35 Indian Home Remedies for everything imaginable

Here are 35 Indian Home Remedies for everything imaginable and have been
used for hundreds of years, before the advent of modern medicine. This is
good especially for minor aliments and aches and pains. Print it out and
keep it in a place where you can find it easily, when needed. This may
avoid a trip to the doctors and/or make you feel healthy (and even look
beautiful) in the process. Take Care!

1) Home Remedy for Asthma:

Take 1 tsp honey and ½ tsp cinnamon powder and mix them well before consuming.
OR
For people who are in their early stages of asthma, a perfect home remedy
is to boil 8-10 cloves of garlic in ½ cup of milk and consume it during night time.
OR
Take very hot water and add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it just âefore
sleeping and take small sips

2) Home Remedy for Body Odour:
Use antibacterial soap or deodorant soap while bathing.
OR
To combat the unpleasant armpit odour apply cider vinegar. It serves as
the best body odour home remedy treatment.
OR
In the bathing water, add a few cups of tomato juice and soák yourself in water for about 15 minutes.

3) Home Remedy for Backache:
Limejuice serves as an excellent home remedy for backacèe. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and add common salt in it. Drinë it two times in a day. It will act as a great back pain reliever.
OR
As a part of back pain home remedy treatment, raw potato in the form of
poultice is to be applied on the pain affected area.
OR
Usually Vitamin C that is mainly found in citrus fruits is considered valuable for getting rid of backaches. Consume about 2000 mg of this vitamin everyday.
OR
Applying garlic oil on the back gives immense relief from back pain. Take about 10 small garlic pieces and fry them in oil on a low flame. You can either use sesame oil, coconut oil or mustard oil. Fry till the garlic cloves turn light brown. Let the oil prepared from garlic cool completely.
Thereafter apply it on the back and keep it for about three hours. In a couple of days, you'll feel its magical effects

4)Home Remedy for Cough:
Grapes help a great deal in treating cold in a few days. Consume 1 cup
grape juice and also ádd 1-teaspoon honey to it.
OR
Almonds are excellent for dry coughs. Soak about seven almonds in water and keep them overnight. Next morning peel off the brown skin. Now grind them to form a powder and add twenty grams each of butter and sugar and form a paste. Consume it twice a day, once in the morning and the second time in the evening.

5) Home Remedy for Common Cold:
Lemon can be used effectively to treat common cold, as it increases the body resistance. Take one glass of warm water and pour some lime juice and a tsp of honey in it and consume it once or twice on a daily basis.
OR
Take 1 tbsp of Pepper powder and boil it in a cup of milk. Also add on a pinch of turmeric to it. Put some sugar for taste. Drink it once in a day for about three days.
OR
Take 3-4 tsp Onion juice and 3-4 tsp Honey and mix well before consuming.

6) Home Remedy for Common Fever:
The juice of grapefruit is valuable in all fevers. Helpful in quenching thirst, it also removes the burning sensation produced by the fever. Half a glass of grapefruit juice should be taken with half a glass of water. 
OR
Another ideal food in all types of fever is orange. It provides energy, increases urinary output, and promotes body resistance against infections. It is especially effective when the digestive power of the body is seriously hampered.

7) Home Remedy for Defective Vision:
Consume foods rich in vitamin A (like raw spinach, turnip tops, milk cream, cheese, butter, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, Soya beans, green peas, fresh milk), as vitamin A helps in improving eyesight.

8) Home Remedy for Diabetes:
Take 15 fresh mango leaves and boil them in 1 glass of water. Keep them
overnight. Filter and drink the next morning.
OR
As a part of diabetes home remedy treatment, grapefruit is considered most
beneficial. Eat three grapefruits three times in a day.
OR
Indian gooseberry, a rich source of vitamin C serves as the best home remedy for diabetes. Take 1 tbsp of gooseberry juice and mix it with a cup of bitter gourd juice. Consume the mixture daily for about 2 months.

9) Home Remedy for Dry Chapped Lips :
Drink plenty of water everyday.
OR
Cut fine slices of cucumber and rub on lips.
OR
Take a saline bath.
OR
Apply neem leaves extract on your lips.

10) Home Remedy for Diarrhea:
Take a ripe banana and mash it properly. Add 1 tsp of tamarind pulp and a
pinch of salt to it. Consume this mixture two times in a day.
OR
A simple effective home remedy for diarrhea is to drink a cup of strong tea or coffee.
OR
A popular diarrhea home remedy treatment is to consume a paste made of 15-20 fresh curry leaves mixed with 1 tsp honey.
OR
Take a ripe banana, add 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder to it and eat it on a daily basis.
OR
Take a tsp of date paste and mix with 1 tsp honey. This mixture is to be consumed 4-5 times a day.

11) Home Remedy for Ear Ache:
Boil 3-4 cloves of Garlic in some water. Mash them and add a pinch of salt. Wrap this poultice in a flannel or woolen cloth and place on the aching ear.
OR
Pour some garlic juice in the paining ear. Its antibiotic qualities help to relieve the pain.
OR
Take Vitamin C to boost your immune system. It is a natural antibiotic and antihistamine that helps to reduce inflammation and fever. Include zinc in your diet because it reduces ear infection. Certain foods, more commonly dairy products like milk, butter, cheese etc tend to aggravate ear
infections, so it is better to avoid them during an ear infection 

12)Home Remedy for Genital Warts:
Extract juice from onion slices and add salt to it. Apply this juice on the wart-affected area and see the magical effects.
OR
Another great idea is to apply the milky juice of figs on the warts 2-3 times in a day, till the warts disappear.
OR
Put few drops of apple cider vinegar on the warts using cotton ball.  OR Consume foods rich in folic acid and beta-carotene. Eat plenty of green leafy veggies

13) Home Remedy for Gingivitis:
Take some clove oil and rub it on your gums. Or else, keep a clove in your mouth and chew slowly.
OR
Brush your teeth with toothpaste that contains sage oil, peppermint oiletc.

 OR
In 1 glass of lukewarm water, add a pinch of salt and prepare a homemade saline solution. Using this solution, gargle two times in a day. It will help a great deal in reducing the swelling in your mouth..
OR
To heal the gum swelling, use an anti bacterial mouth wash.
OR
Patients suffering from Gingivitis should consume foods containing low saturated fats.

14) Home Remedy for Hair Loss:
One of the best home remedies for treating hair loss is to massage your
scalp with fingers gently. It will also aid in increasing blood circulation and lend glow to your hair.
OR
Amla oil serves as an excellent tonic for hair conditioning.. Apply this oil on the scalp and see the wonderful results.
OR
For nourishing your hair, apply coconut milk all over your scalp and massage it into the hair roots.

15) Home Remedy for Hangover :
Drink plenty of water before going to bed as well as when you wake up in the morning.
OR
Eating some foodstuff while and after you are drinking will slow down the rate at which alcohol enters the blood, thereby reducing the hangover. OR Consume vitamin C tablets, as they lead to the breakdown of alcohol content in the body.

16) Home Remedy for Headache:
Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects.
OR
When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead

17) Home Remedy for Heartburn:
Ginger serves as an effective home remedy for heartburn. Grind fresh ginger and prepare ginger tea. You can even add ginger to foods.
OR
Increase your fiber intake, as it aids in the absorption of excess acid
and gas. It helps in flushing out the toxins from your body.
OR
Drink plenty of water at least 8 glasses everyday.
OR
Green tea is also effective in treating heartburn.
OR
Prepare herbal tea containing equal small amounts of peppermint, chamomile, ginger, licorice root and catnip. Preferably, it should be taken after dinner

18) Home Remedy for Herpes:
Take a few ice cubes and rub them on the cold sore affected area for a few minutes.
OR
Take a warm tea bag and apply it on the fever blisters for about half an hour.
OR
Lemon balm extract is considered valuable in healing Herpes infection. 

OR
Consume foods rich in vitamins. Zinc and iron are also vital. Eat plenty of fruits and green veggies

19) Home Remedy for High Blood Cholesterol :
In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander seeds and bring to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink this mixture two times in a day.
OR
Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. You just need to modify your cooking style a bit and substitute sunflower seeds for solid fats such as butter and cream.
OR
Incorporate loads of fiber in your meals, as fiber helps a great deal in
lowering the cholesterol pressure in blood.

20) Home Remedy for High Blood Pressure:
A real effective home remedy for high blood pressure is to take 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp ginger juice and 1 tsp cumin powder and mix them well. Have this mixture at least two times in a day.
OR
As a part of high bp home remedy treatment, it's good to try out the idea of consuming coriander or fenugreek leaves mixed in 1 cup of water.
OR
Take about 25-30 curry leaves and make a juice, using 1-cup water. You can even add on limejuice to it for making it tastier. Strain and drink it in the morning.

21) Home Remedy for Menopausal Disorder:
When a woman experiences menopause, she should take a daily supplement consisting of 500 mg magnesium and 2 gm of calcium.
OR
Carrot seeds are of great value in case of menopause. In 1 glass of cow's milk, put a tsp of carrot seeds and boil for about 10 minutes or so. Consume it everyday as a medicine.
OR
Liquorice serves as an effective remedy for menopause, as it contains the natural female hormone, estrogen. Thus, it helps in making up for the lost hormones.

22) Home Remedy for Obesity:
On an empty stomach in the morning, drink 1 glass of warm water mixed with
juice of half a lime and 1 tsp honey.

OR
In 1 cup of water, add 3 tsp of limejuice, ½ tsp pepper powder and some honey. Drink this everyday for about 3-4 months.
OR
As a substitute of breakfast, consume 2 ripe tomatoes in the morning. This remedy will aid in reducing your weight at a faster rate.

24) Home Remedy for Prostate Disorders:
Pumpkin seeds are extremely useful in treating prostate disorders. The seeds of pumpkin act as a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids that are vital to the health of the prostate. Men suffering from prostate trouble must take about 60-90 gm of pumpkin seeds daily. Pumpkin can be consumed
in the form of powder spread over the cooked food. You can also mix them with white flour for making chapattis.
OR
Zinc has been found beneficial in the treatment of prostate disorders. Take about 30 milligrams of this mineral everyday.
OR
Vitamin E is beneficial for prostate health. The patient should be given foods rich in vitamin E like wholegrain products, green leafy vegetables, milk and sprouted seeds.
OR
In 200 ml spinach juice, add 300 ml of carrot juice. You can even have carrot juice separately. Vegetable juices are excellent in curing prostate disorders.

25) Home Remedy for Ringworm:
Take a raw fresh papaya and cut out slices. Rub the slice on the ringworm patch. It serves as an excellent home remedy for ringworms.
OR
Take a few mustard seeds and powder them. Thereafter, make a paste using water... Apply the paste on the ringworm-affected area and see its wonderful effects.

26) Home Remedy for Sexual Impotence:
Garlic is considered valuable in treating the problem of sexual impotence. It acts like a tonic for loss of sexual power Chew 2-3 cloves of raw garlic daily.
OR
Another aphrodisiac food next to garlic is onion. It aids in strengthening the reproductory organs. Prefer going in for white onions.
OR
Carrots have proved beneficial in creating the desire for sex. Take about 150 gm of finely chopped carrots and eat them with a half boiled egg, dipped in 1 tbsp of honey. Consume it once a day for about a month or two.

27) Home Remedy for Sinusitis:
Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A.
OR
Another beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and garlic, as a part of your daily meals.
OR
Fenugreek leaves are considered valuable in curing sinusitis. In 250 ml water, boil 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds and reduce it to half. This will help you to perspire, dispel toxicity and reduce the fever period.
OR
Tie a tsp of black cumin seeds in a thin cotton cloth and inhale..

28) Home Remedy for Sore Throat:
Take 1-2 cloves of garlic and 2-3 cloves and make a paste. Mix with 1 cup of honey. Drink 1 tsp about 3 times in a day.
OR
In 1 cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder. Drink the milk before going to bed.
OR
Take 1 whole onion and boil it with some water. Thereafter, mash it and add some butter, salt and pepper to it. Now eat this mixture.

29) Home Remedy for Stomach Ache:
Drink plenty of water, as it helps in ensuring smooth bowel movements.  OR
Drink lemon tea with some honey added in it for taste. It will keep away stomach ache.
OR
Mix 1 tsp each of mint juice and limejuice. Add some ginger juice and
black salt in it. Drink this mixture.

30) Home Remedy for Tonsillitis :
Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it in a glass of water. Add 4 tsp of honey and ¼ tsp of common salt in it. Drink it slowly sip by sip.
OR
Milk has proved beneficial in treating tonsillitis. In 1 glass of pure boiled milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink it every night for about 3 days

.
31) Home Remedy for Toothache:
Dip 1 clove of garlic in rock salt and place it on the affected tooth.  OR Keep a piece of raw onion inside the mouth on the affected tooth.
OR
Clove serves as an excellent home remedy for toothache. Keep a clove in your mouth and suck it. You can even apply clove oil on the affected tooth. 

OR
Lime is considered valuable in maintaining the health of teeth.
OR
Consume the juice of wheat grass, as it acts as a fabulous mouthwash in case of tooth decay.

32) Home Remedy for Wrinkles:
Application of leftover egg whites at the bottom of the shell to the problematic area serves as an effective home remedy for wrinkles. 

OR
For the sagging skin under the eyes or on the throat, apply some odorless castor oil.
OR
Take some coconut oil and massage on the wrinkled skin.
OR
Eat 1 tsp of shredded ginger along with a few drops of honey every morning. OR Rub the core of a pineapple all over your face for sometime and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.

33) Home Remedy for Urinary Tract Infection :
In 8 oz of water, put ½ tsp of baking soda and drink it.
OR
Drink plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body.
OR
Drink Cranberry juice.. You can also add some apple juice for taste

.

34)Home Remedy for Warts:
Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for several months.
OR
Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a number of times a day. Continue for two weeks.
OR
Rub cut raw potatoes on the affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks.
OR
Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood. OR
Apply powder of herb Indian squill daily over the warts.
OR
Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a day.

OR
Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the warts.  OR
Apply Papaya juice
OR
Apply Pineapple juice

35) Home Remedy for Vomiting:
Take 2 cardamoms and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting.
OR
In the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ½ tsp of ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting.  OR Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea.
OR
In 1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip. 

Drinking to your HEALTH?

Habitual intake of alcohol may lead to a host of problems
THINK about it. Isn't it ironical that most people always raise a toast to their health and drink merrily, little realising that the glass that cheers costs them dear? Or even if they know about it, they prefer to remain in a blissful state of denial. I ruefully chose to raise the topic at a party last week with a friend.
    "Bunkum," he retorted, as he hit the bar for another Patiala peg to wash down my "unadulterated, useless advice." Hic, hic, huh! "Don't give me those saintly ones." His looks said it all. There was no point discussing the topic any further as he was already three pegs down by then. But even as I left him revelling in an inebriated state, I felt a strong urge coming within me to explore why the people who drink
    often get into
a state of denial when it comes to their health.
A story I read in newspapers last week came in handy to jolt my friend out of his 'kick'. An American Medical Association release quoted latest research to state that the more you drink, the smaller the size of your total brain volume, particularly among women. Although men were more likely to drink alcohol, the linkage between drinking and brain volume was found to be stronger in women. This could be due to biological factors, including women's smaller size and greater susceptibility to the effects of alcohol, it added.
    Well, this may read like a far-fetched consequence, but continued alcohol use, say doctors, can cause chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and oesophagus; high blood pressure, and psychological disorders.
    What's more an alcoholic can get unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries. He/ she could indulge in violence, such as child maltreatment, homicide and suicide. A woman may harm a developing foetus if she drinks while pregnant, be prone to sudden infant death syndrome and worse, can be a victim of alcohol abuse or dependence. Even in sex life, say doctors, alcohol increases the desire, but decreases the performance!
    So, is alcoholism a disease? Isn't is a bit of 'kick & fun" for some and "de-stresser" for others? Therein lies the rub, say doctors as they highlight the need to shatter the myths and misconceptions around alcohol use. Gulp this. Alcoholism is a disease, but intriguingly, there are neither any visible symptoms of the disease, nor does it act like one. To make matters worse, it generally denies it exists and resists treatment. In fact, alcoholism has been recognised for many years by doctors as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease. But probably the most simple way to describe it is "a mental addiction that causes a physical compulsion to drink."
    Explains Dr Jitender Nagpal, senior consultant psychiatrist, Vimhans and Moolchand Hospital: "Actually, it could be either way — first psychological addiction and then physical need or vice-versa. In the first case, a person may turn to alcohol in any state of mind — if he's sad or happy — to initially relax himself. In the second case, physical dependence on alcohol may cause serious psychological disorders and the person may slip into depression or show manic behaviour.
    Rehabilitation becomes very difficult in such people because even though there may be a motivation to quit, the body doesn't allow it. So you could say that the triggering factor may be psychological, physical or a convergence of both."
    What's worse, the disease has a progressive nature. In its early stages, taking one or two drinks may be all it takes to get over the urge. But soon it takes six or seven and later maybe 10 or 12. And the disease progresses so quietly and usually over such an extended period of time that even the alcoholic himself fails to notice the point at which he lost control.No wonder, denial is an almost universal symptom of the disease. My friend is a case in point. But for those who realise they do have a problem, help may be easily available. For those who need help and do not want it, intervention may be the only alternative.
    As Dr Nagpal sums it, "Initially, man drinks alcohol, then alcohol drinks alcohol and finally, alcohol drinks man."
TIPPLERS' WOES

• Hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver

• Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

• High blood pressure (which can lead to stroke)

• Certain types of cancer, including mouth and throat

• Damage to the brain

• Heart failure

• Neurological problems such as epilepsy
• Certain types of vitamin efficiency

A new non-invasive device, which delivers short magnetic pulses to the brain, promises to combat depression

BATTLING THE BLUES

 The US government has approved the first non-invasive brain stimulator to treat depression – a device that beams short magnetic pulses through the skull to spark brain cells to fire. Called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), this approach doesn't cause the risks of surgically implanted electrodes or shock therapy, researchers say in the new study.
    "We are opening up a whole new area of medicine," says Dr Mark George of the Medical University of South Carolina, who helped pioneer the use of TMS in depression. "Now, there's a whole field of non-invasive electrical stimulation of the brain that's moving forward."
HOW IT WORKS
Neuroscientists have been using TMS for years as a research tool in brain studies. Zap a powerful magnet over a certain spot on the head – where motion is controlled – and someone's arm can suddenly, involuntarily, lash out. Beyond the "wow" factor, magnetised pulses were triggering brain activity.
    The question was how to harness that activity in a way that might cure disease. TMS is also being studied in stroke rehabilitation and other brain disorders.
    "Nobody thought this would work; it was a crazy idea. I had to do it in the morning before the real scientists came in," George laughs, as he recalls the work he began in 1993.
    "The brain is an electrical organ," he explains. "Electricity is the currency of the brain. It's how the brain does what it does."
    For depression, psychiatrists aim the magnet at the left front of the head – the prefrontal cortex.
    Since everyone's brain is different, they first zap the head to find a patient's motor-control region, and then carefully move 5 cms forward.
    Then, the device beams about 3,000 pulses a minute during a 40-minute treatment, done about five times a week for up to six weeks.
    The theory: Stimulating brain cells in the prefrontal cortex triggers a chain reaction that also stimulates deeper brain regions involved with mood.
    TMS did prove to be very safe: Patients in the study suffered no seizures or memory problems like shock therapy can cause, or other reactions throughout the body. The chief complaint from the sessions was headaches.
BUT HOW GOOD IS IT?
While there is a need for innovative approaches – at least one in five depression patients is treatment-resistant – the question is just how much benefit TMS offers.
    The US' Food and Drug Administration department cleared Neuronetics Inc's NeuroStar device based on data that found patients did modestly better when treated with TMS than when they unknowingly received a sham treatment that mimicked the magnet. It was a study fraught with statistical questions that concerned the agency's own scientific advisors.
    Still, about 24 per cent of those who got TMS scored significantly better on standard depression measures after six weeks, compared with 12 per cent who got the sham, says study leader Dr Philip Janicak.
    However, some reported remarkable improvement, like 60-year-old Steve Newman: "One day it was like a light switch went off."
    Newman had suffered from repeated bouts of depression since he was a teenager, and drug after drug barely blunted it. He was considering shock therapy when he heard about TMS.
    After two weeks of treatment, Newman was wondering if he was getting the sham – when suddenly, he started feeling a lot better, and doctors spotted a corresponding major improvement in his depression measurements.
    "I was awake. I was there," says Newman, who still gets what he calls a "maintenance dose" of TMS about once a month.
    Quantifying the benefit is key. For a clearer answer on the technology's benefits, the US' National Institutes of Health has an independent study under way now that tracks 260 patients undergoing TMS, and may have initial results as early as next year. AP

A doctor from Neuronetics Inc administers the transcranial magnetic stimulation procedure using the company's NeuroStar device, which sends short magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells that control moods. The device – recently approved by the US government's FDA – can help treat depression, its inventors say

Secret to better grades -- sleep more

Published: Oct. 21, 2008 at 7:24 PM

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have directly linked higher grades with getting adequate sleep.

Researchers said those students reporting few nights of adequate sleep had a mean grade point average of 3.08 compared to 3.27 for those who reported no sleep deficiencies.

"The more days students get adequate sleep, the better GPAs they attain," study leader Dr. Ed Ehlinger of the University of Michigan's Boynton Health Service said in a statement. "There is a direct link between the two."

Other factors tied to lower GPAs were excessive television or computer screen time, gambling, use of alcohol and tobacco and stress.

In the study, 69.9 percent of college students reported they were stressed and of those, 32.9 percent said stress hurt them academically. The mean GPA for stressed students was 3.12 compared to 3.23 for students who did not see themselves as stressed.

"Our study shows that there is a direct link between college students' health and their academic achievement," Ehlinger said. "This is the first time that anything like this has been published where grade point average is linked to all these behaviors."

The study was based on a 2007 survey of 9,931 randomly selected two- and four-year college students.

Vaccine call for 'silent killer'

By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News

Nayeem died from complications

When little Nayeem Hossain became sick at his home in a village in Bangladesh, his family were desperately worried.

Doctors at the local clinic said the five-month-old boy had a viral fever and needed paracetamol to reduce his temperature.

For eight days his parents tried to reduce his fever, but as he grew worse and started having convulsions they took him by bus from their home to the children's hospital in Dhaka.

Left paralysed

Fluid was taken from his backbone and doctors confirmed that Nayeem had advanced pneumococcal meningitis and there was nothing that could be done.

Nayeem's father and mother were determined not to give up hope and sold off the little property they had to pay off his hospital bills.

Despite doctors' efforts, Nayeem was left completely paralysed. He stayed in hospital for two weeks before his parents had to take him home, against medical advice, because they could no longer afford to pay for his care.

Until his death 18 months later from complications of the disease, his days were spent lying on the floor staring blankly at the ceiling.

Vaccination hopes

Experts warn that Nayeem's case is not unique, but say such tragic cases could be avoided with a global vaccination programme.

Now there are calls, from the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on pneumococcal disease prevention in the developing world, to have the disease given equal standing with HIV, malaria and TB.

Monica, Nayeem's twin continued to thrive

Medics say that diseases caused by serious pneumococcal infections kill more children than any other illness - more than Aids, malaria and measles combined.

Between 800,000 and one million children die from pneumococcal infections, mainly pneumonia and meningitis - at least one child every minute.

In developing countries, pneumococcal meningitis alone kills over 40% of the children who get the disease.

The impact is so devastating because of the lack of vaccination programmes and resources.

Speedy access

A vaccine to protect children against pneumococcal meningitis is credited with saving hundreds of lives since its introduction in the UK in February 2006.

But getting the vaccine into developing countries is slow.

Dr Orin Levine, executive director of PneumoADIP, a dedicated team working from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, supported by a $30m grant from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), aims to help vaccinate children in developing countries.

"Pneumococcal disease is probably the biggest killer that nobody ever hears about," said Dr Levine.

"We can do a lot to prevent these deaths.

"Vaccination is a proven, safe and effective solution to the global burden of this deadly disease.

"If you are fortunate enough to be born in the UK your risk of dying in your first year of life is less than 1%, and you have access to a healthcare system and all the immunisations.

"But if you are born in Africa you probably have around a one in 10 risk of death before your first birthday and you probably live in an environment where there is very little healthcare, and generally of a less than high quality.

"Your access to immunisations is seriously constrained unless there is concerted aid to vaccinate.

"Tackling pneumococcal disease requires resources and sustained international commitment. But this effort pales in comparison to doing nothing."

Dr Des Turner, MP and chair of the APPG, said now was the time to do something.

"We have a responsibility to help reduce the global health problem of pneumococcal disease, which is under-recognised and, until recently, has had few dedicated efforts made to tackle it."

THINK GLOBAL, EAT LOCAL!

That's what globe-trotter Kareena Kapoor's diet is all about, finds Urvashi Ashar

 Actor Kareena Kapoor is busy shooting in Venice for Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakht Ishq. And one wonders how the vegetarian is coping with her diet and staying away from the Venetian wonders. BT speaks to her dietician-nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar who lets us in on Bebo's flabto-fab story. "Kareena was always into workouts. She exercised diligently but saw little results. It was when she met a common friend who had lost tons of weight post delivery, that she decided to consult me. But the best thing about Kareena was that she loved herself and her body even when she was plump, and she loves it even now.
    In spite of being a Punju and a complete foodie, Kareena, before she met me, was on a 'mythical' diet. She tried hard to avoid the bananas, cheese, parathas… food that everyone usually considers 'fatty'. She was clueless, and ate randomly, and her 'selfmade diet plan' was based purely on trial and error. It would have, on the contrary, been better had she consumed the bananas, cheese and parathas. The first thing I changed about her diet was the long gaps in between meals. I got her to eat every two hours instead, and that made all the difference," says Rujuta.
    Called the 'chana-singdaana' girl of the fraternity thanks to her constant munching of chana and peanuts on the sets, Kareena has stunned everybody. "While she was shooting for Tashan, a private number flashed on my phone," narrates Rujuta. "It was Anil Kapoor asking me what magic I'd done. He made Bebo his official dietician, so much so that before he popped anything into his mouth, he sought her permission with a simple 'Main yeh kha sakta hoon kya?'" laughs Rujuta.
    Talking about Tashan, did the nutritionist go the extra mile the day Kareena had to wear a bikini? "I think a woman should be bikini fit 24 x 7, 365 days a year! And no, I didn't make Kareena starve; she on the contrary had a normal day and ate her normal meals. Many people still think that Bebo survived only on orange juice. But that's not true. Kareena's simply eating right, and in fact eats more today than she ever did in the past. Some people even believe that she is anorexic, not true again! And there are many who are waiting to see her put on all that weight she has lost. Well, it's not going to happen. Because what the actor has done is adopted a new, healthy lifestyle. And when you do that, your fat cells shrink as a response. Alternatively, when you're on a crash diet, you lose lean body weight, your metabolic rate decreases gradually and the body ages faster. You deprive yourself of food, which is the most primitive form of punishment, your blood sugar levels are unstable and it's the worst thing you can do to yourself."
    Claiming diets like compensation, detox, weight loss, maintenance to be 'shams', Rujuta says, "It's all about eating the right thing at the right time and place, and in the right quantity. Kareena can eat whatever she wants, all that she needs to do is decide in advance and 'plan' it. Her diet plan doesn't deprive her of any food group," informs the dietician, adding that Bebo definitely had the famous HPMC apple juice when she was shooting in Ladakh, indulged in cake and pie in Bangkok and also makes it a point to have Christmas pudding every year. Does being a vegetarian make it more difficult? "Vegetarianism is a global phenomenon. To organise a vegan diet is not that difficult anymore. The only thing that happens due to vegetarianism is that Kareena's food choice gets limited. But honestly, ten out of ten times she manages wonderfully."
So what does Bebo do to eat right when she is travelling? "Her diet plan, her calcium and her vitamin B supplements. And if she is shooting in a remote place, she'll carry along with her packets of chana, peanuts, yoghurt and soy milk. Calcium supplements, as they're more prone to osteoporosis. The vitamin B supplement complements her vegan meals."
How often does her diet plan change? "I have her schedule with me, and know where she is headed. I try to locate some good restaurants for her and suggest what she should eat where. I try and locate local health stores where she can pick up her yogurts, packs of soymilk and fruits. My motto is 'Think global, eat local'. I encourage all my clients to have the local food wherever they go instead of having them carry packets of khakhra from back home," says the expert.
So currently in Venice, what is Bebo gorging on? "Wholesome pasta with gorgonzola cheese. She's filling herself up with malta, minestrone soup. When she's in Bangkok, she feasts on Thai curry, steamed rice and noodles. And in New York salads and soups. When Bebo was shooting in Ladakh recently, she ate momos and thupka noodles! You see, the diet changes with the place you're in. For example, in a place like Ladakh, which is 3,500 m above sea level, you get dehydrated, so you automatically up the carbohydrate and liquid intake. The logic behind increasing the carbs in your diet is that if there aren't enough carbs, you can't store enough water. So sometimes it's essential to have a carb-rich diet," explains Rujuta. "It's when you're working and active that you must have carbs. So when Bebo has a night shift, her diet changes all over again. In the night your digestive capacity is hampered, and a night shift means sleeping during the day, so the sleep is not as deep and comfy as night sleep. So there's not enough rest. There are a lot of things that complement your diet. You need enough rest, you need to workout, and Bebo is very spiritual too. This helps her with her willpower and mental strength. All these aspects simultaneously go a long way in getting results. Your body responds to food according to your state of mind and degree of contentment. And Kareena is very content."

Rujuta Diwekar

PICTURE PERFECT: Kareena Kapoor

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY: Laughter clubs are mushrooming all over the city

HA HA HO HO!

People all over the world have discovered the benefits of laughter yoga, a trend which was first started in Mumbai, writes Glacxy Ferrao

    There is nothing like laughter to beat the blues and feel alive and zestful, as people all over the world who are attending laughter clubs have discovered to their delight. Laughter also works your muscles. Twenty seconds of a good, hard belly laugh is worth three minutes on the rowing machine. Incorporating hasya or laughter yoga can boost the benefits derived from a regular exercise routine.
    A brainchild of a family physician Madan Kataria, from India, Mumbai to be precise, hasya yoga as it is called, is fast becoming a way of life for many people — to attain physical and mental fitness. The hasya laughter course is a growing trend in the United States, India and other countries. It's observed that kids laugh about 400 times a day, and adults only 15. So people are re-learning something children already know instinctively: that laughter makes you feel better. And mind you, no jokes are used to illicit the laughter in these clubs.
    Abroad in the US, a laughter class begins with chants like "ho ho, ha ha ha," a warm-up exercise, amid clapping of hands and walking around the room. Over the next half-hour, students attending the class stretch their muscles and work on breathing exercises. They'll also laugh for most of the 30 minutes, from self-conscious giggles to uninhibited belly laughs. Laughter is a gift that has been given to us to make us feel better. It is not only fun to laugh, but hasya yoga also reduces stress, boosts immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems and helps overcome bad digestion and constipation.
    The biggest effect that people have got from laughter yoga is it has lightened up their day and week. It has also improved their breathing especially at a time when we have forgotten to deep-breathe due to all the pollution around. It relaxes and brings out the child in them. Talking about the benefits of laughter yoga, Kishore Kuwawala, chairman of Priyadarshini Laughter Club International, Napean Sea Road, Mumbai, says, "Laughter is a God-given gift which ups your confidence levels and improves your concentration. It relieves stress and tension as humour is the best stressbuster. When you laugh, you breathe 100 per cent and at that time, the oxygen intake improves and the flow of blood too is faster. In a way it acts as a kind of alternative medicine to many pychosomatic illnesses. And to top it all, interpersonal relations of people who laugh also improve," he says.
    The laughter clubs that were started in Mumbai have found a good response abroad. There are around 60 laughter clubs in Mumbai itself — a trend which is gaining a lot of momentum in the city. "In 2007 when we had organised a laughter competition for senior citizens, according to their age groups, around 350 people attended it, and more than 20 people who participated in the competition were from the 81 years and above — which itself points to the growing popularity of these laughter clubs among our seniors," says Kishore. Competitions like Laughter Shree and Laughter Shrimati for elders, Laughter Kumar and Laughter Kumari for school kids have also garnered a lot of interest in this exercise. "The loud laughter in a way integrates people of all religions as there are no barriers of religion, caste and creed in these clubs. In a way, they promote communal harmony," informs Kishore also adding that 4th May is celebrated as World Laughter Day. And by including even the police force, the BEST bus staff, the dabbawalllas into their laughter sessions, the popularity of laughter yoga is only growing by the day.
    Vandana Sawant, who is associated with the Ladies Laughter Club
    at Sion starts her
    day at 6.30 in the
    morning with yoga,
    followed by chanting of
    the Gayatri mantra and other
    prayers and of course a session of
    laughter. "People come to us with various problems like depression, blood pressure problems, disturbed personal life, etc. They don't know to laugh at home. So when they come to our sessions, they laugh and feel good. They even tell us that they feel relaxed after the session. We even give them counselling if they have problems and believe me, it has worked wonders in their lives," says Vandana.
    Laughter is already a serious business, anyway! What say you?

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY: Laughter clubs are mushrooming all over the city

‘YOGA IS ALL ABOUT WELLNESS’

Want a 24-inch waist like Shilpa Shetty? The Bollywood hottie who's become synonymous with fitness, shares her well-being secrets with Sharin Wader

    Shilpa Shetty's cool as a cucumber, that she proved during her stint at the Big Brother's house — the UK reality show where she was reportedly subjected to racism. But the world didn't just sit up and take notice of her calm composure, they also noticed her hot bod. The body she so meticulously carved and sculpted over the years. As a housemate of Big Brother, the cameras followed her every move and people got to know of her fitness mantra. Her chanting of the Om Namah Shivay and doing the yoga became a fad worldwide. From being the global face of Bollywood, she went on to become the global face of fitness. No doubt, one of the things she did after winning the contest, was to launch a DVD on yoga. "My aim was to clear the misconception of the youth that yoga is meant only for the elderly. I wanted them to know that yoga is all about wellness. Now I see a huge difference the way they perceive yoga. It's valued as much in our country as it is in the West. Another reason why I decided to do the DVD was because I realised that all videos and DVDs on yoga were done by foreigners. So I took the initiative," said Shilpa, who is known for having the best bod in Bollywood. "I have been practicing yoga ever since I've been into fitness. I have tried different forms of fitness and found yoga to be the most holistic and scientific way of curing problems. It also tones and stretches your body at the same time. Yoga is the only form of exercise that loosens your body as well as sculpts it. It's an all-in-one quick fix," said the actress, who follows the ancient form of yoga. "People assume that if they do power yoga or dynamic yoga, they will lose weight instantly but that's not true. I don't even do the Suryanamaskar. It's not a part of yoga, it's just a prayer to the sun. And if you don't do it under proper guidance, you could injure your back. It's dangerous especially if you do it fast," informed the actress, who does the Ashtanga yoga, the Bhujangasana and the Dhanurasan. "Once when I was doing crunches, I hurt my neck. That's when I turned to yoga. So now even if I'm doing any other form of exercise like cardio or weight training, I do a bit of yoga at the end because it loosens my muscles," said Shilpa who has attended yoga guru Ramdev Baba's classes too. "I admire Ramdev ji because he single handedly created awareness about yoga in our country. But his style of doing it is different as compared to mine. I feel whatever form of exercise that suits you — be it running, swimming, cardio or yoga — you should do it. It's all about being fit," said Shilpa, who recommends yoga specially to those who, like her, are frequent travellers. "Yoga can be done even when you are sitting in a plane," she said. But that's not the only thing related to fitness that she wants to promote. The actress who boasts of a 24-inch waist, intends to share her food secrets too. "I'm planning of coming out with a DVD on that. It's not difficult to eat right and be fit. People have this wrong concept that if they work out, they can eat anything. Diet is THE most important thing in order to have a great body," informed the actress. But does she binge once in a while? "I'm human. I do get cravings. I eat whenever I feel like it. I believe in what Buddha said, 'The only way to overcome desire is to yield it'. It's perfectly fine to binge once in a while. But if it's a daily thing then it's no longer a desire, it's greed," said the fitness freak, who wants to make another thing clear: yoga has nothing to do with spirituality. "If you don't want to say Om, you can say Allah. Pranayam is just a breathing technique. When you breathe right, your life is on the right track," said the actress who feels that today people lead such fast-paced lives that they forget to breathe properly. "Many are mouth breathers like me. You have to fill your lungs with air and breathe it out while saying something. So that's why the yogis said Om," she informed. "Yoga calms you down. When you are happy inside, it shows from the outside," she smiled. Well if you thought the glow on her face was only because the lady is in love with the UK businessman Raj Kunder, then now you know there's more to it than just that! For a 24-inch waist, Shilpa...
Works out three times a week, but if she's doing yoga, then she works out five days a week Does a bit of yoga after cardio or weight training Does the Ashtanga, Bhujangasan and Dhanurasan Is currently doing weight training as she's preparing herself for an action film. For her spiritual wellbeing Shilpa...
    Meditates every night. She chants the Om Namah Shivay 108 times. Follows the teachings of the Oneness University. "I went there to discover more about myself. It has nothing to do with religion. It talks about your perception of life and how you can change it. The core of your wellbeing is your family life. If you don't have good relations with your family, other things are affected. So you need to sort out that first and then everything else will fall into place."
What yoga can do
It has a scientific effect on you. It cures ailments. Makes you more disciplined. Your concentration power doubles besides cleaning your insides and making you glow and look fitter. It helps in losing weight, though it's a slow process. But if you have a major weight problem, combine cardio with yoga.

SEXY LADY: Shilpa Shetty

THE OOMPH FACTOR

CALM YOUR SENSES

Meditation centres are mushrooming not only all over India but also globally as an antidote to stress. Dr Parul R Sheth gives an overview

 More and more people are into meditation today, using it as an effective antidote to stress. Meditation centres are mushrooming not only all over India but also globally. These centres are outlets for stress, cultivating a deeper spiritual awareness and positive thinking.
    Repetition of a mantra or sound, for example chanting of Om, takes you into a transcended state. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Transcendental Meditation centres are around the world and so are the Osho meditation centres. Yoga retreat centres too have spread across the globe.
Siddha Yoga, Sahaj Yoga, Raj Yoga,
are all a part of yoga meditation.
    The Brahma Kumari World Spiritual University, teach Raj Yoga as a method of meditation. World Meditation Hour was introduced by the Brahma Kumaris, when people all over the world collectively meditate for one hour. The practice has spread to over 90 countries now.
    Buddhist meditation centres offer meditation classes with advanced Buddhist study programmes and mindfulness meditation. It is based on the concept of being mindful, or having an increased awareness and total acceptance of the present. You are taught to bring all your attention to the sensation of the flow of the breath in and out of the body. Buddhist meditation is divided into Samatha and Vipassana meditation. Samatha helps develop concentration and calms the mind. Vipassana builds positive emotions and helps develop awareness of the inner self. Several Vipassana centres are running all over India. The global Vipassana Pagoda, a 325-feet monument is built on Gorai Island, Mumbai, which has a Dhamma Hall for over 8,000 meditators to sit and meditate.
    The Tao Zen meditation centres offer Zazen as the centre of Zen meditation and the World Community for Christian Meditation practices and promotes contemplative prayer in the form of silent meditation.
    Today meditation has been regarded as a form of mind-body medicine. It is practiced for physical relaxation, mental peace and psychological balance or tolerance capacity to cope with anger, diseases and overall wellness. It can help in coping with anxiety, stress, depression, pain or insomnia. Simple breathing techniques practiced at meditation centres, help calm a racing heart or help in digestion too. The slow, quiet, regular deep breathing exercises can control your emotional states such as anger and moods.

IN SEARCH OF PEACE? Meditation clubs provide the answer to a stressful lifestyle