Corns and calluses are often caused by pressure due to wearing improper shoes. Corns are small and round areas of dead skin that form on the bony areas of toes. Calluses, on the other hand, are dead skin areas that develop on the balls or the heels of the feet. To treat corns and calluses at home, try these:

• Apply lemon juice to the affected area.
• Apply onion juice on the corn.
• Apply castor oil on the corn or callus.
• Tie a moist tea bag on the corn. Keep for half an hour. Do this daily till corn peels off.
• Wear shoes that are comfortable, have padded insoles and fit nicely.
• If your feet have high arches, use arch supports.
• Take a  cotton ball and dip it in vinegar. Squeeze and remove extra vinegar. Keep over corn overnight or till the cotton ball is dry. Repeat.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, cure for corns, home made remedy for bruise, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

At a time when everyone is trying to tighten one’s purse strings, at a time when we need to sit up and take notice of global warming and reduce unnecessary consumption and hence wastage, there is a lot one can save by following these very simple tips in the kitchen.

• Given the fast paced lives we lead today, we tend to cook food and then store in the refrigerator for consumption later. Or we tend to use packaged food that we buy and store in the fridge. When we take out this food and put it in the microwave or on a kitchen stove, it takes up a lot of fuel to warm up the food. This can be saved on drastically if we take the food items out of the refrigerator well in advance and let them get to the room temerature before heating them.
• Soak pulses in water well in advance before cooking. This will reduce cooking time and hence help save fuel.
• After you are done with making chappatis, use the hot tawa to warm anything that you might have taken out of the fridge for heating. You will be surprised how much residual heat is still there in the tawa.
• A few drops of oil or a small piece of butter, added when steaming pulses speeds up the cooking process. I have tried this while cooking dal, rajma and channa and it works.

Tags: environment conservation, Global Warming, green living, Save Earth, Stop Wasting, Sustainable Living

Garlic has numerous medicinal values and is often used in Ayurveda. Its role in blood purification and heart ailments is acknowledged even in allopathic medicine. Indian cuisine commonly uses garlic as an ingredient that aids digestion. Garlic is known to aid against digestive issues like belching, flatulence and constipation.

Consumption of garlic helps reduce arthritic pain as it inhibits the formation of free radicals that can damage joints. The normal dosage is a clove of garlic taken with water in the morning.

Garlic slows down the ageing process as it purifies blood due to its detoxifying properties. Garlic also improves blood circulation and prevents clotting of blood. It reduces bad cholesterol and the blood pressure. It is recommended to chew a clove of raw garlic every day.

Garlic paste when applied on acne, boils, eczema and rash for 5 to 10 minutes has curative powers, because of its strong sulphur content. However, it may also irritate certain skin types and should be used with caution.

Garlic also has antibiotic properties and is also sometimes used to treat bronchial troubles.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, garlic, green living, natural cure, natural cure for heart ailments, Natural detox, Natural healing, natural health

Last weekend I had a tingling pain in my gums. My mom advised me to mix salt, turmeric and mustard oil and rub it gently over my gums and teeth. Worked pretty well for me I must say and my pain was gone by Tuesday.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic cure for teeth, ayurvedic remedy, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health, Paining Gums

The simplest, natural cure for chapped lips is to heat a little desi ghee and gently apply on chapped lips. Works wonders and I prefer it to the medicated lip balms. Try it the next time you have chapped lips. 

Some people have black lips which might be a result of exposure to Sun’s UV rays, applying lipstick, smoking, excessive caffeine consumption among others. Not drinking enough water can also result in dark lips. A few common home remedies for dark lips are:

• Mix some salt in milk. Apply this on the lips, rubbing gently. Wash off after 10 minutes. Follow this routine for 15 to 20 days.
• Take a few drops of almond oil, add a little edible coconut oil and 2 drops of lemon juice. Apply on lips. Leave for as long as you can and then wash off
• Scrub the lips a little with desi ghee. Leave it to work on the dark lips overnight.
• Turn a lemon peel inside out, apply a few drops of honey or glycerine on your lips and scrub them gently with the inverted lemon peel.
• Dab a few drops of glycerine on your finger tips and gently apply on the dark lips. Do this daily.

The condition of lips indicates our general health. Pink lips are indicative of a healthy body. If your lips have begun to turn dark or black, an unhealthy lifestyle might be to blame. Drink a lot of water and include physical exercise in your daily routine to restore natural color to your lips. Avoid applying too much of lipstick, lipgloss or choose your brand carefully. Avoid consuming too much of tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks. Avoid smoking. And switch to a naturally healthy lifestyle.

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, black lips, Chapped Lips, Dark Lips, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

All of us, at some point or the other, have been through the uncomfortable feeling that comes with hiccuping. Next time you start hiccuping, try one of these easy to use home remedies:

• Put something in your mouth to chew. A green cardamom or some sugar or Mishri.
• Gargle with water.
• Drink some water.
• Hold your breath for a few seconds.
• Chew a piece of bread.
• Divert your mind. Yep, it works

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, Hiccups, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

The water that we use for bathing today is often either mixed with impurities or has residues of scores of chemicals that have gone into treating it free of contamination. Thats the reason why more and more people are now complaining about hair falling. There are some easy home remedies to arrest hair falling. Here is one of those natural cures:

Boil 6-7 cinnamon sticks (dalchini) in a pan of water. After the water reaches boil, reduce the flame and let the water simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Then, let it cool and apply on the scalp. Shampoo after half hour.

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, hair fall, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

Dates are a healthy snack and have numerous health benefits. Dates are:

• rich in carbohydrates. And therefore, give instant energy and are preferred by those who do a lot of physical work.
• low in fat
• rich source of natural fibre
• rich in Vitamin A, B and E
• rich in Iron and Calcium
• rich in Potassium, Magnesium and Phosphorous
• easy to digest

Dates have been found to be particularly beneficial in:

• preventing abdominal cancer
• pregnancy
• respiratory disorders
• low blood pressure
• strengthening bones
• preventing night-blindness
• building natural resistance
• providing instant energy and nutrition
• treating intestinal disorders

Tags: dates for natural health, health benefits of dry fruits

Often bad breath is a result of fasting, poor diet or long gaps between meals. If it isn’t because of dental decay, you could try these homemade remedies:

• Gargle with 1 tsp. of honey and cinnamon powder mixed with hot water.
• Rinse your mouth frquently.
• Have frequent sips of water.
• Keep your tongue clean.

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, bad breath, natural cure, natural health

To get rid of blackheads, clean your face and rub some baking soda with some mineral water on the affected area. Keep rubbing gently for about 2 minutes and then wash off.

To prevent blackheads from forming, keep your face clean. Blackheads typically occur on oily skin when it is not clean. To control oil on your face, the following scrubs and masks can be helpful. However, do a patch test first.

• Take equal amount of almonds and walnuts. Grind them coarsely. Now add some semolina or rice powder to the mix. Add skimmed milk next and make a paste. Apply on the face and gently scrub. This will also give an instant glow.
• Take 1 tsp. each of lemon juice, orange juice and tomato juice. Mix 1/2 tsp. of ground peanuts or walnuts. Use as a mask to reduce oiliness. When the skin on the face begins to feel tightened, scrub off gently with some water.
• Grate 1/4 of an apple. Mix with 1/2 tsp. of oatmeal. Make a paste of the mix with some skimmed milk. Apply on the face as a mask. 

Tags: ayurveda, blackheads, natural cure, Oily skin