LEUCODERMA / VITILIGO

Leucoderma, also known as vitiligo, is a distressing skin condition. The word literally means white skin. There is a gradual loss of the pigment melanin from the skin layers which results in white patches. These patches look ugly, especially in persons with a dark complexion. The condition does not cause any organic harm. This disease is caused neither by any germs, nor is it due to bad blood. It is considered to be neither infectious nor contagious.

Leucoderma symptoms
Small white patch appear in the beginning
The problem usually starts with a small white spot which later develops into patches. These patches are pale in the beginning, but become whiter and whiter as time passes by due to loss of pigment. As the spots enlarge, they merge into each other and, in course of time, form a very broad patch. In some cases, most of the skin of the body may be covered with white patches.

Leucoderma causes

Excessive mental worry, chronic or acute gastric disorders
The main causes of leucoderma are said to be excessive mental worry, chronic or acute gastric disorders, impaired hepatic function such as jaundice, worms or other parasites in the alimentary canal, typhoid, a defective perspiratory mechanism, and burn injuries.

This disease is caused neither by any germs, nor is it due to bad blood. The problem usually starts with a small white spot and later on it develops into patches. These patches are pale in the beginning but become whiter and whiter as time passes due to loss of pigment. As spots enlarge, they merge into each other and, in course of time, form a very broad patch. Leucoderma does not differentiate between races, religions or even socio-economic groups. Females are more commonly affected than males. The main causes of leucoderma are said to be excessive mental worry, chronic or acute gastric disorders, impaired hepatic function such as jaundice, worms or other parasites in the alimentary canal, typhoid, a defective perspiratory mechanism, and burn injuries. Heredity is also a causative factor and about 30 per cent of patients have a family history of the disorder. Treatment of vitiligo usually takes a long time. Medical treatment helps arrest the spread of depigmentation and in some cases, may bring back the pigmentation. The most commonly affected areas are face, neck, back, wrist, hand, groin, genitals, armpits, etc.

Heredity
Heredity is also a well-recognized causative factor.


HOME REMEDIES FOR LEUCODERMA

• A paste made from radish seeds is extremely useful in treating leucoderma. Take about 35 grams of these seeds and powder them in 2 tsp of vinegar. Apply this paste on the white patches.
• Goosefoot vegetable is considered valuable in treating white patches. Extract the juice of this vegetable and apply to the affected area. Also, consume this vegetable two times in a day, for about 2 months.
• In 8 liters of water, soak about 500 gm of turmeric. Boil it, till the point when only one-liter water is left. Strain the water and add 500 ml mustard oil in it. Strain the mixture and apply to the white Leucoderma patches every morning and evening for a couple of months.

Leucoderma treatment using Psoralea
The best-know home remedy for leucoderma is the use of seeds of psoralea (babchi). These seeds should be steeped in the juice of ginger for three days. The fluid should be renewed every day. The seeds should then be rubbed with the hands to remove the husks, dried in the shade and powdered. One gram of this powder should be taken every day with one cup of fresh milk for forty days continuously. The ground seeds should also be applied to the white spots. Babchi seeds, combined with tamarind (imli) seeds. are also useful. An equal quantity of both the seeds should be steeped in water for three to four days. They should then be shelled and dried in the shade. They should be ground into paste and applied to the white patches for a week. If the application of this paste causes itching, or the white spots become red and a fluid begins to ooze out, this treatment should be discontinued.

Leucoderma treatment using Red Clay
Another useful remedy for leucoderma is red clay found by the river side or on hill slopes. The clay should be mixed in ginger juice in a ratio of 1:1, and applied over the white spots once a day. The copper contained in the clay seems to bring back skin pigmentation. Ginger juice also serves as a mild stimulant, facilitating increased blood flow to the spots. Drinking water kept overnight in a copper vessel will also help.

Leucoderma treatment using Radish
A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in treating leucoderma. About thirty-five grams of these seeds should be powdered in two teaspoons of vinegar and applied on the white patches.

Leucoderma treatment using Goose Foot
The use of goose foot is beneficial in the treatment of this disease. This vegetable should be taken twice daily, in the morning as well as in the evening, for two months continuously. Simultaneously, the juice of the leaves should be applied over the patches of leucoderma.

Leucoderma treatment using Turmeric
Turmeric mixed with mustard oil has also proved useful in leucoderma. About 500 gm of turmeric should be pounded and soaked in 8 litres of water at night. It should be boiled in the morning till only one litre of water is left, and then be strained and mixed with 500 ml of mustard oil. This mixture should be heated till only the oil is left. It should then be strained and preserved in a bottle. The mixture should be applied on the white patches every morning and evening for a few months.

Leucoderma diet

Fast of juices followed by restricted diet of fresh fruits.
Constitutional measures should be adopted to cleanse the system of accumulated toxins. To begin with, the patient should undertake a fast of juices for about a week. After the juice fast, the patient may adopt a restricted diet consisting of fresh fruits, raw or steamed vegetables, and whole meal bread or chapatis. Curd and milk may be added to this diet after a few days.

Well-balanced diet
The patient may, thereafter, gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits. This diet may be supplemented with cold-pressed vegetable oils, honey, and yeast. Juice fasting may be repeated at intervals of two months or so.

Avoid tea/coffee, polished rice, tinned or bottled foods etc.
The patient should avoid tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, all condiments and highly- flavoured dishes, sugar, white flour products, denatured cereals like polished rice and pearled barley, and tinned or bottled foods.

Other Leucoderma treatments
Lukewarm-water enema to cleanse bowels

During the initial one-week juice fast, the bowels should be cleansed daily with it lukewarm-water enema.

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.

Miscarriage--Home Remedies!!

Miscarriage or abortion may be defined as the termination of pregnancy before the period of viability, which is considered to occur at 28 th week. Miscarriages generally take place in the first two trimesters. The chance of a miscarriage in the third trimester is extremely low.

Various causes for the miscarriage may be infection such as viral infection, chronic illness such as chronic nephritis, acute or chronic respiratory disease, and severe anemia. Direct trauma on the abdominal wall by blow or fall may be related to abortion. Emotional upset or change in environment may lead to abortion by affecting the uterine activity. A mom in a high stress situation (perhaps unmarried, financial problems, health problems, unstable marriage, unwanted pregnancy, etc.) is more likely to miscarry. In some women even a minor trauma, internal examination in the early months of pregnancy or sexual intercourse in early months can also lead to abortion.

Environmental toxins like lead, arsenic, anesthetic gases, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, radiation in excess amount increase the risk of abortion. Drugs used for epilepsy or antimalarial preparations are not harmful when used in small doses but in high doses they can induce abortion.

Cervical incompetence, either congenital or acquired is one of the commonest causes of midtrimester and recurrent abortions. Congenital malformation of the uterus may be responsible for midtrimester or recurrent abortion. Premature rupture of the membranes inevitably leads to abortion. Hormonal imbalance due to deficiency of progesterone making the uterine environment less receptive is also responsible for abortion.

Other causes of miscarriage may include the following: Chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus, incompetent os i.e. weakness of the cervical muscles, excessive water i.e. hydramnios, low-lying placenta causing bleeding and consequently abortion, and lifting heavy weights

Sometimes dietary factors such as deficiency of folic acid or vitamin E are often thinks to be responsible for the abortion. When a pregnant woman is under stress, she not only depletes her own vitamin and mineral reserves and her own adrenal and glandular strength, but she drains these things off her baby.

The patient with threatened abortion shows the increased vaginal bleeding, aggravation of pain in the lower abdomen.

HOME REMEDIES FOR MISCARRIAGE

• Drinking raspberry tea during pregnancy strengthens the uterus, which will coordinate contractions and shorten labor.
• Take the herbs cramp bark along with wild yam to relieve leg pains and to prevent miscarriages. The herb corn silk can help in easy labor and reduce bleeding after labor.
• Nutmeg tea helps the uterus to contract and lessens bleeding afterbirth.
• The herb thyme taken in a tea helps expel the placenta.
• Apply myrrh to the newborn's navel after the cord has been removed to prevent infection.
• St.-John's-wort taken in the form of capsules helps to relieve after pain.
• The herbs pennyroyal and mistletoe may induce abortion by causing uterine contractions.
• The herbs cramp bark and hawthorn may be taken in capsules to help prevent miscarriages.
• The herbs red raspberry, false unicorn, and lobelia help to strengthen the uterus which will helpin shortening labor. Take them regularly during pregnancy.
• The herbs catnip and cayenne in capsules help to prevent morning sickness.
• The herbs bayberry and mistletoe help in stopping bleeding from the uterus.
• The herbs wild yam, red raspberry, false unicorn, and hawthorn will strengthen the uterus muscles, prevent miscarriage, and reduces cramps.
• Take cod liver oil, iodine, and iron to prevent morning sickness, and birth defects in your infant.
• Take dandelion, kelp, and alfalfa to provide minerals and keep weight off the hips.
• Alcohol consumption is the leading cause of birth defects and mental retardation in newborns and should be avoided at all stages of pregnancy.
• Smoking during pregnancy robs the baby of oxygen and contributes to colic.
• The diet mustinclude whole, live foods. Herbs and other nutritional supplements may be used to enhance the diet. Fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, sprouts, butter (not margarine), dairy products (if they are tolerated), nuts, seeds, organically raised animal protein (to avoid the hormones and antibiotics used in producing commercial animals) and yogurt are the types of foods to be included in the diet.
• Red raspberry acts as a uterine tonic, contains many vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron and B-Complex.
• Good natural source vitamins can also be used to prevent miscarriages and enhance the health of both mom and babe. Some that are considered to be essential are vitamin E, Zinc, Vitamin B6 and B-Complex.

References:
Nobles, R., and Schiff, D., "Miscarriages of justice: a systems approach" (1996) 59 Modern Law Review 299
Poole, A., "Remedies in miscarriage of justice cases" 1998 Scottish Law Times 65
Christopher, John, School of Natural Healing, Christopher Publications
Gardner, Joy, Healing the Family, Bantam Books
Mervyn, Leonard, Thorson's Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals.

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.

Food Poisoning!!

Food poisoning, also known as acute gastroenteritis, is an acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and small bowel. It is caused in various ways, one of which is excessive indulgence in alcohol. Some people are allergic to certain items of food, which may act poison to them.

Food poisoning usually begins suddenly with a feeling of nausea and abdominal cramps, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Rectal burning may be intense, and the stools may contain blood and mucus. All of this loss of fluid from the bowel may result in severe dehydration and shock. There is pain in the abdomen, with some distension, especially in the lower area.

Germs cause the worst attacks of food poisoning. Foods used at picnics, in restaurants, and at home are easily contaminated by toxins or poisonous substances, produced by staphylococcus bacteria. Foods most commonly that cause food poisoning are various meats, fish, pastes, custards, cream filled pastry, milk, ad many different kinds of deserts.

The trouble seems to arise from skin infections on the hands of those who handle food. Within two or three hours after taking this type of contaminated food, the patient suffers from severe abdominal cramps, followed by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, often resulting in severe prostration and shock. Most of these attacks only last a few hours and are followed by complete recovery. Severe poisoning may be caused by different types of fish.

Home Remedies for Food Poisoning!!

• Keep the patient in bed and give nothing by mouth as long as the nausea and vomiting persist.
• As the vomiting subsides, give sips of some warm drink, such as tea, barley or rice water.
• Gentle heat may be applied to the stomach to relieve spasm or pain and also the tendency to vomit.
• Wash your hands before preparing food to avoid passing on bacteria such as staphylococcus (commonly found on the skin and in the throat) or shigella (passed from fecal matter). Wash again after handling raw meat and eggs.
• Don't eat raw protein food like fish, fowl, meat, milk, or eggs. Avoid sushi, oysters on the half shell, Caesar salad made with raw eggs, and unpasteurized eggnog. Don't use cracked eggs.
• Don't taste test the raw pork sausage stew, the fish chowder, or even the cookie batter before it's done.
• Don't let raw meat juice drip onto other food. It can taint otherwise harmless food.
• Don't leave food at room temperature for more than two hours, and avoid eating anything that you suspect may have been unrefrigerated for that long.
• Don't taste any food that doesn't smell or look right.
• For food poisoning treatment drink fluids as much you can to combat the loss of fluids.
• Scrub counters with warm, soapy water and bleach to combat countertop bacteria.
• Use a plastic cutting board instead of a wooden one. Be sure to thoroughly clean the cutting board after you've finished using it.
• Avoid foods that are fried, smoked or salty as well as raw vegetables, pastries, preserves, candies, alcohol and spices and condiments.
• Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar in a cup of hot water before a meal to prevent acid indigestion.
• Add three drops of garlic oil to half a cup of Soya oil and rub onto the stomach after food.
• For food poisoning treatment drink a herbal tea of mint, raspberry, chamomile and blackberry.
• Drink one cup of ginger tea after meals to promote a good digestion and for heartburn, nausea, etc.
• Cooking utensils and plates, as well as sponges and dishcloths that were used in the food preparation process, should also be cleaned appropriately.
• Grind a lemon along with seeds and make a paste. Add some salt. Take 1 tsp of this paste 2-3 times.
• Drink 1/2 tsp of dry ginger (saunth powder in 1 cup buttermilk (chhachh) 3 - 4 times a day.
• Chew a few pieces of the inner lining of pomegranate with salt, and/or drink pomegranate juice.
• Prepare a mixture by ading 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 mixture by adding 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1/4 tsp pepper powder and drink it.
• Mix 5-6 chopped basil (tulsi) leaves, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and some black pepper in 3 Tbsp of curd, and eat it. Repeat this 4 times a day for one week. This is very useful home remedy for food pisoning treatment.
• 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. This is also very useful home remedy for food pisoning.
• Grate one raw papaya. Add 3 cups water, boil for 10 mins, strain and finish the water in one day.

Drink Water. "You are losing liquids very quickly when you have food poisoning. Therefore, it is extremely important to replenish your system," says Joseph Madden, Ph.D., director of the Division of Microbiology at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, a branch of the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C.
"Start with a few sips of water," says Dr. Ruderman. "Once you can keep water down, it is better to take in fluids containing sugar, because they are better absorbed by the body." Try clear fruit juices. If vomiting is a problem, though, wait several hours before taking in liquids.

Slurp on a sports drink. Drinks like Gatorade contain electrolytes, which are essential elements such as potassium and sodium that influence the way water is distributed throughout your body. "When you're vomiting or having diarrhea, these elements get lost along with liquid during dehydration, " says Dr. Madden. "The sports drinks like Gatorade help replenish these necessary elements as well as rehydrate your body with water." Rehydration is more important than replacement of electrolytes, so sports drinks can be diluted 50-50 with water.

Relax. "Most of the time, food poisoning problems tend to resolve themselves without needing intervention, " says Dr. Ruderman. Once your body's immune system takes over, relief is on the way, and you'll be feeling better soon. Just rest and drink fluids, and when you feel a little better, start to establish a diet.

Leave the over-the-counter drugs on the counter. If you feel the urge to reach for an antacid, stop yourself. "They don't really help," says Dr. Ruderman. If you're suffering from traveler's diarrhea, however, Pepto-Bismol is beneficial for relieving the symptoms until you feel better.

Ease into a bland diet. When you feel ready to begin eating, a bland diet is recommended. This means eating easily digestible foods such as cereal, pudding or chicken soup. Be sure to avoid foods that are fried, smoked or salty as well as raw vegetables, pastries, preserves, candies, alcohol and spices and condiments.

Get a lift from a sugary drink. If you're feeling weak, sip on a flat soft drink. "The advantage of soda is that it has sugar in it," says Dr. Ruderman. "This will give you some energy."

Reference:
Selkurt, E.E. (editor), Physiology, 2nd edition, Little, Brown and Company, Boston (1966).Chinese Medicinal Herbs, compiled by Li Shih-Chen, translated by F. Porter Smith, M.D., and G.A. Stuart, M.D., Georgetown Press, San Francisco (1973). Chandan BK, Sharma AK, Anand KK. Boerhavia diffusa: a study of its hepatoprotective activity. J Ethnopharmacol 1991 Mar;31(3):299- 307.

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.

Baldness!!

Partial or complete loss of hair on the scalp is common among men. It is less commonly found in women. Premature baldness is found in certain families. Thinning of the hair is often seen in older women, but complete baldness in the female is fortunately rare. Temporary baldness may occur following a fever or some prolonged illness. The hair usually returns after the patient has recovered from the illness.

Sudden loss of the hair in certain areas is a condition, which is called alopecia areata, may sometimes occur after a nervous shock. This may disappear in a few weeks, although sometimes it will recur. In females excessive hair loss is seen after delivery and during lactation. This is only due to hormonal changes in the body and due to suckling of the milk by the child. This disappears after the child stops weaning. It is not a permanent problem.

In children falling of hair occurs due to many reasons such as severe headache, dim eyesight, after a prolonged illness, use of different shampoos and soaps, after a severe head injury and a familial tendency. Generally it is seen that if the parents have thin hair and early loss of hair in their life so is their children.

Hormones in our body check the development of hair that growss after puberty. The male hormone, testosterone, checks the beard, body hair and hair in the armpits. The female hormone, estrogen, prevents hair growth on the chin and helps it to grow on the head. Occasionally women develop signs of hair loss or baldness when estrogen levels falls. Treatment with estrogen has been successful in the treatment of hair growth and stopping of hair loss.

The healthy condition of the hair depends, on the intake of sufficient amounts of essential nutrients in the daily diet. Persons with a tendency to lose hair should take a well-balanced and correct diet, made up of foods, which, in combination, should supply all the essential nutrients. It has been found that a diet, which contains large quantities of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits, would provide adequate amounts of all the essential nutrients.

Many people use various shampoos and creams to prevent hair loss but with no gain.

HOME REMEDIES FOR BALDNESS
Boil 1-cup mustard oil with 4 tablespoon henna leaves. Filter the mixture and put it in a bottle. Massage on the bald patches regularly.
Massage the scalp for 10 to 15 minutes after bathing it with water. This increases the blood circulation and strengthens the hair follicles in the scalp. A vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingers after washing the hair with cold water is one of the most effective home remedies for the prevention and treatment of hair loss.
Another remedy for baldness that helps is Grind 1/2-lime seeds, and 1/2 black pepper, apply to bald patches regularly.
Prepare a mixture of apple cider vinegar and sage tea and then apply on the scalp to help hair grow
Rub the bald area with onions till it becomes red. Then apply honey on the bald area. It is very effective.
Mix 4 tbsp of yoghurt and 4 tbsp of camphor lotion. Apply it on the head; leave it to soak for 2-3 hours then wash off with lukewarm water. This is an effective home remedy for baldness.
Juice of coriander leaves is also very good for hair.
Massage the scalp with 1-teaspoon oil in which raw mangoes has been preserved for over one year. Repeat this frequently.
A shampoo can be prepared by mixing 100 g each of amla (Indian goose berry), reetha, and shikakai and boil in two liters of water till the liquid reduces to half. Use this shampoo for at least one month. Hair will become thick.
Massage the scalp and hair with coconut milk or Aloe Vera gel. Leave it for ½ hour, and then rinse with warm water. Repeat 3 times a week.
Prepare a solution by mixing equal amount of warm castor and almond oil and massage over scalp at least once a week.
A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice help the growth of hair if taken to the extent to half a litre a day
Make a paste by mixing two eggs, two tablespoons each of amla, reetha and shikakai powder. Massage on the scalp and leave it for 30 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo. Repeat it for 3-4 times a week. This is also an effective home remedy for baldness.
Mix honey with egg yolk and massage on the scalp and hair. Leave for a 1/2 hour, then wash.
Massage almond oil on scalp 2-3 times a day, daily. This will stop further hair loss.
Prepare a hair pack by mixing amla ( Indian goose berry) powder with one egg. Apply it to hair and wash after half an hour. Wash hair.
Prepare a paste of hot olive oil, honey, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder and apply it on the scalp before bath and keep for 15 minutes for baldness treatment.
Apply a mixture of Aloe Vera with herbal powder triphala to the hair for a period of three to six months. It will result in growth of new hair.
Take soaked fenugreek seeds (Dana methi), shikakai powder, reetha powder, amla powder, dried lemon or lime peels, and two eggs, and grind to make a paste. Massage this paste onto hair and scalp and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo. This makes hair thick.
Grind fenugreek seeds with water and prepare a paste. Massage on the scalp after oiling the hair and leave it for one hour before washing. Repeat it every morning for a month.
A juice of alfalfa + fresh spinach or fresh coriander daily helps hair to grow fast.
Juice of carrot, lettuce, capsicum and fresh alfalfa remove copper deficiency, this is good remedy for gray hair and hair loss.
Prepare a paste by mixing 5 tbsp of curd, 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 2 tbsp of gram raw (chholia) powder. Apply it on the head. After an hour wash it off with shampoo.
Prepare a mixture of the powder of black pepper, onion and salt and apply it on the bald patches to prevent the infection of ringworms.
For baldness treatment, cut one lemon (or an orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with two cups water. Boil until half of solution remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle. Store in refrigerator. If it is sticky, add more water.
Take 10-15 leaves of the large Ber fruit. Burn them in mustard oil, make a paste and apply on hair for 1 hour and then wash it. This remedy prevents hair loss for almost everyone.
Another valuable remedy for hair loss is Amaranth. Its fresh leaf juice should be applied to the hair. It will help the growth of the hair and keep it soft.
The leaves of the margosa tree are also beneficial in the treatment of hair loss.

References:
Alopecia Areata: Understanding and Coping with Hair Loss Wendy byThompson and Jerry Shapiro year 2000.
Beautiful Black Hair: Real Solutions to Real Problems--A Step by Step Instructional Guide by Shamboosie 2002
Cotran: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, 6th ed.,1999, W. B. Saunders Company
Noble: Textbook of Primary Care Medicine, 3rd ed., 2001, Mosby, Inc.

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.

ITCHING

Itching can be best described as a peculiar tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that creates a desire to scratch the affected area. Itching is a common problem faced by many people at some or the other point in life. Itching could be the result of a variety of reasons such as allergies (to food, plants or pets), insect bites, stings, skin disease or even poor hygiene. Itching can be annoying as the skin is irritated and gives you the constant need to scratch the affected area. Constant or repeated scratching can bruise the skin, making it sore and even painful. Itching could be generalized where in the whole body is affected or localized wherein a particular area is irritated.

Red spots, Scaly patches
Tendency to scratch continually to relieve itching sensation
Redness of skin
Scraped skin as a result of vigorous scratching
Prolonged scratching and rubbing can result in thick and scarred skin
Red spots
Scaly patches
Blisters

Dry skin is a common cause for itching
Itching can be caused by a plethora of reasons. Some of the most common causes for itching include -

Exposure or contact with chemicals.
Sunburn can cause itching.
Insect bites or stings.
Certain infectious diseases such as chicken pox cause itching on the skin.
Parasites on the body such as body, head or pubic lice can cause itching.
Itching can be the result of an allergic reaction to certain foods, plants or pets.
Dry skin is a common cause for itching. This is usually seen in older people as aging skin is often dehydrated.
Cold weather, overexposure to water and hot baths typically cause itching.
An unfavorable medication could cause itching as a reaction.
Itching can happen during the later part of pregnancy due to the stretching of the skin especially on the lower abdomen area.
Skin conditions such as Psoriasis, Seborrheic dermatitis, Urticaria, Pityriasis rosea can cause severe itching.

• Use of weak carbolic acid lotion
  Itching caused due to non-medical conditions can to a great extent be treated using home remedies. Some that can be used to control or treat itching are as follows -
  
  Take a bath in one can of evaporated milk; you can add other combinations such as oatmeal, baking soda etc. The milk works well to soothe the itching.
  
  Apply Aloe Vera, cod liver oil, lemon juice, vitamin E oil, wheat germ oil, or witch hazel tea to the itchy area.
  
  Take burdock, chickweed, goldenseal, plantain, or yellow dock in capsule form.
  
  Cornstarch helps relieve itching. You can pour some into your bath water or dust it onto your body.
  
  Scrub the affected area lightly with a pumice stone. Then wash with soap, apply rubbing alcohol, and dab a thick layer of Vaseline over it. This will provide relief from itching.
  
  Take a bath with a little peppermint or yellow dock to relieve itching.
  
  Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to your bath water to relieve itchy skin.
  
  Baking soda can be used in cool bath water to soothe other skin irritations and alleviate itching from prickly heat, bee stings, insect bites, and other minor skin ailments.
  
  Another trusted home remedy is to use a weak carbolic acid lotion or a solution of bicarbonate of soda (commonly known as baking soda) and applying it over the itchy part.
  
  Apply cold compress to the itchy areas, it is thought to bring relief from itching.
  
  Fresh stinging nettle oil can be used on the affected areas.
  
  Drinking 1 to 2 cups of Nettle tea daily is thought to help relieve itching. Add boiling water to 1 tsp of the dried leaves for each cup. Steep for 15 minutes.
  
  Apply Burdock root oil to the skin to help heal rashes and itching.
  
  Fresh Chickweed poultice is good for itching. This can be made by soaking 2 large handfuls in water. When the plants soften, cool them and apply directly on the skin.
  
  Take a diet rich in Vitamin C,beta-carotene, Vitamin E and zinc
  Diet can play an important role to combat itching that result from food allergies. If you have identified foods that cause itching, it's best to avoid them completely.
  
  Increase your intake of Vitamin C, beta-carotene, Vitamin E and zinc through diet by having foods rich in the above mentioned vitamins and minerals.
  
  Avoid scartching or rubbing
  Avoid scratching or rubbing itchy areas as this worsens the problem. Keep finger nails short to prevent skin damage from scratching.
  Wear loose, light and cool nightwear. Do not use thick, rough clothing like wool over itchy areas.
  Take bath with lukewarm water.
  Apply a soothing lotion on to the skin after bath.
  Avoid exposure to heat and humidity.
  Keep your body and affected areas dry and clean at all times. Moisture can worsen itching.

ANGINA!

Angina attack is an acute chest pain or discomfort felt around the chest area on account of reduced blood flow to heart due to narrowing of the arteries of the heart. Angina could also be caused due to increased demand of blood supply for the heart, blockage of artery, or thickening of heart muscles. Supplying more blood through narrow arteries causes discomfort, sudden pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing pain in the chest area which leads to Angina.

Angina also called angina pectoris is broadly classified into three types:

- Stable angina or chronic stable angina
- Unstable angina – known to initiate a heart attack
- Variant angina or Prinzmetal's angina - a rare type caused by coronary artery spasm

Angina is a symptom of the most common heart disease known as Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and is relatively common considering more than 6 million people in US have angina

Symptoms of Angina
Common symptoms associated with Angina
- Pain and discomfort in the chest area
- Pressure, tightening, squeezing or burning sensation in the chest area
- Pain may also be experienced in the arms, shoulders, throat, neck, jaw or back regions
- May appear like indigestion and consequent discomfort
- Other symptoms include: shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, excessive sweating or nausea

Causes of Angina
The key causes that lead to the onset of angina
- Difference between blood demand and supply. Though demand is normal, supply of blood to the heart decreases due to narrowing of arteries or obstructive coronary vascular disease
- Fatty deposits on the blood vessels of the heart causing restriction of regular or required blood flow to the heart causing reduced blood supply to the heart
- Formation of blood clots that may partially or fully block the artery
- Other causes include: uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, anemia, polycythemia, heavy smoking or use of cocaine, heavy meals, physical exertion, emotional stress, diseases related to thyroid glands and other types of heart diseases

Remedies for Angina
The common remedies and preventive care associated with angina
- Initiating lifestyle modifications such as: eating healthy and well balanced meals, quitting smoking, exercising regularly and being physically active. It is also advisable to lose weight incase of obesity
- Treating existing disorders that may lead to angina such as: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other heart related conditions
- Medicines and other options in surgery are also available to treat angina in serious cases

Diet for Angina
Following are the suggested diet remedies
- Avoid eating cholesterol rich food and consuming light and preferably vegetarian foods
- Boost intake of Vitamin A, C and E rich foods to prevent and control the onset of angina
- Intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains ensure your body receives the required nutrients

Suggestions for Angina
Other suggestions and Tips
- A regular exercise program as supervised or indicated by the doctor
- Follow a weight-loss program for over-weight or obese persons
- Regular check to maintain levels of blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes
- Avoid stress and ensure a relaxed sleep
- Eat a well balanced, cholesterol free meal

ALLERGY!!

The word 'allergy' means an altered or abnormal tissue reaction after exposure to an antigen (also called an 'allergen'). The allergic reaction occurs if the body tissues are sensitive to the allergen. The allergen may reach the tissues by direct contact with the skin or various mucous membranes of the organs or through the bloodstream after absorption. Almost any part of the body can be affected by allergies. Allergic reactions are caused by a wide range of substances and conditions. These include pollens, dust, cosmetics, and animal hair; poisonous plants, serums, vaccines, and drugs; physical agents such as heat, cold and sunlight, as well as a variety of foods. The foods that commonly cause allergic reactions are oranges, milk, eggs, wheat, fish and other sea foods, chocolates, tomatoes, and strawberries.

Symptoms of Allergies
Recurring headaches, hay fever, Vomiting etc
Allergic symptoms are manifested in various forms in different organs. These include recurring headaches, migraines, dizziness, irritability, nervousness, depression, neuralgia, conjunctivitis, eczema, hay fever, a stuffy or runny nose, diarrhoea, vomiting, urticaria, asthma, shortness of breath, and swelling of the face and eyes. The same substance can cause different symptoms in different people at different times.

Causes of Allergies
Dietetic errors and faulty living style
Allergy is an indication of disharmony caused by dietetic errors and a faulty style of living.

Refined, processed foods and stress
It is also caused by excessive consumption of refined and processed foods, loaded with numerous chemical additives, many of which cause powerful reactions. Emotional and psychological stress can also lead to allergies.

Allergies Home Remedies

Allergies treatment using Nutrients
Certain nutrients have been found beneficial in the prevention and treatment of allergies. Often the intake of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid brings great relief to the sufferer. This vitamin may be taken in a dose of 100 mg daily for a month. In such cases, liberal amounts of pantothenic acid helps even though the recovery takes several weeks. A dose of 400 mg of vitamin E taken daily for four to six weeks is also beneficial as this vitamin possesses effective anti-allergic properties.

Allergies treatment using Castor Oil
It is found that five drops of castor oil in half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice, or plain water, and taken on an empty stomach in the morning, is beneficial for allergies of the intestinal tract, skin, and nasal passages.

Allergies treatment using Lime
Lime is considered an effective remedy for any kind of allergy. Half a lime may be squeezed in a glass of lukewarm water and sweetened with a teaspoon of honey. It can be taken once daily first thing in the morning for several months. This remedy not only flushes the system of toxins but also acts as an antitoxic and antiallergic agent. However, those who are allergic to citrus fruits should not take recourse to this remedy.

Allergies treatment using Bananas
One or two bananas a day are useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and who consequently suffer from skin rashes, digestive disorders, or asthma, The fruit does, however, cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive persons and they should avoid it.

Allergies treatment using Vegetable Juices
A quantity of 500 ml carrot juice or a combination of carrot juice with beet and cucumber juices, has been found beneficial in the treatment of allergies. In the case of mixed juices, 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juices should be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice to prepare 500 ml or half a litre of mixed juice. This should be taken once daily.

Allergies diet
Fresh fruit juices
The best way to prevent or overcome allergies is to strengthen overall physical resistance so as not to fall an easy prey to every allergen that one comes across. To start with, the patient should fast on fresh fruit juices for four or five days. Repeated short juice fasts are likely to result in better tolerance to previous allergies.

Mono diet of vegetables or fruits
After the juice fast, the patient can like a mono diet of vegetables or fruits such as carrots, grapes, or apples for one week, after that. After that, one more food may be added to the mono diet. A week later, a third food may be added, and so on. After four weeks, protein foods can be introduced, one at a time. In case an allergic reaction to a newly-introduced food is noticed, it should be discontinued and a new food tried. In this way, all real allergens can be eventually eliminated from the diet.

Avoid food like tea/coffee or containing chemical additives and preservatives
Foods which should be excluded from the diet are tea, coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, alcohol, sugar and products made from it, refined cereals, meal, fish, chicken, tobacco, milk, cheese, butter, smoked and salted pickled foods, and foods containing any chemical additives, preservatives and flavourings.

Other Allergies treatments
Avoid stress, do meditation,exercise and mind control
For allergic conditions in which an element of mental stress is present as well, it is essential to employ such methods as relaxation, exercise, meditation, and mind control. These methods reduce or remove stress and thereby contribute towards the treatment of allergies.

Yogasanas
Yogic asanas like yogamudra, ardh-matsyendrasana , sarvangasana, shavasana, and anuloma-viloma pranayama are beneficial in the treatment of allergy.