Simple tips for reducing sun tan

When thin slices of cucumber are placed all over the face for 10 minutes and the residue is washed off  with water, the sun tan reduces.

Massaging the tanned skin with pure coconut oil also gets the skin back to its original tone.

A bright complexion with methi leaves

image source : wiki. Image in the public domain. 

Fenugreek aka methi leaves are washed well and made into a paste. The complexion improves naturally when this paste is applied on the face for a while and washed off. This also gradually brightens the face.

A juice for dry skin

image source:wiki-individual images combined are  in the public domain.

Mix the juice of :

1 cucumber

3 small pieces of ginger and

2 oranges.

Drinking this on a regular basis will improve the complexion and reduce dryness of the skin in a person.

VCO - Virgin coconut oil

I've read about the innumerable benefits of VCO and wanted to give it a try . Strangely enough VCO is not available in the supermarkets or any specialized stores here in Hyderabad in spite of the abundant trees found here.So I had to order it online.
It is less denser with a milder odor than the normal coconut oil.It also tastes milder.
 I am not sure about the other benefits but it is definitely good on the skin.A little oil when rubbed on the skin is showing definite improvement.

A simple tip for pigmentation of the skin

Mix half a spoon of unboiled milk and an equal amount of lemon juice .Massaging this mixture gently on the face before bedtime will decrease the pigmentation on the face and improves the complexion and lightens the marks on the face.

Beauty tips for Brides to Be

All brides want to look their beautiful best for their very special wedding day.

Drinking this juice will definitely clear the skin and improve the complexion.

Mix:

Tomato juice -half a cup

Carrot and beetroot juice -half a cup.

ginger juice-one teaspoonful

honey-1 teaspoonful

lemon juice-1 teaspoonful.

and pepper-few pinches.

This juice mix can be taken twice a day.

This lehyam can be prepared and eaten twice a day for more benefits.

Mix:

100 gm of Athimadhuram powder  and 200 gm of raisins and pound well.One spoon of this paste is eaten once or twice a day for a glowing complexion.

The juice is taken an hour after the intake of lehyam.

It is a good idea to start atleast 2 months before the wedding date and be very sure that the body is reacting well to it. For more info on Athimadhuram or Glycyrrhiza glabra refer:

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.in/2010/11/medicinal-properties-of-liquorice-plant.html

I personally think that brides look beautiful because the happiness shining through their faces so stress is best avoided.

(image  of the south Indian bride is copyrighted)

Multani mitti scrub

Multhani mitti  ( Fuller's earth) is a clay like powder which can adsorb some impurities and oils. A bulk of it is used in industries but it's  more famous for its cosmetic use. The constituents and colour may vary depending on the source.

Using this mitti as a gentle scrub while taking bath is extremely beneficial in the summer season.This pacifies the pitta doshas and opens up the pores of the skin .
The eye area needs be avoided.
Do click on the' summer tips ' tag below the post for more tips to beat the heat...

A simple leaf juice for pimples

Indian broad beans

The Indian Broad bean plant is also known as
Sem in Hindi
avarakkai in Tamil
Chikkudu in Telugu
Sceintific name : Lablab purpureus

The juice of the leaves is massaged on marks and pimples for them to slowly fade away.

Banyan fruit powder as a cure for many diseases

Banyan fruits.Ficus bengalensis

Hindi-Bad,Barrh
English:Banyan tree
Telugu:Marri chettu
Tamil:Aala maram

This tree has many medicinal properties but this post is about the healing properties of the fruit.
This tip is told by Panditha Elchuri.
             A fruit is made as an offering to the Banyan tree and it is highly recommended that the person say thanks to the tree for the help-( It is always good etiquette  to say thanks -even to a tree I guess..)
The fruit is collected ,washed and cut into 4 parts and dried in the sun .It is made into a smooth powder.

1-This banyan fruit powder is mixed with
2 - an equal quantity of Mishri or rock candy sugar and
3 - half the amount of Jeera powder.(aka cumin).

This mixture is stored in a glass jar.
Some dry pieces of fruit may be stored in bulk which is useful to make a fresh batch of the given mixture.

The dosage per day  is- half a spoon for children and one spoon for adults with a glass of milk which can be sweetened with Mishri.

Benefits for children:

• Children grow taller 
• Weak children become stronger and their complexion improves.
• The memory of children improves dramatically.
• A better behavioral change is seen in extremely stubborn children.

Benefits for Men:

• Men become stronger and get a lustre of youth.
• It is very potent and improves men's health in general and reduces the early discharge problem in men.

Benefits for Ladies:

• All kinds of gynec problems are solved if ladies  take this powder twice a day.

This includes - Excess discharge in periods,cysts in ovaries,white discharge problem,spotting between periods,repeated natural abortions,very light periods,some kinds of infertility and polyps.

• It also tones up the body  and firming the flabby areas giving them a youthful appearance.

For old people:
It acts a rejuvenant for the old.

A simple tip for pimples

Mix Sont powder * (dried ginger)
 and
Clove powder (Laung, Lavangam)
with a little water and  apply on  the pimples .The size decreases dramatically and they slowly disappear.

For pigmentation marks on the skin

Massage curd in the winters and milk in the summers on the face .

Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash off before sleeping  .

This will protect the skin and also lightens the marks.

However this is not a miracle cure.It must be done regularly for good results.

Homemade anti-wrinkle formula

Mix 2 spoons glycerin with half a spoon of rosewater and a few drops of lemon juice.
Apply this on the face and leave for a few hours or overnight .Wash off with water.

(refer to this link for another tip on wrinkles)

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/03/mustard-oil-to-decrease-wrinkles.html

Prickly chaff plant or Apamarga or Uttareni plant-Uttareni oil recipe for reducing fat deposits-part 2

The thailam made from the juice of the Uttareni plant is highly recommended by Dr.Elchuri for reducing the fat deposits.
The recipe is as given below.
Wash the leaves and stems of Uttareni well and drain off the excess water.Extract the juice of the plant and measure.Add equal quantity of Sesame seed oil* to it .Pour the mixture into a heavy bottomed pan and stir the mixture frequently over very low flame till all the water evaporates.Cool and filter and store in a clean dry glass jar.
Usage:
The oil must be warmed slightly and massaged over areas which have more fat deposits.The general problem areas are the thighs and the tummy areas and at times the upper arms.One must wait for an hour for the oil to seep in and then take a bath.This helps in toning the skin .The body looks younger and thinner.
 (this oil is for external application only)

The previous post has more info and an image.

*sesame seed oil / gingelly oil / nuvvule nooni /nallennai/oil from sesame seeds.

An extremely simple home remedy for hair growth.

For luxurious hair growth there is a simple method as recommended by Pandita Elchuri.
   Grind 2-3 fresh Gooseberries.Extract the juice mix equal quantities of Lemon in it .Apply this juice over scalp .Leave it on atleast  for half an hour before rinsing off with an Ayurvedic Shampoo.

Beauty with Charoli nuts

Photo Author :Madhavi Madhurakavi.



Charoli ,Chironji or Almondette are obtained from Buchanania lanzan tree.
Crush a few seeds and mix it with milk and apply on face like a face pack.This gives a glowing skin.The nuts have a nutty almond like flavour and are used in sweets in India.They are also called Saara pappu in Telugu,Charam in Tamil and charoli in Hindi.

A brief note on the curative properties of the Potato

photo source:dreamstime.com
Potatoes are very rich in carbohydrates and contains many micro nutrients and very little fat.Eating a moderate amount of potatoes cooked with very little oil is a good source of energy.
* The juice of potato when applied on the face makes the skin glow.
* Can also be used on burns.The raw potato is grinded and the mash is applied on the affected part.The burns heal faster.
People suffering from indigestion,arthritis an increased levels of uric acid in the blood can avoid eating potatoes.
-Info from Baba Ramdevji's Ashram.

Trifala for burn marks

Make a thick paste of trifala with honey.Apply this over the burn marks.The marks slowly disappear with regular application.
--As told by Asaram ji Bapu

Turmeric and sesame face pack

Grind raw turmeric and sesame seeds with water and make a thick paste.Apply this on face and wash off after a few hours for a clearer face.

Henna hair oil

Photo source:wikipedia,Author:J.M.Garg

Wash the flowers and leaves of Henna well and coarse grind them.Add this to coconut oil and simmer this oil on low heat in a thick bottomed pan.Simmer it till all the moisture escapes and only the oil is left behind.Cool ,filter and store in a glass bottle.This oil is excellent for hair growth .

-As told by Panditha Elchuri.

Diet for good hair

Using Sesame oil,coconut,dark old jaggery,Trifala,black sesame seeds ,garlic and spinach in our diet ensures that the hair grows well.