Love is in the air ... or its Just allergies?
Spring means flower buds and blooming trees — and if you're one of the millions of people who have seasonal allergies, it also means sneezing, congestion, runny nose and other bothersome symptoms. Seasonal allergies — also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis — can make you miserable. But before you settle for plastic flowers and artificial turf, try these simple home remedies; they may provide all the relief you need, with relatively little expense or hassle. 1. Neti pots are fast becoming a mainstream remedy for allergies and stuffed-up sinuses. The treatment, which involves rinsing your nasal cavity with a saline solution, flushes out allergens (like pollen) and loosens mucus. 2. Prepackaged saline nasal sprays function much like Neti pots, but some allergy sufferers may find them easier to use. Sprays deliver saline solution a bit more gently and evenly, 3. Eating honey produced by bees in your region can help relieve allergies. The bees transfer pollen from flower blossoms to honey, so if you eat a little honey every day you'll gradually become inoculated against the irritating effects of pollen. 4. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters ease symptoms by trapping allergens and other airborne irritants, such as pet dander and dust. 5. Several herbs and supplements—including spirulina, eyebright, and goldenseal—have been studied for allergy relief. The plant extract butterbur, which is thought to reduce airway inflammation, has produced what are perhaps the strongest results. 6. Anyone who has even been stuffed-up knows the impressive ability of a steaming hot shower to soothe sinuses and clear nasal passages, if only temporarily. But showers offer an added benefit for springtime allergy sufferers. A quick rinse after spending time outdoors can help remove allergens from your skin and hair—and prevent them from spreading to clothes, furniture, pillowcases, and other surfaces where they're likely to dog you. 7. Don't feel like getting soaked and toweling off every time your sinuses get clogged? Other methods of inhaling steam—store-bought vaporizers, for instance—can flush out mucus and moisten dry nasal passages nearly as well as a shower. 8. The strong, piney aroma of eucalyptus oil can supercharge steam inhalation, helping to open your sinuses and nasal passages further. 9. Many people swear by the sinus-clearing effects of spicy foods like chili peppers, wasabi, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, and horseradish. Sure enough, an active ingredient in garlic (allyl thiosulfinate) and a similar ingredient in wasabi (isothiocyanates) do appear to have a temporary decongestant effect. 10. Holding your face over a hot cup of tea may open your nasal passages, but the steam isn't the only thing that's beneficial. The menthol in peppermint tea, for instance, seems to work as a decongestant and expectorant, meaning it can break up mucus and help clear it out of your nose and throat. Hopefully these home remedies keep your nose from running away with your tissue box! |
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Don't forget The "real" Holiday ...
it is about having a heart ... for the country!
It's Presidents Day!
President’s Day, the holiday that many of us tend to forget yet the holiday historians love. Originally known as Washington’s Birthday (later changed to President’s Day) is to celebrate well you know, President’s! It’s a federal holiday that was first established by the Congress in 1879 to honor the man himself- George Washington. This special day celebrates the American community, veterans, and also shows recognition to the US government. Despite of Washington’s birthday actually taking place on February 22nd. government officials chose to have this awesome holiday the third Monday of every February. Did you know any state in the U.S. can actually name this holiday whatever they like? Crazy right! Here’s a fun fact- four presidents have been born in February: George Washington (duh!), Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, and William Harrison. Don’t forget to appreciate the President’s of this country for they work to keep us safe every day they serve their term. ‘Murica! |
Every penny you've ever spent probably had Abraham Lincoln on it. That's because his picture has been there for more than a hundred years! But when the United States Mint was created in 1792, one of the first coins it made was the one-cent coin, and it looked very different from a modern cent.
The image on the first cent was of a lady with flowing hair, who stood for liberty. The coin was larger and made of pure copper, while today's penny is made of copper and zinc. In 1857, Congress told the Mint to make the cent smaller and to mix the copper with nickel (12 percent). People found the smaller cent easier to use. The new cents showed a flying eagle on the front and a wreath on the back. At the same time, Congress stopped people from using money from other countries, though we had used foreign coins for many years. But the Mint could melt them down and make them into United States coins. One foreign currency we were using was British money. The British pound was not divided into 100 cents like our dollar, but its smallest part was called a penny, and that's why we call our cent a "penny" today. But for more than one, the British called them "pence" while ours are called "pennies." The man on our pennies today is Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president. During the time the Lincoln design has appeared on the obverse (front), several different designs have been used on the reverse (back); However, as a 2005 law directs, the shield design symbolizes President Abraham Lincoln's preservation of the United States as a single country. The familiar portrait of Lincoln remains on the front of the coin. |