When tired with still nerves and aching joints, Reflexology, a simple natural therapy, which gives complete relaxation and refreshment, could be of help. Reflexology is an alternative therapy that helps balance the body, and stimulates organs, while also offering relaxation and improving circulation and generating feeling of wellness. It works on the principle that there are reflexes located on the soles of the feet, which corresponds to every organ in the body.
In other words, Reflexology is the physical act of applying gentle pressure on specific pressure points of hands and feet with thumb, finger or hand techniques, without the use of any oil, lotion or cream. The application of this pressure is assessed on the basis of ten longitudinal areas and zones, reiterated on the feet in the body’s image, linking foot to body, with a promise that such work brings about a physiological change in the body.
As said by Reflexologist Habiba Bijapuri, these pressure points are gateways to vital energy centers in the body. These energy centers could get blocked due to daily stress. Using reflexology technique, these energy centers could be cleared and the balance to the body is restored.
Procedure: During a reflexology session, the reflexologist relaxes your feet and cleans them first. Then the thumbs or a blunt instrument is used for application of gentle pressure to a particular point on the sole of the foot, which is connected to certain organs. The feet are gently massaged. This massaging helps in breaking up uric acid crystals that develop on the feet, thereby reducing gout and improving circulation. The process helps in bringing in more oxygen to the tissues, so that they get more functional.
It should be noted that reflexology is not another form of massage. It works through nerve endings, while the massage is applied to body muscles.
Benefits: This technique is believed to relive stress, pains, aches and tension, while promoting digestion and bowel actions and aids sleep patterns. It is a great remedial practice that helps stimulate nerves of the hands, feet, and ears, so as to affect the corresponding organs of the body. Foot Reflexology helps in healing the whole body, apart from foot problems. It is a good remedy for headaches, sinus congestions, back pain and other minor health problems.
According to research studies, reflexology helps relieve health conditions such as asthma, chest pain, back pains, constipation, pre-menstrual syndrome, gout, headaches, exhaustion and migraine.
Reflexology is not advisable for pregnant women and for those with cardiac problems, although there is no evidence to prove that it is harmful.
According to the latest study published in the journal Neurology, it has been confirmed that high blood pressure in people can lead to memory loss over a period of time.
A large-scale study, involving nearly 20,000 people over the age of 45, found that high diastolic blood pressure (the lower reading when measuring blood pressure (BP) is more likely to cause cognitive impairment or memory problems and thinking skills, compared to people with normal blood pressure.
The study found that for every 10 point increase in diastolic blood reading, the chances of the patient developing cognitive problems were 7 percent higher. The results were judged after taking into account other factors such as smoking, age, diabetes, cholesterol levels and exercise levels.
However, the biggest challenge with hypertension is that it is asymptomatic, and therefore, several people are not even aware of the problem. In severe hypertension, patients may experience headache, nose bleeding or blurred vision. Most patients discover about hypertension when they undergo a routine clinical examination. Therefore, it is important to check BP regularly. On timely diagnosis of hypertension, cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia, can easily be prevented, says Georgios Tsivgoulis, University of Alabama, Brimingham.
Hypertension is not necessarily caused due to stress or strain, as is often believed. Stress is an inevitable part of life, and may slightly aggravate a pre-existing hypertension. Just as is the case with any other disease, hypertension can also be managed with medication and life-style modifications, says Dr. Manju Aggarwal.
Recommended food for BP patients:
Apples, due to their rapid and considerable diuretic effect, help in increased secretion of urine, thus bringing blood pressure down to normal levels.
Lemons, being a rich source of Vitamin C, strengthen the arteries when consumed in moderate amounts.
Garlic, is no-doubt, the most effective remedy for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Its benefits double when consumed raw. It helps modify the heart rhythm, relieves dizziness, shortness of breath, and widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing the pressure.
Brown rice, due to the presence of calcium content, soothes and relaxes the nervous system, therefore lowering blood pressure.
Beetroot, an excellent solvent for calcium deposits, can be helpful in treating hypertension.
Amla (Indian gooseberry) and aloevera juice, when taken daily in the morning, helps flush out body toxins.
Increase intake of vegetables and fruits. Potassium present in fruits and vegetables helps counteract the effects of sodium that causes high blood pressure.
Fasting on coconut water and fresh fruits for a minimum of 2 to 3 days every two weeks can help. Consuming raw/boiled vegetables or soups are also recommended. Make sure to have dinner at least 3 hours before sleeping.
Foods to Avoid:
The most important aspect in controlling high blood pressure is to reduce the salt intake. Sodium in salt increases the contractility of blood vessels.
Ayurveda recommends avoiding pulses, gram, milk, milk products and cereals for the initial three months of detection of BP problems. Thereafter once the digestion improves, and BP normalizes, begin taking cereals, milk etc., but, in moderation.
Avoid fried, processed and refined foods, tea, coffee and soft drinks.
On adopting the recommended diet plan, high blood pressure will get back to normal within 3 months.
Want to stay off dementia? Drink a glass or two of apple juice everyday, recommends a new study.
Researchers at Massachussets University in their study noticed that drinking fresh apple juice on a daily basis can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and several other age-related cognitive declines.
For their study, the researchers carried out several laboratory experiments which demonstrated that drinking apple juice helped mice perform better than normal in maze trials and prevented decline in performance, otherwise observed in aged mice.
They found that mice receiving human equivalent of two glasses of apple juices a day, for a month, produced less of beta-amyloid, the protein fragment responsible to form senile plaques commonly found in brains of individuals suffering from Alzheimers.
The studies further suggested that regular consumption of apple juice apart from keeping one’s mind functions at its best, also delays onset of Alzheimer’s disease and augment therapeutic approaches.
People with Alzheimer’s disease have abnormal levels of plaques and tangles in their brain cells. An earlier research in the Loma Linda University, US, revealed that daily consumption of pomegranate juice helps in cutting down risk of Alzheimer’s by fifty percent, as it prevents degeneration of brain cells.
Meanwhile a previous Scandinavian study showed that drinking at least 3 cups of coffee everyday in mid-life can prevent onset of Alzheimer’s in old age. The mice bred with Alzheimer’s when given equivalent of 5 cups of coffee per day, showed better memory and half the beta amyloid plaques, otherwise noticed in decaffeinated mice with the disease.
Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia, affecting elderly population across the globe. The Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, Neil Hunt, said that it is vital for people to lead a healthy lifestyle with balanced diet rich in antioxidants. The best way out is to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly.
Natural compounds present in fresh vegetables and fruits may help in treating cancer in a more effective manner, when used simultaneously with chemotherapy drugs.
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer showed that the presence of chlorophyllin, a water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll, is ten times more effective in tackling the growth of colon cancer cells, than the chemotherapeutic drug used for the purpose.
The study conducted by experts in Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University shows that chlorophyllin kills cancer cells by blocking the same phase of cellular division as that done by the chemotherapy drug, but through a different mechanism.
On the basis of this finding, researchers suggest that it may be possible to develop this compound in a manner, so as to have a synergistic effect with conventional cancer drugs. This may help them to work better or may require less toxic dosages.
The study report states that chlorophyllin has the potential to be effective in a clinical setting, when used independently or together with other cancer therapeutic agents.
Few other studies published in journals Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention Research, have also studied the role of organic selenium compounds present naturally in garlic and Brazil nuts, in killing human prostate and colon cancer cells.
The form of organic selenium naturally present in garlic and Brazil nuts, were converted to metabolites in cancer cells, which acted as HDAC inhibitors.
The Professor and Director of Cancer Chemoprotection Program, Rod Dashwood, says that the concept of combining conventional or new cancer drugs with natural compounds, have shown anti-cancer properties and seems very promising.
Several chemotherapeutic approaches in dealing with cancer, involves targeting specific cancer cells and doing a procedure that inhibits the process of cell growth.
“We are now locating this mechanism of action for natural compounds, including dietary agents. Further researches may help in making the two approaches work together to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies,” Dashwood concluded.
Blueberries are one of the best foods offered by nature. They are native to North America, and are well-known for their anti-cancerous properties. Experts recommend daily consumption of blue berries due to their high flavanoid content and superior health qualities.
The latest researches have revealed additional benefits of eating blueberries. For instance, these purple-hued fruits help in sharpening memory, and also fights Hepatitis C virus.
The Tufts University researchers carried out an experiment on rats, wherein it was found that the rats that had been fed a diet with containing 2 percent blueberry extract, did better in navigating a maze, than rats that did not get the compound. The researchers noticed that rats when fed with blueberries, showed increased cell growth in the hippocampus region of the brain.
According to researchers, the ‘anthocyan’ present in the dark blue pigment of blueberries is responsible for these cognitive changes. It contains chemicals that have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and lodge in regions governing learning and memory.
In yet another recent research by University of Miyazaki in Japan, it has been revealed that a chemical present in blueberry leaves halts growth of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which has been infecting about 200 million people worldwide, eventually leading to Liver Cirrhosis.
At present there is no vaccine for HCV. Although there are combinations of drugs that can clear an HCV infection, it is only 60 percent effective, with severe side effects.
The study lead, Hiroaki Kataoka and his colleages believe that as HCV is localized to liver, it can take more than 20 years to develop into disease, and therefore, a dietary supplement can help in stopping the progression of this disease.
After screening several agricultural products, they found a strong potential in the leaves of rabbit-eye blueberry. They identified a compound known as proanthocyandin, a polyphenol similar to the chemicals in grapes and wine, and noted that its effective concentration against HCV was 100 times less than toxic threshold.
Similar chemicals are also found in several other edible plants, which suggest that it could be a safe dietary supplement.
Other health benefits:
The phytochemicals and flavanoids in blueberries help in protection against vascular instability.
A decoction of Blueberry leaves has long-since been used in folk medicine for treatment of diabetes. Further researches have confirmed that oral administration reduced elevated blood sugar levels, when administering glucose simultaneously.
The researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center say that blueberries are the topmost in anti-oxidant activity, in comparison to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables, thus preventing age-related diseases.
Pterostilbene compound in blueberries has the potential to be developed into a neutraceutical for lowering cholesterol levels.
Blueberries are also a natural remedy for persistent diarrhea and acute enteritis. They also prevent eye damage, treat myopia, and protects against retinal degeneration.
Extract of blueberry helps in destroying funguses, bacteria and yeasts, while an infusion of blueberries works as a stimulating astringent for sore throats and mouth sores. Due to their astringent properties, they have also been used to treat hemorrhoids.
To make an infusion of blueberries or blueberry leaves, take three fresh blueberries or 1 tsp. dried, in a non-aluminum pan, and cover with 2 cups of boiling water. Do not boil herb, but allow it to steep for 15-20 minutes.
So stock up on blueberries, sprinkle them over your cereal or yogurt, or fold them into a smoothie. They can also be purchased in capsule form or extracts, teas, or natural states.
Here’s more to green tea. Latest study from Japan further supports previous evidences, confirming that drinking green tea can have cardiovascular benefits.
A study conducted on elderly people from Shizuoka, revealed that regular green-tea drinkers have considerably lower levels of cardiovascular mortality, than those who rarely drank the beverage.
Etsuji Suzuki and colleagues at Okayama University, studied 12,251 individuals for six years, all of whom were questioned about frequency of green tea consumption. An inverse association was noticed between green tea consumption and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but not cancer mortality.
All-cause mortality was 62 percent per 1000 individual during these years, among those consuming less than one cup of green tea a day. However, the mortality rate was only 14.4 percent per 1000 people among those drinking more than 7 cups a day.
During the entire period of study, there was 76 percent reduction in comparative risk for cardiovascular mortality, associated with highest versus lowest level of green tea consumption among all participants, with men at 70 percent risk reduction, while women were at 82 percent risk reduction.
It has been noted that magnitude of risk reduction for cardiovascular mortality are larger than those seen in previous studies in Japan. The current study offers comparatively more evidence about the protective effects of green tea on cardiovascular disease mortality, resulting in significant implications for public health, the team concludes.
On the whole, about seven cups of green tea a day can help in massive reduction in risk of death from colorectal cancer and heart disease, the new study suggests.
There have already been several clinical trials that showed beneficial effects by green tea such as its antioxidant properties and favourable influence on LDL cholesterol and hypertension.
Recently scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong had also reported that cells of regular tea drinkers have shown younger biological age, than cells from non-tea-drinkers.
medicinal benefit of marigold flower
Marigold (also known as Calendula officinalis) is no-doubt more than a beautiful flower, with a line of researches and studies having proved so.
Research has proven that this common flower, apart from wiping out garden insects, showed promising results in eradicating stubborn warts. Marigold has been in use for several years in the UK to treat several foot problems, including bunions, plantar faciitis, fungal infections, tendonitis, and verrucade, also known as plantar warts.
Vlahovic, a Phytotherapist (who uses plants for medicinal purposes), investigated the use of marigold in three HIV positive patients, as an alternative treatment for the small skin lesions called verrucae. It was noticed that the treatments either greatly reduced the number and size of warts or in few cases even cleared them completely in four to six sessions, while other treatments failed to do so.
The effectiveness of the plant on foot issues has been proven more than 30 years ago, and thereafter, several different mixtures of the marigold plant have been found effective in treating foot problems.
Marigold has also been proven as a natural medicine for several health conditions. The latest among these is the place that it has found in books of cancer, as a cancer-cure, given its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
‘Lutein’, the yellow carotenoid pigment found in abundance in Marigold, has a range of health benefits. Researchers at the University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City, India, observed 4,403 subjects during their study on colon cancer. Researchers particularly observed the effectiveness of carotenoids and their effectiveness on various stages of colon cancer. On evaluating the dietary carotenoids a-carotene, b-carotene, lycopene and lutein, zyxanthin and b-cryptoxanthin, lutein was found to be the most effective against colon cancer, particularly among youngsters.
Lutein, found in HDL or good cholesterol, prevents LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. Evidence from 1994 study reveals that consuming foods high in Lutein content is associated with low risk of heart disease.
A six months study conducted on 16 patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), who were administered 40mg/day of Lutein for four months, followed by 20mg for two months, revealed that within three to four weeks of doing the study, participants reported improvement in vision. According to researchers, food and dietary supplements containing Lutein, helps in maintaining good vision health for a lifetime.
A cold infusion conducted by cooling marigold tea in a refrigerator, dipping cotton pad into the resulting solution and placing it on the eye, and replacing the pad often when required, is good for eyes.
Marigold tincture is also excellent in healing burns, impetigo, and stings. It is wonderful in treatment of corns, warts and calluses, while the flowers are used in treatment of several skin conditions ranging from eczema to varicose ulcers.
Marigold tea: Dried flowers of the plant can be used to make tea. The best way to use marigold is in the form of tea, by drying only the flowers and using them to make tea.
For making tea, boil water and add a tablespoon of flowers to the pot of tea and let it steep. The tea purifies blood, and therefore should be had regularly. Marigold tea is a good remedy for cases of diarrhea, liver problems, herpes and glandular swelling, hepatitis, in expelling worms, and intestinal inflammation.
Marigold tea and horsetail could be used in equal proportions for cracked feet, ulcerated legs, cancer and tumor growths, and non-healing wounds.
Marigold juice: Both flowers and stems can be used to juice marigold. Carrot or apple juice could be added to this strong juice to ease flavour, if required. Fresh marigold juice is best used for scabies and warts.
Marigold ointment: To make an ointment, chop some fresh flowers, and add it to coconut oil. Heat lightly and allow it to cool. The ointments are excellent remedy for Athlete’s feet, varicose veins, nose scabs, eczema, and skin infections.
With such endless list of benefits, and remedies to numerous ailments, marigold can even be used daily. Several local herbalists, store dried marigolds and are easily accessible, but, one should ensure that it is purchased from a reputable supplier.
Ash gourd, also known as white gourd or wax gourd is an annual, hairy, creeping herb. Modern study has confirmed its effectiveness in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate enlargement.
The pumpkin seed oil, when used in combination with saw palmetto in human studies, showed effective reduction in symptoms of BPH. Researchers suggest zinc free fatty acid, or plant sterol content of pumpkin seed may prove beneficial in men with BPH. Studies have shown that the pumpkin seed extracts can improve functioning of the bladder and urethra, which might help in achieving BPH symptom relief.
Studies have also illustrated that ash gourd contains plenty of moisture and petite amounts of fat, protein, carbohydrates and fibre, apart from calcium, phosphorous, iron, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin and Vitamin C.
Medicinal values of Ash gourd:
Good diet for diabetics: Ash gourd is known for its medicinal values and healing power. Being low in calories, it is ideal for diabetic patients, and those seeking weight-control. The cooling purgative herb boosts secretion and disposal of urine. Therefore it acts as a good detoxifying agent too.
Cures Peptic ulcer: Ash gourd juice is beneficial for those suffering from peptic ulcer. The juice derived from shredded ash gourd, when mixed with equal amount of water, could be taken every morning in an empty stomach, and thereafter no food should be consumed for three hours.
Kills intestinal worms: The seeds of ash gourd are anabolic and encourages tissue growth, particularly, when consumed with coconut milk. It helps in ejecting tapeworm and other intestinal worms.
Treats constipation: It provides good relief from constipation and tones up the general digestive system.
Beats acidity: Due to its strong ‘antacid’ action, it helps in maintaining the body pH. It counteracts acidity created in the stomach due to intake of acidic foods like fried, soft drinks and denatured food.
Acts as blood coagulant: Ash gourd acts as a blood coagulant. Since ancient times, its fresh juice, when mixed with a teaspoon of gooseberry or lime juice, is used as a specific medicine to stop profuse bleeding from lungs and presence of blood cells in the urine.
Treats common cold: It helps in controlling common cold, cough, fever, sinusitis, bronchitis, influenza and more, without any side effects. It can also be of much relief to chronic asthma patients.
In Ayurveda, ash gourd is used to treat epilepsy, asthma, lung diseases, urine retention, internal haemorrhage, and cough. The fruit juice is also effective in cases of mercury poisoning and snakebites. It can even treat mouth cancer, protecting teeth and gums when a mouth gargle of the juice is done regularly. It is also effective in bleeding of gums.