Health

Turmeric and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Photo Credit: The Kitchn

Try turmeric with greens! Photo Credit: The Kitchn

I’m always a big fan of homeopathic remedies and avoiding the doctor at all costs. Let’s not forget, it’s the medical industry and in addition to symptom relief everyone is there to make money. When I found the link between turmeric and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome I wasn’t surprised – turmeric root is an anti-inflammatory, but in addition what can you do to relieve carpal tunnel at home? If you’re looking for carpal tunnel relief start at home and start with the basics:

  • Avoid inflammatory foods and add more anti-inflammatory foods to your diet
  • Take vitamin B6 and a potent complex-B vitamin
  • Take the time to do carpal tunnel exercises daily
  • Start cooking with turmeric

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Photo Credit: The Golden Foodie

Explore turmeric in every shape and form – don’t shy away from the whole root!
Photo Credit: The Golden Foodie

WebMD defines symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as, “The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain felt in the fingers or, less commonly, in the palm.” Those close to me define it similarly with great emphasis on their carpal tunnel pain and sleepless nights due to it.

In an effort to find the best homeopathic remedies for carpal tunnel syndrome, I ran across a few commonalities; the most interesting to me was turmeric. Diet is always the first place I go when it comes to solving a health problem. You truly feel like what you eat, so make it something good!

Turmeric Benefits

The list of turmeric health benefits goes on and on, but some are very helpful for carpal tunnel relief. If you’re asking yourself, “What is turmeric?” then ask no more! Turmeric root is related to ginger root – you’re probably most familiar with its use in Indian cuisines, curry and even used for dyeing things a hideous vibrant orange hue. I like Melissa’s brand whole turmeric root from the our local Sprouts grocery store. The health benefits of turmeric  include:

  • Natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent – You can use turmeric in a pinch to disinfect cuts and burns.
  • Shown to block additional growth of blood vessels in tumors
  • Used in Chinese medicine to treat depression

    Photo Credit: Epicurious

    Click the photo for a tasty recipe! Grilled shrimp with turmeric, chili, cilantro and lime – So good!

  • Its anti-inflammatory properties also make it great when treating
  • Natural painkiller and cox-2 selective inhibitor
  • Natural liver detoxifier

With all of these healthy side-effects you may be wondering why turmeric isn’t used in everything (I know I was). Well, it looks like there was a person who reportedly took a ridiculous amount of turmeric – over 1500mg twice a day – and experienced an “abnormal heart rhythm”. Additionally, it shouldn’t be taken in medicinal amounts if you’re pregnant because it’s “likely unsafe”.

What do you think? —

Would you use turmeric instead of big brand drugs?

Did you give the recipe a shot?

Immune System Booster | Benefits of Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit Extract

Grapefruit Seed Extract is a liquid substance extracted from the fruit and seeds of grapefruit, a sub-tropical citrus tree that grows in abundance throughout many countries. The extract from grapefruit seed was first documented for its medicinal uses in 1972 by Dr. Jacob Harich, a physicist who noticed its traditional use as a disinfectant in a multitude of countries.¹ Many traditional societies, from South America to Europe, to Asia have used the extract to clean the skin, hair, and home surfaces. These societies also valued the extract as a powerful anti-viral and bacterial.5

The Health Benefits of Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) has very high amounts of disease-fighting, free-radical eliminating antioxidants and phytonutrients called bioflavonoids. One of these powerful bioflavanoids (plant antioxidants) include the chemical component hesperidin, a well-known natural immune-system stimulator and booster.

4 Chemical analysis of grapefruit seed extract shows additional antioxidant constituents including Vitamin C, sterols, tocopherols, citric acid, liminoids, and other trace minerals. Perhaps most exciting in regard to GSE’s health benefits is its anti-cancer potentials. Studies done on the compounds in GSE’s seed and pulp have found that these bioactive agents may be able to inhibit the occurrence of colon cancer. 6

A recent study done by Microbiologists from the University of Georgia found that GSE was a very effective non-toxic disinfectant. Sadly, commonly-used disinfectant have high levels of toxicity and are harmful to humans, animals and the environment. The same study found that GSE demonstrates a “wide spectrum of activity,” including antiviral, antimycotic, and antiprotozoan capacities against many bacteria and viruses, including E.Coli.¹ It was also found to be an effective cleanser as a a pre-surgical soap.¹

Another recent study from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grapefruit-seed extract was effective in killing over “800 bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single and multi-celled parasites.”² No other naturally-occuring anti-microbial can come close to these results.

Grapefruit Seed Extract is associated with the following potential health benefits:

  • Powerful natural antiseptic.
  • Antiviral and anti-fungal agent.
  • Possible anti-cancer properties.6
  • Promotes the healing of wounds and scar tissue.
  • Possible cholesterol-lowering properties due to the presence of the flavanoid naringin (a well-known plasma lipid reducer and plasma antioxidant activator).7
  • Excellent remedy for toenail fungal infections.4
  • Treatment for sinus, vaginal and topical skin infections.
  • Evironmentally-friendly fruit and vegetable wash for removing toxins.³
  • Effective preventative for Candida and other forms of yeast infection.4
  • Inhibits the formation of harmful intestinal organisms, including Giardia, without reducing levels of healthy bowel flora.4,5
  • Acts as a natural preservative for cosmetics.
  • Can replace chlorine in swimming pools, public baths, water and sewage treatment centers, and it also used as a general water-purifying mechanism.5
  • May reduce chances of developing coronary heart disease in high-risk patients due to high pectin content in Grapefruit seed extract.8
  • Possible anti-biotic activity.
  • Aids to alkalize the body, and is one of the world’s most alkaline forming foods, helping to stabilize acidic pH levels, a central component for health rejuvenation.
  • Great general immune system booster.

Other Home-Friendly Benefits of Grapefruit Seed Extract

An excellent extract to have on hand while traveling into foreign countries, GSE acts as a natural germ-killer and an effective preventative mechanism for food borne illnesses that cause diarrhea and dysentery. It is also useful for our pets, and can be applied in both internal and external infections of the skin, including fleas. It is also highly useful for the modern eco-conscious gardener, and can used to remove fungus and mold from tools and supplies. It is also a great bug and plant spray. Grapefruit seed extract can be used to clean surfaces and even sprinkled into soaps for an added anti-microbial and viral effects.

Click Here to View the Original Article written by the Global Healing Center

Mindless Escapism

How aware are you of mindless escapism? The first thing I thought of when I heard this was television. TV is definitely mindless, we can all agree about that. But are watchers trying to escape life by blankly staring at the screen, or do they watch for enjoyment?


My least favorite monthly bill is the cable bill because it is so expensive, and I feel like I’m paying for us to waste our lives doing nothing. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy programs on TV, I can lose myself watching Portlandia and How I Met Your Mother marathons easily. I don’t think I would actually miss anything on there if I were given the option to read a book or go DO something. I’m going to watch less TV and see where it takes me.

All in all, I think that television is the main contributor to obesity. Encouraging people to stay and watch those extra minutes of whatever, sitting on the couch, doing nothing.  The blame doesn’t fall only on TV, but on those that watch it. What’s the remedy? Just pick up that remote and TURN IT OFF! Go try something new, don’t just come home and sit in front of the TV and call it your plans for the evening. You might have a meaningful conversation! :)

Ignoring Allergies for a Couple of Weeks – Thank you Zyrtec!

Click the Title above to Open Post

Eating like a “normal” person is my favorite!

Now, this doesn’t mean that I’m going to go crazy and go right for those things I’m allergic to, but thanks to Zyrtec, I can forget about scrutinizing  labels, grilling people on the ingredients in food they made, and I can also forget about how lame it can feel turning delicious morsels down at parties or bringing my own snacks. It lets me focus more on what’s important – the Holidays! I’ll still be making some pretty cool allergen free stuff and sharing, but I’ll be having a lot more fun tasting  other stuff :)

Awesome thing I just learned – See’s Candy carries a lot of egg free and soy free candies and nothing says, “It’s the holidays!” like See’s. Click Here to view their allergy info.

My grandma always mailed us a box of nuts & chews every year for Christmas. The first one that I would choose to eat was the one that has the two chocolate covered wafers. Now, it wasn’t necessarily my favorite, but I probably just didn’t want my brother to get it. Every time we get this box we try to identify the rum nougat and throw it away, or try to get someone else to eat it! It’s so gross!