Leucoderma

Leucoderma (lit.“white skin”), also known as vitiligo, is a non-bacterial, non-contagious skin condition characterized by a gradual loss of the melanin pigment in the layers of the skin that results to appearances of white patches. These patches contrasted greatly especially on the skin of people with dark complexion.

Symptoms
A small white spot that appears on the skin later develops into small, pale patches. The spots could grow larger and merge with each other to form a larger patch. It gradually loses all color and became completely white. It may spread all over the body.

Causes
Primary causes points to acute or chronic gastric disorders, anxiety, and heredity. Certain disorders such as jaundice, worm or parasitical infestation in the alimentary canal, typhoid, perspiration malfunction and burn injuries also contributes to the development of leucoderma on the body.

Home Remedies
Psoralea: Soak psoralea seeds in ginger juice for 3 days. Renew ginger juice everyday. After 3 days, remove husks by rubbing the seeds with hands. Leave to dry in the shade and then ground it into fine powder. Take 1 gram of psoralea powder everyday with 1 cup of fresh milk. Do this continuously for 40 days. Grounded psoralea seeds can also be applied directly to the spots.

Tamarind: Soak equal quantity of psoralea and tamarind seeds in water for 3-4 days. Take out the shells then leave it to dry in the shade. Ground into paste then apply on the spots. Discontinue treatment if application caused itchiness and inflammation.

Red clay: Mix equal parts of red clay (found on river side or hill slopes) and ginger juice. Apply mixture on white spots once a day. Red clay contains copper that brings back the natural skin pigmentation. Ginger juice stimulates the blood flow to the spots.

Drink water stored in a copper container over night will also help.

Radish: Mix 35 gm of powdered radish seeds in 2 teaspoons of vinegar. Apply on areas with white patches.

Goose foot: Eat goose foot vegetable once in the morning and once in the evening, continuously for 2 months. Goose foot juice extracted from its leaves can also be applied to heal white patches on the skin.

Turmeric: Soak 500 gm of grounded turmeric on 8 liters of water overnight. Boil it in the morning until 1 liter of water is left. Strain, and then mix with 500 ml mustard oil. Heat until only the oil is left. Strain again then store in a bottle. Apply on white patches every morning and evening for a few months.

Diets
Eliminate the toxins from the body by taking an exclusive juice diet for 1 week. Take on another exclusive diet consisting of whole wheat bread, fresh fruits, and raw or steamed vegetables afterwards. Add curd and milk for a few days after this diet.

Have a well-balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts. Take it along with honey, yeast, and cold-pressed vegetable oils.

Repeat juice diet every 2 months.

Avoid drinking alcohol, coffee or tea. Similarly, avoid all condiments, sugar, white flour, denatured cereals such as polished rice and pearled barley, and tinned or bottled foods.

Other Suggestions
Administer a lukewarm water enema everyday while undergoing the initial juice diet for 1 week.

Lethargy

Lethargy is a condition characterized by drowsiness, lack of energy and weariness. A lethargic individual may also be inactive, uninterested or sluggish.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of contracting lethargy are as follows: body pains, fatigue, loss of concentration, loss of appetite, sleeping disorders and irregular bowel movement.

Causes
Lethargy is commonly caused by depression. Other conditions that influences the onset of lethargy on an individual are adrenal gland disorders, alcohol or drug overdoes, constipation, diabetes, head injury, high and low blood pressure, malnutrition, measles, mononucleosis, and many others.

Home Remedies
Basil leaf: Prepare a tea out of basil leaves and drink it regularly.

Lemon: Mix equal parts of grapefruit and lemon juice. Drink 1 glass of these juices.

Abstain from eating any food aside from sprouts once every 2 weeks.

Diets
Have a healthy and well-balanced diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Drink plenty of water when the occasion permits.

Refrain from consuming white sugar, processed foods and foods that are high in fat and less in carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

Further Suggestions
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.

Have yourself a good night sleep and take physical exercises regularly.

Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are painful and uncomfortable muscle contraction in the leg area. It generally occurs on the calf, hamstring and quadriceps muscles.

It is experienced in all age groups, although it mostly occurs on the older patients. It usually lasts for less than a minute, and sometimes extend for several more minutes depending on the severity of the condition.

Symptoms
There is muscle tenderness and severe leg pain when having leg cramps. The patient is unable to move their leg for a certain period of time.

Causes
Exact causes of leg cramps are difficult to determine, although some of the factors contributing to it are as follows: dehydration, obesity, low blood level supply, muscle overexertion, nerve and muscle disorders, drug side-effects such as those using diuretics, and imbalances in fluid, electrolytes, and hormones.

Home Remedies
Massage and stretch the sore muscles to lessen the pain and contraction.

Taking a hot shower or warm bath will relax the muscles.

Apply cold packs on the affected area to relax the tensed muscles.

Place a heating pad or warm towel on a cramping muscle to alleviate the pain.

Diets
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Consume foods that are rich in calcium and potassium.

Further Suggestions
Drink plenty of fluids when exercising for dehydration causes leg cramps.

Do stretches prior to your exercise routine to help relax the muscles and thus prevent leg cramp.

Do your muscle stretches slowly while doing your workout for sudden physical movements causes leg cramps.

Roll up bed sheets and place them at your feet when sleeping. This will prevent your feet and toes from pointing downward and cause muscle misalignment.

Do a little cycling exercise for a few minutes before bedtime to prevent cramps from developing over the night.