Leg cramping at night is an inconvenient and at times painful condition that can often affect one’s normal sleep pattern. Chronic nocturnal leg cramps affects many older men and women and may also be accompanied with muscle twitching, numbness of the leg after the cramps ease and weaker leg movements. In severe cases, it may also affect normal walking and can be extremely inconvenient if you wake up at night to visit the toilet.
Chronic inflammation of the joints can be caused by many conditions ranging from synovitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and overexertion or strain of the joint. Of these conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are of the greatest concern since they are chronic degenerative diseases characterized by persistent joint inflammation.
Cuts and bruises are a common occurrence in any child’s life and if you are opting for an alternative treatment to minor knicks and bumps, a few homeopathic and herbal remedies will come in handy. Before treating any cut or bruise, ensure that it is not serious, marked by severe pain, persistent bleeding, deformity of the affected area or inability to move or feel at the site of the injury.
In more serious cases, your child should be taken to a medical doctor for further investigation like x-rays or a wider cut may require stitching and appropriate dressing.
Stress and anxiety cause similar biochemical effects on the body due to the hormonal stress response. The activity of the hormones, adrenalin and cortisol, are released in excess when a person is stressed or anxious and this affects the body’s natural sleep patterns (circadian rhythm). These stress hormones cause a state of hyperexcitability, which may also be seen as irritability, restlessness, fear, depression or anger and sensitivity to stimuli like bright light, loud noise or strong odors.
Herbal remedies for insomnia are effective in both inducing and maintaining sleep and a natural remedy usually does not have the side effects associated with benzodiazepines and hallucinogenics (allopathic drugs) used for insomnia. Identifying the cause of insomnia is essential in treating the condition as other contributing factors like depression, anxiety, chronic conditions, use of stimulants or side effects from medication can cause insomnia.
Nappy rash is a common problem affecting many newborns and toddlers and the dermatitis can be both painful and itchy. The redness and inflammation associated with nappy rash may worry most mothers but nappy rash treatment is goes beyond just applying ointments and creams to ease baby’s suffering. In babies with other skin conditions, like eczema, a nappy rash can be compound the skin dermatitis and treatment should be focused more on prevention rather than treatment alone.
A persistent itching sensation within the ear canal is often a sign of inflammation or infection within the ear canal. Excessive cleaning, especially with an ear bud (cue tip) removes the natural wax from the ear canal. This wax is often thought to be dirt but is actually the body’s natural mechanism for lubricating the ear canal and preventing insects or microorganisms from entering the ear canal or causing an infection.
Melasma is the darkening of the skin due to increased deposits of the pigment, melanin. This hyperpigmentation may occur for a number of reasons but is usually not associated with skin inflammation (dermatitis). Most cases of pigmentation that is present for more than 3 months will not resolve even with treatment and the focus of treatment should be directed at preventing further darkening of the skin or retarding the spread of the hyperpigmentation.