Minerals

What are different home remedies for leg pain and cramps? – Part 2

- Leg cramps are an involuntary contraction of a single muscle or a group of muscles in the leg.
- These are usually painful and extremely discomforting.
- Leg cramps often occur in elderly patients though age is no criteria.
- Leg cramps generally occur in the calf muscle, the hamstring and the quadriceps.
- The duration of a leg cramp ranges from less than a minute to several minutes at times.

1. Healing Herbs tea
- This is an anti-pain
- It is also a relaxing tea that will help in preventing leg cramps and provide relief:
- 1 part St. Johnswort
- 1 part Passionflower
- 1 part Skullcap
- 1 part Chamomile
- 1 part White Willow Bark

2. Anti-Stress/Pain Potion
- GAIA Herbs
- 1 part Gaia Herbs Serenity Elixir
- 1 part Herb Pharm White Willow Bark
- A red flannel can also be wrapped around the area with pain.
- Use of coconut helps in curing the leg and knee pains.
- 1-2 teaspoonful of fenugreek powder in the morning water is also effective leg pain remedy.
- A gentle massage with Arthcare Oil is recommended to leg pain cure and to strengthen the bone tissues.

3. Massage oil
- Take 10 grams of camphor and 200 grams of mustard oil.
- Mix in a glass bottle and keep the bottle in the sun till the camphor dissolves.
- Massage the affected area daily.
- This is very good home remedy for leg pain.

4. Saffron solution
- Boil 1-teaspoon saffron in 1/2 cup water and divide this solution into three portions and take with equal quantities of water, thrice daily for a week.
- This is one of the effective home remedies for leg pain.

5. Various yogasanas
- Janusandhi,
- Uttanpadasana
- Gomukhasana

Other Home remedies
- Make sure that you use appropriate footwear when walking that provide your feet with adequate support.
- Stretch your muscles gently with light exercise like riding a stationary bicycle for a few minutes before going to bed.
- This can help loosen up and strengthen the muscles.
- This would greatly limit the occurrence or severity of night leg cramps.

Make sure that your diet is not restrictive
- A well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables should be taken regularly.
- This should provide you with all the essential nutrients you need. – Mineral deficiencies can aggravate the problem of night leg cramps.
- The best way to get it to pass is by consciously relaxing your mind and body.
- Deep breathing is the most effective method of relaxation at such times.
- Lightly massage the cramped muscle with your hands using a soothing balm.
- A hot shower or soak in a warm bath should also offer considerable relief.
- Multi-vitamin and mineral supplements may help.
- Calcium, potassium, and magnesium deficiencies are often the cause for night leg cramps.
- Try and consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Whole meal varieties of grains should be taken.
- Fruits like dates and bananas are rich sources of magnesium and potassium.
- It would be best to get the required dosage of calcium from supplements that do not contain phosphorus.

Some good dietary sources of essential minerals like potassium are:
- Bananas, dates, grapes, apricots, and raisins.
- Pulses, cabbage and broccoli.
- Oranges, tomatoes and grapefruit, including their juice.
- Pork, lamb, and fish like tuna.
- Potatoes and corn.

Additional Tips to Cope
- Avoid using tight bed covers or restrictive sheets.
- Stretch the calf muscles with some light exercise for at least five minutes before going to bed each night.
- Take up a non intensive fitness regime like yoga or pilates to strengthen the muscles and also to loosen them up.
- Yoga is particularly useful as the breathing exercises and meditative practices.
- Yoga also helps improve circulation.

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What are different nail problems and home remedies for treating them? – Part 1

There are very few nail problems or disorders. Most are associated from the results of injury, from a nutritional, respiratory, or heart disorder. The nail problem can be seen as discoloration or deformity.

What are nails made of?
- They are made of a hard protein called keratin.
- Our nails protect our fingers from injury
- It takes around 90 days for our fingernail and toenails to grow from the base to the tip.

Some of the causes are:
- Iron deficiency will cause your nails to become spoon shaped.
- Your nails may become clubbed.
- Swelling around the ends of your fingers.
- Sometimes your toes are swollen.
- It might be if you have a respiratory or heart problem.
- If you have psoriasis your nails may become pitted.
- The biggest nail problem seen in toe nails is ingrown.
- Another nail problem is discoloration.
- As you get older your nails develop vertical ridges.

The cause is the mal absorption of:
- Vitamins A
- B complex
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Other essential fatty acids

Reasons for discolored nails can include:
- Anemia -very pale nails.
- Liver Problems-nails turn kind of whitish.
- Bacterial- your nails will have dark spots in them that resemble splinters.
- Fungi infections- your nails can turn whitish and soft or even crumble.
- White spots can be caused from a deficiency of zinc or Vitamin A.

There are preventive measures like:
- Keep your finger nails short.
- Wear gloves when working outdoors in your garden.
- Wear rubber gloves if you are always immersing your hands in water.
- Remember to wash your hands and nails when they come in contact with any type of chemicals like cleaning products.
- The best prevention for ingrown nails is to trim your toe nails straight across.
- Wear shoes that do press on your toenails.

What do you do to keep your nails healthy?
- Nail care is as important as keeping your body and hair clean.
- Eat foods that have calcium, iron, vitamin B and potassium.
- Foods like seafood, dairy products, celery, soy should be included.
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day to keep your body from dehydrating.
- Your nails need water just like your hair and body.
- If your nails are splitting or are weak it could be from not drinking enough water.

There are some natural home treatments which should be taken 4 times a day for up to 3 weeks for the following nail problems:

- In the case of brittle nails, try Antimonium 6c.
- If your nails become deformed with white spots, try Silicea 6c.
- If your nails start to get thick, deformed, start to crumble and are swollen and painful, try Graphites 6c.
- If your nails are brittle with red and swollen skin at the base you should, try Thuja 6c.
- For any finger nail problem you can always soak your nails two times a day in Calendula solution, or apply Calendula ointment.

Treatment for Ingrown Nails
- Put a very small piece of cloth between the side of the nail and the skin.
- Completely bathe your toe with Hypericum and Calendula solution – 5 drops of each to ½ pint of boiled water that has cooled.

Other home remedies for nail problems that involve your toe nails are:

- Magnetic austr. 30c.
- Brittle toe nail problems us Thuja 30c.

Bleeding Gums during Pregnancy or Pregnancy Gingivitis – Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Now that you’re pregnant, you may have noticed that the gums are bothering more than usual. If the gums are sore or tender, or gums are bleeding when brushing or flossing, you may have a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. Pregnancy gingivitis is a common occurrence during pregnancy, however, if left untreated can lead to complications. If you notice any symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis, it is important to visit the dentist for proper treatment.

Swollen, red gums, painful bleeding when brushing or flossing are a sign of pregnancy gingivitis. The inflammation is caused by higher progesterone levels that make the gums more susceptible to plaque bacteria and the increased blood supply in the mouth.

You can also develop a benign nodule in the gums that bleed when you brush the teeth. This type of nodule is called pregnancy tumour or pyogenic granuloma. Tumours of pregnancy can actually appear anywhere in the body during pregnancy, but most often they appear in the mouth.

A pregnancy tumour can grow up to three quarters of an inch in size and is more likely to occur in an area where you have gingivitis. It usually disappears after having the baby, but if not, you will need to have it removed. If it causes discomfort, it interferes with chewing or brushing, or begins to bleed excessively; you can have it removed during pregnancy.

Causes:
There are several causes of gum disease during pregnancy. One is the increase in blood flow. During pregnancy, blood flow actually increases between 30% and 50%. This is to ensure that the baby is always getting the right nutrients to grow and develop. Unfortunately, this increased blood flow can cause the gums to swell and become very sensitive. It can even cause the gums to bleed, leaving them at greater risk for gingivitis.

The increase in hormones may also play a role in the development of pregnancy gingivitis. These high levels of the hormones leave the gums and teeth more sensitive to the bacteria that hide in the plate. This is one reason why gingivitis is so common in pregnancy.

Morning sickness can also play a small role in contributing to pregnancy gingivitis. Many women find they can no longer stand the smell or taste of the toothpaste, making it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene. Increased vomiting during pregnancy can also take its toll on the gums. Vomit contains stomach acid that can eat away the gums and teeth, making the mouth are very sensitive.

Treatment:
There is no cure for gum disease, although the damage can sometimes be reversed or stopped. All pregnant women should receive at least two thorough cleanings during pregnancy. This should help reduce your chances of developing periodontal disease or gingivitis of pregnancy.

If you already have gingivitis, treating gum disease is better to have a thorough cleaning at your dentist’s office. Your dentist will scale your teeth using a variety of instruments. This will remove excess plaque from teeth and around the gum line. Severe gingivitis may also require root planning, a process during which the roots of the teeth are cleaned the plate completely.

Prevention:
As always, the best treatment for gingivitis is prevention. Maintaining good oral hygiene routine will ensure that your gums and teeth healthy for a long time to come. Try following these tips:
- Brush twice a day for at least five minutes.
- Use a soft bristle brush – this will prevent irritating your gums.
- Flossing once a day or use an antibacterial mouthwash to get rid of plaque between teeth.
- Avoid eating large amounts of refined sugar – this will reduce the plaque and tartar .
- Visit your dentist regularly.