February 21, 2009

Home Remedies For Bone Spurs

Author: naturalremedies
Just like the spurs that cowboys sport, bone spurs are projections capable of causing great pain. Older people are prone to heel spurs because as you age, there is an increasing likelihood of developing heel trouble. In addition, as you grow older, the natural fat pads that cushion the sole of your foot including your heel can wear down, like pads under a carpet. They do not provide the shock absorption they once did.

When repeated stress and strain occur on the heel bone and surrounding soft tissue, the body attempts to protect itself by forming heel bone spurs. This kind of pain is usually felt at the bottom of your heel. Quite often, the heel pain is worse in the morning because of tightness and stiffening that happens during the night.

Heel spurs are the result of plantar fasciitis which is an inflammation in the ligament that runs from the heel to the toes. Heel spurs are soft deposits of calcium that are caused by the tension and swelling that is common of plantar fasciitis.

Causes of Bone Spurs:

1.) Flat or excessively arched feet

2.) Too much activity

3.) Being overweight

4.) Wearing shoes with little or no support

Treatment for Bone Spurs:

1. Try Massage - Gently massaging the heel really helps. Stroking the pained area brings up extra blood, further reducing inflammation.

2. Throw Away The Worn Ones - Shoes should be replaced every 300 to 350 miles.

3. Try Over-The-Counter Drugs - It is recommended over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen to reduce pain caused by bone spurs and reduce further inflammation.

4. Apply Heat - Keep inflammation in check with daily heat applications. Hold a heating pad or a hot-water bottle, as warm as can be tolerated and wrapped in a towel, on the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes four to five times a day.

5. Reduce Inflammation - Acute pain can be reduced by applying ice to the inflamed area four to five times a day. Hold an ice pack wrapped in a towel or cloth on the area for 10 minutes, then remove the pack for another 10 minutes.

6. Try Padded Cell - When you are buying new shoes, select supportive, well-padded shoes - the kind with shock-absorbing insoles and a rigid heel support.

7. Avoid Flat Shoes - Unless you find that they really provide adequate support and shock absorption, steer clear of flat shoes.

8. Losing Weight to Cure Your Heel Spurs

9. Steroid injections - This is an EXTREMELY painful procedure, and only provides temporary relief.

10. Night splint - Only helps to reduce morning pain, by stretching the plantar fascia while sleeping.

11. Shock wave therapy - Seems to be a good option if nothing else works

12. Stretching - Similar to physical therapy, there are different stretches you can do at home, such as stretching out the calf muscle.

Strengthening and stretching the plantar fascia is also important. Increasing your strength in all the muscles of the foot as well as the calf and entire leg will help to prevent heel spurs from forming.
Read About Home Remedies also Read about Home Remedies for Bone Spurs and Home Remedies for Bronchitis
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/home-remedies-for-bone-spurs-783313.html
About the Author

February 18, 2009

9 Home Remedies for Hair Growth

Author: Charles Zoe
To gain the long lustrous locks and to improve the hair growth, there are many things that we do. This can range from investing in expensive shampoos hawked by salons to spa treatments that cost a fortune. Let's discuss some home remedy for hair loss that are natural, side effect free, inexpensive and very effective in treating hair loss problems.
1. Cumin seeds are part of the carrot family and are good for the hair growth. Take nearly half cup of olive oil and add a table spoon of cumin seeds in it. Rub the mixture properly over the scalp and leave it for some time, half an hour or more. After the mixture dries, rinse it off carefully.
2. Using Oils for Hair Growth: An age old natural home remedies for hair growth is the use of castor oil, coconut oil and olive oil. Mix these oils together and warm it a bit to allow the oil to penetrate the roots of the hair and promote hair growth.
3. Using natural oils is a great way to help new hair grow, and frequent oil treatments will also strengthen the hair you have already. Natural oils include olive oil, avocado oil and almond oil. For mild treatments, the best way to use oil is to put some on the scalp after shampooing, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse. For more moderate cases of hair loss, saturate the scalp with oil prior to bedtime and then cover your head with a shower cap and sleep with the oil in the hair. Rinse upon awakening. This can be performed once or twice a month, as too many treatments will result in overly oily hair.
4. You can also apply castor oil or olive oil for massaging the scalp to arrest hair fall.
5. Jojoba oil is a popular herbal cure for many skin and hair related problems. Regularly massaging the scalp by jojoba oil has been found to provide solution to hair loss.
6. Lemon for Oily Hair: An effective hair growth home remedy for oily hair is the use of lemon. You can mix the juice of one lemon with an egg. Amla juice mixed with lemon juice and used for washing the hair fosters hair growth and reduces hair loss quite significantly.
7. Use baking soda and water to rinse off your hair after shampooing your hair. Juice of one lemon or cider vinegar can also be utilized for shine and bounce. Stale beer also does the trick.
8. Rosemary with its antiseptic properties is believed to be one of the best herbal products for stopping the hair loss and allowing the hair to grow. One teaspoon of dried rosemary can be steeped in hot water for twenty minutes. Strain off the liquid and use it to wash your hair. You can also add half a cup of apple cider vinegar to this rosemary solution.
9. Adding essential oils like ylang ylang, horseradish oil, rosemary or patchouli to hair care products also rejuvenates hair and solves your problem.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/9-home-remedies-for-hair-growth-4179795.html
About the Author
Author is an online medical researcher on hair loss treatment. Click read more on hair loss treatment, herbal treatment for hair loss.