Welcome to the Family Chiropractic & Massage blog! Here, we will discuss anything and everything that has to do with chiropractic care and wellness. We will share helpful information and hopefully answer any questions you have through our articles. We are a chiropractic clinic that began in 1997 and has since grown to locations in North Charleston, Summerville, and Moncks Corner, South Carolina. We are dedicated to providing tailored care and treatment with traditional and new techniques to help our patients reach their wellness goals. We treat a variety of conditions including neck pain, back pain, injuries, sciatica, scoliosis, and more. Besides chiropractic care, we also offer physiotherapeutic care, rehabilitative care, and massage therapy. Our licensed massage therapists offer all types of massage from deep tissue to compression massage and more. We are strong believers in natural healing! Check out our website to find out more information about the services and care we offer, and contact us today to schedule an appointment with our experienced doctors!
In our last post, we continued our discussion about superfoods and their benefits. A superfood refers to foods that offer maximum nutritional benefits, usually with minimal calories. Although there are no specific criteria a food must meet in order to be considered a superfood, some foods are just packed with nutrients! A proper diet is not just essential for your health, but will also allow you to get the most out of your routine chiropractic care! Be sure to check out part one of our blog on superfoods here!
Overview
Today, we’ll be talking about natural home remedies for various ailments and conditions. Chances are, you’ve heard of or used a home remedy at some point in your life. Whether you came across it online or heard of it from your grandmother, you may have given it a shot, or at least wondered if you should try it. Home remedies date back centuries, before modern medicine was developed. There are records of folk medicine, or traditional medicine, dating back as far as 5,000 years ago when the ancient Sumerian people were studying herbs for medicinal purposes. Some of these remedies have been passed down from generation to generation and some have been attributed to “old wives’ tales. These natural remedies are great for those who want to forgo over-the-counter painkillers and other drugs. We’ll be discussing some home remedies that are backed by science, so if you are interested in learning more, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.
1. Turmeric for Pain and Inflammation
If you suffer from pain and inflammation, you may have heard of turmeric. Turmeric is an Indian spice that has been used for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. It comes from a flowering plant called Curcuma longa, of the ginger family. Turmeric contains compounds called curcuminoids, with the most important one being curcumin. Curcumin is the key active ingredient in turmeric, and it is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. However, the amount of curcumin in turmeric is low– Usually only about 3%. This means that you are better off getting turmeric and curcumin through supplements rather than simply consuming turmeric on its own as a spice in your food. Additionally, consuming turmeric over long periods of time can be more helpful. Some of the common conditions that people use turmeric for are osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, allergies, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, depression, and more. Scientists have also discovered that chronic inflammation can play a role in one’s risk of developing heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and other degenerative conditions. Therefore, since turmeric helps fight inflammation, it can play a vital role in lowering your risk of these conditions.
2. Oatmeal for Skin Irritation
Do you suffer from itchy skin? Oatmeal might be the answer to your problems! Itchy skin can be caused by a variety of reasons, including eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, dry skin, poison ivy, chickenpox, hives, and insect bites, to name a few. Known as colloidal oatmeal, this treatment has been used for centuries to soothe dry and itchy skin. It is made by grinding oat grain, such as whole oats, into a powder. These oats contain vitamins, nutrients, minerals, fats, and proteins that have been proven to benefit the skin. Colloidal oatmeal binds to the skin, forming a protective barrier. It helps retain moisture while easing inflammation. Oats contain antioxidant properties, which help fight off free radicals, which cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to various conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as skin conditions like dermatitis. Many people enjoy using colloidal oatmeal in a bath, by running a lukewarm bath and sprinkling the ground oats into it. The oats will form a milky paste that you can soak in.
3. Honey for Healing and Prevention
Honey is a sweet, syrupy substance made from plant nectar by bees, created and stored to nourish bee colonies. But it has benefits for humans, too! It is loved and used in foods and recipes by many. Honey has a number of health benefits, which is why it plays a role in many home remedies. Honey that is minimally processed and fresh is rich in antioxidants, such as flavonoids. Studies have also shown that honey may help prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure. Additionally, honey has been used as a topical treatment for burns and wounds dating back to ancient Egypt. This is largely due to the fact that honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey’s unique pH balance promotes oxygen and healing compounds to a wound, and it has an osmotic effect, which means that the sugar present in the substance helps draw water out of damaged tissues. This reduces swelling and encourages the wound to heal. Manuka honey, specifically, is considered especially effective when it comes to healing burns. Another use for honey is for blemishes, due yet again to honey’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In this case, honey works as a type of antiseptic to stop the growth of bacteria that causes breakouts.
4. Ginger for Pain and Nausea
Ginger is a flowering plant that produces ginger root, a widely used spice. It has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years. Most popularly, ginger is used as a remedy for nausea, as this is best supported by science. It is one of the best natural ways to calm an upset stomach– Some studies have found that ginger is just as effective as anti-nausea medications. Ginger gets its medicinal properties from gingerol, its main bioactive compound. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can help improve digestion as well as support the release of blood pressure-regulating hormones, which can calm the body, thus reducing nausea. One of the best ways to use ginger for nausea is by adding sliced or grated ginger to a cup of tea. Additionally, you can take ginger supplements in the form of capsules or munch on crystallized ginger as a snack.
These are just a few of the many natural home remedies out there. What is your favorite home remedy that you swear by? Let us know! We hope you found this article informative, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have any further questions or concerns. It would be a pleasure to assist you. Here at Family Chiropractic & Massage, we offer chiropractic care as well as massage services and heat and cold therapy. We have doctors who have studied various chiropractic techniques to render care to patients with different types of conditions. As people vary, so do the techniques chosen to help each patient get well. We use evidence-based treatment methods to help patients get better faster. If you are suffering from any type of back pain, contact us today to set up an appointment so we can assess your needs and create an effective treatment plan. One of our experienced doctors would love to help get you on the right track to living a healthy, pain-free life! Thank you for reading, and we hope you’ll check back for more articles about chiropractic care and all it has to offer!
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