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Yours,
Health and Science Editor
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
Which natural products can help keep our skin soft?
Answer
Surprisingly one of the best products for keeping our skin soft is water. Without proper hydration our skin will be dry, flaky and unhealthy. One of the best ways to keep skin healthy is simply to drink enough water.
However, proper hydration from the inside is not always enough for many people. Skin should also be properly hydrated from the outside. Natural products are the best as commercial products containing chemicals and perfumes can actually cause damage to the skin over time. They may create the illusion of hydration, but they are not really having an effect on the skin itself. Using unnatural products on the skin is like taking pain medication for a headache - the pain will go away, but you are not really healing the source of the problem. Nor are you healing your head.
Natural products for soft skin include shea butter, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E oil, apricot kernel oil, rosewater, aloe vera, black seed oil, cucumber, apple pulp, mashed potatoes, yogurt and buttermilk, among others.
To find your perfect skin care product it is usually best to test a few on your hands and evaluate which smell, feel and work the best for your skin.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
What are the best natural facial masks that you recommend?
Answer
My favorite facial mask recipes are the easiest ones. Modern advertising creates an illusion that the more ingredients you put into a product, the better it is. However, some of the best solutions are actually the easiest. The following foods or plants can be ground up or blended, and applied to the face as a natural mask.
(Note: remember to first test a patch on your skin to make sure you do not have a reaction to the plant or food. Even natural products can cause reactions if you are sensitive to something in it or you have an allergy to it)
Avocado
Apple
Apple and Honey
Banana
Banana and Honey
Banana, Honey and Avocado
Yogurt
Yogurt and Banana
Yogurt and Honey
Powdered Milk and Honey
Cucumber and Yogurt
Peach and Egg White
Papaya
Peaches
Strawberries
The recipe for each of these is to mash the food using a blender or other tool and add the second or third ingredient in an equal amount or in an amount that will create a smooth spreadable cream.
Name
Muslima
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Profession
chemist
Question
Asalamu alaikum,
I have few questions:
1. How to soothe mosquito bites (for adults and children)?
2. Is there a natural formula that can be made at home for preventing excessive sweating in armpits and feet? I cannot find the natural antiperspirant in place where i live, so can you recommend something similar to be used on daily basis? I really wish to avoid the commercial ones with aluminum.
3. What to place on skin that is irritated due to friction and sweat, such as in case of friction between inner thighs (common in men)?
4. Is the aloe vera gel that can be bought in stores as nearly as effective for burns as the freshly squeezed gel? What do you recommend for skin burns for children and adults?
Thank you so much for answering!!!
Answer
These are good questions and all ones I deal with personally as well as professionally - especially the mosquito one! One thing I have discovered is that the commercial versions of "natural itch" remedies are usually not strong enough to be effective. It is much more effective to make your own mosquito bite remedy. I am not sure why this is. I know there are a number of natural products that one can "save time" by purchasing ready made - and having a bottle or tube in your purse is handy when traveling. One theory I have is that the essential oils used in the production of these natural remedies are low grade quality, are not stored properly or are stored too long. Essential oils, once opened and mixed with another substance, decrease in effectiveness after about 3 months.
Some "home remedies" that have worked for us are:
1. Rub a dry bar of soap over the bite.
2. Put toothpaste on the bite.
3. Put ice on the bite.
4. Put vinegar on the bite.
5. Put honey on the bite.
6. Put a tea bag on the bite.
7. Apply baking soda and water (mix as a paste) to the bite.
8. Apply salt and water (mix as a paste).
9. Apply lemon or lime juice.
10. Rub the inside of a banana peel on the bite.
For some reason some of these remedies work with my son, some with my daughter and some with me. However, there is not one from the list above that works for all of us.
Remedies you can "make" include:
1. Crush a basil leaf and rub it on the bite (this works wonders for me).
2. Put a drop of essential oil of tea trea oil on each bite (no need to mix it with oil).
3. Put a drop of essential oil of lavender on each bite (no need to mix it with oil). Tea Tree and Lavender are the only two essential oils that are safe to use "raw.
As for natural remedies for sweating you will find the same "problem" I find with the natural remedies above - there is not one that works for everyone. It depends on each person's body type as to what will work for them. Try each of these for one day and see which one works best for you:
1. Apply baking soda under the arms after showering.
2. Dab very strong black tea on the skin. My favorite is Earl Gray because it has Bergamot in it.
3. Apply "witch hazel" to the area.
4. Apply rose water to the area.
5. Rub strong sage tea on the area or sage leaves (the tea is less messy).
Other tips for excessive sweating are:
1. You must wear clothing made of natural fibers like 100% cotton clothing. Excessive sweating can be cut 80% with this simple change.
2. Make sure you drink enough water.
The best remedy for friction rashes is still zinc oxide, the same natural mineral used for diaper rashes and easily obtainable in most areas of the world.
Aloe vera gel found in stores is usually fine for burns you encounter every day. However, aloe vera gel is hard to store and can "go bad" quickly. This is why it is usually better to keep a plant in the kitchen as the plant will last many years and can be used when needed.
Name
Muslima
-
Profession
chemist
Question
Asalamu alaikum Karima,
What is the best way to treat diaper rash and diaper yeast rash besides exposing the bottom to fresh air and ligh,t and changing frequently? Is there an easily available herbal remedy? Thank you!
Answer
The first thing to consider with frequent diaper rash is prevention. A lot of diaper rashes can be prevented by using the right diaper and changing frequently. 100% cloth diapers are the best choice. However, even if you use cloth diapers you need to make sure the soap you are using to wash them in is not causing a reaction with your baby's skin. Cloth diapers are not a good solution for everyone, however. If you are using disposable diapers keep in mind that not all disposables are the same. They all use different chemicals and your baby may be sensitive to the chemicals in one brand, but not in another.
Another way to help prevent the rashes from forming is to use a blow dryer every time you change the baby to make sure their bottom is very dry, to apply a bit of olive oil each time you change them, or to apply a bit of corn starch (these are only preventative and should not be used when there is a rash).
If the diaper rash is caused by a yeast infection (and this is very common, but many parents don't even realize these exist) then it is best to try to cut sugar from the baby's diet (or mother's diet if you are nursing).
You can also apply some natural substances to the rash to help. Of course there is always zinc oxide; however that does not help everyone.
Other options are:
1. Breast milk (applied to the rash)
2. Shea butter
3. One tsp. Olive Oil with 2 drops of Tea Tree oil
4. Aloe Vera Gel
Insha'allah this is helpful.
Blessings & Health,
Karima
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Is it more useful to eat certain foods or to apply them directly to the hair or skin for them to have an affect?
Answer
This depends on the food. Some foods, like banana, honey, milk and avocado are wonderful for moisturizing the skin from the outside. However, if you eat the same portion of banana or avocado that you would have put on your skin, it will not have the same effect. Other products/foods are most effective when used inside and out. These include:
Vitamin E oil
Olive Oil
Rosewater
Yogurt
Black Seed Oil
Eggs
Carrots
Some foods are best used from the inside and not on the outside. These include:
Salmon
Dark Green Vegetables
Beans
Nuts
Poultry
Whole Grains
Oysters
However, sometimes it is not what we put on our hair and skin and in our body that matters, but what we DON'T put in or on our body. A diet high in caffeine (coffee, sodas or teas), sugar and oils can have very detrimental effects on the health of skin and hair.
Name
a
- Pakistan
Profession
student
Question
assalam o alaikum,
i am suffering from acne on my face...what natural remedies can be used to cure acne and acne scars..
thanku
Answer
Acne is often an internal and external skin problem and is unique for each person. It would be helpful to know more about your situation. However, I can give you some general tips here:
First, you need to make sure you have done all that is possible to prevent the acne. Foods that can make acne worse in some people are:
1. Caffeine, coffee, and sodas
2. Oily foods
3. Sugar
4. Chocolate
5. Almost any food. Is there a food you crave often or one that seems to make your condition worse? Then you should reduce this food in your diet.
Of course washing your skin daily and drinking plenty of water are also important.
However, for many people who suffer from severe acne, food seems to have little effect on their acne and they are usually already taking care of their skin and water consumption.
In such cases you can treat your condition with some natural remedies.
As with all natural remedies it is best to try each of these on yourself to see which one suits you best. It will depend on your own personal condition as to which remedy will be best for you. Some remedies may work wonders with some people, but may actually make the condition worse for others. We are all unique.
Some remedies to try are:
1. Aloe vera gel massaged into the skin each night (with clean hands). This will help the skin and heal the scars. Aloe vera is the best remedy on this list for healing the scars.
2. Make a paste of oatmeal and water and apply it to your skin in the morning and evening. Leave the paste on for 10-20 minutes each day.
3. Use only glycerin based soaps - do not use regular bar soaps on your face or chemical facial cleaners. Use only natural ingredients on your face.
4. Make a paste with apples (pulped) and honey and apply to your face 10-20 minutes in the morning and evening.
5. Steep a strong mint tea and apply it to your face in the morning and evening. This will also help with the scarring.
6. Apply raw papaya to your face in the morning and evening.
7. Rub a slice of lemon or tomato on your face in the morning and evening.
Once you decide on a remedy from the list above (that does not irritate your skin and that you find pleasant) you should follow treatment for at least 4-6 weeks to see lasting results.
Also be sure to wear 100% cotton or natural clothing and brush your skin with a loufa when you shower each day. Often, if you are experiencing acne in the face area, it can be because the rest of your skin has not been able to cleanse or eliminate toxins properly for some reason.
Other effective treatments are to increase vitamin A and E in your diet through increasing your consumption of vegetables and fruits. If you are able to it is ideal to make your own homemade juice so you can naturally get large doses of vitamin E and A in your diet.
Insha'allah this is helpful.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Which kind of oils do you recommend for keeping hair healthy and strong and what's the best way to apply them?
Answer
The best oil I have found useful for healthy and strong hair is jojoba oil. Although there are other oils that are also effective, this one is far superior to all of them. Although it is costly, treatment with jojoba oil only needs to be done once a month. An added benefit of jojoba is that it can kill lice and their eggs so it is a good preventative treatment as well. To use jojoba oil or any other natural oil on the hair you should shampoo your hair as you always do, rinse it with water, and then rinse it with vinegar to make sure all the soap residue has been removed. After your hair is clean and slightly dry you should massage the oil into your scalp and through all your hair. Cover your hair (or be lazy like me and cover your pillow with a towel) and sleep with the oil in all night. Wash the oil out in the morning.
If you use jojoba oil you only need to do a treatment once a month. If you use another oil you can do a treatment 1-4 times a month. Other oils you can use for this include:
Black seed oil
Grapeseed oil
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil
Castor Oil
Coconut Oil
Vitamin E Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Of course a few drops of essential oil can be added to each of these to enhance the effects and address any personal hair issues a person may have.
Name
Elmira
- Malaysia
Profession
Question
Assalamu aleikum, dear Karima!
My husband suffers from eczema from childhood. as we live in a tropical country (we are originally from Russia), the condition became worse. can you suggest any herbal remedy at least to improve the condition?
thanks
Answer
Dear Elmira,
I've helped a lot of clients with eczema and it seems that each of them had their own personal combination of solutions that worked best for them based on the reasons behind their condition. However, there are some general tips that seem to help most people.
The first thing to consider in your husband's case is his exposure to the tropical conditions you are in. You indicated that his condition became worse in the tropical weather. This could indicate that he needs to: reduce his exposure to the outside weather, wear clothing that covers more of his skin so it is not exposed to the sun, drink more water, and wear natural clothing (100% cotton) to prevent skin reactions.
Because he will be sweating more in this environment his skin will also be absorbing more from the clothing he is wearing so you need to be extra careful about using only natural soaps to wash his clothing. Avoid any soaps that have a scent to them. If he must have a scent on the clothing then choose a natural essential oil that he enjoys (sandalwood? Vanilla? Mint?) and put a few drops on a washcloth and add this to the washer or dryer.
As long as he is keeping his skin clean and protected he can also try some internal herbal remedies and some creams on his skin that may help.
Some teas that help are:
Chamomile Tea (drink and apply to skin)
Chickweed (drink and apply to skin)
Oatstraw (drink and apply to skin)
Burdock Root (drink and apply to skin)
Some skin creams/oils that help are:
Aloe Vera Gel (external)
Calendula Cream (external)
Vitamin E Oil (internal and external)
Jojoba Oil (external)
Flax Seed Oil (internal and external)
Evening Primrose Oil (internal and external)
Avocado Oil
Some essential oils added to the oils can also be helpful. (Add three drops per Tbs. of carrier oil) These include:
Be sure to test a patch of skin first as some people find these oils soothing and others find them irritating.
Insha'allah this is helpful.
Name
Mohammed
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
engineer
Question
*Due to my profession,i need to go around to various places.i am exposed to sun more,which is causing darkening of skin.if you want me to use sunscreen what spf would you suggest.
*My armpits are dark in colour,which is very ugly to see.i exactly dont know how they became dark.during my teenage i used to use deodarant spray which caused a severe irritation problem,while the roll on deoderants are good for me.Pleade help me to get rid of this blackening of armpits.
*My wife has a severe problem of dryness especially on her legs and back.she uses cream where the effect doesnt last for more than 10 mins.i try applying olive oil massage,but still she doesnt fell very comfortable.this itching has developed in stretch marks.
Answer
For sunscreen I always recommend that everyone uses the highest possible SPF. A few years ago the highest you could purchase was 30 or 32. Now you can purchase sunscreens with an SPF of 60 or higher. This is because there has been an increased awareness about the dangers of sun exposure. Even in people with dark skin (who do not burn) exposure to the UV rays of the sun can damage the skin and exposure over time can cause skin cancer. Skin cancer is actually one of the most common cancers in the world.
To lighten the skin under your arms you can try the following:
Chamomile Tea Rub
3 Tsp Dried Chamomile Flowers
1 Cup Water
1 Tbsp honey
Boil a cup of water and add Chamomile flowers into it. Let it boil for 7-8 minutes. Once it cools down strain it and add honey. It is almost like making a cup of tea. Only you are going to be applying this to your armpits and not drinking it. If you were drinking it you would not boil the chamomile flowers.
You can also try the following herbs or foods that have been known to lighten skin:
1. Lime juice and/or tomato
2. Dried Almonds mixed with milk to make a paste
3. Raw potato. This is also good for drawing toxins out of the skin.
For your wife's dry skin I would recommend any of the remedies I mentioned in the first question about "soft skin". If you go to the main page for this session you will find that question and answer at the top of the page.
Insha'allah this is helpful.
Name
a
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
aoa,
my acne is due to harmonal imbalance...which was cured untill this month..my doc diagnosed me with PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome )(i had excessive bleeding all over month)
i took glucophage which reduced my blood sugar level and my periods became normal..but this month the same problem has surfaced again...and its been three weeks im bleeding...
i have gained weight and i have had bad eating habits so i feel this might be the reason...i am not obese and PCOS has not made me gain weight abnormally but i havee been eating alot implusively for last few months..when im depressed i tend to eat too much..please advise me what foods should i avoid to keep my blood sugar levels from rising.my acne is cured much now its just the scars now...but im afraid since my periods are getting abnormal again,the acne might come back too..
Answer
You might want to try some herbal remedies for regulating your period and your hormone levels such as:
Chaste Berry (Vitex)
Uva Ursi
Shepard's Purse
Black (not Blue) Cohosh
Red Raspberry Tea
Of course following a healthy diet is the best way to heal (or at least speed healing of) almost every disease we suffer from as humans. A basic guideline for diet is to avoid:
White sugar
White flour
White rice
Caffeine
Processed foods like chips
Cakes and Candies
Fast Foods
MSG
Excess salt or oil
Increase the following foods in your diet:
Vegetables
Fruits
Brown Rice
If you feel you would benefit from a full personal consultation you can visit www.TheHerbnMuslim.com
Name
Muslima
-
Profession
Question
Asalamu alaikum,
What can we put on cuts, bruises and wounds of children and adults. Also, what to use to stop bleeding? Thank you!
Answer
In my first aid kit at home we use the following:
Cuts:
Aloe Vera
Calendula Oil or Cream
Bruises:
Arnica Cream
Sugar with water (made into a paste)
Banana Peels
To Stop Bleeding:
Apply Pressure with cloth or paper towels
There are many other options available but our chat time has run out for today so I only have time for a few more short answers.
Name
ash mot
- India
Profession
student
Question
1)any cure for regular itching of hands and soles of ones feet?
2)any thing to rejuvenate bald patches on the top of ones head.?
3)in cases of women,any cure for cellulitis in the pelvic region?
Answer
1. To cure itching on the hands and soles of ones feet it is helpful to know why this is happening as the best cure would be prevention. Any of the remedies I mentioned in the question (on the main page of this chat session) for mosquito bite remedies also help with itching for other reasons. Applying an ice pack (one of the remedies I listed before) is one of my favorites when the itching is confined to one area as it is with the hands or feet.
2. To rejuvenate bald patches on the head you also need to have a full evaluation of your diet and health history. However, some popular home remedies for this condition that people have used with success are:
1. Coconut Milk
2. Yarrow Tea (internal and external)
3. Rosemary Essential Oil with Jojoba or other Carrier Oil
4. Aloe Vera
3. To help cure cellulite my favorite natural remedy is to use essential oils. To use these oils you need to make a massage oil using one Tbs. of carrier oil with 3 drops of essential oil. Here are some possible combinations:
Grapefruit
Fennel
Juniper Berry
Geranium
Insha'allah this is helpful.
Name
Muslima
-
Profession
Question
Asalamu alaikum,
How to treat dry, cracked heels? What is the cause and prevention? Thank you.
Answer
Usually the cause of cracked heels is going barefoot frequently, not wearing socks, or failing to keep the foot dry enough. Poor quality or unhealthy shoes (such as thin sandals or plastic slippers) can also cause cracked heels.
The best cure is to prevent the problem by wearing healthy shoes and socks.
To treat dry heels once they have formed you should first remove all the dead and calloused skin as it is most often the dead skin that is dry and the healthy skin underneath is often soft.
Once you gently remove the dead and calloused skin you can apply one of the following home remedies:
1. Anything I mentioned for soft skin in the first answer during this chat session.
2. Very ripe banana (now you have something to do with bananas that have gone bad).
3. Glycerin and rose water
4. Water with lemon (soak feet in this for 15 minutes a day).
