9 Essential Home Remedies for Summer

Summer ailments are such a bother but the great news is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to keep the family safe and healthy! I've got a few home remedies to share that you probably already have lying around the house!

1.) OUCH! I got a sunburn.
White vinegar is an essential for the kitchen, cleaning, and now your medicine cabinet too! It can help to ease the pain, ditch the itch, and prevent blisters from forming on areas of sunburn. I recommend applying with cotton ball or paper towel and soaking for about 10-15 minutes. You can also dab on some olive oil after the alcohol treatment to help that skin heal and bounce back faster with the Omega-3s that are essential for skin healing!

2.) My skin just looks OLD with all these sun or age spots!
Before you go to bed I recommend scrubbing with a lemon and loofah. (Don't do this in the morning because one of the extra compounds in lemon can darken when exposed to light.) The lemon's citric acid can help to exfoliate as it dissolves the darkened and dead skin cells. Lemons also have a healthy dose of Vitamin C to help prevent further skin damage and restore that baby soft skin.

3.) AHH! We itch all over from mosquitos!
Grab a banana and split it up with the family but save that peel! The inside of the banana peel can be rubbed and held down with a band-aid to help moisturize the skin and calm irritation. Lavender oil can also be used to counteract the mosquito venom so I'd dab a drop or two of that on there too.

4.) Swelling  injury or small cut?
Grab a green tea bag to reduce inflammation and stop the bleeding. Try freezing used tea bags for small and successful ice packs on the go!

5.) Poison Ivy in the Yard?
Prepare a spray of water and rubbing alcohol to spray on your skin before you head out into poison ivy infested areas. Rubbing alcohol can help prevent the oil from poison ivy from spreading over large areas and can help reduce exposure afterwards too. (I recommend a 1:2 ratio of rubbing alcohol to water)

6.) Yellowing Nails?
Soak those nails or dab them with a cotton ball that has been soaked in a peroxide/baking soda mixture. Used over time, this can reduce the yellow color of your nails, freshen your laundry, and whiten your teeth! (I recommend using 1 tbsp peroxide mixed with 2 tbsp of baking soda for a paste.)

7.) Unsightly Dry and Cracked Heels?
Soothe your tootsies with some crushed papaya by soaking them in a tub of papaya for 30 minutes. The enzymes can help soothe and remove the cracked or rough skin.

8.) Dry Lips and Dehydration?
Most of the time when you're lips are dry its a huge sign that you're dehydrated, however in the summer months it may also be partially due to sun exposure that is drying out those supple tissues. Try smoothing on olive oil a few times a day to hydrate and heal those lips.

9.) Dry and Sun Damaged Hair?
Rejuvinate it with the healthy fats in avocado. Use as a pre-wash treatment by applying smashed avocado for 30 minutes before your shower.

Natural Ways to Treat Scalp Conditions

I know as well as the next person that healthy skin is a very important barrier for your immune system.  Many of us slather layers of lotions and oils on our skin on a daily basis as well as exfoliate at least once weekly to keep our skin looking silky and smooth. However, many of us completely ignore our scalp which has the largest amount of blood flow and direct access to the rest of our body's blood system. Your scalp is a haven for healthy follicles and gorgeous healthy hair so you have to take care of it. I've got some great scalp treatment recipes below, so read on!

Before I get on with the recipes, let's talk about the different types of scalp conditions and natural home remedies that can help aid in healing and restoring a healthy scalp.

Eczema is a non infection skin condition characterized by red, inflammed skin that is rough and itchy and can worsen into bloody or oozing sores that can scab over to create thickened dark skin. This skin condition can also be found on other areas of the body and can be aggravated by allergens in foods or hair products.

Psoriasis is another type of skin condition characterized by red and inflammed skin with the presence of white or silvery patches of skin referred to as scales. It is most commonly seen near the elbows, knee, or trunk but can be found anywhere on the body.

Dandruff is a very common scalp condition that causes buildup of dry flakes on the scalp that can be loosened into the rest of the hair or even fall down on clothing.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a more severe form of dandruff that has larger and greasy flakes that are commonly yellow in color. In babies it is referred to as cradle cap.

Alopecia is a form of hair loss that can be related to an underlying immune condition where the hair or the hair follicles are being attached by your own immune system. Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss that is usually more rapid and on one side of the head more than the other. However there are some causes of alopecia that can be related to age and genetics as well as those that can be related to hormone imbalance.

In order to have a great scalp treatment, you really need to make sure you have the right tools and natural ingredients so you don't increase the toxic load on your body. One essential piece of equipment is a bristle brush that can help to exfoliate and massage the scalp during the treatment. I prefer a natural or boar's hair brush but nylon can work as well as long as the bristles are flat or slightly rounded on the top. You'll also need an application brush or cotton balls to help apply the scalp treatment and a great recipe for a treatment.

A great recipe has few ingredients and the most essential is a great moisturizing base that you can add different essential herb or healing oils to for added benefits. My personal favorite is coconut oil since it absorbs nicely into the skin and has a moisturizing and smoothing effect, but olive oil can also be used for a more inexpensive option. i usually use about 3-4 tablespoons of softened coconut or olive oil followed by 3-5 drops of one or multiple essential oils to help achieve max) imum benefit.

One great essential oil that I prefer to add is tea tree oil because it has great cleansing properties, however I'd recommend only 2-3 drops be added since tea tree oil can tend to be very strong and large quantities can actually lead to skin irritation. 2 tablespoons of fresh citrus juice from lemon or grapefruit can also be added for purifying and cleansing properties. Chamomile can be added for soothing qualities and peppermint for a refreshing and cooling sensations for irritated skin. Lavender oil can also be used for refreshing and cooling but has also been shown in clinical trials to help regrow hair. 70% of people involved in the trials that massaged lavender oil into the scalp three times a week had significant hair regrowth.

If you're looking for hair regrowth then I'd recommend exfoliating the scalp for about 5 to 10 minutes before the lavender treatment. For a great hair regrowth mixture, try mixing the lavender oil with one cup of warm purified water and a few drops of almond oil and massage into the scalp.

If you're worried your scalp or hair condition might be due to hormone imbalance or possibly an auto immune condition that I've described above, I'd highly recommend setting up a consultation in my office to talk about natural treatment options that would be available to you or further testing that may be required to uncover the root cause of your condition. Give us a call at (309) 689-6200 to set up your appointment today.

News and Home/Natural Remedies

So this has been a busy couple of weeks for me! I am pleased to inform you that I will be moving to a new office in Peoria, IL next week. My new office is AlignLife of Peoria and can be found at 4812 N Sheridan Road behind Walgreens. I am very excited to join the team and begin serving the Peoria community to the best of my abilities and beyond. If you want to find out more info about my new office, click here.

Ok, so let's talk about some natural remedies I've found very useful so far.

**Caution should always be used before using any home remedy and you should always consult your doctor before use.**

Tea Tree Oil has anti septic, anti bacterial, and anti fungal properties so it has a variety of uses, however it is a very strong product and for this reason shouldn't be used for long periods because it can cause skin irritation, redness, itching, or blistering. Some people may have sensitivies or allergic reactions to tea tree oil so if you have any reaction stop use and consult your doctor. Tea Tree Oil can alter hormones levels as well so consult your doctor before use, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tea Tree oil should not be taken internally as it can cause decreased immune function, diarrhea, or other serious conditions. I personally like to dilute the solution with water or olive oil depending on method of use due to the aforementioned reasons.  I mixed 1 tsp tea tree oil with 1 tbsp of olive oil and used a small makeup brush to apply it over the nail and voila! Nails are nourished, moisturized and if you apply over a course of 3 days you'll notice decreased yellowing and brittle quality to the nail. I've used this on my 1 year old's toe nails with great results as well! A randomized controlled study from the Journal of Family Practice had the same results. A 25 to 50% solution of tea tree oil and water can be sprayed with a spray bottle on the foot especially between the toes and will reduce symptoms of athlete's foot. I'd recommend drying the foot completely after applying as fungus can flourish in moist environments. Don't use for more than a week as skin irritation will occur. A 10% to 25% solution of tea tree oil and water can also be sprayed onto cuts or bedsores to help encourage healing and prevent infection. I used this solution myself after vaginal delivery and found the tissues healed very quickly and the cold solution also helped with pain post delivery. Tea tree oil treatments are becoming all the rage for hair products, and for good reason! If applied on the scalp (I prefer diluting with water or olive oil) for a few days it can reduce dandruff or a shampoo with tea tree oil can reduce it as well.  A study in the Department of Dermatology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia compared a 5% tea tree oil gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion for open and closed acne lesions and it was found that both showed promising results. However the benzoyl peroxide lotion performed better over a 3 month period of time.

Honey has wound healing and anti-bacteria properties as well. In previous times it was used to help seal wounds from infection. Mixed into hot water or tea can help to sooth an irritated throat or it can also be used on cuts/acne. I found a single spoonful is a sweet treat that's great for children over 1 year old who are suffering from a cold or sore throat and it's usually quite easy to get them to swallow. It can also be mixed with petroleum jelly to rehydrate and heal those chapped lips.When mixed with lotion or olive oil can help to heal damaged skin and remoisturize as well.

Salt is great for helping with cleaning and it solutions mixed with water can also help to soothe irritated tissues. Salt can be applied on a new carpet stain to help soak up the fluid before it soaks in. Warm water mixed with 3 tbsp salt and gargled by mouth 2-3x per day can help to sooth irritated tissue and can also help to loosen phlegm and mucus. This can help to flush out irritants and possibly even decrease duration of sickness.

Parsley chewing can help to reduce bad breath by fighting the odor causing bacteria that like to take residence in your mouth.

Chamomile is very calming and can help decrease stomach cramps by decreasing spasms in the stomach and lower intestine. Chamomile tea can has a variety of uses but I've found its also great for calming you to reduce stress or before bed in addition to reducing stomach cramps or upset.

Lemon juice is also great for cleaning and revitalizing the body as well. If you take a small bowl of water mixed with 1-2tbsp lemon juice and place in the microwave for 3-5 minutes you should be able to wipe the microwave clean very easily afterwards! Lemon juice can also be used on carpet stains and wiped up after 5 minutes. Lemon juice has been found to help switch an acidic body environment/condition to a more alkaline one and for this reason can be used to help with flu, hangovers, and reflux. I recommend taking a shot glass of it or adding it to hot tea or hot water with honey to lessen the sourness. Lemon juice mixed in a glass of cold water is great for stomach upset and I found it very useful during pregnancy for the "empty stomach" feeling following nausea or first thing in the morning.

Well folks, there's plenty more uses for the above that I mentioned but I thought I'd share what I could before I get back to packing!!