Beauty & Style

Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair Loss

There are certain problems that pester you so much that you finally tend to give up on them. Many skin and hair problems are such. For example, excessive hair fall is one issue that many have given up thinking about. This is basically because no chemicals or combinations of modern treatments have shown to actually work!

That is chiefly the reason why more and more people around the world are now turning to the ancient Indian ayurveda for various health issues. Especially for nagging problems, where conventional medicine with its chemical formulations, often does not give a comprehensive cure, the much safer option of ayurveda is proving to be the ray of hope for many.

For those struggling with the frustrating problem of hair fall, ayurveda has a wholesome approach to the issue.

Undertanding the ayurvedic approach

Ayurveda believes that the bodily constitution of an individual and the genetic traits affect the quality of hair and initiation of hair loss. The most common causes of hair fall, found among women, are nutritional deficiencies and hormonal problems. Sometimes, hair loss can also occur due to a chronic illness or taking strong medications, like steroids.

Ayurveda seeks to cure hair loss in a more holistic manner. The therapy is based on addressing the causes behind hair loss directly. So, metabolic disturbances among various biochemicals, including hormones, which lead to hair loss, are corrected.

Pitta body type and its dietary soothers

According to ayurvedic texts, individuals with the Pitta body type often experience more hair fall. According to this science, these people are of moderate body size, short-tempered, irritable and aggressive. Pitta elements in the circulation are aggravated by wrong dietary and lifestyle choices. Therefore, excessive consumption of hot, sour, salty and spicy foods, along with excessive intake of beverages like tea and coffee, fuel the Pitta. This in turn contributes towards hair loss, according to the principles of ayurveda. A Pitta constitution means a robust digestive system, often leading to overating. This can lead to indigestion and acidity, generating a lot of bodily heat, which needs to be controlled.

Consuming meat and alcohol can also induce hair loss among some people. The intake of greasy, oily and fried foods that are heat-generating, acidic and tend to aggravate the Pitta, should be avoided. Thus, ayurveda healers recommend including cooling foods like asparagus, mint (pudina), coriander (dhaniya) leaves, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, bitter gourd (karela), green leafy vegetables, pineapple, cherries, yogurt and warm milk. Ice cold drinks should be avoided for healthier and better digestion.

Cleaning, massaging of the scalp

Hair should not be cleaned with chemical formulations like commercially available shampoos. Ayurveda recommends using natural cleansers like Indian gooseberry (amla) and shikakai for washing hair. This should be supported with regular massaging of the scalp with natural oils like coconut oil and amla oil.  Read Also: http://www.texilaconnect.com/health-benefits-of-natural-wonders-amla/

Sometimes, ayurveda health practioners even recommend medicated oils to be mixed with your regular coconut oil. This includes oils like kunthala and neelibhringadi oil. These oils help to strengthen the roots of the hair, preventing further hair loss. Massaging with warm ayurvedic oils helps to boost the blood circulation to the scalp, which stimulates hair growth in dormant hair follicles.

Cleansing the body from within

Ayurveda practioners recommend that bowel movement should be regular to ensure that toxins are not retained within the body. These toxins are responsible for aggravating hair loss. Thus, bowel cleansers are commonly recommended. Among these, triphala is the most recommended of all ayurvedic herbs. In case you suffer from chronic constipation, it should be discussed in detail with the health professional.

Some easy solutions

Apart from those that experts suggest, there are some more easy and safe solutions that ayurveda recommends for those suffering from hair fall:

  • Apply a paste of coriander leaves to alleviate itchiness and dryness of the scalp.
  • Use a paste of fenugreek (methi) seeds and cooked, green gram on the scalp two times a week.
  • Soak methi seeds in coconut oil, and keep in a glass container, in sunlight. Allow the concoction to gain potency over a period of five days. Then apply it directly to the scalp.
  • For stimulating hair growth, drink a combination of spinach, carrot and lettuce juice.
  • Exercise regularly for balancing the bodily constitution.

Source: yahoo life style

Reverse signs of ageing with healthy lifestyle

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Wrinkles, hyper pigmentation and greying hair add decades to your chronological age. Though many cosmetic companies assure you of reversing the signs of early ageing, are they enough to compensate for the wear-and-tear of the cells caused by years of living a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to ultraviolet rays and pollutants?

What is premature ageing?
Ageing is a natural phenomenon occurring due to the interplay between genetic, metabolic and environmental factors. The rate of ageing is an actively regulated metabolic process and so is not fixed. Premature ageing refers to the unnatural acceleration of the natural process of ageing. Possession of certain unfavorable genetic variants and/or an unhealthy lifestyle can become the cause of premature ageing, reflecting the importance of your well being both from the inside and the outside.

What are the factors that speed up the process?
Skin health correlates with the genetic makeup and metabolic condition, and is influenced by environmental and lifestyle-related factors like nutrition, exercise, personal habits and stress. Our body cells are exposed to the damage provoked by external and internal stressors including heat, radiation, pollution, genetic variations, excess glucose, oxygen free radicals, and collagen breakdown among others. The rate at which we age is determined by the ability of our body cells to cope with this damage.

What are the lifestyle changes that can help delay the ageing process?
A healthy lifestyle can postpone the visible signs of skin ageing and favorably influence the longevity of the skin. So focus on a balanced diet, drink lots of natural fluids and make sure that your day doesn’t end without an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables. A simple pranayama or yoga for a few minutes can relax your mind, while easy floor exercises and brisk walking can contribute to your fitness level. Indeed, the inside of the body must always be made to work in tandem with the outside of the body.

How does one understand that the body is ageing faster compared to the chronological age?
Skin changes are amongst the most visible signs of ageing. Skin ageing is evidenced by wrinkles, age spots, dryness and sagging. Ageing skin appears thinner, less plump, more pale, and translucent; and it repairs itself more slowly than younger skin. Overt signs of premature ageing as noticed by one’s self, or by comments on our appearance from others, tell a lot about our ageing tendency. But a genetic assessment on age-regulating genes can provide strong insights on ageing rate.

What is the role of gender in the ageing process? Do women age faster than men?
Dermis (the skin layer lodging skin-firmness protein, collagen) in men is much thicker than in women, hence men have a higher collagen density. As collagen relates to skin ageing signs, assumedly a woman’s skin appears about 15 years older than a man of the same age. Men seldom use sunscreens; hence UV damage negates the benefits of slowed intrinsic ageing in men, shadowing the noticeable difference.

How can understanding genetics help age better?
You are unique, so is your skin. Though the human genome sequence is 99.6% identical in all people, a small genetic change, or variation, that occurs within a person`s DNA sequence can have an impact on his/her health. Genetic assessment will give you a clear picture of your genetic information in relation to your health condition and ageing pattern. The skin might exhibit similar signs of ageing from the outside, but from the inside its genetic and metabolic regulations stand unique. Managing genetic risks for premature ageing by appropriate lifestyle changes can help us age better.

Source: Zee news

Want gorgeous glow on skin? Eat and apply the right vitamins

Are you eating all the right veggies and fruits but your face still lacks the luminescent glow? Believe it or not the skin care regime is missing some essential vitamins.

The aging signs can be reversed by the help of nutrients. Even if a balanced diet holds the key to a gorgeous skin , according to Mary Lupo, MD, clinical professor of dermatology, “the body delivers only a certain percentage of vitamins to your skin, no matter how much you ingest.” The diet does keep the skin superfine but it may not do the needful for the blemishes, under eye skin and facial marks. This means that we have to topically apply the vitamins in the skin to make it glow and look better.

Vitamin A- the age fighter

This is an important part of the night creams and OTC lotions. They contribute greatly to the removal of blemishes like brown spots and reduction of the wrinkles; they also help in smoothening the rough skin. They help in reducing age lines and thus make the person look younger. Make sure that you apply the cream at night as the sunlight works negatively on the vitamin and neutralize its action. The creams with retinoids may cause irritation and redness so apply in very little quantities, every alternate day in the beginning.

Vitamin B3 to reduce redness

The skin is protected by an outer barrier made up of fatty acids and ceramides. This helps the skin retain moisture and ward off substances that cause skin irritations. So if the skin is sensitive and prone to dryness then use Vitamin B3 creams for reducing skin redness and keeping the skin hydrated. It also helps in minimizing the dark spots if used in morning and night. Mixing a retinoid cream with niacinamide or Vitamin B3 provides great anti aging benefits.

Vitamin C- the all around vitamin that keeps age at bay

Skin care benefit is maximum from the creams that show a concentration of more than 5% of vitamin C and are stored in air tight containers. Vitamin C helps ward off the sagging skin by making it firm and also helps in treating brown spots. Discolorations and fine lines lighten up tremendously with the regular use of Vitamin C.

Moisturize the skin with Vitamin E

Generally all after sun products and the sunscreens contain this Vitamin and help the skin retain the hydration and also quell dryness. It helps neutralize the harmful and damaging free radicals keeping it less dry and inflamed. It’s best used before heading out to the sun and also after sun exposure. Vitamin E in the skin is destroyed by UV light or sun exposure so just pick the right cream and slather it on generously.

Vitamin K for brighter eyes

Brighten the under eye skin with creams containing Vitamin K. The capillaries below the eyes are very fragile and the blood in them sometimes leaks into the skin causing the dark eyes. The Vitamin helps in lighten the under eye skin by lightening the melanin. Generally the Vitamin K is complemented by the retinol, says Dr. Baumann, “the retinol may enhance K’s ability to penetrate skin and knock out darkness.”

Source: the med guru

4 Easy Ways to Keep Yourself Feeling Young

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Excellent health over 50 can be yours if you know how to take good care of yourself. If you’ve recently passed your 50th birthday, then it’s easy to think that your health will now take a downhill turn. However, there are some things that you can do to keep yourself feeling young and healthy.

1. Keep Yourself Active

Just because you are getting older doesn’t mean that you can start easing into a sedentary lifestyle. Even though aging is accompanied by certain health conditions like joint pain, muscle aches and such, these symptoms can usually be relieved with the right amount of exercise. If you’ve never been physically active before, now is the time to get moving. To avoid overwhelming your body, start with moderate exercises. Yoga, walking, swimming and ballroom dancing are all ideal exercises for women over 50. Not only are they easy enough to perform, but they can also be enjoyable.

It’s also important to incorporate exercise into your everyday routine. For instance, instead of hiring someone to do mow your lawn, maintain your garden or paint your house; do these chores yourself. Not only will these activities keep you moving, but they will also give you a sense of accomplishment.

2. Keep Your Weight in Check

One of the downsides of aging is that your metabolism also slows down. This means that it becomes much easier for you to gain weight. You might have gotten away with eating a lot in your 20’s and 30’s without gaining a pound, but now that you’re in your 50’s, you might find yourself gaining weight with just a handful of peanuts. A lot of women also tend to gain weight around their middle section when they reach their elder years.

You can keep yourself fit by lowering your daily caloric intake to the amount of calories that you can burn. Your doctor and some online tools can help you determine your caloric requirement, but you can easily find this out by simply listening to your body. For instance, if you seem to be gaining weight even though you are eating a normal amount of food, then it’s possible that you now require less food to function. Cut back on meal portions and see if it helps.

3. Cherish Your Social Relationships

Your friendships and social bonds also play an important role in your health. In fact, having support from loved ones can boost your immune system, increase heart protection, speed up surgery recovery and improve your longevity. There could be many explanations behind this link between social support and health. One of these explanations is that social support helps you battle stress. Friends listen to your problems and lend you support throughout the trying times in your life. This can greatly reduce your stress. As you probably know, stress is a common factor that contributes to many chronic illnesses.

4. Improve Your Diet

You can also keep yourself feeling young with the foods you eat. Foods that are rich in antioxidants can be greatly beneficial for you at this point. Antioxidants help by battling free radicals which cause aging symptoms and diseases. Include an array of colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet to ensure you’re consuming an abundance of antioxidants.

Source: Fit day

6 home remedies to lighten stretch marks

If you’ve noticed unusual whitish and unsightly marks on the abdomen, upper arms, breasts, buttocks or legs, you probably have developed what is commonly referred to as stretch marks. These marks are most often a result of a sudden change – either an increase or a decrease – in body weight. Therefore, they are usually observed after pregnancy, or in teenagers who undergo the spurt in growth because of the hormonal changes associated with adolescence. These stretch marks are difficult to totally obliterate; however, there are some home remedies for lightening them so that they don’t appear as prominent.

Lemon juice to the rescue
With its acidic nature and natural bleaching properties, lemon juice is one of the most effective remedies to lighten stretch marks. Simply cut a lemon, squeeze out the fresh juice and rub it gently onto the affected skin. Keep for about 10 minutes and then rinse off with a little warm water. Repeat a few times each day to see better results.

Massage the area with vegetable oil
Traditionally, in many parts of India, during the first few months following childbirth, the mother is given an oil bath – that is, coconut oil or castor oil is massaged onto the entire body as well as the scalp and this is followed by a bath with hot water. Quite a few modern-day beauty treatment centers make use of the wisdom of this ancient custom. Vegetable oils such as coconut oil, castor oil and even olive oil have the property of moisturising skin and smoothing out the wrinkles. Both these actions ensure that these oils are equally good for getting rid of stretch marks. Warm a little olive oil and massage it deep into the affected skin before going to bed. Rinse the next morning with a little warm water and a mild soap if necessary. Or, you could try a mix of olive oil and coconut oil, too. When it comes to castor oil, the best way is to rub slightly warmed castor oil directly onto the affected skin and then wrap a cloth dipped in hot (but not uncomfortably so) water around the area. Or, you could wrap a plastic sheet over the skin where you have rubbed in the oil and use a hot water bag over this area – the warmth allows the pores in the skin to open up and absorb the oil better.

Egg whites can also lighten stretch marks
The white of the egg is rich in protein and this is useful in dealing with stretch marks. Collect the whites from two eggs, whip gently and apply as a thick layer onto the marks. Once the egg pack has totally dried, rinse it out with water and then moisturise the area by applying some olive oil.

Use a good moisturiser
Regular use of a moisturiser helps the skin stay hydrated and this can improve the elasticity of the skin, reducing the severity of stretch marks. Use one of the commercially available moisturisers with cocoa butter or aloe vera or make your own at home by mixing equal quantities of aloe vera and olive oil.

Rub vitamin E oil
Vitamin E has antioxidant properties; so it prevents the damage of collagen that can lead to skin damage. If you have longstanding stretch marks, try massaging some vitamin E oil into the affected skin on a regular basis and you are likely to find some improvement.

Use aloe vera gel
Stretch marks are an indication that the skin has lost its natural elasticity. Aloe vera, with its ability to heal the small tears in the skin layers is therefore the perfect solution to help regain the lost elasticity. Cut a leaf from the aloe plant, peel out the outermost skin and squeeze out the gel; massage it daily over the affected skin and you will find the stretch marks gradually fade. You could also combine aloe vera gel with vitamin E oil and use.

Source; Health

10 Homemade Hair Treatments for Dry, Dull or Frizzy Hair

Need to moisturize?

1. Avocado

Avocado has a well-deserved reputation for one of nature’s perfect foods. Its oils and proteins will smooth and moisturize your locks without weighing down fine hair. Mash up half an avocado and add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil. Shampoo hair, squeeze out water and apply mask. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse. My hair came out super soft – not flat or greasy. And the added scent made sitting around with green goop on your head much more pleasant. If you’re not worried about weighing down your hair you can amp up the moisture by adding 1-2 tablespoons of oil, egg yolk or yogurt.

2. Coconut Oil

The wonders of coconut oil never cease! This oil is heavy, which is great for penetrating deep into the hair shaft, but use it sparingly, especially if you have fine or thin hair. Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply to the ends of damp hair. If the oil is solid just warm in the microwave until liquid before applying. Got really dry hair? Keep the oil on overnight and shampoo out in the morning.

3. Banana + Olive Oil

Not only can bananas work their magic on your feet, but they are awesome for your hair! Mix a banana with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and mash thoroughly until the banana is pureed. (You want a smoothie like texture so you don’t end up with banana chunks in your hair.) Then massage into your hair and scalp. Leave treatment on for 30 minutes then rinse thoroughly and shampoo.

4. Pumpkin + Honey

The perfect use for canned pumpkin leftovers (because there are always leftovers). Pumpkins have lots of amazing benefits – they’re rich in vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, potassium, and zinc. Add 1-2 tablespoons of honey, a natural humectant, to one cup of pumpkin puree and pack as much as you can onto your hair and scalp. You’ll need to either wrap your hair in saran wrap or wear a shower cap to keep the mask in place. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes and then rinse. Feel free to apply to your face as well!

Need a color boost?

5. Cocoa powder

Give brown hair a boost with cocoa powder. According to Whole Living, a combination of cocoa powder, plain yogurt, honey and apple cider vinegar will give you a deeper, richer brown. I couldn’t test this one personally but if you can make bronzer lotion with cocoa powder why not try it in your hair?

6. Lemon + Chamomile

To warm up ashy blonde hair, try lemon and chamomile tea. Both have long been used as whitening agents for blonde hair. You can do a simple rinse by tilting your head back over the sink and pouring a cup of cooled tea combined with the juice of a lemon over clean, wet hair. Let sit for a couple of minutes and rinse. I also tried this brightening mask that combines tea and lemon with a grated potato. Yes, potato! Shampoo, apply to hair and blow dry hair on low for 2-3 minutes. Then rinse and style. This ended up being more work than I’d want to do on a regular basis but I loved how bright and shiny my hair ended up

7. Purple Koolaid

Got some brassiness in your blonde locks? Do a rinse with grape-flavored Kool-Aid to get rid of the dreaded orange. Dude, this totally works. I have never had a problem with my hair turning purple (I have heavy blonde highlights not all over color) but if you do see a hint of color, just shampoo again.

Dull, frizzy hair?

8. Sugar water

If your hair is frizzy, try mixing a packet of sugar (about a teaspoon or so) with a cup of water. Pour a bit into your palms then run hands over dry hair. Your hair will get a slight bit of “crunch” and hold because you basically just made homemade hair spray!

9. Aspirin

Residue and product buildup will also dull your hair. The cure is as simple as crushing an aspirin into shampoo! Just add the aspirin powder to a small amount of shampoo and lather up. The salicylic acid in aspirin helps remove buildup and restore shine. You can do this every two weeks. Another remedy: baking soda. Combine a handful of shampoo with one to two tablespoons of baking soda and massage into hair. Warning: I have used baking soda to intentionally strip out hair color (because the color was too dark) so don’t use baking soda on recently colored hair.

10. Apple cider vinegar

An apple cider vinegar rinse helps clarify and smooth hair cuticles – the secret to shiny hair! Combine a tablespoon of vinegar with a 1/2 cup of water and pour over damp hair. Add a couple of drops of essential oil is the smell is too much. Comb through hair, let it sit for five minutes and then rinse. The acidity in the vinegar helps seal the outermost layer of your hair, the cuticles, making it lie flat.

Source: Stumble Upon

 

Teeth whitening with baking soda

Baking soda has been touted by many as a safe and effective way to brush your teeth. The reality is that chronic baking soda use can cause some alarming problems to develop in your mouth. Knowing more about how to use baking soda correctly is an important part of long-term oral health.

Baking soda is a weak base or alkaline powder that is used in a variety of cleaning applications. When it comes in contact with water, baking soda releases free radicals that attack teeth stains and help remove discoloration caused from a variety of food sources and tobacco.

Benefits of Brushing Teeth with Baking Soda

In addition to a brighter smile, brushing with baking soda helps dislodge plaque built up on the teeth. Many foods and beverages such as tea, coffee, soda and red wine all cause staining of the teeth. In addition, plaque accumulates and causes additional yellowish discoloration. Baking soda is effective for both concerns and has a bleach-like action resulting in effective whitening of teeth. Plaque contributes to dental decay and cavity formation and must be removed on a regular basis. Baking soda is inexpensive and perhaps the most affordable combination of tooth cleaner and whitener. A single box generally lasts for over 100 brushings and costs around one dollar.

Options for Brushing Teeth with Baking Soda

1. Baking Soda and Water

Simply wet your toothbrush and dip into the baking soda powder. Make sure that the entire brush and all bristles are coated and appear white.
Brush in a normal manner and be sure to angle the brush accordingly to get at the gum line and between teeth.
Work from quadrant to quadrant in the mouth with a total bruising time of at least two minutes.
Rinse your mouth thoroughly afterwards.
It is not uncommon to experience a slight tingling sensation but stop if you experience an uncomfortable burning sensation.

2. Baking Soda and Vinegar

Dissolve the baking soda in water and add a few drops of white vinegar and a dash of salt.
Dip your toothbrush in the solution.
Brush as normal for two minutes.
Some recommend brushing with regular toothpaste after to remove any vinegar taste.

3. Baking Soda and Strawberry

Strawberries have powerful anti-oxidant properties and work well to whiten teeth.

Mash up one whole ripe strawberry into a pulp and then add enough baking soda to make a paste.
Now coat your toothbrush with the paste and enjoy the whitening effects as well as removing a lot of plaque in the process.
Rinse well after brushing for two minutes.

4. Baking Soda and Toothpaste

Mixing baking soda and toothpaste together imparts a nice flavor to the mixture.

Mix a small amount of baking soda with your favorite toothpaste to make a nice paste.
Apply to your toothbrush (an alternative is to simply sprinkle baking soda on top of the toothpaste on your brush).
Either way, two minutes of brushing is enough to freshen your breath, remove plaque and whiten your smile.

5. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide has well-known whitening and bleaching effects.

Dip the toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide
Then dip in baking soda to enhance the whitening effect.
Rinse your mouth well after brushing for two minutes

6. Baking Soda and Salt

Add 1 teaspoon of table salt to 3 teaspoons of baking soda. The abrasive effect of salt will enhance the plaque removal and whitening process.
Use this mixture on your toothbrush or try a small amount on a soft cloth to remove tougher stains.
Rinse per usual after done brushing.

7. Baking Soda, Peppermint Extract and Glycerin

Mixing peppermint extract, glycerin and baking soda creates fresh tasting toothpaste.

Mix 3 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin with a few drops of peppermint oil.
Add in 1/2 teaspoon of salt along with 5 teaspoons of baking soda. Stir the ingredients completely, apply and brush for two minutes, then rinse your mouth.

8. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice

Lemon has excellent teeth bleaching abilities and making a paste is an effective home remedy to whiten teeth.

Mix lemon juice with baking soda and apply to the teeth.
Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes and then rinse with cool water.
Try this at most once a week as excessive use can harm the enamel and inflame your gums.

Precautions for Brushing Teeth with Baking Soda

Although reported to be safe, effective and inexpensive, baking soda use for brushing your teeth is not without risks.

  • The abrasive properties of baking soda can cause excessive wear and damage to the enamel of your teeth. This results in sensitivity and increased risk for developing cavities.
  • Baking soda helps remove plaque, but doesn’t kill any bacteria and that can actually increase cavity formation in your teeth. This is why brushing with regular toothpaste remains important as well.
  • Baking soda can weaken the adhesive for those wearing braces or permanent dental appliances. This can result in darker spots appearing on the teeth.
  • Occasional use of baking soda is generally safe, but another option is to try a variety of toothpaste brands with mild abrasives instead.
  • Never scrub vigorously and if you choose to use baking soda use it no more than a few times a week or less. When using baking soda to brush, 2 minutes is long enough and can prevent excessive wear on the enamel and gums.

source: New Health guide

4 beauty benefits of baking soda

Did you know that baking soda, a commonly used kitchen ingredient can also double-up as a beauty ingredient? It can come in handy as a deodorant, detox bath and more. Here’s how to use it effectively.

Baking Soda as deodarant

Run out of body spray? Quickly go to your kitchen and get some baking soda. It will help eliminate underarm wetness. Rub your armpits with a combination of one-eighth of a teaspoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of water and you are good to go.

Baking soda detox bath
You don’t always need scented candles and bath salts for a relaxing bath. Add a cup of baking soda and one-fourth cup of baby oil to your bath and relax. It has anti-fungal properties which will keep infections at bay and its cleansing action will help further. The addition of baby oil will leave your skin feeling soft.

Cuticle care with baking soda

Hand and nail care often gets neglected but they do most of our everyday tasks. Scrubbing dry, cracked cuticles with a paste made out of equal amounts of baking soda and warm water will help exfoliate dead skin cells and soften your hands.

Baking soda as an acne solution

Acne appears when the sebaceous glands work overtime and the pores get clogged leading to the formation of pimples. An inexpensive way to make the acne disappear faster is by mixing baking soda with a little bit of water and applying it on the acne until the pimple dries.

Source: Health

Get rid of dark circles with these yoga asanas

Even with good skin and great make-up, a woman can look tired and fatigued due to dark circles. Thought to be caused due to stress, lack of sleep and in some cases due to constant ill health, dark circles are also known to form due to lack of oxygen and blood flow to the face. That is why Ayurveda and yoga practitioners believe that by increasing the blood flow to one’s face it can help resolve the problem. So instead of trying various chemical and cosmetic methods to get rid of them, here is an all natural way to zap those dark circles away.

Hastapadotasana: Also known as the standing forward bend pose, this asana is the first one you should perform in this series. Hastapadotasna stretches out the muscles of almost all parts of the body, invigorates the nervous system, resolves digestive disorders and helps increase the blood flow to your face. It is also know to help tone the muscles of the abdomen and relieve any stomach disorders.

Steps to do this pose: Stand straight with your legs shoulder width apart. Now, stretch both your hands forward and upwards, making sure you feel a stretch up your spine. Now start bending slowly until your palms are touching the floor and your head touches your knees. For most people touching their hands to the floor might be difficult, so don’t fret, keep trying till you start feeling comfortable. Once in this position, breathe normally and hold the asana for as long as you are comfortable.

Tip: Avoid doing this pose if you suffer from spondylitis, high blood pressure or heart disease.

After you have performed hastapadotasana, you can perform the other asanas in this series. Do not do the other poses before you do this asana.

Viparitakarani: Also known as the legs-up-the-wall pose, is great when it comes to beating dark circles. It not only increases the blood flow to your head and face but is also beneficial in stretching out the back, relieving lower back pain and calming the mind. One of this aasana’s greatest benefits is that it helps relieve cramps in the back and leg and calms the mind. According to Ayurveda lack of sleep and stress are the number one cause for dark circles and this asana targets exactly those areas.

Steps to do the asana: Lie down flat on the floor, near a wall. Now, raise your legs such that they are rested comfortably along the wall and the base of your back is touching the wall. Stretch your arms out on either side of your body and relax. You may choose to raise your chin towards the ceiling, but do not stress your neck while doing this pose. Close your eyes and breathe in deep allowing yourself to relax. Hold this pose for as long as you are comfortable.

Tip: Avoid doing this pose if you are menstruating, have serious eye disorders like glaucoma or suffer from high blood pressure.

Sambhavi mudra: Is a form of yoga practice that helps awaken the ajna chakra. Although it is called a mudra, this is a form of meditation that is meant to awaken the most important chakra in our body. Apart from that this mudra helps calm the mind, stretch the muscles around the eyes and relaxes those present between the eyebrows.

Steps to do this pose: Sit comfortably in a calm corner of your house and place your palms on your thighs. Make sure your palms are facing upwards so that there is an equal distribution of energy. Now turn both your eyeballs so that you are literally trying to look at the centre of your eyebrows. Breathe normally and hold this pose for five to six counts. To intensify the mudra you can choose to hum ‘Om’. This is not religious in any way but is based on scientific evidence that the word ‘Om’, when chanted produces a type of vibration throughout the body, that is very beneficial to massage the nervous system and activate the chakras. To stop doing the mudra, close your eyes and slowly bring your eyes back to their normal position. Keep your eyes closed for a short while and then slowly open them.

Surya Namaskar: Surya Namaskar has a deep effect in detoxifying the organs through copious oxygenation and has a deeper relaxing effect. It is a series of 12 physical postures. These alternating backward and forward bending postures flex and stretch the spinal column giving a profound stretch to the whole body. You can find out how to do the asanas correctly in our post about surya namaskar.

Source: health

8 Ways Aloe Can Be Used For Everday Health And Beauty

The Aloe plant is part of the genus, succulent plants, which comprises of over 500 different types of species. It has been cultivated for many years because of its pharmaceutical uses. Dating back 5,000 years to ancient Egypt, aloe was known as a powerful herbal medicine. The plant produces gel and latex, which are both used for medicinal purposes. The gel is the clear gooey substance that is found when you break the plant, and the (yellow) latex comes from right under its skin. Many beauty experts and other health care professionals list aloe as an important plant curing many skin ailments. Here are a few of its suggested uses:

Burns
Applying aloe cream to the skin might help to heal certain burns. A 2009 study found that 30 patients with second-degree burns, who applied aloe cream, healed in areas with minor wounds in less than 16 days.

High cholesterol and Hyperlipidemia
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), preliminary evidence suggests that taking 10 to 20 milliliters of aloe orally daily for 12 weeks can reduce total cholesterol by about 15 percent, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by about 18 percent, and triglycerides by about 25 to 30 percent in people with hyperlipidemia.

Cold Sores
Research suggest that aloe gel speeds up canker sores and helps to alleviate some of the pain

Acne
Some research has shown that aloe helps to heal present acne and acne scars because of its antimicrobial properties. It’s also moisturizing without being greasy.

Dry Hair
The inside of the plant makes a great hair conditioner because of the its hydrating properties. Use the plant’s “juice” and gel in your hair, then rinse and apply your normal conditioner.

Diabetes
The NIH says that, while it’s inconclusive aloe may reduce blood sugar in people with diabetes. “Two studies indicate that taking aloe gel by mouth can reduce blood sugar in women with type 2 diabetes. But another study did not show the same benefit.”

Sunburns
Due to the cooling effect aloe has on the skin, it’s often an over-the-counter recommendation by physicians and pharmacists for minor sunburns.

Weight Loss
Aloe Vera juice made its way last year as a health drink. According to the Daily Mail, aloe contains a number vitamins “including A, C, E, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, B6, and it is one of the few plants that contains vitamin B12, which helps with brain and nervous system function.” As a super food it helps with digestion and clears your skin from the inside.

Source: Medical daily