Ayurveda -Natural Home Remedies for Weak Eyesight

Ayurveda -Natural Home Remedies for Weak Eyesight

As you read this article, off a tablet or a computer screen, you are unwittingly exposing your sensitive eyes to ill-willing factors. Harmful air pollution is real, too, and we can even feel our eyes tire out in front of bright sunlight, dust and other elements. As our generation spends more and more time indoors, away from natural settings, there is absolutely no respite for tired eyes.

Eye Muscle Strain:

Most of us involuntarily force our eye muscles to cringe and squint, to be able to read fine print or to focus hard on the excel sheet, or an engrossing movie, or an interesting article. While doing this we have scant regard or realization that our muscles have been forced into a “deadlock” without allowing relaxing times in between.  All these manifest in mild to severe headaches and regular visits to the ophthalmologist.

And many of us have had no choice, we were born with bad eyesight, and we’ve been wearing glasses or contacts for years, maybe ever since we can remember. We’re frustrated, of course, because it’s rather depressing to wake up and not be able to see the time relying only on our natural eyesight. We’re trying to correct it really hard, but it becomes even harder to remain healthy when everything in modern society is based more or less upon technology.

Care for your Eyes the Natural way:

Modern science allows for corrective laser surgery and contact lenses, to bring some reprieve but wouldn’t you like to do it more naturally, and avoid disturbing the delicate and complex texture, of God’s beautiful creation? And given the fact that we are so deeply rooted within what we know within our culture, I think we owe it to ourselves to try what other people are skeptical about – because let’s face it, we tend to be wary of that, which we do not know.

Ayurveda, one of the most ancient and exhaustive medical systems, has many natural preventive, as well as curative, remedies to provide relief to our weary eyes.  These remedies are simple in their approach and derived from readily available herbs, and trigger our body mechanisms to start the internal healing process.

Guess it’s time we respect how our eyes are the only visual mediums to absorb and cherish, the wonders and joys of what nature has created for us.

Does Drinking Milk With Honey Increase Sperm Count?

According to one of the reports online, about 10% of male between the ages of 18 to 50 years are suffering from low sperm count. Although, there are several home remedies that can help boost the sperm count, milk can be considered as one of the most easily found ones. Surely, drinking milk with honey is an easier way to deal with the low sperm count.

Milk with Honey For Low Sperm Count

Ayurveda has been advising honey as a medication for problems of impotence and infertility. A drink of warm milk to which honey is added is believed to increase the sperm count from level zero to fertility level of over 60million sperm count. Milk is a one of the best day to day herbal remedy that helps to increase sperm count naturally.

Vitamin A is the most essential part for the production of male sex hormones. It has antioxidant qualities which protects cells against damage from free radicals in the body. It is also important for the upkeep of the seminiferous tubules. And since Milk has Vitamin A, it is quite important to drink milk for a healthy sperm quality.

Moreover, pure and unheated honey is a mild sexual stimulant, since it contains numerous substances such as zinc, Vitamin E, etc., which promote virility and reproductive health. Further, a mixture of honey and grounded garlic taken regularly at bed time is an aphrodisiac that increases sexual stamina and pleasure. Also honey with cinnamon is a good combination for diseases like Arthritis, Hair Loss, Toothache, help in Reducing Cholesterol, Curing Colds, Infertility, Upset Stomach, for better Immune System, for Longevity and Weight Loss.

It is also very important to know the causes of low sperm count as well, as it might also help you in another way. Here are some of the causes that are generally more prevalent.

What Causes Low Sperm Count?

-physical and mental stress
-sleeplessness
-extreme exposure to heat (hot tubs)
-smoking and too much drinking
-obesity
-cancer
-heredity
-hormonal problems
-toxic pollutants and zinc deficiency
-Medications like steroids and tagamet have also been related to male infertility by low sperm count in men.

11 Banned Toxic Ingredients Found In Your Daily Food.

11 Banned Toxic Ingredients Found In Your Daily Food.

Spending More….Gaining Less:

Americans today spend almost 90% of their money buying processed food. With such a startling statistic and the overwhelming incidence of obesity, joining the puzzle pieces wouldn’t need a degree in nutrition. Even in an advanced country like the US, with strict FDA rules, the occurrence of toxic banned additives is alarming and is wreaking havoc on everyone’s health. The reasons for allowing these substances reek of government bias towards the wealthy food corporations and blatant apathy towards public health.

What we eat today is nothing more than “dead’ food, stripped of its vital nutrients, flavors, textures and richness through the commercialized “processing” of foods. The only underlying focus is to make this cheap food “look” appealing with vibrant colors and additives to “fool” our taste buds.

Why are Additives added?

Most commonly, additives are included to slow spoilage, prevent fats and oils from going rancid, prevent fruits from turning brown, fortify or enrich the food with synthetic vitamins and minerals to replace the natural ones that were lost during processing, and improve taste, texture and appearance.

So we are in a time when food looker “fresher”, tastes “better”, “seems” cheaper and is so much more accessible. But what this “quick” food does to our body is cruelty at its worst….

TOP 11 BANNED INGREDIENTS THAT YOU WILL STILL FIND IN YOUR FOOD:

Here’s a compilation of 11 ingredients that are still present in the US diet…substances that should ideally be treated like “toxic” waste:

1. Synthetic hormones rBGH and rBST (in milk): While Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and all European Union countries banned the use of rBGH, this hormone is still used to increase cows’ milk production is still used in all 50 states. The use of rBGH increases the levels of IGF-1 hormone in the milk by at least 6 folds, increasing risks of breast and prostate cancers.
2. GMOs (in almost everything): In the US, even public pressure hasn’t forced the companies to label GMO products. 90% of all soy, corn, canola and sugar (sugar beet) in the US is now GMO.
3. Olestra/Olean (in chips): This chemical additive, a fat substitute, found in fat-free potato chips causes a dramatic depletion of fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids, robbing us of the vital micro-nutrients.
4. Potassium bromate (in flour): This chemical additive is found in rolls, wraps, flatbread, bread crumbs, and bagel chips as it helps strengthen dough to bake it faster. Bromine, a corrosive and toxic chemical has been linked to major organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, and hearing loss.
5. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): These chemicals, considered a human carcinogen, a cancer-causing agent, are found in cereal, nut mixes/trail mixes, gum, butter, meat, dehydrated potatoes, and your favorite beer.
6. Azodicarbonamide (in baked foods): This chemical additive is used as bleach and found in breads, frozen dinners, boxed pasta mixes, and packaged baked goods. This chemical has been linked to asthma and is primarily used in foamed plastics, like yoga mats and sneaker soles.
7. Chloramphenicol (in honey): This antibiotic used on honey bees has been banned in the US for years, but can still be found in cheap supermarket honey (along with heavy metals) that comes from China. 75% of all honey in the US sold as US honey is in fact Chinese honey.
8. Artificial coloring agents (in everything): These are found in an array of processed food items including cake and cake mixes, candy, macaroni and cheese, medicines, sport drinks, soda and pet food. Artificial dyes are used to make foods to seem more visually appealing to consumers. Most artificial colors are made from coal tar, which is also used to seal-coat products to preserve and protect the shine of industrial floors and also appears in head lice shampoos to kill off the small bugs.
9. Ractopamine (in pork): It’s banned in the European Union, China, and Taiwan – but this dangerous drug is still found in 20% of all pork products.
10. Arsenic (in chicken feed): Is added to chicken feed to promote growth, improve efficiency in feeding the birds, and boost pigmentation, which gives them the appearance of being more healthy and fresher. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies inorganic arsenic as a “human carcinogen,”  yet it is still allowed to be used in chicken feed.
11. Brominated vegetable oil or BVO (in soft drinks): Found in sports drinks and citrus-flavored sodas to prevent the flavoring from separating and floating to the surface of these beverages. Competes with iodine and may lead to thyroid issues, such as hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, andcancer.

What Do You Do With Crystallized Honey?

Crystallized honey is still good–don’t throw it out!

For some reason, there is a perception that honey that crystallizes has “gone bad” or that it is a sign of contamination. No! It’s actually a sign of high quality honey. Don’t throw your crystallized honey out, unless you like to waste delicious food.

Crystallized Honey on Oatmeal.

Honey is a super-saturated solution of two sugars: glucose and fructose. Since it’s super-saturated, it’s a natural chemical process that some of the sugars eventually come out of solution.  Honey will even crystallize when it’s still in the comb.

Crystallized honey on a bagel.

Crystallized honey is delicious in tea, on yogurt, on a toasted bagel, and on oatmeal. It’s a fabulous spread glaze for cooking chicken or stir-fry, and …

This is where I realized that I needed to stop listing and taking photos of honey on things, because I kept eating all my photo models.
Back to the science.

Three things make honey more likely to crystallize:

1. Temperature
2. The ratio of glucose and fructose in the honey
3. Pollen

Let’s break down what’s happening in your honey, and what you can do about it.

Temperature

Honey will crystallize in the hive if the temperature goes below 50ºF (10ºC), and honey will crystallize in your containers if you have a cold cupboard cabinet. Finding a warmer spot to store your honey will slow crystallization.

It’s fairly simple to turn your honey back into a smooth liquid again by heating it. The best way to do this is by to put your honey in a bowl of warm water and slowly letting it warm up.  If you happen to have an ultrasound machine that produces waves at 23 kHz lying around, that works too. Microwaving overheats the honey and doesn’t heat evenly, so that’s not recommended unless you are in a hurry.

The problem is, as soon as your honey cools down, it will begin slouching back to chunky again. The simplest way to deal with this is to embrace your lovely honey lumps, and acquire a taste for crystallized honey.  After a few sessions of heating and cooling, your honey will loose that wonderful aroma of summer, and just become yellow sugary goop.

If you really must have smooth runny honey, try heating a smaller batch, rather than the whole container.  Honey also keeps best in glass, rather than plastic, and glass is much better for reheating.

The ratio of glucose and fructose in the honey

Honey is a super-saturated solution of two sugars: glucose and fructose. The proportions of these two sugars are characteristic of the plants the bees fed on to make their honey. It’s the glucose that crystallizes, so some types of honey are more resistant to crystallization because they have low glucose.

Alfalfa and clover honeys crystallize quickly;  maple, tupelo, and blackberry honeys crystallize slowly.  There really isn’t an easy way for someone who isn’t a honey foodie to know which honeys crystallize faster or slower, but this is a good excuse to experiment with the flavors and aromas of different plant honeys.

Pollen

Pollen in honey is normal, and acts as a sort of honey provenance.  Pollen in honey verifies what plants the bees are feeding on. Bees are fuzzy, so while they are drinking nectar to make honey, they get covered with pollen. It’s sticky stuff – but, you know, it is plant sperm. That junk gets everywhere.

Honey with pollen in it is great honey, but crystallization happens faster when there are small particles available to build on. Fresh, raw honey has a lot of those in the form of pollen grains.

Pollen Grains in Honey. Image: Specious Reasons/Flickr

Because Americans tend to be a bit paranoid about cosmetic defects in food, a lot of honey is now filtered to remove pollen.  This does creates a more shelf-stable honey, and it is clearer and brighter in color. Basically, it’s cosmetic surgery to make your honey pretty.

The problem with pollen-less honey is you don’t know where it came from, or what kind of plants the bees were feeding on.  Filtering has a shady side effect: it makes it easier for honey to be processed and shipped longer distances (like from China) and means that many different kinds of honey can be blended together undetectably.

Yes. I am talking about honey-laundering.

How can you get the best honey? Buy local. And by local, I mean look for honey that is not part of a chain store brand, but something from a beekeeper that is in your state, with a traceable address and name.

Embrace your crystallized honey. It’s the result of a natural process.

Cinnamon & honey the magic mixture

Cinnamon & honey the magic mixture

It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Honey has been used as a vital medicine for centuries. Scientists of today also accept honey as a very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients also. Here we present a list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.

Arthritis 
Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two. Or arthritis patients may daily, morning and night take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If drunk regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research done at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

Hair Loss 
Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be very effective.

Bladder Infections 

Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of luke warm water and drink it. It destroys the germs of the bladder.

Toothache 
Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be done 3 times a day daily till such time that the tooth has stopped aching.

Cholesterol 
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, if given to a cholesterol patient, it reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day any chronic cholesterol is cured. As per the information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complains of cholesterol.

Cold and Cough 
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

Infertility 
Since ancient times, it is commonly known, that the use of honey strengthens the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before sleeping, their problem will be solved. In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and to strengthen the uterus have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

Upset Stomach 
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

Gas 
According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

Heart Diseases 
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat.

Immune System 
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

Indigestion 
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

Influenza 
It has been proved that honey contains a natural ingredient, which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu. Longevity Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life span also increases and even if a person is 100 years old, starts performing the chores of a 20 year old.

Pimples 
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples completely.

Skin Infections 
Eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections are cured by applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts.

Weight Loss 
Daily in the morning, 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup water. If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

Bad Breath 
People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

Synthetic and artificial cosmetics are out and herbal skin care is in ! A number of time tested herbs that have been researched over the years promise a smooth and supple skin, natural radiance as well as escape from most of the skin maladies. Though it is equally important to be aware and restrain from the factors that would otherwise cause harm to your skin. The age old therapies of Ayurveda work as a boon in not only doing away a number of skin maladies like acne, blemishes, skin eruptions etc. but they also promise great help when it comes to nourishing and restoring your natural beauty. Here are some of the herbs that could benefit you by providing soft and smooth skin with a natural glow.

1. Aloe vera:

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

Fresh juice or extract from this herb could prove to be a boon for your skin. Having the property of blood purification, it is also beneficial in curing many skin ailments like acne, allergic rash, swelling and also blemishes. Now days a number of cosmetics contain Aloe vera as the main ingredient. In Ayurvedic texts it has been said that the fresh juice applied on the face can result into fairness and loss of blemishes. This is because Aloe vera is slimy and mucoid by nature, and cold in action. It is bitter in taste and has a pungent after taste. Therefore according to Ayurveda, it is believed to subside the aggravated heat in the body, which is the cause of most of the skin problems. Recommended Dosage: 10 to 20 ml of freshly extracted juice. Local application of the pulp or juice is also recommended

2. Neem:

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

Neem or the Margosa tree is a natural cleanser that flushes out toxins from the body and thus helps clear the skin from maladies like pimples and skin eruptions. It is recommended both for internal as well as external use. The juice extracted from grinding fresh Neem leaves and the paste thus formed can be applied on the skin eruptions. Also the Neem leaves could be pounded and made into small balls, which when taken on an empty stomach proves a wonderful blood purifier. According to Ayurveda, Neem is light in nature and cold in action. The taste is pungent and astringent, whereas the after taste is bitter. Therefore, Neem again proves beneficial in decreasing the aggravated heat in the body system. All the more it is believed to be a natural antiseptic, antipruritic and a natural wound healer. Recommended Dosage: 10 to 20 ml fresh juice extracted from the leaves. Also used  for local application.

3. Turmeric:

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

Turmeric is another herb that has for always been associated with beauty. It acts as a wonderful beauty therapy as well as efficient cosmetic use. Turmeric mixed with flour (besan) and sandalwood powder applied to the skin makes it soft and glowing and helps to remove blemishes. This can be supplemented with a little oil or butter. I would also recommend a pinch of turmeric in their daily intake of milk, as the antiseptic and anti allergic properties held by the herb is an effective cure in skin problems. Recommended Dosage: 1 to 3 grams of the powder. Local application as advised.

 4. Sandalwood:

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

Sandalwood is believed to be a holder of anti-toxic and rejuvenating properties. It is a regular ingredient in many skin crèmes and beauty enhancing products. It proves highly meritorious in curing heat related skin problems like itching, blemishes, allergies and roughness of the skin. You could apply some sandalwood oil mixed into coconut oil or even sesame seed oil and massaged into the effected areas to find relief. Recommended Dosage: 3 to 6 grams of the powder. Local application as recommended.

5. Rose:

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

Rose is believed to be light, slimy and cold in action. It is also rich in vitamin C, naturally rejuvenating and virtuous for the skin. The Rose water can be applied externally to the skin for better results and to get a fairer complexion. You could also take two teaspoons of Rose syrup mixed in a glassful of water on an empty stomach once or twice a day. This is an effective cure for heat borne skin ailments like pimples, blemishes etc. Recommended Dosage: 20 to 40 ml of the syrup, 10 to 20 grams of rose- jelly (Gulkand). Local application also suggested.

6. Saffron:

Top 6 Herbs For Glowing & Beautiful Skin

This is another herb that proves to be a boon to your skin. Since olden times, saffron has been regarded as highly beneficial for the skin. Not only does it add glow to the skin and cure blemishes; it also acts as a blood purifier. The oil of saffron called ‘Kumkumaadi tail’ is to be applied to the face. As an easy remedy, make a paste by mixing saffron in water and apply it to the blemishes. Recommended Dosage: Half to one gram. Local application as suggested.

Simple Yoga Stretches For Relieving Chronic Sciatica Pain

Simple Yoga Stretches For Relieving Chronic Sciatica Pain

The Sciatic Nerve:

The sciatic nerve, the largest single nerve in the body, runs from the lower back, down the back of each leg and is composed of individual nerve roots that start by branching out from the spine in the lower back and combine to form the sciatic nerve.

Sciatica is not a Disease:

Sciatica (sigh-at-ih-kah) in itself is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying medical condition and is referred as one or more of the following symptoms:

• Constant pain in the lower back….one side of the buttock or leg (rarely in both legs)
• Pain that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• Difficulty in standing up or walking.

Most Common Causes of Sciatica:

• Lumbar herniated disc: Sometimes referred to as a slipped disc, ruptured disc, bulging disc, protruding disc, or a pinched nerve.
• Degenerative disc disease: Diagnosed when a weakened disc results in excessive micro-motion at that spinal level, and inflammatory proteins from inside the disc become exposed and irritate the area.
• Isthmic spondylolisthesis: Small stress fracture results in a vertebral body to slip forward on another.
• Lumbar spinal stenosis: Characterized by narrowing of the spinal canal.
• Piriformis syndrome: Caused by the piriformis muscle pinches a nerve root of the sciatic nerve.
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: Caused by irritation of the sacroiliac joint.
• Pregnancy: Weight gain, a shift on one’s center of gravity, and hormonal changes, can cause sciatica during pregnancy.
• Scar tissue: Occurs when a scar tissue compresses the nerve root.
• Muscle strain: Inflammation from a muscle strain can put pressure on a nerve root.
• Spinal tumor: Tumors in the lower back can pinch nerve root.

Possible Treatment Options:

Most doctors recommend bed rest. Other treatment options for sciatica include medications to relieve pain and inflammation (including oral and injectable cortisone) and relax muscles, massage and physical therapy. Lower back conditioning and stretching exercises help alleviate the symptoms of sciatica. Surgical procedures can sometimes be required for persisting sciatica that is caused by nerve compression at the lower spine.