Having a healthy mouth should be important to everybody. When introduced to a stranger the first thing noticed is often a healthy and attractive smile.

Tooth decay or gum diseases have been recognised as contributing factors to the onset of breathing problems, strokes and even heart attacks.

There are a variety of mouthwashes and toothpastes being sold and some of them have harmful ingredients in them. Toothpaste and mouthwash are not meant to be swallowed, but it can happen and cause problems with the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Herbal Remedies can be used to adapt to your needs and be part of your own collection of Home Remedies . Also, aromatherapy can solve these problems for you. Using the right essential oils such as anise, cinnamon, eucalyptus can help kill bacteria in your mouth.

There are many excellent natural herbal mouth-care products available on the market, but you also can make your own with simple ingredients. Try these 3 aromatherapy formulas recipes for your healthy mouth. Each takes only a few minutes to make.

Mint – Myrr Tooth Powder:
Ingredients:
• Half a cup of baking soda
• Half a teaspoon of stevia powder
• 2 teaspoonfuls of myrrh powder
• One teaspoon of sea salt
• 20 to 30 drops of peppermint essential oil
Direction:
• Take all the ingredients and mix together.
• Store the mixture into an airtight container.
To use:
• Take another small glass or plastic container and place one teaspoonful of the powder into it.
• Wet your toothbrush and you are ready to use your home made toothpaste.

Citrus Mint Toothpaste:
This toothpaste is more similar to commercially available toothpastes because of the sweet flavour and smooth consistency provided by vegetable glycerin.
Ingredients:
• ¼ cup of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin
• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops of orange essential oil
• 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
Direction:
• Mix all ingredients together thoroughly in a small bowl.
• Store in a small, tightly covered container.
To use:
• Take another small glass or plastic container and place one teaspoonful of the powder into it.
• Wet your toothbrush and you are ready to use your home made toothpaste.

Citrus Mint Mouthwash:
This mouthwash leaves your mouth feeling clean and refreshed, and the essential oils help combat bacteria.
Ingredients:
• 20 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops of orange essential oil
• 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
• 1 cup of vodka
Direction:
• Combine essential oils with vodka and store in a tightly capped bottle.
To use:
• Dilute one tablespoon of mouthwash with one cup of water.
• Stir well.
• Use as a gargle and mouth rinse and do not swallow.

The properties of the herb bitter gourd found in Africa and Asia is known to have good medicinal properties. The herbal plant is an antidote, a laxative and a stomachic.

It is a herbal remedy that is passive and can be used to treat alcoholism. The juice from this herb can help a person’s body by strengthening the liver and immune system.

Method:
• Take the juice first thing in the morning before eating any food by adding two or three teaspoonfuls to buttermilk. Try this for one month.

Other aides are:
1. Grape juice, which has a certain amount of wine in its raw condition and when drunk it can neutralize any craving for alcohol.

2. Apple, which is another fruit that is good for reducing cravings for alcohol.

3. Dates are also good as an antidote. Try crushing them in a pan of boiled water. You have to consume this decoction at least once a day for a month, do not miss one day.
Warning: Seek professional help from your medical practitioner if unsure about anything.

If a gastric ulcer is attacking a person’s stomach it can be very painful. One of the reasons could be due to a variety of fast foods which are known to cause health complications.

There have been advances in technology which makes treating the ulcer simpler, and eases what would have been a very uncomfortable issue in years past.

There are other ulcers that can cause pain and are treatable by Herbal Remedies.

Herbal Remedies:

• Bilberry is a herbal plant that can be used effectively as it has astringent, antiseptic and anti-oxidant properties. This shrub has thin leaves with flowers and fruit.

• Cayenne pepper has been studied and found to help in the reduction of number of symptoms and help in the reduction of pain. The pepper helps to open blood vessels, which is an aid for the gastrointestinal tract.

• Cabbage eaten or drunk as a juice on a daily basis can assist with the pain of a gastric ulcer.

Warning: Herbal Remedies should not be used as a replacement for medical prescription. If the pain does not subside or if you are still feeling uncomfortable inform your doctor.

One of the most common ailments that can be caused by a bad gut or by a dental problem is halitosis or bad breath.  However Herbal Remedies can help the situation until the problem is resolved.

Useful herbal plants that can be taken orally are Cardoman, Thyme, Cloves and Mint. All these herbal plants have antiseptic properties and some are grown in gardens.

The herbal mint family can be grown in pots in a garden and include various types including lemon mint which smells fresh as the wind blows through the leaves.

Eucalyptus the herbal plant is useful as a mouthwash but not to be eaten.

If you have been eating garlic the night before then try chomping on a sprig of Parsley.

Herbal remedies were popular in years gone by when there were no corner shops or chemists to buy modern medication. Today it is more cost effective to use herbal remedies that are readily available.

Note: If you are giving up drinking or smoking and you have the urge to stop your good efforts, chewing a mint leaf will freshen up your mouth and help to continue your positive attitude to having a healthier lifestyle.

Warning: If the problem of bad breath does not resolve itself then make an appointment with your doctor for professional advice.

Chicken Pox is a skin disease that is itchy, painful and can be the cause of scarring if not treated correctly. The duration of this skin disease is twenty one days and the highest period of contamination is in the middle of that period.

Symptoms:

• Fever and pains all over the body
• A rash that is red in colour and small blisters

Unfortunately there is no modern medicine apart from a few antibiotics that can heal this disease. However, Herbal Remedies are available the can help to reduce the pain and itching.

Home Remedies :

1. Run bath water and add half a cup of brown vinegar to reduce the itching.
2. Boil some green peas in hot water for ten minutes. Strain the peas and keep the water for the bath. If adding the pea liquid to the bath water is unacceptable then sponge the liquid all over the body. This will also reduce any itching.
3. Baking soda that is used in cooking can help. This is good for children as the baking soda coats any blisters to bring relief. Take galleon of water and add the baking soda, mix and sponge generously.

Home remedies can be useful for the irritation of the skin. If there is a worry about scarring by the blisters then try honey and Vitamin E oil mixed together. Coat the skin with the mixture and then the spots of the scars will remove themselves from the skin tone.

Cold Sores or Oral Herpes always seem to make an entrance when you have a new boyfriend or if you are going away on holiday. You may have noticed these occasions are all at the wrong times.

Oral herpes or cold sores as it usually referred to can be prevented but you have to be diligent in the way you treat the current cold sore.

Method:

1. Take a cotton bud and apply some medication on to the sore. Do not use that cotton bud again. Throw it away.
2. Every time you dab the medication on the cold sore continue to the throw the cotton buds away to stop the transference of the viral infection.

If you drink a lot of coffee then reduce the amount and drink water with vitamins as a supplement.
There are Herbal Remedies that can be used in the home:

• Garlic can be part of the Home Remedies that you can have available as it is an antibiotic germ killer.
• If the cold sore is really painful then try placing a tea bag on the sore to reduce some of the throbbing.
• Tea Tree oil can be dabbed on a cold sore.

All the above herbal remedies can be kept in the families home remedies cupboard.
Warning: If symptoms persist or the cold sores start to spread then make an appointment to see a doctor.

There is an interest in Home Remedies being used as a way of healing certain ailments due to families being made aware that over the counter products have chemicals as ingredients.

One of the popular home remedies is Aromatherapy Oils which are distilled from herbal plants and can be used in many ways. Listed below are some of the home remedies:

•    The rooms in a house can have a change of mood to match how a person is feeling with the scents and aromas of the aromatherapy oils.
•    Essential oils can be changed to suit a different decor in any room in any house.
•    Taking a bath can be a relaxing time. Try adding a few drops of an essential oil to the water. It calms the mind and relaxes the muscles after a hard day at work.
•    Lavender the essential oil is good to aid sleep and if a person is suffering from a bad chest.
•    Eucalyptus can help to ease congestion in the lungs and nasal areas.

Aromatherapy oils were first discovered years ago by a Frenchman called Rene Gattefoss who burnt himself whilst experimenting with the oil of Lavender. He poured some of the oil over his burn and it eased the pain.
This encouraged Rene started to experiment with other herbal plants and the oils they could produce. ‘Aromatherapy’ the name was born. He discovered that a large amount of herbal plants were antiseptic so he started treating peoples ailments. Rene’s healing techniques have been in use for thousands of years.
Warning: Do not use essential oils directly on the skin.

Bodily ailments can be resolved, almost all with nature in mind. Mother Nature has all these wonderful Home Remedies available at her fingertips and she tries to pass her knowledge to everyone to use.

Essential oils that are diffused and used can help ailments such as depression, sleep patterns and alter the mood of a family and atmosphere of a room.

If you have children at home from school and you need to occupy them, then there is a fabulous opportunity to keep them busy but at the same time find out which scents and aromas they prefer.

Mist in a bottle can promote a feeling of wellness and is a natural mood and room enhancer.

Ingredients:

•    Dark glass bottles (one for each person)
•    Eye droppers (one for each oil)
•    A bottle of spring water or use filtered water
•    Witch Hazel (if storing to use over the next couple of months)

Choose a couple of the essential oils such as Pine, Juniper, Lavender or Sweet Orange depending on the age of children or adults.

To make the sprays you need to fill up the dark brown bottles with water, witch hazel and add the essential oils.

Count the drops and when everyone has done that seal the tops of the bottles and shake until the mixture is mixed properly.

Once a room has been sprayed, store the bottles for further use. When you use the bottle again remember to shake it again.

Warning: use less drops of essential oils if spraying in a child’s room

Arthritis is used as terminology to describe a painful condition when joints have suffered wear and tear. The effect is that the muscles begin to stiffen up.

Herbs that have anti-inflammatory or pain relieving properties can make a great difference to people with arthritis.

Ayurvedic medicine uses a herbal plant called boswellia which is a traditional herb from India. This herb can reduce the symptoms of arthritis and has been scientifically trialled.

Turmeric, a common ingredient in curries, can be taken as a health supplement. Turmeric is potent and is also anti-inflammatory which helps to protect a person’s body from free radical damage.

Capsaicin is a substance found in cayenne peppers and emu oil can be useful but need only a little application at a time.

Devils claw is another one of the vast Herbal Remedies that can be useful as it too has the pain relieving benefits needed along with an anti- inflammatory property.

Note: the best way to help keep pain at bay is to keep moving. This can be any exercise which improves the muscles and helps the joints. A healthy diet and the loss of a few pounds is another action which can help weight bearing joints.

Warning: inform your doctor before starting a new exercise regime.

Most people that have a problem with their thyroid will have a variation of the condition or symptoms.

Some people have symptoms and only suffer slightly. Then there are others who suffer a more debilitating effect. It is a condition that can be undetected by doctors for a while until it becomes more noticeable.

The Thyroid gland is in the lower part of the neck and is responsible for producing thyroxine. Thyroxine looks after a human body’s metabolic rate.

A valuable part of this hormone is iodine, and it can be lacking, which will cause a problem. To tackle this problem, a diet with plenty of iodine based foods such as shellfish, seafood and the use of iodised salt can be beneficial.

Unfortunately if you have a thyroid problem it can lead to other diseases. The main areas of medical conditions if the hormones are elevated are palpitations, hyperthyroidism and heart problems.

However there are Herbal Remedies available to help with this condition and work alongside the medical profession.

The herbal plant Bugleweed is an effective example. Infusions made with this herb and used two or three times a day will help by slowing down the gland.

Note:
It is important to follow your doctor’s advice and have frequent checkups with a doctor.