Home Remedies: fennel

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Home Remedies for Bloating

Abdomen and stomach are words that are loosely used interchangeably. The abdomen is the body space between the pelvis and chest; it contains all of the digestive organs including the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.

Stomach Ache

At some period in your life you are bound to have what is commonly referred to as a ‘stomach ache,’ also commonly termed ‘abdominal pain.’ It may be a mild, dull ache, a strong, sharp pain or stomach cramps—usually not serious. Numerous problems that may cause abdominal pain—some of them serious—are:

Bloating
Indigestion
Constipation
Stomach virus
Menstrual cramps
Food poisoning
Food allergies or intolerance to specific foods
Gas
Lactose intolerance
Ulcers
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Hernia
Gallstones
Kidney stones
Endometriosis
Crohn's disease
Urinary tract infection
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Appendicitis

Symptoms of stomach pain that most likely need medical attention are:

A fever, particularly of 104 degrees or more and specifically if the patient is elderly or a very young child
Unable to hold food in the stomach for several days
Unable to have a bowel movement, especially if you are also vomiting
Painful or too frequent urination
Abdomen is tender
The pain continues several days
The pain was caused by an abdominal injury

You should call and make a medical appointment immediately, if:

You are bringing up blood
Your stool has blood in it
Labored breathing
Pain while you are pregnant

Stomach Cramps

"Stomach cramps" is a rather broad term used to refer to various symptoms any place in the abdomen. Abdominal organs that could be the source of pain are the:

Stomach
Small Intestine
Colon
Liver
Pancreas
Gallbladder

At times other organs in the near vicinity of the abdomen, but not actually in it, may cause pain that will be felt there—lower lungs, kidneys, uterus, or ovaries.

Water Retention vs Bloating

Water retention: can mean when the body retains an abnormal amount of fluid in the circulation system or in the cavities and body tissue; sometimes making you appear bloated. Serious water retention is called edema, which can be caused by several serious diseases of the heart, kidneys, and liver, or serious allergic reactions, varicose veins, or blood clots. Cirrhosis of the liver can cause fluid to build up in the legs and abdomen causing a bloated appearance.

Bloating is an unusual swelling of the abdominal area with probable pain and a feeling of tightness; it is intestinal gas that did not pass out of the body by flatulence (passing gas from the large intestine out through the anus). Intestinal gas is simply air in the digestive tract accompanied by the bacterial breakdown of foods in the large intestine. If your stomach is grumbling it may not be that serious but—if your stomach is NOT growling it may be a serious health problem.

Causes of Bloating

A bloated stomach is not always a dangerous problem. It can be caused by various conditions--swallowing air when you are nervous or have overeaten; weight gain; constipation; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); lactose or food intolerance, or a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

The usual causes of a truly bloated stomach include:

Flatulence
IBS
Hormonal fluctuations
Celiac disease
Ovarian cancer

IBS Symptoms are:

Abdominal pain or stomach cramps
Feeling bloated
Flatulence
Diarrhea or constipation—sometimes alternating bouts
Mucus in the stool

Adults pass gas approximately 14 times daily producing one to three pints. We all swallow a certain amount of air every day as we consume beverages or food; eating or drinking too quickly; smoking; chewing candies or gum; sucking on hard candies; drinking carbonated beverages; drinking through straws; wearing dentures that do not fit correctly (people often ‘suck in’ trying to hold loose dentures in place.

Burping lets some gas out of the stomach, but the balance of it passes into the small intestine where some of it is absorbed, and the rest of it continues to the large intestine where it will eventually pass through the anus.

Stomach Cancer Symptoms

While perhaps a less likely cause of stomach cramps than most people will encounter, it's good to know when to talk to your doctor about more serious issues such as stomach cancer. Stomach cancer offers very few symptoms during the early stages of the disease. The symptoms are very like those of a peptic ulcer. A stomach cancer can grow extremely large before causing other noticeable symptoms – see your doctor. Symptoms may include:

A feeling of a bloated stomach following a meal
Stomach discomfort or indigestion
Slight nausea
No real appetite
Heartburn (acid indigestion)

Home Remedies for Bloating

Different cultures have various home remedies for bloating. Some things you could try are:

Drink peppermint tea
Purposely allow the gas to pass
Grate fresh ginger into tea made with honey and lemon; drink right before or after a meal
Crunch on caraway seeds or crackers
Chew fennel seed (be sure that you're not allergic to it. If you have an allergy to other seeds it might be wise to skip this one)
Anise seed helps to relax the digestive tract
Drink chamomile tea
Avoid dairy products; they may trigger gas
Eating one cup of pumpkin with a meal helps to reduce the amount of gas made—broiled, baked, steamed or a piece of pie!
Use activated charcoal in powder, capsule or tablet form. You can buy it at the drugstore; be sure to follow directions
Chew your food thoroughly so that it will pass through your system more quickly and not sit inside of you creating gases
A glass of warm water with fresh lemon juice in it is a good habit to form. The lemon stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid that breaks down the food; the water flushes the digestive system keeping things moving freely. It also helps to detoxify your system—the lemon helps the liver enzymes to do a better job. Drink one whole cup of warm to hot water with the juice of half a fresh lemon in it every morning on an empty stomach
Avoid caffeine beverages, sugary sweets, fried foods or any foods that you know will personally cause gas
Exercise helps you to expel gas--better on the track than in the office!
Take enzymes—e.g. Lactaid can help relieve the pain and pressure by aiding digestion
Use probiotics, particularly live cultures--available in health food stores (My favorite brand is Plexus ProBio5, because it contains enzymes as well as a natural antifungal)
A belly rub with herbs such as cinnamon, cloves and fennel in olive oil will help to relieve gas, or try cardamom and ginger

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Livestock account for approximately 20% of global methane emissions; 1–2% of global methane emissions come from livestock flatus; 90–95% of it is released by humans exhaling or burping.

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There is an area of medicine called “flatology,” that translates to, “the study of farts.”

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Professional fart smeller is an actual job in China and you can make up to $50,000 a year. The job requirements are strict. People from 18 to 45 years old can be accredited as fart-smellers. Applicants go through a training program and must pass an examination, must be non-smokers who do not consume alcoholic beverages, and must be free of any nasal conditions or diseases.

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Links for Other Conditions:

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

HYPERTENSION is also known as high blood pressure, a chronic medical condition where the blood pressure (BP) in the arteries is high; requiring the heart to function harder than it should to keep blood circulating. There are two measurements for blood pressure, systolic (top reading), when the heart muscle is contracting, and diastolic (bottom reading), when it is relaxed between beats. The American Heart Association blood pressure chart lists a normal blood pressure reading as follows: Systolic less than 120/Diastolic less than 80.

Doctors normally do not get concerned over low blood pressure unless there are signs and symptoms, such as:

Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Dehydration and unusual thirst
Lack of concentration
Blurred vision
Nausea
Cold, clammy, pale skin
Rapid short breaths
Fatigue
Depression

High blood pressure symptoms for most people are non-existent unless their blood pressure is extremely high, and then there may be a severe headache, fatigue and/or confusion. Hypertension is often called ‘the silent killer.’

How to lower blood pressure:

Home Remedied for High Blood Pressure - Avocados

Avacados

Although there are numerous medications prescribed for this health problem there are also home remedies that may help you to combat high blood pressure (HBP), among them eating healthy foods. Limit your salt intake or try no salt or use other spices; foods in excess of 250mg of salt/per serving are considered ‘high salt foods. Eat lots of healthy foods including fruits and vegetables; limit your alcohol and caffeine intake. Regular physical exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. If you smoke, the carbon monoxide replaces some of the oxygen in your blood forcing your BP higher—therefore making your heart increase its effort to maintain a supply of needed oxygen. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and Aleve (naproxen sodium). Such medications are self-defeating since you may retain sodium, putting your kidneys under strain and possibly raising your BP.

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure:

There are various home remedies for high bloodpressure, including: a diet rich in fruit and vegetables combined with physical exercise

Drink water: Using the number of pounds you weigh as a guide, divide it by half – that is the number of ounces of water you should drink daily to help keep your system flushed and your blood pressure lower
Avocados – Eat them regularly. There are 2 essential fatty acids in avocados that help to maintain normal blood pressure
Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) – take 2 teaspoons of raw, organic, unpasteurized, unfiltered ACV in water or juice to help prevent hypertension. ACV is also a home remedy for hair loss, a home remedy for heartburn, one of many home remedies for arthritis, and a yeast infection home remedy
Astragalus Root – Easiest to buy a bottle of pills at the health food store. Follow instructions on the label. Astragalus Root is also one of the home remedies for flu.
Garlic – Eat raw cloves added to food or take capsules. Garlic is also an effective sore throat home remedy.
Celery – juiced or eat seeds - it naturally helps to lower blood pressure
Cinnamon – use of cinnamon can greatly reduce blood pressure
Cayenne – may be one of the quickest ways to keep blood pressure readings down. Stir one teaspoon of cayenne into 1/2 cup of lukewarm water and drink. Be cautious, as it is very spicy-hot. Cayenne is also one of the home remedies for back pain and can also be used as one of the home remedies for sinus infections.
Chamomile – Has calming properties and can help relieve stress, it is also a home remedy for migraines and a home remedy for bloating one of many home remedies for eczema. If you are allergic to ragweed, be cautious of chamomile
Fennel – Lowers blood pressure and is a home remedy for heartburn, home remedy for bloating, and listed among home remedies for a cough,
Hawthorn berries – lower blood pressure, protect heart and circulatory system, and a home remedy for insomnia
Parsley – According to Natural News:

"Parsley is also known as a powerful diuretic that reduces blood pressure and enhances kidney function. In particular, parsley increases sodium and water excretion through urine and increases potassium reabsorption into the kidneys."

Parsley is also one of the home remedies for allergies

Magnesium - will lower blood pressure readings. Take supplements as recommended by your doctor or the manufacturer.
Vitamin C – is critical to reducing blood pressure
Szechuan Buttons (AKA Toothache Plant) - This plant contains vasodilators that help lower blood pressure. It is also a great home remedy for toothache...I bet you'd never have guessed that! This video shows a person's reaction to tasting it:

WebMD offers an extended list of common natural remedies (and reviews) often used to treat the symptoms of high blood pressure; I have found potassium and magnesium to be effective.

Read Labels and Avoid:

salt (salt raises your blood pressure)
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
baking soda
most canned vegetables
commercially prepared meals/foods
diet soft drinks
mold inhibitors
meat tenderizers
most sugar substitutes (Xylitol is said to be a safe substitute and helps to build the immune system)
soft water
sauces such as soy sauce
Rosemary

Buy a Blood Pressure Monitor:

The best way to know what your blood pressure is, and whether your efforts to lower it are effective is to use a blood pressure monitor to track it. Blood pressure readings are often taken in both arms if the patient is at risk of cardiovascular disease. It is a good idea to log your daily blood pressure readings and take them with you to your doctor.