Alternatively Speaking: Smoothing the surface

Alternative medicine expert Natalie Marx answers your questions: Any natural remedies that can help reduce wrinkles?

By NATALIE MARX
Wrinkles on forehead (photo credit: Thinkstock/Imagebank)
Wrinkles on forehead
(photo credit: Thinkstock/Imagebank)
Q. Dear Natalie, I have been suffering from really bad breath and I don’t know what to do. It has become so embarrassing that I am afraid to speak too closely to other people. Are there any natural remedies or helpful advice you can give? Thank you.
A. There are many different herbs and spices you can try to help alleviate bad breath. After any meal you can add mint leaves, parsley, cloves or cardamom to your tea. On warmer days, cold drinks such as pineapple juice will help freshen your breath too. Try gargling daily with freshly squeezed lemon and water.
Apples work as an oral purifier by helping to eradicate bacteria. Tea tree oil and cloves are two of my favorite natural antiseptics that help wipe out chronic bad breath. For a home remedy you can; Mix 1/4 tsp. of ground cloves in 2 cups of hot water. Steep the mixture for about 20 minutes and pour through a strainer and gargle with the clove mouth rinse two-three times a day. I also recommend that you look for a toothpaste or mouth wash containing tea tree.
Food may also be the cause of bad breath. Food can get stuck in the mouth and cause bacteria to grow on that food causing bad breath. Make sure to floss your teeth a minimum of once per day to remove food debris from between your teeth. 
Lastly, very simple but hugely effective, your battle against chronic bad breath should include drinking lots of water. This will help keep your mouth moist and help rinse away food particles, therefore reducing the build-up of bacteria.
Q. Dear Natalie, I really hope you can help. I am only 37 years old and I already have many wrinkles on my face, especially on my forehead. I am afraid I look much older than I am. Are there any natural remedies that can help reduce wrinkles on the face? Yours Gratefully.
A. It is important to remember that there are many factors that can contribute to the formation of wrinkles and fine lines on our faces. These include; genetics, the aging process, collagen loss, environmental factors and repeated facial expressions.
There are some very simple natural remedies which can help slow and even reduce the formation of wrinkles. Make sure you keep well hydrated since this will help maintain and increase skin elasticity. As soon as the skin on your forehead loses elasticity, it becomes more susceptible to wrinkling every time you make a facial expression.
I recommend drinking eight glasses of water daily to stay hydrated. Don’t forget that drinks containing caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your skin.
The skin covering the forehead is fairly thin and delicate, and can become dry easily. Fruit contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which help remove the layer of dead, dry skin on the forehead, leaving soft, smoother skin underneath. Using a fruit mask once a week will help to maintain a wrinkle-free face.

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Rose oil is another miracle worker which you will find in extract form in many anti-aging products. You can massage rose oil into the skin and leave it on without any concerns. Rose oil not only hydrates the skin, but keeps it taught and contains many antibacterial and antioxidant properties. 
A wonderful home remedy you can apply is olive oil. Begin by steaming your face for five to ten minutes, and then massage a small amount of olive oil into the skin. The monounsaturated fat in olive oil helps protect against oxidation and is believed to reduce wrinkles.
If you've had high exposure to the sun, use Vitamin E cream on your face. Vitamin E is high in antioxidants which can protect skin from free radical damage, thereby preventing further wrinkles.
Q. I have become rather acquainted with a refreshing summer drink of fresh lemon juice and water. Can you tell me what the health benefits are?
A. Mixing fresh lemon juice and water is packed with important nourishment, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B, proteins, carbohydrates and phosphorous. Lemon juice is full of flavonoids containing antioxidants which explain why this drink is so often used to treat many different ailments. Lemon juice works as a wonderful tonic for the liver and contributes to good digestion.
People who suffer from urinary tract infections and acid problems benefit from the juice's ability to flush out toxins and bacteria. Since lemons have a high Vitamin C content, this drink makes it a good combatant of infections and high fevers.
The potassium in lemon juice helps to control high blood pressure. If you suffer from dizziness or nausea, mixing lemon juice with water can help to stabilize and re-energize you. I often drink lemon juice and water in the mornings instead of coffee since it gives a similar "energy kick" that coffee does, yet without the side effects.
Perhaps the most common benefit of drinking lemon juice with water is its ability to flush toxins and bacteria out of the system, making it an especially effective treatment for ailments of the blood and organic systems of the body. Because of these flushing and antibacterial properties, lemon water can also be good for arthritis.
This column is brought to you as general information only and unless stated otherwise is not medical advice nor is it based on medical experiments.

This column is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. For more information about specific problems, please contact a doctor.
Ask Natalie: If you have a health query and would like an alternative answer then email Natalie with your question at nateopath@gmail.com.

Natalie runs a clinic both in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem offering a wide range of natural treatment. Healing is achieved using homeopathy, reflexology, massage, flower remedies and nutritional wisdom.

To make an appointment please email nateopath@gmail.com.
Someone Once Said: "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."
- Jim Rohn