I am very obsessive about cleanliness while one of my male friends is obsessive about his hairstyle. I have heard that one of my young aunts is so very particular about cleanliness that she wipes her floor twice day and changes the drapes once a week. She was later diagnosed with OCD- Obsessive compulsive Disorder. My fondness for clean cutlery or clear glasses and my friend’s love for well-kept hair and creaseless shirt does not indicate any disorder.

Recent surveys show that even young children of ages four exhibit some characteristics of OCD. OCD is an anxiety disorder with recurrent unwanted obsessions or thoughts as its main trait. These obsessions may also be accompanied by repetitive behaviors or compulsions contributing to the name Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Those affected by this may be extremely particular on handwashing, cleaning, counting and the like. They are forced to engage themselves in activities like these (rituals) in order to avoid their obsessive thoughts. These thoughts are chronic, time-consuming and severe. They are involuntary and senseless. For example, the thought of dirty hands make them wash hands repeatedly for hours until their hands are raw and chapped. Doubt always haunts them and an urge to check on things again and again live with them. They try to hide these thoughts and feelings in fear of social ostracization and rebuke.

OCD is a common disorder affecting millions of people while at least 1 among 200 children are doubted to have OCD. OCD in children, if left untreated, can interfere with its growth and development and may make his life difficult. In children fear of contamination and aggressive and catastrophic fears dominate their lifestyle. Many suffer from multiple compulsive behaviors which disrupt their innocent childhood.

The exact cause for OCD is uncertain. It is believed that your compulsions owe their origin to the biological changes in your body or the behavior habits acquired over the time. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps to carry messages from one nerve cell to another. Serotonin causes repeated behaviors in people and it is seen lacking in people with OCD. Some experts point out that having parents or other family members with OCD increases your risk of developing OCD though any genes related to OCD has not been traced so far. Stress may also play a vital role in causing OCD as emotional distress is a part of its obsessive compulsions. Panic attacks, phobias, anxiety, ADHD, dyslexia or depression may further destroy the normal and quality life of people with OCD.

In little children an early diagnosis is called for to detect OCD and it deter its development. Behavior therapy and medicines like clomipramine are recommeded treatments for OCD. Drugs may have minor side effects like nausea and drowsiness.

Ghee or butter oil (endearingly called as Desi ghee) refers to clarified butter made from cow’s or buffalo’s milk in the East. It is highly popular as part of Indian staple diet and for its great health benefits. Before coming to the USA I had hardly tasted ghee bought from outside. My mother make pure ghee at home which is either by some with rice as it is, used to make doses or a wide variety of Indian sweets and desserts. Ghee is also used with certain Ayurvedic medicines at the recommendation of the Doctor. Ashtanga Sangrah, an Ayurvedic treatise by Vagbhatta, acknowledges the potency of ghee and its thousands of uses.

The butter is churned from curd and is melted over a low fire. It turns into a thick yellowish fluid which is cooled and then strained. Ghee is a part of a Brahmin’s daily life. It also plays a major role in Hindu religious ceremonies and sacrifices.

The Indian Cuisine cannot light up without ghee. The buttery flavor and non-burning quality endears ghee to Indian dishes. Ghee is healthy for sauteing and frying as it doe snot burn  and hence is not carcinogenic. Ghee is great for people with lactose intolerance as it does not contain lactose or milk solids. It is highly nourishing without any hydrogenated oils and is beneficial if used in moderation. It is maintained by some that ghee does not increase cholesterol as the casein protein is removed while separation. It also contains Vitamin E and A. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid present in ghee which promotes growth and development of body’s tissues and organs. Gee is easily digestible as it contains 8% percent lower saturated fatty acids than oil improving absorption and assimilation.

Old ghee (Purana ghrita in Sanskrit) stored for around 6 months is highly known for its curative powers. It is good to enhance memory, to nourish the tissues, the brain and the nervous system. It is used for the treatment of tension, disorders of head, ear, eye and uterus. Old ghee can also help with wounds related to diabetes and ulcers. Ghee is an emollient and stoma chic according to certain healing arts. It is also a cure for many eye-diseases, dyspepsia, to improve voice and personal appearance and other ailments. Old ghee is believed to have healing powers on external application. Ayurveda recommends mediated ghee for many diseases. The varieties of mediated ghee include gudchi ghrita, Triplala Ghrita, Vasa Ghrita for fever, and Panchakola Ghrita, Nagara Ghrita, Chitraka Ghrita (processed ghee) for abdominal disorders, piles and other ailments.  Mahatiktak Ghrita is ghee with the medicinal powers of many herbs and is used for skin diseases and acidic problems. Old ghee is also good for tridoshas. Ashwagandha Shatavari ghee is advised for fall season while Dashamoola ghee is for winter and Mahasudarshan ghee for summer. Ghee intake is not recommended for people with high cholesterol, diabetes or toxic condition.

Shata Dhout Ghrita (100 times washed ghee) is a chemical free and natural ingredient for a skin cream for glowing skin. The ghee after a washing of 100 times is transformed into a cool soft cream. It can can be used as a medicine for skin conditions like eczema or even for aging, wrinkling, dry skin and so on.

Whether we live to eat or eat to live is an irony most of us face. On one hand workaholics and people with clear cut goals in life eat food just to sustain themselves so that they can work to achieve their goals. On the other hand, there are a few happy go lucky type of people who spend their time eating and thinking about food. I know many people who spend their day planning breakfast, lunch and dinner. Personally, I consider both these kinds of people extremists. Food is a necessary part of our lives and we need this to live; however considering it only as a nutritive supplement is demeaning its value. Having an occasional gastronomic delight to empower our taste buds is a privilege for me and I wouldn’t like to let go this opportunity. However spending the whole day thinking and planning about food is also ridiculing the whole appetite. Doing something productive enough to instigate hunger is vital to enjoy the treat.

The above mentioned extremities are aspects of normal psyche behavior which can be debated upon. However some abnormal psychologies which need medical treatment run around the aspects of food and weight control. These are eating disorders.

More on eating disorders

Eating disorders are a range of mental health problems that involve preoccupations with food, weight and appearance to the degree that a person’s health, relationships and daily activities are adversely affected. Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia) and Bulimia Nervosa (bulimia) are two of the most recognized and most serious eating disorders. They are widespread and can affect people of all ages and both sexes, but they are more common in adolescent girls and young women. Statistics vary, but anorexia is thought to affect less than one per cent of teenage girls and young women. Estimates suggest that about two per cent of adolescent girls and young women have bulimia. Approximately five per cent of people with anorexia are male. It is thought that the number of males with bulimia may be somewhat higher.

Some people develop eating disorders after a distressing event, but this is not the case for everyone. There is no scientifically established cause for eating disorders

Anorexia Nervosa
The usual symptoms of anorexia are:

• being underweight for their age and height (less than 85 per cent of expected weight for height is the generally accepted benchmark)
• a distorted perception of body weight or shape (the person thinks they are fat even when they are very thin)
• a drive for thinness and an accompanying fear of weight gain
• excessive behaviour to control weight, such as restricting food, over-exercising, vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics (”fluid tablets”) or diet pills
• a loss of monthly periods in women or delay in starting them in girls.

Who becomes anorexic?

While anorexia mostly affects girls and women (90–95 percent), it can also affect boys and men. It was once thought that women of color were shielded from eating disorders by their cultures, which tend to be more accepting of different body sizes. Sadly, research shows that as African American, Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native women are more exposed to images of thin women, they also become more likely to develop eating disorders

What are signs of anorexia?

Someone with anorexia may look very thin. She or he may use extreme measures to lose weight by:

• making her or himself throw up
• taking pills to urinate or have a bowel movement
• taking diet pills
• not eating or eating very little
• exercising a lot, even in bad weather or when hurt or tired
• weighing food and counting calories
• moving food around the plate instead of eating it

Someone with anorexia may also have a distorted body image, shown by thinking she or he is fat, wearing baggy clothes, weighing her or himself many times a day, and fearing weight gain.

Anorexia can also cause someone to not act like her or himself. She or he may talk about weight and food all the time, not eat in front of others, be moody or sad, or not want to go out with friends

How can anorexia and bulimia be treated?

Recognizing these disorders in their early stages and getting effective help early may prevent long-term problems. Treatment may include counseling or other therapy, dietary education for healthy eating, medication to assist severe depression, or nutritional supplements if required. Medication may also be helpful for some people with bulimia.

Dealing with a family member with an eating disorder can be very difficult for families. Family therapy may assist families to help their affected family member.

Most people with eating disorders are effectively treated in the community. People with complex and severe disorders sometimes require hospitalization. Those with severe