We hope that our bodies will behave when we want them to, whether it is at home, on the job or even out socially. But sometimes, our bodies just have a mind of their own and do things when we least expect it. From having gas when we don’t want to, to having the hiccups, burping out loud or having an overactive bladder, there is a plethora of home remedies that we can take advantage of to alleviate some of these embarrassing problems. Here are my favorites :)
Excessive Sweating
Just when you want to project the image that you are confident and cool, your body's central heating system takes over and you begin sweating! Some people do have a medical issue with sweat glands being overactive, but for the most part, sweating is caused from either movement or stress. The body has a way of responding to nervous or stressful situations with the fight or flight response, and that kicks into full gear when we are anxious or worried.
To prevent that from happening, we need to condition our mind and bodies to face that stressful circumstance ahead of time. Expose yourself to the situation that makes you nervous over and over again and eventually you will train your mind and body to not be so nervous. Another way to prevent sweating is to stay away from things loaded with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or chocolate. Hot and spicy foods also increase your heart rate and that can cause more sweating. Sometimes, if you know you will be in a nervous situation, holding a glass of ice water against your wrists will help to control the sweating.
Burps and Hiccups
Have you ever been just about to go to speak in front of a crowd or at a work meeting, and out comes that loud growling or burping sound? A burp is actually caused from irritation in your diaphragm or further down. Both burping and hiccups can occur when we have swallowed a lot of air too. Try drinking a glass of water after eating to avoid this happening. Staying hydrated will lessen the occurrence the hiccups and burping - avoid pop and beer though!
Bladder Leaking
Most women that have gone through childbirth are going to have some type of leaky bladder at some point in their lives. Things you can do on your own at home to relieve a leaky bladder are plentiful. Kegal exercises work great for gaining back some of that bladder control. Emptying out your bladder before participating in activities like dancing or running will help you avoid embarrassing leaks too. It is always good to stay away from coffee, soda drinks and chocolate if you are not close to a bathroom, as those are all diarrhetics.
Cotton Mouth/Yawning
Although they are unrelated, cotton mouthy and yawning happen for the same reasons. Maybe you finally are meeting the person you have been waiting to meet for years and as you walk up to see them for the first time, you feel that dryness in your mouth, so dry that you cannot even speak at all. Or you have been trying to meet with the boss to discuss a raise and just as you go in his office, you begin uncontrollably yawning. When you are nervous or anxious about something that is about to happen, you breathe much more shallowly, and that causes you to yawn.
Comparatively, that same sort of breathing and stress hormones cause a lack of production in saliva, making your mouth feel dry and sticky. If you feel nervous about something, try popping a hard piece of candy in your mouth. The candy will help lubricate the mouth and keep saliva flowing. Chewing gum works just as well too, as it makes you swallow more air. A glass of cold water before you do something that is stressful will help you from having cotton mouth and from yawning as well.
Try some of these home remedies to save yourself from some embarrassing circumstances and see if they help!
Ellie Pennigroth writes about exercise, health & flower delivery.
