Interesting gift ideas for a friend

Gifts and surprises are something which everybody loves. You will hardly find a single person who does not like gifts. Gifts can be given on occasions to display your affection, respect, love, gratitude, and feelings depending on the person to whom you are giving the gift and the occasion. However, giving something unique and special could make someone’s day really special. But Interesting Gift idea is something which takes time and creativity as well.

There are various ideas on what gift one could give. For your friends, however, common gifting ideas might not work. If you are thinking to buy a gift for your friend, you have to consider a lot of things. What you can gift to your parents or teachers cannot be considered for a friend. If you are close friends with someone, it is possible to estimate the likes and dislikes of that person. Well, there are fantastic gift ideas for all friends alike.

How to Select an Appropriate Gift?

Gifts are sorted based on the occasion. For example, you cannot present someone with a friendship day gift on their wedding. On the other hand, there are certain gifts which you can give to your friend irrespective of the occasion. Like, a Spa Gift can be presented on birthdays or as a pre-wedding gift.

What to gift?
Need Gifting Ideas for a friend?

Gifting ideas are separate for men and women. It might seem that there are fewer options for men, but in reality, there are many gifting options for men for you to choose from. In fact, in case of women, there are so many options that it becomes confusing to choose from them. First of all, you must keep in mind the occasion and based on that you have to go gift shopping. Another thing to keep in mind is your budget. You need to look for things which are within your budget.

What are the Different Gift Ideas for Your Friends?

While selecting a gift, it is not important to give something extravagant. But you must gift something which will remind the person of you, something which can be remembered. Here are some gifting options for you to choose from.

  • For the bibliophile- book lovers are easy to find but hard to impress. If you want to give books as a gift, first of all, you must know the genre which interests your friend. When you are buying a book for your friend, it is better if you discuss otherwise you might end up gifting something which she/he already has. Gifting books is a great idea for both men and women.
  • Books Gift

Gift for a book lover

  • For the music or movie lover- if your budget is a bit high, you can gift musical instrument of your friends’ choice. Because they are usually expensive, it is not necessary that you have to go out of your way to purchase one. For a medium budget, you can also look for music accessories. If there is a musical show or band concert performance, you can gift the entry tickets. For people who love movies, you can gift DVDs of the genre of their choice. You can also gift multiplex movie tickets to your movie-loving.

  • For the fashionista – well, for the fashion loving friend, there is no shortage of gifting ideas. For women, based on her choice, you can gift different fashion accessories like earrings, trendy bags, watches, belts, sunglasses, scarves or chunky jewelry. For men, you can gift watches, sunglasses, wallets, backpacks, side-bags, and jewelry if he is into it. Clothing ideas are only best if you know the measurements. Another good idea would be to give gift cards. Online shopping is a rage these days. If your friend loves to shop online, a gift card would be the best and he/she can shop according to choice.

 

Gifts for Fashionista
Gift for fashion lover
  • For the food lover- now there are two kinds of people. One who loves to eat. For them, you can gift meal vouchers from a quality restaurant. Other ones are those who love to cook. For them, you can gift gadgets for cooking, cooking utensils, recipe book and items related to cooking. These days you can find personalized as well as unique food gadgets and cooking items within your budget.
  • For the photographer- if your budget is high, you can gift a nice camera. Otherwise, smartphone camera lens, camera accessories, gear etc could also be considered a nice gift. You can also consider gifting some very nice and unique style of photo cases and frames.
  • For the travel lover- for people who are constantly on the move for business or for fun, you can gift various travel items. Travel bags, accessories and daily items needed while traveling can be gifted. You could also gift books, games set to kill the time during traveling.
  • For the divas out there- for your diva friend, and not necessarily a woman, you have plenty of items to choose from. You can gift makeup products, body and healthcare For men and women alike, these items are a prerequisite these days. If you are in the mood to splurge, a Personalised Spa gift might be a very good idea. You can also purchase grooming and wellness products like fragrances, beauty care gift packs and much more. These days you can find beauty care gadgets within your range.
  • For the creative artist- for creative people, you can either buy creative items or make one yourself. Nothing is more soul touching than gifting a handmade item. You can gift a potted plant, a home-baked cake or cookies, handmade painting or piece of art, a collection of beautiful songs in a CD, handmade soft toy or purse, knitted woolen, and accessories.

These were some of the gifting items for your friends. In any case, it is always better than first, you need to know your friends’ interests before gifting something. You do not want to gift something which someone already has. Likewise, it is best to give something which your friend might like and put it to a better use.

Health Care Tips for Winters

Almost everybody you know dislikes winter season for some obvious health reasons. There are other numerous reasons why winter is disliked by most. Everything outside is white and colourless. Mornings are dull and hazy. Wherever you go, you have to put on layers of clothes and woollens, so much that you feel suffocated. All day you feel like keeping yourself warm curled inside the blanket. It seems as if the normal active life you liked has come to a halt. More than that, you cannot wear just anything you like without covering yourself with heavy winter clothing.

But, all said and done, winter is the season when you must take maximum care of your body and health. The amount of care you take of your body in winter is reflected throughout the year. So, even though you cannot avoid winters, there are numerous ways you could defeat it by following some easy health care tips for winters.

Body Stiffness and Skin Dryness are the common problems which you encounter in winters. The skin and hair become dry and seems to lose its sheen. These are common things which you have to endure in the cold season. Body Massage, if done regularly can help to some extent with winter dryness and body stiffness. But, what is most important is how to keep oneself healthy in the cold season.

Yes, it is possible to keep yourself healthy and glowing in winters. There are many ways to beat the cold.

Why is it Essential to Stay Healthy in winters?

According to research, winter is the time when your body absorbs most nutrition. It is the time actually when it needs more nutrition than any other season. This is because your body is continuously working to keep you warm by using the stored energy. You need to provide your body with all the nutrition which you can.

During this time of the year, bacterial and viral infections are also on the rise. So, if you do not care for yourself, you will easily fall ill. To keep up the normal functioning of your body tissues and cells, you must take proper care of your body.

How to Maintain Your Health in winter

There are certain tips and tricks which you need to follow to keep yourself healthy and glowing in winter. Once you follow that, winter might not seem so bad.

  • You might be tired of reading about the health benefits of WATER, but yes once again water is the elixir for humans. Winter is the time when your urge to drink water decreases. You might not want to drink as much water as you might do in summers. But that does not mean that your body needs less water. Drinking plenty of water prevents your body from getting dehydrated. To ensure the normal and smooth functioning of your body organs, you must not forget to drink water. Drink at least eight glasses of water regularly. If it seems too much for you, you can keep water container beside you at all times and occasionally sip water. Or you could even keep some warm water in an insulated flask and keep sipping that. This will not only fulfill the water requirement of your body but also keep your skin hydrated and less dry.
  • You must keep a watch on what you are eating. You need to EAT HEALTHY to stay healthy and feel energetic. Remember what you put inside your body reflects on the outside. Winter is the time when you can see a lot of colourful veggies. You can cook them in whatever way you want but make sure you have a diet full of veggies, fruits and grains. At this time, it is essential to provide your body with all the vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates it needs. Besides that, a hot steaming bowl of soup or stew is not only soothing but also nourishing for your body. You must avoid caffeine and aerated drinks at all costs. If you want something good to drink, you can have herbal teas, shakes and juices.

Herbal Green Tea boosts immunity

Blue Nectar Amritanadi Green Tea

  • Winter makes you lazy and inactive, agreed. But that does not mean you have to stay like that. You might already know the benefits of exercising regularly. Exercising in winter is all the more important. It is a herculean task to drag yourself out of the bed and abandon the warm and comfortable covers. But, to gain something you have to sacrifice something. Here, you have to sacrifice the warm bed.

Exercising keeps your joints mobile
Exercise in winter is a must

Proper exercise routine maintains blood circulation in the body. It keeps you fit and increases your activity and mobility especially during the cold season. You do not just have to go by the words. You can exercise daily for a week and feel the difference. You also cannot deny the good feeling which you get after an exercise routine. If you are not into vigorous exercises, you can also try yoga and meditation for peace of mind.

  • A proper skincare regimen is important. No, skincare is not only for the girls. It is essential for women of all ages and men equally. Do you feel good when you look good? Everybody will be saying ‘yes’ to that question. So, to look good you need to take proper care of your skin. Many people misunderstand skincare as care of the face. But, taking care of your skin involves the entire outer layer of your body. Oil Massage with good quality oil, regular cleaning, exfoliation and moisturising your skin is important. You can also try the Abhyangam Ayurvedic Massage as it has numerous benefits for your skin and also increases blood circulation. It is also important that you use quality products for your skin for long-lasting You can also pamper yourself to a Spa Therapy.

 

 

Spa Therpay
Relaxing winter massage in a spa

Winter is the time when bacteria and virus are most active. There is every chance that you can catch an infection quickly. Apart from keeping yourself healthy, it is also important to keep yourself protected. You need to use handkerchiefs and tissues whenever travelling outside. Hand sanitizers are a must. You have to be over conscious of the hygiene while using public washrooms, especially in winters. At home, you need to maintain a hygienic lifestyle so that germs do not breed and you can stay way out of the way of diseases and infections. In case you are infected by a virus or catch a cold, you must take necessary actions. In any case, it is better if you consult a physician.

Winter might seem drab and boring. But there are so many things you could do to make it interesting. Winter is the time when you travel, eat and enjoy with your friends. So, this winter, you must keep healthy and enjoy the weather to its fullest.

Why are my joints so stiff? What can I do?

What is a JOINT?

A joint is a junction in our body, where 2 bones join together. Joints allow movement in human body. Without these joints we wouldn’t be able to sit, stand, nod, bent and so on. If these joints become stiff, we have great difficulty in our movement.

Stiff joint has become a very common problem for everyone, nowadays. Sometimes you may feel stiffness in your joint due to some disease that your body may be undergoing. You may also feel joint stiffness after staying in a position for a long time. There are a number of reasons behind joint stiffness.

Joint stiffness can also lead to pains in different body parts like back pain, knee pain, pain near your knees etc. There are many treatments and remedies that will help you to get rid of such health related issues. However, you should evaluate each of the available remedies and ensure that you chose the best one for you. This article has been written to provide you with some details about the reasons and cures for joint stiffness and other issues related with this.

Joint Pain
Stiffness in Joints

Before anything and everything, lets first figure out the causes of Joint Pain. Let’s understand why the joints become stiff and then work around the method to cure or how to get relief from joint pain and stiffness.

Why does joint stiffness occur?

Joint stiffness may occur due to some diseases or may be because of your sitting or sleeping habit. If you sit for a long time you may feel that your joints are stiff when you get up. You may also feel that your joints are stiff when you wake up. This may happen because you stay in a same position for a long time. Due to this the body fluid gets away from your joints even the blood flow gets reduced. Because of fewer amount of body fluids near the joints you feel the stiffness. This stiffness does not stay for long time. After few minutes you will get relief from such stiffness.

Your over weight may also give you joint pain and stiffness. This stiffness occurs due the continuous press of your weight on the joints. To cure such pain you should focus on your weight loss.

But there are also some diseases that cause joint stiffness. Following are some of the diseases that may cause Joint Stiffness-

  • Rheumatoid arthritis– this is a chronic inflammatory disease. This is an autoimmune disease, which means your body parts are attacked by your immune system. This may lead to deformity of joint and severe joint pain.

 

  • Osteoarthritis– this is the most common among all type of arthritis. In this type of arthritis the bones get damaged severely. You may find tear on the bones due to this disease. This causes swelling and also stiffness. The pain which it causes is unbearable. It can attack any of you body part like knees, fingers, neck, hips etc.

 

  • Lumps– this is a disease like rheumatoid arthritis. It attacks itself including the surrounding tissues, bones and joints. This disease is very difficult to identify. This is such a disease that is not curable. But the treatments can reduce the pain, stiffness or swelling.

 

  • Bursitis– Bursae are small fluid sacs that are already present in your body. These are situated near the joints. When these fluid sacs get inflamed then it is called bursitis. This disease causes stiffness around the joints. This can attack any joint of your body. It mostly attacks the knee or elbow joint.

 

  • Gout– This is a disease that happens suddenly. It may attack you when you are sleeping. This gives you sudden stiffness in your joints. This also causes pain near the joints.

 

  • Bone cancer– joint stiffness or joint pain does not occur mostly due to bone cancer. But it may cause swelling and stiffness in your joints and it also bring pain to your joints.

These are some of the reasons due to which you may feel joint stiffness. Let’s now try to understand some of the methods to get rid of such health issues.

Remedies for Joint Pain

Following are some remedies mentioned-

  • Hot and cold compress– Before you go for the medicinal treatment of this problem you may try some home remedies like hot and cold compress. You may apply cold compress with some ice in a bag and apply that on the joint that is paining. You can do it several times throughout the day. But apply it continuously for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also do the same for hot compress. Put some hot water in a bag and give the temperature on the joints. You can apply both hot and cold compress or you may apply any of these two. It may depend on the amount of relief that you would get with them.

 

Hot and Cold Compress
  • Medicine– You can find a number of medicines that claim to reduce the pain which may occur due to any of the above mentioned diseases. However, no medicine can totally cure such diseases. PRECAUTION: Before you consume any of these medicines you should consult a doctor. A wrong medicine can have many side effects.

 

  • Ayurvedic treatment– Ayurveda has treatment for every disease. This is the most ancient form of treatment. The ayurvedic medicines are made up of 100% natural ingredients so that they do not cause any harm or side effects. There are also some essential oils that are used to cure such problem. Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain or ayurvedic treatment for back pain is very famous amongst all. Ayurvedic treatment is quite popular all over India. These treatments are done with the plants and ingredients derived from nature.

 

  • Exercise– This is one of the best method to cure such kind of pain. MOTION IS THE BEST LOTION. Since the ancient time yoga has been practiced since to stay fit. Yoga also helps to cure such disease. Yoga is all about controlled breathing and releasing oxygen to various body parts. You can also do other exercises to get rid of joint pain. But it is more preferable to do yoga to get some relief from joint pain or back pain. If you do yoga throughout your life span, you will be able to prevent many diseases and you will also get rid of some diseases.

 

These are some of the many remedies that are available for any kind of Joint Pain. It’s however recommended to consult a medical practitioner for the correct diagnosis. Once you are aware of the kind of pain you are suffering from, you could choose from the available treatments and remedies. But remember, keep moving and keep walking. Keep those joints in motion to avoid discomfort.

Kidney Stones – Getting rid of them through Ayurveda

None in this world would want to get surrounded with diseases. All of us want a healthy and disease free life.

To get rid of any disease, first of all, one has to maintain a healthy life with some healthy habits.

  1. You have to do physical workout regularly.
  2. You have to consume a healthy diet to stay from the diseases.

But sometimes due to bad habits or some other reasons your body may get attacked by various diseases. In this article, we will discuss about one of such diseas – kidney stones. Following are covered in this article below:

  • The reason behind kidney stone.
  • The symptom which you can notice if you have kidney stone
  • And finally the cure of kidney stones.

Before knowing about the causes, symptoms and the cures of these stone in your kidney, you need to know what these stones are, which components gather to form a stone in your kidney.

What is kidney stone?

Usually, these stones are the accumulation of different minerals in your kidney. The main component which forms the stones in your kidney is Calcium Oxalate. It is a ball shaped structure. It can grow to a size as of a golf ball. These stones are crystalline. The outer surface of the stones are sharp.

The size of these stones may be small which can pass through urinary tract. But this is extremely painful. Due to these stones in your kidney many several disease may arise like blockage of ureter and many more.

Causes of formation of kidney stones

As I have already mentioned in this article before that there are some bad habits and also some medical reasons due to which these stones appear in your kidney.

Before discussing about the bad habits you should know about the medical reasons behind the formation of these stones in your kidney.

The main reason for accumulation of the minerals which leads to the formation of these stones in your kidney is consumption of different medicines. Medicines are obviously required for certain ailments and it is the most important thing to get rid of different diseases. But consumption of different medicines, more than the required amount, can lead to formation of these stones. There are other medical conditions too leading to these stones – hyperparathyroidism, urinary tract infection, renal tubular acidosis are such few.

The bad habit which leads to the formation of these stones is – not drinking sufficient amount of water. If you consume less amount of water then the acid level of your body mainly in your kidney will get raised. Because water dissolves the uric acid present in your kidney and maintains the pH level, it is essential for kidney. There are many people who drink less amount of water. As a result, the minerals don’t get flushed off from kidney and also the acid level rises in kidney.

On an average you should drink at least 8-10 glass of water in a day. This is the minimum amount of water which your body requires to function properly and to maintain the pH level.

Symptoms of having kidney stone

You can’t notice any symptom till the stone reaches your ureter. When the stones reach the ureter you can notice some symptoms which are as follows:

  • Pain in the regions near the ureter. Usually pain occurs in side part of your body.
  • You can see the presence of blood in urine.
  • You can also notice white blood cells or pus along with urine.
  • Multiple vomiting and nausea is another symptom of having kidney stone. You may feel a burning sensation while urinating.
  • You may get fever and chill due to the presence of stone in your kidney. But you will have fever only when there is any infection.
  • The rate of urination gets reduced.
  • You may feel a persistent urge to urinate.

These are the symptoms which you may notice if you have stones in your kidney.

Who are the people prone to this disease

Do you know who are the people who are prone to get this disease? The males are more attacked by this disease than female. It occurs usually at the age of 30-50 years.

How to diagnose Kidney Stones?

Several tests can be performed to diagnose this disease. You can perform a urine test to diagnose this disease. If there is any infection then a blood test can also confirm about the occurrence of this disease. A CT scan and ultrasonography can also confirm the occurrence of the disease.

How to cure Kidney Stones? Treatments available

There are various ways to cure this disease. The medical science has now advanced. It provides some medicines which can cure this disease. There are also some natural treatment for kidney stones. Let us discuss about those treatments.

The medical way to cure this disease is to dissolve the stones through medicines. There are such medicines available, which reduces the size of the stone and flushes it out through the urinary tract. But this method is very painful. Another method to get rid of this disease is to operate the organ and remove the stone. But there are many people who don’t prefer this method. After all, a surgery is a surgery!!

Natural ways to get rid of Kidney Stone

There are some natural methods which can cure this problem. Nowadays, ayurvedic treatment for kidney stone is being preferred by the people all over the world. This is probably the only method, where you don’t need to face any pain. There are many ayurvedic medicines for kidney stone available in the market. You can consume those medicines and get relieved from the pain of bearing this disease.

Consuming medicine is probably a better option than to operate the organ. But to prevent the occurrence of this disease you have to keep yourself hydrated. Drink a lot of water to get a healthy life.

6 Ways to prevent or reverse osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is common, occurring in upwards of 10 percent of adults over age 50, One out of every two women over the age of 50 will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis. Men are not immune to this problem. 30% of osteoporosis happens in males.

Osteoporosis which is so prevalent now, was virtually unheard of a hundred years ago. It was a rarity until the turn-of-the-century. So what happened? Did our genes change in a hundred years?

No! Genetic material takes thousands of years to change. The only thing that changed was our environment. Our diet and lifestyle are much different than they were hundred years ago and it has caused an epidemic of osteoporosis. So, what do we do? How can we reverse this process?

Here are 6 ways you can prevent or reverse osteoporosis:

Get enough D

Vitamin D deficiency is also epidemic in our society. Vitamin D helps to absorb calcium, and put it in the bones. It is also important for immune system modulation, depression, and autoimmune disorders. It is made in your skin when you get out in the sun.

Add calcium

Another risk factor for osteoporosis is not getting enough dietary calcium, the mineral that makes bones strong and also aids myriad bodily functions, such as muscle contractions and nerve signal transmission. When blood levels of calcium fall, your bones “give up” calcium to restore normal levels. Bones are like a mineral savings account: If you keep withdrawing calcium and other minerals, your bones weaken.

https://www.bluenectar.co.in/ayurvedic-herbal-jasmine-general-body-massage-oil-aid-vitamin-d-absorption.html

Avoid Caffeine

Each cup of coffee that you drink makes you lose 150 mg of calcium in your urine. Chemically decaffeinated coffee is not the answer either though, because it contains harmful chemicals that interfere with the detoxification process. Naturally decaffeinated teas are a better option, but if you must drink caffeinated coffee, at least increase your calcium intake by 150 mg for each cup you drink.

Eat fruits and vegetables

Summer food
Eat healthy and variety

Many fruits and vegetables contain a number of bone-friendly nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C, and protein. Edible plants also provide anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants, which counter inflammation and oxidative stress, respectively — two cellular conditions associated with aging and many chronic diseases, including osteoporosis

Exercise 

Your bones are constantly being rebuilt in a dynamic process involving the removal of old bone through osteoclasts and regeneration of new, healthy bone by osteoblasts. Load-bearing exercise works to build stronger bones by stimulating cells responsible for the synthesis and mineralization of bone (osteoblasts).

Avoid Carbonated beverage

Carbonated beverages such as soft drinks, Champagne, and sparkling water leach calcium from your bones. A Harvard study on 16 to 20 year-old women showed that half of them were already showing bone loss as a result of excess soft drink intake. Carbonated beverages also have excess phosphates, which cause even more calcium loss.

Reduce Stress

De-stress for a healthier lifestyle
Say good-bye to stress

Stress raises cortisol levels. If cortisol levels are high for long periods of time it can cause bone loss

Stress Management

Stress reduction can include specific activities aimed at invoking the “relaxation response” such as yoga, tai chi, meditation, massage and prayer. It may also include getting more sleep, taking a vacations

Four tips to help you get started with exercise when you have a chronic disease

Regular physical activity is the most important thing you can do for your health. Exercise can help you manage your symptoms while improving your health. Not only is it good for your body, but it can also improve your mental health and mood, decrease depression and anxiety, and impro and preserve cognitive functioning.

Pain Management

Even if you have a chronic disease, being physically active can improve your health and quality of life, by helping you manage your symptoms and giving you more energy to do your daily chores.

Here are four tips to help you get started with exercise when you have a chronic disease:

Start Slow

If your health problems have kept you from exercising for a long time, start slowly. Walking for an hour at a time may cause you to become so fatigued that you might not want to try it again. Keep it simple.Start out with 10 minutes or 20 minutes for the first couple weeks and then work your way up to a longer duration and even a faster pace.

Take break

It’s OK to break up your exercises or daily tasks and take breaks. For example, instead of trying to exercise for 60 minutes and getting wiped out, break it up into three separate 20 minute sessions spread through the day.

Something is better than nothing.

If you’re having a challenging day, remember that doing something is most often better then nothing. Simple movements and actions over the long run can add up.  So do what you can to increase your stamina – especially on days when you’re feeling better. Be it walking around the block or just walking around the kitchen, make sure you move at least a little bit every day.

Gift a Spa-default

Be accountable to someone

Whether you’re healthy or living with a chronic disease, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Training under supervision of a physical therapist is also a sensible way to prevent unwanted health setbacks or injuries

Living with chronic pain can be difficult but it certainly doesn’t have to mean ruling out physical activity. In many cases, the less you move, the more pain and fatigue you’ll feel. Exercise helps to manage your condition and will boost your mood and energy levels, significantly improving your quality of life.

Layman explanation of Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis or cervical osteoarthritis is a condition characterised by wear on the cartilage (disks) and bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). It is a degenerative disorder which usually occurs in men and women older than 40 and progresses with age.

Cervical spondylosis mostly affects people with sedentary lifestyle or those who sit for long hours with bad postures. This condition causes pain at the back of the neck which radiates towards the upper limbs. Some of the common problems faced because of Spondylosis are:

  1. Some people experience dizziness while bending downwards.
  2. This condition negatively affects the range of motion in your neck.
  3. Your neck becomes more vulnerable to injuries such as strained ligaments and muscles.
  4. It may cause headache and nausea in some cases.
  5. It may weaken or restrict the arms movement and may cause a tingling sensation in hands (in severe cases when a nerve is compressed between neck columns).

 

Neck Pain
Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical Spondylosis – AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

As per ayurvedic principle, problems relating to skeleto-muscular system and the nervous system are predominantly caused by vitiated vata dosha and ama (toxins). Treatment for this disease involves detoxification and removal of ama along with vata pacifying diet. Cervical spondylosis causes stiffness, pain and reduces mobility therefore some lifestyle changes along with herbal medicines are mandatory.

The most common complaint by a person suffering from cervical spondylosis is stiff and painful neck. But as mentioned earlier, some people may experience shoulder, arm or chest pain too. Furthermore, spondylosis may cause tingling and pinprick sensations in the arms, hands and legs, if it remains untreated for long time. Patients above fifty years of age may even lose bladder or bowel control.

 

TREATMENT FOR SPONDYLOSIS

Ayurveda is an ancient healing science which utilises the power of herbs and spices to treat various health ailments. Most of the spondylosis patients respond well to ayurvedic treatment. The treatment mainly focuses on balancing the vata, which is one of the main reason for this.

Ayurvedic experts use herbs like kaishore guggul, aloe-vera juice, yograj guggul to control vata. Some experts may prescribe Ashwagandha for stress support as stress could also be a cause of pain in the neck area.

Ashwagandha is an extraordinary, 100% natural, safe and anti-inflammatory herb.

Ayurveda also offers some special types of massage therapies for the treatment of cervical spondylosis. It has been proved time and again that gentle massage with medicated ayurvedic oils gives extraordinary relief from pain, stiffness and swelling. Massage with warm ayurvedic oils is a safe, effective and calming way of getting nourishment externally.

Massage for Cervical Spondylosis  

Massage for cervical spondylosis is done with utmost care. Therapist start with gentle massage strokes to gradually soften and relax the muscles. Circulatory massage, crosswise and lengthwise strokes, along with light- to medium-pressure techniques are applied for relaxation. This helps the muscles to loosen up and also leads to increase in blood circulation.

A light massage for neck pain
Massage for Neck

Your therapist may also assist you to stretch your neck gently to the front and back; under his/her supervision.

You could also try to roll your head gently to your left (with left cheek near your left shoulder). Now, slowly roll to your right side with right cheek near your right shoulder.

Therapies like panchakarma, abhyangam, shirodhara and potli massage give remarkable results. Ayurveda experts generally advise a suitable ayurvedic therapy depending upon the condition of the patient and severity of the disease.

Potli Massage for Cervical Spondylosis

Potli massage is one of the most popular treatment for neck and joint pain. It is a unique and extremely helpful natural remedy any kind of pain.

What is a POTLI?

Natural, pain relieving dried herbs are tied in a muslin cloth, in the shape of  potli or a pouch. These potlis are dipped in warm herbal oil and are used to massage the body. These heated medicated potlis provide instant results on the painful areas. They provide a refreshing, relaxing and therapeutic effect on the body. Ayurvedic herbs that are used in the pouches are carefully selected based on your ayurvedic constitution or your health problem. Herbs and oil combine together to open the pores and relax the muscles which creates a revitalizing and rejuvenating effect on the body and mind.

The ayurvedic experts and massage therapists commonly recommend potli massage for health issues like rheumatoid arthritis, spondylosis, frozen shoulders, osteoarthritis etc. It provides long-term relief from pain and inflammation. This stimulating treatment increases blood circulation, which in turn supports removal of metabolic wastes (ama).

Benefits of exercise and massage therapy for cervical spondylosis

Inactive urban lifestyle is one of the biggest reasons for problems like cervical spondylosis. Incorporating some exercise and yoga moves in your daily routine can help you get rid of pain or stiffness in your neck and shoulder area.

Physiotherapists usually suggest gentle rotation of the head in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction, for few minutes, daily. Nodding the neck side-to-side from one shoulder to the other for 8-10 minutes, daily, can also prevent the pain in your neck from getting severe.

Morning walk, tai chi, and yoga are good activities to get some relief from pain, but extreme stretching or flexing could sometimes do more harm than good. So, when you are experiencing pain around your neck, shoulders or back just work within the range of motion that your body allows. Don’t try to force moves that cause you pain.

A leading Physiotherapist, Dr Kanika Khetrapal, Gurgaon says – “Good posture is important, and it’s even more crucial when you have cervical spondylosis. Therefore while working on laptop or watching a movie on television, maintain a comfortable posture.”

Correct posture for work station
A good posture goes a long way

“It is important to note that heavy exercises or fast movements may aggravate the pain, so don’t go for extreme work outs if you are suffering from spondylosis. Massage with deep pressure can be harmful for the people suffering with spondylosis. Therefore, it is always a good idea to take therapeutic massage from a trained and highly skilled therapist.”, adds Dr Kanika.

Gentle massage with warm ayurvedic oils over the muscles of the neck and shoulder joints is extremely useful for this purpose. If you are experiencing severe pain in neck and shoulder, then massage could be taken twice a week.

Dietary considerations

The Ayurveda philosophy suggests that sour things like curd, tamarind, mangoes and pickles are strictly prohibited for muscle pain, joint pain and arthritis etc.  Fried things, pulses and various food items made with pulses can also aggravate the pain and inflammation. Vegetables like drumstick, bitter gourd, carrot and cucumber should be preferred. Spices such as garlic, turmeric, ginger and coriander are most suitable for inflammation, pain and swelling.

So, if you are suffering from severe neck pain or cervical spondylosis, take great care of yourself, get a potli treatment done and walk pain-free.

NOD YOUR HEAD AND SAY GOOD-BYE TO NECK PAIN!!!!

Learn to handle Love Handles – How to get rid of them?

Some call them love handles and some describe them as muffin top!!! Either way those deposits of fats on tummy, thighs and upper arms are tough to lose.

Visualise those unsightly bulges hanging down from here and there! These bulges make it difficult for your favourite outfits to fit properly. And ultimately this dimply, cottage cheese-looking skin starts causing distress to many men and women.

LOVE HANDLES, they are called!!

They have nothing to do with love….It only shows your love for fatty food and unhealthy lifestyle!!

Love handles, like most types of stubborn abdominal fat, can be quite challenging to get rid of. A comprehensive approach that involves several things like dietary changes and high-intensity workouts along with other treatments can collectively help you remove excess fat deposit and cellulite.

To tackle the problem better, let’s understand what is cellulite?

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is nothing but normal fat underneath your skin. According to Ayurvedic practitioners, cellulite can be caused by a number of factors such as toxicity, hormonal imbalance, endocrine imbalance, water retention and poor lymphatic drainage.

Love Handles
Love Handles look like Muffin Top

The dimpled bulges around your thighs, arms and stomach show that your body is suffering from an inflammatory disorder which requires some internal cleansing and detoxification. Regular massage with herbal slimming oils, deep breathing, dry brushing and exercising can all support the body to get rid of toxic fatty tissue.

Slimming Oil – Treatment for LOVE HANDLES

Say good bye to those bulging ‘love-handles’ with Ayurvedic Slimming Oils and Creams

Slimming oil mostly contains sesame oil as base oil and is formulated using a number of medicinal herbs such as Jalada, Ushira, Durva, Madhuks, Kushta etc. Massage with these oils directly stimulates your skin tissues and improves circulation, which in turn helps dislodge the extra cellulite deposited under the skin.

There is a huge variety of anti cellulite creams and oils available in the market. Ayurvedic anti-cellulite cream slims and tones your body. They also smoothens skin for a bright and youthful complexion. Regular use of these products may help you eliminate those stubborn love handles.

Anti-cellulite creams contain a variety of plant and fruit extracts with essential oils such as Rosemary and Lavender. These natural extracts and essential oils helps in removal of harmful toxins and boosting blood circulation.

Regular massage using ayurvedic anti-cellulite creams is one of the best weapons, when it comes to fight against cellulite. It is important to remove the harmful toxins to help reduce the embarrassing appearance of love handles and dimpled skin. If the accumulation of toxins keeps growing it will only become harder and harder, with time, to get rid of cellulite.

One should invest in a good quality ayurvedic formula based skin tightening cream. This will not only help to reduce those unsightly love handles from your belly, arms and legs but will also work as a muscle relaxant and help alleviate pain and stiffness.

Most of the over-weight people try to hide bulging fat in their belly, arms and thighs under loose-fitting dresses. Apart from giving you an uneven shape and low confidence the excess fat can actually increase your risk of diseases like heart ailments and cancer.

How to choose and use Slimming Oil?

One should choose an Ayurvedic slimming oil that includes cellulite reduction and has skin tightening properties. Always read the label and look ingredients which have specific properties such as cellulite break down and body contour. Triphla is one such ingredient.

Warm the oil and get a gentle massage done when the oil is lukewarm. Be careful to check the oil temperature to avoid scalding. Gentle massage with warm slimming oil on the body aids in faster absorption of the oil. Regular use of herbal slimming oil tones the flabby skin and gives you a refreshing and revitalising effect.

Popularity of Slimming Oils – Do they really work??

The main reason behind slimming oils popularity is that they work as an essential element of body-reshaping therapy. They also support your skin become firmer, younger and tighter after every use. With ayurvedic slimming oil massage, you can target the stubborn fat on your tummy, thighs and arms which doesn’t go away even with the high-intensity work-outs.

Slimming oil containing extracts from Triphla, Sesame, Lemon, Pomegranate and Rosemary etc are storehouse of properties that work naturally to deal with stubborn fats, without causing any side effects.

But always remember…….

Slimming Oils work in tandem with healthy lifestyle and regular workout.

Importance of Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise

We all know the importance of healthy food and active lifestyle when it comes to staying fit and healthy. Do remember that the weight loss achieved using such creams and oils can be maintained in long term only if you strictly follow dietary changes and adopt a more active lifestyle.

Results of various scientific researches prove that people who engage in strenuous jobs gain less weight than those who are in a deskbound job. Regular exercise helps burn calories. Consult an instructor for a customised exercise regime.

Importance of regular exercise
Exercise regularly to get rid of love handles

Don’t opt for extreme diet for quick weight loss instead go for a balanced diet containing essential nutrients and vitamins. This will ensure that you do not have any vitamin deficiencies or other diseases due to malnutrition. Low energy foods like vegetables, fruits, lean meat, fish, grains, and beans can help you lose those extra pounds. On the other hand, high-energy dense foods like red meat, deep fried snacks, fast foods; cake, burger and pizza etc. provide you empty calories without much nutrition.

Last but not the least – UDWARTHANAM MASSAGE

Udwarthanam is a special dry ayurvedic massage which helps you lose weight easily and naturally. In this massage, a herbal paste or powder is applied all over the body and massaged with specific movements for about an hour.

The herbs used for the massage are helpful in flushing out the harmful toxins from the body. This therapy is usually recommended for new mothers because it tones muscles, builds strength and provides a youthful skin. It also promotes vitality and reduces fatigue and pain.

Dry Powder Massage
Udvarthanam

Udwarthanam combined with other natural treatments like Shirodhara can give you excellent results in weight loss management. Combination of herbs and oils used in these therapies are carefully selected after thoroughly analysing your ayurvedic constitution (pita, vata, kapha).

To get rid of those love handles and cellulite, one need to balance his lifestyle, food habits and workout regime. Further, massage practice like Udhwarthanam and Ayurvedic Slimming Oil can boost the process of weight loss.

An Ayurveda guide to your back pain

Does your back feel stiff in the morning? Is tightness in your back and neck your best pal? Do you find it tough to bend and get up again? Whatever it is, whenever it is, you definitely need a relief from this. You want to be up and running and doing your chores again.

Joint pain is one of the most potential problems that is faced by the elder section of the society. With the growing age, the strength of the bones and the muscles decreases leading to several joint related issues. This problem is eternally associated with age. Therefore it is better with people who are aging, to start something healthy today that would benefit them tomorrow.

The worst of pain occurs during the change of seasons and during winters. During winter season the joints become inflexible, creaky.  This is followed by unbearable pain making it impossible for you to move. As it is in winter, your body tends to become stiff, back pain, joint pain become a common problem. During summers, although there is little stiffness but people suffering from arthritis experience no ease.

Generally, common people term every joint pain as arthritis. However, there are two distinct types of arthritis and their symptoms vary too.

Osteoarthritis: when the cartilage between bones weathers away, until a bone vexes on another bone.

Rheumatoid arthritis: causes inflammation of the synovial membrane that leads to loss of bone.

General ways to keep joints healthy:

  • Balanced Diet: As you already know eating a balanced diet daily maintains the well-being of the overall body. For people who suffer from joint pain must have a diet rich in Vitamin K and D. They must also have oranges, cabbage, spinach, tomato in their diet to keep away knee problems. There are ample vitamin supplements available in the market, one should take them by consulting a doctor.
  • Drink Water: You must ensure that the amount of water you drink every day is sufficient. A proper balanced diet along with correct intake of water helps in keeping the body fit. Water just not prevents dehydration but also works wonderfully to reduce the joint aches. Water keeps the cartilages and joints from getting stiff and promotes smooth functioning.
  • Physiotherapy: People who suffer from several orthopaedic problems should regularly visit a physiotherapist and undergo physiotherapy to maintain the flexibility of the joints and keep them safe. People suffering from joints problems must consult a physiotherapist before winter hits hard and makes the pain worse. The session provides the accurate amount of movement, warmth, and medication to soothe your knees, backs, shoulders and necks.
  • Regular exercise: Motion is the best lotion for any kind of joint pain. Exercising is the healthiest habit that anyone can adopt. Daily exercises also help in keeping the joints and the bones healthy for a longer period of time. However, it does not need to undergo strenuous physical regime, you can do simple easy physical exercise to get the same health benefits. The basic reason for joints pain is the stiffness and immovability of the joints. Physical exercise helps in keeping the joints moveable and reduces the chances of joint pains. Regular walk is a good form of exercise for ageing people.
  • Wear proper shoes: You should be aware regarding the shoe that keeps you going for long. Hills and designer shoes are always in for fashion, but, too much of it can cause serious joint aches later. So avoid wearing hills and designer shoes always. You can wear slippers, kittos, and sneakers sometimes to give rest to your foot muscles. If you are already suffering from problems, visit a doctor and take advice about what shoe should you wear in your condition and try to follow it always.
  • Avoid same standing position for long: Sitting in your cubicle for 8-10 hours constantly and working or standing in your kitchen and working without sitting for a while are both very harmful. If your work needs constant standing or sitting, try to take breaks within and either sit or stand. The more strain you provide to your knees and joints now the more they will make you suffer as your age grows.
  • Avoid Smoking: Well, smoking has the only negative effect on your body and there is nothing good about it. It not only destroys your lungs but it also reduces the bone density of a person. If you want to keep your bones robust make sure you quit smoking as soon as possible.
  • More Calcium Intake: Calcium is good for bones. It keeps them strong and maintains the body balance. It is advisable to have food that contains more of calcium so that with age your bones do not get eroded and becomes fragile.
  • Vitamin D: More and more people are getting Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D helps absorption of calcium. Hence, the importance of Vitamin D. Sun is the most important source of Vitamin D. There are very little edible sources of Vitamin D. The only option left is Vitamin D supplements.

Massage as an alternative treatment for joint pain:

A proper massage makes the blood circulation better and makes the pain less acute. Apart from the medications and the other things that have been mentioned before there are several ayurvedic medicines and treatments that work wonder in easing the pain of joints. There are several body massage centres in India, one such is Blueterra Spa. They offer potli massage therapy with Vitamin D Oil, which is very effective for joint pains.

BENEFITS OF BODY MASSAGE

Listed below are various ways in which body massage helps you:

  • Pain Relief

Chronic pains and cramps lessen when you start having the body massage on a daily basis. Depending on the health, age and tolerance level that you have the massage treatments vary. Along with the above-mentioned steps, a good body massage is what keeps your joints healthy and fit.

  • Stress Relief and Blood Circulation

Stress is a part of everyday life. But stress causes serious health issues. Body massage is a wonderful way to treat the stress. It helps in stimulating muscles by increasing the blood circulation. Relieves pain and also increases the circulation system of the body. This helps in the equal distribution of nutrients and oxygen in the body. As the massage releases the stiffness of the body, the joints and muscles become more flexible and help in better body movement.

  • Boosts Immunity and improves postures

As your daily work makes you do a thing for a long span of time, your body loses the flexibility and this weakens the immunity system of the body. As there is a little physical exercise that you go through usually in your regular life, there are chances that you grow diseases like spinal cord depression.  A whole body massage removes the stiffness allowing the proper flow of blood and oxygen. As a result, your joints and muscles do not get stiff and you have better and proper postures so the chances of your bone related and other diseases decrease.

So unless, something majorly important is waiting for you, step out, take a walk in sunshine, hit a Spa, have a glass of milk, every day. We assure that you will never ever lie down with back pain.

Fighting Depression? Ayurveda could be the solution!!

Being depressed is the most dangerous state of mind for a human being. Depression can lead to a pile of nonsense work which people do.  This is such a phase where one cannot think either of the present situation nor the future. People visit doctors mainly psychiatrist to heal this wound but the treatment is carried over a long time period. 

Ayurvedic treatment is one such way to deal with such situation. It gives maximum relief from stress.

Sadness and depression can be caused due to many factors. It varies from person to person.  But the Ayurveda treatment for this is uniform irrespective of the severity.

Before we talk of the various remedies lets discuss a little about the cause of depression. This prelude will help you to understand the remedies for depression that will be dealt later.

Understanding Depression

The expression in depression is something much unexpected. People can react in different ways.  Some of the common symptoms of depression are mood swings, feeling stressed, anxiety, extreme anger, confinement to bed, sleeplessness, extreme behaviour and many more.

Symptoms of depression
Depression

In this stage, there is a huge imbalance of both physical and mental health.  People tend to lose every support and dissolve all hopes from their mind.  Along with mental illness various physical issues could also be manifested-like diabetes, digestion problems, breathlessness etc.

There is another major factor which causes depression and that is stress at work.  In this contemporary age, work pressure is huge, especially in the private sector.  People lose out on their sleep and food due to the tension that gets build up in their mind.  If this goes on for a long time without any sign of success the depression is bound to set in.

Sadhaka Agni and Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, Sadhaka Agni is an important factor.   Sadhaka Agni is a subdosha of Pitta. It is the inner fire responsible for processing your emotions. It connects the heart and mind together so that there is constant communication between them.  It is believed that a strong Sadhaka Agni can be invariably linked with high emotional intelligence.

WAYS TO FIGHT DEPRESSION

Let’s discuss some of the ways to fight depression and build a strong Sadhaka Agni.

  • Practice the art of detachment– A wise man once said that attachment is the root of all sufferings.  If you find no such productivity in an attachment then leave it then. Don’t ever stick to something which will never give you peace.  During depression try to detach with people or things that will never benefit you or stand by your side. People with negative vibes should be ignored.
  • Make changes in your lifestyle – It is understandable that during any depressing phase the lifestyle of people change drastically.  This could be hazardous for that person’s health. Try hard to get away from it and lead a balanced life, with a proper routine.  Eat food at the right time, do some sort of exercise, divert your mind towards lighter things, watch a funny movie, and most importantly try to sleep well. All these may seem difficult to do as the person who is under depression cannot see a purpose to things. But following this routine for a month will definitely reap results. The good feeling will automatically intrude in your life.
  • Eat healthy food – During depression phase, health of the unwell  person gets highly affected. One has to undergo a proper diet with good and healthy food to achieve a mind-body constitution. A person can consume lots of organic foods which have lots of prana (life force energy) in it.  Coconuts, soaked nuts, and some other dry fruits are a must in such situation.
  • Visit a spa– It is highly recommended to visit a spa in such a situation.  There are several Ayurvedic Spa treatments done at different Spas.  One of the most popular and effective treatment is Shirodhara.  This is basically a very soothing kind of treatment where a stream of warm oil is poured over the forehead. As a result, it calms down both your mind and body. One feels really relaxed and sound after the therapy.  It is very often practiced by people going through a depressing stage. It may not heal depression but can definitely bring some tranquility in your life.
  • Yoga is a must–   To keep a sound mind and a fit body it is mandatory to do some yoga in the morning. Even during depression, one should not leave the practice. Janu  Sirsasana (the art of head to knee forward bend) helps to stimulate the inner functions of the body. Camel Pose is another effective posture in Yoga.  This helps to deal with your emotions.
  • Always have a smile on your face–   This is the best anti-depression pill. Nevertheless, a smile can bring a huge amount of joy in your life. During depression, it is always a feasible idea to smile and let go of every bit of pain.  There is something called ‘smile inside meditation’ which helps to reincarnate positive energy inside the body.

Depression is one such thing which takes a lot of time to heal.  It starts from sadness and with time gets transformed into depression. It may be stress at work or stress at home one can get depressed with any event in life.

People often try to get hold of an anti-depression pill but it is best to have an Ayurvedic treatment with proper healing methods.

In the recent times, there are various Spas’ in all major towns and cities where you can get the best Ayurveda treatment.   Several kinds of massage and healing treatment are done over here. 

The phase of depression is really a tormenting one for people who are really suffering.  It takes great effort to bring them back to normal. The state of mind completely changes and there in no such guarantee of getting well, unless taken care of.

Are you suffering from any state of depression?  Has it really conquered your mind? If so then try to find a way to heal this state.  Never waste a little time in such cases. If depression gets deep, it could create a big trauma which again becomes difficult to handle.

There are several ways to deal with depression but Ayurveda treatment is the most promising one which has been proved by various experts.  Get a proper Ayurveda treatment at your nearest Spa and feel the difference.

Depression may kill you. Never get carried away with it. Life has too many things to offer. Get well soon and look for better opportunities.

Life is beautiful, go and embrace it!!!