Shahnaz Husain

Flowers are nature's gift to man andprovide a unique level of botanical energy.They not only delight the senses with theirbeautiful colours and fragrances, butactually have powerful properties, whichhelp to bring about the ideal harmony ofboth body and mind.

The aromas of many flowers are known to have a calm-ing effect on the mind and help to induce relaxation. Dur-ing the ancient times, the fragrances of roses, jasmines,lavender, orange flower, etc., were used to treat psychoso-matic problems. Actually, flowers provide an ideal defenseagainst environmental stresses and mental stress. In mod-ern cosmetic care, freedom from stress is one of the primerequisites for beauty. Many beauty problems are triggeredoff by mental stress, like acne and hair loss. The fragrancesof flowers help in such stress-related conditions, due totheir calming, relaxing and refreshing effect.

In beauty salon treatments in cosmetic products, flow-ers are used in the form of extracts or essential oils. Anessential oil is very different from pressed oils, like sesameseed (til), coconut, olive, almond oils. Essential oils are verycomplex in nature and constitute the volatile and aromat-ic part of the plant. They are like the life-force of the plant.Apart from their medicinal properties, essential oils havebeen valued for their fragrances too. The fragrance of rose,sandalwood, jasmine, lavender and so on is due to theiressential oils.

Among the essential oils of the flowers used in beauty,the most common are rose, jasmine, lavender, camomile,marigold, lotus, orange flower (neroli), hibiscus, geranium.One word of warning - essential oils should never be usedby themselves. They should be diluted in the right propor-tions with other pressed oils (like almond, sesame seed (til)or olive oils) and lotions like rose water.

HOME CARE* Rose water is one of the best known natural skin ton-

ers. Chill some rose water in a bowl. Using cotton wool,wipe the skin with it. Then pat the skin briskly. It helps tokeep the skin healthy and youthful and is particularly goodduring the summer and rainy season.

* For oily skin, add 2 to 3 drops of lemon juice to onetablespoon rose water. Dip cotton wool in it and use it towipe the face. It will help to remove the surface film of oil

and stale sweat and leave you with a cool and fresh feeling.* For normal to dry skin, add 2 to 3 drops of glycerin to

one tablespoon rose water and apply on the face. * A few drops of rose water can be added to sandalwood

paste and applied on pimples, acne or boils, to soothe andcure. It helps to reduce inflammation.

* Rose water can also be added to face packs and scrubs.Almond meal (powdered almond) can be used with a littlerose water as a facial scrub.

* Dip cotton wool pads in rose water and use as eye pads,to remove fatigue and brighten the eyes.

* Both hot and cold infusions can be made from hibis-cus flowers and leaves, though cold infusions are morecommon. For hot infusions, the flowers and leaves areadded to boiling water and allowed to stand in it for 10 to12 hours. The infusion is strained and then used as a lastrinse after washing the hair. Good for dandruff and relat-ed conditions.

* For cold infusions, the hibiscus flowers and leavesshould be allowed to stand overnight in cold water, in aratio of one to six. The flowers should be squeezed and thewater strained before use. Such infusions can be used towash the hair and scalp, or applied on the scalp with cot-ton wool. Infusions, or the juice of the flowers, can be addedto henna and applied on the hair. This can be a total hair-food and conditioning treatment.

* For marigold (gainda) or calendula flowers, eitherfresh or dry flowers can be used. In boiling water, add fourtablespoons of the flowers. Do not boil. Allow the flowersto be steeped in the hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Strainand cool the water and use it to rinse the hair. It should beused as a final rinse. The cooled water can also be used towash the face. It has a beneficial effect on oily and pimple-prone skin.

* Sunflower oil (pressed oil) can be applied on the faceto soothe sunburn.

* Add 10 drops of an essential oil, like rose OR lavenderOR neroli to 50 ml of carrier oil. Blend in small quantities,so that it does not turn rancid. This makes a good massageoil, leaving the body fragrant. If you wish to blend two oilstogether, make sure that the total amount of oil is 10 dropsto 50 ml carrier oil. Almond or sesame seed (til) oils makegood carrier oils for blending with essential oils.

* You can use essential oils of rose, orange flower (neroli)or lavender. Essential oils can also be added to rose water,to make a skin tonic. Add 5 drops of the essential oil to 50ml rose water. Oil of neroli added to rose water can bene-fit dry and dehydrated skin. Oil of Lavender added to rosewater can benefit oily skin. These blends can also be usedas fragrance.

BEAUTY TIPS

Anushka Sharma bagged a dream debut with ShahRukh Khan in Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi(2008) exactly eight years ago (December 12).Although the actor says the eight years have “gone byjust like that”, she has had a dream run in Bollywood.This year has been especially great for her, withSultan and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) toppingbox-office charts. Anushka talks about life,career and her personal life.

You’ve now completed eight yearsin Bollywood. Do you think it was agood journey?

Yes, especially in terms of carvingmy own path. Since I come from out-side the industry, I could have fall-en into the trap of thinking ‘thisparticular path is the right one’or ‘this is how it should be’. ButI have always done what feltright, and I have managed to besuccessful. I am happy that therisks that I have taken in mycareer have paid off. Iwouldn’t say it has beena satisfying journey,because the minute acreative person is satis-fied, they’re headed for agood fall. But it’s been agreat journey. Still,there is so much more todo.

This year has beenvery special for you…

If the success of Sultanand ADHM were notbacked by the praise I havereceived, I don’t think itwould have mattered to me as much as it does today. Forme, that’s very important. I’ve done very few films, andthat’s been a conscious choice, because the idea has alwaysbeen to do things differently and to be able to challengemyself. Balancing the roles of a Haryanvi girl, Aarfa, froma small town in Sultan, and Alizeh — a refined, spunky,big-city girl from London — in ADHM in the same yearwas exciting for me. The fact that I could pull it off, andthe praise that I have received is humbling. It makes mewant to do more.

You have worked with all the three Khansalready. Does that make you feel special?

At the beginning of my career, I used to say that I wouldalways do films in which I have a solid role and have some-thing to contribute, because it means nothing to me oth-erwise. With films starring such superstars, you gettremendous reach. I would call it my USP that I havealways been able to deliver those performances. So, that’sobviously a great feeling. I am happy, because I may nothave been offered these films. But I have been fortunate,and you want to feel like an actor that a director can relyon.

Do you get frustrated when your personal life(with alleged boyfriend Virat Kohli) gets dis-cussed?

If you had had this conversation with me last year, Iwould have given you a very different answer. But this year,I am happy. I am content that this year has really beenabout my work, about my films doing well, and about the

new ventures that I have started with my production com-pany. I am happy that I actually don’t have an answer forthat question [about my personal life]. The focus has beenon my work and not on my personal life, and I would liketo keep it that way. I have worked really hard over the pasteight years to get to where I am today. Nothing should beof more importance than my work, because this is what I

am doing right now. This is what I love doing.But you must be happy that thefocus on your personal life has

diminished?I am not observing anything.

Despite your achieve-ments, you don’t go into PR

overdrive unlike yourpeers…

I feel stumped when-ever I’m asked this ques-tion. I don’t know whatothers do. Today, if any-body talks about me, it’sbecause of my work,and the fact that I havedone things in a differ-ent way with a fewernumber of films. I’ve

also worked with the bestdirectors in the industry.

I actually want tounderstand what itmeans to marketmyself enough. Today,when I think about itand look back, I feelthings have beenincredible. I don’t need

to go out and make noiseabout it. I am self-assuredthat way. If you look at thetrajectory that my careerhas taken, it has beenkind of consistent.

So, can it be safely said that you are happy inyour own space?

I will never do anything that is not in my nature, so Icannot do anything that will put somebody down. I can’twork on anything other than myself. I feel the way thingsare in this industry, there is a sense of insecurity that hasfestered to keep that competition alive. And it works ineverybody’s favour — both the industry and the media. Butwe s***w up as actors by falling into that trap. If I startdoing things that somebody else is doing, I will not be fol-lowing my own path. I will be unnecessarily crossing pathswith other people, which I don’t need to do. They have theirown journey and I have my own. My journey hasn’t beenconventional, and I like that, because I am not convention-al in any way.

Like Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra,is Hollywood on your mind too?

As of now, I am not even trying. But if something superbcomes my way, I will do it. It’s becoming easier [to get intoHollywood]. Deepika and Priyanka are representing us insuch a good way, especially Priyanka, as she has been therefor longer, is part of a hit TV show and is doing a great job.Also, the representation of Indians in Hollywood is morecorrect now. It’s not stereotyped. I will do a film outsideof India, and I will do it anywhere; even in China, if there’ssomething different and has nice content. That’s howIrrfan Khan’s career has been. His career has been stupen-dously successful, in the true sense of the word. He hasdone noteworthy work in Hollywood. (TWF)

Dr Sagarika Agarwal

Sometimes the cause of infertility can be attributed tocongenital anomalies (birth defects) of the uterus. Otherthan infertility, they can cause recurrent miscarriages andcreate difficulties in carrying a pregnancy to term. Abnor-mal uterus may affect a woman's chance of getting preg-nant. Infact, around 10% of all cases of female infertilityare caused by an abnormal uterus. Sometimes, defects ofthe uterus can occur during the development period of foe-tus in utero. Like other organs in the body, a woman'sreproductive organs form while she is still a foetus insideher mother's uterus. Any defect in the development ofuterus and fallopian tubes is referred as "Mullerian anom-alies". There are many types of mullerian anomalies, rightfrom the absence of uterus to complete duplication of theuterus, cervix, and vagina (didelphys), etc.

What is an abnormal uterus?A small number of women have a uterus that differs

from the normal in structure and contour rather than posi-tion. This is called an abnormality of the uterus, or uter-ine anomaly.

In women who seek help for infertility, the rates of uter-ine abnormalities are estimated to be up to one in 20women. Uterine abnormalities generally do not affect awoman's ability to become pregnant. Infact, many a timeswomen fail to even realise that they have an abnormalitytill they have repeated miscarriages or have preterm deliv-ery. In case of repeated, unexplained miscarriage a uter-ine anomaly may be suspected. Uterine anomalies can bediagnosed accurately, and often can be corrected makingit possible for a woman to have healthy course of pregnan-cy. The abnormalities of uterus may be classified into fol-lowing types:

AGENESIS This is a rare condition where there is absence of vagi-

na or uterus or both. This is usually picked up when a girldoesn't start her periods by the age of 12-13 years. In thelater part of life, vaginal agenesis can affect her sexual life.The condition can be treated with surgery, but women withboth uterus and vaginal agenesis require counselingbecause these women can't give birth to a baby. The onlyway for a woman with agenesis to have a baby is by surro-gacy. .

UTERUS DIDELPHYS This is a condition when the uterus has two inner cav-

ities. Each cavity may lead to its own cervix and vagina, sothere are two cervices and two vaginas. It is possible to con-ceive if one has this type of abnormality.

UNICORNUATE UTERUS A unicornuate uterus is half part of the normal uterus

and there is only one fallopian tube. Because of its shape,it is described as a uterus with one horn. It is a rare abnor-mality. If you have a unicornuate uterus, you probably havetwo ovaries. Only one will be connected to your uterus,though. As long as there is one, healthy, developed horn,it is perfectly possible to conceive. However, it does put

you at greater risk of miscarriage and preterm delivery.BICORNUATE UTERUS

It is infact a uterus with two horns and two separateuterine cavities., Because of its shape, It shouldn't affectthe fertility, but one has a higher risk of miscarriage andpreterm delivery.

SEPTATE UTERUS Partial septum is more common than complete septum.

A septate uterus may increase the chances of infertility andalso increase the risk of miscarriage if a woman concieves

COMMON SYMPTOMSIn many cases abnormal uterus causes no problems and

infact may remain undetected until period of menarche ortill pregnancy is attempted. If a uterine anomaly such asin unicornuate uterus is associated with a rudimentaryuterine horn with no outlet, menstrual outflow will beobstructed. This can result in pain that gets worse duringperiods. If untreated, blood collects in the uterus and maybecome infected. A uterine abnormality may also be asso-ciated with infertility, ectopic pregnancy, recurrent mis-carriage, premature delivery,dysmenorrhoea,abnormalbleeding etc.

Procedures used to diagnose abnormalities inuterus may include:

Pelvic examHysterosalpingogramUltrasoundMRILaparoscopyHysteroscopyTreatments for Infertility Not all abnormalities of uterus may result into infertil-

ity. Infact, many uterine anomalies can be corrected sur-gically in case of difficulties. Neovagina can be made incase of vaginal agenesis.Metroplasty is most often used toreshape the uterus.Hysteroscopic septal resection can bedone in septate uterus.. Cervical cerclage may be per-formed in some cases to prevent the cervix from dilatingprematurely and to increase the fetal survival rate.

(The author is IVF expert, Indira IVF Centre New Delhi)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 (PAGE 4)

BOLLYWOOD-BUZZMOVIE-REVIEW

HEALTHLINES

Abnormal uterus and Fertility Problems

With the year 2016 almost coming to an end, Bollywood hasseen films of almost every genre in the year gone by. This weeksees the release of WAJAH TUM HO, a film that belongs to thethriller genre. Will this film ‘become the reason’ for its makersto smile their way to the bank, lets analyze.

WAJAH TUM HO is a film that mirrors the battle betweenmoney and power vis a vis love and emotions. The film startsoff with the gruesome murder of a corrupt cop ACP RameshSarnaik. Besides murdering him mercilessly, the entire‘episode’ of the murder gets telecasted on GTN (Global TimesNetwork), whose CEO happens to be the highly influential

Rahul Oberoi (Rajneesh Duggal). As a part of the proceedings,a sincere Inspector Kabir Deshmukh (Sharman Joshi) entersthe scene as the Investigating Officer, who spares no space fordoubts in the case. Because the entire murder was telecastedlive on GTN channel, Kabir suspects it to be a handiwork ofRahul in thirst of TRPs for his channel. On the other hand,Rahul Oberoi’s case gets represented by his extremely able legalhead Sia (Sana Khan). Sia happens to be in love with lawyerRanveer Bajaj (Gurmeet Choudhary), who also happens to beKabir’s helping hand in the complicated case. After all the hitch-es and twists, just when Inspector Kabir thinks that he has beenable to crack the murder case, two more people get murderedin the similar fashion as ACP Sarnaik. Despite the best of ‘legalbrains’ on the job, the case simply refuses to get solved. Dayafter day, the case gets further complicated. Who are the oth-er two people who get murdered and why, what ultimately hap-pens to the love story between Sia and Ranveer and does Inspec-tor Kabir become successful in solving all the cases is whatforms the rest of the film's story.

It is the film’s screenplay (Vishal Pandya, Sammeer Arora)which is gripping in parts. The unexpected thrills and chills notjust enhance the screenplay, but also elevate the mood of thefilm. The film's dialogues (Rashmi Virag) are simple and lucid,without resorting to any over-the-top lingo. In the same breath,a handful of dialogues do come across as cheesy and corny.

Though one may find humour missing in the film, the film doeshave its share of (unintentional and situational) comedy, but,in minuscule proportion.

After having directed films like HATE STORY 2 and HATESTORY 3, Vishal Pandya returns with a decent product in theform of WAJAH TUM HO. He does a good job in putting togeth-er the whodunit murder mystery in WAJAH TUM HO. With-out resorting to any beating around the bush tactics, VishalPandya dives into the subject from the first scene itself. Thefilm’s tight and gripping first half sets the mood and pace of thefilm. The film starts sliding down in the second half (specifical-ly in the last 20 minutes) of the otherwise decent film. The film’smystery remains intact and intriguing till the nail biting reve-lation. The revelation will keep the audiences guessing aboutthe ultimate mastermind behind all the murders till the end.Even though WAJAH TUM HO may not keep you at the edgeof your seat, it does keep you intrigued through its run time.Full points to Vishal Pandya for not just having built the film’smounting suspense, but also for executing it decently.

As for the performances, the film harbours itself on the ableshoulders of the ever-so-reliable Sharman Joshi, who forms thepillar of the film. After having done a decent role in 1920 LON-DON (which released earlier this year), Sharman Joshi givesyet another good performance in WAJAH TUM HO. While onone hand, he exhibits his toughness as a no-nonsense cop, atthe same time, he does full justice to his ‘role’ of a loving andcaring single father. He is followed a close second by the beau-tiful and confident Sana Khan. After having starred in the for-gettable JAI HO, Sana Khan bounces back with a poised anddignified performance in WAJAH TUM HO. However, despitehaving a good and convincing screen presence, Sana does needto rework on her styling and body if she aims to be a Bollywoodmovie star. With his last film (BEIIMAAN LOVE) not doingwell at the Box-Office, Rajneesh Duggal and his fans must havedefinitely pinned all their hopes on WAJAH TUM HO.Rajneesh Duggal does not disappoint with his role in WAJAHTUM HO. He delivers a restrained performance and does com-plete justice to what was expected of him in the film. GurmeetChoudhary, on the other hand does a decent and a ‘more promi-nent’ job in WAJAH TUM HO. He should be doing more chal-lenging roles like this one in order to be in the Bollywood race.His chemistry with Sana Khan (mostly in the songs) is some-thing that needs to be seen in order to be believed. Even thoughthe entire film rests on the shoulders of the aforementionedcast, other cast members also do a decent job in taking the filmforward.

The film boasts of some excellent music (Mithoon, AbhijitVaghani, Meet Bros). Songs like the title track, ‘Dil Mein Chhu-pa Loonga’ and ‘Dil Ke Paas’ are already a rage all over. Thevisuals of the film only complement the tracks. One does feelthough that the integration of ‘Maahi Ve’ is a bit forced in thefilm’s narrative. The film’s background score is taut and com-plements the film. While the film boasts of decent cinematog-raphy (Prakash Kutty), the film’s editing (Manish More) isdecent. The film could have been a tight thriller had the last 20minutes of the film been chopped off.

On the whole, WAJAH TUM HO is a decent whodunitthriller with good amount of oomph, masala and entertainmentvalue.

Courtesy : http://www.bollywoodhungama.com

A thriller genre "Deepika and Priyanka representing usin such a good way in Hollywood"