Benefits of Custard Apple

Custard Apple ( ANNONA SQUAMOSA)

Custard Apple or Seethaphal is a tropical fruit tree that grows easily. It was first culivated in West Indies. Its botanical name is 'ANNONA SQUAMOSA'. It is very popular in India. The pulp of the fruit is mixed with milk to make custard. As it has the taste of custard it is called 'Custard Apple'. The fruit has a peculiar aroma. Custard Apple is used to make Jams, Jellies and sherbets. 

The plant is propogated by grafting as well as through the seeds. Grafted plants produce fruits from the first year itself. The plant usually flowers between March and July. The fruits should be plucked before they are ripe and stored for ripening. 

Custard apple promotes digestion and is used as a cure for vomiting, diarrhoea, dysentry and vertigo. The unripe fruit is dried and powdered and is used as a cure for treating lice. The fruit is low in calorie content and contains minerals like iron, phosphorous, calcium and riboflavin. 

The plant is a evergreen shrub and reaches a maximum of 6 mts. The plant bears flowers in the mature branches and the fruits develop in the mature branches and are usually round. The flesh is white and creamy with a sugary taste. The seeds are black in colour with a shine. The seeds are not consumed for they are slightly poisonous. 

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Beat the Heat with Fruit Juices

Fruit Juices to Beat Summer

Try out juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple during summer. Consumption of fruits and juices reduces body heat and benefits in controlling body temperature.

The strength of the body will be lost during this period. People feel tired and exhausted during the season due to extensive heat rays of the sun, the watery portion (or Kapha) of the body of people, animals, plants, foods and the entire environment will become dry and the vata will become more in the body and the atmosphere. The skin will become dry and may precipitate skin diseases as eczema..

What to Drink and Eat: One must drink the juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple. This is to say foods and juices of sweet and cold and easily digestible must be consumed. The preparations of sugar, barely/green gram, sharbats, buttermilk with sugar candy are to be used daily to cool the body. One must take the food of white rice with meat soup of meat of animals reared in cold areas.

The juices of dry grapes, cucumber, kharjura with Dalchini, Cardamom must be drunk along with pure cold water kept in a pot or a freezer or these must be kept at night in moon light and used along with buffalo's milk. Water with parijatha flowers and usheera can also be used for drinking.

- One must not take foods of pungent, sour, dry and salty foods. Foods of rice with milk, sugar candy, butter milk, lassie are good for good health. Ghee can be used.

- Coffee and tea are not all good as they stimulate the central nervous system. Taking them on empty stomach is harmful as they mix with acid and circulated all over the body producing several diseases.

- Alcohol is a hot drink and must not be used druing this season, either avoid it or drink it with plenty of water.

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Ayurvedic Massages and Treatments, Hemiplegia, Paralysis, Rheumatic Pains

Kerala Ayurvedic Massages and Treatments Sirodhara, Ksheeradhara, Daanyamalardhara        

   

DHANYAMLA DHARA
Warm herbal liquid is poured all over the body in a rhythmic way through a special vessel for 45 minutes to 1 hour daily. This treatment is very effective for hemiplegia, paralysis, rheumatic complaints etc.

DHARA
In this process, some herbal oils, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc., are poured on the forehead in a special method for about 45 minutes in a day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is mainly for insomnia, vatha predominated diseases, mental tension and certain skin diseases.

DASAMOOLA KSHEERA DHARA
Medicated milk is poured all over the body and head with a special vessel from a certain height in a rhythmic manner. This treatment is good for insomnia, mental tensions, headache due to pitha dominant, menopause problems etc.

SARVANGA KASHAYA DHARA
This treatment is a kind of sudation therapy using herbal decoctions. This is a process by which the body is made to perspire by means of pouring warm decoction from special herbs with a special vessel from a certain height in a rhythmic manner and is rubbed into the body. This method removes 'ama' or toxins from the tissues and promotes fat metabolism, removes tension from the muscles and also good for pain and stiffness of the joints and muscles, ibromyalgia etc

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Symptoms of Rheumatological Problems and Ayurveda

This treatment gives relief from rheumatic problems 

Author: SN AYurveda

The foundation of ayurveda is based on the principle to live with nature in harmony. Ayurveda is a traditional Indian science that is potent to support and relieve the patients from many chronic diseases. Symptoms of rheumatological problems are fever, swelling, tenderness and more.

Ayurveda illustrates that the three doshas - vata that represents air and pitta signifying fire is mainly in charge of digestion and kapha that indicates earth is the stabilizing force, all these must be well-balanced. The equilibrium in all three humors contributes to the psychological status of a person.

Rheumatological problems and ayurveda suggests that the rheumatic issues are due to the imbalance of vata that is responsible for the health of nerves and skeletal framework. The different types of rheumatic problems include arthritis, sciatica, spondylitis, slipped disc, frozen shoulder, gout and more. These are the damaging diseases that affect the nerves and bones.

According to rheumatological problems and ayurveda, arthritis is a persistent and common inflammatory immune disease. The antibodies increases and the components of joints including cartilages, bone, synovial fluid and joint tissue gets destroyed. The major parts that get affected are smaller joints of the hands, wrists, knees, ankles. The hip and elbow joints are rarely influenced. As this disease is autoimmune what really triggers it is still unknown. Some factors that can be responsible in one way or other are genetic factor, smoking, infection by virus and alcoholism

In ayurveda, rheumatic issue is based on the Ama vata theory. The factors that cause are emotional distress, improper diet and lack of rest. This ama or toxins are attracted to the joints of the bones and get deposited there. Over time, if they are left untreated this inflammation gets chronic and damages the joint, which in turn causes the muscles nearby to shrink.

There is unbearable pain along with the rigidity in the muscles and joints amplifies gradually, which is followed with fatigue. Several people suffer from symptoms like body ache, fever, indigestion and poor taste.

The effective treatment includes instant elimination of the ama dosh. Ayurveda herbal preparation helps to strengthen the tissues, bones and the skeletal tissues by increasing the flexibility and thus, allowing the muscles and joints to move easily. Ayurveda herbal oil massages are also proved to be highly effective.

As per rheumatological problems and ayurveda, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that also needs special treatment. There is lack of proper blood circulation to the joints that causes dryness and triggers due to over exertion. Ayurveda states that this issue is due to kapha dosha that leads to the depletion of the synovial fluid, which offers lubricant and acts as a cushion to the joints. Due to this there is friction caused to the joints that roots a constant pain and joint mobility gets limited. It also affects the joints of hip and knee that are responsible to bear the body weight.

Taking ayurveda treatment like Jaanu vasthi, pizhichil, abhyangam, elakhzhi and more, if applied at the early stages prevents further damage to the joints with a quick recovery by reducing the swelling and the pain. The nutrition is also enhanced along with the blood circulation in the entire body.

Article Source: Articlebase

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Summer Skin Care with Home-made Recipes

Summer Skin Care Recipes

Summers are notorious for ruining our skin. But you don't have to fret! Take a heart and beat the heat this summer, maintaining your beauty and keeping your skin soft, supple and well nourished with these home-made summer skin care recipes...

Get rid of Skin Tan....
1. Summer facial bleach

Ingredients: 4 tbsp milk, 1 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp lemon juice.

Mix all the ingredients and apply the mixture evenly on the tanned areas for 15 minutes. Once dried, wash with cold water. Works best for greasy and oily skin.

2. Yogurt and honey cleanser

Ingredients : 4 tbsp plain yogurt, 2 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp lime juice

Mix all the ingredients. Add a little cornstarch if you think the paste needs thickening. Apply on your face and massage for 2-3 minutes. Rinse with cold water.

Natural Exfoliation...

1. Oatmeal exfoliating scrub

Ingredients: 1 tsp fine oatmeal, 1 tsp baking soda

Mix the ingredients in enough water to make a thick paste. Rub over face for 2-3 minutes, rinse and pat dry. It's suitable for all skin types.

2. Curd and gram flour scrub

Ingredients: 1 tspn gram flour, 1 tspn lemon juice, 2-3 mint leaves, toned curd, a small piece of grated carrot

Mix all the ingredients to form a past and apply on your face. Rub in round motions to clean the deep rooted impurities.

Get the glow back...

1. Home spa recipe

Ingredients: Pineapple pulp, grapeseed oil, papaya pulp, mulethi and turmeric

Mix all the ingredients to make a paste. Now apply a generous amount of the mixture on face and neck leaving the eyes. Let it dry and rinse with fresh water.

Pimple problems...

This comes straight from your kitchen garden to bring relief to a pimple prone skin...

Ingredients: 3-4 tbspn cucumber juice, 1 tbspn lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder, 1 tspn sandalwood powder, mint leaves (tulsi) and basil leaves. 

Mix all the ingredients and apply on your face for fifteen minutes. The pack has an overall cooling effect apart from taking out dead cells, dried sebum and infectious bacteria accumulated in the clogged skin pores.

Tone it up!

Apart from regular bleaching, cleansing, scrubbing and exfoliation, your skin requires bouts of toning during the summer season. So, instead of depending upon chemical-based toners, here's a natural toner...

Find an aloe-vera plant in your vicinity. Now, just break a leaf, break it into two and use the extract or the juice mixed with natural rose water for best skin protection from tanning and clogging. This also helps to overcome the skin allergies, rashes and itching.

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