Oranges Are Awesome

While oranges have been given a bad rap in the press lately because of their sugar content, new research is showing that the fresh fruit – not the store bought juice – may deliver a wealth of benefits.

A Range of Benefits

Loaded with over 60 flavonoids, pectin, and vitamin C, oranges are emerging as a resource for optimal eye, heart, kidney and immune health.Vitamin C in oranges activates GABA receptors on retinal nerve cells. Without optimal vitamin C, these nerve cells can malfunction and may increase the risk of a host of eye health issues .Regular intake of oranges has shown to support the health of the arteries as well as maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Due to their high potassium levels, oranges are recommended for healthy kidney function according to the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Beware of Orange Juice

An orange without its fiber to slow down the absorption of the sucrose and fructose can easily overwhelm the body’s sugar tolerance. So chow down on oranges, but not the juice!

According to Ayurveda, fruits are best when eaten alone. This makes an orange a great meal replacement if you miss a meal. If you need something before, during or after exercise when losing lots of fluids and electrolytes, a whole orange is perfect choice

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Honey Eaters Beware!

                According to a recent report from the Food Safety News group, more than three-fourths of the honey sold in U.S. grocery stores isn’t honey.Here’s the deal: standard processing of honey involves removing the pollen, meaning that most commercial sources have had all of the pollen removed.In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration states that any product that’s been ultra-filtered and no longer contains pollen isn’t honey.

            Ultra-filtering is a process whereby the honey is heated, watered down and then forced through a very small filter under high pressure to remove the pollen. Who knows what happens to the good microbes in honey during this process.Food Safety News purchased more than 60 jars, jugs and plastic bears of honey in 10 states and the District of Columbia and tested them for pollen.

They found that:

1)76% of the samples bought at big-name groceries had all the pollen removed. These were stores like TOP Food & Drug, Safeway, Giant Eagle, QFC, Kroger, Metro Market, Harris Teeter, A&P, Stop & Shop and King Soopers.

2)100% of the samples from drugstores like Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS Pharmacy had no pollen.

3)77% of the samples from big box stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target and H-E-B had the pollen filtered out.

4)100% of the samples from small individual service portions from Smucker’s, McDonald’s and KFC had the pollen removed.

Ayurvedic Honey

              Ayurveda suggests to eat only raw, unfiltered, uncooked honey. It is said that if honey is raw it can scrub impurities from the body. Once it is heated, it changes its properties and becomes an indigestible, toxic substance Ayurveda calls ama.Beekeepers routinely spray diluted raw honey on the hive to calm the bees before managing the hive. Interestingly, in one report, when bee keepers sprayed cooked and filtered honey on the hive within 20 minutes a significant number of the bees sprayed were dead. While this was not a scientific study, it does allude to the drastic alteration that occurs in the processing of honey and concurrent removing of pollen.

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How Green Smoothies Can Devastate Your Health

         

                

                    Green smoothies are all the rage these days with many people consuming them every day or at least several times a week in an attempt to get healthy and “alkalize” the body.Whenever I visit the cafe of my local healthfood store, there are usually several people in gym clothes lined up to order a green smoothie to sip after their workout.Green smoothies are made by blending large amounts of raw leafy green vegetables with fruit to soften and sweeten the taste.Typical vegetables included in green smoothies are kale, spinach, swiss chard, collard greens, celery, broccoli, and parsley.

                  According to Ayurveda, every food can be both a medicine or a poison depending on how and when it is consumed and who is consuming it. The basic rule of thumb in most ancient healing traditions is that like increases like, and opposites balance. Green smoothies are not inherently bad or good. They do however have certain qualities that can be helpful or harmful depending on each person.  In general, green smoothies are heavy, cold, sweet, sticky, smooth, and liquid in nature. If a person has a weak digestive capacity, then a green smoothie might not be the best choice for them. Also, we must take into consideration the season, time of day the smoothie is consumed, and the overall current state of health of the person consuming the smoothie. 

For example, if a person who is Kapha dominant drinks a smoothie in Spring Time when Kapha is naturally higher than usual it has a potential to create further disturbance in the body. However if a person with a strong digestive capacity consumes the same smoothie in the proper season, it can be beneficial. 

If you are one of those people who is addicted to your green smoothie, I would like to offer a few tips on how to make it more digestible and balanced.

1. Adding ginger, honey, turmeric and cinnamon will help by adding a bit of heat to the smoothie and making it more digestible.

2. Never use frozen fruits and vegetables. Try switching to fresh fruits and vegetables instead.

3. Don't make it too thick. If it is on the thinner side, it is easier for your body to digest.    

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Nine Tips for Healthy Hair

1) Like everything else about true, lasting beauty, healthy hair begins within your body. Start with your diet. Include lots of green leafy vegetables and sweet juicy fruits. Dairy products such as milk and fresh yogurt will also help. Fresh coconut is also considered excellent "hair food" - sprinkle grated coconut over salads, diced fresh fruit, or rice.

  

2)  Cut down on refined, processed and canned foods. Ayurveda considers foods with artificial preservatives and chemical additives stripped of their inherent "intelligence" and therefore not helpful in supplying nutrition to your body and mind. Ice-cold beverages also hamper the process of digestion and assimilation of nutrients.

3) Cooking with certain spices adds flavor to your food and provides nourishment for your hair. Cumin, turmeric and black pepper are some "hair-friendly" spices. Add a healthy pinch of each to single-portion soups and stews as they are cooking. Saut - 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon each of the three spices in a teaspoon of ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil and add to cooked veggies. Roasted ground cumin and ground black pepper can be sprinkled over fresh yogurt.

4)  Stress can be seriously injurious to long-term health and color of hair. Try and manage your time and tasks to minimize time-related pressures. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation. Seek out tranquil sights in nature to help restore balance to your mind. Relaxing or uplifting music can be therapeutic. Get adequate, good quality sleep to help the natural process of rejuvenation.

5)  Ayurvedic herbs that help hair health include Eclipta alba and Gotu Kola. Eclipta alba is called "Bhringaraj" - literally, king of tresses. It nourishes the hair and helps resistance to stress as well. Brahmi, sometimes called Gotu Kola, also helps balance the mind and nourishes the hair and scalp. Since Ayurveda considers the health, color and luster of hair so dependent on overall mind/body health, synergistic Ayurvedic herbal preparations for hair can also include herbs such as Country Mallow, which is supposed to strengthen the physiology, and Winter Cherry, which aids resistance to stress.

·6) Stay away from harsh chemical topical products that can damage hair over time. Look for gentle, natural cleansers and conditioners, especially if you wash your hair more than three times a week. Shampoos and conditioners that contain nourishing botanicals are even better. Read labels carefully - sometimes, products that say "herbal" or "natural" can include no-no chemicals.

7)  A warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate and moisturize the scalp. You can use good quality coconut, almond or olive oil Ayurvedic hair oils also contain some of the herbs mentioned earlier. Apply some mildly warmed oil to your hair and gently massage into your scalp evenly with your fingertips. Leave on overnight if you can, if not, leave on for at least an hour or two, then get it out by shampooing your hair. The scalp massage helps you relax and aids sound sleep as well.

8)  Never attack wet hair with a brush, no matter how rushed for time you are. Tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide-toothed comb. Use a wooden comb if you can find one; it won't generate static electricity. Excessive blow-drying can damage hair in the long-term, making it brittle and causing split ends. If you can, let your hair dry naturally, then brush into place.

9) Last, but not least, brushing your hair regularly to stimulate the scalp will keep it looking healthy and lustrous. Brush each night in all directions in turn - left to right, right to left, front to back and back to front Use smooth long strokes from scalp to hair-tips.

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Salt – are you eating ‘good’ or ‘bad’ salt?

    

                  In the classic Western way of making things black and white—salad is good, fat is bad—salt has been put in the ‘bad’ camp. However, the ancients treasured salt and knew it was one of the most critical ingredients for a healthy body. Almost 5000 years ago, the Chinese pharmacological text, the Peng-Tzao-Kan-Mu, listed the medicinal effects of 40 varieties of natural salt. In the ancient world, before money or gold, salt was used to represent trust and value. You might have been ‘worth your salt’ or considered the ‘salt of the earth’. We are now paid a‘salary’which comes from the same word as salt. Roman soldiers used to be paid in salt because it was universally ‘trusted’ or relied upon. This was when people ate real salt. Real or ‘good’ salt contains 80 or more naturally occurring minerals and healing ingredients, other than sodium chloride, that are synergistically put together by Mother Nature. Way back before the time of ancient Rome and Greece, this type of salt was known to strengthen, balance and heal the body.

               Good salt—salt that occurs naturally—plays a primary role in the proper functioning of the nervous system, helps maintain a healthy fluid balance in the body, and contributes to many important chemical reactions. Ancient healers considered good salt to be one of their most prized medicines. For thousands of years, salt was one of the first things used to heal infections and treat inflammation. Have you ever had a cut or skin rash that seemed to take forever to get better, but after swimming in the ocean a couple of times, it ‘miraculously’ healed? Good salt was also known to be absolutely critical to bone health. the body, and contributes to many important chemical reactions. Ancient healers considered good salt to be one of their most prized medicines. For thousands of years, salt was one of the first things used to heal infections and treat inflammation. Have you ever had a cut or skin rash that seemed to take forever to get better, but after swimming in the ocean a couple of times, it ‘miraculously’ healed? Good salt was also known to be absolutely critical to bone health .

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Some Hints to Control Kidney Stones or Stones Related to Urinary Tract.

This is one of the comman complaint what most of the people face in present days.There are many causes for this problem of stones.There are various varities of stones.They may be uric acid crystals,calcium oxalate crystals,Cystine stones and many more varities of stones.The problem of urinary calculi is more comman in males than in females

The ratio is 3:1

Sizes:-

The urinary stones are of different sizes and shapes.They may be samll as sand or large as a marble.They may have smooth surface or a cutting edge and rough.The small stones of the size of about-4-5 cmm pass of easily and requires no medication.They may even remain unidentified of a long time.But those larger and with irregular surface often causses pain when they dislocate from its position ,and when thrown out of the body.

Causes and measures for thier prevention:

First and most comman cause is reduced intake of water.Most of us do not take enough amount of water.An healthy indivisual should consume atleast 2-3 litres of water in a day.So this should be the first step to be taken to avoid the reccurance and even as a prevention for urinary stones.One who are already facing the problem i advice them to increase the volume of water intake to atleast 2-3 times from before.

IF one with holds the urge of urination and retains it in the bladder for long time in due course it will result in the formation of Calculi[stone].This may be due to work or circumstances.This is a bad habbit and causes various other problems like pain in the lower abdomen,infections of urinary tract,headache etc.Hence never try to with hold the urge of micturation for too long.

Next consuming execcive salt and mineral rich diet.Lemme tell you excess of anything is always harmful.So reduce intake of such food articles.Take a balanced diet.

Execive intake of green leafy vegetables which are rich sources of calcium and many otherminerals and salt is not advisable,Cabbage must be avoided as much as possible.Even cucumber should not be taken too much.Once in 10-15 days is ok.

The ratio is 3:1

Sizes:-

The urinary stones are of different sizes and shapes.They may be samll as sand or large as a marble.They may have smooth surface or a cutting edge and rough.The small stones of the size of about-4-5 cmm pass of easily and requires no medication.They may even remain unidentified of a long time.But those larger and with irregular surface often causses pain when they dislocate from its position ,and when thrown out of the body.

Causes and measures for thier prevention:

First and most comman cause is reduced intake of water.Most of us do not take enough amount of water.An healthy indivisual should consume atleast 2-3 litres of water in a day.So this should be the first step to be taken to avoid the reccurance and even as a prevention for urinary stones.One who are already facing the problem i advice them to increase the volume of water intake to atleast 2-3 times from before.

IF one with holds the urge of urination and retains it in the bladder for long time in due course it will result in the formation of Calculi[stone].This may be due to work or circumstances.This is a bad habbit and causes various other problems like pain in the lower abdomen,infections of urinary tract,headache etc.Hence never try to with hold the urge of micturation for too long.

Next consuming execcive salt and mineral rich diet.Lemme tell you excess of anything is always harmful.So reduce intake of such food articles.Take a balanced diet.

Execive intake of green leafy vegetables which are rich sources of calcium and many otherminerals and salt is not advisable,Cabbage must be avoided as much as possible.Even cucumber should not be taken too much.Once in 10-15 days is ok.

Miracle Healing Power of Grape

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5 Exotics Fruits and their Health Benefits

Getting nutrition from the food that people eat is crucial. People are only familiar about the health benefits of the fruits which are common such as apples, bananas, and oranges. There are otherfruits which may not be too familiar to all but have a lot of nutritional values. The health benefits of the fruits presented below are all helpful to people.

Physalis

This fruit is a native in America and is commonly transported from South America. It looks like a lantern and is similar to tomato. This can also be used in cooking such as in pasta. This fruit has a high acid content and should not be eaten without anything in the stomach because it might cause stomach ache. This can be used as an antibacterial. In addition, it can also help cure skin tumors both cancerous and benign.

Soursop

Soursop is also called guyabano. This fruit can be found in places with humidity and a little colder temperature such as Brazil, South East Asia and America. This fruit is highly acidic but is very rich in vitamins, C, B1, and A. It also contains fibre that can be very helpful to have a smooth bowel movement. The most important benefit that can be extracted from this fruit is that it can kill cancerous cells, which could later cause cancer such as breast or colon.

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit can be found in USA and Los Angeles. It contains oxidative stress that can help avoid further complication related to diabetes. If the fruit is eaten on a regular basis, this can lower down the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well. It is also high in antioxidants. Though omega 3 is commonly found in fish, the seeds of dragon fruit also contains omega 3. Omega 3 is good for the heart and can avoid inflammation.

Prickly Pears

This fruit can be seen in the Southwest America and Mexico but many are not familiar with it. It has a sweet taste. It is said to have higher magnesium content more than an apple, orange and an ordinary pear. This magnesium content can be very helpful to avoid type 2 diabetes because it alleviates the blood sugar in the body. Aside from this, prickly pears are also called cactus pears that can help control and fight viral infection and cholesterol.

Jabuticaba

Many people are not very familiar with this fruit. Jabitucaba is a fruit that is a native in South America. The fruit of Jabuticaba tree comes out from the bark and trunk. The ripe fruit can be eaten directly. This fruit can help cure different kinds of diseases such as diarrhea, asthma, and severe inflammation of the tonsils.

There are many fruits in the world that people are not familiar with. These fruits are very beneficial for the body because it contains nutritional values that fight even a severe ailment such as cancer.

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Drinking Tea, Good or Bad?

There are reasons aplenty for liking tea. Some prefer it because it provides warmth during wintery mornings while others love it because it relieves them off the lethargy and help them to rejuvenate a bit. Real tea is derived from a plant called as Camellia Sinensis and available only in four varieties which are black, green, Oolong and white whereas anything else like herbal teas are a combination of different plants and is technically cannot be termed as tea.

Health Benefits of Tea

Tea fanatics can go on to grab multiple cups of it without even knowing whether it has any benefits or not or is it harmful for the body. Studies have shown that it has health benefits as well as some harmful effects on the body. Health benefits of it are described below:

It can enhance the exercise endurance of the body. Antioxidants that are commonly found in tea extracts can boost the ability of a body to burn as much fat as it can which results in the increase of muscle endurance.
Blood platelets and cholesterol can form unwanted blood clots that can act as catalysts in heart strokes and attacks. Drinking teas can help keep your arteries clog free and smooth which protect one’s body against cardiovascular issues and heart attacks.
A general notion is that drinking teas can give you a dirty tooth; it is true to some extent but not because of teas, rather it mostly happens because of sugar in it. Teas contain tannins & fluorides that keep plaque at an arm’s length from your mouth and help you get a healthier mouth.
The polyphenols & antioxidants commonly found in teas help a long way in fighting against cancer causing cells. Though the research is yet inconclusive but the effects have been overwhelming positive.
Herbal teas with their diuretic capabilities help your body flush water out of your system thus helping at the time of fasting. This way body gets detoxified effectively.
Herbal teas are a great help in losing weight; herbal teas tend to increase the metabolism of your body which helps your body to send those extra calories that are present in your body.
Negative Effects

There are some negative impacts of tea as well which are listed and described below:

Teas contain some amount of aluminum therefore those who have a large intake of tea are prone to Alzheimer’s disease.
Since tea contains tannins which, in turn, can disturb the digestive system therefore people with a large intake of tea can suffer from the problems of diarrhea or constipation.
Many people drink teas to keep the sleep and tiredness at bay while working. It might be a good habit in the short run but can induce sleep disorders and insomnia when continue for a longer period.
Having excessive intake of tea can produce kidney stones and can also disturb urinary system.
Overall, consuming tea appears to be a healthy practice if kept to a certain limit and not drinking excessively. Still, It is up to you to deduce from the above-mentioned points whether tea is good or bad for your own health.

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Health benefits of Papaya fruit

                                     Papaya  is tropical evergreen plant native of Mexico and Central America. It is found throughout India. Papaya fruits contain protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrates, minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and carotene, amino acids and citric acid.

Papaya fruits are nutritionally very rich with low calories. Ripe papaya fruits have stomachic, digestive, carminative and diuretic activities. Its unripe fruits have laxative, diuretic, antibacterial, abortificant, anti-implantation activity.

Papaya seeds for intestinal parasites

 Papaya seeds are edible and have pungent, peppery, bitter taste.  These contain glucosinolates, Benzyl isothiocynate and papaya oil. These are small in size but full of medicinal properties. These are used for expelling intestinal parasites naturally. This is very good, cost effective and without any side effect home remedy for treating intestinal worms. Papaya seeds are antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-amoebic and effective against E.coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus infections. These seeds can be air dried and used with honey in water as medicine against parasites.

General Information

Latin name: Carica papaya 
Common names: papaya, papaw, pawpaw, mamao,  tree melon, Papita

How to use Papaya seeds

§  Take ground papaya seeds (1 tsp).

§  Mix with honey.

§  Add in cup of warm water and drink empty stomach before breakfast.

§  Do this for four days.

§  For kids you can add one teaspoon of air dried papaya seeds in 20 ml of honey.

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Make Your Own Natural Eye Cream

Eye Cream for Puffy Eyes:

Boil some water in a kettle to make it pure and add some coffee to it. When it cools down, apply this coffee under your eyes when you are going to sleep and wash it off in the morning. This will get rid of the fluids. This is not exactly eye "cream" but creams are too heavy for puffy eyes in my opinion.

Eye Cream for Dark Circles:

Mix 1/2 tsp of turmeric with 1 tsp of lemon. Both ingredients are excellent to brighten the skin. Apply the paste under your eyes and keep it on for 15 mins. Then wash it away but be careful when you pat it dry, it may stain your towel due to tumeric.

Eye Cream for Wrinkles:

Simply dab some almond oil or take some oil from the Vitamin E tablets. Because you have wrinkles, just dab on your chosen oil. DO NOT rub it on your eyes. This helps to rejuvenate the skin and get rid of ageing wrinkles. I would say, just apply before you go sleep and wash it off in the morning.

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Top 3 Tips To Super Health

Tip #1 : Choose Super Foods!

Most foods today are nutrient poor and so are our diets. With the consumption of more refined food with less to sustain us, we often feel stressed, run down and lacking in vibrant health. To help ensure your optimal health, Super foods are key. Super foods are foods that contain a higher level and broader range of nutrients than other foods and thus, help you lower inflammation. They are nutrient dense foods that helpyou effectively maintain or lose your weight, fight disease, age slower and live longer.

Remember, you are what you eat. Whether you are eating a Snickers bar or a spinach salad..those foods begin working with your body and essentially become you.

Imagine a super food — not a drug — powerful enough to help you lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, help you age slower and put you in a better mood. Did I mention that there are no side effects? Guess what? These life-changing super foods are available right now in your grocery store.

Examples of Super Foods are:

Apples

Beans

Avocados

Blueberries

Broccoli

Chocolate

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Garlic

Pumpkin

Salmon

By adding super foods to your diet, you will be reducing your intake of refined and processed foods.

Tip #2: Move Your Body!

Fitness is key in creating super health. Exercise, such as cardio, strength training and flexibility, is not something that comes in a bottle or a pill. It comes from your mindset, your physical abilities and your energy level. This is why optimal nutrition is so vital to super health because without it, you will not have the clear mindset or energy to be effective.

There are dozens of reasons why exercise is good for you. Being fit reduces inflammation in your body. Exercise helps you lose and maintain your weight, extends your life span, and decreases your risk for a whole host of illness and diseases by reducing inflammation, controlling your blood sugar, maintains healthy bones and muscles, helps prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer and so much more. You cannot create super health without adding exercise to the equation.

It is vital to exercise with moderate – intensity most days of the week for a minimum of 30 minutes. However, there are options to shortening your workout times and create highly effective fitness with techniques such as HIIT.

High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT is a workout that will allow you to lose up to 9 times more fat than a similar cardio workout.

An example of HIIT: a runner would alternate 30-40 seconds of jogging or walking with 15-20 seconds of intense walking or jogging.

There is another form of HIIT called the “Little Method.” You perform 1 minute of intense exercise followed by 75 seconds of rest, then repeat 8 times. You train only 3 times a week and obtain gains similar to those who trained 5 times per week using steady cardio.

Many people think they don’t like to exercise – until they start doing it consistently. Remember that it is not as difficult as you think. Put conscious thought into getting enough movement into your daily life to keep you strong physically and mentally and soon it will become second nature.

Tip #3 : Hydrate!

Water is essential to vibrant super health. Our bodies are mostly water. The brain? 85% water! Every function in the body is related to water. When there is too much water outside our cells and not enough inside, you become dehydrated.

Do you know that most people are walking around mildly dehydrated and do not even know it? By the time you are thirsty, you are already 1-2% dehydrated. Dehydrated cells cannot function properly and thus, all processes slow down in the body creating fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, hunger, foggy thinking, pain, lethargy and a multitude of other health issues.

How much water should you drink? Take your body weight, divide it by two and the answer is the amount of ounces you need each day. For example, if you weigh 120 lbs. you would need 60 ounces of water each day. This does not include water lost due to exercise.

By applying these three tips consistently to your daily life, you will resist illness, disease, faster aging and create a quality life of Super Health!
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Neem Leaves Magic.

Neem, the “wonder tree of India,” is known in Ayurveda as a detoxifier, and, in traditional use, it is considered a multifaceted support for skin health. A cleanser and blood purifier, dexterous neem supports clear and healthy skin and promotes general well-being.

              Neem has long been treasured in India for its many benefits, and all parts of the tree are used to support various aspects of wellness. For centuries, Indians have juiced neem leaves to achieve glowing skin, chewed neem bark to clean their teeth, used neem leaves as a natural bug repellent, and drank neem tea as a powerful tonic. Neem, in a testament to its many uses, is commonly called the “friend and protector of the Indian villager” or simply the “village pharmacy.” Maharishi Ayurveda Neem is certified organic and non-GMO, vegetarian and cruelty-free, grown and processed without toxic and harmful synthetic chemicals.

            Neem leaf, increasingly found as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, is famous in the ancient Ayurvedic texts for having an almost magical effect on the skin. Beneficial for all skin types, traditional Ayurvedic remedies recommend utilizing neem’s purifying qualities: this is done by applying a paste of crushed neem leaves directly to problem skin.

Neem aids in cleansing deep toxins from the teeth and mouth.

          Neem bark especially supports dental health; in fact, its most common use is as a sort of natural, gnawable toothbrush. (See image below)  Ayurdent, a fluoride-free ayurvedic toothpaste, contains neem bark and is extra-effective when you brush just before bed. It helps heal sore gums and helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening the gums and teeth.

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