Aloe vera contains antifungal and antibiotic properties and has been used as a natural skin healer and moisturizer for decades. You may want to give it a try and see it can help reduce skin itching caused by menopause. You can purchase aloe vera gel from pharmacies. You can also buy the plant if you want a pure source of aloe vera gel. Break off a leaf from the plant and cut it open lengthwise. Scoop the gel out of the plant and rub it directly onto the irritated area. Clay has been used for centuries to heal and protect skin. Although it has not been scientifically proven to reduce itching caused by menopause, you may want to give it a try. Mix clay and olive oil in a bowl with filtered water until it is creamy. Dab the paste onto the itchy skin areas and allow to dry. Rinse off the dried clay and repeat as needed. You can also try a clay pack by spreading the clay on a piece of fabric. Then place the fabric on the itchy area with the clay directly touching the skin. Keep the clay pack on for roughly four hours or until the clay is hard and dry. Rinse off. Apple cider vinegar has been used as an antiseptic, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial agent that may also help treat itchy and dry skin. Put a few drops of apple cider vinegar onto a cotton ball or washcloth and dab it on the affected area. Try to use raw, organic, and unfiltered apple cider vinegar if you can. Although using peppermint for menopause symptoms is not proven, it helps soothe itchy skin and may be worth the try to reduce itching caused by menopause. As an added bonus, it also provides a cooling sensation that can give you much needed relief. Crush up peppermint leaves in a bowl and rub them directly onto the affected area. You can also make peppermint ice cubes to numb itchy skin and bring down inflammation. If you want to try this, mix the crushed peppermint leaves with filtered water. Fill an ice tray with the mixture and freeze. Apply the ice cubes over the affected area in a towel (do not use directly on the skin as this may results in freezing injury). You can also try peppermint oil to reduce itching by rubbing it over the affected area. Oatmeal contains compounds that help reduce inflammation and sooth itchy skin. You can make an oatmeal paste or take an oatmeal bath to reduce itchiness. Add water to a cup of plain uncooked oatmeal and let it sit for a few minutes until it becomes a paste. Apply the paste over the itchy area. Or you can try an oatmeal bath by mixing olive oil, baking soda, and ground oats in water. Soak the itchy skin area for 20 minutes. You can use oatmeal flakes from the store or purchase colloidal oatmeal preparation from a drugstore. Applying a towel dampened with cool water over the itchy area may help reduce the irritation. This is specifically helpful overnight if the itching causes you to lose sleep. Covering the area with a wet towel also helps protect your skin and prevents you from scratching it during the night. You can also try other remedies to reduce nightly itching mentioned here. Topical creams that contain chamomile (Matricaria recutita), chickweed (Stellaria media), marigold (Calendula officinalis), hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and/or licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) may also help relieve itchy skin. Before using these creams, talk to your doctor, and stop using the cream if any irritation or worsening of symptoms occurs. Another herb that may help is St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). In a clinical study, people with eczema who used a topical cream with St. John's wort experienced improvement in symptoms compared with people using placebo cream. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce symptoms of eczema and thus, might be worth to try to reduce itching caused by menopause. However, keep in mind that more study is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of acupuncture for itchy skin. You may also want to try homeopathic medicine to reduce itching. Calendula, sulphur, Urtica urens, and Rhus toxicodendron are used by some homeopaths to treat eczema. Ask your homeopath if they could be used to treat itchy skin resulting from menopause as well.

Summary: Try aloe vera to soothe your skin. Use Bentonite clay paste to sooth your skin. Try apple cider vinegar to reduce itchiness. Use peppermint leaves. Use oatmeal paste to reduce itching. Use a cool, wet compress to reduce itchy skin. Try herbal creams. Try acupuncture and homeopathic medicine.

You will need a large amount of fabric, at least 25 X 25 inches, in order to make multiple beanbags. The fabric is usually a cotton polyester blend and can be found either prepackaged or on the bar at your local arts and crafts store. You can buy material that serves as both the front and back of the bean bag, or purchase different fabrics for the front and back. You will also need: Sewing machine Sewing thread which matches your design Ruler Pencil Scissors and/or rotary blade Dried beans, corn, or peas found in bags at your local grocery store

Summary: Pick out your materials.

The day after your class, review your notes. If you wrote them by hand, make sure you can read your writing. If not, correct it. It is easier to correct poor penmanship earlier than after you have forgotten what you have written. Quiz yourself on any new key terms. Use highlighters, colored pens, pencils, and sticky notes to highlight important points. Look at the units of measurement for each axis. What is the relationship between the axes? What concept is the graph trying to explain (e.g. supply and demand curves)? Why do the lines slope in the directions they do? Although you likely are busy, aim to get your homework done in advance. This way, if you have questions, you can ask your professor or teaching assistant (TA) before your homework is due. If you complete your homework at the last minute, do not expect your TA to email you back at 3 a.m. When doing your assigned reading, create questions before you read based on the main concepts you are discussing in class or the theme the reading should address. Read while seeking answers to those questions. By reviewing your notes, you are inadvertently studying for future exams. Continue this process by reviewing graded homework assignments when receiving them. Ask your teachers about any confusion you have regarding answers that you did not get right. If your teachers do not discuss the test format, ask. Request information on what types of questions will be ask and how many points will be allotted to each section. Bring together the main ideas from each homework assignment, quiz, or paper. Explain each concept in writing. Share your guide with a classmate to check whether your understandings of the material are the same. Define the top five or six key terms per chapter. Write down the key ideas and draw the most essential graph of each chapter. Give examples of a numerical problem and an algebraic problem. Use different amounts and numbers than the examples given in class. Write your own exam questions and practice answering them. Make flashcards for vocabulary terms. Hire a tutor. If you are having trouble understanding economics, consider hiring a tutor for extra individual help. Your professor and TAs have office hours: use them. If you have any questions, bring them to office hours. Attending office hours is a good way to build a professional relationship with your instructors as well. Perhaps you would like to develop your own economics research project. Your instructor is more likely to mentor you if he knows you. Do not expect your professors to be available 24/7 via email or phone. Office hours exist for a reason and email does not supplant the function of office hours. When studying for a difficult exam or doing a tedious homework assignment, remember why you are studying economics. Perhaps you want to work for the National Economic Council at the White House. Maybe you want to be a college professor yourself some day. Having a list near your desk of what you want to achieve with your economic knowledge will help you stay motivated.
Summary: Review your notes after class. Analyze graphs thoroughly. Complete homework assignments early. Study for exams gradually. Create a study guide. Visit office hours. Keep your goals in mind.