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There are not many natural ways to treat or prevent nasal allergies effectively, but using a neti pot for nasal irrigation is one of them. And it’s safe. Okay, sure … a brain-eating amoeba has killed a few unfortunate people after they used contaminated tap water. And, yes, some who use the neti pot actually have more sinus infections. But … you can prevent both of those problems with two simple steps. [... continue reading] 
I wrote a post on how to treat pinworms a few months ago and have had so many comments and questions that I thought I’d answer some of the most common here. You’ll still need to read the older post. This just adds to it. Here, I’ll address embarrassment, complications, vaginal pinworms, and why the pinworms can keep coming back. [... continue reading] 
Okay, maybe a cold sore, also called a fever blister, isn’t the worst thing you can have when you can’t get to a doctor, but it can be downright irritating. And I’ve seen my share of cold sores that had become bad enough to affect proper eating and increase the risk of dehydration. Also, if a secondary infection develops, it could turn into something potentially dangerous. So, in this post I’ll delve a little into prevention and home treatments for cold sores—and what makes some of us prone to get them while other people never do. [... continue reading] 
When I was a young doctor and just out of training, I developed a toothache. After a few days of not getting better, I went to my dentist. I assumed, best case, that I’d need a filling. I’d only had one filling before and wasn’t exactly looking forward to another one, but I had to do something for the pain. Well, after the dentist did a thorough exam and X-rayed the area, he told me my teeth were perfectly fine. I couldn’t believe it. He then, as tactfully as he could, suggested that perhaps I had a sinus infection. This took me by surprise. My tooth hurt, not my sinuses. Well, after over a week of pain, I swallowed my pride and started on antibiotics. In about three days, the pain was gone. Oh, it’s come back since, but not in a long time. Because since that time, I’ve come up with some sinus infection remedies—things I can do to prevent an infection or stop it in its tracks when I feel it coming on. [... continue reading] 
After my post about complications of the flu, a reader chided me on short-changing a couple of complications. One was ear infections. I wrote that if you develop an ear infection and can’t get to a doctor, you can treat it easily with antibiotics. But, the reader asked, what if you don’t have them? Is there anything else you can do? The truth is, you may not even need the antibiotics. [... continue reading] 
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s the cold and flu season. In fact my last few posts have dealt with “Flu Shots: The Good and the Bad,” things you can to do if you get the flu, and “How NOT to Die From the Flu.” But now, your cold or flu symptoms are over, except for that lingering cough. Do you need antibiotics? How long can a cough linger and just be related to getting over your virus? Two new studies investigate these questions and give some surprising (at least to me) findings—findings that I think might help you decide for yourself, especially if you can’t get medical help and antibiotics are in short supply. [... continue reading] 
Okay, you’ve had the flu, or maybe even a bad cold. You’re finally getting over it—actually feeling pretty good—when, boom, the symptoms return. What’s happened? Are you having a relapse? That’s a typical way many people come down with complications of the flu. It’s not the only way. Some get them while they still have the flu. Either way, complications are what usually put flu sufferers—200,000 or more a year of them—in the hospital. They’re what thousands die from. Unlike with the flu, bacteria is usually the culprit for complications, so it’s time to get to the doctor ASAP. Ah, but you know where this is leading if you’ve read many of my posts. What if you’re having trouble getting to the doctor or a clinic? Here are some tips that might pull you through. [... continue reading] 
It’s a real bummer to get the flu. Not just a bad cold. I’m talking aching all over and high-fever running, can’t get out of the bed, full-blown flu. In other words it can kind of ruin your week. And if you’re a prepper? Forget it. You’re so sick you’re virtually useless during a disaster. Now the shot prevents a lot of flus but not all of them. Bottom line: you can say you never get that nasty stuff, but you can’t say you never will. I’ve put together a little just-in-case information on what to do for the flu if you get it. I’d advise you to read it now. Because you may not feel like it later. [... continue reading] 
Photo by sylvar on Flickr. It’s as predicable as the change of the season. Come cold weather, you begin to see dire forecasts of the worst flu season. Will millions die this year? Who knows? It’s kind of like the usual pre-hurricane warnings. Many times they’re wrong, but if they’re right and you don’t heed them, it can be the last decision, or indecision, you ever make. I think anyone who’s worth his/her salt in preparing for disasters should take a serious look at flu shots. Know the facts. Like, how effective are flu shots? What are the alternatives? What are the downsides? After you gather the facts, and if you think it’s worth it, get immunized. If you think the risks outweigh the benefits, prepare accordingly. But remember, one of these days, those forecasts are going to be right. [... continue reading] 
Breathing is so natural, so automatic. The only time we notice it is if we’re not getting enough oxygen or it’s painful to breathe (or if you start thinking about it, like you are right now). If breathing is painful, we start holding our breath or breathing less deeply, which makes us want to breathe even more. If this happens to you and you can’t get medical help, you’ll want to know how to stop this cycle. There are some simple things that can help, but in the end, professional treatment may be the only thing that fixes it. Depending on the cause, you may need quick treatment for more than just painful breathing anyway. [... continue reading] |
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