Home Remedies For Muscle Strain
March 9, 2012, Submitted by: Lauren (Mrs. MSB)
Seeing how so many more people today are starting to prep, I thought I would talk a little about home remedies. Home remedies are a good tool that all survivalists should have ready.
Think about it, if a SHTF scenario occurs, you will probably not be able to run down the street to the pharmacy and get what you need. Having alternative supplies and healing methods on hand will be a definite plus. So I thought about what most people would experience in their daily lives. They are things like sore muscles, sore throats, headaches, wounds etc.
Today I thought I’d start with sore muscles or muscle strain because I think we have all experienced that at some point in time. For mild to moderate muscle pain, using home remedies are easy to use and offer no side effects. They are also cheaper than using pills or creams. If you have severe muscle pain you will have swelling and intense pain which may mean that you may also have significant internal bleeding, swelling and bruising around the muscle. This could mean that you have a ruptured muscle and you should seek professional help.
Mild muscle strain will cause you some pain and stiffness, but should go away in a few days. Moderate muscle strain is when your muscle actually gets small tears. It will cause more pain and some swelling. This may last you a few weeks.
Let’s review what the Mayo Clinic says about home treatment for muscle strain and sprains. The Mayo Clinic likes to call the home treatment of muscle strains, ‘R.I.C.E’. Now I will review what that is so you can try using it as your own home remedy to alleviate your discomfort.
Rest the area to promote healing in your muscle. Make sure that you also stay hydrated. Good hydration helps your body in so many ways and will help your muscles to heal. Remember that the earlier you start treatment the sooner your recovery will happen.
Ice the area with an ice pack at first for about 20 minutes. Then remove the ice pack. After about an hour or so, apply the ice pack again for another 20 minutes.
Compress the area if you have swelling with an ACE bandage
Elevate your injured area, especially when you sleep at night. Gravity will help reduce your swelling if you have any.
Now these are some basic steps for easing your muscle pain or strain and starting the healing process. Just remember R.I.C.E. – Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate.
Here are some other pain relieving tips you can try. One thing I have always used is a nice hot bath. According to ehow.com, when dealing with muscle soreness, put some epsom salt and regular white vinegar in your bath water. The Epsom Salt
Although I have never tried, I have read that applying a compress of apple cider vinegar for about 20 minutes will help alleviate the muscle soreness. I am going to try this little trick next time. 
Eating some banana or a sweet potato will also help. Muscles cramp and get sore when your body is low in potassium.
And I will close with what is also a great muscle soreness reliever and that is massage! You don’t have to have a professional massage. Some nice massage by your spouse or yourself will get your blood flowing and that’s what you need to heal. After 24 to 48 hours, some moist heat
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Getting Back to Basics, Remedies
April 23, 2011, Submitted by: Ken
Before the days of endless availability of products and high-tech remedies for things like cleaning, laundry, pest control and others, people had to make do with the materials that they had on hand. They were able to accomplish the same tasks that we deal with today, while using only a handful of basic supplies, some ingenuity, and elbow grease.
The way-of-life for generations before us was one of commonsense, practicality, frugality, and simplicity.
More and more people are longing for the simplicity of the ways of old – when things were less complicated, less wasteful, and healthier in many ways.
Rediscovering the tools and practices of generations gone by – letting nothing go to waste, finding new uses for basic supplies and used items, are all very valuable knowledge and skills for a post-collapse world, or even a modern world where you choose to live a frugal way of life.
Survivalists and preparedness minded folks are often learning and practicing these lost remedies, all of which will prepare you for living well, when the products of today are not readily available. Should be needless to say, but it will also save you a fair amount of money – today.
You may be surprised how good a job can be done with basic and inexpensive supplies. Modern day marketing has brainwashed most into thinking that the only solution to cleaning windows, toilets, floors, etc.. are the products tailor-made for these tasks by the handful of corporate conglomerate giants that place them on your store shelves. Same is true with most other products. Don’t be fooled.
For example, here are a few inexpensive remedies that you could try for yourself.
How to get rid of the soap scum buildup on the sides of your bathtub
Mix 1 part baby oil, or generic, in 4 parts water
Pour the solution into a spray bottle
(Tip: save old spray bottles from used up commercial products, just clean them first)
Spray the sides of the tub
Wait 5 minutes
Wipe clean with a damp cloth
Careful, this will leave the bottom of the tub a bit slippery.
A sponge soaked in white vinegar will wipe away the slick.
How to make your own window cleaner solution
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
2 tablespoons ammonia
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid (not antibacterial, which will streak)
Pour the solution into a spray bottle
(Tip: save old spray bottles from used up commercial products, just clean them first)
Alternate window cleaning solution for touch-up
1 cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
Pour the solution into a spray bottle
(Tip: save old spray bottles from used up commercial products, just clean them first)
You will find lots of remedies online. If you start thinking in terms of using your own mix of general purpose cleaning solutions, you will save yourself money and open your mind to a new way of thinking. Give it a try.
Here’s a previous article about the many benefits of Borax
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Home Remedies for Stress, Anxiety
February 28, 2011, Submitted by: Ken
In today’s modern world, nearly everyone seems to be stressed out in their daily lives. Both spouses working to make ends meet, often long days – particularly in today’s environment where employers have the upper hand. With the remaining hours of the day there are endless chores, duties, activities, and obligations that consume those precious remaining hours.
Stress is experienced often by most people, and is mostly unavoidable in a busy life. Anxiety is a result of stress, and is usually a tenseness about an upcoming deadline or something coming up in the future.
You’ve probably heard it before, but stress can and will affect your health. Your heart rate, blood pressure, muscles, and emotions are all subjected to stress and can lead to headache, upset stomach, insomnia, and may even lead to illness or aggravate an existing or underlying health problem.
How to control stress
Get enough sleep
Sleep deprivation is unfortunately all too common these days. Long days and stressful worries will result in a poor night’s sleep. One of the most effective remedies for stress is to get enough sleep. Even one extra hour will make a big difference. Give something up and go to bed earlier…
Do physical activity
Exercise will improve your mood, your blood flow, and help you to think more clearly. A simple walk each day will do wonders to help battle stress. During your walk, you will probably discover that you are resolving some of the issues in your mind as you exercise.
Break up big tasks
Break up responsibilities into smaller pieces. You will be surprised at the effectiveness of visualizing and doing just one task at a time, instead of constantly thinking of the overall big project.
Be practical
Don’t take on more than you should. Be realistic about your expectations. Learn to say no. Do things that you can reasonably achieve. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Delegate.
Limit caffeine
While caffeine in coffee, tea or soda may seem like a beneficial supplement to get you going, it will actually increase your stress levels. As with everything, moderation is the rule.
Make time for yourself
Get away from your normal surroundings once in a while. It is all to easy to be in a constant routine. A purposeful change of scenery will be refreshing.
Learn to calm down
There are many methods you can learn which will lead to relaxation. Closing your eyes for ten seconds while breathing deeply and slowly and thinking of your favorite place in the world, can be just the thing. Getting a massage, doing Yoga, and learning meditation will all help to achieve a relaxed state.
You only have one life to live, and as each day ticks by, it’s a day that you will never get back. Take a step back from an overly busy life of stress and anxiety, and enjoy it – smell the roses…
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How to Put Out a Grease Fire
February 14, 2011, Submitted by: Ken
Fire needs three things to burn. Heat, Oxygen, and Fuel. A fire will keep growing until one of those is removed.
The safest way to extinguish a grease fire burning in a pan is to remove the oxygen.
In the following order,
- Put on oven mitts to protect your hands.
- Get the lid that fits the pan and ‘slide’ it across the top of the pan to smother the flames. Or, use a cookie sheet and slide it over the top of the burning pan.
- Shut off the burner to stop adding heat.
- Leave the pan alone, don’t move it, and don’t remove the lid until it has cooled completely.
Other secondary methods to put out a grease fire
Use a class B or BC or ABC fire extinguisher.
First Alert KFE2S5 5-B:C Kitchen Fire Extinguisher, White
Caution: Fire extinguisher’s release so much pressure that it could tip the pan or spread the burning grease if sprayed too close to the grease fire. So, if you do use a fire extinguisher, start at a distance away and move towards the fire, rather than locating the nozzle directly near the burning grease.
Carefully pour or sift a liberal amount of baking soda onto the grease fire.
Soak a towel under the faucet, wring out the excess dripping water, and drape over the burning grease pan to smother it.
Things NOT TO DO to put out a grease fire
DO NOT move or carry the pan outside, it will fan the flames and risk spreading.
DO NOT douse the grease fire with water, or milk, etc…
If you do, it will explode into a fireball.
DO NOT throw flour on to a grease fire because flour is combustible.
NBC TODAY Show: Kitchen Fire Safety
Example of water on a grease fire, Extinguished by using a wet towel
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Home Remedy for Upset Stomach
June 3, 2010, Submitted by: Lauren (Mrs. MSB)As a modern society we have been ‘programmed’ to seek medical relief from the use of pharmaceuticals, be it prescription or over-the-counter. This is somewhat understandable given the system we operate in today with our busy lifestyles filled with speedy shortcuts. We forget that our grand parents and ancestors had discovered countless natural home remedies for all types of ailments, many of which have not been passed down to current generations.
The following home remedy is one for which many are inflicted, an upset stomach or stomach pain. Rather than reaching for a pharmaceutical, why not first try thinking about the possible cause (a particular food sensitivity, etc…) and second, why not try a natural home remedy such as this one, which sometimes works better than a pharmaceutical!
The following are two natural home remedies that work for me for an upset stomach to offer temporary relief, and will work like a charm.
Ginger Root for upset stomach pain
The first home remedy for my upset stomach actually came form my gastroenterologist. He said, “You know what would really help you? Ginger. Make some ginger tea, it will really help your stomach pain.” Now, I had already tried taking ginger capsules that I bought at a vitamin store with no relief. The fact that I was seeing a gastroenterologist meant I was frustrated with the situation and I was willing to try just about anything to obtain some relief. So I went to the store and bought some ginger tea. Guess what? I had no relief.
Shortly thereafter, I happened to be talking to a friend, who is also a physician. When I told him that I had no relief from the ginger tea, he asked me how I had made the tea. I said, “Well, I took the bag out of the box…..” He chuckled and said, “no, no. You’ve got to make the tea from fresh ginger and cinnamon sticks.”
Ah, ha! The light bulb went on! I had also heard somewhere that cinnamon was helpful in calming an upset stomach. So I made the ‘recipe’ he gave me and experienced a lot of relief within 10 – 15 minutes of drinking the tea.
The recipe is simple.
Take some fresh ginger root and slice into medallions about ¼ inch thick. You want about ¾ cup when you are done. Remember that when purchasing your ginger root you want to look for ones with smooth skins. If the skin is wrinkled, it means the ginger is old.
Bring to a boil 6 cups of water. Add the sliced ginger root and 4 to 6 cinnamon sticks. Let the ‘tea’ simmer at a low boil for 20 minutes. Let cool. Remove the ginger root and cinnamon sticks.
I have found that the tea is more enjoyable after it has been refrigerated until cold.
This recipe makes a nice pitcher-full so I always have some handy in the fridge if upset stomach acid rears it’s ugly head. Relief is only 10 – 15 minutes away.
Also available, Ginger Root: Ground non-sulfited
Coconut Water for upset stomach pain
This next remedy, for me, was much more effective on upset stomach than even the ginger root tea. One day I was having stomach pain, a bad acid attack. Though the ginger tea helped, it was not its usual relief. My husband started looking online and found the following remedy. That day, it was nothing short of a miracle for me.
Go to the store and buy a whole coconut. This remedy is coconut water, not coconut milk! You need to extract the water from the inside of the coconut. Now, I had a bit of a dilemma. How to crack open the coconut without losing the majority of the natural water. My husband the MacGyver went out to the tool shed and brought back a cordless drill for the simple solution.
Drill a hole in the coconut and pour the ‘water’ into a glass with a piece of cheesecloth over the top to strain out any small pieces of husk etc. Drink it down! It actually tastes good. I found a lot of relief in about 5 minutes.
Hope this information helps you the next time you have an upset stomach to consider or seek out other natural remedies rather than automatically reaching for a pill
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