Dark eyes - home remedies

31. Mix together cucumber juice, lemon juice and lanolin cream and apply on dark circles to lighten them naturally.

32. Place a slice of tomato on your under-eye area or just apply tomato juice on the affected area.

33. Mix cucumber juice and rose water and apply on dark circles. This eye-pack helps reduce puffiness and bagginess of eyes.

34. Apply mashed peach on your under-eye areas.

35. Massaging your under-eye area with sesame oil helps.

36. Turmeric and lemon juice face mask is really helpful in lightening dark circles.

37. Scoop out the pulp from papaya and then add honey, saffron and apply on your  dark circles. Regular usage of this homemade eye-pack treats puffy eyes.

38. Use the mixture of egg white, vitamin E oil and honey on your dark circles. An excellent beauty tip for warding off eye-wrinkles, crow feet and frowns lines.

39.  The skin-nurturing mixture of sandalwood powder and rose water makes for a home remedy for dark circles treatment.

40.  Add a pinch of cinnamon to honey to treat those panda eyes. Very good recipe for dark cirlces cure.

Eyes are beautiful without dark circles

21. Apply retinol on your dark circles, animal forms of vitamin A, it helps in lightening dark circles naturally.

22. Milk cream mixed with castor oil when applied on under-eye areas helps to cure dark circles.

23. Apply green tea mask on your under-eye areas to ged rid of dark circles and puffy eyes. Opt for men and women in their 30s.

24. Put rose water or cucumber juice in freezer and put these juicy ice cubes on your tired and puffy eyes. Good tip for working women.

25. Boil black tea in water and wash your eyes with this mixture to cure eye-puffiness and redness.

26. Dab carrot juice on dark circles get rid of dark circles quickly. Drinking carrot juice is immensely helpful in keeping eyes healthy and improving vision.

27. Apply orange juice on under-eye circles. This home remedy can be used by boys also.

28. The mixture of nutmeg and sandalwood is a great cure for dark circles treatment.

29. Blend almond oil and milk together and apply on your under-eyes areas.

30. Put q tips in freezer after soaking up its both ends in water and roll these q tips around your eyes.

Menopause

What is Menopause

Menopause is the cessation of periods.It is generally between the age of 45- 50 years. It is a normal aging process. It is due to low production of  hormone, estrogen. Menopause occurs after 1 year of amenorrhoea. Get more information on menopause, read on.

What is menopause

Menopause is derived from the Greek word menos (m
onth) and pause (to stop) refers to the last menstrual period and is generally considered to have occurred after 1 year of amenorrhoea. At the age of 45- 50 years:

The sexual cycles in a female usually become irregular;
Ovulation fails to occur during many of the cycles.
After a few months to a few years, the cycles cease and the female sex hormones diminish rapidly to almost none at all. Sometimes the phrase 'the change of life' is used and often doctors use the term 'climacteric'.

Whom does menopause affect

Menopause, occurring on an average at the age of 45, is a normal event but it leads to much pathology in excess of that of the normal aging process. The average age of menopause has not changed for centuries. The age of menopause seems unrelated to socioeconomic factors, race, weight or height although severe malnutrition or cigarette smoking may result in an earlier onset.

The real importance of menopause today lies in the increasing longevity of the 20th century woman. With the increased longevity, women will now spend a third of their lives in the postmenopausal state (characterized by estrogen deficiency) attendant to many long-term symptomatic and metabolic complications.


Why does menopause occur

The cause of menopause is 'burning out' of the ovaries. The aging of the ovary begins even before birth when a progressive decline in the number of primordial follicles compresses. The percentage of growing follicles increases substantially at puberty and is maintained throughout reproductive life and declines in the climacteric period (period of time around menopause).

Natural menopause: Estrogens are produced in sub critical quantities for a short time after menopause, but over a few years falls almost to zero.
"Artificial" menopause: Besides natural menopause, loss of ovarian function can also occur in patients receiving pelvic radiation or chemotherapy or those having ovarian failure or bilateral surgical removal of ovaries.

What are the different phases of menopause

Menopause can be divided into three phases:

Pre-menopause: There is a little disruption of the ovarian function and the menstrual cycle remains regular. Some symptoms may begin to occur in this phase.

Peri-menopause: This phase represents declining ovarian function with menstrual irregularities and symptoms commonly start or become troublesome during this time.
Post-menopause: Once there have been no menses for 12 months the post-menopause phase is entered.



Side-Effects of Menopause and HRT

Menopause is the term given to cessation of periods. It is characterized by many symptoms. The ill effects of menopause can be prevented by ERT or estrogen replacement therapy, which is actually a part of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).Read here to know the benefits of HRT.

How can the ill-effects of menopause be reduced

The ill-effects of menopause can largely be prevented with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).  ERT reduces the incidence of osteoporosis, heart attacks, strokes and generally improves the well being and life span of women. For more than three decades estrogens have been prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms. Treatments like Estrogen Replacement Therapies (ERT) and Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) can reduce the gynecological and psychological changes associated with menopause while inhibiting bone resorption and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.


What is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

All menopausal and post-menopausal women go through estrogen deficient years, which can manifest in both physical and emotional ways leading to an impairment in the quality of life.  As the female life expectancy has increased, it is possible for a woman to live one third of the life after menopause. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a treatment for menopause given to women to correct the hormonal deficiency in peri- and post-menopausal state.

Diaphragm (A Female Contraceptive Device)

Diaphragm is a barrier method of contraception. It is highly effective if used along with a Spermicide. A health care practitioner is consulted to determine the size of Diaphragm that fits a woman. Diaphragm is a preferred choice of contraception as it is an easy barrier method of contraception for women. Read on to know more about the advantages and side effects of Diaphragm.

The Diaphragm is a soft rubber device that has a flexible spring attached to its outside edge. The Diaphragm is a shallow rubber disk that is dome-shaped. And its flexible ring is inserted in a way that it perfectly fits inside the vagina.

How Does Diaphragm Work?

Diaphragms are highly effective when used conjointly with Spermicides wither in the form of gels or cremes. The gel or creme acts as an indispensable contraceptive agent and stays close to the cervical area of the woman. As a result, the sperm is effectively prevented from entering the uterus. Chances of pregnancy thus get alleviated.

The Diaphragm is said to be highly effective with a score of a high 94%. But it is extremely important to ensure that the spermicidal gel or creme is used properly as otherwise, the effectiveness can fall drastically.

A Diaphragm can be effective even when continually used for two to three years. But before each usage it is very necessary to observe and check minutely for the presence of tiny rips or holes on the surface. This can be easily ascertained if the Diaphragm is stretched and held up against a source of light.

The proper size of the Diaphragm can be determined only by a physician. The woman needs to visit a health care practitioner in order to find which size exactly fits her body.

The Diaphragm must be inserted before sex and should be removed within 6-8 hours after intercourse takes place. Spermicide must be applied every two hours or before each intercourse.

The Diaphragm does not interfere with the sexual actions and can hold its place during urination and bowel movements. The woman can also go under the shower while wearing Diaphragm.


Size of Diaphragm

In order to ensure its high effectiveness, the size of the Diaphragm needs to be regularly checked.

Especially under the following conditions:

The woman has just begun an active sex life
Experiences fluctuating body weight. The situation must be carefully monitored if there is a recent weight gain or twenty pounds or more.
If the woman has become pregnant recently
If any variant of pelvic surgery is carried out on the woman.

Advantages of Diaphragm

Following are the advantages of using Diaphragm for contraception.

Women and couples are found to prefer Diaphragms due to the fact that its presence is not felt by either partner during sexual intercourse.
Compared to the other barrier method contraceptive devices like the cervical cap, the Diaphragm is easier to insert and this makes women feel more comfortable in using it.

Side Effects of Diaphragm

Have a quick look at the side effects of Diaphragm.

TSS or Toxic Shock Syndrome can happen in women if the Diaphragm is left for over a day after the sexual intercourse. This is a rare medical condition.
The woman is likely to experience bacterial infections in some cases.
Some women are allergic to rubber which is the base constituent of the Diaphragm and therefore experience irritation or allergy due to it.
The Spermicide can also cause mild to serious irritation or allergies in some women.
It is important to note that the Diaphragm merely is a contraceptive that prevents pregnancy and does not offer any protection against sexually transmitted diseases and infections. The most common diseases and infections like gonorrhea, Chlamydia, herpes or HIV are not prevented with a Diaphragm. It is therefore advisable to use the Diaphragm along with the male condom to experience safe sex for both the partners.

The Contraceptive Sponge (Female Contraceptive)

The Contraceptive Sponge (Female Contraceptive)

Contraceptive options help in preventing unplanned pregnancies and thereby reduce the tensions. There are many female contraceptive options available today and contraceptive sponge is one of them. It has become popular due to its simple and easy usage. Various other factors also make contraceptive sponge a preferred choice by the women. This does not interfere with the hormones so contraceptive sponge is the contraception for the new age women.

The female contraceptive sponge has evolved to be highly popular as a female contraceptive option due to its simple and extremely uncomplicated usage and easy availability and affordability. There have been doubts in certain quarters regarding its effectiveness but like all other contraceptive options, the effectiveness of this one too depends wholly on its correct usage and several other factors. The other associated factors are like whether the woman has already delivered a child or not.


How is it Contraceptive Sponge Used?

The sponge needs to be first moistened with clean hygienic water. It needs to be made foamy before insertion.
While inserting it into the vagina, the woman needs to position it in a manner that gets fixed right over the cervix.
The sponge can be kept inside the vagina from 12 to 24 hours
During this period the woman receives continuous protection from unwanted pregnancy regardless of the number of time intercourse happens.
The most vital point to note here is that the sponge must be allowed to stay in place for at least six hours after intercourse takes place.

Possible Side Effects of Contraceptive Sponge

Side effects with the use of contraceptive sponge are very low. The reason is attributed to the absence of any hormonal medicines in it. Hormonal medicines can cause natural side effects in most women. However, it is better to note that there are a few side effects that have been observed in some women:


While using it that is, during the insertion it is possible that the sponge can wear or tear a bit. This reduces the effectiveness of the sponge and might cause accidental pregnancies.
Some women using the sponge regularly also reported yeast infections in their cervical and vaginal area.
Spermicides are often found to cause allergies. So irritations and allergic reactions can also occur.
The Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare complication that can happen with several other barrier contraceptive methods as well.
This is why it is important to ensure that the sponge is removed within a maximum of six hours after insertion.
Women having a prior history of TSS should avoid the use of sponge.

Advantages of Contraceptive Sponge

The sponge has been found to be the most appropriate contraceptive method for women with any of the following conditions:

Those who prefer a disposable contraceptive compared to any permanent or semi-permanent method.
Those who like to opt for alternatives that do not require medical prescriptions. The sponge is available over-the-counter at all medical stores.

Those who are regular smokers. They are likely to experience discomfort and complications using other contraceptive options that work on or with hormones.

Women above the age of 35 are advised not to go for hormonal methods of birth control. They are likely to feel more comfortable with the sponge.

Hormonal methods are likely to come with several possible side effects. Women who do not want to experience the risks and the side effects can safely opt for the sponge.

To stay safe from accidental pregnancy, women who prefer back up methods to a condom or the pill.
Women, who can be sexually spontaneous and prefer to avoid the messy gels, oils and cremes.
Finally, women who find it difficult to fit in the diaphragm.

This is how women can benefit from the usage of sponge for the contraception purpose and can avoid unwanted pregnancies.

FOOT CARE

Look after your feet and treat them with the care and attention they deserve. Your feet, and your back, will thank you for it.

Foot hygiene

While bathing, we often tend to ignore our feet and only apply soap from the ankles up. Your feet need a wash just as much as the rest of your body does, if not more, so make sure you wash and soap your feet as well. Take care to rinse off all soap, and dry feet thoroughly, wiping between the toes.

Keep a pumice stone in the bathroom and every two to three days, soap your feet and scrub them with the stone, paying extra attention to the heels.

Change your socks daily. It's surprising how many people wear the same socks for a couple of days before throwing them in for a wash! If you don't change your socks regularly, your feet will start to smell, and you may even develop a fungal infection.

Use foot powder.
Toenail care

When trimming toenails, don't trim them in an inverted U shape. Trim them straight across without digging into the corners. This keeps toenails healthier.

Shoes

Don't wear shoes that are too tight. They bruise your toes and heels, and they also hamper your walk. In addition, footwear that is too tight around the toes will cramp your toes, and may even cause your toenail to come out. It is also possible to strain your back.


Check your child's shoes regularly to make sure they are not too small. Children's feet are soft and flexible, and they can easily fit into shoes that are even two sizes too small! But you don't want them doing that, so make sure they wear shoes that are the right size. The easiest way to ensure this is to make your child stand on a sheet of paper as you draw the outline of her foot. Then, measure this outline with the sole of the shoe. If the outline is bigger or exactly the same size, you should get a bigger size. The sole of the shoe should be a little bigger all over than the outline.



Go shoe shopping in the afternoon. Your feet swell to their maximum at this time so you can be sure that anything you buy will not suddenly start feeling tight in the afternoon.

One foot is always bigger than the other, so try on both shoes before buying a pair.


If you are buying keds, wear socks as well while trying on the keds.


The best footwear to wear is genuine leather. It takes the shape of your feet and moulds itself accordingly.


If you will be on your toes all day, stay away from high heels. Heels are great for short periods, but not for long stretches at a time. They completely change your posture and put strain on your back and your toes.


Beauty Tip

A great tip for soft, smooth feet is to apply cream any cream generously to your feet before turning in for the night. Cover them with a pair of socks. Do this everyday, and within a week you will see the difference.