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    Traditional Home Remedies

    Power of Vegetables:

    Beetroot

    Beetroot is used traditionally as a blood building food. It has liver, spleen, gall bladder and

    kidney cleansing properties. Beetroot is particularly rich in Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus andiron. Each capsule provides approximately 1-2mg of elemental iron The iron contained in

    beetroot is organic and non-irritating and will not cause constipation Beetroot is useful in

    acidosis due to it being rich in alkaline elements

    Carrot

    Carrots contains large quantities ofvitamin A,in the form of beta carotene. Carrot juice has anti-

    carcinogen properties. Thus, it helps preventcancer.It is also believed to have cancer-curingproperties. It also good for the skin. Carrot juice is like a tonic. It will improve the overallhealth

    of you and your child, and increase immunity. In fact, two glasses of carrot juice a day can

    increase your immunity by as much as 70%!

    Power of Fruits:

    Apple

    AN APPLE A DAY KEEP DOCTORS AWAY

    The apple is a highly nutritive food.

    It contains minerals and vitamins in abundance.

    Apples are useful in kidney stones

    Iron contained in the apple helps in formation of blood.

    Raw apples are good for constipation.

    Cooked or baked apples are good for diarrhea.

    Apples are of special value to heart patients. They are rich in potassium and phosphorus

    but low in sodium. It is also useful for patients of high blood pressure.

    Bananna

    The banana constitutes almost a complete balanced diet in combination with milk. It is known

    for promoting healthy digestion. The banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disordersbecause of its soft texture and blandness. It is the only raw fruit which can be eaten without

    distress in chronic ulcer cases. It neutralizes the over-acidity of the gastric juices and reduces theirritation of the ulcer by coating the lining of the stomach.

    Cucumber

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    A beautician's secret, cucumber is excellent for facial skin. It also promotes the growth of

    healthy hair and nails. And of course, we all know the wonders that it performs on baggy eyesand dark circles. It contains vitamins like B and C, and minerals like calcium, magnesium,

    potassium and phosphorus.

    Common Home Remedies

    . Cold and Cough

    . Insect Bites

    . Stomach Ache

    . Colic

    Cold and Cough

    Symptoms

    Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

    Running or blocked nose

    Sneezing

    Sore throat

    Congestion

    Headache

    Low fever with body pain

    Loss of appetite Lethargy

    Insomnia

    Causes

    The aggravation of kapha due to the intake of cold food, drinks and fried stuff etc causes cough.Seasonal changes is also one of the reasons for cough Improper digestion of food transforms into amucus toxin (Ama) and this circulates through the body and reaches the respiratory system, where itcauses colds and coughs.

    Remedies

    The body should be kept warm - especially the feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is veryhelpful.

    Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning,noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it.

    Mix half a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey.Dosage: Take several times a day.

    In cases of dry cough (especially during the night), peel a small piece of fresh ginger. Sprinklesome salt on it and chew.

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    Take equal amounts of cardamom, ginger powder, black pepper and cinnamon (1 teaspooneach). Add sugar equal to the total amount of mixture and grind to make a fine powder.Dosage: Take half a teaspoon twice daily, with honey or warm water after meals.

    In cases of sore throat, a clove or two cardamoms or a few raisins can be chewed.Gargling withwarm salty water two to three times a day is also beneficial.

    Dos and don'ts

    The food and activities that are to be avoided are as follows:

    Cold foods and drinks

    Ice cream, sweets Fried foods

    Milk products (cheese, creams, yogurt)

    Sweet fruit juices

    Breads

    Meats

    Nuts

    Pastries

    Sleeping during the day

    Taking a cold shower

    Exposure to cold wind, fans, air conditioners

    The body should be kept warm - especially the feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is veryhelpful.

    Following are the substances and activities that should be taken in cough:

    Boiled or steamed vegetables

    Vegetable soup

    Spice teas

    Herbal teas

    Hot milk with a piece of crushed ginger

    Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder mixed in milk provides relief.

    Insect Bites

    The best way to handle bites and stings is to avoid them in the first place. Experts say that whenventuring into the outdoors, you should wear white or khaki-colored clothing (including socks and longpants), use insect repellent, avoid sweet-scented fragrances, never mess around with a beehive andalways check yourself for hangers-on such as ticks after you go back inside. But even when that doesn'twork, most insect bites are just minor annoyances. You'll get an itch, a bump and maybe a burning

    sensation. The natural remedies in this chapter, used with the approval of your doctor, may provide relief,according to some health professionals.

    See Your Medical Doctor When...

    An animal bites you.You develop a fever after being bitten.You have difficulty breathing or feel severe pain after a bite or sting.

    Aromatherapy

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    For quick relief from insect bites, apply one drop of pure lavender, tea tree, helichrysum (also calledimmortelle or everlast) or blue chamomile essential oil directly to the affected area, suggests Los Angelesaromatic consultant John Steele. The oil can be reapplied every ten minutes until you feel better, he says.

    For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, seepage19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.

    Ayurveda

    Neem powder, made from extracts from India's neem tree and available from Ayurvedic practitioners, canbe applied as a plaster to soothe insect bites, according to Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc., director of theAyurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. To make the plaster, Dr. Lad says to take enough neempowder to just cover the area of the bite, then add warm water to make a thick paste. He suggestsapplying the plaster to the skin twice a day, letting it dry for 10 to 20 minutes each time.

    But you can keep the bugs from biting in the first place, says Dr. Lad, by rubbing neem oil (also availablefrom Ayurvedic practitioners) on exposed skin before going outside. According to Dr. Lad, neem containsa compound called salannin that repels insects as effectively as the synthetic chemical DEET-but withoutDEET's toxic effects on humans. Do not use pure neem tree oil, he cautions, since it's too strong for this

    use.

    You can also soothe insect bites by drinking fresh cilantro juice and applying the cilantro pulp to the skin,says Dr. Lad. Here's how he says to prepare the juice and pulp: Chop 1 cup of fresh cilantro leaves andmix with 1/3 cup of water in a blender. Strain this mixture through cheesecloth, saving the pulp to applydirectly to the affected area of the skin. Dr. Lad suggests spreading the pulp on the bite once or twice aday and to drink the juice two tablespoons at a time, three times a day. Keep the juice refrigerated; youshould have enough for three to four days.

    Flower Remedy/Essence Therapy

    Try the emergency stress relief formula, sold under brand names such as Calming Essence, RescueRemedy and Five-Flower FormulaKaslof. By using the formula topically on minor insect bites to relieve

    pain, swelling and itching. Also, the formula may be helpful in relieving mild allergic reactions to insectbites and stings. We recommend taking four drops under the tongue as needed to calm and relax.

    We caution, however, that the formula is not a replacement for emergency medical intervention or doctor-recommended treatment for allergic reactions. If you have a history of allergic reactions to insect bitesand stings, he says, you must consult your doctor before using the emergency stress relief formula.

    The emergency stress relief formula is available in most health food stores and through mail order (referto the resource list on page 635). For more information on preparing and administering the formula, seepage 40.

    Food Therapy

    "A compress made from meat tenderizer breaks down the venom and can take the sting out of bites andstings," says Acharyaji., director of Dhyansanjivani, and author of many books . That's because mostinsect bites and stings, as well as jellyfish stings, are protein-based, and meat tenderizer breaks downprotein-as long as the tenderizer contains papain or bromelain, the active protein-busting ingredients.Acharyaji says to mix a thick paste of water and powdered meat tenderizer and apply it directly on theskin; relief will come within a minute. (Bromelain can cause dermatitis in some people, so don't apply anymore if the skin begins to look red and inflamed.)

    Herbal Therapy

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    Here's a natural insect repellent from Barre, Vermont, herbalist Acharya Shivaananddaasji, in other bookson herbs: Combine one part bay leaf, four parts pennyroyal, two parts rosemary and one part eucalyptusin a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Add enough olive oil to cover the herbs, and then top off with another inch ortwo. Close the jar and place it on a sunny windowsill or in a sunny spot outside for two weeks. Then strainthe mixture so that there's only liquid left. (For extra scent, add a drop or two of eucalyptus essential oil tothe liquid.)

    Acharyaji recommends using this herbal repellent just as you would a store-bought product, spreading itevenly and lightly on your skin (but avoiding the eyes). And she says that this herbal repellent is safe touse even on children's skin and that it works as well as store-bought chemical varieties.

    All of these herbs and oils are available in most health food stores.

    Homeopathy

    To reduce the swelling and pain of bites that have the sensation of coldness and that are better when youapply cold, take a 6C or 12C dose of Ledum or apply Ledum tincture on the bite with a cotton swab everytwo to three hours as needed until you feel relief. Taking Apis mellifica in 6C or 12C potency is another

    good remedy, he says, particularly for bites that are burning or stinging, are worse with heat and betterwith ice packs and cause hivelike reactions on the skin.

    Acharyaji suggests taking one dose of Ledum or Apis mellifica every 15 minutes for up to four doses. Ifyou're still experiencing pain, he says, take one 30C dose. If there is still no improvement, consult amedical doctor or homeopath, he says.

    Ledum and Apis mellifica can be purchased in many health food stores. To purchase homeopathicremedies by mail, refer to the resource list on page 637.

    Hydrotherapy

    To relieve the discomfort of insect bites, make up a thin paste of water, apple cider vinegar and fuller'searth (available in most health food stores) and apply to the bite for a few minutes, suggests Acharyaji.Rinse with warm water

    Stomach Ache

    Symptoms

    The main symptom as is clear from the name is ache or pain. The pain can be of many types depending

    upon the cause of pain. In some cases it can be very mild and bearable while in other it could be verysevere and appears as if the patient is going to lose his/her life. Depending upon the cause of pain it canbe continously high, sometimes high and sometimes low like a wave, appear during a specific time, likeone hour before or after the meals or on empty stomach. The nature of pain is also different . It can bebiting, burning, throbbing, spasmodic, piercing or sometimes very mild and relief giving.

    Causes

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    Stomach ache is a term which is generally used for the abdominal region, so even if the pain is notexactly in the stomach, it can be termed as stomach ache in a layman's language. Common causes ofpain in the abdominal region can be appendicitis, stones in the kidney and the gall bladder, gastric orduodenal ulcers, colitis, inflammation of liver or any other part of the alimentary canal and infection in theurinary tract.

    Pain in the abdominal region can also be caused due to presence of worms in the digestive tract,constipation, indigestion, wind and distention, gastritis, food poisoning or food allergies ,acidity anddiarrhea. It can also be caused due to the presence of a toxic material called ama. Though most painsaccording to Ayurveda are caused by vata (air ) aggravation, it can also occur by the aggravation of pitta(fire) and kapha (water and mucus ) doshas.

    Remedies

    The treatment according to Ayurveda varies according to the cause of the pain. As the aim of Ayurvedictreatment is to remove the root cause, it could be different in different cases depending upon the cause.In this way the Ayurvedic approach is different from the modern medicine where generally pain killers areprescribed irrespective of the cause. Some general remedies for stomach ache are given here. In case ofsevere symptoms it is advised to consult the Ayurvedic physician.

    1. The patient should have clear bowel movements and should not be constipated. According toAyurveda every one should pass stool at least once in 24 hours. Early morning (first thing after waking up) is the best time to do this. In the case of severe constipation an enema with warm water can be given.Two tea spoons of castor oil mixed in a cup of warm milk can be given to the patient every night beforegoing to bed or whenever necessary. 2. If the pain is due to acidity or gas, drinking plain soda waterprovides immediate relief. 3. Two tea spoons of lemon juice mixed with 50 ml. of warm water helps inrelieving all kinds of stomach aches. One gram of rock salt powder should be mixed in this and can betaken at least thrice a day. 4. Take equal weights of dry ginger, black pepper, roasted cumin seeds, drymint leaves, coriander, asa asafetida, garlic and rock salt. Make a fine powder by grinding all thesetogether. Taking one or half tea spoon of this powder with warm water gives relief from stomach ache.This can be taken two or three times a day after meals. If some of the ingredients are not found, you canmake the powder with what ever items being available. Common salt can be used if rock salt is

    unavailable. 5. Taking one to three grams of ajowan seeds with warm water relieves stomach ache. Itbecomes more effective if an equal weight of rock salt is added to it. In case rock salt is not available,common salt can be used. 6. Giving local heat treatment at the site of the pain also gives some relief fromthe pain. 7. One tea spoonful ginger juice and one tea spoonful castor oil mixed in half cup warm waterrelieves stomach ache. It can be taken twice a day. 8. Take about 20 gms. of anise seeds. Put them inone cup water for about 4 hours. Then strain and drink this water. It is better to soak the anise seedsovernight, and drink it in the next morning.

    Diet and Regimen

    Diet should be mainly light and easily digestible. Little grains, rice, yogurt or butter milk, a little salad witha thin dressing of oil or yogurt on it is good. A dressing of lemon juice can also be used on the salad.Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini, pumpkin and mung dal (green beans or pulses) will also help.

    Khichree is also good. Khichree is prepared by cooking together one part rice and six parts mung beans.Mung beans can be found in any Indian store. A soup of vegetables is good as are fruit juices and fruitslike grapes, papaya, orange, peaches etc.

    Fried and spicy foods which contain too much oil are prohibited. Beans, potatoes, sweets, creams andyogurt in the night time are also not good.

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    Avoid all kinds of physical activities immediately after meals. The patient should take sufficient rest.Mental tension, worry, anxiety, greed, anger and fear should be given up and the patient must have arelaxed mind.

    Colic

    Colic is when a baby cries for longer than three hours every day for more than three days a week. It is theextreme end of normal crying behaviour. The condition is harmless, though it can be very distressing forparents or carers. The cause is not known, but there are ways to help calm a baby down.

    About infant colic

    Colic is uncontrollable, extended crying in a baby who is otherwise healthy and well-fed. Every baby cries,but babies who cry for more than three hours a day, three to four days a week, may have colic.

    About 20% of babies get colic, and it equally affects boys and girls, first-born children and those bornlater. In general, it appears at around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months, or longer insome cases.

    Causes

    The cause of colic isn't known. In the past it was thought to be related to the digestive system. However,although painful abdominal gas may contribute to colic, there is little evidence to prove it's due togastrointestinal problems.

    Another possible cause of colic is a combination of the baby's temperament and an immature nervoussystem. The baby's temperament may make him or her highly sensitive to the environment, and he or she

    may react to normal stimulation or changes to the environment by crying. Because the baby's nervoussystem is immature, he or she is unable to regulate crying once it starts.

    Symptoms

    The main symptom is continuous crying for long periods of time. Although this crying can occur at anytime, it usually worsens in the evening. Although colic is not thought to be due to pain, a baby with colicmay look uncomfortable or appear to be in pain. Babies may lift their head, draw their legs up to theirtummy, become red in the face and pass wind. Some babies refuse to eat. Difficulty falling and stayingasleep is also common.

    Normally, colic is not a serious condition. Research shows that babies with colic continue to eat and gain

    weight normally, despite the crying.

    The main problem with the condition is the stress and anxiety it creates within the home. Parents andother family members may find it difficult to cope with the constant crying, so it's important to havesupport and to take a break now and then.

    When to see a doctor

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    Colic does not need medical treatment. However, any parent or carer who is worried about their baby'scrying may want to get advice from a healthcare professional to make sure there is no serious problem.

    Before visiting a doctor, all other possible causes of crying should be eliminated. These include:

    hunger

    tiredness lack of contact - some babies want to be cuddled all the time

    startling - eg due to a jerky movement or sudden noise

    undressing - most babies don't like the feel of air on their skin

    temperature - is the baby too hot or too cold?

    pain - is there an identifiable source of pain, eg a nappy rash

    Before going to the doctor, parents should take note of when the baby cries, eats and sleeps, as well asthe pattern of bowel movements. This will help the doctor determine the cause of the crying. The doctorwill examine the baby and ask about the symptoms to help exclude any other disorders that may becausing the crying.

    If the doctor diagnoses colic, there are many things parents can do to help the baby - and themselves -through the next few months.

    Treatment for colic

    There is no single medicine or proven cure for colic, but there are several measures that may help.Different babies are comforted by different measures, and parents usually need to try various methods tosee what works.

    Parents who bottle-feed their babies may want to try a different formula. For parents who breastfeed, it's agood idea to continue this because weaning the baby from breast milk may make the colic worse.

    Some women find that certain foods in their diet seem to make colic worse and they may find that cutting

    these foods out helps. These might include cruciferous vegetables (eg cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower,sprouts and parsnip), beans, onions, garlic, apricots, melon, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol. Byreintroducing foods gradually, women may be able to identify which food, if any, is causing the problem.

    If there is a family history of milk sugar (lactose) intolerance, breastfeeding mothers could try eliminatingcows milk from their diet. Sometimes babies are not able to digest lactose well - this improves as they getolder.

    Some parents who bottle-feed their baby try changing over to soya-based formula, but there is noevidence that this is effective at reducing colic.

    If the baby seems to have a lot of wind, make sure he or she is burped frequently. Babies who are bottle-fed may swallow air from the bottle: try feeding the baby in a different position, or using a bottle and teatdesigned to reduce the amount of air the baby swallows during a feed. These include curved bottles,bottles with a collapsible bag inside or bottles with a vent.

    To soothe babies with colic, the following techniques may be helpful:

    carry the baby in a front sling or back pack

    wrap him or her snugly in a blanket (this is called swaddling)

    keep the baby moving in a baby swing

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    place him or her near continuous noise or vibrations from household appliances like thedishwasher, vacuum cleaner or washer-dryer

    take him or her for a car ride or a walk outside

    give him or her a dummy to suck on

    give him or her tummy or back rubs

    take a shower together - the warm water may be comforting

    Medicines

    Medicines are not used to treat colic. However, medicines may help to relieve abdominal symptoms. Itmay be worth trying "colic drops" or "gripe water", which are available without a prescription. A medicinecalled dimeticone (eg Infacol) is available to relieve trapped wind.

    Care for the parent or carer

    Having a colicky baby can be very stressful, frustrating and challenging for any parent, particularly if it isthe first child. Babies may pick up on anxiety around them, and this may make colic worse.

    It's important for the parents or carer to have time to themselves. Parents who feel overwhelmed shouldtake a break. Ask a partner or friend to take over for a while, even for an hour or two.