Cleanse skin with yogurt

Normal or oily skin types especially benefit from daily cleansing with whole-milk yogurt.

Why it works: The milk fat collects and removes dirt and impurities. Yogurt also contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which dissolves dead cells, leaving your skin silky.

How to use: Bring one tablespoon of yogurt to room temperature [or you can warm it in your hands] and massage it onto your face. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry.

Deep clean oily skin with honey

Why it works: Naturally antiseptic and antibacterial, honey makes a good cleanser for oily and blemished skin.

How to use: Once a day, slightly warm 1 or 2 tablespoons in your hand or the microwave to soften it, and massage it onto clean, damp skin, pressing and releasing with your fingers for deeper cleansing. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry.

Scrub with strawberries

Why it works: Strawberries contain salicylic acid and ellagic acid which rids your skin of dead cells that can clog pores and helps heal blemishes. The high vitamin C content of strawberries also kills the bacteria that can cause or irritate blemishes.

How to use: Once a week, remove the stems and mash 5 to 7 strawberries. Gently massage the paste onto clean, damp skin. Keep it on for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse well with warm water and pat dry.

Exfoliate with walnuts

Why it works: Rich in oil and antioxidants, walnuts make for extra-gentle sloughing. This will help to remove the excess dirt from skin.

How to use: Blend ¼ cup shelled walnuts, ½ cup olive oil [for extra emollients], and a tablespoon of honey [to seal moisture into your skin] in a blender to create a fine-particle scrub. Scrub the mixture thoroughly over your hands and feet for a couple of minutes and your face for about half a minute. Rinse with warm water.

Exfoliate heels, knees, elbows with orange

Why it works: The fruit acid loosens dead skin cells.

How to use: Cut a fresh orange in half and squeeze the juice of one half into a bowl. Add ¼ cup granulated sugar and ¼ cup olive oil and then blend into a moisture-rich scrub. Next, rub the exposed side of the other half of the orange over knees, elbows, heels, and any other dry spots. Last, rub in the sugar mixture to slough off dead skin. Rinse with warm water and pat skin dry.

Moisturise with banana and milk

Why it works: The antioxidant vitamin A and skin-softening potassium in bananas moisturises the skin gently, while the lactic acid in milk helps it to penetrate.

How to use: To make a facial mask, mash half a ripe banana with fresh milk and apply it to clean, damp skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. Repeat once a week.

Manage puffy eyes with egg white

Why it works: Egg white has astringent properties that tightens pores and reduces puffiness. Additionally, its high concentration of the B vitamins promotes circulation and reduces inflammation.

How to use: Use your fingers to dab ? teaspoon of one raw egg white onto the clean, dry skin around your eyes, avoiding contact with eyes themselves. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, till it dries. Then rinse the area well with warm water. Tip: Use only fresh eggs.

Reduce wrinkles with papaya

Why it works: Unripe papaya contains papain, an enzyme, and antioxidants like vitamin C. These substances repair the free radical damage that causes premature ageing and gently dissolve dead skin cells and promote new cell growth to reduce fine lines.

How to use: Once a week, mash two tablespoons of papaya and massage it onto your face. Leave it on for 20 minutes; rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Soothe with oatmeal

Why it works: Silicon in oatmeal has soothing properties while beta glucan is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

How to use: Place a handful of whole oats in a clean washcloth and using a rubber band to secure it. Immerse it in a bowl full of warm water and squeeze the bag 4 or 5 times. Once the water is cloudy, splash it on your face and then dry.

Eliminate dandruff with apple fenugreek paste

Why it works: The alpha hydroxy acids in apple kill the fungus that may cause dandruff while fenugreek conditions hair.

How to use: After you shampoo and condition, use a paste of apple and fenugreek mixed in half vinegar half water [tilt your head back to avoid getting vinegar in your eyes]. Comb through and rinse thoroughly with water.

Repair cuticles with wheat germ oil

Why it works: Wheat germ oil contains B vitamins, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and protein. These nutrients work together to soften and heal ragged, tough, or torn cuticles.

How to use: To treat damaged cuticles and maintain healthy ones, rub ¼ teaspoon of wheat germ oil onto your nails and cuticles every night. You can find wheat germ oil at natural food stores.

Brighten up with lemon juice and potato peel

Why it works: Lemon juice and potato contain high quantities of vitamin C which cleanses skin and brightens it up the areas.

How to use: Soak the peels in lemon juice for 15 minutes. Gently rub the peel on knees elbows and ankles to brighten. Use the juice leftover with your finger tips on face and rinse with warm water.

These remedies are just a few natural fixes that will help you get started. The only note of caution is that even natural ingredients can cause irritation and allergies, so do not use anything if it itches, burns or stings.

Note: Skin sensitivity can react to even natural ingredients and it is best to seek advice before doing it yourself.

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Do not get deterred by the expensive detox treatments offered by the spas. There are simple things you can do each day to detoxify your body without fretting about the money. Water, the most easily available and natural resource, is also the fundamental detox agent accessible to man. Yet, we tend to overlook its importance in our day to day life. Drinking it, bathing with it or even sweating it out, expels toxins naturally and effectively.

Listed below are three free and completely safe water detox methods:

Hydrate your system

As you may have already read in this issue’s cover story, most of us drink less water than what our body optimally needs. If the body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from the bloodstream, thus burdening the heart. Even mild dehydration prevents the kidneys from effectively purifying the blood. Minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infections, coughs, sneezing, sinus problems and headaches may develop as a consequence.

Make a conscious effort to drink the requisite amount of water and watch your health improve. Great skin, greater immunity, less cellulite, comfort from aches and pain, and a re-energised body are the bonuses you will get to enjoy.

Tip: Each morning, before you do anything else, mix the juice of half a lemon in hot water. Sip slowly, giving your body at least 30 minutes to digest the warm lemon water before having coffee, tea or breakfast. It helps detoxify the liver and is also high in vitamin C.

Sauna and steam baths

The sauna or steam bath goes way back into history. The “Hamam” or the “Turkish Bath” as its known today has survived thousands of years. Today it is widely believed that a sauna bath, which encourages the production of sweat, cleanses the body of toxins. It helps in opening the skin pores. Steam relieves contracted muscles of our body leading to a feeling of wellbeing. People with insomnia or sleep disorders benefit because sauna is effective in inducing a good, long and relaxing sleep.

Research conducted at the University of Munich considers it as a supportive activity to alleviate bronchial asthma, bronchitis, catarrh [inflammation of a mucous membrane] of the upper respiratory tract, coughs, hoarseness, expectoration [particularly with the assistance of essential oils] non-acute rheumatic complaints and restricted or painful movements of the joints.

The correct way to have a sauna or steam bath would be to shower before the session and not stay for more than 15-20 minutes at a time in the sauna. Cool off with cool fresh air and water without shocking the system [avoid shivering]. Never start a fresh session or change from one bath to another unless your body has cooled down properly. Doing so could overtax your circulation.

Tip: Natural honey has been known for ages for its health-improving properties and skin-enhancing effects. Rubbing honey over your skin during sauna or steam bath multiplies its positive effects, because skin pores open and the skin becomes more receptive.

Detox bath

The main function of a detox bath is to help your body, through an internal thermal reaction, to eliminate toxins and excess fat.

Hydrotherapy exclusively uses water to ease pain, increase mobility, relieve symptoms, and generally improve the overall functioning of the body. It encompasses numerous techniques using hot or cold water, and sometimes alternating both, to stimulate body responses.

Realising its therapeutic benefits, Louis Kuhne of Leipzig made the “friction sitz bath” an intrinsic part of his hydrotherapy cure. He healed hundreds of diseases and ailments using it in the late 19th century, even those that traditional medicine had pronounced “incurable”.

According to Kuhne, body heat [generated by movement, digestion, stress and shock] pushes deposited fat and toxins outside the stomach and intestines to the periphery of the body where they can no longer be eliminated. The Detox Bath’s working principle is to refresh the core area of the body [groin] for 10 minutes daily or more, depending on your initial condition and the results you seek to achieve. This process creates a vibration in the fascia [interconnecting tissue covering all internal organs], which accelerates toxin and fat elimination.

The powerful therapeutic benefits of this technique derive from the following:

• It targets the groin area: One of the highest nerve-concentration areas in the body. Hence it has a positive effect on mood, sleep and energy.
• This area also houses main arteries, and the technique greatly boosts blood circulation, elimination and digestion.
• It directly stimulates the root chakra, which governs sexual energy and reproductive organs. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle, and has been used by Louis Kuhne to treat impotence. It is also beneficial for low libido and menopausal symptoms.

Mahatma Gandhi too practised Kuhne’s bath and recommended it in his book “Key to Health”.

Tip: Use hot and cold water alternately to boost immunity and circulatory systems. They reduce muscle strain and soreness, and refresh your skin.

The three powerful water detox methods mentioned above, have proven to be extremely beneficial for safe and effective elimination of body toxins. So, the next time you choose water over coke, coffee, tea or other beverages remember you actually will be helping your body to detox.

The post WATER: The Ultimate Detox Agent appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

There are many simple beauty remedies that are easily available off our kitchen shelves.

Listed below are a few home beauty tips that are non-invasive and easy, which can be tried at no extra cost.

Skin deep

Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day will hydrate your skin and flush your body of unwanted toxins. Having a glass of hot water first thing in the morning is proved to be beneficial.

A simple facial routine that you can follow at home:

• Steam your face for two to three minutes. Wipe off the dirt from your face with a damp cotton ball. You can even dampen the cotton with milk as it acts as a natural cleanser.
• Now rub a cube of ice over your face to close the pores.
• Next you can either use a readymade face pack or make one at home that suits your skin.
• Wash off after 10 minutes with lukewarm water.
• Tone your skin with a toner or use rosewater instead.

Exfoliating

Make sure you keep your body clean and free from dead skin.

Honey and oats scrub

A good homemade scrub of ground oats and honey helps in getting rid of dead skin. This can be done once every week.

Take about one tbsp. of ground oats and one tsp of honey. Mix well and gently scrub it into your skin to rid it off dirt and dead cells.

Face packs

An important point to remember before applying face masks is to avoid the area around the eyes.

Normal skin

• Mash up a ripe banana and add honey to make a pulp.
• Leave on face for 5-8 minutes.
• Wash off with normal water.

Dry skin

• Mix together one egg, one tsp honey, 1/2 tsp olive oil, and a few drops of rose water.
• Leave on face till you feel the stretch.
• Wash off with cool water.
• Apply a little baby oil to your face. This will moisturise it.

Oily skin

• Mix together 1 tbsp multani mitti [fuller’s earth] with one tsp of honey.
• Apply on face and allow it to dry.
• Rinse with warm water.

It is also preferable to choose a moisturiser that suits your skin type and apply it as often. Moisturising your skin immediately after a bath is a must.

Sun is a natural provider of vitamins and energy for our body. So make sure you get your daily quota of sunshine. Too much can burn your skin, so don’t abuse it. Early morning sun is the best for that golden glow but must be avoided after 10 am. So make sure to carry an umbrella or use a sunblock that suits your skin.

Crowning glory

The perfect mane is not far away with these simple homemade treatments:

Oily hair

Take some reetha [dry soap nuts]. Soak them in water overnight. Mash it well next morning. Strain the soapy solution. Add a tsp of shikakai powder. Use this solution to wash hair.

Dry hair

Mix together one tbsp castor oil, one tbsp glycerine, one tbsp cider vinegar and a tsp of mild herbal shampoo. Apply and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse off well with water.

Dandruff remedies

Soak fenugreek [methi] seeds overnight. Grind it to a paste in the morning. Apply well onto your scalp. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes. Wash off with a mild shampoo.

Applying a mixture of curds and lemon also helps in clearing the dandruff.

Conditioner

Apply ? a cup of mayonnaise to damp hair. Cover with a shower cap for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo.

Flat beer also acts as an excellent conditioner. Use it as a final rinse.

Mix together one egg yolk and 1-2 tbsp of olive oil. Combine it into wet hair. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes and shampoo. It might smell strange but it works well.

Constant shampooing leads to a build-up on the hair. To remove it effectively mix shampoo with baking soda to form a smooth paste. Apply onto hair and let it set in for five minutes. Wash as normal. A great way to remove the residues left behind.

Massage your hair with olive oil or castor oil. Try to leave it overnight or at least for four hours before shampooing.

Hands and feet

Do not neglect your hands and feet as they are the most overworked. Pamper them once a week and you can do it effectively in the comfort of your home.

Easy manicure

• First trim your nails and remove any trace of nail enamel with a remover.
• Take a basin of lukewarm water and put a few drops of hand wash or shampoo.
• Now soak both your hands in it for 10 minutes. Using a loofah gently scrub of the dead skin and grime.
• Next clean and shape your nails gently using a nail filer.
• Pat your hands dry and massage in a good hand cream or moisturiser

The same steps can be followed to treat your feet. Except maybe for cracked heels, you might have to use a pumice stone to gently remove dead skin. Do not use excess pressure as it will only aggravate the condition. In case the soles of your feet crack easily, a good remedy is to apply a foot cream and wear socks daily.

Massaging the feet each night with oil is relaxing and keeps them soft and supple. In winter warm oil can be used with sesame or mustard oil. In summer coconut oil provides a cooling effect.

Eye care tips

The skin around the eyes is the most delicate and sensitive area. Take extra care of it by following these simple tips:

• Make sure to remove eye make-up before you go to bed. Apply cleansing milk onto a cotton ball and gently wipe off the make-up.
• Always remember to splash water gently onto your eyes.
• Sliced cucumber slices placed on your eyes will help lighten dark circles.
• Dip cotton pads in chilled milk or rose water and place them on your eyes to relax tired muscles around them.
• Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. This is to care your eyes to have firm muscles.
• Do not wear contact lenses for extended periods of time or overnight as this will unnecessarily put a strain on your eyes and leave them looking tired.

Don’t worry be happy

Last but not the least what you feel within will reflect on your face. If you are happy, you will look more healthy and radiant. You need to love yourself and your body. Make sure you are surrounded by loved ones who care for you. Take in all the positive energies and keep the negativities at bay. When you are happy it will boost your immune system and lengthen your lifespan.

Here’s to a more gorgeous you!

The post Look gorgeous, naturally appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Most of the time, we take our family for granted. They are there and they will be there for us when we need them. True – but if familial ties form such an integral part of our lives, why do we shy away from expressing our love to them?

This incident which happened a month ago set me thinking. My brother, who is based in Singapore, was on a short visit here with his family. We had a good time catching up on old memories and when it was time to say goodbye, I was formally shaking his hand, when my niece quipped from behind “Why don’t you hug each other?” And we did. Believe me, it was such a warm feeling. It’s something that will always remain with me.

However easy it is to love and be loved, it is very difficult to express love. We are so inhibited in our nature that even if we feel like saying “I care for you” to our own family, we hold ourselves back. Most of us expect something from the other person in way of praise, approval or attention and that holds us back from expressing our love openly.

Different countries, different cultures

People from different countries and cultures differ in their display of affections. Asians are generally more closed and conservative than the open and modern Americans. Why does that happen? It could have a lot to do with traditions and norms followed over generations. However, by and by, people are learning to shed their inhibitions and convey their feelings more freely.

Couple strength

Strong families are those in which the bond between husband and wife is rock solid. Stop taking your partners for granted. Some people think their love goes without saying. However, it will help in nurturing the relationship more if feelings are expressed in many tangible ways. It could be through personal actions, looks, attention or through words. In this ever-changing world, it is very important to re-assure your partner as to how much she/he means to you.

Parent trap

Once children settle down in their lives and jobs, they tend to neglect their parents. Remember that your parents are not getting any younger. They might not be around forever. Show them you care through your actions and words. Even a simple phone call once a week will lift their spirits. They are the ones who love you unconditionally.

Children

Children’s way of life is determined by what they experience in their early days. So, if you as a parent communicate your love to them more openly, they will reciprocate correspondingly. Don’t shy away from telling them how much you love them. They will grow up to be more secure individuals. It will help in building their self-esteem. The generation gap is only going to widen and the only way of showing them you care is to be more demonstrative and open with your feelings.

Touch and time

Scientific studies have shown that in order for newborns to do well they must receive touch therapy. A website devoted to babies says, “Touch is one of the first ways parents and babies communicate”.

In that case, why would a touch be less important as we grow older? A touch is comforting and helps us feel closer to people we love. So the next time you are with your loved ones, lean over and give them a hug, hold their hand or just pat their shoulder.

Time spent together with one’s family helps in strengthening familial ties. It is not necessary to wait for a major occasion to come together. Planned family get-togethers rejuvenate and also provide an opportunity to have fun. Even simple things like playing a board game or having a meal together helps in bonding. This is an ideal platform to demonstrate your feelings to your family.

Families grow and change over time, so it is important that we practice skills to remain close and keep family relationships happy and healthy.

Showing your family you love doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. You know them best and know what little things make them happy. So take a couple of minutes out everyday from your busy schedule to show them you care.

The post Familial Ties appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Teachers influence a great part of our lives, right from the first day of school. Isn’t it fascinating to see how your child, who created such a ruckus on the first day of school, adjusts so beautifully later?

For any child, who always had their family around, to suddenly be put into a whole new world of strangers is disturbing. And, it’s here that teachers come into play. Making each and every child feel comfortable is not an easy task. But, they work at it patiently. They are the ones who assure you that your child will be taken care of well.

Sculptors that mould

When I see teachers I think of them as sculptors. Each child is like a mound of fresh clay. It’s teachers who mould their young impressionable minds.

It is important for a teacher to build good rapport with his/her students. Each teacher has his/her own individualistic style. Some prefer to be strict and formal, while others like to be casual and relaxed. So, there’s no one way in which a student-teacher relationship can be described.

A gnawing doubt in a student’s mind is, “Does my teacher like me?” It is very important that a child feels wanted in the class. If your child doesn’t like his/her teacher it will reflect in their academic performance and behaviour.

A teacher has to strike a balance between being friends and, at the same time, retain a level of respect. This way their control over their class is not lost.

It’s all in the bond

We have all had our share of favourite teachers. But, what is it that singles out that one teacher over the rest? For me, it always had to do with the comfort level I shared with the teacher. Teachers have to be affable – not intimidating – to have a favourable equation with their students.

To comprehend the student-teacher relationship, let’s look at three examples. To simplify it further, let’s just change teachers with everything else staying constant.

Here’s an example. Students of Grade 4 and their English teacher on first day of school:

1. Mrs X enters the class and with a hurried introduction of herself she proceeds with chapter one from the textbook. She is extremely strict and rebuffs anyone who interrupts her teaching. At the end of the lesson, she gives an assignment to be completed the next day. Not the one to encourage a discussion, she makes it clear that her pupils take the help of reference books from the library.
2. Mrs Y enters the class with a very bored expression on her face. Her introduction lacks energy. She calls out names from the attendance, never once taking her eyes off the register. She starts teaching the lesson, albeit resignedly — almost waiting for the class to end.
3. Mrs Z enters the class with a cheery smile on her face. She greets the class enthusiastically. Giving a brief, but clear introduction of herself, she asks her students to do the same. At the end of it, she discusses her method of teaching with students and welcomes their suggestions. The entire time of lecture is spent in getting to know her students.

Teacher Mrs X, in the first example, is impersonal and rigid. She loves to be in command and she does not find it necessary to know her students.

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

– William Arthur Ward

Mrs Y is absolutely not interested in teaching, and just wants to get over with it. She wouldn’t care less if students stopped paying attention to her.

Mrs Z is connected with her students in the first lecture itself. Her class is looked forward to by students. By interacting with her students individually, she shows she cares for their opinions too. She garners respect since she gives it too.

The influence of teaching deepens as a teacher’s familiarity with students grows.

A good teacher must recognise the strengths and weaknesses of every child and work towards maximum productivity. S/he must make conscious efforts to be impartial and treat all uniformly. Refining and adjusting one’s teaching technique ensures that students don’t lose interest in the subject. Students who are happy in a class learn faster. It’s a known fact that we make far greater efforts for teachers who we like.

Guiding role

Teachers are our mentors. And, life is a process of learning. We rely on our teachers for education, early in life.

Education is not only limited to books. To develop a child’s all-round personality must be the aim of a good teacher.

The student-teacher relationship is not restricted to school only. College and university teachers also have an effect on our overall progress. It is apparent that students who have healthy interaction with school teachers stand a better chance of turning out into well-balanced individuals in life.

Let’s recall Helen E Buckley’s beautiful poem, The Little Boy, that talks about a little boy’s first day in school.

The teacher tells students that they are going to draw flowers. The boy likes to draw flowers and he begins to make pretty ones with his crayons. But, the teacher asks them to stop and draws a flower on the blackboard, and asks them to copy the same. And, this goes on with a lot of other things that they do in class day-after-day.

Very soon, the boy stops making things of his own. Then the little boy’s family moves into another city, and he joins another school. The teacher there has a different approach. She allows them to use their creativity freely.

The little boy asks her, “Aren’t you going to draw it on the blackboard?” The teacher answers: “If everyone made the same picture, and used the same colours, how would I know, who made what? And, which was which?”

The boy is happy and likes his new school.

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