Home Remedies

EARACHE (Children):

Symptom & Cause: Earache is fairly common in children who are susceptible to cold or consume plenty of sweets. It is often caused either due to boils in the outer ear or due to inflammation of the middle or internal ear.

Remedies:
1) Allium sativum: A few cloves of garlic should be warmed and mashed with salt. This mixture should be wrapped in a piece of woolen cloth and placed on the painful ear, until cure is found.

Care: Avoid exposure to cold breeze and consumption of chilled food / plenty of sweets.

2) Allium sativum: Instill 2-4 drops of warm juice of garlic in the ear, twice a day, until cure is found.

3) Zingiber officinale: Instill warm juice of ginger, 2-4 drops in the ear, twice a day, until cure is found.

4) Ocimum sanctum: Juice extracted from the fresh leaves of Tulsi should be used as ear drops (2 drops) twice a day, until cure is found.

DIARRHOEA (Children):

Symptom & Cause: Diarrhoea refers to frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. Prolonged diarrhoea , especially if accompanied by vomiting, calls for a visit to the doctor. For the most part, you can treat your child's loose bowels at home without medications or medical procedures.

Remedies:
1) Punica granatum: Boil 3 long pieces of ‘Daalimbe fruit rind’ in 4 cups of water till the quantity reduces to 1 cup. Strain the decoction. Administer 3-4 tsp, twice daily in the morning and evening until cured.

Care: It's important to ensure your child drinks plenty of fluids during his/her illness, to prevent dehydration, that could occur due to frequent vomiting. If the diarrhoea prolongs even after 3 days, please consult the doctor.

2) Azadirachta indica: Place 1 cup of ‘neem bark’ pieces in 1½ glass of warm water for 15 minutes and strain. Take little quantity of this medicated water in the morning, noon and night for 3 days to arrest loose watery stools.

Care: It's important to ensure your child drinks plenty of fluids during his/her illness, to prevent dehydration, that could occur due to frequent vomiting. If the diarrhoea prolongs even after 3 days, please consult the doctor.

CONSTIPATION:

Symptom & Cause: Constipation is a common symptom where in there is difficulty passing faeces or unusually dry stool.
• The most common cause of constipation is a diet low in fibre which is found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains etc.
• Not enough liquids.
• Ignoring the Urge: Children may postpone having a bowel movement because of stressful toilet training or because they do not want to interrupt their play.
• Children also eat a lot of wrong foods. Foods that are too oily and spicy - typically those that are classified as 'junk foods' such as chips, fryms, coke, burgers, wafers etc. can cause constipation in children.
• Some infections in the alimentary tract can commonly occur in children. This can cause constipation.

Remedies:
1) Aloe vera: ½-1 teaspoons of Aloe gel can be consumed twice a day.

Care: Water is very important to keep the intestines working well. Drink a glass of water early in the morning. For better results, keep the water overnight in a copper vessel and drink it when you wake up in the morning.

CONJUNCTIVITIS:

Symptom & Cause: It is the inflammation of the eyes which is considered as one of the most common infection and very contagious.
• Sandy feeling in the eye.
• Slight inflammation
• Swelling around the eyes
• Pain in the eye
• Redness in the eyes
• Discharge from the eye
• In the morning crusts are formed around the eyes due to the eye discharge of previous night. This should be wiped using a cloth dipped in warm water

Remedies:
1) Coriander seeds: Take one teaspoon of dhania (coriander seeds) in a small cloth and make a bundle of it and then keep it in water for an hour. Take this bundle and apply it on the affected eyes every now and then.

Care: This usually remains for a period of around 5-7 days or till the discharge continues to be produced. Personal hygiene should be maintained, hands should be washed thoroughly and eyes cleaned properly.

SKIN INFECTION (RINGWORM):

Symptom & Cause: Is a very contagious skin disease, which is transmitted through fungi. The disease can affect the skin, scalp, hands, feet, chest and nails. It spreads in a circular manner and the skin inside keeps getting recovered. Hence there will be a dark ring with tender skin in the center pattern appearing.

Remedies:
1) Ocimum sanctum: Juice of holy basil leaves is applied locally on the affected regions (2-3 times a day), until cure is found.

Care: Tip: Ringworm can aggravate due to itching. If the skin is dry, then itching can cause eruptions and bleeding of the skin. This can be avoided by keeping the skin supple by the application of coconut oil frequently.

2) Curcuma longa: A solution of the turmeric powder is made and applied directly on the skin, 2-3 times a day, until cure is found.

Care: Tip: Ringworm can aggravate due to itching. If the skin is dry, then itching can cause eruptions and bleeding of the skin. This can be avoided by keeping the skin supple by the application of coconut oil frequently.

3) Azadirachta indica: Neem leaves is made into a paste and applied on the affected parts, 2-3 times a day, until cure is found.

Care: Tip: Ringworm can aggravate due to itching. If the skin is dry, then itching can cause eruptions and bleeding of the skin. This can be avoided by keeping the skin supple by the application of coconut oil frequently.