back massage,prostate disease

Tip 267. Take minerals if you take vitamins.
Complement vitamins with minerals. The term "minerals" refers to elements in their simple inorganic form. In nutrition they are commonly referred to as mineral elements or inorganic nutrients.
Minerals are vital to health. Like vitamins and amino acids, minerals are essential for regulating
and building the trillions of living cells which make up the body. Body cells receive the essential
food elements through the blood stream. They must, therefore, be properly nourished with an
adequate supply of all the essential minerals for the efficient functioning of the body.
Minerals help maintain the volume of water necessary to life processes in the body. They help
draw chemical substances into and out of the cells and they keep the blood and tissue fluid from becoming either too acidic or too alkaline. The importance of minerals, like vitamins, is illustrated by the fact that there are over 50,000 enzymes in the body which direct growth and energy and each enzyme has minerals and vitamins associated with it. Each of the essential food minerals does a specific job in the body and some of them do extra work, in teams, to keep body cells healthy. The mineral elements which are needed by the body in substantial amounts are calcium, phosphorous, iron, sulphur, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chlorine. In addition the body needs minute (trace) amounts of iodine, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, selenium, silicon, fluorine and some others.
Tip 268. Oil for Arthritis
As you would oil a squeaky hinge, oil an inflamed joint.
Warm coconut oil or mustard oil, mixed with camphor, should be massaged in case of stiff and
aching joints. It will increase blood supply and reduce inflammation and stiffness on account of
gentle warmth produced while massaging. Camphorated oil is an ancient rubefacient used for
the purpose.
Ayurveda teaches that sesame oil is ideal when the inflammation is of long duration or the patient is obese. Avoid the application of cool oils or cold conditions in the treatment of any person with arthritis.
Tip 269. Massage of the Back
Massage of the back is recommended in constipation, haemorrhoids, weakness and congestion of the bladder and sexual organs.
The purpose of the massage of the back is to stimulate the nerves and circulation for treating
backache, rheumatic afflictions of the back muscles, and for soothing the nervous system.
The patient is made to lie down with the arms at the sides. The masseur effleurages the back
from the shoulders downwards using both hands on each side of the spine. Stroking is done
from the sacrum upward. Friction follows with each hand at the sides of the spine going down
slowly. Next, kneading by muscle picking is done with squeezing. Alternate rapid pushing and
pulling movement of the hands sliding down the spine. Circular kneading should also be done.
The treatment should end by slapping, hacking and cupping on each side of the spine. Gentle
stroking and light kneading of the back is relieving and soothing. Percussion and vibration result into stimulating experience. Vibration of the end of spine benefits the sacral nerves and pelvic organs.
Tip 270. Overlooked Influences in Prostate Disease
An important cause of prostate disorders is constipation. In constipation, the faeces
becomes hardened and the rectum or lower bowel overloaded. This causes undue pressure on
the prostate gland. It also entails a great deal of straining at stools and this adversely affects the prostate gland due to its proximity to the rectum.
How does one treat constipation complicating prostate disease?
To begin with, the patient should forgo all solid foods and subsist on water only for two or three
days. The intake of water should be as plentiful as possible. Nothing should be added to the
water except a little lemon juice, if desired. The water may be taken cold or hot and it should be
taken every hour or so when awake. This will greatly increase the flow of urine.
An enema may be taken once a day during fasting to clear the lower bowel of accumulations.
After a thorough cleansing of the bowels, hot and cold applications may be used directly on the
prostate gland and its surrounding parts. The heat relieves the tissues and a brief cold
immersion tones them up. The patient should take alternate hot and cold hip baths. These are of great value in relieving pain and reducing congestion. The hot bath should be taken first for 10 minutes, followed by a cold bath for one minute daily.
After the short fast, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for three days.
Tip 271. Warning Signs of Prostate Disease
There are two warning signals to indicate the possibility of prostate disorders.
The first is the interface with the passage of urine and the second is the need to void the urine frequently during the night's sleep. Other symptoms are a dull aching pain in the lower back and pain in the hips, legs and feet.
Prostate enlargement affects the glandular system as a whole. The patient
experiences all the symptoms of disturbed health such as lack of energy and physical, mental
and nervous disturbances.
Tip 272. Home Remedies for Aging Hair
Certain home remedies have been found useful in the prevention and treatment of premature
greying of hair. The foremost among these is the use of Indian gooseberry or amla which is a
valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth and hair pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces,
should be dried, preferably in the shade. These pieces should be boiled in coconut oil until the
solid matter become little charred dust. This darkish oil is very useful in preventing greying.
The water in which dried amla pieces are soaked overnight is Indian gooseberry (amla) is
considered highly beneficial in the treatment of premature greying of hair. also nourishing to the hair. This water should be used for the last rinse while washing the hair. Massaging the scalp with a teaspoonful of amla juice mixed with a teaspoonful of almond oil or few drops of lime juice, every night has proved beneficial in the prevention and treatment of premature greying of hair.
Tip 273. How to Prevent or Recolor Grey Hair
Liberal intake of curry leaves is considered beneficial in preventing premature greying of hair.
These have the property to give vitality and strength to hair roots. New hair roots that grow are
healthier with normal pigment. The leaves can be used in the form of chutney or these may be
squeezed in butter- milk or lassi. When the leaves are boiled in coconut oil, the oil forms an
excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth and bring back hair pigmentation.
Tip 274. The Butter Cure
The butter made from cow's milk has the property to prevent premature greying of hair. A small
roll may be taken internally and a little quantity may be massaged into the hair root twice a week. Ribbed gourd, known as torai in the vernacular, boiled in coconut oil is another effective remedy for premature greying of hair. Pieces of this vegetable should be dried in the shade. These dried pieces should be soaked in coconut oil and kept aside for three or four days. The oil should then be boiled until the solid is reduced to a blackened residue. This oil should be massaged into the scalp. It will help enrich the hair roots and restore pigment to the hair.
Tip 275. Make an Herbal Hair Dye
Make a natural hair dye, the favourite of American actresses.
The paste of henna leaves, boiled in coconut oil to get a darkish oil, can be used as a hair dye to blacken grey hair. The paste itself can be applied to the hair and washed away after a few hours to dye the grey hair. Washing the hair with concentrated tea extract twice a week is also
considered useful in colouring grey hair to brown or black.
Tip 276. A Basic Principle of the Nature Cure
The power to cure disease lies within the body itself and not in the hands of the doctor. This is the third principle of the nature cure. The modern medical system treats the symptoms and suppresses the disease but does little to ascertain the real cause. Toxic drugs which may suppress or relieve some ailments usually have harmful side-effects. Drugs usually hinder the self-healing efforts of the body and make recovery more difficult. According to the late Sir William Osler, an eminent physician and surgeon, when drugs are used, the patient has to recover twice - once from the illness, and once from the drug.
Drugs cannot cure diseases; disease continues. It is only its pattern that changes. Drugs also
produce dietary deficiencies by destroying nutrients, using them up, and preventing their
absorption. Moreover, the toxicity they produce occurs at a time when the body is least capable
of coping with it. The power to restore health thus lies not in drugs, but in nature.
Tip 277. A Second Basic Principle of the Nature Cure
To cure disease, the first and foremost requirement is to regulate the diet.
To get rid of accumulated toxins and restore the equilibrium of the system, it is desirable to completely exclude acid-forming foods, including proteins, starches and fats, for a week or more. During this time, confine the diet to fresh fruits which will disinfect the stomach and alimentary canal. If the body is overloaded with morbid matter, as in acute disease, a complete fast for a few days may be necessary for the elimination of toxins.
Fruit juice may, however, be taken during a fast.
A simple rule is: do not eat heavy foods when you are sick, stick to a light diet of fresh fruits. Wait for the return of the usual healthy appetite. Loss of appetite is Nature's warning that no burden should be placed on the digestive organs.
Tip 278. The Curative Power of a Simple, Healthful Diet
Based on the principles of the nature cure, here is a comprehensive daily menu for your greatest health.
Upon arising: A glass of lukewarm water mixed with the juice of a half a lemon and a
teaspoon of honey, or a glass of freshly squeezed juice of any available seasonable fruit such as apple, pineapple, orange, sweet lime and grapes.
Breakfast: Fresh fruits such as apple, orange, banana, grapes, or any available seasonal
fruits, a cup of butter-milk or unpasteurised milk and a handful of raw nuts or a couple of
tablespoons of sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Mid-morning snack: One apple or a banana or any other fruit.
Lunch: A bowl of freshly prepared steamed vegetables using salt, vegetable oil and butter for
seasoning, one or two slices of whole grain bread or chapattis and a glass of butter-milk.
Mid-afternoon: A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice or any available fruit.
Dinner: A large bowl of fresh salad made up of green vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrot,
cabbage, cucumber, red beet and onion with lime juice dressing, any available sprouts such as
alfalfa seeds, and mung beans, a warm vegetable course, if desired, one tablespoon of fresh
butter, cottage cheese or a glass of butter-milk.
The above menu is a general outline around which an individual diet can be built. It can be
modified and changed to adopt to specific requirements and conditions. The menu for lunch and dinner is interchangeable. Do not drink liquids with meals. The water should be taken half an hour before meals or an hour after meals. Milk, buttermilk, and vegetable soups are foods and can be taken with meals.
Tip 279. Stimulating Vitality
Here is another important principle of the nature cure: Stimulate the vitality of the body.
This can be achieved by using water in various ways and at varying temperatures in
the form of packs or baths. The application of cold water, especially to the abdomen, the seat of most diseases, and to the sexual organs, through a cold sitting (hip) bath immediately lowers
body heat and stimulates the nervous system. In the form of wet packs, hydrotherapy offers a
simple natural method of abating fevers and reducing pain and inflammation without any harmful side-effects. Warm water applications, on the other hand, are relaxing.
Tip 280. Forgotten Healing Methods
Other natural methods useful in the cure of diseases are air and sunbaths, exercise and
massage. Air and sunbaths revive dead skin and help maintain it in a normal condition. Exercise, especially yogic asanas, promotes inner health and harmony and helps eliminate all tension: physical, mental and emotional. Massage tones up the nervous system and quickens blood circulation and the metabolic process.
Tip 281. Clay for Skin Care
Another useful remedy for leucoderma is red clay found by the riverside or on hill slopes. The
clay should be mixed in ginger juice and applied over the white spots once a day.
The copper contained in the clay seems to bring back skin pigmentation and ginger juice serves as a milk stimulant, facilitating increased blood flow to the spots. Drinking water kept overnight in a copper vessel also helps.
Tip 282. Spice Up Your Complexion with Radish
A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in treating leucoderma. About 35 grams of these seeds should be powdered in vinegar and applied on the white patches.
For better results, seeds should be finely pounded, mixed with a little white arsenic and soaked in vinegar at night. After two hours, when leaves appear, it should be rubbed on the leucoderma patches.
Tip 283. Turmeric and Mustard Oil for Skin Colour
The use of turmeric and mustard oil is also considered beneficial in the treatment of leucoderma. About 500 grams of turmeric should be pounded and soaked in eight kg of water at night. It should be heated in the morning until only one kg. of water is left. It should then be strained and mixed with 500 grams of mustard oil.
This mixture should be heated until only the oil is left. It should be applied on white patches every morning and evening for a few months.
Tip 284. Comprehensive Therapies for Headache
The best remedy to prevent headaches is to build up physical resistance through proper
nutrition, exercise and constructive thinking. As a first step, the patient should undertake a short fast. During the fast, citrus fruit juices, diluted with water may be taken six times daily. By taking the load of digestion, the patient will at once save nervous energy which can be utilised for more important purposes. The blood and lymph will also be relieved of a great burden. After a short fast, the diet should be fixed in such a way as to put the least possible strain on the digestion. The menu should be as follows:
* Breakfast should consist of fruits, both fresh and dried.
* Lunch should consist largely of protein foods.
* Starchy foods such as whole wheat bread, cereals, rice or potatoes should be taken at dinner along with raw salads.
* Spices, tomatoes, sour buttermilk and oily foodstuffs should be avoided.
* Drinking a glass of water (warm water in winter and cool water in summer) mixed with a teaspoonful of honey the first thing in the morning, is also a good remedy.