Archive for May, 2009
May 28, 2009 at 6:54 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged remedies for weight loss, weight loss home remedies, weight loss remedy
Weight gain and obesity are problems commonly faced by people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Excessive consumption of fat and cholesterol-rich foodstuff like artificially sweetened drinks and snacks, meat-based products, carbonated drinks, milk products and alcoholic beverages, as well as foodstuff containing high level of carbohydrates, may cause weight gain. Lack of adequate physical exercise, insufficient sleep and hereditary factors are also major causes behind weight gain.
Home Remedies to Lose Weight
There are several natural ways of countering weight gain. One of the most important ways of keeping your body weight in control is to adopt a healthy diet and exercise regime. Eat lots of fresh fruits and raw vegetables, and cut down on your intake of manufactured food items. Eating several small meals at an interval of a couple of hours instead of two or three big meals every day is helpful in controlling weight. Make sure that you do not eat food that is excessively salty, as this causes the body to retain more water and consequently lead to weight gain. Substitute sweet dishes like ice-cream, pastries, chocolate and candies with unsweetened and unflavored yoghurt and fresh fruits and fruit juices to control your weight. Also, set aside some time every day for light exercises like swimming, walking and jogging in order to regulate your metabolic rate and check increase in weight.
Besides, you may also try many useful home remedies to lose weight. One of the most popular and effective ways of doing this is to drink a glass of lukewarm water to which a tablespoon of honey and the juice of a lemon have been added, every morning on an empty stomach. Eating a couple of tomatoes at breakfast every day for a few months also helps in reducing body weight. Use generous amounts of mint in raw salads, as it has natural properties that help keep your body weight within limits. The use of condiments like ginger, cinnamon and black pepper in cooked food is also known to be useful in regulating body weight. Also, chew a few fresh curry leaves every morning or use these leaves to garnish cooked food, as they naturally reduce body weight. Drinking a glass of boiled water half an hour after every meal is another natural method to check weight gain. In addition, include cabbage in raw or cooked form in your diet, as this vegetable naturally prevents sugar from getting converted into fat and thus controls weight gain.
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May 28, 2009 at 6:44 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged dark skin remedy, home remedy for dark skin, hyperpigmentation remedies
The natural complexion of the skin is determined by the amount of coloring pigment (melanin) that the body produces. Generally, skin complexion is a matter of heredity. However, sometimes skin tends to become darker due to hyper-pigmentation. This may result from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, which stimulates the skin to produce more melanin in order to protect itself from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Overexposure to sunlight can also cause the appearance of dark patches on the skin.
Dark Skin Remedies
There are several simple home remedies that you may follow to lighten your complexion. One of the most popular ways of getting a fairer complexion is to mix a tablespoon each of honey, milk powder and lime juice, and add to it a little almond oil and apply this paste on your face. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before washing it away with water. This is a useful remedy to treat tanned skin and restore a natural glow to your skin. Another time-tested means of lightening your complexion is to apply a paste of turmeric powder and lime juice on your face every day. Both turmeric and lime juice have natural bleaching properties, which help make your skin look lighter. If your skin has become dark due to tanning, crush a few fresh mint leaves and apply their juice on your face and neck and leave it on for 10 minutes. Then wash it away with cold water. Following this remedy every day for two weeks produces a marked lightening in your complexion. For another remedy, mix two spoonfuls of dried and powdered orange peel in a cup of curd and massage this paste on your face gently. After about 15 minutes, wash your face with cold water. This works as an excellent natural face scrub and makes your skin look fairer. You could also soak a few almonds in half a cup of water overnight and grind them into a fine paste the next morning. Apply this paste on your face and wash it off with water after it dries. In addition, you may also make a face pack by mixing two tablespoons of gram flour and a few drops of lemon juice with some raw milk and apply this paste on your face. After 15 minutes, wash it away with cold water. Applying grated or pulped raw potato or the juice of a tomato twice every day on the skin is also helpful in lightening its tone.
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May 28, 2009 at 6:30 am
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged dizziness causes, dizziness home remedies, dizziness treatment, dizziness vertigo, dizzy spells
Dizziness is the feeling of light-headedness that makes a person feel that everything around him/her is rotating thus making them unsteady. Often, the person suffers from a momentary blurring of vision and feels faint during the spell of dizziness. The spell may also be followed by a sudden and inexplicable feeling of nausea and exhaustion. It is more commonly observed in older people, and often follows a backache. The primary reason behind dizziness, or vertigo, as it is called medically, is the inability of the brain to decode the contradictory messages that the eyes, the inner ears and the central nervous system sometimes sends it. Thus, dizziness is not a disease in itself but a symptom of some kind of sensory malfunctioning. Sometimes, a sudden drop in blood pressure can also cause dizziness.
Dizziness Remedies
There are a few basic preventive measures that can be followed to avoid dizziness. It is important to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day, so that the chances of dehydration and sudden fluctuations in blood pressure are minimized. If you are prone to spells of dizziness, avoid aerated and caffeinated drinks, alcohol, tobacco-based products, artificially sweetened drinks and mixing sweet and salty foods together. It is also advisable to keep your mind free from tension and anxiety as far as possible, as mental pressure often leads to dizziness. If you do have a sudden spell of dizziness, sit down immediately in order to restore the balance of your body and prevent injury from falling. Do not rise up from a lying position suddenly, as this may also cause dizziness. If you have someone around when you feel dizzy, ask them to cover your head and face with their hands and then release them slowly, as this helps the body regain its balance. It also helps to look steadily at a stationary object when you feel giddy, as this sends the brain a constant visual signal. Besides, soak two tablespoons of wheat grains, a tablespoon of poppy seeds , 10 pumpkin seeds and 10 almonds in a cup of water overnight and grind them into a paste the next morning; then add a couple of cloves, a tablespoon of clarified butter and a pinch of sugar to this paste and boil it with milk. After it cools down, drink this decoction. Daily consumption of this homemade medicine cures dizziness in a few weeks time.
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May 28, 2009 at 5:45 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged menstrual cramps relief, menstrual cramps treatment, menstrual home cramps remedies, treat menstrual cramps
Menstrual cramps are a common problem that many women face during their monthly period. It causes mild to severe pain in the lower abdomen and the pelvic area. In some cases it may also cause a feeling of heaviness and bloating in the stomach, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and backache. Usually menstrual cramps last for a few hours to a couple of days. The chief cause behind menstrual cramps is that the body releases a hormone called prostaglandis during the period, which causes the uterus to contract and shed its lining of blood and tissue. Stress and anxiety often make the situation worse. In the worst cases, menstrual cramps can hamper a woman’s normal day-to-day activities while they last. Smoking and heredity are among the other secondary causes of menstrual cramps. It has been observed that the intensity of the symptoms of menstrual cramps decreases as one grows out of adolescence. Pregnancy and childbirth are also known to make menstrual cramps less painful.
Relieve Menstrual Cramps
There are a few simple home remedies to treat menstrual cramps. Application of hot water bags on the abdomen and the back is a useful way of relieving pain. Instead of using a heating pad, you could also fold a small quantity of flaxseeds or rice in a piece of cloth. Heat it in a microwave for a couple of minutes and then apply it on your abdomen and lower back in order to get rid of spasms of pain. Also, avoid stepping out in cold weather without warm clothes on, as this tends to make muscles stiffer and consequently add to the pain. You should also take short and brisk walks in order to relax the muscles of the pelvic area and improve blood circulation in that region. Mild exercises are also helpful in relieving stress, which makes the cramps less painful. However, make sure that you do not overexert yourself during your period. Chamomile tea is also known to help ease menstrual cramps. Boil some chamomile leaves in water for five minutes and then drink this solution. For best results, start drinking a cup of this tea a few days before your period is due to start, and drink two cups daily during the period. Gingerroot tea has similar properties and is a popular remedy for menstrual cramps. Increase your intake of natural sources of calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, such as milk and dairy products, red meats, whole grains and nuts, as these are essential nutrients that decrease the intensity of pain during the menses.
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May 28, 2009 at 5:28 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged prevent razor burn, razor burn remedy, razor burn treatment, treat razor burn
Shaving involves the application of external pressure on the skin and the hair follicles, which might cause local irritation and pain, especially if the natural texture of your facial hair is coarse and your skin is sensitive. The inflammation, burning sensation and sometimes appearance of boils on the area of the skin that has been shaved is commonly referred to as razor burns. This often occurs if the skin and the roots of the hair are not properly moisturized at the time of shaving. Running the razor in the direction opposite to that of the natural growth of hair can also cause razor burns. The excessive use of alcohol-based after shave lotions may also cause the skin to become too dry and lead to this condition.
Razor Burn Home Remedies
There are several easy ways of preventing razor burns. It is advisable that you shave immediately after taking a bath, as the skin and the hair are both adequately hydrated and soft at this stage and there are lesser chances of hurting yourself while shaving. Alternatively, you could also soak your hair and the skin around it with lukewarm water for around 10 minutes before shaving, in order to ensure that shaving becomes easier. You should always use your shaving cream or foam in circular motions counter to the direction of natural hair growth, and only then use the razor along the direction in which hair grows. Do not pull or stretch your skin while shaving, as this puts unnecessary pressure on the skin and can damage it. Softening your skin and hair with pre-shave oil is also a good option. Besides these preventive measures, you may follow a few simple home remedies to treat razor burns. Mash a few fresh strawberries into a pulp and add a spoonful of sour cream to it. Now apply this paste on the shaved area and leave it on for 15 minutes, and then rinse it off gently with water. Applying aloe vera gel on the skin also soothes inflammation and relieves the burning sensation. Similarly, covering the area with a few thin slices of raw potato is effective in treating razor burns. In addition, you can also soak a piece of cotton wool in apple cider vinegar and dab the affected area with this for instant relief. Another popular remedy for razor burns is to dissolve two uncoated aspirin tablets in a little amount of lukewarm water and massage your skin with this paste. Wash it away after 10 minutes.
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May 20, 2009 at 12:42 pm
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged get rid of sunburn, home remedies for sunburn, sunburn home remedies, sunburn relief
Sunburn occurs due to prolonged exposure to the harsh rays of the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage the skin cells and cause the skin to become inflamed and painful. In mild cases of sunburn, the skin becomes red and feels hot and tender. In more severe cases, painful blisters may appear and cause a very great deal of pain. In extreme cases, the rays of the sun might destroy the cells lying deep under the skin and cause wrinkling and peeling of the skin, excessive pain, nausea and fever. The hash rays of the sun get reflected by plain and shining surfaces and become more harmful for the skin. Thus, people often get sunburnt on beaches, where the sand and the sea freely reflect and intensify sunlight. Prolonged exposure to these harmful rays can cause skin cancer. It has been observed that fair people are more prone to getting sunburnt than their darker counterparts.
Sunburn Remedies
The easiest way of preventing sunburns is to apply a sunscreen lotion all over your body before stepping out in the sun. Carrying an umbrella is another option. Put on a hat, sunglasses and light linen or cotton clothes before going out of doors at daytime. It is also advisable that you drink plenty of fluids like fruit juices, coconut water and of course water to prevent dehydration, as this makes the body resistant to sunburn. However, if you do get sunburnt, following a few simple home remedies might help. Applying cool compresses on the affected area provides relief from the pain and the burning sensation. Soak a piece of soft cotton cloth in chilled water and dab the sunburnt area with this. In more severe cases, you could also rub the skin directly with a few ice cubes at frequent intervals to get fast relief. Another remedy is to massage the area gently with aloe vera gel or juice. This acts as a natural soothing agent. Alternatively, you could also apply lavender or peppermint oil on the sunburnt skin to relieve inflammation and pain. The juice of both cucumber and potato is helpful in healing damaged skin. Cut into thin slices a cucumber or a potato and apply these on the affected area. Regular application of these will soon reduce the swelling and pain. Washing the skin with a solution of vinegar and water or with yoghurt gives instant relief and prevents infection.
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May 20, 2009 at 12:37 pm
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged allergy remedy, preventing allergies, remedies for allergies, symptoms of allergies
An allergy is the unusual reaction of certain body tissues when they come into contact with chemical substances that are called antigens or allergens. Basically, an allergy is the body’s way of indicating that certain chemicals that it is sensitive to have entered the system. Allergies can occur either due to external exposure to agents like pollen, animal hair, pollutants and dust, and cosmetics, or due to the absorption into the bloodstream of irritants present in certain medicines, vaccines or food products, and sometimes because of changes in the external environment. Allergies can be either seasonal or chronic, depending on how the individual’s body reacts to certain foreign substances. Allergies can also be both internal and external, that is, they may have outwards physical manifestations like rashes on the skin, or may cause irritation in the internal membranes of the body. The most common symptoms of allergies are sneezing and nasal congestion, inflammation, itching and rashes on the skin, breathlessness, nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea.
Allergies Home Remedies
There are a few simple home remedies that can be useful in treating allergies. One of the most popular remedies is to add a few drops of castor oil in half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice or plain water and drink it on an empty stomach every morning. This is an effective way of preventing allergies of the skin, nasal tract and the intestines. For those who are not allergic to citrus fruits, a few drops of lime juice added to a cup of lukewarm water and sweetened with honey is an effective natural detoxifying agent. Consume this solution every morning to flush out toxins from the system and prevent allergies of all sorts. A mixture of three parts of carrot juice and one part each of beet and cucumber juice, when consumed daily, is also known to help prevent allergies. Unless you are allergic to bananas, you may also eat a couple of bananas every morning at breakfast to cure skin and stomach allergies. A useful and long-lasting remedy is to increase the immunity of the system by opting for a few days of fast, during which you should consume only fruit juices. You may follow this up with a few days’ of an all-fruit diet, and then gradually switch over to vegetables and other food items. Following this procedure once every couple of months makes the body naturally more resistant to allergens.
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May 20, 2009 at 12:26 pm
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged alzheimer's symptoms, alzheimer’s disease, prevent alzheimer's
Alzheimer’s disease is a non-reversible, degenerative mental disorder than mostly affects people past the age of 60 years, but symptoms of which may appear as early as in the mid-forties. Under this condition, the patient initially has lapses in memory and often forgets his/her daily routine. Sometimes, s/he may also fail to recognize familiar places, objects and people. Gradually, the patient’s condition deteriorates as s/he finds it difficult to organize her/his thoughts and memories coherently. At this stage, the patient often keeps repeating things and refuses to accept any sort of change in her/his immediate surroundings. Grasping new mental concepts or making sense of new experiences also becomes difficult for the patient. Later, the patient may even lose her/his sense of self-identity and lose her/his grasp over language. This is the most acute stage of the disease, as the patient needs constant medical supervision and is unable to perform even the most basic activities like eating, walking without assistance. At this stage the patient become extremely fragile emotionally and goes through sudden and unpredictable mood swings. The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still not known. Scientists believe that nutritional deficiencies could be one of the possible causes for this condition. It has been found that patients of Alzheimer’s disease suffer from a deficiency of vitamins B12, A and E in their body. Patients of hypertension are also believed to be more susceptible to this disease, and those with a history of head injury or trauma, depression and heart disease are also among the risk group.
Preventive measures for Alzheimer’s disease
Though there are no cures for Alzheimer’s disease, you may follow a few simple preventive measures to reduce the risk of getting it. Avoid smoking and try and give it up altogether, as smokers are twice as probe to Alzheimer’s as non-smokers. Cut down on your intake of alcohol and processed foodstuff, as the essential vitamins that the brain needs to function properly are mostly absent in these. Instead, include natural sources of vitamins and minerals in your diet, such as raw and green vegetables and fruits, as these improve blood circulation in the body and act as natural detoxifying agents, thereby minimizing the risk of getting Alzheimer’s. Regular physical exercise goes a long way in keeping the body and the mind in good shape. Keeping the mind engaged in activities like reading, writing and learning is a good way of keeping away dementia in old age. Consumption of vitamin and fish oil supplements is also an effective way to ensure proper functioning of the brain.
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May 20, 2009 at 11:55 am
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged bulimia, bulimia nervosa, bulimia nervosa symptoms, bulimia nervosa treatment
Bulimia is not merely an eating disorder but also a psychological ailment in which the patient suffers from a notion that s/he does not have an ideal body weight or shape and consequently has very low self-esteem. Bulimic persons often compare themselves adversely to perceived images of an ideal body shape and indulge in feeling of self-hatred, irrespective of whether they actually have a weight problem. They often overeat and then adopt artificial means of expelling the food they have consumed like forceful, self-induced vomiting and extreme exercise. The most common physical symptoms of bulimia nervosa are unusual bowel movements, exhaustion, sore gums and damaged teeth, dehydration, dry skin and irregular heartbeat. The psychological symptoms of this condition are abnormal preoccupation with body shape and weight, feelings of severe anxiety about how much food one eats, visiting the toilet during or immediately after meals, excessive use of laxatives and enemas, over-exercising and crash dieting. The patient also often binges on food when no one is around, eating till the point that it becomes painful, and then follows it up with a session of self-purgation. Mostly, it is younger people who suffer from this disease, as they are more vulnerable to the social pressure to attain a certain desirable body image. It has been observed that women are more prone to bulimia than men, as there is a very strong trend in the West to promote thinness as a desirable physical attribute for women.
Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa
It is necessary that a bulimic patient have emotional support from a close circle of family members and friends, as they can help him/her get rid of the feelings of guilt and self-hatred as well as monitor the patient’s eating habits. Bulimic patients need professional medical help for treatment. They must be convinced to follow the prescribed diet routine religiously, even if it is a little uncomfortable in the beginning. If the patient undergoes therapy sessions, individually or in groups, make sure that s/he does not miss any. Even if you are dieting in order to lose excessive body fat, make sure that you do not overdo it, as this may lead to bulimia. Adolescents need to be properly guided about the sudden and drastic changes that take place in their bodies due to hormonal activities. Parents or elders should counsel them to tackle peer pressure and prevent them from feelings of low self-esteem. Keeping oneself engaged in activities like sports, music, painting, and so on helps the patient relax and keeps away depression and anxiety.
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May 20, 2009 at 11:47 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged obesity home remedy, obesity remedies, obesity treatment, prevent obesity, preventing obesity
Obesity is a serious health disorder in which there is the deposition of excessive fat in the adipose tissues of the body. The ideal body mass index (BMI) of an individual is calculated in terms of his/her age, sex, height and weight. When a person’s BMI is more than 20% of what it should ideally be, a person is considered obese. The primary causes of obesity are excessive consumption of food, a low metabolic rate, lack of adequate physical exercise, disorders relating to the thyroid or the pituitary glands, hormonal imbalances and hereditary factors. Obesity can lead to serious ailments like hypertension, heart and kidney failure, diabetes, pain in joints (especially knees and ankles), sleeping and respiratory problems, depression and in extreme cases even difficulties in normal body movements like walking.
Home Remedies for Obesity
Obesity can be prevented by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle. You must regulate the number of calories you intake every day. Overeating or binge eating leads to the accumulation of sugar and fat in the body, which makes one overweight over a period of time. Thus, eating a few small meals at regular intervals is a better option than just a couple of very heavy meals. You should also avoid red meat, fried and oily foodstuff, rice, potatoes, carbonated beverages, sweets, ice-creams and chocolate, and alcohol. Instead, eat lots of raw and green leafy vegetables, fruits, sprouts, and whole grains like wheat, maize and barley. Eating fresh salads that contain tomatoes and mint is also helpful in preventing obesity. Also, drink plenty of water daily as this aids proper digestion and regulates the metabolic rate. Besides, make sure to exercise every day. Walking, swimming and jogging are useful in keeping the entire body in good shape. You should also focus on sit-ups and stretches that help prevent the deposit of fat around the abdomen, hips and thighs, as these are the sites where fat accumulates most easily. Every morning, drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with a tablespoon of lime juice and a few drops of honey. Drinking a cup of cabbage juice and eating a couple of tomatoes at breakfast are also useful home remedies to prevent obesity. You should also chew 10-15 raw curry leaves every morning in order to reduce body weight and counter obesity. Consumption of ginger tea also helps burn fat rapidly and cures obesity. For another remedy, eat vegetable soups or eat a papaya for dinner every night for a couple of months.
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