PERTUSSIS

EAR INFECTION

Ear Infection

Human ear is divided into three sections – outer ear, middle ear and the inner ear. Ear infection is often the reason to visit a ear specialist. There are two main types of ear infection – otitis media and otitis externa. Otitis media is the infection of the middle ear, found mainly among infants and children. Otitis externa also known as swimmer’s ear is the infection of the external ear. Ear infection is more commonly seen in boys and in winter season. Ear infection is not contagious.

Symptoms for otitis media

Following are the symptoms for otitis media
• Pain and itch in the infected ear
• Fever and falling sick
• Hearing problem in the infected ear
• Dizziness in some cases
• Fluid discharge from the infected ear
• Vomiting.

Symptoms for otitis externa

Following are the symptoms of otitis externa
• Itch in the infected ear
• Discharge from the infected ear
• Pain getting more severe by movement of the ear lobe or the jaw
• Temporary reduction in hearing
• Slight fever
• Inflammation in the ear.

Causes for otitis media

The main cause of otitis media is blockage of the Eustachian tube due to cold, allergy or some foreign particles in the ear. This causes fluid to build up in the middle ear. This fluid can cause swelling of the ear drum if infected by the virus. If adenoid glands interfere with the Eustachian tube it will cause otitis media. Weak immune system will not cure the infection.

Causes for otitis externa

Otitis externa is caused by the bacteria or fungi. Moist and wet conditions are favorable for the growth of these bacteria or fungi. Frequent swimming or exposure to water increases the chances of infection. Skin allergies can also cause otitis externa.

Other causes of ear infection

Besides all these some other factors like nutritional deficiency, allergy and other infections may also cause ear infection.

Remedies for infected ear

Put few drops of garlic juice into the infected ear. Use blow dryer from about 12 to 15 inches from your head, this will remove any water trapped in the Eustachian tube. Put some olive oil on the warm spoon; put 2 to 3 drops of this in each ear. Put few drops of lobelia extract into the infected ear and rub it gently. Wash your ear using colloidal silver, it is a natural antibiotic. Slightly warm one teaspoon of juice of the mango leaf and put it into the infected ear drop by drop.

Take Vitamin C and increase zinc intake

Take vitamin C to boost your immune system, it will help you to combat infection. Increase Zinc intake, it reduces ear infection. Eat a healthy diet with lots of calcium in it. Avoid processed foods and hydrogenated oils. Stress on breast feeding for infection in infants.

Other suggestions for ear infection

Avoid going in front of any one smoking because cigarette smoke can block Eustachian tubes. Avoid accompanying people suffering from cold. Wash your hands regularly. Avoid touching nose and eyes

 

WHOOPING COUGH

WHOOPING COUGH

 

Whooping cough or pertussis, as it is called in medical parlance, is an infectious disease. It commonly affects infants during the first year of life, and children up to five years of age.

Whooping Cough symptoms

Cold with a marked cough

The child develops a cold with a marked cough, which becomes more severe and spasmodic after a few days. At the end of this spasm, the child gives a characteristic whoop. As the paroxysms of coughing increase, the disease becomes less infective.

Vomiting

Vomiting, which is frequent, may lead to the bursting of small blood vessels in tile nose or the conjunctiva of the eyes. The disease may last for several weeks.

Whooping Cough causes

Broncho-pneumonia and infection of middle ear

The serious complications of whooping cough are broncho-pneumonia and infection of the middle ear. Convulsions may also occur in severe cases.

Whooping cough caused by Microorganisms

Whooping cough is caused by the microorganisms Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis. Of these, the first one gives rise to more severe infections, the disease is very infectious and spreads by droplet spray.

Whooping Cough treatments using Home Remedies

 

Whooping Cough treatment using Garlic

Garlic is one of the most effective remedies for whooping cough. The syrup of garlic should be given in doses of five drops to a teaspoon, two or three times a day, for treating this condition. It should be given more often if the coughing spells are frequent and violent.

Whooping Cough treatment using Ginger

Ginger is another effective remedy for whooping cough. A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, is an excellent diaphoretic. The fenugreek decoction can be made by boiling one teaspoon of seeds in 250 ml of water till it is reduced to half.

Whooping Cough treatment using Radish

Syrup prepared by mixing a teaspoon of fresh radish juice with an equal quantity of honey and a little rock salt, is beneficial in the treatment of this disease. It should be given thrice daily.

Whooping Cough treatment using Almond Oil

Almond oil is valuable in whooping cough. Five drops of almond oil should be mixed with ten drops each of fresh white onion juice and ginger juice, and taken thrice daily for a fortnight. It will provide relief.

Whooping Cough treatment using Calamus

http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Sweet_flag

 

The herb calamus is another valuable remedy for whooping cough. A pinch of the powder of the roasted herb should be given with a teaspoon of honey. Being antispasmodic, it prevents severe bouts of coughing. For smaller children, the dose must be proportionately smaller.

Whooping Cough diet

Fruit diet

At the beginning of the treatment, the child should be kept on orange juice and water for a few days. The child may be put on an all-fruit diet for a few more days after the more serious symptoms have cleared up.

Other Whooping Cough treatment

Epsom Salts

Epsom salts baths will be beneficial during the initial juice and water fast.

Case of Constipation

In case of constipation, a mild laxative, preferably castor oil, should be administered. This will also relieve the pain in the abdominal muscles, which are usually strained during the paroxy-sms of coughing.

Protection against exposure

The patient should be protected against exposure to cold and moisture as they are likely to aggravate the condition.

 

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR BLOOD PRESSURE

Hypertension – or high blood pressure – is a big problem for many people. Millions of people been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

You are the only one who can take charge of your life and
change your current lifestyle to do something to improve that
blood pressure problem.

Increasing the consumption of plant foods into your diet is
very important in lowering blood pressure. A good vegetarian
diet contains less saturated fat and refined carbohydrates, and
more potassium, complex carbohydrates, fibre, calcium,
magnesium, vitamin C and essential fatty acids.

Some supplements that are good for lowering blood pressure are
fish oil supplements or flaxseed oil which are both rich in
omega-3 fatty acids.

Measuring Blood Pressure:

There are two numbers taken into account when blood pressure is
measured. The highest number is the systolic which measures the
pressure inside the arteries when the heart beats. The lower
number is the diastolic which measures the pressure in the
arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

Hypertension is ranked in stages with the first stage being
Prehypertension. The measurements in this range are Systolic –
120 to 139 and Diastolic – 80 to 89.

Stage 1 is the next stage with measurements being Systolic –
140 to 159 and Diastolic – 90 to 99.

Stage 2 is the highest stage of hypertension with measurements
being Systolic greater than 160 and Diastolic greater than 100.

Some natural remedies for hypertension are:

1- Raw garlic. Have garlic in salads and also use it in
cooking. Garlic supplements are good to take on a daily basis,
one after breakfast and one after dinner.

2- Eat apples. Apples have pectin with can help to lower blood
pressure so try to eat two apples a day.

3- Papaya is very good if you eat it first thing in the morning
every day and then do not eat anything for two hours after.

4- Eggs and meat will cause blood pressure to rise more than
any other food. Avoid meat, tea and coffee, sugar and fried
food.

5- Cucumbers are rich in potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
They’re also a good diuretic and calming agent. To help bring
down blood pressure, try eating a cucumber every day. If you
have a juicer, drink ½ cup of fresh cucumber juice. You can also
include some carrots and parsley, which is another good
diuretic.

6- Cayenne pepper is very good for stabilizing blood pressure.

7- Drink watermelon seeds. Crush or blend two teaspoons of
dried watermelon seeds and then put them in a cup of boiled
water. Leave them for one hour and then strain them. Drink the
watermelon seed tea half an hour before each meal. This can also
improve kidney function so you may also be using the bathroom a
bit more than usual.

8- Raspberry leaf tea can also help to reduce blood pressure.
You can have this tea hot or cold. Combine 1 ounce of raspberry
leaves to 2 cups of boiling water and simmer for 20 minutes.
Drink 1 cup a day.

The last natural remedy…

Laugh! Studies have shown that five to ten minutes of laughter
first thing in the morning is a great way to improve blood
pressure levels.

Common Names For Herbs

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa )
Aloe ( Aloe barbadensis)
Angelica ( Angelica archangelica)
Anise ( Pimpinella anisum)
Arnica ( Arnica montana)
Ashwaganda ( Withania somnifera)
Astragalus ( Astragalus membranaceus)

Bayberry ( Myrica cerifera)
Beth root ( Trillium spp. )
Betony (Stachys/Betonica officinalis )
Bilberry/Huckleberr y ( Vaccinium spp.)
Black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa)
Black walnut ( Juglans nigra)
Bladderwrack ( Fucus versiculosus)
Blessed thistle ( Cnicus benedictus)
Bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensia)
Blueberry ( Vaccinium spp.)
Blue cohosh ( Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Blue flag ( Iris versicolor)
Boldo ( Peumus boldus)
Boneset ( Eupatorium perforatum)
Buchu ( Barosma betulina)
Buckthorn ( Rhamnus frangula)
Bugleweed ( Lycopus virginicus)
Burdock ( Arctium lappa)
Butcher’s broom ( Ruscus aculeatus)
Butternut ( Juglans cinerea)

Cactus ( Selenicereus grandiflorus )
Calendula (Calendula officinalis )
California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica)
Caraway ( Carum carvi)
Cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum)
Cascara ( Rhamnus purshiana)
Catnip ( Nepeta cataria)
Cayenne ( Capsicum frutescens)
Cedar, Western ( Thuja plicata or occidentalis)
Celandine, Greater ( Chelidonium majus)
Chamomile ( Matricaria recutita)
Chapparral ( Larrea mexicana)
Chaste tree berry ( Vitex agnus castus)
Chickweed ( Stellaria media)
Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum spp.)
Cleavers ( Galium aparine)
Coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara)
Comfrey ( Symphytum officinalis)
Corn silk ( Zea mays)
Cramp bark ( Viburnum opulus)
Culver’s root ( Leptandra virginica)

Damiana ( Turnera diffusa)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis )
Devil’s claw ( Harpagophytum procumbens)
Devil’s club ( Oplopanax horridus)
Dong quai ( Angelica sinensis)

Echinacea ( Echinacea spp.)
Elder flowers(Sambucus spp. )
Elecampane (Inula helenium )
Eyebright ( Euphrasia officinalis)

False unicorn ( Chamaelirium luteum )
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare )
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum )
Feverfew ( Tanacetum parthenium)
Figwort ( Scrophularia nodosa)
Flax seed ( Linum usitatissimum)
Fo-ti, Ho-Shou-Wu ( Polygonum multiflorum)
Fringe tree ( Chionanthus virginicus)

Garlic ( Allium sativa)
Gentian ( Gentiana lutea )
Geranium (Geranium maculatum )
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis )
Ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba)
Ginseng ( Panax spp.)
Goldthread ( Coptis chinensis)
Goldenrod ( Solidago spp.)
Goldenseal ( Hydrastis canadensis)
Gotu kola ( Centella asiatica)
Gravel root ( Eupatorium purpureum)
Gum guggul ( Commiphora mukul)
Gumweed ( Grindelia spp.)
Gymnema ( Gymnema sylvestre)

Hawthorne ( Crataegus spp.)
Hellebore (Veratrum viride or album )
Hops (Humulus lupulus )
Horehound ( Marrubium vulgaris)
Horse chestnut ( Aesculus hippocastanum)
Horsetail ( Equisetum arvense)
Hyssop ( Hyssopus officinalis)

Iris ( Iris versicolor)

Jambolan ( Syzygium cumini)
Juniper berry( Juniperus communis)

Kava kava ( Piper methysticum)
Khella (Ammi visnaga )

Lady’s mantle ( Alchemilla vulgaris)
Lavender ( Lavendula angustifolia)
Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis)
Licorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Ligustrum ( Ligustrum lucidum)
Lily of the valley ( Convallaria majalis)
Linden flower ( Tilia spp.)
Lobelia ( Lobelia inflata)
Lomatium ( Lomatium dissectum)
Lungwort ( Sticta pulmonaria)

Ma huang ( Ephedra sinica)
Marshmallow ( Althea officinalis )
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria )
Milk thistle ( Silybum marianum)
Mistletoe ( Viscum album)
Motherwort ( Leonurus cardiaca)
Mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris)
Mullein ( Verbascum thapsus)
Myrrh gum( Commiphora myrrha)

Nettle root ( Urtica spp.)

Oat ( Avena sativa)
Old man’s beard ( Usnea spp.)
Oregon grape root and barberry ( Mahonia spp.)
Osha ( Ligusticum porteri)

Paracress ( Spilanthes acmella )
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum )
Partridge berry ( Mitchella repens)
Passionflower ( Passiflora incarnata)
Pau d’ arco ( Tabebuia impetiginosa)
Pennyroyal ( Hedeoma pulegioides)
Peppermint ( Mentha piperita)
Pipsissewa ( Chimaphilia umbellata)
Plantain ( Plantago spp.)
Pleurisy root ( Asclepias tuberosa)
Poke ( Phytolacca decandra)
Poplar buds ( Populus spp.)
Prickly ash ( Zanthoxylum clava-herculis)
Propolis ( Propolis)
Psyllium ( Plantago arenaria/ovata/ asiatica)
Pulsatilla ( Anemone vulgaris and pratensis)

Queen’s root ( Stillingia sylvatica )

Red clover ( Trifolium pratense)
Red raspberry ( Rubus idaeus)
Red root ( Ceanothus americanus)
Rhubarb ( Rheum officinalis)
Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rue ( Ruta graveolens)

Sage ( Salvia officinalis)
Sage root, Chinese (Salvia miltiorrhiza )
Saint John’s wort ( Hypericum perforatum)
Sarsaparilla ( Smilax officinalis)
Saw palmetto ( Serenoa repens)
Schisandra ( Schisandra chinensis)
Senna ( Cassia spp.)
Shepherd’s Purse ( Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Siberian ginseng ( Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Skullcap ( Scutellaria laterifolia)
Skunk cabbage ( Symplocarpus foetidus or Lysichiton americanum)
Slippery elm ( Ulmus spp. (rubra, fulva))
Spikenard ( Aralia racemosa)
Stone root ( Collinsonia canadensis)

Thyme ( Thymus vulgaris)
True unicorn ( Aletris farinosa )
Tumeric (Curcuma longa )

Uva ursi ( Arctostaphylos uva ursi)

Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis )
Vervain (Verbena officinalis )

White oak bark( Quercus alba)
Wild cherry ( Prunus spp.)
Wild ginger ( Asarum caudatum or canadensis)
Wild indigo ( Baptisia tinctoria)
Wild yam ( Dioscorea villosa)
Willow ( Salix spp.)
Witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana)

Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium )
Yellow dock (Rumex crispus/obtusifoliu s )
Yerba mansa ( Anemopsis californica)
Yerba santa ( Eriodictyon californicum)
Yew, Western ( Taxus brevifolia)
Yohimbe ( Pausinystalia johimbe)
Yucca ( Yucca spp.)