Homemade Teeth Whitening

I keep coming across ads for homemade teeth whitening on the Internet. There are a lot of myths and bad advice about teeth whitening. Your teeth are very susceptible to acids that can damage the enamel, so do not be fooled into using lemon juice or any other highly acidic cleaner.

Do not use lemon juice to whiten teeth!

Many available teeth whitening kits have you applying adhesive strips to your teeth. These strips do a terrible job at whitening between the teeth. These strips can do a great job whitening the fronts of your teeth, but cannot get into the spaces between your teeth. This makes your smile look worse because of the contrast between the two areas.

Mouthwashes that also provide whitening are a better choice conceptually. They will whiten all of you teeth evenly, even between your teeth. However, the actual amount of whitening that you will get from these mouthwashes is very minimal. By combining whitening toothpaste with whitening mouthwash you can achieve better whitening. These products are more expensive than their non-whitening counterparts and the high cost of using these products may turn you away from using them daily.

The best homemade teeth whitening system that I have found is also one of the least expensive ways to whiten your teeth. To whiten your teeth, swish about 1 oz of hydrogen peroxide solution around your teeth every other night. The taste is a little strong, but so is its bleaching power! Next, brush with baking soda and water. Baking soda can also be added to your toothpaste to boost its whitening power. Between these two, your teeth will look their best in just a few weeks!

Natural Remedies for Constipation Relief and for Preventing Constipation

Constipation hurts! It can knock the wind right out of you. Besides sapping your energy and making you uncomfortable, it is also very unhealthy for the human body. Having excess waste remaining in your system builds up toxins in your body which can cause a great number of health issues. If you have ever used over-the-counter remedies, you may understand why I went looking for more natural and less extreme methods. You want constipation relief, not two days of diarrhea! If you have chronic constipation, consult a doctor immediately!

First of all, do not over do it! We all know that prunes can get things going, but start with just a few, wait an hour, and have a few more. Eating an entire bag of prunes with usually end your bout of constipation, but will leave you dehydrated with diarrhea. Here’s a better plan for you:

For Constipation Relief:

If you are constipated, eat one apple and follow with a large glass of water with one lemon worth of juice, fresh-squeezed. Wait an hour and a half to two hours and repeat. If you do not have any relief, fennel seeds with another glass of water can provide help. Stick with eating a piece of fruit with water every few hours. Apples, oranges, bananas, figs, and of course prunes, are great to end constipation, but take care to only eat a few with water every few hours. If you find no relief after a day, or if the pain becomes worse at any time, consult a doctor. You may have a more serious issue.

To Avoid Constipation:

Eat a diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables mixed in. If you eat a very meat-intensive meal, follow with a papaya or a plantain. Try to eat a salad of mixed greens with dinner. Beets, carrots, radishes, and tomatoes are good vegetables to prevent constipation. Of course a prune or fig a day is also a good idea! As always, though, an apple a day may also keep constipation away!

Natural Remedy for Dandruff

Dandruff is a very common problem that causes dead scalp skin cells to fall off in the form of white flakes. Dandruff is caused by an inflammation of the scalp. To help ward off dandruff a diet high in biotin can seriously help. Biotin is found in high quantities in soybeans. Other foods that can be beneficial to fighting dandruff are Brazil nuts, ginger, licorice, vinegar, red pepper flakes and apple cider. If you already have dandruff, make a mixture of ground ginger, sesame oil and a splash of lemon juice. Work the mixture into your scalp every other night and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse well with cool water afterwards.

Much Ado About Swine Flu

There is a lot of talk right now about the swine flu. Swine flu, the H1N1 flu, is caused by the type A influenza virus. As with all viruses, it is mainly spread through coughing or sneezing or by touching something with the virus on it and then touching your nose or mouth. Because of this, the best defense against catching any flu is to wash your hands with soap and water often and by avoiding direct contact with anyone infected. Always make sure that you cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or couch. It is also extremely important to not try and tough it out by going to work if you may be infected. Do yourself and everyone else a favor by getting better first! To help your immune system, Vitamin C and Echinacea can help keep your white blood cell count up! Keep in mind, the swine flu outbreak in the 1970's caused mass hysteria. Only one person died from swine flu then, but 25 people died from the inoculation. A clear mind is often the best defense.

Common symptoms of swine flu are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, diarrhea and vomiting.

NOTE: The swine flu cannot be caught by eating pork.

New Year's Hangover Helper!

If you've maybe drank one or two too many at the New Years party last night and are feeling the worse for it, try this little tip. The next time you are planning on having more than just a few drinks, eat a few ginkgo seeds. The seeds have been shown to aid in the metabolism of alcohol. This should help you recover faster and may help you from wearing the lampshade this year! Ginkgo seeds are available at most health foods stores.

Herbal Treatments for Morning Sickness

Since you are pregnant if you are experiencing morning sickness, you probably don't want to take any strong medications to relieve the symptoms. A historical treatment has always been cabbage. Cooked or raw, cabbage can provide relief for stomach aches. Sauerkraut is also a great way to sooth the tummy and aid in digestion. Other foods that can help if your not a sauerkraut fan are citrus fruits and juices, ginger, and peppermint. Teas made from peach and raspberry leaves are also helpful. For extra relief, drink a few cups of raspberry leaf tea each day with a little ginger!

Herbal Treatments for Laryngitis

Laryngitis is the inflammation of the vocal cords. Sufferers of laryngitis usually have a sore, dry throat and a general loss of voice. I have recently started noticing that there are a lot of herbal throat lozenges near the checkout counters at the grocery store. This is a sure sign that winter is on its way. When selecting a throat lozenge, look for ones containing ginger, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and cardamom. These herbs work as expectorants and can provide real relief. Echinacea is also recommended, as it boosts your immune system. However, if your laryngitis persists, see a doctor as it might be a more dangerous illness.