Hornet stings - Home remedies

Last week as I was travelling home by train, I experienced a stinging pain on my wrist. When I lifted up the sleeve I saw a bee like insect stinging me on my wrist. I brushed the insect off my sleeve but had no idea how to reduce the unbearable pain or the swelling which was increasing by the minute. The half hour journey home felt like a few hours. That evening, I did some research about stings,and found a lot of useful information.I thought it would be a good topic to blog about.

Firstly, I found out that the insect which bit me is called a hornet. The hornet is from the bee family, closer to the wasp as it does not leave it's stinger behind. This means it can bite you again and again. That makes it more dangerous than a bee. The first thing you do when a hornet stings you, or even when you see one around you is get away from there.

Hornet stings contain poison, but it is usually quite small in amount.Unless you are allergic to wasp venom, the hornet's sting is not lethal. It would take about 500 hornet stings to kill a human child and 1000 to kill an adult. Also the hornet sting contains 5% acetylcholine. This is known to send pain signals to the brain. Hence the sting of a hornet is way more painful that that of a bee.

Let's talk of the remedies now:

Step 1: Get away from the hornet first. There may be more around or the same insect may return to bite you.
Step 2:  Check for the stinger. This usually does not happen but the hornet may leave a stinger on you. Check for a black stinger. DO NOT use tweezers. They may send the stinger further inside and increase the chance of venom getting in you. Use a sharp object or the edge of a credit card to slowly graze out the stinger
Step 3 : Work on reducing the swelling and numbing the pain. An ice cube can be put to use here. Apply an ice pack or ice cube wrapped in a cloth. This reduces the swelling to a great extent.

DO remember that the pain might take a few hours to reduce. If you feel that the swelling or pain is too much then it is good to get to the emergency room.

 Some more home remedies

A topical pain killer or pills like ibuprofen would work, but consult your physician before taking these.
A thick paste of baking soda applied on the sting/ swelling would reduce pain considerably.
Soak a small cloth in Apple cider vinegar or plain vinegar and apply to the sting until pain reduces.
The same thing can be done with lemon juice too
A freshly cut piece of potato, onion or cucumber held on to the sting reduces the pain
Olive oil can also be applied
Crushed parsley leaves applied topically also provide great relief

The next time some one around you gets stung by a hornet, you know what to do. Always remember to stay away from hives. It's better to be safe than sorry.

At home Facial

 When I was younger, I used to follow this once a week routine, that left me with flawless skin. I got a little lazy as I started working and completely forgot about it over time.

 Those of you who want healthy skin, but don't want to spend time at a beauty salon, try this at home. And guys, this one works great for you too, this routine is not just for women. All the material you need to use is usually available around the house.

 To start off, use an apron or a towel to cover your clothes . Tie up your hair or use a hairband so it will not get in the way. Wash your face with a face wash and pat dry.

 Step 1 (Cleanse) -  Take a table spoon of milk in a bowl. Dip some clean cotton wool in the milk and apply on face and neck. Massage in circular motion for about a minute. Remove the excess milk with cotton and wash off with plain water.

Step 2 (Scrub) - Mix 1 Tspn Besan (Chickpea flour) with 1 tspn sugar , make a paste with rose water. Scrub your face with circular motions until the sugar melts. Wait till the Chickpea flour dries. Wash off with plain water. 

Step 3 (Steam) - Heat water with mint leaves and steam your face. Remove blackheads.

Step 4 (Tone) - Wrap an ice cube in a towel and rub on the face. Apply rose water on cotton wool and dab on face.

Step 5 (Mask) -
Oily Skin - make a pack of crushed fresh fruits. Massage on face.Leave till dry and wash
Dry Skin - Mash half a ripe banana, mix with 1 tspn honey and one tspn olive oil. Massage on face. Leave till dry and wash
Normal skin - Massage with milk cream, leave till dry and wash.

Step 6 (Mask 2) -

Oily Skin - Mix 1 tbspn, sandalwood powder with milk to make a paste. Apply evenly on face and leave to dry. Wash off with plain water.
Dry /Normal Skin - Mix a tspn of powdered Oats and powdered almonds. Mix with a tspn of milk cream. Make a paste. Apply evenly on face. Leave to dry and wash off with plain water.


This whole routine will take 30-45 minutes and gives you wonderful , glowing skin

Breathing right

If you woke up breathing, congratulations!  You have another chance.  ~Andrea Boydston

 Breathing is something we all do unconsiously, it requires no effort or concentration from our end.  However, if we breathe in a shallow manner, not much good can come out of it. Right breathing can help us reap benefits both physically and mentally.

 Most people only take shallow breaths. What happens in such scenarios is that , the stomach is pulled inside and the shoulders are pushed up to allow the air in. This is too much effort, breathing is natural and should be done naturally. Shallow breaths also reduce the oxygen levels in the blood and this might lead to tension, exhaustion and many stress related illnesses. 

 The effort many people make to suck in their tummies also leads to breathing problems.  There are many vital organs in the abdominal area which get affected on tucking in your tummies too long. 


 It is good to know that unlike your heartbeat and digestion, breathing is one bodily function that you can control. Many cultures have breathing exercises and routines that help calm the mind and improve health. One of many such practices is Pranayama, which many people call Yoga breathing. 


 Experts say one good way to breathe right, is to notice how you breathe when you are happy, relaxed or when you exercise. This kind of breathing can be emulated always. The right way of breathing is to breathe from the diaphragm. If your breathing is correct, then you can feel your diaphragm push down in to your belly. 

Deep breathing is the best way to relax your body. When you take shallow breaths, you send indications to your brain that you are under stress. Deep breaths oxygenate every cell in your body. 

 Apart from the reduced stress , deep breathing exercises can also induce weight loss. Most of my Indian readers must have seen various pranayama  exercises on television, early in the morning. These techniques work wonderfully for weight loss if practiced regularly. Do remember that like any other exercise, it is no miracle and will take time. Start with 1-2 minutes a day and slowly increase to 20 minutes. Exercise forms like Pilates, Yoga and Tai-chi also concentrate on right breathing along with physical movement. 


For those who do not find the time to practice various deep breathing exercises, a few minutes of diaphragmic breathing can produce amazing results. Also, deep breathing exercises are quite useful to wind instrument players and singers and others who use their voice more often. 


 Try deep breathing for a healthy life. If you have any ailments, please consult your medical practitioner before taking upon any such activity. Have you benefitted from deep breathing? Please share your experiences.

 
 


 

Luscious lips

Welcome to wellness sundays! I believe the first step to wellness is a lovely smile. And in order to make your smile lovely, you need to have luscious lips.

Not all of us are blessed with lips like that. And even those who are blessed with such lips have to take pains to ensure they are perfect. Lips are the most sensitive part of your body. Pollution, food and cosmetics leave them chapped, dry, stained and colorless. Dry chapped lips are not only painful but also bring unwanted attention to the face. Lips will look beautiful ONLY if they are healthy.

Here are a few tips on lip care.

* STOP licking your lips.
* Protect your lips while going out in extreme weather conditions. Wear a lip balm (SPF 15).
* Ensure a proper supply of B vitamins.
* Drink plenty of water (The magic number is 8)
* Don't bite your lips either.
* Always remember to remove makeup at the end of the day
* Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
* Vitamin A is also important for repair of skin. Ensure that your diet includes vitamin A rich ingredients like carrots, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, whole grains and legumes. You can also have a vitamin rich juice made up of 1 tbsp. of water cress, carrot and spinach juice, 2 tbsp. wheat germ oil, one glass of tomato juice, and 1 tbsp. of nutritional yeast

Skin is usually chapped because of loss of moisture and natural oils.
A few home remedies for lip problems.

Lip balm:
Take two table spoons of Vaseline, add one table spoon cranberry sauce or beetroot juice. This makes a smooth and pink lip balm.

For rosy lips:
* Massage lips with corriander leaf juice
* Grind rose petals with milk cream and apply on lips
* Crush the rind of one lemon and apply the juice to your lips
* Mix equal parts of coconut and almond oil. Apply on lips and leave overnight. Repeat every night for two weeks.
* Mix saffron and curds and apply on lips. wash off after a while.

To treat chapped lips:
* Mix milk cream with two drops of glycerine and apply to lips.
* Dip a towel in hot water and apply to ur lips. Follow it up with a mixture of Vaseline and honey.
* Peanut butter or cocobutter also works wonders
*Brush your lips with a soft toothbrush once in a while.


Take care!! Until the next post, keep smiling.