Category: Health

Electromagnetic Sensitivity

We are all sensitive the the effects of electromagnetic fields.  Some people are fortunate enough to recognise the effects of an electromagnetic field immediately they enter it. If the electromagnetic field is a strong one, then they might straight away get palpitations, or tingling up the arms, or  a darting pain in the scalp, or bone ache in the limbs.

They might experience a sudden rise in temprerature, similar to a hot flush. Or they might feel nauseous, have stomach cramps, or get a nose bleed.  They might suffer vertigo, dizziness, and a feeling that their life force is draining away, as if it is being sucked into the earth. Perhaps a little like you might imagine dying to be.

Other people might not experience any of these electromagnetic sensitivity symptoms in such a dramatic way.

However, people do indeed still suffer ill health because of electromagnetic vibrations and radiation when they are exposed to these conditions over a  period of time.

People who live close to strong power sources such as cell phone towers, electrical high tension wires, and radio and television transmitters, or who use cell phones a lot, or who work in highly intense, electrically charged environments, will be seriously undermining their health, in the short term and the long term. 

It is well known that a higher electrical force is cabable of interfering with the current of a less potent electrical force. This has been illustrated  for me with two electrical appliances,  my cell phone versus my CD player:  When a text was received on  the phone, which was on the charger, sitting near the CD player,  this caused the CD player, which was playing a disc, to malfunction.  It would not play, and had to be reset for the disc to play.  Another text came in, and the same thing happened.  The CD lost its train of thought and could not sustain the energy to play the CD.    It is the same with your own sensitive electromagnetic field, your aura – whenever you come into contact with an electrical force which is stronger than your own electrical currents, your aura will be undermined.  This is one major cause of  memory loss and depression, as well as physical sickness such as candida, cancer and arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other disease.

In Chinese medicine, the weakening of the auric body is equated to loss of Qi. or CHI. Qi is the vital force within us which gives us life, vitality, and optimism.  Healthy Qi levels keep us from getting sick.

Henry McGrath has written a book entitled ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine:  Approaches to Cancer’.  This is published by Singing Dragon, of London and Philadelphia.   Author Henry McGrath mentions a study done in Japan, where it was found that electromagnetic disturbance had increased the chances of children getting leukaemia.  He also mentions that cell phone usage has led to brain tumours.

In another study, in 1929, Gustav Freiherr von Pohl linked the 42 cancer patients in the town of Vilbisburg to negative energies caused by electromagnetic forces which came from underground water courses and natural stress lines in the earth.  He found that all the cancer patients lived within close proximity to electromagnetic forces.

Home Remedy For Acne

Try a Home Remedy For Acne:  Here are some tried recipes for home treatment of acne. These ideas have worked for many people, although this is no guarantee that you will necessarily have success with any of these remedies: there are different strains of bacteria and conditions which cause acne, and so every case is different. What works for one may not work for another.

Go to a doctor or an alternative health therapist if your condition persists, in case there is a hormonal imbalance, thyroid disfunction, candidiasis, or some other underlying condition which predisposes you to acne.

The First Home Remedy for Acne on our list is the 

Chick Pea Cleanser.  This idea comes from Ayurvedic medicine. It has a cleansing effect on the pores of the skin and helps to dry out  acne. It is a good alternative to soap, which tends to make the skin too  alkaline.  Chick pea flour helps to whiten the skin, and has a mild tightening effect.

To Make the Chick Pea Cleanser: Take a portion of chick pea flour and mix it with a little water, just enough to make a smooth paste. Massage this gently into the skin. Rinse off with warm water.

The Chick Pea Cleanser can be followed with another home remedy for acne which will moisturise the skin a little. This Yogurt Turmeric Treatment recipe has added antifungal and antibacterial qualities because of the lactobacilli organisms in the yogurt, and because of the use of turmeric, which is a strong antiseptic. Here is the

Yogurt Turmeric Treatment for acne.

To Make: Simply add one teaspoon of turmeric powder to half a cup of probiotic yogurt, preferably one which has L. acidophilus added to it. Yogurt which still has live probiotics in it, such as L. acidophilus, will contain bacteriocins. These are are compounds which help inhibit the growth of disease producing microbes.  These bacteriocins should, hopefully, help your skin to heal.

Mix well together, then apply to the  yogurt to the areas of skin which are affected by acne. Leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off in warm water. Use for a week, or less if the acne  condition has cleared up.

If you do not enjoy the slightly  yellowing effect of the turmeric in the above recipe, which will wash off within a few days, then omit the turmeric from this recipe. However, the turmeric which remains on the skin is helpful in treating acne.

Kiwifruit Juice Home Remedy for Acne

Kiwifruit has strong enzymes and acids which work well as antifungal and antibacterial agents. Its enzymes also aid digestion.  Kiwifruit is a great healer, both internally and externally. Eat plenty of Kiwifruit to cleanse out the bowels and kill off unwanted organisms. This will help your skin condition.  The beneficial bacteria do not seem to be harmed by Kiwifruit, as digestion improves from eating Kiwifruit.

Use Kiwifruit juice  directly on the skin as another Home Remedy for Acne.  Leave the juice on overnight, and wash off in the morning,  for the best results. Otherwise, you can apply the juice and wait for it to dry before rinsing off.

Another simple Home Remedy for Acne is the Watermelon Treatment. Watermelon also has enzymes which benefit the skin and which work as bacteria inhibitors. Eating watermelon is good for your skin also, as it cleanses the intestines, and also helps the kidneys, which in turn will benefit your skin.

Watermelon Treatment: Simply smear the juice over the skin. Let dry, and leave on overnight. Rinse off in the morning.

Aloe Vera Juice is another home remedy for acne. You can grow this herb at home. The aloe vera juice can be applied to the skin and left on overnight. You can also take aloe vera juice raw as an internal medicine. Aloe vera juice taken internally has proven beneficial to people whose immune systems are weakened. It has helped some people to cure themselves of cancer, in combination with other treatments.

Apple Cider Vinegar sometimes is effective in treating acne. Apple cider vinegar works as an antibacterial agent, and provides potassium, pectin, and other beneficial minerals to help the skin remain healthy. Dab the undiluted cider vinegar onto the affected areas. Note: if your condition is severe and painful, then see your doctor or alternative therapist.

Wine  Paste As a Home Remedy For Acne

This recipe uses wine as an antibacterial agent, with pea flour and egg yolk.

  • Take half a cup of pea flour
  • Add half a cup of red wine. Mix well.
  • Add one egg yolk to the mixture.
  • Finally, stir in two teaspoons of almond oil, or grapeseed oil.

Add a little more wine if necessary. The  constituency of the mixture should be paste-like, but thin enough so that you can apply it easily to the skin.

Apply the wine  paste to the areas which need treatment. Leave on for half an hour, then wash off.

Hot Water Remedy:  Drinking from four to eight glasses of moderately hot water throughout the day can have a beneficial effect on the skin.  Hot water flushes out the toxins from the body quickly, which is why it is so effective in many cases.  Wait until the water has cooled a little. It should be fairly hot, but not straight from the kettle.

Ayurvedic Medicine gives a breathing technique which is worth a try.  This is involves shutting off the right nostril with the thumb, middle finger and index finger resting on the eyebrow center.  Breathe in and out through the left nostril only. Do for about five or six breaths.  Build up to ten breaths in and out through the left nostril.  This has a cooling, pacifying effect on the senses, This  can help soothe the emotions, which is helpful to the acne condition.

Diet for Acne: It is best to avoid dairy products for the meantime. Avoid cheese, especially, as this putrifies in the bowel readily when your digestion is functioning poorly, and this causes a build up of toxins in the body.  Avoid wheat products, especially bread. Wheat turns to sugar very quickly, and this can cause problems with your sugar metabolism, so it is best to avoid wheat. Bread contains yeast, and yeast is best avoided when you are treating acne.  Avoid all yeast products, and foods which have been fermented such as alcohol, miso, tempeh, tofu, vinegars and soy sauce.

Eat brown rice instead of bread and pasta and potatoes, at least until your skin has recovered.

Eat more protein, and less of  the grain foods. Eat plenty of fish, especially those which have omega 3 fatty acids such as sardines, mackerel, tuna and salmon. Eat organic free range eggs.

Eat plenty of high fiber greens such as broccoli, cabbage, celery, spinach, kale and leeks. The brassica family, such as cabbage and broccoli, are high in calcium , iron, and other nutrients which boost the immune system and help the skin.  Eat plenty of onions and garlic. Eat carrots, unless you have a problem with candida.

Take  Non-acidic Vitamin C such as Ester C, or Calcium Ascorbate,  in 1000mg doses. You can take this dose up to four times a day. Use only for several days, to help clear your body of unwanted toxins, then reduce the dose to 1000mg of Vitamin C a day. If you take 1000mg last thing at night, this will help you to sleep well, as Vitamin C is a mild tranquillizer.

Take Halibut liver oil capsules. Use as directed on the label.

Take a Vitamin B Complex.

Take Zinc and Magnesium.

Iodine is essential for healthy skin and for hormonal harmony. Paint a few dabs of liquid iodine onto the scalp or the soles of the feet once or twice a week.

Note: Ask your doctor about taking these supplements, just to make sure. You should not take supplements  without professional guidance if you are on any blood-thinning medication such as warfarin, or aspirin, or other drugs.

Herbal Remedies For Depression

Uplifting Herbal Remedies:

There are many herbal remedies for depression which are easily obtainable, and which have been proven to be effective in treating depression.

It is a good idea to get professional help if you are depressed. Go to your doctor, your acupuncturist, naturopath or health professional for advice. You should discuss the information below with your health professional before beginning any treatment.

First of all – check that you do not have SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. If SAD is the reason you are depressed, then increasing exposure of the body to natural sunlight on a regular basis,  and  supplementing the diet with Vitamin D rich foods, or a supplement,  should help the condition. Deficiencies of sunlight and Vitamin D accompany this type of depression.

Diet For Depression:  The best foods are alkaline greens, fruits and vegetables.  Avoid sugar, preservatives in food, and avoid wheat products and dairy foods except for butter.  Prepare your meals at home fresh.  Eat plenty of salads, brown rice instead of wheat bread and pasta, cooked green vegetables.  Make sure you have enough protein – organic free range eggs and meats and chicken.  If you are vegetarian, then you need to eat plenty of sprouted seeds and grains to get adequate protein and vitamin B.  Vitamin B deficiency, lack of Vitamin D and iron deficiency can lead to depression.

Protein In The Diet:  Choose any of this list to complement your diet:  Egg yolk, Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, avocado, almonds and nuts.  These are importan additions to the diet if you do not eat any meat or fish.

Gotu Kola (Hydrocotyle asiatica) is a natural stimulant. It is considered to be a helpful herbal remedy for depression. This herb benefits the central nervous system, and brain and hormone function. Gotu kola has been used to treat schizophrenia, epilepsy and memory loss, which are related to brain function. It also helps the body to rid itself of toxins via the kidneys. Gotu kola contains Vitamins A, K, and the mineral magnesium, which is another nervine. Gotu kola is not recommended for expectant mothers, or nursing mothers, though, because of its diuretic effect. People with intestinal disfunction, such as irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis,  are best to avoid this herb.

Ginseng (Panex spp), that wonder of Oriental medicine, is another stimulating and reviving health herb which is useful in  treating depression. Ginseng helps brain function, increases vitality,  and nourishes the nerves. It is a good restorative medicine. Ginseng root has been used in Chinese medicine for over 5000 years. It is mineral-rich, and contains Vitamins A, B12 and Vitamin E.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is another popular stimulating Chinese herb which is used to counteract depression, in combination with other treatments. It is reputed to be a great memory herb. However, this herb lowers the blood pressure dramatically, and so ginkgo should definitely be avoided by people with low blood pressure and avoided also by people who have disturbances with their sugar metabolism.  I would recommend that you take this herb only under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner.   My experience of this herb is that it certainly improved memory function, and increased alertness, but it had an unpleasant and disturbing side effect in that it made me feel terrible because of lowered blood pressure.

Ayurvedic Medicine: However, the reason this herb is not suitable for everyone might have something to do with the different mental and physiological types, known as doshas in Ayurvedic medicine. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three dosha types:

Vasant Lad, is the author of The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, A Comprehensive Guide to the Ancient Healing of India. In this book, Vasant Lad recommends  Ginkgo tea for Pitta depression. You obviously need to know your body type if this herb is going to be effective. Vasant Lad’s book is published in the UK by Judy Piatkus (Publishers) Limited, 5 Windmill Street, London W1T 2JA, 1999. Reprinted 2002.

Hawthorn Berries have a tonic and stimulating effect on the digestion, the heart, and the nervous system. Hawthorn is useful, in combination with other herbs and modalities in treating depression, as it  helps  improve kidney function and aids in the elimination of waste products.

Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) is a safe herb to take to help drive  those blues away. Cayenne  pepper helps melancholia, mainly because it  has a marked beneficial effect on the blood circulation, and also the digestion. You can use it in your food, or use it in foot baths to gain benefit from this stimulating herb. Cayenne contains the Vitamins A, C, and also has traces of iron and calcium.

The following are some other stimulating herbs which are safe to use in treating depression:

The mint family; marjoram, lemon verbena, thyme and basil. These can be used in your food,  as herbal teas, as herbal treatments for the bath, or for use in a foot bath.

Herbs which Calm and Help  With Natural Hormone Production:

Borage (Borago officinalis) Borage is the herb of courage, according to John Gerard, who quoted: ‘ego borago gaudia semper ago’, “I Borage, always bring courage’.  Borage is a safe herb to use, and you can grow it easily in your garden. Just collect a few borage seeds after the purple flowers have died down, and sprinkle them around your garden, or your flower pots. They grow easily, as long as they are watered. Bees love this plant, especially bumble bees. Borage stimulates the adrenal glands, and healthy adrenal glands help promote that feeling of ‘joie de vivre’. Borage is rich in silica, which helps to soothe and heal the nerves. Make herbal tea with borage, or use a few leaves every day in your salad.

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is an herb which has been used in traditional medicine by the North American Indian people. It is often used for treating depression, as it is helpful in regulating hormones, and benefits the central nervous system, the brain, and emotions. Black Cohosh has nervine minerals calcium and magnesium. Black Cohosh is one of those herbs which should really only be used under the guidance of a health professional.

Dong Quai (Angelica Sinensis) This is another herb which, like ginkgo and ginseng, has been used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine for thousands of years. It  is a valuable women’s herb, as it  helps to restore estrogen levels. It is regarded as a general tonic for the female glandular/endocrine system. It also has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system. Dong Quai contains Vitamin E, B12, cobalt and iron, which contribute to its tonic effects.

Chaste Tree (Vitex agnuscastus) This herb helps the pituitary gland, which in turn, regulates hormone function. Vitamin B is recommended to supplement Chaste Tree berries.

Other Nervine herbs to Help Calm and Soothe: (Use under guidance from your health professional)

Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) (Note – chamomile tea is safe to use at any time); Pasque Flower (Anemone pulsatilla); Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora); Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis); Vervain (Verbena officinalis); Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis); Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata); Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Herbal Bath With Uplifting Herbs:

Lavender Bath: Put a handful of fresh lavender flowers into your bath as it is filling.

Rosemary Bath: Alternatively, you can use a sprig or two of rosemary.  Leave the herbs in the bath to infuse as you soak in the water.

Homeopathic Arsen alb. 30x is very useful homeopathic for alleviating depression. Other ones which might be considered are Lachesis, or Ignation, Nat. mur, Lycopodium, Aconite, Belladona or Pulsatilla, depending on what the other symptoms are. Generally, you would choose just one, or maybe two, to treat the individual. Best to see a professional homeopath for advice, of course.

 

Electromagnetic Fields Affect Health

How Electromagnetic Fields Affect You

Today, I am going to write about electromagnetic fields in the city of Auckland which are currently affecting  my health.

Dear Reader: It is interesting to me to note that this is my 100th post. I began writing about the effects of electromagnetic radiation on health when my sons first began this site for me. And here I am, ‘celebrating’ the 100th birthday of the site with a post on electromagnetic fields again. Very appropriate.  Still relevant.  Note:  It is not I who is 100. Just this post.  Regards, Merrilyn.

This is a good time to put up another article on elctromagnetic vibration and radiation. Why?……. Because after spending  six months  at Red Beach, Orewa, where I had remarkable good health, I have recently returned to the city, for the winter, where I now have poor health. Electromagnetic fields and radiation, I believe, are the cause of this sudden decline in health.

One admission – having a television going much of the night for about a month whilst the Fifa World Cup was being played contributed to the magnetic build-up. My room is quite small – too small, even for a small TV, really, as you cannot get enough distance from the television not to be affected by the thing when it is going. Television aerials affect you when they are above you on the roof, whether or not your television is going. Even the smaller, built-in aerial  on a small TV will affect you, whether or not the television is actually going.

The other thing which I realized was affecting my electromagnetic field profoundly was a very large piano keyboard speaker which I had recently brought into my room.  This has very large magnets in it, and draws energy from you if you spend long periods beside it at the keyboard. It is a good idea, if you own amplifiers, electronic keyboards, and such-like, to keep them in another room away from your bed.  Even when they are not going, they interfere with your own electromagnetic field if they are within about two meters from where you are sleeping.  These things are easy to manipulate so that your energy field does not become contaminated:  just remove them to another place, at least three meters from where you are working or sleeping.

But now to talk about the environment. This is not so easy to fix, if you are sensitive to electromagnetic energy. Prevention is better than cure, as they say:  It is important to select your residence very carefully, to ensure that you are not going to be undermining your health through electromagnetic interference.

There is a big difference between these two places – the beach, and the city. The most remarkable thing about Red Beach on the peninsula, is that there is virtually no effect from electromagnetic vibrations.  There are absolutely NO high rise buildings there. People still own their own house on their own plot of land where they grow things like lemon trees, and silver beet, and onions, carrots, and apples. If you travel a kilometer down the road to Orewa Beach, you will find just one apartment building about eight stories high. But in Red Beach, so far, high rise buildings have not’ come to pass’, as the local council, shortly to be swallowed up, alas,  by that big fearsome China of councils, Auckland City, has not allowed them.

So – A relatively small population – No high rises – No industry – No pollution – Minimal cell phone towers and cell phone usage – The sea is so close – only half a kilometer or so away at any point – This is paradise. A Health Haven.

There are, of course, huge health benefits in living close to the sea. Ozone, and the smell of sea salt permeate your whole being. But the lack of electromagnetic fields in Red Beach certainly make it a great place to live, especially if you are sensitive to radiation.

Now I am experiencing the contrast. I have come back to my favorite hotel in the  city for a period,  mainly to get some solid internet writing done. We didn’t have internet at the house where I was staying at the beach. There are not too many distractions right now, as the piano playing work has pretty much dried up, with the recession still affecting many businesses, so it is a good time to be writing.  The other reason is that the rooms here are centrally heated day and night at no extra cost. Great for the winter.

However. After two months of being back here in these beautiful park-like surroundings, my health is suffering. There is no doubt now as to the cause. It is most definitely a range of electromagnetic fields which are affecting my health and my emotional state so badly.

Within a couple of weeks of being back here in the city, I noticed my bones began to soften. The cartilage around the joints  seemed weak. The joints had twinges of arthritic-like pain in them. These symptoms were the first warnings that something was amiss. I had been so healthy and strong up at the beach.

My diet had not changed too  much, although, I must say, I was eating more of a variety of vegetables when I was sharing my friend’s house at the Beach. I bought some vitamin and mineral supplements which have helped a little.

But meanwhile, the pressure in my eyes is building up. My eyes are often bloodshot, and I have been experiencing sudden darting pain in the eyes which I never had during my six months at the beach.

I am experiencing feelings of vertigo. Dizziness. A feeling of distension to the tissues in my limbs. My veins all seem slightly swollen. A feeling of  slight nausea is with me most of the day.

I have a swollen throat, and a feeling in the sinuses that they, too, are swollen and are about to bleed. The tissues about the eyes have  also been swollen, even before the crying bout began. Vision is slightly blurred.  My nose is running.

My scalp is sore, as if it is burning. Little darting pains are experienced from time to time on the scalp.  My skin is deteriorating. I can sense vibrations about my body which are affecting my nervous system.

I have been using cell phone more often here,  since there is no land line to use. I always use my right ear to listen to calls. A very sore patch which bleeds has developed just inside the ear, about where the center of the cell phone sits when you hold the phone up to the ear. This sore patch is extremely painful whenever I use the phone on that ear now. So I have made a rule – no talking on the cell phone. I do not usually carry the phone about with me, and keep it well away from me at night, but still – even with minimal use, this cell phone is having a marked effect on my health.

There are two cell phone towers on the nearby hill of Mount Eden. These are possibly the main root of the electromagnetic troubles I am experiencing. Because there are quite a few people living here, this means that cell phone usage is quite intense. If you are sitting at a computer, chances are that the  people next to you will have cell phones with them, so that you are being zapped by cell phone radiation, even if you have not got a cell phone on you.

The other major source of radiation is our computer room, as this backs onto a very large electricity transformer which feeds the whole establishment. The electricity from this transformer alone would be enough to disturb your own electromagnetic fields, if you are spending several hours a day working near this electricity source. To compound the damage, when you sit at a computer, with your back to the transformer area, you are subjected to more radiation from the numerous thick electricity leads at your feet. Many of these are wound about each other, too, which intensifies the electricity which they are conducting.

Well, now I am certain of the cause: I have been feeling increasingly sad and depressed, especially in the last two weeks, but in the  past two days, I have been unable to stop the tears. Of course, all the sad things in your life get played on that little TV in your head when you get depressed. You begin to wonder if you might simply be suffering the classical depression which apparently more than half of the population in New Zealand and America is now experiencing at some time in their lives.

But wait – There IS an explanation.

As I took off a thick woolen jersey yesterday, having just gone for a walk, the jersey crackled and sparked,  and latched itself onto my body. I guessed the ‘wool’ jersey must have some synthetic fiber in it, to behave like that. Sure enough – made in China 50% wool 50% synthetic, the label says. I took out some other items of clothing which I knew would have some synthetic in them. Same thing happened, even though I had not worn these items recently. They all clasped themselves onto my body, where they would have stayed had I not pulled them away.

I noticed a few days ago when I got into a friend’s car, that I got an electric shock from touching the car. This made me wonder about the build-up of electromagnetic radiation in my body.

Even though I had already taken a shower in the morning, I decided to restore my own elctromagnetic field to its normal state  by taking an excessively long shower of 10-20 minutes.  Note- Normally, I am conservative with water usage, but this really was an emergency, as I felt I would pass out from the pressure of the exces electricity in my body. Since the first shower in the morning, I had spent several hours over in the computer room, which had built up the electricity in my body to an unusually high and dangerous level. Sure enough – The hydrotherapy treatment was effective in reducing the build up of electromagnetic energy, although the radiation damage to cells and nerves will take a few days to repair.

There is a time limit on my stay here. After a few weeks, or months, I experience these same symptoms whenever I come back here to live. Although I have warmth and all the home comforts and can write on line to my heart’s content, I might have to move out of this range of electromagnetic fields fairly soon, or at least reduce the time spent near the electricity transformer  in the computer room, if I want to keep my health, my sanity, and continue to lead a productive life.  I think I am headed back to the beach.

See merrilyn’s post entitled  ‘Ridding the Body of Electromagnetic Energies’.

Varicose Veins Treatments

Techniques which improve the circulation are  the most important of Varicose Veins Treatments.

You can look at merrilyn’s posts  entitled ‘Causes of Varicose Veins’ and ‘Yoga for Varicose Veins’ for more information on how to improve the condition of varicose veins.

Here are some more ideas for varicose veins treatments which have not been covered fully in the other posts.

Hydrotherapy: The Foot Bath:  The simple foot bath can be done at home at any time to help relieve aching varicose veins.  The foot bath on its own will  improve the circulation, and help to reduce swelling and pain, but we can enhance the therapeutic action by adding certain herbs and spices.

Try and do this hydrotherapy treatment once a day, or twice if your condition is very bad.

Get two large bowls or buckets, big enough for your feet to sit in comfortably, and more.  Half fill one of the containers with cold water. Half fill the other with hot water which is at a comfortable bathing temperature.

Add half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and half a teaspoon of ginger to the  bowl of hot water. Cayenne pepper is very good for improving varicose veins, as it helps to shrink them and reduce pain. Both ginger and cayenne pepper boost the circulation.

Begin with the feet in the cold water. Leave for half a minute, then transfer the feet into the warm-to-hot water. Leave in the hot water for a minute. Put the feet back into the cold water bucket for another minute, then return to the spiced-up hot water. You may need to add a touch of boiling water to the hot water bucket after a few minutes. Be careful to add just enough boiling water to heat up the water to a comfortable heat again. Do not have the water too hot, as this will harm your legs and possibly burn you.

Finish the hydrotherapy off with the feet soaking in the warm-to-hot water.

You can experiment using other herbs and spices in this footbath treatment. Herbs and spices which increase circulation are the ones to use here. I would use cayenne pepper in combination with either cinnamon, or ginger, turmeric, or cloves.

Note on Varicose Veins Water Temperature:   VERY HOT water should never be applied to the varicose veins.  Hot baths are best avoided.  If you are taking a bath, then the bath water should be only warm to medium hot.  Showers are considered best for people who have prominent or painful varicose veins, as showers do not prolong heat to the legs.

Massage to Soothe Veins: After the foot bath treatment, massage the legs gently with almond oil which has a few drops of rosemary oil added to it. This will soothe the veins, but also help circulation.

Cold Herbal Compress for Painful/Swollen Varicose Veins:  Make up an infusion using  healing herbs. You can use either comfrey, or borage, marigold flowers, chamomile flowers, witch hazel flowers, or use a combination if you like. Take up to half a cup of the fresh herbs. Put into a pot and add two cups of boiling water. Put on the lid. Leave on the stove to gently simmer for just one minute. Take off the heat, and leave to cool.

Soak a piece of white linen or cotton in the cold liquid. Wring out the cloth and apply it to the sore or swollen varicose vein. Put on a piece of plastic, and wrap lightly with a bandage. Leave the leg up for 20 minutes while you let the compress do its work. Take off. Repeat throughout the day as necessary. You can keep the mixture to dampen the cloth again before each application. Make up a fresh herbal mixture each day for use as compresses.

Drink Silica-rich Teas to help strengthen the veins and heal them from the inside.  Silica-rich teas are those made with  oat-straw, comfrey, borage, nettles, horsetail, chamomile and rosemary.  Drinking plenty of herbal teas such as these will not only provide you with silica and other nutrients, but also cleanse the kidneys, improve your hair growth, and help the intestinal functions.

Homeopathic Hamamelis is considered to be one of the best remedies for healing the veins. Witch Hazel is made from the same plant.  You can use Witch Hazel externally on the legs, and take the Homeopathic equivalentof Hamamelis internally.  Just three or four drops of Hamamelis 30x, three times a day until relief is felt.

Vitamin C and Vitamin E are also great supplements for helping to relieve varicose veins.

Vitamin C Dosage: Between 1000mg to 3000mg of Vitamin C, preferable a non-acidic type, could be taken until better. Calcium Ascorbate or Ester C are good ones to go for.

Vitamin E Dosage :Take the standard dose as stated on the bottle for Vitamin E – best not to give large doses of Vitamin E.

Castor Oil:  To clear the liver, gall bladder and bowels, use castor oil once a week as a remedial measure for the veins.  Congestion in the digestive system, over time, will lead to the veins becoming distended.  So to prevent varicose veins from forming, take 2 tbsps of castor oil in the morning, once a week.

For serious conditions, you could follow the Gerson programme, which uses castor oil every second day.  Gerson used this method to cure cancers, mainly, but he insists it will cure any disease if his recommendations are followed to the letter.