Lemon(bara nimbu)

This fruit is regarded as a youth restorative. It helps cleanse blemished skin. the juice should be soakd into the skin. allowing it to remain overnight. Dry or scaly skin can be rubbed with the peel of a lemon. This will restore the skin to softness. Lemon juice can also help brighten the hair. Strained fresh juice of this fruit should be mixed with cool water and used to wash the the hair for this purpose. Rough elbows can also be softened by rubbing the area with the cut side of a lemon.

Indian Gooseberry (amla)

Indian goosberry is an accepted hair tonic in traditional recipes for enriching hair grow and hair pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces, in dried preferably in the shade. These pieces are boiled in coconut oil till the solid mass becomes like charred dust. This darkish oil is an excellent oil to prevent greying. The water in which dried amla pieces are soaked overnight is also nourishing to the hair. This water should be used for the last rinse while washing the hair.

Custard Apple (sitaphal)

The seeds of the custard apple have detergent properties. Their power is used to kill lice and prevent dandruff. This powder also serves as a goods hair wash when mixed with bengal gram flour (besan)

Natural Foods As Beauty Aids

There is a wide range of natural foods fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, honey and milk and other products which are of great cosmetic value. They can be benefically used as beauty aids. Some of the important foodstuffs which can be used in this manner are described herein in brief.

FRUITS

Apple (Seb) : Apple is one of the best fruits to tone a weak and run down condition of the human system. Its regular consumption with milk promotes health and youthfulness and helps build beautiful and bright skin.

Apple is also valuable in keeping teeth in good condition and good teeth are an important part of one's health and appearance. Tooth decay can be prevented by regular consumption of this fruit as it possesses a mouth cleaning property. Taken after meals, it has the same effect as a tooth brush in cleaning the teeth. In addition, the acid contents of the apple promote the flow of saliva in the mouth and exerts influence upon the germs.

Trikonasana (Triangle pose)

Stand, erect, with your legs apart. Stretch your arms up to shoulder level. Bend your trunk forward and twist to the left, looking upwards and keeping your left arm raised at an angle of 90. Place your right palm on your left foot without bending the knees. Maintain this pose for a few seconds. Then straighten and return to the normal position. Repeat the procedure on the other side. Trikonasana is an all-round stretching exercise. It takes the spinal column flexible and helps reduse the fat on the lateral sides of the body. Besides, it stimulates the adrenal glands and tones the abdominal and pelvic argans.

Dhanurasana (Bow pose)

Lie on your stomach with your chin resting on the ground, arms extended alongside the body with the legs straight. Bend your legs back towards the hips, bring them forward and grasp your ankles. Inhale and raise your thighs, chest and head at the body shoulder rest mainly on the navel region. Therefore, arch your spine as much as possible. Exhale and return slowly to the straight position, by recersing the procedure. Dhanurasana provides good exercise for the arms, shoulders, legs, ankles, back and neck. It also strengthens the spine.

Shalabhasana (Locust pose)

Lie flat on your stomach, with your legs stretched out straight, feet together, chin and nose resting on the ground, looking straight ahead. Move your arms under the body, keeping them straight, fold your hands into fists and place them close to the things. Now, raise your legs up keeping them straight together and stretching them as far back as possible without bending your knees and toes. Hold this position for a few seconds and repeat four or five times. This asama strengthens the whole body especially the waist, chest, back and neck.