shingles or herpes zoster
• Most patients experience the disease for 14-17 days
• While popular in children it can affect adults, if this happens consult with your physician immediately. The symptoms are much worse.

Remedies:

• Add half a cup of brown vinegar to a warm bath 1-2 days a week (this will relieve the itching)
• Cook two cups of oatmeal in two liters of water for fifteen minutes, put this mixture in a cloth bag and tie shut. Let the bag float in the bath water until the water is cloudy.
• Make a soup prepared with 100 gm of carrots and 60 gm of fresh coriander. Chop the ingrediants and add to boiling water, discard the residue, and serve to patient 1-2 a day.
• Honey is an amazing thing to have in the kitchen and for chickenpox it is wonderful. Simply rub on the bumps, let dry, and then have the patient bath (in the oatmeal bath).
• Rub vitamin E oil on the patients skin.
• Take a cool bath with ginger for about twenty minutes, this helps ease the itching.
• Mix baking soda and water until you have a paste, rub this all over the skin and let dry. The left over baking soda will create a healing layer for the sores. Wash off with cool water after about 20 minutes.

Another wonderful treatment is to have the patient go on a juice diet for 2-3 days (fresh juice) and then all vegetables and fruits until the disease is gone. We also recommend continuing this diet for 3-4 days afterward and be sure to slowly introduce "normal" foods.

Check out Herpes (Oral & Genital) and Shingles 

Back pain is a very general term for what really might be going on, however there are a lot of things you can do to lessen the pain even if you do not know what is causing it. We recommend going to a chiropractor for a precise analysis for prolonged results.

In the mean time there are a lot of things you can do for back pain, otherwise known as dorsalgia.

Hot/Cold Compress

Apply a hot or cold compress using a hot water bottle or an ice pack.

Exercise

Exercising will help strengthen the muscles, this might not be the most comfortable thing to do when the pain has already begun so use your judgement. If you know that you are likely to have back pain a regular work out routine is recommended.

Massage/Chiropractic

We are advocates of Eastern medicine and these two are big in that community. The best way to treat, and even prevent, back pain is to have regular visits with a chiropractor or a massage therapist. They know a lot about the human body and can even see signs of back pain months before it happens.

Weight Loss

Often times back pain can be caused by to much weight and in some cases the pain did not even start from the weight, but when weight loss occurred the patient noticed complete relief.

Yoga

Yoga is highly beneficial for the treatment of back pain. There are a lot of stretches, or poses, that can alleviate the pain. We recommend joining a yoga studio and taking the advice of the instructor.

Herbs for Back Pain

These herbs can be grown in your back yard:

-Angelica

-Rosemary

-Ginger

-Willow Bark

-Stinging Nettle

-Chamomile (best if taken as a tea with local honey)

Go to your local herb shop to find out more about back pain and what herbs can do.

Diet

There are not a lot of recommendations for a change in diet, in regards to back pain. However, if you are overweight, like we mentioned above, it might help to lose some weight so the strain is removed from the back.

Some foods to avoid include: caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.

Consuming more fruits and vegetables can do a lot of good, especially cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, and spinach.

Minerals and vitamins play a huge role in the healing of any area of the body so be sure your taking calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc.

Another thing to consume is more protein and complex carbohydrates. The protein will help build the muscles to support your back and the carbohydrates will give you the energy you will need to exercise and maintain these muscles.