EARACHE, DEAFNESS, INFECTION AND SOFTENING OF THE WAX

EARACHE, DEAFNESS, INFECTION AND SOFTENING OF THE WAX

1. Pain in the ears is usually caused due to -Impacted wax;
2. Entry of some foreign body into the ear; 
3. Due to an infection in the ear, nose or throat; 
5. Due to some pressure changes when traveling in an airplane or in swimmers. 

Children tend to be the usual sufferers because they commonly tend to suffer from respiratory tract infections and also because their Eustachian tubes are short and immature and thus the infection spreads easily. These can lead to severe infection and permanent damage if left untreated and thus should always be investigated by a doctor immediately. When a person complains of earache, ask him to sit propped up, stay away from wind and draft of cold air and apply a warm compress or indirect heat over the part (like through a hair drier or by application of a towel wrung out of hot water and pressed against the ear), or chew some gum and sip fluids to help open up the Eustachian tube and thus relieve the pain. It is important not to put anything into the ear unless and until a doctor ensures you that the eardrum is intact.

SOME HOME REMEDIES
WARNING:  Do not put any ear drops in the ear (allopathic, homoeopathic or home remedies mentioned below), if the ear drum is ruptured as this can cause severe complications.

Apricot - oil of apricot seeds is very effective in treating earache. Put 2-3 drops of oil in the ear that is paining. Earache will stop.

Betel leaf (pan) - The juice of fresh betel leaves is extracted and 2-3  drops are put in the painful ear to relieve earache.  This also helps in treating ear infection.

Bishop's weed (ajwain)-Ajwain possesses pain killing property and is very beneficial in treating earache. Take half teaspoonful of ajwain seeds and boil them in half cup of milk. Boil them till the essence of the seeds permeates the milk, then strain and use this milk as eardrops. It decreases congestion and relieves earache.

Bitter gourd (karela) - Cut two karelas lengthwise in small pieces and boil  them in mustard oil till the pieces turn into ash or black. Strain the oil and store in a bottle. Put 2-3 drops in the ears daily. Do this for a few weeks. The hearing will improve.

Black pepper - Soak a piece of cotton in oil and then sprinkle it with black pepper and place it over the ear.  This will bring instant relief to ear pain.

Bottle gourd (lauki) - Take the stalk of bottle gourd, crush it and extract the juice. Put 2-3 drops of this in the painful ear. The earache will stop immediately.

Breast milk - Instilling a few drops of breast milk is considered the best treatment in small children to treat mild earache.

Castor oil - A few drops of warm castor oil (arandi) or honey can be put in the ear to treat earache.

Clove (laung / lavang) - Heat 2-3 cloves in two teaspoonfuls of sesame oil. Then put a few drops of this warm oil in the painful ear. This will cure earache.

Garlic - Crush 2-3 cloves of garlic and heat them in some sesame oil or coconut oil till they turn brown. Do not use groundnut oil. Cool and strain. Put 2-3 drops of this oil in the painful ear. The earache will be cured. This will also benefit if there is pus oozing out from the ears. It also helps treat atonic deafness.

To treat earache and discharge from the ear arising from middle-ear infection, take a few cloves of garlic and crush them. Mix some rock salt in it and warm the mixture. Wrap this mixture in a muslin cloth and place it on the painful ear.  Simultaneously, chew 2-3 cloves of garlic daily for a few days.

To treat deafness, extract the juice of a few cloves of garlic and put 4-5 drops in the affected ear twice a day.

Ghee - Boil ghee and camphor (kapoor) and store it in a bottle. Whenever there is earache, warm it and put 2 – 3 drops in the painful ear with the help of a clean dropper. This will cure the earache.

Ginger - Freshly extracted ginger juice, about one tablespoonful, with an addition of a pinch of rock salt is filtered and then used as ear drops (2-3 drops) to relieve earache and inflammation.

Holy basil (tulsi) - Put 2-3 drops of juice of fresh tulsi leaves in the ear that is paining. Warm the juice slightly before putting it in the ear. This will bring relief to the earache and also cure any mild ear infection.

Honey - Honey is highly beneficial in the treatment of middle ear infection or infection of 'Otitis Media'. This disease is characterized by infection of the ear leading to pus discharge through perforated eardrum. Put 2 - 3 drops  of honey in the infected ear. This will drain out the pus and will help the ear to heal fast.

Linseed oil (alsi ka tel) - If the ears are paining,  put 2-3 drops of linseed oil in the ears with the help of a dropper. The earache will be cured.

Margosa (neem - bitter) - Margosa leaves are known to possess pain-killing property and steam fomentation of neem decoction brings quick relief to earache. Boil a handful of neem leaves in one litre of water and foment the painful ear with the steam that is emitted. This will give relief to earache.

To treat  boils in the ear, mix fresh juice of neem leaves with equal quantity of honey and warm it a little. Put a few drops in the ear that has boils. Do this regularly and it will bring relief to the boils. Margosa (neem) oil is also a useful instillation for inflammation and pain in the ears.

Mint (pudina) - Put 2-3 drops of juice of mint leaves in the ears to cure any sort of ear infection.

Olive oil – Warm a little Verbascum or olive oil and put 2-3 drops in the  painful  ear, this will help ease the pain and also soften the wax and aid its easy removal.

Onion - Take some raw onion juice and warm it. Put 2-3 drops in the ear that is paining. Do this twice a day. This will relieve the earache and also cure any sort of ear infection or ear inflammation. It is also beneficial if there is pus in the ears. It also loosens the wax in the ears, which can then be easily removed.

Poppy seeds (khus khus) - To treat inflammation of the ears, apply a paste of poppy seeds around the painful ear. It will bring relief.

Radish (mooli) - Mix the juice of radish leaves with sesame oil in equal quantities. Boil this mixture till only the oil is left in the pan. Cool it, filter it and store it in a glass bottle. Whenever there is pain in the ears, put 2-3 drops in the painful ear after warming it slightly. The earache will be cured.

Sesame oil (til ka tel) - Warm some  sesame oil  along with a couple of garlic cloves and put 2-3 drops in the ears. This will soften the wax in the ears, which can then be easily cleaned. This is also beneficial in treating earache.Drink a lot of water and increase the intake of dates, figs (anjeer) and fresh fruit juices.  This helps treat All these items should be put together.

HOME REMEDIES TO ARREST THE SECRETION OF MILK

HOME REMEDIES TO ARREST THE SECRETION OF MILK

In cases where the mother suffers from certain illnesses that can be transferable to the child through breast milk, it is better to put t he child off breast milk. Arresting the secretion of milk in such a mother is of prime importance. The following are some of the measures that can be used:

1. To check  excessive secretion of milk, apply a paste of turmeric and dhatoora (thorn apple) leaves for thirty minutes over the breasts.

2. Apply layers of hot betel leaves over the breasts for 10-15 minutes twice a day for a few weeks.

HOME REMEDIES TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF MILK

HOME REMEDIES TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF MILK

The usual causes of decreased milk secretion are-stress, emotional disturbances, worries, lack of sleep, etc. The following are some of the home remedies that help to promote the secretion of milk from the mammary glands in a nursing mother:

1. Alfalfa-Alfalfa is taken as sprouts or in tea or the juice of fresh leaves of alfalfa is taken with carrot juice, half cup daily in the morning.

2. Almonds-Eating four almonds in the morning that have been soaked overnight helps to improve the flow.

3. Amaranth -Mix amaranth , black gram dal (urad dal) and parsley, 25 gms each, soak them in water for a couple of hours and grind the mixture into a paste. Have one tablespoonful of this paste daily to increase the flow.

4. Aniseed-Aniseed, also known as velaiti saunf or anisi is taken on an empty stomach. Soak 10 gms of anisi in a glass of water overnight. Have this water along with the seeds the next morning.

5. Bitter gourd (karela)-Prepare a paste from leaves of bitter gourd (karela) and apply it over the breasts overnight, or, if possible, throughout the day. Use fresh leaves every day.

6. Brewer's yeast-This is an excellent milk -producing food and is also a rich source of high-quality protein.

7. Cottage cheese (paneer)-Cottage cheese, especially the homemade ones, and fresh milk is also a rich source of protein and calcium.  This enhances the production of high quality breast milk.

8. Dill leaves (sowa bhaji) / Dill seeds (anethum sowa)-A handful of leaves or seeds are boiled in two cups of barley (jau) water and drunk daily.

9. Long pepper (lindi peepar)-Hot milk with half teaspoonful of both powdered long pepper (pipli) and powdered black pepper is given at bedtime.

10. Muskmelon (kharbooja/shakkar teti)-Have half a muskmelon daily with lunch.

11. Papaya-Eat half raw papaya daily with breakfast.

12. Potato-Whole potatoes, baked or roasted in their skins should be included in the daily diet.

13. Sesame seeds (til)-These are a potential source of calcium, thus useful for lactation.

14. Eat plenty of whole-grain cereals, fruits and fruit juices (especially apple and grape juice), dark leafy vegetables like turnip, dandelion and collard greens,  endive, watercress (jalkumb), Brussel sprouts, broccoli and carrots, all these are useful when taken by the nursing mother.

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST FEEDING AND WEANING

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST FEEDING AND WEANING

International Breastfeeding Symbol

"Breast feeding" is an art and a skill and is far more superior to artificial bottle-feeding or feeding the baby with baby foods. The babies should be put on breast milk only. They should be breast-fed for a period of atleast six months and then for the next six months other food items can be included in the babies diet along with breast-feeding. Babies should be put on breast milk within an hour after its birth. A newborn must get the meuconium -the thick, yellowish breast milk, rich in vitamins, especially vitamins A and K and is also rich in many antibodies and other factors that protect the child against life-threatening infections. Though the meuconium is secreted in a small amount in the first few days after birth, it is enough to meet all the needs of the newborn.

Keep your baby close to you immediately after birth. This tends to improve and increase the closeness between the mother and the child. Assuming the right position during breast-feeding is of utmost importance. The baby should be facing the breast directly, with its tummy touching the mother's and then ask the mother to make a 'V' with her fingers around the nipples and angle it up slightly. Then stroke the baby's cheek to make him open his mouth and then pull him in rapidly, thrusting the entire nipple and one-fourth to half an inch of the areola into his mouth. Use both the breasts during a feed and let your baby suckle in as much as it wants. Do not force in anything. Artificial feeding or bottle-feeding are better avoided since the chances of spreading the infection are more, thus leading to some serious illness.

From sixth month onwards, continue the breast-feeding but add the following foods as advised: 

1. Start boiled and cooled water with a small glass. No need to use bottle at any age.

2. The best substitute for mother's milk and the best supplementary food is fresh fruit juice, especially grape and orange juice. Fruit juice and breast milk should be given at different times.

3. Never give the baby artificial baby food as it is dead food and is best avoided.

4. A quarter banana or stewed apple can be mashed and given to the baby and increase the quantity by a quarter every succeeding week. Other seasonal fruits like pears (boiled), papaya, mango, chickoo, etc. can also be given.

5. Porridge can be added to the baby's diet after a week of starting the fruits.

6. Home made suji kheer (rava kheer); thin sheera with ghee; dalia from broken wheat or ragi (nachni); soaked bread in milk or mashed boiled rice with milk should be preferred to readymade cereals.

7. A highly nutritious recipe can be made by roasting, grinding and mixing equal parts of rice, wheat, ragi and moong dal. The mixed powder is stored in an airtight container. This readymade powder can be used for making thin kheer with milk and sugar or thin sheera with ghee and sugar (or salt). One to two teaspoonfuls are given twice a day after a breast-feed, in the morning and evening. Keep increasing the amount every third or fourth day as required by the baby.

8. Soft-boiled egg can be added a week later for those who eat eggs. Start with a teaspoonful of the yellow portion and slowly increase the amount by teaspoonful increments adding the white of eggs so that the baby may use the whole egg in about four weeks from the commencement.

9. Add mashed and well-cooked vegetables (dark green leafy vegetables, carrots and pumpkin are preferable items) a week later. Begin with two to four teaspoonfuls and increase progressively.

10. Then after another week or two, add mashed and well-cooked khichri or rice and dal. Begin this with two to four teaspoonfuls and then increase the quantity accepted by the baby.

11. After one year, mother's milk can be continued and cow's or buffalo's milk, though not essential, can be given from a glass two times daily.

12. Gradually let the child get used to the adult food made at home. Children who do not eat enough at a time should be offered food and fruits every two to three hours, but do not force.

ADVANTAGES OF BREAST FEEDING 
a. A baby needs the feeling of warmth, closeness and security of the mother's body, and this is available through the act of breast-feeding.

b. Breast-fed babies have a better immunity than bottle-fed babies and are thus less susceptible to infections of any kind. This is because mother's milk directly supplies the antibodies necessary to fight the infections.

c. Breast milk is digested and assimilated better than cow's milk. Breast-fed babies thus have much lesser frequency of digestive disorders and nutritional deficiencies.

10 COMMANDMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH

10 COMMANDMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH

1. Think positively; it's easier
2. Cherish the ones you love
3. Continue learning as long as you live
4. Learn from your mistakes
5. Exercise daily; it enhances your well-being
6. Do not complicate your life unnecessarily
7. Try to understand those around you and encourage them
8. Do not give up; success in life is a marathon
9. Discover and nurture your talents
10. Set goals for yourself and pursue your dreams

HOW TO PREVENT AN INFESTATION OF PARASITES?

HOW TO PREVENT AN INFESTATION OF PARASITES? 

1. Make a mixture of one part cinnamon (tuj) oil, one part Tea Tree oil, one part Eucalyptus oil with three parts of almond oil and take four drops once a day.

2. One to two teaspoonfuls of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water or juice or  in your salad dressing are very effective against the worms and scavengers.

3. Pumpkin seeds are known to keep the worms away. Two ounces of pumpkin seeds are scalded and the outer skin is peeled off and the inner green pulp is mixed with cream or milk and taken like porridge. Take this in the morning after twelve hours fasting and this is then followed in two hours by castor oil (arandi). This may be repeated in a week or so if necessary.

4. Garlic is also useful as a worm destroyer.

5. A diet high in carbohydrates and low in protein has been found to make parasitic infections worse. When the body is in an alkaline condition the parasitic infection sets in. It is best to keep the diet slightly acidic (by using apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice) both as a preventive measure and when treating the infection.

6. Foods to 'add' to diet are – pumpkin seeds; Calmyrna Figs (the tiny seeds tear the skin of the worms); garlic; apple cider vinegar; cranberry juice and pomegranates (anar). Foods to 'avoid'  are raw  or  undercooked beef, pork, fish and chicken; sugars and carbohydrates; mountain water; water chestnuts and watercress (jalkumb) and fruits or vegetables that are unwashed or washed in questionable water.

CRACKS ON THE SOLES OF THE FEET

CRACKS ON THE SOLES OF THE FEET 

The skin of the soles can crack when they dry up and leave painful slits that occasionally bleed if the cracks are deep. These cracks are ugly to look at. The cracks usually occur on the heel and between the toes and if the spot gets infected, they become very painful and suppurate. Women who wear open-backed high-heeled shoes and those who walk bare feet throughout the day are more prone to these kinds of cracks.

HOME REMEDIES 
1. Soak the feet in warm water twice daily for twenty minutes and then pat them dry.
2. The soles are massaged with sesame or castor oil (arandi) and hot water fomentation is done.
3. Oil from the shell of cashewnut is applied locally.
4. Juice of unripe mango or mango leaves is used as a dressing.

Health Benefits of Mushrooms

Health Benefits of Mushrooms

Image source:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en

Mushrooms have been used as medicines by humans for 5,000 years or more. As you will see, many mushrooms have properties that can improve your health and well-being. These eight healing mushrooms: maitake, reishi, shiitake,Cordyceps sinensis, Agaricus blazei, Phellinus linteus, Trametes versicolor, and Hericium erinaceus, as well as recent findings on additional mushrooms. It explains how ancient peoples used these mushrooms and the promise they bring for healing and preventing illness in the modern world. Mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruit bodies of several species of fungi. 

Mushrooms are making their mark. Contrary to their simple appearance, fresh mushrooms have a whole lot going for them. Fresh mushrooms are nutritious - low in fat and sodium and contain many important nutrients. More and more, mushrooms are becoming the focus of scientific studies exploring their health benefits. Currently, researchers are investigating mushrooms and many health issues including cancer prevention, immune function, diet satiety and weight management.  Here are some of the highlights: Antioxidants: Fresh mushrooms contain a powerful antioxidant called l-ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is found in both raw and cooked mushrooms.  Portabella and crimini mushrooms have the most, followed by white button mushrooms.   

1. Cancer-fighting: Fresh mushrooms offer nutrients such as beta-glucans and conjugated linoleic acid, compounds that are currently being studied for their chemopreventive potential. Recent research suggests that mushrooms and mushroom extracts may have potent anticancer activity, for both breast and prostate cancer.

2. Essential Nutrients: A 100 gram serving of uncooked, sliced fresh mushrooms has only 22 calories, no cholesterol, is virtually fat-free, is low in sodium and has 1 gram of fibre. They are a good source of riboflavin and a source of copper, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, niacin and pantothenic acid. Along with serving up great taste,fresh mushrooms also make an important contribution to daily intakes of folate, thiamin, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium and zinc.

3. Fibre: Mushrooms offer both soluble and insoluble fibre, which may have anti-cancer properties as well as promoting satiety and good bowel health.

4. Immunity: Emerging research indicates that certain mushroom extracts, such as beta-glucans, may have a positive effect on the immune system.

5. Weight management: Fresh mushrooms are a low-energy-dense food, meaning you can eat more of them without expanding your waistline.  

6. Good for cardiovascular health:Besides having minimal sodium, mushrooms are rich in potassium. Portabella mushrooms are specifically one of the best sources of potassium. You can also get twenty to forty percent of your daily copper requirement, from a single serving of mushroom. Both potassium and copper are essential for our cardiovascular health.

7. Anti-aging property: Mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant necessary for healthy eyes, kidney, bone marrow, liver and skin. Mushrooms are also rich in riboflavin and selenium. These chemicals by strengthening the immune system, prevents the action of free radicals in the body, consequently reducing the aging process.