Medicinal uses of Thippili

Thippili (Piper longum linn) is a perennial herb that is found in particular regions in Sri Lanka. It comes in two varieties and it’s fruits are quite small, completely sunk in solid, fleshy spikes and is blackish green in colour. Immature dried fruits and roots are used in treatments.

What next after cancer diagnosis?

After months of feeling unwell, tons of blood work and other tests later, what happens when you hear the words “You’ve got cancer”?

Dealing with stones in your pouch !

A considerable number of patients get their gallbladder removed, due to stones every year. A commonly asked question is “how do these stones form and where do they come from?”

Acupressure can help fight Coronavirus

Given the concerns about the Coronavirus in Sri Lanka, Health Capsule thought it is apt to underscore the benefits of using acupressure to boost the immune system at a challenging time like this. Our resource person for the article is Deshamanya Dr. Cyril Antony who is a qualified practitioner of alternative medicine.

Medicinal uses of Akkapana

Akkapana (Bryophyllum pinnatum) is a plant that had originated from Africa, but is now found in most parts of Sri Lanka. Growing to a height of one metre, the plant has a complex arrangement of leaves. One known fact about Akkapana is that once leaves fall off, new roots emerge from the sides of leaves thereby allowing the growth of new plants.

‘Old age’ as a positive phase in life

People are living longer than ever before, and many seniors lead active and healthy lifestyles. Growing old is another phenomenon that all of us will experience in our life cycle.

Avoid continuous consumption of processed food

We tend to consume processed food as it’s easily accessible and makes life easier. But it may have long-term effects on our health. Speaking to the Daily Mirror Health Capsule, Professor Suranjith L.Seneviratne, Consultant and Professor in Clinical Immunology and Allergy and an Oxford scholar in medicine, discusses about clinical immunology. Today’s article explains how the immune system works.

Medicinal uses of Siyambala

Siyambala (Tamarindus indica linn) is a plant that grows in many parts of the country. Its leaves, flowers, seeds, pods and bark are used for various medicinal and therapeutic purposes. Siyambala contains tartaric acid, Citric acid and potassium citrate.

Health authorities concerned over Wuhan pneumonia

As the seasonal influenza outbreak was slowly subsiding, news of a new virus made its rounds in early January. Known as the Wuhan pneumonia, as the first case was reported from China, the World Health Organisation has informed the Health Ministry in Colombo and other countries which are frequently visited by Chinese tourists and nationals to be cautious of the virus. The virus is classified as a coronoavirus and has affected over 440 people in Ch

Are soy products good or bad?

Food is a miracle which enriches our nutrition requirement daily. While it positively correlates with our health, an overconsumption would tend to affect our health negatively. Therefore, maintenance of a better health is a big challenge since the food market is constantly invaded by junk food. As a country with a history of robust agriculture, there’s still time to save our health by consuming fresh fruits and vegetables.

All you need to know about Leprosy

The World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January every year and helps raise awareness about a skin condition that could result in severe deformity if not treated properly. Leprosy can simply be defined as an infection leading to severe nerve damage, deformities, skin infections and sores following the entry of a bacteria known as Mycobacterium leprae into the body.

Nidikumba (Mimosa pudica linn)

Nidikumba (Mimosa pudica linn) is a plant that has many medicinal and therapeutic properties but has been mistaken for a weed. It could be found in almost every district in Sri Lanka.

Asymptomatic doesn’t mean it’s not there

When many vision related conditions tend to show symptoms in terms of gradual loss of sight or vision impairment, a condition that is asymptomatic until the final stages is diabetic retinopathy. One of the leading causes of blindness according to the WHO, diabetic retinopathy is one of the most important complication of diabetes. It affects the inside of the eye by damage to the blood vessels of the retina.

Here’s how plastic could affect your health

Nowadays people don’t give much attention to food, sleeping and other habits that need to be prioritised. Therefore they look for easy ways to prepare meals. With globalization, people have been discovering new materials to prepare cooking utensils while new methods of cooking have replaced traditional methods. Utensils made out of traditional materials are time consuming to use while those made out of inexpensive, durable and user-friendly mater

Treating Hernia

Do you believe in the genesis creation narrative? Some say that God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being. Some say that man was created from fire and clay. Respecting all these theories which have been proven in different ways, scientists are still amused by the way our body has been created, interconnecting tiny little cells, functioning together to create life. Th

Know your herbs Eth Thora (Cassia Alata Linn)

This is a herb found in both dry and wet zones in Sri Lanka and is mostly used in treating skin conditions. Eth Thora leaves are used in treating colourless skin lesions (aluham). Several balms used in Ayurveda are made out of Eth thora seeds. Benefits : While the seeds are know

Probing the WEIGHT LOSS dilemma

Losing weight might sound like a good thing and maybe that’s what everyone dreams of. Finally changing into a skinnier person might excite you and you might also win a few compliments. Maybe all the hours spent on daily workouts succeeded in bringing satisfying results.

HOMOEOPATHY Cure dengue by strengthening immune system

Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes can be easily distinguished as it is larger in size and have black stripes on its body, so it is sometimes called tiger mosquitoes. They breed in artificial accumulation of fresh water, such as broken bottles, tins, flower pots, coconut shells, tree holes etc.

Recognising bowel cancer early

Have you been experiencing a change in your normal bowel habits recently where there are days with diarrhea followed by constipation and vice versa without a regularity at all? Time to time variations of the bowel habits can be completely normal especially depending on your daily diet, but did you ever think that a persistent change in your bowel habits can be a sign of a serious problem in your digestive system? Unfortunately, yes.

Know your herbs Iramusu (Hemidesmus Indicus)

Iramusu is a herbal plant that could be found in any part of Sri Lanka. While the entire plant is used to treat various ailments and illnesses, it’s roots contain Hemidesmine smilasperic acid. Although it is an aromatic herb it has a mild bitter taste.

Getting rid of Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a symptomless silent killer that quietly damages blood vessels and leads to serious health problems. While there is no cure, using medications as prescribed and making lifestyle changes can enhance your quality of life and reduce the risk of diseases to the heart and kidney and also check other conditions like strokes. “Hypertension is a common condition that affects millions of people including children and

Know your herbs

From january 2020, the Dailymirror Health Capsule is introducing a column based on Ayurveda to give a better understanding about the curative values of eastern and ayurvedic medicine and how local herbs could be used to get rid of ailments and illnesses.

Make yourself a priority in 2020

Ever yearned for a quick break in between all your work? This is probably because your mind is saying ‘ENOUGH!’ When you have too much to handle, you can’t get the best out of you because one part of your mind is already pre-occupied with something else. In order to do your maximum you need to be focused. This is why you need to have short breaks (or may be even longer breaks) to rejuvenate yourself. Having ‘ME’ time is the best way to recharge y

Facing the dilemma of having diabetes

We all are fond of celebrations. Because, they carry love, laughter, happiness and food.

Let’s keep the wriggling friends at bay

Ever felt uncomfortable in your belly; an abdominal pain perhaps, that is hard to explain? Or maybe insomnia or a relentless itching that does not subside? The culprit could perhaps be a wriggling friend; in this case ‘worms’. Today’s topic for Health Capsule is based on worm infection and treatment. Joining us in discussion is Consultant Pediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Dr. Deepal Perera who will take this opportunity to

Let’s check the causes of Progeria

Ageing is, as inevitable as death itself. It is a process inextricably linked to the life-cycles of all living beings that dwell on the face of the earth. Today we will be focusing on an extremely rare progressive genetic disorder termed Hutchinson-Gilford-Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) which, in a manner of speaking, twists this process and defies the natural order; resulting in the unnatural accelerated aging of children.

How to protect ourselves from warts

Waking up in the morning to have an ugly wart greet you from the mirror could be frustrating. Your frustration grows as no amount of make up, facial cream or other beauty products can make them go away. Understanding this clearly, Daily Mirror spoke to Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Nayani Madarasingha with hopes of creating awareness on warts and treatments available for warts.

Lifestyle changes can control Myopia

Vision is as important as every other sense and organ in our body. But due to age and lifestyle changes vision could get weaker with time. In a study done in 2010, uncorrected refractive errors wereknown to be the most common cause of distance vision impairment, affecting 108 million persons globally. It was also the second-most cause of blindness globally.

How sugar-free foods cheat us!

Sugar is a problematic and controversial compound since it is a major contributor to a number of health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Dealing with sprains

A sprain can occur to anyone at anytime and therefore, it is definitely important to obtain a proper idea about it in case of an unexpected emergency. The human body is made of certain joints that assist in movement.