I had this friend who always flipped out about bees even as an adult. She would scream and flail her arms wildly as she ran around like a maniac. I wasn’t a huge fan of anything that could sting me, but I figured if I left bees alone then they would leave me alone. Plus they are kinda cute…in a way. Who doesn’t love a puffy bumblebee buzzing about the garden?

Apiphobia (also known as melissophobia) is a persistant fear of bees and is prevalent in young children. This can cause avoidance and panic. The fear may stem from a bee sting, so the progression into a fear can be quite natural. However, an excessive and constant fear is considered abnormal.

It’s important to note that bees attack when bothered or squashed and in defense of their hive. Also, if you’re flinging your arms about wildly, the bee sees this as aggressive behavior and may sting you.

Interesting fact: MythBusters co-host, Adam Savage is a well-known apiphobe and his fear has been displayed in many episodes.

Symptoms of Apiphobia

• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Extreme distress—shortness of breath, heavy breathing, sweating
• Avoiding the situation—avoiding bees or avoiding the outdoors

Treatment for Apiphobia

If a bee comes near you, keep calm, take a deep breath and stay still. These tips will decrease your risk of being stung by a bee.

Try reading a book about bees. Then watch a video that shows a colony of bees and think about how their colony works. Once you’re ready, try to go outside and be around bees.

If you’re trying to help your child overcome his fear of bees, show him that you can handle being around bees.

DO NOT try to move or harm bees because you could end up with more problems (plus you should be humane to animals anyway).

–Nolan

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You’ve been there before—tossing and turning in bed and burning up thinking that you could fry an egg on your head. Or hugging tight to the blankets because you’re chilled and shivering. Sweating and achy, you can’t wait for the fever to break.

What is a fever?

A fever (also known as pyrexia or ague) is the body’s response to infection or inflammation. It’s not a disease, but rather a symptom that results from your internal body temperature rising above the normal level (98.6F orally). For an oral temperature, you may be a few degrees lower or higher than 98.6F, but for a rectal temperature, any thing higher than 100.4F is considered a fever. Usually a rectal temperature is 1 degree Fahrenheit higher than an oral temperature. If your temperature under your arm (axillary) is over 99.0F, a fever is present.

Fever Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a fever vary depending on what’s causing the fever. Some symptoms of a common fever include the following:

• Flushed appearance
• Chills, shivering
• Sweating
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Overall weakness or fatigue
• Lack of appetite
• Dehydration

High fevers ranging between 103 and 106 F, can cause:

• Irritability
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Convulsions
• Brain damage

Fever Causes

There are many different conditions than can cause a fever such as:

• Types of infectious disease—influenza, common cold, mononucleosis, gastroenteritis, malaria, HIV
• Diseases of the immune system—lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis
• Skin inflammations—pimples, acne, boils, abscess
• Cancers—leukemia, lymphoma
• Other conditions—diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, silicosis, malnutrition

Home Remedies and Tips

Drink your fluids—try to drink as much water as possible to replace fluid loss and to bring down body temperature.

Avoid iron and zinc supplements when you have a fever—zinc won’t be absorbed by the body when you have a fever and iron will create tension.

Rest as much as possible and avoid strenuous activity.

Eat a liquid diet—avoid solid food and any foods that are heavy or fried.

Take a cool bath for 5 to 10 minutes.

If the fever is 102F or under, let it run its course.

If a child has a fever, do not let him have aspirin. Reduce his fever with cold baths.

Fresh pineapple is a natural anti-inflammatory and can not only fight a fever, but can also prevent dehydration.

Make a basil tea—mix 1 teaspoon of basil with ¼ teaspoon black pepper and steep in a hot cup of water. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and drink three times a day.

Peel and cut a potatoe into slices and lay them on your forehead and stomach for about half an hour.

–Nolan

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I hadn’t heard of apple cider vinegar (ACV) until early this year and now it seems to be all the rage as a home remedy. However, apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries as a food and a medicine. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, used apple cider vinegar to treat his patients, making it one of the world’s first medicines. Among its many other uses, apple cider vinegar was used to ease pain and to treat wounds and infections.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar, or cider vinegar, is a type of vinegar made by the fermentation of apple cider. Freshly grown apples are crushed and left to mature in wooden barrels. Bacteria and yeast break down the sugar in the apples. This sugar is later turned into alcohol and then vinegar. When the vinegar is mature, it will appear brown in color and contain a cloudy cobweb-like foam called mother which is added to other vinegar to speed up maturity for more apple cider vinegar. If your apple cider vinegar has mother floating around in it, this indicates that your vinegar is of good quality and contains all the beneficial nutrients.

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid as well as some lactic and malic acids. It also contains vitamins, beta-carotene, pectin and minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, sulfur, iron and fluorine.

What Are the Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Acne—first clean your skin and then make a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar to 3 parts water. Apply solution to the pimple. Be sure to dilute the ACV and NOT to use it at full strength.
Blood Pressure—studies suggest that the acetic acid contained in apple cider vinegar may help lower blood pressure.
Dandruff—mix up a solution of ¼-cup apple cider vinegar with ¼-cup water. This solution may help restore the pH balance of the scalp. Put the solution into a spray bottle, spray on hair and scalp, massage in, leave on until dry and then wash off. Repeat until peeling is gone.
Diabetes—several studies have indicated that apple cider vinegar may help lower glucose levels.

According to WebMD:

…one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.

Foot odor—soak feet in a tub with hot water and apple cider vinegar.
Headache—boil honey and apple cider vinegar and inhale the steam.
Nail fungus—add a few drops of apple cider vinegar and lavender oil to a warm tub of water. Keep your hand or foot in the tub for 20 minutes daily.
Nausea—combine one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with half a cup of water and drink.
Warts—mix apple cider vinegar with a crushed onion. Apply on and around the wart and cover the area with a bandage.
Weight loss—vinegar has been used for weight loss for hundreds of years and it’s thought that vinegar helps people to feel full and makes the body burn calories faster.

Risks of using Apple Cider Vinegar

The risks of using apple cider vinegar are low, but if you’re using it in large doses and over an extended period of time be aware of the following:

• Acidity—apple cider vinegar is highly acidic and should always be diluted with water or juice before consumption because it could damage tooth enamel and throat tissue.
• Lower potassium levels—over long periods of use, apple cider vinegar can lower potassium levels and bone density.
• Drug interaction—apple cider vinegar may interact with other drugs. If you have questions or concerns, be sure to consult your doctor.

–Nolan

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Bunions plague millions of Americans and are often described as the big bump on the side of the big toe. They’re painful, annoying and in extreme cases debilitating. There isn’t a cure for bunions (save for surgery and that’s only performed if a bunion is severe) but there are things you can do to get a little more comfort for your feet

What causes a bunion?

In short, bad foot structure. People are simply born with feet that are prone to developing bunions. Curse your parents, not your shoes. Shoes in and of themselves do not create bunions. However, constricting footwear like high heels or narrow-toed shoes can bring on the symptoms of a bunion much more quickly.

Bunions are a progressive disorder. They begin with a leaning of the big toe, gradually changing the angle of the bones over the years and slowly producing the characteristic bump, which continues to become increasingly prominent. Usually the symptoms of bunions appear at later stages, although some people never have symptoms.
–Foot Physicians

Bunion symptoms

• A painful bump on the ball of your foot
• Inflammation at the site of the bunion
• Burning or numbness
• Ingrown toenail
• Calluses on the big toe

Home remedies for bunions

Ditch the heels and dress shoes and reach for a pair of sneakers. Tennis shoes are made of a softer, more pliable material that gives your feet more room. If you can, it’s best to go au natural, since running around barefoot doesn’t have any material for your foot to rub against and cause you pain.

Try some padding on the site of the bunion. Use a square of soft cotton or pick up a some specially made bunion pads at your local drugstore.

Ease the pain with toe spacers. These special spacers fit between your first and second toe, straightening the big toe to alleviate pressure. You can pick these handy little things at somewhere like Walgreens.

Apply heat or ice to the bunion to relieve pain cause by inflammation. You can do this many times during the day to keep the swelling down.

Con someone into giving you a foot massage. Nothing feels better!

If you’re suffering through an unbearable fit of bunion pain, soak your feet in a nice warm Epsom soak. If you don’t have any Epsom salt, a hot soak in regular tap water will do just fine.

-Magdalena

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Losing weight can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. Fat puts an extra strain on your heart, kidneys, liver and joints. Overweight individuals are at a higher risk for arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, liver disorders, coronary thrombosis and other diseases and/or disorders. Think about how much better your body will function when you lose weight and decrease your overall body fat.

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Laura used Slim Shots after gaining the freshman 15. She was able to keep off the weight and reduce cravings. Slim Shots increased her feeling of fullness and reduced the amount of food she ate each day. Laura told me that Slim Shots was easy to use too. Either she could drink Slim Shots alone as a single shot or she could mix it with her favorite food or drink.

Find out more about Slim Shots here: https://www.slimshots.com

Weight Control Home Remedies and Tips

Try the following tips to manage your weight:

• Drink enough water every day to stay hydrated
• Try 3 drinking 3 cups of green tea per day
• Reduce your salt intake
• Eat low-calorie foods and increase the fruits and vegetables you eat every day
• Avoid food rich in carbohydrates—rice, potatoes and certain cereals
• Reduce foods rich in fat—cheese, milk, butter and non-vegetarian foods
• Exercise to reduce calories—begin with walking and then try other sports such as running, swimming or rowing

If you want to decrease your weight, try to eat healthy snacks and meals that you enjoy. Avoid emotional eating and learn how to limit your portion sizes. Be sure to exercise daily and reduce your stress level as you progress with your diet plan.

—Nolan

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