Diagnosis: Backache May 7, 2008

Photo by Javier

One very exotic and exciting cure is “Fire Cupping”

Someone from Trinidad and Tobago explained how this works:

For a sprained back or ‘dropped butchet’ (sprained muscle in chest somewhere)

“Lighted candles placed on several areas surrounding injury and each is carefully covered with a glass.

The candles flame uses up the oxygen in the glass so the space becomes a vacuum and the glass becomes ’sucked’ onto the skin. After some time (hour or 2) the glasses are removed and you’re left with raised circles on your back/chest. It definitely works. I had to go through this several times as a child when I lifted things that were too heavy for me.”

Other:

Lemon juice mixed with salt – consume twice a day

Comsumption of garlic – every day – less friends, but definitely no pain in the back

Diagnosis: Headache May 7, 2008

Photo by Teo

Stress, skipping meals and a wrong posture can lead to headaches – treat yourself well

Germany:

Black coffee with lemon juice

Other:

Drink plenty of water

Lemon juice in water

Pound the crust of the lemon into a paste and apply it with a plaster on the forehead (for headaches caused by heat)

Diagnosis: Nose Bleed May 7, 2008

How to stop the bleeding:

Sit or stand so that your head is above your heart

Lean your head forward and pinch your nostrils together just below the bony part of the nose, apply the pressure for a few minutes

Place a cold compress (with water or crushed ice) on the area around the nose

Also claimed that applying pressure with cotton pad inside the upper lip will stop the bleeding

IMPORTANT: Some cultures believe(d) that nose bleed is effectively treated by leaning the head backward and/or applying a cold compress on the neck – this is NOT an advisable technique, the blood will run into the stomach and you will feel sick

Diagnosis: Cuts, Small Wounds and Skin Problems May 7, 2008

Colombia:

Crushed coffee beans on the Cut – advice from a Colombian Granny

Bali:

Turmeric, a plant, is used to disinfect wounds and cuts – chew it and leave it on the affected area

India:

Turmeric (in hindi: Haldi) powder or paste on open cuts/ wounds helps the blood clot and heal faster

Other:

Chamomile reduces swellings and prevents infection

Raw egg on the

Raw potato (sliced, grated) on a swelling

Some believe that tobacco helps to heal wounds – applying tobacco is not a good solution!

Diagnosis: Stomach Ache and Digestive Problems May 7, 2008

Not the most pleasant topic, but everyone encounters this, whether you want to admit it or not. As to end this unpleasant malady as quickly as possible, we listed a few ideas…

Stomach Ache

Bali:

Baby cocunut water – hard to get in Germany,  but supposedly effective

Diarrhea

Germany:

Bananas

Mashed Apples

Salty sticks and Coke

Romania:

Mint tea

Diagnosis: Cold/Flu May 7, 2008

The Bremen Winter is long and cold, so a cold is not a rare occurance. To avoid getting a cold, additional vitamins and drinking a lot of fluids is advisable. If the cold catches you anyways, here are some solutions for relieve.

Romania:

Onion peels and crushed walnuts tea

Ethiopia:

Drinking hot milk boiled with garlic, according to our Ethiopian source of information this cure “tastes very bad but it is very effective”

Steaming with Eucalyptus leaves

Other:

Consumption of onions and garlic – this reduces the amount of mucous produced by the body.

Another sure-fire remedy for a sore throat is to gargle with a strong solution of table salt and warm water. Gargle several times a day. The salt helps to relieve that uncomfortable burning in your throat.

Drink a lot of liquids – water, juice or warm lemon water with honey

Take additional vitamins – ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice

Diagnosis: Cough and Sore Throat May 6, 2008

Something one can tell oh so many stories about when living in Bremen, where it is windy and rainy most of the time.

I personally (Dominique) have the pleasure to face this problem every other day!

To make this very annoying maladie somewhat less painful, here a few solutions:

Germany:

1. Cut onions wrapped into a hot cloth – put the filled cloth on your chest (cough)

2. Cut onions and put sugar on top (be generous) – leave it to soak for abt 2-3hrs, the

sugar will have extracted the juice from the onions. Onions work as disinfectant

and as the natural form of antibiotics (cough)

India:

Ginger, lemon and salt in hot water (cough)

Colombia/International :

Hot water with honey and lemon, simply honey or honey in hot milk (sore throat)

Hot milk should only be applied when you have a dry cough, because milk encourages mucus

to develop

Gargles with hot water (sore throat)

Romania:

Black radish juice, extracted in the same manner as onion juice (cure the cough)

Diagnosis: Hiccups May 6, 2008

A minor problem, but it can get utterly annoying if it is persistent..

so here we go with solutions:

India:

7 sips of water not more not less – granny’s medicine

Colombia:

Drink a bottle of water upside down…not that enjoyable

Wikipedia:

Think about cows, any cows doing anything…allegedly this is 110% effective!

Other Cures:

Hold your breath (a well known one)

pulling ears, pinching nose, drinking honey and getting tickled are other common beliefs

- Whether they are effective, you need to find out by trying them out yourself.

Diagnosis: Sleeplessness May 6, 2008

When studying at Jacobs, this is rarely the case…or it is even “desired”, but there are also people that get insomnia from staying up too many nights in a row or a mixed up biorhythm.

Germany:

A glass of warm milk, warm water with sugar

Milk contains Tryptophan and after some chemical reactions this turns into

melatonin which is a sleep-inducing chemical

Other Cures:

Avoid working in bed, the work and sleeping space needs to be separate

A warm/hot shower

Breathing techniques – breathe deeply in and out to divert your mind from stress

and problems

If all of the above do not work, try counting sheep or whatever your favorite animal may be…and if that does not suffice either, see a doctor or the counselor to deal with your continuous unrest.

Diagnosis: Sunburn May 6, 2008

- A common phenomenon when the summer months beset.

Germany:

Apply natural yoghurt, cucumber or lemon slices, also if available pure lavender oil.

Other Cures:

2 tea spoons of olive oil and 2 tea spoons of vinegar leave it on the sunburn for 1/2 hours

Mashed tomato and crushed ice

Drink a lot of fluid and do not apply creams that contain fat or butter

they will trap the heat and slow down the healing process

- For more serious burns, please consult a doctor