MIGRAINE

This type of headche which is characterised by recuring paroxysmalattacks. It occurs in bouts. Often the pain gets pain only in one side ofthe head. Between the attacks, the patient feels perfectly well andleads a normal life.In ayurveda, this condition is known as anantavarta. There is anothersimilar condition which is known as suryavarta. In this latercondition, the headache increases as the sun moves up in the sky, and thepatient feels normal as the sun goes down.Excessive worry and anxiety is considered to be the primary cause ofthis type of headache. Exposing the head to the heat of the sun or thecold wind or snow for a long time is one of the precipitating factors.Many patients suffering from migraine also suffer from sinusitis.
At the times the headache becomes so intense that the patient gets
vomiting. During the period between two attacks, the patient, no doubt,
feels normal; but a trace of heaviness of the head and congestion in the
nose remains.

Treatment:
if the patient is having nauseating sensation, it will be
better to allow the patient to vomit out. Often indigestion precipitates
the attacks of this disease. Vomiting relieves ingestion and thus, the
patient is relieved of his headache. Even if there is no nausea, the
patient should be made to drink 5-6 tumberfuls of water and vomit it out.
Ina tumbler of water about half a teaspoon of salt should be added. It
works better if lukewarm water is used for this purpose. After drinking
water as much as possible, the throat of the patient should be tingled
with the help of his own finger to induce vomiting and relive the
patient of his headache.

Such patient are usually constipated . they should be given triphala
powder, one teaspoonful at bedtime with a cup of hot milk regularly.
A medicine which is very effective in this type of headache is
anutaila. This is medicated oil prepared by boiling 26 medicinal plants in
gingelly oil and goat milk. About 10 to 20 drops of this medicated oil is
to be dropped into each nostril and deeply inhaled. It has no poisonous
effect. Deep inhalation of the nose can cause sneezing. This oil, if
properly inhaled, removes the blockage of the passage of the sinus to the
nose. The patient feels light in his head and heaviness as well as
mental strain is relieved. He gets good sleep and the nerves in the nasal
passage are soothed. This inhalation therapy should be used 2-3 times a
day. When the attack of the migraine is acute, use of this inhalation
therapy gives instant relief to the patient.

Another medicated oil commonly used for the treatment of the migraine
is known as shadbindu taila. The dose of this oil is 6 drops only, and
it is to be used as described before. This is prepared in mustard oil
which is a little irritant to the mucous membrane of the nose, but it
gives instant relief.

Suvarna sutashekhara is the drug of choice for the treatment of this
condition. It contains mercury, gold, copper, sulphur and borax in bhasma
form. Some poisonous drugs namely vatsanabha and dhatura are also used
in this drug. But they are processed before they are added  to the
medicine and this processing makes them free from any adverse affect on the
body. Ten more medicinal plants or drugs of animal origin are added to
it and triturated with the juice of bhringraja. This is given to the
patient on empty stomach in a dose of 125 mg. twice daily with milk. It
works both as a preventive, as well as curative for this condition.
Godanti bhasma, which is very cheap. Is also used for the treatment  of
this condition. This is given to the patient ina dose of one gm. Three
times a day, mixed with honey.

Diet:
fried things and spicy food articles are harmful to the patient.
Curd and other sour things are also to be avoided. Cow’s milk and cow’s
ghee are very useful for the patient suffering from migraine.

Other regimens:
 the patient should take care to keep himself free from
indigestion, constipation, mental worries and anxieties and he should
not expose himself to excessive heat, excessive cold and rain. He should
go to bed early and avoid spending sleepless nights.

Anxiety Tips

Here are a few things we could all do to cut down on the stresses in our lives and be calmer.

Exercise:

walk 10000 steps a day. Building up slowly if you are new to this
exercise thingy.

Breathing:

You could look at the breathing exercises used by the Swami Ramdev method.

Write

Try writing down whatever is stressing you. Sometimes, if we fail to express
ourselves stress can build up inside us.

Meditate

Learn to meditate and determine to stick to it for a couple of weeks.

No Caffeine

Cut down on caffeine until you don't drink any at all. Try some herbal teas instead.

Pledge

Pledge to tell someone politely but firmly that you don't want to do something, and refuse to feel guilty for it.

Eating Habits

Eat more fruit and vegetables, less processed food, less sugar, and investigate sources of omega 3s for your diet.

A more extended list of tips

Here some helpful hints in dealing with the symptoms of anxiety/panic. Sometimes the simplest little diversions/gimmicks can help a great deal.

Talk, Talk, Talk:

a good deal of the time, anxiety is caused by unexpressed emotions of one sort or another. Expressing how you feel, especially to a "safe" person, is usually extremely helpful and therapeutic.

Hit a pillow with a baseball bat!

Physically releasing strong emotions in a safe way can also be a very helpful tool.

Wear a rubber band:

Snapping a thick rubber band on your wrist can be very distracting if you're feeling extremely anxious. Sometimes, just a change of focus can bring us back into "reality".

Yell STOP!:

Actually calling out the word STOP can alert you to end current negative thoughts, especially if you do it consistently whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively.

Talk into a tape recorder:

When you find yourself very anxious you can say everything you're thinking into a cassette recorder. Later, you can play it back and dispute everything you hear!

Go slow and plan ahead:

A lot of anxiety can be avoided before it gets to peak levels if you plan ahead for an occasion. Pace yourself and move slowly.

Familiarize yourself:

If you're going out to an event, it helps to "check the place out" before the actual day/time you have to go. By doing this, the physical place seems less like an "unknown" on the actual day and will often decrease anticipatory anxiety.

Keep a Journal:

Journal writing is a very effective tool for getting thoughts and feelings out on a regular basis. I've kept one for years and can see my progress regularly. I can also remind myself of tools I've used in the past to get through certain situations. It may be helpful to keep separate journals, i.e., an anger journal, a gratitude journal, etc. A gratitude journal is especially beneficial to keep on a daily basis. It reminds us of all the good things we have in our lives. :)

Exercise:

Exercise is a very good way of working off any kind of stress or anxiety.

Proper Diet:

Caffeine and sugar are known to add to anxiety symptoms. It's best to avoid them altogether or keep their intake to a minimum.

Distraction:

It's always helpful to distract yourself in anyway you can when anxiety is high. Often, I ask my friends (if someone is with me) to tell me a funny or even off-color joke or an outrageous story (even if it's made up!) just to try to get my mind focused on something else.

Throw Eggs!:

Throwing safe things, like eggs is often a good release for stress! If you're upset with a particular person, paint their picture on an egg. That's especially therapeutic! The eggs are biodegradable and can even fertilize your garden :)

Meditate:

Using a relaxation tape (especially a progressive one that instructs you to relax muscles in order) can be very useful in anxiety prevention. If you're going to a scheduled event, try doing a relaxation exercise an hour or more before the event. The more relaxed you start out, the more relaxed you're likely to be as the evening progresses.

Listen to Music:

Some people have trouble listening to relaxation tapes. Other methods of relaxation are also useful, such as: listening to soft music, taking a hot bubble bath, sitting in the warm sun, or just lighting some fragrant incense.

Keep A Map Handy:

If you're trying to practice driving skills, or just going out and have difficulty driving, it's helpful to carry a map. A map makes you feel less self-conscious in case you have to pull over to calm down. You can just look at it and not worry about what people think while you're sitting there. "What people think" is one of the root causes behind a lot of our anxieties.
advertisement

Use "ABCD" cards:

A nifty little technique I learned in my travels through the wonderful world of counseling was to use "ABCD" cards. Basically "ABCD" cards are just index cards. You write out a particular scenario that's playing around in your head using the A-B-C-D? method. It is just easier to write one thought on each index card and keep reviewing them. For each thought you :

A: define the "activating" anxiety-producing event.
B: describe your "belief" about it.
C: describe what you believe to be the "consequence" of it.
D: "dispute" it.

Here are a couple of examples of how this works. It may seem a bit tricky at first, but they DO help enormously in turning around negative thinking!
(activating event)=At a bank teller's window I have to wait while she checks something.
(belief)=I'm afraid I'll pass out or get so anxious I'll go crazy.
(consequence of that belief)=They'll haul me away and lock me up (concern about what people think??).
(dispute)=I won't faint or go crazy...there is no evidence that that has ever happened to me. Once I leave my anxiety will come down--it always does.

Here's another example:
=Driving to an unfamiliar place.
=I'll get lost and have a panic attack and I won't know anyone.
=I'll be left to die. People won't help me because they'll think I'm going crazy.
=I could panic, but even if I do it'll pass and I'll be able to drive home. One doesn't die or go crazy from anxiety.

or
=Going to the doctor for a checkup.
=The doctor will find a lump in my breast or some other serious thing.
=I could have cancer or have to have an operation and go through all that that entails, including the possibility of dying!
=The last time I went to the doctor for a checkup, he didn't find anything bad so I shouldn't expect the worst!

Try them, they really work!

---

---

Diversion Tactics

Here are a few examples of diversion tactics to use whilst having an attack. Practice them, they really work!

1. Splash face with cold water- this produces the dive reflex and causes your brain to send messages to your body to slow down.
2. Distraction- Count down from 100 as fast as you can, repeat over and over. Do maths problems or anything else that occupies your mind.
3. Listen to your favourite music loudly and sing along to it.
4. Say to yourself ?? this has never hurt me, it has never hurt anyone else and it never will. I know what it is and it means nothing'- disempower the attack.
5. Tell yourself that what you are feeling are sensations; nothing more and that sensations never hurt anyone.
6. Watch a funny video on TV, laugh out loud.
7. Don't look at yourself in the mirror.
8. Keep some apples in the fridge. Eat one, then another if you wish.
9. Gently slap your cheeks and dance around- confuse your thoughts to distract them.
10. In the night, get out of bed, turn on the TV, get a drink, eat an apple and keep moving.
11. Talk to someone or phone someone- don't discuss your anxiety.
12. Do something physical if you can.
13. Do not sit down! Keep moving.

Do any amount of these diversion tactics SIMULTANEOUSLY if possible.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood is pumped by the heart to all parts of the body through the
arteries, its branches and numerous capillaries. When the heart contract,
blood is forced into the arteries and thus, exerts a positive pressure on
the walls of channels. When the heart dilates, the pressure in the
arteries is reduced and a negative pressure is created. The walls of
arteries are elastic to accommodate both negative and positive pressures.

Treatment:
Sarpagandha is commonly used in the treatment of high blood pressure by
Ayurvedic physicians. The drug is also used very widely in the
allopathic system of medicine. The powder of the drug is given to an adult
patient in a dose of half teaspoonful three times a day.

Diet:
The patient should not be given hot and spicy food and should avoid
salt as far as possible. Hydrogenated oils should be strictly avoided. The
patient should take such vegetables as could help him in keeping his
bowels clear. Bitter gourd, drumsticks, patola and bimbi are the most
useful vegetables.
The patient should avoid colocasia and yellow variety pumpkin. He can
take all types of dry fruits. Fruits and boiled vegetables are better
than cereals and pulses for these patients.

Other regimens :
The patient should not be permitted to remain awake for a long time at
night, and he should be given as much rest as possible. Mental strain
in any form should be avoided. He can undertake physical exercise to
some extent, but heavy physical exercise specially lifting of heavy
weights, etc., should be avoided. He should be regular in his habits of
taking food and evacuating bowels. He should devote some time for prayer
which gives mental peace and tranquility.

PILES

At times the veins in the anal region , both external and internal, get
varicosed and this gives rise to the piles. In Ayurveda this is called
arshas. Chronic constipation, sitting on hard seat , sitting constantly
for long time , lack of exercise and morbidity of the liver are
responsible for piles.

Treatment:
Nagkesara is the drug of the choice for this condition ,
specially when associated with bleeding. The powder of this flower is
given to the patient suffering from both dry and bleeding piles, haritaki
is exceedingly useful. It is given t the patient in powder for in a dose
of one teaspoonful two to three times a day followed by milk.
Abhayarishta in which haritaki is added predominately is useful for
this condition. It is given to the patient in a dose of 30ml. twice daily
after food with an equal amount of water. Kasisadi taila, of which
kasisa or iron sulphate is the important ingredient, is used externally. It
shrinks the piles and cures itching in the anal region. It relives pain
and checks bleeding.

Diet:
barley, wheat, old rice, papaya, amalaki, patola, and goat’s milk
are very useful in this condition. The rhizome of surana is also
exceedingly useful. vegetable like potato, yellow variety of pumpkin and
coloasia are not advised.

Other regimens:
the patient should not suppress natural urges and
should not indulge in sex in excess. Riding on the back of animals, and
sitting on hard seats are very harmful for the patient.

Nephritis

Ordinarily this means inflammation of the kidney. It is of several
types and in different stages of the disease it produces different types of
symptoms. In Ayurveda it is called vrikka shotha.
Depending upon the variety of the nephritis, the signs and symptoms
considerably vary. Usually there is oedema in the face, which is more
prominent in the morning and slowly subsides as the day passes on. The
urine may contain albumen or even blood. The blood pressure may increase
and the patient may suffer from biliouness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
pain, headache and diarrhoea. He usually passes less quantity of urine
and if not attended to in time, this may lead to many serious
complications.

Treatment: punarnava mandoora is the drug of choice for the treatment

of this condition. It is available in a powder form and given to the
patient in a dose of 1 gm. three times per day mixed with honey

PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT

The prostate gland is a part of the male genital apparatus, located
near and surrounding the outlet of urinary bladder. Its main function is
to secrete a liquid which forms a part of seminal fluid. A condition in
which this gland slowly gets enlarged over a period of years, is known
as the benign enlargement of the prostate. In this condition, usually
the entire gland is enlarged. If there is infection or cancer, then even
a portion of the gland may get enlarged.
Since it is part of the genital apparatus, this gland normally gets
enlarged in almost al males in the age between 40 to 45; but most men go
about with this slightly enlarged prostate, without experiencing
difficulty. It is a manifestation of normal process of ageing.
When the gland is abnormally enlarged, it interferes with normal
urination. The enlarged gland compresses the outlet of the bladder and this
may result in a sudden inability to urinate .the common symptoms of the
enlargement of prostate are increase in frequency of urination during
daytime and the patient has to pass urine many times at night. He
develops a sense of hesitation in starting the flow of urine and the stream
of urine gets diminished in size and force. There is a burning sensation
during urination. At times there is complete suppression of urination
with blood coming out with the urine.

Treatment: shilajit is considered to be the best medicine for the
treatment of benign enlargement of prostate gland.
It is use in a dose of ½ teaspoonful at bed time with milk. It
generates heat inside the body. Therefore, it is well tolerated during winter
season and in cold countries where it can be administered even two or
three times a day. But, in hot countries, and in summer season it has to
be used only in a small dose. However, taking this medicine with milk
reduces its effect on the body considerably and it increase its
rejuvenating effect

MEMORY BOOSTING TIP

Memory consist of remembering what has previously been learned for
example, when some one remembers a person’s name, for example ,he
demonstrates both that he learned the name at some previous time and he had
retained it during the intervening time when he might never have once
thought of it. Retention is inactive, remembering is active and both are
included under the general head of memory.
Ayurveda considers both body and mind to be closely inter linked.
According to Ayurveda, no phenomenon is exclusively physical or mental.
The body or the mind might predominate in one case and might work as
secondary factor in another case. Thus, for good memory as also for the
treatment of loss of memory, both psychic and physical factors are held
to be effective.
Treatment: when the power of learning and remembering is impaired, to
correct it, a drug called Brahmi is popularly used; the juice of this
plant is used as medicine. About 30ml. of the juice is given to the
patient twice daily on an empty stomach the fat soluble fraction of this
drug is useful as a promoter of memory

GLORIOUS TEA

Next to water, tea is the largest consumed liquid diet by mankind. Tea
is an ancient beverage originated from China. Legend has it that in
2737 BC while Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was relaxing under a tree taking a
cup of boiled water, a leaf from the tree accidentally dropped into the
water. As the Emperor was also an herbalist, he watched the reaction on
the leaf curiously. In a few minutes he tasted the resultant liquid and
found it to be very exhilarating. This episode gave birth to the
beverage Tea.

Over the periods tea was consumed sans milk. The credit of adding milk
to tea, known as ‘French Touch’, that improved its flavor and taste
goes to Marquis de la Sabilare, a French woman.
Anyhow it was Anna, Duchess of Bedford who invented the afternoon
teatime that hastened its astounding popularity.
Tea belongs to the family Camellia Sinesis and is available in 2000
varieties throughout the world. Among the four most popular categories
are, Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong Tea and White Tea. The variations used
during the processing of the leaves give different flavors to this
beverage. Leaves of the super grade tree are plucked from the top two
branches of the plant and it will be highly aromatic. While preparing tea it
should never be reheated as the ‘essential oils’ that are responsible
for aroma will evaporate soon. A steaming cup of tea rejuvenates 6ne's
spirits and elevates the mood. Former British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill once observed, “Tea is more important than bullets”. Hosting tea
is a ceremonial, event in Japan and a reflection of its culture.

Tea has a highly potential medicinal value. As early as the 17th
century Louis XIV of France consumed twelve cups of tea everyday to keep away
his gout. Green Tea is a panacea for many ailments. This concept is
fast catching up throughout the world as researchers confirm its medicinal
value.
Tea contains potassium, niacin, folic acid, manganese, vitamin B1 and
B2. Green Tea is so rich in Vitamin C that of this precious nutrient
exceeds that contained in a cup of orange juice. It aids in lessening
obesity as it breaks down fats in the blood stream.
It also facilitates digestion, fights food poisoning, strengthens bones
and tooth enamel.
Researchers have established that green tea contains a powerful
anti-oxidant ‘epigallocatechin-3-gallate’ or ECGC that has the ability to
neutralize free radicals preventing cancer. This is 100 times more
effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E at protecting cells
from damage related to cancer and other serious ailments. Studies in
Harvard University also indicated that consumers of green tea are 50 per
cent lesser exposed to heart attacks than others as it lowers
cholesterol.

So here's to a happy tea time.

Kapalabhati

Kapalabhati

Kapalabhati is a breathing technique used specifically for cleansing. It removes mucus from the air passages, relieves tension and clears blockages in the chest. This is achieved via deliberately breathing faster, and at the same time using only abdominal breathing, not chest breathing. The breath is short, rapid, and strong using the lungs as a pump, and creating so much pressure to clear air passages, from the lungs up through the nostrils. Kapala means "skull," and bhati means "that which brings lightness." Kapalabhati is a good thing to do when feeling heavy or dizzy in the head. For problems with the sinuses or numb feeling around the eyes, kapalabhati can also be helpful.

The kapalabhati and bhastrika breathing techniques share the same general principle, namely that we clear the nasal passages with the force of the breath. we must be very careful with these techniques because there is a danger of creating tension in the breath. We may also become dizzy when we breathe rapidly; for this reason we always conclude the practice of kapalabhati with some slow breaths. It is important not to breathe rapidly too many times, but after a few rapid breaths take several slow ones in which we emphasize the long exhalation.

Tips To Be Healthy In Winter

Is the winter cough and cold troubling you?

With pleasant temperatures comes a slight deflation of your usual healthy
self. Breathing problems, flu, joint pains and other ailments. However, if
you have a healthy immune system, none of these would bother you. So here is
our Winter Top 10 to keep you in the pink of health!

DRINK YOUR LEMONS
Lemon is the ideal food for restoring acid-alkali balance. Drinking freshly
squeezed lemon juice in water, or adding it to tea, salad dressings (in
place of vinegar), baking or cooking, helps maintain the body's internal
"climate" at a pH which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and
harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments .Apple cider
vinegar is another great way to improve your body's alkalinity, but the
taste of lemons is much more pleasant!

GIVE YOUR BODY AN HERBAL BOOST
Hundreds of herbal supplements and tinctures exist to give the immune system
additional support during the winter. Essential oils are an excellent source
of immune-stimulating compound, and the rawest and most natural form of any
medicinal plant, but there are other supplements which can be effective.
Fresh herbs and whole food remedies are always preferable over packaged
herbs or supplements, since they have a much higher potency and frequency
and your body absorbs more of their value.

GET A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP
Everybody's different: your body may need anywhere from 6 to 10 hours of
sleep each night.Whatever your personal sleep requirement is, get it! Sleep
has been linked to balanced hormone levels (including human growth hormone
and the stress hormone, cortisol), keeping weight down, clear thinking and
reasoning, improved mood, and vibrant, healthy skin.

EAT PLENTY OF PROTEIN
Protein is a building block for a healthy body, mind, and immune system.
Diets low in protein tend to be high in carbs which convert readily to
glucose, spiking blood sugar and stressing the pancreas and the immune
system.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
This is almost, but not quite, a given; most headaches occur because despite
the number of reminders, people still aren't getting enough water! Headaches
and thirst are both signs of dehydration. You should be drinking, in daily
ounces, half your body weight in pounds. (i.e. Body weight in pounds,
divided by 2 = number of ounces of water per day.)

STOP DRINKING COFFEE
Contrary to recent marketing as a source of antioxidants, chocolate and
coffee are two of the worst things you can do for your immune system and
your health. Caffeine robs your body of minerals and vitamins, and it
dehydrates you. If you drink coffee, make sure you add an additional two
glasses to your water intake per cup of coffee. A mineral supplement helps
to offset caffeine's damage, too.

WORSE YET IS THE IMPACT OF REFINED WHITE SUGAR
If you do only one thing to boost your immune system, eliminating sugar will
do the trick. You will see noticeable results in your energy levels, weight
distribution, immunity and your ability to think clearly when you break the
cravings and stop eating refined sugar. Many holistic nutritionists consider
sugar a drug for its impact on the human body. Healthier sugars such as
agave and stevia do exist, but I avoid artificial sweeteners; they are more
toxic than cane sugar.

STOCK UP ON RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR THEIR ANTIOXIDANTS, VITAMINS,
MINERALS, FIBRE AND ENZYMES
The nutritional content that you receive from raw fruits and veggies is
unparalleled. Many vitamins, including C, are antioxidants and will protect
cells - including those of your immune system - from damage by toxins in the
environment. Dark-coloured produce (berries, kale, broccoli) tends to be
higher in flavonoids, polyphenols and other antioxidants.

The perfect source
of minerals is seaweed, which is sold dried, but can often be found raw
(dried at low temperatures to maintain most of the enzymes and nutrients) in
health food stores.

SPEND SOME TIME OUT IN THE COLD
Snowball fight, anyone? Exercise can make a noticeable difference to your
health and happiness by releasing endorphins. Most of us spend 90% of our
lives indoors, inhaling dubiously filtered air and other people's germs, so
take any opportunity to get outside. Time spent outdoors in the cold also
stimulates the thyroid gland.

NURTURE YOURSELF
Make sure you take time to yourself, spend some time with friends, and
indulge yourself in a massage , a hot bath, or an energy work session when
you want one. Our bodies respond to our emotions - if you're feeling
harassed and anxious, it can manifest in a sore throat or a cold. Create a
space within yourself and your living environment for harmony, self-love and
joy (giving thanks, prayer and blessing the abundance in your life and of
the world around you helps). Pay attention to warning signs of sore throat
or exhaustion so you can keep them from getting worse.

Great Weight-Loss Foods

	Citrus fruits like, oranges and limes contain high concentrations of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). This Vitamin C has a fat burning quality. Vitamin C reduces the effectiveness of fat. It reduces its content and can liquefy or dilute fat. By diluting the fat, it makes it less effective, and easier to flush out of your system. Vitamin C also works on cholesterol deposits. By adding Citrus Fruits to your daily diet, you will greatly increase your metabolism, increase your ability to get rid of fat, and also control your cholesterol levels
	Add applesauce (it's loaded with pectin), apples, fresh fruit and berries, to your diet and let the power of pectin pulverize the fat that accumulates on your cells. An apple a day can help keep the fat away
	Cucumbers are usually used in many salads, besides tasting great their high water content adds to your bulk hence making you feel full. They can be consumed before every meal which will greatly help you from over-eating!
	Berries contain a chemical call pectin. Pectin limits the amount of fat your cells can absorb. This will put a natural limitation on the amount of fat your cells can absorb. Pectin, once in your system, has a water binding property, it absorbs watery substances, and these watery substances in turn bombards the cells and makes it release fat deposits
	Garlic oil or the juice of garlic has a significant protective quality to cells which help to reduce fatty deposits. When taken, it brings down the levels of fat. Garlic, garlic oil, or anything with garlic, also has an antibiotic property to it and can be used to cure many ailments!
	Breakfast cereals are typically heavily processed foods, and most of their original micronutrients, like vitamins or minerals, are removed during the food-processing. However, most breakfast cereals are fortified with added vitamins and minerals, making them a convenient source of most B-vitamins, vitamin D and several minerals including iron. Wholegrain breakfast cereals (eg. granola, muesli, oats) are typically rich in natural B-vitamins, soluble fiber (which helps to lower cholesterol) and have a lower GI-value than regular refined cereals

COUGH AND IT’S NATURAL APPROACH

Cough is a normal problem that we face in our day to day life. Actually cough is not a disease which should be afraid of. It is one of the body’s defense mechanism to get rid of foreign bodies which reaches the lungs and interferes with respiration and body functions. To expel this foreign bodies the body produces bouts of cough and thus the body is free from it.

In today’s world we take lots of medicine to control or inactivate cough. This is mainly done by inactivating or controlling the cough centers in the brain which means we are controlling body’s defense mechanism and as a result other secondary disease are affected. Ayurveda and other alternate systems of medicine has always made it clear that it is not the disease to be treated but it is the patient who should be treated. The drugs and methods of treatment in these systems are non invasive and is readily accepted by the body. It is wise to allow the body to treat the cough by helping the rest of the body get well. Healthy bodies do not cough. Whether it is a cold, flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia, strengthening one's immune system can only help.

Some simple Ayurvedic/Natural treatment for cough

1. Heat milk by dissolving turmeric in it, add pinch of salt and

jaggery and feed it to child to cure cold, cough and simmering sound.

You may also add 1/2 tsp ghee if jaggery is not available.

2. Apply castor oil on betel leaf, heat it slightly, keep it on

child's chest and with the help of warm cloth slightly foment it so

that the cough gets diluted.

3. Feed him a mixture of Tulsi (Osimum sanctum) leaves juice in honey for 2-3

times and by applying heated basil leaves juice on the chest, nose and

Forehead, relief may be obtained.

4. Other natural remedy is to mix honey in lemon juice and give as cough

Syrup

5. Another remedy which not only cures cough but also treats some of

The "modern" problems (arising from growth hormone imbalances) of

Children are to make them drink Honey, lemon and onion in warm water.

Despite the worst taste it works really well.

6. Take as much Vitamin C through fruits/drinks needed to be symptom free,

Whatever the amount might be." That is usually just under the amount

that would result in loose bowels. In India, Lemon, Goose berry are

available in all cities these days. For children like this, just 1

Goose berry juice with 1 tsp honey, only once a day is just like antibiotic

injection taking care for 24 hours.