camphor

Camphor- The effective & healthy mosquito repellent! 

Malaria and Dengue are on a steep rise. We all must be using liquid or the old blue tablet type of mosquito repellents sold under various names. Despite their use, it is common to see mosquitoes hovering around with the best of repellents in action. Secondly, we cannot use these mosquito repellents whole day – be they be of any brand. Thirdly, many people land up with -------- due to them.

In the past, man would light diyas and burn camphor on a regular basis as a part of daily puja. These helped to purify the air and keep harmful bacteria, viruses and mosquitoes away! We can definitely have a better and healthy environment with the use of camphor.

Camphor or Kapur is a waxy, white or transparent substance extracted from the wood of the Camphor Laurel tree found in Asia. Camphor has many known medicinal uses-
It relieves nasal congestion and cough when rubbed on the chest as an oil. Camphor is used as an ingredient inthroat lozenges and cough syrups and in Vicks. Camphor is also used in some anti-itch ointments, creams and cooling gels because it is can be absorbed through skin and is effective at treating pain locally. It has an ------- effect which makes it a favorite oil to be used in pain relieving massage blends for sore muscles and arthritic ------. Camphor is known to improve the quality of air making it a better for our lungs and heart.

Many people are not aware of the Mosquito repellent power of Camphor - a simple solution without side effects and very cost effective. CAMPHOR IS A NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT With effect round the clock! You do not need to burn it for that. There are three easier ways to do it -

1.        Put 2 tablets of commercially available camphor on any warm surface. Plug it for an hour and see the results! You can do it twice a day- morning and in the night as well!
2.        Place 2 tablets of camphor on different corners of the room or at places where mosquitoes seem to love to stay! Leave them there and they will evaporate in a day or so keeping the air purer and mosquito free.
3.        Take a wide opened cup or plate with water. Drop 2 tablets of Camphor into the water. Keep the cup with water and camphor in your sleeping room. The quantity of water and camphor may differ from room size. Water evaporate at normal temperature. Camphor slowly started dissolving in water. The water evaporates with Camphor smell. Adding little bit hot water gives instant action.  

You will be amazed at the results! Do experience it and help spread these healthy tips!

Thanking you

           

Buson Yosa

chikungunya.

Why am I talking about Chikungunya when Swineflu is in fashion?
Well a friend of mine has returned from Kerala, she was saying that the minute people turn with febrile symptoms, the doctors hand out pills, on the assumption of Chikungunya as it is still rampant there.
“Without a blood test?” --- Without a blood test. Why would it be important for a blood test after all paracetamol that is prescribed for Chikungunya is a relatively harmless drug that it is vended over the counter without prescription? Multivitamins can’t do much damage either. Fluid intake and rest are prescribed in all febrile conditions.
In a way this is a good thing to do, because people once infected by Chikungunya seem to develop a more serious condition called the tomato fever. What happens here, is there are tomato like rashes emerging on the hands and legs. The skin becomes hypersensitive, these tomato like rashes have fluids oozing out of them.
To the date 28.000 cases have been registered. The general profile of the disease is not known.
But what is scary is the differential diagnosis of Chikungunya is dengue. While Chikungunya is crippling dengue is fatal.
Chikungunya Vs Dengue:
vector:
Dengue Aedes aeaypti
Chikungunya Aedes aeaypti and aedes albopictus.
Clinical features:
Dengue normal fever(DNF) high fever abrupt onset sever headache, pain behind the eyes, muscles bone joints, nausea, vomiting and rashes.
Dengue hemorrhagic (DHF) just like DNF but hemorrhage is also seen. Hemorrhage when there is bleeding.
Chikungunya sudden onset, of fever, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, sometimes joint pain and rashes are also seen.
Incubation:
Dengue 3- 5days.
Chikungunya 3-7 days.
This is why it is very easy to miss the diagnosis particularly when so much of hype is going around.
Laboratory tests:
Are important in diagnosis and treatment plan. The tests done are:
· Antibody test for IgM and IgG
· Total blood and platelet count
· White blood count.
Clinical features with IgM and IgG or both decrease WBC and platelet count usually confirms dengue. Normal or hemorrhagic.
Presence of IgG and isolation of virus by genetic coding is diagnostic of Chikungunya.
Dengue requires hospitalization ASAP there is a fear of the patient bleeding into a hemorrhagic shock,
While Chikungunya is usually self limiting, lot of fluids, rest, and paracetmol helps in relief from symptoms. Though joint pain persists for a long time.
References:
Kerala department of preventive health.
WHO Chikungunya awareness program.
Center for disease control.