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Time of India
18 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Can Ayurveda replace OTC pills?
Image Credit : Canva In today's fast-paced world, over-the-counter (OTC) pills have become a common recourse for managing everything from headaches and colds to digestive discomfort and minor aches. Their convenience and quick relief are undeniable. However, alongside this growing reliance on quick fixes, there has been a renewed interest in Ayurveda , the ancient system of medicine that originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. With companies like Patanjali introducing Ayurvedic medicines into the mainstream, the question is: Can Ayurveda replace OTC pills? To respond to this thoughtfully, one needs to consider the principles of Ayurveda, its method versus traditional OTC pills, and the teachings offered by adherents like Baba Ramdev, without succumbing to the pitfall of mere marketing campaign sound bites. Ayurveda: Treating the root, not just symptoms Image Credit : Canva Health, as per Ayurveda, is the equilibrium of body, mind, and spirit sustained by optimal diet, lifestyle, and natural treatments. In contrast to OTC pills that tend to act on the symptoms directly, like alleviating pain, dropping fever, or decongesting; Ayurveda is focused on curing the causative factor of imbalance or disease. The ancient texts refer to this as "Nidana Parivarjana" or elimination of causative factors along with "Shodhana" (cleansing) and "Panchakarma" (detoxification therapies). Patanjali Ayurved, one of the leading institutions promoting Ayurvedic products in the present era, demonstrates such principles through its herbal formulations and wellness practices. Still, it needs to be made clear that Ayurveda is not placed alternatively as a substitute for OTC medicines but as a complementary or alternative route to holistic well-being. The Real-World Implications: When can Ayurveda sub for OTC Pills? Although Ayurveda's integrated approach is to be appreciated, practical implementation needs sophistication: Acute cases : OTC medications are best in acute or emergencies like fever, infections requiring antibiotics, or an acute allergic reaction. In such cases, quick-acting allopathic medicines are the key to avoiding complications. Ayurveda typically does not intend to substitute instant pharmacological treatment in these situations. Chronic and lifestyle disorders : Diseases related to lifestyle, like arthritis, digestive issues, stress-related disorders, or chronic fatigue, can often benefit from Ayurvedic therapies. Since these conditions develop over time through imbalance and poor habits, Ayurveda's emphasis on correcting root causes fits well. Many patients seek Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapies alongside or after conventional treatment. Side effects and dependence : Chronic or indiscriminate consumption of OTC pills at times may produce side effects or dependence. Ayurveda's holistic methodology adopts herbs and dietetic changes that can be less harmful in their adverse effects, though quality control and standardisation are issues. Integrative approach: Convergence of Ayurveda and contemporary medicine The majority of healthcare professionals recommend an integrative practice whereby Ayurveda and allopathy (conventional medicine) blend perfectly. OTC tablets provide swift relief, yet Ayurveda facilitates healing and sustained wellness. This synergy needs to be carried out under careful medical observation and patient sensitivity. Real-World example: Testimony shared by Rama Pathak, Homemaker The effect of Ayurvedic treatment is best realised through everyday stories such as that of Rama, who described her deep healing via Ayurvedic treatment: She said, "I began to see the changes day by day. It started small, wriggling of toes, and then one leg could move. Gradually, sensation passed through my lower limbs. I gained sitting balance, regained the power to stand and then walk with support, and lastly, in three and a half months of treatment, I could walk independently." This affidavit underscores Ayurveda's ability to promote healing and restore function where modern drugs might be limited, particularly in chronic or rehabilitative situations. Ayurveda provides a distinct philosophy and practice of long-term health by dealing with the imbalances underlying the body and restoring natural balance. Though it cannot be seen as a blanket substitute for OTC pills, especially in emergencies or where immediate intervention is needed, it most definitely presents a valuable avenue for dealing with chronic conditions and inducing wellness. Real-World example: Testimony shared by Priya Srivastava, Journalist Priya Srivastava's experience echoes the holistic benefits of Ayurveda. After struggling with chronic fatigue and digestive issues that did not respond satisfactorily to OTC pills, she adopted Ayurvedic therapies on the advice of a certified practitioner. Priya said, 'Within a month of following the prescribed herbal remedies, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle recommendations, my energy levels improved, my digestion normalized, and I felt a renewed sense of general well-being. I experienced fewer relapses and far less dependence on quick-fix solutions.' As the words of Baba Ramdev indicate, Ayurveda's advantage is in its root-source methodology as opposed to symptom suppression in and of itself. For one who is willing to accept lifestyle modification, food regimen discipline, and herbal remedies, Ayurveda can be an extremely effective addition, or in certain instances, a substitute for, the fast-fix ideology prevalent in today's OTC pill culture. Finally, whether or not to depend on Ayurveda, OTC, or both should be individualised, hopefully under educated and professional advice, to guarantee safety, effectiveness, and integral care.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Dubai's Nol card explained: What it is, how it works, and why every visitor must have one
One card, endless rides, explore Dubai with ease using the Nol card/ Image Composite: Shutterstock,Canva TL;DR The Nol Card is a rechargeable smart card for all public transport in Dubai, Metro, buses, trams, and more. It helps you save money, avoid cash, and move easily across the city. For tourists, the Silver Nol Card is the most practical option. It's easy to get and covers all essential transport. Getting around a city you don't know can be stressful. In Dubai, it doesn't have to be. The Nol Card is the city's go-to travel pass. With one card, you can ride the Metro, hop on a bus, take a tram, or even use water transport. No need for paper tickets or fumbling for cash. Just tap the card, and you're good to go. Whether you're heading to the Burj Khalifa, shopping at the souks, or exploring the Marina, the Nol Card keeps your travel smooth and simple. It's cheap to get, easy to use, and works almost everywhere. In short: if you're visiting Dubai, you need this card. Here's how it works. What Is a Nol Card? The Nol Card is a smart card used for paying fares on Dubai's public transport. You tap it on a reader when you enter and exit buses, the Metro, trams, or water taxis. The system deducts the correct fare from your card automatically. It's not just for transport. You can also use it to pay for: RTA paid parking Select taxis Retail purchases at convenience stores Entry at places like the Etihad Museum In other words, it's more than a travel card, it's a travel partner. Benefits of Using a Nol Card Here's why it's worth having: Saves Money: Fares with the Nol Card are lower than buying paper tickets. If you're in Dubai for more than a day, it quickly pays off. Covers Everything: You can use it across, Dubai Metro , RTA buses, Dubai Tram, water buses, abras, and ferries, RTA taxis and paid parking zones Cash-Free Convenience: Top it up once, then just tap and go. No need to carry coins or keep buying tickets. Travel Bundles: You can buy weekly or monthly passes with unlimited rides if you're planning to stay longer. Extra Perks: Some Nol Cards give discounts at shops, cafes, and attractions around the city. Types of Nol Cards Dubai offers four main types of Nol Cards. Silver Nold Card: The Silver Nol Card is the most common one. It works across all public transport systems and is ideal for most users, including tourists. Gold Nol Card: The Gold Nol Card gives you access to the Gold Class Cabin on the Metro and tram. You'll pay double the fare, but the space and comfort might be worth it. Red Nol Card: For short-term visitors, the Red Ticket is an option. It's a disposable paper ticket for Metro and tram rides only. You can load it with a few trips or passes. Blue Nol Card: The Blue Nol Card, also called the Personal Card. It's only available to UAE residents and links to your Emirates ID. This card offers a 50% discount for eligible users like students, seniors, and people of determination. It can also be blocked and replaced if lost. What's the Best Nol Card for Tourists? The Silver Nol Card is the best pick for tourists. It's cheap to buy, AED 25 ($6.81 USD) with AED 19 ($5.17 USD) preloaded credit, works across all public transport, and is easy to recharge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo There's also a combo version that includes a local SIM card. It gives you AED 19 ($5.17 USD) in fare balance, 2GB of mobile data, and 30 minutes of talk time (local and international). That makes it a good starter option when you land in Dubai. You can top it up with as little as AED 5 ($1.36 USD) at Metro stations and select bus stops. It can also be used to pay for parking and small store purchases. FAQs 1. Where can I buy a Nol Card? You can get one at any Metro station, bus stop ticket machine, RTA office, or even at Dubai Airport. 2. Can I share my Nol Card with others? Only the Red Ticket is shareable. The Silver, Gold, and Blue cards are for individual use. 3. What happens if I lose my card? If it's a Blue Nol Card, you can block and replace it. The other cards aren't linked to your ID, so you'll lose any remaining balance if the card is lost.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
What happens to your brain when you read a poem? Science has an answer
Credit: Canva W e live in an age of doomscrolling, where content has become synonymous with 'reels.' Thanks to relentless swiping, our attention span flickers like candlelight in a windstorm. Amid this digital deluge, the humble poem stands oddly still, unrushed, unapologetically deep. Yet behind its delicate metaphors and winding verses lies a neurological tempest. Poetry, as it turns out, doesn't merely touch the soul; it tunes the mind. A growing body of research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that reading poetry can sharpen cognition, ignite flexible thinking, and gently coax the mind out of its mental cul-de-sacs. The poetry-cognition nexus At Goldsmiths University, a recent study published in the Creativity Research Journal has added empirical weight to what poets have long intuited. Led by PhD student Soma Chaudhuri and Professor Joydeep Bhattacharya, the study tested whether reading a single poem, Rudyard Kipling's If, a century-old meditation on character and resilience, could impact creative cognition. Participants were divided into groups and asked to read the poem, rate it, or engage with a non-poetic text of similar length. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The result? A surge in associative creativity, that elusive ability to connect seemingly unrelated ideas. Like ivy tracing brick walls, thoughts found unexpected paths to follow. The gentle power of wandering Yes, we all have heard that building castles in the air will do no good, or it is not good to count chickens before they hatch. But, what if we say, these built castles can pave the way for your high intellect. One of the study's most striking insights was this: Those who allowed their minds to drift during poetry reading experienced the greatest benefit. What we often dismiss as daydreaming, the study suggests, may be a secret key to cognitive flexibility. Here, the poem becomes a kind of invitation. Not all who wander are lost. Guiding us not toward solutions, but to the fertile grounds where they grow. Your brain on verse Meanwhile, at Bangor University, another study added a neuroscientific twist. Welsh-speaking participants were read sentences crafted in the intricate poetic form of Cynghanedd. Though unfamiliar with the structure, they instinctively responded to it. EEG scans revealed bursts of neural activity, tiny fireworks in the brain triggered by poetic cadence. There is a rhythm the body remembers even when the mind does not. Where thought meets feeling The University of Exeter added a further dimension. Researchers there scanned participants' brains while they read texts ranging from technical prose to lyrical verse. Emotional passages lit up the right brain, where we feel music and memory. Complex lines activated the left, where we solve puzzles and decode meaning. And when subjects read their favourite poems, something rare occurred: Regions associated with recognition, not just reading, lit up. The lines weren't processed, they were recalled. The brain treated them like personal truths, not borrowed words. Some lines don't pass through the eyes. They take root in the chest. A cognitive tool in disguise Another study at the University of Liverpool introduced what they called the 'a-ha moment,' those poetic twists that prompt reevaluation of a line's meaning. Think Wordsworth's solitary maiden, or a sudden revelation in a Frost poem. These moments lit up parts of the brain linked to non-automatic processing, nudging the reader out of habitual thought patterns. Here, the poem acts not as an answer, but as a mirror turned slightly askew. Suddenly, the familiar becomes strange again. It's this disruption that makes poetry cognitively powerful. Where prose tells, poetry suggests. Where speech fills, poetry leaves space. Applications beyond the page The implications are both poetic and practical. Professor Bhattacharya suggests poetry be used in schools, not just as art, but as cognitive training, particularly in subjects requiring conceptual leaps. Even in the workplace, he believes, poetry could replace coffee-fueled scrolling during breaks to rejuvenate lateral thinking. In a time when distraction reigns and attention is currency, poetry demands depth, patience, and presence. And in doing so, it exercises muscles we didn't know were atrophying. The final stanza Emily Dickinson once wrote of the mind being wider than the sky. Neuroscience is only now beginning to catch up to that metaphysical truth. Poetry, long relegated to the edges of utility, may be one of the most quietly transformative tools we possess. So, when the day dulls and your thoughts clutter like too many tabs on a screen, try reaching not for noise, but for nuance. For rhythm. For resonance. Because somewhere between metaphor and mind-wandering, poetry might just be the scaffolding on which new thinking is built. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time Business News
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Why Scalare Partners' Tank Stream Labs acquisition signals a new era for retail technology investors
By Jeremy Liddle, Managing Director of Third Hemisphere, a full service marketing, PR, and public affairs agency with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, HK, the US, EU, and UK. How Australia's first ASX-listed tech accelerator is democratising access to startup investing. The $5.5 million acquisition of Tank Stream Labs by Scalare Partners (ASX:SCP) isn't just another corporate deal, it's potentially a game-changer for how everyday investors can finally get a piece of Australia's startup action. I've spent years analysing the intersection of technology investment and public markets, and frankly, it's been frustrating. While Australia's startup ecosystem has been booming, many retail investors have been locked out of the party. Until now. What makes Scalare Partners interesting isn't just that they're Australia's first ASX-listed tech accelerator – it's that they're solving a real problem. Most venture capital funds demand minimum investments of $250,000 or more, then lock up your money for a decade. Scalare allows retail investors to buy shares and gain exposure to a diversified technology startup portfolio. The Tank Stream Labs deal shows how smart this approach really is. Scalare isn't just buying seven co-working spaces across Australia's major tech hubs, they're buying their way into the conversations where tomorrow's unicorns are born. That kind of deal flow access makes even well-funded VC firms jealous, especially when 73% of Australian startup activity occurs across Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide according to Startup Genome data. Here's the uncomfortable truth: the venture capital industry has been an exclusive club. You need accredited or wholesale investor status, serious money, and the patience of a saint. For regular investors wanting exposure to the next Canva? Tough luck. This is particularly galling when you consider that venture capital investment in Australia hit $3.6 billion in 2024 as per AVCAL data. That's a lot of wealth creation happening behind closed doors. Tank Stream's seven locations house over 200 tech companies, amounting to a startup pipeline that money can't usually buy. But here's the kicker – Tank Steam Labs achieved FY2024 revenue of $9.7 million, with an estimated forecast of $12.1 million in FY2025, providing Scalare diversified income streams. They're not just betting on home runs; they're building a business that works even when some startups strike out. The numbers that actually matter Scalare has delivered 198% investment returns since 2020. To put that in perspective, traditional VC funds typically target 10-15% annual returns according to Australian Investment Council data. Scalare's services revenue jumped 115% to $1.3 million in the first half of 2024, showing this model truly scales. But here's what really sets them apart: liquidity. Unlike traditional VC investments where your money disappears for years, you can trade Scalare shares on the ASX anytime. Try doing that with your mate's startup. The Tank Stream acquisition adds operational leverage while expanding their reach across three major Australian cities. With early-stage deal flow hitting record levels in 2024 – 624 deals worth $1.8 billion – being embedded in the ecosystem matters more than ever. Perfect timing Australia's startup scene is having a moment. Government support is flowing, corporates are venturing, and international money is pouring in. But the pathways for regular investors to participate? Still terrible. Scalare's integrated approach—combining workspace, mentorship, investment, and professional services—creates advantages that pure-play VCs struggle to match. When you own the infrastructure where entrepreneurs work and learn, you see opportunities before anyone else does. The Australian Computer Society's 2024 Digital Pulse report highlighted a critical market gap in comprehensive startup support services. Scalare isn't just filling that gap – they're monetising it. A new way to invest in innovation The Tank Stream acquisition positions Scalare as something genuinely new in Australian markets. They're not just another investment vehicle – they're creating an entirely new asset class that combines startup growth potential with public market accessibility. For investors frustrated by the ASX's traditional focus on mining and banking, Scalare offers exposure to the innovation economy through a professionally managed, transparent structure. You get the upside of startup investing without the usual barriers, lock-ups, or minimum investment requirements.I've watched countless promising startups struggle to access both capital and support. Scalare Partners' model feels like it could be the future – not just for Australia, but as a template other markets might follow. The question isn't whether this approach will work. It's whether other countries or companies will be smart enough to copy it. Investment considerations: Potential investors should review Scalare Partners' latest financial reports and consider their risk tolerance before investing. Past performance does not guarantee future results. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
Best Scottish Beaches for Dogs 2025: Here are 10 amazing beaches in Scotland for walkies - from the Borders to the Highlands
2 . Achmelvich Beach Regularly topping lists of the most stunning beaches in Scotland, Achmelvich Beach offers a little bit of the Carribean in Sutherland. It came second when it came to our four-legged friends, with a score of 100.28. A typical review reads: "What a stunning beach this is and we have visited many across the UK and Ireland with our two dogs. Boy did they have an amazing time! It is a short 400m walk from the car park but what a gorgeous wee walk it is. In Ireland we call it a wee dander. The sound of the birds, the sea and the views of the mountains and island just blows your mind. The waters are aqua blue and green and the sandy beach is so wonderful. This is a true gem to be visited by all visiting this wonderful wild area." | Canva/Getty Images
