Health Tips » Feet

What are different home remedies for stretch marks?

ashish — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:00:20 +0000

- Stretch marks are developed mostly during pregnancy.
- They look like reddish lines across the body.
- With time they will turn white.
- Once the stretch mark develop they will stay with you forever.
- With time they will be less noticeable.
- The only way to avoid stretch marks is preventing them.

Home remedies for Stretch Marks
- It is very important to exercise in order to get rid of stretch marks.
- Toning your muscles helps your skin to firm which prevents stretch marks.
- Your diet should have plenty of protein and foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, they promote good tissue growth.
- Massaging your body with olive oil or Vitamin E.
- Apply a mixture of one ounce of carrier oil (try avocado, sweet almond, and jojoba) with seven drops of lavender and five drops of chamomile.
- Apply cocoa butter and/ or elastin cream though out the body as directed on label.

Some good home remedies are:

1. Ingredient list:
- 1/2 cup virgin olive oil.
- 1/4 cup aloe Vera gel.
- Liquid from 6 capsules of Vitamin E.
- Liquid from 4 capsules of Vitamin A.

Procedure
- Mix all the ingredients together in a blender.
- After that pour the mixture into a jar and store it in the fridge.
- Apply the oil externally all over the places where the stretch marks commonly appear (abdomen, hips, thighs and breasts).
- If you do this consistently every day, you may prevent stretch marks.

2. Ingredient list:
- Sugar,
- Coffee grins,
- Bi card soda,
- Fresh Aloe vera plant,
- Argan oil,
- Vitamin E oil,
- Emu oil,
- Vitamin C powder
- Cocoa butter
- Pure Oils

Procedure
- Mix together coffee, sugar, bi-carb, aloe Vera and enough water to make a paste.
- Massage onto areas and leave for 10-15 mins.
- Wash off in shower.
- Mix SMALL amounts( as a little goes along way!) of Argan oil, Vitamin E oil, Emu oil, Cocoa butter and Vitamin C powder into a consistent liquid then use as a mosturiser.
- Do both steps daily for two weeks.

3. Ingredient list
- 1/2 a cup of baking soda
- 1/4 a cup of water
- a little bit of cocoa butter with shea
- & vitamin E oil

Procedure
- Mix it all up.
- Leave it on the stomach for 30 minutes.
- Do this for a month.

Homemade stretch mark creams
Ingredient list
- 1/2 cup cocoa butter
- 1 Tablespoon wheat germ oil
- 1 Teaspoon apricot kernel oil
- 1 Teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- 2 Teaspoon grated beeswax

Procedure
- Heat mixture until beeswax is just melted.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Apply this cream to your stretch marks until desired results are achieved.

Homemade massage oil
Ingredient list
- 1/2 cup olive oil.
- 1/4 cup aloe Vera gel.
- 4 capsules Vitamin E (remove liquid from capsule and discard casing).
- 2 capsules Vitamin A liquid.

Procedure
- Blend ingredients together.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Apply.

What are different home remedies for blisters – a summer problem?

ashish — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:09:01 +0000

About the Blister
- Blisters are a very common thing.
- We come across them very often in our daily lives.
- The common forms of blisters are the ones where the blister is raised and filled with a liquid.
- These can also be found in your mouth.
- They are smaller than canker sores.

Friction blisters are caused by friction by doing things
- With your bare hands,
- Wearing a new shoe,
- Due to heat, frostbite,
- Chemical injury or friction

Blood blisters
- Blood blisters are mainly developed due to a smash or punching injury.
- This kind of injury ticker the blood between the skin layers causing it to be a blood blister.

Self-Care Measures
- If the blister is due to burns, it is best to put pour or soak the injured part in ice-water.
- To avoid blisters on your feet, one must apply Vaseline or petroleum jelly all over your feet before wearing shoes to avoid any friction.
- You can wear silk under socks to prevent blisters.
- Rub baby powder on your feet.
- This prevents blisters appearing on your feet.

Home Remedies for Blisters
- Provide a cool compress to the blister by soaking a towel in a mixture of salt and ice-cold water.
- Apply 10 percent tannic acid to the required areas of the skin, twice daily.
- Continue this application for two to three weeks to make your skin stronger and healthier.
- Sweating causes further inflammation of the blisters.
- To get your feet dry, soak them in a mixture of epsom salt and warm water.
- Do this by the end of the day for five minutes and later soak it dry for best results.
- You can treat broken blisters by applying few drops of Listerine to disinfect the wound as this works like a wonderful antiseptic.
- You can apply aloe vera gel or juice, vitamin E oil or zinc ointment on the blisters to alleviate pain.
- Garlic oil also helps in disinfecting the infected blisters.
- Dab blisters with witch hazel at least four times a day.
- This would relieve pain and also help in drying process of the blister.
- Garlic oil is known to heal due to the presence of astringent tannin.
- Aloe vera, vitamin E oil, or zinc ointment will help heal a blister.
- Puncture gently with clean & sterilized needle and place a tiny bit of Neosporin.
- Place a corn pad (inner portion of circular removed) and place over the blister until it heals.
- Do not drain the blister.
- Do not remove the overlying skin.
- Place an adhesive donut bandage, over the blister for protection and comfort.
- Do not use one of those liquid bandages over a pierced blister.
- “Tent” the bandage by bringing in its sides so the padding in the middle of the bandage rises up a bit.
- A tented bandage will help protect the blister while exposing it to air.
- This will make the blister heal with speed.
- Another type of bandage, available in pharmacies, contains a gel and antiseptic to cushion and “clean” the blister which is known as the double padded bandage.
- Give your blister a chance to “breathe” by going without a bandage occasionally.
- Apply an antibacterial/antibiotic ointment to it.
- Doctors generally recommend Bacitracin or Polysporin.
- Try using the circular pads made of foam adhesive found in the foot-care aisle of drug.
- Elevating the blistered area can help relieve the pressure.
- To drain a blister on a tough-skinned area, such as the sole of the foot, soak the blister for fifteen minutes in Burow’s solution.
- Soak the blister three to four times a day.
- A day or two of this will soften the blister and make draining easier.
- Redness, red streaks, or pus in an intact or “popped” blister should be treated by a doctor.

Proper treatment of your feet if you have Diabetes – precautions to take – Part 3

ashish — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:05:36 +0000

In the previous post in this blog (Diabetes and feet care), I have been pointing out a series of steps that need to be taken if you have diabetes and are necessary for the proper protection of your feet. The previous series of steps are more important in terms of finding out if you have problems in your feet; further, there are also steps outlined in terms of the daily and regular care necessary for preventing something from happening. In this post, I will outline some of the precautions necessary for buying your shoes and other foot wear:
- When you are buying your shoes / sandals or other footwear, then make sure that there are no rough edges inside the footwear; these can cause irritation to your feet and lead to further problems.
- Avoid shoes or sandals that are open from the front, such as flip-flops and open sandals. These expose the toes to a lot of wear and tear and can cause injury.
- Always buy footwear that is comfortable and easy on the feet. Even if a piece of footwear looks fashionable, if you are diabetic, then you should look at comfort first and fashion later. Many people buy shoes that are a bit tight in the belief that the shoe will loosen up later – this is something that may or may not happen. Unless you know for sure that this will happen, avoid buying such footwear.
- Do not wear shoes or sandals that cause your toes to become constricted, such as those shiny pointy leather shoes that are pointed in the front. These can cause damage to the front part of your feet over a period of time.
- This may seem very obvious, but ladies really need to avoid these high heels that put a lot of strain on the ankle.
- The foot expands and contracts a bit during the day, and swells a bit during the day, being the biggest in the evening. That is the time when you should buy your footwear, because if your footwear is comfortable at this time, then it will be comfortable all through the day.

Proper treatment of your feet if you have Diabetes – precautions to take – Part 2

ashish — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:06:44 +0000

In the previous post (Diabetic and foot precautions), I had written about some of the checks that a person should do if they are suffering from diabetes in terms of ensuring that their feet remain healthy. For a person with diabetes, the high blood sugar means that there is some impact on the blood vessels as well as on the nervous system, both of which can cause problems to the feet. In this post, I will post some steps that a person should take to ensure that you reduce the probability of something bad happening to your feet:
- Make sure that you check your feet on a regular basis, preferably on a daily basis. You can use mirrors to see under your toes. If you find some instances of pain that remains, any instances of numbness or tingling, or redness, then make sure that you check with your doctor.
- Avoid your feet being exposed to too much hot or cold. Remember, when your nerves have got affected to some degree by diabetes, it can be harder to make out whether the water is too hot or too cold
- Avoid being barefoot
- When you are wearing your socks or stockings, dust your feet lightly with some powder (medicated powder); talk to your doctor
- Make sure that you cut your toenails straight, else you risk getting ingrown toenails.
- Make sure that you dry your feet well after a bath, or any other occasion when your feet get wet, including drying the portion between the toes (pat your feet with a towel)
- Be careful to avoid your feet getting too dry, since that will cause your feet to crack, and that is something that you want to avoid
- If you smoke, then you should stop. Smoking contributes to a reduction in the blood flow to the feet.
- Be careful about your choice of shoes. If you see shoes that have pointed ends, these can impact the blood pressure to the toe region of your feet. Wear shoes that give space to the toe region of your feet.
- It is preferable to wear shoes made of material that allows the movement of air, such as leather or suede or canvas. Plastic shoes do not allow the transfer of air and can impact your feet.
- If you live in a cold region, then wear socks to bed. You need to prevent hot or cold danger to your feet.

Proper treatment of your feet if you have Diabetes – precautions to take

ashish — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:57:02 +0000

If you have diabetes, taking care of your feet is one of the important items that your doctor will recommend. Well, for the uninformed of you, what is the relation between your feet and diabetes ? Well, diabetes can cause problems to your blood flow and the vessels through which your blood flows, and also cause problems in your nervous system. These are the various problems that cause further problems in the legs of people afflicted with diabetes, and this is what I am going to write about:
- With the impact that the high sugar levels have on the blood vessels, the flow of blood to the feet get impacted, decreasing the blood flow to the leg. With the reduced circulation of blood, there are further problems that are caused. The skin gets impacted, and the tendency to develop ulcers increases. Further, the high level of sugar in the blood can cause a higher level of infection by organisms such as bacteria and fungii.
- With the damage to the nervous system due to diabetes, the person may have a reduced level of feeling in the legs. Thus, when any kind of infection occurs in the leg, or any other problem such as a blister or a sore; the person may not notice that such a problem has occurred and result in neglect of the problem. Neglect in turn leads to development of deeper sores and ulcers, and by this time, you are in serious problem.
With these problems, a neglected problem can lead to deeper infections that in turn causes decay of the tissue, with the onset of gangrene. Ignoring this will typically require a trip to the hospital to get the gangrene treated, but if the gangrene has spread (and diabetes does reduce the ability of the body to heal from such infections), then this will require amputation of the affected area – this could be a toe, or could be the entire leg. And this is not an empty warning, there is a minor percentage of diabetes patients who have had to have this sort of amputation.

What do you do ?
Well, the first and most important item is to get your diabetes under control, and not have a high level of sugar in the blood. Controlled levels of sugar in the blood causes the body to heal faster, and reduce the number of ulcers that get formed; there is also a decrease in the speed of nerve damage. Get the required amount of physical exercise to ensure that your blood sugar has more incentive to remain normal.

Some more items that you need to do to ensure that your feet remain well and healthy:
Examine your feet at least once an year medically. I don’t mean that you look at your feet once a year, what I mean is to schedule an appointment with a diabetologist for examination of your feet. During this examination, the expert will check the foot for poor circulation, skin changes, ulcers, deformities, nerve damage, and so on. The expert will also check the reflexes of your feet. If you are seeing some sort of problems with your feet, then you should check with your expert.

Diabetes Foot Care – Causes, Prevention and Treatment

ashish — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:28:28 +0000

Diabetes mellitus, also called diabetes, is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. Diabetes cannot be cured, but it often can be managed with proper medical care, diet, and regular exercise. Symptoms of diabetes include blurred vision, constant hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst.
Diabetes can be dangerous to your feet – even a small cut can produce serious consequences. Foot ulcers and amputations are a major cause of morbidity, disability, as well as emotional and physical costs for people with diabetes. High blood glucose from diabetes causes two problems that can hurt your feet:

- Nerve damage : High blood sugar can damage the nerves of the foot, decreasing a person’s ability to notice pain and pressure. If these minor injuries are left untreated, complications may result and lead to ulceration and possibly even amputation.
- Poor blood flow : High blood sugar damages blood vessels which decreases blood flow to the foot. It weakens the skin, contributes to ulcer formation and prevents healing. Deep skin and bone infections can also occur.
- Skin changes : Excessive skin dryness, scaling, and cracking may indicate that circulation to the skin is compromised.
- Deformities : The structure and appearance of the feet and foot joints can indicate diabetic complications. Diabetes can also affect the joints, making them stiffer.
- People suffering with diabetes are more prone to infection.

Because of this, you can face number of problems:
- The foot may get damaged and you are not aware of it.
- Foot ulcers.
- Infections can spread more easily.
- Diabetics is the main cause of amputations.

How to take care of your feet

- Maintain your sugar levels.
- Quit smoking.
- Wash your feet everyday with warm water.
- Moisturize your feet with some lotion. Do not keep them dry.
- Keep feet dry especially between the toes.
- File corns and calluses gently.
- Check your foot daily for cuts, corns, blisters, sores etc.
- Keep your nails cut and filed.
- Avoid going barefoot, even in your own home.
- Exercise daily to promote good circulation. Avoid sitting with legs crossed or standing in one position for prolonged periods of time.
- Get a foot exam by your health care provider at least twice a year and learn whether you have nerve damage.

What should I look for when choosing shoes and socks?

- Don’t wear shoes without socks.
- Don’t wear sandals or other open-toed shoes.
- Wear shoes made out of canvas, leather, or suede.
- Avoid high-heeled shoes and shoes with pointed toes.
- Don’t wear uncomfortable or tight shoes that rub or cut into your feet.
- Talk to your doctor before you buy special shoes or inserts.
- Change socks and shoes every day. Have at least 2 pairs of shoes so you can switch pairs every other day.
- Do not wear stockings with seams that can cause pressure points.
- Wear socks to bed if your feet are cold.

NOTE: Do not use antiseptic solutions, heating pad or hot water bottle to the feet.

Calluses – Are you thick skinned?

ashish — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:44:51 +0000

Callusus are your skin’s way of protecting itself against repeated friction or pressure. This can be obtained from wearing sandals, shoes with no cushioning, or shoes that do not fit well, or if you have certain foot problems and with age you may get more of them as the fat pads on your feet thin out. Though unsightly, calluses are usually not a problem. Ones that form on your hands if you play tennis, or on your fingers if you play a string instrument, can actually be helpful. But if a blister forms underneath or if calluses becomes too thick and crack, they can be painful. Calluses that develop a thick center are called corns and usually develop on toes, where they are particularly tender.

If you get hard calluses on your feet :
- Scrub them away: Use a pumic stone regularly after showering or soaking your feet in warm water. Follow up with a thick moisturizer.
- Wear properly fitting shoes: Use shoes inserts, especially if you have an underlying foot problem.
- Use a cream: Prescription creams and ointments containing urea or lactic acid, at 40 to 50% strength, are most effective. Called keratolytic agents, they chemically break down and soften the thick skin of the callus. Over the counter products often contain the same chemicals as prescription products, but at lower concentration, so they may be less effective or not effective at all. Those containing salicyclic acid may be harmful if not used correctly, so follow the label directions carefully.
- Beware of corn cutters: If you scrape too hard or use the file on wet skin, you can end up abrading healthy skin and risking infection. Use it cautiously or not at all if you have diabetes or circulatory problems.

How to stay cool in hot summers ?

ashish — Thu, 06 May 2010 09:54:35 +0000

Experts say, the temperatures recorded last weekend have been the highest in five years. Staying healthy during summer requires more than just eating the right foods. It is important to take care of your health to protect yourself against the heat. Also, make time to rest, relax and take a nap whenever possible. So enjoy a fun-filled and healthy summer with these natural health tips.
Fitness: A hot workout
• Avoid dark colours while working out as they absorb heat. Wear apparel that’s breathable. Give track pants a miss, wear shorts instead. Stop tying your sweat shirts around your hip, you are just trapping heat.
• While gymming, your feet sweat, so avoid wearing synthetic socks.
• Have a glass of water before you start as it takes time for fluids to get absorbed into the system.
• 21-220 celcius is the best temperature at which you should exercise.
• Best time to get your body moving is before 8 am or just after sunset.
• If you are working out outdoors, try and pace the intensity.
• Avoid steam and sauna as your normal body temperature is 370 degree C and a sauna will work adversely.
Health
• Headaches and migraines get precipitated by heat. Avoid walking in the sun or wear a hat.
• Those who do not sweat a lot are prone to heat-related exhaustion — manifested in fatigue, light-hotheadedness, etc. At an extreme level, it leads to a heat stroke or you may be paralyzed or unconscious.
• Skin allergies like psoriasis too get aggravated because of dehydration.
• Do not let your body dehydrate.
• Excess sun causes nose bleeds because of excess pressure of heat on the nostrils. Boils and sun burn are also common. The best way to counter them is drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and smoking. Have instant energy boosters such as honey, electrolytes or glucose.
• Maintain immunity with fruits such as papaya and pineapple.
Diet: Eat cool
• Take electrol twice a day. Mix it with coconut water, khus sharbat or lemonade. This will replenish minerals lost due to excessive sweating.
• Have more succulent veggies that rehydrate — bottle gourd, turai, pumpkin, lotus stem and the like.
• Avoid oily and fried stuff.
• Adopt different cooking techniques — steaming, grilling, baking and roasting.
• Avoid coffee as cocoa activates sweat glands further leading to dehydration.
• Have poha, porridge, fruits or idli for breakfast instead of dosas and parathas. Khichdi with multi-grain dal, chaach and green chutney is a good option for lunch and dinner.
Clothing
• The obvious choice of fabric for summer has to be natural ones such as cotton, linen and its derivatives such as mul, voile, or bamboo fabric.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing, preferably of a light color. Cotton clothing will keep you cooler than many synthetics.

Beauty: Keep it fresh
• Kokum sharbat is the best way to beat prickly heat from the inside.
• To remove a tan, powder masoor daal and soak it in milk for an hour or half. Massage it over your body and let dry. Rub it off in circular motions. This bleaches and exfoliates your skin.
• Put papaya pieces through a mixer and massage the pulp into your hair, section wise. Rinse after two hours to get shiny, smooth hair.

Quick tip: Foot care for diabetics

ashish — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:16:38 +0000

One of the complications / side effects of having a high sugar level is the effect on the foot. Too often, one hears of people with very high sugar levels who have had to have their feet amputated due to the damage caused by a high blood glucose level. This makes it essential that you try to keep your sugar levels in check, and at the same time make sure that you get your feet checked out at regular intervals (more so if you are a diabetic with a high sugar level). Some of the steps you should take to ensure that your feet remain healthy are:
- Visit your doctor for regular inspection of your feet
- Make sure that your feet are washed on a daily basis, and you do not ignore any wounds or lesions on your feet
- Be careful about what you apply between your toes, since that area tends to retain oils for longer periods
- Make sure that you do not get tempted to increase your toenails (cut them often), and cut them straight (since that reduces the chances of having ingrown nails at the corners of the nails)
- Make sure that your feet remain warm and dry (this means that you should not subject your feet to cold conditions, and if wet, dry them quickly)
- This one is a bit more strange, but important. Don’t sit with your feet crossed.