Ayurveda the Life saver

When winter hits, most of us shatter when we remember the drastic changes it makes on our skins.  Dry skin, chapped lips, cracked heels and dry hands are some of these changes. I don't have to mention how it restricts people to indoor activities.But winter doesn't have to be this dreadful. There are things you can do to make the season feel like any other season. They will help you take care of your skin from head to toe. Below, you will find a skin care guide for better winters- Lips - Keep it Soft & Beautiful -Drinking lots of water is the best way to make the lips remain soft and beautiful. Don't forget to add lots of vitamin C to your diet. In addition, give your lips a scrub especially before sleep and apply a good moisturizer. This way, they won't crack or get chapped. -Carry a moisturizer with you wherever you are to reduce the temptation of licking lips or picking the flakes. These two habits will only make the situation worse and thus should be avoided...

Common Cold 1. Add 2 mgs of roasted asafetida to a glass of warm milk and drink this twice a day. 2. Add a teaspoonful of turmeric powder to milk and consume this mixture twice a day. 3. Prepare tea by adding 1 tbsp of pepper powder in a cup of milk along with a pinch of turmeric and little sugar.  4. Take a cup of water and boil it with ginger powder till it becomes half. Add some honey to it. Drink it at night. 5. One lemon along with a teaspoon of honey should be diluted in a glass of warm water and taken once or twice a day. Cough  1. Grapes help a great deal in treating cold in a few days. Consume 1 cup grape juice and also add 1-teaspoon honey to it. 2. Almonds are excellent for dry coughs. Soak about seven almonds in water and keep them overnight. Next morning peel off the brown skin. Now grind them to form a powder and add twenty grams each of butter and sugar and form a paste. Consume it twice a day, once in the morning and the second time in the evening. 3. A...

Backache 1. Limejuice serves as an excellent home remedy for backache. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and add common salt in it. Drink it two times in a day. It will act as a great back pain reliever. 2. Applying balm or olive oil on the back gives immense relief from back pain. Take about 10 small garlic pieces and fry them in oil on a low flame. You can either use sesame oil, coconut oil or mustard oil. Fry till the garlic cloves turn light brown. Let the oil prepared from garlic cool completely. Thereafter apply it on the back and keep it for about three hours. In a couple of days, you'll feel its magical effects. Bad breath   1. Proper cleaning of teeth with neem paste. 2. Wash mouth with neem bark powder dissolved in water a couple of times a day. 3. Green cardamom is a good mouth freshener. 4. The decoction of coriander can be used as a mouth wash. 5. The gargles of cold decoction of aloe vera mixed with honey. Bed wetting   1. A teaspoon of ajwain should be taken befor...

Acne 1. Orange peel pounded well with water applied to affected acne areas helps cure acne. 2. Cucumber leaves or grated pieces applied to the acne. 3. Rub the pimple (acne) with a fresh cut clove of garlic. 4. Drink atleast 1 litre of water a day to impart a healthy glow to the skin. 5. Clove based face mask or a paste of Fenugreek (Methi)  leaves applied overnight on acne and washed off next morning. Anaemia 1. A djusting a well balanced and nutritious diet is a good remedy. 2. No non-veg at all and try to include bananas, pulses and cereals on your daily diet.  3. Green vegetables and dairy products need to be taken. Acidity  1. Consuming fresh mint juice on a regular basis helps cure acidity. 2. Drink at least half a litre of water in the early morning when you are on empty stomach. 3. Banana, Cucumber and Watermelon helps cure acidity. 4. Yogurt is known to be an excellent remedy for acidity. 5. Chewing a few basil (tulsi) leaves relieves acidity. Astham...

Sleep is awesome. Sadly, you really can have too much of an awesome thing. Are You Sleeping Too Much? Research has shown that oversleeping may be harmful in several ways. For starters, it usually makes us feel more tired. That's because sleeping too much throws off our biological clock, and gives our cells mixed signals, resulting in a strong sense of fatigue (this is also how jetlag works!). Additionally, oversleeping can cause headaches because it affects the neurotransmitters of the brain. And it can even be the culprit of back pain - especially if the mattress is not ideal. Medical Problems Linked to Oversleeping i) Diabetes -  Studies have shown that sleeping too long or not enough each night can increase the risk for diabetes. ii) Obesity -  Sleeping too much or too little could make you weigh too much, as well. One recent study showed that people who slept for nine or 10 hours every night were 21% more likely to become obese over a 6-year period. iii) Headac...

It's been a rough winter for most of the country. When you've got arctic temperatures and gusting winds you've also got low humidity in the air. And low humidity not only dries out your skin but also dries out your hair. If your hair is feeling dry and brittle and is seeking the summer warmth, then read on. Here are four tips to help you repair your damaged winter hair: 1. Reduce shampooing. Shampooing every second or third day will allow natural oils to remain on your hair and scalp and prevent further drying. 2. Go deep. Once to twice a week, massage a deep conditioner into your hair and scalp and let it rest as you shower. Then rinse with warm water. For extremely dry hair, try using a leave-in deep conditioner or conditioning hair mask that you apply before bedtime and rinse the following morning. Be sure to wear a hairnet and to place a towel on your pillow so you don't stain your bed sheets. 3. Go natural. Using hair dryers and other heating devices take ...

Certain foods may cause damage to your gut if eaten on an empty stomach. You should give your digestive system some time to start functioning. Eat breakfast at least two hours after you wake up. It may not always be right to eat what we like! The first thing we eat in the morning sets the course of the day.  Dietitian's advises that you should give your digestive system some time to start functioning after long hours of sleep and should eat breakfast at least two hours after you wake up. Up ahead, seven foods that may not do good to you if had an empty stomach. 1. Spicy food Eating spices and chillies on an empty stomach may irritate the stomach lining which can lead to acidic reactions and cramps. They are pungent in nature and can trigger indigestion. 2. Sugary foods or drink s Though a large number of us are under the impression that it is healthy to have a glass of fruit juice to start your day, it may not be the case. I suggests not to start your da...

As soon as the winter season approaches, we fill our wardrobes with warm clothes. But it is also important to keep our bodies warm from the inside. So stock up on these foods to beat the chill. 1. Dry Ginger Dry ginger lowers cholesterol levels and hence is the best choice to keep the body fit during winters. With its antibacterial properties, it is also helpful in treating coughs and colds that are quite common during this season. It can be chewed raw daily or can be added to soup or other dishes to enhance the flavor. 2. Jaggery:   It is considered a warm food and it can be consumed in a variety of ways. It is healthier than sugar as it contains a number of vitamins and minerals like phosphorous, iron, magnesium and potassium and is a natural cure for cough, cold, migraine, asthma, fatigue and indigestion. Consuming jaggery in winters helps in generating enough heat in the body, thus keeping you warm inside.  Taken along with fresh ginger it cures co...

1. Fruit Punch:  A facial of fresh herbs like fruits, vegetables and gels once in a week is good for maintaining the skin fairness. Papaya, water melon, sandalwood paste, turmeric and cucumber are effective in improving the skin complexion.                                                             2. Cleansing Milk:  A piece of cotton wool dipped in milk can be used to wipe the face to remove the hidden dirt under the skin.                                                                                                               ...

Warm water (half glass) with one tea spoon lemon juice can be taken 3 to 4 times a day.                                                                                                        Applying a paste of sandalwood powder on the forehead of the patient is also beneficial. The paste can be prepared by mixing a little water in sandalwood powder.                                                                                                            ...

Take 1/2 teaspoon of ginger powder with 1 teaspoon of warm water. Black pepper can also be added.                                                                                                      Chewing a piece of fresh ginger with a little salt on it will ease coughs.                                                                                                                                   Ha...

Massage you hair with warm coconut or castor oil twice a week.                                                                                                                              Fenugreek seeds are very effective for overall hair care, especially to prevent dandruff. Soak fenugreek seeds overnight and grind them to fine paste. Now apply the paste on your hair for half an hour and then wash with mild shampoo.                                                                         ...

The bitter gourd is regarded as the best remedy for diabetes. Drink one tablespoon of bitter gourd juice daily to reduce blood sugar levels in your blood and urine.                                                                                            Consume cooked bitter gourd in ghee for a period of three months. Your sugar level will drop drastically.                                                                                                                Inta...