Health is one area I don’t often address here on this site but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important than self-development or finances.
In fact, without our health what good is anything else?
Now unlike some of the speakers in the self-development field I haven’t spent much time studying health but I do keep my eyes and ears open for interesting stories on the Internet or TV.
Just the other day I came across one such article on yahoo that caught my attention and after reading it I thought I’d try and dig up some more info to share with you as I’m a fan of stuff that makes people go, “I didn’t know that.”
So here are some of the cool health tips that I found:
- Disinfect a wound with honey – Dab the cut with honey before covering it with a bandage. Believe it or not, honey has powerful antibacterial properties. A study in the Archives of Surgery found that honey is capable of destroying almost all strains of the most common wound-infecting bacteria.
- Break a high fever with your armpits – Anything up to 102°F is mild and can be treated by drinking plenty of fluids. But to quickly bring down a reading above that, put an ice pack under your arm or near your groin. Icing either spot will cool your body’s core. It’s uncomfortable, but it works fast. Then see a doctor.
- Stop bleeding with this spice – Next time you nick yourself in the kitchen, reach for the black pepper, says Roberta Lee, M.D., vice chair of the department of integrative medicine at the Beth Israel Medical Center. Run cold water over the wound to clean it, using soap if you were handling meat. Then sprinkle on the pepper and apply pressure. In no time, the bleeding will stop. Turns out, black pepper has analgesic, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. And don’t worry—it won’t sting.
- Boost your energy with a glass of water – Water is nature’s magic elixir. It improves your oral health, promotes weight loss and energizes you. Ordinary water, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found, raises alertness. The scientists discovered that water increases sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. SNS is responsible for activating the body’s responses under stress, raising blood pressure, energy use and alertness. Next time you need an energy boost, skip the caffeine and turn on the tap.
- Splint a broken arm with a magazine – To make an impromptu cast, place your wrist palm-down on top of a thick magazine. Roll the magazine into a U-shaped cradle and secure it with tape, an ace bandage, or long strips torn from a shirt.
- Flush away trouble – Think of this next tip as a stress laxative—a bit strange, but guaranteed to be gentle and effective: Before you go to bed, put some small strips of flushable paper and a pencil in the bathroom. The following morning, take a seat and write down the names of all the people or situations in your life that are causing you angst. Then throw them in the bowl and flush. You’ll be amazed at how great this feels and works.
- Pet away your high blood pressure – To lower your risk of heart attack and stroke, get a dog. Numerous studies show that petting a dog keeps blood pressure under control when you’re stressed.
Too often we seek answers in drugs and medication but sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.
Personally I can say that I’ve only tried number 4 and stand by it completely. The rest I’m still waiting to test out.
Hope these tips come in handy one day.
Adrian Shepherd