Do you need aspirin for that headache?

Have you ever seen one of those commercials which advertise drugs "guaranteed" to cure whatever ails you? They sympathize with our pain and tell us that the use of their product will help us lead a pain-free, productive life. Taking the medicine is always easy ... just pop a pill and, like magic, we are smiling.

A headache is trying to
tell you something.

The problem is, popping a pill for instant relief often prevents us from looking at the cause of our discomfort. It can cover up, rather than cure, a problem.

Am I saying that we shouldn't use medications? Not at all! I firmly believe that there is a place, and a need, for medicine. But, many times our discomfort can be relieved in a simple, natural way.

Here are some of my favorite natural remedies:

Headaches

A headache is trying to tell you something. Perhaps you haven't had enough sleep or have waited too long to eat. It might signal tension or that you aren't breathing deeply enough. Here are a few things to try before taking an aspirin:

• Drink a glass of water (headaches are often caused by dehydration).
• Eat something (even a small amount can cure a headache if it's been awhile since your last meal).
• Take 5 slow, deep breaths (it can release tension and change your mood).

Upset Stomach

An upset stomach can signal a serious issue and, if it continues for more than 24 hours, one should consult a physician. Often, however, it's caused by a virus, flu, or something we ate (as Scrooge says, "an undigested bit of beef"). These cures might give you instant relief:

• 

  This sweet treat can
  ease stomach aches.

  Let a peppermint candy slowly dissolve in your mouth (peppermint calms and numbs stomach muscles so that the flow of bile (used to digest fats) is improved and food can travel more quickly through the body).
• Drink a cup of ginger tea (ginger has antispasmodic, anti-nausea, and digestive properties). Note: This is not recommended for children under two years of age.

Bee Stings and Bug Bites

Spending time outside usually means bug bites. Unless one is allergic, bugs bites and bee stings are more painful than anything else (seek immediate medical help if you are allergic to bee stings). After removing the stinger, use these tips to relieve the pain:

• Apply mud (dirt mixed with water) directly to the bite. Let the mud dry and then wash off with cool water. Works every time!
• Apply ice (ice reduces pain and swelling ... be sure to wrap the ice in a cloth to avoid direct contact which could damage skin tissue).
• Pour a little vinegar directly on the affected area. If it doesn't work, try the next tip.



Every home needs Aloe!

• Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to the bite.
• Cut a leaf from your Aloe plant (you all have Aloe plants, right?) and apply the gel directly to the bite.

Burns

Minor burns or sunburns can be treated effectively and naturally. Try these ideas:

• Apply cool water to the burn to reduce the heat (do not use ice because it will damage the skin tissue).
• Dab Witch Hazel on the area (Witch Hazel is an astringent and has been shown to give long-lasting anti-inflammatory relief).
• Place tea bags (soaked in water) on the affected area (tea contains tannic acid which eases pain).

Our bodies offer us many clues to health. Discomfort signals a problem which can often be prevented or cured naturally. Medicines do have a place in a healthy lifestyle but it's best to try to understand the cause of a problem, and fix it naturally if possible, before finding instant relief with over-the-counter drugs.

What are your favorite natural home remedies?


Sneak Peek: We asked if you could live off the grid. Tomorrow we'll reveal your answers!


The information presented in our holistic living series is not, and should not be used as, a substitute for medical advice.

This post is shared at Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Hop and Small Footprint Fridays

Review - Old Man Murray's Soap

I love organic, all natural, handmade soap. I mean ... I LOVE IT!! It doesn't compromise the environment or my health and, in my opinion, nothing could be more luxurious! So imagine my delight when I was contacted by Old Man Murray's and invited to try out two of their bars.

I was THRILLED!

A company's environmental commitment is important to me. So before agreeing to review their products, I visited Old Man Murray's site. My first impression was that, rather than rushing to sell us something, they were interested in sharing information with readers. There are a number of articles which I found interesting ... one explaining parabens, one about coping with dry skin and another on the benefits of lavender oil. I then clicked on the "About Us" section and learned that they use USDA certified organic vegetable oils, pure essential plant oils, and herbs ... and further that they never use synthetic fragrances, colorants, or preservatives. Under the section about Sustainability, I learned that they not only expect high standards from their own products but require their suppliers to maintain a commitment to the environment as well. Palm Oil is sourced from members of the Palm Sustainability Council. Shea butter is sourced from a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of women in West Africa and it is certified fair trade by the Fair Trade Federation. Everything I read about this company looked good ... so I chose two bars of soap:

Sanguinello
(Blood Orange and Bergamot)
Ingredients: Saponified oils of safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut (with retained glycerin); essential oils of blood orange, bergamot, orange, tangerine, lemongrass, and lime; madder root; rosemary extract

Citrus Herb
(Lemongrass, Rosemary and Lime)
Ingredients: Saponified oils of safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut (with retained glycerin); essential oils of lemongrass, patchouli, rosemary, lime, sage, and bergamot; annatto seed; rosemary leaf; rosemary extract


Each bar came packaged in an Eco-friendly cardboard box:

The front of the box
("with love" seems to encompass the care with which each bar is created, packaged and mailed).

The back of the box
(ingredients are clearly featured)





A company's Eco-commitment, the ingredients of their products and packaging are all important factors to consider when buying anything ... but ... how does the soap perform?

When I opened the boxes, I was greeted with delightful fragrances. The Citrus Herb has a refreshing scent ... the rosemary came to me first, followed by the clean fragrance of citrus. The Sanguinello is definitely blood orange first but then the wonderful scent of bergamot comes forward.

Each bar is a generous 4 ounces and is the perfect size for holding in your hand in the shower. It lathers beautifully and feels so nice on my skin. An important feature in any soap is how well it rinses off ... all natural soaps don't leave a residue but rather rinse off completely. Old Man Murray's soaps left me with clean, moisturized and slightly fragrant skin.

Old Man Murray's soap is, indeed, the "finest quality handmade soap".

You can browse their site and purchase products by clicking HERE.

I received products in order to write this review. I received no other compensation. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and reflect my honest opinions.