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Here's my take on the pressures of modern living: A woman who has five minutes to brush her teeth daily, should also be able to spare five minutes to look after her skin and hair. It's easy to do, provided you can resist the temptation to rely on synthetic and chemical solutions that are fast taking over the fresh approach. Why not go back to our rich natural roots?

After all, we have an impressive 5,000-year-old record of living with Nature. Let me kickstart the journey for you:

CLOVES: A traditional Indian spice used in nearly every Indian home. Next time you are suffering from a headache, grind 10 cloves and apply the paste to your temples. You will find your tension-filled brows easing within 20 minutes. People who suffer from severe acne should mix 10 ground cloves, two teaspoons of fresh mint paste and one teaspoon of gram flour with cold water. Apply the pack to the face; once dry, wash off with fridge-cold water. Cloves, with their stimulating effect, make a wonderful skin tonic and astringent for the T-zone area of combination and oily skin types.

To make a clove tonic, combine two litres of water, seven cloves, a pinch of camphor and a handful of fresh mint leaves. Simmer the solution until it reduces to half and let it cool. Refrigerate. This skin tonic can be used to wipe the skin several times a day. It helps reduce oiliness and refreshes the skin.

CUCUMBER: Cucumber is a natural toner that lightens the skin. Cucumber water, used as an astringent to cleanse the skin, is also a wonderful soother. You can grate cucumber and massage it onto your skin to lighten freckles, smooth wrinkles, bleach skin and soften hands. Cucumber slices, cut and refrigerated, are fabulous eye soothers and can be placed on the lids after a long day. Grated cucumber and lemon juice mixed with two teaspoons of Fuller's Earth makes a wonderful skin soother and anti-tan pack.

LEMON : One of my favourite citrus fruits, lemon is a wonderful healer. Its bleaching effect is well known and its fragrance is a great mood-lightener. A teaspoon of sugar and a lemon wedge rubbed regularly on the knees, elbows and knuckles can lighten the darkest of skins. Lemon is also a wonderful natural hair conditioner. In a glass of strained tea water, add the juice of one lemon and use it as an after-shampoo rinse to add bounce and shine to limp, dull hair. If you suffer from yellowish nails caused by smoking and long periods of wearing dark nail polish, rub half a lemon daily on your nails for a week and watch the natural colour and shine return. You can lso dry lemon peel and grind it; mixed with whole-wheat flour and almond powder, this makes an effective face and body scrub.

ALMONDS: Almonds have an extremely high content of Vitamin E, so they nourish you from the inside out. Almond powder mixed with oatmeal and milk can be used as a face-mask and exfoliator to nourish dry, dull skin. A fine paste of almonds mixed with grated raw potato and applied as an eye mask helps lighten dark circles. You can also massage the eyes with almond oil to reduce dark circles. A teaspoon of almond oil added to warm milk helps nourish the body internally. If you have dark hands, make a thick paste of almond powder, fresh cream, sugar granules and lemon juice and massage into the skin until all the sugar granules have melted. Wash hands and pat dry to see fair, soft hands in just five minutes!

EGGS: An everyday food item, eggs are widely used for skin and hair care. If you notice fine lines settling in around your eyes, nourish them away with the white of an egg. Leave on till completely dry and wash off with ice water. Apply every alternate day; you will find the lines reducing within the first month. Egg is a natural tightener. Mix with powdered masoor dal and milk, apply to the face and scrub off to leave the skin tightened and toned. This recipe also helps reduce blemishes. Egg is also used as a hair conditioner. Whip two eggs with a teaspoonful each of amla, shikakai and reetha powders and apply to our scalp like a hair pack. Shampoo after half an hour. Henna mixed with egg also conditions your hair and adds body, bounce and shine.

PAPAYA: This fruit is known to soften and cleanse the skin. Frozen mashed papaya soothes sunburnt skin. Papaya eaten at night and followed by two glasses of water is an excellent laxative that helps clear the stomach. If you massage skin with mashed papaya, you will find that your skin looks clearer and lighter.

TOMATOES: Tomatoes are acidic in nature and help to reduce the excessive oiliness of the skin. Take two firm tomato halves and rub on the skin. If you suffer from open pores, the regular use of this treatment will reduce the appearance of open pores and clean the greasiest of skins. Because of their high content of Vitamin C and potassium, tomatoes also nourish the skin and help reduce blackheads.

POTATO: Raw potato is an excellent remedy for blemishes. Raw cold potato slices not only soothe the eyes but also help reduce dark circles. Because potato has high starch content, it is an excellent skin tightener. Raw potato juice, rubbed onto the skin and left to dry, acts as an excellent toner. You can grate raw potato and mix it with lemon juice, oatmeal, milk and Fuller's Earth to make an excellent cleansing mask.