2011 March : Natural Cures for Common Illnesses

Archive for March, 2011

Some Herbal and Home-Made Sinusitis Remedies

March 26th 2011 Posted at Herbs
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There are numerous sinusitis remedies in the market today, both herbal and chemical. Chemical related remedies are prevalent in the market, but it may also have some side effects. Since everybody contracts sinusitis at one point or another, as this usually follows the common cold, this article is all about natural sinusitis remedies that you can try to minimize the inflammation and help you get better soon.

Herbal Medication

Some herbal medication work great as great remedies. Some examples include:

1. Brolemain – this is an enzyme derived from pineapples. It assists in breaking down mucus, relieves some symptoms of sinusitis, and also helps with fighting infections.
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2. Echinacea – Echinacea is an anti inflammatory and leads the list of immunostimulators. This inhibits the production of an enzyme in bacteria whose job is to attack and penetrate the mucus membrane.

3. Olive leaf extract and goldenseal – these two are very effective in fighting bacterial and fungal infections.

4. Vitamin C – known for boosting the immune system, vitamin C is also a great sinusitis remedy because it helps reduce the level of histamine, which causes inflammation.

5. Zinc – this is a nutrient that can kill the common cold virus. It’s beneficial because since it shortens the span of a cold, it also reduces the possibility that your cold will turn into sinusitis. This is also essential to reduce pain and prevent inflammation.

6. Quercetin – this is a flavonoid that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. This aids vitamin C and assists in the reduction of histamine as well.

Other than these herbal options, here are also some home sinusitis remedies that you can try.

1. Mangoes – mangoes contribute to the creation of healthy epithelium because of a healthy dose of vitamin A found in the fruit. This helps prevent frequent attacks of common infections.

2. Garlic and onion – pungent foods can assist in opening the nasal passages and promote expelling mucus. You may also add these in small amounts to regular meals.

3. Cumin seeds – a teaspoon of black cumin seeds tied in a light cloth can provide relief when inhaled.

4. Vegetable juice – there’s no limit of vegetables that you can use to combat sinusitis. The most common vegetables include carrots and spinach.

5. Vitamins A and C – vitamins A and C are known to be great sinusitis remedies. This helps build healthy mucus membrane in the nose and throat and boosts your immune system.

These are just some examples of herbal and home sinusitis remedies you can try. Of course, you may also want to use traditional remedies like steam inhalation and nasal irrigation. Whichever remedy you choose, just make sure that you take the proper dosage and do not overdo it – your nasal cavity also needs time to heal and overdoing the herbal medication may cause it to dry up even more, resulting in inflammation.

Get Your Vita Nutrition Through Natural Diet

March 25th 2011 Posted at Natural Remedies
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Good diet is all about encouraging good health based on a low-fat, diet. This is something that every member of the family can indulge in. It does not mean that you turn vegan but just that you need to be more careful about the kind of nutrition your body is getting. There is no doubt that the body needs a plant based diet. This does not rule out the vitamins and the nourishment you get from meat. Indulging in meat can be done just as long as it does not compromise the basis of your diet plan.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains as well as legumes and clean drinking water are what make up a wholesome meal. This health filled meal provides you with a simple enough foundation for what you eat. Lean meat and that with fat are acceptable to an extent. What one needs to understand is that diets such as these ensure vitality to the human body. This works great in the long run. Vegetarianism and veganism are not hard and fast dietary rules and by no means compulsory. A good nutritive diet also means that you stay far and clear of processed and packaged foods, junk food as well as those food products that have a possibility of being chemically treated.

Getting your vitamins and minerals from such food habits is a matter of getting used to something new. Experimenting with your food is a great way to come up with innovative and fun ways to provide a daily vita diet to your family. It is a misconception to believe that healthy food has to be boring or tasteless. In fact, chefs of prestigious restaurants will tell you that the flavors are better retained in foods that are presented in as raw and natural a form as they are found.

The general trend in diets today is a high protein, low carb diet and this is not really good. A balanced meal is what is essential for your body to be able to absorb all the nutritive vita value of your food. It’s hard to provide people with a singular diet chart and tell them that this is all that they need. You will have to work on that on your own. Come up with a holistic diet chart that holds good for every member of your family. Make sure that all the important health components are introduced and complementary to each other in every meal.

How to Remove Acne Fast With Natural Treatment

March 24th 2011 Posted at Skin Care
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If you have got acne and are wondering how to remove acne fast with natural treatment, read on for the treatments available. Acne is a skin condition and can often lead to scars in many people. It is a common skin condition present in most of the people. Many medications, creams and ointments are there in the market for treating acne, but they can have some side effects. If you want your smooth skin back without any side effects you need to know how to remove acne fast with natural treatment.

Many natural remedies are available which are beneficial for removing acne and for improving the skin health overall. These remedies are also much cheaper than purchasing antibiotics or creams. Many people have experienced great relief in condition of acne by using these natural remedies.

To know more on how to remove acne fast and naturally read the treatments listed below:

1. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil can be applied to the acne with a cotton swab. This oil contains a substance which helps in this condition.

2. Lemon Juice: Lemon juice can be mixed with rose water and applied to remove acne fast and naturally.

3. Tomato: Rub a cut tomato gently over the pimples and then wash your face.

4. Ice: Put ice in a cloth and rub over the skin where the pimples are. Ice aids in reducing the redness and inflammation.

5. Aloe Vera: Apply the juice or gel of Aloe Vera on the pimples or consume this juice internally. Aloe Vera is an effective remedy if you are looking out on how to remove acne fast and naturally. Aloe Vera is used for treating all kinds of skin problems.

6. Neem: Neem is extremely beneficial and has anti bacterial properties. It is a natural way to cure the pimples. Apply the crushed leaves or make a paste with turmeric and then apply.

7. Sandalwood: Sandalwood paste can be made with turmeric and milk and applied on the skin.

8. Potato: Grate a potato and apply on the face to remove acne fast and naturally.

9. Cucumber: Grate a cucumber or blend it and apply this on the face. Leave it on for a while and then wash. This helps in reducing pimples and refreshing the skin.

10. Orange Peel: Orange peel can be grinded with some water to form a paste. Put this on the face.

11. Cinnamon: If you want to know how to remove acne fast and naturally, apply cinnamon powder mixed with lemon juice to the affected area.

12. Basil: Put some dried basil leaves in boiling water and let it steep for a while. When it cools down, apply this on the face.

13. Egg: Egg white can be put on the pimple. Leave it on for a while and wash.

14. Wheat Grass: Drink wheat grass juice to remove acne fast and naturally.

15. Lavender oil: Lavender Oil can be directly on the acne directly.

These are the remedies on how to remove acne fast and naturally. Also eat a healthy diet with vitamins and minerals for a healthy skin. Drink plenty of water and exercise regularly. Avoid greasy, oily and spicy food and drinks like tea and coffee.

Some Simple Procedures Can Produce Powerful Natural Sinus Relief

March 24th 2011 Posted at Allergies
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Long before modern medicine, people have been dealing with chronic sinus infections for centuries. Over the years, dozens of home remedies for sinus problems have been discovered, ranging from the use of natural herbal remedies, to applying various mechanical treatments. Many of these remedies may work for you, sometimes even better than pills or sprays a doctor can prescribe.

One of the safest and effective ways to relieve sinus pain is to inhale hot water steam vapors. Get some water boiling, put your face over the top of the pot, and breathe in some warm water vapor. Do it for several minutes. The steam of pure water will loosen and thin out the mucus that is aggravating your sinus cavities. No, it’s not a permanent solution, but even temporary relief is a step forward.

The great thing about water vapor steam that it is 100% safe, there are no side effects, and you can take the treatment as often as you want. Even if it does no good, it does no harm.

If you want to increase the effectiveness of the steam vapor treatment, toss some garlic into the pot. Garlic has long been considered to have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It also has some plain old powerful vapors. You may not like the smell, but garlic vapors may work wonders for your sinus problems.

After you are feeling better from a steam vapor treatment, make yourself a glass of apple cider vinegar remedy. Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink up. Take this mixture two or three times a day. Among other elements, apple cider vinegar is high in potassium, which is an excellent booster for your natural immune system.

Now, if you are one of those people who can’t stand food that is too hot and spicy, this next remedy may not be for you. But red cayenne pepper is a superb way to “blow out” your sinuses, so to speak. Most of us have had the experience of eating a super spicy bowl of chili, or maybe some Mexican food, rich in peppers and/or hot ground peppers. What happens? You get a runny nose and a feeling of heat seemingly coming out of your ears!

Many people love this powerful effect of eating super spicy red pepper dishes because it seems to “clean out” your nasal passages. If you have the stomach for hot spicy foods, hot peppers are a tremendous and healthy way to give your sinus cavities a workout, and it can be just the thing to bring some relief from the pressure of a sinus problem.

Much of the pain and discomfort from sinus infections or allergic reactions come from swelling in the nasal passages. Thus, applying warm compresses to the sinus area is a way to bring comfort to that area, loosen them up and bring relief. But what also reduced swelling? That’s easy — ice. So it’s a great idea to apply both heat and cold in alternating fashion to the area around your nose. The effect should be reduced swelling, giving your natural immune system a chance to catch up and help bring your sinus tissues back to normal function.

So try these simple procedures for sinus problems, and they just might work for you. If they don’t, you’ve done no harm, and you know you need to look for further solutions to the problem.

Natural Methods to Control Asthma

March 23rd 2011 Posted at Other
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Asthma affects the lives of millions of people across the world. If not properly cared for, asthma can lead to serious problems. However, with the proper control, asthma attacks can be limited and the overall quality of life for the asthma victim can be improved. The correct management of asthma can help a person maintain better long-term asthma control and help that person avoid long-term problems.

There are many natural methods for maintaining asthma available. Natural methods are preferable to conventional drugs for a few reasons. First, conventional drugs only provide a short-term solution by dilating the passageway of the lungs, while natural methods can help improve symptoms over a sustained period of time. Secondly, conventional drugs come with the risk of potential side-effects. Natural methods have very few side-effects compared to conventional drugs. Thirdly, conventional drugs do not offer a long-term solution, whereas natural methods do. This does not mean that conventional drugs should not be used, because having an inhaler at all times is necessary to ensure that a person with asthma is safe at all times. However, natural methods should be taken under consideration and applied to improve the management of the person’s asthma.

One method that can be used to help control asthma, is by adding more magnesium to your diet. Magnesium improves the function of the lungs and can be taken as a supplement. If you know the season in which you are most likely going to experience severe asthma symptoms, it is a good idea to prevent those symptoms from getting out of control by supplementing magnesium into your diet. Food like nuts and dark green vegetables are high in magnesium and can and should be added to your diet as well.

Eating apples on a regular basis, surprisingly enough, has also been considered beneficial to maintaining asthma symptoms. Scientists suggest that there is a link between apples and asthma and that eating apples can provide improved lung function. Pregnant women who want to decrease the chance of their children developing asthma may also benefit from eating apples. In one study, it was determined that mothers who ate apples while pregnant gave birth to children who had a lower risk of asthma and wheezing. This is an incredible study that proves that apples are an awesome superfood.

Another great method to control asthma is Peppermint. Peppermint aids in opening airways to the lungs. Also, Peppermint calms the nervous system. This is very beneficial to those who have asthma, because asthma attacks are often made worse when a person panics.

Natural methods of maintaining asthma can be very beneficial to anyone looking for long-term control over their conditions. They come with little to no side-effects and provide anyone with asthma the opportunity to gain better control over their symptoms. By increasing the use of natural methods, a person will not have to rely on as many conventional drugs that come with harmful side-effects.

How To Treat Acne Scars Naturally

March 23rd 2011 Posted at Skin Care
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Treating acne scars and marks is a problem just as big and annoying as treating acne itself. You all, out there, who suffer because of that, I know you and feel for you. Just like me, you’d give anything for a solution that does even a little percent of what it promises to do.

The answer is, unfortunately, simple. I say “unfortunately” because I have to destroy a myth, I really do. There is no miracle that can be performed. No matter what a cream promises, it won’t deliver. Of course, in time you will see improvement. There are some very good creams, based on collagen, snail extract or with other ingredients that fill and regenerate skin, but the process is painfully slow and incomplete. And the main problem with that is even more disturbing.

A person affected by acne cannot use hydrating cream. It’s a rule, in order not to let the rash develop, not to feed it so to say. That has, of course, very negative effects on the skin, added to those already existing because of the condition.
You can’t fight acne and wrinkles at the same time.Well, anti-scar creams have the basic same principle as anti-wrinkle cream. That means that those creams that will treat the scars will worsen the zits and spread the irritation, and there it is: the vicious circle.

What to do then? Well, the answer is just as easy as for other skin conditions, and not only for them. Nature provides the most balanced solutions for just about anything. If you know what to use, and how to combine correctly the ingredients that nature generously puts at our disposal, than you’ve got a chance. There are many natural ingredients that have been discovered, not yesterday or last year, but centuries ago, and they work their charm if you are patient. It’s true, I’ve said that about creams too, but there is a catch: natural ingredients won’t worsen your acne.

Some of those include things you’ve never thought of, and that are cheap like air: they cost nothing. They can be found in nature, in markets, in naturist shops. The secret is to get informed on how to combine and use them. For example, one of them is salty seawater. Yes, it helps cure the pimples, but also has a very big role in reducing the forming of acne scars and, when they already exist, in resurfacing the skin without being greasy and therefore a danger for your condition.

Natural Arthritis Relief

March 20th 2011 Posted at Natural Remedies
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Hydrotherapy is often considered as the most successful therapy for arthritis. Water provides more resistance as compared to air and helps in restoring joint pain problems. The buoyancy in water supports the weight of the body and reduces pressure on joints. Arthritis is a very common problem and permanent solution is always suggested for arthritis. These exercises are very simple and if you spend around 20 minutes on them daily or thrice weekly, it will definitely help you. There is a common myth that the problem of arthritis can not be solved by exercising, but the reality is just the reverse.

If you follow moderate exercises suggested by an expert and you stick to them, gradually you will notice a change. The best way is to start with stretching exercises for few weeks and then slowly upgrading your exercise to endurance and weight based regime. Try walking in water gently and after gathering a little more energy try cycling in water. The pain involved in the process cannot be ignored and that is why some people refrain from doing arthritis water exercises. Consult a physical therapist before taking up any exercise routine as they can guide you regarding the techniques and methods to avoid pain.

Occupational therapist should also be kept in the loop, just in case you want to reduce the stress caused by daily activities. Water based exercises are suggested by many experts, as they know that the results are favorable. Most experts also believe that warm water gives a soothing effect to the joints and facilitate a lot in relieving stress from concerned areas. Aerobic exercises which are done in water helps larger muscles to relax like the muscles in your legs.

As water gives natural resistance and this resistance will help in making your muscles and joints strong. A fifteen minutes walk under water will definitely show positive results. There are devices like noodles which are pulled up from you waist, to the level of your head. This assists giving strength to the joints and the muscles. These noodles are held under water and you have to lift it up against gravity plus the natural water resistance. Initially, you can keep it to your stomach length under water, so that you don’t experience any pain later.

Cycling under water is another form of exercise that definitely makes the lower portion of your body worked out. You can take the support of the edge of the pool and lift your legs a little upwards and try to make complete cyclic motions under water. Aspects that should be kept in mind, before doing this exercise are often related to pain. Patients, usually consider that it will be more painful to perform exercises while suffering from arthritis. A proper check up and consultation is always advised before exercises. The exercises should be done under the guidance of an expert and when you gather confidence, you can do them alone as well. Walking in water, doing cyclic motions and noodle based lifts will ensure speedy results.

Lower Cholesterol Naturally

March 19th 2011 Posted at Natural Remedies
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How do I lower cholesterol naturally? If you want to protect yourself from stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases, then you should definitely start asking this question. Heart attack is the leading cause of death in the US, while stroke is the kind of illness that has lasting negative effects like partial paralysis. Certainly you don’t want to put your life at risk or reduce the quality of your life because you’re physically inhibited. Thus, you need to find the best way to achieve and maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and this is by naturally lowering your cholesterol.

Why should we choose to lower cholesterol naturally? This is because cholesterol naturally occurs in our body, and thus we should also treat it using natural ways.

It is normal to have cholesterol in our bodies. A normal level of cholesterol in the body helps some of our bodily function like making hormones. The only problem comes when your cholesterol level becomes out of control. If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, then the walls of the arteries can be affected and may cause deadly diseases like stroke and heart attack. Good enough there are natural ways to lower cholesterol and keep it in a safe range. The following are some techniques on how you can correct high cholesterol, specifically by simply living a healthy lifestyle. Yet first, let’s take a look at how the metabolism of cholesterol occurs in our body.

There are basically two types of cholesterol: LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) or the “bad cholesterol” and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) or the “good cholesterol.” The difference between the two is that LDL tends to accumulate as fat deposits in the walls of the arteries if there is too much of it; while HDL cholesterol is likely to go to the liver in order to be released from the body through the bile.

Thus, the first stage of lowering your cholesterol would have to be limiting your body’s LDLs because they’re the ones that collect in the arteries and block blood flow leading to the known deadly diseases related to high cholesterol. The second stage of keeping your cholesterol level at a healthy balance is to increase your intake of HDLs or the good cholesterols. This will help maintain your body’s functions specifically the functions that need some cholesterols (or essential fatty acids).

Remember though that too much of the good thing is still also bad for your health. If there is an upsurge in the amount of your good cholesterols along with your bad cholesterols, then you need to take necessary measures to lower your total cholesterol count. You can do this by eating more cholesterol lowering foods like garlic, lentils, flaxseed, oatmeal, whole wheat or whole grains, and other sources of soluble fibers like fruits (especially pears and apples) and of course vegetables. You can also take natural supplements that effectively lower cholesterol. Finally, the last two ways to lower your cholesterol significantly would be to stay fit, and be stress free.

Pretty much, all of these sums up the answer to the question, “How do I lower cholesterol naturally”: Eat high cholesterol foods only moderately, eat or take cholesterol lowering foods and supplements, exercise regularly, and finally, keep your stress at bay to live a healthy lifestyle.

Juicing for Life – The Healthy Alternative

March 17th 2011 Posted at Other
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Something you can do for your health and do it for life is juicing. The benefits are fantastic, as you not only get lots of vitamins and minerals, but it is easy to digest. Many of us do not take the time to chew our food well, and many times that can lead to indigestion.

The first thing to do is find a juicer that you like. That is very important to insure that you will keep juicing and not quit. When I first started to juice, I purchased a juicer for about $99.00. It seemed to be a fairly good juicer until I tried to clean it. I ended up quitting juicing all together. One of my friends told me that she had a Champion juicer and she has been using it for over 20 years, juicing almost every day. She said that it was extremely easy to clean and made great juice. I was excited to check it out and I found that it was a little pricey, but I bought it anyway. I am really happy, as it made a great difference in the clean up. I could make two large glass container of juice and from start to finish and it only took 16 minutes. It is not a chore to make juice anymore. If your budget does not allow you to buy a Champion juicer, there are others that are less expensive and are similar to the Champion juicer. I have found that the upright models are not as easy to clean as the style of the Champion juicer.

The next thing to do is buy your fruits and vegetables. I buy mostly organic fruits and vegetables, but sometimes I get others that are not organic. To insure that those are relatively free of toxins and pesticides, I soak them in a sink full of warm water and add 3 tablespoons of Arm and Hammer baking soda for 30 minutes to purify them. That really works very well.

Next, you need to decide what kind of juice drinks that you want to make. If you are watching your diet, eat less of fruits and more of vegetables. My favorite is carrots, celery and apples. It makes a refreshing drink. There are so any books about different juice recipes, you will not have a problem choosing some.

When I want to lose weight, I just substitute a meal or two with a glass of juice. It is also a good way to clean out the body of impurities. If you have the proper juicer, you can make healthy choices to be juicing for life.

7 Natural Ingredients That Help Remove Acne Pain

March 16th 2011 Posted at Skin Care
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Acne is not always thought of as a painful condition, but it is both physically and psychologically. Researchers have advised dermatologists to consider their patient’s psychological health as they provide treatments for the health of their skin. Here you will learn about relieving the physical and the emotional pain.

• Solutions for the Pain of Acne

The most effective solutions are those that address the causes of the pain. Pimples and nodular cysts are painful because of inflammation caused by minor infections.
The psychological pain is caused by the appearance of the pimples. People think they look ugly. Both the psychological and the physical pain may be related to poor diet. A lack of essential dietary nutrients can cause depression, anxiety and unhealthy skin.

• Which Nutrients Are Good For Acne?

There are nutrients that are beneficial when consumed and others that are beneficial when applied directly to the skin. In some cases, the nutrient can be consumed and applied directly. If you are upset about acne, cheer up. You are about to learn what you can do easily and naturally to treat the problem.

• Sulfur Treatment

Sulfur is a dietary element that can be consumed and applied directly to the skin. Sulfur-based cleansers help to maintain the skin’s natural pH balance, which is normally acidic. The acidic environment is not conducive to bacteria growth. Thus, there is an increased risk of infection.
Sulfur is also needed to regulate insulin production. Insulin contributes to inflammation. If you have noticed that things like chocolate, soda or other foods seem to cause pimples, it is actually because they cause spikes in insulin levels, which then leads to increased inflammation.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids

There is a serious lack of omega-3 fatty acids in the modern diet. Researchers believe the lack of essential omega-3s contributes to chronic diseases. It is known that a lack of omega-3s in the diet contributes to inflammation throughout the body.

The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish oil. Some fish oil has proven anti-inflammatory activity. When the inflammation goes away, the physical pain goes away.

A lack of an omega-3 called DHA can cause depression. DHA is not found in many foods other than fatty fish. So, with regular supplementation, omega-3s can help relieve the physical and the emotional pain of acne.

• Vitamin E

Vitamin E can be taken orally and applied topically. It is important that the vitamin E is the natural type. Most of the vitamin E on the market is synthetic, created using petrochemicals. Instead of making your problem better, the synthetic vitamins could make it worse.

• What Else Can You Do?

In addition to the basic nutrients mentioned above, there are foods that provide additional benefits, because of the many nutrients they contain or because of the specific way that they act within the body. The foods can be included in skincare products to help heal acne blemishes and prevent new pimples from forming.

• Active Manuka Honey

Manuka honey is a special kind of honey found primarily in Australia and New Zealand, although it is now being sold around the world via the internet. Active manuka honey has proven natural antibacterial activity.

The benefit-it helps to heal the infections.

• Shea Butter

Shea butter is a kind of nut butter. It is not a popular food in the US, but it is in Africa where the tree is native. Shea butter contains a variety of nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin E and essential fatty acids. It has proven natural anti-inflammatory activity.

The benefit-it reduces inflammation, redness, swelling and pain.

• Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is an excellent source of vitamin A. One of the prescription acne creams is actually a synthetic form of vitamin A. It helps to reduce acne pimples and scarring, but its use is accompanied by increased redness, itching, irritation and inflammation.

The benefit-reduced pimples and scarring with no unwanted side effects.

• Functional Keratin

Functional keratin is not a food, but another nutrient that is particularly beneficial for the skin. It has potent natural anti-inflammatory activity. It promotes healing by stimulating the production of new skin.

The benefit-faster healing, reduce redness, reduced pain and swelling.

Where Can You Find All of These Nutrients and Foods?

In my resource box below I will show you where to get the nutrients you need to have healthy skin. Their omega-3/DHA fish oil is the best on the market.

While there are many skin care products that contain one or two of the foods and nutrients mentioned above, only a good Restorative Night Cream contains all of them. You should use it every night after you wash your face. Try to get a good night’s sleep. You’ll feel and look better in the morning.

Natural Cures for Common Illnesses