DECEMBER 14, 2011 YOU ARE A CORN IN MY SIDE

"Living without HOPE is like burying oneself." - Buddhist quote

Hope is essential. We all need to have hope. Hope that the world will get clean. Hope that this financial crisis and economy will change. Hope that you will get better. What is the world without hope? I do not think having hope is bad. I think that it is healthy. Your hope must be realistic!

Have hope!

Have you ever had a callus or corn on your big toe? Most calluses occur on the hands and feet. Construction workers have an increased incidence of callused hands. Dancers have calluses on their feet especially by the big toe (hallux). A callus or hardened and thickened area of skin occurs as a result of constant friction. The skin cells respond to friction by reproducing-- which results in the hardened skin. A callus on the toe joint of a dancer or on you from a new pair of shoes is very painful. The pain is caused by the pressure on the nerve endings. I have seen soft corns appear between the toes but these are not as painful. Women who wear high heels often get calluses.

Of course, there are more women who get pedicures than men, but men should have pedicures just as often if they are prone to calluses. A traditional home remedy for the corn or callus is painting it with fresh lemon juice. Lemon is a blood purifier, helps the body to expel toxins and is very useful for skin calluses. I find fresh lemon and juice especially useful for infections, insect bites, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, mouth ulcers, gallstones and restless leg syndrome. I find fresh lemon juice excellent for halting skin infections. I forgot to mention for bladder and kidney infections. I have also tried vinegar on calluses with some success.

To ease nerve pain I find the essential oil of tea tree to be beneficial. You can also increase your intake of Vitamins A and E. My colleagues find it comforting to bathe in 4 tablespoons of mustard seeds. In ayurvedic practices mustard reduces pitta and kapha, with a neural effect on vatha. Many use mustard seeds (Brasscia nigra) rectified with alcohol as a lotion for arthritic joints. The mustard foot bath will also clear blood congestion in the head (great for headaches and migraines) . It also lowers fevers in the start of any infection.

Get a pedicure today...I had mine last night

Know your pedicurist...

Until tomorrow...