Dark circles under the eyes recently appear not only due to lack of sleep but also as a result of constant screen viewing, stress, aging, and fatigue. These signs not only worsen the appearance of the face but also indicate vision problems. Many people try to eliminate dark circles using expensive creams and serums for the under-eye area, but this often does not yield the desired result.
If you also suffer from noticeable dark circles under your eyes, there is a home remedy to combat them—preparing a special mask from almonds. For this mask, not the almond kernels themselves, but the shell of soaked almonds, which is often discarded, is used.
Almond shells contain compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidants found in some plants. Additionally, Vitamin E, present in almonds, helps nourish the skin, making this shell suitable for application under the eyes.
The following ingredients are needed to prepare the mask: soaked almond shells, raw milk, and honey. The process involves several steps: first, the soaked almond shells must be thoroughly ground into a soft paste. Then, raw milk and honey are added to this paste to create the finished mask.
The finished mask should be gently applied under the eyes with light movements, taking care not to get it inside the eyes. The mask is left on the skin for 10–15 minutes, after which it is rinsed off with plain water.
Each component has its own beneficial properties: almond shells contain antioxidants that help protect the skin from free radical damage; raw milk contains lactic acid, which aids in exfoliation, although it may cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive skin; and honey acts as a natural moisturizer, maintaining skin hydration.
It cannot be claimed that this method will guarantee the elimination of dark circles. Dark circles can be caused by numerous factors, including genetic predisposition, age, allergies, iron deficiency, or prolonged screen time. If dark circles persist or worsen over time, it is recommended to consult a skincare specialist.
According to the first-of-its-kind study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the i-DRONE initiative, using unmanned aerial vehicles to transport sputum samples from remote villages to tuberculosis (TB) testing centers can reduce diagnosis times by nearly two-thirds while minimizing patient travel expenses.
The study, conducted in the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana state, demonstrated a significant improvement in indicators. The median time to receive TB diagnostic results decreased from 15 days to just five days after drones replaced traditional ground transport for sample delivery. On average, the diagnostic time reduced from 16.6 days to 6.9 days.
Furthermore, average out-of-pocket expenses for patients dropped from 9451 rupees to 91 rupees, representing a reduction of almost 99%. This study, published in the peer-reviewed journal IJTLD Open, assessed sample transportation using drones in real-world program conditions in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
Researchers from AIIMS Bibinagar, the ICMR's i-DRONE initiative, and AIIMS Bhubaneswar conducted this study. It became the first long-term program-based evaluation in India on the impact of drone logistics on TB diagnosis. The intervention covered 11 primary health centers, 60 sub-centers, and four TB units linked through a 'hub and spoke' network coordinated from AIIMS Bibinagar.
Patients could now submit sputum samples at the nearest medical facility instead of traveling 10–30 km to diagnostic centers. From there, drones delivered the samples to laboratories equipped with CBNAAT and Truenat machines.
The study involved 840 people: 206 during the traditional transport phase and 634 after the drones began operating. In addition to reducing diagnostic delays, there was a sharp increase in the reporting of TB test results the next day—from 1.5% to 76.3%. The percentage of patients waiting more than two days for results decreased from 92.2% to 16.3%.
Patients cited poor transport accessibility, travel difficulties, loss of income, and stigma associated with frequent visits to medical facilities as main reasons for diagnostic delays. Researchers noted that shifting sample transportation instead of moving patients significantly reduced both financial and logistical barriers.
The conclusion stated that integrating drones into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme can improve access to rapid diagnosis in rural, mountainous, and hard-to-reach areas, bringing India closer to the goal of eradicating tuberculosis. The authors acknowledged that the study was conducted only in one district, and long-term outcomes such as treatment adherence still require assessment; however, they emphasized that the data obtained proves the operational feasibility of drone-based logistics and its ability to strengthen equitable access to TB treatment.
Cervical cancer is becoming one of the most common problems among women in India after breast cancer, but there is a way to significantly reduce the risk of this disease.
Dr. Nilanchali Singh, Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at AIIMS in New Delhi, notes that with timely vaccination, the risk of developing cervical cancer can be reduced by up to 95%. She emphasizes that in addition to vaccination, regular screening is crucial after reaching the age of 30.
Cervical cancer is a disease specific to women that develops in the lower part of the uterus, in the area of the cervix. Most cases are caused by a persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is transmitted from men to women through sexual contact. Usually, a woman's immune system eliminates this infection within a few months or years, but in some women, the infection persists for a long time and can gradually lead to cancer development.
If cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be cured, but if it progresses to an advanced stage, it can be fatal. Dr. Singh explains that the increase in cervical cancer cases is related both to improved diagnostic methods and to the increased frequency of HPV infection among women. Nevertheless, not every woman infected with HPV develops cancer; most cases are managed by the body's immune system. However, the risk increases in women with weakened immune systems or those who have been exposed to high-oncogenic HPV for a long time.
Since cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus, vaccination against it helps reduce the threat of cancer. Although the vaccine is recommended for all women under 45, the optimal age for vaccination is considered to be between 9 and 14 years old. The vaccine can also be administered between the ages of 16 and 26, providing good protective effect. Women aged 26 to 45 can receive the vaccine upon a doctor's recommendation; although the level of protection at this age may be lower, this does not mean that the vaccination is useless.
Dr. Singh asserts that cervical cancer is one of the diseases that is largely preventable. If women get vaccinated and undergo regular tests after the age of 30, most cases can be stopped before they turn into cancer. In many countries, the introduction of the HPV vaccine has already led to a significant reduction in morbidity.
Regular diagnosis is equally important. Dr. Singh advises all women over 30 to undergo regular cervical cancer screening. Two types of tests are used for this: the Pap Smear Test and the HPV Test. Early detection allows for the treatment of cancer at an initial stage. It is also necessary to pay attention to certain signs:
Although these symptoms do not always indicate cancer, they are grounds for a mandatory medical examination.
