Remedies from common natural sources
Garlic
Allium sativum L commonly known as Garlic has long been considered as natural remedy. Garlic was used as most potent medicine by the ancient Egyptians, gnawed by Greek olympian athletes and thought to be effective for zapping bacteria, keeping your heart healthy, warding off coughs and colds. In a study by National Academy of Sciences, USA shows that eating garlic appears to boost our natural supply of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is actually poisonous at high concentrations — it is the same noxious byproduct of oil refining that smells like rotten eggs. But the body makes its own supply of the stuff, which acts as an antioxidant and transmits cellular signals that relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. The power to boost hydrogen sulfide production may help explain why a garlic-rich diet appears to protect against various cancers, including breast, prostate and colon cancer. It is effective remedy for hypertension. Taking garlic regularly as a part of their diet is helpful for keeping high blood pressure in control. Garlic can be used in respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough and tuberculosis. Garlic is the best natural remedy for fungal nail infections. Simply crush some fresh cloves and place them in contact with the affected area .The skin should be washed before and after application. Garlic powder can also be used to combat toenail fungus. Unfortunately garlic is not cooked proper way. Many home chefs cook it immediately after crushing or chopping it in home preparations. To maximise the health benefits, you should crush the garlic at room temperature and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. That triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic. Honey
Honey is mainly consists of energy providing substances glucose, fructose and small amount of sucrose, dextrin, formic acid and volatile oils and trace amount of enzymes. Honey has mild laxative, sedative, antiseptic properties. It is used for cold, cough, fever, sore throat, tongue ulcer, duodenal ulcers, liver disorders, constipation, diarrhoea, kidney and urinary disorders, pulmonary tuberculosis, rickets, scurvy and insomnia. It may be applied as a remedy on open wounds after surgery. Honey is easily absorbed into the blood stream. Honey mixed with onion juice is a good remedy for atherosclerosis (a condition where blood vessel becomes narrow by fat deposition). Honey is an effective skin toner. Neem
Neem oil is stimulant, antiseptic and alternatively used in skin disease. Neem leaf juice is given in jundice; paste of leaves is used in case of small pox. The tender leaves with piper are used in worm infestations. Neem-leaves are also used as insect-repellent, antiviral-antifungal. Olive oil
The product of olive oil is called virgin oil obtained by gently pressing the peeled pulp from the endocarp. It contains mixed glycerides of oleic acid palmetic acid and so on. It is used as food, salads, with cooking and baking. It has also laxatives properties to cure constipation. It is widely used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations, soaps, textile lubricants, cosmetics, and plasters. Sarpagandha
Sarpagandha or Rauwolfia is an erect, evergreen, small shrub plant. It is used as hypnotic, sedative, anti hypertensive. It is specific for insanity, reduces blood pressure and cures pain. It is employed in labors to increase uterine contractions and in certain neuro- psychiatric disorders. Tulsi
Tulsi has expectorant use in bronchitis, cold, cough. It is also used in fever and gastric disorders. The leaves have been employed as aromatic, carminative, stimulant and flavoring agent. It is also used as in gastric disorders of children and in hepatic infections. Dried powdered leaves are taken as snuff in ozena. Seeds are demulcent and given in disorders of the genito-urinary system. The plant is also used in snakebite and scorpion-sting.
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