Archive for April, 2009
April 30, 2009 at 6:57 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged hair loss home remedy, natural remedies for hair loss, reasons for hair loss
Hair loss is a problem that is growing by the day, and a wide variety of people are getting increasingly affected by it. While some amount of hair fall is natural and unavoidable, you should be worrying when the hair fall becomes excessive. Excessive hair fall could be caused by several reasons – dry and weakened hair, heredity, malnutrition, external weather conditions, as an effect of unsuitable cosmetics, improper or unhealthy lifestyle, and because of some medicines or underlying disease.
Hair Loss Home Remedies
Hair fall is often a result of a lack of moisture content in the hair and scalp. Dryness of the scalp makes the hair roots weaker and more vulnerable. Dryness of the hairs also makes them snap easily while combing. It is therefore important to keep your hairs moisturized as a first step towards combating hair loss. Use coconut oil, almond oil, or olive oil on your hair and scalp regularly. Another effective remedy for hair loss would be to use an Indian gooseberry extract with these oils. If you do not find raw Indian Gooseberry extract, you may also look for some hair oils that contain Indian Gooseberry extract. The best way to apply these hair oils is to massage on your head properly for some time and then leave overnight. Keeping the oils overnight will help them get absorbed properly into the scalp. Thereafter, you can wash off your head in the morning with a mild shampoo.
Some of the other common remedies for hair loss are:
- Washing your hair with a solution of apple cider vinegar
- Applying a paste of black gram and fenugreek seeds
- Applying a paste of henna powder and raw eggs
- Applying a mixture of black pepper powder and yoghurt
Besides these home remedies you should also take some protective measures to prevent hair fall.
- Do not comb your hair when wet – this will entangle your hair and make them weaker
- Do not blow dry your hair with hot air – this will make your hair dryer and frizzier
- Take care to use appropriate cosmetics for your hair care; if anything seems unsuitable, replace immediately
- Follow a diet that is rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins – green vegetables, fruits, dairy products, nuts, cereals, eggs should give you the necessary nutrients
It is important to understand that hair once lost cannot be re-grown. Therefore, it is better to protect your hair from the very beginning, rather than going for treatments when you have already lost most of your hair.
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April 30, 2009 at 6:47 am
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged avoid muscle cramps, leg cramps causes, leg cramps remedies, muscle cramps
Leg cramps are a common problem that most of us have experienced at some point or the other. These are extremely painful and need proper care and rest to heal. Leg cramps happen when any of the leg muscles involuntarily creates a tension that causes pain and immobility of the leg. Usually, the hamstring, quadriceps, and calf muscles experience cramps. The cramp can last from a few minutes to a few hours, and sometimes even longer. Anyone can be affected by leg cramps, but elderly people are found to be more at risk.
The common symptoms of leg cramps are – sudden pull in the leg muscle with numbing pain, inability to move the leg, and tenderness of the affected muscle.
Leg cramps can happen due to several reasons. Some of the common reasons are:
- Rigorous exercise
- Faulty posture
- Muscle fatigue or over-exertion
- Dehydration
- Imbalance of sodium or potassium salts in blood
- An underactive thyroid gland
- Alcohol abuse
- Obesity
- Vascular diseases
- Use of diuretics and certain other medicines
But, there are still some other reasons that are not completely known. They are known as idiopathic leg cramps. This happens when a muscle, already in contracted position, is made to contract further due to some unknown reasons. This type of cramp is usually experienced at night when in our sleep the leg is kept slightly bent.
Leg Cramps Cure
The first step towards relieving cramps is to stretch and massage the contracted muscle. In most cases, proper stretching and massaging can relieve the attack of cramps. You can also use heat treatment – take a towel, soak in hot water, and press it on the contracted muscle – to get relief from pain. In these cases, no particular medication or treatment is necessary. If, however, you had been experiencing frequent and severe leg cramps, it is better to seek proper medical advice from a doctor.
Meanwhile, here are a few simple measures that can help you avoid muscle cramps.
- Drink good amount of water throughout the day and also take a glass of warm water (or milk) before going to sleep.
- Massage your legs with essential oils – olive oil, rosemary oil, or lavender oil – and do some mild exercise daily. As a regular exercise, you can stretch your legs while sitting and try to pull your toes.
- Take a hot shower before going to sleep – this a good way to relax the muscles.
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April 30, 2009 at 6:24 am
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged avoid heat exhaustion, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat strokes, preventing dehydration, symptoms of heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a mild ailment experienced by people when they are continuously exposed to high temperatures. Occasionally, however, heat exhaustion can also turn fatal if adequate preventive measures are not taken to lessen the impact of heat. Such severe cases are known as heat strokes, where the patient falls into a coma and body begins to fail gradually. People who are continuously exposed to sun, elderly people, and people with high blood pressure are especially prone to have heat exhaustion and heat strokes.
The common heat exhaustion symptoms are dizziness, nausea, fever, heat cramps, headache, weakness, profuse sweating, and dark-colored urine. Along with these symptoms, the patient will also have a rapid but weak heartbeat, low blood pressure, and pale skin.
Precautions to Avoid Head Exhaustion
To avoid heat exhaustion, there are a few precautionary steps you should follow.
- Do not do heavy exercises when there is excessive heat
- Wear loose-fitting clothes so that the body do not feel suffocated
- Stop by at a shaded place and take some rest whenever you are troubled by the heat
- Avoid going out in too much sun – if at all you have to go out, protect your body with a parasol or wear a sunscreen lotion
- Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day – carry a bottle of water with you whenever you have to go out
However, whenever you have heat exhaustion you should follow some steps to cool down the body and re-hydrate as soon as possible. Here are some steps that can act as first aid measures when you suffer from heat exhaustion:
- Get out of direct sunlight and take shelter. A cool and shaded place will enable the body to regain its normal temperature.
- Loosen the clothes when heat exhaustion happens. This will help in easy breathing and better air circulation through the body.
- Wash the face and body with cold water so that the body cools down sooner. You can directly pour water on the head and face and also sponge the body with a cloth soaked in water. Also, drink plenty of cold water to combat dehydration and bring down the body temperature.
- Ensure that the body gets enough cool air when heat exhaustion happens. Sit or lie down on a cool surface and under a fan. While lying down flat on your back, keep the legs slightly elevated as compared to the rest of your body so that they are above the level of the heart.
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April 30, 2009 at 6:09 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged body odor, body odor home remedies, causes of body odor, eliminate body odor, fight body odor
Body odor is usually a result of bacterial action on sweat. So, the more your body sweats the higher are the chances of having body odor. Normally, of course, the sweat secreted by the body is odorless; but once it comes in contact with bacteria the sweat starts to stink. Body odor is not a serious condition, but it can cause a lot of embarrassment and social awkwardness.
Also, sweating in itself is not a disease – some amount of sweating is necessary for cooling the body and keeping the skin healthy. However, when sweating happens in excessive proportions, it can signal some problem. With excessive sweating, the body does not get to dry properly and bacteria start feeding on the fats and oils present in the sweat. Some of the common causes of body odor are poor hygiene and skin diseases. Alcohol, smoking, use of certain medicines can also give off foul smell in the body. Also, sometimes, body odor can also be caused by some underlying disease in the body – like ailments of liver and kidney.
Body Odor Remedies
Here are some simple home remedies that you can try out to fight body odor.
- Mix a spoonful of baking powder and lemon juice and apply this paste on your body before taking a bath.
- Mix apple cider vinegar and alcohol and apply the solution on your neck, underarms, groins, and other places where it sweats the most. Have a bath after you had kept the solution applied for about 15-20 minutes.
- Make a mixture with glycerin and a few drops of fresh radish juice. Apply this mixture on your body, especially the areas where you have excessive sweating.
- Mix tea tree oil and rosemary oil in a little bit of water and use this solution to rub on your body.
Besides these remedies you should also take proper care of your body to eliminate body odor.
- Have a thorough bath each day to keep your skin hygienic. You should use a proper antibacterial soap that can fight the growth of bacteria.
- Always wear clean and comfortable clothes to get rid of body odor. Unclean and unwashed clothes harbor bacteria that can easily cause body odor. Also, wearing clothes that are ill-fitting or made of unsuitable material can trap sweat in the body and increase the chances of body odor. Preferably, use cotton clothes that can soak the sweat easily and also help the skin breathe more easily.
- Control your diet and drink good amount of water every day. Do not eat strong smelling foods as they can increase body odor.
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April 29, 2009 at 12:21 pm
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged anxiety attack symptom, anxiety attacks, causes of anxiety attacks, cure anxiety attacks
A certain degree of worry and anxiety is something we all feel at various times, due to various reasons – there is nothing uncommon about it. However, once these worries and anxieties take control of your life and prevent you from leading a normal life, you may develop a case of anxiety disorder. A person with an anxiety disorder will have frequent anxiety attacks and will show several of these following symptoms:
- Increased heart beat
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Rapid breathing
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Chest pain
- Increased blood pressure
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Muscle tension
Besides these physical symptoms, there will also appear some of the following emotional symptoms:
- Lack of concentration
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Tenseness
Anxiety disorders can be broadly classified into six types:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – where the patient is troubled by a feeling of imminent danger or fear all the time without any apparent reason
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – where the patient cannot control certain thoughts and behaviors
- Panic disorder – where the patient is suddenly paralyzed by the thought of impending doom
- Phobia – where the patient develops an exaggerated fear of certain objects or conditions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – where the patient develops a fear for things associated with a past trauma
- Social anxiety disorder – where the patient is unnecessarily worried about getting humiliated or embarrassed publicly
Cure Anxiety Attacks
Mild forms of anxiety disorder can be overcome by some self-help techniques:
- Try to relax – it may seem difficult at first, but with a little bit of effort you should be able to achieve it. Try and breathe slowly and deeply by holding your breath for about 2-3 seconds. Try the breathing exercise regularly, several times a day, even when you are not having a panic attack.
- Do mild exercise – a little bit of exercise may act as a stress-buster and divert your thoughts effectively.
- Follow healthy lifestyle – eat healthy and balanced diet and give adequate rest to the body and mind. Avoid caffeinated drinks and nicotine as they stimulate the nerves unnecessarily.
In chronic anxiety attacks, the patient will need specialized treatment. The treatment usually involves medication and psychotherapy. You may be tempted to take some of the known anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs, but do ensure that you consult a doctor prior to taking those drugs as they may have significant side effects. For psychotherapy, you should attend counseling sessions regularly without fail.
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April 21, 2009 at 6:58 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged cure high blood pressure, high blood pressure cures, high blood pressure remedies, hypertension home remedies
High blood pressure, technically known as hypertension, is an ailment in which the force with which the heart pumps blood is higher than the optimum limit. A reading of 140/90 or above is generally considered to mark high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often caused by the clogging of arteries and capillaries by deposits of excess cholesterol in the bloodstream. This creates an unhealthy amount of pressure on the heart, weakens its muscles over time and can ultimately lead to cardiac arrest. Though high blood pressure is often hereditary in nature, certain lifestyle imbalances are also greatly responsible for triggering and exacerbating this condition. Obesity is one of the chief reasons for high blood pressure. Excessive consumption of tobacco also leads to hypertension. Eating food rich in fat and sugar content also raises the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream and causes the clogging of arteries, which ultimately results in high blood pressure. Stress and erratic eating and sleeping pattern can also cause high blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure Remedy
In order to treat high blood pressure, you should follow a healthy diet and lifestyle. Avoid excessive smoking and consumption of alcohol, and eat fruits and raw vegetables instead of processed foods. This will keep your blood cholesterol level in check. Eating too much salt is also known to cause high blood pressure as it increases the fluid retention capacity of blood, so use a minimum amount of salt while cooking and stay away from salted snacks. You should also follow a regular exercise regime to ensure proper blood circulation and maintain an optimum body weight. Besides these general measures, you may also follow a few simple home remedies to treat high blood pressure. Drink a mixture of a tablespoon each of the juice of Indian gooseberry and honey every morning. Eating a watermelon a breakfast is also an effective natural means of controlling blood pressure. Alternatively, you may also eat a fresh papaya every morning on an empty stomach to treat high blood pressure. Another popular home remedy for hypertension is to eat a few cloves of garlic during every meal. Garlic is known to regulate the pulse rate and keep the arteries in good condition and thereby prevent hypertension. Eating lemons and grapefruits is also known to regulate blood pressure, as both are natural sources of vitamin P, which plays a crucial role in toning up the walls of the arteries and capillaries.
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April 21, 2009 at 6:39 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged pneumonia home remedies, pneumonia remedy, pneumonia symptoms, treat pneumonia
Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs, which can cause serious damage if both the lungs are affected. In this condition, the air sacs in the lungs get filled with fluid and pus, which makes it difficult for the lungs to supply enough oxygen to the rest of the body through the bloodstream. It is a highly infectious disease caused by various microbial organisms, bacteria and germs like streptococcus, staphylococcus, and pneumococcus and sometimes by viruses. Fungal infections, inhaling toxic gases, allergens and pollutants, may also sometimes lead to pneumonia. When there is a build-up of germs and toxins in the body, especially the respiratory tract, its immunity against infections weakens and it becomes vulnerable to infectious diseases like pneumonia. The first symptoms of pneumonia are generally a cold accompanied by a throbbing pain in the head or sore throat, followed by chills and fevers. The patient may also suffer from shivers, pains in the chest and breathlessness. As the infection worsens, the patient also frequently coughs out pinkish or brownish sputum. The rise in body temperature is accompanied with increase in the heartbeat. Such symptoms may cause convulsions and delirium, especially in children. Other less common symptoms are exhaustion, nausea and diarrhea, which may be misread as symptoms of intestinal problems.
Pneumonia Remedies
In order to treat pneumonia, you should adopt a diet comprising only raw fruit and vegetable juices for a week. You can use the juices of pineapples, grapes, apples, oranges, carrots and tomatoes and mix these with an equal proportion of water, and drink this every couple of hours. This regimen may be followed by an all-fruit diet for a couple of days. This is an effective natural way of flushing out germs and toxins from the body and lowers the body temperature. Consuming a few cloves of garlic is also highly helpful in bringing down the fever. You may also apply a paste of garlic on the chest for better results. When the symptoms are severe, boil some fenugreek seeds in water and drink this tea frequently throughout the day. This induces perspiration and lowers the body temperature, expels toxins from the body and revitalizes the lungs.. For another remedy, soak 15gms of sesame seeds in 250ml liter of water overnight. Then add to it a tablespoon each of linseed and honey and a pinch of salt and mix the contents well. Consume this mixture at regular intervals. This acts as an excellent natural expectorant and expels phlegm from the body.
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April 21, 2009 at 6:25 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged cure for tinnitus, tinnitus relief, tinnitus remedy, tinnitus treatment
Tinnitus refers to an ailment in which the patient hears a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in one or both ears in the absence of external noise. Such a sound inside the ear(s) may be heard intermittently or continuously, and also varies in its intensity. Tinnitus is of two kinds: subjective, in which only the patient can hear the sound in their ear (s), and objective, in which those who are around the patient can also hear the sound. Subjective tinnitus is more common, and it affects the elderly more often. Tinnitus is not a disease in itself; rather, it is the symptom of some damage to the ear. Most cases of tinnitus occur due to damaged nerve endings inside the ear. Sometimes, hearing impairment is also accompanied by tinnitus. Overexposure to loud noise and prolonged use of anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs, and sedatives and antidepressants can also damage cells inside the ear and cause tinnitus. When the bones of the middle ear become stiff, a person may suffer from tinnitus. Ear infections and allergies are also responsible for tinnitus. Inflammation of and injury to the eardrum is another cause for tinnitus.
Tinnitus Remedies
There are a few simple home remedies to prevent and cure tinnitus. It is imperative that you clean your ears regularly with cotton buds in order to prevent the accumulation of earwax. It is the lack of ear hygiene that often triggers infections, which then lead to tinnitus. In case the condition is caused by the inflammation of the eardrum, you should drink fresh pineapple juice regularly to treat tinnitus naturally. Increasing the intake of garlic and kelp is also known to prevent tinnitus. It is also recommended that you cut down on your intake of nicotine and caffeine based products as well as alcoholic drinks, as they often trigger and worsen the condition. A high level of blood cholesterol sometimes blocks the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the nerves leading o the ear and cause tinnitus. Therefore, you should also eating foodstuff rich in fat and sugar content like dairy products and artificially flavored snacks. Instead, follow a diet rich in natural sources of proteins, vitamins and minerals like whole grains, sprouts, fruits and green vegetables. It’s advisable to exercise regularly in order to ensure proper blood circulation and keep the blood vessels and nerves in the ear in good health. Keep away from noisy environments and avoid stress.
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April 21, 2009 at 6:10 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged getting rid of wrinkles, home remedies for wrinkles, how to prevent wrinkles, prevent wrinkles, wrinkles treatment
The appearance of wrinkles is a natural symptom of the ageing process. As a person ages, their skin becomes more saggy and less taut. This happens because the elastin and collagen that hold the tissues of the skin tightly together become weak. Thus, the skin cells lose their capacity to retain fat and moisture and breaks into fine lines called wrinkles. The skin around the eyes and lips, as well as the neck, is more prone to wrinkles. Prolonged and excessive exposure to harsh sunlight and pollution may also cause wrinkles to appear prematurely. Lack of adequate and proper sleep, stress and anxiety, smoking and any other chronic physical ailment can also cause wrinkles to appear. Sudden and drastic weight loss can also lead to the appearance of wrinkles, as this causes shrinks the fat cells underlying the skin very rapidly and makes the skin look saggy and creased.
Get Rid of Wrinkles Using Home Remedies
You may follow a few simple home remedies to treat wrinkles. Applying egg white on the face and other affected areas is a useful remedy, as this tones up the skin naturally. Sometimes, the lack of vitamin E causes wrinkles to appear. Burst a couple of vitamin E capsules and mix the contents with two teaspoons of yoghurt, and half a teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey. Now apply this mixture on your face and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then wash it off with cold water. Following this process daily brings about a visible reduction in wrinkles. You could also gently massage your skin with coconut oil before going to bed every night to treat wrinkles. Alternatively, you could also massage your face regularly with a little amount of castor oil. For another remedy, make a face pack by mixing some turmeric powder with sugarcane juice. This is an effective natural way of slowing down the ageing process of the skin. The juice of unripe pineapples and apples is also known to have anti-ageing properties and should be applied regularly on the face to avoid the appearance of wrinkles. Besides these particular remedies, you may also follow a few general rules to keep your skin healthy and wrinkle-free. Include lots of fresh fruits, raw and leafy vegetables, whole grains and water in your diet. This keeps the skin well nourished and glowing. Always use a sunscreen lotion before stepping out into the sun and avoid using cosmetic products that contain harsh chemicals.
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April 21, 2009 at 5:50 am
· Filed under Treatments ·Tagged backache relief, backache treatment, cure backache, remedies for backache
Back ache, technically known as lumbago, is often caused by musclular strain, natural wear and tear of the vertebral bones and ligaments, local injury, bad sitting posture or some structural deformity of the spine. Nutritional imbalances, lack of physical exercise and lifting excessive weights may also cause back ache. Pregnancy and childbirth create pressure on the lower back and are responsible for back ache in many women. Back pain can adversely affect the ability of the spine to support the body and may turn into a persistent problem.
Cure Backache
A few simple measures may be taken to prevent and cure back ache. Local application of a bottle or bag of hot water helps relax the muscles of the back and relieves back pain. A few gentle stretching exercises also help rejuvenate the muscles of the back. However, if the pain has been caused by an accident or injury, make sure to consult your physician or trainer before exercising. In case the problem is chronic, follow a regimen of hot and cold compresses in consultation with your doctor. In order to avoid stiffening of back muscles, you should avoid sitting in the same position for too long and move about every half an hour. Also avoid lifting and carrying heavy loads, as this creates excessive pressure on the lower back. If you must lift something heavy from the ground, do not bend your back and shoulders directly; instead, bend you knees and then try lifting it. You should also make sure that you use firm chairs and mattresses to sit and sleep on, as this ensures that the back rests in an erect position and gets adequate support all the time. Rest on your back for a couple of hours every day and sleep on your side with your knees bent at right angles to treat back ache. Besides these, you may follow a few simple home remedies to cure back ache. Boil a few cloves of garlic in 60ml mustard or coconut oil and massage your with this every night before going to bed. Consuming a few cloves of garlic every morning also helps cure back ache. Alternatively, you can also massage the back with turpentine oil every day to relieve pain. For another remedy, mash a few raw potatoes and use the pulp as a poultice to apply on the lower back. This is an effective natural treatment for back ache.
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