Family : Solanaceae

Synonyms :

• Hindi – Asgandh
• Sanskrit – Ashwagandha
• English – Winter Cherry
• Gujarati – Asoda
• Bengali – Aaskanda
• Kannada – Hirimaddina gadde
• Marathi – Aaskandha
• Malayalam – Ammukivann

Withania somnifera is found cultivated throughout  India.

Properties:

• Tonic
• Alterant
• Nutritive
• Aphrodisiac
• Nervine sedative

Phytochemicals:

The phytochemicals which are present in the withania somnifera are alkaloids, amino acids, sterols and neutral compounds.

Forms of use:

It is used in the form of powder, decoction, paste of leaves and root.

Medicinal uses:

• Withania somnifera gives fresh energy and vigour in a system that has been weakened due to constitutional diseases like syphilis.
• It provides fresh energy to the patients who are undergoing treatment for rheumatic fever.
• It can also be used for treating impotence and seminal debility. For this purpose, the powdered root of withania is mixed with equal parts of ghee and honey and taken.
• It is used as a nutrient and restores health in pregnant women and old people. For them the decoction of root is recommended.
• For the treatment of glandular swelling, the green root is made to paste with hot water and the paste is applied on affected areas.
• Withania is also useful for improving the sight of the person, for this take a mixture of ashwagandha powder, liquorice powder and juice of emblica myrobalans.
• It removes the functional obstruction in the body and promotes urination.
• The roots and leaves of the Withania somnifera have antibiotic and anti-bacterial activities.

• Drink more amount of water in this season to prevent your skin from becoming dry.
• Green tea is beneficial in this season than normal tea.
• The skin becomes more dry when we take bath with hot water in this season. It is advisable to take bath with lukewarm water. Additionally add a few drops of olive oil in the bath water to prevent the skin from drying.
• After bath don’t dry your body strongly with towel. Dry it lightly and apply moisturizer on some what wet skin itself.
• According to Ayurveda, it is good to take bath by applying oil to the body at least once a week.
• It is good to eat the fruits that are available in this season like guava and amla. The guava fruits contain high amount of fibers that dissolves easily in the blood and reduces the blood pressure and also the levels of cholesterol. Amla is very beneficial for hair and skin.

Malaria is an infectious disease that is transmitted by the mosquitoes and is caused by a parasite of genus Plasmodium that infects the red blood cells of the humans. There are different types of plasmodium like P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale etc.

The symptoms of malaria include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Shivering
• Joint Pains
• Vomiting
• Anaemia
• Convulsions
• Retinal damage
• Hemoglobinuria
• Sweating

Unwanted hair may be caused due to several factors like genetic factors or due to intake of medicines like steroids and hormones or may be due to medical abnormalities.

Unwanted hair is most common on upper lip, cheeks, chin, legs, on the back, fingers, lower abdomen, bikini line, toes and on the feet.

Some of the home remedies include:

• Make a paste of turmeric powder with milk and apply it on the face. After it gets dry scrub it off slowly by moving the fingers in circular motion and wash with cold water. This does not cause irritation to the skin.
• Mix a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with four teaspoons of honey and apply this mixture as a mask in the direction of hair growth. Rinse it after 10-15 minutes. Apply this mixture twice a week for hair removal.
• Watch the video for some more tips that are cost-effective without any side effects.

Rosemary is indigenous to South Europe and South Asia and is cultivated in the Mediterranean basin and India. The cultivation of the plant is carried out along the slopes and in gardens.

Rosemary is an evergreen plant which grows to a height of 2 metres. It consists of blue coloured small flowers. It grows well in light calcarious soil. Its cultivation is carried out by sowing the seeds.

The plants are cut about 10 cm above the ground and they are distilled for the collection of the oil.

The colour of the rosemary oil is pale yellowish liquid with rosemary flavour and camphoraceous taste.

Chemical constituents:

The flowers consists of volatile oil, resins, ursolic acid and a bitter principle. Tannins are also present in the leaves.

The main components of the volatile oil are borneol, bornyl acetate, camphor, eucalyptol, pinene, d-camphene, cineol and terpenes.

Uses:

• Carminative
• Rubefacient
• Stimulant
• Flavouring agent for liniments, hair lotions, inhaler, soaps and cosmetics

1. The disease encephalitis is an inflammation of which part of the human body?

2. Which chemical element is called ‘coagulation factor IV’ because of its role in multiple phases of blood coagulation?

3. What is the condition of the blood in the urine known as?

4. When does the first tooth of a human baby appear?

5. What is polycythemia?

6. How does one diagnose myocardial infaraction?

7. What is the thickened white plaque in the oral cavity known as?

8. Which vitamin is called as the anti sterility vitamin?

9. What are the tumours of the immune system?

10. What is the commonest cause of blindness in India?

Answers (randomly organised)

5. Increase in the number of red blood cells in blood circulation

2. Calcium

4. Around 6 months

10. Cataract

6. By classical symptoms, ECG changes and elevated cardiac enzymes

1. The brain

8. Vitamin E

3. Haematuria

9. Lymphomas

7. Leukoplakia

• The mechanical effect of rinsing clears the debris from the mouth.
• There will be effect of the flavour used in the preparation of the mouth rinse.
• There will the effect of any specific agent that is added specially for the intended purpose like anti bacterial agent etc at the end.

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and is a common disorder of the digestive system. Gastritis may occur in acute, chronic and toxic forms. It may occur due to excessive consumption of alcohol and prolonged use of NSAID’s like aspirin and ibuprofen.

Pedicure is the care of the feet, nails and the toes. It refers to a superficial cosmetic treatment to improve the appearance of the nails and the feet. Pedicure helps in preventing nail disorders.

Pedicure also helps in removing the dead skin cells from the bottom of the feet by rubbing with a pumice stone.

Components of Natural Fuel Gas:

This natural gas contains mainly methane and other gases like carbon dioxide, propane and butane which are heavier hydrocarbons.

Risks with Natural Fuel Gas:

This natural gas is termed as a pure fuel however it also contributes to global emissions by emitting particulate matter contributing to atmospheric pollution and risk of deposition in the lungs, and circulatory system. Yet another risk in using the natural gas is production of a poisonous gas carbon monoxide an odorless, smokeless and without fumes. Persons who breaths this gas get asphyxiated and die. So conclusion is though the natural gas is a clean fuel gas but it has also certain risks towards pollution and life.

Now a days detectors are available for detection of carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases commercially to safe guard against them.