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Wellness

Your nostrils can help prevent migraines, exhaustion

Did you know that breathing through a particular nostril can cure a headache and relieve exhaustion? Read on for more.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

If you’re struck by a migraine in the middle of your working day, don’t pop a painkiller. What your doctor has probably never told you is that painkillers don’t help migraines – just a 5-minute breathing exercise will help.

Hold your thumb firmly against your right nostril and breathe slowly through your left nostril for five minutes. Keep the rest of your fingers straight but relaxed. Focus on your breathing, counting as you inhale and exhale. In a couple of minutes, the intensity of the headache reduces. Five minutes later, it is completely gone!

Another good technique to try on the days you’re feeling really exhausted is to hold your left nostril with your thumb and breathe slowly and deeply through the other. Five minutes later, you will feel more energetic and your tired limbs will feel better, too.

How are the nostrils connected to pain relief?

Yoga believes that our breathing is connected to our emotional and physical health. Ancient Chinese and Indian healing systems are firm believers in the power of deep breathing to heal many internal disturbances. Yoga stresses that breathing and the body’s ‘vital force’ are in tandem with each other. Thus, the deeper you breathe, the deeper is the flow of your body’s vital force. This helps in self-healing.

Also, the emphasis on deep breathing is accompanied by breathing through one of the two nostrils for specific healing. It is said that air coming in from the left nostril promotes a ‘cooling’ of the body’s nerve centres, thus lessening pain. On the other hand, air coming in through the right nostril causes warming up of the body, which relieves exhaustion and energises one to perform tasks better.

So don’t grab your medication for a headache – just breathe right!

(Picture courtesy www.lexiyoga.com. Image is used for representational purpose only)

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Deal with it

Injection basics: Prepare your child for his shots

Young children must be mentally prepared for receiving daily insulin shots. Ease your child into the process with easy steps.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

A parent’s – any parent’s – biggest nightmare is watching their child in pain. Parenthood is all about fortifying oneself against the sight of one’s suffering child, so that the parent may give the child the strength to get through his or her illness.

Many parents are apprehensive when their young child is detected with diabetes and with good reason – the doctor might prescribe regular insulin shots. Any child is afraid of needles, and it can be daunting to explain to your child that he or she needs to take insulin shots every day. However, if you convince yourself that this is a necessary step in your child’s road to recovery, you can persuade your child that taking injections every day is a good thing. In time, your child will fear the process less and even be prepared to take injections by himself.

Here are 5 steps to follow in preparing your child to take injections:

1. Talk to the child calmly. Explain why your child needs to take daily injections. Tell him or her, “You need to take your injections so that you can grow up healthy and strong.” Every child needs to be told the reason behind your actions – don’t tell him that injections must be taken “because you say so.” Not preparing the child for the process can make him fearful and resistant to the idea. If necessary, have the conversation with your doctor present so that all questions can be answered.

2. Don’t be squeamish. If you show a fear of needles, so will your child. Show the insulin bottle and syringe to your child, and demonstrate how you will draw up the required dose of insulin before injecting him. Explain every step of the process, right down to how you will inject the needle. Tell your child that the needle will not hurt after a while, and that he must be absolutely still while being injected. Keep your tone measured – your aim is to remove the fear associated with the process.

3. Be careful with the injection. Be extremely precise with the dosage and leave out any air bubbles in the canister. Next, dip a cotton ball in cold water, squeeze it and rub it over the injection site. Pinch the skin at the injection site using your forefinger and thumb, and plunge the needle in slowly and completely. Talk to your child soothingly while the needle is in, and now push the plunger so that all the insulin is injected. Stop pinching the skin and slowly remove the needle. Apply gentle pressure at the site for five seconds. After the first few times, your child will learn to relax during the injection.

4. Supervise your child’s dosage. Your child may be in his teens and able to take the injection without your help – still supervise the process. Make sure the dosage is precise, and that the needle is completely plunged in. If there is an insulin leak (this happens when the needle has not gone in deep enough), don’t let the child take more insulin to compensate for the loss – this might cause blood sugar levels to plunge.

5. Consult the doctor regularly for dosage. As children grow, the requirement for insulin may vary. Regular blood tests are a must, and so are doctor consultations. Be precise in following the prescribed dosage. Also try and maintain a record of blood sugar readings, changed dosages and prescribed dietary controls so that your child’s diabetes may remain under control.

(Picture courtesy www.telegraph.co.uk. Image used for representational purpose only)

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Wellness

Why have potted plants in the home

Apart from adding a soothing green look to our living premises, plants have many health benefits as well. Read on.
by the Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Everybody loves to be surrounded by greenery, but for those living in the metros, greenery is a luxury few have the good fortune to possess. Concrete jungles in cities like Mumbai have systematically wiped out the earlier green tracts of land over the years. A few stray trees here and there can now be seen in most localities in Mumbai.

Besides, citizens themselves are unappreciative of the value of planting and maintaining trees, often thoughtlessly hacking off entire branches and stems because the tree blocks their view, or because the leaves fall on their parked cars below. But while we cannot always stop the rampant killing off of trees, we can do our bit to add to the greenery in our immediate surroundings to beautify them.

The health benefits of having plants in the home cannot be disputed, but several people feel that having potted plants in the home is only for those who like gardening and getting their hands dirty with soil. If you were unaware of the benefits of having plants in the home, let us give you four good points:

Clear the air with plantsThey clear the air. This is pure science. Every plant’s natural food-creating process ensures that large amounts of pure oxygen are released to the environment and harmful carbon dioxide is absorbed. This is why office workspaces should have large plants (preferably of the flowering variety) in close vicinity, because the freshness they bring to the air is more beneficial for people sitting in air-conditioned environments all day. Breathing fresh air is a luxury in a highly polluted city like Mumbai, so the more plants you will have at home or in the office, the fresher will be the air you breathe.

However, ensure that plants are not present in the bedroom or sleeping space, because they reverse the oxygen-carbon dioxide release process at night, so effectively, you will be breathing carbon dioxide as you sleep.

Their products are safe to consume. People who plant their own kitchen gardens swear by the nutrition value of the fruit and leaves their gardens yield. Since you take care of the garden yourself, you are careful in limiting the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, as also spraying your plants with harmful Kitchen garden producefungicidal. People who plant tomatoes, onions, chillies, lemons and even oranges and carrots at home eat fresh, healthy produce daily. Their food is as free from chemical intervention as possible.

Dr Ramakant Shetty, a dentist, has been cultivating his own organic kitchen garden for three years now. “I limit the buying of vegetables and fruit from the market,” he explains. “The produce from my garden is larger in size, tastier and very healthy for even young children to eat.”

They promote calmness and health. Much like looking at fish swimming in a fish tank promotes feelings of serenity among sick people, maintaining your plants is good for health. At a physical level, cultivating a variety of potted plants is hard work. “You have to periodically re-pot the plants, change the soil, add manure and bio-waste to enhance its quality, and conduct regular checks to see that grubs and ants are not eating your plants,” says Dr Shetty. “Working in the soil is good for the body and the mind, because the aroma of fresh earth enhances the mood. Those who have large gardens can keep fit with regular work in the garden.”

Most people who invest time and energy in growing plants in the home are thoroughly invested in the plant’s welfare. It is a healthy hobby to cultivate as well.

They uplift the mood on sight. Fresh, healthy and well-groomed plants are a delightful sight, and they uplift the mood instantly. It has to do with the green colour of the leaves and the sharply contrasting colours of fruit and flowers on the plants that pleases the eyes and cheers us up. “Plants in good health will have firm green leaves and stems, and they will grow faster,” opines Shraddha Kamat, a housewife. “I always enjoy observing my plants when it is windy – because the plants are healthy, the leaves dance in the breeze instead of wilting and falling out,” she smiles.

(Pictures courtesy www.bbc.co.uk, chemicalfreeagriculture.blogspot.com, blackfootnativeplants.wordpress.com. Images used for representational purpose only)

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Guest writer

My body is weighed down…

A Mumbaikar writes about her struggles to lose weight and not finding enough time and motivation to keep at it.
Pooja Birwatkarby Dr Pooja Birwatkar

Amidst all the stresses of our lives, inconsequential and significant, one stress grips most people in the world, especially if one is a female. I don’t mean to sound stereotypical in my supposition, but I have observed that women all over the world fuss, fret, frown and lose sleep over the idea of weight loss.

Any woman, from an anorexic model to actors, entrepreneurs, housewives, working women, or any women you see on the street, worries about her weight. We all have the common nagging feeling that we are lost in the fight against the bulge. Nobody is content with their weight we all wish for magic wands to make those oodles of extra weight evaporate into thin air, even as we gobble everything in sight and don’t exercise.

Slowly entering middle age, and trying hard to hold on to my youth, I have tried practically every trick to keep myself fit and fine. Gone are the days when uncomplicated weighing machines would just point to your weight. Now, those same machines heartlessly tell you your weight but also announce that you are obese. Not believing one such machine recently, my worst fears were confirmed when a medical checkup concluded high cholesterol levels and pounds of extra flesh I was carrying.

There began a vicious cycle of thinking positive thoughts alternated with losing my mind over how to reduce my burden on the Earth.

And yet, I am reasonably active (Mumbai people can’t afford to be stationery). My daily dose of exercise is supplemented by going up and down several flights of stairs at the local train station. I run, hop, walk fast to reach office on time. So why do I still have extra weight? Is this much exercise not enough? Sadly, it isn’t. Most medical practitioners will tell you that your mind has to be stress free when exercising. So all of our daily jogs to work and back don’t actually help as they cause more stress and strain.

I am in awe of those super women with not an ounce of extra fat on their bodies guzzling junk food and it doesn’t show on their bodies at all. Meanwhile, I wear what I eat. I see lots of women who eat healthily, but blame it on Mumbai’s commute, which makes you hungry after a long day at work. As one steps out of the trains to run home, the aroma of wada pav being freshly prepared at a stall outside the station makes you salivate. The hungry stomach growls. At that time, Every Mumbaikar's guilty pleasuremy normally sane brain completely reverses sides and tempts me to go for it. “Eat one today, nothing happens, don’t eat it again. It’s okay once in a while. Diet from tomorrow.” I listen to my brain and polish off the fresh snack. And as I am eating the last bite, my brain retracts its own words fast enough to put a politician to shame, and now reprimands me for succumbing. “Don’t you have any self-control? So many extra calories, indulging in junk food!” I curse myself for eating, but a few days later, the same thing happens.

Now that we are not conscious enough.  Mass media and our social networks go out of their way to put the fear of the word ‘calorie’ in our minds, so much so that we count calories more than our bank balances. Our health feeds are full of scary accounts of diabetes, heart rate, obesity, what you should eat, how much exercise you need, what’s bad and what’s worse. There are various accounts of how eating healthy salads, brown rice, quinoa and wholesome soups is good for you, but who is going to make them? After a tiring day at work, all I want to do is ransack the fridge.

People with perfect figures claim that the days they eat a bit extra, they burn it out in the gym. Some say eat and lose it, others say don’t eat and lose it, others advocate choice eating…I ultimately eat and pile it on.

How can one make time for healthy eating and exercise in Mumbai? Tell us in the comments section below.

Dr Pooja Birwatkar is currently pursuing post doctoral research and working in the area of science education. She has been associated with the field of education in the past as a teacher educator, and her area of interest is research in education. 

(Pictures courtesy www.fertilityclinicmumbai.com, gluebomb.com. Images are used for representational purpose only)

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Wellness

Get rid of that stye in your eye

Summer brings with it several eye infections. A stye is one of them, and it is often easy to treat.
Dr Anand Shroffby Dr Anand Shroff | Consultant Ophthalmologist, Shroff Eye Hospital

The medical term for a stye is ‘hordeolum’. Styes are very common at this time of the year when the temperatures soar and make the environment susceptible to bacterial growth. A stye occurs when glands at the edge of the eyelids become blocked and subsequently infected, due to bacterial contamination. I have seen many cases of styes and conjunctivitis this month.

According to Indian Ayurveda, certain foods also produce heat in the body. Pitta is associated with heat and its effects are felt during summer. Many patients have a history of styes being formed after they have eaten a lot of mangoes or pickles. Although there are no scientific studies citing this, this is a common finding during summer, at least in India!

My grandmother and mother have followed this tradition of ‘cooling’ mangoes before eating them by soaking them in water. I don’t know how much that helps, but mango lovers who are susceptible to styes in summer should certainly try it. Some people are more susceptible than others, as they have greater amounts of bacteria on their lids or have excessive discharge of the mucous glands and hence are more likely to develop a blockage.

Things we do that encourage bacterial growth:

  1. Not removing makeup before bedtime
  2. Using old, contaminated cosmetics or cheap ones
  3. Rubbing the eyes with unclean fingers
  4. Inserting and removing contact lenses with unclean fingers
  5. Not following proper contact lens hygiene
  6. Swimming without wearing swimming goggles

A chalazion (also known as a meibomian cyst) is different from a stye. Chalazion is a blocked eye lid gland which is long standing, not infected and forms a bump on the eyelid, usually resulting from an untreated stye. A stye is an acute infection of the gland which usually causes redness, swelling, and pain. If you have a swollen lid that seems to be especially tender in one localised area, the chances are high that it is a stye.

Either way, the preventive steps and first line of treatment remain the same and it is best to see an ophthalmologist for accurate diagnosis.

What should you do?

The first line of treatment should always be hot compresses and eyelid hygiene.  When it is painful, it is usually in the acute phase and at this time it responds well to hot compresses.

Because a stye is well sealed from the outside, antibiotic drops do not penetrate very well to the site of infection. However, hot fomentation or applying heat to the inflamed area normally works. The most important aspect of heat application is to do it as frequently as possible especially during the initial phase of the stye. An acutely inflamed stye may begin to drain and at this point topical antibiotic eye drops may help.

Eyelid hygiene: Stop using eye make-up for a while as make-up can be contaminated with bacteria. Apply baby (tear-free) shampoo to a clean, wet wash cloth or ear bud and gently rub along the eyelid margins once a day.  Some prefer using commercially available pre-moistened eyelid wipes. Any mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory tablet may also help reduce painful discomfort.

If the stye hardens and forms a closed cyst, it may need minor surgical removal.

If left untreated…

Some styes remain the same, few get worse and a few get better on their own. If it is on the upper eyelid, it may affect vision, but only due to the drooping of the eyelid, which reduces when the condition improves. On the lower lid it is less likely to interfere with vision. However, it is not possible to know how it will evolve, hence simple home remedies as listed above should be adopted.

(Featured image courtesy medicalpoint.org)

Categories
Beauty

10 homemade night creams for beautiful skin

You don’t need to buy expensive face creams any more. Just make them at home using ingredients from your kitchen.
by Rohit Soni

If you’re looking for a good skin cream and are confused about the sheer variety of brands on offer, you’re on the wrong trail. You don’t need to buy what you need, just make it at home.

It is possible to make some really awesome night creams at home, using ingredients from the kitchen. Note that your skin’s regenerative power is much higher during the night as compared to the day. Also, the skin repairs itself at a faster rate at night, which means that a simple night cream can help your skin as it recovers.

The creams available on sale are packed with chemicals. Why slather chemically rich creams on your face, when you can make so many good night creams using natural products? Here’s presenting 10 homemade night creams and how to make them.

Milk cream. Milk is considered as a natural skin cleanser. Not just cleansing, milk has moisturising properties too, which add a healthy glow to the skin. Prepare your own cleansing and moisturising balm by mixing milk cream, rose water, glycerine and olive oil. Mix the ingredients well until they form a lump. Store the cream in a container, put it away in your fridge and use every night for soft, glowing skin.

Almond oil night cream. Almond oil is the best substance for the skin. Almond oil helps in treating the problem of dry skin effectively. To make this cream, mix almond oil and cocoa butter and melt them over a low flame. Remove from flame and mix rose water and honey to the mixture. Blend all the ingredients and your cream is done. This cream works best in winter.

Apple night cream. Apple is very beneficial for the skin. Their multivitamin content nourishes the skin, while the antioxidants present in apple help in protecting the skin from free radical damage. The use of this cream helps in your skin’s anti-aging fight. Cut an apple into small pieces and blend them with some olive oil until they form a smooth paste. Now boil this paste for a few minutes on low flame. Remove from flame and add rose water to it. Cool the mixture and store in a container. Using this cream every night would help in fighting fine lines and wrinkles.

Green tea night creamGreen tea night cream. The detoxifying properties of green tea help in clearing the skin by removing all its impurities. Aloe vera also imparts softness to the skin. Go ahead and make your own green tea and aloe night cream. Start by mixing bees wax and almond oil, boil them until mixed properly. Now add aloe vera gel and mix again, finally adding green tea extracts and almond oil to the mixture. Store the cream in a container and use it every night before going to bed.

Aloe vera night cream. Aloe vera’s benefits for skin and hair are numerous. Its rich properties help get rid of acne and blemishes. Aloe vera is also very beneficial if you want soft and supple skin. To prepare this cream, you need to mix some fresh aloe vera gel and lavender oil. Now add one spoon of primrose oil to it and mix all the ingredients. Store the cream and you are done.

Glycerine night cream. Glycerine in very useful in locking in the moisture of the skin and along with the varied properties of coconut oil, almond oil and rose water, this cream works wonders. Mix some coconut oil and almond oil and boil the mixture until they are properly blended. Remove from flame and add glycerine and rose water to the mixture. Cool the mixture and store it in a container. Voila! Your cream is ready.

Olive oil night cream. Olive oil helps moisturise the skin and imparts a soft glow. For this night cream you will need olive oil, coconut oil, bees wax and a Vitamin E tablet. Mix olive oil, coconut oil and bees wax and heat them until everything is melted. Now crush the Vitamin E tablet or add its capsule’s powder to the mixture and mix well. Store the cream at room temperature.

Cocoa butter cream. Cocoa butter is great for the skin. The use of cocoa butter cream helps in getting rid of dry and chapped skin. Not only this, cocoa butter also helps in getting rid of wrinkles. To prepare this cream, you need coconut oil, olive oil and cocoa butter. Add all the ingredients and boil them until they are mixed properly. Now wait till the mixture cools before you store it in a container.

Avocado night cream. Avocados are rich in Vitamins A, B, C, K and E, apart from potassium and magnesium. All these nutrients help provide an anti-aging Avocado night creamboost to your skin and help in making it clear and soft. Blend egg or yogurt in a blender and add mashed avocado to it. Blend the mixture again to form a smooth paste. Store in a container and use this cream two times in a week to reap its benefits.

Turmeric night cream. Turmeric helps in treating a number of skin problems, apart from brightening the skin. Soak some almonds overnight and blend them to make a smooth paste. Add turmeric, lime juice, sandalwood powder, yogurt and saffron to it. Blend again to make a smooth paste. Store in a container and use every night for beautiful skin.

(Pictures courtesy www.jellibeanjournals.com, www.fashionstown.com, www.stylecraze.com. Pictures are used for representational purpose only)

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