Honey – an excellent cure for child cough

(Avataraline.it) A teaspoon of honey taken at bedtime could bring in relief for children suffering from severe cough, suggests a new study.

The finding is based on reports of the children’s symptoms recorded after they were subjected to various treatments, and the researchers concluded that honey proved to be far better than a cough medicine.

The research report that was published in ‘Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine’ detailed the study conducted by a group of researchers, who carried out their study on 105 children with upper respiratory infections from a clinic in Pennsylvania. The parents of the children were given a paper bag that contained a dosage device. While some where empty, some had age-appropriate dosage of honey-flavoured cough medicine, containing dextromethorphan. The others had similar dosage of honey.

The parents were enquired about the children’s sleep pattern and cough symptoms before and after bedtime treatment. The symptoms were rated on a seven-point scale.

The paediatricians who read the study said they would advise parents seeking alternative medicines to try honey. However, they cautioned that children below one year of age should not be given honey due to the rare, but serious risk of botulism.

The researchers stated that the benefits of honey could be due to its anti-oxidants and microbe-fighting effects. But the dark variety of honey is better than the buckwheat honey, due to its richness in antioxidants.

The researchers concluded that a teaspoon of honey before bed helps in calming children’s cough, and helped them sleep better. (by Ayurvedictalk.com)

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Gentle massages could lead to happy babies

(Avataraline.it) Parents who want to ensure that their [tag]newborn baby[/tag] sleeps well through the night, can try giving them a massage. Recent researches indicate that massaging can be as good as rocking and helps in lowering stress levels in infants, helping them to cry less and sleep better. In addition, a good massage promotes and strengthens the bond between the parent and the baby. On the whole, it was concluded that a [tag]gentle massage[/tag] could prove to be a useful technique in improving the ability of newborns to relax and sleep well.

[tag]Infant massages[/tag] are traditionally practiced in parts of Asia and Africa. These days the importance of massages is also being recommended to Parents in antenatal classes. A typical massage involves gently touching the baby’s body (the pressure applied should be as gentle as touching the body with gentle movement of muscles under the skin surface) from head to the toe while simultaneously talking and responding to the baby.

A team of researchers from Warwick Medical School and Institute of Education studied the impact of [tag]baby massages[/tag]. A survey conducted on 598 babies under one year of age, indicated that the babies who were regularly massaged by their parents, cried less, slept better, and had lower levels of Cortisol (the hormone produced in the body in response to stress) in comparison to the babies who were not massaged. Clinical Psychologists have come to the conclusion that the bond between the infant and the parents is increased manifold by any kind of touch, in particular the massages. During later part of the child’s life, it even boosts self esteem and confidence.

In addition to the positive impact of the massages on babies, researches also revealed that it helped young mothers in dealing with [tag]postnatal depression[/tag], as massaging their young ones, had a positive influence on them. (by Ayurveditalk.com)

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Ayurveda: conoscere e riconoscere Pitta

(Avataraline.it) Per capire il dosha dell'ayurveda conosciuto come Pitta pensate a tutto ciò che evoca la parola: passione. Il paragone è riduttivo, però funziona. Fuoco ardente, caratere speziato, caldo, sole: tutte immagini che rimandano al tipo Pitta, che si origina dall'unione di Fuoco e Agni. Scopriamolo meglio.

Qualità di Pitta

I sapori ayurveda che aumentano Pitta sono acidi e piccanti: fanno parte di questo gruppo le melanzane, i pomodori poco maturi, i peperoncini, le cipolle crude, l'aglio, il limone, gli spinaci, eccessivo tè, caffè, alcol e fumo.

Pitta, come energia, è responsabile della temperatura corporea, della formazione del sangue e dell'aumento del metabolismo del cervello, connesso alle attività mentali, a livello caratteriale incide nelle emozioni, nei sentimenti e nelle passioni.

Caratteristiche del tipo Pitta

Secondo l'ayurveda, quando Pitta è in equilibrio si ha un'intelligenza pronta, un carattere espansivo, sicuro di sé e dotato di una capacità di digestione veloce ed efficiente. Quando Pitta è squilibrato tutto ciò si trasforma in tendenza a cedere facilmente alla rabbia, alla polemica, alle critiche e si rischia di sviluppare un eccessivo coinvolgimento rispetto a qualsiasi genere di situazione.

In genere il tipo Pitta ha una struttura fisica che rientra nella media, capelli dritti e sottili, pelle sensibile, non ama il caldo, tende ad essere irascibile e reagisce male allo stress.

Pitta nel corpo umano

Pitta è collegato alla digestione e al metabolismo, a tutto ciò che nel corpo umano è funzionale alla trasformazione e alla produzione di energia e calore. Controlla le funzioni digestive e metaboliche. I disturbi causati da un aumento di Pitta possono essere iperacidità, problemi alla pelle, alopecia, infezioni urinarie, mal di testa, calcoli alla cistifellea, sensazioni di bruciore, emorroidi. (by cure-naturali.it)

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Meditation can reduce High Blood Pressure

(Avataraline.it) Researches have now indicated that those who are spiritually inclined have [tag]lower Blood Pressure[/tag] than those who are not. [tag]Meditation[/tag] (even simple prayers) can be allotted a few minutes time in one’s busy schedule and lower blood pressure can be added as one among the reasons to say prayers or to meditate.

A recent study conducted on 5300 Americans-Africans by the American Society of Hypertension, in New York City reveal that meditation and prayers can help in lowering blood pressure, and integration of spirituality, religion and meditation when brought into regular life, helps in delaying the harmful effects of [tag]hypertension[/tag]. The study was conducted on 5,302 Africans between the age group of 35 to 85. The participants who had a blood pressure reading of 140/90 and above, and those who were already under medication were questioned regarding their involvement in meditation, spirituality and religious activities. They were also questioned whether they turned towards meditation and spirituality in times of stress. The findings revealed that meditation and spirituality weighs heavily on the positive results of the group with [tag]high blood pressure[/tag].

Another interesting finding in the study conducted was that individuals who were engaged in meditation and spirituality had lower levels of [tag]Cortisol[/tag] (the stress hormone) in comparison to those who were not. This also revealed a new pathway which indicates lower stress, lower blood pressure and meditation and spirituality are definitely interlinked. (Ayurvedictalk.com)

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