Remedies & Other Knowledge

Benefits of olive oil are varied and many. One of the famous exponents of monounsaturated fat is olive oil. It is also a main component of Mediterranean diet. It is a natural juice, which maintains the taste, vitamins and the properties and aroma of olive fruit. You can find olive in various forms, based on the amount of processing involved.

Different varieties of Olive oil Pure olive oil: It undergoes only some processing i.e. filtering and refining.

Extra virgin: It is considered as the best because it is least processed. This oil is taken from the first processing of olives.

Virgin: This is extracted from the second processing of olives.

Extra light: This variety only contains a mild olive flavor.



Benefits of Olive Oil

The beneficial effects of olive oil are due to the high contents of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidative substances. Most of the studies showed that olive oil decreases the risk of heart disease by reducing LDL cholesterol and rising HDL cholesterol. Also, the oil shows beneficial effect for gastritis and ulcers. The secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones is successfully activated by olive oil. Gallstone formation is also decreased with olive oil.

Olive oil for heart disease: Studies showed that consuming 25 milliliters of olive oil daily for one week reduces the LDL cholesterol and raises antioxidative compounds. This oil is one of the good healing fats and it won’t disturb the omega 6 to omega 3 ratios.

Olive oil for colon cancer: The oil shows great effort in preventing colon cancer. Studies showed that people who consume olive oil supplements are at a less risk of colon cancer when compared to those who don’t receive.

Olive oil for constipation: Taking one tablespoon of olive oil mixed with lemon juice in the morning in an empty stomach can relieve from constipation.

Olive oil for digestive tract: Taking one tablespoon of olive in an empty stomach helps to reduce the heart burn and upset stomach.

Olive oil for hair loss: Massage your scalp with olive oil every day before going to bed for a week. Wash the hair in the morning and after a week you will observe significant improvement.

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of healing that incorporates herbal and other medications, certain surgical techniques and also focuses on meditation, yoga and massage.

Various different kinds of massages that are based on Ayurvedic principles have become popular in western countries – variously termed as hot oil massage, Ayurvedic massage, Kerala massage, Shirodhara (which is the gently pouring liquids over the forehead which is thought to be the site for the third eye) and so on.

Hot oil massage is thought to help by reducing tension and swelling in the muscles and help to tone and condition them, to improve the condition of the hair and the skin to prevent premature aging and also for therapeutic uses such as to improve sleep, for controlling arthritis, muscle atrophy for itchy skin and so on.


Medicated or hot oil massage to the body is thought to have the following restorative qualities:

1. It can increase suppleness of muscles and also impart flexibility.

2. It can enhance muscle and bone strength and can tone and tighten the muscles. The Indian concept of ‘dhatu’ which literally means element, but in this context refers to the tissues of the body, can be toned and invigorated with the help of this kind of massage.

3. It can improve eyesight.

4. It can help in relaxation and may aid restful sleep.

5. It is thought that Ayurvedic massage can help improve blood circulation in the body and therefore enhance the functioning of the body’s organs owing to improvement of the quality of blood supplied to them.

6. There is also the belief that hot oil massage can help to enhance immunity for the person, making them better able to withstand infection and disease.


Hot oil massage for the head and scalp as well as the ear area is thought to have the following benefits:

1. It can nourish the skin and the hair, improving the sheen and suppleness as well as prevent premature appearance of wrinkles.

2. The oil can not only condition the hair shaft, it can also help stimulate the hair follicles, causing new hair to grow.

3. Oil massage to the ears can help to alleviate stiffness in the neck and jaw areas.

4. The sense organs such as hearing, vision, and the olfactory senses are invigorated by massage about the scalp and ears.


Hot oil massage to the feet can help in the following ways:

1. Rough or dead skin of the feet is alleviated with massage with hot oil, and ligaments are strengthened. Foot fatigue and numbness is also reduced.

2. Since the soles of the feet are known to correspond to various other parts of the body, massaging there can help with problems such as sciatica pain and can even help improve vision.

The kind of oil used for the hot oil massage and the temperature of the oil should depend upon the climate and the weather and also upon the temperament and nature of the person who is to undergo the massage. Thus the oil massage is required to be customized according to the person’s requirements.


Via: Sejal

What is the significance of Number 108 in Hindu Philosophy?


As per Indian mythology, Indian culture has a very special significance of
number 108. What is this number represent, and why is it so important?

1) In one minute, we breathe in approximately 15 times, in 1 hour 900 times,
and in 12 hours 10800 times, and in a day 10800x2 times. A day consists
of 24 hours, and if we set aside half the day for our day to day routines,
then one can spend 12 hours for recitation of one's idol. Therefore, the
maximum number of times that one can recite "mantra", or perform "Jaap" are
10800. If one wants to obtain 100% benefit of its jaap, then performing
jaap 108 times will give you the benefit of 100%. That's why in a "Mala",
there are 108 beads. It is written in Vedas, that 1 Jaap corresponds to
1 mala (which has 108 beads), therefore performing jaap of 108 malas will
result in 100% benefit.

2) Astronomically, there are 27 constellations in our galaxy, and each one them
has 4 directions, and 27 * 4 = 108, In other words the number 108 covers
the whole galaxy.

3) According to Indian scriptures, letter 9 corresponds to Lord Brahma (the
creator of universe). Mathematically, the interesting property of 9 is
9x1 = 9
9x2 = 18 (8+1 = 9)
9x3 = 27 (7+2 = 9)
9x12 = 108 (1+0+8 = 9)

Harshad Number:
108 is a Harshad number, which is an integer divisible by the sum of its digits (Harshad is from Sanskrit, and means "great joy")

Desires:
There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals.

Lies:
There are said to be 108 lies that humans tell.

Delusions:
There are said to be 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance.

Heart Chakra:
The chakras are the intersections of energy lines, & there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. One of them, sushumna leads to the crown chakra, & is said to be the path to Self-realization.

Sanskrit Alphabet:
There are 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet. Each has masculine & feminine, shiva & shakti. 54 times 2 is 108.

Pranayama:
If one is able to be so calm in meditation as to have only 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come.

Upanishads:
Some say there are 108 Upanishads, texts of the wisdom of the ancient sages.

Sri Yantra:
On the Sri Yantra there are marmas where three lines intersect, & there are 54 such intersections. Each intersections has masculine & feminine, shiva & shakti qualities. 54 times 2 equals 108. Thus, there are 108 points that define the Sri Yantra as well as the human body.

Pentagon:
The angle formed by two adjacent lines in a pentagon equals 108 degrees.

Marmas:
Marmas or marmasthanas are like energy intersections called chakras, except have fewer energy lines converging to form them. There are said to be 108 marmas in the subtle body.

Time:
Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, 36 related to the present, & 36 related to the future.

8 extra beads:
In doing a practice of counting the number of repetitions of the mala, 100 are counted as completed. The remaining are said to cover errors or omissions. The 8 are also said to be an offering to God and Guru.

Chemistry:
Interestingly, there are about 115 elements known on the periodic table of the elements. Most of those, around or higher than the number 100 only exist in the laboratory, & some for only thousandths of a second. The number that naturally exist on Earth is around 100.

Astrology:
There are 12 constellations, and 9 arc segments called namshas or chandrakalas. 9 times 12 equals 108. Chandra is moon, and kalas are the divisions within a whole.

River Ganga:
The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and a latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31). 12 times 9 equals 108.

Planets & Houses:
In astrology, there are 12 houses and 9 planets. 12 times 9 equals 108.

Goddess Names:
There are said to be 108 Indian goddess names.

Gopis of Krishna:
In the Krishna tradition, there were said to be 108 gopis or maid servants of Krishna.

1, 0, & 8:
Some say that 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, & 8 stands for infinity or eternity.

Sun & Earth:
The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

Moon & Earth:
The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

Silver & the Moon:
In astrology, the metal silver is said to represent the moon. The atomic weight of silver is 108.

Numerical Scale:
The 1 of 108, and the 8 of 108, when added together equals 9, which is the number of the numerical scale, i.e. 1, 2, 3 ... 10, etc., where 0 is not a number.

Meditations:
Some say there are 108 styles of meditation.

Breath:
Tantra estimates the average number of breaths per day at 21,600, of which 10,800 are solar energy, & 10,800 are lunar energy. Multiplying 108 by 100 is 10,800. Multiplying 2x10,800 equals 21,600.

Paths to God:
Some suggest that there are 108 paths to God.

Smaller Divisions:
The number 108 is divided, such as in half, third, quarter, or twelfth, so that some malas have 54, 36, 27, or 9 beads.

Hinduism:
108 is said to refer to the number of Hindu deities. Some say that each of the deities has 108 names.

Islam:
The number 108 is used in Islam to refer to God.

Jain:
In the Jain religion, 108 are the combined virtues of five categories of holy ones, including 12, 8, 36, 25, and 27 virtues respectively.

Sikh:
The Sikh tradition has a mala of 108 knots tied in a string of wool, rather than beads.

Buddhism:
Some Buddhists carve 108 small Buddhas on a walnut for good luck. Some ring a bell 108 times to celebrate a new year. There are said to be 108 virtues to cultivate & 108 defilement's to avoid.

Chinese:
The Chinese Buddhists & Taoists use a 108 bead mala, which is called su-chu, & has three dividing beads, so the mala is divided into three parts of 36 each. Chinese astrology says that there are 108 sacred stars.

Stages of the Soul:
Said that Atman, the human soul or center goes through 108 stages on the journey.

Meru:
This is a larger bead, not part of the 108. It is not tied in the sequence of the other beads. It is the quiding bead, the one that marks the beginning and end of the mala.

Dance:
There are 108 forms of dance in the Indian traditions.

Praiseworthy Souls:
There are 108 qualities of praiseworthy soul

First Man in Space:
The first manned space flight lasted 108 minutes, and was on April 12, 1961 by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut

4) In Hindu religion, number 9 is very important. Keeping the importance of number 9, Rishi Vyas has created 9 Purans, 108 MahaPuran (Upnishads). Mahabharat has 18 chapters, Geeta has 18 chapters, Bhagavat has 108000 Shloks (verses).

The addition of digits of number 108 is 9, & number 9 is related with Brahma, that's why 108 is very important, and came into lot of Indian scriptures.

5) Indian Vedas, treats the Sun as God, & Sun has 12 signs (Zodiac signs). In Yajurved, Sun is related with Lord Brahma (the number 9), remember - 12x9 = 108; therefore for Gods Prayer, the number 108 is very sacred.

6) According to Indian mythology, there are 4 Yugs
Satyug - consists of 172,800 years (1+7+2+8) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
TretaYug consists of 1296000 years (1+2+9+6) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
DwaparYug consists of 864000 years (8+4+6) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
Kaliyug consists of 432000 years (4+3+2) = 9

Sun & Earth:
The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun.

Moon & Earth:
The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

The nose has a left and a right side; we use both to inhale and exhale.

Actually they are different; you would be able to feel the difference. The right side represents the sun, left side represents the moon. During a headache, try to close your right nose and use your left nose to breathe.

In about 5 mins, your headache will go? If you feel tired, just reverse, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose. After a while, you will feel your mind is refreshed.

Right side belongs to 'hot', so it gets heated up easily, left side belongs to 'cold'.

Most females breathe with their left noses, so they get "cooled off" faster.

Most of the guys breathe with their right noses, they get worked up.

Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left or right?

If left is faster, you will feel tired.

So, close your left nose & use your right nose for breathing, you will get refreshed quickly.

This can be taught to kids, but it is more effective when practiced by adults.

My friend used to have bad headaches and was always visiting the doctor.

There was this period when he suffered headache literally every night, unable to study.

He took painkillers, did not work.

He decided to try out the breathing therapy here: closed his right nose and breathed through his left nose.

In less than a week, his headaches were gone! He continued the exercise for one month.

This alternative natural therapy without medication is something that he has experienced.

So, why not give it a try?


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The information & opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate, based on the best judgment available to the author; and readers who fail to consult with appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

In addition, the information & opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Blog author. Blog author acknowledges occasional differences in opinion & welcomes the exchange of different viewpoint(S). The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

It's time to take off the sneakers and socks and slip your feet into a sexy pair of sandals. Here's how to make sure that your feet look terrific.

1. Soak your feet for about ten minutes.

2. Pat feet dry.

3. Clip toenails straight across. Or, if you would rather, use an emery board (but wait until toenails are completely dry).

4. Using pumice stone, remove any rough areas.

5. Massage cuticle area with a little oil or moisturizer.

6. Gently push back cuticles.

7. Apply foot lotion and massage into each foot.

8. Remove any excess lotion.

9. If you wish to apply polish follow the procedure below.

10. Put a small amount of polish on your brush; paint one stroke down the center of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough color to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done.

11. Wait until polish is set (dry to the touch) and then apply the top coat. Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your pedicure, it will protect your nails as well.

12. Sanitize all of your equipment with alcohol and when they are dry, store them away until the next manicure or pedicure.

With so many of us spending lots of time in front of the computer every day it comes to no surprise that research is showing a rise in visual problems. What can one do? First, it’s important to find out how you can protect your eyes through eye health exams and by making a few minor changes in your computer viewing habits.

Here are some helpful Eye Care Tips -

Positioning is everything

Correct positioning of your computer, keyboard and typing copy is essential. Your screen should be positioned about an arm’s length from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests for added comfort.

Lighting can make all the difference

Room lighting should be diffuse, not direct, to reduce glare and reflections from your screen. Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure to set your colour, contrast and brightness levels to suit you.

A little extra help for your glasses

Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses can be applied by your optometrist to reduce discomfort and to ease reduced vision from bright and/or flickering light sources such as VDTs and fluorescent lights. And don’t forget, your doctor of optometry can talk to you about eyeglasses designed specifically for people who use computers a lot.

Take time out, our 20-20-20 rule

Step I :-
After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-
Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

Step III :-
Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for the entire body.

It’s all in the blinking

Did you know that on average we blink 12 times per minute? But wait, did you know that when we’re on the computer we only blink 5 times per minute? That can add up to dry eyes. Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gels and remember to blink!

Palming
Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.

Splash water on your face
During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed.

Use tea bags
Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

Eat healthy
Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

It takes a million years for one gene to change in our bodies. One million years! I'm bringing this up because, physiologically, we're the same humans we were 300 years ago. But look at how things have changed in that short time. Some things make life easier now: washers and dryers, transportation, abundance of food, electricity, etc. But some things make life today more insane: cell phones, traffic, increased population, fake food, TV, busy schedules. I heard a statistic from a doctor-friend that we make more decisions in one day than people used to make in a year. No wonder we're stressed out and reaching for doughnuts or alcohol to cope.

All this craziness and high-speed living isn't going away. Since we can't change our genes, we have to create a map to navigate this crazy life. What can you do to try and stay on top of the stress so it doesn't affect your health, happiness, or waistline?

1. Exercise. Amen for endorphins. Believe me, they've helped me many days with my perspective. If you have to work out, then go take a brisk walk and get that blood flowing. It isn't about working out to lose weight -- it's about being healthy and staying sane.

2. Eat the real stuff. Crappy food (fast, processed, and loaded with sugar) doesn't help your chemical brain and body handle stress. Living food, real food, helps support your mind and body while it's trying to deal with the million things coming its way. Every time I reach for the chocolate, I'm looking to feel something from it. Don't get me wrong -- if it's just a little here and there because I enjoy the taste of it, great. But if I'm using it the minute I feel overwhelmed, then that's when that food is no longer OK to eat. It doesn't make the problem go away, and then I just feel bad about eating the food to pacify myself. Grab green food instead. Put things in your mouth that are going to support your immune function and keep you levelheaded.

3. Notice. Try not to let the stress overtake you. Recognize the situations that cause the stress and notice them coming your way. You have a better shot at fending off the full effects of the stress when you can anticipate it.

4. Get it off your chest. Talk to a friend or partner about the stress. Sometimes just getting it off your chest can help unload some of the burden.

5. Keep your sense of humor. If you do have the chance to talk about it, try to see the irony and humor in the wacky bits. I think someone is dead in the water once they lose their sense of humor.

6. Stay grateful. My daughter has large lungs and verbal skills she likes to display. Just when I start to wishfully think about her being quiet, I remind myself to be grateful that she can talk to me at all. In almost all of our problems are boatloads of blessings. "Oh, I don't feel like going to the gym." Well, Amen that you have the means and the health to even be able to wrestle with the idea of going to work out. Make a habit of saying thank you. You will notice the sunny spots a lot more often, and not just the gray skies and storms.

7. Ask, "What's the hurry?" Have some fun. We're always so busy going somewhere, we miss just enjoying the moment. If an opportunity comes your way to do something fun, take it.

8. Take a deep breath. When you feel the stress getting to you, take a moment. Get away, even if it's just for an hour, to be with yourself and your thoughts. Some people like to take a walk, meditate, lock themselves away in a beautiful bath, or go to church. Find the peace and the silence.

9. Keep it simple. Simplify where you can. Does Junior really need to be in 78 activities at the age of 5? Do you have to go to every little party or gathering you're invited to?

10. Turn of the TV. A lot of it is bad news anyway, and it robs us of hours that we could use to be getting other things done. Since everyone complains that they have no time, get some by unplugging from the tube.

11. Sleep. If you're rested, you have a better shot at handling things. Not to mention, you may not stress out as easily if you have a chance to recover at night.

12. Drink water. I have said it before: Americans consume 21 percent of their calories through liquid consumption. Hydrate with water. Help you entire system function better just by drinking enough water. Oh, and by the way, if you don't think that weight loss and proper hydration have a relationship, think again. Shift the paradigm on its side -- don't think about exercise and nutritional eating just as something you have to suffer through to get into those jeans. Instead, think of them as armor that will protect you in this crazy world, with all of the bazillion details you deal with every day.

[Via: Email]

The practice of yoga and meditation has become increasingly popular in the past few years, but I am sure that there are many people who are still asking themselves, “What’s in it for me?” So, if you have been wondering whether it would be worth your time to start practicing yoga and meditation, I would like to give you five good reasons why it would be a very worthwhile activity for you.

1. Yoga and meditation will improve your health

Yoga postures put gentle pressure on the internal organs of the body and help them to function properly. In particular the postures help your digestive system to work smoothly and thus avoid problems such as constipation, acidity and indigestion, which are common conditions that can lead to more serious problems later on. Meditation and deep relaxation can be just what you need to lower your blood pressure. Thus, yoga postures plus meditation is a great combination for maintaining and improving health.

2. Yoga and meditation will help you to overcome bad habits

What’s a “bad habit?” It’s something that you are doing continually, and something that you know is harming you but you can’t stop it. Are you smoking now? Maybe you thought it was good when you started, but you would now like to stop. The trouble is that it is not so easy to quit smoking or a similar habit once it has become established.

This is where yoga and meditation can help you out. The yoga postures help you to become more relaxed and mentally balanced. Meditation can help you to concentrate your mind and build up your will-power. Once you become internally balanced and have a stronger will power, it will become possible for you to break any habit, even one that you have been troubled by for many years.

3. Yoga and meditation will help you to lose weight

Obesity is one of the biggest health problems of the modern era. Our lives have become more sedentary and our food sources have changed over the last 100 years and this why many adults and even children are now overweight.

Although this is a life-style problem, it is something that can be dealt with. The surest way to lose weight is to get more exercise and to control what you are eating. This is of course, easier said than done. But yoga and meditation can help you out. There are some yoga postures that are helpful in weight loss programs. Similarly, the mental strength that you can get from both yoga postures and from meditation can help you to gain a better control over your diet and this can result in healthy and permanent weight loss.

4. Yoga and meditation will bring you inner peace

You may be earning a lot of money and you may have a lot of social prestige but is physical or social wealth the goal of your life? Whatever material or social wealth you have, if you are not contented, satisfied and at peace with yourself then you will not be a happy person.

The goal of meditation is to help you find the inner core of your being. Who are you? Is it the name and address on your identity card? If you start meditating you will find that deep within you is a pool of infinite love and peace. This is the real you. If you can reach this place, then you will find peace and contentment; it is guaranteed!

5. Yoga and meditation will make you a wiser person

Every one of us has made mistakes that we regret. There is nothing we can do about the past. We can’t go back in time and not make the mistakes. But what we can do is to build up our capacity to see what has permanent value and what is transitory. When we attain this state of discrimination, then we will not do actions that we will regret later on.

Meditation helps a person to go beyond the “chatter” of the mind and attain a state of wisdom that will always be of help. Wisdom does not mean stuffing your mind with “facts” but it does mean to have a mind that will choose a course of action that brings about the welfare of everyone.

[Via: Email]