Rheumatism, Motion sickness and Nausea

The word rheumatism relates to a disease of a moist nature leading to watery deposits in the joints. When most people lived and laboured in the cocountry the varied aches and pains put under the heading of rheumatism were caused by physically stressful work, carried out in adverse weather conditions and aggravated by damp, illheated houses There were a score of ancient remedies to alleviate or prevent this occurring, many of which are in common use today. The most note worthy example is that of wearing a copper bangle, a worldwide custom much derided by men of science who would find it even more difficult to explain why a potato carried in the pocket becomes increasingly fossilized as the rheumatic condition improves. Scoff one might, but commonsense was paramount when a loss of livelihood was at stake.

Washed wool beneath the feet would keep the damp from creeping through the soles of the shoes although sulphur powder in the foot of the stocking owed more, I suspect, to its hellishly hot associations than its mild antiseptic properties. Beating the body with holly is less comprehensible than beating with nettles or rolling naked in a nettle bed as nettles contain formic acid which is considered helpful in the treatment of rheumatism. It is for the same reason that the stings of angry bees were con sidered beneficial. Better, perhaps, a bee sting than coming to terms with swallowing live spiders or carrying a collection of moles feet around in the breast pocket, for neither of which K can find an explanation.

There may be more to be said for the practice of stuffing eelskins with lavender and burying them in layers of peat and mint, after which, suitably macerated, they were tied above the right knee of a man or the left knee of a women. A fatty eelskin full of warming, antiseptic lavender , impregnated with oils and minerals from its earthy incarceration where it must, presumably, have lost some of its smell, would probably have been quite cosy! It would have been more comfortable, at any rate, than a massage of searing mustard oil or a fiery rub of red peppers in oil from the North American Indians.

Warmth, not surprisingly, figured strongly in the treatments for rheumatic pains. Boiled sea water applied on compresses and the floury contents of potatoes baked in their jackets made use of local ingredients both of which contain minerals which might have penetrated into the painful joint, whilst flannel cloth laid on the body and smoothed over with an iron, hot from the fire, had much in common with today’s treatment of Turkish baths or saunas followed by a good massage. Hot baths, hot water bottles and even hair dryers have all been used to comfort aching limbs although the thought of yielding up one’s body to electrical treatments with the names of Galvanisin and Faradism make one’s hair stand on end. The most pleasant remedy that I can bring to mind is to indulge in a warm, soothing bath, rub the aching joint with a therapeutic liniment and retire to a well heated bed with a good book and a warm drink.

Baths and Poultices

* Epsom salts Whether the quantity recommended be in kilos or cups, Epsom salts added to the bath water has always been considered an important method of easing rheumatic pain. One cupful should be enough.

* Essential oil of rosemary, pine, lavender or juniper Add a jew drops to the bath water, with or without Epsom salts.

* Seaweed extract or powder Long believed to be valuable because of its iodine content, it will ensure a healing and invigorating bath.

* Mastard and cayenne One dessert spoon of each whisked into the bath water should have the desired effect.

Home Remedies for Rheumatism

The most famous remedy for aches and pains is the classic Tiger Balm – that aromatic and effective blend of camphor, cajuput, cassia, cloves, menthol and peppermint. There are, howerer, a host of proprietary brands of creams and liniments on the market and some very good ones that you can make your self. The majority of the following remedies are effective on all aches, pains, sprains and arthritis.

* Essential oil of peppermint or coriander A few drops of either of these sweet-smelling oils in a tablespoon of almond oil and massaged in is exotic and soothing. Several drops in a glass of hot water will also improve the digestive disorders that many rheumatle people suffer from. One of the best home remedies for rheumatism.

* Eucalyptus, camphor and wintergreen oils The following recipe is the most effective liniment of all and works wonders on bruises, sprains, pulled muscles and unbroken chilblains, to name but a few complaints.

Camphor Rub

¼ teaspoon each camphor and mustard powder
300 ml pure oil of turpentine
300 ml sunflower oil
300ml rubbing alcohol

Dissolve the camphor and mustard powder in the turpentine. Pour into a large glass jar and add the oil and alcohol. Shake well together and use to massage aching limbs and wheezy chests. The area anointed must be kept well covered and warm. This is one of the useful home remedies for rheumatism

Rheumatism Diet

Rheumatic conditions are often exacerbated by constipation and kidney disorders. Therefore it is important to regulate the diet and in aggravated circumstances to avoid all tea, coffee, alcohol, white suger and bread , food additives and acid fruit with the exception of lemon which has been proven to be beneficial. It does appear that stewed fruit has a worse effect upon the system than fresh.

These are only basic ideas to ease those pains which appear to the layman as rheumaticky but there are certain conditions which do require specific diets. Eating the right food all the time can help to prevent rheumatism occurring. Plenty of good green vegetables are essential. Kale, nettles (in soup), watercress, parsley, fennel and sorrel are all particularly good as they are high in minerals and vitamins as well as being gently laxative and diuretic.

* Celery Make a celery soup or simply stew the celery gently in milk or stock . Some sources advocate chewing celery seed but this can be harmful if done to excess, particularly when pregnant. Celery as a foodstuff has no unpleasant side effects.

* Onion drink Chop 3 washed but unpeeled onions into 1 litre (1.75 pints) of water and boil gently in a covered saucepan for 15 minutes. Strain and drink one cup morning or night. This is not quite as bad as it sounds but a little antisocial. Good home remedy for rheumatism

* Cloves of garlic Several cloves of garlic pounded in olive oil with parsley and eaten on coarse brown bread is somewhat more appetizing, in fact quite delicious.

* Kelp Powdered seaweed, sprinkled on broth or soup, contains many valuable minerals.

* Apples an unpeeled apple a day will keep the body in good working order. Grated apple mixed with raw oats and yoghurt is a good way to start the day.

* Cider This has to be good, rough cider, not the commercial varieties from which all natural goodness has been eradicated. One to 2 glasses of cider daily or 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar act as both a preventative and cure. Cider is also good for the kidneys.

* Juniper berries Three chewed daily are said to prevent rheumatism.

There’s a lot to be said for the good old days when people got around mainly by foot power. Cars, boats, and airplanes may get us there faster, but our stomachs don’t always appreciate the difference. Nearly everyone has motion sickness from time to time, and some folks can’t even ride across town without sitting by an open window.

Motion sickness is essentially caused by breakdown in communication. Your eyes are telling your body that you’re barely moving, while your other senses know very well that you’re rocking along. The brain doesn’t like the confusion, and it responds by sending nausea signals.

If you’re prone to motion sickness, you’ll never stop it entirely – you certainly won’t be first online to try the new roller coaster at the amusement park. But doctors have found a few ways to help your various senses work together and also to keep the stomach calm.

Here is what some doctors advise.

Stay active. If you’ve ever taken a long road trip you know it’s the passengers and not the driver who get car sick. Researchers have found that keeping your brain busy is one of the best ways to stop the queasies. An obvious solution is to put yourself in the mind active. Some people play mental games, while others identify license plates. The busier you are, the more stable your stomach will be.

Scan the horizon. Wherever you’re sitting, it’s a good idea to let your eyes scan the horizon. Giving your brain the big picture view can help keep nausea at bay.

Settle your stomach with ginger. Long used by sailors to keep their stomachs calm, ginger has been shown to be as effective at stopping nausea as some over the counter drugs. Ginger tea is effective, although many experts recommend taking ginger supplements, which you can get from health food stores. Take a few capsules before leaving and continue taking them as you travel, following the directions on the label.

Put something in your stomach. Researchers have found that an empty stomach becomes very irritable and unstable and much more prone to nausea. Before getting in the car on the boat, stop and eat something first. You’re better off eating easy to digest carbohydrates, such as rice and potatoes, than high fat foods, which are hard to digest.

Press for relief. Some experts believe that putting pressure on a certain point on the wrist, called on acupressure point, will help stop motion sickness. The point is located in the middle of your wrist, palm side up, about three centimeters above the crease. When your stomach starts acting up, exert gentle pressure for as long as it takes to get relief. You can even buy elastic writs bands (called SeBands) that automatically press on this point. The bands are often sold in boating supply stores.

Close the book. Some people are lucky enough to be able to read when they’re in motion, but most folks who are prone to motion sickness find it’s about the worst thing to do. Your eyes see the book and send a message that you’re sitting still, but the other senses know otherwise – and this can lead to motion sickness.

veryone’s stomach has done gymnastics once in a while. Sometimes it’s because of something you ate, or the sight of blood, or because your stomach’s a landlubber even though your heart’s into sailing. And sometimes the stomach gets upset for no apparent reason at all.

Nausea usually isn’t serious and will go away on its own fairly quickly. Here are a few tips for speeding it on its way.

Give ginger a try. People have been taking ginger for stomach troubles for thousands of years, and modern research suggests that it works. When your stomach is turning upside down, you can soothe it fast by drinking a little ginger tea. Or take ginger supplements, which are just as effective.

Have a little cola. Doctors aren’t sure why it works, but cola syrup, which you can get from some pharmacies, appears to keep stomachs calm. Ginger ale is also effective, although it’s best not to drink it straight out of the can. Pour a glass and let it go flat. Then drink it down, doctors advise.

Brew some chamomile (babunah) tea. Herbalists often recommend chamomile tea for soothing an upset stomach. You can buy chamomile at most grocery or natural food stores.

Give your stomach a break. When you’re seeing green and your stomach is doing its upside down thing, you don’t want to be eating a lot of rich, hard to digest foods. Instead, keep your diet simple. Doctors recommend eating "clear" foods, such as broth or Jell-O, or easy to digest carbohydrates like potatoes, rice, or toast.

Take some B vitamins. Your body uses B vitamins to help metabolize proteins and fats. When you’re feeling nauseated, taking a B complex multivitamin may help you feel a little bit better.

Put acupressure to work. Oriental doctors believe that pressing on certain parts of the body can help stop nausea fast. They recommend pressing on the inside of your wrist, about an inch above the crease where it joins your hand. Maintain the pressure for about fifteen seconds; repeat as often as necessary.

Practice mind over motion. Some people are able to beat nausea by deliberately taking their minds as far away from their upset tummies as possible. The next time you’re feeling sick, shut your eyes and imagine a peaceful, soothing scene. It could be a beautiful sunset or sunny spot in the garden. Give yourself time to really focus on the scene – imagine how it looks, feels, and sounds. The more detail you can imaging, the less nausea you’ll have.

Hold still. Researches have found that moving around can disturb the balance mechanism in the inner ear, which makes nausea worse To keep your stomach calm, it is good idea to sit or stand upright, and to move your head as little as possible.