A dozen tips to look fresh, beautiful and healthy

According to ayurveda healthy skin is the result of overall health condition of individuals.
Ayurveda philosophy is based on the fact that “if you cannot eat it, do not put it on your skin. What is put on the skin should be filled with nourishment, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals safe enough to be taken internally." Ayurveda says that skin eats whatever you feed it and feed yourself. Therefore, if you are concerned about your skin’s health and wellbeing, it is important to know the ingredients of what you apply externally.

Skin consumes food and other external applications like creams, lotion, etc. These external applications are believed to be absorbed directly into our body and they either contribute towards tissue building or become toxins. Hence you have to be careful in using cleansing products and other skincare applications. These products should not strip away skin’s natural oil and water, dry the kin and alter its pH balance.

Ayurveda mentions many simple natural ways to maintain a healthy and glowing skin.
Cleanse, nourish and moisturize your skin regularly. Proper cleaning involves getting rid of the dead cells and toxins, removal of make – up dirt, grime, clogged pores and elimination of harmful bacteria. Use natural products to clean and exfoliate the skin. Herbs and natural oils gently clear the dirt and other toxins keeping intact the moisture of the skin.

Avoid excessive exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals and pollutants. Do not use heavy night creams as they clog pores. Do not use very hot or very cold water for washing. Do not wear make-up to sleep.

Wash your skin daily. Pamper your skin regularly with a natural home spa treatment including a generous massage, application of mask, and an oil or milk bath. Regular caring of your skin will help you look fresh, beautiful and healthy.

• Cleanse your face with your usual cleansing milk or with a good soap (high TFM) and warm water.
• Massage your face either with milk cream or cucumber slices or tomato pulp. Always massage from chin to temples, from forehead to temples, under the eyes from inside corners outwards.
• Steam your face for two to three minutes to open the pores.
• Make your own scrub by mixing oats with milk to a paste-like consistency and rub over the face for 5-10 minutes. Those with oily skin can substitute water to milk. To make the scrub more intensive to get rid of black heads and pigmentation, add a teaspoon of sugar granules to the scrub paste.
• Apply a face pack. You can make a face pack by mixing a tablespoon of gram flour with a teaspoon of honey, fresh ground turmeric and milk (for dry skin).For oily skin, instead of milk, use rose water. Leave the pack to dry and then rinse.

• Apply freshly pureed tomato on your arms and legs for 10 minutes to decrease your tan.
• Massage your hands and feet with olive oil, rubbing into nails and cuticles to decrease brittleness.
• Use few drops of chrysanthemum oil or lemon grass oil in your bath water. These aromatherapy oils are excellent stress busters.
• Add ½ cup baking soda, 1 cup milk, ½ cup Epsom salt and peppermint oil to lukewarm bath. It feels great and leaves you feeling squeaky clean and very relaxed and soothed. Try this bath once a week and you would love it.
• Mix equal quantities of cucumber juice, rose water and lime juice. Wash your face and apply it overnight. Rinse off in the morning. This will clear the complexion and keeps the skin healthy.
• Take raw (not boiled) milk and mix a pinch of salt and little lime juice in it. Use it as a cleansing lotion.
• Mix equal quantities of lime juice, glycerin and rose water. This lotion if applied regularly at bed-time, removes pimples, blackheads and keeps the skin soft. It can be applied to other parts of the body.

How do you cure a sore throat?

A sore throat is usually attendant upon a cold and cough either as a result of tonsils being swollen or an infection and irritation in the throat which can also lead to ear-ache.

When people are exposed to dusty environment and /or partake of very cold drinks in combination with junk food, they experience itching and discomfort in their throats. Many people are also vulnerable to tonsillitis and they suffer from inflamed tonsils and irritating cough every few days. It is best to protect the throat against these infections and irritants.

In this article I have mentioned some ways to prevent throat problems and build immunity to throat problems and some home remedies to cure it.

One source of infection is by toothbrush. It can be a potential source of problem for the throat and mouth. Every morning, before brushing the teeth, soak the brush in a glass of hot water to which a teaspoonful of common salt has been added. This helps to disinfect the toothbrush and also helps keep it clean.

Cloves are a natural antiseptic and very useful in treating throat and mouth infections.They can also act as a preventive measure and protect the throat. Chew one clove every morning (after removing the 'flower') to find daily protection for the throat against harmful germs.

Or can chew five to six holy basil leaves, every morning. In the Ayurveda system of medicine, Holy Basil is well renowned for the protection it offers to the throat . If you do not have access to these leaves every morning, try cultivating a small plant at home.

Another simple way is to squeeze a little fresh ginger juice (3-4 ml) in the morning. Mix it with 5 ml of honey and take it after brushing the teeth. Ginger and honey will help protect the throat during the day.

Another herb that helps to protect the throat is Turmeric. Turmeric has anti allergy properties and will help in protecting against allergic conditions of the throat. To use it effectively, take half a cup of hot water or milk, add a pinch of salt and 5 grams of Turmeric powder to it. Drink this mixture every night during the 'allergic' season to protect your throat.

Incorporate the habit of gargling with a glass of lukewarm water to which a pinch of salt has been added every night before bed, after brushing your teeth. This good habit will help disinfect the throat and mouth and is very beneficial for long term protection of the throat.

Many people have trouble with their throats and bronchial tubes during the dusty weather and in work environments that include a lot of dust and outdoor sales work. These kind of individuals can benefit immensely by chewing a small lump of jaggery, during the day. The Jaggery helps cleanse the throat and bronchial tubes off dust and other irritants providing, a moisturizing and cleaning effect. it goes without saying that diabetics, cannot use this remedy as Jaggery is primarily unprocessed sugar.

• Lemon and honey taken hot at night will do much to cure a sore Colds, Sneezing and influenza throat.
• Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide gargle.
• Use a small amount of cayenne pepper with 3% hydrogen peroxide in a gargle. Sea salt is also fine to add.
• Drinking homemade lemonade with a pinch of baking soda periodically is a fast, safe, and effective way.
• Gargle with warm salt water 6 to 8 times a day.

For more remedies, click here: How do you cure a sore throat?

Were these tips and remedies helpful to you?

Medicinal Teas

Since ancient times, people have used various kinds of teas for rejuvenation. They had been using natural products to correct the imbalances in their bodies. Here are some herbal teas that serve as tonics.

v Tea prepared from sage leaves with a teaspoon honey reduces stress.
v Drinking Ginger tea relieves cold, cough and flu. Is effective for nausea and digestive problems.
v Peppermint tea is effective against irritable bowel syndrome and fights food toxins.
v Thyme tea is an effective immunity booster and is considered effective against viral, fungal and bacterial infections.
v Herbal tea prepared using ginger, clove, cardamom, cinnamon and honey is considered to relieve accumulation of mucus during respiratory infections.
v Herbal tea prepared from green tea leaves with licorice, pepper, cinnamon, tulsi leaves and dry ginger is also considered effective against respiratory infections.
v Mint tea is an effective remedy against bad breadth.
v Tulsi tea is good immunity booster. It is good for cleansing of blood and relieves stress.
v Tea prepared from asafetida, dry ginger and omam with milk added into it relieves headache.
v Iced tea acts as the best cooler during summer.
v Masala tea is a good drink during winter and rainy seasons.

N.B.:- Medicinal teas should never be reheated.

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Healthy Body

A healthy body has the ability to harness energy from the environment and ward off physical and physiological problems. Using natural products can help in building a strong immune system. Healthy daily and seasonal routine and diet helps the body in keeping in harmony with nature and keep imbalances at bay.

Healthy daily and seasonal routine and diet is not a new concept. It has been practiced since generations by Asians. I have included few home remedies practiced by Indians since a long time.

v A teaspoon of honey with a dash of lemon in lukewarm water can bring relief to sore throat.
v For cold & cough, honey with mashed ginger and pepper powder can help.
v Drinking warm milk before bed with a teaspoon of turmeric powder relieves cough and cold.
v Consuming water boiled with coriander seeds is considered good for stomach.
v Drinking water boiled with cumin seeds is good for diarhoea and cold.
v Consuming 1/2 ounce holy basil (tulsi) juice twice a day helps relieve from cold.
v Grape/orange juice in water water is considered favourable liquid food during fever.
v Drinking Ginger tea relieves cold and cough.
v Placing crushed cabbage leaves tied on a cloth on the forehead is said to relieve migraine.
v Consuming mango shake thrice a day for a limited period will help in gaining weight.
v Onion juice with honey is considered good for flu.
v Decoction of fresh holy basil leaves is considered to be best home remedy for flu.
v Consuming cooked leaves of fenugreek and spinach, beetroot juice is also good for anemia.
v Usage of honey is good for anemia as well as general immunity.
v Tea prepared from sage leaves with a teaspoon honey reduces stress.
v Sipping fresh lime squeezed in warm water with honey and common salt relieves tonsillitis.
v Decoction of cardamom, dry ginger and garlic is considered to bring relief from indigestion, stomach pain caused due to indigestion, and vomiting.
v Drinking milk with mashed garlic will keep worms at bay.
v Flossing with fresh lime juice in plain water relieves mouth ulcers.
v Gargling and massaging the gums with sesame oil is considered beneficial for the teeth, gums, skin and hair.
v Taking fenugreek seeds soaked in water first in the morning relieves diabetes.
v Drinking water boiled with fenugreek seeds helps in colic and dysentery.
v Drinking water boiled with fresh holy basil leaves with honey and ginger juice added into it helps in cough, cold, fever, chest congestion and improves digestion.

Post your feedback after trying these health tips/remedies.