NATURAL HOME REMEDIES : STRESS

NATURAL HOME REMEDIES : STRESS

Your body is designed to handle brief periods of stress from time to time. But too much isn’t good for body or soul. Take control of your stress naturally with these tips

Even when you can’t change a difficult situation, you have some control over the way you deal with stress. So if you’re pulling out your hair, biting your nails to the quick, or worrying yourself into a tizzy, try these techniques to loosen stress’s grip and restore a sense of sanity.

Dose with de-stressors

• Ever since ancient Greeks began enjoying chamomile tea, it has been praised for its healing properties. Today, when an estimated one million cups are drunk each day throughout the world, herbalists and naturopathic doctors praise chamo­mile as a wonderful remedy for stress. Drink one cup three times a day.

• You can also add chamomile, along with other calming herbs such as lavender and valerian, to bathwater for a nerve-soothing soak. Wrap the dried herbs in a piece of cheesecloth and hold it under the faucet while you fill the tub.

• Get more vitamin C. In one study, under-pressure people who took 1,000 milligrams of C had milder increases in blood pressure and brought their stress hormone levels back to normal more quickly than people who didn’t take it.

Beat stress with your mind

• Closely studied by Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard University, the relaxation response has been clinically proven to short-circuit stress. Sit in a comfortable position in a quiet place. Close your eyes. Now choose a word or phrase to focus on (“It’s okay,” for example). As you concentrate on breathing in and out, repeat the phrase each time you exhale. If you get distracted by other thoughts, gently put them out of your mind and return to your word or phrase. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. Practice at least once a day.

• Research has found that music can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and even levels of stress hormones in the blood. Take a break and listen to music you find soothing, whether it’s classical, jazz, or something else.

• Do a time-travel exercise. When you’re feeling knotted up with some immediate concern, remember something that had you feeling equally tense a year ago. How important does it seem today? Now try to project a year into the future, and look back on your present dilemma. Chances are, that “leap forward” in time will give you a better perspective on what you’re going through now. 

Take a progressive approach

• When you feel especially tense, try a technique called progressive relaxation. Sit or lie down in a quiet, comfortable place. Close your eyes. Now curl your toes as hard as you can for 10 seconds. Then relax them. After your toes, tense and relax your feet, legs, belly, fingers, arms, neck, and face. In other words, progressively “work” the tension all the way from the tips of your toes to the top of your head, and then “let it go.”

Take steps to prevent stress

• Get out for a walk or do some other form of exercise for at least 20 minutes, three times a week. Exercise boosts feel-good brain chemicals called endorphins, which lift your mood and make you feel less anxious.

• Limit your consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and sugar; and if you smoke, quit. All of these substances can fire up your body’s fight-or-flight response, contributing to physical symptoms of stress like a racing heart, trembling, clammy hands, anxiety, and irritability.

• Take up a calming hobby. Knitting, working on puzzles, reading, or some other favorite pastime can help you take a breather from the stresses of life.

NATURAL SKIN PIGMENTATION TREATMENT

Many of us have faced the issue of skin pigmentation, dark spots, freckles and an uneven skin tone. It is very disturbing and embarrassing to step out with even one spot. Most doctors recommend laser to get rid of such problems, but in my opinion it’s a huge investment. I chose to go with natural remedies; it’s a slow process but progresses in the right direction to give positive and effective results.

But to treat something it is necessary that we know the reason behind the problem. So lets look into the causes first.

Causes Of Skin Pigmentation

Like UV exposure tends to increase the melanin production, there are a few other environmental factors also that can cause either increased or decreased melanin production. Before we get into the causes, it necessary to remember that their two kinds of pigmentation abnormalities that can occur. Hyperpigmentation where the melanin production is elevated leading to brown or tan spots on the skin. This is also known widely as melasma.Hypopigmentation where the melanin production is lowered and patches of lighter skin appears. This is also known as vitiligo.

And now lets tackle the causes.

Heat: Over exposure to heat is one of the most common environmental causes to pigmentation. The melanin producing cells are disturbed due to which pigmentation occurs. Just like UV radiation affects the melanocytes, even thermal radiation affects the melanocytes which results in hyperpigmentation.

Injury: Sometimes after the wound caused by an injury heals, there is still a slight inflammation. This inflammed area can later develop pigmentation.

Medication: Certain specified medicines can cause skin pigmentation as a side effect during their use in treatment.

Diseases:Certain diseases also cause discoloration of skin like jaundice and cyanosis. In jaundice the skin develops a yellow tinge whereas in cyanosis the skin appears blue as their isn’t sufficient circulation of oxygen on the blood.

Emotional Duress: It has been observed in some cases, that extreme emotional stress and duress also effects the production of melanin by the cells.

Skin Pigmentation Treatment

Here are some simple tips to help you remove blemishes naturally and acquire healthy, glowing skin

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1. Potato:

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It works very well to help lighten pigmented areas, dark spots and blemishes. You can try rubbing a slice of potato on your skin daily; you may also try a mixture of fuller’s earth and potato juice to get rid of dark spots.

2. Lemon/Lime:

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Mix lemon with honey and apply on your face. It is highly beneficial because lemon is natural bleach and organic honey contains moisturizing properties. Do not use lemon if you have a sensitive skin.

3. Lemon Juice + Turmeric Powder:

Mix 1 tbsp of turmeric and lemon juice well. Apply this on the effected areas for 15 mins. You can then wash it off with cold water.

This pack is best used at night for exposure to sun immediately after the use of lemon is never advisable.

4. Red Onion:

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It is one of the most effective ways to reduce pigmentation of skin, dark spots, freckles etc. You would need to slice up an onion and rub it directly on the affected areas. Alternatively, you may grate the onion, squeeze out its juice and apply.

5. Cucumber:

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Very helpful in reducing skin pigmentation, fades freckles and blemishes. 1 tbsp of cucumber juice is to be used in conjunction with 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp lemon/lime juice for best results.

6. Aloe Vera/ Aloe Vera + Vitamin E:

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Aloe Vera effectively treats pigmented skin, clears dark spots and blemishes, resulting in the older skin cells to slough off, thus leaving us with clearer-looking, rejuvenated skin. Apply the gel half hour before bed; add one or two Vitamin E capsules like Evion to enhance its efficacy. Use it in the marketed gel form or gather the gel straight from the plant.

• For how many days should I follow using any of the above-mentioned tips?

Daily for at least two weeks and every alternate day thereafter till you achieve desired results.

7. Tomato+ Oatmeal + Yogurt:

Extract tomoato juice and to it add 2 2 tsp oatmeal and 1/2 tsp yogurt. Apply this on the problem areas till dries. Ensuring however that you don leave it on for more than 20 mins. Wash it off with lucke warm water.

You will need to do this everyday to see results.

8. Vinegar:

Vinegar has good lightening as well as astringent properties. One way to use this is by making a vinegar rinse. Mix vinegar with equal amounts of water and use it rinse your face. Don’t wash it off after.

9. Avocados:

The enzymes in avocados can also reduce pigmentation. For this you can either mash the fruit and apply the paste on the effected area or you slice it up and directly squeeze the juice on to the effected area.

But the one thing to watch out for is the latex enzymes in it that can cause allergies in some people. Please do make sure you do a patch test before using this.

10.Guava + Banana:

Mash banana and guava together and apply this paste on the effected areas. Wash off after 15-20 minutes. Follow this everyday. The lycopene in the guava and the exfoliating properties of the banana together will lead to skin lightening.

Remember:

Natural Remedies = Patience

How long is a mask to be kept on?

Not more than 20 minutes. Rinse off, pat dry and follow up with a moisturizer of your choice.

• All of us do not have the same type of skin, if you find one remedy not working, try another until you find the right natural treatment to get rid of skin pigmentation and blemishes.

• Indulge in proper skincare, do not forget cleansing, toning, moisturizing and exfoliating (at least twice a week using the facial scrub of your choice).

• Use a sunscreen on daily basis, a minimum of SPF 30 and PA+++ protection is recommended (especially for skin pigmentation).

• If oily skin and excess sweat prompts you to skip sunscreen, try Lotus Herbals Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel PA+++ SPF 50 or Sunmate SPF 30+ gel-cream (Dermatologist recommended).

• Drink lots of water and eat as many fruits to keep your skin hydrated and flush out the toxins from your system.

Hope you find these tips helpful.

TOP HOME REMEDIES FOR ARTHRITIS

Millions of people suffer from arthritis or joint problems. According to the arthritis Foundation in Atlanta there are more than 100 different types of arthritis with many causes. Of these the most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation occurring in one or more joints in the body.  The word arthritis comes from the Greek word “arthron’ meaning “joint” and the Latin word “itis” meaning “inflammation”. This disease affects the musculoskeletal system or the joints. Arthritis is the main cause of disability in people over 55 years of age. Arthritis affects people in different ways.  The effect may change according to the type of arthritis and how long the patient is affected by arthritis. Patients suffer from pain in the joints, stiffness of the joints, discomfort and fatigue.

The Cause Of Arthritis

To understand the cause of the arthritis it is necessary to know about the structure of the joints.

• In human body, one bone moves over the other in joints.
• The ligaments are responsible for holding the bones.
• These ligaments work like elastic bands and help keep the bones in position.
• The muscles relax and contract to make the joint move.
• To prevent the two bone surfaces from rubbing with each other there are cartilage covers.
• The cartilage cover helps the joints to work smoothly and without pain.
• The joint is covered by a capsule and it contains synovial fluid which nourishes the cartilage.

When you have arthritis some changes occur in these joints depending on the type of arthritis that has affected you. The cartilage might wear away, the synovial fluid will be lacking, or your body starts attacking itself (autoimmunity).

Types Of Arthritis

As said earlier there are different varieties of arthritis and the most commonly found are

Osteoarthritis

In this type of arthritis the cartilage loses the elasticity and it gets damaged. The cartilage is the shock absorber in the joints. When it wears away the tendons and ligaments attached to the bones get stretched causing pain in the joints. Later the bones start to rub over each other causing severe pain

Rheumatoid Arthritis

In this arthritis inflammation of the joints occurs as the synovial membrane is damaged. If untreated this type of arthritis can lead to deformities.  This type of arthritis is most common in women and affects the patient when they are 40-60 years of age. In some cases children as well as older people are also affected by it. The patients have a higher risk of blood clots.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

This affects children aged 16 or below.  There are different types of juvenile arthritis. The important ones are
• Pauciarticular
• Polyarticular
• Systemic JRA

Infectious Arthritis

This is caused by the infection of the tissues and synovial fluid of the joints. People who are already having some form of arthritis are more susceptible to infectious arthritis.

The Symptoms Of Different Types Of Arthritis

Each type of arthritis has different symptoms. The main symptoms of the some of the most common arthritis are given below

Osteoarthritis

In this type the symptoms appear slowly and gets worse as the time goes by. The main symptoms include

• Pain in the joints during or after the use of the joints
• Pain in the joints after a period of inactivity
• Tenderness of the joints
• Stiffness of joints especially in early morning
• Difficulty in using the joints due to lost flexibility
• Presence of hard lumps or bone spurs
• Commonly affected joints are hands, knees, hips, spine

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The symptoms appear in smaller joints at first and then spread to the larger joints as the arthritis progresses.

• Problems in several joints at the same time
• Some joints on each side of the body becomes  swollen and painful
• Pain and stiffness worst on waking up in the morning and lasts for at least 30 minutes
• Joints are red and puffy
• Presence of  rheumatoid nodules under the skin of arms
• Tiredness
• Weight loss
• Commonly affected parts are arms, legs, wrists and fingers
• It can spread to elbows, knees, hip, neck, shoulders, jaw etc

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

The patient will be a child and the common symptoms include

• Blotchy rashes on the arms and legs
• The child may limp or have a sore wrist, knee or finger
• Intermittent fever which peaks in the evening and suddenly disappear
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Sudden swellings in some joints
• Stiff neck, hip or other joints

Infectious Arthritis

This is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungal infections which spread to the joint through the blood stream from the infected tissues

• Fever along with inflammation and swelling of joints
• Tenderness and sharp pain in the joints
• Only one joint is affected
• Commonly affected areas are shoulder, knee, wrist, elbow, finger

How To Live With Arthritis?

As there is no complete cure for arthritis the person should learn how to live with arthritis. The diseases can make the daily tasks difficult for the patient.  There are many home remedies for arthritis. These remedies help you to control the symptoms and lead a quality life. Following a sedentary lifestyle will increase the difficulties. Following the home remedies will help you to reduce the overall effect of the arthritis. Physical therapy and occupational therapy will be effective in people with severe arthritis who finds it difficult to move the joints. Both movements and rest are important for arthritis patients.

Simple Home Remedies For Arthritis

Here are some of the home remedies for arthritis which will help you to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with the disease and helps you to be more active.

Weight Loss

This is one of the best home remedies for reducing the symptoms of arthritis. Reducing your weight will reduce the strain on your weight bearing joints and this will help in increasing your mobility and in preventing future damages to your joints. For every pound you reduce there will be 4 pounds less pressure on your knee. According to Roy Altman, MD, a rheumatologist and professor of medicine at the University of California the symptoms of arthritis in some people disappear if they lose 10- 20 pounds.

Exercise

Physical activity is a must for people with arthritis. You can opt for the activity according to your age and severity of the problem. If you are an old person, you can opt for walking at a moderate pace and if you are younger and in better shape can opt for swimming.  Exercises can keep your joints more flexible. Swimming and water aerobics are the best option as the buoyancy of the water helps it easy to exercise in water. Water reduces the stress on the joints while swimming.

Apply Heat And Cold

• Applying heat provides significant relief from pain. You can use any source of heat such as heating pads, hot packs or electric blankets. Apply heat to the affected areas for at least 20 minutes to reduce pain. Taking a hot shower also improves mobility of the joints.
• When your joints have inflammation due to arthritis try cold treatments. Wrap the ice in a towel and press it onto the sore joints.  You can also give hot and cold compression alternatively.

Wear Gloves

If you have stiff and swollen fingers and wrist in the morning, it is better to wear a snug fitting pair of gloves before you go to sleep.  This will reduce the swelling and pain in the morning.

Eat Fish With Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Many cold water fish like salmon contains omega 3 fatty acids. It has been found that this fatty acid can reduce the pain and stiffness in arthritis patients.  They are capable of reducing inflammations in the body.  You can also opt for omega 3 supplements in the capsule form. The daily recommended dose is 2,000 milligrams three times a day.

Flax Seed Oil

Flax seed oil also contains omega 3 fatty acids. So, if you do not like fish you can take one tablespoon of this oil every day. You can consume it as such or you can add it to your salads.

Rubbing Oils

There are many herbal oils which provide relief from the arthritis pain.

• Oil of wintergreen- take a few drops of the oil and rub it on the skin in the affected areas. If you are allergic to wintergreen oil there are other options.
• Eucalyptus oil- applying this oil to the joints also reduces the inflammations.  Do not use these oils when using heating pads or hot compress.  Additional heat can cause skin irritation.
• Ayurvedic oils- there are many Ayurvedic oils which claim to reduce pain and swellings in the joint. You can apply them for some time and wash it off with hot water to get relief from pain.
• Olive oil- the special compound present in olive oil called oleocanthal helps in preventing pro-inflammatory enzymes.  Olive oil can be used for cooking or can be applied to the joints.  It reduces the pain and inflammation resulted by arthritis.

Ginger

This is one of the most effective home remedies for arthritis. Ginger has the ability to improve the blood circulation. The increased blood flow removes the chemicals causing inflammations from the painful joints. Consume half-a teaspoon of powdered ginger or 30 grams of fresh ginger once a day. You will be relieved from the pain.

Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate has anti- oxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. They help you by protecting and maintaining the cartilage. Take at least one glass of pomegranate juice daily.

Antioxidant Rich Foods

It has been found that antioxidant rich foods reduce the pain and deformities caused by arthritis.  The free radicals present in our body attack the healthy cells including cartilage and sabotage the ability of the cartilage to repair themselves. Having antioxidant rich foods along with food rich in vitamin C relieves the osteoarthritis pain.

Calcium

It is necessary to have diets rich in calcium which helps to maintain and strengthen the bones. Milk, yoghurt, shellfish, cheese etc are a good source of calcium. You can also take calcium supplements when you are over 40 years of age to protect your bones and muscles.

Epsom salt

soaking the hands in warm water mixed with Epsom salt reduces the stiffness and inflammation and give relief from muscle cramps and pain.

Probiotic Foods

The bacteria present in our gut protect our immune system.  Probiotic foods will improve the useful bacteria in the body and this will help you get protection from autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.

Pineapple

Pineapple contains a protein-digesting enzyme called Bromelain, which helps in reducing inflammation. It is better to consume pineapple in between your meals and not along with your meal. When you eat it with your meal, the enzyme will be used to digest the food. Use only, fresh pineapple or pineapple juice. Do not use the canned ones as they contain preservatives which may not be good for arthritis.

Green Tea

The compound called quercetin present in green tea prevents or eases the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.  Studies have shown that women who had at least 3 cups of green tea every day had 60 % less chances to develop arthritis than women who didn’t drink any.

Assistive Devices

There devices such as shoe inserts, splints, canes, walkers and raised seats helps to redistribute your weight and reduces the stress on your arthritic joint. This will be very helpful for the patient to move or to do the daily tasks.  This will also help the arthritis from getting worse later.

Are you suffering from any type of arthritis? Are you looking for some home remedies? Try the above given home remedies for arthritis according to your convenience and availability of the items. Apart from trying the home remedies, you should do some physical activities to lead a quality life.

6 AMAZING BENEFITS OF SEX

What exactly happen when we think of sex?

Answer may be a lot! But, do you know about the benefits lie underneath?

You may find this weird that sex leads our vigour, but it’s true! Have you ever imagined the wild fantasies with benefits? When you are in a mood to make love or have sex, it might just help you to boost up your health.

Let me tell you 5 healthy benefits and make it unambiguous how juicy sex lives do wonders with you?

1.     Sex Advances Immunity

Making love once or twice a week, has been linked with superior intensity of an antibody, known as immunoglobulin IgA or A, which help you to stay away from any kind of infections and cold.

2.     Minus Stress, Improved Blood Pressure

Sex lessens stress and blood pressure. In a research, the couple, who had intercourse, responded better to stress than those, who avoided the sexual behaviours. Another study revealed the fact that those women, who get heaps of hugs from their men, have better blood pressure than anyone else.

3.     Sex Burns Maximum Calories

“Sex is an enormous mode of exercise.”- says Patti Britton, a sexologist. Thirty minutes of sex smoulders 90 calories or more. 3,570 calories can be burnt in 42½ sessions. Isn’t it more than enough to lose a pound?

4.     Heart Problems Improve by Having Sex

It has been proved that men, who have sex regularly, are half likely to have deadly heart issues than men, who have less than twice.

5.     Self Esteem

Many people have sex to boost their self esteem. Several couples have experienced that sex plays an imperative role in getting rid of all the worries. Now, don’t take it in a way that you will start having a lot of sex to make yourself feel good, every time. But yes, sex twice or thrice a week will put you on the cloud9.

6.     Sound Sleep

Research shows that sex promotes sleep, which helps in improving blood pressure, keeping weight in control and refreshing your mind.

Now, you understand how sex assists you to remain hale and hearty. So, try to incorporate it in your life to captivate the real essence of the relationship.

10 WAYS TO IMPROVE SPERM COUNT

In order to get pregnant, a man has to have at least 40 million sperm per ejaculate.

More than 40% of couples who are unable to have children are unable to do so because of problems with the man’s sperm. The sperm count should be the #1 fertility test done when you evaluate your fertility. A sperm analysis is completed through masturbation; it is noninvasive and it guarantees the person getting tested an orgasm. What a great deal!

Temporary reduction in sperm production is related to various causes like heavy duty cycling, exposure to extreme heat, ill fitting briefs, insomnia, performance pressure and emotional stress. All of these are causes of low sperm count in men. However, patients who suffer from this temporary low count can try out some helpful lifestyle changes to boost their sperm count.

About six percent of males between the ages of fifteen and fifty struggle with infertility. Male infertility can be caused by a variety of problems.

A specific cause, such as a varicocele, can be responsible for a low sperm count. A recent study shows that sperm count can be improved by a combination of zinc and folic acid. Low vitamin C has also been implicated in an abnormal sperm count.

You can improve the sperm count by following these 10 simple steps:

1. Have sex & masturbate less often – the more times you ejaculate, the less dense your semen will be. Don’t ejaculate more than once a day or every other day.
2. Refrain from habits like smoking, alcohol consumption etc. – Alcohol affects your liver function, which, in turn, causes a dramatic rise in estrogen levels. Even two drinks a day will have long-term effects on sperm production
3. Exercise regularly. Exercising your PC muscle can help you shoot further than ever before.Read How to Exercise your PC muscles
4. Eat Nutritious Food – Diet that’s low in fat, and high in protein, vegetables, and whole grains is good for your health and for your sperm. Avoid bitter, astringent and spicy foods.Reduce caffeine intake
5. Avoid heating of testicles – Wear loose, cotton boxer shorts, Avoid hot baths and saunas
6. Lose any excess weight, which tends to cause testosterone/oestrogen imbalances.
7. Reduce stress levels by learning relaxation techniques – Keep your mind and body healthy by regular practice of YOGA and MEDITATION.
8. Massage body with herbal oil, which improves blood circulation. Try Penis Massage Oil.
9. Try supplements – Certain natural supplements promise to increase sperm production. Checkout some Natural and Herbal, no side effects supplements at
10. Make love in the early morning or afternoon. Sperm levels are often highest in the mornings.

Source: http://www.babymed.com/male-infertility/10-ways-improve-sperm-count