Epilepsy is a neurological disease which is characterised by recurring epileptic seizures. These seizures can be brief or can persist for prolonged periods. Vigorous episodes which last long can result in physical injuries such as broken bones. Mention that 6th February is International epilepsy day.

Causes of Epilepsy
The cause of this condition isn t very evident; however, most medical practitioners attribute epileptic seizures to brain injury, tumours, infections in the brain or birth defects. Some doctors believe that epilepsy is caused due to genetic mutations and is an outcome of abnormal activity of cells in the brain. Other causes for this condition can be alcohol or narcotics withdrawal and electrolyte problems.

Symptoms

Repeated seizures
Impaired memory
Bouts of fainting
Short spans of blackout
Sudden bouts of blinking and chewing
Panic
Inappropriate repetitive movements
Types of Seizures
A seizure, also known as fit, is usually a brief episode characterised by uncontrollable jerking movement and loss of awareness due to abnormal neuronal activity in your brain. A collective occurrence of these seizures causes epilepsy.

There are three types of seizures an epileptic person usually encounters.

Idiopathic: This kind of seizure has no apparent cause
Cryptogenic: The doctors believe that there is a cause for the seizure but cannot detect it
Symptomatic: These seizures occur due to a reason.
Treatments

Medication: Medication is the most common treatment in case of epilepsy. Drugs taken on a regular basis can stop the seizure partially. But in very severe cases, they seem to have no effect at all.
Surgery: For symptomatic seizures which are caused due to abnormal brain function, surgery can be a way to get rid of seizures. In some minor cases, nerve stimulation in the brain and special diets can be prescribed to control the epileptic seizures.
Five facts about epilepsy you need to know:

Epilepsy is not psychosis or madness and can be treated easily 
Popular celebraties with epilepsy include Aristotle, Alfred Nobel, Alexander the great, Sir Isaacs Newton, Martin Luther and Julius Caesar etc. 
Woman with epilepsy can have a normal pregnancy 
Newer medicines for epilepsy are effective and very safe 
Surgery can cure epilepsy in some patients.

All You Need To Know About Epilepsy

A cough is a sign that there is something wrong with the throat. Be it an infection or a sore throat or food stuck in the windpipe, a cough can start. While it may sometimes disappear, sometimes, it may just refuse to go. This not just is bothersome to you to allow to continue work, it also irritates the others in the surrounding and attracts attention. Everybody looks at you annoyed and gives a look which says  why don t you do something about it?  Well, they mean well, and there are definitely things that can help manage a nagging cough. Find out for yourself!

Salt water gargling: Mix about a teaspoon of water in a glass of warm water and gargle your mouth for about 1 minute. It helps soothe the throat and reduce the cough. It can also clear the bacteria along the throat, providing relief from the cough. If there is phlegm lodged in the throat, it gets easily expelled too.
Honey: This viscous liquid coats the inflamed and irritated mucous membranes along the throat and provides instant relief. It is also known for its antibacterial nature and has good enzymes from the bees, which are known for providing instant relief to both children and adults. The sweet taste makes it further appealing. Adding ground black pepper powder to it further improves the effect, as it clears congestion.
Steam: Cough is often the result of an irritated and inflamed throat mucosa. Inhaling steam is one of the best ways to soothe this mucosa and provide relief. It reduces mucosal inflammation and removes phlegm. Adding a few drops of essential oils like eucalyptus or tea tree oil further improves the effect. These have antibacterial and antiviral properties and so enhance the relief. With boiled water in a vessel, bend over it and cover your head to ensure the steam is inhaled. Be careful to avoid burns, as steam can burn. This can be repeated 4 to 5 times daily until you get sufficient relief.
Ginger and Mint: Another wonder substance is the ginger. To a cup of warm water, add honey, few slices of ginger, and some dried peppermint. This helps by acting as an expectorant and reduces irritation in the throat, which produces cough.
Cough drops or lozenges: If you are in a public space and cannot do the above, try cough drops. Sucking on them can soothe the throat and the constant swallowing of saliva helps relieve the irritation in the throat.
Nasal irrigation: This helps relieve the postnasal congestion and dripping, which often leads to nagging coughs.
These are some simple, effective ways to reduce constant coughing.

Nagging Cough - 6 Quick Ways You Can Manage It!

Both natural and homeopathic remedies can efficiently deal with lactose intolerance and thus you should check the reports of the patient for finding the best solution. You can choose any of these remedies or else can continue with both.

List of homeopathic medicines for treating lactose intolerance

    Aethusa Cynapium: The medicine helps in the digestion of milk so that unwanted stomach aches can be easily avoided. On the other hand, health condition of the kids can also be improved to a great extent using this medicine. Loose tools or green colour diarrhea due to dairy products can be prevented with care.
    Apis Mellifica: Milk allergies can be easily cured with this medicine and thus kids are often prescribed the drug by a homeopathic expert. A few symptoms are found in kids due to lactose intolerance like breathing difficulty, body itchiness, redness, swelling, skin rashes and others. All these symptoms can be treated by this homeopathy medicine.
    China Officinalis: This medicine is mainly prescribed to those kids for whom Apis Mellifica is not the suitable one. Flatulence, belching and bloating can be properly controlled or regulated by taking this drug regularly.  Excessive mucus formation, chest's rattling sound and excessive coughing might occur with dairy intolerance and these symptoms might get severe. This is the reason the doctors often prescribe this medicine as the best option. 

A few natural remedies for treating lactose intolerance

    Probiotics: These are specialized bacteria that not only help in improving digestion, but proper nourishment can also be gained. 
    Coconut milk: This is now considered as one of the leading substitutes for different dairy products. 
    Apple cider vinegar: Lactose intolerance signs can be completely eradicated along with the maintenance of body balance by consuming apple cider vinegar regularly. This is a natural product, and thus you can take the same regularly without taking a doctor's permission. 
    Fermented products: Kimchi and Sauerkraut are those fermented foods that can create helpful bacteria as a result of which the gut can be re-populated and digestive system can be regulated. The symptoms will get reduced slowly with the consistent intake of these foods.
    Yogurt: This can be taken with meals as it is enriched with beneficial bacteria that can help in digesting different other dairy products. With the consumption of yoghurt, Lactose can be broken down naturally, and on the other hand, digestion can be improved.

Homeopathic and Natural Remedies for Lactose Intolerance

Diabetes which was earlier called a lazy person's disease does not live up to the name anymore. Owing to the sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits, diabetes has become an epidemic in the recent years.
As as we all know, diabetes is a condition characterized by an increased concentration of blood glucose level. If not managed and treated on time, the condition can prove to be life threatening. Diabetes is known to trigger a host of health complications and disorders including cancer. In fact, research has established that there is a link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. The report suggests that people with chronic diabetes for more than 5 years stand at an increased risk of suffering from pancreatic cancer. In some patients, diabetes may be one of the symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer. Whether diabetes triggered pancreatic cancer or was it the precancerous cells that caused the diabetes is difficult to explain.

The pancreas is an important organ involved in the production and secretion of many important hormones including the insulin (by the Beta cells of the pancreas). A diseased condition, such as pancreatic cancer may bring about changes, affecting the proper functioning of the pancreas. This, in turn, may interfere with the production of insulin. Decreased production of insulin or insulin resistance may result in elevated concentrations of glucose in the blood, a condition that will eventually give rise to Diabetes.

According to another published article (NCBI), in many patients with pancreatic cancer, diabetes was detected almost simultaneously along with cancer or 2 years prior to the diagnosis of cancer. These findings indicate the fact that both diabetes and pancreatic cancer not only occurred concomitantly but were also correlated.

Another experiment suggested that in people with Type-2 diabetes, the pancreas was for long subjected to a condition termed as hyperinsulinemia (increased level of insulin in the blood as compared to the blood glucose level). The experiment shows that insulin does have a role to play in establishing a relationship between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Managing Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer
The conditions of diabetes and pancreatic cancer should be managed well to avoid further complications.

The diet plays a significant role in the proper management. The diet should be well balanced with all the essential nutrients. Include more fruits and vegetables in the diet. Berries such as raspberries, blackberries can go a long way to regularize the blood glucose level. Opt for whole grain cereals and food items. Avoid foods rich in fats and carbohydrates.
A healthy body weight can work wonders, both in the case of diabetes and pancreatic cancer. If you are a couch potato, give up the habit at the earliest. Indulge in more physical activities (not necessarily rigorous or strenuous) such as exercise, jogging, morning walk. In addition to keeping your weight in check, these physical activities are excellent stress busters.
The unhealthy lifestyle habits such as drinking, smoking, substance abuse can harm your body beyond imagination. Give up these unhealthy habits as early as you can.
There may be a strong connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. However, to avoid one affecting the other, one should take care of themselves and manage the conditions well.

Pancreatic Cancer - Are Diabetic Patients At A Higher Risk?

Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease of the liver that attacks a person when their immune system turns against their liver cells. This condition leads to a dysfunctional liver, which may cause disorders related to the organ. It is not known as to what causes this disease but specific genes are believed to be the reason behind autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune hepatitis manifests in the form of necrosis (death of living cells of the liver), hepatocellular inflammation, and later on also culminates in cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). 

A number of women than men are affected by autoimmune hepatitis. The signs and symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis include weakness, weight loss, fever, belly pain, diarrhea, skin rashes, edema, and yellowing of skin or eyes. There is no permanent cure for autoimmune hepatitis and it can be only managed with medicines. There are allopathic medicines to keep the disease under control but they have been found to have side effects. These side effects are not gentle on the body and if one wants to avoid them then Ayurvedic remedies come forward as the ideal option.

Swedana: A natural detoxification treatment, swedana refers to sweat generation therapy. In this therapy, the patient is made to sit in a closed steam chamber and is warmed with the help of steam that carries the aroma of several Ayurvedic herbs. These herbs induce sweating in the patient, thereby, removing the toxins sitting inside the body. Later, the patient is given a gentle massage to relax the body.
Apple cider vinegar: This gives relief in the case of autoimmune hepatitis by reducing the ammonia levels in the blood. High ammonia in blood is believed to cause an imbalance in the body and this imbalance disturbs the immune system, causing it to turn against the body.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): Milk thistle has properties that strengthen the immunity of the body. It also contains a flavonoid called silymarin that protects the liver from toxins. It has antioxidant properties that keep the liver damage in check and the anti-inflammatory agents that bring relief in swelling.
Giloy: This is a very potent herb that boosts the immune system of the body by increasing the fighting power of a particular type of white blood cells. It also balances the pH level of the body. It is a natural diuretic and thus, increases secretion of urine, helping to flush out the toxins from the body. Being anti-inflammatory and analgesic in nature, giloy controls swelling and also gives relief from pain.
Haldi (Turmeric): Turmeric is a natural immunity booster that is known to carry a compound called curcumin. This compound is a cleanser and a purifier. It removes the toxins and impurities from the body and the blood. This relaxes the liver and also restores its normal functions.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that can be managed with Ayurvedic remedies but one also needs to make lifestyle changes to keep body s immunity in good shape. Abstinence from alcohol, smoking, and spicy foods are beneficial and so is regular exercise and plenty of water intake. These steps automatically increase the immunity of the body and thus, keeps the disease in check.

Ayurvedic Remedies For Autoimmune Hepatitis!

Role Of Ayurveda In The Management Of Genital Herpes & Sarpa Suttu!

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