HOW TO DEAL WITH ASTHMA

Asthma is a disease of the bronchial tubes or airways. Symptoms are feeling of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

Water treatments
1. Fomentation on the chest, 2 times a day.
2. Steam inhalation, 2 times a day.
3. Breathing exercise for 10-15 minutes when there is no attack of asthma, 4 times a day.

Breathing Exercise
Position: sit relaxed on a chair, with high back supported by a pillow. Breath in through the nose. Then purse the lips and pretend that you are blowing through a straw. Blow out twice as long as you breathe in. gradually increase the time of blowing. Relax after blowing and take 3 or 4 normal breathes before you start the purse breathing again. These can be done in the morning, upon waking up, and in the evening, before retiring. These may be performed also when short of breath while doing other exercises and activities.

MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR SWOLLEN GUMS AND MOUTH INFLAMATION

SWOLLEN GUMS AND MOUTH INFLAMATION
Swollen gums or stomatitis is an inflammation of the soft tissues of the mouth.

Water Treatments
1. Hot Salt gargle, 3 times a day before meals.
2. Massage gum with clean fingers every hot salt.
3. Brush teeth with soft toothbrush. Brush teeth every after meals.
4. Drink at least 4 glasses of fruit juice during the day.
5. See the dentist for gum swelling and the physician for mouth infections.

Herbal Treatments
1. Bayabas or Guava leaves decoction mouthwash. Boil one cup of chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Use the decoction for salt gargle or mouthwash every after meals.
2. Bunga or Betel nut palm fruit mouthwash. Peel and chop 3 fruits and boil in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Use as mouthwash or hot bunga gargle.
3. Kaymito or Star apple Leaves gargle. Boil 1 cup chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Use the decoction for mouthwash or gargle.
4. Duhat or Black Palm leaves mouthwash. Boil 10 chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Use the decoction for mouthwash or gargle.
5. Talong or Eggplant leaves mouthwash. Boil 3 chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Use the decoction for mouthwash or gargle.

MEDICAL TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION

CONSTIPATION
Constipation is a condition in which the bowels are evacuated at long intervals or with difficulty.

Water and other Treatments
1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water during the day. Take one or two glasses of water upon waking up in the morning and one glass at bedtime.
2. Give enema with manual extraction if a bowel is impacted.
3. Have a regular time to sit down on the toilet bowl and relax. Sit down on the toilet bowl when it is time for it even if you don’t feel it.
4. Have a regular daily exercise.
5. Eat plenty of green and leafy vegetables and fresh fruits.

Herbal Medication
1. Kangkong or Potato Vine leaves. Eat 2 cups of boiled kangkong leaves with meals. This may be part of the menu or diet.
2. Malunggay or Horse Raddish Tree Leaves. Eat 1 cup of cooked leaves with meals.
3. Papaya (ripe fruit). Eat one big slice every morning for breakfast.
4. Kampanilya or Yellow Bell Leaves. Boil 5 leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Adults, 1 glass, 2 times a day. Children 2-6 yrs old - 1 tablespoon, 2 times a day. Children 7-12 yrs old - 1 cup, 2 times a day.

MEASLES AND RASHES TREATMENT

MEASLES AND SKIN RASHES
Measles is an acute viral infection characterized by mobilliform eruption with catarrhal inflammation of conjunctiva and air passages.

Water Treatments
1. Give fever sponge bath for fever three times a day.
2. Apply continuous cold compress on the forehead.
3. For cough, give fomentation to the chest and back, 2 times a day.
4. A starch bath to relieve itchiness can be given daily to take the place of sponge bath.
5. Protect the eyes from bright light. Make room dim with curtains on the windows and dim lights at night.

KEEPING UP WITH STRESS

It has been observed that most health problems right now are related to stress. The normal body time cycle of a person has been altered and modified as the person do his/her daily work or routine. People working at the office would prefer to take energy boosters or medical supplements just to stay awake and do their jobs. Our body is like a clock it strikes 12 and it recognizes the time to sleep. That's where the problem starts. Supplements and medications will not do good for our body.

To cope up with stress, we need to sleep and that is the best solution to fight stress. Taking energy boosters and medications is not healthy. It would only lead to stress related health problems in the future. It is advisable that we sleep at least 7 to 8 hours a day. Having enough sleep would lead to a healthy body.

HERBAL TREATMENT FOR KUTO OR LICE INFESTATION

LICE INFESTATION (KUTO) ON THE HEAD
Lice are a small, wingless, flattened insect, which produces irritating dermatitis on the scalp.

Herbal Treatments
1. Shampoo hair with gugo bark or commercial shampoo.
2. Immediately after the shampoo, comb the hair to remove the dead lice on the hair.
3. If possible, shampoo every day for one week and comb hair fine with fine comb twice a day.
4. Get rid of the nits (lice eggs), wet hair with hot vinegar for half an hour before shampoo. Then comb hair with fine comb thoroughly.
5. At bedtime, pound ½ cup of atis or sugar apple seeds. Mix it with ¼ cup oil. Apply thoroughly the oil-and-atis-seed mixture over the scalp and hair. Wrap the hair and head with a piece of clean cloth and leave it overnight. Shampoo the next morning and comb the hair with fine comb.
6. Do this treatment daily for 3-5 days or until all lice are gone and nits are gone. Destroy or kill the lice and nits as soon as they are removed from the hair and head.
7. Always keep hair clean and well combed. Don’t use the comb of other persons. Don’t sleep with an individual with lice infested head and hair.

HERBAL REMEDY FOR INDIGESTION

INDIGESTION
Indigestion is the disturbance in the digestive function of the stomach or its failure to digest food.

Suggestive Measures to aid Digestion:
1. Withhold food intake for four hours.
2. Drink one glass of hot water every hour during the four-hour fasting.
3. Eat a slice of ripe papaya 30 minutes after a heavy meal.
4. Eat light meals without fatty foods after the four-hour fasting.

Herbal Medications to aid digestion:
1. Papaya fruit. Eat as a fruit dessert, especially with heavy meals. Papaya helps in the digestion of protein.
2. Kamatsili Leaves. Boil 1 cup in 5 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Add ½ teaspoon salt. Dosage: 2 cups initial, and then 1 cup every four hours for adults. 1 cup initial, and then ½ cup every four hours for children. 1tbsp initial, and then 1 teaspoon every four hours for babies.
3. Anonas or Custard Apple leaves. Warm the leaves in an open fire. Apply leaves directly on the stomach while still warm. Use abdominal binder. Renew every 2 hours. Good for children and babies.

MEDICAL SOLUTION FOR SUN BURN

SUNBURN

Sunburn or erythema is a redness of the skin occurring in patches of variable sizes and shapes due to excessive exposure to sunlight.

Water Treatment:
1. Starch bath daily for 3-5 days.
2. Bathe with rain water. Powder with starch or gawgaw after the bath.

Herbal Medications
1. Alusiman Or Purslane Leaves. Extract juice from the leaves. Apply on the prickly heat after the starch bath.
2. Bayabas or Guava Leaves. If there is an infection, boil 1 cup of chopped leaves in one gallon of water. Add 2 gallons of cold water. Bathe with this decoction.

ICE PACK PROCEDURE

ICE PACK
Ice pack is a local application of ice over a body segment.

Effects:
1. Relieves pain.
2. Prevents or lessen black and blue discoloration due to capillary bleeding.
3. Stops bleeding especially if applied with pressure.
4. Prevents and reduces swelling.
5. Decrease blood flow to the area.
6. Constricts blood vessels, therefore, decreases tendency to bleeding.

Things Needed:
1. Two bath towels.
2. Two safety pins.
3. Finely crushed ice-amount depends on the size of the area to be treated.
4. A piece of flannel cloth or baby’s blanket.
5. A piece of plastic.

Procedure:
1. Spread the finely crushed ice on the bath towel, forming a layer about one inch thick. Adjust the surface area as needed for the affected part. Wrap the ice and secure it with safety pins.
2. Wrap the area or joint with flannel cloth or towel and place the ice pack, following the contour of the area.
3. Never apply an ice pack directly on the skin. Cover the packed ice with plastic and secure carefully to prevent the bed from getting wet.
4. Treatment time: 30 minutes to one hour. If there is a burning sensation during the ice pack application, the ice pack is not well insulated. Add insulator or add towel flannel cloth.
5. To end treatment, remove the pack, dry the area and observe reaction. Treatment may be repeated after two hours in acute injuries to relieve pain and swelling.
6. Cover or bandage area to avoid chilling, especially in acute sprain ankles.

STARCH BATH PROCEDURE

STARCH BATH
Starch Bath
Immersion bath in starchy water for a soothing effect.

Effects:
1. Relieves skin irritation.
2. Soothes burning and itching sensations.
3. Tendency to dry skin.

Things Needed:
1. Bathtub. For babies, big basin may be used.
2. Big drum or plastic water container for adults, big enough to soak the whole body.
3. Two glasses of starch for adult. Half glass for babies and children.
4. One bath towel.
5. Face towel.

Procedure:
1. Fill up the tub 2/3 full with warm water. Water should be deep enough to immerse the affected areas. Use bathtub if whole body is affected.
2. Melt the starch in cold water in a small basin. Mix well the melted starch into the tub water.
3. Undress the patient and assist him into the tub.
4. With face towel, bathe the parts not immersed. Wet the head or hair if the scalp is affected. Immerse patient for 20 minutes, but do not rub him with towel.
5. After 20 minutes, drain the water and pat dry the patient with use soap even for washing hands, unless the physician orders a specific soap.
6. Keep patient warm and avoid chilling.
7. Give daily bath or twice a day, depending upon the patient’s condition.