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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

HOME REMEDIES FOR MENSTRUAL CRAMPS


 Menstrual cramps, also medically known as dysmenorrhea, can be described as a dull and throbbing pain, experienced by women, in the lower abdominal area. It is possible for a woman to have menstrual cramps during her period, or even just before she begins her cycle. Most girls and women who have reached puberty have experienced menstrual cramps at some time or the other, but their intensity may vary. For some, these cramps may be no more than a minor inconvenience or source of discomfort. However, in others these menstrual cramps can be severe enough to disrupt regular activities. There are also many women who do not have these cramps at all. Although anyone can experience menstrual cramps, either as a one-off or on a monthly basis, it has been seen that some women are more prone to cramping. Some of the factors that increase the chances of suffering from menstrual cramps include:


-Reaching puberty at an early age, - 11 or younger

-Being below the age of 20 or never having been through childbirth

-Genetic factors, like a family history of dysmenorrhea

-Metrorrhagia, more commonly known as irregular menstrual bleeding

-Menorrhagia or heavy bleeding during periods

-Unhealthy habits like smoking, leading a sedentary lifestyle, consuming excess alcohol and taking illegal drugs etc.

Even though menstrual cramps are very common, they should be checked by a doctor, particularly if they are a cause for severe pain and discomfort. This is because at times, these cramps could be caused by hormonal imbalances or health conditions that are severe. In such instances, the intensity of the cramps can be reduced considerably, by addressing the underlying cause.

If the cramps are not caused by a severe health problem, simple home remedies can also be quite effective in dealing with them. In some women, these menstrual cramps may also reduce or completely disappear, after childbirth.

Symptoms of Menstrual Cramps:

Many claim that menstrual cramps are a sign that the menstrual cycle is about to begin soon. However, there are several symptoms for menstrual cramps that can help you recognize the problem and accordingly seek help if necessary. Some of the most obvious signs of menstrual cramps include:

-Dull throbbing pain in the abdominal area

-Pangs or cramps in the lower abdominal region

-Heaviness or a bloating sensation

-Pain that begins in the abdomen and radiates to the lower back and thighs

In some cases, you may also experience these symptoms, in addition to menstrual cramps:

-Nausea or vomiting
-Excess perspiration
-Loose stools
-Increase in the frequency of urination
-Dizziness
-Loss of appetite
-Mood swings
-Uneasiness
-Backache

Menstrual cramps and their symptoms are more evident in those girls and women who have started menstruating in the last few years. When this happens, it is rarely a cause for concern. However, if the cramps are so severe that they keep you from getting out of bed, then in all probability they could be an indication of a deeper underlying condition. Moreover, experiencing severe menstrual cramps on a one-off basis is not unusual, but if they become a regular occurrence that you go through every month, it is best for you to consult a doctor, to identify its cause.

Your health care provider may ask you all about your symptoms and will probably study your family history too. Therefore, before you go for your appointment, keep detailed notes about the description of your symptoms as well as the factors you think trigger them off.

Causes of Menstrual Cramps:

When a woman is going through her menstrual cycle, the uterus contracts, so that the inner lining can be expelled. The prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances, trigger off contractions in the uterine muscles, which also lead to pain. The higher the level of prostaglandin, the more severe the menstrual cramps are likely to be. Hormonal imbalance is one of the most common causes for menstrual cramps.

However, there could be other factors too, that lead to menstrual cramps. Given below are a few of the health conditions that have been known to cause severe menstrual pain and cramps:

-Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which is a disease or rather an infection, affecting the female reproductive organs.

-Non-cancerous growths on the walls of the uterus, commonly known as Uterine Fibroids.

-Cervical Stenosis, where the opening of the cervix is quite small because of which, it impedes the flow of blood. This causes the pressure in the uterus to increase, along with the pain.

-A condition known as Adenomyosis, in which the tissues lining the uterus start growing into the muscular uterine walls.

-A very painful health condition called Endometriosis, where the tissues that are supposed to line the walls of the uterus get implanted in other parts of the body, mainly the fallopian tubes, pelvic tissues and the ovaries.

Try not to panic every time you experience those menstrual cramps, because they are not always indicative of a major health problem. However, it is best to get the problem checked so that the cause can be determined accurately, and treated if necessary.

Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps:

Most women leading active lifestyles cannot afford to let menstrual cramps affect their daily routine and performance much. Therefore, it is quite common for them to relieve these cramps with the help of medications or home remedies. There are several over the counter Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen or naproxen, which relieve menstrual cramps, pain and discomfort. However, in order to avoid any side effects that are usually associated with medication, many women prefer using simple and natural home remedies for menstrual cramps.

Heat therapy is very effective for relieving cramps caused by the menstrual cycle. Apply a heating pad or a hot water bag directly on to the lower part of your abdomen. This not only helps to get rid of the cramps but also alleviates the other uncomfortable symptoms. There are many women who prefer to soak in a hot bath instead, as it reduces the discomfort and enables them to feel more relaxed. This remedy is fairly safe if used correctly and can be quite effective. This treatment poses no risk and so can be turned to as frequently as needed without any worry about after effects.

It has been seen that many women tend to cut down on physical activity during the course of their menstrual cycle. However, studies indicate that being physically active can actually reduce the pain caused by menstrual cramps. When you're doing any type of aerobic exercise, your body is pumping more blood; this helps to release endorphins to counteract the prostaglandins and reduce your cramps. Exercising three to four times a week is good for the overall health of your body, but it is especially important if you're prone to painful menstrual cramps.

Prevention is always better than the cure, which is why making sure your body has enough vitamin D is important in preventing menstrual cramps.

Acupuncture, which is a part of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for alleviating many health problems. Menstrual problems, like cramps can also be relieved with the help of this practice. However, it is essential to visit a qualified and experienced acupuncturist for this purpose.

The anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties associated with cinnamon can ease the symptoms of menstrual cramping. Sprinkle cinnamon on your breakfast foods or add to a tea.

Parsley not only increases menstruation and aids in regulating a monthly period, but parsley juice also treats painful cramping. Blend and drink 75 milliliters of parsley, beet, carrot, and cucumber juices for maximum results.

Sexual Intercourse relieves abdominal cramping by having an orgasm, as the repeated muscle movement causes blood and other fluids to flee your congested organs. In the end, you will enjoy much more than just pain relief.

While the remedies for menstrual cramps mentioned above are quite safe, it is best to use them after consultation with a doctor. In case they do not bring about the desired results, you may need to consult your health care provider. If the cramps are a result of underlying disorders, you may even need to go through a treatment routine, therapy program, or in some cases surgery.

Diet for Menstrual Cramps:

Following a healthy diet is very important at all times and not just during your menstrual cycle. Several studies have indicated that certain vitamins are very effective in reducing the severity of menstrual cramps. Healthy foods can help restore energy levels and reduce lethargy, tiredness, weakness and fatigue.

Fruits and Vegetables: The deficiency of a particular vitamin or a mineral can sometimes lead to severe cramping during a menstrual cycle. To avoid this, you could consume a higher quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables, as they are high in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. There is a wide variety of fresh vegetables you can eat, but green leafy veggies like kale, cabbage and spinach are more important than the others. Eating the skin of the fruit is also an excellent way to avoid menstrual problems.

Fish: Many varieties of fish are high in Omega-3 fatty acids and therefore contain anti-inflammatory properties, which are great for minimizing pain all over the body. Hence, eat a higher quantity of fresh fish before your menstrual cycle and during it. This will reduce cramp pain and will enable you to stay active, even during your period.

Whole Grains: It is important to eat a lot of foods that have been made from whole grains during the menstrual cycle.

Stay away from food items that contain the word “enriched”, as they are not very useful. This word indicates that the products are not made from actual whole grains. Instead, opt for foods made from 100% whole grains or whole wheat.

Flax Seed: The production of prostaglandin in the body is one of the main factors causing menstrual cramps in women. Flax seed is great for reducing prostaglandin, which minimizes the intensity of menstrual cramps. Women are usually advised to consume between one and two tablespoons of flax seed during the menstrual cycle. You can sprinkle ground flax seed over your salad, morning cereal, a cup of yogurt or in a smoothes.

Basil: Drinking Basil Tea during the menstrual cycle has proved to be very effective in reducing menstrual pain and cramps. For best results, drink one cup of basil tea every hour. One can also choose to sprinkle a small bit of cinnamon powder over your tea, so that its taste improves and has a better, more positive impact on your body. Many women find it difficult to consume basil tea, because of its taste. In that case add fresh basil leaves to your food.

Ginger: This is one of the most commonly used home remedies for reducing menstrual cramps and pain. The best part about ginger is that it can be used in several ways to deal with the excruciating pain. Drink ginger tea with some honey or lemon juice added to it. Drinking this tea at regular intervals throughout the day not only reduces the pain, but also helps get rid of other uncomfortable menstrual symptoms. You could increase the amount of ginger you use in your food, while cooking. Yet another way of having this remedy is by sucking on some candied ginger.

Nuts: Several types of nuts are high in magnesium, Vitamin E, calcium and other nutrients, which helps reduce menstrual cramps considerably.

Vitamin Supplements: Add a supplement containing Vitamin E, calcium, zinc, magnesium or thiamine to your diet, in order to reduce menstrual cramps and bloating.

Suggestion for Menstrual Cramps:

Even though menstrual cramps have no major complications on their own, they could interfere with your day-to-day activities. Just remember that you don’t need to suffer in silence. There are millions of women across the world, who share your plight and you should try to relax. Let those around you know that you could do with some support, both at work and at home. Stress can severely aggravate the symptoms, so try and share some of your responsibilities, and allow yourself some relaxation.


Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.


This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.


HEALTH BENEFITS OF PEANUTS

-Peanut contains vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

-Whole peanuts contains high amount of protein, which makes it a preferred diet of those people engaged in body-building and those people who are weak and underweight.

-Peanut contains iron which is essential for the correct functioning of red blood cells.

-Peanut is rich in calcium which helps promotes healthy bones.

-Peanut has higher bioflavonoid resveratrol content than grapes. This bioflavonoid is believed to improve blood flow in the brain by as much as 30%, thus greatly reducing the risk of stroke.

-People having kidney or gallbladder problems should avoid eating peanuts, because peanuts contain measurable amounts of oxalates, a naturally occurring substance found in plants, animals and human beings. When oxalates become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause health problems.

-People having thyroid problems may need to avoid peanuts because a peanut contains goitrogens, a naturally occurring substance in certain foods that can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland.


Although cooking may help to inactivate the goitrogenic compounds found in food, but it is not clear from the study how many percentage of goitrogenic compounds get inactivated by cooking.

Friday, October 4, 2013

GET RID OF ACNE & PIMPLE SCAR


Acne leaves after them scars that could be very depressing for a long period of time. Such prominent skin flaws are a girl's worst nightmare. But, they can be gotten rid of with a wee bit of effort and time. Acne scars are definitely something every girl wants to get rid of. Until recent times there was no permanent solution to get rid of acne scars.

While blemishes, for some people, depend on hereditary components or skin hue, precautions can be taken to avert scars and treatments are accessible to considerably reduce scarred skin’s appearance.


While there are some cosmetic therapies that could be done to remove acne scars yet these remedies do not guarantee any permanent results. With that being said there are some house-hold remedies that has proven to work slowly and steadily on these scars. These remedies not just help in removing the scars but also help you from keeping away from it.

Home remedies for Pimple/Acne Scars:

Fenugreek (Methi) is a productive ingredient to heal acne scars. Make a paste out of fenugreek leaves and use it as a face mask. You can even boil Fenugreek seeds, blend them in a fine paste and store it in a cool place.  Use this paste on acne blemishes, leave it on for 15-20 mins and wash it with cool water.

Aloe Vera is a routinely used natural remedy to decrease acne blemishes. The Aloe Vera plants are well known for their magical proficiency to help mend scars and cuts. Aloe Vera juice is widely used in healing acne scars as well as fight breakouts. By applying Aloe Vera juice regularly on the affected area helps in toning the skin color.

Apply Lemon juice on your acne scars with a cotton pad. Leave it on the affected area for a while, let your skin absorb the lemon juice, and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Lemon juice acts as natural bleach in improving the appearance of dark acne scars and blemishes by lightening them.

Lemon and Glycerin Face Mask: Make a face mask with one part freshly squeezed lemon juice and two parts glycerin and use it once a week. You can notice a huge difference within a couple of weeks.

You might experience burning sensation immediately after applying the juice but it usually lasts only for a little while. If the skin burns too much then dilute the juice with water! Please note that daily usage of lemon can cause your skin to go dry, so, in case you notice flaky skin then add a little bit of honey or milk to the lemon juice!

Sandalwood and rosewater paste is another remedy that can be utilized as a facial mask and can be directly applied on the scarred area. Leave the paste on for more than an hour (leave it overnight if you can).Than wash off the mask completely using cold water. This is proven to be an effective method to treat acne blemish.

Olive oil is truly a miracle substance that helps in nourishing your skin. Regular application of Olive oil not just helps in decreasing acne scars but also helps from future breakouts.  Massage the oil on affected parts of your skin every day. It has moisturizing properties that soften the texture of your skin and reduce the prominence of your acne scars.

Tea tree oil is a great ingredient to reduce the acne scars. This oil is imported from Australia and is widely used for healing acne scars and furthermore prevents any outbreaks in the future.

Cucumber is great in keeping the skin smooth and supple. Many distinct cosmetic beauty products often have cucumber as a key ingredient in it. Furthermore Indian gooseberry lotions and creams are apt for reducing acne scaring and outbreaks.

Tomatoes are a rich source of Vitamin A which is why it nourishes and rejuvenates your skin. By helping your skin grow quickly, it manages to remove the scars from your face! Slice a tomato into four pieces, crush them into a pulp, and apply the paste on your face!

There is another method you can use which is a bit more complicated: take tomatoes and avocados/cucumbers, grind them together to make a paste out of them, and then apply it on your face as a face mask.
No matter which method you use, it is recommended that you keep the tomatoes on your skin for at least an hour, before washing your face with lukewarm water!

Grated Raw Potato: Make a face mask with grated raw potato and use it twice or thrice a week. It's simple. Just rub some grate potato on the affected skin, leave it to dry and wash off. It is very effective on all kinds of scars.

Ice Cube: Most of them also use ice cubes to get rid of their acne blemishes at home. Wrap an ice cube in a cotton cloth and rub it on the affected areas for 10 to 15 minutes every day. This should reduce the inflammation on your skin, thereby helping in make it smoother. This is one of the best natural acne remedy.

An egg white face mask can also be used to fade marks. Apply only the egg white carefully onto your face. Allow the egg white to dry and rinse with water.

Milk and oatmeal face mask can also be used to remove scars. Apply the mixture for about ten minutes and then rinse.

Neem(Indian Lilac) paste mixed with sandalwood powder is the best way to get rid of pimple scar mark.


Few Advises to Reduce Pimple/Acne Scar Mark:

- Choose lightweight, non-greasy, oil free cosmetics. There is a range of make up products that helps effectively in covering the acne scars temporarily.

-Drink 8 glasses of water in a day. Thorough hydration is good for all skin types and keeps your skin radiant.

-Avoid soaps with harsh chemicals as acne prone skin is usually young, and very sensitive.

-Have a glass of vegetable juice with fresh lime, three times a week. Keeps your skin healthy, keeps your weight off and gives you great skin in the long run, if you make it a habit.

-Just because you have oily skin, doesn't mean you don't need to moisturise. Vitamin E is very good at lightening blemishes. Use a good moisturiser that is light and does not clog pores.

-Always carry a pore minimising face wash with you. Keep your skin clean at all times.

-Avoid soaps with harsh chemicals as acne prone skin is usually young, and very sensitive

-Keep your skin clear of any make-up and wash your face with water as many times as possible to get rid of pimples.

-And never pop the pimples as these would lead to scars. Pimple marks are the scars that result after an acne breakout. They are often difficult to remove and take time to fade. There are commercial and homemade treatment options available. Surface skin blemishes can often be removed by these methods. However, if the skin blemishes are deeper, cosmetic procedures may be needed. Some cosmetic procedures are micro dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing.
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