Archive for August, 2009
August 26, 2009 at 7:14 am
· Filed under Treatments ·Tagged beat depression anxiety, depression treatment, tips to treat depression, treating depression naturally
Depression is a mental disorder in which a person experiences a persistent loss of self esteem, is unable to experience pleasure and loses interest in activities that were previously enjoyable. Medically, the condition is known as clinical depression or major depression, and there are many sub types too, such as psychotic depression, melancholic depression, and post partum depression, but the symptoms are usually very similar. Only the triggers and a few specifics may differ.
In the past several years it has become acceptable and increasingly common to manage depression by using medication. A variety of drugs is used to fight the symptoms of depression, often in conjunction with counseling measures such as psychotherapy. While psychotherapy is effective and typically has no harmful side effects, the medications that are used to treat depression do have side effects, and also create a dependency on medication. This is why a number of people are now looking for more natural remedies for depression.
Natural Remedies to Cure Depression
In many cases, some simple measures such as diet modification and regular exercise are extremely effective and without any ill effects. In fact a healthy diet and regular exercise have numerous other health benefits besides fighting depression. As far as your diet goes, it is first of all important to cut out certain things. Caffeine and alcohol, while they may temporarily seem to improve one’s mood, in the long run only make things worse. You should therefore avoid these two products as far as possible. Intake of sugary foods should also be reduced, as they too temporarily elevate the mood, but eventually cause it to plummet when the blood sugar levels return to normal. Foods that have a positive effect on your mood are those containing folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and magnesium. These include leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grain. However, omega 3 fatty acids seem to be the most important mood enhancing nutrients, and can be obtained from oily fish such as salmon, herring, and sardine.
Regular exercise is necessary as it helps to boost the metabolism of the body and help circulation. In addition to this, it also increases the levels of endorphin in the blood. Since endorphin is the hormone that is essential for feelings of happiness and euphoria, an increase in the amount of endorphins leads to a decrease in depressive thoughts and emotions.
One effective herbal remedy for depression is St John’s Wort. The potency of various extracts and other preparations varies greatly, so deciding on a suitable dosage is quite difficult. In addition, certain chemical compounds in the herb interact with other medications and may have side effects. It is therefore advisable to take this herbal supplement only under medical supervision.
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August 26, 2009 at 6:54 am
· Filed under Healthy Food ·Tagged probiotic yogurt, yogurt for health, yogurt health benefits, yogurt nutrition facts
Yogurt is essentially a dairy product, but it has many more benefits that milk does. Yogurt is the result of the bacterial fermentation of milk, and the presence of these “good bacteria” makes it much more beneficial for your health, besides the fact that it is rich in a number of important nutrients. As far as nutrition goes, the main nutrients found in yogurt are protein, vitamins B6 and B12, riboflavin (also known as vitamin B2), phosphorus, and calcium. There are also smaller amounts of zinc, potassium, and vitamin B5.
Health Benefits of Eating Yogurt
Regular consumption of yogurt is therefore a good and tasty way to get these nutrients. If you use yogurt in a salad or some similar preparation by adding fruits or raw vegetables, you get a healthier and well balanced meal. However, the bacterial culture in yogurt is among the main reasons why it is so good for health. These good bacteria help to get rid of harmful bacteria from the digestive tract, due to which yogurt is often recommended for a variety of digestive problems. Regularly eating yogurt also seems to improve oral health, apparently by getting rid of harmful bacteria. Yogurt seems to reduce dental plaque, gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. Another important fact regarding yogurt is that the bacteria convert the lactose in milk to lactic acid, which can be safely consumed by people with lactose intolerance. Therefore, if you are lactose intolerant, you can still meet a considerable amount of your protein and calcium requirements by regularly consuming yogurt.
There are indications that yogurt consumption may help in other ways too, although not all these benefits are satisfactorily proven. It seems that consumption of yogurt helps fight and prevent vaginal yeast infections. Yogurt also seems to boost the immune system, and may reduce the chances of developing cancer too. Some studies have also shown that regular consumption of probiotic yogurt can reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol. Another study has shown that yogurt may have an anti inflammatory effect in arthritic patients. Consumption of yogurt also seems to help in weight loss; however, here it needs to be noted that this would only apply to low fat yogurt, and would need to be done in conjunction with standard weight loss measures such as exercise and diet. It is also generally advisable to avoid consuming sweetened, flavored, or fruit yogurts, as these products usually contain added sugar and artificial flavors which are unnecessary and can actually have a negative effect on your health.
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August 26, 2009 at 6:38 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged tonsil infection treatment, tonsil treatment, tonsillitis tretment, tonsils remedies, treat inflamed tonsils
Tonsillitis refers to a condition in which the tonsils get inflamed, causing pain and irritation in the throat. The most common tonsillitis symptoms are fever, sore threat, difficulty in swallowing food, headache, pain in different parts of the body and exhaustion. The lymph glands also become swollen and tender, and the ears start hurting too. The main reason behind this condition is the rise in the level of toxins in the body that cannot be expurgated by normal means of excretion, which causes the tonsils to become swollen as a means of defense and consequently leads to the aforementioned symptoms.
There are several simple home remedies for treating tonsillitis.
- Drinking lots of hot fluids like herbal teas and soups is known to help relieve the symptoms of tonsillitis. One of the most popular remedies is to add the juice of a fresh lemon, two teaspoons of honey and half a teaspoon of common salt in a glass of lukewarm water and drink this solution every morning.
- You should also gargle thrice every day with a glass of warm water to which a pinch of salt has been added. The heat from the water serves to soothe the irritation and the pain in the throat, while the natural disinfectant property of salt helps destroy the germs that are trapped in the tonsils.
- Alternatively, simmer two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in a liter of water for half an hour and let the solution cool down; then gargle with this solution before going to bed and early in the morning after waking up. This is an effective solution for tonsillitis.
- Another useful remedy is to mix a pinch of black pepper and turmeric powder into a glass of boiled milk and drink this every night before going to bed. While the pepper and milk together produce a comforting warm effect on the tonsils, turmeric acts as a natural antimicrobial agent that helps treat the infection.
- For another remedy, mix 3 parts of carrot juice with one part each of cucumber and beetroot juice and drink this mixture every morning. This helps strengthen the body’s natural immune system and treats tonsillitis.
- For another remedy, boil a few figs in water and then grind them to a paste. Add a little honey to this paste and eat small portions of this mixture at regular intervals throughout the day. This relieves pain and cures hoarseness caused by tonsillitis.
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August 26, 2009 at 6:20 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged anti wrinkle remedies, home remedies for wrinkles, prevent wrinkles, wrinkl, wrinkle home treatment, wrinkle reducer
Wrinkles occur as a natural sign of ageing. The main reason for the appearance of these fine lines is that the skin gradually loses its natural oil and moisture retaining capacity as a person advances in age. Also, the natural components that are responsible for holding the skin cells tightly together – elastin and collagen – are produced in lesser amounts as one grows older. Consequently, the skin starts to sag and wrinkles appear on its surface, especially on the face, neck and hands. Sometimes, excessive frowning or laughing can also put the skin of the face under stress and lead to the appearance of fine wrinkles on the forehead and in the corner of the eyes. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and insufficient skin care may also hasten the appearance of wrinkles.
Home Remedies To Get Rid of Wrinkles
There are a few simple home remedies that you may follow to prevent and treat wrinkles.
- Add a tablespoon of turmeric powder in some sugarcane juice and apply this paste directly on the skin. Leave it on till it dries naturally and then wash it away gently with water. This helps reduce the prominence of wrinkles.
- Another popular remedy to make your skin look smoother and younger is to apply egg white on the affected areas. This should be washed away with lukewarm water when the skin begins to feel dry and stretched.
- If you have very fine wrinkles on your face, use the core of a pineapple to rub your skin very gently for a few minutes. After 10 minutes or so, wash your face with water. Follow this procedure regularly to observe a marked reduction in wrinkles in a few weeks.
- Alternatively, you may also apply the juice of a green pineapple every day on your skin to get rid of wrinkles.
- For treating fine wrinkles around the eye, use a small amount of odorless castor oil every night before going to bed.
- For another remedy, collect the contents of three vitamin E capsules by bursting them open, and mix with this half a teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice, and two teaspoons of homemade curd, and apply this mixture on the affected areas. You could also make a mixture using equal portions of olive oil, honey and milk cream and use this as a face pack regularly in order to make wrinkles become less prominent.
- You may make an effective natural anti-wrinkle solution by simmering half a cup of rosemary leaves in half a liter of water for half an hour, add half a cup of brandy to it and then let the mixture settle for 15 minutes. Strain the clear liquid extract and store it in a bottle. Massage your skin with this decoction regularly to treat wrinkles.
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August 26, 2009 at 5:43 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged cracked heel treatment, cracked heels natural remedies, cracked heels remedy, dry cracked heels relief, treatment for dry cracked heels
Cracked heels or heel fissures are the consequence of dryness of the skin of the feet, coupled with exertion of excessive pressure on the feet pad. When the feet are under stress, they try to expand laterally, which causes the tight, dry skin around the edges to crack into linear cuts. Usually, these cuts or fissures only affect the epidermis, but in severe cases they may run deeper into the skin, causing intense pain and bleeding. Deficiency of omega 3 fatty acids and zinc in the diet may also make you prone to cracked heels.
Home Remedies for Cracked Heel Repair
A few basic rules must be followed in order to avoid this problem.
- You should choose shoes that cover up your entire feet properly. Wearing socks is also recommended, especially during the cold winter season and in harsh, arid climates. This helps protect the feet from friction with dust and traps the natural moisture present in the skin, thereby preventing the heels from cracking.
- Drinking plenty of water is also necessary to ensure that your skin is naturally well hydrated, and not prone to cracking.
- You should also make it a habit to wash your feet with water every time you return from a trip out of doors. This helps remove dust particles and dead skin cells from the feet and replenishes the lost water content to the feet.
- It is also useful to soak your feet in a solution of a mild soap or shampoo and lukewarm water every night before going to bed for at least 15 minutes. This softens the hard skin tissue of the feet and removes the dead skin cells accumulated on the surface of the feet.
- You may massage your feet with hydrogenated vegetable oil following this, as this nourishes the skin of your feet with natural oils that are necessary to keep the skin moisturized and flexible.
- Another popular remedy for healing cracked heels is to heat together equal portions of paraffin wax and coconut oil for some time, then let it cool and collect the semi-solid mixture in a container. Use this natural foot cream to massage the heels every night before going to bed. Wear a pair of socks in order to let the cream get absorbed fully into the skin of the feet. Regular application of this cream makes your feet soft and smooth.
- Also, eat raw vegetables, whole grains and nuts, cold water fish and dairy products to supply enough vitamins, minerals and fats to the body and to prevent your heels from cracking.
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August 19, 2009 at 6:26 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged get rid of heartburn, heartburn home remedies, heartburn natural remedies, heartburn relief remedies, heartburn treatment, remedies for hyperacidity
Hyperacidity is a condition in which the level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach exceeds the normal level, causing a burning sensation in the abdomen. Sometimes, the gastric acid rises up back into the esophagus, which causes a burning sensation in the chest cavity too – a condition commonly known as heartburn. The common symptoms of hyperacidity and heartburn are belching, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the upper abdomen, especially after eating, and a foul taste in the mouth. The primary cause behind these conditions are faulty eating habits such as not marinating fixed meal timings, overeating, consuming excessive amounts of oily and spicy foodstuff, excessive smoking or drinking, as well as stress, obesity and irregular sleeping habits. Chronic hyperacidity may lead to serious disorders like ulcers.
Tips to Prevent Heartburn
There are a few preventive measures that you should follow in order to avoid experiencing hyperacidity and heartburn. Cut down on your intake of deep-fried and spicy foods and alcoholic drinks. Drink plenty of water and natural fruit juices every day, as these help maintain the normal level of acids in the digestive tract. Fruits like apples, watermelons, grapes, cucumbers and bananas are especially useful in this regard, as they have high water content that helps ease digestion and prevent acidity. Also, make it a point to eat in moderation and in time. You should also avoid going to bed immediately after a meal, as this increases the chances of hyperacidity.
Heartburn Remedies
There are also several home remedies that can treat hyperacidity and heartburn.
- One of the most popular and effective remedies is to drink a glass of chilled milk if you feel a burning sensation in your chest and abdomen after a heavy meal. This helps neutralize the high acid level in your system and brings quick relief.
- If you suffer from hyperacidity regularly, boil two teaspoons of cumin seeds in a liter of water and collect the clear liquid extract in a jar after it cools down. Drink this decoction twice a day to prevent and treat hyperacidity and heartburn.
- Another effective remedy is to mix a teaspoon of ginger juice with a tablespoon of honey and consume this mixture immediately after a meal.
- Drinking a cup of pineapple juice or simply consuming a little piece of jiggery are other popular, time-tested natural ways of getting rid of acidity.
- In addition, you may also add a pinch of pepper into a glass of buttermilk and drink this solution once every day to treat this condition.
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August 19, 2009 at 6:01 am
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged back pain relief, back pain remedies, back pain treatement, backache treatment, relieve back pain, remedies for back pain
Back pain is a common problem caused by lifting or carrying heavy loads, sitting, standing or sleeping in a wrong posture for too long or accidental strains and injuries. Also, both overexertion and lack of adequate physical exercise may be responsible for causing back pain. Difficulty in bending forward or sideward is the most common symptom of this condition.
Tips to Prevent Back Pain: You should take a few precautionary measures to avoid back pain.
- Never carry very heavy weights at one go. It is advisable to lift and carry small, manageable loads at a time, so that the back muscles and the spine are not put under too much pressure.
- You should also avoid sitting or standing in the same position for too long, as this creates excessive pressure on the back and may cause pain.
- It is also recommended that you use firm mattresses and cushions in order to support your spine properly when you sleep.
Effective Remedies for Back Pain Relief
There are several simple home remedies too that you might find useful in treating back pain.
- You should use generous amounts of garlic in cooked food, as this helps prevent and reduce aches.
- If you suffer from back pain chronically, use lukewarm water to bathe instead of cold water, and take care not to expose yourself to very cold environments, as this may intensify the problem.
- It is also a good idea to keep yourself warm by drinking hot beverages like coffee and soups.
- If you have severe pain in the back, boil a handful of fresh basil leaves in a cup of water till the quantity of the water is reduced to half, and then collect the extract in a container after it cools down to room temperature. Drink this decoction twice a day to relieve pain.
- Massaging your back with slightly warmed eucalyptus oil before going to bed every night also helps relax the muscles in the back and lessens pain considerably.
- For another remedy, mix a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with a tablespoon of honey and consume this mixture twice a day. This will reduce back pain in a couple of days.
- You may also add a few pepper corns and cloves along with some dry ginger powder in a cup of warm tea and drink this solution once every day to get rid of back pain.
- It is also useful to apply a poultice made of the pulp of a raw potato to treat back pain.
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August 19, 2009 at 5:36 am
· Filed under Symptoms and Causes ·Tagged alzheimer's symptoms, alzheimer’s disease, signs of alzheimers, stages of alzheimers
Alzheimer’s disease, or simply Alzheimer’s, is serious and incurable form of dementia that mostly affects people above the age of 60. It is caused by the gradual degeneration of brain cells, and causes severe impairment of mental faculties. It is believed that Alzheimer’s is genetic in nature. It has also been observed that a vast majority of those who suffer from Down’s syndrome are also affected by this disease if they survive till middle age. Chronic high blood pressure and accidental head injuries incurred in adult life may also predispose a person to Alzheimer’s. It is easy to confuse the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s with the usual manifestations of the natural process of ageing. Occasional instances of forgetfulness may be the earliest symptoms of this condition, especially if this involves frequent and regular difficulty in recollecting names of people, places and objects. Routinely misplacing objects, inability to concentrate on any subject for too long, and getting confused about official paperwork such as filling up forms and following instructions may also be early indicators of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes, the patient may also feel temporarily lost even in familiar surroundings and fail to remember entire conversations or events that took place in the recent past. An inability to organize thoughts and grasp abstract concepts may also be pointers to the first stage of this disease.
Stages Of Alzheimer’s Dementia
Gradually, the patient also begins to suffer from difficulties in framing and understanding complex verbal structures, and begins to become less fluent in the use of both the written and the spoken word. S/he may also find it increasingly taxing to learn new ideas and concepts, and may slowly lose implicit memory, which enables a normal person to coordinate day-to-day activities such as tying shoelaces, using cutlery while eating, and handling ordinary electronic gadgets. This makes the person feel clumsy and consequently leads to feelings of withdrawal and depression. After this stage, the patient’s language capacity begins to deteriorate progressively, as they start making frequent incorrect word substitutions and find it extremely difficult to read and write. At this stage, even long-term memories, relating to events in the distant past, are slowly lost, making the patient irritable and aggressive. Frequent and sudden mood swings are common at this stage, and must be handled under professional medical supervisors. In the terminal stage of this disease, the patient loses practically all linguistic and cognitive abilities and is entirely dependent on external help to even carry on routine activities necessary for survival.
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August 18, 2009 at 1:14 pm
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged causes for gastritis, gastritis diet, gastritis home remedies, gastritis remedy, treatment for gastritis
Gastritis is a serious digestive disorder in which the inner lining of the stomach gets inflamed and painful lesions occur on the stomach walls. The patient may suffer from frequent stomach cramps, an uncomfortable burning sensation in the abdominal region, nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness. Other symptoms include exhaustion, a general feeling of uneasiness, loss of appetite, foul mouth odor, a bad taste in the mouth, constipation and occasional diarrhea. The main causes behind gastritis are improper bowel movement, faulty diet, overeating, irregular eating habits, consumption of excessively spicy foods and the excessive consumption of tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages. Gastritis may also result from emotional turmoil or trauma, stress, anxiety and insufficient sleep.
Gastritis Remedies
The most effective way of treating gastritis is to make a few important changes in your dietary habits. Avoid all sorts of junk food, as well as deep-fried and spicy snacks, as they tend to irritate the lining of the stomach. Stay away from carbonated drinks, pickles and sour food, cakes and pastries, manufactured foodstuff containing artificial additives, and caffeine based food items. Also, eat small meals at regular intervals instead of eating too much at one go, as this eases digestion. Stick to fixed meal timings, and never eat in a hurry. Keep your dinners light, and go to bed only after a couple of hours after you have had dinner. Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water every day in order to ensure smooth bowel movements and flush out toxins from the system. In severe cases, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for a couple of days, preferably consuming only homemade unsweetened fruits juices during this period. This helps cleanse the digestive tract completely and heals the inflamed cells of the stomach naturally. Fruits like peaches, pineapple, apple, pear, grapes, orange and melon are recommended. Following this, the patient should switch to raw and boiled vegetables, and then gradually start eating regular food. Eating a bowl of yogurt every day is known to be helpful in treating gastritis. It is also advisable to include whole grains and nuts in your diet. A few simple home remedies are also very helpful in treating this condition. Drink a glass of coconut water every morning on an empty stomach. This cleanses the bowels and rejuvenates the inner lining of the stomach. You should also consume half a cup of raw potato juice twice a day, half an hour before a meal. This will help relieve the symptoms of gastritis within a few weeks.
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August 18, 2009 at 1:07 pm
· Filed under Remedies ·Tagged dry peeling skin remedy, get rid of peeling skin, peeling skin natural remedies, peeling skin remedies, peeling skin treatment
The thin outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, peels off naturally and is replaced by a new layer roughly every 28 days. However, the epidermis may peel faster and cause your skin to look rough and flaky, and may even cause itching and pain. This could be the consequence of a hereditary disease called Peeling Skin Syndrome, which requires professional medical treatment. More commonly, peeling skin is the result of excessive perspiration, too much friction between the skin and the clothes one wears, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight resulting sometimes in sunburn, microbial infections, dehydration of the skin, changes in the weather and a harsh dry environment.
Home Remedies for Peeling Skin
There are a few basic measures that you should take to prevent your skin from peeling. Make sure that your skin is well moisturized on all occasions. Use a moisturizer that suits your skin type regularly. You should use your moisturizer throughout the day and as frequently as necessary to avoid dry skin. Drink at least 10 glasses of water and consume plenty of homemade fruit juices to ensure that your skin does not become dehydrated. It is also useful to massage your entire body with vitamin E or olive oil after bathing. This helps to trap the natural moisture present in the skin cells and prevents excessive dryness. You should also make it a point to apply sunscreen lotion on the exposed parts of your skin before stepping out of doors. This is necessary to defend your skin against the harsh rays of the sun that cause dryness and flaking. Also, avoid stepping into or out of an air-conditioned room directly from or into direct sunlight, as the sudden and drastic change in external temperature and humidity often causes the outer layer of the skin to crack up into flakes. Besides these, you may also find a few simple home remedies very useful in treating this condition. Grate a cucumber to extract its juice and apply this on the affected areas twice every day. Cucumber juice naturally moisturizes and soothes dry skin cells, making your skin feel soft and smooth after a few days of regular application. Another useful remedy is to mix a teaspoon each of sandalwood powder and turmeric powder with a tablespoon each of honey and olive oil and massage your skin with this paste once every day. This mixture should be allowed to remain on your skin for at least half an hour before it is gently washed away with water. It is best to use this home remedy for dry skin just before you shower as it often tends to be messy.
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