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Causes of Snoring – Snoring Home Remedies

Posted by Jame on January 7, 2012

Snoring is the sound produced by the vibration of respiratory structure as an outcome
of obstructed breathing during sleeping. The sound can be either soft or loud depending
upon the severity of obstruction. It is apposite to take into account major factors that
contribute in the blockage of air passage and cause snoring.

Fat Accumulation around the Throat

The accumulation of fat in and around the throat is the primary factor responsible for
snoring. Consuming food rich in fats makes fatty tissue around the neck that constricts
the airway during sleep and blocks the air to flow in and out freely. It is worthy to be
noted that fat is more problematic for men than women because men accumulate fat
around their necks while women around thighs. Moreover, the upper airway in women is
relatively larger than that of men and this is why their air passage resists strongly against
fats. Weight loss with proper diet and exercise is the best panacea for this problem.

Nasal Obstruction

The obstructed nasal passageway is the second major reason for snoring. It happens when
membranes coming to nasal passage are swollen as a result of inflamed blood vessels.
It also hinders the usual airflow due to which the sufferer snores while sleeping. Nasal
obstruction can be the outcome of different causes including allergy, influenza, hey fever
or even some medications. To treat it, steam inhalation is the effective natural remedy;
however, pills and injections can also be used as per the doctor’s prescription.

Improper Sleeping Position

Proper body position also plays an important role for a peaceful night sleep. Different
studies have pointed out that the supine position (sleeping on one’s back) is likely to
cause snoring. In this position gravitational forces stimulate the tongue to drop to the
back of the mouth. Resultantly, the air passage narrows down decreasing the space for air
flow and leading to snoring.

In a similar way some people who suffer from retrognathia also snore when sleeping on
back because their jaws push the upper air passage towards the back of the throat and
narrows down the breathing passage. So it is better to sleep on either right or left side in
order to avoid troublesome snoring.

Taking relaxant medicines or drinking alcohol just before going to bed also impacts the
normal breathing during sleep. Such sedative elements are used to let the body muscles

relax; however, their impact on throat muscles is far reaching. Owing to the relaxation of
throat muscles, oropharynx, the middle part of the throat, collapses to hinder breathing
and cause snoring. Furthermore, these relaxants can also cause irritation and congestion
of the nasal air passage thus making breathing even more difficult.

However, if you cannot get rid of drinking, you should drink at least three or four
hours before sleeping in order to minimize its effects on breathing. Besides, you should
review your supplements to know whether or not they are relaxants and on finding them
relaxants, ask your doctor to suggest some alternatives.

In the nutshell, snoring is primarily caused by the obstruction of air into the air passage
that includes throat and nose. If these are narrowed down due to one or the other reason,
one may suffer difficulty in breathing while sleeping.

Homeopathic Remedies for Allergy

Posted by Jame on November 13, 2011

What is an allergy?

An allergy is a disorder of the immune system due to which our body manifests reactions
to normally harmless environmental elements. These harmless stimulants are known as
allergens. The allergic reaction is often considered to be a hypersensitive reaction which
is characterized by inflammation occurring on the affected part of the body. Laymen
often refer to this inflammation as allergy.

Mostly, inflammatory reactions affect body tissues and organs including mainly skin,
lungs, mucous membranes, and gastrointestinal tract. The common allergic reactions
are itching, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, headache, skin reactions, respiratory
symptoms, abdominal bloating, intestinal gas, rapid heart beat, fatigue, and mood
changes.

When it comes to the factors responsible for allergy, we can classify them into three
distinct categories: environmental substances; food and chemicals.

Among environmental substances, a wide number of elements are included that
cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. These consist of mold, insects, pollen
trees, flowers, spores, grasses, animal hairs, and dust mites. They mostly affect upper
respiratory system while they can also produce reactions in the form of itching, redness
watery eyes, and infection in throat, nose, sinuses, bronchial tubes, and lungs.

Any food can cause allergic reactions; however, wheat, milk, eggs, com, yeast coffee and
chocolate are most common culprits in this regard. Gastrointestinal, nervous, respiratory
systems are generally affected by these allergens.

As for chemicals, a number of products containing chemicals cause allergic reactions.
Chemicals are present in almost every thing that comes into contact with human beings.

Homeopathy Remedies for Allergy Treatment

Homeopathy aims at uprooting the symptoms of the disease by determining the actual
causes of the symptoms. A well experienced homeopath will analyze this by taking into
account the patient’s physical, mental and emotional states and only after doing this he
will prescribe appropriate medicines.
Homeopathic medicines are prepared by diluting various ingredients; the process is
known as potentization. The homeopathic remedies resonate with the body, and stimulate
a positive healing response. Following are some effective homeopathic remedies for
allergy treatment.

Allium Cepa (raw onion) It is best for treating allergic reaction marked by infrequent
sneezing, nasal irritation and watery eyes.

Sabadilla (cevadilla seed) 6X: This homeopathic remedy is useful for a person who
exhibits certain allergic reactions such as red eyes, dry nose, sneezing, sore throat, hay
fever, and dry coughs.

Nux vomica (poison nut) A treatment that works very effectively for a person whose
respiratory organs, nose and throat swell as a result of environmental allergens. He
shows various symptoms like dry, ticklish, and scraping nasal sensations with watery
nasal discharge often accompanied by sneezing.

Sanquinaria Canadesis (Blood Root) 6X: This remedy is prescribed for individuals
showing allergic reactions such as headache, pain in face, hay fever, coryza, chronic
rhinitis, dry burning throat, and cough.

Thuja occidentatis (Arbor Vitae) 6X: For chronic sinusitis, headache, runny nose,
greenish mucous, and catarrh with puss, this medicine yields positive results.

Remedies for Soar Throat

Posted by Jame on September 18, 2011

Soar throat, medically known as pharyngitis, is a swelling of the throat. In most casesit is painful. Pharyngitis like other inflammatory ailments can be mild, characterized bya quick onset and short time existence, or chronic. Pharyngitis is often accompanied bycough, fever, and sometimes leads to large tonsils thus causing trouble during swallowingand breathing. The majority of Pharyngitis cases are caused by viral infections whilebacterial infections, fungal infections, and other pollutants also trigger sore throat.Following are some famous treatment methods that are often sought after to soothe thesoar throat.

1. Antibiotics

Antibiotics are usually prescribed when the diagnosis of sore throat confirms that it wascaused by streptococcus. If administered, antibiotics not only triggers the body’s immunesystem to produce antigens and fight against the bacteria but also decreases the durationof symptoms while making the patient less contagious within hours of treatment.
Furthermore, antibiotics work effectively to prevent the patient from contracting unusualcomplications of sore throat. However, to gain these results, it is imperative to take fullcourse of antibiotics even though the patient is feeling better after a few days. It is sobecause premature discontinuation can result in the recurrence of the same disease withseverer consequences. Erythromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin are commonlyrecommended antibiotics for soar throat.

2. Steroids

For severe soar throat which causes pain during breathing and swallowing, steroidsuch as dexamethasone is the best remedy which is fraught with anti-inflammatorycharacteristics. It soothes pain by reducing the inflammation and offers safe, efficient andinexpensive treatment for both bacterial and viral pharyngitis. Dexamethasone is equallyeffective if given in the form of shot or a pill.

3. Analgesics

Analgesics, such as aspirin, paracetamol, naproxen, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidanti-inflammatory drugs, inhibit cyclooxygenases, a specific enzyme that causesinflammation. As a result inflammation is decreased and soar throat is relieved. However,to avoid further complications, one must use it according to doctors’ prescription, not onone’s own discretion.
Home Remedies for Sore Throat
1. Gargling with Salt water
Among home remedies, gargling is one of the time-tested and traditional remedies thathelp a patient get rid of soar throat. A glass of warm water which is mixed up with ateaspoon of salt is the best home remedy for soar throat. The patient has to gargle threeto five times a day at proper intervals. Gargling is effective to treat soar throat becauseon one hand salt is believed to reduce the swelling and act as a disinfectant while one theother hand warm water removes the congestion of throat and lets the air come in and outfreely.
2. Extract of Bark of Mango Tree
The bark of mango tree is also a very effective remedy for soar throat. Today many amanufacturer has been producing oil extracted of mango tree barks. A spoon of this oilcan be added in a glass of water for gargling.
3. Milk and Turmeric
Take a glass of warm milk and add a small pinch of turmeric. Drink this milk prior togoing to bed at night. This homemade remedy effectively reduces inflammation andsoothes soar throat within short span of time.

Homeopathic Remedies for Anxiety

Posted by Jame on August 22, 2011

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state that involves emotional, cognitive,
behavioral and somatic aspects. It is caused by some stressor, external and internal,
that can be of divergent magnitude. A person who experiences anxiety may feel
fear, uneasiness, worry, and dread. Normally anxiety which lasts for a short while is
considered to be a natural phenomenon when caused by some obvious stressor; however,
chronic anxiety or showing anxiousness in reaction to non-stressor stimulus is regarded
as anxiety disorder.

Homeopathic remedies are useful for treating transient as well as chronic anxiety
disorders. These medicines soothe anxiety and bring the affected person to normal
routine life. Following are some common homeopathic remedies foe anxiety.

Argentum Nitricum: This remedy works when anxiety happens just before some event
of greater importance like public appearance, examination, or job interview. Individuals
who develop this anxiety exhibit fear, dizziness and craving for sweet. They also look
enthusiastic and suggestible having peculiar thoughts and emotions.

Arsenicum Album: It benefits individuals who are profoundly anxious about regarding
health and security. They become obsessive and compulsive about very minute details
and earnestly desire to maintain their control over everything. Such people experience
fear of suffocation while sleeping, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, and thirst. Their
conditions worsen when they contract diarrhea and asthma as a result of excessive
impulsive anxiety.

Aconitum Napellus: When all of a sudden a person feels immense anxiety accompanied
by fear, he should use Aconitum napellus. This type of anxiety occurs when people hear
some bad news regarding someone’s death or economic loss. The symptoms of this attack
include strong palpitations, faintness and dizziness, breathing difficulty, and flushing of
the face.

Kali Phosphoricum: This homeopathic remedy is appropriate for a person who is
sick and tired of overwork or disease. He feels extreme anxiety and desires to get out
of his problem. Lack of concentration, hallucination, insomnia eating disorders, utter
restlessness, backache and headache are some of the symptoms accompanied by this
anxiety.

Gelsemium: It is helpful for treating anxiety which is characterized by the feelings of
trembling, weakness, and mental dullness. The sufferer goes paralyzed if he has to make
public performance, appear in an interview, or visit a dentist. In addition to anxiety, he
feels nervousness, apprehension, fatigue, aching of whole body, headache, sore throat,
and dullness.

Ignatia Amara: It is beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety as a result of loss,
grief, criticism, disappointment, or loneliness. The person shows abnormal reactions like
bursting into tears or laughter following some typical incident. He develops defensive
attitude and his mood swings frequently.

Natrum Muriaticum: It is a perfect treatment for asocial people who become anxious
when they have to face society. Such people stay reserved, aloof, and pessimistic. They
do not come out of their limited circle of life and cannot even think of change.

Most Common Sleeping Disorders

Posted by Jame on August 13, 2011

A sleep  disorder, medically  known  as  “somnipathy”,  is  referred  to  the  disruption  of
normal  sleeping  habit.  Basically,  a  person  cannot  take  sleep  or  cannot  stay  asleep  is
known  to  have  been  suffering  from  sleep  disorder.  Sleeping  disorder  can  be  divided
into  multiple  types  based  on  the  conditions  and  causes  of  the  problem.  Some  of  them
seriously  disturb  a  person’s  normal  physical,  mental  and  emotional  functioning.  It  is
therefore important to learn about the signs and symptoms of some of the common sleep
disorders.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep  apnea  is  one  of  the  most  troubling  and  even  life  threatening  disorders  that  are
marked by the blockage of airway that occurs either behind the tongue or the nose. Either
the  case  the  patient  cannot  breathe  smoothly;  when  his  brain  does  not  receive  enough
oxygen, it wakes him up disrupting his sleep.

This  disorder  is  characterized  by  troublesome  snoring.  The  cycle  of  breathing  and
disruption repeats even hundred times a night. Such patients are prone to cardiovascular
attack  and  high  blood  pressure.  Other  complications  include  lack  of  concentration  and
dizziness  during  day  times  and  sudden  sleep  while  doing  vital  tasks  like  driving  or
operating heavy machinery.

Losing  weight  if  the  patient  is  overweight,  avoiding  drugs,  alcohol  and  sedative
medicines, using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP) and opening the
airways through surgical operations are some of the effective treatment methods for sleep
apnea.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is another chronic sleeping disorder characterized by unusual and infrequent
daytime  sleep  attacks.  The  patients  suffering  from  narcolepsy  suffers  from  sudden
muscular weakness, slurred speech, and impaired vision.  It is mainly caused be genetics
and  runs  in  a  family;  however,  an  individual  may  also  contract  it  as  a  result  of  viral
infection during the developmental stage of his life.

As  far  as  treatment  of  narcolepsy  is  concerned,  the  central  nervous  system  stimulants
like methylphenidate,  methylphenidate, amphetamine,  and  modafinil are  used  to  reduce
the daytime sleep and improve night-time sleep. Besides, behavioral modification therapy
is also utilized to treat the disorder.

Somnambulism

Somnambulism is a sleep disorder marked by walking during sleep. Though people of all
age cohorts can suffer from this conundrum but children are more likely to develop this

particular disorder. The patient simply sits up, gets out of the bed with his eyes open and
may continue to remain in this condition from seconds to minutes.

Physiological  disorders,  psychological  problems,  and  medications  often  trigger  this
kind  of  sleep  disorder.  The  best  treatment  is  to  determine  the  actual  cause  and  try  to
remove them as soon as possible. Sometimes, if it grows severe, the physicians prescribe
sedatives  medicines  and  suggest  the  families  to  make  sure  that  the  windows  are  closed
during his sleep timing so that they can avert any prospective danger for the patient.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless  legs  syndrome  refers  to  intolerable,  internal  itching  sensation  that  takes  place
in the lower extremities urging the sufferer to move his or her legs. When this condition
occurs  persistently,  it  prevents  the  patient  from  taking  a  peaceful  night  sleep.  Iron
deficiency is the major cause of this conundrum.

Periodic limb movement disorder is a certain stage of this disorder when a person suffers
from  restless  leg  movements  occurring  at  regular  intervals  during  the  nighttime.  As  a
result the person is robbed of his restful sleep.

To  alleviate  this  disorder,  the  recommended  treatment  includes  leg  stretching  or  yoga
exercise prior to bedtime. Furthermore, consuming food rich in iron is very productive to
cure this disorder.

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