Good Health Tips For you

Home Remedies for Backache

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:07:00 +0000

Backache treatment using Garlic
The most important home remedy for backache is the use of garlic. Two or three cloves should be taken every morning to get results. An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the back will give great relief. This oil is prepared by frying ten cloves of garlic in 60 ml of oil in a frying pan. Any of the oils which are used as rubefacients, such as mustard oil. sesame oil, and coconut oil can be used according to one's choice. They should be fried on a slow fire till they are brown. After the oil has cooled, it should be applied vigorously on the back, and allowed to remain there for three hours. The patient may, thereafter, take a warm-water bath. This treatment should be continued for at least fifteen days.

Backache treatment using Lemon

Lemon is another useful remedy for backache. The juice of one lemon should be mixed with common salt and taken by the patient twice daily. It will give relief.

Backache treatment using Chebulic Myroblan

The use of chebulic myroblan is beneficial in the treatment of backache. A small piece of this fruit should be eaten after meals. This will give quick relief.

Backache treatment using Vitamin C

Vitamin C has proved valuable in case of severe backaches. About 2,000 mg of this vitamin should be taken daily for treating this condition. Considerable improvement will be noticeable within two days.

Backache treatment using Potato

Raw potato is an ancient home remedy for backache, characterised by incapacitating pain in the lumbar region, especially in the lower part of the back. Application of raw potato in the fom of a poultice has been found very effective in this condition.

Dietaries for Backache

Salad of raw vegetables, plenty of fruits
The diet of those suffering from backache should consist of a salad of raw vegetables such as tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce, and, at least two steamed or lightly cooked vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach, and plenty of fruits, except bananas. The patient should have four meals daily. Fruit and milk are advised for breakfast, steamed vegetables and wholewheat chapatis for lunch; fresh fruit or fruit juice in the evening; and a bowl of raw salad and sprouts during dinner.

Avoid fatty, spicy fried foods and processed foods

The patient should avoid fatty, spicy, and fried foods; curd, sweetmeats and sugar; condiments; and tea and coffee. Foods that have been processed for preservation have few nutrients and should also be eliminated from the diet.

Other Backache treatments for back pains

Avoid smoking and tobacco intake

Smoking or taking tobacco in any from should be given up completely.

Hot fomentation and alternate sponging

Hot fomentation, alternate sponging, or application of heat to the back will also give immediate relief.

Yogic asanas are also useful

Yogic asanas which are beneficial in the treatment of backache are bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana.

Causes and Symptoms of Backache or Back pain

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:27:00 +0000

BACKACHE / BACK PAIN
Backache is one of the most common ailments prevalent today. Sedentary living habits, hazardous work patterns and psychological conditions associated with emotional stress, which bring about spasm of the muscles, cause backaches. As the back bears the weight of the entire body, overweight persons feel the strain on the back when they have to carry an extra load.
Symptoms of Backache or Back pain

Pain in the middle of back or lower down
In most cases of backache, the pain is usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down. It may spread to both sides of the waist and the hips. In a condition of acute pain, the patient is unable to move and is bedridden.

People suffer from cervical and lumbar spondylosis
About ninety per cent of backache patients suffer from what is called cervical and lumbar spondylosis. It is a degenerative disorder in which the different vertebrae adhere to each other through bony unions. As a result of this, the spine loses its flexibility.

Causes of Backache
Muscular tension, straining of the joints, poor posture

The main causes of backache and spondylosis are muscular tension, straining of the joints, poor posture, and incorrect nutrition resulting from dietetic errors and lack of exercise.

Kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, influenza

Acute or chronic illnesses like kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, Influenza, and arthritis, may also lead to backache.

Sitting for a long time, high heels

Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time, improper lifting of weights, high heels, and emotional problems which may cause painful muscle cramping.

Causes and Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:53:00 +0000

Home Remedy Treatments for Ingrown Toenails

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Ingrown toenails can be quite painful, especially if the toenail gets infected. Read on to learn about home remedies to take care of an ingrown toenail, as well as things to definitely not do.

Go soak your toe. To relieve the soreness, soak your foot in a basin of warm, not hot, water mixed with a tablespoon or two of Epsom salts. Soak your toe for five to ten minutes, once or twice a day.

Try a different solution. Some doctors recommend a product called Domeboro Astringent Solution, an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory soak that you can buy without a prescription at most drugstores. Dipping your feet in this solution for 20 to 30 minutes each night should help bring down inflammation so that the nail can grow out naturally.

Apply ointment. If the nail has already broken the skin (or is close to doing so), spread a topical antibiotic dressing, such as Neosporin, on the wound to prevent infection.

Don't play surgeon. You're not helping matters by performing bathroom surgery on your toe. You risk giving yourself an infection, since the implements in your medicine cabinet are probably chock full of bacteria and who knows what else. And if the nail has grown in deeply, your skin may already be infected. So see a podiatrist.

Go straight. No more curved toenails! When trimming your toenails, get in the habit of cutting them straight across. If the corners seem too sharp, it's okay to file them down a bit.

Don't cut too short. When you stand up, the weight of your body places pressure on your feet. That pressure pushes up the skin in front of the toenail. If you cut a nail too short, it may dig into the skin as it grows. Always trim a nail so it is flush with the front end of your toe.

Wear the right sock. White socks only, please, if the nail has cut into the skin. Dyes used in colored hosiery can run and may leak into the wound. This could cause further complications, especially if you are allergic or sensitive to dyes.

Step into a different shoe. An ingrown toenail may be nature's way of telling you to go shopping for new shoes that don't pinch your toes. If you're a woman, avoid high heels; try a lower heel (about one inch high) to relieve the pressure on your toes. Men and women alike should shop for shoes with a roomier toe.

Get some sandals, too. If the weather allows, wear open-toed sandals to give your ailing toe extra room and allow it to breathe. Put yourself in your toes' place: If you were sick, would you want to be cooped up all day in a dark, damp, hot room? Healing will be speedier in the open air.

Watch where you walk. While padding around in sandals is a great idea, open-air footwear isn't suited for all terrains. In particular, avoid wearing sandals in the city, where the sidewalks may be covered with bacteria that could enter your injured toe, or on uneven ground, where an open toe is more vulnerable to bumps and cuts. Wear sandals around your home, but choose shoes with closed toes for urban or cross-country excursions.

Guard your toes. Even while wearing shoes, accidents and mishaps can hurt your toes pretty badly. For instance, drop a bowling ball on your toe and you could lose the nail, which may grow back as an ingrown toenail. If your job poses any danger to your feet, or if you have a habit of dropping things, wear steel-toed shoes.

Don't stub. Stubbing your toe can produce injuries that cause the nail to thicken or grow inward.

Ignore old wives. There's an old wives' tale that says by cutting a V in the top center of the nail, pressure will be relieved. But doctors point out that nails grow from the base of the toe, so this folk treatment makes little sense. Some people with ingrown toenails swear by rubbing coal oil into the affected area, though there's no medical reason this therapy might help.

Pass on some pedicures. If you intend to have a pedicure, be sure the person who is performing it does not use metallic instruments to remove dead skin; pumice stones are okay. And make sure all of their tools are sterilized before being used on you.

Don't let an ingrown toenail get the best of you. Follow the home remedies and guidelines described above, and you'll be putting your best foot forward in no time.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.The service is provided as general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.

What is Ingrown Toenails?

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:55:00 +0000

If you wore braces as a kid, you may recall feeling as though you suddenly sprouted more teeth than would fit in your mouth. Sometimes, a similar thing can happen with toenails: The growth pattern may change for some reason and the nail may grow wider than before. The result can be a persistent problem with ingrown toenails.

Here's the good news: Treating ingrown toenails is easy and relatively painless. Now for the bad news: A simple nail infection, if not treated properly, can swiftly lead to further complications. When a sharp edge of a toenail grows into the skin folds at its edge, it results in pain and discomfort, especially if the wound gets infected. This article will offer some great home remedies for treating and preventing ingrown toenails, but first we need to add a few precautions.
If you have diabetes or any other condition that affects circulation, don't even think of trying to treat a nail infection yourself. In people with poor circulation, any foot wound or infection takes longer to heal. If not properly treated, an injury could worsen quickly and cause other complications; at worst, it could result in amputation. Reduced circulation also affects the foot's sensitivity to pain, which can delay detection of a minor injury. To complicate matters even more, people with diabetes often have nerve damage in the feet that further limits their ability to sense the pain caused by a worsening wound. So leave your foot doctoring -- and even your nail cutting, unless you have your doctor's okay -- to a trained health-care professional. But be sure to clean, dry, and examine your feet every day, and call the doctor at the first sign of a nail or foot problem.

If you do need to seek medical attention, a podiatrist can solve the problem with minor surgery that permanently narrows the nail. After applying a local anesthetic, the doctor removes part of the nail's side border, as well as some of the cells that line the base of the toenail (this area is known as the matrix). Removing these cells at the root of the nail eliminates the corner of the nail that burrows into the skin.

People without nerve or circulatory problems, however, can usually take care of an ingrown toenail themselves, if they follow the home remedies from experts.

Causes, Symptoms and Remedies Calcium Deficiency?

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:09:00 +0000

Calcium is required for the growth and strengthening of bones and teeth. Calcium deficiency is one of the most common problems that begins at childhood and resurfaces during pregnancy or old age.
Causes of Calcium Deficiency
1. Inadequate intake of calcium rich foods
2. Defective absorption of nutrients in the stomach and intestine
3. Other conditions like vitamin D deficiency, liver disease etc.

Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency
1. Brittle bones
2. Joint pains
3. Yellowing of teeth
4.In extreme cases, rickets (soft bones) in children and osteoporosis (brittle bones) in adults
Remedies
Make these ingredients a part of your diet daily to chase away calcium deficiency.
1. Dairy products: Dairy products like milk, curds, paneer and buttermilk are the richest source of calcium.
2. Green leafy vegetables: Green leafy vegetables like spinach (palak), lettuce, celery (ajwain ka patta), fenugreek (methi) etc. are also good sources of calcium and hence should be consumed in abundance. Sai Bhaji a mixture of 3 green leafy vegetables is a very simple way to incorporate them in our diet.
3. Soyabeans: Soyabeans and its products like soya flour, soya milk, tofu etc. are valuable sources of calcium and protein. A quarter to half cup of soyabeans in any form is beneficial for those with calcium deficiency. A vegetable made with soyabeans in a gravy or chapatis made with soya flour are the most acceptable dishes both children and adults. Soya Mutter ki Subzi and Soya Upma are perfect examples of including soya in our daily meal.
4. Ragi (nachni): Ragi, a popular Maharashtrian cereal, is another rich source of calcium. A quarter cup of ragi, either whole or in the form of flour consumed daily helps to cure calcium deficiency. Try the calcium rich Nachni Pancakes to boost your calcium intake.
5. Sesame seeds (til): Consumption of 1 to 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds everyday is an effective way to keep calcium deficiency at bay. Try consuming it in salads or in the form of chikki as in the recipe of Almond Til Chikki.
Foods to be Avoided
Deep fried foodsRefined foods like refined flour, pasta, sugar and polished rice
Pointers for Increasing Calcium Intake

1. Include at least one source of calcium in every meal.
2. Have at least 100 to 125 grams of one leafy vegetable everyday, either cooked or uncooked.
3. Consume 2 to 3 glasses of milk in any form (like curds, paneer etc.) to supplement calcium in your diet. Overweight people can use low calorie milk products.
4.Restrict your consumption of fat, as excessive fat hinders with the absorption of calcium in our body.
5.Have a sunbath every morning, as early morning sunlight is good for the production of vitamin D which in turn helps in the synthesis of calcium in our body.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.The service is provided as general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.

What are the symptoms of measles

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:08:00 +0000

The symptoms of measles can take anywhere from one to twelve days to appear after your child has been infected. It begins like a normal cold - hoarse cough, runny nose and fever. The temperature will fluctuate between 100 and 104 degrees fahrenheit. The child will develop a rash that will start on the throat and behind the ears, then spread to the face and the rest of the body. The rash will initially appear as small, scarlet, slightly raised spots that will transform into irregular areas of a ruddy brown colour. Your baby's eyes may become red and sore.

Home Remedies For Arthritis

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:16:00 +0000

Arthritis is defined as the inflammation of one or more joints. Serious deformities occur in the bones and joints. These may occur in the form of tumours, swellings, and new growths. It occurs usually during the later years of life but it can occur at any age. One or two joints may become completely deformed.Exact cause of the arthritis is not known. Germs, which cause the tuberculosis, pneumonia can also affect the joints.Syphilis and gonorrhea can be another cause for arthritis.
HOME REMEDIES FOR ARTHRITIS
Vitamin C is a good home remedy for rheumatoid arthritis. Bog bean is another remedy. It works as an anti-inflammatory, eating this herb or taking the herb in a supplement form can help in combating arthritis.

Home Treatment hepatitis B

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:38:00 +0000

Home treatment is important for relieving symptoms and preventing the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

While there is no specific medical treatment for short-term (acute) hepatitis B, there are some things you can do that may help you feel better while the illness is running its course.
Slow down
Reduce your activity level to match your energy level. You don't have to stay in bed, but listen to your body and slow down when you become tired.
Don't go to work or school unless your workload can be reduced to match your energy level.
Avoid strenuous exercise.
As you start to feel better, go back to your regular activities gradually. If you try to meet your regular pace too soon, you may get sick again.
Eat right
Even though food may not appeal to you, it is important to get adequate nutrition. For most people, nausea and loss of appetite become worse as the day goes on. Try eating a substantial (but not heavy) meal in the morning and lighter meals later in the day.
Health professionals used to recommend a high-calorie, protein-rich diet to people who have hepatitis. This is no longer believed to be of any benefit, and such foods can be hard to eat when you feel nauseated. Try to maintain a balanced diet while eating foods that appeal to you.
Avoid dehydration
It is important that you keep your body well-hydrated when you have hepatitis B, especially if you have been vomiting.
Drink plenty of water.
If you can tolerate them, fruit juices and broth are other good choices because they provide additional calories.
Many of the "sports drinks" available in grocery stores can help replace essential minerals that are lost during vomiting. You can also make your own rehydration drink.

Avoid alcohol and drugs
Hepatitis impairs your liver's ability to process drugs and alcohol. If you take drugs (prescription or illegal) or drink alcohol when you have hepatitis, their effects may be more powerful and may last longer. In addition, alcohol and some drugs can worsen liver damage.
If you are taking prescription medications, your health professional may instruct you to stop using them until your liver has had time to heal. Do not stop taking prescription medications unless your health professional has told you to do so.
Check with your health professional before taking any new medications or continuing the use of nonprescription medications, including herbal products and acetaminophen (such as Tylenol). Acetaminophen can worsen liver disease, especially if you continue to drink alcohol.
You should avoid alcohol until your health professional feels that your liver is completely healed. This may take as long as 3 to 4 months.
People with hepatitis sometimes develop itchy skin. You can control itching by keeping cool and out of the sun, wearing cotton clothing, or using nonprescription medications, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton. Talk to your health professional if you want to take nonprescription medications.

Be sure to follow the instructions for use that are provided with the product, and stop using the product if you have any side effects.
See your health professional regularly if you have chronic HBV infection
If you have been diagnosed with long-term (chronic) HBV infection, your health professional will recommend that you be vaccinated for hepatitis A if you have not been vaccinated or are not immune to this disease. For more information on hepatitis A, see the topic hepatitis A . You also will need to visit your health professional regularly. He or she will do blood tests to monitor your liver function and the activity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in your body. Some of the tests can tell your doctor whether HBV is actively multiplying in your liver, which increases your risk for chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).
Can hepatitis B be prevented?
The hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. The vaccine is a series of three shots. Adults at risk and all babies, children, and teenagers should be vaccinated.
To avoid getting or spreading the virus to others:
Use a condom when you have sex.
Do not share needles.
Wear latex or plastic gloves if you have to touch blood.
Do not share toothbrushes or razors.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

Hepatitis Causes and Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:12:00 +0000

What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Most adults who get hepatitis B have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis B.

You can have hepatitis B and not know it. You may not have symptoms. If you do, they can make you feel like you have the flu. But as long as you have the virus, you can spread it to others.
Sometimes the virus does not go away. This is called chronic hepatitis B. Over time, it can damage your liver. Babies and young children infected with the virus are more likely to get chronic hepatitis B.

What causes hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is spread through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis B is one of the most easily spread (contagious) forms of viral hepatitis, which includes hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. However, hepatitis has many other causes, including some medications, long-term alcohol use, fatty deposits in the liver, and exposure to certain industrial chemicals.

How HBV is spread?
HBV is spread when blood, semen, or vaginal fluids (including menstrual blood) from an infected person enter another person's body, usually in one of the following ways:

• Sexual contact:The hepatitis B virus can enter the body through a break in the lining of the rectum, vagina, urethra, or mouth. Sexual contact is the most important risk factor for the spread of HBV in North America.

• Sharing needles: People who share needles and other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) used for injecting illegal drugs may inject HBV-infected blood into their veins.

• Work-related exposure: People who handle blood or instruments used to draw blood may become infected with the virus. Health care workers are at risk of becoming infected with the virus if they are accidentally stuck with a used needle or other sharp instrument infected with an infected person's blood, or if blood splashes onto an exposed surface, such as the eyes, mouth, or a cut in the skin.

• Childbirth. A newborn baby can get the virus from his or her mother during delivery when the baby comes in contact with the mother's body fluids in the birth canal (perinatal transmission) . However, breast-feeding does not transmit the virus from a woman with HBV to her child.

• Body piercing and tattoos. HBV can be spread when needles used for body piercing or tattooing is not properly cleaned (sterilized) and HBV-infected blood enters a person's skin.

• Toiletries:Grooming items such as razors and toothbrushes can spread HBV if they carry blood from a person who is infected with the virus.
In the past, blood transfusions were a common means of spreading HBV. Today, all donated blood in the United States is screened for the virus, so it is extremely unlikely that you could become infected with the virus from a blood transfusion.

Contagious and incubation periods

Symptoms appear an average of 60 to 90 days (although they can appear 45 to 180 days) after you have contact with the hepatitis B virus (incubation period). Blood, semen, and vaginal fluids (including menstrual blood), whether fresh or dried, are highly contagious (HBV can be easily spread) during this period and for several weeks after the onset of symptoms.

• Blood contains the highest quantities of the hepatitis B virus.

• Blood and other body fluids that contain the virus can remain contagious for at least a
week and possibly much longer, even if they are dried.
If you have a short-term HBV (acute) infection, you usually cannot spread the virus after antibodies against the surface antigen of HBV appear. This generally takes several weeks. If you have a long-term (chronic) HBV infection, you are able to spread the virus as long as the condition lasts.

A mother who has the virus can pass it to her baby during delivery. If you are pregnant and think you may have been exposed to hepatitis B, get tested. If you have the virus, your baby can get shots to help prevent the virus.
You cannot get hepatitis B from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or drinks.

What are the symptoms?

Less than half of those with short-term (acute) hepatitis B infections have symptoms. Symptoms include:
• Jaundice (the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow). Although jaundice is the defining sign of hepatitis B, it does not occur in most cases. Jaundice usually appears after other symptoms have started to go away.
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
• Mild fever.
• Headache.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Constant discomfort on the right side of the abdomen under the rib cage, where the liver is located. In most people, the discomfort is made worse when their bodies are jarred or if they overwork themselves.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Muscle aches.
• Joint pain.
• Skin rash.

Home Remedies for Conjunctivitis

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:17:00 +0000

Conjunctivitis treatment using Vegetable Juices

Raw juices of certain vegetables, especially carrots and spinach, have been found valuable in conjunctivitis. The combined juices of these two vegetables have proved very effective. In this combination, 200 ml of spinach juice should be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice. Raw parsley (prajmoda) juice-200 ml, mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice has also been found beneficial in the treatment of this disease.

Conjunctivitis treatment using Indian Gooseberry:

The juice of the Indian gooseberry, mixed with honey, is useful in conjunctivitis. A cup of this juice should be taken mixed with two teaspoons of honey twice daily in treating this condition.

Conjunctivitis treatment using Vitamins:

Vitamins A and B2 have proved useful in conjunctivitis. The patient should take liberal quantities of natural foods rich in these two vitamins. Foods rich in vitamin A are wholemilk, curds, butter, carrots, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mangoes, and papaya. Foods rich in vitamin B2 are green leafy vegetables, milk, almonds, citrus fruits, bananas, and tomatoes.

Conjunctivitis treatment using Coriander

A decoction prepared with a handful of dried coriander in 60 ml of water is an excellent eye-wash in conjunctivitis. It is said to relieve burning and reduces pain and swelling. This decoction should, however, be sparingly used by persons suffering from bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Conjunctivitis diet:- Take fresh fruit diet, avoid bananas

The best way to commence treatment for conjunctivitis is to adopt an exclusive fresh fruit diet for a week. In this regimen, the three meals a day should consist of fresh, juicy seasonal fruits. Bananas should, however, not be taken. Those with acute conjunctivitis should undertake a juice fast for three or four days.

All-fruit diet followed by a restricted diet of chapatis, nuts etc

The short juice fast may be followed by an all-fruit diet for a further seven days. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a restricted diet, consisting of fresh fruits, raw mixed-vegetable salad, wholemeal bread or chapatis and steamed vegetables, and nuts.

Avoid starchy and sugary foods, refined cereals, strong tea ans coffee

The patient should avoid an excessive intake of starchy and sugary foods in the form of white bread, refined cereals, potatoes, puddings, sugar, jams, confectionery, meats, fatty foods, strong tea and coffee, too much salt, condiments, and sauces which cause a general catarrhal condition as well as conjunctivitis.
Other Conjunctivitis treatments:

Warm-water enema

Those taking a juice fast for the first three or four days of the treatment should take a warm-water enema daily during the fast.

Cold water fomentation of the eyes:

A cold water fomentation of the eyes provides almost immediate relief. The procedure is to fold a small hand towel, saturate it with cold water, squeeze out excess water and place the towel gently over both the eyes. It should be covered with a piece of warm cloth to retain the temperature. The process should be repeated as soon as the foment becomes warm. Fomentation should be done for an hour. The eyes should then be covered with a dry towel, and the patient should lie back and relax. The damaged eye tissues will quickly return to normal. This treatment should be repeated every night for a week, even though the problem may clear up with the first treatment itself.

Relaxing, strengthening of eyes by doing eye exercises:

The patient should also adopt various methods of relaxing and strengthening the eyes. These include moving the eyes gently up and down, from side to side and in a circle - clockwise and anticlockwise; rotating the neck in circles and semicircles; and briskly moving the shoulders clockwise and anticlockwise. Palming is highly beneficial in removing strain and relaxing the eyes and its surrounding tissues. The procedure is as follows: sit in a comfortable position and relax with your eyes closed. Cover the eyes with the palms, right palm over the right eye and the left over the left eye. Do not press on the eye balls. Then allow your elbows to drop to your knees, which should be fairly close together.

Conjunctivitis Symptoms and Causes

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:35:00 +0000

CONJUNCTIVITIS

Conjunctivitis refers to an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent membrane covering the front of the eye. This is also referred to as having 'sore eyes' and is a very common form of eye trouble. It spreads from person to person through direct Contact. Overcrowding, dirty surroundings and unhealthy living conditions can cause epidemics of this ailment.

Conjunctivitis Symptoms:

Eyeball and underside of the eyelids become inflammed

The eyeball and underside of the eyelids become inflammed. At first, the eyes are red and itchy. Later, there may be a watery secretion.
Pus formation

In more serious cases, there is pus formation, which dries up during sleep, making the lashes stick together.

Causes of Conjunctivitis

Bacterial or virus infection or eyestrain

Conjunctivitis results from bacterial or a virus infection or eyestrain. Prolonged work under artificial light and excessive use of the eyes in one way or the other, no doubt, contribute towards the disease.

Catarrhal condition of the system from general toxaemia

Its real cause can be traced to a catarrhal condition of the system resulting from general toxaemia due to dietetic errors, and a faulty style of living. The patient generally suffers from colds or other ailments indicative of a general catarrhal condition.

Home Remedies for Appetite

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:48:00 +0000

HOME REMEDIES FOR APPETITE

Good appetite is associated with a hypertonic stomach, normal muscular efficiency and digestion। Probably it depends upon pleasant odor and memory of good food and sharpness of appetite। Further some individuals have likings for a particular kind of food often from habit। This food habit is another important item in inducing good appetite।

Hunger is a painful sensation when the stomach is empty for sometime, caused by increased tonic and peristaltic action of the gastric contents। After a normal meal, the stomach slowly relaxes comfortably accommodating the food.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder affecting mainly girls or women, although boys or men can also suffer from it। It usually starts in the teenage years. On account of any mental depression or a fanciful idea (especially for reducing obesity), she takes less food than normal. The appetite gradually lessens.

HOME REMEDIES FOR APPETITE

To stop you from overeating take 10 deep breaths immediately. Take the breaths as deep as your body will allow you. To decrease appetite stop using artificial sweeteners (even Splenda) and stop eating the sugar-free candies. This is an effective home remedy for appetite.

Home Remedies and Cures for Asthma

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:22:00 +0000

Asthma Cures
Asthma treatment using Honey
Honey is one of the most common home remedies for asthma. It is said that if a jug of honey is held under the nose of an asthma patient and he inhales the air that comes into contact with it, he starts breathing easier and deeper.

Asthma treatment using Figs

Among fruits, figs have proved very valuable in asthma. They give comfort to the patient by draining off the phlegm. Three or four dry figs should be cleaned thoroughly with warm water and soaked overnight.

Asthma treatment using Lemon

Lemon is another fruit found beneficial in the treatment of asthma. The juice of one lemon, diluted in a glass of water and taken with meals, will bring good results

Asthma treatment using Indian Gooseberry(Amla)

Indian gooseberry has also proved valuable in asthma. Five grams of gooseberry mixed with one tablespoon of honey forms an effective medicinal tonic for the treatment of this disease. It should be taken every morning.

Asthma treatment using Bitter Gourd Roots
The roots of the bitter gourd plant have been used in folk medicine for asthma since ancient times. A teaspoon of the root paste, mixed with an equal amount of honey or juice of the tulsi leaves, given once every night for a month, acts as an excellent medicine for this disease.

Asthma treatment using Drumstick Leaves
A soup prepared from drumstick leaves, and taken once daily, has been found beneficial in the treatment of asthma. This soup is prepared by adding a handful of leaves to 180ml of water and boiling it for five minutes. After being allowed to cool, a little salt, pepper, and lime juice may be added to this soup.
Asthma treatment using Ginger

A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste, acts as an excellent expectorant in cases of asthma. The decoction of fenugreek can be made by mixing one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in a cupful of water. This remedy should be taken once in the morning and once in the evening.

Asthma treatment using Garlic

Garlic is another effective home remedy for asthma. Ten garlic cloves, boiled in 30 ml of milk, make an excellent medicine for the early stages of asthma. This mixture should he taken once daily by the patient. Steaming ginger tea with two minced garlic cloves in it, can also help to keep the problem under control, and should be taken in the morning and evening.

Asthma treatment using Bishop's Weed

The herb bishop's weed has been found valuable in asthma. Half a teaspoon of bishop's weed should be mixed in a glass of buttermilk and taken twice daily. It is an effective remedy for relieving difficult expectoration caused by dried-up phlegm. A hot poultice of the seeds should be used for dry fomentation to the chest twice daily. The. patient can also inhale steam twice a day from boiling water mixed with ajwain. It will dilate the bronchial passages.

Asthma treatment using Safflower

Safflower seeds are beneficial in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Half a teaspoon of powder of the dry seeds, mixed with a tablespoon of honey, can be taken once or twice a day in treating this disease. This acts as an expectorant and reduces the spasms by liquefying the tenacious sputum. An infusion of five grams of flowers mixed with one tablespoon of honey, taken once daily, is also useful in this disease.

Diet for Asthma
carbohydrates, fats and proteins
The patient should avoid common dietetic errors. Ideally, his diet should contain a limited quantity of carbohydrates, fats and proteins which are 'acid-forming' foods, and a liberal quantity of alkali-forming foods consisting of fresh fruits, green vegetables, sprouted seeds, and grains. The patient should avoid foods which tend to produce phlegm, such as rice, sugar, lentils, and curds. He should also avoid fried and other difficult to-digest foods, strong tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, condiments pickles, sauces and all refined and processed foods.

The Main Causes of BRAIN damage are

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:19:00 +0000

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

Main Causes of LIVER damage

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:37:00 +0000

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3. Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to "schedule."
Because:

Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/ toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am : is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 1 - 3am : detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 3 - 5am : detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am : detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am : absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time.Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am isvery beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

How To removing unwanted hair from the body ?

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Removing unwanted hair from the body is a much required and disliked process. In a world where personal hygiene and appearances are given so much importance body hair removal is almost a necessity and not a choice. So what are the body hair removal quick tips that will ensure fairly painless and convenient hair removal.

Body Hair Removal Quick Tips vary according to the method of hair removal that you are selecting:

Laser Hair Removal -

1. This is perhaps the most advance technique of hair removal which uses laser energy to inhibit hair follicles.Choose a reputed laser hair removal clinic and talk to the doctor about various issues such as whether your skin tone is suitable for the process, amount of discomfort involved, etc.

If your skin is darker then you may be advised to bleach beforehand the area from where hair has to be removed.

1. Avoid tanning the skin before a laser hair removal session.

2. You are allowed to shave off the body hair before laser hair removal as it is the hair follicle that is going to be treated and not the body hair. So unlike waxing you don't have to wait for the hair to grow a certain amount before you wax.

3. Mild discomfort may accompany the treatment and can be resolved by the use of a mild antiseptic lotion or gel.

4. The treatment requires a minimum of 2-3 sittings so schedule appointments in advance.

5. Ensure that you use a sunscreen of SPF 15 and higher after you have had laser hair removal.

6. Pay heed to the doctor's advice and instructions.

Waxing -

This method uses natural wax or that made from sugar for hair removal. The wax is applied on the skin and a strip over it. Then it is massaged on and removed in one quick motion.
Pre waxed strips make the whole process convenient and quick. These strips come with ready to use wax sandwiched between and only need to be applied on the area you want to remove hair from rubbed on properly and then pulled off. They make the whole process of waxing neat and not messy.For delicate areas such as the face use facial wax strips only.

1. If you are using wax that needs to be kept at a certain temperature ensure that it is warm enough. The warmth of the wax is conducive to body hair removal.

2. If the skin is red after waxing treating it with ice will reduce the discomfort.

3. Apply a mild topical antiseptic if the painful aspect of waxing puts you off.

4. After waxing apply a non-alcoholic toner preferably one with the healing powers of aloe vera or chamomile.

5. Do not wax on acne affected areas.

Shaving -

1. Use a gender appropriate razor. A razor made for women is styled in a feminine fashion and will help avoid nicks and cuts.

2. Use the razor in smooth and long strokes against the hair, this will reduce any cuts.

3. Afterwards wash the shaved area well and moisturise.

Depilatories -

1. Test the depilatory on your skin a day in advance before use on the rest of the body to ensure that there is no reaction.

2. Wash well to remove all hair and the effect of the chemicals.

3. Moisturise the skin with a lotion that will keep the skin soft and supple.

4. The problem with depilatories is that the hair reappears soon, so have a fixed routine for hair removal.

Electrolysis -

1. Ensure that you make your appointments well in advance.

2. Check if the centre will provide the use of a topical aesthetic.

3. Read up on the entire process so that you know exactly what you are getting into.

Home Remedies for Food Poisoning/gastroenteritis

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:01:00 +0000

Food poisoning, also known as acute gastroenteritis, is an acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and small bowel. It is caused in various ways, one of which is excessive indulgence in alcohol. Some people are allergic to certain items of food, which may act poison to them.

Food poisoning usually begins suddenly with a feeling of nausea and abdominal cramps, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Rectal burning may be intense, and the stools may contain blood and mucus. All of this loss of fluid from the bowel may result in severe dehydration and shock. There is pain in the abdomen, with some distension, especially in the lower area.

Germs cause the worst attacks of food poisoning. Foods used at picnics, in restaurants, and at home are easily contaminated by toxins or poisonous substances, produced by staphylococcus bacteria. Foods most commonly that cause food poisoning are various meats, fish, pastes, custards, cream filled pastry, milk, ad many different kinds of deserts.

The trouble seems to arise from skin infections on the hands of those who handle food. Within two or three hours after taking this type of contaminated food, the patient suffers from severe abdominal cramps, followed by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, often resulting in severe prostration and shock. Most of these attacks only last a few hours and are followed by complete recovery. Severe poisoning may be caused by different types of fish.

HOME REMEDIES FOR FOOD POISONING

1. Keep the patient in bed and give nothing by mouth as long as the nausea and vomiting persist.

2. As the vomiting subsides, give sips of some warm drink, such as tea, barley or rice water.

3. Gentle heat may be applied to the stomach to relieve spasm or pain and also the tendency to vomit.

4. Wash your hands before preparing food to avoid passing on bacteria such as staphylococcus (commonly found on the skin and in the throat) or shigella (passed from fecal matter). Wash again after handling raw meat and eggs.

5. Don't eat raw protein food like fish, fowl, meat, milk, or eggs. Avoid sushi, oysters on the half shell, Caesar salad made with raw eggs, and unpasteurized eggnog. Don't use cracked eggs.

6. Don't taste test the raw pork sausage stew, the fish chowder, or even the cookie batter before it's done.

7. Don't let raw meat juice drip onto other food. It can taint otherwise harmless food.
Don't leave food at room temperature for more than two hours, and avoid eating anything that you suspect may have been unrefrigerated for that long.

8. Don't taste any food that doesn't smell or look right.

9. For food poisoning treatment drink fluids as much you can to combat the loss of fluids.

10. Scrub counters with warm, soapy water and bleach to combat countertop bacteria.

11. Use a plastic cutting board instead of a wooden one. Be sure to thoroughly clean the cutting board after you've finished using it.

12. Avoid foods that are fried, smoked or salty as well as raw vegetables, pastries, preserves, candies, alcohol and spices and condiments.

13. Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar in a cup of hot water before a meal to prevent acid indigestion.

14. Add three drops of garlic oil to half a cup of Soya oil and rub onto the stomach after food.
For food poisoning treatment drink a herbal tea of mint, raspberry, chamomile and blackberry.

15. Drink one cup of ginger tea after meals to promote a good digestion and for heartburn, nausea, etc.

16. Cooking utensils and plates, as well as sponges and dishcloths that were used in the food preparation process, should also be cleaned appropriately.

17. Grind a lemon along with seeds and make a paste. Add some salt. Take 1 tsp of this paste 2-3 times.

18. Drink 1/2 tsp of dry ginger (saunth powder in 1 cup buttermilk (chhachh) 3 - 4 times a day.

19. Chew a few pieces of the inner lining of pomegranate with salt, and/or drink pomegranate juice.

20. Prepare a mixture by ading 1 Tbsp poppy seeds, 1 tsp edible gum, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1/2 tsp nutmeg (jaiphal) powder, and2 tbs sugar, and grind to a powder. Take this powder every 2 hours.

21. Prepare a mixture by adding 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1/4 tsp pepper powder and drink it.

22. Mix 5-6 chopped basil (tulsi) leaves, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and some black pepper in 3 Tbsp of curd, and eat it. Repeat this 4 times a day for one week. This is very useful home remedy for food pisoning treatment.

23. Roast 1/2 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds and 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds (dana methi). Mix and powder it, add to 4 tsp of yogurt (curd). Take thrice a day. This is also very useful home remedy for food pisoning.

24. Grate one raw papaya. Add 3 cups water, boil for 10 mins, strain and finish the water in one day.

Alcoholism Causes and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:33:00 +0000

ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholics have a puffy face with bloodshot eyes, hoarse voice and a rapid pulse. They are suspicious, irritable and over-emotional.

Vomiting, delirium

Vomiting, delirium, impaired judgment, and disturbed sleep are some of the other symptoms that alcoholics suffer from. Excessive drinking damages the liver and gradually leads to cirrhosis. It also leads to disorders of the stomach and bowels. It can cause damage to the brain cells, and also affects the heart, which becomes weak and flabby.

Causes of Alcoholism

Occasional drink

Alcoholism starts with the individual taking an occasional drink. This gradually becomes a habit and leads to a state where the person cannot do without alcohol. Some people drink alcohol to enliven social gatherings under social pressure; for others, it is an escape from the responsibilities or stresses of life.

Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism treatment using Grapes

The most important home remedy for alcoholism is an exclusive diet, for a month or so, of grapes. Since this fruit contains the purest form of alcohol, it is an ideal yet healthy substitute for alcohol. Alcoholics should take three meals a day of fresh grapes at five-hourly intervals. The success of this treatment depends on the determination of the alcoholic to stop drinking.

Alcoholism treatment using Apples

Apples are another effective remedy for alcoholism.A generous intake of apples helps remove intoxication and reduces the craving for wines and other intoxicating liquors.

Alcoholism treatment using Dates

Dates are considered beneficial in the treatment of alcoholism. The patient should drink half a glass of water in which four or five dates have been rubbed together. This remedy should be taken twice daily for a month. It will bring definite relief.

Alcoholism treatment using Bitter Gourd

The juice of the leaves of bitter gourd is an antidote for alcohol intoxication. It is also useful for a liver damaged due to alcoholism. Three teaspoons of this juice, mixed with a glass of butter milk, should be taken every morning for a month.

Alcoholism treatment using Celery

The juice of raw celery has also been found useful in alcoholism. It exercises a sobering effect on the patient and is an antidote to alcohol. Half a glass of celery juice mixed with an equal quantity of water should be taken once daily for a month.

Diet for alcoholism recovery

Build up body's nutritional integrity, juice fast

The most effective way to treat alcoholism is to build up the body's nutritional integrity so as to prevent craving for stimulants like drinks. The patient should be put on a cleansing juice fast for at least ten days in the beginning. During the juice fast, the patient will gradually feel less craving for alcohol. This is a good beginning towards breaking the drinking habit.The patient should eat several small meals a day in preference to two or three large ones. Plenty of rest and outdoor physical exercises are also necessary.

Optimum diet and fresh fruit juice

After the initial fast of juices, the patient should take an optimum diet of vital nutrients consisting of wholegrain cereals, nuts, seeds and sprouts, fresh fruits, and vegetables. It is advisable that at the beginning of the treatment, the patient is given a suitable substitute to relieve the craving if and when it occurs. The best substitute drink for alcohol is a glass of fresh fruit juice. The patient should drink juices and eat candy or other snacks if he feels a craving for a stimulant.

Avoid refined foods

All refined foods such as sugar, white rice, macaroni products, strong condiments, white flour, and meat should be avoided.

Other Suggestions and herbal treatments for alcoholism

Firm willingness of alcoholic to stop drinking

The most important step towards breaking the 'alcohol habit' is the willingness of an alcoholic to do so. He must make a firm resolve to make a clean break at once, as giving up in stages is next to impossible.

Warm-water enema and physical exercises

During the first ten days of the 'juice fast', a warm-water enema should be taken everyday to cleanse the bowels. Plenty of rest and outdoor physical exercises are also necessary.
Avoid smoking

Smoking must be avoided as it increases the desire for alcohol.

Conception Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:21:00 +0000

The one thing that can be more frustrating than being a parent is trying to become one with no success. For one in seven couples, conceiving a child can be a long and difficult process-it can take at least one year and sometimes requires several.

Some "trying" couples are infertile because of physical problems. But most couples are simply "underfertile" --they are physically able to conceive but have to nudge the stork just a bit more than usual. Here's what experts recommend for them.

Take cough syrup. "Before we had high-tech measures, a lot of doctors would recommend that women take cough syrup containing guaifenesin about four times a day around the time of ovulation," according to Arthur L. Wisot, M.D., a fertility specialist who is affiliated with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Care in Redondo Beach, California. "And that's still sound advice, because guaifenesin thins the cervical mucus, making it easier for sperm to swim through to meet the egg."

Don't lubricate with commercial products. When intercourse needs a helping hand, couples sometimes use a commercial lubricant like K-Y Jelly. But that can hurt your chances of conceiving. That's because these products can impair sperm, making them less able to reach the egg, says John Willems, M.D., associate clinical professor of obstetrics/gynecolo gy at the University of California, San Diego, and a researcher at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in LaJolla. "A woman's natural lubricants should be all you need."

But egg white may help. If you need a lubricant during intercourse, try using egg white instead of a pharmaceutical lubricant, suggests Andrew Toledo, M.D., a fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist who is assistant clinical professor of medicine in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University in Atlanta. Because the egg white lubricant is pure protein--as are sperm--it makes a better "carrier" than lubricants made from nonprotein substances.

If dryness is a problem, Dr. Toledo recommends using the egg white lubricant during the days when a woman is fertile and a regular lubricant the rest of the time. But don't use egg white if you're allergic to it, and be sure to separate the white from the yolk before applying it to either the penis or the vagina.

Take more vitamin C. Studies by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston show that large doses of vitamin C can reverse some cases of male infertility. The team there, headed by Earl B. Dawson, Ph.D., reported that men who increased their vitamin C intake to 1,000 milligrams daily (the Recommended Dietary Allowance is 60 milligrams) showed increased sperm count, motility and longevity.

Stub out cigarettes. Smokers' alert: Women who smoke have more difficulty getting pregnant, according to studies by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. "But we don't yet understand the biological reason why," says Allen Wilcox, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the institute. So if you smoke, you may better your chances of conception by giving it up.

Practice clean living. Smoking isn't the only vice that hurts your chances of conceiving. Studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences showed that women who drink just one cup of coffee daily may halve their chances of becoming pregnant each menstrual cycle (compared with those who don't get any caffeine). "Cutting out caffeine seems to help some women, but not others. It may be worth a try," says Dr. Wilcox.

And there are other factors to consider as well. "You need to get your act together--don' t use drugs, stop drinking, and avoid all unnecessary medications, " says Dr. Wisot. To add to their healthy lifestyle, he also recommends that women start taking prenatal vitamins.

Wear boxer shorts. For some men, fashionable underwear styles may be the shortcut to fatherhood. Tight-fitting jockey shorts pull the testicles close to the body, and body heat impairs sperm, according to Dr. Wisot. He recommends wearing looser-fitting boxer shorts.

Don't soak in a hot tub, guys. High-temperature water can also lower sperm count and motility, says Dr. Wisot, so the man who wants to be Dad should stay away from hot tubs.

Go missionary. Although sexual position usually has no bearing on conception, "the missionary position assures better contact of the semen with the cervix--and may make the difference in marginal cases," says Dr. Wisot.

Keep a calendar. Most fertility specialists say that you and your partner should try to conceive for at least one year before assuming you have a conception problem.
"Generally, if a woman has an average 28-day cycle, she will begin ovulating on the 14th day," says Dr. Wisot. "If she's on an irregular cycle, ovulation usually occurs 14 days before her next expected menstrual cycle." Keeping track on a calendar for a few months is a good way to see your pattern.

Get help from a kit. "There are several ovulation kits that you can buy over the counter that help tell a woman when she's ovulating," adds Dr. Wisot. "Starting on the 16th or 17th day before your period, you should test your urine each evening with these kits. When you get a positive test, have intercourse the next day."

Go for the gold the second time around. Probably the biggest mistake couples make is assuming that a man's first ejaculation is his best. Actually, a woman is more likely to get pregnant when a man ejaculates two days before she starts ovulation and then they wait until she is ovulating before they try to conceive. "Usually that second specimen is better, both in sperm count and motility," says Dr. Wisot.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Cause and Treatment for Macules and Scars

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Macules and Scars:

Before I jump into the topic of scars, I need to clarify the difference between Macules and Scars. Macules may look like scars, but they are not scars in the sense that a permanent change has occurred. Macules are essentially the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions. They are normally flat, reddish spots that can remain for up to 8 months. But the difference between a Macule and a scar is that a Macule will end up disappearing completely whereas a scar will remain for years or indefinitely. As for scars, this can also vary from person to person. With some individuals, scars may remain for a lifetime without change but with others, their skin will undergo a form of remodeling that will eventually diminish the scar. Another factor that needs to be evaluated is the human element of scarring. People simply have different feelings about acne scars. Those who are distressed about their acne scars are much more likely to actively seek out treatment to moderate or remove the scar than those who are more indifferent about the scars.

Cause of Scars:

Let us first gain a better understanding of acne scars by first determining the cause of scars. A scar is a mark left in the skin by the healing of a wound or surgical incision in which the normal functional tissue (skin) is replaced by connective tissue (scar). In the case of acne, the lesion is caused by the body's inflammatory response to sebum, bacteria and dead cells that are trapped in the plugged sebaceous follicle. When your skin tissue has suffered a lesion of some sorts, your body will attempt to heal the injured site. It does so by increasing the white blood cells in the area along with an array of inflammatory molecules whose function is to repair the damaged tissue and fight infection. In the end, the repair job can be messy, and the site of the lesion is now filled with fibrous scar tissue or eroded tissue. As for the inflammatory molecules and white blood cells, they can remain at the acne lesion for days and even weeks. Take note of the fact that not everyone functions in the same way, and this holds true with our skin as well. Some people are simply more prone to scarring than others.

Treatment for scars:

Bear in mind that treating acne and treating acne scars are two completely different things. Treating your acne has nothing to do with treating an acne scar. Acne scars can indeed be treated, but it is important that an acne sufferer bring their acne condition under control first if they still suffer from moderate to severe acne. Once your acne subsides, make an appointment with a dermatologist and discuss the methods (if applicable) of scar treatment(s) he/she recommend you undergo to treat your scars. Keep in mind that there are many methods with which you may treat your scars. These methods vary according to your scar type, size and location, type of skin, and of course, money $$$. All this should be discussed in great detail with your dermatologist. Before undergoing scar treatment, ask yourself the following questions before having your dermatologist undergo the decided procedure(s) .: Are you willing to wait and see if the scars will subside on their own with time? Do your acne scars affect you emotionally and socially? Is your scarring substantial enough to warrant scar treatment? Can you afford the treatment or what treatment options can you afford? Keep in mind, the objective of scar treatment is not to necessarily rid you of all indications of scars by completely restoring your skin. It very much depends on the severity of your scars, your skin type, your skins ability to regenerate, etc. Significant improvements can definitely be achieved, but complete restoration is often impossible.

About the Author: Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuf f.net where you can find out more about acne and other skin care topics.

Diet for Osteoporosis

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:53:00 +0000

Some diet tips to keep osteoporosis at bay

One needs to bring a few changes to lifestyle factors and diet to overcome the effects of osteoporosis.

Here are some diet tips one can adhere to and keep osteoporosis at bay:

1. It is recommended that one should include 1500mg of calcium daily either via dietary means or via supplementation. For measurement purposes, it is important to note that an 8 oz glass of milk contains approximately 300 mg of calcium. Calcium supplements are an effective alternative option. These come in a variety of forms. The body can absorb only about 500 mg of calcium at one time and so intake should be spread throughout the day.

2. Bones need nourishment from calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorous. A poor diet lacking these essential vitamins and minerals contributes to osteoporosis. Foods rich in calcium are especially necessary to maintaining healthy bones. Dairy products (milk, cheese, and yogurt) salmon, sardines, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables and broccoli are good sources of calcium.

3. Apparently, bones are not made from calcium alone. They're an amalgam that includes various minerals such as zinc, boron and copper. Doctors suggest that these trace elements can be ingested through a varied and broad-based diet that includes mostly unprocessed foods, such as whole grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish and lean meat.

4. Foods high in boron (a mineral that helps the body hold calcium) are beneficial for those affected by osteoporosis. Boron is found in apples, pears, grapes and other fruit, as well as in legumes, nuts and honey. -Manganese is another beneficial mineral. Traces of manganese are largely found in pineapples, nuts, spinach, beans and whole wheat.

5. Brussels sprouts are known to prevent diseases like cancer, birth defects, osteoporosis and heart trouble. Brussels sprouts provide essential vitamin K (this vitamin activates a protein found in bones, call osteocalcin, which holds calcium molecules in place) helps protect against osteoporosis.

6. Inculcate a life style change by quitting cigarette smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and exercising regularly. It is important to note that a few studies have suggested an adverse effect of calcium excess on bone density and reports indicate the milk industry has been misleading customers. It has been reported that excess consumption of dairy products may cause acification, which leeches calcium from the system. Therefore, it is claimed that vegetables and nuts are a better source of calcium and milk products are better avoided.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

Home Remedies for Breast Feeding Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Breast-feeding is the way that creates a bond of love between the mother and the child. Mother’s milk is the best for the babies. A baby who feeds on mother’s milk has fewer problems of stomach upsets, less diarrhea, and almost no constipation. He will also have less skin trouble. Breast milk is the best food for a newborn; nothing comes even closer to provide all the nutrients that the baby will need later in life. Breast milk is much easier to digest then any formula in the market, at the same time it provides protection against infections, prevents future food allergies, helps the growth of healthy teeth, and most important it improves brain development.
Breast-feeding not only benefits the child but also to the health of the mother. The pelvic organs will return to normal more quickly, and skin will glow. This is one of nature’s ways to keep a woman young and beautiful.

Breast-feeding is much easier than other formulas and bottles.
Breast engorgement is a common problem that occurs in the feeding mothers in the first two or three weeks after delivery and is more annoying to women with poor skin elasticity. Engorgement is due to increase in the milk filling the breast together with blood and fluid retention in the same area.
Usually the breast feels full, hard, tight, tender, painful, and hot to the touch and a fever may develop, the baby may have a hard time to suck.
Plugged duct is a problem that occurs when the baby does not empty the breast completely on each feeding, the milk remaining in the duct hardens and blocks the duct eventually plugging it. Tight bras can cause plugged ducts as well. If the breast feels sore it might be a sign of plugged ducts.
Feeding the child in the wrong position can crack nipples.

HOME REMEDIES FOR BREAST FEEDING PROBLEMS

1. If your breasts become swollen and painful, apply warm, moist packs two or three times a day.

2. If the nipples become sore, carefully sponge them with rubbing alcohol, and then rinse with clean water.

3. Change the position of child at each feeding. Rotate between various holds like the cradle, football, and laying down to find the most comfortable positions for yourself. Use pillows to bring the baby up to the height of your breast to reduce tugging and pulling on your nipple.

4. Eat alfalfa to stimulate the milk production or to increase the quantity of milk in the breasts.
Midwives have used goat’s rue for hundreds of years to improve breast milk production by as much as 50%.

5. Take a handful of Confrey leaves and steam them for a few minutes wrapped in gauze and placed on the breast is very helpful relieving engorgement.

6. Soak a towel in hot water and place it on the breast ten minutes before feeding.

7. Give your baby frequent feeds on both breast 10 to 15 minutes each.

8. Check your nipples every day, if you see dry milk on them or dark dots remove them with a cotton and warm water and feed your child as soon as possible from that breast.

9.Place the baby in different positions every time, this will ensure that all ducts are being used.

10.Elder is used to reduce swelling of breast infected with mastitis.

11.Take plenty of rest during day.

12.Drink large amount of fluids.

13.Gently keep some green cabbage leaves in your bra for 2 hours. This will relieve the engorgement of breast and this is an effective home remedy for breasts.

14.Apply some tea bags on the sore nipples. It will help to reduce the pain of the sore nipples.
Keep your nipples dry and expose them to air whenever you can. You might try drying them with low heat from a hair dryer.

15.Applying a small amount of breast milk when you are done nursing, then letting it air-dry before covering yourself up might help.

16.Avoid using soap on your breasts. It can be very drying.

17.Prepare a solution of salt and water (1/4 teaspoon of salt per cup of water) and soak your nipples for 15 minutes or so between feeding. this is also an effective home remedy for breasts feeding.

18.Massage the lump on your breast firmly between and during feedings.

19.Sleep as much as possible. Vigorous arm movements may help loosen up the blockage.

20.Chaste tree increases flow of milk, by affecting pituitary's prolactin secretion.

21.Milk thistle promotes production of milk and decreases pesticide residues in breast and milk.
Soak one‑half cup (regular) barley in three cups cold water overnight, or boil the barley and water for 25 minutes. Strain out barley. Store barley water in refrigerator or cool place until needed. Then heat a cup or two to boiling and add fennel seeds - one teaspoon per cup of barley water. Steep for no longer than 30 minutes. This combination not only increases the breast milk, but also eases after pains and improves the digestion of mother and baby.

22. Cumin helps increase milk production.

23. Chamomile help control inflamed breast.

24.Dandelion is very helpful and popular herb to treat mastitis.

References:
Brent N., et al. Sore nipples in breastfeeding women. Archives Pediatric Adolescent Medicine Nov 1998; 152: 1077-82.
Buchko, B. L., et al. Comfort measure in breastfeeding primiparous women. Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology Neonatal Nursing Jan 1994; 23: 46-52.
Cable, B., et al. Nipple wound care: a new approach to an old problem. Journal of Human Lactation Dec 1997; 13(4): 313-18.
Hill, P.D. and Humenick, S.S. The occurrence of breast engorgement. Journal of Human Lactation June 1994; 10(2): 79-86.
Huml, S. Cracked nipples in the breastfeeding mother. Advance for Nurse Practitioners April 1995.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

Obesity treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:15:00 +0000

OBESITY

Obesity is a physical condition that results from excessive storage of fat in the body. Obesity has been defined as a weight more than 20% above what is considered normal as per the body mass index, which is calculated from an individual's age, height, and weight. Presence of fat tissue is essential as natural energy reserve in our bodies. But excess fat tissues result in obesity and causes health disorders.

Obesity Symptoms

Watch out for increased waistlineIn obesity, there is an increase in the size and the number of fat cells throughout the body. This causes a buildup of excess body fat.

One of the places where this excess body fat can most easily be seen is around the waistline. A waist measurement of 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women is linked to an increased risk for heart disease and other health problems associated with obesity.

Obesity treatment using Jujube

The leaves of jujube or Indian plum are another valuable remedy for obesity. A handful of leaves should be soaked overnight in water and this water should be taken in the morning, preferably on an empty stumach. This treatment should be continued for at least one month to achieve beneficial results.

Obesity treatment using Cabbage

Cabbage is considered to be an excellent home remedy for obesity. Recent research has revealed that a valuable chemical called tartaric acid is present in this vegetable which inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction. Substituting a meal with cabbage salad would be the simplest way to stay slim.

Protein Rich Foods For Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Ragesh) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Protein Rich Foods

I think that one of the reasons that parents don't think that their kids get enough protein in their diets is that they simply aren't aware that protein is in so many different foods! Many foods besides red meat are high in protein, which means that your kids are likely getting much more protein in their diet than you think.

Common protein rich foods can include:

1. Milk

2. Soy Milk

3. Eggs

4. Cheese

5. Yogurt

6. Peanut Butter

7. Lean Meats, Fish, and Poultry

8. Beans, Tofu, Lentils, and other Legumes

9. Grains, including bread and pasta

10. Nuts and Seeds

It can also be easy to find high protein foods by reading food labels and looking for foods with a higher protein number than other foods, such as from 6 to 10g or more.

Protein Fortified Foods

In addition to foods that naturally have a lot of protein in them, parents can also buy protein supplements, such as:
Protein fortified drink mixes, including Pediasure or Carnation Instant Breakfast.

Protein Foods Kids Like

Some ideas for high protein foods that can combine more than one protein rich food, such as a cheeseburger, which includes meat, cheese, and a bun, include:

1. Tuna Fish Sandwich
2. Cheeseburger
3. Cheese Pizza
4. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
5. Macaroni and Cheese
6. Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.