Home and Herbal Remedies for Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are due to muscles being pulled suddenly. The joints get twisted and pain occurs. Sprain is stretching or tearing of ligaments (these are bands of fibrous tissues that connect one bone to another). They generally affect the ankles and knees. A strain involves the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons. Hamstring and back injuries are some of the most common strains.

There is rapid swelling when sprains occur. An injury is severe when the pain and swelling is more. In the case of severe strain, the muscle or tendon is torn apart or ruptured. It could cause a lot of bleeding, swelling and bruising around the muscle, leading to malfunctioning of muscle. How to get over these sprains and strains?

Home Remedies for Sprains and Strains

• Resting helps. One should avoid any kind of activity to allow the muscles to recuperate
• Ice pack helps to reduce the inflammation and swelling. Keep it on affected area for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat it every 2 to 3 hours to reduce the pain
• It is good to use compressions as they tighten the sprained or strained area to prevent further injury
• Keep the injured part elevated to decrease the swelling
• One can add pineapple to one's diet as it contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps in the healing process. It should be stopped if there is itching.
• One can take aspirin or ibuprofen for the swelling and pain
• The affected area can be massaged with comfrey oil or cream to lessen the pain
• To reduce swelling five drops of thyme oil diluted either in bathwater or some other oil can be used as a compress
• Arnica balm or ointment can be applied as cream or a compress on the affected area
• Horse chestnut gel can also be applied every two hours till the pain goes

Herbal Remedies for Sprains and Strains

• One can apply comfrey oil infusion on the affected area. Massage it well
• Thyme (5drops) in bath or diluted oil and can be used as a compress
• Arnica cream or compress
• St. John's Wort is also useful. Its oils and tincture can be used

One can sprain or strain one's ankle or legs while playing games or while exercising. There are remedies to treat these conditions. These are within one's reach. Not very expensive either, but very useful as a cure.

By Aashu S

Relieve Itchy Feet - Goats' Milk Soap and Natural Foot Scrubs

There are many causes for itchy feet but a few of the common ones include: athlete's foot, dry skin, contact dermatitis and eczematous dermatitis. Using proper foot care products can help all of these foot conditions. Homemade natural foot scrubs and goats milk soap are available to help itchy feet.
A fungus called trichophyton causes athlete's foot. This foot fungus can be derived by coming into contact with it at gyms, swimming pools, foot or nail salons and on socks or clothing. This foot fungus thrives in moist warm environments. Tight fitting shoes or socks do not allow the feet to breathe contributing to the build-up of moisture. Excessive sweating allows this foot fungus to spread.
What can you do to help get rid of athlete's foot fungus? Try an anti-bacterial, homemade, soap, such as natural goats milk soap to thoroughly wash the feet. This handmade natural soap is extremely mild and gentle. It thoroughly cleanses and is available unscented, Au Natural, or in a variety of natural scents.
Also, natural foot scrubs cleanse, exfoliate and rejuvenate feet leaving them soft, soothed and well conditioned.
Other ways to help get rid of athlete's foot are to: maintain dry feet, apply topical creams or anti-fungus powders, change to using acrylic socks instead of cotton socks, and change wearing the same shoes day after day. Consider wearing shoes that are breathable such as leather instead of plastic shoes that contain wetness.
Dry skin can cause redness, burning, flaking feet. Natural goats milk soap moisturizes feet. These homemade soaps are extremely mild and gentle, non-irritating, soothing and refreshing.
Dry feet can, also, lead to painful cracked heels. There is a natural foot scrub that is a light, lotion type of scrub made from Dead Sea salt and goats' milk soap. It is not heavy on the skin and mixes well with water instead of running off like oils. It cleanses, exfoliates leaving skin soft, well conditioned and moisturized.
Another type of natural foot scrub is made from Dead Sea salt, goats milk soap and raw honey. It is a heavy type of scrub designed, specifically, for cracked heels and calluses. It penetrates down deep where the skin is still alive. It softens calluses and allows cracks to slough off. The feet pain from cracked heels is relieved, almost immediately from all of the emollients in this scrub! It leaves skin, cleansed, exfoliated, soothed and moisturized.
Contact dermatitis can be caused by allergic reactions to dyes in socks, shoes, or even the glue used in shoes. People should try to determine the cause of their allergic reaction and then avoid them. Natural goats milk soap is available, unscented, with no added fragrance or dyes. It is extremely mild and gentle. Natural goats milk soap made with aloe and oats is, also, very soothing for skin. In addition, natural foot scrubs helps cleanse, exfoliate, soften, soothe and moisturize the skin.
Using soaps that are too harsh for skin can cause eczematous dermatitis. Skin stays dehydrated with redness, irritation or swelling. Natural goats milk soap does not contain the harsh and chemicals found in modern, commercial, soap. It contains natural, mild and gentle, skin friendly ingredients. Also, natural foot scrubs are soothing for tired, aching and sore feet.
The combination of using natural goats milk soap and natural foot scrubs is wonderful for a variety of itchy feet conditions. If you have been looking for something to relieve your tired, achy, sore, cracked heels, calluses, dry feet or itchy feet, and have not found anything that worked, maybe you have been looking in the wrong places.
You may consider trying homemade, natural, goats milk soap and homemade, natural, foot scrubs. These natural skin care products are nourishing and healthful for all types of skin, including dry itchy skin, and even for itchy feet!

By Susan Katchur

Foot Pain Relief At Last!

"As an arthritis specialist, one area that I see people complain about more often than almost any other, is their feet." So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. "This is too bad because there are many treatments that can be helpful," Dr. Wei adds.
The foot is made up of 26 bones and 39 muscles...
The foot and ankle are designed to bear weight. The multiple joints in the feet are capable of adjusting to almost any terrain and the padding in the feet are designed to absorb shock.. The ankle joint allows the foot to move up and down, side to side, and inward and outward (inversion and eversion).
Not All Foot Pain Comes From The Foot!
Careful examination of the low back, hip, and knee should be performed because pain from these areas may affect the foot and ankle. In particular, pinched nerves in the low back can cause foot pain and weakness.
Ankle sprains are common- 25,000 people sprain an ankle every day!
The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and prevent instability.
Treatment of an acute sprain consists of rest, ice compression and elevation ("RICE"). Exercises to help stabilize and strengthen the ankle should be started.
Arthritis of the ankle may cause recurrent pain and swelling.
Pain from arthritis typically is made worse by weight-bearing particularly on uneven ground. What this means is you should try to avoid excessive walking or running on uneven ground. Anti-inflammatory medication and proper foot support can do wonders.
Pain in the ball of the foot has many causes...

• Foot strain occurs when a person "overdoes it." And the treatment is pretty straightforward. Rest.
• Morton's neuroma (a benign nerve tumor usually located between the 3rd and 4th toes)
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome (pinched nerve in the ankle)
• Arthritis.

Other common causes of foot pain include:

• Stress fractures may occur after excessive walking.
• Achilles tendonitis causes pain in the back of the heel. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medicines, rest, a heel lift, and gentle stretching.
• Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medication, heel cup, orthotics, stretching, and local steroid injection.
• Flat foot.

Muscle strengthening exercises and orthotics are helpful.
Two other common problems are:

• Osteoarthritis, particularly common in the big toe. The big toe will point out to the side. When bursitis alongside the great toe joint develops, this condition is referred to as a bunion. Treatment involves proper padding and footwear. In extreme cases, surgery is required.
• Neuropathy. This painful condition is particularly common in diabetics. This occurs when the small nerves in the feet are damaged. Symptoms include burning, tingling, and pain in the feet - worse at night.

Well fitted orthotics (arch supports) can alleviate not only foot and ankle pain but pain in the knees, hips, low back, and neck!!
We often take the ability to walk for granted. This ability involves the use of two engineering marvels- our feet and ankles. Because of the tremendous amount of force transmitted to the feet with walking, unique problems may develop. Attention to proper preventative care, i.e., comfortable shoes, sox, hygiene, support, along with proper prompt medical care can really put the brakes on foot pain.
Nathan Wei