Sore Throat Home Remedies

Sore Throat Home Remedies

Thursday, 28 August 2014 / No Comments

Sore throats in themselves are not usually serious and so going off to the doctor for a cure might not be useful or a great use of resources. Not surprising then that sore throat home remedies are usually used and are very effective.

First of all though, it is often worthwhile looking at what is going on when a sore throat develops. There are usually two main reasons for sore throats: colds and flus being one and the other being strep throat. There are a variety of other reasons for sore throats, but the most common are the two listed.

A lot of sore throat home remedies are based around keeping the body well hydrated by either drinking home made herbal teas and infusions or simply drinking plenty of water and natural juices. Not only are all of these readily available but the drinking of liquids, particularly warm liquids, also helps to sooth the throat and keep the throat well lubricated.

A raspberry leaf tea is particularly versatile because not only can it be boiled and strained and drunk, but it can also be used as a gargle wash for the sore throat. Other teas that help to sooth a sore throat are chamomile, thyme and sage and even a garlic infusion sweetened with a little honey has proved a good way to help those who have a sore throat.

However, a classic amongst the sore throat home remedies has to be the steaming method. Used throughout generations, this method involves filling a bowl with hot water, adding a few drops of a decongestant such as eucalyptus oils and then placing a towel over the head and breathing in the infusion. This helps by opening up the nasal passages and loosens any infection that might be affecting the throat.

Lemon and honey are also one of the great sore throat home remedies. The two ingredients together can act as a tea to stop dryness in the throat and they also work well together to sooth a scratchy and inflamed throat.

One sore throat home remedies for those with a sweet tooth that is going to be great news, is the eating of hard candy. The sugar in the candy is a great source of keeping the throat soothed added to that, the action of sucking on hard candy means the mouth is producing saliva which will naturally stop the dryness that is often associated with sore throats.

Above all though, home remedies for a sore throat should start with a gargle, the drinking of plenty of liquids, particularly warm liquids and the taking of plenty of rest and relaxation.

Getting Rid Of A Double Chin

Getting Rid Of A Double Chin

Monday, 25 August 2014 / No Comments

As we get older our skin and muscles tend to become more lax and whilst this increases the probability of us developing a double chin - it doesn't mean that a double chin is an inevitability. This article will cover the things you need to do to get rid of a double chin.

Firstly, I need to state the obvious. Fat deposits can build up anywhere on the body that we allow them to - chin included. So your first step is make sure that you have a high fibre, low fat diet that contains a lot of fruit and vegetables. Reducing your overall body fat percentage will have a proportionate effect on your double-soon-to-be single chin.

Secondly, daily use of a skin toner will keep your skin firm and help prevent sagging. To complement the use of skin toner you can also practice a kind of facial yoga to maintain skin tone. Perform this routine twice weekly: with the first two fingers of each hand rub gently along the jawbone, starting from behind the ear lobes, finishing below the centre of the chin. Repeat five times. Then perform a full neck massage: lift your chin slightly upwards and with cupped hands, stroke firmly down the neck five times each side. Finish with some under-chin slaps: with the back of the first two fingers gently slap under the chin twenty times.

Thirdly, we need to talk about exercise. A general exercise regime will help you lose weight in the same manner as a high fibre low fat diet, however there are is also a specific "spot" exercises that you can perform which will target the chin area. The muscle in question here is called the platysma whose function is to pull down the corners of the mouth and pull down the jawbone. The exercise that we are talking about is called "the shovel" and it involves extending your lower law as far as you can in front and then bringing your bottom teeth up in front of your top lip - as if your lower jaw was an earth mover scooping up debris. You will need to perform ten repetitions of this exercise, 2-3 times a day. The beauty about this exercise is that it can be practiced anywhere and whilst you're engaged in other activities such as driving the car or watching television.

There is a fourth - and last resort - option of cosmetic surgery whereby the surgeon will make a small horizontal cut under the chin and then vacuum out the fat that has collected beneath the skin. Following this they will make a vertical incision between the layers of the neck and jaw muscle and sew the edges together, tightening the muscle layer. The procedure is relatively painless and requires two small bandages to hide. The bruising is minimal and has usually vanished within ten days. The procedure will cost upwards of $2000.