TINNITUS!!

The ringing or buzzing sound inside one or both the ears is called Tinnitus. It may be continuous or may come and go. Those who suffer from tinnitus experience a wide range of noises inside their ears. Tinnitus is of two types, objective tinnitus and subjective tinnitus. In objective tinnitus, apart from the patient himself, people around him can also hear the buzzing sound inside his ears. But in case of subjective tinnitus only the patient himself can hear the buzzing sound inside his ears. Subjective tinnitus is more common than objective tinnitus. Severe cases of tinnitus can be extremely disturbing, the patient may not be able to sleep or concentrate.

Buzzing,hissing, and ringing sound inside the ear
The most common symptoms of tinnitus are buzzing, hissing, and ringing sound inside the ear. Sometimes these sounds may go along with the patient's heartbeat. If the tinnitus patient is also suffering from Meniere disease then the sound in the ear may be accompanied by dizziness and hearing loss.

Damage to hearing nerve
The inner ear has the hearing nerve; any damage to its microscopic endings can cause tinnitus. This is the most common cause of tinnitus. However the hearing nerve is also affected due to aging. Frequent exposure to loud noise also affects the hearing nerve. Therefore those who are always exposed to loud noise can get tinnitus. Any of the four sections of the ear can have tinnitus. Any foreign particle or wax in the external ear can cause tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus may be caused due to some wax in the ear canal.

Objective tinnitus may be caused due to some circulatory problem or some tumor in blood vessel. It may also be caused due to structural defects in the inner ear. Tinnitus may be a symptom of otosclerosis. Conditions like allergy, high or low blood pressure, diabetes, neck injury, head injury may cause tinnitus. Medicines like sedatives, antidepressants, aspirin and so on can also cause tinnitus.

Treatment for Tinnitus
There is no specific or universal treatment for tinnitus, treatment shall be different for different cases of tinnitus. If tinnitus is due to loud noise then wearing a mask could help. Sometimes tinnitus may be a symptom of some other medical problem; in such case the underlying condition must be treated first. Reducing your stress level will also decrease tinnitus, therefore breathe deeply. Put 20 to 40 mg of extract of the Maidenhair tree or Ginkgo biloba into your ears for four to six weeks. This will dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow to the ears.

Avoid saturated fats, sugar, salt
Tinnitus patients must avoid foods like saturated fats, dairy products, sugar, salt, processed foods and so on because all these food items tend to aggravate the condition. Avoid coffee, tea, sweet foods, and refined alcohol because all these result in low blood sugar which can lead to tinnitus. Include lots of fresh and raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. Eat a protein rich diet. Tinnitus patient's diet must include vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, zinc and choline.

Keep blood pressure under control
Avoid alcohol and smoking. Exercise daily to improve your blood circulation. Check and keep you blood pressure under control.

Tinnitus is not a disease, and it doesn't cause hearing disorders. It's any kind of swishing, hissing, whirring, ringing, whistling, buzzing or chirping that goes on inside your head.

The causes? Tinnitus can be a sign of hearing loss, or it can result from head injuries, ear infections or diseases that range from the common cold to diabetes. People who work with noisy equipment, such as power tools, can also get it. Or tinnitus may be initiated by a single loud noise, such as a gunshot or an explosion.

Sometimes tinnitus is only temporary. If you have a ringing in your ears for only a few days (perhaps after listening to loud music), take it as a warning sign. Tone down your listening habits or tinnitus may become permanent.

Even when tinnitus moves in to stay, there are still things you can do about it. The first move is a medical checkup. After that, here are some ways to make it easier to live with.

Tone down sound around you. "Never expose your ears to loud sounds, because they simply make tinnitus worse," says Jack Vernon, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology at Oregon Health Sciences University and director of the Oregon Hearing Research Center, both in Portland. "If you have to raise your voice to be heard, then the sound around you is too loud. That includes vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, lawn mowers and so forth."

So wear earplugs whenever noise abounds. Pharmacies carry foam, rubber and moldable wax plugs as well as headphones you wear like earmuffs.

Try a little night static. Some people don't notice their tinnitus in the daytime, but as soon as the lights go out, they're up to their inner ears in bells and buzzers. "For those folks, I recommend detuning an FM radio to static between stations," says Dr. Vernon. If you keep the radio near the bed just loud enough to be audible, the static near your head will mask the sounds in your head and let you fall asleep. Other sounds that might be the key to dreamland: a fan running all night or a bit of soft music.

Play that shower! In the "mask that sound" department: "Some people can't hear their tinnitus when they take showers," says Dr. Vernon. Of course, you can't stay in the shower all day, but you can carry shower sounds around with you. Dr. Vernon suggests making a long-playing tape of a running shower. When the tinnitus gets bad, listen to the tape through headphones, he recommends. (The idea is to find a band of tones that includes your tinnitus tone but is more acceptable to listen to.)

Breathe deeply to dismiss distress. "Reducing stress often reduces tinnitus," says Robert E. Brummett, Ph.D., a pharmacologist at the Oregon Hearing Research Center. Deep, slow breathing is one safe way to ease tension any time you feel it creeping up on you, according to Dr. Vernon. But he cautions that this may not be enough. See a counselor if you're having difficulty dealing with stress in your life and your tinnitus is becoming worse because of it.

Skip the smokes and drinks. "Restrict the nicotine, alcohol, tonic water and caffeine you consume," Dr. Brummett suggests. If you find that it helps to cut out one or all of these, consider a permanent vacation from the noise provoker.

Don't take aspirin. People with tinnitus who take aspirin daily (for arthritis, for example) should try a different anti-inflammatory drug if possible, suggests Dr. Brummett. Aspirin can cause or worsen tinnitus. Some of the other anti-inflammatory drugs can also cause or worsen tinnitus, but not in everyone. By working with your doctor, you can try some of the alternative drugs until you find one that you can tolerate.

Give yourself a dose of distraction. "Getting distracted from tinnitus surely will help," says Dr. Vernon. "Focus on some outside things: Help other people. Join some volunteer groups. Don't retire!" he suggests. "People with tinnitus need to enrich rather than restrict their lives."

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

DIARRHOEA

Diarrhoea is not a disease in itself. It is a disorder that may arise from many different causes. The most important cause of diarrhea is the contaminated food. One or two loose watery stools may not be significant. Large, loose stools may drain much of the essential water from the body. Such fluids must be replaced as soon as possible. Diarrhea in babies and small children can be dangerous. Infants are easily dehydrated, and they are not able to tell how they feel

Diarrhea is often seen in people who take excessive amounts of laxatives. Some people are allergic to certain substances or common foods. Some people have frequent loose stools for years without any other evidence of disease. Some people develop diarrhea when under severe emotional strain. Excess alcohol consumption; laxatives; caffeine are also known to cause diarrhea. Some medicines can cause diarrhea, such as antibiotics (tetracycline, clyndamycin, penicillin). Blood or mucus in the stool is a sign of infection or parasites.

Diarrhea is a means to excrete bacteria or viruses that might have ingested by eating bad food. Therefore, it is not good idea to stop diarrhea too quickly. However, diarrhea does not work sometimes and if goes on for several days, dehydration and loss of important nutrients may occur which can be dangerous especially in children.
Diarrhea is characterized by frequent, watery stools, often accompanied by stomach cramps, abdominal pain and gas. Diarrhea may be of various colors and contain mucous, blood or pus.

Symptoms of Diarrhoea

Cramps Dehydration Wind and distention in the abdomen Weakness Mild fever

Water is either not absorbed or is excreted in excess
Diarrhoea may be acute or chronic. Commonly known as 'loose motions', it is one of the commonest diseases, particularly in India, in children. The small intestine normally gets more than ten litres of liquid per day which comes from the diet and from secretions of the stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines. In the case of diarrhoea, water is either not absorbed or is excreted in excess. It is then sent to the colon whose water-holding capacity is limited. Thus the urge to defecate comes quite often.

Causes of Diarrhoea
Overeating or eating of wrong foods
The main causes of diarrhoea are overeating or eating of wrong foods, putrefaction of food in the intestinal tract, fermentation caused by incomplete carbohydrate digestion, nervous irritability, use of antibiotic drugs, and excessive intake of laxatives.

Parasites, germs, virus, bacteria, emotional stress
Other causes include parasites, germs, virus, bacteria, or a poison which has entered into the body through food, water, or air; allergies to certain substances or even common foods such as milk, wheat, eggs, and sea foods; emotional strain or stress in adults and fright in children.

Organic diseases affecting the intestines
Certain organic diseases affecting the intestines may also lead to diarrhoea.

HOME REMEDIES FOR DIARRHEA

Increasing fluid intake is the first thing to be done to fight against the diarrhea. Fluids that contain salt and small amounts of sugar are particularly beneficial, as they help the body replace glucose and minerals lost during diarrhea. A good "rehydration fluid" can be easily made by adding 1 teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt to 1 quart of water.

Foods containing large amounts of poorly absorbed carbohydrates can aggravate diarrhea. Therefore foods such as bread, pasta, and other wheat products; apples, pears, peaches, and prunes; corn, oats, potatoes, and processed bran should be avoided. Dairy products should also be avoided during a bout of diarrhea

Black berry tea is good for mild diarrhea.

Ginger tea can give relief to cramps and pain. This is very effective home remedy for diarrhea.

Do not drink apple juice this will make diarrhea worse.

Boil brown rice and water for 45 minutes eat the rice (it contains Vitamin B) and drink the water.

Cook ½ cup of rice with 4 cups of water with ½ teaspoon of ginger paste and salt. Add ½ cup of pomegranate juice when the gruel is warm. This gruel rehydrates body and supply energy. This soothes inflamed walls of intestine and controls bowel movements. This is also very effective home remedy for diarrhea.

Drink 3-4 times half a cup of water with a few drops of Pudin Hara

Drink a mixture of 1 tsp mint juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1 tsp honey.

Make a paste of a lemon along with seeds. Add some salt. Take 1 tsp of this paste 2-3 times.
Add 1/2 tsp of dry ginger (saunth powder in 1 cup buttermilk ( chhachh). Drink it 3 - 4 times a day.

For diarrhea treatment chew a few pieces of the inner lining of pomegranate with salt, and/or drink pomegranate juice.

Prepare a mixture by adding 1 Tbsp poppy seeds, 1 tsp edible gum, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1/2 tsp nutmeg ( jaiphal) powder, and2 tbs sugar, and grind to a powder. Take this powder every 2 hours.

Prepare a solution by adding 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1/4 tsp pepper powder and drink it.

Prepare a mixture of 5-6 chopped basil (tulsi) leaves, 1/4 tsp sea salt, some black pepper in 3 Tbsp of curd, and eat it. Repeat this 4 times a day for one week for complete reconditioning of stomach.

Roast 1/2 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds and 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds (dana methi). Mix and powder it, add to 4 tsp of yogurt (curd). Take thrice a day.

Grate one raw papaya. Add 3 cups water, boil for 10 mins, strain and finish the water in one day.

Stew 1 apple with 2 pinches of nutmeg powder and 1 tsp sugar. Give your child to eat it.

Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent remedy for traveler's diarrhea.

Ripe bananas are recommended. Bananas are especially good as they are easily digested and have pectin and important nutrients such as potassium and magnesium.

For diarrhea treatment add fiber to diet to absorb excess fluid in the intestines and help make firmer bowels.

Try to manage the stress and anxiety that is causing your diarrhea. Yoga, meditation, hypnotism, biofeedback and other tension releasing techniques may be useful.

Take 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water with each meal and at mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Take bee pollen several times a day. It contains nearly all the minerals and trace elements needed in the diet.

Boil water and cool. Add 3 teaspoons of black pepper and 11/2 teaspoon of kelp to 2 cups of water. Repeat as often as necessary.

Boil carrots, and make a puree. Take 1 teaspoon every 15 minutes.

Prepare a mixture by adding 4 tablespoons of honey with 8 ounces of water. This is a good remedy for bacteria-caused diarrhea.

For diarrhea treatment make a solution by adding 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/6 teaspoon salt, 11/3 cups of water. Give a child 1/2 oz. of this mixture every 2 hours.

Potato soup is also very good remedy for diarrhea; eat several bowls during the day.

Make a tea from the leaves of a pumpkin, squash or gourd. Boil two quarts of water; snip several double-handfuls of leaves into the water; cover and remove from heat; steep for 35 minutes; drink a cup every couple of hours.

In a food blender mix a handful of chopped red radishes, 1 cup of cold milk, and 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch. Drink slowly. This remedy should stop the diarrhea within an hour. Repeat again in 4 hours, if needed.

Amaranth seeds and leaves are useful in stopping diarrhea. Make a tea by bringing three cups of water to a boil, adding two teaspoons of seeds, cover and simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of leaves (if available) or just let it steep for 30 minutes. Drink two cups daily.

Make a paste of sesame seeds (1 teaspoon) and add a few tablespoons of goat's milk. It is also beneficial.

The leaves and fruit of blueberries and bilberries will help to naturally stop diarrhea.

During the course of diarrhea, babies should eat carrots, rice cereal, bananas, potatoes, and applesauce to help firm the stools. Fruit juices, peas, pears, peaches, plums, prunes and apricots should be avoided until the stools are back to normal.

Adults and older children can also eat cheese, crackers, bread, rice and potatoes. During diarrhea outbreaks, it's best to avoid most dairy products, which tend to make diarrhea worse. This includes milk, butter, creams, and eggs.

Yogurt is the exception; it will help to stop diarrhea.

Dietary Remedies

Milk It
A West Indian remedy for diarrhea is a pinch of allspice in a cup of warm water or milk. A pennsylvania Dutch remedy is 2 pinches of cinnamon in a cup of warm milk. A Brazilian remedy calls for 2 pinches of cinnamon and 1 pinch of powdered cloves in a cup of warm milk.
We may as well "milk" this for all it's worth with a Welsh remedy that requires a cup of boiled milk and a red hot fireplace poker.

Carefully place the red-hot poker into the cup of milk. Keep it there for 30 seconds.The poker supposedly charges the milk with iron , which is a homeopathic treatment of diarrhea. Drink the iron-charged milk slowly-it may be hot!

The combination of cinnamon and cayenne pepper is known to be very effective in tightening the bowels quickly. In fact, it probably takes longer to prepare the tea than for it to work.

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes. As soon as it's cool enough to drink, have ¼ cup every half hour.

Add 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger to 1 cup of just-boiled water. To control diarrhea, drink 3 cups of the mixture throughout the day.
Grate an onion and squeeze it through cheesecloth so you get 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) of onion juice. Take the onion juice every hour, along with 1 cup of peppermint tea.

Suited to a Tea
Raspberry-leaf tea is a popular folk remedy for children and adults. Combine 1 ounce of dried raspberry leaves with 2 cups of water (a piece of cinnamon stick is optional), and simmer in an enamel or glass saucepan for 25 minutes. Strain, cool and drink throughout the day.

Hippocratic Oats
According to Hippocrates, the Greek physician and father of medicine, everyone should drink barley water daily to maintain good health. One of the benefits is its effectiveness in treating diarrhea.

Boil 2 ounces of pearled barley in 6 cups of water until there's about half the water-3 cups-left in the pot. Strain. If necessary, add honey and lemon to taste. Not only should you drink the barley water throughout the day, you should also eat the barley.

Berry Good Berries
Since biblical times, the common blackberry plant has been used to cure diarrhea and dysentery. And so the berry remedy, in one form or another, has been passed down through the generations. Don't be surprised if your neighborhood bartender recommends some blackberry brandy.

Dose: Drink 1 shot glass (2 tablespoons) every four hours.
Blackberry juice or wine will also do fine.

Dose: Take 6 ounces blackberry juice every four hours-or 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) blackberry wine every four hours.

The Big Apple
Scrape a peeled apple with a (preferably nonmetal) spoon and eat the scrapings. In fact, eat no other food but grated apple until the condition greatly subsides.
Boil ½ cup of white rice in 6 cups of water for a half hour. Strain and save the water, then sweeten with honey to taste.

Dose: Drink 1 cup of the rice water every other hour. Do not drink other liquids until the condition disappears.
Eating cooked rice with a dash of cinnamon is also helpful in controlling the problem.

An A-peeling Remedy
Bananas may help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine and replace some of the lost potassium.

Dose: Three times a day, eat one ripe banana that has been soaked in milk.

Add 1 teaspoon of garlic (finely chopped) to 1 teaspoon of honey and swallow it down three times a day-two hours after each meal.
Certain drinks are effective in treating diarrhea and help replenish the systems supply of friendly intestinal bacteria. Have 1 to 2 glasses of buttermilk or sauerkraut juice or kefir (found in health food stores).

Or eat a portion or two of yogurt with active cultures, along with pickled beets, pickled cucumbers or raw sauerkraut.

Press for Success
The navel is an acupressure point for treating diarrhea. Using your thumb or the heel of your hand, press in and massage the area in a circular motion for about two minutes.

Chronic Diarrhea
This remedy goes to prove that you can't argue with success. A woman wrote to tell us that eating Archway coconut macaroons-two a day-put an end to her 12-year bout with diarrhea. She suffers from Crohn's disease, which is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall. Chronic diarrhea is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of this condition. The woman asked that we include her remedy, hoping it will help others with this problem.

Upon further investigation, we found that joe Graedon, MS, pharmacologist, adjunct assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, also reported on these cookies and the success many people had with them. One woman couldn't find the Archway cookies, so she made her own coconut macaroons and they; too, worked like magic. While they don't work for everyone, they may be worth a try.

NOTE: Take into consideration your dietary needs before trying the coconut macaroon remedy. The cookies are high in fat and contain sweeteners.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

NASAL CONGESTION!!

Most germs enter the body through the nose and throat. Germs are often carried into the body on tiny droplets of water when air is drawn into the lungs.

The inside of the nose is lined with a mucosal membrane that is lined with large number of blood vessels. Nasal congestion occurs when these blood vessels expand and cause the mucosal membrane to become swollen. Expansion of these blood vessels can result from inflammation that accompanies a food-allergic reaction.

Nasal congestion can lead to ear infection. There are many causes of the nasal congestion and can range from a mild annoyance to a life-threatening condition. The newborn infant is an obligate nose breather (must breathe through the nose). Nasal congestion in an infant in the first few months of life can interfere with nursing and cause life-threatening respiratory distress. Nasal congestion in older children and adolescents is often just an annoyance but can cause other difficulties.

Nasal congestion can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with episodes of not breathing during sleep). In most cases it results from the presence of some form of pollen or fungus in the air.

The single most common cause of food-allergic reactions and the number one cause of chronic nasal congestion in the absence of other health conditions is pasteurized dairy. Avoiding significant amounts of pasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream, cream cheese, and other concentrated sources of pasteurized dairy can completely resolve chronic nasal congestion for many people, even those who have suffered with nasal congestion for decades.

HOME REMEDIES FOR NASAL CONGESTION

Place a teaspoon of cardamom seeds on hot coals and let the child inhale the smoke.
Boil water and salt and put in a sterilized container. Wait until it is warm. Get an eyedropper and get some of the solution of boiled water and salt. Put a couple of drops in each nostril while your nose if facing the ceiling. Wait until you feel the salt water in your throat then blow your nose.
Place a handful of crushed carom seeds in a handkerchief. Tie off and place near the pillow.
Too high a diet in carbohydrates creates nasal congestion and asthma. Eat less sugar and carbohydrates; whole grains, vegetable and fish are the median balance foods.
Higher energy and weight loss occur through the increase of meats and the reductions of sugars, fruits and refined carbohydrates.
A warm bath or steam from the shower can help relieve nasal congestion.
Prepare a mixture by addiung 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use a nasal dropper to squirt water into the nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat 2-3 times, then treat the other nostril. This is an effective home remedy for nasal congestion.
Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.
Mix a teaspoon of grated fresh horseradish with a little apple cider vinegar or honey, and eat it on toast. Inhale deeply as you grate the horseradish; the fumes alone will relieve your congestion.
For nasal congestion treatment, put two inches of apple cider vinegar in a pan and heat until it begins to steam. Inhale the vapor.
Both red and black pepper dilates blood vessels in the nose and stimulates secretions, which helps drain the sinuses, thus relieving the congestion.
Place a drop or two of either eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball or handkerchief and hold near the nose while breathing deeply. This increases the airflow.
Try a nasal rinse by putting a few drops of grapefruit seed extract in 1/2 cup of warm water and inhaling it; repeat two or three times, especially before bed and when you get up in the morning.
Add 1 cup tomato juice, 1 tsp chopped fresh garlic, 1/2 tsp of hot sauce, 1 tsp lemon juice, and a pinch or two of celery salt for flavor. Heat ingredients and drink hot. This is also an effective home remedy for nasal congestion.
Drink plenty of fluids, more than usual. Water, fruit juice, teas, and carbonated drinks are recommended. Rest as much as possible.
For nasal congestion treatment, avoid exposure to as many allergens (such as pets, foods that cause allergic reaction, and dust) as possible.
Sleep with an extra pillow under your head. This will help relieve congested nasal passages.
A small dab of mentholated salve under your nose can open breathing passages and help restore the irritated skin at the base of the nose.
Boil some water and smell its vapor. The vapor will actually help open the nose.

Reference:
The Ayurveda Cook Book: A Personalized Guide to Good Nutrition and Health
New Choices in Natural Healing. Ed. Bill Gottlieb, et al. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1995.
The Consumer's Medical Desk Reference. Ed. Charles B. Inlander. New York: Hyperion, 1995.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

Coconut in Modern Medicine!!

Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:

Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
Helps protect against osteoporosis.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
Improves digestion and bowel function.
Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
Reduces inflammation.
Supports tissue healing and repair.
Supports and aids immune system function.
Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Functions as a protective antioxidant.
Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement) .
Reduces epileptic seizures.
Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
Dissolves kidney stones.
Helps prevent liver disease.
Is lower in calories than all other fats.
Supports thyroid function.
Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
Helps control dandruff.
Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
Has no harmful or discomforting side effects. Is completely non-toxic to humans.

Interesting Facts about Brain!!

• Your brain uses 20% of your body's energy, but it makes up only 2% of your body's weight.
  Your cerebral cortex is about as thick as a tongue depressor. It grows thicker as you learn and use it.
  Your brain is about 1300-1400 cubic centimeters in volume, about the size of a cantaloupe and wrinkled like a walnut.
  The brain feels like a ripe avocado and looks pink because of the blood flowing through it.
  Your brain generates 25 watts of power while you're awake---enough to illuminate a lighbulb.
  A newborn baby's brain grows almost 3 times in course of first year
  Humans have the most complex brain of any animal on earth.
  Your brain is divided into two sides. The left side of your brain controls the right side of your body; and, the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body.
  Toxins in commonplace items such as carpeting and shower curtains may be contributing to memory loss over time?
  Overexposure to aluminum compounds—in foil, cookware, deodorants, antacids, toothpaste—can affect brain function
  Lavender can help you sleep
  A cooked potato can jump-start your brain when you're feeling foggy.
  The essential oil of jasmine can quickly restore mental alertness
  Eating foods rich in vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C may help lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease.
  Certain prescription and nonprescription drugs may dramatically affect your ability to concentrate.

Backache!!

Backache is one of the most common ailments prevalent today. Sedentary living habits, hazardous work patterns and psychological conditions associated with emotional stress, which bring about spasm of the muscles, cause backaches. As the back bears the weight of the entire body, overweight persons feel the strain on the back when they have to carry an extra load.

Symptoms of Backache or Back pain

Pain in the middle of back or lower down
In most cases of backache, the pain is usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down. It may spread to both sides of the waist and the hips. In a condition of acute pain, the patient is unable to move and is bedridden.

People suffer from cervical and lumbar spondylosis
About ninety per cent of backache patients suffer from what is called cervical and lumbar spondylosis. It is a degenerative disorder in which the different vertebrae adhere to each other through bony unions. As a result of this, the spine loses its flexibility.

Causes of Backache

Muscular tension, straining of the joints, poor posture
The main causes of backache and spondylosis are muscular tension, straining of the joints, poor posture, and incorrect nutrition resulting from dietetic errors and lack of exercise.

Kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, influenza
Acute or chronic illnesses like kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, Influenza, and arthritis, may also lead to backache.

Sitting for a long time, high heels
Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time, improper lifting of weights, high heels, and emotional problems which may cause painful muscle cramping.

Home Remedies for Backache

Backache treatment using Garlic
The most important home remedy for backache is the use of garlic. Two or three cloves should be taken every morning to get results. An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the back will give great relief. This oil is prepared by frying ten cloves of garlic in 60 ml of oil in a frying pan. Any of the oils which are used as rubefacients, such as mustard oil. sesame oil, and coconut oil can be used according to one's choice. They should be fried on a slow fire till they are brown. After the oil has cooled, it should be applied vigorously on the back, and allowed to remain there for three hours. The patient may, thereafter, take a warm-water bath. This treatment should be continu ed for at least fifteen days.

Backache treatment using Lemon
Lemon is another useful remedy for backache. The juice of one lemon should be mixed with common salt and taken by the patient twice daily. It will give relief.

Backache treatment using Chebulic Myroblan
The use of chebulic myroblan is beneficial in the treatment of backache. A small piece of this fruit should be eaten after meals. This will give quick relief.

Backache treatment using Vitamin C
Vitamin C has proved valuable in case of severe backaches. About 2,000 mg of this vitamin should be taken daily for treating this condition. Considerable improvement will be noticeable within two days.

Backache treatment using Potato
Raw potato is an ancient home remedy for backache, characterised by incapacitating pain in the lumbar region, especially in the lower part of the back. Application of raw potato in the fom of a poultice has been found very effective in this condition.

Dietaries for Backache

Salad of raw vegetables, plenty of fruits
The diet of those suffering from backache should consist of a salad of raw vegetables such as tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce, and, at least two steamed or lightly cooked vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach, and plenty of fruits, except bananas. The patient should have four meals daily. Fruit and milk are advised for breakfast, steamed vegetables and wholewheat chapatis for lunch; fresh fruit or fruit juice in the evening; and a bowl of raw salad and sprouts during dinner.

Avoid fatty, spicy fried foods and processed foods
The patient should avoid fatty, spicy, and fried foods; curd, sweetmeats and sugar; condiments; and tea and coffee. Foods that have been processed for preservation have few nutrients and should also be eliminated from the diet.

Other Backache treatments for back pains

Avoid smoking and tobacco intake
Smoking or taking tobacco in any from should be given up completely.

Hot fomentation and alternate sponging
Hot fomentation, alternate sponging, or application of heat to the back will also give immediate relief.

Yogic asanas are also useful
Yogic asanas which are beneficial in the treatment of backache are bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana.

NOSEBLEEDS!!

Most people have had a nosebleed. They tend to be minor and can be brought on by allergies, cold weather, sinus infection and other illnesses. When the nasal passages are irritated by rubbing, picking or blowing, the tiny blood vessels break and the nose, it starts a-flowin'!

Common Causes of Nose bleed

• Nose picking
• Nose injury
• Cold or flu
• Inserting small objects
• Allergies
• Nasal tumor
• Dry nasal passages
• Nasal infection

CAUTION: Nasal hemorrhaging- blood flowing from both nostrils-requires immediate medical attention. Rush to the nearest doctor or hospital emergency room. Also, recurrent nosebleeds may be a symptom of an underlying ailment. Seek appropriate medical attention.

Natural home remedies
For the occasional nosebleed, the first thing to do is to gently blow your nose. It will help rid your nostrils of blood clots that may prevent a blood vessel from sealing. Then try any of the following remedies.

• Take cayenne, goldenseal, and white oak bark to help with bleeding.
• A wet towel placed on the head stops nose bleeds.
• When you have a nosebleed, sit or stand. Do not lie down. Do not put your head back. It will cause you to swallow blood.
• Eat leafy green vegetables and take chlorophyll as a preventative measure.
• A small piece of brown paper from a brown paper bag, placed between the upper lip and the gum, has been known to stop a bloody nose in no time.

We have heard that a dime under the upper lip also stops the nosebleed. If you're outdoors without a paper bag or a dime, a stiff green leaf from a tree can serve the purpose. Place the leaf under your upper lip and press down on it with your finger.

Tie Things Up

• This is a remedy that came to us from the Caribbean islands-take the pinkie finger of the hand opposite the bleeding nostril and tightly tie a string under the pinkie's fingernail.
• We know that cayenne pepper stops the bleeding of a cut or gash. We've been told that drinking 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne in a glass of warm water will help to stop a nosebleed.
• Gem therapists say that a nosebleed can be stopped by placing a piece of pure amber on top of the nose.
• Vinegar is said to be very helpful in getting a bloody nose under control. Pour some distilled white vinegar on a cloth and wash the neck, nose and temples with it. Also, mix 2 teaspoons in half a glass of warm water and drink it.

Nosebleed Prevention

• Bioflavonoids help prevent nosebleeds. Eat at least one citrus fruit a day and be sure to include the white rubbery skin under the peel. It's called the "pith" and it's extremely rich in bioflavonoids.

In addition, take a vitamin C supplement with bio flavonoids. And add green leafy vegetables-lots of them-to your diet. They're rich in vitamin K, needed for the production of pro thrombin, which is necessary for blood clotting.

CAUTION: Broccoli and turnip greens are rich in vitamin K, the clot-promoting vitamin. If you take anti clotting medication prescribed by your doctor, be aware that those vegetables may counteract the effects of the medicine.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it.The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.