Literally meaning “shining bitter substance”, Aloe Vera is known as the potted physician and has found fans across the globe. This cactus-like plant with green dagger-shaped leaves is filled with a clear, viscous gel but behind its unassuming exterior, lies a wealth of hidden properties. In recent decades, medical research has confirmed and extended many of the health claims for the shining bitter substance which is a native of the African Congo region.

Aloe has more than 300 species ranging from a couple of inches tall plant to a full grown 2 feet tall plant. This rosette of long, fleshy succulent leaves grows to a height of 12 to 16 inches. Its fibrous root system produces long, tapering,

Stem less leaves. The inside of the leaves are juicy with mucilaginous sap. These light green leaves have spiky margins and are blotched with cream. The firm upright stems bear several bell-shaped, fleshy flowers, ranging from yellow to orange-red. Related species are used as an antidote to arrow poison, but we value the plant for its medicinal healing effect on burns, wounds and insect-bites.

A native of Africa, Aloe Vera is adaptable to living in hot, dry, climates that only receive periodic moisture. Therefore, the leaves are storehouses of water and nutrients needed to keep the plant alive during periods of drought. Aloe Vera leaves are so efficient at storing water and nutrients that the plant can live for months after being uprooted. Each leaf takes about 14 months to mature and be harvested.

Aloe Vera gel can be used internally and externally. It is obtained from the plants’ pulp containing approximately 200 biologically active substances including vitamins- antioxidant vitamin C and E and Beta Carotene and minerals, enzymes, sugars, anti-inflammatory salicylic acids and fatty acids. It is also one of the few plant sources in the world of Vitamin B12.

The gel consists of 99.3% water and the remaining 0.7% is a synergistic mix of the above constituents. It is important to use the gel either from a fresh plant or one that has been preserved without degrading processing.

The use of Aloe for healing, health and beauty is not new. This plant has been used by ancient civilizations of India, Africa, Egypt, Persia, Greece, and is even mentioned in the Bible. As one of the herbs in the beauty arsenals of Cleopatra, aloe Vera gel today is showing up as a main ingredient in cosmetics and on Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal, Bengal and catakore in Karnataka and the shelves of health food to grocery stores. The ancient Egyptians referred to aloe as the “plant of immortality” and included it among the funerary gifts buried with the pharaohs

In India, Aloe Vera is found across the country and has been used locally over the ages for burns, cuts and wounds, as a digestive/laxative, for good hair and skin. It has also been taken for liver and spleen disorders (jaundice), rheumatism, lumbago, and for intestinal worms. It is known as korfad /korfaat in Maharastra/ Madhya Pradesh, gwar gandal /gwar patah/ ghee kanwar in Uttar Pradesh, Goa.

Skin regeneration: Aloe is used externally as a moisturizer, cleanser, body conditioner, for nourishing the skin membranes and helping them heal. Aloe coats and protects against UV rays. It relieves the pain and discomfort of sunburn. People with very dry skin may use Aloe Vera in conjunction with cream or oil.

Hair conditioner: For soft, healthy hair and for prevention of dandruff and hair loss, try to rub the inner portion of Aloe Vera skin into the scalp, before or after a hair wash. For dry hair, use Aloe Vera in combination with hair oil.

For infants: Aloe Vera prevents nappy rashes and skin infections. Apply Aloe Vera for prickly heat, hives, insect bites etc.It is also very effective as a first aid for any eye or ear infection.

Aches and pains: Muscle aches, pains, and other discomfort associated with joints respond well to Aloe gel massage. It is helpful for team fitness and is used to treat sports injuries, especially sprains, strains, tendonitis. The direct application of the gel, a mild anesthetic, relieves and itching, swelling, and pain. It is antibacterial and antifungal and increases blood flow to wounded areas.

Soothes burns and scalds: The immediate application of an Aloe Vera leaf or gel will relieve the pain, reduce the chance of infection and lessen the danger of scarring. Not only does it moisturize the area, Aloe Vera reduces inflammation and pain, and stimulates rapid regeneration of the tissue.

Laxative and digestive tonic: Taken internally, the gel relieves ulcers, colitis, constipation, and other digestive disorders. Aloe Odin, an ingredient in Aloe, is a powerful laxative. Taken in small doses, it is an excellent digestive tonic.

Reduces blood sugar in diabetes: Aloe reduced the blood sugar levels in diabetes, as reported in Hormone Research. Five patients with adult (non insulin- dependent) diabetes were given ½ teaspoon of Aloe extract daily up to 14 weeks. Blood sugar levels were reduced in all patients by an average of 45%, with no change in their total weight.

Reduces arthritic swelling: Relief is obtained from drinking 2-4 tablespoons of the gel daily. Aloe Vera is effective in curing other inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis & even lupus.

Stimulates immune response against cancer: Aloe may help prolong survival time and stimulate the immune system of cancer patients. Taken internally and regular application of Aloe Vera externally arrests cancer. Aloe’s protective effect was confirmed in a study of 673 lung cancer patients in Okinawa, Japan, published in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research. It was the only one of the plant foods that was protective against cancer.

Nasal, sinus congestion and sore throat: Diluted to one-half or one-third strength, Aloe Vera relieves nasal and sinus congestion like nose drops. It also helps reduce polyps, kill infection and soothe irritated sinus membranes.

SUPPORTS SURGICAL RECOVERY:

Any wound treated, whether it is surgery, suturing a cut or removing a skin cancer, heals better with application of fresh Aloe Vera on it.

Screens out radiation: Aloe protects against skin damage from X-rays. Medical journals have reported that Aloe is an effective anti-oxidant, moping up the free radicals caused by radiation, and that it protected two of the body’s healing substances, super oxide dismutase (an antioxidant enzyme) and glutathione (an amino acid which stimulates the immune system).

Minimizes frostbite damage: About 67.9% of patients suffering from frostbite, who additionally received Aloe Vera cream, healed without any tissue loss (amputation) compared to 32.7% in the control group. Researchers concluded that Aloe prevented a decrease of blood flow to the frozen tissues, a common cause of tissue loss in frostbite.

While Aloe is shown in studies to benefit in many ways, this miraculous plant will work differently for every body. Remember, the body cures itself through the miraculous bio defenses. Modern medicines, herbs, Aloe etc. provide the body what it requires to effect a “cure”, or at least to arrest disease at its current stage. The alchemy of a happy mind, body, and soul, supported by herbs & medicines together achieve health.

Some helpful tips

1 .Do not starve your body, not eating regular meals or eating too little will also
cause bad breath.
2. Brush your teeth after meals to get rid of the bacteria responsible for bad breath
There is a soft ,sticky layer of living and dead bacteria sticking to your teeth
and gums called plaque.
Dentists say there will be as many as 50 trillion of these microscopic organisms
loafing around in your mouth like highway robbers. They will be stalking in
in every dark corner and stealing from every morsel of food you put into your
mouth.They too give out bad breath.

3. Clean your tongue. Some people are in the habit of only brushing the teeth,
they do not clean the tongue, which is a very safe refuge for the bacteria.
Doctors say that the surface of your tongue is covered with a mushroom like
microscopic projections, and under the caps of these projections food particles
remain along with the bacteria to form the plaque, causing bad breath.
Clean your tongue too with a tongue cleaner
4 .Use mouth wash. This is a good way of keeping your mouth fresh and fragrant.
You can select any good brand of mouth wash by it’s color or flavor .They contain
essential oils like benzoic acid, eucalyptus, peppermint, wintergreen, which are
very helpful in keeping your mouth free from bad breath
5 Chewing gum or mint is good for a short spell ,say a short ride in a car
or an interview.
6. Make parsley a part of your diet .Chew it thoroughly after meals, it will
freshen your breath in a natural way.
7, Chewing spices. There are certain herbs which are good enhancers and keep your
mouth fresh and fragrant, They are cloves, fennel or aniseeds. Make sure any one
item is always available in your kitchen shelf. When you are out ,then carry
it in a small plastic cover or box.. Chew it after every odorous
food .
Hope the above tips will be helpful in keeping your mouth fresh and fragrant
like rose .
Medical alert:if the problem persists pl consult your doctor.It is possible that
you may be suffering from some serious disease.

What do you know about Bad Breath

This is a very common problem being faced in the society today.And it could be a big
hurdle in your way to achieving your goal.

You are a MBA with distinction and today only you have attended an interview for a
very hot job.you were satisfied with your performance at the interview.You are sure
that you have answered all the questions put forth by the interviewer.Now comes the
hitch.When you stand up to shake hands with him,you see a tight grimacing smile on
his face.You wonder at this sudden change of his facial expression.A few moments back
he was all smiles.You do DO NOT know that you have blown just a whiff of bad breath on
his smiling face.This was not what you wanted at the end of such a successful
interview.

What are the causes of bad breath ?
---------------------------------
There are innumerable causes for this problem.Here we will discuss some of the main
causes of bad breath.
1.Spicy foods: Highly spiced foods prepared with garlic and onion emit bad breath.
---------------
Lip smacking spicy deli meats such as pastrami,salami,pepperoni leave behind oils
which recirculate bad breath even upto 24 hours after you have gobbled them.The other
dairy products like canumbert,Roquefort and blue cheese too have the same affect on
your breathing.

2.Whiskey,wine and beer
-----------------------
These are culpritsthat are on the top of the list as far as liquid foods are concerned.
Once you have gulped the drink it can leave a residual smell that sticks to palate
in your mouth and goes down to the digestive system.Every time you breath out,it
spews traces of these drinks back to your mouth and into the face of who ever is
standing near you,your interviewer,your girl friend or for that matter your foe,
changing their facial geography.
-----------

What are acne and pimples

ACNE - ------------------------------------------
You enter the bath room with your razor for the morning shave.And as you
put the razor to your chin you notice a pink dot on the tip of your nose.You
open your eyes wide to see clearly what it is .When you stare at your face
closely into the mirror you glimpse a couple of white heads on your right
cheek.Stunned you sit on the edge of the bath tub and wonder
(remembering God now after a long time)what in the name of heaven they
are.

They are ACNE which are the friends of your adolescent years .But
sometimes they befriend people who are in their middle or old age as well.
Acne is a term generally applied to pimples,white heads,black heads.It is
the result of the pores of the skin being blocked and inflamed.

What causes acne------------------------------------
Too much of eating or not doing any exercise does not cause it.Even dirty
hair,skin is not the cause.You may ask "then
what the hell is the cause.The fault is not yours,but your heredity's.After
a lot of research doctors have come to the conclusion that it is the
inherited defect of the pores of the skin. And the type of environment and
climate in which you live is also a contributory factor,and it can precipitate it.
Research has also revealed that certain type of birth control pills and make
up lotions also contributes to the outbreak of acne.
Working women are highly prone to acne as they are habitually more
stressful and do a lot of make-up.The real culprit is the oil in the creams,
rouges,night moisturizers.The oil is extracted from the fatty acids which
plays havoc with your face,causing the outbreak of acne.
SOME USEFUL TIPS------------------------------
1. Use a non-oil based make-up if you are prone to acne.
2. Avoid the use of products containing lanolins,isopropyl mirystate,sodium
laurylsulfate,laureth-4,D&C red dyes(Better read the labels before purchase)
3 .You can use the OTC (over the counter products) if they contain benzoyl
peroxide.This chemical gets into the pores,releases oxygen that kills the
bacteria.It also suppresses the fatty acid cells that irritates the pores.OTC
products are marketed in form like gels,liquids,creams,or lotions.But doctors
recommend a water-based gel as it is least likely to irritate the skin.
4. Start products with low concentrated benzoyl peroxide.
Wash your make-up off your face regularly every night before going to bed.
Use a mild soap twice a day to wash your face (rinse the soap off your
face)
5 . Leave the pimples as they are.But there are certain types which you can get
rid of.A pimple with a yellow pus head can be gently squeezed off,with the
pus out the pimple will heal more quickly. The black-heads too can be
eliminated the same way.
6. Before applying the medicines wash your face thoroughly with a mild soap.
7 . Apply the medicine half an inch around the affected areas.This will not only
treat your acne but also prevents it from spreading.
8. Do not go for multi-treatment .Use one medicine at a time.Otherwise
your face will become a battle field ,the acne having won the war against
you.
9. Avoid exposure to sun rays,sunscreens,infrared heat lamps , until you know
the reaction once you are on the medication.
Hope these tips will keep your face happy and pimple free
BODY ODOR
Yes nobody wants to stink.
The smell emanates usually from the areas of our armpits and groin.
Now a days with increasing awareness of the hygiene be in the east or the
west every body wants to look clean and smell rosy and no body wants to
look dirty and smell stinky.
The body odor is the result of the perspiration or sweating befriending the
bacteria.The more physical activity one does the more he/she sweats.
of course this is good for your health as the body is purged of all the wastes
in the form of sweat which may cause so many diseases.
The other reason for the body odor is that the extracts of certain
food items licretions several hours after eating them,thus giving the odor .
Helpful tips to get rid of the odor.------------------------------------------
1. The best way to keep the body clean is to scrub it with soap
and water every day,and night too if your job involves more of phsical
activity.Change your underclothes with every bath you take.
2. If the odor persists, use antiperspirants.They are chemicals which kill
bacteria causing the bad smell.
3. If you are allergic to the above then use topical antibiotic cream available
in any drug stores.
4. Tomato bath ! Yes tomato bath is a proven way to keep away the smell.
Pour a couple of cups of tomato juice in the water ,stir it well,and
sit in the watertub for about 15-20 minutes.Doctors say that this method has worked
even on stinking dogs !
body