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Nicotine is very addictive drug. It is nicotine which causes smokers to smoke. Smokers need sufficient nicotine to make them ‘feel normal’ and satisfy their craving for a cigarette. Nicotine also has a significant impact on the mood of the smoker. The amount of nicotine a person needs ascertains the quantity of smoke he or she is likely to inhale, regardless of the kind of cigarette they burn.

• Natural ways to quit smoking

Along with nicotine, smokers also take in about four thousand other chemicals in cigarette smoke. Most of these chemicals come from burning of tobacco leaf. Few of these compounds are chemically active and lead to serious as well as damaging modification in the body.

Smoking has a very bad affect on our body. There are almost sixty known cancer-causing elements present in tobacco smoke. Smoking causes harm to nearly every organ of the body, leading to a number of diseases and affecting health in general. Tobacco has many radioactive compounds, which are supposed to be cancer causing.

Effects of smoking on respiratory system

• It leads to irritation in trachea and larynx.
• Reduction in lung function as well as breathlessness
• Damage to lungs’ clearance system
• Increased danger of lung infection as well as symptoms like wheezing and coughing
• Damage caused to air sacs of the lungs

Effects of smoking on circulatory system

• Rise in blood pressure as well as heart rate
• Constriction of blood vessels of the skin, leading to drop in temperature of skin
• Fall in level of oxygen carried by the blood
• Stickier blood
• Harm to lining of heart arteries, this leads to atherosclerosis
• Decreased flow of  blood to extremities such as toes and fingers
• Increased danger of heart attack and stoke owing to blockages of blood supply.

Effects of smoking on immune system

• The immune system does not work properly
• The person has increased chances of contacting infections like influenza and pneumonia
• Illnesses are very severe and it usually takes longer time to recover.
• Fall in level of protective antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, etc in blood.

Effects of smoking on musculoskeletal system

• Tightening of some muscles
• Fall in bone density.

Other effects on the body

• Irritation as well as inflammation of intestines and stomach
• Increased danger of excruciating ulcers
• decreased ability to taste and smell
• Premature wrinkles on the body
• Higher danger of blindness
• Increased chances of gum disease (periodontitis).

Effects of tobacco smoke on the male body

• Fall in sperm count
• Fall in sperm mobility
• Change in level of male sex hormones
• Impotence

The effects of tobacco smoke on the female body include

• Reduction in fertility
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Premature menopause
• Increased chances of cervical cancer
• Higher risk of heart attack and stroke if the smoker is over thirty five years of age and taking the oral contraceptive pills

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We all get hurt once in a while. But then no one likes to go around with any bruise on his or her body. Whenever anyone sees a bruise on some body’s body it doesn’t leave a very good impression. They either feel that you are rash or clumsy. This is not a good thing. But you can easily get rid of your bruises in a faster way. Now you do not have to cover your bruises with any kind of synthetic off the counter creams. Given below are few ways how you can get rid of your bruises.

Use Ice

Make use of ice cubes to minimize your swelling. Put the ice cubes in a piece of cloth so that you do not feel too cold. Minimizing the swelling diminishes the unattractive long-term consequences of your bruise. You should apply the ice pack immediately otherwise you will get no benefit. Let it be there for at least thirty minutes.

Arnica Gel

Arnica gel is derived from the plant referred to a wolf’s bane. Athletes prefer using this gel as it is very effective. Use the gel as directed by your physician.

Eat lot of vegetables and fruits

This is actually a type of preventative tip. Actually the healing process will slow down if your body is too busy digesting the burgers and pizzas. Try to eat less of meat. Focus on eating more fruits and vegetables as this will turn your body into a bruise-healing machine.

Avoid consuming aspirin

Do not eat aspirin as it will do more harm than benefit. Aspirin is basically an anticoagulant and this is not meant to be used for bruises. This will actually cause your blood to spread all over the damaged area at a very fast pace. So actually the size of your bruise will increase.

Elevate the bruise

The size of the bruise can be reduced if you elevate it.

Use a heated compress

When the initial swelling goes down apply a heated compress to the bruised area. The heat is bound to have a good effect. It will open your capillaries and escalate the immune system response.

Clean the bruised area properly

When you clean the bruised area it minimizes the chances of infection. In case your body is busy fighting the germs, it will not possess adequate resources to heal your bruise. The quicker you clean the bruise the better.

Brian Gray’s Bruise Remover

Brian Gray bruise remover is known to heal the bruises very quickly. It has been used in China since a very long time. It is apparently very popular among people who do Kung-Fu.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has a lot of medicinal properties. A lot of people use it to heal bruises. But apply Aloe Vera on the bruised area only after cleaning the bruised area.

Lower your blood pressure

This is also a preventative tip. People who have high blood pressure, there bruises take more time to heal. Blood pressure can be kept in check with proper diet and medication.

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A runny nose although sounds simple and uncomplicated but ironically creates lot of irritation and discomfort. You must not take it casually and should immediately take necessary measures to combat it.

Typically, a running nose is characterised by scratchy throat followed within some time by sneezing and a colourless watery nasal discharge, with the nasal secretions becoming thicker and probably yellow or green. You can suffer from this common affliction especially in the cold and flu season. When you have a cold, your runny nose is teeming with cold viruses. You may also have cough, headache, or other symptoms.

The symptomatic relief is the main treatment for cold with runny nose. Effective treatment involves the use of certain conventional medicines as well as home remedies. The advantage of employing the natural remedies is that it is comparatively inexpensive and does not have any side effects.

1. It is extremely important to increase the intake of fluids especially lukewarm water. The hydrating effect of water keeps the sinuses moist and thus reduces the chances of further infection. Keep yourself warm since cold air aggravates the watery discharge of the runny nose and increases the chances of getting a headache. The exposure to cold and chilly air will thicken the mucus thus making breathing uncomfortable.
2. It is imperative to enhance the intake of vitamin C. Fruits that are rich in vitamin C such as strawberries, oranges and other citrus fruits should be taken. Vitamin C tablets also bring lot of relief from runny nose.
3. Chewing ginger helps in curbing the thin watery nasal discharge. You can chew some finely sliced raw ginger, three times a day.  This natural home remedy helps in alleviating the irritable symptoms.
4. Ginger tea is considered as safest and effective home remedy. You can also add green onions to the ginger tea.
5. Taking  moderate spicy foods and soups, for example chicken soup, also serves as one of the simplest natural home remedies for Cold with Runny Nose. Chicken soup helps relieve cold symptoms by acting as an anti-inflammatory and temporarily increasing the movement of mucus.
6. Putting two drops of warm mustard oil in the nostrils with a dropper is one of the popular natural remedy for Runny Nose.
7. Saline nasal sprays are also used to minimize the discomfort since these help to rinse the mucus and remove the irritants and bacteria. 
8. You can make use of a humidifier to keep the nostrils moist. However the humidifier should be kept clean and free of fungus.
9. You must also avoid dust, smoke or pollen to save yourself from this malady.
10. Blow tenderly and frequently in a soft cotton napkin to help the nose remove excess of mucus. Apply cream or petroleum jelly in case the nostrils get sore and chapped.  Consult your doctor whether a decongestant and an antihistamine is needed for you.
11. Last but not least, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently to avoid spreading or picking up germs.

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Hangover is the most horrible experience to have. Hangover is basically the affect of excess alcohol intake on your body. It is a very unpleasant feeling. A person tends to feel dizzy as well as disoriented due to a hangover. But hangover recovery is not as tough is it seems. The best thing to avoid as well as cure hangover is to drinks lots of water both during and after alcohol consumption. Hydrating your body is a must thing if you want recovery from a bad hangover. Also try to eat some snacks before and after you consume alcohol. Taking proper sleep also reduces your chances of getting a bad hangover.

Given below are few guidelines which should keep in mind in order to avoid any hangover.

1. Drink a lot of water - Drinking water before you go for sleep is an efficient way of minimizing your signs of dehydration which you experience the morning after. The water will wash out the alcohol present in your body. With fall in level of alcohol before the chances of hangover will also become less. Also try to consume water between your drinks. This is also a very good way to avert the sick morning-after effects.
2. Eat a lot snacks before and during your drinking sessions – To help avoid a hangover, eat food or snacks during or before drinking.

There are times, when you still get a hangover in spite of following these tips. In case if you get a hangover there are few things which you can do to minimize the severity of your symptoms.

Drink plenty of water

The symptoms which you get post your drinking spree are signs of dehydration in the body caused due to excessive alcohol intake. This is reason you should rehydrate your body by consuming lot of water as you get up in the morning. Rehydrating the body is the means to recover from a bad hangover. The importance of consuming water is immense. It is also advisable that you put few lemon drops in the water. This will ease your stomach. You will also get a good supply of vitamin C in your body. Try to avoid water which is really hot or cold; try to drink water which is at regular room temperature.

Avoid coffee

Even if you feel extremely exhausted and a hot cup of coffee appears to be the ideal way to get up from, try to steer clear of it as far as possible. Caffeine has a tendency to dehydrate, and it is also a diuretic, it will be harsh on your stomach. Consuming milk as well as other dairy products is also not at all recommended; they will make you feel more uneasy.

Drink a glass of ginger ale

If you do not want to consume ant water, try having a glass of flat ginger ale. This will definitely make you feel better. Your stomach will also get relived.

Consume a glass of fresh juice

Having a glass of fresh juice is also recommended; the vitamin C present in the juice will help you get the energy you will require to get your body in motion.

Go with your thirst

Drink sports drinks like Gatorade. Some people tend to feel better after consuming such drinks.

Eat some honey

Take few tablespoons of regular honey, or you can even add little honey to a cup of water or tea. It will help ease the dryness of your throat.

Eat some toast

Try to eat a slice of toast in the morning when you get up. This will make you feel better. Avoid putting any butter or jam on the slice of your toast.

Eat some fruit

Eat some fruit in the morning. This will not only hydrate you but will also reduce the acid in your body. You will feel refreshed. Fresh fruits give you the vitamins and energy you require to replenish your dehydrated body.

Have a some multi- vitamins

In case you are not eating any fruit or consuming any juice, take a tablet of vitamin C or any other type of multivitamin pill. Multi-vitamin pills are good for alleviating hangover symptoms.

Pills

Consume an over-the-counter drug such as ibuprofen or aspirin to help assuage your headache. Do not consume any acetaminophen-based drug; this can be really risky when it gets mixed with alcohol in your body.  Also take these pills only in the morning, and not before you go to sleep. At night the alcohol is present in large quantity in your body and this can backfire.

Sleep

Go to sleep, or wake up in middle of night and make use of any of the above-mentioned remedies and then again go back to sleep. Sleep also enables you to get out of a bad hangover. This is because the body gets adequate rest to get back in action again.

Put a cool compress on your head

Another good way to minimize your symptoms is to lie down in a dark room and put a cool compress on the head. This will definitely make you feel relaxed.

Keep in mind that above mentioned tips are just the ways to ease the symptoms generally linked with a hangover. If your problem seems to be far more complex owing to alcohol consumption, you should go and consult a doctor. These are few things that have been known to help deal with that obnoxious feeling that strikes after a night of partying and alcohol drinking. Different things work for different people. See what is best for you and follow it to relive your symptoms of hangover. But the best thing to do to avoid all symptoms is to drink in moderation. Do not go overboard with your drinks. Just enjoy few drinks and do not let hangover happen at all.

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A balanced nutritional diet is very important for our body.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as the body performs all sorts of physical and mental activities, which are tiresome. Therefore, a healthy, low fat breakfast that keeps your body active is essential.

Raw vegetables

Many people hate the idea of consuming vegetables alone, but no one minds eating a sandwich stuffed with a lot of vegetables and sauces.  A sandwich becomes healthier if made from whole wheat bread, which is rich in vitamins, iron, magnesium and zinc. The researchers have found that whole wheat bread plays a major role in preventing diabetes.

Finger millet

Finger millet or ragi is nutritively healthy. The food is not only rich in iron, calcium and protein but is also low in fat. Many dieticians recommend people to include ragi in their daily diet chart, as it helps in controlling blood pressure, heart complications, constipation and asthmatic problems.

Rava upma or suji

Rava aka ‘suji’ in Hindi, rava upma not only fills your appetite but the contents of the dish are highly nutritious. The food is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamin B and iron.

Idli good for health

Idlis are good for health as they have high nutritive value. It is a healthy breakfast snack as it provides carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins, which are needed by the body. It is oil-less food that controls cholesterol level in the body and avoids the problem of high blood pressure. Besides being healthy, the food is easily digestible.

Nutrition of oats

Oats offer a number of health benefits.  They are rich source of carbohydrates, proteins that keeps your body active throughout the day. It reduces hypertension and controls high blood pressure. The energy oatmeal provides you with high energy, normalises blood sugar, increases immunity and helps in preventing cancer.

Eggs

Beaten eggs are simple to cook and good for health. They provide high quality protein along with rich vitamin A, B and E. Eggs help in lowering the risk of heart attacks and preventing cancer. It also improves eyesight and enhances the growth of healthy hair and nails.

Mixed fruits

Fruit salad is a healthy breakfast that consists of different types of fruits mixed together. This mixture of fruits has high nutritional value and provides you with essential vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fibres and proteins. It helps you in losing weight, keeping your skin healthy and increasing your immunity.

Cold beverages

Milk shakes and juices are not only tasty but also good for diet purpose. Health benefits of milk include growth and development of bones and muscles, glowing skin, sharp eyesight and healthy bones and teeth. Milk when mixed with fruits increases its nutritional value.

Stuffed ‘paranthas’

Yummy hot flat bread mixed with different vegetables is rich in proteins, carbohydrates and fibre. Stuffed ‘parantha’ is one of the healthiest breakfast option, as they are healthy, nutritious and low in fat.

Skipping breakfast makes you feel tiresome and lethargic. Eating a healthy breakfast makes your body fresh and fit. It makes you feel better and active for the rest of the day.

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Migraine is just one type of headache which is likely to occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.

1. Symptoms of Migraine Headache
2. Home Remedies to Cure Headache

Before the commencing of the actual headache, some people are seen to have some warning symptoms. These symptoms include vision disturbances which often suggest a bad headache. However not all of the migraine patients have these symptoms.

Headache

A headache is defined as the pain anywhere in the region of the head or upper neck. It is the most common pain in the body and can be a symptom of a number of diseases as well. Headache is not only hard to bear, but it also makes it hard for you to concentrate, to work or even to relax and enjoy your day. In short, headache can ruin your day. This article deals with some herbal remedies that can help you cure this pain. Let us discuss some of the most effective remedies one by one.

Serious causes of headaches are extremely rare to find. Lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and occasionally by taking medications, people with serious headache issues can handle it.

Symptoms of migraine headache

The symptoms include vision disturbances and an aura, which is likely to occur in both the eyes. This aura has some other effects also, which include blurred vision, tunnel vision, and pain in the eyes, seeing stars or some zigzag lines or even a temporary blind spot.

This aura is said to occur just a few minutes to 24 hours beforehand.   Migraine headaches can be dull or severe. This pain is likely to be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. In case of many patients, the headaches start on the same side each time.

The headaches usually:

• Feel pulsating, throbbing, pounding
• Is sometimes bad on one side of the head
• Begin as a dull ache and gets poorer within minutes to hours
• Last 6 to 48 hours

Some other symptoms that are likely to occur with the headache include:

• Chills Sensitivity to light or sound
• Increased urination
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness
• Problems concentrating, trouble finding words
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting

Symptoms that could stay even after the migraine has gone away:

• You might feel mentally dull, like your thinking is not clear or sharp
• Augmented need for sleep
• Pain in the neck

Herbal Remedies that can cure Headache

1. Basil Tea: Drinking one teaspoon of basil tea steeped in a cup of hot water provides instant relief to headache. However, drinking more than two cups of basil tea is not advisable.
2. Chamomile Tea: This is considered the best for relaxing. Usually, one teaspoon of chamomile flowers is used per one cup of hot water but if desired you can add a bit of sweet honey as well.
3. Wet Hot Compresses: Relaxing your forehead and temples with hot wet compresses helps in relieving headache and gives a sense of chill and ease to your scalp muscles. Soaking the towel in hot water every five minutes is recommended. Apart from the hot water, wet mint leaves wrapped in a towel if put on the forehead also relieve headache.
4. Hot water foot-bath: Not many people are aware of the fact that a very simple hot water foot-bath can help in easing your headache. You can also add a scent in the water if the same makes you feel relaxed.
5. Mint Tea and compress: Mint tea helps in relieving headache, especially among those who suffer from it frequently. Having a cup of mint tea twice a day in morning and evening is highly recommended.
6. Catnip Tea: Catnip tea helps especially in those cases where the origin of headache is short sleep disorder or insomnia. About 3-4 tablespoons of catnip should be steeped in a cup of hot water and drank after draining.
7. Facial Massage: This can be of great help if the pain is around the eyes. Running your fingers firmly along the middle of nose and pinching the area between your eyebrows and then rubbing under and above both eyebrows is the right way to do it.
8. Pressure points: Pinching your skin at certain points like areas between your eyebrows and back of your neck helps a great deal in relieving headache.
9. Onion compress: Pound one large onion and mix it with about a teaspoon of sea salt and one teaspoon of olive oil. Put the paste of one large onion and one teaspoon of olive oil and sea salt each on your forehead cures the pain immediately.
10. Castor oil compress: Applying castor oil on your forehead with the help of a soaking cloth or directly also helps in reducing the pain.

These herbal remedies might not work for all of us, but there being no side effects, they should be tried before opting for the harmful pain killer tablets.

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Botox: An injectable medicine that is majorly used to treat ageing conditions like frown lines, wrinkles or crossed eyes is known as Botox. Botox serves the purpose by decreasing the nerve signals that are sent to muscles. Botox is a toxin produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria and is available only if prescribed by a practicing doctor.

Brief on the Botox Side Effects

As in case of any other medicines, side effects can develop after Botox as well. It has been proved by various researches that most of the people who suffer from minor side effects after Botox, require no or very mild medication. Listed below are the major side effects that can develop after Botox.

Common side effects of Botox

Because of the hype it has created in the recent past, Botox is studied thoroughly in clinical trials. After all the researches, the data suggests that when Botox is used for removing the ageing effects, side effects like droopy eyelids and nausea can happen in up to three per cent people, muscle weakness or facial pain can develop in up to two per cent people and complications like high blood pressure, tooth problems, indigestion or heartburn can develop in up to one per cent of the total people who go in for Botox.

In case Botox is used for medical conditions other than cosmetics, the side effects can be much adverse. It can result in droopy eyelids in up to 20.8 per cent people, difficulty in swallowing in up to 19 per cent people, vertical deviation of the eye in up to 16.9 per cent people, respiratory infections such as common cold in up to 12 per cent people and pain in the neck or headache in up to 11 per cent of the total number of people who opt for Botox.

Some other common side effects that occur rarely include cough or dry mouth or sore throat, symptoms that indicate flu such as fever or chills, back pain, dizziness, soreness or even bleeding at the spot of skin where it was injected, stuffy nose, weakness or drowsiness. In some of the cases, it can also cause nausea and bronchitis.

Other Possible side effects of Botox

However, most of the people who opt for Botox do not face any problems, yet side effects exist that include droopy eyelids, difficulty in swallowing, neck pain and muscle weakness. Most of these side effects are generally mild and can be cured easily but in case you develop serious effects like chest pain, speech problems or double vision, you are advised to visit your doctor immediately.

Severe Botox Side Effects

Serious side effects occur very rarely but if reported, you are advised to see your doctor immediately. Effects like muscle weakness throughout the body, double or blurred vision, voice changes or speech problems and difficulty in breathing or swallowing indicate toxic infection. Whereas side effects like unexplained rashes, itching, swelling of the mouth or throat and wheezing indicate allergic reaction.

Video

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The hair shaft that has many cuticle layers tends to stand up in extreme weather conditions, making the hair loose its natural oils. This makes the hair dry and frizzy. If one has frizzy hair, then the best thing to do is to use some of the popular home remedies to get rid of the frizzy hair and get the luscious locks back as the natural home remedies don’t contain any harmful chemicals.

Dull, frizzy hair can be difficult to manage and no styling can also be done with them. Besides, you can’t even leave them open. It is said that dry, frizzy hair are considered the most unmanageable ones, and they are often indicative of  the fact that the hair have been undergone many treatments, strong chemical, and bad styling products. Frizzy hair can also be due to weather variations, because dust, cold and heat present in the atmosphere lays strong impact over your hair conditions.

Reasons for Frizzy Hair

It’s not always necessary that one has frizzy hair by birth; there are many other reasons that could be possible for it.

Lack of sufficient amount of natural moisturizer and oil from hair is one of the common reasons behind frizzy hair.

Besides, lack of protein in ones diet and sometimes due to heavy usage of chemicals like hair dye and hair treatments can also make your hair frizzy. Now let’s have a look at some of the tips that are helpful for controlling growth of frizzy hair.

How to control frizzy Hair

• Mix two tablespoons of gram flour with coconut milk and apply it on your scalp. Then massage it gently with your hands and let the mixture settle for five to ten minutes. Then rinse it off with normal water. This process works wonders to treat frizzy hair.
• Try and use maximum natural oils on your hair like safflower, olive, coconut, castor or mustard oil. Regular use of oils will surely prevent hair dryness.

• You can also whip an egg and add one tablespoon of water or vinegar into it. By applying it for 20 minutes and then washing your hair with Luke warm water will get you rid of frizzy hair instantly.

• Mayonnaise is an easy and effective remedy for treating frizzy hair because it is made from egg.
• You can also use beer to prevent frizzy hair. It will give natural shine to your hair and will make it look very healthy.
• Mash an over-riped banana and some avacados together. Apply this paste for about 15 minutes and then simply wash it off.
• Make sure that you eat a protein rich diet at least once a day.
• Avoid coming in direct contact of sun.
• Boil some tea leaves with water and after cooling it apply to your hair. Then rinse it off with your shampoo and get natural shiny and bouncy hair back.

By following the above remedies regularly will surely bring good results and that too without undergoing any expensive chemical treatments. This will not only improve the quality of your hair naturally but will also say good bye to frizzy hair forever.

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Fleas are the external parasites which live on the blood of the mammals. They are small wingless bloodsucking insects of the order siphonaptera parasitic upon mammals and birds and noted for their ability to leap. They are usually quick, dark colored with tube like mouth parts. Fleas are very good jumpers due to their body shape. Fleas are of various kinds like cat fleas, dog fleas, human fleas, moorhen fleas, northern rat fleas, oriental rat fleas, etc.

Fleas of any kind are very irritating; they cause you with itching sensation throughout the body and sometimes also result into red rashes or red spots. Home remedies are the best alternative for getting rid of the fleas as they are cheaper than getting any pest treatment done and also that they are more effective than the artificial ones. By using the home remedies one can get rid of fleas without facing any side effects. Let’s have a look at some of the simple home remedies for treating Fleas:

For Pets

For getting rid of fleas, it is important to ensure that your pets are free from fleas.

For this, the best way out is to shampoos them regularly by using a herbal shampoo. There are also flea combs available in the market, which help getting rid of the fleas from pets. Try using this remedy on your pets and also add 10-15 drops of lavender, cedar, citronella or pennyroyal oil on their hair. These oils have proved to be very effective.

Adding some garlic cloves to your pet’s meal, giving him a sulfur rich diet on once a week basis, vitamin B supplements and some black walnut hulls that come in capsule form are also good ways out for keeping your pets away from fleas.

You can also add few drops of white vinegar to your pet’s drinking water, or you can even try using citrus oil extracts; these also helps in getting rid of the pet fleas to certain extend.

For House Fleas

It has been proven by various researchers that only 5% of the total fleas are found on the pets rest are all present in the home only so it becomes mandatory to get rid of the fleas on the home front. Some of the simplest home remedies for getting rid of fleas are to wash the beddings including of your pets on a regular basis i.e. at least once a week.

Mixing natural borax with salt and diatomaceous and cleaning the house with this mixture and sprinkling of work powder on the furniture as well as on the carpets also helps getting rid of house fleas.

Vacuuming the carpets or every other possible thing is the best remedy for killing house fleas as it kills their eggs as well.

You can also use mixture of tea tree oil with vinegar and water and spray it around the soft corners of your house. Nematodes which prefer feeding on worms or bugs also helps in killing fleas.

Fleas tend to take birth again and again and therefore applying a permanent and long staying solution to keep them away is important.

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Spiders are generally poisonous creatures. Due to this fact majority of spiders hunt for their prey. Nevertheless, most of spiders in U.S. are relatively harmless so they do not pose any threat to human beings. But in case, you stay in a warm country, you have to be relatively careful as regards the brown recluse and black widow spiders. It is better to be aware of certain home remedies which you can follow in case you or someone around you gets bitten by a spider.

Symptoms of Spider Bite

In United States of America, the brown recluse spider and black widow spider pose the biggest danger to humans. The black widow spider is also referred to as the red-black spider. It is black in color and has a red mark on it back. The red mark is in the shape of an hourglass. The venom of the black widow spider has an immediate effect on the nervous system. When black widow spider bites you, you should take action without any delay. The bite of black widow spider causes sharp pain, swelling, burning and redness. At times double fang marks are also visible.

Home Remedies for a Spider

Venom of most spiders causes an allergic reaction in the body. This includes swelling, redness, itching and pain. The symptoms of spider bite generally worsen over a period of 24 hours. Serious reaction of spider bite includes shortness of breath, hives, wheezing, and extreme weakness .To reduce the reaction to a spider’s venom and treat existing bites, keep in mind some important home remedies:

a) Use ice and cold water:

In order to minimize swelling and get some relief apply an ice pack over the affected area. You can even wash the affected area with ice cold water.

b) Baking Soda:

Mix three parts baking soda with one part water to make a paste. Put this paste on affected area to accelerate the healing process. Depending on the acuteness of the bite, you will get to see improvement in few days.

c) WD-40:

In order to avoid reoccurrence of the spider bites spray your door frames, windowsills and screens with WD-40 .This will keep spiders out of your house.

d) Elevation:

In case you get bitten by a spider keep your leg or arm in an elevated position to prevent swelling.

e) Hydrocortisone 1% Cream:

Apply hydrocortisone cream (1%) to take care of redness and itching. Calamine lotion is also a good alternative.

f) Hydrogen Peroxide:

Wash the affected are with hydrogen peroxide as it is a good antiseptic for insect bites.

g) Dried Basil:

To alleviate the itch of a spider bite, rub a pinch of crushed basil on the affected area.

h) Turmeric and Olive Oil:

Mix olive oil and turmeric to make a paste and apply on affected area to minimize swelling as well as redness. The combination also serves to relieve pain.

i) Antibiotic Lotion or Cream:

You can take care of the infection by application of antibiotic cream or lotion.