River Soap WebLog

Home Remedy: Stomachache

2009-07-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

Home Remedy for stomachaches: Peel and grate a quarter cup of ginger. Add the ginger to 2 cups of boiling water in a glass, enamel or stainless-steel pan and simmer for 20 minutes. Add a little honey and drink. Add hot water if the taste is too strong.
Mint & chamomile tea are also considered a remedy for stomachaches.

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Home Remedy: Sleeplessness

2009-06-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

Sleeplessness Home Remedy: Hot milk really does work before bed because it contains calcium, which is a general relaxant as well as a muscle relaxant.Hot milk also contains triptophane, an amino acid that helps with the first phase of falling to sleep. Lavender is also a relaxant. You can put eight drops of lavender oil in a little whole milk, cream or oil, and add it to a hot bath after it is drawn. If you don't have a tub, put three drops of lavender oil on the middle of your spine, right below the hairline.

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Home remedies: Sunburn relief

2009-06-21T11:49:00.001-07:00

Sunburn Relief Mix a solution of 2 cups of vinegar to a half gallon of cold water. Soak a clean kitchen towel in the solution and apply to sunburned area. Soak again and reapply towel until the heat of the sunburn is neutralized. Another method comes from the Greeks: Apply plain yogurt to sunburns to heal the skin and take the heat away.

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Smelly Shoe relief

2009-06-08T09:37:00.002-07:00

Smelly Shoes?
put a little Borax in your shoes, leave over night- then shake out the shoes. Presto- smell gone.

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How Artichokes Help

2009-05-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

The liver's main function is the metabolic transformation of nutrients from the food we eat. It also detoxifies certain poisons. An overstressed liver obviously cannot function properly, which among other things results in poor assimilation of nutrients and increased toxins in the blood. This will eventually adversely affect the entire body causing numerous ailments that are often only symptomatically treated. What is amazing are the numbers of people who abuse their livers and hence their bodies, think they eat well, yet are suffering from a form of malnutrition - a word one associates with poverty and third world countries.

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Artichokes: Incredible cure.

2009-05-23T15:58:00.001-07:00

Artichoke is very high in fibre, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and other trace elements important for a balanced system. It is known to positively help poor liver function (thus helping to lower the blood cholesterol), arteriosclerosis, gout, supports the treatment of hepatitis and improves the gall secretions. It can slightly lower the blood sugar, improve the appetite and digestion, is diuretic and may help some migraine conditions (most especially those caused by toxins in the blood). As it helps the body rid itself of excess water and moves toxins it also has the added side effect of an improved skin luminosity.

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Artichoke: Liver Cleanse

2009-05-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

Since ancient times, the artichoke has been used for liver and gallbladder conditions, 'cleaning' the blood, as well as the bladder. The Egyptians highly prized it as a health and diet food and Plinius described it as the 'food for the rich' because of the health problems contributed to a 'rich' life style - excessive in rich foods, fats and wine that led to liver illnesses (such as cirrhosis), gout and a general run down condition.Artichoke leaves can be dried slowly in the oven, then infused in boiled water and drunk as a tea.

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Natural Anti Inflammatory

2009-05-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. In recent years, considerable interest has been focused on curcumin due to its use to treat a wide variety of disorders without any side effects. It is one of the major curcuminoids of turmeric, which impart its characteristic yellow color. It was used in ancient times on the Indian subcontinent to treat various illnesses such as rheumatism, body ache, skin diseases, intestinal worms, diarrhoea, intermittent fevers, hepatic disorders, biliousness, urinary discharges, dyspepsia, inflammations, constipation, leukoderma, amenorrhea, and colic. Curcumin has the potential to treat a wide variety of inflammatory diseases.

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Athlete's Foot Help

2009-05-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Athlete's foot

One suggested treatment is "thinly-sliced garlic placed between the affected toes". An alternative treatment is calendula or pot marigold (Calendula officinalis). It has been used for centuries to treat various kinds of skin conditions, including burns, sunburn, inflammation, rashes, boils - as well as athlete's foot. Like garlic, it has anti-fungal properties, but it also has antiseptic and astringent qualities that can help in the healing process if the affected areas are particularly sore.
The Guardian Article

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Minor Burns

2009-04-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Minor burns

The best immediate treatment for a minor burn is to hold the affected area under cold running water. Many people have used honey on small burns, perhaps because it is soothing and has antiseptic qualities. Another more unusual - but recurring - recommendation is for raw grated potato: "Grate a potato and place it on a burn to relieve the pain. When the potato has turned brown or the pain returned, repeat the process." Only recommended when the burned skin is not broken.
The Guardian Article

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Cold Sore Cure

2009-04-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Cold sores on the lips

Unlike mouth cankers, which tend to be singular and inside the mouth, cold sores (lip herpes) usually take the form of a rash of small blisters clustered around one major site on the lips. They can be treated with propolis, a product of bees that is often called bee glue. It is largely resin but also contains elements of wax and pollen. According to the Oxford Book of Health Foods, there have been a number of scientific investigations into the efficacy of propolis. Their results indicate that extracts from propolis were effective against various bacteria, including mycrobacterium tuberculosis, against the fungi involved in skin infections and also against the types of virus involved in colds and flu.
The Guardian Article

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Rosemary & Cider

2009-04-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Colds

The following two remedies were reported in the Women's Institute magazine Home & Country.

"Rosemary and cider

Boil a sprig of rosemary in half a pint of cider for 15 minutes and drink it at bedtime as hot as possible. It is advisable to drink when in bed as it causes great perspiration."

"Elderflower and peppermint

For colds, inflammations etc. take a handful of elderflower and one of peppermint, put in a jug and pour over it one and a half pints of boiling water. Let it steep for 30 minutes on the hob. Strain and sweeten with black treacle or honey. Drink hot in bed. The more you drink, the sooner the cure will be effected."
The Guardian Article

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Cold Remedies

2009-04-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Colds

The following two remedies were reported in the Women's Institute magazine Home & Country.

"Rosemary and cider

Boil a sprig of rosemary in half a pint of cider for 15 minutes and drink it at bedtime as hot as possible. It is advisable to drink when in bed as it causes great perspiration."

"Elderflower and peppermint

For colds, inflammations etc. take a handful of elderflower and one of peppermint, put in a jug and pour over it one and a half pints of boiling water. Let it steep for 30 minutes on the hob. Strain and sweeten with black treacle or honey. Drink hot in bed. The more you drink, the sooner the cure will be effected."
The Guardian Article

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Victorian Cure for Bronchitis

2009-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Bronchitis

A mustard plaster can be very effective in treating chest conditions, even if it does sound the stuff of Victorian nightmares.

"1 oz [25g] of dry mustard

Teaspoon of plain flour

Mix to a paste with vinegar. Spread on a rag or piece of muslin and make a sandwich of it: material/mustard paste/material. Keep on the chest no longer than 10 minutes, otherwise it will burn."

An alternative was to use liquorice, which has a long history as a medicinal plant. Mentioned by Roman writers, including the great healer Dioscorides, it was used in various parts of Europe during the Middle Ages and was cultivated in England. According to Mrs Grieve in her Modern Herbal, it could be used for coughs and chest complaints, notably bronchitis. She recommended making an infusion by boiling 1oz [25g] of peeled and bruised liquorice with 1 pint [600ml] of water for a few minutes.

The sweetness in liquorice comes from the compound glycyrrhizin, which is supposedly up to 50 times stronger than sugar and has been shown by recent Japanese studies to have anti-viral properties.
The Guardian Article

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Baking Soda Paste for Bee Stings

2009-04-10T15:49:00.000-07:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Bee stings

"Ensure that the sting is fully removed. Cut an onion in half and apply the freshly cut side directly over the puncture mark to reduce swelling and pain."

Or, "make a paste of baking soda by adding a few drops of water. Apply this to neutralise the sting. Then apply a drop of lavender oil directly on to the site of the sting to relieve itching or pain."
The Guardian Article

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Blackberries Relieve Diarrhoea

2009-04-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.

Diarrhoea

There are dozens of remedies relating to diarrhoea, some more effective than others, and there is a consensus that sweet things, including chocolate, exacerbate the condition.

Blackberries provide a remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea. Obviously, they can be eaten straight from the bramble but here is a delicious cordial: "Press the fruit for ripe blackberries. Add 2lb [1kg] sugar to every quart [1.2 litres] of the resultant juice. You can also add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves. Boil all the ingredients together for a short time. Allow to cool. Add a little brandy."

Dr Henry Oakeley, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians who has taken a particular interest in herbal medicine, adds: "The bark of the [blackberry] root and the leaves contain much tannin and may have long been used as an astringent and tonic, proving a valuable remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea."

Other suggested remedies include two to three cups of tea made from raspberry leaves, black tea with no sugar or milk, mashed bananas to which a few drops of lemon juice have been added, a glass of fresh orange juice mixed with a teaspoon of salt, or a glass of cola mixed - again - with salt and whisked to remove any bubbles.
The Guardian Article

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Mediterranean Pyramid

2009-03-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

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Quick Asthma Relief: The French Way

2009-03-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Asthma

The traditional French remedy for a severe attack is to drink two cups of strong black coffee. Unsurprising, perhaps, given how popular the drink is in France, but this is more than just a typical piece of Gallic insouciance. There have been substantial clinical studies on this practice, including one from Manitoba, Canada, which had the results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It confirms that caffeine relieves bronchial obstruction, thereby easing and improving breathing.

Coffee is, of course, a powerful stimulant for the nervous and cardiovascular systems - some people find it too stimulating and experience palpitations. So even though this remedy has been shown to have some merit, it's not a substitute for medicine but rather an emergency measure, and it is especially not recommended for pregnant women.
The Guardian Article

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Mediterranean Eating

2009-03-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

New York Times
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The original work that sparked scientific interest in Mediterranean eating habits came from researcher Ancel Keyes at the University of Minnesota. His landmark seven countries study focused on the link between eating habits along the Mediterranean and better health, despite inferior medical care in the region. Research on the diet took off in the 1990s, as scientists noted that people in Mediterranean countries lived longer and had low rates of serious disease despite high rates of smoking and drinking. Last year, the British medical journal BMJ published an extensive review of Mediterranean diet studies. It found that the eating plan is associated with significant health benefits, including lower rates of heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. More recently, researchers found a link between Mediterranean eating and diabetes risk as well as lower blood pressure. The Oldways Web site offers a lengthy list of studies of Mediterranean eating and health.

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Cure for Anxiety

2009-03-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.

Anxiety

There is scientific support for the claim that sweet milky drinks can relieve anxiety. Milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan that stimulates the production of seratonin, which, in turn, calms the mind. Sugar releases insulin, which detracts the other amino acids, making tryptophan more effective.
The Guardian Article

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Guava for healthy prostate

2009-03-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

Guava

Guava is an obscure tropical fruit that's subtly acidic, with sweetness that intensifies as you eat your way to the center.

Why it's healthy: Guava has a higher concentration of lycopene -- an antioxidant that fights prostate cancer -- than any other plant food, including tomatoes and watermelon. In addition, 1 cup of the stuff provides 688 milligrams (mg) of potassium, which is 63 percent more than you'll find in a medium banana. And guava may be the ultimate high-fiber food: There's almost 9 grams (g) of fiber in every cup.

How to eat it: Down the entire fruit, from the rind to the seeds. It's all edible -- and nutritious. The rind alone has more vitamin C than you'd find in the flesh of an orange. You can score guava in the produce section of higher-end supermarkets or in Latin grocery stores.

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British Cure for Flatulence

2009-03-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.
Flatulence

There is a general consensus that some high-fibre foods - lentils, leeks, peas, beans and bran, for instance - can create excessive wind and bloating. A traditional Irish folk remedy for "wind in the stomach", described by Frances Kennett in the 1976 book Folk Medicine: fact and fiction, consists of half a pint of milk (probably warmed) with four teaspoons of soot. This sounds unlikely but, as she points out, carbon is sometimes prescribed for flatulent conditions of the stomach and intestines.

Fennel seeds have long been regarded as a carminative for wind. In India the seeds are toasted and then chewed after a meal to help digestion, and in Britain tea has been made from the seeds to treat everything from hiccups to colic.

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Asian Style Cabbage Slaw

2009-03-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

Cabbage

Absent from most American kitchens, this cruciferous vegetable is a major player in European and Asian diets.

Why it's healthy: One cup of chopped cabbage has just 22 calories, and it's loaded with valuable nutrients. At the top of the list is sulforaphane, a chemical that increases your body's production of enzymes that disarm cell-damaging free radicals and reduce your risk of cancer. In fact, Stanford University scientists determined that sulforaphane boosts your levels of these cancer-fighting enzymes higher than any other plant chemical.

How to eat it: Put cabbage on your burgers to add a satisfying crunch. Or, for an even better sandwich topping or side salad, try an Asian-style slaw. Here's what you'll need.

4 Tbsp peanut or canola oil

Juice of two limes

1 Tbsp sriracha, an Asian chili sauce you can find in the international section of your grocery store

1 head napa cabbage, finely chopped or shredded

1/4 cup toasted peanuts

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Whisk together the oil, lime juice, and sriracha. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes before serving. The slaw will keep in your fridge for 2 days.

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British Cure for Anxiety

2009-03-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

From U.K The Guardian, Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cherry Chappell has compiled a vast compendium of traditional homemade remedies. Here is a selection of the best - some sound sensible, while many are bewildering.

Anxiety

There is scientific support for the claim that sweet milky drinks can relieve anxiety. Milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan that stimulates the production of seratonin, which, in turn, calms the mind. Sugar releases insulin, which detracts the other amino acids, making tryptophan more effective.
The Guardian Article

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Beets

2009-02-28T15:37:00.000-08:00

Beets

These grungy-looking roots are naturally sweeter than any other vegetable, which means they pack tons of flavor under-neath their rugged exterior.

Why they're healthy: Think of beets as red spinach. Just like Popeye's powerfood, this crimson vegetable is one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Plus, the natural pigments -- called betacyanins -- that give beets their color have been proved to be potent cancer fighters in laboratory mice.

How to eat them: Fresh and raw, not from a jar. Heating beets actually decreases their antioxidant power. For a simple single-serving salad, wash and peel one beet, and then grate it on the widest blade of a box grater. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.

You can eat the leaves and stems, which are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Simply cut off the stems just below the point where the leaves start, and wash thoroughly. They're now ready to be used in a salad. Or, for a side dish, sauté the leaves, along with a minced clove of garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil, in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.

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