A new research study proved that a Chinese herb called danshen offers a better treatment for high blood pressure. The researchers say that an active ingredient in this herb helps in reducing hypertension in hamsters and widens blood vessels.

Traditionally, it was known that danshen works for high blood pressure. But researchers didn’t know how it works.

The roots of danshen, which is a kind of sage, are used as medicine in Chinese culture. It is used to treat heart problems and hypertension. It is more effective in case of people who have hypertension with angina and atherosclerosis.

In this study, the researchers gave the active ingredient of danshen, tanshinone IIA, to hamsters having high blood pressure. They found that this ingredient reduced blood pressure and widened blood vessels. It appears to work by boosting the body’s production of nitric oxide.

The research lays the foundation for future research on danshen’s effectiveness as a hypertension drug. Though there are plenty of drugs available in the market currently, many have their significant side effects.

However, more research needs to be done on danshen’s therapeutic role. Also, drug toxicity and adverse effects of this remedy should also be evaluated. The researchers also say that they are trying to understand the effects of danshen after people stop taking it.

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Here are some bad breath remedies:

• Brush your teeth after each meal.
• Chew some cardamom seeds after eating to sweeten your breath. The natural aromatic flavour  cardamom has works like  a breath freshner.
• Add 1 lemon juice along with  sugar and salt to a glass of water and drink it frequently.
• Parsley is a good food neutralizer. Because it is rich  in chlorophyll, it works as a natural deodoriser. Chew these leaves for fresh breath.
• Clean your tongue each time you brush your teeth. tongue is a mojor cause for smell
• Rinse your mouth well before sleeping with a glass of water and juice of half a lemon.
• Drink Water well through the day.

To keep your teeth, tongue, and mouth clean, you will not suffer from any tooth problems or bad breath. make sure you take all the necessary care while cleaning your teeth by using the right brush and correct brushing method. Last but not the least, never forget to flash a beautiful smile!

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Your heart is the most sensitive organ in your body. So you have to make all possible efforts to keep it safe and healthy. But, like most people, you may also be not exactly sure on how to keep your heart in great condition.

Here we give you some simple tips to lower your risk of heart disease.

Move your body

A moderate blast of aerobic exercise helps in reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and stress, which are the major risk factors of cardiovascular disease. You can try out the following exercises

• Take a brisk walk
• Try a nearby hiking trail
• Work out with an exercise DVD for at least 30 min, four days a week.

Enjoy a Mediterranean dinner

Make garlicky dishes made with seafood, lamb and poultry or pastas with black olives and feta cheese into your diet. These dishes can cut your risk of heart disease by 80%.

Quit smoking

If you are a smoker, it’s time to stop this habit. Smoking is one of the major risk factors for heart diseases and staying away from it helps your heart a lot.

Get to know your genetics
Genetics play a major role in heart diseases. So, check the medical history of your mother and father. Check whether they have high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol. The sooner you learn about their medical history, the earlier can identify your own genetic risk factors. This way you can take smart steps to ward off serious heart diseases.

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Because of the busy schedules we follow, and the continues hours we spend before the computer, eyes are the worst affected due to stress. Here are some tips to reduce the tiredness in your eyes and to make them sparkle with health.

• Boil tea powder in a some water and let it cool. Dip 2 gauzes in this liquid and place the gauzes on each eye for around 15 minutes. Keep dipping the cotton wads into the liquid, as soon as the gauzes dry up. This is a very effective treatment for tired eyes.
• Wash the tired eyes with cold water, many times a day. This treatment reduces inflammation, moisturizers the skin /tissues, relaxes the eyes & provides relief from eyestrain & fatigue.
• Lavender oil offers relief to tired and strained eyes. Add a drop of lavender oil to 500 ml of water and shake the solution well. Dip two cotton wool pads in the liquid, remove the excess water and place one pad over each eye.

Try the above given tips, they are sure to relax your window to the world!

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It’s common knowledge that – your hands carry germs. We hear this from our mothers everyday - wash your hands! Here we give you some important hand washing facts most of you may not know.

1. With hand washing you can avoid getting colds, flu, staph infection or intestinal illness and also avoid spreading those illnesses to others.
2. Soap and clean running water are necessary for adequate hand washing. Warm water is preferable. Lather up and scrub for 20 seconds.
3. Do you know how soap works? The soap mixes with the skin oil, and it loosens grease and dirt that carry germs.
4. Plain soaps are better than antibacterial soaps.
5. Soap and water do better to clean your hands. But if they are not available, you can use an alcohol-based gel.
6. Wash your hands often. Normally one touches his/her eyes, nose and mouth at least 200 times a day. This makes germs get into your body.
7. Important times to wash your hands - before preparing or eating food, after diapering a child, after going to the bathroom, before and after caring for any patient, after blowing your nose or coughing, and after handling an animal.

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The stomach usually secretes some acids that are necessary for the digestive process. The acids that are produced help in breaking down the food during digestion. Sometimes there is an excess production of acid by the gastric glands of the stomach which results in a condition known as acidity. The symptoms involved include Dyspepsia, heartburn and the formation of ulcers.

Causes of Acidity

• Excessive intake of Alcohol
• Very spicy foodstuffs
• Non-vegetarian diets
• Drugs

Acidity problems usually occur

• After meals
• When lifting weight or during strain and applying pressure in the intra-abdominal area.
• At night when you lie down.
• Ulcers also occur as a result of over secretion of acid.

Tips for Preventing Stomach Acidity

• Each time after a meal, take a small piece of jaggery, keep it in the mouth and suck. This will prevent acidity.
• Boil a cup of water. To this just add 1 tsp of Aniseed (Saunf). Keep this mixture covered overnight. Then strain this water in the morning and add a table spoon of honey. Take this mixture 3 times a day, this will prevent acidity
• Add 1 tsp Caraway seeds (shah jeera) into 1 ½ liters of water. Bring this to boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Drink this mixture while it is warm. Have this concoction 2-3 times a day for around 5-6 days.
• Make a powder of one clove and one cardamom, use this powder as a mouth freshener after each meal.

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The first thing people look in you is – your face. Others get impressed first by your face and next by the way you dress. Anyway, without the best face the best dress can do nothing. For an attractive and glowing face you need to have a healthy skin. You can easily achieve healthy skin by following the basic guideline - cleansing.

Deep Cleanse

Normally men have 15% oilier skin. Mean also have larger pores than women have. Basically, this means your face gets dirtier. So, the best regimen for an impressive face is cleaning your face every day, no matter what skin type you have. Deep cleansing is very important to keep pores clear, skin healthy and make you look good.

The Best Cleansing Products

Use cleansing products that are chemical-free. Don’t use deodorant soaps because they cleanse your face with harsh ingredients and leave behind a detergent film. This irritates your skin and clogs your pores. So, the best advice is - go natural.

Scrub Your Face

A good scrub is important for healthy clean skin. It removes dead cells and smoothens the surface of your face. Make sure you use a scrub that is strong and without being damaging. Don’t use scrubs containing rough elements like seed extracts or ground bits of nut. They will tear and damage your skin. A good scrub is one that invigorates you, not hurts you.

Don’t Forget to Moisturize

Moisturizing is also necessary for a healthy skin. The product that has least amount of chemical additives is the right and best choice. Use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing and shaving. Don’t forget your neck.

Pure vitamin E, or aloe vera oil work well for an intensive moisture treatment. You can find them in liquid form. If not just break open a capsule, and apply the oil on your skin. This is a great under eye treatment. Don’t forget to moisturize this very sensitive area of your face. This is one of the first places to show aging because the skin under your eye secretes no necessary oils on its own.

One More Thing

Keep this important thing in mind. Depending on your skin type and time of year, you have to use different products and treatments to treat and enhance your skin.

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Anything from boiling water, to an electric cord can cause a burn in household accidents. Following are some steps that can be followed to give instant relief from them.

Chemical Burns

Make sure that any chemical, clothing or jewelry that came in contact with the chemical is removed.

Running Water

Put the area burnt under the water long enough to reduce the pain. this usually for 15 to 20 minutes. If this is not possible, then make sure you immerse your burn in cold water or cover it with a cold compress. Don’t put an ice cube as this could lead to a frost bite and further damage.

Apply Lotion

Use a lotion or moisturizer to soothe the area and prevent dryness. In case of a sun burn, try 1- percent hydrocortisone cream or an antiseptic. Never apply butter to burnt skin. It holds the heat in the tissues and could cause more damage. This also increases the risk of infection.

Sterile Gauze

Cover the burn with a sterile gauze. Wrap it loosely to avoid putting too much pressure on the burn. bandaging the burn helps in keeping air off the burn and reducing the pain.

Over the Counter Pain Reliever

Take an over the counter pain reliever unless the doctor has told you to avoid these medications.

Fluid Filled Blisters

If fluid filled blisters form, don’t break them. However, if you have to then use a tiny sterilized pin to puncture a hole. Then, wash the area with the use of anti- bacterial soap, and apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage.

After Treatment

It is important to keep the burnt area moisturized by applying a body lotion. In addition, it is also important to keep the area protected from ultra violet rays by covering it with clothing or sunscreen for a period of one year. In case of scarring, the area may always need sun protection.

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Health experts suggest the one simple guideline for a better healthcare - track your family’s medical history. They suggest that it helps in early problem detection, proper diagnosis and better treatment. A well organized family and personal health care planning gives you confidence and makes your health care less daunting.

Here we give you some simple guidelines for healthcare planning.

1. Track your family’s health history. Keep a running log of all health-related incidents for each member of your family. It helps you provide your doctors with a complete and accurate family medical history, if he needs it.
2. Check out your family tree. Prepare a list of common health problems and medical conditions among relatives in your family. This helps your doctor to recommend preventative treatment or tests for early detection.
3. Record symptoms and health-related activities in your dairy. This timeline of symptoms helps your doctor identify trends that may impact diagnosis. For example, if you are facing flu-like symptoms at the same time every year, it may be an allergy and not a cold. Migraines around a menstrual cycle may mean hormonal fluctuations.
4. Note down symptoms as they occur. Don’t wait until you meet your doctor and you may forget pains or abnormal feelings you experienced since your last visit. If you express unrelated symptoms, it may prompt your doctor to try different tests or treatments. For example, frequent urination may indicate a bladder infection while excessive urination may be a sign of diabetes or another serious condition.
5. When you consult your doctor, write down questions and doctor’s responses. This personal Q&A sheet works as a handy reference later and can assist your family members or caregivers who may have similar concerns.
6. Keep all health-related documents including symptom journals, test results, family medical history, immunization charts, prescriptions, blood donations done, question/answer sheets, etc. in one binder. This acts as a real timesaver and helps in having all the information at your fingertips.

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If your teeth are wincing while you brush, that means that your teeth are too sensitive to whiten. Fortunately there are ways in which teeth can be whitened the painless way.

Start Preparing Early

To reduce the discomfort, use a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate for six weeks before the lightening treatment.

Take it Slow

The most popular method of whitening, the dentist dispensed mouth trays start showing results in a brief period of a week, if you wear them overnight. But, incase your teeth are sensitive then, it can take forever. Instead, ask for a lower concentration of bleach and wear the whitening tray every other day for a few hours.

Go for Zero

Ask your dentist for a low or zero sensitivity bleaches that are now available. These products actually promise no pain.

Get a Primer Coat

For extremely sensitive teeth, the dentists can paint on a liquid desensitizer.

Avoid Store-bought Bleach Kits

The mouth trays that are available in the market rarely fit properly and can make the bleach leak out. It is also a good idea to see a professional, rather than self treat, since some stains actually indicate a decayed or abscessed tooth.

Eventhough your teeth are sensitive, you can still flash a mesmerizing smile…

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Morning walk is sure a great way to keep health but the same morning walk could also work wonders for relationship both with your spouse and your kids. Walking in a relaxed manner with surroundings and atmosphere to match with could do wonders for your mood therefore talking the walk with your spouse will give those precious few moments without any anxiety and tension that are so rare in our chaotic lifestyles. Being alone and yet not being ‘intimate’ would give you the chance to talk about things that are important, urgent and yet need a human side of yours to be thought about.

Also if you’re talking the walk along with your kids it’s a great time to spend be outdoors, something that the kids simply love. Having time with kids outdoor would help them see the lighter side of yours… a great time to talk to them and joke around and in that also the time put across to them those few things that you expect them to do. As children they’d love the fun of playing and as intelligent beings themselves they would better appreciate the morals and values put into them.

Remember not to carry your cell phones or head phones for the walk… give this time exclusively for yourself and your family for some good clean fun and exercise. The absence of phone calls, TV, loud music would calm down your senses, results of which could be bettered if your practice some breathing exercises. This time would surely help your kids in being more imaginative and bristling with thoughts than they would be otherwise.

For More on this Topic Log On to about.com 

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Many a times we’ve heard that the human mind could possibly the best ever super computer to be built. But have we ever wondered if this super computer ever goes into a stand by or a power-saving mode?Well researchers have now come up with a theory which talks about a screensaver or the stand-by mode that our minds switch on to when they find lil interest in continuing with what’s going around. Put in simple words that’s what we are so much familiar with as ‘Day Dreaming’

Set as default every time we indulge in activities that hardly evoke an interest in us our mind decides to put itself on the idle mode and switch on to a ‘wandering screensaver mode’ I’m sure this takes you back to probably one of your school lectures or an incident with a friend who’s simply scrapping your brains off… almost unknowingly we slip off into a mirage of our own, of something that is more appealing, involving and enjoyable by our minds.

In a paper published in the journal Science by researchers from Dartmond College, New Hampshire and Harvard Business School in Boston say that it is not the mistake of the person se but it is the simple case of the the surroundings are proceedings simply being unappealing to the mind. Therefore instead of pulling up the pupils or screaming at your inactive employee scientist are suggesting that making the lectures, surroundings and work more interesting and involving day dreaming could be avoided… after all the default settings are laid down by nature and we better take that into account.

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As human’s we’re so variedly built that what applies to me does not necessarily apply in a similar manner to others. And so is the case with our weights… often what could be the ideal weight for one individual might actually be grossly overweight for others, reason??? Well its pretty simple the fact that as individuals we are made different and therefore the proportions that suit us are equally different.

Whether someone’s weight is ideal or not depends not just on the weight of that individual but also on other factors such as his height and personality too. Therefore, a more accurate or a more definitive indicator of whether an individual is over weight or underweight is what we call the Body Mass Index or simply BMI

A simple way of calculating one’s BMI can be summed up in three steps.

1. Measure your height in meters and multiply by itself (its square).
2. Measure your weight in kilograms.
3. Divide the result in step one with the result in step two.

For example if your weight is 1.5 meters and your weight is 75 kilograms. Divide your weight by the square of your height in meters. Compare the result with the chart given below and get to know status of health… isn’t that simple guys…

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Take a look at these facts –

1. According to BBC estimates about 196,000,000 cups of tea are drunk each day by citizens in UK.
2. And an average individual drinks nothing less than 80,000 cups of tea in his life time.

Well, don’t ask me why the BBC is spending time learning about the tea drinking habits of the British but one thing that is surely strikes out is that there is something about this beverage which makes it so widely appealing and acceptable.

Apart from the refreshing effect that it could have there has been plenty been researched and understood about the therapeutic abilities of tea when it comes to dealing with weight-loss and coronary heart diseases. Researchers say that the chemical reactions that take place when the heart develops a coronary heart disease can be bought down drastically by regular intake of tea. Chemicals called flavonoids retard or totally restrict the reactions leading to the coronary heart disease.

Coming to weight loss this is not a latest discovery but a fact that has been known for generations now. For long Herbal teas are known to reduce metabolism and appetite. And in some cases even fight fat and make it disappear into thin air. Suppressing appetite is surely some thing that your cuppa is capable of… or at least that’s what the Italians would tell you.

There has been plenty of noise about Green tea and its ability to fight blood cholesterol. And is you expected straight forward thumbs up for the beverage then it is not quite the case… The verdict is somewhat divided – some studies proving that the green teas hardly makes a difference and some `marginally reducing the cholesterol on high levels of tea consumption.

And even where the levels are low, experts believe that factors other than the green tea could have contributed to the possible result. So as things stand now a healthy diet is the way to beat a plenty of ailments… and far as the tea goes, great if it helps and if it doesn’t then make sure you don’t stir up a storm in your tea cup.

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Frequent problems in a marriage may lead to stress and depression in couples, leading to ill health. Here are some simple tips to improve your marriage, without much effort:

1. Chore therapy: Helping your wife in the kitchen and with the washing can improve your marriage and sex life. It has been found that men who perform the most chores appear extremely sexually attractive to their wives and have good relationships. What more, it also teaches your children good values and the importance of helping and caring for each other. The wives feel more loved and this increases their interest in sex.

2. Seal with a kiss. According to studies, kissing your partner goodbye in the morning and night, improves your marriage in some days. You can make a huge difference to your relationship with simple gestures like this.

3. Don’t take your problems to bed: Forget your tiffs and problems before going to bed each night. Look beyond your differences and communicate with your partner. Sharing your happiness and problems can give you marital bliss and a great comfort level in bed.

Also read: Divorce Is Bad For Your Health .

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Pregnant women who suffer from influenza (flu), pneumonia or a sexually transmitted disease are at an increased risk of having a child who will develop leukemia.

A study found that a maternal history of influenza or pneumonia, that occurs between 3 months before conception through the end of breastfeeding period raises the risk of leukemia in the child by as much as 89 percent.

And a history of sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes or chlamydia, has an even stronger effect on the risk of leukemia, increasing the odds by more than sixfold.

These studies emphasize the importance of maintaining good health to ensure smooth pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Also read: Home Remedies For Morning Sickness During Pregnancy .

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Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) often causes discomfort to most women. PMS is caused by hormonal changes that occur around the time of menstruation. Women suffering from PMS often experience painful cramps, stress, acne breakouts and fluid retention. Women are also likely to face headache, mood swings, tiredness, irritability, back or lower abdominal pain and feeling of bloating.

It is that time of the month and you are are feeling irritable and awful. Here’s what you can do to get relief:

1. Drink plenty of water. Water helps to cleanse your system and get rid of toxins.

2. Avoid food that is too cold, like curd, iced water, ice creams, and cucumbers.

3. Avoid eating 3 heavy meals. Instead, consume smaller and more frequent meals throughout the day, say 5 to 6 times a day. Women with PMS need to stabilize their blood sugar levels.

4. Reduce your intake of salt and sugar.

5. You may think that a cup of coffee can boost your mood instantly, but caffeine infact, depletes essential Vitamin B from the body, which in turn can cause hormonal imbalance. Coffee increases depression, irritability and anxiety.

6. Get enough sleep during the night. Listen to some soft music, read a good book, or take a warm bath to relax you before hit the bed.

7. A good diet and exercise helps a lot. Eat a balanced diet, containing enough fruits and vegetables. Eat a diet that contains plenty of complex carbohydrates like wholemeal bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. Also include enough potassium in your diet by including broccoli, fish, beans etc.

8. Exercise regularly. You can do aerobics or jogging. Exercise helps to get relief from PMS symptoms, but it should be done regularly, not just when you suffer from PMS.

9. Eat plenty of beans, nuts and seeds.

10. Avoid red meat and fatty foods, as it increases estrogen levels in your blood and can aggravate the symptoms of PMS.

11. Take magnesium supplemets daily to get relief from PMS symptoms. Calcium supplements may also help. Intake of vitamin B6 also helps in blood circulation and water retention.

12. Take a hot bath to relax the muscles and relieve your cramps.

13. Avoid stress at home and work.

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1. Thyme For Chest Congestion: Thyme is an antiseptic which has several health benefits. It is very good for bronchial ailments and intestinal problems. If you suffer from chest congestion or respiratory infection, inhale vapours of thyme oil by adding a few drops of this oil to some water.

2. Tea for sweaty palms and soles: If you often feel embarassed to shake hands because of sweaty palms, then this is for you. You can get rid of sweaty palms and feet by using tea as it contains tannic acid. Boil 4-5 tea bags in a litre of water for 5 minutes and let the solution cool. Then soak your hands or feet in it for 20 to 30 minutes every night. But keep seperate containers for soaking feet and hands.

3. Fennel for flatulence: Drink a cup of fennel seed tea, two or three times a day. Prepare the tea by crushing a teaspoon of fennel seeds slightly before pouring in boiling water.

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Cough and Cold medicines might be lethal for kids. The deaths of 3 infants, aged around 6 months has led to an investigation that these kids were given cough and cold medications.

And there were more than 1,500 toddlers who were rushed to emergency rooms in the last 2 years, for adverse events associated with cough and cold medications.

It was found that the 3 kids were administered high levels of the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine, which was far above the normal amount recommended for children aged 2 to 12.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned parents not to give any over-the-counter cough or cold remedies to children below 3 years of age, without consulting a doctor. And they should follow the health care provider’s instructions carefully. The American College of Chest Physicians has also released guidelines for clinicians to refrain from recommending cough suppressants for this age group.

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We have heard that statement time and again, but we were never too sure whether it is correct. But now, researchers in Sweden have shown a connection between loss of teeth and memory.

Earlier Japanese scientists had proved this connection in mice and monkeys. But now Swedish scientists have conducted the first large scale tests involving humans to prove the connection.

The study indicated that people with a full set of teeth have better memories than those who had lost their teeth and were using dentures.

And the manner of tooth loss is also of significant importance, and tooth extraction has been found to be most detrimental to memory. Apparently, cranial nerves directly connect each tooth to the brain. And when a tooth is extracted, it also pulls out the connecting nerve. So this could be the reason for memory loss.

Now you need to be extra careful when your dentist suggests pulling your wisdom tooth. Remember that a little memory will be wiped out with the pulling and rinsing at the dentist’s office.

Also read: 10 Ways To Take Care Of Your Teeth and Caring For Your Teeth During Pregnancy .