10 simple ways to keep your teeth healthy
Tooth is the most essential part of our body but at the same time it is the most neglected part. No one is aware of the dangerous diseases which can spread by tooth infection. Moreover toothache is a nightmare for those who have experienced it. Once the toothache starts it will continue to a never ending vicious and expensive circle as one problem leads to other and you have to visit dentists many times. As per the proverb “prevention is better than cure”, it is advisable to maintain oral hygiene since childhood. It is very simple and easy and requires dedication of few minutes from your daily routine. Here are some points which will surely help you to maintain your teeth healthy.
1) Brushing twice Brushing is very important for keeping teeth clean. It helps in removing the food debris and keep teeth clean. You should brush your teeth twice daily- first after breakfast and then in night before going to bed or after dinner..
2) Brushing properly there are various brushing techniques which one can use in a normal routine. Easiest and best way is to use of vertical strokes with toothbrush and brushing all the surfaces of tooth adequately. Use of tongue cleaner is also recommended for cleaning the tongue surface.
For effective brushing you should place pea sized dab of toothpaste on top half of the toothbrush and disperse it properly between the bristles. Do not use harsh strokes. Instead use soft smooth strokes in vertical direction. Ideal brushing time is 2-3 minutes.
Different brushing techniques are as follows-:
a) FONES TECHNIQUE – It is the easiest technique used for brushing. In this method the bristles are placed perpendicular to tooth surface and circular movements are given. But it does not clean the interproximal(contact) areas and it is recommended for kids only .
b) BASS TECHNIQUE – In this method bristles are placed at an angle of 45* to the tooth surface facing towards gingiva (gums) and short back and forth strokes are given.
c) CHARTER’S TECHNIQUE – In this method bristles are placed at an angle of 45* but facing towards tooth and small circular motion is given. It is very effective in cleaning interproximal(contact) areas.
d) STILLMAN TECHNIQUE – In this method bristles are placed obliquely to tooth surface with half on tooth and other half on gingival(gum) and gentle back and forth motion is given.
Harmful effects of improper brushing:-
a) Tooth abrasion – it is mechanical loss of tooth. The enamel layer of tooth is removed leading to exposure of underlying dentin which is very sensitive.
b) Gingival recession – it can be defined as migration of gingiva( gums) in apical direction i.e. towards the root tip which leads to exposure of root that is covered by cementum which is also very sensitive. It also leads to increased plaque accumulation and later on bone loss which further cause tooth mobility.
3) Food habits – You should avoid sticky food like chocolates, candies, etc. Instead of it more of roughage should be taken which helps in removing the adherent debris to tooth surface. Soft refined food gets adhered to the tooth which is not easily removed and it progresses to caries.
4) Smoking and tobacco chewing - Smoking, chewing tobacco etc is very harmful for teeth. It increases plaque accumulation which further leads to caries. It also causes staining of teeth and bad odor. It can also lead to dangerous cancerous diseases.
5) Mouth rinses- Rinsing mouth even with simple water after every meal is must to remove adhered food in fissures and grooves of teeth.
You should use mouth washes regularly along with brushing.
Method to use – Some mouthwashes are required to be diluted before use while some are used as such. Prescribed amount of mouthwash is taken and swished thoroughly in mouth for 1-2 minutes and then spit out.
Content –Most of the mouthwashes consists of chlorohexidine. It is an excellent antibacterial agent which kills the bacteria present in oral cavity. It is used in concentration of 0.2% and is effective against wide range of bacteriae. But it should not be used immediately after brushing or after having tea or coffee as it causes staining of teeth. Another commonly used agent in mouthwashes is sodium fluoride. It is available in concentration of 0.2% for weekly use and in concentration of 0.05% for daily use. It prevents caries and also helps in remineralization of tooth structure. Listerine is also widely used as mouthwash. It helps in making oral cavity free of microbes and keeps teeth healthy.
6) Flossing It is most effective method to clean inter dental areas i.e. area between two adjacent teeth. Dental floss is like a thread which is used to clean those areas not easily cleaned by toothbrush. It is available in various forms.
Method of flossing About 45 cms long dental floss is taken and wound around middle finger of each hand and the last three fingers are folded in such a way that about 5 cms of floss is held between the index fingers of both hands when they are moved apart. Now the floss is moved along the interdental areas from top towards the gingiva (gums) along with back and forth motion.
7) Avoid aerated drinks like coke, soda etc. as it causes erosion of enamel layer of tooth. These contain acid which erodes the enamel leading to sensitivity and discoloration of teeth.
8) Regular visit to dentist you should visit your dentist regularly. After every 2 months for routine check up to stop any progress of caries at early stage.
9) Scaling should be done every 6 months. In this process all the debris or plaque accumulated on tooth surface is removed. It is of two types:-
a) hand scaling
b) ultrasonic scaling
10) Knowledge of inheritable developmental dental diseases There are certain disorders which are transferred through genes. These disorders present as malformed or discolored teeth. They occur due to defective enamel or dentine formation. Some common disorders are Amelogenesis Imfercta (improper enamel formation) and Dentinogenesis Imfercta (improper dentine formation). In these disorders teeth are more prone to caries or attrition. So proper treatment is required.
Fluorosis is also a dental related disorder which occurs due to high fluoride intake. It causes defective enamel formation which creates white chalky patches on tooth surface. These teeth are caries resistant but are not esthetically good. So should be treated with cosmetically pleasing techniques.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis Elbow otherwise called as lateral epicondylitis is a common injury found among the sports persons but is nowadays detected in common persons too! Though the main reason for the cause of tennis elbow is not known it is commonly thought that it is due to the minute tear of tendons which connect the fore arm muscle to the arm bone at the elbow joint. Specific inflammation is rarely present in the tendon but there is an increase in pain receptors in the area making the region extremely tender.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow:
- Pain about 1-2 cm down from bony area at the outside of the elbow
- Pain when lifting objects
- Pain radiating down the forearm
- Weakness in the wrist with difficulty doing simple tasks like shaking hands.
- Difficulty extending the forearm fully.
Who may be affected by Tennis Elbow?
- People who work with their hands are at greater risk of developing tennis elbow. Jobs that may lead to tennis elbow include plumbers, painters, gardeners, and carpenters.
- Sports participants, especially racquet sport players, are prone to developing tennis elbow. About a third of regular tennis players experience tennis elbow at some point in their careers. In addition to racquet sports, tennis elbow is seen in golfers, fencers, and other sports participants.
- As per the data, any one between the age group of 35 -65 may be affected by Tennis Elbow. It generally occurs in the dominant arm in about 75 percent of patients
Relief of Tennis Elbow:
The best way to get relief from the tennis elbow is to stop doing any thing that irritates the arm. Given here are some treatments to Tennis Elbow:
- Reduce the inflation by applying ice pack to the affected area.
- A simple exercise of arm stretching will help to lengthen the fore arm muscle fibers and reduce the tension on the tendon.—With palm facing down try to raise the arm till it is straight to your shoulders. Hold it for a minute. Slowly bring it by the side of the body, palms facing down. Then repeat the same with palm facing up. Care should be taken so as you do not extra stretch your muscle.
- Straps can be placed 1-2 inches below the elbow to give support to the tendon and reduce the stress.
- In the case of severe damage cortisone injections could be needed and in extreme cases surgery may be the only recourse (less than 3% of patients require surgery). If the damage is this serious professional advice should be sought.
Home and herb remedies for Tennis Elbow:
- Apply ice packs over the elbow for 15-20 minutes.
- Alternative heat packs and ice packs can comfort the patient to a large extent.
- Warm and baked potatoes can be applied as pack to reduce the pain
- Zostrix, a derivative of hot pepper can be wrapped around the elbow to reduce the sensation of pain
- Intake of Omega, a fatty acid generally found in fishes can relieve the pain
- The fluids extracted from the seeds of Celery if taken with hot water will prove beneficial
SPROUTS-A SUPER NUTRIENT
Sprouts are defined as “the transitional stage between seed and plant”. They are the germinated seeds of grains or legumes having acquired the preserving property and growing life of a particular plant. Sprouts should be made from organically grown seeds because they not only minimize the chance of infection but also rule out the possibility of consumption of chemical additives.
Sprouts are natural , fresh and completely living food made of some of the edible seeds. As the amount and availability of various nutrients of the seed increase after sprouting , they become an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. The nutrients contained in the sprout can be said to be equivalent to that of mother’s milk. Apart from their great dietary value they are easily palatable, light and easily digestible. During the process of sprouting the stored inactive nutrients are converted into nutritional super fuel bursting with vitamins, minerals and plant enzymes (proteins into amino acid, fats into fatty acid and starch into simple sugar}.
Every seed can be sprouted, but for dietary purposes seeds like green gram(moong) brown gram(moth) soybean, sunflower, fenugreek
(methi),lobia and wheat ,black gram are used. Sprouts of green and brown gram have very good protein value .Sprouts of all the grams in general enhance vigor and vitality.
Sprouts and diseases:
Fenugreek sprouts are slightly bitter in taste but make a good adjunct for persons suffering from chronic back ache, excessive urination, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
Soyabean, black bean and peanuts contains red clover which has genistein – an anticancer compound.
Since sprouts are a good source of fiber, they cleanse our body and remove constipation.They are also a good source of cholorophyll which in turn has anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties.
Many of the serious health disorders like heart disease , hypertension, lipid anomalies and diabetes are directly related with our faulty food habits. Modern life especially of big cities has become so synonymous with wrong food habits and all types of acidic , spicy and junk foods have been included in our daily diet .Sprouts can be a good and healthy substitute for a oily and heavy breakfast or fried evening snacks. Sprouts also helps in restoring the colour to graying hair and keep you looking young.
How to make sprouts:
The whole grains should be washed thoroughly in clean water after removing the broken pieces .Then they should be put in a container with double amount of water. After soaking for over night the seeds should be again washed and kept in a wet clean cotton cloth In summer the moisture of the cloth should be maintained by sprinkling cold water several times. Next day small sprouts may come out. Generally sprouts appear early in summer than winter. They should be washed thoroughly before eating. Keeping the sprouts for a long time is not advisable. Stale, stinking and dull sprouts should not be consumed.
Though we can consume any amount of fresh sprouts , it is imperative to start with a small quantity. They should be chewed properly.
We can enhance the taste of the sprouts by adding some onion, tomato, lemon juice, coriander and mint leaves . The taste and digestibility of the sprouts will increase by doing so.
Role of water in our Health
About two third of human body consists of water. Brain tissues consist of 85%of water. Even the teeth, which are considered the most solid organ of our body, consist of 10% of water. Bones consist of 14% of water.
Kelly Barton says, “Water is the most neglected nutrient in your diet but one of the most vital” Drinking clean water of 10 glasses per day reduces the risk of many diseases. Clean water flowing through the body carries off toxins and waste material. Several loads of dirty clothes couldn’t be washed in the same load of water. Similarly toxins and waste materials in the body couldn’t be excreted if the body doesn’t get appropriate amount of water.
Water helps to keep your muscles and skin toned, assists in weight loss, transports oxygen and nutrients to cells, eliminates toxins and waste from the body, regulates body temperature. It helps to reduce water retention by stimulating the kidney.
It is recommended that overweight person should add one glass of water to their daily requirement for every twenty-five pounds of extra weight they posses. Since water has no calories, it acts as a suppressant and helps the body to burn the stored fat. Thus it plays a significant role in weight loss.
It is a golden remedy for getting rid of pimples. It enhances the glow and shine of the face .It acts as a natural facial for ladies and girls.Thus it is a boon to us free of cost
Water reduces acidity in the body. In case of anxieties such as fear, anger, shock, and also in case of an accident and unconsciousness water is very helpful.
In times of fasting also it plays a vital role. Our body has no food to digest during fasting. So during this period it helps to remove away all the settled waste materials easily.
During hiccups, heaviness in stomach, and acidity drinking lukewarm water is beneficial. In case of diarrhea and cholera boiled and cooled water should be drunk.
How and when to drink water:
- Drinking water sip by sip is very beneficial.
- We should not drink water while standing up. It may cause gastric problem and pain in the knees and other joints.
- If we drink water half to one hour after our meals, it strengthens our body.
- If we drink water (lukewarm) in between the meals it acts as nectar.
- If we drink water at once after the meals it acts as poison.
- Early in the morning without getting down from the bed, we should drink at least two glasses of water kept in the copper vessel. Slowly and steadily the quantity of water should be increased to four glasses. Nothing should be taken in at least for half an hour. By doing so , you can get rid of piles, constipation , obesity , backache , and diseases connected with stomach , intestine, kidney, eye and ear.
- If we have sunstroke we should drink cold water and in case of cold we should drink hot water
- We should drink at least one glass of water in every 3 hours.
Deficiency of water in our body:
It may cause diseases such as muscles cramps, fatigue, constipation, kidney stones urinary tract infection and dehydration. The signals of dehydration are headache, head burn, irritability, depression low backache stomachache, water retention and dryness of mouth. Dryness of the mouth is the last outward sign of extreme dehydration.
BREAST FEEDING
When the mother feeds the baby with the milk produced by her body through the breast, it is called as breast feeding. Now is this breast feeding important is the next question which arises and many wrong notions that have been developed with regards to breast feeding.
Benefits of Breast feeding to the Mothers:
Many young mothers do not want to breast feed their babies so as they don’t disfigure themselves. But this is extremely wrong. Actually it so happens that your body is shaped by breast feeding which has been disfigured due to pregnancy. Here are the other benefits for the mothers.
- Mothers who breast feed their babies have less risk of ovarian cancer.
- Breast feeding diabetic mothers need less insulin
- Hormones released during breast feed increase the bonding between the baby and the mother.
- Breast feeding the babies immediately after delivery results in quick contracting of the uterus and result in less blood loss.
Benefits to the Baby:
Breast Feeding is not only beneficial to the mother but also to your child in the following ways:
- It contains all the necessary nutrients needed by the baby:
It is the complete food required by the baby. All the proteins, fats, carbohydrates vitamins and minerals which a baby needs to grow is present in the breast milk that too in the required proportion. So you need not worry about the balanced diet
- The baby can digest it easily:
As the breast milk is easily digestible it will lead to less stomach upset. Even the stools which are passed by the babies who are breast fed are less smelly when compared to those who are not breast fed. It is soft too. All this will help in building the body of the baby.
- It is the main source of providing the required immunity for the baby:
Breast milk helps the baby to fight against the diseases like diarrhea, common cold, other common illness. A non-breastfed baby is 15 times more likely to get diarrhea and 3 times more likely to get respiratory problem. If babies are fed with animal milk they are more likely to get allergies. It is because along with the milk the immunities are transferred from the mother to the baby.
- It is readily available for the baby and that too at the right temperature!
No preparation is required for the breast milk. You can provide it any where at anyplace and at any time. No head ache of boiling the milk and cooling the same. There is no tension of boiling the bottles or cleaning them!
More over if you breast feed your child you make him feel secured as your love flows at the maximum height at the time of breast feeding. You will also be able to pass on love, affection and warmth to your baby. It is also a common practice found among the mothers who breast feed their children that they keep on talking to their baby which will in turn increase the vocabulary of the babies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
Some herbs which helps in increasing the breast milk :
- Shatavari. A popular herb in India and China, it has gained attention in North America recently. Shatavari is generally used to improve women’s reproductive health, but it has been shown to increase lactation as well sometimes with extraordinary results.
- Goat’s Rue. Also called French Lilac or Holy Hay, this herb is being used by moms hoping to increase their milk supplies. It is especially recommended for moms who are breastfeeding after reduction surgery since it has been reputed to build and repair breast tissue as well as increase milk production.
Simple steps to prevent Wrinkle
The issue of wrinkles is a common feature with increase in age among the humans. Only those who are not sanctified with astonishing genes do not face these problems. There are some basic reasons for the occurrence of wrinkles can be stated as follows:
- The skin becomes dry and scaly as time passes
- It is caused by the loss of subcutaneous fat and water in the epidermal layers of the skin and exposure to the sun over many years.
- The elasticity of the skin decreases and the glands produce less sebum .
- The inability of the body to make the essential chemicals needed for a healthy and glowing skin.
There are a very many other causes due to which wrinkles develop very fast. Smoking is one the main reason due to which we can face the wrinkle issue. It gives harm to lower as well as upper lip skin. It gives a very bad effect near to your eyes. Those people who take tensions also face this issue. There are some reasons like heredity which are not in our control and these factors give the wrinkles to our body.
As is seen the parts which are exposed to sun the maximum, like the backside of our hand and face maximum are affected the most.
Can you avoid wrinkles?
When we now know the reasons for the occurrence of wrinkles we also want to know if they can be avoided. Although we cannot completely avoid wrinkling we can delay it and keep it to the minimum by doing some simple things.
- Never bathe with hot water. Use warm water instead.
- Always use oil based soap.
- After bathing, avoid the use of dusting powder. Instead apply an emollient lotion
How to treat Wrinkles?
You can use an anti-aging cream which is found in the market in plenty. But the best ones are those which are prescribed by the dermatologists and those which suit your skin. But the simplest thing is to accept it as a fact and enjoy aging. However you can follow the following simple steps to delay or sometimes even avoid Wrinkling.
- Put an end to smoking and drinking as research has linked smoking to the formation of wrinkling below the eyes and around the mouth.
- Keep off fried and fast foods as much as possible and include more vegetables and fruits which are anti oxidants and are known to bolster skin cells and tissues to withstand the biological aging process.
Home remedies for wrinkling:
- Apply egg whites to the skin under eyes to reduce wrinkles.
- Empty the contents of 3 Vitamin E tablets into a small bowl. Add to this 2 tablespoonful simple yogurt, 1/2 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp lemon juice. Apply this mixture on the face with the use of a cotton ball. Remain it on for 10 minutes and wash.
- Make a mixture of 1/4 cup comfrey infusion, 1/4 cup witch hazel and 10 drops of patchouli essential oil. Apply on the affected areas.
- Massage coconut oil softly on the wrinkled skin at bed time.
- Apply a paste of grounded turmeric and sugarcane juice to delay wrinkling.
- Massage the core of pineapple on the face and rinse after 10-15 minutes.
Some treatments to Acne
Acne is a common problem found among the teenagers and every teenager wants to get rid of it. In reality there are hundreds of effective treatment for acne and thousands of products! Most of the treatment can be grouped under nutritional, topical treatment like skin care treatment and medication.
Nutritional:
The human body is made in such a way that it has the capacity and potential to heal itself and make amazing recoveries provided it is well nourished and not suffering from allergies and food intolerance. So we can also say that a good nutrition program can help us to free ourselves from acne. It is seen that majority of people have deficient diets as they consume refined foods, sugar and lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. Intake of vital vitamins and a nourishing diet can supply vital nutrients to the body and make the skin healthy and shiny there by healing acne naturally. Often though this may not always clear your acne problem but no doubt will help you to minimize the problem.
Topical Treatment:
By topical treatment I mean applying lotion and cream on the affected area so as to prevent it and stop it from spreading. The market is flooded with thousands of lotions, cream, toners each claiming to relieve you from acne problem with in a few days. Some of them may help you while others may damage your already affected skin. So before utilizing it try to know about it thoroughly.Among those which help you will only give you the temporary relief as they help you in keeping your skin clean, fight bacteria and calm the irritating skin, and are effective only when the acne problem is a mild one. These topical treatments are capable of handling only the surface problem and not the severe ones.
Medications:
There are some medications too available in the market but are to be prescribed by a doctor and people go in for this only after trying out the topical treatment. If the reason for acne is hormonal imbalance then an oral contraceptive pill will be of a great help. It is in very rare cases that women suffer from hormonal imbalance. Some other medicines available are Isotretinoin and Nicotinamide but are to be taken under strict medical supervision due to its harmful side effects which may range from flushes to psychosis.
The best approach is to go in for milder treatment and if not relieved consult a doctor. But careful combination of good skin care, nutritious diet, hygienic condition, reducing stress will help you a lot in reliving you from acne problem. Handling acne from a combination of angles increases your chance of clearing your acne once and for all.
Some common herbs which can treat Acne:
Tea Tree Oil: It is an effective acne fighter with less drying, stinging and redness.
Aloe Gel: It has anti bacterial property and should be applied externally.
Lavender oil: It reduces the inflammation
Walnut leaf: It can be used as a face wash.
Treatment with Pranayam
Pranayam is that part of Yoga that deals with breathing. Pranayam is the breathing process or the controlled manner of inhalation, exhalation and retention of vital energy force. Air is necessary not only to breathe but also for the proper functioning of the body parts. While we can survive without food and water for many days we will not be able to live without air for even an hour. All the tissues would also be destroyed if the supply of air is cut off.
Hindus have realized the importance of this element very long ago and have insisted on the proper way of inhaling this vital element and also exhaling it. They have its importance written in many of their holy books among which Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the best example. To accommodate the importance of air in the body here follows a short story.
One day it happened that all the senses of the body quarreled among them selves each is stating it to be the most necessary organ in the body. Unable to come to a conclusion they went to Brahma – the creator and put the dispute in front of him. Brahma said,” that organ is the most important without which the body suffers the most is the most important.”
Eye was the first to move and returned after one year. It enquired,”How did you live without me?” The body replied,”Like a blind man I was not able to enjoy the Mother Nature”
Next to go was the ear. When he returned after a year the body replied, “I lived like a deaf person. We stayed and accepted whatever people said.” The next to go was the mind and when returned got the answer,” Lived like a fool. We were like fools without you and remained a dumb person.”
When the seed left and returned after a year the body replied,” We lived like a person without any talent.”
Lastly it was the turn of the breath to leave. At the moment it departed it destroyed the other senses too all the senses started to shout unanimously, “Sir, we request you not to leave as we will be dumb without you.”
This proves that it is the breath which dominates each and every cell and tissues present in the body.
Swami Ram Dev has been promising that he has the cure for all diseases and illness known to mankind from diabetes, AIDS, hepatitis and cancer to epilepsy. And all this he will do through Yoga and pranayam. While the skeptics are demanding evidences of such claims, the testimonials from individual who have been cured through Pranayam are keeping on increasing. According to him we can even get rid the world of pharmaceutical medicines through pranayam and ayurveda.
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How does Pranayam works?
According to Hinduism, Pran is the creation of the supreme god, Brahma, and its inherent quality is " Motion". This quality of Pran is felt in Vayu ( air) which is always in motion. The Human body is said to be made of five elements namely- Kasha (space of vacuity), Vayu (air), Agni (fire) Jal (water) and Prithvi (earth).Among all these elements Vayu is important as proved by the story above. It has been said that when you sit in one of the asana and regulate the act of respiration, it is Pranayam. The act of inhaling air in the body so as to reach the lungs, is called inspiration and the act of throwing the air out of the body, is called expiration. When we inhale, it is not only the air or oxygen that enters our body, but along with the air also enters a divine energy which keeps the body alive. Doing pranayam does not mean only taking the air in the body (inhalation) and throwing it out (exhalation), but along with oxygen, we also take in our body the Vital Energy. This Vital Energy permeates the entire universe and what we inhale and exhale is the fragment of it.
There is a sequence of 7 pranayam with allotted time periods for each which has become very well known. Millions have benefited from this simple package of breathe-control exercises. They are
- Nadi Suddi-It is necessary to cure the nadis before commencing any exercise. For this you have to sit in padmasan and take deep breath and breathe out in deep breath.
- Sukha Purvaka-Sit in the padmasan posture. Breathe in with right nostril and hold breath till you count 12 and breathe out by left nostril. Now breathe in by left nostril and hold breath till 12 counts and breathe out by right nostril. Repeat this for 5 times. The ratio between inhaling, retension and exhaling the air should be 1:4:2.In this type of pranayam deep concentration is necessary to be effective. This helps in purification of nadis, improves the concentration power, and improves the digestion power and circulation of blood.
- Bhastrika – Rapid succession of forcible expulsions is a characteristic feature of this exercise. While practicing this type of pranayam you have to keep your mouth closed and inhale and exhale air continuously at least for 20 times. Bhastrika removes inflammation of the throat, increases the gastric fire, and destroys phlegm and all diseases of the nose and lungs and other diseases which arise from the excess of wind.
- Ujjayi- While practicing this type you have to sit comfortably, inhale through both the nostrils and exhale through left nostril by closing the right nostril. This removes the heat from the head.
While all these can be done by the people who are still novice at pranayam the others like Distant healing, Pranic healing and palvini require expertise in pranayam. If you become an expert with distant healing and Pranic healing you can not only cure yourself but also other patients who have the receptacle mind with your pran. These types of healing are called alternative healing and are very effective and give immediate relief to patients.
Head Ache
In this modern and fast growing world we come across many people complaining of headache. Due to psychological overload or heavy physical work without any proper rest, one of the body’s most powerful alarm signals, headache may peep out. There is no age limit to this problem. Either a child or an adult may suffer from this problem.
Headache comes in unlimited forms and a variety of causes. According to how and in which part the pain occurs, the type of headache may differ from person to person. Tense muscles in the head or neck are the common cause for the headache. Headache may also be a symptom of stress, caffeine withdrawal, allergies, certain infectious diseases or the result of taking in too much alcohol. Contracted or expanded blood vessels or altered pressure in the head due to the change of weather can also produce headache.
Types of headache:
· Simple headache
Hammering, buzzing, pulsing in the head is caused by stress, sensitivity to weather or changes in the atmospheric pressure, high blood pressure, fever or lack of oxygen
· Tension headache
It is caused due to tight contracted muscles in your shoulders neck, scalp, and jaw.The pain begins at the back of the head and neck or in the forehead and spreads throughout the head. It is often related to stress, depression, anxiety, overworking, not getting enough sleep, missing meals, and drinking too much alcohol. This can also bi triggered by chocolate, cheese and mono sodium.
· Cluster headache
In this case piercing, burning pain occurs on one side of the head, always in the same place for several times per day for months.
· Migraine
In this case pain is severe recurrent on the one side of head only. Nausea, vomiting, throbbing, pounding, and pulsating and vision problem accompany it. The circulatory disturbances in the brain or hereditary factor may also be cause of migraine pain.
· Sinus headache
The pain is felt in front of head and face. Due to inflammation in the sinus passages that lye behind the cheeks, nose and eyes. The pain becomes severe if bent forward and also early in the morning after waking up. Sore throat and nasal discharge may also occur in this .If you have cold, flu, fever or premenstrual syndrome, this type of headache may occur.
· Combination headache
It’s cause is unknown and usually begin in the morning and reoccurs between migraine attacks.
Helpful Remedies:
· Relaxation Techniques-
Relax by practicing YOGA in a soothing environment free of light and noise . Turn off the radio , TV and unplug the phone.
· Acupressure
Use thumb and index finger to press against the bridge of your nose at the corners of your eyes. Or, rub the center of the fleshy webbing between index and thumb.
· A soothing footbath
A footbath diverts the blood supply from head to feet. Bathe feet in the basin of hot water and after every five minutes add a mug of hot water for four to five times. After soaking the feet for fifteen minutes pour in cold water until the temperature is lukewarm . Then put on woolen socks and lie down for twenty minutes.
Home and Herbal Remedy:
- Kava kava can relieve tension headache.
- Gingo biloba may prevent migraine.
- Mix three drops of chamomile oil, three drops of lavender oil and three drops of rosemary oil with honey. Add this mixture to lukewarm water and have warm bath with it.
- Cold compress: Moisten a cloth with cold water, put 2 drops of peppermint oil on it and apply it to the painful area for about 15 minutes.
- Potato poultice : Boil 2 unpeeled potatoes cut into quarters until tender Mash them and after removing the excess moisture wrap the mixture in a cloth and place it on the back of the neck for about 15 minutes.
- Put a few drops of lemon juice in a cup of black coffee and drink it in small sips.(This is not for people with sensitive stomachs.)
How to tackle Knee pain
From dusk to dawn while moving along the road, we encounter innumerable people walking with a limp almost everywhere. The cause is severe pain in the knees incidentally the most vulnerable joints in the body. The knee is the largest and most complicated and unstable joint in human body where two bones are placed over one another and held together by ligaments. It is a weight – bearing joint that straightens, bends, twists and rotates.
The knee is used for everything such as standing up, sitting, walking, running, jogging, jumping, climbing etc. All these motions put the knee joint under stress and increase your risk of acute knee injury. Most sudden injury of the knee is caused by overuse or overload. Women suffer more frequently as compared to men because of their weak muscles and wider hips, putting more pressure on the knee joint.
The common symptoms are swelling, difficulty in straightening the knee joint i.e. locking, sound like click, feeling of giving away.
Swelling occurs due to the accumulation of sensorial fluid or blood inside or outside the joint. Acute swelling is due to injury to ligament. Chronic swelling is due to chronic arthritis, or infection. Knee might give away for a moment while walking or climbing down the stairs when one is forced to stop. Reason may be due to loose body in the joint, injury to ligament or weakness of surrounding muscles. If we hear the only click sound and if it doesn’t accompany any pain or swelling we need not have to worry.
Factors helping in reducing stress:
· Walking is very good exercise for the knee joint. The walking distance should be increased gradually.
· Should run on a soft surface and avoid an uneven surface.
· Proper footwear help in curing the pain.
· Increase in body weight is a major contribution to knee problem as it places more stress on knee joint. Therefore weight reduction may help in reducing stress on the knees.
· Lying on the back and moving both legs like cycling in both clockwise and anti clockwise direction.
Most knee pain is treated conservatively but there are situations in which surgery is required. Athletes are at an elevated risk for sudden injuries that may require surgery such as torn ligament in the center of the knee or certain type of fractures. For advanced knee osteoartherisis knee replacement is the last resort.
Early symptom of knee problem is commonly ignored due to various reasons resulting in long –term suffering, permanent disability and also inevitable surgery. In order to save one self from pain, long-term suffering, decreased mobility and feeling of helplessness, one should seek treatment in the initial stages of knee problem so that disability and surgery can be avoided.
Some herbs used in treating Knee pain:
Aloe vera—This plant contain an enzyme called bradykininase that helps in reducing the swelling of the knee caused by injury and water retention. It is also believed to help relieve pain.
Cabbage Leaves–Although a tasty vegetable, cabbage leaves also have cooling effects and serve as a slight anti-inflammatory for hot, inflamed knees
