Post Holi Skincare Rescue

होली यानी कि रंगों और खानपान का पर्व है, इस मौके पर आयुर्वेद के जरिए सेहत को भी दुरुस्त करने का अवसर होता है। ऐसा इसलिए क्योंकि एक तरफ जहां जड़ी बूटियों का उपयोग कर वातावरण को संक्रमण रहित किया जा सकता है तो वहीं प्राकृतिक रंग त्वचा के लिए लाभदायक होते हैं, साथ ही पाचन तंत्र के लिए फायदेमंद पदार्थ मौजूद है। शासकीय आयुर्वेद कॉलेज रायपुर के सह-प्राध्यापक डॉ. संजय शुक्ला ने बताया कि चूंकि इस समय वातावरण में अनेक पराग कण मौजूद रहते हैं जो एलर्जिक रोग पैदा करते हैं, इसलिए होलिका दहन में अगरू, आम, साल, नीम इत्यादि के सूखे पेड़ों की टहनियों तथा गूगुल, कपूर इत्यादि आयुर्वेदिक जड़ी-बूटियों का उपयोग हवन के रूप में करना चाहिए ताकि वातावरण संक्रमण रहित हो सके। डॉ. शुक्ला ने बताया कि टेसू सहित अनेक वनस्पतियों जिससे प्राकृतिक रंग और गुलाल बनाया जाता है, उनमें औषधि गुण भी होते हैं। फलस्वरूप ये त्वचा और आंखों के लिए सुरक्षित होने के साथ ही चर्म रोगों में भी गुणकारी होते हैं। आजकल एरोमा थेरेपी यानि सुगंध से इलाज भी प्रचलन में है इसलिए सुगंध युक्त रंग-गुलाल से मन प्रसन्नचित्त हो जाता है जिससे होली का उमंग दोगुना हो जाता है। इसके अलावा मेहंदी और नीम की पत्तियों, गुड़हल, गेंदा, गुलाब, हरसिंगार फूल और नील पौधे की फलियों को उबालकर रंग व गुलाल बनाया जाता है। होली में हमें प्राकृतिक रंग और गुलाल का ही उपयोग करना चाहिए। डॉ. संजय शुक्ला ने बताया कि होली के समय एवं बसंत ऋतु में आयुर्वेद पद्धति में पाचन तंत्र के लिए सुरक्षित और सुपाच्य आहार व पेय के विशेष निर्देश हैं। शीत ऋतु में शरीर में जमा कफ इस ऋतु में पिघलता है जिसका प्रभाव यकृत यानि लिवर में पड़ता है जो पाचन तंत्र से जुड़ा महत्वपूर्ण अंग है। आयुर्वेद चिकित्सा पद्धति के अनुसार इस ऋतु में गेहूं और मिश्रित आटे की रोटी, मूंग की दाल, खिचड़ी, हरी सब्जियां जैसे भिंडी, करेला, मुनगा यानि सहजन, भाजी, पुदीना, लहसुन, अदरक जैसे भोजन, सब्जियों और मसालों को अपने खान-पान में शामिल करना चाहिए। होली और ग्रीष्म ऋतु में छाछ, नीबू, आंवला, बेल, खस का शरबत और गन्ना रस का उपयोग करना चाहिए। लेकिन बाजार में बिकने वाले इन पेय पदार्थों के सेवन से परहेज करना चाहिए क्योंकि साफ-सफाई के अभाव में अनेक रोगों के संक्रमण का खतरा हो सकता है। आयुर्वेदिक चिकित्सक के मुताबिक ग्रीष्म ऋतु में अंगूर, संतरा, मौसंबी, तरबूज और खरबूज जैसे रसीले व पानीदार फलों का सेवन करना चाहिए जो शरीर को निर्जलीकरण से बचाता है। लोगों को आसन्न गर्मी के लिहाज से होली त्योहार में अधिक वसायुक्त खाद्य पदार्थों, गरिष्ठ भोजन, मांसाहार, भांग इत्यादि मादक पदार्थों तथा शराब के सेवन से बचना चाहिए, अन्यथा अनेक रोगों का खतरा बढ़ सकता है जो रंग में भंग डाल सकता है। आयुर्वेद में बताए गए इन सावधानियों के पालन और खान-पान से होली का उमंग दोगुना हो सकता है। यह भी पढ़े► होली के रंगों में स्वास्थ्य का संदेश !

Diwali is the time of year when we completely overindulge in unhealthy bingeing. Festivals not only call for a party, but they also provide us with an excuse to eat a variety of delectable dishes and sweets. You must have eaten your fair share of delicacies. While indulging in your favourite food, it is also important to maintain a healthy balance. Binge eating at a festival also means your body is filling up on toxins, which can make you feel sick or lethargic. Here are five ways to help your body detoxify efficiently post-festival shared by Dr. Archana Batra, a Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator & Physiotherapist. Keep Yourself Hydrated Water is necessary for many reasons, including infection prevention, organ function, nutrient delivery to cells, body temperature regulation, joint lubrication, and so on. Furthermore, drinking purified water is one of the most important things you can do to help your body flush out toxins. The importance of staying hydrated to flush out toxins cannot be overstated. Water consumption at regular intervals throughout the day is essential for keeping our metabolism active. If you're feeling lazy, keeping a water bottle on hand is the best way to remind yourself to drink water. Avoid Sugary Foods Avoid artificial sugar for at least one to two weeks after the festival to heal yourself and get back on track with a healthy lifestyle. Say no to sugary foods such as sweets, bakery items, colas, and so on. This gives your body time to heal and recover. You can make a detox shake with plant-based protein powder to help your liver function properly. You can also make a veggie scramble with avocado cooked in coconut oil. Indulge in Exercising A healthy mind can only exist in a healthy body. The flurry of celebrations, visits to friends and relatives, and sleepless nights have an impact on mental health as well. Even a few minutes of yoga or meditation practice will ensure the proper alignment of a healthy mind and body. You should always begin with lighter workout sessions rather than jumping right into the intense ones. Go for a walk, take in some fresh air, run around, and burn off the toxins and excess fat in your body. A good workout will improve your immunity and mood, making you feel more resilient and healthy. Add More Fibre to Your Diet High-fibre foods are essential for bowel health. During the holiday season, we eat anything and everything. As a result, after the festivities, your diet should be high in fibre. Beans, lentils, chia seeds, oranges, pears, apples, carrots, cauliflower, oatmeal, quinoa, almonds, and more are the plant-based options. If festivals are your cheat days, you must make amends with your body when you return to normal days. It will aid in the maintenance of your health. Get Enough Sleep Adequate sleep is essential for overall health and the natural detoxification of the body. A good night's sleep allows your brain to organise itself and eliminate the toxic waste products that it has absorbed throughout the day. Avoiding excessive computer screen use, adhering to a sleep cycle, and limiting blue light exposure just before bedtime can all help improve sleep patterns. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe) Read More► Simple Swaps to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Ever wondered why we have a special name for a certain number of years in our life? That's because this period is truly unique. It is what we call the teenage years. While these are some of the best years of life before you hit adulthood, this time is also characterised by loads of stress. The stress could be related to examinations, friends circle, personal image or the changing physical self. All this takes a heavy toll on teenage skin, which calls for a dedicated regime to protect and nourish it. Dr. Gagan Bhatia, founder of Uniqaya said, "Typically, teenage skin can encounter acne breakouts, excessive oil production, blemishes, whiteheads and blackheads, sunburns or even eczema. Teenage skin becomes sensitive due to changing hormonal structure of the body and thus requires extra attention". Follow these few steps which to maintain excellent skin care and thus be confident and comfortable in your skin shared with Dr. Gagan: Gentle Cleansing It is important to first understand your skin type and use a good cleanser that complements it. You should always use a gentle circular motion while cleansing your skin as rubbing it too harshly would rob your skin of its moisture, leaving it dry and itchy. You should always avoid using soap and go for a mild cleanser instead. Moisturising Your Skin You should always apply a moisturiser at least twice a day to maintain the hydration levels of your skin. This is an important step to keep your skin soft and supple. You should invest in a good moisturiser that not only protects your skin but also repairs it from within. Sunscreen Sunscreen protects your skin even inside the house and not just when you are out in the sun. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 should be a mandatory part of your skincare routine. Exfoliation Once A Week Hormonal changes usually cause your pores to clog due to excessive oil production. Exfoliation is a game-changer when it comes to unclogging them but one should be mindful not to overuse it. While there are plenty of exfoliators available in the market, there are some excellent homemade scrubs too. Acne Treatment Acne is the common teenage enemy. It is always a good idea to check with a skin specialist who can prescribe a chemical composition suitable to your skin type. There are some very famous anti-acne compositions available like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide etc. Do Not Sleep With The Makeup On One cannot stress enough how important it is to wash your face before bed. It is a well-known fact how your skin repairs itself at night. Leaving makeup on or sleeping with all the accumulated dirt on your skin may prevent the skin to heal, thus causing more acne breakouts. Avoid Touching Your Face Too Often Be mindful of the fact that every time you touch your face, you are introducing more dirt and bacteria and spreading the oil. This simply means more chances of a breakout. It is also important to never pop your pimples. This increases inflammation and spreads infection on the skin. Nighttime Skincare Routine The skin repairs itself at night. Using the right products on the skin before bed can enhance the healing process. It is important to wash your face, apply a moisturiser, a lip balm and then hit your bed. Eat A Balanced Diet You should add loads of green vegetables to your diet. Consuming fried and oily food will only create more room for problematic skin and aggravate all existing skin troubles. A well-balanced diet is a key to good skin. Follow A Healthy Lifestyle Being responsible for your body as a teenager will not only bless your teens but also pave the way to good adulthood ahead. Your skin is what you eat and how you feel. It reflects your overall health. Following a healthy lifestyle enriched with a good diet, exercise and good sleep will show on your skin and make you glowing and radiant. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe) Read More► How to Balance Your 'Doshas' During Summer?

Six in 10 people with SARS-CoV-2 still have at least one symptom of long Covid a year later, with fatigue, shortness of breath and irritability being the most common, a new study has shown. The study, being presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Portugal, found that Covid-19 symptoms that don't clear up after 15 weeks are likely to last at least a year. An estimated 25-40 per cent of people with Covid-19 develop long Covid, persisting symptoms that can affect multiple organs and include mental health problems. Most of the data to date, however, is based on patients who were hospitalised with Covid-19 and it isn't clear how it applies to Covid-19 cases more generally. To find out more, Aurelie Fischer and colleagues at the Luxembourg Institute of Health in Luxembourg, surveyed almost 300 people a year after they were diagnosed with Covid. The 289 participants (50.2 per cent women) had an average age of 40.2 years and were divided in three groups, based on the severity of their initial infection: asymptomatic, mild and moderate/severe Covid-19. They were asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire about whether they were experiencing 64 common long Covid-related symptoms. A third (34.3 per cent) were experiencing fatigue a year on, 12.9 per cent said respiratory symptoms were affecting their quality of life and more than half (54.2 per cent) had ongoing sleep problems. Participants who had moderate/severe Covid-19 were twice as likely to still have at least one symptom a year on than those whose initial infection was asymptomatic. Having had moderate/severe Covid-19 was also associated with more sleep problems after a year than being asymptomatic (63.8 per cent vs. 38.6 per cent). "Participants with a mild form of the acute illness were more likely than those who'd been asymptomatic to have at least one symptom at one year, and to have sleep problems, but to a lesser extent than those with a moderate or severe acute illness," Fischer said. One in seven participants (14.2 per cent) said they could not envisage coping with their symptoms long-term. Further, the analysis also revealed that some groups of symptoms tend to occur together, suggesting that there are multiple different types of long Covid. Read More► Covid Not Only Infects Human Retina, But Can Also Replicate in It