Immunity, digestion, asthma and many more cure from Turmeric

Ayurveda deems turmeric as one of the most important medicinal spices. Modern studies have reiterated the knowledge that all body systems benefit from the use of turmeric. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Taste and effect: Pungent and bitter, it has anti-inflammatory, cleansing, detoxifying and effects.
Positive effects: It benefits circulatory system, supports digestive fire, and reduces digestive toxins. Ayurveda prescribes it for liver, blood, digestive system, joints, and immune system issues.
Bioavailability: Turmeric is poorly absorbed in the body. It has less effect when used as a cooking spice. 

Various uses
For asthma: Grate two inches raw turmeric and dry in the shade. Add 10 to 12 crushed black peppercorns. Cover well with honey. Take one teaspoon twice a day with warm milk.
To increase immunity: Boil half teaspoon turmeric powder or half-inch raw turmeric and three to four crushed black peppercorns in one glass of milk. Drink one hour before bedtime.
For cold and flu: Boil one teaspoon turmeric and one-inch grated ginger in two glasses of water for five minutes. When cool, mix with a little honey.
For acne: Mix one tablespoon aloe vera gel with one teaspoon turmeric, half teaspoon lemon juice and rose water. Apply on the face and wash after it dries.
For mouth ulcers and cuts: Mix three tablespoons turmeric powder with one-fourth teaspoon alum and make a paste with coconut oil. Apply with a cotton swab over mouth sores, cuts and wounds.
For bad breath: Mix one teaspoon turmeric with one glass lukewarm water. Use as a mouthwash.
A word of caution
Avoid oral intake in large quantities if pregnant, or if your are taking platelet-inhibiting or blood-thinning medications. Also, in cases of jaundice, acute hepatitis, gallstones, ulcers, bile duct obstruction, and hyper-acidity.
For joint pain- 1/4 teaspoon each of turmeric, fenugreek and dry ginger powders, mix in little water, drink on empty stomach, it will give relief from joint pain.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
                                                                                                                                                                      FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           
                                                                           FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com 

Essential Oils For Sinus And How To Use Them

Sinuses are sacs or cavities in any organ or tissue in the body. However, the term “sinus” is most often used to refer to the paranasal sinuses, the air cavities in the cranial (skull) bones, especially those around the nose.
There are four pairs of nasal sinus cavities:

1. Ethmoid sinuses, located at the top of your nose between your eyes.
2. Frontal sinuses, located behind the eyebrow ridges at the forehead.
3. Maxillary sinuses, the largest of the sinus, located below the cheeks and the sides of nose.
4. Sphenoid sinuses, the bones behind your nose, inside the skull.

What Do The Sinuses Do?

The nose and sinuses produce about a pint to a quart of mucus and secretions every day. This mucus passes through the nose, washing and cleaning the membranes as it goes, picking up dust particles, bacteria, and air pollutants.

The sinuses also greatly affect the tone and quality of your voice. However, their main function is to produce mucus that cleans and moisturizes the inside of your nose.

A sinus attack or infection is an inflammation of the soft tissues of the sinuses. Essential oils can help deal with these attacks. Certain essential oils can even naturally open up the sinuses, clear mucus, and eliminate infections.

1. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus And Radiata)

This steam-distilled leaf from Australia is considered the best respiratory oil in aromatherapy. Its stimulating, fresh, sweet, pungent, and camphoraceous scent is long lasting and brings to mind the smell of medicine. In fact, many traditional medicines contain eucalyptus.
The oil may be helpful in preventing as well as relieving symptoms of cold and flu, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Its potent anti-inflammatory properties help relieve swollen and painful nasal passageways and make it the best choice for treating respiratory issues.
 Eucalyptus oil has a reputation as a powerful decongestant and is prized for its strong anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

2. Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis ct. Verbenon)

This steam-distilled herb from flowering tops comes from Italy, Corsica, and France. An aromatic plant prized since ancient times, the powerful and pungent scent of rosemary is fresh, camphoreceous, warm, and radiant.
The herb takes over a blend, so remember a single drop goes a long way. Rosemary oil has the highest hydrogen content of all the essential oils, which makes it a powerfully stimulating and warming oil.

• As an immune stimulant, rosemary may be useful in relieving respiratory conditions like strep, bronchitis, and sinusitis as well as symptoms of cold and flu.
• Its mucolytic, decongestant, and expectorant properties give rosemary its outstanding ability to relieve excess mucous conditions that is unsurpassed by other oils

CAUTION: Avoid using rosemary during pregnancy if you have high blood pressure or a diagnosed seizure disorder, as it has highly stimulating properties.

3. Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)

The smell of this steam-distilled leaf from Australia is fresh, penetrating, warm, spicy, and camphoraceous with slight herbal notes. It is considered as a first-aid oil as its strongly pungent, antiseptic, and medicinal scent is well tolerated by most individuals.

4. Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)

This herb is steam distilled from flowering tops and originates from the USA. Considered a basic necessity for your aromatherapy first aid kit, peppermint oil is a fluid colorless oil with a clean, fresh, minty scent that is distinctly penetrating.
Its decongestant properties make the oil one of the first choices for relieving congestion of any kind, including sinus congestion.

CAUTION: Peppermint cools excess hot conditions by constricting your blood capillaries. Therefore, please use in extremely weak dilutions. One or two drops in a dispersant and added to your bath water is sufficient for experiencing beneficial results.
Research also indicates that Peppermint oil may aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a type of heart burn.

Due to its strong cooling action, peppermint should not be used by children under 2 1/2 years of age.

Sinus Relief Recipe

Ingredients

• Eucalyptus globulus or radiata – 70 drops
• Rosemary verbenon – 10 drops
• Tea tree – 10 drops
• Peppermint – 10 drops

Directions Of Use

To a 5ml euro dropper bottle, add all the ingredients and mix.
For best results, I recommend using your essential oil or blend as a respiratory steam. For a simple at-home steam, simply add steaming hot water to a ceramic bowl and then add 1–3 drops of your essential oil or blend to the steaming water. Make a tent to capture the steam by covering your head with a towel as you lean over the bowl and inhale the vapors.

CAUTION: Be sure to close your eyes during inhalation so that the aromatic vapors of the essential oils do not get into your eyes.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                
 PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                               
     https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                     
  FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                              https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

 

Effective Ways To Control Allergy Driven Wheezing

Seasonal changes can be very exciting for most people. Each season brings with it a new set of colours and nature takes a new turn. However, for people with seasonal allergies, a seasonal change also comes with a set of allergies. From skin rashes to wheezing to breathing difficulties, the list of symptoms can be quite long. Asthma is the most common problem, and the attacks can be quite bothersome with wheezing attacks and breathing troubles.
With advancements in the field of medicine, there is a lot of relief for asthma patients. A little understanding on how asthma attacks happen will help in understanding how to control it. Asthma is an allergic reaction caused by narrowing of the airway with thick mucus, which makes breathing difficult. During an attack, the person can have a dry cough, face shortness of breath and wheezing.

Asthma is often triggered or worsened by some factors, and being aware of these can help prevent or manage an attack:

1. Common allergens like pollen, mites, ticks, furs of animals, bird feathers, specific foods (peanuts, milk products, eggs, etc.) and mold spores appear during change of season.
2. Environmental chemicals like cigarette smoke, car fumes, dust, etc., can also trigger an attack.
3. Attacks of cold or flu can lead to an asthma attack.
4. Workout during cold weather can be problematic, but exercise can also help control asthma attacks. Lung function improves sufficiently, but an exercise regime should be drawn up for the patient based on his condition.
5. Stressful emotions like anger and anxiety can also lead to an attack or make it worse.
6. Some medications like aspirin, beta blockers, glaucoma drops can aggravate attacks of asthma.

Once you know the triggers, here are some common measures that can help prevent and relieve the wheezing:

1. The preventers reduce the inflammation in the airway tube and the swelling. While they do not provide immediate relief during an attack, using these in the long term helps avoid attacks. These are low-dose inhaled corticosteroids. Doctors would advise their usage even when there are no symptoms, as asthma attacks can be triggered when they are not taking these medications for a while. Newer drugs include leukotriene antagonists like  montelukast and zafirlukast. Relievers are used for symptom relief and include Salbutamol (short acting) and Salmeterol/Formoterol (long acting). Peak flow meter may be useful in acute attacks, wherein the peak flow rates can be reduced.

A good strategy is to use preventers regularly and rely on relievers during an attack. The first one helps build resistance and so reduces the incidence of attacks. Reach out to a doctor if a severe attack ensues (lasts more than 3 hours).

Ten home remedies for wheezing

The following home treatments for wheezing aim to open up the airways, reduce the irritants or pollution that a person breathes in, or treat the underlying causes of the wheezing.
If a person has asthma or another medical condition that causes wheezing, they should speak to their doctor and use the medications prescribed for it, such as an asthma inhaler.
Effective home remedies for wheezing include:
1. Steam inhalation
Inhaling warm, moisture-rich air can be very effective for clearing the sinuses and opening up the airways.
To do this, a person can use the following method:

1. Pour hot water into a large bowl and breathe in the steam.
2. Place a towel over the head to trap extra moisture.
3. Add a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus oil to the water to make the stream more powerful.

Peppermint essential oil may have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Researcher suggests that it may relax the muscles of the respiratory system, which could help to relieve wheezing and other respiratory problems.
If a steam bath does not appeal to you, a sauna room or hot shower can also help loosen congestion. Gently tapping on the back or chest and breathing deeply can help the steam work even better.
2. Hot drinks
Warm and hot drinks can help to loosen up the airways and relieve congestion.
Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, so adding a teaspoon of honey to a hot drink may further improve a person's symptoms.
A study found that eating one tablespoon of honey twice a day, along with other treatments, helped to relieve throat congestion.
Some people find that peppermint or other menthol teas work well. A person can try experimenting with different teas to find one that helps.
3. Breathing exercises
Breathing exercises may help with COPD, bronchitis, allergies, and other common causes of wheezing.
A study found that certain yoga-inspired breathing techniques could help with breathing difficulties related to bronchial asthma, including wheezing.
Breathing exercises often include deep, regular inhalations and exhalations. A doctor or respiratory therapist can help with deciding the most effective breathing techniques.
A person may find that they have trouble breathing during a panic attack. Deep breathing exercises can also assist here. It may help to try slow breathing, focusing on breathing deeply into the stomach, and counting breathes.
4. Humidifiers

During the dry winter months, wheezing often gets worse. A humidifier in the bedroom can help loosen congestion and reduce the severity of wheezing.
A person can add peppermint or other oils to the water in the humidifier, though they should check the humidifier's instructions before adding anything other than water.
5. Air filters
Many conditions that cause wheezing can get worse when the air is polluted or in response to allergens. A home air filter can reduce the presence of irritants that may trigger wheezing and breathing trouble.
6. Identifying and removing triggers
Chronic illnesses such as asthma and allergies may get worse in response to certain triggers, such as stress or allergens. Controlling these triggers, as much as possible, can help.
For instance, a person with a chronic respiratory condition who also has allergies might take allergy medication and avoid allergy triggers.
7. Allergy medications
People with allergies can benefit from a wide variety of allergy medications, including decongestants, corticosteroid tablets, and antihistamines.
Nasal sprays may be especially helpful to relieve a tight chest, congestion, and inflammation that can cause wheezing.
More severe allergies may require prescription allergy medication.
8. Allergy immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a process of retraining the immune system not to react to allergens.
The most common form of immunotherapy is allergy shots. A person may need several treatments, but over time, immunotherapy can reduce the frequency of wheezing.
Immunotherapy may also be helpful for people with other chronic conditions, such as COPD, who also have allergies.

9. Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators are medications that help relax the lungs and prevent the airways from narrowing. They can help with wheezing caused by COPD and asthma.
Bronchodilators come in two forms: 
Short-acting bronchodilators. Sometimes known as rescue inhalers, these can stop an asthma or COPD attack. 
Long-acting bronchodilators. This variety helps relax the airways over the long-term, reducing the frequency and severity of wheezing episodes.
Bronchodilators should be obtained from a doctor and can then be used at home, as needed.
10. Other medications
A wide variety of medications can treat wheezing that is due to underlying illness. A person who experiences wheezing due to a severe allergic reaction, for instance, may require epinephrine or corticosteroids.
People with heart health issues may take blood pressure medication or blood thinners to prevent further damage to the heart.
It is vital to discuss with a doctor whether medication might help, and how various medications may interact with one another.

When to see a doctor

It is often difficult to diagnose the cause of wheezing based on symptoms alone, and a person should see their doctor if wheezing is causing concern.
If a person experiences any of the following, they should go to the emergency room:
struggles with their breathing
wheezing that comes on suddenly
other symptoms, such as chest pain
signs of anaphylaxis 
A person who experiences wheezing but who is otherwise able to breathe may wish to wait a few days before seeing a doctor. If the wheezing gets worse, they should see a doctor within a day or so.

Causes of wheezing in babies and children

Newborns breathe only through the nose, so when they are congested or in the wrong position, they may make a wheezing or squeaking sound.
As long as they are breathing at a normal rate and the chest is not caving in, this is nothing to worry about.
If a baby's chest begins caving, they are breathing rapidly, or wheezing is associated with an illness, they should be taken to a doctor or pediatrician.

Causes of wheezing in adults

A panic attack may cause wheezing in adults.

When the airways narrow due to irritation, illness, or a blockage, air moving through them can make a squeaking sound.
Some people experience other symptoms as well, including discomfort when breathing or a choking sensation.
Causes include: 
Asthma. A chronic respiratory disorder that causes the airways to narrow and become inflamed. 
Allergies. Seasonal allergies and food allergies can cause respiratory irritation, congestion, and difficult breathing. 
Physical blockage. When a person's windpipe becomes blocked by food or another object, it is usually considered a medical emergency. 
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a group of inflammatory diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. 
Panic. A panic attack can cause a person's throat to tighten and make breathing difficult. 
Bronchitis. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that is often caused by a viral or acterial infection. 
Cold and flu. Infections that cause the common cold or flu can cause inflammation and breathing problems. 
Pneumonia. it is an infection of the lungs. 
Heart disease.-- heart disease can cause breathing problems, coughing, and fluid in the lungs.

Outlook

The long-term outlook for wheezing ultimately depends on its cause. Even when wheezing is due to a chronic illness, it can often be well-managed with medication and home treatments.
Ongoing medical care remains important, however, and people whose symptoms do not improve should consult a doctor. Consider tracking symptoms to identify any underlying triggers for symptoms.
If wheezing is causing concern, it is essential to remain calm, as panicking can worsen wheezing. Keep the breathing slow and regular and seek medical treatment when appropriate.
Even when wheezing is due to a serious medical condition, medications can improve symptoms.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

7 most common monsoon diseases: How to prevent them

The rains may have brought respite from humidity and sweltering heat, but at the same time, it unleashed a series of unwanted and harmful viruses and diseases, leaving no stone unturned to reach out to the common man in various forms.
Here are the most common diseases that you need to watch out for:

Dengue

A mosquito-borne viral disease, dengue is one of the most common diseases of monsoon season in India. The common symptoms of dengue are high fever, headache, rash and muscle and joint pain. The national capital, Delhi, has so witnessed one death while as many as 945 cases of dengue have been recorded so far this season.
Use mosquito nets, spray insecticides and insect repellents to prevent diseases caused by mosquitoes, such as dengue, chikungunya, malaria, etc.

Chikungunya

Another viral disease characterised by fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash, chikungunya is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes - Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Malaria

A life-threatening mosquito-borne blood disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite, malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms of malaria include chills, fever and sweating, usually occurring a few weeks after being bitten.

Colds and flu

The sudden change in weather, causing fluctuations in temperature, is a main cause of cold and flu during the rainy season. During monsoons, the immune system weakens and becomes vulnerable to cough, cold and flu. Symptoms are runny nose, sneezing, congestion, high fever, etc.

Viral fever

Viral fever refers to a wide range of infections, lasting from 5 to 7 days. It is one of the most common diseases in monsoon, usually characterised by fever, body aches fatigue, headaches, and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

Washing hands before eating any food, not touching your nose and mouth with your hand without washing them, avoiding crowded places can help reduce your risk or prevent viral infections.

Typhoid

Cases typhoid rise on a large scale during monsoon. It is an infection transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated with feces from an infected person. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, weakness and fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, etc.
Besides vaccination, maintaining a good hygiene such as, frequent hand-washing in hot, soapy water, not drinking untreated water, avoiding raw fruits and vegetables can help control typhoid fever.

Stomach infections

Stomach infections are a common problem during monsoons because your ability to digest food decreases as well as chances of food contamination is high. Drinking lots of water, eating foods that are warm and are easily digestible, avoiding raw or under-cooked foods can be helpful.
 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                             PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                    https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Vitamin D improves weight gain and brain development in malnourished children

High dose vitamin D supplements improve weight gain and the development of language and motor skills in malnourished children, according to a study.

Vitamin D - the 'sunshine vitamin' - is well known for its beneficial effects on bone and muscle health, and a study last year found that it could also protect against colds and flu. Now new research from the team is revealing further benefits.

Lead author said: "High-dose vitamin D significantly boosted weight gain in malnourished children. This could be a game-changer in the management of severe acute malnutrition, which affects 20 million children worldwide."

Senior author added: "This is the first clinical trial in humans to show that vitamin D can affect brain development, lending weight to the idea that vitamin D has important effects on the central nervous system.

"Further trials in other settings are now needed to see whether our findings can be reproduced elsewhere. We are also planning a larger trial in Pakistan to investigate whether high-dose vitamin D could reduce mortality in children with severe malnutrition."

The study claimed that in a country where an estimated 1.4 million children live with severe acute malnutrition and are at increased risk of long-term effects on their physical and mental health.

High energy food sachets are the standard treatment for the condition, but they contain relatively modest amounts of vitamin D. 

In the study, 185 severely malnourished children aged 6-58 months were treated with an eight-week course of high energy food sachets, and were also randomised to either receive additional high-dose vitamin D (two doses of 200,000 international units / 5 milligrams, given by mouth) or placebo.

After eight weeks, vitamin D supplementation led to clinically significant improvements in weight (on average gaining an extra 0.26 kg compared to the control group).

Vitamin D supplementation also resulted in substantial reductions in the proportion of children with delayed motor development, delayed language development and delayed global development (reaching certain milestones such as learning to walk or talk).

Senior author added: "Our findings could be a great help to the Health Ministry in dealing with the issue of malnutrition."
 

The researchers say their study has some limitations including that it did not look at varying the dose of vitamin D to see if a lower dose would have been sufficient to boost weight gain and brain development. While they saw no overt adverse reactions, the possibility of side effects arising with clinical use of this high dose of vitamin D cannot be excluded. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                 https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://my crochet creations.blogspot.com