Coping with Costipation and Home Remedies

What is Constipation?

Constipation is a common disturbance of the digestive tract. In this condition, the bowels do not move regularly, or are not completely emptied when they move. This condition is the chief cause of many diseases as it produces toxins which find their way into the bloodstream and are carried to all parts of the body. Appendicitis, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, cataract., and cancer are only a few of the diseases in which chronic constipation is an important predisposing factor.

Constipation Symptoms

Infrequency, irregularity in elimination of hard faecal matter
The most common symptoms of constipation are infrequency, irregularity or difficulty in elimination of the hard faecal matter.

Coated tongue, Foul breath, headache, depression , insomnia etc
The other symptoms include a coated tongue, foul breath, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, dark circles under the eyes, depression, nausea, pimples on the face, ulcer in the mouth, constant fullness in the abdomen, diarrhoea alternating with constipation, varicose veins, pain in the lumbar region, acidity, heart burn, and insomnia.

Causes of Constipation

Faulty diet and style of living
Intake of refined and rich foods lacking in vitamins and minerals, insufficient intake of water, consumption of meat in large quantities, excessive use of strong tea and coffee, insufficient chewing, overeating and wrong combination of foods, irregular habits of eating and drinking may all contribute to poor bowel function.

Irregular habit of defecation, lack of physical activity
Other causes include faulty and irregular habit of defecation, frequent use of purgatives, weakness of abdominal muscles due to sedentary habits, lack of physical activity, and emotional stress and strain.

Home Remedies for Constipation

Constipation treatment using Bael Fruit
Generally all fruits, except banana and jack fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Certain fruits are, however, more effective. Bael fruit is regarded as the best of all laxatives. It cleans and tones up the intestines. Its regular use for two or three months throws out even the old accumulated faecal matter. It should be preferably taken in its original form and before dinner. About sixty grams of the fruit are sufficient for an adult.

Constipation treatment using Pear
Pears are beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Patients suffering from chronic constipation should adopt an exclusive diet of this fruit or it's juice for a few days, but in ordinary cases, a medium-sized pear taken after dinner or with breakfast will have the desired effect.

Constipation treatment using Guava
Guava is another effective remedy for constipation. When eaten with seeds, it provides roughage to the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels. One or two guavas should be taken everyday.

Constipation treatment using Grapes
Grapes have proved very beneficial in overcoming constipation. The combination of the properties of the cellulose, sugar, and organic acid in grapes make them a laxative food. Their field of action is not limited to clearing the bowels only. They also tone up the stomach and intestines and relieve the most chronic constipation. One should take at least 350 gm of this fruit daily to achieve the desired results. When fresh grapes are not available, raisins, soaked in water, can be used. Raisins should be soaked for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. This will make them swell to the original size of the grapes. They should be eaten early in the morning, along with the water in which they have been soaked.

Constipation treatment using Orange
Orange is also beneficial in the treatment of constipation. Taking one or two oranges at bedtime and again on rising in the morning is an excellent way of stimulating the bowels. The general stimulating influence of orange juice excites peristaltic activity and helps prevent the accumulation of food residue in the colon.

Constipation treatment using Papaya and Figs
Other fruits specific for constipation are papaya and figs. Half a medium-sized papaya should be eaten at breakfast for it to act as a laxative. Both fresh and dry figs have a laxative effect. Four or five dry figs should be soaked overnight in a little water and eaten in the morning.

Constipation treatment using Spinach
Among the vegetables, spinach has been considered to be the most vital food for the entire digestive tract from time immemorial. Raw spinach contains the finest organic material for the cleansing, reconstruction, and regeneration of the intestinal tract. Raw spinach juice-100 ml, mixed with an equal quantity of water and taken twice daily, will cure the most aggravated cases of constipation within a few days.

Constipation treatment using Other Remedies
Half a lime, squeezed is a glass of hot water, with half a teaspoon of salt is also an effective remedy for constipation. Drinking water which has been kept overnight in a copper vessel, first thing in the morning, brings good results. Linseed (alse) is extremely useful in difficult cases of constipation. A teaspoon of linseed swallowed with water before each meal provides both roughage and lubrication.

Constipation diet

Natural and simple diet consisting of unrefined foods
The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined foods such as wholegrain cereals, bran, honey, lentils, green and leafy vegetables, fresh and dry fruits, and milk products in the form of butter, clarified butter, and cream. The diet alone is not enough.

Chew food properly, Avoid hurried meals and irregular meals
Food should be properly chewed. Hurried meals and meals at odd times should be avoided. Sugar and sugary foods should be strictly avoided. Foods which constipate are all products made of white flour, rice, bread, pulses, cakes, pastries, biscuits, cheese, fleshy foods, preserves, white sugar, and hard-boiled eggs.

Other Constipation treatments

Fresh air, outdoor games and exercise
Toning up the muscles also helps in the treatment of constipation. Fresh air, outdoor games, walking, swimming, and exercise play an important role in strengthening the muscles, and thereby preventing constipation.

Coping with Stetch Marks and Home Remedies

What are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are skin lesions that occur when skin is pulled rapidly and the problem is caused by rapid weight gain. Although most of us tend to associate the problem of stretch marks with women, post-pregnancy, the problem is not restricted to women alone. The problem of stretch marks has become increasingly common with many being afflicted with the condition, particularly after resorting to fad diets and medications for rapid weight loss.

Symptoms of Stretch Marks
When skin is excessively pulled it hampers the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, causing them to thin out and weaken. This causes the skin to stretch and discolor. When stretch marks first appear, they take on an angry red color. The skin is stretched so much that it appears transparent and the blood vessels show through; this is what gives the marks the red color. Over time the blood vessels contract and leave the skin looking pale. This whitish color that replaces the red comes from the body fat that is visible through the stretched skin.


Causes of Stretch Marks
This may be a result of pregnancy, when the skin gets pulled as the belly size increases, as a result of puberty in teens experiencing a growth spurt, a side effect of obesity or of illnesses like diabetes. Stretch marks usually appear on the abdomen and thighs.


Remedies for Stretch Marks
While stretch marks don’t vanish, they do fade with time. The use of over the counter creams and ointments helps the scars fade. One such effective ointment is cocoa butter cream. It is widely available and will help moisturize skin and is effective in smoothing out scars. In extreme cases patients seek laser therapy and surgery to correct the scars left on the body. These are painful and invasive treatments that serves no great cause. So instead of taking such a drastic step, it would be better to opt for simple and effective home remedies for stretch marks. Though the marks won’t vanish over night, they will fade away with proper treatment and dieting. Try some the following home remedies and observe the progress:

• Lavender Oil – Lavender oil is a highly recommended home remedy for stretch marks. Rubbing a few drops of lavender oil on the affected area twice a day ensures the scars fade quickly. Applying olive oil is also very effective.

• Sandalwood – A great preventive measure for stretch marks is applying sandalwood on the skin daily. It keeps the skin moisturized and prevents it from stretching.


Diet for Stretch Marks
An important aspect in the treatment of stretch marks is eating right. Eat foods that are good for your skin. These include fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in Vitamin A, C and D. These foods improve skin tone and minimize blemishes. Zinc rich foods like nuts and fish also help diminish scars on skin. It is also of great importance that you drink lots of water through the day.


Suggestions for Stretch Marks
For anyone fighting off stretch marks, it is important to incorporate at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily schedule. Exercising helps tone and firm up muscles, which in turn firms the skin. Yoga is a good option as it allows you to stretch and tone every muscle in the body.

Coping with Herpes and Home Remedies

What is Herpes?
The herpes simplex viruses are of two types. The type one virus shows its symptoms in the upper part of the body and the type two virus causes symptoms in the lower half. Both of these viruses are identical, when seen under the microscope.

Symptoms of Herpes
The viruses cause oral symptoms like cold sores and fever blisters around the lips and the lower part of the face. The herpes virus attacks the immune system of the body causing heavy losses and damage to the immune system. After attacking the immune system, the virus begins manifesting its symptoms. Once treatment is given to the person, the virus goes dormant and the symptoms may subside for a while.
Meanwhile, the immune system of the body becomes extremely weak and the body may also become susceptible to other infections and diseases. There are brief periods of remission between the eruptions of symptoms; however, when the symptoms do erupt it is important to take many precautions.
Herpes virus remains in the blood stream of the infected person and can be passed on by a pregnant woman to her unborn child. There have been many researches and clinical trials of medicines for the treatment of herpes. However, till date no cure or treatment has been found for herpes. Medication can help control the symptoms, but the virus remains in the blood stream.

Herpes Symptoms, Causes, Remedy and Diet
Causes of Herpes
Herpes is a viral infection which is spread through close physical contact and sexual intercourse. The virus can enter into the skin of a person through any break in the skin like cuts. During sexual intercourse, the virus can enter into the skin of the penis or the vagina.

Home Remedies for Herpes
There are some home remedies that can help in the suppression of the symptoms and provide temporary relief. However, these remedies are only for temporary relief and do not offer a cure. Since fever blisters can cause a lot of discomfort, rubbing ice can help soothe the skin. Another effective remedy for herpes symptoms is baking powder. You can apply baking powder on the blisters using a soft cotton ball. The baking powder helps contain the infection. You can also use essential oils to control the infection and get relief. Take a few drops of bergamot oil and add to it a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Mix the oils well and then add an equal amount of vegetable oil to it. Now soak a cotton ball in this oil and spread it across the infected areas. This can help you in treating the herpes virus.

Coping with Backache and Home Remedies

Have you ever wondered why people in earlier times faced fewer problems with their bodies? They didn't go to the gym or practiced any exercise, instead they did their day-to-day chores which required lot of strength and energy and comparable to any gym. But nowadays we hardly do anything as there are machines which do all the things and we just happen to sit in our office as well as in our homes.

It is also one of the commonest ailments which most of the mankind suffer from.

Most of our backache is caused due to bad posture, long hours of sitting, standing which are some of the very common reasons for having backache. Sleeping on your stomach can also lead to backache, as well as if the place you are sleeping is not firm enough then there are bound to backache problems.

The pain usually comes from the lower back which is usually comes from the nerves, spine or any other part of the lower back.

Some of the other reasons for having backache are the bad posture when you lift any heavy object. When such an action is done in an abrupt or sudden you can get such aches.

Some of the common backache problems are

* when your work requires tedious work which can be related to lifting and bending which adds strain to your back.

* When your body posture is bad, while sitting, sleeping, standing, and bending

* When you are pregnant and there is heavy strain to your back

* When you are above 30

* Being overweight

* Problems like arthritis or osteoporosis causing a problem for you

* Stress as well as depression also causes such problems.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

What is Backache?

Backache is one of the most common ailments prevalent today. Sedentary living habits, hazardous work patterns and psychological conditions associated with emotional stress, which bring about spasm of the muscles, cause backaches. As the back bears the weight of the entire body, overweight persons feel the strain on the back when they have to carry an extra load.

Symptoms of Backache or Back pain

Pain in the middle of back or lower down

In most cases of backache, the pain is usually felt either in the middle of the back or lower down. It may spread to both sides of the waist and the hips. In a condition of acute pain, the patient is unable to move and is bedridden.

People suffer from cervical and lumbar spondylosis

About ninety per cent of backache patients suffer from what is called cervical and lumbar spondylosis. It is a degenerative disorder in which the different vertebrae adhere to each other through bony unions. As a result of this, the spine loses its flexibility.

Causes of Backache

Muscular tension, straining of the joints, poor posture

The main causes of backache and spondylosis are muscular tension, straining of the joints, poor posture, and incorrect nutrition resulting from dietetic errors and lack of exercise.

Kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, influenza

Acute or chronic illnesses like kidney or prostate problems, female disorders, Influenza, and arthritis, may also lead to backache.

Sitting for a long time, high heels

Other causes include stress and strain resulting from sitting for a long time, improper lifting of weights, high heels, and emotional problems which may cause painful muscle cramping.

Home Remedies for Backache

Backache treatment using Garlic

The most important home remedy for backache is the use of garlic. Two or three cloves should be taken every morning to get results. An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the back will give great relief. This oil is prepared by frying ten cloves of garlic in 60 ml of oil in a frying pan. Any of the oils which are used as rubefacients, such as mustard oil. sesame oil, and coconut oil can be used according to one's choice. They should be fried on a slow fire till they are brown. After the oil has cooled, it should be applied vigorously on the back, and allowed to remain there for three hours. The patient may, thereafter, take a warm-water bath. This treatment should be continued for at least fifteen days.

Backache treatment using Lemon

Lemon is another useful remedy for backache. The juice of one lemon should be mixed with common salt and taken by the patient twice daily. It will give relief.

Backache treatment using Chebulic Myroblan

The use of chebulic myroblan is beneficial in the treatment of backache. A small piece of this fruit should be eaten after meals. This will give quick relief.

Backache treatment using Vitamin C

Vitamin C has proved valuable in case of severe backaches. About 2,000 mg of this vitamin should be taken daily for treating this condition. Considerable improvement will be noticeable within two days.

Backache treatment using Potato

Raw potato is an ancient home remedy for backache, characterised by incapacitating pain in the lumbar region, especially in the lower part of the back. Application of raw potato in the fom of a poultice has been found very effective in this condition.

Dietaries for Backache

Salad of raw vegetables, plenty of fruits

The diet of those suffering from backache should consist of a salad of raw vegetables such as tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce, and, at least two steamed or lightly cooked vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach, and plenty of fruits, except bananas. The patient should have four meals daily. Fruit and milk are advised for breakfast, steamed vegetables and wholewheat wheat tortilla for lunch; fresh fruit or fruit juice in the evening; and a bowl of raw salad and sprouts during dinner.

Avoid fatty, spicy fried foods and processed foods

The patient should avoid fatty, spicy, and fried foods; curd, sweetmeats and sugar; condiments; and tea and coffee. Foods that have been processed for preservation have few nutrients and should also be eliminated from the diet.

Other Backache treatments for back pains

Avoid smoking and tobacco intake

Smoking or taking tobacco in any from should be given up completely.

Hot fomentation and alternate sponging

Hot fomentation, alternate sponging, or application of heat to the back will also give immediate relief.

Yogic asanas are also useful

Yogic asanas which are beneficial in the treatment of backache are bhujangasana, shalabhasana, halasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana.

Coping with Dark Skin and Home Remedies

Dark Skin
Dark skin can be a bane for people who crave a fair complexion. Though a lot of people have naturally dark skin, darkening of skin could also be due to hyperpigmentation and various other reasons. A dark colored skin has more of skin pigment Melanin, as compared to a fair skin. Unfortunately, increased quantity of melanin can cause the skin to look blemished and patchy.

Dark Skin Symptoms
The symptoms for dark skin include a dark brown to blackish skin. This could be coupled with blemishes or dark patches on the skin.

Dark Skin Symptoms, Causes, Remedy and Diet

Dark Skin Causes
The causes for a dark skin or complexion could be many. Some of the most common ones are -

Heredity - People who have a dark skin often have children who are dark-skinned too. The genes seem to pass on from generation to generation.

Hyperpigmentation - In this condition the skin produces too much of the pigment melanin, causing the skin to become darker than usual.

Skin disorders - Conditions such as Lichen Simplex Chronicus is a skin disorder that causes severe itching that leaves the skin thick, dark and patchy.

Sun rays - Over exposure to sun causes the skin to tan. This is a natural mechanism, wherein to protect itself from the harmful UV rays of the sun, the skin produces more of the pigment melanin which shields the penetration of UV rays into the skin.


Home Remedies for Dark Skin
Here are some simple home remedies that you can do to lighten the skin tone and get a lighter complexion. However, they must be done regularly and best results are obtained if they are inculcated as a part of daily routine.

Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin.

Place sliced raw potato on the face. It helps reduce blemishes and other marks.

Applying turmeric powder along with lime juice removes the tan. Lime juice is a natural bleach.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd also help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes.

Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week.

A tbsp of gram flour mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice works well for lightening dark skin. Apply this mixture and leave it for 15 minutes before washing off. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

Apply a paste of fresh ground mint leaves and leave it for about 20 minutes. Wash with cold water, continue for 15 days.

Apply a mixture of grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice on the face. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Do this twice a day for 15-20 days for best results.


Dark Skin : Home Remedies suggested by users

Balanced Diet
Although there are no particular foods that will lighten your skin instantly, a balanced diet definitely helps by giving your skin a healthy glow. Drinking an optimum amount of water hydrates your skin and keeps it blemish free. Some recommendations regarding diet are as follows –

Avoid excessive consumption of heavy and oily foods.

Incorporate whole cereals, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Drink at least 4-5 liters of water every day. Water washes out the toxins from the body.

Other suggestions for Dark Skin
Use a good quality sunscreen when going out in the sun to protect the skin from tanning as well as the sun's UV rays.

Be regular and persistent with the home remedies for skin lightening as suggested above.a