QUICK AND EASY SOLUTIONS TO REMOVE DARK CIRCLES AROUND YOUR EYES

Dark circles under the eyes is a common problem. Dark circles makes one look weak and dehydrated. The skin around the eyes is very delicate and thinner than most areas of the face. There are no oil glands and the skin has a fine texture needing extra care and attention. As we get exposed to sun rays, the skin under the eyes gets damaged and becomes more thin and wrinkled. The veins below this thin skin start looking prominent. Thus the wrinkles and prominent veins form dark circles. Sometimes, pigmentation also causes dark circles.

The causes of dark circles around the eyes can be due to hereditary factors, lack of sleep, illness, stress, fatigue and nutritional deficiencies. Sinus problems and pregnancy are also causes of dark circles. Hormonal imbalances as a product of menstruation, pregnancy or menopause can also cause dark circles. To overcome the dark circles problem you need to have a nutritious and balanced diet. The skin under the eyes also turns dark as we advance in age.

You can avoid application of costly creams and follow natural methods to remove dark circles around your eyes.

Here are a few natural remedies for treating dark circles under your eyes.

• Tomato paste

Tomato paste is one of the most effective remedies for dark circles. Available in every kitchen. Take one or two fresh tomatoes, one tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of gram flour and turmeric powder. Blend these ingredients nicely until they become a thick paste and apply it very gently around your eyes. Rinse it off gently with clean water after 10 or 20 minutes. You can repeat this process twice or thrice every week , makes the skin tone around your eyes lighter and will eventually make your dark circles go away completely.

• Fresh cucumber or Potato

Place thin slices of fresh cucumber or potato over your eyes can help reduce dark circles to a great extent. It also provides your eyes a soothing touch which further prevents the occurrence of dark circles around your eyes. Optional method is mixing cucumber juice with potato juice in equal quantities and dip cotton balls in it and place over the eyes. Leave it for 15 to 30 minutes .This helps remove puffiness along with dark circles around eyes. Plan for a short nap. For best results follow this schedule twice or thrice e week.

• Mint leaves

Applying crushed mint leaves over your eyes will not only soothe your eyes but will also help you in getting rid of dark circles. Apply freshly crushed mint leaves all around your eyes and leave it for 5 or 10 minutes. Then gently wipe it off with a clean and cold cloth.later wash your eyes. You will feel extremely relaxed and will also get rid of under eye dark circles gradually.

• Almond Oil

Almond oil is a natural ingredient which is very beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. All you need to do is to apply a little almond oil over the dark circles before going to bed and wash it off with cold water the next morning. Repeating this for at least a month will make your dark circles disappear almost entirely.

• Rose water and used tea bags

Along with external care and a healthy lifestyle, take time off for relaxation, using eye pads. Take cotton wool and make two thick square pads. They can be soaked in cucumber juice or rose water. Lie down, close your eyes and put the soaked pads on them. Keep them on for about 15 minutes.

Used tea bags can also be used as eye pads.

Applying a compress of iced water , orange juice or cold milk directly over closed lids for 15 to 20 minutes also helps.

What to do when I’m travelling:

When you are on travel and do not have time to indulge in home remedies you can even apply cream rich in Vitamin E and Vitamin C for reducing the dark circles around the eyes.

Precautions:

• Do not apply facial masks around the eyes. Protect the area with cucumber slices or thin potato slices. Ideal time for relaxing and removing dark circles too.
• Exercise daily. Include deep breathing exercises in your schedule, helps blood circulation, oxygenation and control of stress. Practice yoga and meditation. This helps to deal with stress and also oxygenates the body.
• Adequate sleep and relaxation are very important.
• Drink at least 15 glasses of water per day, keeps body hydrated and removes toxins, impurities from the system.
• Consume vegetables and fruits which are fresh and are rich in fibrous contents, keeps the system clear of toxins and prevent dark circles under the eyes.

HOW TO CONTROL HAIR LOSS – HOME REMEDIES AND TIPS

Hair adds dimension to your personality. Black , lustrous hair is what all of us yearn for. In the recent times it is observed that hair loss is very common and people have started to be conscious on hair care.

Reasons for Hair Loss

Hair is formed in tiny pockets in the skull known as follicles. The upgrowth from follicle is called the papilla. Papilla with the help of a specific group of cells that turn amino acids into keratin, produces hair. Keratin is a type of protein that makes hair. Higher the rate of production of keratin, more will be the hair growth. The rate of production, in turn, depends on the vital nutrients supplied through the diet of a person. If vitamins and other nutrients are provided in sufficient amounts, hair grows at normal rate but if there is a deficiency of vitamins and nutrients then no protein is formed which, on the one hand, stops the growth of hair and on the other hand makes the hair weak leading to hair loss and baldness. Therefore, one of the major reasons of hair loss is deficiency of nutrients. There are some other reasons for hair loss too.

• Lack of vitamin B6, folic acid, calcium etc.
• Stress
• Prolonged Illness
• Improper or irregular cleaning of hair
• Heredity
• Pollution; environmental hazards
• Application of chemicals on hair ( hair straightening, coloring, hair dyes etc.)
• Poor blood circulation

Home Remedies for Hair Loss

The best hair loss home remedy is to have a balanced diet and to keep the hair clean with proper hair care. Massage with some oils too leads to healthy hair and improved blood circulation. Some hair is lost everyday which is a natural process of hair growth and should not be a cause of any worry. However, if someone notices an abnormal falling of hair and worse even- baldness patches- s/he must immediately start natural treatment for hair loss that includes some herbal remedies for hair loss.

• After washing hair (as far as possible hair should be washed with cool water, hot water robs hair off its natural oil), rub the scalp with fingers till you feel some warmth in your fingers as well as scalp. This activates the sebaceous glands (that secrets oil for hair growth) and also improves blood circulation preventing any further hair loss.
• Boil some dry pieces of Indian gooseberry or Amla in coconut oil. Massage your hair with this preparation. It helps in strengthening hair.
• Take some fresh leaves of Amaranth (Amaranthus or ‘Chaulai-ka-saag’) and take out their juice after grinding them. Apply this juice on your hair. It helps in hair growth and makes them soft. Take Alfalfa (Medicago sativa or ‘Jaw’), carrot and lettuce in equal quantity and make them into juice. This juice is excellent hair loss remedy.
• Wash hair with the decoction of margosa leaves or ‘Neem’. It prevents hair loss and make them more black apart from cleaning hair by killing lice and other infesting insects.
• Take 250 grams of mustard oil and sixty grams of Hennaleaves or ‘Mehndi’ and boil them till the leaves get totally burnt. Filter the oil and massage the scalp regularly with this oil. It is a very good home remedy for preventing hair loss.
• Make a paste of fenugreek seeds and water. Apply on scalp and leave for about half an hour before washing it off. Do it regularly for one month to treat hair loss.
• Take honeyand egg yolk to make a mixture of both. Massage the scalp and hair with this preparation and leave for half an hour before washing.
• Take 100 grams each of Goose berry (amla), Sapindus Mucorosai (reetha), and Acacia Concinna (shikakai) and boil them in two liters of water till the liquid remains half in quantity. Use this home made shampoo to wash your hair. It is a good herbal remedy for hair loss.
• Mix Aloe Vera with Triphala. Triphala is a herbal powder consisting of equal parts of three Indian Herbs- Amla, Bibhitaki and Haritaki. Apply this mixture to hair regularly for 3-6 months. It helps in growth of new hair.

Also follow the below mentioned procedures for improving hair growth.

1. Regular Massaging with lukewarm Oils

To stimulate the hair follicles, regular massaging of the scalp with lukewarm oil helps .Hair growth deterrents like dandruff and fungal infections can be easily cured. Regular massaging increases the blood circulation in the scalp. It is also useful for lowering anxiety or stress that is often the underlying reason for thinning of hair. It increases formation of serum and hair growth. Recommended oils for 3 to 4 times-a-week massaging schedule includes coconut oil. You can alternate this with mustard oil. Keep the oil on for at least six hours before washing it off with a mild shampoo. Other oils that can be mixed with coconut oil in trace amounts for faster results include almond oil.

2. Natural Concoctions for Preventing Hair Loss

Coconut milk is among the richest sources of tissue-nourishing, plant derivatives. It is an excellent home remedy for keeping the hair soft without depending upon chemical formulations and regenerating dead hair follicles. You can also use a concoction of coconut oil mixed with half the amount of Amla oil. Just add a tsp  of lemon juice to this mixture and you have an effective, dandruff-fighting and scalp-healing concoction that arrests receding hairline.

3. Nature’s Effective Hair-stimulating Juices

Wheatgrass juice is one of the most effective remedies against hair fall. It is known to decrease the shedding tendency of hair within a few weeks of regular intake. Aloe vera juice has a similar effect. However, aloe gel can be applied to the scalp too. This is helpful for preventing hair loss due to irritated, dry or infected scalp. After massaging the head with aloe gel, wash the hair with lukewarm water. This can be done twice, every week.

4. Very Effective Natural Therapies

You can make your own hair fall-preventing medicine at home by frying some fenugreek (methi) seeds in coconut oil. Strain this mixture and apply it in minimal amounts, rubbed gently into the hair roots. Alternatively, you can boil some henna leaves or curry leaves in mustard oil. After cooling and straining this preparation, add drops of it in your coconut oil container that you are using for regular massaging.

5. Homemade Pastes

You can wash the hair with a paste made from Neem leaves. This is particularly effective for hair loss caused due excessive build up of scalp oil or invasive skin infections. For restoring the alkaline balance of the scalp and preventing hair fall, you can follow this with washing the hair with apple cider vinegar. Other homemade pastes that can be very useful include a mixture prepared from adding honey and olive oil to some cinnamon (dalchini) powder. You can also grind hibiscus leaves to a paste and apply it to scalp. Leave it for 30 mins and wash your hair. This prevents formation of dandruff.

6. Arrest Hair Fall With your house hold preparations

Before washing your hair, apply the juice extracted from crushed coriander (dhania) leaves. You can also use a mixture of curd and gram flour (chana atta) that should be kept-on for at least an hour before bathing.