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Deal with it

Lessons in oral cancer at Kumbh Mela

Indian Dental Association is trying to spread awareness about oral cancer through free camps, check-ups for pilgrims thronging the Kumbh Mela.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Indian Dental Association (IDA), as part of their endeavour to create awareness about oral health and hygiene and Oral Cancer amongst the masses, are participating in the Jana Swasthya Abhiyan, an initiative of Department of Public Health, Government of Maharashtra.

Today, India has undesirably come to be known as the oral cancer capital of the world. People across the country are addicted to various tobacco products. Such habits can lead to oral cancer. The Kumbh Mela, being a meeting point of masses from diverse parts of the country, proves to be an ideal platform for IDA to provide oral care education and awareness.

Health centre at NashikAs part of the Jana Swasthya Abhiyan, IDA will conduct free oral health check-up camps for 15 days in 4 different phases during the ongoing Mahakumbh in Nasik and Trimbakeswar, starting from August 26, 2015. The aim of the campaign is to create awareness about oral health and hygiene and oral cancer amongst thousands of pilgrims who will be converging at Maha Kumbh from across the country.

According to Dr Ashok Dhoble, Hon’ble Secretary General, Indian Dental Association,“We are aiming to influence thousands of lives by creating awareness about oral health and hygiene and Oral Cancer amongst them. Through this initiative, we will be moving closer to IDA’s vision of improving oral health and quality of life, achieving ‘optimal national oral health for all’ by 2020.”

IDA will be present at 10 locations at Nasik and Trimbakeswar Maha Kumbh to conduct free oral health check-up camps in association with Karmaveer Bhausaheb Hiray Dental College and Hospital, Nashik.

(Pictures courtesy www.bms.co.in, IDA)

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Deal with it

Experiment with symmetry in your home

The human mind gravitates towards symmetry but is intrigued by asymmetry. Set new rules with geometric designs in your home.
by Reyna Mathur

A few years ago, a study in the UK asked a group of men to study several photographs of women’s faces, and to rate the most attractive ones. In almost all cases, perfectly symmetrical faces – eyes set at almost the same distance from the bridge of the nose, the same lower jaw on both sides, perfectly aligned ears – were rated the most attractive.

Our eyes naturally gravitate towards order and symmetry, Hence, we are more comfortable with a space that has proportion in size and dimension. Geometric shapes are more attractive to us than amorphous ones. Symmetric designs and shapes give a sense of order and discipline, and are more preferred visually than asymmetric ones.

For those looking to add style and panache to their home, there are several ways to make symmetry in design rock a plain dwelling. There is no need to purchase expensive materials to bring about this change – you can get creative and let geometry work its magic on your home.

Tap the symmetry trend for your house:

1) Combine the beauty of geometry with the whimsy of colour. Pick a plain rubber doormat and draw geometric shapes like squares, rectangles and triangles on it in a design of your choice. Next, colour in certain overlapping sections created in the design with neon colours to create an eye-popping statement right at your doorstep.

Glass vases arrangement2) Create an eccentric arrangement of identical glass vases of different sizes in a prominent corner of your living room. Arrange the vases in a straight line as per colour or descending size. To add a twist, place a single long stemmed flower in each such that the tops of each of the flowers are at the same height. This is a visually confusing but striking arrangement, and will make visitors steal glances at it from time to time.

3) Define the geometry of your TV set by embellishing its four corners with square paper cut-outs. Add depth to the design by sticking 3D pyramids (base on the TV) in the four corners. Or you can make concentric squares on each paper cut out and colour each square a different colour for an interesting optical effect.

4) Beautify a bare wall by marking a rectangle space with pencil in the centre of the wall. Further divide this rectangle into evenly spaced squares. Inside each square, place a painting or a photograph of the exact same size. Or you can get creative with poster colours and paint each square a different colour in even strokes.Paper wall hanging

5) Create your own symmetrical wallpaper or wall hanging, using long lengths of thick paper. Select the area for the wallpaper or wall hanging. Now cut out rectangular strips of thick handmade paper or coloured mount board, ensuring that they are the same length and width. Place them crisscross or intertwined over each other to create the pattern of your choice. Glue the overlapping parts firmly. Once the assembly is set, snip of the ends in a straight line and encase the edges in a picture frame or a length of sturdy cloth. Hang on a suitable wall.

6) Break the severity of your geometrically designed room with a table or chair of asymmetric form. For this to be visually appealing, the rest of the room must be completely symmetrically designed, preferably in monochrome. You can then give a fun twist to the room by placing a bright red or yellow chair on one side, or a shape-shifting couch of a bright hue.

(Pictures courtesy tomsplans.biz, www.guidinghome.com, decorideaz.com. Images used for representational purpose only)

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Beauty

Simple remedies to remove under-eye wrinkles

Do you suffer from tired, puffy eyes? Grappling with wrinkles under your eyes? Read on for some simple fixes from the kitchen.
by Rohit Soni

Wrinkles are a big problem. Many people think that wrinkles occur only at an old age, but wrinkles start appearing around the eyes even when one is young.

Wrinkles under the eye look terrible and also affect one’s confidence. Squinting, over exposure to sunlight and smoking are some of the most common causes for the problem. However, it is easy to combat these wrinkles with quick fixes from the kitchen. If you suffer from wrinkles in the eye area, you need to use these tips:

Cucumber

Cucumber slicesCucumber is very beneficial for your skin and the hydrating and repairing properties of cucumber effectively treat the problem of eye wrinkles. Grate a fresh cucumber and apply it over and around your eyes for about 10 to 15 minutes, followed by rinsing off with cold water.

Tea bags

Almost everyone has tea bags at home. This little bag is a potent weapon in the prevention and treatment of wrinkles. Soak a tea bag in water and apply it over your eyes for some time. This simple trick tightens the skin around the eyes and prevents further wrinkling. Use a green tea bag for added benefit.

Honey

The sweetest way to get rid of eye wrinkles is to use honey. Honey is beneficial and improves the overall health of your skin. Mix some rice powder and honey to make a paste. Apply this mixture over the eyes for about 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse off with plain water. Repeat 3 to 4 times a week for best results.

Strawberries and yogurt

Mash strawberries in yogurt. The nutrients in strawberries tighten the skin and yogurt helps remove dead skin cells. Let it sit on the skin for half an hour, then Strawberries and yogurtclean it off with rose water. Apply daily.

Potato juice

Potato juice helps in reducing the stress and puffiness in the skin around the eyes. All you have to do is apply potato juice over and around the eyes and let it dry. Wash off with cold water.

Ice cubes

Too lazy to try the above tips? Grab some ice cubes and rub directly around your eyes for about 5 minutes. This simple tip is very effective in reducing the appearance of eye wrinkles. Do this at least twice a day.

(Pictures courtesy blog.luminessair.com, healthyeating.sfgate.com, eatdrinkbetter.com. Images used for representational purpose only)

 

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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)

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