Notebook Archives

If statistics are anything to go by, homeopathy seems to have found worldwide support today. A survey published in the British Medical Journal recently points out that even allopathic physicians have started referring patients their counterparts in homeopathic practice for certain specific ailments. In Europe, it is often practiced alongside conventional medicine, particularly in England, France, Germany and Greece.

Homeopathic treatment is also gaining farther afield, in the New World – in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and South Africa. In Britain, homeopathy is even patronized by the Brazil royal family and is on the National Health Scheme. In the United States of America, the number of patients opting for homeopathy is growing at the rate of 20 percent per year.

Approximately 40 percent of the French public has used homeopathic medicine at some point; about 20 percent German physicians utilize homeopathic medication; and 39 percent of French physicians have prescribed homeopathy to their patients.

Stop straining your brain over the difference between soluble and insoluble fibre. Turns out both types have a role in preventing rectal cancer, reports a new University of Utah study. Insoluble fibre found in whole grains speeds toxic elements through your intestines and out, the researchers say, whereas soluble fibre in fruits and vegetables removes tumor-promoting chemicals and creates compounds that can stop cancer cell growth.

Effective amounts: 5 to 6 daily vegetables servings, 3 to 4 fruit servings, 3 whole grain servings.

Global research shows that turmeric (rich in the phytochemical curcumin) is an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant and analgesic. The yellow tuber:

• Prevents flatulence, ulcer, heart disease; protects the liver (clearing out toxins) – raw turmeric is recommended for jaundice
• Facilitates scabbing if applied on rashes (even chicken pox); eases sprains, strains, bruises or itching if applied with honey
• Soothes respiratory trouble (cough, asthma)
• Draws out pus from infected wounds/boils

Don’t try turmeric as a remedy if you have a bile duct blockage, blood-clotting disorder or stomach ulcer. Avoid concentrated/medicinal turmeric if trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding.

1. Do not sleep with lenses on. Continuously worn contacts rub away the cornea, causing tiny rips that invite infection and may lead to vision loss.
2. Never use homemade saline solutions. They might harbor a microorganism that can scar the cornea and cause partial or complete blindness.
3. Never wear two pair of lenses simultaneously. Never wear cosmetic lenses over your corrective lenses – they may get stuck!
4. Clean and disinfect lenses when you remove them. If they are disposable, throw them away within the time prescribed.
5. Stick with one lens-care regimen. Follow the routine specified for your lens type.
6. Remove lenses before swimming/bathing. Hard lenses may float out when your eyes get wet; soft lenses are likely to absorb impurities in the water.
7. Get glasses before cleaning up. Make the switch whenever using household cleaners containing ammonia or other volatile chemicals.

Being in an aeroplane can make certain medical conditions worse. Ask your doctor whether you need to reschedule your trip if:

1. You’ve had abdominal, eye or chest surgery in the last couple of weeks. Gases inside the body expand during flight, causing swelling that’s painful and that could also interfere with wound healing.
2. You’re wearing a rigid cast. The limb in the plaster cast is likely to swell.
3. You have a cold or other respiratory infection that’s blocking your eustachian tubes. But if you really must get on a plane, taking a decongestant (nasal spray or pill) can help keep tubes open; also drink lots of water to counter the plane’s dehydrating effects.

Another way to listen to your self is to check in with your body wisdom. Our bodies give us messages and clues all the time about what is going on with us in the form of aches and pains, tight jaws, knots in the stomach, fatigue, or shallow breathing. What many of us do though, is to ignore what our bodies are saying and instead dismiss them to just being a limb to our heads.

To point a few examples: Do you get sick to your stomach when you drive to work? Do you suffer from Sunday night insomnia? If yes, then your body is telling you loud and clear that something is wrong at work. Do you ignore these messages from your body and continue to suffer? Or do you listen to them and do whatever it takes to make changes so that you can look forward to your work? Doing whatever it takes may mean resolving a conflict with a boss or co-worker, finding a new job, or following your dream to become self-employed.

There comes a time in almost every woman’s life when she banishes black from her wardrobe and creeps about in pale pastels, whatever the time of day or season. Because whenever she moves her hair around – let alone comb or brushes, she sets off a veritable snowstorm of flakes. And that is lesser evil compared to the plight of ladies who lunch in scarves and caps in sweaty summer to hide a peek-a-boo scalp form prying eyes.

Hair problems can be broadly classified into three categories: Hair loss or thinning, scalp-related and hair grooming. The reasons for these problems could range from disease to neglect and remedies are certainly cause specific.

The more you exercise the fitter your heart will be. Actually you get most of your benefit when you go from doing almost nothing to doing just a little bit a week. And no I’m not talking about window shopping around the mall.

However, there are other excellent reasons for exercising more: You will really feel good, energized. You will have body confidence. You will never have to say, “I can’t climb these stairs,” or “I can’t carry this grocery bag.” And you will look better. Your thighs won’t shake when you walk. And lastly, exercise will improve stability and make a bone-breaking fall less likely.