Pencil for tension-related headaches, Ipod to lower BP levels, blow dryer for foot odour, chewing gum to be alert and apples to keep teeth white — there is a home remedy for almost all simple problems people face on a daily basis. Deebashree Mohanty tells you how to be well without popping that pill
Have a splitting headache that refuses to go despite pain killersIJ Try putting a pencil in between your teeth for instant relief. “This may sound absurd but it works. It only applies for tension headaches which are the most common form in the world. It has been scientifically proven that clenching of teeth is a sign of stress. And when we clench, we strain the muscle that connects the jaw to the temples which results in a tension headache,” explains Dr Narender Kumar, consultant, Internal Medicine, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.
The trick is to clench the pencil tight but don’t chew on it. This relaxes your gums and eases the pain,” Dr Kalra says. He has written many books on home remedies that people don’t know about and insists that his patients have come up with good results.
There is a simple way to deal with bad breath too. Have some curd and relax if you have problems of acid reflux. “Curd in any form has a neutralising effect on the acid that lies anywhere between the mouth and the stomach which also includes the back of the throat and esophagus. Stinky burps can be cured if any meal is accompanied by curd either as raita or yoghurt,” Dr Kumar says.
There are many such simple things to do to avoid day-to-day problems. “I had this terrible situation with my feet odour that got worse during monsoons. It was difficult to travel anywhere because of this. Even wearing socks wouldn’t help. My physician advised me to blow dry my feet at least twice in a day for a couple of months and check if the odour still existed. I did so and it was truly remarkable,” 29-year-old Ashwani Arora says.
Dr Prashant Negi a former AIIMS doctor tells you that foot odour is mostly due to excessive moisture in the sole. No matter how many times you wipe your feet, the mositure never completely disappears. “A blow dryer helps in drying up the wetness and also in removing dry skin cells,” Dr Negi says.
Most experts also warn you to not take these symptoms lightly. Issues such as bad breath and feet odour could well be an indication that all is not well. “Sometimes, these may be signs of bigger problems so one must not let them go unattended. We are not saying that modern medicine is a villain and we should shun it but if you can do without them it is better,” he says. Dr Negi, a cardiologist, is involved with the NGO Seva Dharma in New Delhi which aims at awareness building about home remedies. The response had been astounding.
It’s not as if there are home solutions only for peripheral ailments. There is even a cure for high blood pressure and diabetes too. “Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon can help soften cell membranes. Cinnamon mimics insulin so it may reduce the want of getting a shot immediately for highly diabetic patients. Even fenugreek and grape seeds help keep blood sugar levels in check. Studies have shown that black coffee without sugar cuts the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Among other benefits, green tea is helpful in reducing blood sugar levels in the body so make sure you take your tea seriously,” Dr Ananth Agarwal from the Noida Medical Centre says. He adds that green tea is also beneficial for people with blood pressure problems.
While most remedies need a daily routine to be followed, there are others which can be taken as an immeidate relief measure. For instance, chewing on a cinnamon stick can help reduce fatigue to quite an extent. “Tiredness is a common problem found in today’s youth. A recent study conducted by the American Doctors Association found that chewing on a flavoured gum could help in release of a serum that could send alert signals to the brain. We are working on this theory but practicals have shown a positive response,” Dr Agarwal says.
If there is a gum that eases headaches and removes fatigue, there is a tennis ball that helps relive feet ache. “For an easy, free mini massage that stretches and soothes your arches, slip off your shoes and roll each foot over a tennis ball, golf ball or a soup can for a minute or two. To cool throbbing feet, roll them over a bottle of frozen water,” advises Dr Negi. Thirty per cent knee replacement patients find relief in feet slow massage with a soft ball.
“It is both tiring and relaxing at the same time. And, if at the end of the day, I get good sleep owing to this mini workout, I have no complaints at all,” Seema Das who got her right knee replaced a year ago and suffers from footache at the end of a tiring day, says.
There are many like Das who have tried one or more of these simple remedies to feel better. A resaerch by Florence University in Italy says that 30 minutes of right tunes can help lower BP. Researchers found that people on hypertension medication lowered their blood pressure after listening to music while breathing slowly. Systolic readings decreased aby an average of 3.2 points in a week. A month later, readings were down 4.4 points.
Then there are people who have taken to apples. “Crunchy fruits act as toothbrushes when you chew them as they have a natural cleansing action that works on tooth enamel. Apples have malic acid that also helps dissolve stains,” Dr Negi concludes.
Nuskha corner
Foot odour
Wash your feet daily in warm water using a deodorant or anti-bacterial soap.
Bad Breath
Drinking black or green tea in the morning instead of coffee can help get rid of your morning breath as they contain polyphenols, which are powerful anti-oxidants that fight bacteria growth in your mouth.
Excessive sweating
To get relief from hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, have a glass of fresh, homemade tomato juice a day for at least a whole week as they are loaded with anti-oxidants which help regulate the activity of the sweat glands.
Cold sores
A cold sore, also commonly called a fever blister, is caused by the herpes simplex virus and is spread from one person to another through infected bodily fluids. To get instant relief at home, apply a tea bag to a cold sore. Soak a tea bag in hot water, allow it to cool, and then apply the wet bag to the sore for 5 to 10 minutes. Use a fresh tea bag and repeat the process every 1 to 2 hours.
Eczema
Skin three organic carrots and boil them till they are soft. Mash until you get a smooth paste, and then apply to affected areas for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water when finished.
Hiccups
Hiccups can happen at the most inconvenient time. So to shun them away, put 1 teaspoon of honey, stirred in warm water, on the back of your tongue, and swallow it. Honey could potentially tickle the vagus nerve to make the hiccups stop.
Motion sickness
Eat several olives to make the mouth dry. Olives contain tannins, which naturally reduce saliva. lemons can also aid in decreasing motion sickness. Cut lemons into small wedges and place in a plastic bag for your trip. Suck on lemons occasionally for added relief.
High blood pressure
Regular consumption of lemon is a good way to control hypertension as it helps in making the blood vessels soft.
Urinary infections
At the first sign of having Urinary Tract Infection, prevent it from spreading with the help of baking soda. Add one teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water and drink it once or twice in a day. The baking soda will raise the acid-base balance of the urine.
— Dr Narender Kumar, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute