Home Remedy

Therapeutic Baths

2008-12-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Water has been used as a valuable therapeutic agent since time immemorial. In all major

ancient civilizations, bathing was considered an important measure for the maintenance of

health and prevention of disease. It was also valued for its remedial properties. The ancient

Vedic literature in India contains numerous references to the efficacy of water in the treatment of

disease.

In modern times, the therapeutic value of water was popularised by Vincent Priessnitz, Father

Sebastian Kneipp, Louis Kuhne and other European water-cure pioneers. They raised water

cure to an institutional level and employed it successfully for the treatment of almost every

known disease. There are numerous spas and "Bads" in most European countries where

therapeutic baths are used as a major healing agent.

Water exerts beneficial effects on the human system. It equalises circulation, boosts muscular

tone and aids digestion and nutrition.

It also tones up the activity of perspiratory gland and in the

process eliminates the damaged cells and toxic matter from the system.

The common water temperature chart is : cold 100C to 180C, neutral 320C to 360C and hot 400C

to 450C. Above 450C, water loses its therapeutic value and is destructive.

The main methods of water treatment which can be employed in the healing of various diseases

in a do-it-yourself manner are described below.

ENEMA

Also known as rectal irrigation, an enema involves the injection of fluid into the rectum. In nature

cure treatment, only lukewarm water is used for cleaning the bowels. The patient is made to lie

on his left side extending his left leg and bending the right leg slightly. The enema nozzle,

lubricated with oil or vaseline, is inserted in the rectum. The enema can containing the lukewarm

water is then slowly raised and water is allowed to enter into the rectum. Generally, one to two

litres of water is injected. The patient may either lie down on his back or walk a little while

retaining the water.. After five to 10 minutes, the water can be ejected along with the

accumulated morbid matter.

A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of accumulated faecal matter. This is not only

the safest system for cleaning the bowels, but also improves the peristaltic movement of the

bowels and thereby relieves constipation.

A cold water enema is helpful in inflammatory

conditions of the colon, especially in cases of dysentery, diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis,

haemorrhoids and fever. A hot water enema is beneficial in relieving irritation due to

inflammation of the rectum and painfull haemorrhoids. It also benefits women in leucorrhoea.

COLD COMPRESS

This is a local application using a cloth which has been wrung out in cold water. The cloth should

be folded into a broad strip and dipped in cold water or ice water. The compress is generally

applied to the head,neck, chest, abdomen and back. The cold compress is an effective means of

controlling inflammatory conditions of the liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys, intestines, lungs,

brain, pelvic organs and so on. It is also advantageous in cases of fever and heart disease. The

cold compress soothes dermities and inflammations of external portions of the eye. When the

eyeball is affected, the cold compress should follow a short fomentation.

HEATING COMPRESS

This is a cold compress covered in such a manner as to bring warmth. A heating compress

consists of three or four folds of linen cloth wrung out in cold water which is then covered

completely with dry flannel or blanket to prevent the circulation of air and help accumulation of

body heat. It is sometimes applied for several hours. The duration of the application is

determined by the extent and location of the surface involved, the nature and thickness of the

coverings and the water temperature. After removing the compress , the area should be rubbed

with a wet cloth and then dried with a towel. A heating compress can be applied to the throat,

chest, abdomen, and joints. A throat compress relieves sore throat, hoarseness, tonsillitis,

pharyngitis and laryngitis. An abdominal compress helps those suffering from gastritis,

hyperacidity, indigestion, jaundice, constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery and other ailments relating

to the abdominal organs. The chest compress also known as chest pack, relieves cold,

bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, fever, cough and so on, while the joints compress is helpful for

inflamed joints, rheumatism, rheumatic fever and sprains.

HIP BATHS

The hip bath is one of the most useful forms of hydrotherapy. As the name suggests, this mode

of treatment involves only the hips and the abdominal region below the navel. A special type of

tub is used for the purpose. The tub is filled with water in such a way that it covers the hips and

reaches upto the navel when the patient sits in it. Generally, four to six gallons of water are

required. If the special tub is not available, a common tub may be used. A support may be

placed under one edge to elevate it by two or three inches. Hip bath is given in cold, hot, neutral

or alternate temperatures.

COLD HIP BATH

The water temperature should be 100C to 180C. The duration of the bath is usually 10 minutes ,

but in specific conditions it may vary from one minute to 30 minutes. If the patient feels cold or is

very weak, a hot foot immersion should be given with the cold hip bath.

The patient should rub the abdomen briskly from the navel downwards and across the body with

a moderately coarse wet cloth. The legs, feet and upper part of the body should remain

completely dry during and after the bath. The patient should undertake moderate exercise like

yogasanas, after the cold hip bath, to warm the body.

A cold hip bath is a routine treatment in most diseases. It relieves constipation, indigestion,

obesity and helps the eliminative organs to function properly. It is also helpful in uterine

problems like irregular menstruation, chronic uterine infections, pelvic inflammation, piles,

hepatic congestion, chronic congestion of the prostate gland, seminal weakness, impotency,

sterility, uterine and ovarian displacements, dilation of the stomach and colon, diarrhoea,

dysentery, hemorrhage of the bladder and so on. The cold hip bath should not be employed in

acute inflammations of the pelvic and abdominal organs, ovaries and in painful contractions of

the bladder, rectum or vagina.

HOT HIP BATH

This bath is generally taken for eight to 10 minutes at a water temperature of 400C to 450C. The

bath should start at 400C. The temperature should be gradually increased to 450C. NO friction

should be applied to the abdomen. Before entering the tub,the patient should drink one glass of

cold water. A cold compress should be placed on the head. A hot hip bath helps to relieve

painful menstruation, pain in the pelvic organs, painful urination, inflamed rectum or bladder and

painful piles. It also benefits enlarged prostatic gland, painful contractions or spasm of the

bladder, sciatica, neuralgia of the ovaries and bladder. A cold shower bath should be taken

immediately after the hot hip bath.

Care should be taken to prevent the patient from catching a chill after the bath. The bath should

be terminated if the patient feels giddy or complains of excessive pain.

NEUTRAL HIP BATH

The temperature of the water should be 320C to 360C. Here too, friction to the abdomen should

be avoided. This bath is generally taken for 20 minutes to an hour. The neutral hip bath helps to

relieve all acute and sub-acute inflammatory conditions such as acute catarrh of the bladder and

urethra and subacute inflammations in the uterus, ovaries and tubes. It also relieves neuralgia of

the fallopian tubes or testicles, painful spasms of the vagina and prorates of the anus and vulva.

Besides, it is a sedative treatment for erotomanis in both sexes.

ALTERNATE HIP BATH

This is also known as revulsive hip bath. The temperature in the hot tub should be 400C to 450C

and in the cold tub 100C to 180C. The patient should alternately sit in the hot tub for five minutes

and then in the cold tub for three minutes. The duration of the bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes.

The head and neck should be kept cold with a cold compress. The treatment should end with a

dash of cold water to the hips.

This bath relieves chronic inflammatory conditions of the pelvic viscera such as salpingitis,

ovaritis, cellulitis and various neuralgias of the genito-urinary organs, sciatica and lumbago.

SPINAL BATH

The spinal bath is another important form of hydrotherapic treatment. This bath provides a

soothing effect to the spinal column and thereby influences the central nervous system. It is

given in a specially designed tub with its back raised so as to provide proper support to the

head. The bath can be administered at cold, neutral and hot temperatures. The water level in the

tub should be an inch and a half to two inches and the patient should lie in it for three to 10

minutes.

The cold spinal bath relieves irritation, fatigue, hypertension and excitement. It is beneficial in

almost all nervous disorders such as hysteria, fits, mental disorders, loss of memory and

tension. The neutral spinal bath is a soothing and sedative treatment, especially for the highly

strung and irritable patient. It is the ideal treatment for insomnia and also relieves tension of the

vertebral column. The duration of this bath is 20 to 30 minutes. The hot spinal bath, on the other

hand, helps to stimulate the nervous, especially when they are in a depressed state. It also

relieves vertebral pain in spondylitis and muscular backache. It relieves sciatic pain and

gastrointestinal disturbances of gastric origin.

FULL WET SHEET PACK

This is a procedure in which the whole body is wrapped in a wet sheet, which in turn is wrapped

in a dry blanket for regulating evaporation. The blanket should be spread on the bed with its

edges hanging over the edge of the bed. The upper end should be about eight inches from the

head of the bed. Then spread a linen sheet wrung out in cold water over the blanket so that its

end is slightly below the upper end of the blanket. The patient should lie on the bedsheet with his

shoulders about three inches below the upper age. The wet sheet should be weekly wrapped

round the body of the patient, drawn in, tightly tucked between the legs and also between the

body and the arms. The sheet should be folded over the shoulders and across the neck. Now

the blanket should be drawn tightly around the body and tucked in along the side in a similar

manner, pulling it tightly. The ends should be doubled up at the feet. A turkish towel should be

placed below the chin to protect the face and neck from coming into contact with the blanket and

to exclude outside air more effectively. The head should be covered with a wet cloth so that the

sculp remains cold. The feet should be kept warm during the entire treatment. If the patient's feet

are cold, place hot water bottles near them to hasten reaction. The pack is administered for half

an hour to one hour till the patient begins to perspire profusely. He may be given cold or hot

water to drink.

This pack is useful in cases of fever especially in typhoid and continued fevers, and benefits

those suffering from insomnia, epilepsy and infantile convulsions. It is useful in relieving chronic

cold and bronchitis and helps in the treatment of rheumatism and obesity.

HOT FOOT BATHS

In this method, the patient should keep his or her legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a

temperature of 400C to 450C. Before taking this bath, a glass of water should be taken and the

body should be covered with a blanket so that no heat or vapour escapes from the foot bath.

The head should be protected with a cold compress. The duration of the bath is generally from 5

to 20 minutes. The patient should take a cold shower immediately after the bath.

The hot foot bath stimulates the involuntary muscles of the uterus, intestines, bladder and other

pelvic and abdominal organs. It also relieves sprains and ankle joint pains, headaches caused

by cerebral congestion and colds. In women, it helps restore menstruation , if suspended, by

increasing supply of blood especially to the uterus and ovaries.

COLD FOOT BATH

Three to four inches of cold water at a temperature of 7.20C to 12.70C should be placed in a

small tub or bucket.. The feet should be completely immersed in the water for one to five

minutes. Friction should be continuously applied to the feet during the bath, either by an

attendant or by the patient by rubbing one foot against the other.

A cold foot bath, taken for one or two minutes,relieves cerebral congestion and uterine

hemorrhage. It also helps in the treatment of sprains, strains and inflamed bunions when taken

for longer periods. It should not be taken in cases of inflammatory conditions of the

genito-urinary organs, liver and kidneys.

STEAM BATH

Steam bath is one of the most important time-tested water treatments which induces perspiration

in a most natural way. The patient, clad in minimum loin cloth or underwear, is made to sit on a

stool inside a specially designed cabinet. Before entering the cabinet, the patient should drink

one or two glasses of cold water and protect the head with a cold towel. The duration of the

steam bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes or until perspiration takes place. A cold shower should

be taken immediately after the bath.

Very weak patients, pregnant women, cardiac patients and those suffering from high blood

pressure should avoid this bath. If the patient feels giddy or uneasy during the steam bath, he or

she should be immediately taken out and given a glasss of cold water and the face washed with

cold water.

The steam bath helps to eliminate morbid matter from the surface of the skin. It also improves

circulation of the blood and tissue activity. It relieves rheumatism, gout, uric acid problems, and

obesity. The steam bath is helpful in all forms of chronic toxemias. It also relieves neuralgias,

chronic nephritis, infections, tetanus and migraine.

IMMERSION BATHS

This is also known as full bath. It is administered in a bath tub which should be properly fitted

with hot and cold water connections. The bath can be taken at cold, neutral, hot, graduated and

alternate temperatures.

COLD IMMERSION BATH

This may be taken for four seconds to 20 minutes at a temperature ranging from 100C to 23.80C.

Before entering the bath, cold water should be poured on the patient's head, chest and neck and

the head should be protected with a cold moist towel. During the bath, the patient should

vigorously rub his or her body. After the bath the body should be quickly dried and wrapped up in

a blanket. If the climate is favourable, moderate exercise should be undertaken.

This bath helps to bring down fever. It also improves the skin when taken for five to 15 seconds

after a prolonged hot bath, by exhilarating circulation and stimulating the nervous system.

This bath should not be given to young children or very elderly persons, nor be taken in cases of

acute inflammation of some internal organs such as acute peritonitis, gastritis, enteritis and

inflammatory conditions of uterus and ovaries.

GRADUATED BATH

The patient should enter the bath at a temperature of 310C. The water temperature should be

lowered gradually at the rate of 10C per minute until it reaches 250C. The bath should continue

until the patient starts shivering. The graduated bath is intended to avoid nervous shock by

sudden plunge into the cold water. This bath is often administered every three hours in cases of

fever.

It effectively brings down the temperature except in malarial fever. Besides, it also produces a

general tonic effect, increases vital resistances and energises the heart.

NEUTRAL IMMERSION BATH

This bath can be given from 15 to 60 minutes at a temperature ranging from 260C to 280C. It can

be given for long duration, without any ill-effects, as the water temperature is akin to the body

temperature. The neutral bath diminishes the pulse rate without modifying respiration.

This treatment is the best sedative. Since the neutral bath excites activity of both the skin and

the kidneys, it is recommended in cases relating to these organs. It is also beneficial for cases of

organic diseases of the brain and spinal cord, including chronic inflammatory conditions such as

meningitis, rheumatism and arthritis.

A neutral immersion bath taken for 30 to 60 minutes is highly beneficial in general dropsy, due to

cardiac or renal diseases. It also helps those suffering from multiple neuritis, alcoholism and

other narcotic habits, chronic diarrhoea, peritonitis and chronic affections of the abdomen. In

such cases the bath may be given daily for 15 to 30 minutes. This bath is also useful in the

toxemic conditions caused by dyspepsia and pruritus. The neutral bath should not be prescribed

in certain cases of eczema and other forms of skin diseases where water aggravates the

symptoms, nor in cases of extreme cardiac weakness.

HOT IMMERSION BATH

This bath can be taken from two to 15 minutes at a temperature from 36.60C to 400C. Generally

this bath is started at 370C and the temperature is then gradually raised to the required level by

adding hot water. Before entering the bath, the patient should drink cold water and also wet the

head, neck and shoulders with cold water. A cold compress should be applied throughout the

treatment. This bath can be advantageously employed in dropsy when there is excessive loss of

tone of the heart and blood. This bath also relieves capillary bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia

in children. It relieves congestation of the lungs and activates the blood vessels of the skin

muscles. The bath should be terminated as soon as the skin becomes red.

In pneumonia and suppressed menstruation, the bath should be administered at 37.70C to 400C

for about 30 to 45 minutes. This bath should be given when the menstruation is due and may be

repeated for two to three days in succession. In dysmenorrhoea, this bath should be given at

380C to 44.40C for 15 minutes.

In chronic bronchitis a very hot bath taken for 5 to 7 minutes should be accompanied with

rubbing and friction. This relieves congestion of the mucous membrane and provides immediate

relief After the bath, oil should be applied to the skin if necessary.

The hot bath is a valuable treatment in chronic rheumatism and obesity. It gives immediate relief

when there is pain due to stones in the gall bladder and the kidneys. The hot bath should not be

taken in cases of organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, nor in cases of cardiac weakness

and cardiac hypertrophy.

EPSOM SALT BATH

The immersion bath tub should be filled with about 135 litres of hot water at 400C. One to 1 1/2

kg. of Epsom salt should be dissolved in this water. The patient should drink a glass of cold

water, cover the head with a cold towel and then lie down in the tub, completely immersing the

trunk, thighs and legs for 15 to 20 minutes. The best time to take this bath is just before retiring

to bed. This is useful in cases of sciatica, lumbago, rheumatism, diabetes, neuritis, cold and

catarrh, kidney disorders and other uric acid and skin affections.

Precaution

Certain precautions are necessary while taking these therapeutic baths. Full baths should be

avoided within three hours after a meal and one hour before it. Local baths like the hip bath and

foot bath may, however, be taken two hours after a meal. Clean and pure water must be used

for baths and water once used should not be used again. While taking baths, temperature and

duration should be strictly observed to obtain the desired effects. A thermometer should always

be used to measure the temperature of the body. Women should not take any of the baths

during menstruation.. They can take only hip baths during pregnancy till the completion of the

third month.

Common cold

2008-12-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

What is the common cold?

The common cold is a viral infection that affects the upper airways including the nose, voice box, throat, windpipes and the lungs. There are more than two hundred viruses that can cause colds and are commonly known as rhinoviruses or the nose viruses. These viruses cause inflammation or swelling of the mucous membrane lining the airways. The symptoms of common cold include sneezing, a scratchy throat, a stuffy nose, coughing, etc.

What are the causes?

The cold virus is spread via air particles that are expelled while coughing or sneezing. It also spreads when someone with a cold rubs his eyes or nose and then touches an object such as a doorknob, towel, bed linen and other such commonly used articles. Colds are very contagious. The viruses are airborne and are transmitted when one sneezes or touches infected objects. Anyone can get a cold. Children are more likely to get a cold than adults because they are not immune to certain viruses that cause the cold.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms generally show up about two days after a person becomes infected. Early signs of a cold are a sore, scratchy throat, sneezing, and a runny nose. Other symptoms that may occur later are:

· Headache

· Stuffy or runny nose

· Watering eyes

· Chills

· Weakness

· Cough and congestion

· Sore throat

· Fever and muscle ache.

The symptoms generally last for 2 to 7 days and in some cases may last for weeks.

What is the diagnosis?

There is no specific test to diagnose common cold. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms reported and the physical examination made by the doctor.

What is the treatment?

There is no cure for the common cold but managing symptoms is the best that can be done for the cold, as there is no specific treatment. Antibiotics will not cure colds, as they are caused by viruses and not bacteria. A person with a cold should drink plenty of fluids and take rest. Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold, and many are nearly as ancient. Some cold remedies include:

Water and other fluids - drinking plenty of liquids can help. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse.
Salt water - a saltwater gargle — 1/2 teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
Saline nasal sprays - over-the-counter saline nasal sprays combat stuffiness and congestion. Unlike nasal decongestants, saline sprays don't lead to a rebound effect — a worsening of symptoms when the medication is discontinued — and most are safe and nonirritating, even for children.
Soup - scientists have found that soup does seem to help relieve cold and flu symptoms in two ways. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils — immune system cells that participate in the body's inflammatory response. Second, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nose lining.
Over-the-counter cold medications - nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers offer some symptom relief, but they won't prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects. If used for more than a few days, they can actually make symptoms worse. Keep in mind that acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage or liver failure if taken in high doses.
Humidity - cold viruses thrive in dry conditions — another reason why colds are more common in winter. Parched air also dries the mucous membranes, causing a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. A humidifier can add moisture to your home.

Fasting - The Master Remedy

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Fasting refers to complete abstinence from food for a short or long period for a specific purpose.

The word is derived from the old English, 'feastan' which means to fast, observe, be strict.

Fasting is nature's oldest, most effective and yet least expensive method of treating disease. It is

recognised as the cornerstone of natural healing. Dr. Arnold Eheret, the originator of the

muscusless diet healing system, describes it as " nature's only universal and omnipotent remedy

of healing" and "nature's only fundamental law of all healing and curing. "

The practice of fasting is one of the most ancient customs. It is followed in almost every religion.

The Mohammedan, the Buddhists, the Hindus and many others have their periods of strict

fasting. The saints of

Guide to good vision

2008-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Guide to good vision
Vision is a dominant process in the growth, development and daily performance of children. Good vision includes healthy eyes, age appropriate visual acuity, visual integration and visual skills such as eye teaming, eye focusing and eye motility. Optometrists can evaluate these components and help ensure your child reaches his or her potential.

Visual acuity: Visual acuity is the ability to see objects appropriate for your child’s age. It can be measured by your optometrist long before your child can read or recognize letters.

Eye health: Eye disease can impair vision or lead to vision loss if not diagnosed and treated. Most conditions can be treated best if caught early.

Visual integration: The ability to process and integrate visual information, which includes and coordinates input from our other senses and previous experiences so that we can understand what we see. The eye-hand coordination involved in tossing a ball, or a game of patty-cake, requires a great deal of teamwork between the senses.
Visual skills your baby is learning:

Eye teaming: The ability of the eyes to work together.

Eye focusing: The ability of the eyes to focus clearly at different distances quickly, accurately, and for sustained periods of time.

Eye motility or tracking: The ability of the eyes to smoothly follow moving objects and to move accurately from one object to another.

Common terms about eye health

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Common terms about eye health
Amblyopia:
Also known as “lazy eye,” amblyopia is reduced vision in a healthy eye. Vision must develop, and development is impaired when eyes do not focus equally or maintain proper alignment. The brain ignores the information from the less favored eye. In either case, if this condition persists, the weaker eye will not develop normally. In babies, who are learning to use their eyes as a team, it’s easier for an eye doctor to distinguish between appropriate development and delays that could signal the need for intervention. Early detection of amblyopia is important because treatments such as patching and eye drops are most effective the earlier they are started.

Astigmatism:
Astigmatism blurs vision at all distances because the optical parts of the eye (cornea and lens) do not focus light onto the retina clearly. This condition is quite common, and results from an unequal curve of the cornea when comparing the horizontal and vertical planes. For descriptive purposes, imagine half of a tennis ball, squeezed at the top and bottom; the ball is now curved unequally. In the eye, this results in inaccurate focus on the retina. Lenses are often used to help focus the light to eliminate blurriness from astigmatism.

Hyperopia:
Often called farsightedness, hyperopia is when the eyeball is too short for the normal focusing power of the eye. Depending on severity, it can cause blurred vision, eye fatigue and sometimes amblyopia or crossed eyes.

Myopia:
Often called nearsightedness, myopia causes distant objects to appear blurred. The eyeball is too long for the normal focusing power of the eye.
Strabismus:
Strabismus occurs when one eye does not aim at the same object being viewed as the other eye. The “eye turn” may be present continuously or only occasionally, and the turn may be inward toward the nose (esotropia) or outward (exotropia), up or down. There is a common misconception that a child will outgrow crossed-eyes. This is not true. Untreated, this condition can lead to amblyopia.

Optometrist:
American Optometric Association doctors of optometry are highly qualified, trained doctors, on the frontline of eye health and vision care, who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in an individual's overall health and well-being by appropriately detecting systemic diseases. Doctors of optometry provide more than two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States. The American Optometric Association represents more than 33,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians in nearly 6,500 communities across the country. For more information, visit www.aoa.org.

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The iris, or the colored part of the eye with the pupil in the middle, contains most of the pigment cells that determine the color of the eye. Most Caucasian babies are born with bluish eyes because the pigment that determines eye color is scattered thinly in newborns. As the child grows, the pigment is distributed throughout the iris, and the brownish pigment begins to dominate. The process can take several months, and is determined by genetics, with brown eyes the dominant trait.
Your baby's developing eyes

Prenatal care: A bright start

When you are expecting, proper prenatal care and nutrition are very important to the development of healthy eyes and the related nervous system. Researchers are continually discovering more about the link between nutrition and eyesight.

At birth: Opening to a new world

It might take a moment or two for your baby’s eyes to open. His eyes should be examined for signs of congenital eye problems. These are rare, but early diagnosis and treatment are important to your child’s development. Health professionals typically administer an antibiotic ointment, such as erythromycin, to prevent infection. Within a short period of time, he will begin to focus on objects less than a foot away, such as mom’s face when nursing.

The latest research shows that complex shapes and high contrast targets best stimulate the interest of infants. When setting up baby’s room, include décor that is bright, contrasting and varied. Babies’ eyes are drawn to new objects, so be prepared to change the location of items. Also have a nightlight, to provide visual stimulation when the baby is awake in bed. While children should be put down to sleep on their backs to reduce the chance of SIDS, they should have supervised time on their stomach.

Oats

2008-12-18T06:23:00.001-08:00

Natural Weight-Loss Foods: Oats

Oats fill the bill when it comes to reducing hunger and keeping you on your diet plan. The soluble fiber in oats fills you up by creating gels. The gels delay stomach emptying, so you feel full longer, which helps with weight loss.

Whether horse feed or muffins come to mind when you think of oats, you're probably underestimating this truly healthful grain. A whole grain full of fiber, oats pack plenty of punch.

Health Benefits

Eating a bowl of oatmeal in the morning can easily help you increase your intake of whole grains and help you meet the Dietary Guidelines' recommendation to make half of the grains you eat whole grains. Whole grains are beneficial not just because of their fiber, but also because they contain a variety of minerals and phytonutrients. Some of the phytonutrients include lignans, which may help protect your heart; plant sterols and stanols, which help normalize blood cholesterol levels; and antioxidants such as phenolic and phytic acids.

Nutritional Values

Rolled Oats,
Cooked (Oatmeal)
Serving Size: 3/4 cup (1/3 cup uncooked)
Calories 110
Fat: 2 g
Saturated Fat: <1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Protein: 5 g
Dietary Fiber: 3 g
Sodium: 1 mg
Thiamin: <1 mg
Iron: 1 mg
Magnesium: 42 mg
Manganese: 1 mg
Phosphorus: 133 mg
Zinc: 1 mg

Since the mid 1960s, many studies have highlighted the effect of oats' soluble fiber (the same beta-glucans found in barley) on blood-cholesterol levels. On average, eating three grams of soluble (not total) fiber a day (the amount in two bowls of oatmeal or one cup of cooked oat bran) reduced cholesterol by six points in three months. Participants with the highest cholesterol levels saw the best response; those whose blood-cholesterol levels were over 220 mg/dL saw their levels drop by 8 to 23 percent. Those who ate the most oat bran benefited the most. Another study showed that in certain individuals, oat bran can be as effective as, and certainly much less expensive as, medication in curbing elevated blood-cholesterol levels.

Similarly exciting results have been seen in people with diabetes and those with high-normal blood-sugar levels. The soluble fiber in oats means slower digestion, spreading the rise in blood sugar over a longer time period. Some people with diabetes who followed a diet high in soluble fiber from sources like oats and beans have been able to reduce their medication. Oats have more to offer everyone. They are tops in protein and manganese, providing 50 percent of the recommended intake for this mineral. In addition, they offer an unusual amount of iron, thiamin, and magnesium.

Selection and Storage

The bran of the oat grain is the outer layer of the oat kernel, where much of the fiber and many of the nutrients reside. Whole oats (rolled or steel-cut) contain the bran along with the rest of the oat kernel. Oat bran contains the same nutrients and fiber found in whole oats but they are more concentrated. So eating whole oats will give you the same benefits of oat bran, you'll just need to eat more of it to get the same effect.

Cooking time and texture are the only differences among the varieties. Steel-cut oats, sometimes called Scotch oats or Irish oats, are whole oats sliced into thick, elongated pieces. They have a chewy texture and take about 20 minutes to cook.

Rolled oats are steamed and flattened between steel rollers, so they take about five minutes to cook and are easier to chew than steel-cut oats.

Quick oats are cut into smaller pieces before being rolled, so they cook very quickly, in about a minute.

Instant oats are precooked and pressed so thin it takes only boiling water to "reconstitute" them. Generally, they have a lot of added sodium; the flavored versions also have added sugar. Try the different varieties to see which flavor and texture you like better.

Store oats in a dark, dry location in a well-sealed container. Oats will keep up to a year. Whole oats are more likely to go rancid, so be sure to refrigerate them.

Nature Cure vs Modern System

2008-12-16T07:22:00.001-08:00

The modern medical system treats the symptoms and suppresses the disease but does little to

ascertain the real cause. Toxic drugs which may suppress or relieve some ailments usually have

harmful side-effects. Drugs usually hinder the self-healing efforts of the body and make recovery

more difficult. According to the late Sir William Osler, an eminent physician and surgeon, when

drugs are used, the patient has to recover twice - once from the illness, and once from the drug.

Drugs cannot cure diseases; disease continues. It is only its pattern that changes. Drugs also

produce dietary deficiencies by destroying nutrients, using them up, and preventing their

absorption. Moreover, the toxicity they produce occurs at a time when the body is least capable

of coping with it. The power to restore health thus lies not in drugs,but in nature.

The approach of modern system is more on combative lines after the disease has set in,

whereas nature cure system lays greater emphasis on preventive method and adopts measures

to attain and maintain health and prevent disease. The modern medical system treats each

disease as a separate entity, requiring specific drug for its cure, whereas the nature cure system

treats the organism as a whole and seeks to restore harmony to the whole of the patient's being.

Methods of Nature Cure

The nature cure system aims at the readjustment of the human system from abnormal to normal

conditions and functions, and adopts methods of cure which are in conformity with the

constructive principles of nature. Such methods remove from the system the accumulation of

toxic matter and poisons without in any way injuring the vital organs of the body. They also

stimulate the organs of elimination and purification to better functioning.

To cure disease, the first and foremost requirement is to regulate the diet.

To get rid of

accumulated toxins and restore the equilibrium of the system, it is desirable to completely

exclude acid-forming foods, including proteins, starches and fats, for a week or more and to

confine the diet to fresh fruits which will disinfect the stomach and alimentary canal. If the body is

overloaded with morbid matter, as in acute disease, a complete fast for a few days may be

necessary for the elimination of toxins. Fruit juice may, however, be taken during a fast. A simple

rule is : do not eat when you are sick, stick to a light diet of fresh fruits. Wait for the return of the

usual healthy appetite. Loss of appetite is Nature's warning that no burden should be placed on

the digestive organs.

Alkaline foods such as raw vegetables and sprouted whole grain cereals

may be added after a week of a fruits-only diet.

Another important factor in the cure of diseases by natural methods is to stimulate the vitality of

the body. This can be achieved by using water in various ways and at varying temperatures in

the form of packs or baths. The application of cold water, especially to the abdomen, the seat of

most diseases, and to the sexual organs, through a cold sitting ( hip) bath immediately lowers

body heat and stimulates the nervous system. In the form of wet packs, hydrotherapy offers a

simple natural method of abating fevers and reducing pain and inflammation without any harmful

side-effects. Warm water applications, on the other hand, are relaxing.

Other natural methods useful in the cure of diseases are air and sunbaths, exercise and

massage. Air and sunbaths revive dead skin and help maintain it in a normal condition. Exercise,

especially yogic asanas,promotes inner health and harmony and helps eliminate all tension :

physical, mental and emotional. Massage tones up the nervous system and quickens blood

circulation and the metabolic process.

Thus a well-balanced diet, sufficient physical exercise, the observation of the other laws of

well-being such as fresh air, plenty of sunlight, pure drinking water,scrupulous cleanliness,

adequate rest and right mental attitude can ensure proper health and prevent disease.

About Drinking Water

2008-12-13T01:58:00.000-08:00

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

Very Useful Fruit -- Indian Gooseberry

2008-12-12T20:13:00.001-08:00

Indian Gooseberry - Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

Botanical Name :: Emblica officinalis
Indian Name :: Amla
Other English names :: Emblica myrobalan
Description
Indian gooseberry is a wonderful fruit and one of the precious gifts of nature to man. It is probably the richest known natural source of vitamin C which is readily assimilated by the human system. It contributes greatly towards health and longevity
Indian gooseberry is globular small, round, six-lobed fruit, thick and hard in consistency. It is light yellow in color and is about 1.25 cm. to 2.5 cm. in diameter

Origin and Distribution

The Indian gooseberry is indigenous to India. It has been used as a valuable ingredient of various medicines in India and the Middle East from time immemorial. Shusrut, the great Ayurvedic authority, considers it as the best of all acid fruit and most useful in health and disease. Like Ayurvedic physicians Hakims of Unani medicine also use it very commonly and regard it as a good medicine for heart and bodily defects. They also use it in external applications due to its cool and astringent properties.
The Indian gooseberry is grown as a commercial crop primarily in Uttar Pradesh. It also grows wild at the foot of the Himalayas and at elevation up to 1,500 metres in South India. The tree flowers in the spring and fruit ripens in the winter.

Food Value

Indian gooseberry is valued chiefly for its high vitamin C content. The vitamin C Value of amla increases further when the juice is extracted from the fruit. The dehydrated berry provides 2428 to 3470 mg. of vitamin C per 100 grams. Even when it is dried in the shade and then turned into powder, it retains as much as 1780 to 2660 mg's. of Vitamins C.

Indian Gooseberry*

Food Value	Minerals and Vitamins
Moisture - 81.8%	Calcium - 50 mg
Protein - 0.5%	Phosphorus - 20 mg
Fat - 0.1%	Iron - 1.2 mg
Minerals - 0.5%	Vitamin C - 600mg
Carbohydrates - 13.7%	Small amount of Vitamin B Complex
Fibre - 3.4%	Small amount of Vitamin B Complex
* Value per 100 gm's edible portion	Calorific Value - 48

The best way to take it, with the least loss of vitamin C is to eat it raw with a little salt. The berry may also be used as a vegetable.. It is often used in the form of pickles and marmalade. It can be preserved for a long period when it is dried and turned into powder

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

Many medicinal virtues have been attributed to Indian gooseberry. The fresh fruit is light, laxative and diuretic. A tablespoonful each of fresh gooseberry juice and honey mixed together forms a very valuable medicine for the treatment of several ailments. It should be taken every morning. Its regular use will promote vigor in the body within a few days. When fresh fruit is not available, dry powder can be mixed with honey

Respiratory Disorders :- This medicinal tonic is highly beneficial in the treatment of respiratory disorders. It is especially valuable in tuberculosis of the lungs, asthma and bronchitis.

Diabetes :- Indian gooseberry, with its high vitamin C content, is considered valuable in diabetes. A tablespoonful of its juice, mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months will stimulate the islets of Lengerhans i.e. -the isolated group of cells that the secrete hormone insulin. It thus reduces the blood sugar in diabetes. Diet restrictions should be strictly observed while taking this medicine. It will also prevent eye complications in diabetes. Equal quantity of amla powder, jamun powder and bitter gourd powder also make a very useful food remedy for diabetics. A teaspoonful of this mixture once or twice a day would be effective in checking the progress of the disease.

Heart Disease :- Indian gooseberry is considered an effective remedy for heart disease. It tones up the functions of all the organs of the body and builds up health by destroying the heterogeneous elements and renewing the body energy.

Eye Disorders :- The juice of Indian gooseberry, mixed with honey, is useful in preserving eye sight. It will also be beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis and glaucoma. It reduces intra ocular tension ill a remarkable manner. A cupful of this juice should be taken mixed with honey twice daily in such cases.

Rheumatism :- The Indian gooseberry is useful in the treatment of rheumatism. One teaspoonful of powder of the dry fruit mixed with two teaspoonfuls of jaggery should be taken twice daily for a month in this disease.

Scurvy :- As an extremely rich source of vitamin C. Indian gooseberry is one of the best remedies for scurvy. Powder of dry gooseberry . nixed with equal quantity of sugar should be taken in doses of one teaspoonful three times daily with milk.

Diarrhea and Dysentery :- The dried fruit is valuable in diarrhea and dysentery. A drink made from amla mixed with lemon juice and misri is considered highly beneficial in controlling acute I?acillary dysentery. One tablespoonful of the paste of leaves mixed with honey or butter-milk also makes an effective Medicare in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery.

Prevents Ageing :- Indian gooseberry has revitalizing effects. It contains an element which is very valuable in preventing ageing and in maintaining strength in old age. It improves body resistance and protects against infection. It strengthens the heart, hair and Different glands in the body. It is said that the great ancient sage Muni Chyawan rejuvenated himself in his late 70s and regained his virility by the use of amla.

Hair Tonic :- Indian gooseberry is an accepted hair tonic in traditional recipes for enriching hair growth and hair pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces, is dried preferably in shade. These pieces are boiled in coconut oil till the solid matter becomes like charred dust. This darkish oil is an excellent oil to prevent graying. The water in which dired amla pieces are soaked overnight is also nourishing to hair. This water should be used for the last rinse while washing the hair.

DENGUE AND DANGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

2008-12-12T20:11:00.001-08:00

Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever:
Questions and Answers

Q. What is dengue?
A. Dengue (pronounced den' gee) is a disease caused by any one of four closely related viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, or DEN-4). The viruses are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In the Western Hemisphere, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the most important transmitter or vector of dengue viruses, although a 2001 outbreak in Hawaii was transmitted by Aedes albopictus. It is estimated that there are over 100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year.

Q. What is dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)?
A. DHF is a more severe form of dengue. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated. DHF is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1%.

Q. How are dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) spread?
A. Dengue is transmitted to people by the bite of an Aedes mosquito that is infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected with dengue virus when it bites a person who has dengue or DHF and after about a week can transmit the virus while biting a healthy person. Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person.

Q. What are the symptoms of the disease?
A. The principal symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, backache, joint pains, nausea and vomiting, eye pain, and rash. Generally, younger children have a milder illness than older children and adults.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is characterized by a fever that lasts from 2 to 7 days, with general signs and symptoms that could occur with many other illnesses (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache). This stage is followed by hemorrhagic manifestations, tendency to bruise easily or other types of skin hemorrhages, bleeding nose or gums, and possibly internal bleeding. The smallest blood vessels (capillaries) become excessively permeable (“leaky”), allowing the fluid component to escape from the blood vessels. This may lead to failure of the circulatory system and shock, followed by death, if circulatory failure is not corrected.

Q. What is the treatment for dengue?
A. There is no specific medication for treatment of a dengue infection. Persons who think they have dengue should use analgesics (pain relievers) with acetaminophen and avoid those containing aspirin. They should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and consult a physician.

Q. Is there an effective treatment for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)?
A. As with dengue, there is no specific medication for DHF. It can however be effectively treated by fluid replacement therapy if an early clinical diagnosis is made. Hospitalization is frequently required in order to adequately manage DHF. Physicians who suspect that a patient has DHF may want to consult the Dengue Branch at CDC, for more information.

Q. Where can outbreaks of dengue occur?
A. Outbreaks of dengue occur primarily in areas where Aedes aegypti (sometimes also Aedes albopictus) mosquitoes live. This includes most tropical urban areas of the world. Dengue viruses may be introduced into areas by travelers who become infected while visiting other areas of the tropics where dengue commonly exists.

In the America region, all dengue virus serotypes are now present. DEN-3 was reintroduced into Central America in 1994 and is now found in several countries in the region. Since this serotype has been absent from the Americas for almost 20 years, the population has a low level of immunity and the virus is expected to spread rapidly.

Q. What can be done to reduce the risk of acquiring dengue?
A. There is no vaccine for preventing dengue. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with Aedes aegypti is to eliminate the places where the mosquito lays her eggs, primarily artificial containers that hold water.

Items that collect rainwater or are used to store water (for example, plastic containers, 55-gallon drums, buckets, or used automobile tires) should be covered or properly discarded. Pet and animal watering containers and vases with fresh flowers should be emptied and scoured at least once a week. This will eliminate the mosquito eggs and larvae and reduce the number of mosquitoes present in these areas.

For travelers to areas with dengue, a well as people living in areas with dengue, the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes indoors is reduced by utilization of air conditioning or windows and doors that are screened. Proper application of mosquito repellents containing 20% to 30% DEET as the active ingredient on exposed skin and clothing decreases the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes. The risk of dengue infection for international travelers appears to be small, unless an epidemic is in progress.

Q. How can we prevent epidemics of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)?
A. The emphasis for dengue prevention is on sustainable, community-based, integrated mosquito control, with limited reliance on insecticides (chemical larvicides and adulticides) . Preventing epidemic disease requires a coordinated community effort to increase awareness about dengue/DHF, how to recognize it, and how to control the mosquito that transmits it. Residents are responsible for keeping their yards and patios free of sites where mosquitoes can be produced.

Fast food: 6 ways to healthier meals in a fast food restaurant.

2008-12-10T08:46:00.001-08:00

Can fast food be part of a weight-loss or healthy diet plan? You might not think so. In fact, you might even think that you can't have a meal that's both quick and healthy. . An occasional stop at a fast-food restaurant can fit into a healthy diet plan. The key is to choose wisely.

1. Keep portion sizes small. If the fast-food restaurant offers several sandwich sizes, pick the smallest or order half a sandwich, if available. Choose a regular- or children's-sized hamburger, which has about 250 to 300 calories. Also, skip the large serving of french fries or onion rings and ask for a small serving instead.

2. Opt for grilled items. Fried and breaded foods, such as crispy chick en sandwiches are high in fat and calories. Select grilled or roasted lean meats — such as turkey or chicken breast, lean ham, or lean roast beef.

3. Watch what you drink. Many beverages contain a large number of calories. For example, a large regular soda (32 ounces) has about 300 calories. Instead reach out for diet soda or unsweetened iced tea.

4. Choose a healthier side dish. Take advantage of healthy side dishes offered at many fast-food restaurants. For example, instead of french fries choose a side salad with low-fat dressing or a baked potato. Or add a fruit bowl or a fruit and yogurt option to your meal. Other healthy choices include apple or orange slices, corn on the cob, steamed rice, or baked potato chips.

5. Go for the greens. Choose a large salad with fat-free or low-fat dressing on the side, rather than regular salad dressing, which can have 100 to 200 calories per packet.

6. Have it your way. Don't settle for what comes with your sandwich or meal. Ask for healthier options and substitutions. For example, ask for reduced-fat mayonnaise or mustard on your sandwich. Or at a fast-food Mexican restaurant, request salsa with your meal instead of shredded cheese and nacho cheese sauce.

The top ways to beat the stress over the weekend.

2008-12-10T08:45:00.001-08:00

The top ways to beat the stress over the weekend.

When is the last time you decided to be selfish and decided to be a slave to ‘Me first, others later’ ideology? With the stress levels shooting heights, we put together ten top ways to beat the stress over the weekend.

Aromatherapy. Before you go, that-isnt-for-me, then we recommend just-do-it-once-in-your-life. Jennifer Aniston and Jude Law swear by it. What is it? Aromatherapy is an umbrella term that applies to any healing process involving the use of essential oils. The classic relaxing oil is lavender. Others associated with de-stressing are chamomile, bergamot, patchouli and sandalwood.

Accupuncture

Acupuncture is based on the Chinese philosophy that the body's energy, the qi, made up of yin and yang, flows under the skin. If yin or yang is more dominant, qi reserves dip and you become ill. An acupuncturist will discuss your general health to identify unbalanced areas of qi.

He or she will then insert fine needles into "energy channels" in the body to restore its natural balance. Oprah Winfrey and Sandra Bullock swear by this method of de-stressing.

Hot stone massage therapy

It is the application of heated and cooled stones to certain parts of the body. During hot stone therapy, treated volcanic stones, usually basalt or basinite, are heated in water, using temperatures ranging from 120-130F, and placed along the spine. Cooled marble stones are also used. Often the stones are coated in aromatherapy oils. As well as along the spine, some stones are placed in the palms and in between the toes. Hot stone therapists believe that the combination of warm and cold encourages the body to relax.

Reflexology

Seemingly, Prince Charles swears by this method of de stressing. Reflexology uses the manipulation of pressure points, usually on the feet but sometimes on the hands and ears, to relieve ailments elsewhere in the body.

Reiki

Before you shrug off this de-stressing technique, do remember that Nicole Kidman and Meg Ryan believe in this form of de stressing. Reiki, roughly translated from Japanese as "universal life energy" is a practice started by a Buddhist called Mikao Usui in 1922. Reiki practitioners heal their patients by transferring energy to the patient through the palms.

Qigong

Invented by Taoist monks 3000 years ago, qigong is related to Tai Chi and Vedic meditation. It is based on the same principles as reiki and shiatsu: that of "qi", "energy" flows and pathways.

With qi meaning "air" and "gong" meaning exercise, qigong is based on slow body movements that are co-ordinated with the breathing, encouraging energy to flow down the "right" pathways of the body.

Ka Huna, a little known form of massage is great for beating stress. Once practiced in ancient Hawaiian temples as a means of restoring harmony to mind, body and soul, it is now commonly practiced everywhere. Once you try this gentler version of massage, you will emerge more relaxed and with your limbs intact!

Get Sunlight and Wide Open Space

Think about the average office. It is a stress breeding ground. When you spend a lot of the day indoors dealing with the daily grind you lose a lot of perspective. A stressful event seems like the end of the world and you spend the rest of the day (or week!) brooding and thinking about it over and over again. It is like there is nothing else going on in the world.

When you feel like your whole world is becoming engulfed in stress and anxiety one of the simplest things you can do is go outside in the sun in a wide-open space. The effect is wonderfully relaxing. Try it!

A few years ago I discovered how much classical music could help my stress levels. Infact, findings have stated that classical music have a soothing effect on our frayed nerves.

And of course, the last bit is just relax and learn to let go. A lot of us are addicted to stress. I know that sounds a little silly but in many cases it is true. And to make matters worse we go over things again and again in our head. We think that if we think about "why" we are stressed we will come to some lasting solution but in actual fact it just makes it worse. Ironic, isn’t it.

Switch on to classical Music

In these times it is really handy to know the mantra "Just relax!" It sounds simple and probably a little bit silly but it is something you have to try to do. Just relax. Things aren't that bad. I came across a popular Buddhist teaching.

"If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will be of no help." And the teaching more or less puts things in the perspective…doesn’t it!

Get time on your side - Manage your time effectively - use a daily planner and to-do lists. Prioritize those tasks that are most critical. Be sure to include time for rest and relaxation.

Keep moving - Regular physical activity is one of the best ways of managing and coping with stress.

Stay clean and sober - Avoid alcohol and drug use as a means of coping with stress. Alcohol and drugs will mask the symptoms of stress but will do nothing to alleviate your stress.

Keep a healthy diet and a healthy mind - Avoid foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Eat healthy meals and snacks and your energy will remain high as will your ability to focus and concentrate.

Take a break - Minimize interruptions when studying and be sure to include leisure activities and relaxation during study times.

Just say no - Learn to say no without guilt when you are working on your studies. Taking on additional tasks and projects when you do not have to will add to your stress level.

Keep it in perspective - What are the long-term consequences of whatever is stressing you out right now? If the stressor will not have long-term consequences, then you may want to "let it be" and focus on those stressors for which you can take action. Counseling and Wellness Services is available to help with this process.

Count some sheep - It is important to get enough sleep on a regular basis. Avoid caffeine and eating heavy foods late in the evening. Try to go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time each day.

Gallstones Removal

2008-12-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Gallstones Removal (6-day treatment)

This is a useful piece of information that you may have received before. This is true and it works. You can 'google' :-

Dr Lai Chiu-Nan to find out more about her and the feedbacks of this treatment.

ps. as always, spread the good things

Pictures first, explanation and procedure follows:

1. Liver
2. Common Bile Duct
3. Gallstones
4. Gallbladder

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY
by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

It has worked for many. If it works for you please pass on the good news. Chiu Nan is not charging for it, so we should make it free for everyone. Your reward is when someone, through your word of mouth, benefits from the regime. Gallstones may not be everyone's concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to cancer. "Cancer is never the first illness," Chiu Nan points out. "Usually, there are a lot of other problems leading to cancer.

In my research in China, I came across some materials which say that people with cancer usually have stones. We all have gallstones. It's a matter of big or small, many or few.

One of the symptoms of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal. You feel like you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area." So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally.

The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

Regimen:
1. For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.
2. On the sixth day, take no dinner.
3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.
4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.
5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.
PS. 1cup=250ml, ½ cup lemon juice=3 lemons (aprox.)

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools. "Usually they float," Chiu Nan notes. "You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many."

"Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then.

Some tips

2008-12-03T19:41:00.000-08:00

· Almonds: To remove the skin of
almonds easily, soak them in hot water for 15-20 minutes.

· Ants: Putting 3-4 cloves in the sugar container will keep the ants at bay.

· Biscuits: If you keep a piece of blotting paper at the bottom of the container, it will keep
biscuits fresh for a longer time.

· Butter: Avoid the use of butter. If it is essential to use, use a butter containing low saturated fat or with plant stanols (which avoid absorption of cholesterol by our body) or similar substitutes.

· Apples: Apply some lemon juice on the cut surface of the apple to avoid browning. They will look fresh for a longer time.

· Banana: Apply mashed banana over a burn on your body to have a cooling effect.

· Bee and Scorpion Sting Relief: Apply a mixture of 1 pinch of chewing tobacco and 1 drop of water. Mix and apply directly and immediately to the sting; cover with band aid to hold in place. Pain will go away in just a few short minutes

· Bitter Gourd (Karela): Slit Karelas at the middle and apply a mixture of salt, wheat flour and curd all round. Keep aside for 1/2 an hour and then cook.

Stuffed Karela

· Celery: To keep celery fresh for long time, wrap it in aluminium foil and place in the refrigerator.

· Burnt Food: Place some chopped onion in the vessel having burnt food, pour boiling water in it, keep for 5 minutes and then clean.

· Chilli Powder: Keeping a small piece of hing (asafoetida) in the same container will store chilli powder for long time.

· Chopping: Use a wooden board to chop. It will not blunt the knife. Don't use a plastic board, small plastic pieces may go with the vegetables.

· Coriander/Mint: You can use dried coriander and mint leaves in coarse powder form in vegetable curry or chutney, if fresh ones are not available.
To keep them fresh for a longer time, wrap them in a muslin cloth and keep in a fridge.

· Cockroaches: Put some boric powder in kitchen in corners and other places. Cockroaches will leave your house.

· Coconut: Immerse coconut in water for 1/2 an hour to remove its hust.

· Dry Fruits: To chop dry fruits, place them in fridge for half an hour before cutting. Take the fruits out and cut them with a hot knife (dip it in hot water before cutting).

· Dough/Rolling pin: If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, place it in freezer for a few minutes.

· Egg peeling off: Make a small hole in the egg by piercing a pin before boiling it. You will be able to remove its skin very easily.

· Egg fresh: Immerse the egg in a pan of cool salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface, it is certainly quite old.

· Garlic: Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic cloves are slightly warmed before peeling.

· Ghee: Avoid the use of ghee. If it is necessary, substitute it with canola oil. Even for making halwa, you can partly substitute it with oil.

· Green Chillies: To keep the chillies fresh for a longer time, remove the stems before storing.

· Green Peas: To preserve green peas, keep them in a polythene bag in the freezer.

· Idlies: Place a betel (paan) leaf over the leftover idli and dosa batter to prevent them sour.
Do not beat idli batter too much, the air which has been incorporated during fermentation will escape.
If you add half a tsp of fenugreek seeds to the lentil and rice mixture while soaking, dosas will be more crisp.

· Fruits: To ripen fruits, wrap them in newspaper and put in a warm place for 2-3 days. The ethylene gas they emit will make them ripe.

· Frying: Avoid deep frying. Substitute deep frying with stir frying or oven bake. Don't pour the oil, but make a habit of spraying the oil in the utensil for cooking. Heat the utensil first, then add oil. This way oil spreads well. You will use less oil this way.

· Left Over: Don't throw away the foods left over. Store them in Fridge. Use them in making tasty dishes.

· Lemon/Lime: If the lemon or lime is hard, put it in warm water for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to squeeze.

· Lizards: Hang a peacock feather, lizards will leave your house.

· Milk: Moisten the base of the vessel with water to reduce the chances of milk to stick at the bottom.
Keep a spoon in the vessel while boiling milk at medium heat. It will avoid sticking the milk at the bottom of the vessel.
Adding half a tsp of sodium bicarbonate in the milk while boiling will not spoil the milk even if you don't put it in the fridge.

· Mixer/Grinder: Grind some common salt in your mixer/grinder fro some time every month. This will keep your mixer blades sharp.

· Mosquitoes: Put a few camphor tablets in a cup of water and keep it in the bed room near your bed, or in any place with mosquitoes.

· Noodles: When the noodles are boiled, drain all the hot water and add cold water. This way all the noodles will get separated.

· Onions: To avoid crying, cut the onions into two parts and place them in water for 15 minutes before chopping them.
Wrap the onions individually in a newspaper and store in a cool and dark place to keep them fresh for long time.

· Oven: Watch from the oven window to conserve energy because the
oven temperature drops by 25 degrees every time its door is opened,
To clean the oven, apply a paste of sodium bicarbonate and water on the walls and floor of the oven and keep the oven on low heat for about half an hour. Dried food can easily be removed.

· Paneer: To keep paneer fresh for several days, wrap it in a blotting paper while storing in the refrigerator.
Do not fry paneer, immerse it in boiling water to make it soft and spongy.

· Papad: Bake in microwave oven.
Wrap the papads in polythene sheet and place with dal or rice will prevent them from drying and breaking.

· Pickles: To prevent the growth of fungus in pickles, burn a small grain of asafoetida over a burning coal and invert the empty pickle jar for some time before putting pickles in the jar.

· Popcorn: Keep the maize/corn seeds in the freezer and pop while still frozen to get better pops.

· Potato: To bake potatoes quickly, place them in salt water for 15 minutes before baking.
Use the skin of boiled potatoes to wipe mirrors to sparkling clean.
Don't store potatoes and onions together. Potatoes will rot quickly if stored with onions.

· Refrigerator: To prevent formation of ice, rub table salt to the insides of your freeze.

· Rice: Add a few drops of lemon juice in the water before boiling the rice to make rice whiter.
Add a tsp of canola oil in the water before boiling the rice to separate each grain after cooking.
Don't throw away the rice water after cooking. Use it to make soup or add it in making dal (lentils).
Add 5g of dried powdered mint leaves to 1kg of rice. It will keep insects at bay.
Put a small paper packet of boric powder in the container of rice to keep insects at bay. Put a few leaves of mint in the container of rice to keep insects at bay.

· Samosa: Bake them instead of deep frying to make them fat free. Don't fry the filling potato masala.
Preserve the samosas in freezer. For eating, take out of the freezer two hours in advance and bake them over low temp.

· Sugar: Put 2-3 cloves in the sugar to keep ants at bay.

· Tadka: Use sprouted mustard seeds (rayee) and fenugreek (methi) seeds for your tadkas. Both of them when sprouted have more nutritional values. Also this add flavour to the dish and can be more beneficial, besides giving decorative look to the dish. Submitted by MS Itisha Madhav

· Tomato: To remove the skin of tomatoes, place them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can then be easily peeled off.
When tomatoes are not available or too costly, substitute with tomato puree or tomato ketchup/sauce.
Place overripe tomatoes in cold water and add some salt. Overnight they will become firm and fresh.

· Tamarind: Tamarind is an excellent polish for brass and copper items. Rub a slab of wet tamarind with some salt sprinkled on it on the object to be polished.
Gargles with tamarind water is recommended for a sore throat.

· Utensils: Use nonsticking utensils. Use thick bottom utensils, they get uniformly heated. For electric stoves, use flat bottom utensils.
Add a little bit of common salt to the washing powder for better cleaning of utensils.

· Vegetables: Don't discard the water in which the vegetables are soaked or cooked. Use it in making soup or gravy.
To keep the vegetables fresh for a longer time, wrap them in newspaper before putting them in freeze.
Chop the vegetables only when you are ready to use them. Don't cut them in too advance. It would spoil their food value.

· Sink (Blocked): To clear the blocked drain pipe of your kitchen sink, mix 1/2 cup sodium bicarbonate in 1 cup
vinegar and pour it into the sink, and pour about 1 cup water. In an hour the drain pipe will open.

· Soup Salty: Place a raw peeled potato in the bowl, it will absorb the extra salt.

· Yoghurt (Home Made): To set
yogurt in winter, place the container in a warm place like oven or over the voltage stabliser.

· Yogurt: If the yogurt has become sour, put it in a muslin cloth and drain all the water. Then add milk to make it as good as fresh in taste. Use the drained water in making tasty gravy for vegetables or for basen curry.
To keep the yogurt fresh for many days, fill the vessel containing yogurt with water to the brim and refrigerate. Change the water daily..

7 tips for a stress-free sex life

2008-12-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

Do you feel that stress is squeezing the fun out of your rocky bedroom life? If yes, then you can bring back the action, courtesy tips provided by sex educator and relationship expert Dr Yvonne Kristin Fulbright.

According to the expert, many couples become frustrated, even panicky, when their sex lives go to the wayside during stressful times.
When it comes to the factor that governs a person's sex life, its personality, reports Fox News.

Fulbright says that how an individual's sex life fares depends on whether he tries to get closer to his partner in tragic times or wants to be totally alone - and if he's the withdrawing sorts, then it can create misunderstandings in the relationship.

In order to avoid any such misunderstandings and still keep sex life full of fun and passion, Fulbright has suggested that couples need to establish a common ground and mutual understanding during stressful times.

Also, they should make an effort to stay connected during life's highs and lows, because if they don't, it could lead to dire consequences.

And in case, sex is not on mind and also the time to be spent in the sack is less, then a person can try the following:

1. Showing appreciation for one another. Giving compliments, for example, is a simple way of expressing affection and letting your partner know that he or she is still being noticed and loved.

2. Talking daily. Chat during dinner or at bedtime. Conversations foster bonding by providing support. It's also important for couples to check in with each other, showing concern and care for one another's well-being with simple statements like, "Tell me about your day."

3. Staying positive. Bite your tongue if you're about to complain. Stressful situations are hard enough to deal with. Don't add to the situation if you can avoid doing so.

4. Believing in your future together. Stressful times can make lovers doubt their ability to stay together for the long haul. Insecurity issues that arise can only make matters more difficult. Making plans is one way to indicate that you're feeling secure about your future.

5. Helping each other with responsibilities. Approaching tasks with a team effort provides a greater sense of being in this together.

6. Balancing 'alone time' and 'together time'. Create a sensual atmosphere, for example, soothing scents, dim lights, delicious food, and relaxing music, to help you unwind.

7. Getting creative in how you'll be intimate. Redefine your definition of sexual intimacy when needed; try a simple body massage.

Not to forget, lovers should make it a point to give in to one another's requests for intimacy whenever possible, as it might just prove to be a big stress-buster.
In fact, sex has many physical and emotional benefits, which may help in boosting your desire for more sex and emotional intimacy. Sex can easily take your mind off of your worries.

Also, patience is the key to get your sex life back on track. One should make sure that your relationship, in general, doesn't get neglected.

Nature's cure

2008-12-01T08:25:00.001-08:00

Principles and Practice of Nature Cure

Nature Cures, not the Physician.

- Hippocrates

Nature cure is a constructive method of treatment which aims at removing the basic cause of

disease through the rational use of the elements freely available in nature. It is not only a system

of healing, but also a way of life, in tune with the internal vital forces or natural elements

comprising the human body. It is a complete revolution in the art and science of living.

Although the term ' naturopathy' is of relatively recent origin, the philosophical basis and several

of the methods of nature cure treatments are ancient. It was practised in ancient Egypt , Greece

and Rome . Hippocrates, the father of medicine ( 460-357 B.C.) strongly advocated it. India , it

appears, was much further advanced in older days in natural healing system than other

countries of the world.

There are references in India 's ancient sacred books about the extensive

use of nature's excellent healing agents such as air, earth, water and sun. The Great Baths of

the Indus Valley civilisation as discovered at Mohenjodaro in old Sind testifies to the use of water

for curative purposes in ancient India .

The modern methods of nature cure originated in Germany in 1822, when Vincent Priessnitz

established the first hydropathic establishment there. With his great success in water cure, the

idea of drugless healing spread throughout the civilised world and many medical practitioners

throughout the civilised world and many medical practitioners from America and other countries

became his enthusiastic students and disciples.

These students subsequently enlarged and

developed the various methods of natural healing in their own way. The whole mass of

knowledge was later collected under one name, Naturopathy. The credit for the name

Naturopathy goes to Dr. Benedict Lust ( 1872 - 1945), and hence he is called the Father of

Naturopathy.

Nature cure is based on the realisation that man is born healthy and strong and that he can stay

as such as living in accordance with the laws of nature. Even if born with some inherited

affliction, the individual can eliminate it by putting to the best use the natural agents of healing.

Fresh air, sunshine, a proper diet, exercise, scientific relaxation, constructive thinking and the

right mental attitude, along with prayer and meditation all play their part in keeping a sound mind

in a sound body.

Nature cure believes that disease is an abnormal condition of the body resulting from the

violation of the natural laws. Every such violation has repercussions on the human system in the

shape of lowered vitality, irregularities of the blood and lymph and the accumulation of waste

matter and toxins. Thus, through a faulty diet it is not the digestive system alone which is

adversely affected. When toxins accumulate, other organs such as the bowels, kidneys, skin and

lungs are overworked and cannot get rid of these harmful substances as quickly as they are

produced.

Besides this, mental and emotional disturbances cause imbalances of the vital electric field

within which cell metabolism takes place, producing toxins. When the soil of this electric filed is

undisturbed, disease-causing germs can live in it without multiplying or producing toxins. It is

only when it is disturbed or when the blood is polluted with toxic waste that the germs multiply

and become harmful.

Basic Principles

The whole philosophy and practice of nature cure is built on three basic principles. These

principles are based on the conclu sions reached from over a century of effective naturopathic

treatment of diseases in Germany , America and Great Britain . They have been tested and

proved over and over again by the results obtained.

The first and most basic principle of nature cure is that all forms of disease are due to the same

cause, namely, the accumulations of waste materials and bodily refuse in the system. These

waste materials in the healthy individual are removed from the system through the organs of

elimination. But in the diseased person, they are steadily piling up in the body through years of

faulty habits of living such as wrong feeding, improper care of the body and habits contributing to

enervation and nervous exhaustion such as worry, overwork and excesses of all kinds. It follows

from this basic principle that the only way to cure disease is to employ methods which will

enable the system to throw off these toxic accumulations. All natural treatments are actually

directed towards this end.

The second basic principle of nature cure is that all acute diseases such as fevers, colds,

inflammations, digestive disturbances and skin eruptions are nothing more than self-initiated

efforts on the part of the body to throw off the accumulated waste materials and that all chronic

diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, kidney disorders, are the results

of continued suppression of the acute diseases through harmful methods such as drugs,

vaccines, narcotics and gland extracts.

The third principle of nature cure is that the body contains an eleborate healing mechanism

which has the power to bring about a return to normal condition of health, provided right

methods are employed to enable it to do so. In other words, the power to cure disease lies within

the body itself and not in the hands of the doctor.

OTC drugs risky for children

2008-11-30T18:04:00.000-08:00

As the seasons change and parents reach for over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicine for their icky-feeling children, they may be baffled by the new instructions: Do not give them to children under 4. Drug companies in the US recently announced that they are voluntarily changing the labels for OTC cold and cough medicines, in a nod to paediatricians arguing they do little good and aren’t worth the risks.

So now what?

“I just want my children to be comforted, to sleep well at night and get over it,” says Ray Alyssa Rothman, a mother of three—the oldest is 4.

Brad Weselman of Kids Health First Pediatric Alliance says: “We know parents want to give their kids something when they are miserable. But the benefits don’t balance the side effects.” Some medications can make children excessively groggy, making it difficult for them to concentrate in school, he says. Others, he adds, can leave a child “wired” and increase the heart rate. Instead, Dr Weselman suggests treating children with saline drops, warm apple juice and gargling with salt water.

Warning labels

The new labels are being brought in after a study found that at least 7,000 children are rushed to emergency rooms every year because of adverse reactions to OTC cough and cold medicines. Most cases are of children overdosing when parents aren’t around, according to the study published in the April issue of Pediatrics—the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Meanwhile, the US food and drug administration (FDA) has already recommended OTC remedies not be used for children under 2, and is studying effectiveness in children under 12 to decide whether to restrict further. The FDA has also expressed support for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association’s move to voluntarily change the labels to discourage use for children under 4.

A pill too many

Doctors say parents often run into trouble when they give their child multiple medications. For example, a parent may give a child a multi-symptom cold medicine as well as Tylenol, not realizing they are essentially administering a double dose of acetaminophen, also called paracetamol (brand names, Crocin and Calpol in India). Still, doctors say the latest change doesn’t mean you have to take paracetamol and ibuprofen off the table (in India, Combiflam includes both paracetamol and ibuprofen). Doctors say they are still an approved, fever-reducing measure and considered safe—as long as they are administered appropriately.

Natural remedies

Rothman says she turns to several natural remedies to combat colds, including liquid vitamin C, vitamin-rich kiwi fruit, extra rest and saline drops.

But she also keeps OTC medicines at hand. “I don’t think it’s an abuse to have them,” she says. “I think it’s good to have (OTC medicines) when you have a child with a really bad cough, and you don’t want it to get worse.” She keeps laminated information about proper dosage of medicine for children in her pantry. Her family keeps a log any time her child is given any medication. Still, she says, the change in labels and questions about OTC medications have given her pause. She will now “think twice and use less”.

Alternatives to OTC cold medicines

• Saline nose spray can help alleviate stuffy noses

• A humidifier can help moisturize nasal passages

• Offer plenty of fluids. Any warm liquid—apple juice, even water—can help relieve congestion and soothe throats (avoid any citrus juice because it can irritate the throat)

• Plenty of rest (naps or lounging) is key to recovery

• Popsicles can soothe throats and provide a source of liquid

• Hot or cold packs for congested sinuses (avoid hot packs if the child is running a fever)

• Gargling with warm salt water can bring temporary relief to a sore throat, but practise with plain water to make sure your child can gargle

• The heavy syrup from canned fruit or sweets can help soothe sore throats (honey is often recommended but doctors say it puts children under 2 at risk of infant botulism, a rare type of food poisoning only affecting little ones)

• Chicken soup (limit salt as that can cause dehydration)

Why running can boost a company's bottomline

2008-11-29T20:05:00.000-08:00

You’re kidding me! Are you saying that if I start running, my organization is likely to have a healthier bottom line? That’s the most outrageous sales line I’ve heard!”

Now that you have said that out loud, and got it off your chest, I would urge you to read on.

You know what you pay your employees, but do you know how much your employees cost you?

Here are a few simple questions that I ask the CEOs and HR heads of MNCs and start-ups whom I meet in the course of work:

The tangibles: around 5+% of your wage bill

• How many days on an average do your employees take leave due to coughs, colds, flu? The answer—after a few “hmmms”—has varied from four-six days (with two bad spells in a year)

• Before the employees go on leave, is it safe to say that their productivity has been down for around half a day? Well, that adds up to one more workday lost

• What about migraines, backaches, spondylosis and various other aches and pains? Another day? Perhaps

• Also, about 1% would have been down for 10-15 days with a severe illness

Eight days and counting

India is the cardiac, diabetic and hypertension capital of the world. Studies show that by 2010, 60% of the world’s coronary patients will be in India.

•How many people in your organization are stressed, have high BP, or basic coronary issues such as cholesterol? Perhaps all, but each to a varying degree. Okay—so what percentage of your employees of any age have been hospitalized in the last year? Perhaps 1%

•Diabetes? Probably similar

• So, 2% down (for an average of around a month in all) on the above two counts—and that’s a very conservative figure

That’s half a workday lost per employee

What is the impact on the team as a whole? With an average team size of four, it is a conservative estimate to arrive at a 10% impact on each team member’s productivity for each day’s absence.

Team impact: 8½ days x 4 people x 10% = 3.5 days

The intangibles: around 10+% of your wage bill

How’s the morale at your organization these days? How much time in the last week were you a bit switched off work, during a time when you shouldn’t have been? 5%? 10%? Or are these numbers a bit conservative?

Any disgruntled employees taking poor decisions and not caring about the fallout? Do you think you have even one of them in your entire team? That could be a major cost! And what do you think is the knock-on effect on the rest of the team?

How is all this affecting delivery schedules and quality control? Have you had issues with customers in the last six months on these counts? How much of it was due to absenteeism or attitudinal issues such as those mentioned above? Add that to your costs. Are people taking risks like you want them to? Are they optimistic and self-confident? Are they persevering? What are the losses or the opportunity costs on these counts?

These are all more difficult to measure, but they have an impact far greater than the tangible costs.

If you add the allocated costs of real estate and administration, you have a huge figure to look at. Mindboggling, isn’t it? And no, this is not a juggling of numbers.

Are you measuring these costs in some way? If not, estimate these realistically and set in place a periodic pulse check within your organization.

Many of my previous columns have focused on how running impacts each employee, the team and the organization in terms of their health, perseverance, self-confidence and optimism. If you make a start with sports, this could spread through your organization. Leading organizations around the world are looking at running to work tangentially across their teams. And this is why and how it helps your company’s bottom line, by boosting health and attitude across the board.

Top Five Cancer Causing Foods

2008-11-28T17:00:00.001-08:00

The top five cancer-causing foods are:

1. Hot dogs

Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon

Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies

All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

Weed out aerobics accessories, pull on gardening gloves

2008-11-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

When the late Sarla Bhargava, founder member of the Kitchen Gardens Association of India started this unique organization, she just wanted to grow a healthy plateful. “But early on in her 40 years of association (with it), she came to the conclusion that gardening—the thrill of growing beauty and the taste of fresh produce—translates into tangible happiness. And this she equated to health,” says her daughter Pratima Jhingan, who is based in Delhi and is also an active gardener. Bhargava’s view is now endorsed by health experts, who advocate gardening because there is nothing healthier than working up a good sweat in the dirt.

Gardening provides the regular physical exercise required for prevention of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. It is an effective workout for arthritis sufferers as it works the back, shoulders, arms, fingers and legs.

Get a better workout

Green Gym, a UK-based movement, encourages people to keep fit by working outdoors even as they improve their local environment. When researchers from Green Gym tested a 40-year-old woman, they found that she burnt 30% more calories (392kcal in all) working outdoors than she did in a step aerobics class.

Both activities lasted 1 hour, but the time she spent in her training heart rate zone (this elevated heart rate from exercise improves cardio fitness) was nearly double while gardening—44 minutes versus 24.

Make bones strong

One new study says gardening can give you the biggest bang for your exercise buck in preventing osteoporosis.

Pushing a lawnmower, raking leaves, and lifting a wheelbarrow full of weeds are great weight-bearing exercises. Researchers at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, US, found that women 50 years and older who were active in their gardens had higher bone density readings than those who swam, did aerobics, danced or jogged. And it works across gender, it seems.

Satish Mathur, 68, former director of the horticulture department at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi, says he owes his good health to time in the garden. “I have been hands-on in the garden for the last 49 years and I believe that my joints are healthy today only because of all that bending, cleaning, picking up,” he says. “Tilling, planting, weeding—all get your heart pumping. Today all that hard work is paying up as I stay fit as a fiddle.”

Natural Weight-Loss Foods: Onions

2008-11-27T19:11:00.001-08:00

Whether cooked or raw, onions add enormous flavor to a variety of healthy dishes, so they are a crucial ingredient to have around the house to make figure-friendly meals in your own kitchen every night.

The onion is a member of the allium family, which, as your nose will tell you, also includes garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives. Egyptians worshiped the onion's many layers as a symbol of eternity. Today, the onion can be one of the most useful and flavorful ingredients in creating low-calorie, healthful dishes.

Health Benefits

Dry onions are a surprising source of fiber and a rich source of healthy sulfur compounds, similar to those found in garlic. Research on onions has lagged behind garlic research, but onions appear to have similar cardiovascular benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, at least in the short term.

Nutritional Values

Onion, Dry
Serving Size: 1/2 cup chopped Calories: 46
Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 11 g
Protein: 1 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Sodium: 3 mg
Vitamin C: 6 mg
Vitamin B6: <1 mg

Green Onion, Fresh Serving Serving Size: 1/2 cup chopped (stalks and bulbs)
Calories: 16
Fat: 0 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Carbohydrate: 4 g
Protein: 1 g
Dietary Fiber: 1 g
Sodium: 8 mg
Vitamin A: 498 IU
Vitamin C: 10 mg
Iron: 1 mg
Carotenoids: 867 mcg

Onions also contain phytochemicals called flavonoids, which help vitamin C in its function, improving the integrity of blood vessels and decreasing inflammation. All this spells help for your cardiovascular system. One particular flavonoid, quercetin, may inhibit tumor growth and help keep colon cancer at bay.

In addition, a newly identified compound appears to rival the prescription drug Fosamax in inhibiting bone loss in menopausal women.

Onions also contain vitamin C and chromium. Chromium is a mineral that helps cells respond to insulin, ultimately assisting with blood glucose control. Green onions, because of their bright green tops, provide a wealth of vitamin A.

Selection and Storage

Dry onions are any common onion (yellow, white, or red) that does not require refrigeration. This distinguishes them from green onions, which will perish quickly when stored at room temperature.

Dry onions come in various shapes and colors, none of which is a reliable indicator of taste or strength. The white, or yellow globe, onion keeps its pungent flavor when cooked. All-purpose white or yellow onions are milder. Sweet onions, such as Bermuda , Spanish, and Italian, are the mildest.

Choose firm dry onions with shiny, tissue-thin skins. "Necks" should be tight and dry. If they look too dry or discolored or have soft, wet spots, don't buy them; they aren't fresh.

Dry onions keep three to four weeks if stored in a dry, dark, cool location. Don't store them next to potatoes, which give off a gas that'll cause onions to decay. Light turns onions bitter. A cut onion should be wrapped in plastic, refrigerated, and used within a day or two.

Green onions, also called "spring" onions because that's the time of the year when they are harvested, have small white bulbs and are topped by thin green stalks. Though they are often sold as scallions, true scallions are just straight green stalks with no bulb. Look for green onions with crisp, not wilted, tops. For pungent taste, choose fatter bulbs; for a sweeter taste, smaller bulbs are your best bet. Green onions must be refrigerated. They keep best in an open plastic bag in your refrigerator's crisper drawer.

Top 10 Brain Damaging Habits

2008-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

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

What is a Premature Birth?

2008-11-26T17:18:00.001-08:00

What is a Premature Birth?

Health care providers consider labor to be preterm if it starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Because a fetus is not fully grown at 37 weeks, and it may not be able to survive outside the womb, health care providers will often take steps to stop labor if it starts before this time. Common methods for trying to stop labor include bed rest and medications that relax the muscles in the uterus involved with labor and delivery.

A premature birth is also called a preterm labor.

Symptoms of a Premature Birth?

Some of the common symptoms of a premature birth are:

Contractions every 10 minutes or more often (they don't have to be painful)
Clear, pink or brownish fluid (water) leaking from your vagina
Pelvic pressure—the feeling that your baby is pushing down
Low, dull backache
Cramps that feel like your period
Abdominal cramps, with or without diarrhea

If you believe you are about to give birth to a premature child, call your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.

Complications of a Premature Birth?

Premature infants face a number of health challenges. Some of the common health challenges include low birth weight, breathing problems, and underdeveloped organs and organ systems. Many infants that are born prematurely need to stay in the hospital until their health is stable, sometimes several weeks or more.

Breathing Difficulty of a Premature Baby

Premature babies usually will cry only softly, if at all, and may have trouble breathing. They have trouble breathing because her respiratory system is not fully developed. If the baby is more than two months early, its breathing difficulties can cause serious health problems, because the other organs in her body may not get enough oxygen. If the baby needs help breathing, it may be given extra oxygen, or special equipment may be used temporarily to do some of her breathing for her.

Characteristics of Premature Babies

A baby that is born prematurely may neither look nor behave like a full-term infant. While the average full-term baby weighs about 7 pounds at birth, a premature newborn might weigh 5 pounds or even less. The earlier the baby arrives, the smaller the baby will be, the larger her head will seem in relation to the rest of her body, and the less fat she will have.

After a quick examination in the delivery room, the baby will probably be moved to a special-care nursery.

Top 8 causes of Liver Damage

2008-11-26T17:14:00.000-08:00

The main causes of liver damage are:

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.

Natural Weight-Loss Food: Mangoes

2008-11-26T08:42:00.001-08:00

Anyone wanting to lose weight will be sweet on mangoes. This versatile fruit is packed with nutrients, so you can eat less per meal and still meet the daily requirements for nutrition. Mangoes are also famous for their fleshy, stringy fruit, which is full of fiber and is a snack guaranteed to keep your raging appetite satiated until dinnertime.

This "fruit of India ," as it is sometimes called, is unique in its wealth of nutrients and richness of flavor. Its pungent flavor is loved by most but may be an acquired taste for some. It delivers a great one-two nutrition punch.

Health Benefits

Nutritional Values

Mango
Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 54
Fat: 0 g
Saturated Fat: <1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Carbohydrate: 14 g
Protein: <1 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Sodium: 2 mg
Vitamin A: 631 IU
Niacin: <1 mg
Riboflavin: <1 mg
Thiamin: <1 mg
Vitamin B6: <1 mg
Vitamin C: 23 mg
Calcium: 8 mg
Magnesium: 7 mg
Potassium: 129 mg
Carotenoids: 381 mcg

If you're limiting your calorie intake, eating concentrated sources of nutrients makes sense. And mangoes deliver. Mangoes are a superior source of beta-carotene. In fact, they are one of the top beta-carotene providers you can eat. Consuming large amounts of this antioxidant has been linked to a reduced risk of some forms of cancers.

Mangoes are rich in another carotenoid called lycopene, which is a potent antioxidant. Lycopene works to protect cells and suppress tumor growth.

Just one mango provides almost an entire day's worth of vitamin C. Unlike many other fruits, mangoes contribute several B vitamins and the minerals calcium and magnesium.

Selection and Storage

There are hundreds of varieties of mangoes in every shape, size, and color. The color of mangoes ranges from yellow to red and will deepen as the fruit ripens, though some green may remain even in perfectly ripened fruits. When ripe, a mango has a sweet, perfumey smell. If it has a fermented aroma, then it's past its prime. Choose mangoes that feel firm, but yield to slight pressure. The skin should be unbroken, and the color should have begun to change from green to yellow, orange, or red. Though it's normal for mangoes to have some black spots, avoid those mottled with too many. It's a sign the fruit is overripe. Ditto for loose or shriveled skin. If you bring home a mango that isn't ripe, you can speed the process by placing it in a paper bag with a ripe mango. Check daily to avoid over-ripening.

Dengue Fever Remedy !

2008-11-26T05:47:00.001-08:00

Dengue Fever Remedy

I would like to share this interesting discovery from a classmate's son who has just recovered from dengue fever. Apparently, his son was in the critical stage at the ICU when his blood platelet count drops to 15 after 15 liters of blood transfusion.

His father was so worried that he seeks another friend's recommendation and his son was saved. He confessed to me that he gave his son raw juice of the papaya leaves. From a platelet count of 45 after 20 liters of blood transfusion, and after drinking the raw papaya leaf juice, his platelet count jumps instantly to 135. Even the doctors and nurses were surprised. After the second day he was discharged. So he asked me to pass this good news around.

Accordingly it is raw papaya leaves, 2pcs just cleaned and pound and squeeze with filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon per leaf. So two tablespoon per serving once a day. Do not boil or cook or rinse with hot water, it will loose its strength. Only the leafy part and no stem or sap. It is very bitter and you have to swallow it like "Won Low Kat". But it works.