Introduction:

The flu (or influenza) is caused by a virus. Several kinds of viruses can give you the flu. While there’s no treatment for the flu, there are natural remedies that might help soothe flu symptoms.

Drink water and fluids

Drinking water and other fluids is even more important when you have the flu. This is true whether you have a respiratory flu or a stomach flu.

Water helps to keep your nose, mouth, and throat moist. This helps your body get rid of built-up mucous and phlegm.

Get plenty of rest

It’s important to rest and get more sleep when you have the flu. Sleeping can help boost your immune system. This helps your body fight off the flu virus.

Drink warm broth

Bone broth is also naturally high in protein and minerals like sodium and potassium. Drinking broth is a good way to replenish these nutrients while you have the flu. You can buy ready-made varieties, but be sure to look for those that are low in

Increase your zinc intake

The mineral zinc is important for your immune system. This nutrient helps your body make germ-fighting white blood cells.  Zinc helps your body fight the flu virus and may slow down how fast it multiplies.

You can take a zinc supplement or a multivitamin with zinc during flu season. You can normally get plenty of zinc from a balanced daily diet.  Some foods rich in zinc are fish, lentils. chickpeas, beans, nuts, seeds, dairy and eggs.

Rinse with salt water

A warm water and salt rinse (sometimes called a salt water gargle) can soothe a sore throat. It can also help to clear mucous.

Drink herbal tea

Several herbs have natural antiviral and antibacterial properties. Star anise is a star-shaped spice.  Its antiviral properties are effective against some kinds of flu viruses. Other herbs and green leafy teas also have germ-fighting and antioxidant benefits.

An herbal tea may help your body fight off the flu virus. A hot herbal drink is also soothing to your throat and sinuses.

You can make a flu-fighting herbal tea with star anise and other herbs like: green or black tea, turmeric, fresh or dried ginger paste, fresh garlic and cloves.

Essential oils

Some essential oils protect against viruses and bacteria and prevent virus multiplication. Some essential oils are; cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, thyme oil and oregano oil.

Use a humidifier.

The flu virus survives longer in dry indoor air. This may make the virus spread more easily. Using a humidifier to add humidity in your home and workplace might help reduce flu viruses in the air.

Bland diet

If you have the stomach flu, eat small amounts of food at a time. Try hand-sized portions.

The stomach flu can give you nausea, cramps, and diarrhoea. Bland foods are easier to digest and may help ease your stomach symptoms.

Foods to avoid while you have the stomach flu

They are milk, cheese, caffeine, meats, spicy foods, fried foods and alcohol.

Conclusion:

The Flu is seasonal and is self limiting and by following this natural remedies, its virulent course can be mitigated in most cases.

Introduction:

When you think about being tired and needing more energy, does coffee or energy drinks pop up in your mind? Well it is not surprising, since this is where most people’s thoughts go. But believe it or not, there are many ways to boost your energy levels more naturally without even consuming caffeine.

Some of the methods to boost your energy:

Try to Get More Sleep:

The better you sleep you get, the more energy in the morning.  If you have a habit of getting poor sleep that is constantly interrupted, then you will have low energy during the day. Start a night time routine that gets you restful for sleep, go to bed at a decent hour, and try to remove distractions like turning off your phone and keeping the TV off.

Take Your Vitamins:

You also want to be sure you are eating a well balanced diet that allows you to get all the important nutrients you need for proper energy. If you don’t have enough vitamin D in your diet and don’t get regular access to sunlight, your vitamin D could be low, leading to deficiencies. You also need other nutrients, including protein and carbohydrtates for energy.

Chia Seeds help:

Chia seeds are an excellent source of energy-producing nutrients, including healthy fats, fibre, and protein. They are really easy to use in drinks, meals, and snacks.  You can also use chia seeds in a number of ways such as chia seed pudding, or milk shakes. You can also add any flavours you may fancy.

Get Regular Exercise:

Exercise is going to help your energy levels in a number of different ways. First, it helps to boost your mood and give you an instant burst of energy once your workout is over. Exercising in the morning can be really beneficial. Exercising more often also makes it to where you are more rested at night, helping you to get more sleep.

Reduce Stress:

It’s not uncommon for people with busy lives to feel stressed, anxious or overwhelmed.  Feelings of stress can mean that you struggle to concentrate, experience racing thoughts and have difficulty switching off.  This can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Feeling stressed has been closely linked to tiredness in many cases; it may not be possible to completely remove sources of stress from your life. However, if you minimize lifestyle related stress, it could increase your energy levels.

You could improve your energy levels include taking some time for yourself to relax, reading or going for a walk. You could also try mindfulness or yoga and pranayama techniques, which may reduce anxiety

Avoid Smoking:

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health.

The smoke from cigarettes is extremely harmful and increases your risk of numerous health conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The toxins and tar in the smoke also reduce the efficiency of your lungs.  This can reduce the amount of oxygen transported around your body, making you feel tired.

If you’re a smoker, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your energy levels and your health.

Limit Alcohol intake:

Alcohol consumption is another lifestyle habit which may make you feel tired. This is because alcohol can act as a sedative and make you feel drowsy. Regularly drinking alcohol before bed can interfere with the quality of your sleep. This could make you feel more tired. Alcohol can also act as a diuretic, meaning that if you drink it before bed it can make you get up at night to pee, disturbing your sleep.

Avoid added Sugar:

When you feel tired, it can be easy to reach for a sweet, sugar-filled snack. Sugar can give you a short-term energy boost, and it will wear off quickly.

Eating large amounts of added sugar may also increase your risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Limiting added sugar in your diet is not only good for your energy levels but also for your health.

Stay Hydrated:

Depending on age, your body is made of 55–75% water. During the day, you lose water via urine and sweat. So in order to stay hydrated, you need to drink enough water to compensate for this loss.  Dehydration can affect your brain function, mood and energy levels

Be sociable:

Social connections are incredibly important for maintaining good health. Some countries in the world with unusually low rates of disease and a high number of centenarians, one of the common factors are a strong social support network.   Social isolation can cause low mood and tiredness, especially as you get older.

The Bottom line:

Many people feel tired and lack the energy to function at their best throughout the day.  However, drinking enough water, eating healthily, getting enough sleep and exercise and being sociable can benefit your energy levels and your health.  If you feel tired, it’s worth taking a look at your lifestyle to see which healthy changes you can make to boost your energy levels and make you feel great.

Introduction:

Sciatica is a term that describes symptoms of pain, numbness, and/or weakness that radiate along the sciatic nerve from the lower back to the buttocks and leg. Usually sciatica symptoms are typically felt on only one side of the body.

Some of the reasons for developing Sciatica:

Aging

As we get older, our bodies lose suppleness and it takes longer to heal from injuries. One common form of pain associated with aging is back pain, which is closely related to sciatica.

Smoking

Smoking is bad for the lungs; it can also increase the risk of suffering from back pain and sciatica. Smoking increases inflammation, reduces circulation, and weakens the immune system. Furthermore, it makes it more difficult for your body to function and heal from injuries.

History of Low Back Pain

Studies show that patients who have low back pain are likely to develop sciatica. Because low back pain can result in inflammation in the lumbar region and spine.

Overall Poor Health

Eating healthily and exercising regularly isn’t necessary just for feeling and/or looking good, it can reduce the likelihood of developing sciatic pain and help to reduce inflammation.  Being active reduces the chances of developing back pain.

Obesity

Being overweight is one of the strongest predictors of back pain and other musculoskeletal problems – including sciatica. Being obese increases the inflammatory markers in the body and sciatic pain is caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Therefore, if your body is in an inflammatory state, you are more likely to experience the sciatica problem.

Work-Related Injuries

On-the-job injuries caused from being too sedentary or making repetitive movements can increase the risk of developing sciatic pain. In particular, standing or walking for long periods of time, driving for long periods of time, kneeling for more than 15 minutes at a time. To prevent work-related injury, it is important to take breaks frequently, rest, and stretch your muscles.

Sleep Problems

If one has sleep problems the risk of developing back pain and sciatica is increased. Poor sleep is associated with several conditions, including poor general health, obesity, and chronic back pain. Getting enough sleep reduces inflammation, and thus reduces the incidence of sciatica.

Psychological Distress

Low back pain and Sciatica are linked to feelings of being overwhelmed or being under pressure.

Direct Injury

Sciatica can be caused by an injury to the hip or buttocks. Sitting on a bulk wallet, for instance, would put pressure on the nerve directly.

A Holistic Approach to Recovery

Many factors play a role in the development of sciatica. By taking steps to improve your overall health and mental well-being, you can reduce the inflammation in your body and, as a result, safeguard sciatica. Lifestyle changes, diet, yoga and stress reduction helps a lot to reduce the pain in Sciatica.

Introduction:

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula H ₂O ₂. In its pure form, it is a very pale blue, clear liquid, slightly more viscous than water. Hydrogen peroxide is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic and is one of the most common household disinfectants in the world.

Common uses of Hydrogen Peroxide:

Disinfects Small Wounds

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural anti-septic, therefore one of its most common uses is to clean wounds to prevent infection. It can be used to clear acne and small boils.

Bleach Your Hair:

It is gentle household bleach. Hydrogen peroxide is also great for lightening the hair

Whitening Teeth:

Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a homemade tooth  whitener. It removes stains from the teeth when used daily  

Antiseptic Mouth Rinse:

It is useful in eliminating Halitosis (bad breath) when used as a mouth rinse.

Whiten Your Nails

Soak fingertips and toes in hydrogen peroxide to naturally whiten your nails.

Soften Corns & Calluses

Soaking a corn or calluses can naturally soften them..

Remove Ear Wax:

Ear wax can be removed by putting a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide into ears and waiting  a minute or two, then follow up with a couple of drops of olive oil. Wait another minute, then drain fluid from ears to remove ear wax.

Prevents fungus of the ear:

Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in a small dropper bottle. Put several drops in each ear after swimming to prevent fungus infection.

It Kills Sub-dermal Parasites:

When applied on the skin hydrogen peroxide kills mites or other parasites naturally.

Treats Foot Fungus:

Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a dark-coloured spray bottle and apply to skin affected by foot fungus and this stops the fungal growth.

Conclusion:

Hydrogen Peroxide has multifarious uses as an anti-infective agent and also is useful in cleaning kitchen and bathrooms.

Introduction:

Potato juice is among the most alkaline foods and helps neutralize stomach acid and can soothe stomach pain.  When consumed in their raw state, they preserve a type of resistant starch that is beneficial in gastrointestinal disturbances. It has benefits on the skin, detoxifying the body and it useful in kidney, cardiovascular, cancer and digestive diseases.  Potato juice is filled with key vitamins, phyto-chemicals, and nutrients.

Vitamin C:

Potatoes contain just over 100 percent of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron and form collagen in blood vessels, muscle, cartilage, and bone. Its antioxidant properties can also improve overall skin health by helping relieve puffiness, reduce irritation, and create a youthful glow.

Vitamin B complex:

A one-cup serving of potatoes contains around 40 percent of your daily thiamine) and niacin.  It also has small amounts of riboflavin, and vitamin B-6.

B vitamins are vital for helping the body convert carbohydrates into glucose, generating energy. B complex vitamins also support the brain and nervous system function, promote healthy hair and skin, and help maintain liver health.

Potato juice is rich in Iron:

Iron helps fighting fatigue. It also keeps red blood cells healthy and helps move oxygen throughout your body. A serving of potatoes can supply around 14 percent of your daily recommended intake.

Rich in Zinc:

Zinc keeps the immune system healthy and helps speed wound healing.  A one-cup serving of potatoes contains around 1 milligram of zinc. This is about 10% of the recommended daily serving for human beings.

It has Vitamin K

Vitamin, K is a fat soluble vitamin and is vital for blood clotting and for preventing bone loss. It also supports the transport of calcium throughout the body. Raw potatoes contain about 5 percent of your recommended daily intake.

Potato juice has antioxidants:

Potato juice has antioxidants and phyto-chemicals that are key to preventing disease, controlling inflammation, and reducing early aging. Raw potatoes contain a variety of antioxidants in their colored flesh and skin, namely those from the carotenoid family. This includes lutein, zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin.

Conclusion:

Potato juice can also be one of many ingredients in a power-packed green concoction of spinach, kale, beet, basil and cucumber. Potato juice can ward off inflammation, produce good health that result in a glow of the skin. It is said to boost the immune system and reduce the pain in arthritis. It heals peptic ulcer disease and detoxifies the liver. It is said to reduce lipids and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Introduction:

The human body is fully capable of healing itself in optimum conditions. This because of an intelligent system in the body called as the Immune defence, which has the uncanny ability to fight a cold and also end-stage cancer. To be healthy, one has to build up one’s immune defence.

How to build up the immune system:

Focus on vitamin D
This mineral has always been related to strengthening bones but its benefits are many. It’s vital to understand that an appropriate level of vitamin D can heal diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, even cancer. A good vitamin D level is a forerunner to a strong immunity. One of the best sources for vitamin D is the morning sun.  Best edibles sources of natural vitamin D are: mushroom, egg yolk, fatty fish; just to name a few.

Garlic reinforces the immune system

Garlic is an age-old super-food that boosts the immune system and is an effective solution for the treatment of various ailments.

Green tea and Chamomile tea
these are the best options to strengthen the body’s immunity level. Green tea and Chamomile tea are full of antioxidants; these herbal infusions enhance the level of immunity and help in the speedy recovery from illness.

Significance of antioxidants
The health benefits of antioxidants are immeasurable. They greatly support the immune system. Some naturally occurring antioxidants in nature are sunflower seeds, goji berries and pumpkin seeds. These pack in a wealth of essential nutrients and provide life saving antioxidants.

Light exercises
When you aren’t keeping well, refrain from any rigorous workout regimen. During such times, it’s great to perform exercises that don’t exert too much pressure on your body. These can include getting out and deeply breathing fresh air, walking, and yoga exercises.

Avoid greasy, processed foods
If you want to stay healthy please keep away from fatty and unhealthy treats.

Get plenty of rest
The most significant step towards achieving great health and immunity, is to get plenty of sleep. Sleeping at a cellular level ensures cellular repair and a great level of immunity.

Other foods to strengthen your immunity levels

Kombucha is a fermented tea that produces good bacteria in your gut.  It is made by adding bacteria and yeast to sugar and black or green tea and allowing the brew to ferment.  Another good source of probiotics is kefir, offers great benefits to your digestive system and increases your immunity level. It is 99% per cent free from lactose. Fermented edibles like yogurt and kimchi boast of probiotic supplements.  Apple cider vinegar acts as a great prebiotic, which is a soluble dietary fibre used to stimulate the growth of probiotics in our digestive tract.

Conclusion:

It is obvious that simple home remedies and lifestyle changes can go a long way to keep the immunity high and enjoy positive health.

Introduction:

Oregano is one of the best herbs for holistic medicine. The oil of oregano is rich in natural medicine.

Some medicinal uses of Oregano:

Natural Antibiotic. Research has also shown that oregano oil may be effective against types of bacteria that can become resistant to antibiotics. This includes ESBL pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli, both of which are common causes of urinary tract and respiratory tract infections.

Improve Gut Health – Oregano may help improve the health of your gut. Oregano oil help against a leaky gut“(when the gut is so damaged that bacteria and toxins leak into the bloodstream) but it could also help alleviate gut symptoms such as diarrheal, pain and bloating.

Anti-Inflammatory – inflammation is a major cause of many medical problems, and it can be partially attributed to the average diet, which is highly inflammatory!  But oregano oil may be able to help with the inflammation.  One study in particular, found that oregano oil, along with thyme oil, reduced inflammatory markers in the blood.

Pain Relief – Oregano oil has significantly reduced pain in mice.

Help Treat Yeast Infections – Yeast is a type of fungus. And while it can be mostly harmless, an overgrowth can result in gut problems and uncomfortable infections, such as thrush. Oregano oil has been found to be effective against five different types of Candida, such as those that cause infections in the mouth and vagina.

Conclusion:

Oregano oil has been found useful as a food supplement and also useful when gargled and has the capacity to pull out toxins for the both. It is a very promising oil of the 21^st century.

Introduction:

Animal milk remains a staple beverage in our culture but research suggests that it isn’t an essential part of a healthy diet and may even pose risks. Fortified dairy milk contains calcium, potassium and vitamin D, which when packaged together, are important for bone health. But dairy milk also has a downside, the most common side effect being problems with digestion.  Non-dairy milk has similar or more nutritional properties than animal milk and is often a healthier option.

Some commonly available non- dairy milk:

Soy milk
Soy milk is made from soybean. It’s suitable for those who are lactose intolerant and is a great milk substitute for vegans and vegetarians. It is a protein-rich substitute to cow’s milk It is also richer in vitamin B. It has 10 per cent of your recommended daily intake of folic acid. Soy milk is cholesterol free and full of essential monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fatty acids, popularly known as good fats. Using soy milk can help lower cholesterol and promote cardiovascular health. Soy milk is a good thing for those who cannot digest animal milk. It’s rich in protein and iron, and is a good source of vitamin B, potassium and zinc. It is low in calories; soy milk helps people looking to lose weight. It has zero sugar content and gives an extra dose of fibre,

According to a study, the dietary sources of estrogens and progesterone that are found in soybean products help women balance their hormone levels when going through menopause.

Almond milk

Almond milk has gained popularity and is touted as a healthier alternative to animal milk. It contains fewer calories, no saturated fat or cholesterol, and 25 per cent and 50 per cent of the daily recommendation for vitamin D and vitamin E, respectively.

Almond milk has the most vitamins and minerals including copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium. It’s also lactose and gluten free. Almond milk is low in protein, so almond milk lovers should supplement their diet with other sources of protein.

Coconut milk

Coconut milk contains fibre and iron, but is high in saturated fat and calories. So be careful before you decide to pour coconut milk on everything. “Coconut milk is lactose free, so perfect for those with lactose intolerance. The fatty acids found in coconut milk lower the risk of heart diseases,

Cashew milk

Cashew milk is a great alternative to traditional milk.  Cashew milk is lactose-free. Cashew milk is low in calories and sugar. It boosts the feel-good hormone tryptophan, which increases serotonin production in your brain and adds an extra dose of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that help keep your skin look great.

Rice milk
Rice milk is a good choice for those who are lactose intolerant and/or suffer from soy or nut allergies. It has high amounts of manganese and selenium compared to the other milk substitutes. They are powerful antioxidants that are proven to help against infections and boost your immune system. Rice milk also has the least amount of fat and is cholesterol free.

Walnut milk
Walnuts contain antioxidants that are found in only a few commonly eaten foods. Phytonutrients like quinone juglone and tannin tellimagrandin or flavonol morin are found only in walnuts. These phytonutrients serve as powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory benefits that can help with diseases like cancer.

Walnuts are also rich in minerals such as manganese, copper, magnesium, molybdenum and phosphorus. They are also loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which fight cancer, cardiovascular diseases and inflammation.

Other non-dairy alternatives:

• Quinoa milk
• flax milk
• oat milk
• potato milk
• 7-grain milk, from oats, rice, wheat, barley, triticale, spelt, and millet
• sunflower milk

Conclusion:

The market is flooded with many alternatives to cow’s milk and they offer help and hope against milk allergies and mitigate inflammation reactions in the body.

Introduction:

Custard apples contain anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, which helps to fight free radicals in our body. It is also high in potassium and magnesium that protects our heart from cardiac disease. It is useful in controlling our blood pressure. Custard apples contain Vitamin A, which keeps your skin and hair healthy. This fruit is also known to be great for eyes, and cures indigestion problems. It’s important to include this fruit in your diet, as the copper content helps to cure constipation, and helps to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.

As they are high in magnesium, they equalise the water balance in our body, which helps in removing acids from the joints and reduces the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis. If you feel tired and weak more often than usual, then have this fruit in your daily diet, as the potassium present in it will help to fight muscle weakness.

It is also good for people suffering from anaemia. If you want to put on some weight, include this in your daily diet chart. Custard apple contains natural sugar, and hence makes great nutritious snacks and even desserts!

Benefits of Custard apple:

Healthy Weight

If you need to gain weight then this fruit is your best friend because it helps in a health

During Pregnancy

This fruit helps in development of the brain and the immunity system of the fetus. Regular consumption of this fruit reduces the chances of a miscarriage and even eases out the labour pain. This fruit also helps the mother to cope with mood swings, morning sickness, fights nausea and numbness.  

Prevents Asthma

Since the fruit is a good source of vitamin B6, it reportedly helps deal with the bronchial inflammation and therefore helps in preventing asthmatic attacks.

For Hair & Skin

Custard apple has a high amount of vitamin A and is good for anti-ageing, good eyesight and even helps in treating boils.

Prevents Heart Attacks

Custard apple has magnesium which helps our heart in defending it from cardiac attack and can help relax the muscles.  

For Diabetics

It is really good for those with diabetics as they have dietary fibre which helps in slowing down the absorption of sugar and also reduces the risk of having type-2 diabetes.

Conclusion:

This is the season of Custard Apple also called as sitaphal by many in India. This fruit actually has a number of health benefits. It helps in preventing acidity, heals ulcers, is good for those who want to put on weight in a healthy way, and is amazing for skin and health and more.

Introduction:

The term nursing immediately conjures up romantic images of Florence Nightingale, who is remembered as the path-breaking founder of nursing and a pioneer who revolutionized hospital sanitation methods during the Crimean war.  What is not known is that Florence Nightingale was also a shrewd statistician who pioneered the collection of medical data and introduced methods in systematic record keeping of patients.

Since Florence Nightingale’s time, nursing has made tremendous strides and has become an allied specialty of hospital medicine and there are many branches in nurses. We have nurses specialized in Operation theatre procedures, we have intensive care nurses; we have nurses well versed in pulmonary medicine and general nurses. In fact nursing is an integral part of Orthodox medicines and one cannot dispense away with nursing personnel anymore.

Over the last few years, many complementary or alternate systems have been integrated into main stream medicine and a new branch of nurses has sprung up and they are called as holistic nurses.

What is so unique about Holistic nurses?

Holistic nurses are specially trained to approach nursing in a medical and psychosocial way.  They are trained to introduce non-traditional and multidisciplinary nursing practice modalities into mainstream nursing.  Holistic nursing programs add training in compassion, self-care, massage, life style counseling, acupuncture, acupressure, healing or therapeutic touch, intuition, spirituality, and the knowledge of herbs and Ayurveda into their care of the patient.  In short they are trained to treat the patient as a whole – MIND, BODY AND SOUL.

Holistic nursing offers an opening to focus on wellness, healing and illness prevention from a more spiritual and naturopathic perspective.

To summarize, holistic nursing uses an all inclusive approach which blends time-honored orthodox western nursing theory and practice with the principles and practices of Holistic health care to help patients attain the best possible health.

Do nurses have to be specially trained to become holistic nurses?

The answer is yes There are certificate courses available in America, Canada and many western countries and a Certification in Holistic Nursing offered by AHNA is well sought after.  But much of holistic nursing is intuitive. Holistic nurses learn all the time and it is better if they have an empathic demeanor and a spiritual bent of mind.  However, in India, most holistic wellness clinics, which mostly use Ayurvedic therapies, used home trained nurses, who are not trained in special schools of nursing. Very often generations of these untrained nurses have a long family lineage in the art and therapeutics of Ayurvedic practices.

Conclusion:

Medicine has turned a full circle with the advent of newer stress related diseases, with the explosion of the number of cases of AIDS, with the ever increasing spectrum of Diabetes Mellitus and Coronary vascular diseases. Nursing cannot remain impersonal anymore. More and more medical specialists are integrating mainstream medicine with complementary systems to combat newer diseases. It is just natural that orthodox nursing joins hands with Holistic nursing to take patient care to more spiritual levels.