Both bhringraj oil and mahabhringraj oil have amazing hair benefits and uses. The botanical name of bhringraj plant in called Eclipta Alba. Bhringraj is the Hindi name and Karisalankanni is the Tamil name. It is called Guntagala Aku in Telugu, False Daisy in English, Gargamuru in Kannada, Tekaraja in Malayalam, Bhangra in Punjabi, Bhangro in Gujarati and Kesuriya in Bengali. There are two varieties of bhringraj that are very commonly found all over India, one produces white flowers and the other produces yellow flowers. Though both are used for making bhringraj oil, the white variety is most preferred as it gives the best results. We make bhringraj oil regularly at home and usually we make it by boiling bhringraj leaves and amla together in coconut oil and you can find the recipe here. We also get an ayurvedic formulation using bhringraj called mahabhringraj oil. Though bhringraj is the main ingredients in both the oils, the additional ingredients vary a lot. Usually plain bhringraj oil contains additional ingredients like amla, curry leaves, henna leaves, etc and can be easily prepared at home. Mahabhringraj oil contains ingredients like Red Sandalwood, Indian Sarsaparilla, Cow's milk, Licorice, Turmeric, Indian Lotus, Red Ochre, Rubia Cordifolia (Manjistha), Prunus Cersoides, Symplocus Racemosa, Bala root, Barberis Aristata, Mesua Ferrea, Callicarpa Macropphylla (Priyangu), Brahmi and Amla. To make mahabhringa oil, juices are extracted from the fresh herbs and paste is made out of dry ingredients using cow's milk. Now all the ingredients are boiled in unrefined sesame oil till the water content completely evaporates. Then the oil is filtered and bottled. Though you can make mahabhringraj oil at home, it will be difficult for many to get all the ingredients so it is best to get mahabhringraj oil from reputed brands.Mahabhringraj oil may vary depending on the brand you are buyingas each company have their own formulation but usually the additional ingredients to bhringraj are chosen from the ingredients mentioned above. Unlike bhringraj oil which is used only on the scalp, mahabhringraj oil is administrated nasally too for treating headache and poor eyesight. Bhringraj has been used from ancient times for hair growth and regular use of either one of these oils will greatly treat all scalp problems. Hair growth promoting properties of bhringraj has been proven through clinical research and you can read it here. How To Use Bhringraj & Mahabhringraj Oils For Hair Growth? Take the oil in a cup and warm in slightly by placing it in hot water. Once warmed, massage it well into the scalp for 5 to 10 minutes gently, leave it on for half an hour before having hair wash. You can also leave it on overnight. Bhringraj Oil Price: The price of bhringraj hair oil varies from 150 to 400 rupees per 100 ml. The price of mahabhringraj oil varies between 100 to 300 rupees per 100 ml. Bhringraj & Mahabhringraj Oil Side Effects: Both oils when applied on the scalp does not have any side effects. But when mahabhringraj oil is applied nasally some might experience nasal irritation, nasal burning, throat irritation and sneezing. I would suggest doing nasal administration only under medical supervision.....

Noni fruit commonly called as Indian Mulberry | Cheese Fruit | Vomit Fruit is very popular all over the world. Noni was used by Polynesians more than 150 to 200 years before and is found mostly in tropical countries like Hawaii, Malaysia and Fiji Islands. Noni fruit is called Aal | Aach | Barral in Hindi, Nunaa | Manjanari | Vellai Nunaa in Tamil, Ach | Bartundi in Bengali, Surangi in Gujarati, Mulgul in Kannada, Manjanathi in Malayalam, Nagakuda in Marathi, Achuka in Sanskrit, Madi Chettu in Telugu, Mengkudu in Indonesia & Malaysia and Kumudu in Bali. Noni is an amazing fruit with multiple health benefits and wonderful medicinal uses. The botanical name of noni is Morinda Citrifolia. It belongs to genus Morinda and Rubiaceae family (coffee family) which has around 80 species. Noni is native to South East Asia and Australia and now as it's medicinal uses are getting widely known, it is grown widely all over the world. The tree grows up to 9 feet tall and bears fruits throughout the year. The fruits have a weird shape and smell pungent when ripe. Almost all parts of the tree are used both in traditional medicine and in cosmetics. The fruits are green in color and when ripe turns almost white in color. Despite it's long usage it has never been a food plant because noni fruit tastes bland and has a pungent smell that many dislike. Noni Fruit Nutrition: Noni fruit has almost 90 % water and 10 % solids. The solid matter comprises of protein (the amino acids found in noni are glutamic acid, aspartic acid and isoleucine), fiber and sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose). The minerals found in noni are sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and sulfur. The main vitamins found in noni fruit are vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B3. Noni Fruit Chemical Constitution: Noni fruit and other parts of noni tree contains many phytochemicals that include phenolic compounds, anthraquinones, flavonoids, iridoids, lignans, ketones, sterols, carotenoids, nucleoside, triterpenoids. The fruit goes through 3 stages - unripe green, hard ripe white and soft ripe white. Out of these 3 stages, the hard ripe stages contains the maximum nutrients and phytochemicals, it contains 2 times more antioxidants, one and half times more phenols and 7 times more vitamin C. The presence of all these compounds are responsible for it's anti obesity, anti cancer, anti tumor, anti inflammatory, anti diabetic, anti viral, anti bacterial, anti fungal, antiseptic, anti arthritics, anti allergic, analgesic, wound healing, anti nausea, anti wrinkle, anti ulcer, anthelmintic, anti psychotic properties and immune enhancing properties. Traditional Medicinal Uses: Noni juice has been traditionally used for arthritis, diabetes, aches and pains, menstrual pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, headache, cancer, mental diseases and for drug addictions! How To Consume Noni? Noni can be consumed in the form of fresh noni fruit, fermented noni juice, fresh noni juice, dried noni fruit power and noni capsules. Noni Fruit Juice: Noni fruit once it turns rips starts fermenting rapidly so it is usually converted into juice and bottled. I was very confused at first in deciding whether fresh noni juice or fermented noni juice is best. After researching I have to come to the conclusion that fresh fruit juice is the best followed by fermented noni juice. How To Make Fresh Noni Juice? To make fresh noni juice, collect fresh noni fruit and grind to a pulp using the whipper button. Make sure not to grind the seeds. Now mix in any fruit juice of your choice to make it palatable and drink immediately. To make fermented noni juice at home, wash noni fruits and take them in a jar. Now close the jar tightly and leave it under hot sun for 2 months, the juice will start collecting in the bottle. After 2 months strain the juice and your fermented noni juice is ready. The noni juice shown in the picture is homemade fermented noni juice that is fermented for about 2 weeks. As time goes by it will take on a darker color. Where To Buy Non Fruit Juice? We get noni fruit juice concentrates very easily in Indian markets. Noni capsules and noni fruit powder are also marketed, noni capsules can also be easily got in the shops but noni fruit powder is not easily available but you can order it online. Usually if you look for noni juice online, you will find Hawaiian Noni juice and Tahitian Noni juice named after the place it is manufactured from. You can choose anyone, both are good. Noni Juice Dosage: Generally 30 ml is the suggested dosage and I would suggest starting with this dosage. You can even start with 15 ml if you are not comfortable. If you feel you need to drink more, you can slowly increase it to 45 ml but don't overdose. The best time to take noni juice is in the morning, 15 to 20 minutes before having your breakfast. Noni juice tastes bad so be prepared for it. Noni Leaf Tea: I also wanted to mention about noni leaf tea, it also has wonderful anti oxidant, anti fatigue, anti diabetic and anti microbial properties. Noni leaf tea is nothing but noni leaf boiled in water, it has strong anti microbial properties. In research, noni leaf extract showed powerful action against microorganisms like Escherichia Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Bacillus Subtilis, etc. This antimicrobial activity is due to the large amounts of phenolic compounds present in the leaves. Side Effects: Consuming large amount of noni juice should be strictly avoided, several side effects have been reported after excessive noni juice consumption. A young man after suffering from hepatitis took 1.5 liters of noni juice and he suffered from sub acute liver failure. An older lady who suffered from liver disease developed acute hepatitis after she consumed 2 liters of noni juice.  The toxicity of noni fruit is said to be due to the high amounts of anthraquinones present in it. However many commercial noni juice makers remove the toxic compounds from the juice making it safe to drink. But I would suggest practicing caution and to never over consume noni juice. Also noni juice is high in potassium and people with kidney and liver problems should be very careful of the dosage.....

Apple Cider Vinegar also known as Seb Ka Sirka in Hindi has amazing health benefits and medicinal uses. Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar got from apples and it has been used widely used both in cooking and in home remedies. Apple cider vinegar is called by it's English name apple cider vinegar in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Apple Cider Vinegar Chemical Composition: The main component of apple cider vinegar is acetic acid. Since apple cider vinegar is made from apples, it contains all the minerals and vitamins that apples contain in lesser quantities like vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, Biotin, folic acid and niacin. Apple cider vinegar also contains pectin and malic acid. Apple Cider Vinegar Nutrients & Calories: 100 ml of apple cider vinegar has around 16.5 calories, 4.11 grams of carbohydrates, 1.02 grams of sugar, .03 grams of protein, 69 mg of potassium, 27.25 mg of sodium, 21.2 mg of calcium, 3.88mg of phosphorus and 2.38mg of vitamin C. We get organic apple cider vinegar easily in Indian markets, you can either buy them or make your own. To make your own apple cider vinegar at home, collect fresh organic apples and chop them into small pieces. Now take the cut apples in a large glass jar and for every 500 grams of apple, add about one and half liters of water. Now add in 1 to 2 cups of organic raw sugar and mix well. Add in 1/4 cup of store bought apple cider vinegar with the mother to it and mix well. Cover the mouth of the jar with a cloth and secure it with a thread. Now place it in your pantry away from direct sunlight, make sure to open and press down any apple pieces poking up every 3 days or so. After a few days you will notice a white layer of bacteria forming on top which is usually called the "Mother". It is the symbiotic live culture of bacteria and yeast that turns the mixture into vinegar. Usually once a batch of apple cider vinegar is made, the mother is used to make a new batch. If you are using the mother, you can reduce the amount of sugar and also you don't have to open the bottle once every 3 days. Just let it sit for 2 months or so in the pantry. If you are making apple cider vinegar the first time without the mother, adding little bit of store bought apple cider vinegar with mother will greatly help. If you don't want to go to all the lengths of making your own apple cider vinegar, you can easily buy apple cider vinegar from the shops. In India, you can buy apple cider vinegar in all the departmental stores but it is hard to get apple cider vinegar with the mother in small towns. When buying try to buy organic, unfiltered and unprocessed apple cider vinegar with the mother. Apple cider vinegar with the mother will look cloudy as opposed to ones without the mother which looks clear. I have pictured only apple cider vinegar without the mother as my local departmental store does not sell apple cider vinegar with the mother. I have also started making my own batch of apple cider vinegar, hopefully it will be ready by within a month or two. Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects: Though apple cider vinegar has wonderful medicinal uses, we should remember that in excess it does more harm than good. Please remember not to consume raw apple cider vinegar as it will damage the enamel and cause throat and stomach burn. Always dilute it in water before drinking. Also consuming large amounts of apple cider vinegar for long duration's of time could lead to low bone density and low potassium levels. Apple cider vinegar will interact with diabetic and heart medications, diuretic and blood pressure medications so practice caution if you are on any of these medications. Apple Cider Vinegar Dosage: I couldn't find any research recommending a safe dosage. In my personal experience, 1 tsp mixed with a cup of water works really well and does not have any side effects. I would suggest starting with this amount. How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar? To use, take a cup of warm water, mix in 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar and honey, mix well and drink. Some recommend drinking apple cider vinegar in the morning but I would suggest drinking it in between meals or before going to bed as it caused stomach burn when I drank it in empty morning..........

Home remedy to get rid of blackheads & whiteheads on face & nose naturally, permanently fast at home in 3 days. What Are Blackheads? Blackheads are small black painless bumps that appear on the surface of our skin, mainly our face. Blackheads are actually a mild form of acne that is most commonly found on the face but it can be found on the back, chest and even on hands. What Causes Blackheads? Blackheads are caused when our hair follicle get clogged with excess sebum. Each of our hair follicle contains a single hair and a sebaceous gland that produces oil. The oil secretion is what keeps our skin soft and smooth. The problem starts when there is excessive oil production. Excessive oil production can be due to hormonal changes, health conditions that plays havoc with our skin like pcos and stress, certain medications can also trigger more oil production or it can be hereditary too. When the excessive oil builds up, it clogs the hair follicles resulting in blackheads. Like some believe, blackheads are not caused due to dirt build up and is definitely not due to lack of cleanliness. What Are The Symptoms Of Blackheads? The definite symptom of blackhead is the black bump on our skin which gives it's name. Because of the black color it is is easy to spot blackheads. Unlike acne, blackheads are not inflamed so there will not be any pain. What is The Difference Between Blackheads & Whiteheads? When the pores get clogged, it is white in color first but when the clogged pores comes into contact with the air, it gets oxidised and turns black, that is the only difference between blackheads and whiteheads. What Not To Do when You Have Blackheads? Don't pick the blackheads, many of us pick blackheads with our hands but in my personal experience we can never remove blackheads by picking on them, it will only lead to wounds and scarring. Also don't use abrasive scrubs, it will cause intense skin irritation and redness. What Are The Home Remedies For Removing Blackheads And Whiteheads? The best home remedies for treating blackheads at home are using a steam to open up the pores, a gentle scrub to remove the blackheads and whiteheads along with a blackhead removal mask to tighten the pores for preventing further occurrences of blackheads.......

3 TOP HOME REMEDIES FOR REMOVING BLACKHEADS & WHITEHEADS:

1. BLACKHEAD REMOVAL STEAM:

In my personal experience, steaming open up pores and helps remove blackheads easily. If you are trying to remove blackheads at home, I would suggest starting with steaming. It makes things very easier also when using steam, try to add ingredients that have anti bacterial properties like lemon slice and green tea. For the steam, cut half a lemon into thin rounds and take it in a wide bowl. Add in 1 tsp of green tea and pour boiling water on top. Cover with a cloth and steam till the water turns cold. This steam will open up the pores and help loosen up blackheads.

2. BLACKHEAD REMOVAL SCRUB:

The next step is scrubbing. Usually for blackhead removing scrub, sugar is used. But I would suggest not using sugar without grinding as it will cause small micro tears on the skin. Instead I would suggest using wither castor sugar or grind castor sugar finely in a mortar and pestle. For the scrub, take 1 tsp of green tea in a bowl, add in 1 tsp of green tea leaves to it and grind finely. Now add enough honey and mix well to form a paste. To use, after steaming take little bit of this scrub and massage gently on the skin for a few minutes and then wash it off. This scrub will usually help remove the blackheads completely.


3. BLACKHEAD REMOVAL MASK:

After the scrub, always follow up with skin tightening face mask. Using skin tightening mask is very important as it helps close the pores to a great extent. Some of the best face packs for skin tightening are egg white based masks or clay based face masks. Clay based face packs are especially very effective as they really tighten on the skin when they dry on the skin. Also an other tip to use cold liquid for mixing the face mask, it will help close the pore very effectively. For this mask, take 1 tbsp of multani mitti in a bowl not squeeze in half a lemon. Finally make green tea by steeping a tsp of green tea in boiling water for few minutes. Strain and let cool in refrigerator. Now add it to multani mitti, form a paste and apply as a face pack. Let dry completely and then wash it off. 

• Use organic cucumber and green tea for best results.
• This ice cubes stores well in the freezer for 3 months.
• You can use any herb of your choice too...

• Take this drink in between meals for best results.
• You can also take it before going to bed. 
• If you are diabetic skip the honey.

• Use fresh indigo leaves for making the oil. The oil stores well more than 4 to 5 months.
• When using indigo powder as a hair dye, try to mix it with warm water not hot water. Don't let it rest for more than 15 minutes.
• When buying indigo powder for the first time, make sure to check whether it is original and then use it as a hair dye.

Dry brushing is an ancient practice with amazing skin and health benefits. Dry brushing is a simple process and you just need only a brush for it. My interest for dry brushing started a few years back when I read a small book that listed all the benefits of dry brushing. I was completely sold and wanted to start dry brushing right away but I couldn't find any good quality brushes to do it. I waited patiently for a few months and when I went to Mumbai I got a good quality brush and started using it right away like mentioned in the book. Does Dry Brushing Really Work? This is one of the most of the common questions asked regarding dry brushing. Personally, the first thing I immediately noticed was my skin was much smoother and softer than before. Also I have very dry skin, after dry brushing regularly for a few days my skin felt smooth and was not dry even without using a body lotion. It also improved the blood circulation and I could definitely feel a positive difference in my skin tone. Best Body Brush For Body Brushing: I would suggest spending some time to research into the types of body brushing available. Choose a firm brush for best results. We get body brushes of varying firmness available in the markets. If you are starting new, I would suggest a less firm brush and once your skin gets used to it, you can move on to firmer brushes. Also please remember that there are face brushes available in the markets separately, they are much less firmer than body brushes. I would suggest having a separate brush for the body and face. If you use the body brush for face, you might experience severe irritation and if you use face brush for the body, it might be too soft and not serve the purpose at all. Always try to buy natural brushes with long handles so you can reach your back fully. When buying face brushes make sure to buy one with a handle for easy use. Replace the brushes once in 6 to 8 months of regular use. How To Do Body Brushing? The main thing to remember when body brushing is to brush towards the heart. If you are starting with the legs, start with long, gentle strokes starting with the feet and then moving up the legs towards the heart. Always use gentle strokes and never brush too hard or too much, 5 to 6 gentle strokes will be enough. After dry brushing, your skin will turn slightly pink which is normal but if there is burning sensation and or if the skin turns red then you have over brushed yourself or you have brushed too hard. When brushing the stomach, use circular motion and use only a soft brush for it. The same thing goes for the face too. When To Do Body Brushing? The best time to do body brushing is in the morning before bath, brush all over the body and face, shower and then massage in a few drops of pure unrefined oil mixed few drops of your favourite essential oil. How Long Does It Take To See Results From Dry Brushing: You will start seeing positive changes in your skin tone right away but it might take few weeks of regular use to see reduction in cellulite and stretch marks. Side Effects Of Dry Brushing: One main complaint against dry brushing is skin irritation. This is the result of using inferior brushes and also using it on skin with existing skin problems like acne, varicose veins, eczema, etc. I would suggest using very mild brushes and being careful about brushing on inflamed skin. If you feel skin irritation in any area, stop dry brushing there for a few days...