How to Eat Basil to Cure Acidity

How to Eat Basil to Cure Acidity



There it goes again--that burning sensation in your stomach or throat. Call it acid reflux, indigestion or dyspepsia, the first thing you generally do is reach for your over-the-counter antacid. If you have
basil
leaves in your house or garden, however, there may be a way to relieve acidity simply and cheaply without OTC remedies.







Things You'll Need:





Fresh or dried basil leaves, powdered basil or basil capsules




Hot water (optional)




Cottage cheese, honey, herbs (optional)









1


Choose what kind of basil you would like to use. The use of basil as a remedy for stomach acidity originated in India. If you have access to a merchant who sells Indian herbs, you may want to try Indian basil, or "tulsi." American or European basil will also do.





2


Decide in what form you want to use the basil: fresh, raw leaves, dried leaves or powder. Indian tulsi also comes in capsule form.





3


Select the way in which you will eat the basil. To cure acidity, herbalists suggest chewing 4 or 5 fresh, raw leaves before meals. You may also make an infusion of crushed raw or dried leaves to sip slowly or simply swallow a capsule.





4


Increase the effectiveness of the basil by adding other herbs to your infusion. To Indian tulsi add the skin of neem, a tropical evergreen plant, or pipal, an eastern fig, both native plants of India.





5


Add mint, celery seed or fennel to an infusion of American or European basil. If you prefer your tea sweet, stir in 1 tsp. of honey.





6


Add other foods to make the basil easier to ingest and more effective. Try 5 or 6 whole crushed basil leaves (about 2 tsps.) mixed with 1 cup of cottage cheese and 1 tsp. each of sea salt and black pepper. Eat 1 tbsp. of the mixture at a time.





7


Drink the basil infusion four times a day. Eat the cottage cheese mixture once a day. The morning is the best time to eat it to control acidity all day.








Tips & Warnings










To keep excess acid from returning, remember to make other healthy choices: eat meals at regularly scheduled times, avoid fried or spicy foods, drink plenty of water and limit alcohol consumption








If you decide to grow your own basil, choose edible plants or seeds, rather than decorative ones. The decorative basil won't hurt you, but it won't cure acidity either.








An herbal cure is only temporary. If you have recurring episodes of heartburn and acidity (more than once a week), see your doctor.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2119693_eat-basil-cure-acidity.html

How to Drink Mint Juice to Cure Acidity

How to Drink Mint Juice to Cure Acidity



Remedies to cure stomach acidity are usually repellent--chalky tablets, thick liquids, artificially flavored lozenges and other hard-to-swallow medicines. If you must take these products, you may sometimes imagine how it would be if you could cure acidity by sipping a pleasant, refreshing drink. Luckily, you can. Just change the mint leaves accenting your beverage glass from a garnish to an ingredient.







Things You'll Need:





Fresh spearmint or peppermint leaves




Water




Mortar and pestle




Blender (optional)




Fruit such as watermelon or banana (optional)




Fresh basil (optional)









1


Decide what kind of mint you will use. Peppermint, spearmint or a combination are all equally effective against acidity.





2


Buy or grow fresh mint. Dried leaves don't work as well.





3


Take about 6 mint leaves and put them into a mortar. Add 2 tbsp. of warm water.





4


Use the pestle to crush the leaves well until the mixture looks like green juice.





5


Use a small spoon to sip the juice just before eating.





6


Vary the way you use the mint juice. Make tea by placing the juice or plain crushed leaves at the bottom of a cup. Fill the cup with boiling water and allow the drink to steep for 3 minutes.





7


Add 1 tsp. of lemon juice and 1 tsp. of honey to a cup of the mint tea to give the drink a slightly different taste.





8


Combine the mint juice with crushed
basil
leaves. Add hot water and 1 tsp. of honey (optional).





9


Stir 1 tsp. of the mint juice into a cup of regular tea.





10


Use a blender to combine the mint juice with a fruit that also helps cure acidity, such as watermelon, banana, raspberries, blackberries or a combination. Puree the mixture and push it through a strainer with the back of a spoon. Pour it over ice and sip it slowly.








Tips & Warnings










Peppermint candy (the red and white striped kind) or a cup of hot tea laced with 3 or 4 drops of peppermint oil will also work to cure acidity, but they may take longer than fresh mint.








When making tea, pour the hot water slowly from a height of 6 inches to 1 foot. This causes the tea to infuse faster.








Stomach acidity has a number of causes. Keep your lifestyle healthy to prevent the problem before it starts. Serve moderate portions, eat slowly and limit smoking and alcohol consumption.








If you suffer from acid reflux, do not ingest mint. It may exacerbate the condition.








Mint tea and other natural preparations do not work permanently. If you suffer from severe or recurring heartburn, see your doctor.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2119695_drink-mint-juice-cure-acidity.html

How to Detoxify With Foot Soaks

How to Detoxify With Foot Soaks



Foot soaks have become popular recently along with other detoxification methods, such as herb remedies and colonics. There is no scientific proof that foot soaks actually detoxify, but many people claim relief from them and believe that they rid their bodies of toxins. If you'd like to try, follow these steps to detoxify with foot soaks.









1


Purchase a foot soaker online or at a store. Make sure it's the type that ionically charges the water with electrical impulses.





2


Follow manufacturer's directions as to how much water to place in the foot soaker and how to use it. Different foot soakers may require different care.





3


Place herbs or other additives in your foot soaker to make your therapy more effective. Add citrus skin, corn silk, green tea, ground garlic, ginger, hot pepper, dried carrot or radish leaves, bamboo leaves or pine tree leaves that have been boiled for five minutes.





4


Know that detoxifying properties of foot soaks haven't been proven, although many folks believe them to be true. Believers say the water turns color according to what type of impurities are removed. Black water is from liver and heavy-metal cleansing, dark green is from gallbladder cleansing, brown may be from tobacco cleansing, and yellow-green is from cleansing of the urinary tract.





5


Realize that even if your foot soak doesn't actually detoxify, you will receive several other known health benefits from it. Foot soaks are known to reduce pain and relieve tension. Herbs added to your foot soaker can create a pleasant, relaxing aroma.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2120440_detoxify-foot-soaks.html

How to Cure Acne With Toothpaste

How to Cure Acne With Toothpaste



Although more acne sufferers are teenagers, adults are affected too. In fact, many adults have breakouts well beyond the age of 30. The toothpaste cure, although unusual, is supposed to be an effective treatment.







The Basic Toothpaste Remedy




1


Select toothpaste with as little fluoride as possible.





2


Wash your face with a mild soap or cleanser, and pat it dry with a towel.





3


Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto your finger. Dab a little of the toothpaste on an acne spot, but don't rub it into your face. Instead, spread the toothpaste lightly to cover the top of the pimple.





4


Wait for the toothpaste to dry. Expect to feel a tingling feeling if you use toothpaste with fluoride in it. Leave the treatment on for about 5 to 10 minutes, but no longer. If you leave it on too long, it will burn your skin.





5


Wash the toothpaste off with tepid or warm water and pat your face dry.





6


Use the toothpaste cure as long as the acne is present.








Tips & Warnings










Several variations exist for the toothpaste cure. For an even faster result, apply a second treatment after washing the first application off with water. Wash off once again after 5 minutes.








Use a toothpaste treatment carefully. Toothpaste is not intended for use on the skin and is rather harsh. It can also cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin. Toothpaste will burn the skin if it is left on longer than about 5 minutes.








Use fluoride toothpaste with care. Large amounts of fluoride can be poisonous if ingested.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2119698_cure-acne-toothpastecure-acne-toothpaste.html

How to Chew Alfalfa Leaves to Treat Body Odor

How to Chew Alfalfa Leaves to Treat Body Odor



Besides its role in plant nutrition, chlorophyll has long been used as a deodorizer. Breath mints, herbal remedies, body washes and shampoos are only a few of the products that use the odor-fighting power of chlorophyll. Alfalfa contains plenty of this natural green odor eater.







Things You'll Need:





Alfalfa sprouts and leaves




Additional herbs such as rosemary, fennel, peppermint or sage (optional)







I




1


Buy some fresh alfalfa. You can probably find alfalfa sprouts at your market or health food store.





2


Chew 2 or 3 batches of leaves from several sprouts in the morning and the evening. Chew for as long as you can without swallowing. You may use the leaves in salads at meals, but don't cancel out the good effects by flavoring the greens with strong spices or herbs, especially garlic.





3


Mix parsley leaves with the alfalfa and chew them, too. Parsley is also high in chlorophyll.





4


Add another fresh herb or combination of herbs, such as
rosemary
, fennel, peppermint or sage, to intensify the effects.





5


Make a tea out of herbs to complement the alfalfa. If you decide to go this route, add the leaves in after you boil the water. Alfalfa loses some of its odor-fighting properties when heated.





6


Drink an 8-oz. glass of water slowly when you have finished chewing the alfalfa leaves. This will speed the beneficial contents of the leaves through your system and bring faster results. Drink wheat grass juice and then water to speed and intensify the process even more.








Tips & Warnings










Wearing loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibers, such as cotton, is another way you can combat body odor. Eating a diet low in sugars and spices and high in vitamins, magnesium and zinc and bathing daily with antibacterial soap may also help.








Besides chlorophyll, alfalfa leaves contain bacteria-fighting chemicals that treat body odor by killing the germs that cause it.








Alfalfa, parsley and other plants with chlorophyll also fight bad breath.








Many health food stores sell alfalfa leaf tablets. You can use these to treat body odor, but they will not work as well as the fresh leaves.








Do not use alfalfa if you are pregnant, have gout, lupus or any other autoimmune disease, or if you experience joint pain or inflammation while taking it.








Eat the alfalfa raw. Cooked leaves yield poor results.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2119711_chew-alfalfa-leaves-treat-body.html

How to Wear Vintage Clothing

How to Wear Vintage Clothing



If you pride yourself on being fashionable, you may already have figured out that one secret to staying current is actually identifying styles from the past and wearing them in fresh, new ways. In fact, vintage shops can be valuable source of inspiration. The trick is knowing how to wear vintage clothing right, so you will look modern and hip and never outdated.







Things You'll Need:





Vintage t-shirt



Skinny pants



Long-sleeve shirt



Long taffeta skirt



Gown



Pants suit



Vintage accessories



Three-way mirror









Step
1



Look in your own closet for retired items of clothing that you might be able to wear in new ways. For instance, a shrunken vintage sleeveless T-shirt can be modern when layered over a thin long-sleeve top and paired with skinny jeans, ballet flats and a long scarf wound around your neck




Step
2



Wear full, taffeta ball skirts with unexpected casual tops and shoes to give them a second life.




Step
3



Break up vintage pants suits and skirt sets by wearing the pieces separately with other, modern options.




Step
4



Remove out-dated shoulder pads and replace worn or tacky buttons with high-quality new ones for an instant makeover.




Step
5



Wear vintage pieces sparingly. Never wear vintage clothing head-to-toe, but use a great vintage item with other newer choices in your closet to achieve just the right balance.




Step
6



Turn to modern interpretations of vintage styles. New beaded cardigans, pleated skirts, pencil skirts, capris, oxfords and t-strap shoes are all the rage in the stores again now.




Step
7



Check your reflection in a three-way mirror to be sure that vintage and new clothing fits you correctly. Have any gaps or pulls fixed by a tailor so people will see you, not ill-fitting clothing, when you walk into a room.




Step
8



Find a vintage purse, shoes or briefcase in rich textures to add a layer of interest to an all-new outfit.







Tips & Warnings









Realize that some vintage items, such as purses, sweaters and skirts, may be worn in places. Sometimes this can be good to have a weathered look, other times it is just sloppy. Assess each vintage item separately to decide if it works or not.








Opt for vintage gowns and cocktail dresses for formal events. Some of the old-time glamor is hard to match in today's current selection of formal wear.








Steer clear of out-dated jean styles, over-sized blazers and tapered leg pants. These usually look frumpy, even when paired with new items.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2147524_wear-vintage-clothing.html

How to Wear Vintage Clothes and Look Modern

How to Wear Vintage Clothes and Look Modern



In this article, you'll learn how to incorporate vintage clothes and accessories into your wardrobe while still looking modern and fashionable.

As collectors, we all find ourselves accumulating items we don't use: the shabby-chic tissue box cover, vintage hatboxes, oversized rhinestone ear clips...sound familiar? Though these items were crafted with functions in mind, we still can't seem to find productive ways to incorporate them into our lives (I don't buy tissues/don't transport hats/ouch--those ear clips pinch!). Fear not, my clutter-phobic friends. I'll help you indulge in your obsession with amassment unapologetically, unabashedly and-most importantly-completely stylishly.







Things You'll Need:





an open mind



a bit of creativity



innovation









Step
1



Problem 1: You adore it, but it's too small.

Corsets enabled women to faithfully fashion their figures in hourglass form but since we modern women are far less committed (or is it that we're less masochistic?) to cookie-cutter perfection, we may find it difficult to zip our favorite dresses without ripping the seams. No need to worry-there are other ways to show off your tiny garment. Why not hang it on the wall or display it on a body form? I know what you may be thinking: "I don't want to look like I live in a boutique." And you won't, if you do it right. Don't make the dress the centerpiece of the room; let it serve as an accent. Choose a dress that matches the color scheme and overall aesthetic of the room and you'll be fielding compliments from guests before you've even set out the hors d'oeuvres.




Step
2



Problem 2: It's too big!

So it fits in the waist and the bust is too big? We can thank the bullet bra for this departure from reality. What to do? Alter it. Episode after episode of Antiques Roadshow may have ingrained in you the lesson that any modification results in a decrease in value. This may ring true for furniture but riddle me this: how valuable is an article of clothing you can't wear? Take that dowdy dress with potential to the seamstress, raise the hem, take in the sides, and flaunt it already!




Step
3



Problem 3: You're afraid to wear it.

I have a clear Lucite box purse I used to wear only on special occasions. Well, one to be exact: my cousin's wedding in Cannes. I was too afraid scratch it! When I finally mustered the courage to wear it out, I realized that it brought me far more joy in my hand than in my closet. This newfound confidence in my ability to not damage my precious goods had me scouring my closet for those "special occasion" items-intricately beaded cardigans, delicate satin clutches, white lace gloves--to integrate into my daily wardrobe, where they should have been all along. Remember, vintage items have lasted someone else a lifetime; they will surely last through your evening.




Step
4



Problem 4: It speaks to you. What is it saying?

That set of vintage luggage is beckoning your ownership, isn't it? You need it. You must take it home. But then what? The suitcases are too heavy to use and they don't have wheels. Remember? We're smart, efficiency-driven modern women. We can't lug these around for the sake of looking cute! Why not stack them to make an avant-garde coffee or side table? They can double as storage to hide magazines, blankets, and other living room goodies. Find innovative ways to display those less-than-practical treasures and show off your inner visionary.




Step
5



Problem 5: Pulling it off.

Pulling it off is easy if you follow some simple advice: Modernize it. Don't relive it. Tailor that dress to give it a contemporary fit. Pair a vintage tie-neck blouse with skinny jeans and flats. Wear a 50's shirt dress with new patent leather pumps. Accent a new dress with vintage jewelry. Mix and match new and old to create a style all your own.




Step
6



Problem 6: You used to love it.

So you've tailored it to fit you, you found the right accessories to match, and you wore it proudly. The Louis Vuitton trunk served you well as a coffee table but now a mid-century boomerang style table is looking rather enticing. The need for change is understandable. If you've tried to find these once-favored pieces a good home to no avail, don't head to the Goodwill just yet. There are experts who can find new owners who will appreciate these items just as much as you once did. Visit your local consignment store, appraiser, or auction house to get an expert's opinion before banishing your belongings and you may make a pretty profit in your pursuit of new property.







Tips & Warnings









Don't be afraid to mix period styles together.








Keep it simple.








If the vintage piece you're incorporating is loud or flashy, make it your accent piece and make sure the rest of your ensemble is understated.








Fun first. Fashion follows. I truly believe that if you feel good, it shows.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2192695_wear-vintage-clothes-look-modern.html