little things

Savvy Tips and tricks learned along the way...

Little Cures for Common Things

Hiccups

This is something I learned when I was a child, but it stuck with me because it's the only thing that has worked. Scaring me or holding my breath has never seemed to work, but this trick does.

Steps:

1. Get a glass of water.
2. Standing up, take a gulp and hold it in your mouth.
3. Carefully bend forward, placing your head between your knees.
4. Swallow hard to make sure the gulp of water in your mouth goes down your throat.
5. Do this 5 times.

Burns

I'm talking about minor burns you get while in the kitchen cooking. If you have a major burn, please go to the hospital, emergency, or urgent care. For very minor burns in the kitchen, run the affected skin under cold tap water for 20 seconds or so. For minor burns that are a little worse, but not bad enough to go to the hospital, break off an aloe vera leaf and apply the juice and gel to your affected skin.

The fresh plant works waaaaaayyy better than just the gel or the juice. So you should get a plant to place in your kitchen. They are available at most plant stores and sometimes grocery stores.

Canker Sores

Canker sores can be really painful, and they actually used to give me migraines. So finding a good cure for them was such a relief for me. I learned this trick from a coworker long ago. Out of desperation I tried it because those canker sore gel products at the store never seemed to do much for me. The secret is alum powder, which is a pickling spice and can be found in the spice section of a grocery store.

Materials:

• Alum powder
• Cotton swabs
• Tap water
• Clean towel

Steps:

1. Wet the cotton swab with tap water
2. Dab it with a towel to remove the excess water
3. Dip the cotton swab into the alum powder to coat it
4. Dab the alum on the swab onto your canker sore
5. Keep your mouth open for about 30 seconds or as long as you can tolerate to allow the alum to penetrate the sore, without getting swooshed around your mouth
6. Repeat this at least once or twice a day until the sore no longer bothers you, usually after a couple of days or so

Acne

There are so many acne medicines and treatments out there. Some are cheap and easy to come by, and some are very expensive. I have used many varieties of acne treatment. The common ointments found at the store usually made my skin dry, and eventually gave me unsightly red rashes on my face. I have gotten antibiotic solution from my doctor, which actually worked well too, but it smelled strong, stung my eyes, and was a hassle to keep getting from the pharmacy. A few years ago, after doing much research and trying many different things, including herbal treatments, I finally found something that worked. It's aloe vera. The juice and the gel used in combination seem to be the optimum solution for my acne.

Aloe Vera Juice

Use aloe vera juice as a toner, rubbing it onto your face with a cotton pad in the morning and at night. This is as an ounce of prevention that can decrease the chance of getting acne. Make sure the aloe juice has no additional sugar or flavor added.

Aloe Vera Gel

Use aloe vera gel as a cure when you do develop acne. If you were extra stressed that week or forgot to use the aloe juice toner.

Large pimples

If you have a large unsightly pimple, take a generous glob of gel and glob it right onto your pimple. Do not rub it in, just let the glob slowly melt into your skin, which takes about 20 minutes or so. It will look a little weird before it evaporates, but its worth it. Good quality aloe vera gel is pretty much odorless and does not give off stinging vapors like some other acne treatments. It also does not typically over-dry the skin and cause rashes. It also helps heal the acne scar on your face. Do this at least twice a day, more if you can if it is a big inflammation.

Small pimples or whiteheads

If your breakout is made up of several small pimples or whiteheads, take a generous glob of aloe vera gel and smooth it over the affected area. Again, let it dry on it's own. Do this twice a day, in the morning and at night.

Wash Your Face

This is also a simple ounce of prevention. Make sure to wash your face in the morning and at night. This is part of removing the dirt from the environment that settles on your face throughout the day and night. It is very important to do this before you apply the aloe vera juice toner. I like to use exfoliating cleansers like Mary Kay TimeWise 3-In-1 Cleanser. They have one for oily skin (I use in summer) and one for dry skin (I use in winter).

Moisturize

This step is one that I don't seem to always remember. My friend keeps stressing how important it is in acne prevention and treatment, and she's right. If you don't moisturize, your skin will become more oily, and then you have a higher chance at getting more zits. So, after you have washed your face and applied the aloe toner, make sure to moisturize your face. This not only helps keep your acne down, but it also helps keep your face healthier in general. I like to use Timewise age fighting moisturizer, which also has the oily or the dry skin version.

Makeup

Of course you can use makeup to cover up your zits. In fact, I found that using foundation on a daily basis, over clean and moisturized skin, actually helps cut back on my acne. It used to be that makeup was so bad for your skin and that it actually caused acne. But as long as I keep my foundation brush (or pad) clean, it actually protects my skin from much of the dirt in the environment, thus lower the chance of inflamation of my pores. I like to use Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation.

If you are globbing the aloe vera gel onto some hard core zits, just give it at least 10 minutes to dry before you apply makeup over it. Also, powder foundations don't work well over the aloe vera gel. So I usually use liquid (or mousse) foundation when I'm using aloe vera gel. Once you have applied the liquid foundation, feel free to powder over that.

Emu Oil

Emu Oil isn't any kind of ailment, but it works wonders for many skin ailments. It was originally used by the ancient Aborigines for its healing qualities. Here are a few things I've used it on with benefits.

• Scratches on my skin
• Itchy or rashy skin
• Cold skin (emu oil seems to have a warming effect)
• Scar tissue
• My dog's hot spots
• Minor sores on the skin (not gaping wounds)

I'm seeing emu oil becoming more and more available at drugs stores these days. Perhaps the word is getting out. I'm going to try the Emu Hand & Body Lotion next.

Disclaimer

I have to state the obvious that these tricks listed on this page are not meant to replace medical advice from your doctor. If you are truly sick, please go see your doctor, or at least call the nurse line that you get through your health insurance.

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