Ladies Home Journal

 

"Conditions Nobody Talks About"

 

Apart from Adam Sandler, no one likes to talk about gas, constipation, toe fungus, bad breath, or body odors. The stuff of adolescent humor is uncomfortable, and a bit embarrassing. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural remedies to relieve and prevent these conditions.

Breathe Easy

If people are always covering their mouth and nose around you (“Because, um, I don’t want to give you my cold” or “Um, a lot of smog today”), it’s time for the wrist-lick breath check: Lick your wrist, wait a few seconds, and sniff it. That’s what your breath smells like to everyone else. For many people, this is as disconcerting as the first time they heard what their own voice really sounds like on a tape recorder.

The answer isn’t to gargle with mouthwash – “which works for about thirty seconds because it doesn’t get to the root of the problem,” says Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., author of the forthcoming Natural Remedies for 150 Ailments (www.drearlmindell.com). Instead you want to attack pesky bacteria that live in the gums and back of the mouth, spewing out compounds that make your breath smell like rotten eggs.

First, relax and have some tea. Black tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that protect human cells from damage. In a recent study, researchers put black tea extract in a petri dish with three types of bacteria that are linked to bad breath. The polyphenols inhibited the bacteria growth by 30 percent and reduced the hot-house aroma.

Throughout the day, drink plenty of water and snack on apples, carrot sticks, and celery. Dry mouths produce less salvia, making your breath such that even frogs won’t kiss you. One unpublished study found that smelly sulfur compounds increase sixfold in dry mouths. Chew gum to keep saliva flowing – but only a natural, sugarless gum made of peppermint or spearmint. So called “breath-freshening” gums and candies that contain sugar actually feed bacteria.

After a meal, do as the Romans do – or used to 400 years ago. Munch on parsley, whose chlorophyll inhibits bacteria and aids digestion.
And of course brush thoroughly – at least twice a day for three to four minutes (use an egg timer to make sure you are thorough). A forgotten aspect of brushing is to scrape the tongue, which wipes away hoards of bacteria. If the breath problem continues, see a dentist – persistent bad breath can be a sign of a more serious problem, like sinus infection or gum disease.

Fungi Is No Fun

A new survey has put its finger on the pulse of American hygiene. Result: the pulse has told the finger to get off it because the fingernail was so disgusting. More than half of Americans have nail-hygiene habits that can lead to yellowed toenails, green-tinged cuticles, white spots, and toe fungus.

The best preventative medicine is to avoid the germs that attack feet. Wear flip-flops in communal showers and pools. Clean shared nail clippers after use to prevent the spread of infections.

If you have developed a nail-fungal infection – “onychomycosis,” as doctors say after a deep breath – it’s time to break out the oil. Tee tree essential oil, also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is a natural antiseptic that can treat foot fungus, cuts, acnes, and canker sores. Scott R. Greenberg, MD, coauthor of “Self-Care Anywhere,” says to continue the treatment for six weeks for athlete’s foot, even if it seems the infection has cleared up, and until the toenail grows back for toe fungus.
Feet can also be soaked in a mixture of vinegar and water. Garlic has potent antifungal properties as well. However, Dr. Mindell suggests you consume the stuff in odorless, capsule form, or at least stir-fry it in parsley to cut down the smell. Otherwise, you might trade an ugly toe for horrid breath, and either way, as the good doctor says, “You won’t have a lot of friends.”

KO the BO

The next time someone says, “Your sweat stinks,” gently correct them: “Actually, sweat doesn’t cause odor. That smell is from the bacteria metabolizing proteins and fatty acids produced by sweat because …” By then, your critic will have walked away, and you can take a showers in peace.

In tackling the root of the problem, skip from A (antibacterial soap provides no extra protection, according to a recent study by the National Institutes of Health) and go directly to Z: Zinc stops an enzyme in the body from breaking down amino acids that cause sulfurous smells. Zinc is abundant in foods such as spinach, parsley, collared greens, and prunes, but Dr. Mindell recommends a 15 milligram tablet once or twice a day to get a potent enough dose to correct the problem.

.(continued)

1 2

Back to Health Samples Main Page