Playing in groups, teasing each other, fights and mischief are all parts and parcels of everyone’s childhood. No kid would sacrifice his/her playtime and time out with friends even for the biggest treat offered. Their innocence and enthusiasm towards everything they do is so mind boggling that it sometimes becomes difficult o control them. One effect on the kid if she indiscriminately is in physical contact with unclean children is the risk of development of lice infestation in the hair. This is more common in girls than boys but is quite irritating and disturbing.

What is head lice?

Lice is the plural of louse, a parasite which infests in the hair of humans. This is infestation among human is existing since ages since the Egyptian mummies have also found to have traces of dead lice in their head. Head lice are human parasites and require human blood to survive. Head lice can survive on a human host for approximately 30 days. They generally cannot survive longer than 24 hours off the host. A female louse lays 3-5 eggs a day called nits. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days and it takes another 7-10 days for the louse to mature and lay their own eggs. Once laid, it takes 7-10 days for a nit to hatch. Nits off the head may not even hatch at all as they are laid close to scalp because they need human warmth to incubate. A nit hatching off of a head results in tiny nymph head louse which, without an accessible/nearby human, is doomed because it requires an immediate blood meal.

Signs of lice infestation

Though very small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. What you or your doctor might see by thoroughly examining your child’s head:

Lice eggs look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the skin’s surface, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look sort of like dandruff, only they can’t be removed by brushing or shaking them off. Unless the infestation is heavy, it’s more common to see nits in a child’s hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks after they’re laid.

The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is brownish tan (although lice may look darker on people with dark hair). Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 7 days after they hatch. Most lice feed on blood about every 4 to 6 hours, but they can survive up to 3 days off the scalp.

With lice bites come itching and scratching. However, the itching may not always start right away — that depends on how sensitive your child’s skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads

For some kids, the irritation is mild; for others, a more bothersome rash with crusting and oozing may develop. It’s also not unusual for kids to develop some swelling of their lymph glands. Excessive scratching can also lead to a bacterial infection (the skin would become red and tender around the bite area). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with a topical or an oral antibiotic.

They spread radically

Head lice can be spread whenever there is direct contact of the head or hair with an infested individual. Lice can also be spread through the sharing of personal articles like hats, towels, brushes, helmets, hair ties, etc. There is also a possibility of spreading head lice via a pillow, headrest or similar items.

Herbal remedies

2. Lemon juice is an effective home remedy for treating head lice and dandruff. Take 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice and garlic paste each and mix them. Apply this mixture over the scalp and allow it to dry for 25-30 minutes. Wash your hair in cold water and rinse off the all dirt, dust, etc.

3. Vinegar is also useful in removing head lice. Take 3-4 tablespoon of vinegar, add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice and garlic paste. Mix it well and apply it on the scalp. Allow it to dry for 2 hours and wash it off. Do this 3-4 times a month.

4. Olive oil is also very useful in killing head lice. Apply olive oil on your hair and cover it with a plastic bag. Keep it overnight, later with the help of lice comb take out all the head lice. Repeat this after every 10 days. It is very easy and effective way to get rid of head lice.

5. Almond is another useful home remedy for head lice. Soak 10-12 almonds in water and make its paste. Add 3-4 tablespoon of lemon juice in it. Apply this mixture over your scalp, and allow it to dry for 1-2 hours. Wash hair with cold water.

6. Neem leaves

7. Basil leaves (tulsi) are also useful in removing head lice. Take 20-30 basal leaves and make its paste. Either use it alone or mix with equal quantity of margosa leaf paste. Apply over the scalp and allow it to dry for half an hour and then wash it off. Repeat this 2-3 times a week.

Tags: dietary supplement, homeopathy, therapeutic, eczema, ADHD

For this topic I didn’t have to go out searching for examples when I am here myself.

Motion sickness was perhaps congenital for me. In my childhood, I would be nauseated in a 15 minute road journey and would create a racket for my parents. Some cousins accused my ‘psychology’ and told me that if I think “I won’t vomit” I won’t. I had to grow up and travel a lot to become more resistant to journeys but still my acidic stomach would occasionally give me away. After so many years now I know what keeps me away from nausea and vomiting (motion sickness).

• A good night’s sleep before any journey.
• No overeating the day before.
• No empty stomach in the morning. Take a light breakfast and my usual tablet for motion sickness.
• Cool air in the vehicle.
• Lots of candies.

I have always been on a low morale because of my motion sickness. When everybody is enjoying the journey I would be sticking to the window seat, controlling my breath and with my hands crossed. When I got married I had to go through difficult times while making those obligatory long journeys. I would break down as nausea is more traumatic than vomiting itself. I would eat pieces of ginger, smell lemons, skip meals, hoard plastic bags and what not!

Motion Sickness (Kinetosis)

Motion sickness refers to the dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting one may have during one’s travel by air, water or land. The sense of movement is received by the brain through the signals sent by the inner ears, eyes, muscles and joints. When there is a mismatch in the signals received by the brain you get sick. Your eyes or other parts of the body may not find yourself moving but your head and the inner ears feel it, then you are in trouble.

Where you sit can make a difference. The front seat of a car, forward cars of a train, upper deck on a boat or wing seats in a plane may give you a smoother ride. Looking out into the distance - instead of trying to read or look at something in the vehicle - can also help.

• Road journeys- Avoid heavy meal and drinking before travel.
• Be prepared to travel. No need of any anxiety or fear. Traveling is an exciting experience.
• Sitting in the front seat helps people with motion sickness as the front seat moves less than the back one. If it is a train, then get into the forward cars. Sit in the direction of the travel in a window seat.
• If you feel that your head movements make you feel dizzy or sick, rest your head on the head rest. Keep it still and avoid looking at the scenery outside or fast moving objects around. Forget videos until the journey is over. No reading too.
• Avoid coffee and strong spicy foods before any journey.
• Get good ventilation. Switch on your A/C.
• Consult your doctor for anti-vomiting or anti-nausea medications.
• Air journeys- Find a seat near the wings. Direct the air vent flow to your face to help ventilation.
• Do not take salty foods or dairy products prior to travel. Eat foods high in carbohydrates and preferably low in calories.
• Boat journeys- occupying a seat in the front or middle of the ship or on the upper deck can make a difference.
• If you are seated below the deck keep their eyes closed and concentrate on something nice and interesting. Engaging in a conversation can help.
• Passengers on the deck should fix their eyes on the horizon or visible land ahead.

You can keep motion sickness away by putting a candy in your mouth or by biting at a dry soda crackers. Ginger or peppermint works a great deal. Some prefer carrying some ginger ale along which can serve thirst and motion sickness.

-Aparna K V

Tags: yoga, ayurvedic, native remedies, therapeutic, alternative medicine

Although in Europe and the U.S. cinnamon is most often associated with sweet dishes, it has broad culinary uses. For example, in India, cinnamon is never used with desserts, but is the main ingredient in curries.

Cinnamon is the bark of three bushy evergreen trees of the laurel (Lauraceae) family. The most fragrant and delicate cinnamon is obtained from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree native to Sri Lanka (which used to be called ‘Ceylon’), the western coast of India (known as the Malabar coast), and Burma. Zeylanicum cinnamon is sometimes called ‘true cinnamon’ and ‘old fashioned cinnamon.’ But the ‘true’ part was just advertising copy for the Dutch East India Company’s 17th century monopoly.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Cinnamon ‘For loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild, spastic condition of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating, flatulence.’ It is chiefly used to assist and flavor other drugs, being helpful in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and to relieve flatulence. The oil is a powerful germicide, but being very irritant is rarely used in medicine for this purpose. It is a strong local stimulant, sometimes prescribed in gastro-dynia, flatulent colic, and gastric debility.

It is found that a mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries. Scientists of today also accept honey as a very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

Honey and cinnamon mixtures are researched to be effective in a myriad of therapeutic conditions. These are enumerated below:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, chapati, or other bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as age the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalizes the arteries and veins.

INSECT BITES: Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

HAIR LOSS: Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder
mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any Chronic cholesterol is cured. As per information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.