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

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

For the heart: Garlic purifies blood and improves circulation of blood. It prevents blood clotting and reduces bad cholesterol and blood pressure.

In digestion: Garlic has curative powers for problems such as belching, gas and constipation.

In Arthritis: Consumption of garlic helps reduce arthritic pain.

For the skin: Garlic paste applied on acne, boils, eczema and rash for 5-10 mins. has curative power. However, do a patch test before you use garlic on face. Some people are sensitive to garlic application on skin.

Anti-ageing: Garlic purifies blood due to its detoxifying properties and slows down the ageing process.

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

Oftentimes, we read certain things which seem interesting, and then before we know, they get imbibed in our mind and we seem to follow them consciously or sub-consciously. Like, there was this snippet I read somewhere which said what is good for eating is good for applying too and it went on to suggest how applying tomato juice, potato juice, honey etc. is good for the skin! And now invariably after I have grated tomatoes or cucumber, I find myself applying the leftover on my hands to my face, before washing my hands off.

And then there was this article I read on the benefits of Amla (Indian gooseberry) - which are a plenty, including the well known fact that Amla is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a very good anti-oxodant. So come winters, when Amla is in abundance, I make it a point to add a chopped amla to the gravy of vegetables I make. Gives it a very slight tangy taste and a darker colour to the gravy. You can add a chopped amla while steaming chickpeas – gives a nice sour taste and turns the gravy dark brown without the need to add extra spices.

Instead of Amchur, one can use amlas with mint, coriander, green chillies, tomatoes and garlic to make green chutney – personally its my hot favorite, taste with all the goodness of greens and amlas. You can also put a couple of amlas in Sarson ka Saag!

My mother who doesn’t like the sour taste of Amla, makes Murraba and sugar coated candies using diced amla. You can get as innovative as possible with Amla and yet not go wrong! I make my own Amla hair oil as well. Just grate a few amlas, add to mustard or coconut oil and store for a few days. This hair oil is really good and makes your hair dark, lustrous and strong. Though while using it, be sure to put disposable or pvc gloves on else you might stain your hands black. If that happens though, don’t worry. Just rub a lemon peel on to the affected fingers and you should be fine.

Tags: ayurveda, Indian gooseberry, natural cure, Natural detox, natural health

As it happened, I tripped last night and hurt badly one part of my face, elbows, knees; worsening an ankle that was already mildly sprained. It didn’t feel that bad then but when I got up this morning I had a sore, swollen face and paining joints! The fact that it has been bitterly cold the last few days and expected to get worse, as the weatherman predicts, didn’t help the matter. But since the doc wasn’t going to be available before 10 am I decided to follow my mum’s advise and treat the bruises the natural way. It worked and how! I am in the office now(10:20 am), typing this out and the only place its still hurting is the part of the cheekbone under the left eye. This is what I tried:

• Had a glass of hot milk with 1 tsp. of haldi(turmeric). [It didn't taste as bad as I thought it would!!]
• Tried cold compression on cheekbones and other visible bruises. I didn’t have broken skin. Apparently, it shouldn’t be used over broken skin.
• Hot fomentation on the ankle, knees and elbows.
• Finally, applied some cabbage and onion juice on the affected areas.

Its working and hopefully I will get to be fighting fit after another round or two of the above. Thankfully, without any medicine popping

Tags: ayurveda, ayurvedic remedy, home made remedy for bruise, natural cure, natural health, treat bruises