Home remedies for sleeplessness

The day dawns beautifully for those who have had a night of good sleep. But the same day drags on for those who have spent a disturbing, sleepless night. Sleep is a biological necessity even as eating and drinking are.

Sufficient sleep renders a person normally sociable, lively and high-spirited. It’s a nature’s way of rejuvenating the person for the next day. Realize all this, and make sleep a physiological habit.

The consequences of long time sleep deprivation can be very grave. Lack of sleep takes its toll on the skin and hair. It causes acne-breakouts and makes one look aged and haggard beyond years. Experts opine that during sleep as our metabolic rate falls, blood goes to those areas which need the most repairing.

This also steps up the production of collagen and keratin, which aid the regeneration of skin cells and help resist premature ageing. So for a younger looking and a problem free skin you need to have a good quality of sleep every night.

Chilblains:a skin affliction that occurs in winter

Another affliction which can affect some people in winter is chilblains. According to Wikipedia, chilblains are painful, red, itchy swellings on the skin which are caused when the skin is exposed to extreme cold, dampness and humidity. They usually affect toes, fingers, face, nose, and earlobes. Chilblains shouldn’t be confused with frost-bite states the article at Mayoclinic. It mentions that in some cases this even results in blisters and open sores. It goes on to add that chilblains usually clear up within seven to 14 days and suggests that affected persons should avoid or limit their exposure to cold and extremities of temperature change.

Treatments suggested:

* Keep your hands and feet warm. Wear gloves and socks when venturing outdoors.

* Another suggestion is to warm-up with exercise before going out, so that there is proper blood circulation to the affected parts such as feet.

* Soak your feet (if they are affected) in warm, not very hot water for a few minutes. Wipe your feet and gently massage with olive oil.

* You can even try an Epsom salt foot bath.

* As some people get chilblains if they try to warm up their cold skin too quickly by sitting near the fireplace or by using hot water bags, it is better if to warm-up gradually.

* Apply soothing calamine lotions to relieve your itching. Consult a dermatologist if your condition worsens or if it occurs as a side-effect of some drugs.

Hair care in winter

Winter air wreaks havoc on the tresses, it dries them considerably. If your hair type is naturally dry, then the drying effects are much more profound. If you find your hair becoming extra dry during winter then cut down on frequent washing. Restrict it to once a week and avoid harsh shampoos. Oily hair types can rejoice a bit as they get some respite from that usual greasy, lank look, as the drying effects of the cold winter air makes their mane look less oily. But nonetheless, it is imperative that everyone should exercise some restraint and care and not allow the vagaries of the harsh winter air to take their toll on the mane.

Treating hair with an oil massage once or twice a week is something which one should never forget.Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap towel around your head. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap three or four times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. (Read Oil massage for the hair.) Pure or virgin coconut oil is the best massage oil for this season. The effects of herbal oils such as brahmi(Asiatic pennywort) oil, aloe oil or hibiscus oil are too cooling on the scalp during winters. These oils are more suitable for summer. So they are best avoided in this season, especially if one has sinus problems or asthma. Homemade hair packs and conditioners containing such cooling herbs like henna or brahmi are also to be avoided.

Some tips to protect your hair

* Do not let your hair hang loose and wild around your shoulders. Instead, cover your head with a suitable silk scarf (woolen scarves are not good for the hair) while going out to shield it from the harsh climate.

* Do not dry your hair using blow dryers as this can be very damaging. Also do not subject your hair to harsh treatments like perming, crimping, coloring or streaking just to look good. This strips your hair of natural oils and robs the moisture from them. The effects are even more devastating in winters. If you want to use homemade Henna hair dye in winter, then your own discretion; either use it only once in 45 days or avoid its usage totally during that period if you find that it aggravates your sinus problems.

Nourishing creams for winter

Normally all types of skins are prone to dryness during winters. Patches of red, scaling skin look ugly on the cheeks and lips. So, one should start tending to it as soon as winter sets in. Read Skin care in winter. A rich nourishing and emollient night cream on the face, arms and other vulnerable parts of the body will help to prevent and heal dry skin in winter. Here are some recipes to make such nourishing creams at home.

Rich lanolin nourishing cream

Ingredients:
Lanolin – 1 cup (10 tbsp)
Witch hazel – 2 tbsp
Almond oil – 2 tbsp

Method:
You have to melt lanolin using the double boiling method. Blend witch-hazel and almond oil and beat it so that they mix well. Combine this with lanolin. Store this in an airtight container.

Olive oil nourishing cream

Ingredients:
Olive oil – 3 tbsp
Coconut oil – 2 tbsp
Beeswax – ½ tbsp
Borax – ½ tsp
Water – 3 tbsp

Method:
Heat the oils slightly. Boil water until it is quite warm but not too hot. Add borax to it and and stir so that it dissolves completely. Slowly add this borax water to the oils and stir on low heat for a minute until the mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and store it in a bottle when it cools.

Vitaminized nourishing cream

Ingredients:
Beeswax – 1 tablespoon
Emulsifying wax – 1 tablespoon
Lanolin – 1 tablespoon
Vitamin E capsule – 3
Vitamin A capsule – 3
Almond oil – ½ tsp
Borax – ½ tsp
Tincture of benzoin – 1-2 drops

Method:
Melt the waxes and lanolin using the double boiling method. Simultaneously, dissolve borax in warm water. Add the water to the wax. Beat until it cools slightly. Prick the vitamin capsules and squeeze out the contents in the heated mixture. Add almond oil and a drop of tincture of benzoin to it and whisk until it thickens.

Use these nourishing creams for your night time skin care. Soak a cotton ball in warm water, squeeze out the excess water. Now apply a suitable cleanser and gently wipe it off with the cotton ball and then apply a rich night cream. When using these creams on your face, do not pull the skin roughly but use firm upward strokes on the cheeks and temples, and horizontal movements on your forehead. Rub the cream into the sides of your nose in a neat, pinching motion. Never use these “heavy creams” around your eyes or manipulate the delicate skin here, for this can cause wrinkles.

Some more recipes for night-time nourishing creams

See also: Homemade daytime nourishing creams

Another good reason for not skipping breakfast

Yes, you knew all along that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, too little of it or skipping it can prove to be detrimental to your health in the long run. Read Breakfast and your health.

But did you know that eating your breakfast everyday can keep tooth decay at bay.

Home remedies for cracked soles

Cracked heels and rough scaly skin on the feet are usually the result of years of negligence towards feet care. This condition is still more aggravated by exposure to chilly winter air. Cracked soles or feet are painful and many a times they bleed. Such feet feel like sandpaper against towels and bed sheets, indicating an immediate need for treatment. At weddings, functions and parties, one tends to notice that beautifully attired women in expensive sarees, displaying sizeable gold ornaments, and wearing costly footwear, have cracked feet that look dry, dirty and extremely ugly. Yes, there are many creams and lotions available in the market promising us soft, smooth feet in just two or three days. But for those who have used it, they know that the results are not as magical as it is hyped nor are the results everlasting. Prevention is surely better than cure. So if you take care of your feet religiously so that it becomes a part of your daily routine, you will have beautiful, problem-free feet for life.

A few tips in feet care may be useful:

• Clean your feet with warm water and soap every night before bed.
• Rub a thick lotion or moisturizing cream on them.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or cold wind by wearing day time socks.
• Avoid exposing the heels and toes to dirt and grime.
• Clip and file long nails.
• Try a good pedicure occasionally.
• Polish those nails and remove peeling polish promptly.
• Do not walk barefoot if you have developed cracked soles.

Home remedies for cracked heels

* Pour hot water into a big basin sufficient enough to immerse your feet. Dissolve one tablespoonful of baking soda (soda bicarb) in water and keep your feet immersed in it for about 10 minutes. Continue this treatment for 2-3 days. If necessary you may gently slough off using pumice stone; wash and dry. Read Pamper your feet. After that you can treat your feet with medications and creams.

* Prepare this medication for treating your cracked heels; it works as effectively as those expensive foot-care creams.

Ingredients:
Wax
Coconut oil
Ghee
Camphor (kapur) tablets

Method:
Take three parts of wax, one part of coconut oil, one part of ghee and 10-15 tablets of camphor. Heat the whole thing in a vessel using the double boiling method. Then allow it to cool. On cooling it becomes a soft mass. Preserve this ointment in a bottle. Clean the heels and soles well, or treat yourself with a warm foot bath as mentioned above. Apply this ointment before going to bed and cover the feet with clean cotton socks. Repeat this treatment for three days.

* You can also crush an onion; apply the pulp over the cracked area and bandage it.

* Or you may burn the outer skin of a ripe banana and fill the cracks with its ash.

* Another remedy is to boil a cup of milk and then add the juice of a lemon and a teaspoonful of glycerin to this boiled milk. After half an hour apply this mixture over the cracked heels and soles, preferably in the night. This not only soothes your cracked heels but also makes you feet smooth.

* For not so severe cracks, you may try massaging the soles of your feet with sesame (gingelly) (til) oil and then foment the feet by keeping them in warm water.

* If you can procure the juice of an unripe mango/mango leaves or gum collected from the bark of the tree, then this can also be applied on the cracks of the soles effectively.

Face packs for oily skin

Pamper your oily skin with an at home facial once in a week. Exfoliate your skin with these facial scrubs. Cleanse, tone and moisturize and treat yourself with some of these do-it-yourself face packs.

# Lemon (lime) juice and egg white face pack

Ingredients:

½ cup cooked oatmeal
1 egg white
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup mashed apple

Method:

Blend all these into a smooth paste. Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water.

# Cabbage mask

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded cabbage
1 tsp of brewer’s yeast
1 tsp honey

Method:

Make a fine paste of shredded cabbage in a blender, add brewer’s yeast and honey and mix well. Apply it on your face and neck and at the same time dip 2 cotton wads in rose water and place it over your eyes. Wash off after 15 minutes. This pack especially helps skin which is prone to blackheads.

For extremely oily skins, a multani mitti (fuller’s earth) or this sandalwood face pack work wonders. Here are some more recipes for face packs meant for a greasy skin. You might also try this fruit juices face pack on your oily skin.

See also: Face packs for different skin types

Herbal after shampoo hair rinses

You can make your own terrific hair rinses with some of the herbs and ingredients from your kitchen. All you have to do is make a basic infusion by boiling 4 tbsp of these herbs with 900 ml of water. After the water has boiled let it simmer for around 15 minutes. Remove from heat, keep it covered for around 3-4 hours. The herbs will settle down at the bottom. Strain and store it in a bottle. While washing your hair, after you are done with shampooing and rinsing, just put 2 tsp of any of these herbal rinses in a tumbler of water and pour this water on your head as the final rinse. All types of hair benefit with the usage of these hair rinses. But if you have oily hair which tends to become lifeless in a day or two of washing, then you should not forget to use any suitable after shampoo hair rinse. It will give your dull, limp hair shine, smoothness and luster and make them look bouncy.

# Mint after Shampoo Rinse

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of mint (pudina) leaves
900 ml boiling water

Method:

Follow the instructions on how to make a basic infusion or herbs. Use it as the last rinse after washing your hair.

# Parsley after shampoo rinses

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of parsley
900 ml of boiling water

Method:
Same as above.

# Celery after shampoo rinse

Ingredients:

Celery leaves
Lemon juice

Method:
Make a basic infusion of celery leaves. Whenever you have to use it, just mix it with a tsp of lemon juice and use it as the last rinse for your hair.

# Tea leaves after shampoo rinse

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of tea leaves (the ones which you use to prepare tea)
900 ml boiling water

Method:
Make an infusion of tea leaves, but let the simmering time be not more than 5 minutes. And as illustrated earlier, use it as he last rinse.

Here are some more after shampoo rinses which use chamomile and rosemary.

Facial scrubs for oily skin

One of the things recommended by cosmetologists to keep your skin looking young is periodic exfoliation. Using scrubs to mildly exfoliate the upper layer of the skin of dead cells works quite well to improve the texture of the skin. Dead skin buildup over a period of time often results in a patchy looking skin. Scrubbing will help to even out such skin discoloration, to some extent. Oily skin needs more scrubbing than other skin types. However, do not use harsh, abrasive ones and don’t scrub your skin too vigorously. Here are some excellent homemade facial scrub recipes for oily skins. A tired, sluggish face will brighten up instantly after using these.

Carrot scrub

Ingredients:

Grated carrot – 2 tsp
Lime juice – 1 tsp
Honey – ½ tsp
Brewer’s yeast – 1 tsp
Almond oil – ½ tsp

Method:

Mix all the ingredients well and apply all over your face, leaving the under eye area and the area around the mouth and massage gently with your fingers in circular motions. Leave on for 7-10 minutes and wash off with cold water. Do not use this if you have acne/pimples. If your skin is extremely oily, skip using almond oil in the recipe.

Green gram (Moong dal) scrub

Ingredients:

1 tablespoons green gram powder
1 tablespoons besan (chickpea flour)
1 teaspoon sandalwood powder

Method:

Combine all the ingredients. Mix it with a little milk cream (malai)/olive oil/almond oil and gently scrub over your facial skin avoiding the area under the eyes. Leave it on for 7 minutes and wash off.

See also:

Exfoliating masks
Fix your dull and tired skin with masks and complexion scrubs

Home remedies for painful menstruation

Some pain and discomfort during menstruation is quite common and natural. But excessive bleeding, unbearable painful cramps, intense pain in the abdomen, backaches, extreme mood swings etc. – all these don’t seem so normal. In medical parlance, this is called as dysmenorrhea. If you are in the throes of such extremely severe symptoms during those days of the month, and home self-care measures don’t work for you then you should seriously think of consulting a gynecologist.

When exercise can be harmful

Exercise is great. It’s good for your physical, mental as well as your emotional well-being. But exercising outdoors is not as healthy and as safe as it used to – especially in cities where pollution is rampant.

Recently it was mentioned in the Daily Mail that air pollution caused by diesel exhaust fumes could cause heart attacks and strokes. So experts have advised people with known heart conditions to exercise away from traffic, to be on the safer side.

People living in cities with high pollution levels should be extra cautious about exercising outdoors as the possible damage to health far outweighs the benefits from exercise. 

Air quality is something which everyone should be concerned about. Don’t assume that all this advice is meant for only sensitive persons and those with asthma, heart disease, dust-allergy and other lung problems. 

Breathing dirty air can affect anyone, says the American Lung Association (ALA). The American Council on Exercise (ACE), recommends avoiding Strenuous Outdoor Exercise in Unhealthy Air Quality.

It further elucidates, “During exercise, where mouth breathing plays an important role, the body’s normal air filtration process is much less efficient, and more pollutants reach the lungs. 

These pollutants may interfere with the body’s ability to carry oxygen, forcing the heart to pump harder, irritate the eyes, constrict air passages and lower the body’s resistance upper respiratory illness and colds.

Certain pollutants can damage the cells lining the air spaces in the lungs. Damaged cells are shed and replaced, but if this depletion occurs repeatedly, the lungs could become permanently damaged."

So, exercisers should pay heed to air quality reports and should refrain from exercising when pollution is at a “dismally high” level.”  

There is a standard system to determine the levels of pollution called as Air Quality Index (AQI) with a range from 0 to 500; 0-50, being the safest and 301-500, being the most hazardous level.

The guidelines outlined by ALA:

* Plan your activities and exercise sessions when the smog levels are low, that is when AQI is low and learn to protect yourself and your dear ones from the untoward effects of air pollution. Get to know about AQI levels from your local newspaper, TV news or the internet.

* Avoid roadways frequented by heavy traffic. Running on such roads is equivalent to inhaling carbon monoxide from a packet of cigarettes a day. And maintain a distance of at least 30 feet from moving cars and exhaust fumes they release.

* Stop exercising immediately if you detect any sign of chest constriction, coughing or wheezing.

Home remedies for crow's feet

One fine morning, when you casually glance at your face in the mirror, you happen to see tiny wrinkles and fine lines forming at the outer corner of your eyes called crow’s feet and this can disturb you tremendously. 

Ageing and excessive dryness around the eye area need not necessarily be the only factors responsible for the formation of these crow’s feet. When you are expressing yourself with the eyes by smiling, the corner of the eyes wrinkle up character lines and over time they are etched permanently. 

Also, if most of the time you are out in the bright sun without protecting your eyes with suitable eyegear, chances are that you will be squinting. This repeated action also eventually causes crow’s feet. And these lines become more prominent when you laugh or grimace. 

Eyes, being the most expressive parts of the face and ‘windows to the soul’ are the first to be noticed by people. And getting dark circles or having premature wrinkles and crow’s feet around the eye area robs your eyes of a youthful appearance which in turn can damage your self-esteem.

Remedies suggested:

* Always wear sunglasses to avoid squinting and grimacing in the hot sun, thereby helping to prevent wrinkle formation in the delicate eye-area, and don’t forget to apply your sunscreen to that area too.

* Consider applying olive oil, almond oil or petroleum jelly gently on crow’s feet. Do not rub or tug your under eye skin, though.

* Application of papaya juice around that area for around 10-15 minutes will hydrate it; the ‘papain’ in it will slough off the dead cells and helps to prevent the formation of under eye wrinkles.

* You may also use this homemade eye cream around your under eye area regularly.

* Once in a week you might also consider applying egg-white around the crow-feet area, using a clean cotton ball. See it to it that it does not get into your eyes. Let it dry. However, don’t keep it on for more than 10-15 minutes and slowly remove it with another cotton ball soaked in warm water. Then wash it off completely, but gently, from your face. It will temporarily tighten your under eye skin and flatten the appearance of wrinkles.

* If the crow’s feet and wrinkles are deeply etched, there’s little you can do with home-remedies. You might then consider seeking recourse to botox as the last resort, that is, if you can afford it.

Should you fast sometimes?

Do you have the habit of fasting occasionally, that is, once in a month, or so? Then there is good news for you. You might be doing it to give rest to your already overburdened digestive system or as a customary religious practice, but you will stand to gain by this. Results from a recent survey have shown that those who fast for full 24 hours in a month have a lower risk of heart diseases. This bit of news should goad at least a few Indians, if not all, to go on a fast once in a while. As studies have shown, Indians, have a genetic predisposition of heart attacks, this risk being further enhanced by today’s sedentary lifestyle and consumption of unhealthy, junk food. Alarming statistics have revealed that nowadays people as young as 30 are falling prey to heart diseases. Only fasting once in a month might not reduce your overall risk-factor. You have to correct your erratic lifestyle, eat healthy food and exercise regularly also. So make amends before it is too late.

Shubh Deepavali

Face packs for normal skin

Just because you are blessed with a normal skin doesn’t mean that you can take it for granted. Read all about normal skin care. Here are some more great do-it-yourself face packs, especially for your skin type:

Potato face pack

Ingredients:

Grated raw potato – 4 tsp
Multani mitti (fuller’s earth) – 2 tsp
Rosewater

Method:

Mix grated potato and multani mitti with enough rose water. Spread it on your face and lie down for 10-15 minutes. Then wash off with warm water followed by a splash of cold water.

Jasmine-yoghurt face pack

Ingredients:

Handful of Jasmine petals
Yoghurt – 4 tsp

Method:

Squeeze jasmine petals in yoghurt and apply the paste all over your face. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes and wash off with cold water.

Cucumber-milk face pack

Ingredients:

Cucumber juice – 4 tsp
Milk – 1 tsp
Egg white – ½ tsp
Besan (chickpea flour) – 1 tsp

Method:

Mix cucumber juice, milk with egg white and thicken it by adding besan to it. Spread this thick paste on your face. Leave on for 15 minutes. Then wash off with cold water.

The luxury called oil bath

Agreed that in the hurly-burly of life today, it is not convenient for us to have a proper bath and as a result our daily baths are usually hurried affairs. But you can reserve at least a few days in the year to pamper yourself zealously by spending quality time in bathing.

In most south Indian homes, a luxurious ‘oil bath’ is mandatory on Diwali day. However, we take this ritual of ‘oil bath’ very causally without realizing its significance on our health, well-being and beauty. Diwali eve coincides with the onset of winter and hence a thorough body massage with coconut oil followed by a long luxurious bath rejuvenates the skin and acts as a barrier against dry, moisture depleting winter air for several weeks.

In some communities, an oil bath for the bride on the eve of the wedding, is not only a part of bridal beauty-care but is ritualistic too. Then there is this ritualistic post-natal bath that a woman is given few days after childbirth for about 1½ months. Before this bath she is subjected to a meticulous body massage with special herbal oils by a trained maid. This hot oil bath helps to alleviate the muscle strain of labor and childbirth, is good for cellulite reduction and works wonders on stretch marks. It is also believed that oil massage helps the uterus to shrink to its original size and encourage the flow of breast milk.

While we are in our teens and the early twenties, sebum, which is secreted by the sebaceous oil glands, lies as a protective film over the skin helping to delay moisture loss. But as the skin ages, the activity of sebaceous glands decreases; they secrete less sebum and aren’t able to prevent the rapid moisture loss from the skin. That’s why as years pass by, the skin gets drier and flakier. Hence, oil bath is an excellent beauty and health routine for the aging body. Coconut oil is the best; it is natural, effective and inexpensive.

Even Sushruta, the ancient physician who lived in 6th century B.C, advocated the use of oil for a bath. His words:

“It is immediately absorbed, subtle, spreading, viscous and fluid. It is conducive to the nutrition of the skin and the softness of the muscles. It is beneficial to the eyes, promotes luster, strength and vitality.”

Modern beauty science also agrees with the fact that a combination of water and oil keeps the skin smooth, soft and health-looking. The application of oil, followed by a bath does have a beneficial effect as it nourishes and protects both the body and hair. A massage, following this oil application, improves circulation of blood, relieves muscle stiffness and tiredness, muscular spasms and tension and encourages sound sleep by relaxing the muscles.

For those who are too busy to enjoy an oil bath, putting a few drops of oil in a mug and splashing it all over the body, after the bath, and then patting dry with a towel, gives almost the same result, for it immediately spreads a thin layer of oil evenly on the whole body. Read Aromatic oils in the bath and also learn how to make a rich bath oil at home.

 

Beauty and health magazines create such hype over the benefits of ‘steam’ or ‘sauna’ baths offered at expensive spas but hardly stress upon the benefits of an ordinary oil-bath which can be had in the privacy and comforts of one’s home. Water and oils as tools for health and beauty were given great importance by our ancestors and it follows that we too should do the same. The secret behind the smooth dusky complexion and luxurious black tresses of the Keralites lies simply in their love for oils and baths.

Related Reading:

• Coconut oil for beauty
• Beauty uses of olive oil
• Safflower oil for smooth skin

Hibiscus hair oil

Are you losing sleep over hair problems like premature graying, excessive hair-loss and split ends? Raving and ranting over your misfortune or indulging in self-pity isn’t going to take you anywhere. As a matter of fact, constant worry, stress and its byproduct insomnia can worsen your problems. Instead, work towards finding a solution the herbal way. For centuries, several herbs, flowers and herbal oils have been used successfully to restore the grandeur of the crowning glory. Quite a few of these herbs and flowers are in fact, right in front of you and staring at you from your garden just waiting for your green signal to offer their invaluable service. Go and grab them.

Amla (gooseberry), for instance is proven to work wonders in preventing and treating premature graying of hair. Aloe-oil promotes hair growth and prevents split ends. The herb ‘Brahmi(Asiatic pennywort)’ has a cooling effect on the scalp and prevents hair-loss. If you are losing hair excessively, then this herbal remedy with brahmi is for you. Hibiscus (jaswand) flowers for long have been used in hair packs and hair-oils to condition the hair and resolve the problems of premature graying and hair-loss. And in spite of all the care and attention or as a part of the inevitable, natural ageing process, if you do see a few grey strands here and there, then you can use this Home-made henna (mehendi) hair dye to streak them to a beautiful auburn color. So now that you have realized the goodness of herbs, here’s the procedure to prepare hibiscus hair oil at home.

Hibiscus hair oil

This age-old ayurvedic herbal oil using hibiscus flowers works wonders on your hair. Before using it, slightly warm it and massage it gently onto your scalp with your fingers. First, read the correct procedure of oiling your hair and massaging it.

The recipe:

Ingredients:

600 gm coconut oil
200 gm fresh petals of red colored hibiscus
25 gms curry leaves
25 gms khaskhas (poppy seeds)
Milk
Buttermilk
Tender coconut water

Method:

Pour 600 g coconut oil in a mud pot. Take the hibiscus petals, add milk and grind it into a paste. Likewise, grind separately, curry leaves with a little buttermilk and poppy seeds with tender coconut water. Add all the three pastes into the pot and heat on a low flame till the mixture loses its moisture content. Strain the concentrated oil in a container.

Application:

Once in a week, apply this oil and wash off, using either shikakai or gramflour (besan) or some of these dry shampoos. Also if you find it difficult to grab a peaceful shuteye each night, you might consider applying it daily on your scalp and then shampoo off the next morning. It has a soothing effect on your scalp and will ensure that you get sound sleep. This oil is recommended for use only under normal conditions, that is, when you are healthy and not suffering from sinus problems, asthma, cold or fever. It is a highly effective herbal hair oil.

Sandalwood (Chandan) for beauty

Fragrant sandalwood (Chandan), is indeed a very valuable tree and is synonymous with our rich culture and tradition. It has been used both as a cosmetic and as a curative, down the ages. Women in ancient India have used it as a cosmetic to beautify their skins and to perfume themselves. Both sandalwood and its oil have been used in Ayurveda for many centuries. Unfortunately it often falls prey to the poacher’s axe who fells it down mercilessly for his own selfish and commercial interests. If this kind of indiscriminate poaching is not stopped then the day is not far off when this priceless tree will become extinct.

Home remedies for bad breath

You must have observed some persons who behave queerly while conversing with others.

They try to close their mouth with a hanky while talking, maintain a reasonable distance from the other person and are usually in a hurry to end the conversation.


This peculiarity is immediately obvious to you. Knowing them to be otherwise confident and self-assured, you are left wondering as to what they are trying to hide.

And then it dawns upon you that the reason for this abnormal behavior is bad breath.

But it is no laughing matter when you are the sufferer and face such an embarrassing situation of bad breath, also known in medical parlance as ‘halitosis’.