Five simple and effective home remedies for acne scars - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

If any of you have happened to be unfortunate enough to have suffered from acne, either now in the present, or in the past, you'll know just how badly this awful affliction can affect you, both physically, and psychologically. It is a condition which makes individuals extremely self-conscious about their appearance and how they look and can be difficult to treat and get rid of. Even if you now happen to have gotten rid of your acne, in some cases, the scars left behind can be unsightly to say the least. If you yourself happen to suffer from acne scarring then fear not, because in this article we’ll take a look at five simple, yet effective home remedies to help you rid yourself of any unsightly acne scarring you may be suffering with.

Sandalwood and Rose water paste:

This is especially simple as it is literally, not surprisingly, sandalwood and rose water, combined together until a thick paste has been formed. Once you have the desired consistency, simply apply it to the affected area, and wait, the longer the better. If you can tolerate it, then apply the paste like a face mask before bed, and leave it on overnight. This isn't a super quick fix, so you will be required to apply the face mask for a prolonged period of time, until you notice an improvement in your skin.

Fenugreek leaf paste:

Another completely natural treatment for acne scars is fenugreek leaves. Simply make a paste out of ground up fenugreek seeds and a bit of water, and apply to your face like a face mask. Alternatively, you can boil up some fenugreek seeds in some water, blend together, and apply the mix to your face once it has cooled down. Again leave the paste for as long as you can tolerate, and repeat the process as necessary.

Olive oil:

This wonderful oil, derived from the humble olive is simply fantastic for a number of health related issues, including the treatment of acne scars. Massage the oil onto the affected area daily for a number of weeks, or even months. The oil acts like a natural moisturizer that softens the texture of your skin, and makes the acne scars much less prominent.

Aloe Vera:

When it comes to the treatment of skin related disorders, few natural remedies can top the medicinal properties of Aloe Vera. Commonly used as a natural remedy to help treat scars and wounds, it’s no wonder it’s so effective when treating unsightly acne scars. Simply get your hands on some Aloe Vera juice (available at most good health stores, or the internet), and apply to your skin every day if possible. By doing this you’ll be able to drastically reduce the level of acne scarring, and help combat any future acne breakouts in the future.

Lemon juice:

If you happen to suffer from darker acne scars, then lemon juice is for you. Apply freshly squeezed lemon juice to the affected area, and wait until the skin has absorbed it all. Once it has indeed all been absorbed, rinse it off with cold water. Lemon juice helps combat dark acne scars and blemishes by lightening them so they’re much less obvious.

Know a yoga pose - Bidalasana - Cat Pose - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

The Cat Yoga Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movement and breath. These are two of the most important themes in Asana practice. The alignment of your center depends on the positioning of your pelvis. Therefore, think of your hip positioning as the center of each pose. This is important because your spine is the most significant line of energy in every pose and because the way your spine elongates from your center depends solely on which way your pelvis is turning. Learn how to perform the Cat Pose in this section. 

STEP 1: Start on your hands and knees. Position your hands directly beneath your shoulders and your knees directly beneath the hips. Have your fingers fully spread with the middle fingers pointing straight ahead. Make your back horizontal and flat. Gaze at the floor. This is your "neutral" positioning. When your pelvis is in neutral, your spine will be at full extension, with both the front and back sides equally long.

STEP 2: As you wait for the inner cue, do not sag into your shoulders. Instead, create a line of energy through each arm by pressing downward into your hands and lifting upward out of your shoulders. Go back and forth like this several times to make sure you understand the movement. As you exhale, sag into your shoulders and do the incorrect action; as you inhale, lengthen the arms, lift out of the shoulders and do the correct action. 

STEP 3: When you are ready to begin, breathe in deeply. As you exhale, turn your hips into Cat Tilt. Do this by gently pulling the abdominal muscles backward toward the spine, tucking the tailbone (coccyx) down and under, and gently contracting the buttocks. Press firmly downward with your hands in order to stay lifted out of the shoulders, and press the middle of your back toward the ceiling, rounding your spine upward. Curl your head inward. Gaze at the floor between your knees. 

Benefits:

• The Cat Pose loosens your back and spine. It also stretches the front and back of your body and frees your neck and shoulders. 
• Doing the Cat Tilt elongates your back muscles and makes your abdominal muscles contract. 
• Doing the Cat Pose benefits your health by stimulating spinal fluid and the digestive tract, and by improving circulation through the spine and core. It is also beneficial in managing stress. 

Caution:

If you have any difficulty doing this exercise, you may place a folded Yoga Blanket under your knees to protect you from pressure or pain. Caution must be observed if you suffer from any chronic or recent back pain or injury.

Is Gastric problem your concern, lets evaluate with some home remedies - Part 4 - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

Fennel

Fennel gives you quick relief from gas and bloating. Take a few fennel seeds and mix it with hot water in a pot and boil it for about 5 minutes on a low flame. Strain the water and drink it fast relief. Or if you can bear the taste of fresh fennel leafy plants chew them raw. You can even take fennel leaves, cardamom and mint leaves together with some water and boil them to make a concoction. Drinking the concoction will help you get rid of stomach gas.

Peppermint

Gas problem can be treated in 2 ways using peppermint. Peppermint tea is one solution for stomach gas. To make the peppermint tea, add fresh peppermint leaves in a cup of water and boil them, now let it steep for a couple of minutes. Strain the leaves and add honey for taste. Drink this herbal tea two to three times daily. Chewing some fresh pepper mint leaves helps you get fast relief from gas. Another option is to add two drops of peppermint oil to 1/2 cup of cool water and consuming it 1 – 2 times a day.

Cardamom

Cardamom is another spice that is available in the kitchen. It helps you in speeding up digestion and relieves you from stomach gas problem. Make a habit of adding a pinch of roasted and ground cardamom powder to rice, lentils or vegetables before cooking. Chewing the whole pods of cardamom solves the gas problem. Do this 2 – 3 times for quick relief. You can even make a cardamom tea by steeping cardamom, a tiny slice of fresh ginger, 1 tsp of fennel in boiling water for a few minutes. Drink this tea a number of times a day for instant relief.

Onion

Onion juice will help you get rid of stomach gas, but avoid eating any vegetables that cause gas

Dill oil

Dill oil has some good properties that help you get rid for gas. Consume 1 teaspoon of honey mixed with a drop of Dill oil after every meal, to get relief from stomach gas trouble. Pregnant women should not use dill oil.

Celery

You can get fast relief from stomach gas by chewing celery leaves.

Charcoal

Charcoal tablets are another simple home remedy for gas trouble by attracting the excess gas present in the intestine. Consuming one charcoal tablet before and after your meal will help you in subsiding acidity and gas. This method is not recommended for children below 12 yrs of age.

You have to make little alterations in your daily lifestyle in order to get good results from the above mentioned home remedies. The changes to be observed are:

·         Exercise regularly

·         Do not consume poultry and dairy products such as eggs, milk etc.

·         Take time and chew your food properly. Don’t be in haste, as chewing properly helps you in digesting the food quickly

·         Avoid using straw while drinking as you may swallow more air while using straws

·         Never sleep immediately after eating your meal

·         Do not drink aerated drinks

Is Gastric problem your concern, lets evaluate with some home remedies - Part 3 - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

Baking soda

Baking soda gives instant relief from gas. Drink 1/4 tsp of baking soda mixed with a glass of water. This water solution is one of the most conventional remedies for stomach gas. It can be used as an efficient antacid.

Add a pinch of baking soda to fresh lemon juice in a glass, which is a fizzing drink. Now add some more baking soda and one cup of water to it stir well until the baking soda dissolves. This solution acts as antacid and gives to instant relief from gas. You can also try drinking a glass of water mixed with a small amount of baking soda on empty stomach.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another effective natural remedy for a number of health conditions. It gives instant relief from stomach gas and also helps you treat indigestion. Take a glass of warm water and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Now drink it to get instantaneous relief from your gastric problem. It also leaves a soothing effect on the stomach. You can use normal vinegar if apple cider vinegar is not available.

Cinnamon

It is another common remedy that gives instant relief from stomach gas. Boil cinnamon in some water and allow the cinnamon solution to cool in room temperature and drink it. This helps you prevent the formation of gas. You can even take 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon powder mixed with one glass of warm milk or add some honey to cinnamon powder stir properly and drink it.
Cinnamon tea can provide you relief from stomach gas. To make it, you have to add some cinnamon power to boiling water and leave it to rest for a few minutes and before drinking it. This home remedy will prevent further formation of gas and soothes your stomach as well.

Asafoetida / hing

Take a generous pinch of asafoetida mixed into a glass of warm water. Now mix it properly before drinking it. To get more relief drink it at least 2 – 3 times every day. To use it externally, make a paste of asafoetida by adding a little water. Apply this asafoetida paste on the stomach and leave it to dry for a couple of minutes. This helps you get rid of stomach gas problem. If you do not want to take it directly you can insert a little amount of asafoetida into a ripe banana and consume it two times a day.

Caraway Seeds

Caraway seeds are good for various health problems such as indigestion, stomach gas and cramping. When consumed regularly it helps in stimulating proper digestion. Add one teaspoon of the caraway seeds with a cup of boiling water, to make caraway seed tea. Allow the tea to steep by covering it with a lid for a couple of minutes. Now strain off the seeds and drink the water before eating your meals. Drink this tea 3 – 4 times a day for better results. Chewing some roasted caraway seeds by mixing with a pinch of rock salt will help you get relief from gas.

Garlic

Garlic provides great relief from gas. The pungent odour and heating quality of garlic will help you in stimulating the gastric fire, which helps in proper digestion and offers relief from gas. If you are suffering from gas then you have to try some garlic soup. Use fresh garlic for better results. Take 2 – 3 garlic cloves and roast them on fire directly and consume it after peeling it. Else you can make a solution by taking some freshly ground garlic and add some water, black pepper and cumin seeds and boil them for some minutes. Strain all the ingredients and allow it cool in room temperature. Drink this garlic solution at least twice or thrice daily for better results.

Is Gastric problem your concern, lets evaluate with some home remedies - Part 2 - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

Now you need not worry about gastric problem, as this condition can be treated with simple and natural home remedies. Ingredients for these home remedies are in your kitchen. Here are the simple and easy home remedies for treating gas:

Turmeric leaves

Turmeric leaves are one of the best remedies for gas. Drink chopped turmeric leaves mixed with a one cup of milk daily for better results

Guava leaves

Take guava leaves and boil them in water. Once they come to a boil strain the leaves and drink the water. This is a simple remedy for gastric problems

Potato juice

Another best cure for stomach gas is potato juice. Take potato juice and drink about ½ cup of it before your meal. Repeat this three times a day for best results

Ginger

Ginger is an effective remedy for gastric trouble. It is best for treating indigestion as well. In order to prevent the stomach gas from getting formed, chew fresh ginger after your meals on a regular basis. Otherwise you can drink the mixture of water with a generous pinch of ginger powder, a small pinch of rock salt and asafoetida. You can even add fresh or dried ginger to your food. One of the best ways to control gas formation is to drink ginger tea, as it promotes proper digestion and prevents gas.

Ginger tea can be made by mixing one tablespoon of grinded ginger with water and boiling it for few minutes. Now drinking this tea 2 – 3 daily will help you get rid of gas. You can even use ginger externally by adding a few drops of ginger essential oil to any carrier oil and massage it on your stomach.

Is Gastric problem your concern, lets evaluate with some home remedies - Part 1 - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

Are you embarrassed by gas problems??? Let’s see some of the causes that result in gastric trouble and simple home remedies that help you get rid of this annoying problem. 

Gastric trouble is not actually a disease but it is a kind of health condition that is an outcome of some other disease or a disorder. It is also termed as flatulence.

Gas problem may be very annoying at times. Generally gas is formed in the stomach due to numerous reasons as follows,

·         Excessive alcohol intake

·         Consuming very spicy food

·         Chewing the food improperly

·         Too much of anxiety and stress

·         Intestinal malfunction

·         Eating sauces and condiments frequently and in large quantities

·         Digestive disorders

You may suffer severe gastric trouble due to infections caused due to bacteria such as Helicobacter Pylori. Some of the symptoms of gas in stomach caused by bacteria are as follows,

·         Coated tongue

·         Abdominal bloating

·         Abdominal belching

·         Bad breath

·         Lack of appetite

·         Flatulence

Maybe you are damaging your liver unknowingly - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

It’s very mandatory to take care of ourselves to maintain the harmony in our lives. One of the most important organs in our body is liver and we usually think only alcoholism is the cause for liver damage and if you are not alcoholic you think you are safe, but no! Let’s see some of the factors which affects liver.

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store. We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to ‘schedule.’

9. Consumption of Alcohol

Know a yoga pose - Adho Mukha Svanasana - Downward Facing Dog Pose - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

In Sanskrit, "Adho" means downward, "mukh" means face and "svan" means dog. In this asana, the practitioner's face is downwards, hence the name.

Sequence:

1. Lie on the floor on your abdomen.
2. Raise your body to position the body on all fours, palms, knees and toes touching the floor.
3. Keep your knees apart and right beneath the hips and the palms a bit ahead of the shoulders.
4. Spread out your fingers.
5. Exhale and raise your knees off the ground.
6. Keep your knees slightly bent and your heels off the ground.
7. Raise your body up further, lengthening your tail bone.
8. Lift your buttocks further up so they face towards the ceiling.
9. Lengthen your thighs and stretch the heels so that they touch the ground.
10. Keep your knees straight but still apart.
11. Roll the upper thighs inward slightly and roll the heels outward
    
    slightly.
12. Press your palms on the floor and straighten your arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders.
13. Open up your shoulders and move them towards the tailbone.
14. Keep your head in between the two arms.
15. Hold the pose for about a minute. Gradually raise it to three minutes.
16. Return to initial position in reverse order.

Caution:

• Pregnant women should avoid this yoga posture
• If your wrists are sensitive or injured do not perform this yoga posture.

Benefits:

• The yoga pose can be used to overcome stress and depression.
• It improves the digestive system.
• Adho Mukha Svanasana can be very beneficial for patients of high blood pressure, asthma, sciatica and sinusitis.
• The shoulders, legs, spine and whole body get stretched.
• Woman with menopause can benefit from this posture.
• This yoga pose relieves fatigue and rejuvenates the body.

How to make your skin age proof - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil

Did you know that over 90% of skin ageing is caused by environmental factors? Protecting yourself from harmful UV rays by means of an effective sunscreen lotion is your first line of defense against the sun, no matter what the season is. But there’s more you can do. Here’s our guide to ingredients that guarantee healthy and glowing skin all year long.

Coriander & jalepeño lemonade

Pumped with antioxidants, coriander aids in detoxification while jalapeño/chili boosts metabolism. High in Vitamin C, lime juice will keep your body’s defenses intact and protect against external factors like the weather.

Custom-made green shake
Make your very own healthy green shake by following the simple 1-2-1 rule. Pick one green veggie (spinach, lettuce or broccoli), any two fruits (grape, apple, orange, melon, papaya, pineapple, banana, mango, kiwi, carrot, peach, cucumber or pear), one base for the shake (soy milk, skim milk, yoghurt, fruit juice or water) and blend. Slurp that green shake for breakfast every day and see the difference in your skin within the week.

Amla juice
Drink fresh gooseberry (amla) juice on an empty stomach every morning to control your body’s heat and strengthen its defenses against skin ailments. A good blood purifier, amla juice increases your red blood cell count, leaving you with a glowing complexion free of any blemish or impurity.

Oolong tea (Camellia sinensis)
Oolong or Black Dragon tea or our common tea is a rich polyphenol tea that can help delay the ageing of skin and the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. Clinical trials of this tea have confirmed that drinking it 2-3 times a day is effective in combating radical damage to the skin.

Banana, strawberry & mango smoothies
Full of healthy calories, tropical smoothies—sweet and chilled—are an ideal pick-me-up to spruce up your day. Sure to leave your skin healthy and well hydrated, you can blend the perfect smoothie using an array of fresh fruits (from bananas to strawberries and mangoes) with yoghurt, keeping it fresh, healthy and delicious!

5 Tips To Manage Cravings & Quit Sugar - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

It’s now widely accepted that sugar is responsible for more than just cavities! Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer have all been attributed in some way to sugar intake.

This is definitely reason for alarm. Not only do many of the packaged foods we eat contain large amounts of sugar, but studies have shown sugar to have similar addictive qualities to that of opiate drugs. Regardless of your intentions to quit sugar, willpower might not be enough.

1. Eat a high protein breakfast.

Starting the day off with a large dose of protein (15-20g) helps you maintain a steady blood sugar level throughout the day. Sugar cravings are much easier to avoid if you do not let your blood sugar spike too high and then dip too low. Eggs or a smoothie with protein powder are great options.

2. Snack on healthy fats.

Fats help you feel full, reducing the likelihood you will reach for the sweets. Not all fats, however, are created equal. A good fat source that I recommend is coconut oil, as it’s a medium chain triglyceride that the body uses right away for energy, rather than storing it as fat. A simple tablespoon or two of coconut oil will leave you feeling full and energized. If the thought of it on its own doesn't make you salivate, use it in your baking!

3. Eliminate artificial sweeteners.

Although artificial sweeteners are calorie-free, a Yale study has shown that certain sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose can actually increase your sugar cravings. Consuming these zero calorie sweeteners reduces the brain’s dopamine levels, leaving the body feeling an intense craving for sugar, which will increase brain dopamine. Avoid this vicious cycle altogether and stay away from artificial sweeteners.

4. Sleep a minimum of 8 hours a night.

Two hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are closely linked to hunger. Ghrelin triggers the hunger sensation, while leptin causes feelings of satiation. With prolonged sleep deprivation, leptin production decreases, and ghrelin production increases, causing the body to feel hungry and therefore increasing the likelihood of reaching for the sweets.

5. Sweeten with cinnamon.

There’s no denying that we're programmed to like the sweet taste of food but there are natural ingredients that can be added to recipes to provide a hint of sweetness, without the sugar. A great one for coffee, baking or breakfast smoothies is cinnamon. Not only does cinnamon add flavour to your food, but just 1/2 teaspoon daily helps lower your blood sugar levels, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.

Now, onto quitting time!