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Wellness

5 natural medicines for dengue

Mumbai is currently grappling with dengue. Here are 5 natural ways to lessen the impact of fever and body pain.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Dengue is currently claiming many victims in Mumbai. While the causes and effects of dengue are well known, what is not known to a lot of people is that the fever and body pain associated with dengue can be minimised with natural remedies.

Look for answers in your kitchen. Certain herbs and fruits can lessen the impacts of dengue. They may bring down fever, increase immunity and even step up platelet production in the blood. Here are 5 natural remedies in case you or a loved one are suffering from dengue:

Papaya for dengue1. Papaya for platelets. Research shows that papaya and its leaves have curative properties. The fruit is especially beneficial in the treatment of dengue. Raw papaya is said to be an excellent remedy for increasing the platelet count in the blood. It also enables the removal of toxins through urine, so that fever may reduce.

2.Purify with neem. Neem has the potential to purify the skin and system. It is potent in any form – when chewed in leaf form or added as an extract to oil. Neem has blood purifying properties, so it helps in bringing down fever, clearing out toxins that cause disease and even rashes on the skin. To use, add unscented neem oil to a damp cloth and place it on the forehead of the person suffering from dengue fever. Alternately, you can put neem leaves in hot water and inhale the steam. The patient can even take a wash of neem-soaked warm water every day.

3.Warm tulsi tea. Basil has unique cleansing properties that remove toxins, fever and infection from the body. Ayurvedic doctors recommend adding a sprig of tulsi leaves to warm water, letting them steep in the water for 3 minutes and then drinking the tea at least twice a day to fortify the body from within. You canOrange juice for dengue also boil tulsi leaves in water, strain the water and add a teaspoon of honey before drinking the tea.

4. Coriander for fever. Though unpleasant to taste, coriander leaves may be used to bring down dengue fever. Chop finely and blend to a juice, with half an inch of fresh ginger and some turmeric. Drink this juice twice a day to reduce the severity of fever.

5. Orange juice for immunity. Dengue strikes more severely when the patient’s immunity is compromised. Increase immunity with the intake of Vitamins A and C. Chew on raw carrot pieces, or have a glass of orange juice (with the pulp intact) to get your vitamin fix.

(Pictures courtesy www.wikihow.com, www.urdumania.net, english.alarabiya.net. Images are file pictures used for representational purpose only)

 

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Wellness

5 natural remedies for cough and cold

Try these 5 easy, effective and natural fixes from your kitchen to stop seasonal cough and cold problems in their tracks.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

With fluctuating weather and low immunity, you may fall prey to cough and cold. These conditions are not serious, but they may require bed rest.

There is no need to suffer in silence with a cough and cold – try these 5 natural remedies to get back to life in a jiffy.

  1. Garlic tea.

Garlic teaGarlic amps up the immune system. Prepare garlic tea by lightly crushing 2 or 3 cloves of garlic and adding them to 2 cups of water. Next, bring this water to a boil. Change the flame to low and let the tea simmer for about 10 more minutes, keeping it covered. Now strain the tea and add 1 teaspoon of honey. Drink it hot at least twice a day. You will notice that your nose starts clearing and your cough is brought under control.

  1. Fruit-veggie salad.

Your throat might be raw from cough and you may have lost your appetite as well. Go easy on your meal portions. Instead of a heavy meal, opt for raw vegetable and fruit salads. Carrots and apples are amazing immune boosters, so prepare this easy and tasty salad thus: chop a large carrot and apple in a bowl. Lightly heat juice of one lemon in 2 teaspoons of olive oil and a pinch of salt, and drizzle this oil over the carrot and apple. To this, add chopped seasonal fruits and have twice a day.

  1. Onion and honey cough syrup.

You can prepare this effective cough syrup at home. Take a large red onion, and slice it horizontally in disks. Place it in a bowl. Layer each onion slice thickly onOnion cough syrup both sides with honey. Cover and set aside overnight for at least 12 hours. The next day, you will find that the onion has ‘bled’ into the bowl. This syrup contains all the nutrients and vitamins from the onion, and the immunity boosting powers of honey. Store this syrup in a glass bottle and have it at least twice a day till the cough disappears.

  1. Turmeric in warm milk.

This is a remedy followed in most Indian homes. Turmeric not only builds immunity, it promotes the growth of infection-fighting cells. To a teaspoon of ghee, add half a teaspoon of turmeric and warm it slightly over a flame. Add this ghee to a cup of warm milk and mix well. Have it warm.

  1. Jaggery for cough.

If you dislike chemical-rich cough syrups, make your own at home. Take about 5 peppercorns, half a teaspoon of cumin and a small piece of jaggery. To this, add some water and boil over low flame till it becomes thicker and concentrated. Cool it and drink every two hours to loosen the phlegm and eject it from the system faster.

(Pictures courtesy homesteadinghomemaker.blogspot.com, www.archanaskitchen.com, naturalpureessentials.wordpress.com. Images are used for representational purpose only)

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Deal with it

5 types of employees you should be hiring

Start up companies often grapple with hiring and retaining the right talent. Knowing certain personality types can ease the process.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The best thing about being a boss at your own company is that nobody can fire you. The worst thing is that you are solely accountable for your mistakes. These mistakes can range from not being a proactive leader to not securing adequate funding, but by far the biggest mistake than can affect you on a daily basis will be hiring the wrong people to work for you.

1. The punctual one. Some people are extremely punctual, arriving in time for the start of a new working day with a few minutes to spare. They are meticulous about managing their own schedules, because they respect time. “Businesses must encourage others to emulate their example,” says Viral Shah, who runs an online trading firm with 10 employees. “Encourage punctual people to take up managerial roles, because they are more organised and their finicky attitude about time ensures that projects are completed within schedule.” If your team has a person who always arrives on time and is profusely apologetic about being late, groom that person to handle project deadlines, to begin with.

2. The first in, last one out. These people can be a pain to others, because they are always in office –they are the first to arrive and the last to leave. This behaviour is a clear indication of commitment. Such personality types often stay committed as a matter of habit, even when they are not enjoying their work. These persons can be roped in to handle last-minute jobs or assist teams which are working against deadlines. Since they normally show up to work even before others have arrived, they can be entrusted with drawing up daily schedules, following up on the previous day’s backlog and setting appointments for the day. Companies might consider making these persons assistants to the bosses.

Building your team3. The team player. This person can always be relied on to pitch in with assistance, moral support or just a sense of humour when the going gets tough. “Such people are born leaders and their commitment to the company is very high,” explains Sara Chhajed, an HR professional. “They will even help out in projects that are not theirs, simply to get the work done faster with lesser hassle. They will actually ask for more work if they see that the rest of the team is struggling, and they do not try to hog the credit.” People displaying these qualities can be focussed, easy going, friendly and compassionate. “Bosses should groom them in a team-building capacity, because they often display team spirit,” Sara says. “They are valuable employees, even if they are not the most talented.”

4. The experienced mentor. Every team needs a senior to guide the office with his or her experience. Such a person is a key asset in a young, inexperienced team that may flounder without an experienced mentor. “I have helped set up at least 20 start-ups in the last year alone, and I always advise the management to hire one senior person as a manager,” says Ankit Mishra, who works exclusively with start-ups. “These persons are capable of taking a neutral look at a project and suggest corrective ways that can save the company a lot of valuable time and effort. However, they should be encouraged to engage with the team on a regular basis, instead of waiting to be asked for help,” Ankit adds.

5. The genial, all-skills-included one. This is the best type of person to hire, after the team player, because this person keeps the office environment light and friendly. This sort of personality is needed in a high-stress, high-work start-up environment, because they can plug in the gaps in the system whenever required; thus companies save resources which they would have spent on outsourcing external agencies to get the same work done. “One of my employees started working with us as an office boy, but I soon realised that he had a fair knowledge of computers,” recalls Viral. “Later, he learnt how to read balance sheets, and make and receive payments. Now he is my personal assistant.”

This type of person should also be enlisted to plan office outings and team bonding sessions, where their enthusiasm comes in handy.

(Pictures courtesy www.gomindmerge.com, theloyaltygroup.com. Images are used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Beauty

5 essential beauty foods

Add these super foods to your diet to slow down ageing, prevent wrinkles and give your complexion a youthful glow.
by Beverley Lewis

Wondering what to eat for beautiful skin, better heart health and improved immunity? Read on.

Pomegranates contain the antioxidants polyphenol and ellagic acid, which protect the skin from sun damage and protect the cells from free radical damage. Studies show that regular consumption of pomegranates also boosts heart health and prevents premature ageing.

CarrotsCarrots and sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are associated with decreased risk of cardio-vascular disease and some cancers. They are also good for keeping wrinkles away and giving one a clear, glowing complexion.

Oily fish have essential fatty acids, which can help calm inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. Omega-3s also keep the skin supple and prevent wrinkles. Studies show that EFA’s increase the moisture content of the skin and improve the body’s muscle tone. If you don’t like oily fish, you can add fish capsules to your diet.

Brown rice and whole grains are packed with selenium, a powerful antioxidant, which is important for Brown ricemaintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Research shows that selenium also prevents acne and skin cancer. It also promotes the absorption of vitamin E and enhances the antioxidant function of vitamin E, which is stored in the skin. This results in glowing skin and prevents deterioration of the skin’s collagen.

Poultry, legumes and mushrooms are full of zinc, which is an important trace mineral that helps the body to repair damaged tissue and heals wounds. Foods rich in zinc can also protect the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and prevent acne and regulate the production of oil in the skin.

So, if you want healthy, younger looking skin, make sure you add these foods to your diet.

(Pictures courtesy megagriculture.gov.in, www.chow.com, www.mushrooms.ca)

Categories
Deal with it

BMC goes after diabetics in Mumbai

BMC will set up special OPDs, dispensaries and new hospitals in the city to deal with high diabetic patient load.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The highest numbers of diabetics are found in India, and many of them are concentrated in the metros. Naturally, the current public health facilities are overstretched in dealing with the large numbers of patients seeking treatment.

Recently, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Eli Lilly announced that it had developed a unique platform that not only deliberates on the rising menace of diabetes, but that it had submitted actionable recommendations to help strengthen policies and Government programmes [such as NCPCDS] related to the management of diabetes.

The BMC is now coming up with special OPDs, 80 dispensaries, 18 peripherals and 3 major hospitals in Mumbai to address the ‘increased NCD patient load’ under NCD Programme Services initiative. “The Corporation is trying to inculcate the habit of eating healthy food amongst the citizens of Mumbai”, said Dr Daksha Shah, Deputy Executive Health Officer (NCD) RNTCP, Public Health Department, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). She added that the novel initiative involves intensive regional consultations with relevant experts to draw up comprehensive suggestions, best practices, challenges and enablers faced by service providers in Government and private sectors in day to day management of diabetes patients.

Said Dr Ashok Kirpalani, Professor and HOD, Nephrology, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences (BHIMS), “There is a need to check diabetic nephropathy at an early stage before the need of dialysis sets in. The ability of microalbuminuria test to pick up renal failure at an early stage needs to be recognised as there is only 3 per cent mortality in test positive patients.”

Dr. Manoj Chadha, Endocrinologist, PD Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Centre, said, “High blood pressure needs to be recognised early and treated appropriately with ACE inhibitors/ARB”. He added that “Hypertension is also an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in Diabetes Mellitus.”

(Picture courtesy www3.imperial.ac.uk. Image is used for representational purpose only)

 

Categories
Wellness

5 super foods for health and vitality

These 5 super foods pack a potent punch to protect you from a host of diseases and strengthen your immunity.
by Beverley Lewis

You don’t have to be a vegan or vegetarian to reap the benefits of these particular foods. These vegetarian/vegan foods are not only packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre, but promise to fight free radicals in the body, thereby preventing disease and slowing down the ageing process. Listed below are our top 5 favourite vegetarian/vegan super foods.

Sweet potatoesSweet potatoes: These humble tubers are loaded with vitamin C, D and B6 and potassium and also contain iron. They are also high in magnesium, which is important to maintain a healthy heart, blood, bone, muscle and nerve function. And since sweet potatoes are high in beta carotene, they may help improve one’s eyesight and boost one’s immunity.

Amaranth or Rajgira: This gluten-free grain is not only high in protein, but is also gluten-free. It is also high in folate, B6, fibre and vitamin C. Rajgira also contains more than three times the average amount of calcium and is also high in iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. This tiny grain contains the amino acid lysine, which is needed to metabolise fatty acids, absorb calcium and is essential for thick, strong hair. Rajgira also has twice the amount of calcium as milk, thereby reducing one’s risk of getting osteoporosis.

Pomegranates: Are high in phytochemicals, vitamins C and B5 and are full of antioxidants. They also contain large amounts of vitamin K, which helps to support bone health. They are also packed with manganese, which is required to form bone structures and potassium and helps maintain cellular functions and balance fluid levels. If you regularly consume pomegranates, you will be able to protect the skin against free radicals caused by sun damage and sunburn. The oil of a pomegranate contains the antioxidant ellagic acid, which may help to inhibit skin tumours and protect the body against skin cancer.

Turmeric: This golden-yellow spice is both an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and may help fight cancer and Alzheimer’s. Studies show that Curcumin, a Turmericcompound found in turmeric, may reduce swelling and help ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Kiwi: This fuzzy looking fruit contains large amounts of vitamin C and is a good source of potassium, fibre and vitamins A and E. They also contain the antioxidant lutein, which is needed by the body to maintain good vision and a strong heart. Kiwis also increase collagen production and brighten the skin.

(Pictures courtesy www.morningagclips.com, turmericworld.com, www.drfuhrman.com)

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