Five Easy Home Remedies for Boils

We all have, at one time or another, suffered from boils. Boils are tiny, hard and painful lumps on the skin which become larger, softer and more painful due to the pressure caused by the development of pus. Boils are skin infections that start in hair follicles or oil glands and appear most frequently on the face, neck, buttocks and underarms.

Causes of Boils

Bacterial Infections by Staphylococcus aureus or S. epidermidis

Ingrown Hair

Anti-perspirants

Foreign Material Lodged in the Skin

Stress

Allergy

Low Immunity

Diabetes

Reaction to Toxic Substances

Boils are generally treated with antibiotics and b applying oils on the boil to ripen it. You can use the following herbs both externally and internally to provide a natural and fast relief without using antibiotics.

1)      Garlic

Grate 3-5 garlic cloves and apply the paste to the boil. Use a band aid, clean cloth or bandage to hold it in place.

2)      Onion

Grate some onion and apply the same way as Garlic.

3)      Turmeric

Grate some turmeric root and apply to the boil.

Mix a teaspoon of turmeric in warm water and drink 3 times a day.

You can also use a combination of onion, turmeric and garlic. Eating more of these three ingredients also help.

4)      Neem Leaves, Dogonyaro Leaves

Chop the Neem leaves and pound to a paste and apply to the boil

Boil some leaves into a decoction for drinking.

5)      Lemon or Lime Juice

Cut a lemon or lime into two and put half on the boil. Secure with a cloth or bandage.

Squeeze a lemon or lime into some hot water and drink 2-3 times a day.

Have you got anything to add to this? Comment and let’s hear from you!

Get Rid of Chronic Inner Thigh Rash Effectively

Inner thigh rashes affect a lot of people especially women with laps that touch. Inner thigh rashes, called IBOTAN in Yoruba, cause some of the following

• Blisters
• Itchiness
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Inflammation
• Dryness
• Burning Sensation
• Sudden tear in the affected area

 Having inner thigh rash can become persistent and chronic for some people and it comes with great discomfort and pain.

 Other physical causes of this rash are:

Cycling

Jogging

Prolonged Nappy and Sanitary Towel Use

There are a lot of remedies that may be prescribed by a doctor but you find that this condition will return sooner or later. The best and cheapest approach to finding permanent cure is to use a cream or oil with Vitamin E and moisturizing properties. Look no further than your natural plant and seed oils like the following

• Shea Butter
• Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Hemp Seed Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Other Natural Plant Oils

 A wonderful home recipe will be to use Shea butter mixed with coconut oil twice daily. You can incorporate rubbing natural oils to your inner thighs daily to rid yourself of this condition permanently.

Herbal Recipe to Provide Relief From Arhtritis

Millions of people are facing arthritis, rheumatism and about a hundred inflammatory conditions labeled arthritis. The main symptoms are pain, inflammation, limited joint movement and stiffness. Because these conditions and inflammatory ones, the use of anti-inflammatory herbs is recommended for relief and healing. If you are, or a loved one is, going through this debilitating and painful condition, try this easy to make and cheap herbal mixture made from common spices. 

Spices Needed

Turmeric 10 roots

Ginger 10 roots

Clove Seeds ¼ cup

African Black Pepper Seeds 1 cup

Alligator Pepper Seeds 1/8 cup

750ml Honey OR 750ml Alcoholic drink (gin, whisky, rum, brandy or any of your choice)

Preparation Method

Grind the cloves, African black pepper and alligator pepper seeds together into powder.

Grate the turmeric and ginger roots.

Using Honey

Warm the raw honey in a pot and add the ground spices, turmeric and ginger.

Mix well with a spoon and allow it to cool.

Pour the mixture in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

Keep the jar in a dark place for a week or two.

Dosage: Use a teaspoon twice daily.

Using an Alcoholic Drink

Put the materials in a glass jar and pour the alcoholic drink on the mixture.

Shake the mixture, making sure that there are no clumps.

 Leave for a week or two, shaking the mixture daily.

(Read post on Preparing DIY Herbal Remedies Safely and Inexpensively 2)

Dosage: Use a tablespoon twice daily. Shake the mixture before using.

This herbal mixture has peppers with hotness which some people may find difficult to use. You can overcome this by diluting with water, juice, tea or pap. You may also start with small doses and adjust after evaluating your outcomes.

Using Herbs to Live Good With Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is a hereditary disorder in which normally round shaped red blood cells which carry oxygen through the body become abnormal and sickle shaped. A crisis episode occurs when there is sickling because the blood cells cannot move as easily as normal red blood cells, thereby blocking blood vessels and disrupting blood flow. This results in pain, tissue damage and major organs damage. Anaemia is common in people with sickle cell disease due to the fact that sickled cells have a shorter lifespan and are not as easily replaced as normal cells leading to a shortage of red blood cells.

Living with Sickle Cell Disease is tough condition to live with but can be managed better with understanding a few facts about what can cause cells to sickle and avoiding them.

Some of the conditions which cause sickling and crisis are:

1)      Lack of Oxygen in the body is the major cause of sickling and it can be caused by the following;

·         Infections

·         Dehydration (not enough water)

·         Stress

·         Exhaustion

·         Strenuous Exercise

·         Smoking

2)      Poor Blood Circulation

3)      Pain

Because Sickle Cell Disease is predominant amongst people of African descent, Africans have managed it for thousands of years with herbs. Here is a list of some of the herbs and spices that are used in Sickle Cell Disease management:

·         Alligator Pepper Seeds , Aframomum melegueta, grains of Paradise, atare(Yoruba), ese oji(Igbo), eche(Idoma)

·         Clove Seeds, Eugenia caryophyllata, kananfuru (Yoruba, Hausa)

·         African Black Pepper Seeds, Piper guineensis, iyere(Yoruba), Uziza(Igbo)

·         Sorghum Bicolour Leaf Stalks, poroporo oka baba(Yoruba), okili(Igbo), durra, milo, juwari,

·         Fagara Root, Fagara zanthoxyloides, pako orin ata(Yoruba)

·         Pigeon Pea Seeds, Cajanus cajan,

·         Pawpaw Leaves and Fruit, Carica papaya, ibepe(Yoruba)

·         Pterocarpus Osun Stem,

·         Indian Almond Leaves, Terminalia catappa, commonly called “fruit” in Southwest Nigeria.

·         False Nutmeg Bark, Pcynanthus angolensis, akomu(Yoruba), akwa mili, oje(Igbo)                        

     

      The foundation of healthy living is also built upon what we consume and our lifestyle. A diet filled with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods is highly beneficial to everyone for optimal body health and this is very important for those living with Sickle Cell Disease.

Feedbacks are highly appreciated. If you have something beneficial to add to this article, a question or concern, you may send an email to me yvonnebosede06@yahoo.com

Indian Hemp Has Excellent Medicinal Properties

Cannabis hemp (Cannabis sativa, marijuana, ganja, igbo) has been used as a naturally effective medicinal agent for thousands of years on every continent and by different cultural groups. Its various medical uses have been documented for thousands of years by the Chinese and Indians and until the mid-1900’s Cannabis hemp extracts were used medically to treat a wide variety of diseases. The health benefits of hemp are vast and its main uses these days include treatment of pain, nausea, lack of appetite, sleeping disorders, auto-immune diseases (MS) and glaucoma. Alternative cures and remedies are beginning to surface again due to the fact that powerful pharmaceutical companies (Big Pharma) have started to break down under the pressure from people to find health alternatives without detrimental side effects. The parts of hemp commonly used are seeds, leaves, buds whole plant and latex.

The use of Cannabis sativa as a medicinal  has been overshadowed by its use as a narcotic indulgence but people are beginning to realize that heat is needed (vapourising or smoking) to convert THCA and CBDA in raw cannabis to THC and CBD (the psychoactive components). The leaves, buds and seeds are rich cannabidiol which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and non-psychoactive properties 

Hempseed contains high levels Vitamins A, C and E, minerals like calcium potassium, phosphorus magnesium and sulphur. The oil from the seeds is natural, does not contain THC and is rich in a lot of omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids that;

·         Give the Skin, Hair and Nails needed Nutrients for Health

·         Slow the Natural Aging Process

·         Are good for the Heart by Promoting Proper Cardiovascular Function

·         Have Anti-inflammatory Properties

·         Boost the Immune System

·         Provide Excellent Nutrition for the Brain

·         Are Used to Reduce Scars and Treat Pimples, Acne

·         Help to Promote Hormonal Balance

·         Lower Cholesterol Levels

·         Good for Diabetes

·         Prevent Varicose Veins

Raw Cannabis sativa leaves and buds can be juiced or eaten and some of the benefits are;

·         To Relieve Chronic Pain and Discomfort

·         To Treat Arthritis and Other Chronic Inflammatory Condition

·         To Treat AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis

·         To Treat Cancer Alternatively and to Relieve the Effects of Cancer Treatments

·         Glaucoma Treatment

·         To Improve Appetite

·         To Kill Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Pathogens

      Juicing and eating the raw leaves is gaining more ground as a means of using it medicinally without getting high and it has been likened to juicing wheat grass. An infusion (tea) can also be made from the leaves.

Kill Cancer Cells With This Extract From Soursop

Mother Nature has given us many natural active components in the plants around us. One of the natural active ingredients we have for killing cancer cells are acetogenins. Acetogenins are active components that are found in sour sop tree. Acetogenins are proven to only target and kill cancer cells without harming normal healthy cells.

 Soursop is an alternative cancer treatment that has been used in the past, especially in countries where it grows abundantly.

Acetogenins help in the treatment of cancer in the two following ways;

1)      They reduce the voltage of cancer cells to the point of their falling apart by blocking the production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).

2)      They build up the immune system.

Soursop, called graviola or custard apple, is an evergreen flowering tree that is native to tropical regions that has recently gained attention due to its natural cancer killing properties and is said to kill cancer cells much more effectively than chemotherapy drugs without producing the same horrible side effects.

 Mainstream medicine says that alternative cancer cures do not work but the truth is that available mainstream methods sometimes kill a patient faster than if they were not used.

Apart from its use for cancer treatment, soursop has many other health properties including the following:

·         Boosts the immune System

·         Prevents Infections by effectively inhibiting the growth of bacteria, virus and parasites

·         Inhibits Development of Tumours

·         Treatment of Gout and Uric Acid

·         Treatment of Back Pain, Joint Pain and Arthritis:

·         Treatment of Eczema, Boils and Skin Ulcers

·         Treatment of Diabetes, High Blood Pressure

·         Treatment of Hair Lice

Soursop leaves have healing properties that make them capable of being used as anti-seizure medication and  fever reducers. They help in treating inflammation and swollen feet. They aid in digestion and improve appetite. 

Drinking sour sop tea and eating the fruit on a regular basis helps in improving stamina and facilitating quick recovery from diseases.

You can make soursop leaves tea by boiling about 20 pieces of soursop leaves in 5 cups of water until only 3 cups of water are left

Please note that if your objective of using soursop is to treat cancer, an effective cancer treatment would involve more than this depending on the type of cancer and stage. Please consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Stop Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Now

A lot of women have at one time or the other faced excessive menstrual bleeding known medically as Menorrhagia.

Menorrhagia is defined as excessively heavy or prolonged uterine bleeding with clots but with or without menstrual cramps which can be caused by medical problems or hormone imbalances.

Many herbs containing tannins with astrigent properties are used to treat this condition. I am going to talk about a herbal remedy that reduces bleeding and whose materials are easily availble especially for people living in Africa. I will also mention some other herbs.

Below is a recipe for African Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Remedy (decoction)

Materials

1) 1 cup dried Hibiscus flowers. (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, zobo, sorrel, soobolo, bissap)
2) A slab of Cashew bark. About 6-8 inches long and 3-4 inches wide, depending on the thickness. Cashew is Anacardium occidentale.
3) 10-20 stalks of Sorghum bicolour leaves.(Poroporo oka baba in Yoruba, dura, jowari, milo)  
4) 40-50 Cloves flower pieces. (Syzygium aromaticum, kanafuru, kannofuru
5) 6-8 rhizomes of Ginger.(Zingiber officinale, ata ile)

These ingredients cost about 250 Naira in Nigeria. Just buy 50 Naira worth of each.

Preparation Method.

1) Wash all the ingredients properly.
2) Cut tha cahew bark into small pieces and soak for about 30 minutes in cold water.
3) Add the hibiscus flower petals and the sorghum bicolour stalks.
4)Start to boil, covering all the herbs with water.
5) Peel the ginger roots, crush and then add to the boiling mixture.
6) Crush the clove pieces and add to the mixture 2 minutes before removing from fire.
7) Allow the herbal mixture to cool, strain and bottle. Add 20ml to 30ml Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to 75cl herbal mixture to preserve it. 

Drink a cup of this mixture three times daily during your period. Always start with lower dosages and adjust.

In this remedy, hibiscus flowers and  cashew bark are the main astrigent herbs. Astrigents stop excessive bleeding by constricting the blood vessels.

Other astrigent herbs are;

Raspberry Leaf
Yarrow
Lady's Mantle
Shepherd's Purse
Oak Bark
Agrimony
Uva Ursi or bearberry leaves
Vitex or Chasteberry
Garden Sage Leaves
Cinnamon Bark

Menorrhagia is caused by hormonal imbalances, fibroids, reproductive organs issues, stress, weight loss etc. Consult a medical practitioner to find the exact cause of your medical issues.

Preparing DIY Herbal Remedies Safely and Inexpensively (3)

Preparing your own herbal remedies can be a fulfilling experience as it gives you the confidence to create a home apothecary of herbal remedies to use for common ailments.

We continue on home herbal preparations.

Cold Extracts

Cold extracts make use of cold water instead of boiling water. This method is used to avoid losing volatile ingredients in the herbs during the extraction process. Some barks are prepared this way.

Preparation Method
Put double the amount of herbs you would use for a normal infusion and in cold water. Let it steep for about 12 hours.

Compresses

Compresses are basic forms of treatment that involve folding a piece of cloth, small towel or bandage and applying to an area of treatment. They are used to treat skin infections, headaches, chest congestions and swellings. AndCompresses can be cold or hot. You can also use a hot decoction instead of hot water. Essential oils of herbs may also be added.

Soak a cloth in a hot decoction, squeeze most of the liquid out, then apply the compress to the affected area of the body.

Poultices

Poultices have been used for thousands of years to treat boils, abscesses, sprains, chest colds and respiratory infection. They are simply moistened herbs applied externally treat swellings, pains and congestions, sprains, boils, abscesses, colds and other respiratory infections.

Preparation method

Fresh herbs or powdered seeds are mixed with boiling water to make a pulp. The pulp is put  in a piece of cloth (cotton, linen, poplin etc.) and applied to the affected area while hot.

Balms/Salves

Herbal oils form a great basis for salves and balms, or you can use a plain vegetable oil such as jojoba or olive.

Herb Infused Oils

Medicinal Oils can be used alone, or can form the basis of salves and balms.

Preparation Method

Herbal Oils are made by adding oils like shea butter, coconut oil, palm nut oil, olive oil etc to herbs and then heat for about 10 minutes.

Powders

Powders are made by grinding dried herbs. Some herbs have to be burnt or roasted before grinding. The powder can then be taken with water, pap, honey, milk, milk or mixed with oils.

Ointments

Ointments can be prepared by adding oil to a prepared decoction and then simmering on low heat until the water content evaporates.

Essences
Essences are prepared by dissolving 10-20 grams of essential herbal oil in 600ml of alcohol.

Always remember that dosages are important. Start with the lowest possible and evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes, then you can adjust.
Always do a trial run FIRST! Consult your doctor if you have an acute health issue.

Preparing DIY Herbal Remedies Safely and Inexpensively (2)

After you have procured your herbs, determining the best way to extract the active components is very important. 

Below are tips to help you determine the best preparation method.

1) Sort by the part of plant. You will have roots, barks, flowers, stems, seeds, leaves, whole plants.

2) Sort by the conditions or states; whether fresh or dry, soft, hard, delicate, volatile, powder

3) Sort by size, thickness or bulkiness.

You will have to consider these points so that you can extract the active ingredients you need properly. Herbs that are soft, delicate or with volatile components should be cooked for a short time e.g scent leaves, basil leaves so that their components are not lost by heat. We now start with the Herbal Preparations.

Infusions

Infusions are preparations like tea and the preferred method for delicate herbs, leaf herbs and fresh tender plants. Infusing an herb is almost exactly like preparing tea.

Preparation Method
Boil water
Pour the water over the herb or herb mixture.
Cover and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes.
Stir the herbs and water every few minutes.
Generally 6-8 oz. of water to 1teaspoon of chopped or powdered herb is used. Increase to 2 teaspoons if the herbs are bulky.

Decoction

A decoction is the preferred method for roots, barks, tough and fibrous plant materials.

Preparation Method
Use the same ratio of water to herb as above, add cold water to herbs in a pot and leave for 30 minutes before cooking.
Bring the mixture to boiling.
Cover the pot and reduce the heat.
Allow the herbal mixture to simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.

For tougher bark, boiling time can be increased until the wood is soft. You can also boil the mixture can be boiled for a shorter time and leave to soak over night.

Tinctures.

Tinctures are liquid Extracts of herbs prepared by steeping the herbs in an alcoholic drink to create a more concentrated dose of medicine. Vodka, whisky, gin, brandy or rum are the typical choices.

Preparation Method

Place some fresh or dried herbs  placed in a glass jar/bottle with a lid.
Pour in the alcohol until it rises two to three inches above the herbs.

If you are using bulky herbs, roots or barks, be sure to chop them into smaller pieces.
The mixture is stored for a specified period and should be shaken every few days to keep the herbs from settling into a clump at the bottom.

We will continue. Read the next post.

Preparing DIY Herbal Remedies Safely and Inexpensively (1)

People all over the world have always used herbal preparations to provide healing and relief from ailments and diseases. Nowadays their usage has been limited by widespread patronage of mainstream health care system and a justified mistrust of traditional healers and doctors whose cures and formulas are shrouded in secrecy. These and other reasons have made us miss out on the benefits of natural remedies around us through our loss of interest and also to a large extent, these reasons have made us ignore the work of African ethnobotanists. We have not been totally wrong though, because  with all things, you have to be careful with what you use internally and traditional medicine practices  sometimes go with ritual practices

The best way to get the benefits of herbs is to prepare them at home though it is a bit of time and trouble but safer and cheaper.

By doing it yourself, you know what you are using, the condition of your raw materials, develop your formulas to suit your needs and exact measurements. Source for good raw plants or seeds and store unused plants away from direct sunlight.

Use formulas you know or start with low doses, evaluate outcomes and then make adjustments. When giving herbal remedies to children and elderly people, reduce dosages to half those of adults and reduce further by age and weight.

Below are the names of herbal preparation types:

Infusions
Decotions
Tinctures
Poultices
Compresses
Cold Extracts
Macerations
Ointments
Salve
Syrups
Inhalants
Essential oils
Powder

The next post will be describing what they are and their preparation methods.

Boost your skin, hair and body with this wonderful African butter

Shea butter is an organic antioxidant-rich  vegetable fat that is extracted from the African Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). It has been used by Africans for thousands of years for skin, hair and cooking. It is used to heal, hydrate, nourish, firm, regenerate and moisturize the skin, hair, palm, and feet sole. Shea butter is called Ori, Karite, Kadanya, Okume, Karite in parts of Africa.

Here are 10 important reasons to use shea butter

1) Because of its great healing potential, it helps to heal injuries, wounds, blisters, scrapes and bedsores faster.   
2) It prevents and reduces stretch marks, scars, sunburns, blemishes, discolourations and other skin marks.    
3) It stops premature aging
4) Works to heal skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, rashes, dermatitis and hair conditions like dandruff.        
5) Moisturizes and deeply hydrates skin, hair, lips, feet and hands.                           6) Contains antioxidants, vitamins A, D and E.
6) Improves skin flexibilit              
7) Fantastic for body massage and provides suppleness to skin.                
8) Soothes aching joints and sore muscles because it is anti-inflammatory and penetrates deeply.                  
9) Good for colds as it helps to decongest.
10) Improves skin flexibilty and stops skin and hair dryness because it seals in moisture.

If you are missing out on its amazing healing properties because of its smell, here is a bit of good news. The smell goes off within five minutes after its application on the skin and hair.

Use naturally pure botanical shea butter instead of synthetic oils like Vaseline and build a relationship with Mother Nature's best oil.                         

Your kitchen drugstore

Spices are natural healers that are present in our kitchens. Spices are awesomely laden with anti-inflammatory, anti oxidant, antiseptic, hypotensive and many more healing properties.
They can be used to treat ailments such as headaches, arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, toothaches, infections to mention just a few.

Here is a list of some that can be found in your Nigerian/West African kitchen.

Cloves, Kanafuru(Hausa,Yoruba)
Garlic, Ayu(Yoruba)
Ginger, Atale(Yoruba)
Turmeric, Atale pupa(Yoruba)
African black pepper, Iyere(Y) Uziza(Igbo) Masoro(Hausa)
Guinea pepper, Eeru(Y) Uda(I) Enge
Alligator pepper, Atare(Y) Ese oji(I)
Basil, Efinrin(Y) Nchanwu(I)
Calabash nutmeg, Ariwo(Y) Ehuru(I)
Hot peppers, Atarodo, tatase, sombo,,atawewe etc
Lemongrass
Curry leaves, Efinrin oso(Y)
Thyme

These are spices that are found easily in markets around us and have always been used to prepare local delicacies like peppersoup, nkwobi, isi ewu, banga. I will be writing about them, their healing properties and other names in future blogs.

Alternative health tips, healthy lifestyle choices: Hi there!

Alternative health tips, healthy lifestyle choices: Hi there!: Hi there! This blog is about using natural ingredients which you can easily get and prepare. The aim is to provide tips, facts and herbal remedies for your healing and wellness.

That cure may be growing in your backyard

From the beginning of time, mankind has turned to Mother Nature for healing. Over time, medicinal plants have been regarded with disdain by mainstream healing culture but are gaining more attention due to their amazing healing properties. There is increasing awareness of the healing powers of natural products as opposed to synthetic ones with devastating side effects.
Plants with medicinal properties grow everywhere around us and can be used to effectively treat common health issues and ailments using easy and simple methods of preparation. So, look around you and take some time to learn about them!

In the beginning........

 In the beginning, God made us, the plants, the trees, the animals and all things. Yes, God made us perfect and gave us all things in their natural form. Man in his smartness started to cook, garnish, preserve, formulate, design, compose, add, remove, medicate, operate and do a lot of other things to improve his lot. With the brain of man, he has done a lot to bring us from the dark ages to the present age where the world is a village. Over time, we have forgotten that even during the dark ages, men basically did the same things we are doing now; eat, communicate, design, formulate, procreate etc., the only difference being that they were probably carried out then in a more primitive manner than now.

Before I go fully into writing about my passion, I want us to remember that God's own pharmacy is natural, perfect, inexpensive and safe when used safely and effectively. Yes, learning and talking about God's own pharmacy is my PASSION.