Healty Tips

Health Benefits of Curry Leaf

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Murraya koenigii, commonly known as curry leaf or kari patta in Indian dialects, belonging to Family Rutaceae which represent more than 150 genera and 1600 species. Murraya Koenigii is a highly values plant for its characteristic aroma and medicinal value.

The plant is credited with tonic and stomachic properties. Bark and roots are used as stimulant and externally to cure eruptions and bites of poisonous animals. Green leaves are eaten raw for cure of dysentery, diarrhoea and for checking vomiting.

The leaves retain their flavour after drying and hence these are marketed both in fresh and dried forms.

The leaves are a good source of vitamin A and they provide a rich source of calcium.

Their mineral and vitamin contents are calcium, phosphorus, iron, nicotinic acid and vitamin C. Fresh leaves on steam distillation under pressure yield a volatile oil.

Besides the oil, the leaves contain a residual glucoside named as koenigin.

1. Curry leaf has many medicinal properties. It stimulates digestive enzymes and helps break down food more easily. Have a glass of buttermilk mixed with a little hing (asafoetida) with a few curry leaves thrown after meal for good digestion.

2. A good remedy for nausea and indigestion. Extract juice of curry leaves, squeeze a lime and add a pinch of sugar.

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3. Chew a few leaves every day to lose weight.

4. Loaded with folic acid and iron, eating curry leaves helps fight anemia.

5. Curry leaves also have anti-inflammatory benefits and hence aids in improved digestion.

6. Curry leaves are also known to improve eyesight, so make sure you do not throw away the
leaves while eating. It is also believed to prevent cataract.

7. Fresh juice of curry leaves, with lime juice and sugar,is an effective medicine in the treatment of morning sickness, nausea and vomiting due to indigestion and excessive use of fats. The curry leaves, ground to a fine paste and mixed with buttermilk, can also be taken on an empty stomach in case of stomach upsets.

8. Curry leaves are also good for hair growth and colour. If you don't like its raw taste, you can buy the curry leaf powder widely available in the market. This will prevent premature greying of hair.

9. Curry leaves can be effectively used to treat burns, bruises and skin eruptions. They should be applied as a poultice over the affected areas.

10. Alternatively, you can also add a few curry leaves to your hair oil and boil it for a few minutes.Applying this hair tonic will keep your hair healthy.

11. Eating 10 fresh fully grown curry leaves every morning for three months prevents diabetes due to heredity factors. It also cures diabetes due to obesity,as the leaves have weight reducing properties. As the weight drops, the diabetic patients stop passing sugar in urine.

Facts you do not know about Tattoos

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What is a tattoo?
A tattoo is:
1. Any indelible design, letter, scroll, figure, symbol, or other mark placed with the aid of needles or other instruments; or
2. Any design, letter, scroll, figure, symbol done by scarring on or under the skin.

The origin and historical meaning of the word Tattoo is believed to have two deviations as
follow;
(i) ta-striking something (Polynesian)
(ii) tatau-to mark something (Tahitian)
The use of tattoos is recorded to have begun thousands of years ago and its history is as varied and diverse as people who carry them.

The first tattoos were most likely created unintentionally. Someone with a small wound or gash happened to rub it with dirty hand that was covered by soot or ash. Once the wound had healed over the ash then that mark became a permanent condition.

No one can really state just when the history of tattoos all started. The oldest established tattoo was exposed in 1991. It was found on a mummy known as Oetzi, an Iceman dated to be at least 5300 years of age. His tattoos are comprised of horizontal and vertical lines, and he had 57 of them. There’s a certain amount of debate about the reason the tattoos are there.

The most common opinion is that the tattoos were designed for curative purposes. Oetzi’s fifty-seven tattoos were located on several joints on the body. The belief is that the tattoos were created at the same time as a form of acupuncture was practiced to relieve painful joints. Other theories range from social position and ritual markings to ethnic marks or just preference.

Source: By Tatoo: Anton Ivkin, Photograph: Alexander Kuzovlev - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45569905

How is a tattoo done?
A needle, connected to a small machine with tubes containing dye, repeatedly pricks into the skin. Each needle puncture inserts tiny droplets of ink. The process, which may last several hours for a large tattoo, causes a small amount of bleeding.

There are serious health risks associated with tattoos, including:

1. Infection, including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, staph (including drug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus), and tuberculosis,

2. Pain, itching, swelling, tenderness, redness, or tissue injury at the site

3. Allergic reaction to the ink, especially red ink.

4. Formation of thick, overdeveloped scars called keloids

5. Development of nodules of inflamed tissue called granulomas

6. Difficulty having a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan performed, as some tattoo inks contain metals

What should you look for when selecting a tattoo parlor?

1. The tattooist and parlor should be neat and clean in appearance.

2. Patron (client) rights must be displayed.

3. There should be hand-washing facilities with running water available for the tattooist to use.

4. The staff should be willing and able to answer your questions.

5. Tattooists should not work when sick.

6. Tattooists must wear gloves when tattooing.

7. All equipment should be single service. Eachneedle and tube set should be individually
packaged, dated, sealed, sterilized, and opened immediately prior to your tattoo.

8. A new ink supply should be poured into a disposable container.

9. Any razors, needles, ink, plastic trays or containers, gloves, or ointments used in your tattoo application should be discarded after use.

10. Appropriate disinfectants should be used to clean the work area after tattoo application.

10 Tips for Healthy Skin

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How our skin and hair look is important to many of us. At the same time, your skin and hair are organs that do special jobs that support life. Skin protects your inside organs from injury, bacteria, and viruses. Your skin, hair, and sweat glands help control body temperature. Body hair also alerts you to heat and touch. You can take steps to keep your skin and hair healthy. You can also look to your skin and hair for clues to your overall health. And, as a bonus, good skin and hair care will help you to feel your best,too. Your skin is an organ that is just as important as your heart or lungs.

1. Protect your skin from the sun and avoid prolonged exposure. Sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer, such as melanoma, by causing mutations in your DNA. It also causes premature aging of the skin (which results in wrinkles and thin skin), brown discolorations and uneven texture. Seek shade under an umbrella or tree, and wear sunscreen, a hat and sun-protective clothing.

2. Avoid tanning salons. They emit UV radiation, which causes wrinkles, melanoma and other skin cancers.

3. Perform a monthly skin check.You are most likely the first to notice a new growth that could be cancerous. Every month, examine your skin from head to toe. For your back and other hard-to-see spots, use a handheld and/or full-length mirror, or enlist the help of a partner. If you see something unusual, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

4. Moisturize your skin.During cold and dry weather, apply a thick moisturizing cream. When the weather is warmer, switch to a lighter lotion.

5. Avoid irritating chemicals and harsh soaps. Choose moisturizing, gentle cleansers, especially if your skin is dry or sensitive. Use soap only where needed, such as the underarms, and avoid areas that tend to dry out easily, such as the arms and legs.

6. Keep skin from drying out by drinking plenty of water and using gentle moisturizers, lotions, or creams.

7. A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in fats and carbohydrates may promote younger looking skin.

8. The regular elimination of toxins and waste is essential to maintaining healthy skin .Just like periodic cleansing is necessary for digestive health, including cleansing foods and herbs in your diet will effectively remove cellular waste and reduce inflammation, keeping your skin clear, youthful, and positively radiant.

Aim to add more of these top 5 cleansing foods to your diet:
Lemon:Squeeze into your water first thing in the morning.
Garlic:Eat raw for most benefits, great in salads or pesto.
Ginger:Goes great in Asian recipes or as a tea.
Chamomile: as hot or cold tea .
Dark leafy greens:Great cooked or raw in salads, wraps,or stews.

9. Manage stress
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy.

10. Don’t Smoke
Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are important to skin health.

Is The Medical Practice Management Software Important In Today’s Context

Medical Practice Management Software

Fresh out of their medical curriculum and medical school, most graduates are enthusiastic about the upcoming practice that they would be doing. Some are keen on working in a well established hospital set up, while some doctors want to serve their society by having an independent practice, where they are the primary health providers while few of their seniors or friends visit for specialist treatment. In any way the patients are treated, it is essential to have certain discipline and decorum in the set up. Starting from tracking appointments to the billing of patient charges and procedures, everything is not possible to be handled by the doctor. If the doctor indulges in keeping such counts, there will probably be less efficiency in looking after the disease.

How Does the Software Help in Practice

As the 21st century continues, patient care is to be provided with utmost diligence and the practice has to be flourished. Hence, the doctors need to do multitasking to ensure that their establishment is in progressive path and this is possible by use of computing technology and Medical Practice Management Software. There are many advantages of utilising such tools in the practice, because patient care can be done with proper justice along with maintaining the records properly.

Best Options for Treatment and Keeping Records

As doctors, one should be responsible for the patients, performing many important functions. Since each patient will have different perceptions and situations, keeping track of the patient data and disease history will help the doctors create proper line of therapy in a customised manner. As a result, there will be higher probability of the patients being compliant and satisfied with the treatment process. Updates can be carried out in the subsequent visits, so that the doctor will not forget about the patient’s data or need to ask for previous history again and again. In a way, there is increased efficiency in providing care and therapy to the patients.

Suited for Different Specialties

Applicability of the medical practice management software can be extended across various specialities like orthopaedics, paediatrics, spine surgery, respiratory physicians and so on. In every specialty, there are different modalities of therapeutic approach to be applied on the patients. To make it more specific for a particular specialty, the software can be updated with the required category of information. So, it helps the doctors go through the patient’s files immediately or review the therapy on a later date when such data is updated regularly. Having the data at hand helps the doctors devise better treatment plans.

Keeping Proper Track of Billing

Billing information is one of the most essential parts of successful and profitable practice. The doctors will not have to worry about the patient fees or charges for procedures, when the Medical Practice Management Software is at hand. It would be highly efficient for the medical assistant or pharmacist in charge to get the data updated and review can be quickly done, where time saved is money saved.

In the present day fast paced life, it is important to understand that the computer tools can be utilised to make the processes easier. For the doctors, EHR Providers such tools can be highly efficient if these are installed and updated at regular intervals. Medical practice can be more organised, information can be accessed quickly and therapeutic planning can be done without delay.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

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The pomegranate is a native fruit of Persia. Its name in Latin means "apple with many seeds".The fruit, which is about the size of an apple, has a thin rind lined with a layer of white membrane which divides the fruit into several cells. Each cell contains numerous seeds encased in a juicy pulp. The outer rind color is pink to deep red when the fruit is mature on the most popular varieties for eating. Pomegranate has been used as curative remedy by several civilizations and has been referred as a sacred symbol by several religions and mythologies.

1. Its effectiveness as an anti-oxidant
Pomegranate juice has antioxidants that are super powerful and beneficial to your heart, mind, bones, and overall health. They’re called polyphenols and flavonoids. No other juice or fruit has more of these types of antioxidants than the pomegranate fruit. Researchers have suggested that the antioxidant power of pomegranate is extremely high; pomegranate juice contains nearly three times the antioxidant boost of even green tea. It is also a highly regarded defender against free-radicals in the body.

2. Preventive and chemical treatment for cancer
It has been shown that pomegranate extract in therapeutic doses caused a natural death of cancer cells (Apoptosis) such as breast cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer, without affecting healthy cells. Pomegranates are the richest source of a natural substance called ellagic acid. Its effectiveness has proven in the treatment and prevention of the prostate cancer, where it suppresses the growth of cancer cells, and interferes with the genetic factors of cancer cells, leading to death at the end.

3. Treatment of heart and blood vessels diseases
In a study released by John Hopkins Medical Center , researchers found that pomegranate juice can reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Diabetes patients who drank pomegranate juice had a reduced risk for arteriosclerosis and a reduced uptake of bad cholesterol. Consumption of pomegranate juice for 2 weeks by hypertensive subjects significantly decreased systolic blood pressure.

4. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects
Pomegranate has also shown to possess anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. The barks of the tree and root have been used in traditional medicine to eliminate tapeworms. In addition, ellagic acid also has other benefits; it has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, anti-cancer properties.

5. Pomegranate juice prevent Alzheimer's disease and improve the nerves
It is proven that polyphenols (found in pomegranate juice) are neuro-protective.Therefore, diet can affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (2006) said that a daily glass of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice may halve the build-up of harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. Pomegranate juice is high in fiber and has substantial amounts of potassium which is important in sending nerve impulses as well as releasing energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism.

6. Pomegranate juice improve erectile dysfunction
Researchers believe that the potent antioxidant content of pomegranate juice can prevent free radical molecules from disrupting proper circulatory function and help increase blood flow to the penis leads to erections. Drinking 250ml of pomegranate juice a day may help manage erectile dysfunction and impotence. The juice of Pomegranate is the active source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, iron, calcium, potassium, and antioxidant polyphenols, such contents can increase the amount of blood in the body and to regulate the blood flow to the all parts in the body. It has been determined that taking a regular dose of pomegranate will increase the blood flow around the body, in particular to the penis area. Its powerful antioxidants help to keep the blood vessels functioning optimally. It preserves the nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the penis which keeps the penis tissue relaxed and allows increased blood flow into the region. This increased amount of blood in the penis gives a stronger and much longer lasting erection.

7. Pomegranate juice improve sperm quality and count
The antioxidants in pomegranates particularly punicalagin play a role in sperm health because sperm are especially susceptible to oxidative damage due to the high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids involved in regulating sperm maturation and spermatogenesis.

8. Pomegranate juice improve skin and delay ageing
Foods rich in antioxidants may improve skin and delay the effects of ageing, and pomegranates in particular may play a role due to their very high levels of antioxidants. Pomegranate has 20% more antioxidants than orange, apple or cranberry juice. Pomegranate juice not only captures free radicals, it can also prevent inflammation, which is the main cause of premature aging. The pomegranate may contribute to the thickening of the epidermis and help with anti-aging.

9. Pomegranate juice prevent osteoarthritis
A study published in the September 2005 issue of the journal of nutrition suggests that that extracts from pomegranate fruit may slow cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.

10. Pomegranate improves fertility
Pomegranates are high in Vitamin C and fiber, and contain the minerals iron, potassium and calcium. Other nutrients include Vitamin A, Vitamin E and folic acid. It is regarded as a symbol of health, fertility and rebirth. Pomegranate has been shown in clinical studies to improve and balance the estrogen and progesterone levels and enhance nurturing energy.

11. Pomegranate boosts immunity
The pomegranate juice is rich in vitamin C which helps to increase immunity powers immensely. The antioxidants in the juice boost immunity, and increase resistance to diseases, specially TB and cancer. Studies have shown that the pomegranate can be used to treat cancers of the lung, prostrate and breast. Pomegranates have a great amount of vitamin C, which increases your immunity against the common infection such as flu, colds, bleeding gums, wounds that won’t heal, just to name a few.