Health Benefits of Holy Basil

Health Benefits of Holy Basil(Thulsi)

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Holy Basil, also known in Ayruvedic tradition as Tulsi, and formally named Ocimum sanctum, is an indigenous plant in India and Southeast Asia.  Numerous ancient systems of medicine value this plant for its medicinal properties, including Ayurveda, Greek, Roman, Siddha and Unani.

In India, Holy Basil’s name of Tulsi translates to "incomparable one" and is considered sacred anywhere it is grown

It is the most sacred plant in the Hindu religion.  Holy Basil is an important part of religious ceremonies. Like a number of other medicinal herbs from other parts of the world, it is thought to provide protection for homes where it is cultivated.  The smell of the plant is effective in keeping away insects that typically spread disease, such as mosquitoes and flies.

In the United States of America, Holy Basil has been granted “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) status by the FDA. 

Holy Basil is valued for its versatility in helping to restore health where imbalance is the cause of illness.

1. Healing Power: The tulsi plant has many medicinal properties. The leaves are a nerve tonic and also sharpen memory. They promote the removal of the catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. The leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. The seed of the plant are mucilaginous.

2. Fever & Common Cold: The leaves of basil are specific for many fevers. During the rainy season, when malaria and dengue fever are widely prevalent, tender leaves, boiled with tea, act as preventive against theses diseases. In case of acute fevers, a decoction of the leaves boiled with powdered cardamom in half a liter of water and mixed with sugar and milk brings down the temperature. The juice of tulsi leaves can be used to bring down fever. Extract of tulsi leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. In between one can keep giving sips of cold water. In children, it is every effective in bringing down the temperature. 

3. Coughs: Tulsi is an important constituent of many Ayurvedic cough syrups andexpectorants. It helps to mobilize mucus in bronchitis and asthma. Chewing tulsi leaves  relieves cold and flu. 

4. Sore Throat: Water boiled with basil leaves can be taken as drink in case of sore throat. This water can also be used as a gargle.

5. Respiratory Disorder: The herb is useful in the treatment of respiratory system disorder. A decoction of the leaves, with honey and ginger is an effective remedy for bronchitis, asthma, influenza, cough and cold. A decoction of the leaves, cloves and common salt also gives immediate relief in case of influenza. They should be boiled in half a liter of water till only half the water is left and add then taken.

6. Kidney Stone: Basil has strengthening effect on the kidney. In case of renal stone the juice of basil leaves and honey, if taken regularly for 6 months it will expel them via the urinary tract.

7. Heart Disorder: Basil has a beneficial effect in cardiac disease and the weakness resulting from them. It reduces the level of blood cholesterol.

8. Children's Ailments: Common pediatric problems like cough cold, fever, diarrhea and  vomiting respond favorably to the juice of basil leaves. If pustules of chicken pox delay their appearance, basil leaves taken with saffron will hasten them. 

9. Stress: Basil leaves are regarded as an 'adaptogen' or anti-stress agent. Recent studies have shown that the leaves afford significant protection against stress. Even healthy persons can chew 12 leaves of basil, twice a day, to prevent stress. It purifies blood and helps prevent several common elements.

10. Mouth Infections: The leaves are quit effective for the ulcer and infections in the mouth. A few leaves chewed will cure these conditions.

11. Insect Bites: The herb is a prophylactic or preventive and curative for insect stings or bites. A teaspoonful of the juice of the leaves is taken and is repeated after a few hours. Fresh juice must also be applied to the affected parts. A paste of fresh roots is also effective in case of bites of insects and leeches.

12. Skin Disorders: Applied locally, basil juice is beneficial in the treatment of ringworm and other skin diseases. It has also been tried successfully by some naturopaths in the treatment of leucoderma.

13. Teeth Disorder: The herb is useful in teeth disorders. Its leaves, dried in the sun and powdered, can be used for brushing teeth. It can also be mixed with mustered oil to make a paste and used as toothpaste. This is very good for maintaining dental health, counteracting bad breath and for massaging the gums. It is also useful in pyorrhea and other teeth disorders.

14. Headaches: Basil makes a good medicine for headache. A decoction of the leaves can be given for this disorder. Pounded leaves mixed with sandalwood paste can also be applied on the forehead for getting relief from heat, headache, and for providing coolness in general. 

15. Eye Disorders: Basil juice is an effective remedy for sore eyes and night-blindness, which is generally caused by deficiency of vitamin A. Two drops of black basil juice are put into the eyes daily at bedtime.

16. Constipation: If you are suffering from constipation, use some tulsi leaves with water daily after meals.

17. Provides Anti-aging abilities-It hydrates the skin and is able to treat skin conditions and chronic dry skin. It reduces the physiological effects of aging and works as an anti-aging treatment.

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

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Aloe vera is a succulent prickly plant of the Lily Family which grows in warm, frost-free climates and which has been known for centuries as a potent medicinal plant according the “folk medicines” of cultures around the world. Any nearly pure Aloe vera liquid product, whether called Gel, Juice or Whole Leaf Extract, comprises the fluid obtained by breaking up the structure of the Aloe leaf and separating off the solid residues to leave a more or less clear solution.

The Egyptians called Aloe the “Plant of Immortality” because it can live and even bloom  without soil. Aloe has been used medicinally since at least the first century C.E. and continues to be used extensively worldwide. In Egypt, aloe was called “the plant of immortality” and was given as an offering at the funerals of pharaohs and used in the baths of Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra.

According to the Roman scholar, Pliny, the plant was also used for embalming. 

Alexander the Great conquered Socotra Island, reportedly at the request of Aristotle, just to obtain aloe.

In the first century C.E., the Greek physician Dioscorides used aloe for mouth infections, sores, wounds and as a purgative. 

In the10th century, aloe was used in England and during the 17th century, records show that the East India Company frequently purchased aloe from the king of Socotra.

Today, Egyptians still hang an aloe plant over the door of a new house to provide a long and fruitful life for its occupants. In India the whole leaves, exudate, and fresh gel aloe are used as a cathartic, stomachache, emmenagogue, and antihelminthic. 

In China, Mexico, and the West Indies, it has become a common household remedy for a  variety of uses. Until the 1930s in the U.S., the primary commercial use of aloe was the dried latex as a laxative.

1. Aloe Vera has a wonderfully beneficial action on bowel function which results in a smooth and efficient transit of contents, often eradicating inconvenient, colicky pain.

2. Assists in healthy digestion A healthy digestive tract ensures that nutrients from the food we eat are absorbed into the bloodstream. There is clear, clinical evidence that by drinking Aloe Vera Gel the bowel is able to absorb these nutrients more efficiently, especially protein.

3. Aloe Vera is a natural balancer in many areas and nowhere more so than inside the gut where it tends to regulate the proportion of bacteria and yeasts that inhabit it. At various times in life people can develop an imbalance through a variety of causes which can lead to problems and, as with probiotics, Aloe may often help to normalise the situation.

4. Aloe vera used to heal skin wounds.

5.  Aloe vera plant is used to heal burn.

6. Helps in speeding recovery time after surgery.

7. Aloe vera gel is used on blisters.

8. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing insect bites.

9. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing rashes.

10. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing sores.

11. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing herpes.

12. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing urticaria.

13. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing fungus.

14. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing vaginal infections.

15. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing conjunctivitis.

16. Aloe vera Plants are also helpful in healing allergic reactions.

17. Aloe gels are applied on dry skins to give them glowing effect. 

18. Helps in reducing acne.

19. Helps to reduce sunburn.

20. Aloe vera helps to fight frostbite.

21. Aloe vera uses includes fighting from shingles.

22. It helps in screening out x-ray radiation.

23. Aloe vera used to reduce psoriasis.

24. Aloe vera used to reduce rosacea. 

25. Aloe vera used to reduce warts.

26. Wrinkles from aging are reduced by applying Aloe vera.

27. Aloe vera used to reduce eczema.

By drinking the Gel with all its important ingredients (often now deficient in our food) including 19 of the 20 amino acids needed by the human body, and seven of the eight essential ones that just cannot be made, the body is able to get enough to allow complex enzyme systems to work really well. This means the body can function at 100%. The net result to the individual is a wonderful feeling of well being which tends to go with an improved ability to withstand and even fight illness.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

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Cardiovascular diseases include:
a. coronary heart disease (heart attacks),
b. cerebrovascular disease,
c. raised blood pressure (hypertension),
d. peripheral artery disease,
e. rheumatic heart disease,
f. congenital heart disease, and heart failure.


The existence of the heart was well known to the Greeks, who gave it the name Kardia, still surviving in modern words such as cardiac and tachycardia. Aristotle believed that the heart was the seat of the soul and the center of man. Romans modified Kardia to Cor, the latter word still surviving in "cordial greetings". The old Teutonic word herton was also derived from Cor and gives us heart via the medieval heorte.

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack. Other kinds of heart disease may involve the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart disease.

Anyone, including children, can develop heart disease. It occurs when a substance called plaque builds up in your arteries. When this happens, your arteries can narrow over time, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.

Smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, and not getting enough exercise all increase your risk for having heart disease.

Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also can increase your risk for heart disease. Ask your doctor about preventing or treating these medical conditions.

What are the signs and symptoms?

The symptoms vary depending on the type of heart disease. For many people, chest discomfort or a heart attack is the first sign.

Someone having a heart attack may experience several symptoms, including:

Chest pain or discomfort that doesn’t go away after a few minutes

Engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day of the week will help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day, also helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

To maintain an ideal body weight, take regular physical activity and eat a healthy diet.

Cessation of tobacco use reduces the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

Use simple charts to determine your risk of developing a heart attack or a stroke.

Check your blood pressure and cholesterol regularly.

If you have diabetes, control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize your risk.

Head Lice Facts

Head Lice Facts

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1. Lice are spread by head-to-head contact and are much harder to get than a cold, the flu, ear 
infections,pink eye, strep throat or impetigo.

2. Lice do not spread any known disease, nor are they impacted by dirty or clean hygiene. They are just annoying.

3. Head lice need a blood meal every few hours and the warmth of the human scalp to survive.  When off the human body, they cannot survive for more than 24 to 36 hours.

4. Nits are glued to the hair shaft by a cement-like substance and are very hard to remove. When a nymph (baby louse) is hatched, it must quickly have the warmth and food source of a head to survive.

5. The length of a person’s hair does not impact his or her risk of getting head lice. 

6. Head lice are spread through direct head-to-head contact. The lice do not hop, jump or fly, so sitting near someone with head lice does not increase the risk of getting the lice.

7. Transmissions in schools are rare. It is more common to get head lice from family members, overnight guests and playmates who spend a lot of time together. 

8. Although spread through hats or helmets is possible, it is rare. It is more common for transmission to occur from pillows, hairbrushes or sheets. The most common type of transmission is from head-to-head contact.

9. Having regularly scheduled mass screenings does not reduce the incidence of head lice.

10. Research shows “no-nit” policies do not decrease the number of cases of head lice.  They do increase the risk of incorrect diagnosis of head lice, the number of days children are out of school, and negative social stigma associated with head lice.  They also may hinder academic performance.

11. Studies have shown the removal of nits immediately after treatment with a pediculicide is usually not necessary.

12. Head lice are specific to humans. You can get human lice only from other humans. You cannot give your pets lice.

13. Head lice is also called pediculosis. 

14. Head lice are not a major public health concern because they do not spread illness or disease.  

15. Head lice can be a bother because of the discomfort they can cause and how easily they are spread from person to person.

Amazing Onion Facts

Amazing Onion Facts

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1. Onions are yellow, red or white, with yellow being the most common color. When allowed to mature and dry, they develop firm flesh and dry, crackly outer skins.

2. The name onion comes from the Latin, "unio."  Unio is a mix of French "oignon" and the English "unyun." Allium Cepa is the scientific name for onion because an onion grows as a single bulb.

3. Humans have grown onions for at least 7000 years.

4. Egyptians believed onions had strength-producing powers.  Onions were fed to those who built the pyramids.

5. The onion is one of the top 5 fresh vegetables in the US.

6. An average American consumes around 21pounds of fresh and processed onion every year.

7. There are more than 500 varieties of onions. Onions can be put into two groups: dried and fresh.

8. When onions are cut, sulfur-containing gas (called the lachrymatory factor)is released. The gas spreads in the air and comes into contact with your eyes. The lachrymatory factor activates the nerves in the eyes. The nerves send signals to your brain. Your brain puts your gland that releases tears, causing you to cry.

9. Vidalia Onions have developed an international reputation as the "world's sweetest onion."

10. In 1990, a resolution was passed by the Georgia's legislature declaring the Vidalia Onion as Georgia's Official State Vegetable.

11. Vidalia Onions contain the highest sugar content and the lowest pungency levels of any sweet onion grown anywhere in the world.

12.Everybody who has ever had to cut up a lot of strong onions knows what happens. It is literally a job that makes all of us cry. That is because onions contain sulfur, and when you cut the onion sulfur is released into the air. This airborne sulfur reacts with the moisture in your eyes and creates a mild form of sulfuric acid! Your eyes tear up to flush this substance from your eyes.

13.Native Americans ate wild onions and the Pilgrims brought onions with them on the Mayflower. Onions were eaten at the first Thanksgiving dinner.

14.After slicing onions, wash your hands in cold water, then rub them with salt or vinegar. The salt or vinegar will remove onion smells from your hands.

15.If you need only half of an onion, use the top half. The root will stay fresh longer in the refrigerator.

16 In ancient Egypt, the onion was a symbol of eternity because it is a circle-within a circle. The Pharaoh Cheops paid workers who built the Great Pyramid in onions, garlic, and parsley and onions were painted on the walls of the pyramids. Mummies were even buried with onions.

17.Onions are a good source of Vitamin C and fiber. They are low in fat and calories. The antioxidants found in onions help prevent high blood pressure and some forms of cancer.

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18. The white onion bulb and the green stalk are both edible.

19. Humans have been cultivating onions since 3500 B.C.

20. Green onions are also known as scallions.

21. Yellow and Red Onions contain an antioxidant that is associated with beneficial effects on human diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

22. Onions were an important part of life in Ancient Egypt. Leaders took an oath of office with their right hand on an onion.

23. It is believed that onions originated in Asia, though it is also possible that onions may have been growing wild worldwide. Ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion, believing that the spherical shape and concentric rings symbolized eternity.

Health Benefits of Passion Fruit

Health Benefits of Passion Fruit

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Common Names: Passion Fruit, Granadilla, Purple Granadilla, Yellow Passion Fruit

Passion fruit is a plant that is commercially cultivated for its fruits. The fruit is oval and yellow or dark purple at maturity with a soft juicy interior.

Passiflora is from the Latin passus (suffering) and flos (flower), literally the Flower of Passion so called by the early Catholic Spanish priests in South America who regarded the plants features as symbols of the Crucifixion.

1. Passionfruit is believed to contain somniferous properties, which are calming and sleep-inducing. Many indigenous tribes of South America traditionally used passionfruit in calming tonics and as a sedative. 

2. Passionfruit contains high levels of fibre, which is essential for your toddler's digestive system, metabolism and eliminating toxins from his body.

3. Full of Vitamin A and flavonoid antioxidants, this fruit is great for your little one’s developing vision, mucous membranes and skin.

4. Vitamin C helps build up resistance against flu-like viruses and passionfruit is packed with it. So if your toddler gets the sniffles, the Vitamin C will lessen his symptoms and can help him make a faster recovery. 

5. Did you know one passionfruit contains the same amount of potassium as a banana? Potassium aids the function of the body’s cells, tissues and organs, which is vital for growing bodies.

6. Just because a passionfruit has wrinkly skin does not mean it’s ripe. Passionfruit is best judged by weight, rather than skin. If it feels heavy and ‘full’ it’s probably ripe but if it’s wrinkled it may have started to dry up.

7. Passionfruit crops are mainly pollinated by honeybees. If you’re ever near a passionfruit farm you will notice hives strategically placed throughout the crop to encourage pollination.

8. The passionfruit is technically a berry. This is because, by botanical definition, it is a fleshy fruit grown from a single ovary.

9. The passionfruit takes its name from the fruit’s exotic-looking flower and is said to symbolise the Passion of Christ. The three stigmas are said to reflect the three nails in Jesus’ hands and feet, the 10 petals represent the Apostles (not including Peter or Judas), and the vines represent the whips used on Jesus.

10. Another type of supplement extracted from passion fruit peel was found to improve physical function and decrease the pain and the stiffness among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The reported beneficial effects were thought to be due to the antioxidant properties and antiinflammatory chemicals of the passion fruit peel.

Health Benefits Of Beetroot

Health Benefits Of Beetroot

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Commonly known as the garden beet, this firm, round root vegetable has leafy green tops, which are also edible and highly nutritious. While the most common color for beets (called “beetroots” in the British Isles) is garnet red, they can range in color from deep red to purple and from yellow to white, allowing these vegetables to create a distinctively vibrant presentation. However, their most intriguing hue is concentric rings of red and white known as chioggia, or candy cane.

Beetroot, also often known as the beet, is a root vegetable that has been consumed since ancient times. Even the ancient Romans and Greeks thought beetroot had vitamins and minerals. In fact, today's studies prove that not only are they loaded with beneficial nutrients, but beetroot is an amazing way to ensure that a person stays healthy. 

A root vegetable, the reddish and bulbous portion of the beetroot is grown underground while its leafy top is seen above the ground. It grows in both tropical and temperate areas, and takes about two months to reach maturity. Though the plants have been cultivated for thousands of years due to their dietary benefits, it is only recently that their many health benefits have been 
explored. 

1. Beetroot enhances sex 
The ancient Romans prized beetroot as an aphrodisiac and raised them as such. Today's science supports this Roman practice. Researchers have found that beets contain high amounts of boron, an element that relates directly to the production of sex hormones in humans. 

2. Beetroot equalizes mental health Betaine, the same component that is used by practitioners to treat depression using certain methods, is found in beetroot. Another great element that beetroot contains is tryptophan, which has been shown to create a sense of well-being while also relaxing the mind. They are also a great way to lower blood pressure, which can help offset the effects of stress on the body. 

3. Beetroot increases energy levels 
Because the sugar contained in beetroot is released slowly throughout the body, even though the sugar levels are high, they help maintain steady energy levels. When compared to foods such as chocolate whose sugars are processed quickly by the body, beetroot, which is also low in calories, makes its energy boost last a great deal longer.

4. Beetroot is high in vitamins and minerals 
Because they are high in vitamin B and iron, beetroot is especially beneficial to those women who are pregnant. Vitamin B and iron are necessary for the growth of new cells as well as replenishing the iron levels that often dip at this time of life. In addition, beetroot is high in the following vitamins and minerals: fiber, phosphorus, potassium, folic acid, beta-carotene, vitamin A, magnesium, vitamin C and betacyanin. 

5. Beetroot helps cleanse the body 
Beetroot works to cleanse and clarify the liver. It can also purify the blood and has been shown to help prevent some forms of cancer. Eating beetroot can also indicate whether a person has low amounts of stomach acid. This is shown if their urine turns pink.

6. Beetroot is great to help the bodies natural defence and strengthen the immune system.

7. Antioxidants: The red pigment found in beets is loaded with antioxidants that may help protect the body against heart disease, certain cancers and even birth defects.

8. Folate: A half-cup serving of cooked beets provides about a quarter of the recommended daily requirements of folate. Folate is used in metabolic functions and plays a critical role during pregnancy, specifically in preventing certain birth defects.

9. Iron: Beets are a good source of iron. While iron is considered a trace mineral, which means it’s needed in very small amounts, it is still critical to healthy blood because it’s a key component of hemoglobin.

10. PotassiuM: Being high in potassium, beets help maintain healthful blood pressure by maintaining proper fluid balance.