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Ayurveda: a Boon for Human Community
Author: Dr John Anne

Ayurveda is science that developed as the human evolved. Ayurveda can be called as the science that deals with health of a person. The main stress of ayurveda is to eradicate sorrows and misery from the life a person. These sorrows and misery can be any, physical or emotional.  

There are two principles of ayurveda

First and the foremost is the maintenance of the diseased free condition of a healthy individual.

Second is treating a person suffering from any diseases. 

These are the two primary principles on which ayurveda works. It would be strange to know that no other medicinal system as any kind of provision to sustain the health of an individual. They only deal with treating a disease and providing relief. But it is not in the case of ayurveda. Ayurveda primarily believes in making a person happy and free from any disease and secondly if a person somehow gets affected by certain ailments then it is concerned with the treating the root cause besides providing a disease. 

Only ayurveda is the science that tells us about how to lead a healthy and a quality life style that is extremely beneficial for remaining disease free. As mentioned in the ancient texts of ayurveda, there are two types of regimen that has to be followed. These are:- 

Day regimen – it deals with what all is to be done in a daily routine.  According to it a person should wake up early in morning about half an hour before the sun rise. He should get free from nature call and then should brush teeth and then take bath. After that he should worship the supreme power and only then he should have his meals. Evan the dietary pattern is also given i.e. what is to be taken and what not. Hence it covers all the aspect which includes daily routines and diet. 

Night regimen – next comes the night regimen that starts after sun set. It has been mentioned that a person should have his dinner before sunset. He should relax and should spend his time with his family. It has also been mentioned that what should be the ambience of the place where he should have his bed and which direction should one sleep. Recent researches have shown that these small-small factors have a very definitive effect not only on the psychic but also on the physical aspect of a person. 

There is also one more topic that is called as saddvritta, this deal with the social behavior of a person. This aspect deals with person’s behavior and his responsibilities towards the society he lives in. It teaches us that how to live in a society that is helpful in upliftment of the mental status and activities of people around us.

Besides these general heath maintenance methods ayurveda also tells certain ways to achieve longitivity and live life like a youth. These methods are known as rasayana. This longitivity can be achieved by herbal medicines and also by following a certain procedures.
Ayurveda also mentions body’s detoxification and rejuvenating procedures known as panchakarma. It is a five step procedures that helps in elimination of toxins in the body thereby establishing the homeostasis in the three humors i.e. (vata, pitta and kapha). 

Ayurveda also contains a list of number of herbs with there complete description and their therapeutic use. There is also mentioning of preparation of various herbal medicines that are extremely helpful eradicating various diseases that has been caused due to certain reasons.

Hence ayurveda can be called as a complete health science that as the capability to complete transform you and your body making it energetic, youthful and filled with enthusiasm. 

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Importance of Ayurveda
Author: Juliet Cohen

Ayurveda has been widely recognized as a system of natural health care congenial to the health needs of women. All over the world more and more women are turning to herbal medicine so that they have total control on their bodies throughout the year, throughout their lives. Vedas are the ancient books of knowledge, or science, from India. They contain practical and scientific information on various subjects beneficial to the humanity like health, philosophy, engineering, astrology etc. Ayurveda helps women find their own body rhythm, which is closely linked with nature and its changes resulting in lasting solutions to their health problems. 

As women respond both mentally and physically better to Ayurveda, it is known as a women's health care system. Ayurveda gives equal importance to mental health for which a regime of ethical life (sadurutta) is prescribed. Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life. Strict mental discipline and strict adherence to moral values is considered a pre-requisite for mental health. Finally herbs that are pungent, bitter and astringent ameliorate Kapha-water, which means they tend to increase digestive fire, expel and dry excessive fluid build up in the system, including clearing excessive fat from the body, and the accumulation of cholesterol and other fatty deposits in the veins and arteries of the body.

Ayurveda had recognized the importance of the environment in the total health. Remember, everything in your environment is composed of doshas that interact with your own doshas. Ayurvedic health care enhances the results of Yoga. Ayurvedic healthcare is the best bet for women to stop the aging process. Periodic rejuvenation therapy will keep health, beauty and zest for life intact throughout the years. Ayurveda gives equal importance to mental health for which a regime of ethical life is prescribed. Herbs that have pungent, sour and salty flavors stimulate fire; herbs that are astringent (drying) and bitter stimulate vata-air, or the nerve centered humor; herbs that are sweet, salty and sour stimulate or increase Kapha-water, or the mucous humor. Strict mental discipline and strict adherence to moral values is considered a pre-requisite for mental health. The aim of Ayurveda is to promote health, increase immunity and resistance-and to cure Disease. 

Ayurveda understands that health is a reflection of when a person is living in harmony with nature and disease arises when a person is out of harmony with the cycles of nature. Ayurveda helps each individual realign their living patterns to bring about health and peace and to remember that their true nature is Spirit. Ayurveda gives equal importance to both preventive and curative aspects. Ayurveda offers methods of finding out early stages of diseases that are still undetectable by modern medical investigation. It is the knowledge of life in its entirety that is body, mind and soul. 

The ayurveda treatments can be classified into (Six):

1. Massages
2. Dhara
3. Kizhi
4. Vasthi
5. Eye treatments
6. Panchakarma

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Ayurveda – Holistic Approach to Health Care
Author: Dr John Anne

Meaning of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the most popular holistic forms of medicine that has originated in India, and is now rapidly spreading around the world. Ayurveda is a combination of two Sanskrit words, ayus meaning 'life' and veda meaning 'knowledge'. Hence, Ayurveda literally means 'the knowledge of life'. 

Indians believe that Ayurveda originated as a form of medicine for the gods. Even in the Ramayana (which is believed to be several millennia old), we have a reference of how Hanuman brings the Sanjivani herb to revive Lakshmana, who is mortally wounded in the battlefield at Lanka. Dhanwantari, the physician of the gods, is believed to be the one who discovered Ayurveda. Ayurveda was brought from the realms of the gods to the human race by Charaka, who wrote the Ayurvedic treatise, Charaka Samhita, which is regarded venerably even today. Sushruta later wrote a compendium of his own, Sushruta Samhita, which has several amendments over the methods detailed in the Charaka Samhita.

Principles of Ayurveda 

Ayurveda is a largely herbal science. It delves into the medicinal properties of herbs and studies their effects on the human system. There are more than four thousand herbs known to Ayurveda, out of which about one thousand are very commonly used in regular prescriptions. Throughout the ages, several combinations of the herbs have been made and perfected. The herbs are also matured in several ways like roasting them in ghee, fermenting them to make wines, preparing their concentrated powder extracts, etc. Preparations are known as bhasmas, lehyas, vatis, choornas, rasas, asavas, etc. depending on how they have been prepared.

Though Ayurveda mainly deals with herbs; that is not all there is to it. Ayurveda also deals in several minerals, which it calls as dhaatus. Some dhaatu preparations are very important to the human wellbeing, for example, the Shilajit.

However, the most important aspect of Ayurveda is neither the herbs nor the minerals that it uses. The secret of the success of Ayurveda over the centuries is the regimen that it coerces its patients to do. There are several therapies that Ayurveda has devised. The most famous of these is the Panchakarma therapy. This is an elaborate five-part process which can treat almost any ailment that afflicts humans. The Panchakarma therapy is a way of purification of the body. Then there are several other therapies like Shirodhara, Basti, etc. which helps keep the body in a state of normalcy.

Ayurveda often goes hand in hand with another popular Indian technique, the yoga. Ayurvedic physicians often prescribe asanas of yoga to supplement their herbal remedies. Ayurveda also believes in several massage therapies using different kinds of oils. Aromatherapy, though a different science in itself, can be considered to be a subset of the Ayurvedic techniques. Ayurveda believes that massage can canalize the toxins to their proper destinations in the body from where they can be eliminated. In this manner, the body remains free from residual toxic substances.
Ayurveda also believes in the importance of diet. When a treatment is going on, the Ayurvedic physician will stress on the importance of the diet the person consumes. Each component is selected with care, because with any disease, there are a large number of dietary indications and contra-indications.

The Popularity of Ayurveda 

Today, Ayurveda is so deeply ensconced in the minds of the Indian population that they would use its remedies without actually knowing they are making use of some Ayurvedic technique. Almost every Indian household has one tulsi plant in their courtyard. Tulsi is nothing but the holy basil tree. This plant is worshipped by the Hindus, without knowing that the high respect for the tulsi actually originates from the various medicinal properties the herb has. Tulsi is one of the five essential plants every Indian garden is supposed to have. The other four plants are neem, amalaki, bilva and palash. Today, all these five herbs have become popular all around the world for their amazing curative properties.

Herbs like brahmi, ginkgo, gotu kola, ashwagandha, yohimbe, yashtimadhu, arjuna, etc. have now gained worldwide renown. The western scientists are spending a great deal of time and research in investigating the properties of these herbs. With every test they conduct, their belief in the powers of Ayurveda is only strengthening.

Garlic, onion and ginger are today used all over the world for several medicinal reasons. It is confirmed that garlic can prove extremely beneficial in reducing cholesterol and increasing longevity. However, it was Ayurveda that was the first to bring the curative properties of these herbs in the limelight. There are several other such herbs which were given their importance by Ayurveda first. Some of them are fenugreek, licorice, betel nut, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin seeds, dandelion, lemon grass, rauwolfia, zizzyphus, etc.

The initial reticence in using a quaint Indian method of medicine is now slowly dwindling away. Several Americans and Europeans are opting to use Ayurveda instead of other invasive therapeutic methods. Ayurvedic medicines are being very widely used in the west for memory enhancement tonics, treatment of male and female sterility, breast enhancement, penis enlargement and weight loss. People who are using them vouch for their benefits.

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Ayurveda- Age Old Truth from India
Author: Rajesh Nair

Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian healing system is right in sync with our growing awareness of the mind-body connection and places equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit and strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual.
 
CONCEPT:
 
The basic concept of Ayurvedic medicine is that the body is seen as a microcosmic universe in which the five primordial elements (panchamahabhutas) - ether (akasha), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (jala) and earth (prithvi) - combine to form three humours (doshas), known as wind (vata), choler (pitta) and phlegm (kapha). It's believed each dosha has its own qualities and functions in relation to the body.
 
The balance between these doshas determines individual constitution (prakriti) and predisposition to disease. Constitution is also affected by the strength of a person's 'digestive fire' (agni) and bowel function (kostha).Seven tissues (dhatus) and their waste products (malas) make up the physical body and a network of channels circulate fluids and essences around the body. Three interdependent universal constituents, the three gunas - purity (sattva), activity (rajas) and solidity (tamas) - also influence health and determine mental qualities.
 
Disease occurs if lifestyle, mental or external factors cause an imbalance in one or more of these components. Ayurvedic medicine treats the majority of its patients using herbal mixtures, other organic food and substances that have been clinically tested and are now being scientifically validated.
 
UNIQUENESS:
 
Its uniqueness lies in its treatment plan which is tailored to the body type and individual imbalances among the vata, pitta, and kapha within and includes dietary changes, exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, herbal tonics, herbal sweat baths, medicated enemas, and medicated inhalations.
 
Ayurvedic medicine gets rid the body of its indigestible toxins which attract viruses and compromise autoimmune processes and responses. Ayurvedic physicians pay close attention to pulse, tongue, eyes, and nails in diagnosing illness. Diagnosis is based on observation rather than laboratory testing. The doctor enquires the patient about his health and family histories. In addition, he may palpate the body, or listen to the heart, lungs, and intestines with a stethoscope. He use urine samples and the pulse to describe the balance (or imbalance) of the three doshas. Ayurvedic treatment then consists of cleansing and detoxification (Shodan or Pancha Karma), palliation (Shaman) to balance and relax the three doshas, rejuvenation (Rasayana), and mental hygiene and spiritual healing (Satvajaya)
 
PRESENT STATUS:
 
At present the Ayurveda medicine is well set to re-orient itself to modern scientific parameters. Simultaneously, it is well poised for much greater, effective utilization to benefit the whole humanity to reach its goals of Health. Ayurveda medicine which started as a magico-religious practice, matured into a fully developed medical science with eight branches which have parallels in the modern western system of medicine and it has developed into following sixteen specialities

1. Ayurveda Siddhanta (Fundamental Principals of Ayurveda).
2. Ayurveda Samhita. (Classicals) 
3. Rachna Sharira (Anatomy). 
4. Kriya Sharira (Physiology). 
5. Dravya Guna Vigian (Materia Medica & Pharmacology). 
6. Ras-shastra. (Metals) 
7. Bhaishajya Kalpana (Pharmaceuticals). 
8. Kaumar Bharitya (Peadiatrics). 
9. Prasuti Tantra (Obstetrics & Gynaecology). 
10. Swasth-Vritla (Social & Preventive Medicine). 
11. Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine). 
12. Rog Nidan (Pathology). 
13. Shalya Tantra (Surgery 
14. Shalkya Tantra (Eye & ENT). 
15. Mano-Roga (Psychiatry) 
16. Panchkarma. (Massage therapy)

PREPARATION:
 
The main part of Ayurveda Medicine is Herbal Tonics or Rasayanas which are prepared according to the Vedic traditional standards practiced in ancient times. They are made of only 100% natural ingredients, using only the best of the Ayurveda and Western herbs and spices, ghee (purified butter), raw honey, dried fruits, Sucanat (unprocessed sugar) and natural flavors. They are prepared by hand (the old custom), using utensils of copper, iron and clay. Being highly nutritious and antioxidant they provide many elements which are lacking in the modern diet. Formulated with the intention of bringing back into balance one or more of the five elements; which get put out of balance from improper diet etc.; in return this promotes balance on the physical, mental and subtle levels of our being which will add life to our years as well as years to your life.
 
Ayurveda medicine does not believe in trying to kill viruses in the body with powerful chemicals, but believes in assisting the bodies own healing energies with the proper harmonizing herbs and the ideal individual diet. This way the immune system will work the way nature intended it to.

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Holistic Medicine: Ayurveda
Author: Evelyn Lim

Ayurveda is the oldest and most holistic medicine in the world. Its teachings and practices were documented over 5,000 years ago in India, despite having a history that spans longer than what was documented.
 
Ayurveda has been referred to a holistic medicine that deals with both body and the spirit. In fact, ayurveda is more like a lifestyle and covers all aspects of health including nutrition and amazingly, surgery.

The main aim of Ayurveda is prevention.  Ancient text tells us that humans should be able to live to be about 100 years old and that one can live to a ripe old age in good health, both physically and mentally.  Ayurveda does not accept that getting old equals a failing health and a poor quality of life.  Although these texts have been written several thousand years ago, Ayurvedic principles remain very much applicable even in today's environment.   It is possible for anyone to introduce Ayurvedic principles into their life.  There are plenty of benefits that can be derived from doing so.
    
Ayurvedic practitioners will often strive to find health issues which may just be in their early stages and try to deal with them before they get more serious.  In all, Ayurveda seeks to take a preventative stance when it comes to diseases, both physical and mental.
 
Because the the philosophy behind Ayurveda holistic medicine can be quite complex, it can take practitioners several years to understand and master this form of holistic healing.
  
However, I will attempt to give a brief explanation here on basic Ayurvedic principles, as provided by a practitioner friend of mind.
 
Through the years, Ayurvedic healing came up with three classifications or "doshas" which are said to govern all bodily processes.  The 3 main doshas are Vata (air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water).  A person's constitution type is dependent on whichever dosha that appears to be dominant. Each constitution type has particular strengths and susceptibilities.

Pita (fire) determines how you digest food, your metabolization of sensory perceptions and your emotions.  Too much Pitta can lead to anger, criticism, acidity, ulcers, rashes and thinning hair. On the other hand, too much vata leads to worries, insomnia and constipation.  Vata controls blood flow, waste elimination and your breathing. Someone with too much Kapha gains weight easily.  Too much Kapah also leads to lethargy, congestion and allergies. 

For an ayurvedic diagnosis, therefore, patients are classified by their body types which are determined by the proportions of the three doshas. When the doshas are not in balance, illness and disease results.  Ayurvedic treatments are aimed at restoring harmony or balance to the mind-body system.

In Ayurveda, natural remedies are often used as treatments.  For instance, herbal preparations may be prescribed.  Often, an Ayurvedic doctor will advise a diet change as well.  There is also a great focus on stress relaxation and Ayurveda can involve some deep relaxing massage techniques.
 
Today, there is rising interest in the area of Ayurveda holistic medicine by the western world.  For instance, the neem plant which has been used for ayurvedic medicine for so many thousands of years, have been encapsulated after research and testing.  Neem plant extracts are used for eczema, liver cleansing and other skin disease problems.  

The rising interest by western doctors can only mean good news for us all.  With more widespread awareness of ayurvedic herbs, people seeking treatment will find out that there are plenty of alternatives to conventional medicine.  More choices and more analysis and information are privy to making informed health decisions for you and your family.

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Panchakarma
– The Detoxification Therapy in Ayurveda
by Dr. Savitha Suri 

According to Ayurvedic texts our body is crisscrossed by srotas or channels or tube like structures. This net work contains both microscopic and macroscopic channels. (Digestive system, nervous system, circulatory system etc are few examples of these channels). Innumerable physiological process like breathing, blood circulation, secretions of enzymes, hormones etc, flow of signals, supply of nutrients, filtration of toxins, excretion of waste etc are aided by these tubular structures.

Diseases occur when toxins get accumulated in body and clog these channels. Unhealthy diet, lifestyle, stress, changes in environment etc lead to accumulation of toxins in body. These accumulated toxins have to be expelled out in order to keep our body healthy. Through Panchakarma therapy these toxic clogs are removed to normalize the physiological process. Hence Panchakarma therapy is called as detoxification therapy. Panchakarma therapy can be administered to a normal person to prevent diseases and keep his body healthy. The ideal season to expel toxins through this therapy is rainy season.

Panchakarma therapy is also used as a purification therapy to cleanse the body before starting a treatment. A diseased body can be compared to a soiled cloth which can not be colored as we desire. Hence to attain the maximum benefits , the body has to be purified or cleaned before starting the treatment. The cleared channels help medicines to penetrate the deeper tissues.

The detoxification process contains three steps:

1. Purvakarma - Preparations which have to be done before the detoxification
2. Pradhanakarma – The main detoxifying process
3. Pashchat karma – Rehabilitating the diet and lifestyle after the detoxification process.

Purvakarma
These steps are adopted to soften the channels and toxins, so that the toxins can get detached and eliminated easily during main detoxifying process. The hard toxic clogs are made to get loosened by increasing body fire or Agni. Medicines are administered internally for this purpose. This process is called as “deepana and pachana” in Ayurveda. (the duration of this process is 3-5 days depending on the conditions and diseases)
Later whole body is oleated internally and externally with medicated oil or ghee. This process is called as “Snehana” .

Internal oleation is done by administering small quantities of medicated oil or ghee internally. The duration of internal oleation, quantity and type of medicated oil or ghee is determined by the physician after analyzing the body constitution of the patient. The patient has to eat liquid food or light food on the day prior to internal oleation. After consuming the medicated oil or ghee the patient is encouraged to sip warm water frequently. When medicated oil or ghee is completely digested, the patient is advised to consume light food.

External oleation is done after the completion of internal oleation.. The whole body or body part is massaged with medicated oil. Few types of external oleation are used as treatment methods. They are
Abhyanga ; Massaging whole body    
Lepa – Smearing medicated oil and herbs   
Mardana – Kneading the body parts with fingers and fists.  
Padaghata – Tampling the body with foot. 
Gandusha - The mouth is filled with oil and is retained for a longer period of time. 
Parisheka (Pizhichil) - The warm medicated oil is poured continuously over the entire body for an extended period of time.
Soon after oil massage the body or body part is exposed to heat through steam bath or other heating methods according to the physician’s choice. This process of exposing body to heat is called as swedana or sweating. Both snehana and swedana help to soften the channels and toxin clogs. Elimination of toxins becomes easy when channels are soft and toxins are loose.

Pradhana Karma
This is the main detoxifying process. The softened and loosened toxins are expelled from body by five methods. Considering these five major detoxifying methods the whole process is named as “Panchakarma” (Pancha = 5, Karma = process ) .
Vamana (through Emesis), 
Virechana (Purgation), 
Niruha basthi Basthi (enema with herbal concoctions),
Anuvasana basthi (enema with medicated oil) 
Nasya (nasal drops) and
Raktamokshana (Blood letting).
Physician can chose any of these detoxifying methods according to disease and prevalence of doshas.
Vamana
Vamana means expelling doshas through oral route. It is emesis therapy. Before inducing vamana the toxins and vitiated doshas are brought to amashaya or stomach with various preparatory methods like snehana and swedana. The emesis should never be induced in empty stomach. Vamana therapy is conducted in early hours of day, when kapha dosha is dominant. Vitiated doshas and accumulated toxins are expelled through methodically induced emesis. Patient is required to be relaxed calm and devoid of any mental stress through out the therapy. After emesis therapy, patient is gradually rehabilitated to regular diet and lifestyle.
Detoxification through vamana is suggested in diseases which mainly involve kapha dosha. The disorders like cough, asthama, indigestion, poisoning, repeated attacks of tonsillitis, nasal discharge, tuberculosis, etc are treated with vamana therapy. Children and elderly are not to be subjected to this therapy. The same holds good for obese and weak persons. After vamana the loud speech, overeating, continued sitting, too much walking, anger, anxiety, coitus, retention of natural urges have to be avoided.
Virechana
Virechana is expelling the vitiated doshas and toxins through purgation. This therapy can be conducted as an individual detoxification therapy or as a follow up therapy next to vamana to ensure complete detoxification. Virechana is a non painful and easiest procedure. Complications are usually very rare in this therapy. This detoxification method helps to expel toxins and vitiated doshas from blood, liver and intestines. Usual panchakarma preparatory methods like snehana and swedana are completed before inducing purgation. Virechana is induced by administering herbal purgatives in morning between 8 am to 9 am, when pitta dosha is dominant. Patient is made to drink warm water repeatedly as he passes stools. Patient is later rehabilitated to his regular diet and lifestyle.
This therapy is suggested for disorders in which pitta is prominent dosha. Skin diseases, jaundice, constipation, headache, fistula, hemorrhoids, intestinal parasites, herpes, anemia, edema are few of many diseases in which Virechana is the chosen as detoxifying therapy. Contraindications for virechana therapy are ulcerated rectum, pregnancy, obesity, diarrhea, cardiac ailments, tuberculosis, children and elderly
Basthi Karma

Basthi karma is expelling body toxins and vitiated doshas by introduce medicated liquids or oils through anus, urethra or vaginal canal. Basthi means urinary bladder. In ancient times the enema apparatus used to be made up of urinary bladder of animals. Hence this detoxification process is called Basthi karma.
Basthi karma is mainly used in vata dominant diseases.

Basthi karma is usually performed after the first two detoxification process namely vamana and virechana or only after virechana. After completing preparatory procedures (snehana, swedana), patient is allowed to lie on his left side and medicated oil or herbal decoction is administered under hygienic conditions. Patient has to lie on his back for 10-15 minutes after basthi is given.

There are two types of Basthi – Anuvasana basthi and Niruha basthi.
Anuvasana basthi
In anuvasana basthi medicated oil is introduced through anus, immediately after the consumption of food. There will be no harm even if medicated oil remains inside colon for a long time. This type of basthi nourishes and strengthens the body.

Niruha basthi
In this type of basthi (also known as asthapana basthi) an enema of herbal decoction is given. Niruha basthi is administered in empty stomach. The administered decoction has to come out from body within 45 minutes. The expelled herbal decoction brings out toxins and vitiated doshas along with it. Anuvasana basthi and Niruhabasthi are given alternatively. Patient is advised to take bath after herbal decoction is expelled. Unlike vamana and virechana, strict diet and lifestyle rehabilitation is not required after basthi karma, as basthi do not cause irritation in digestive system. But it is necessary to take light and nourishing food.

Introducing medicated liquids and oils through urethra in men or through vagina in women, is called uttara basthi.

Basthi karma is usually recommended in
1. Diseases involving joints like arthritis, gout etc,
2. Neuro muscular problems
3. Osteoporosis
4. Paralysis
5. Low back pain
6. Obesity
7. Disorders of intestines
8. Menstrual problems of women
Benefits of basthi
Basthi improves vision, decreases weight in obese people, increases weight and nourishes emaciated persons, slows down ageing process and boosts health.
Nasya karma

Nasya karma means administering drops of herbal liquid preparations or medicated oils through nose. This detoxification method is also known as Shirovirechana. Vitiated doshas and toxins which are accumulated in head and neck are expelled through nose and mouth along with nasal and oral secretions. As a preparatory procedure the head and face of patient is massaged with medicated oil (Administering medicated oil before nasya karma is not advised) and steam bath is given only to head and neck region. Patient is made to sleep on his back with foot end elevated and head reclined. The medicated liquid or oil is administered in drops to both nostrils consecutively. Patient is advised to inhale the medicine slowly. After nasya karma the patient must avoid talking loudly, getting angry and laughing.

According to the type of medicine used, the nasya karma is divided into four types. They are:
1.Navana Nasya : In this type drops of medicated oil is used.
2.Avapidana Nasya: Here squeezed juice of herbs is used.
3.Dhmapana or pradhamana nasya : Fine powder of herbs are made to inhale through an apparatus called “nadi yantra” ( a tube like apparatus)
4.Dhuma nasya : Fumes of medicinal herbs are inhaled in this type of nasya.
Nasya Karma is indicated in tonsillitis, stiff neck, stiff jaw, headache, sinusitis, stammering, hoarseness of voice etc. Nasya Karma should not be performed when patient has indigestion, consumed alcohol, taken head bath, and tiered, pregnancy.

All panchakarma or detoxification therapies have to be conducted strictly under the supervision of well experienced qualified Ayurvedic doctors.

Pashchat Karma
A strict diet and lifestyle procedure has to be followed through out Panchakarma treatment. The rehabilitative procedures to bring back the diet and lifestyle to normal are considered as “paschat Karma”. In this stage the digestion power is brought back to normalcy. Medicines are administered to rejuvenate the body or to treat the disease.

During Panchakarma treatment the following rules have to be strictly followed.
One has to use only warm water to drink, bathe and for other activities. 
Person who is undergoing Panchakarma therapy cannot indulge in sex.
Sleeping in daytime is contraindicated.
Natural urges should not be controlled.  
Exposures to extreme temperatures or weather conditions have to be avoided.
Keeping awake at night is not advisable.
Foods which cause indigestion can not be consumed.
Exercise and mental stress have to be avoided.
The Panchakarma therapy is not advisable for persons in whom the following conditions exist:
Menses
Lactation
Cancer of the Lungs or Testicles
Melanoma
HIV or AIDS
Extreme Obesity
Lympho-Sarcoma
Hypertension
Congestive Heart Failure
Emaciation
Any Active Infectious Disease
Pregnancy
Angina Pectoris
The benefits of Panchakarma are as follows:
Toxins are eliminated from body.
Doshas get balanced.
Stress is reduced and body gets relaxed.
Slows ageing process and increases the lifespan.
Increases glow and luster of skin.
Boosts body immunity and body energy level.
Enhances strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity.
Reduces dependence on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Help to implement healthy diet and lifestyle.         

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Yoga and Ayurveda Explained
Author: Kevin Pederson

Yoga and Ayurveda are so closely interrelated, such sister sciences, throughout history they both developed together and continually impacted one another. Both Yoga and Ayurveda are integral parts of the great system of Vedic knowledge. It, essentially, states that the entire universe is One Self and the key to cosmic knowledge lies within our own hearts and minds. So much so, that the two have come to be combined in one, and are often referred to as Ayurveda Yoga. Or Yoga Ayurveda, depending upon which has precedence over which in the mind of the user / practitioner. As Vedic disciplines go  to enhance their great benefits on all levels Yoga and Ayurveda move hand-in-hand. Besides, for an even broader approach, they can even be used and practised together with other related Vedic or Yogic sciences of astrology, architecture, music and language.
 
Following in the footsteps of Yoga it already has a global presence Ayurveda is fast emerging as one of the most important of mind-body medicine systems worldwide. Ayurveda teaches us to recognize and follow the laws of nature and the language of life, so that we are able to co-exist in harmony with the universe. We dont evolve for only ourselves but, rather, give the benefit of our life and knowledge to all creatures in Gods creation. Ayurveda is a treasure trove of all secrets not just curative, but also to uplift society, all creatures and our planet itself.
 
Yogic techniques, on the other hand, deal with the whole gamut of our existence. This ranges from the physical, sensory, emotional, mental, and spiritual to the highest Self-realization. Yoga includes all methods of evolution physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), moral and ethical disciplines, sensory methods, affirmations and visualizations, prayer, meditation and mantras. Only Yoga fully comprehends the nature and alliance of the physical, subtle and formless universes into the unlimited infinite beyond time and space. Further, Yoga shows us how these also exist in every human being.
 
Prana is, or vital life-force the interrelating link between Yoga and Ayurveda. While Yoga comprises the intelligence of Prana seeking greater evolutionary transformations, Ayurveda is its healing power. It seeks to combine all life-systems it has already developed. Together, Yoga and Ayurveda are a whole discipline, with the help of which it is possible for us to transform our entire existence from the physical to the highest spiritual levels of our being with extraordinary vitality and creativity on all levels.
 
To that extent, Yoga and Ayurveda are both, first and foremost, sciences of Self-realization. They are both concerned with spiritual practice, chiefly through medication and meditation, with a view to take us beyond worldly sorrow and ignorance to the higher planes of existence. Both teach us how to progress from our physical bodies and ego-bound identities to our immortal Self. This is the Self that dwells in the human heart. Ayurveda Yoga is the key to all-round, overall development. This, in the Vedic sense is gaining knowledge of our real nature that transcends time, space, death and suffering.

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Paliative Management from Ayurveda
Author: Rajesh Nair

According to Ayurveda, an ancient Indian Holistic medical system 'Health is happiness and disease is Pain' and it understands pain as a problem in vayu (air, one of the personality types according to ayurveda), which deals with the nervous system and any pain on the body is refered as Roga. Site of Pain (Vedana) are Mind (manas) and Body along with sense organs.
 
a) Causative factors of any pain are:
 
1. Asatmendriyarth samyoga -. It includes excessive utilization or wrong Utilization of objects of senses like vision, Sound, smell, taste and touch) Agni is responsible for proper appetite and digestion of food. Anything in excess (activity, diet, exercise etc) cause derangement in jatharagni (appetite). It is unable to digest the food. Hence undigested in the stomach and gets infected by doshas. This is Aama. This aama gets fermented producing toxins and thus acts as a poison for the body.
 
2. Prajnaaparadha - Misdeeds performed by an individual as a result of wrong decision taken by the mind.
 
3. Parinama (kala) - Any unfavourable changes in weather and time.
 
b) Classifications of Pain are:
 
1. Nija Agantuja - Caused solely due to derangement of physiological disturbances.
 
2. Sharirik Manasik - Physiological disturbance & Psychological imbalance.
 
c) Pain caused solely due to derangement of three humors:
 
1. Vataj Vikara - Caused due to derangement of Vata dosha.
 
2. Pittaj Vikara - caused due to derangement of Pitta dosha.
 
3. Kaphaj Vikara - Caused due to derangement of Kapha dosha.
 
Contrary to all indications, there is a positive side to pain. It is the body's riot alarm. Without its warning signals, we would succumb to the mildest of maladies. Ayurveda imparts knowledge on individual constitution of our body and use of various herbs, minerals,proper diet, exercises, Panch Karma and Yoga therapy to treat pain and promote good health, treat pain and acquire longevity.
 
According to Ayurveda a holistic way of living, chronic pain is caused by doshic imbalances and is influenced by many factors like diet, digestion, toxin accumulation, stress, exercise levels and daily routine.
 
1) Removing the Buildup of Toxins and Impurities.
 
Ayurvedic herbalized oil massages helps in loosening impurities that are embedded in tissues and helps liquefy them for easy absorption into the circulation and eventual elimination of pain.
 
2) Proper Nutrition
 
Ayurveda advises a easy to digest and a satisfying and nourishing dietary approach that improves the digestion along with ayurvedic herbal formulas which helps in restoring balance to the specific functioning modes whose malfunctioning causes the chronic pain.
 
3) Creating Strong Digestion
 
Incompletely digested foods create toxins and impurities that are eventually absorbed, travel throughout the physiology, localize in tissues and disrupt their functioning leading to a chronic pain which is treated by a proper use of spices and cooking oils, by favouring digestion-enhancing foods, by reducing digestion
depressing foods.
 
4) Balancing Nervous System Activity
 
Vata imbalance is an underlying cause of the painful condition and is reversed by specific diets, herbs, cleansing programs, meditation, yoga asanas and yoga breathing exercises.
 
5) Stress Management
 
Excessive mental, emotional and physical stress can worsen the symptoms of many chronic pain. Ayurveda treats it by massage and heat treatments by yoga asana postures.
 
6) Lifestyle and Daily Routine
 
One of the most important factors for maintaining healthy functioning is to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms. Ayurveda reviews and creates a daily schedule that will increase balance in your physiology and aid in healing your body.
 
7) Exercise and Flexibility Education
 
Ayurveda advises proper stretching and flexibility exercises as it has a very positive effect on circulation, nervous system function, the body's healing response thereby treats many chronic pains.
 
Thus ayurveda manages the chronic pain by approaching it in the above integrated manner and its results speak for themselves.

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Recognition of Ayurveda as a Scientific Treatment Method
Author: Dev Sri

It is really a strange thing that international communities do not recognize Ayurveda as a scientific method of treatment. This centuries old treatment method has stood the test of time and still flourishes as the prime method of treatment in different parts of India, especially in Kerala and South India. There are systematic methods to identify diseases, prepare medicines, treatment methods. Surgery is also involved in Ayurveda.

Sushrutha, known as the father of modern plastic surgery lived in India many centuries ago and his method was Ayurveda.

Lack of a concerted effort to gather the traditions spread across Kerala and present them in a knowledgeable way is a reason for the delaying of recognition of Ayurveda by international community.

There needs a concerted effort for experiments, clinical trials, in a scientific manner. People generally and westerners in special are somewhat skeptical about the effectiveness and safety of Ayurveda. They require clinical observation and proof after trials – Ayurvedic methods can pass any tests.

However with these clinical trials, we can't forego the traditional methods of preparation of medicines and preparing the patient to receive the treatment. Here the traditional methods of treatment are the best method.

Millions of people pursue Ayurvedic treatment in India. The number of foreigners getting favorable results out of different treatment methods is also on the rise. Careful recording of such treatments is the necessary first step towards passing the clinical trials. This is especially true when it comes to treatment methods that can be taken by millions of people worldwide. However, clinical trials are not possible in all cases. Recording as much of the therapeutic processes is necessary to get Ayurveda recognition it deserves. Recording of all possible therapeutic practices can accumulate towards a common database, which provides the necessary statistics about the effectiveness of specific medicines and practices used in Ayurveda.

Another factor is listing of the component herbs – and possibly the derivates from such plants and their specific influences on human body under different conditions. Large scale research is still pending on different medicinal plants from the forests of Kerala, India. Extension of this research can bring out the medicinal properties of plants that grow naturally in other countries. They too will have medicinal properties – it will probably help in developing Ayurveda specific to different countries other than India.

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Shirodhara: an Ayurveda Offering
Author: PURVI

Ayurveda has a lot to offer. A lot of ayurvedic therapies and medicines are popular world wide. Shirodhara is one of such ayurvedic therapies. Shirodhara was developed by the ayurveda specialist many years back. But now this is a famous therapy all over the world. However, no experience can be as good as Shirodhara in Kerela, India.  Shirodhara comes from the Sanskrit words, shir which means head and dhara which means the flow. The ayurvedic liquids are used to flow over the forehead. This liquid can vary from milk to any other herbal liquid or oil. This therapy has proved to be very beneficial in many ailments. It is great for relaxation.  Many spas use this therapy for their clients to make them relaxed and at peace. As a continuous flow of liquid is there in Shirodhara, it leads to rejuvenation of energies that is blocked. It leads you to a state of trance. Your entire body gets the energetic experience.  Many problems like depression, high blood pressure, insomnia, hair loss etc. can be treated with Shirodhara therapy. The main aim of Shirodhara is to eradicate the main cause of the health trouble. Due to modern lifestyles we tend to get depressed and stressed easily. And with this therapy you can boost the blood circulation. It is also said to help in digestion. It also helps to increase concentration and confidence. Thus Ayurveda can help you a lot in betterment of life.

Eventhough, this ayurveda therapy is practised in India, more and more western countries are following this. This therapy has been practised since ages. But now, people have realized the value of this.

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Cervical Spondylosis- Herbal Cure from Ayurveda
Author: Rajesh Nair

Ayurveda is the Vedic system of health care that developed in India over 5000 years ago, which is a natural therapy, hence it has no side effect or any complications. 
Computer professionals whose work demands lot of work sitting on a chair in a bent down posture causing undue strain on the vertebral column tend to be more affected by Cervical Spondylosis, which is a special type of arthritis which affects the vertebrae of the neck region.

Ayurveda offers conservative treatment as oral & external medication in which herbal medicine helps you reverse the disease-process giving decongestion of the spinal canal & nerve-root bony outlets which can relieve it.
 
The signs and symptoms of cervical spondylosis include:
 
1. Pain in the back of the neck spreading at times to the base of skull, shoulder, down your arms to hands and fingers, chest and forehead. The movement of the spine generally aggravates the pain of the neck.
 
2. Stiffness of the neck and even paraplegia may occur due to this condition.
 
3. An increased risk of other injuries to your neck.
 
4. Crunching sounds with movement of the neck or shoulder muscles.
 
5. Numbness and tingling in the arms, hands and fingers, some loss of feeling in the hands and impairment of reflexes.
 
6. In an aggravated state it may present with nausea, blurred vision, and may also be associated with induced tendency of vomiting.
 
7. Dizziness and Blackouts ( if there is pressure on the vertebral artery ) fatigue and irritability.
 
8. With advanced disease, loss of bladder control and leg weakness.
 
9. May feel irritable and fatigue, disturb sleep and impair the ability to work.
 
10. Headaches, which often start at the back of the head, just above the neck, before moving over the top to the forehead.
 
11. Difficulty in swallowing.
 
12. It is often associated with loss of memory.
 
13. A loss of balance, fear of falling.
 
14. Muscle weakness and deterioration, diminished reflexes.
 
15. General tiredness and anxiety - can be present.
 
In Ayurveda, a traditional holistic Indian health care system, Panchakarma treatments are the best option to reduce this neck pain and disc compression. Its treatment include :
 
Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbal decoction is given as enema to clean the colon and increase the muscle tone.
 
Shiro dhara : Pouring continuous stream of medicated oil, buttermilk etc on the fore head and doing a gentle & soothing head massage which creates profound relaxation of the mind and body and revitalizes the central nervous system.
 
Abhyangam: A whole body massage with specific herbal oils, achieves deepest healing effects by naturally harmonizing body, mind, soul and the senses.
 
Shastika Sali Pinda Swedam/ Navarakizhi : A highly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked, tied into boluses and dipped into an herbal decoction and warm milk, then skillfully massaged all over the body.
 
Pizhichil (medicated oil bath): Fresh linen dipped in lukewarm medicated oil is squeezed over your body while masseurs slowly and gently rub the oil all over.
 
Greeva vasthi: A treatment done on the neck to decrease cervical spinal compression.

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Eye Care in Ayurveda
Author: Dev Sri

Not many people know there is a specialized branch in Ayurveda that deals with eye care. Eye care or netra chikitsa comes in Shalakya Tantra (Urdhwanga chikitsa in Malayalam), one among the eight branches of Ayurveda. 

Shalakya tantra is Ayurvedic equivalent of ENT. It deals with all diseases affecting parts above neck. Ancient Ayurvedic texts describe 76 types of eye diseases. Though there are not cure to all of the diseases, there are solid directions to effectively manage any eye condition and manage better eyesight. 

Here are some eye care habits you can follow to better manage your eye health. 

The first principle is not to stare at any object for long times or don't try to figure out a distant object in such a way that you tire your eyes. Blinking of eye is a natural process and don't suppress the feeling to blink your eyes.

Don't attempt reading or watching TV in dim light or too bright light (bright sunlight).

Being part of your body, your eyes too require rest. Don't cut in on the time to sleep.

Splash your eyes with fresh water early in the morning and several times in the day. 

Staring computer screen for longer hours is a recipe for eye fatigue. Take a break from your job every 30 minutes.  Close your eyes for a few seconds or take a small walk.

Diet

Food items rich in vitamins, especially Vitamin A is necessary to maintain good eye health. Carrot and other colored vegetables are good sources of vitamin A. Apples, chick peas, radish, whole wheat bread, etc too are good for eyes.

Drink lot of water during the day time. Don't allow dehydration to happen. It tires your eyes, just as it does to your body.

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Ayurveda Fenugreek Spice Is  Scientifically Proven To Lower The Bad (LDL) And Increase The (HDL) Good Cholesterol
Author: Helen Thomas

Fenugreek is the common name for the Latin botanical name. Trigonella foenum-graecum. Plasma Insulin levels are found to increase when given fenugreek in vivo. This results in increased conversion of hepatic cholesterol to bile salts which facilitates reducing the LDL and increasing the HDL. Researches in Indian Medicine Annals are rich in research on fenugreek. Fenugreek along with other household spices is one of the main ingredients for urinary, kidney tract, pancreas repairing, cleansing and nourishing.
 
The Ayurveda High Cholesterol Herbal Recommendations
 
One Cup Fenugreek Tea per day.
 
Haritaki Powder 1/2 tsp with one teaspoon of honey.
 
Kutaja Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder i/2 teaspoon of each in a copper cup, room temperature. If you do not have the copper cup it will still work wonders.
 
Triphala
 
Half teaspoon of Triphala before going to bed mixed with warm water strained and taken If it too sour for you put sweetener to taste in it.
 
I have heard more than one Ayurvedic physician say s/he or he took triphala routinely for long periods of time.
 
Tri Phala simply is three fruits that cleanse different tissue in all three sections of the body.
 
These are all very common easy to obtains herbs and spices.
 
We must take our understanding of cholesterol back into our own hearts and mind.
 
When we do that we will have the fortitude to make these teas and take them daily if you have a cholesterol problem or even if you don't. So you don't get one.
 
There are no studies done to date with any of the modern pharmaceutical used for cholesterol and ayurvedic herbs. the ayurvedic herbs are working in gross levels compared to the pharmaceuticals because the ayurveda herbs have to be digested like food. In many cases that is exactly what they are food called herbs.
 
Back to the earth with plant medicine that is not processed beyond simple ancient techniques that have been done for millenium is where ayurvedic herbs take us.
 
Body fat is meda in Sanskrit. There are several types of fat such as lipid, cholesterol, adipose tissue, white fat and brown fat. All these tissues play a role in your cholesterol health.

You must be educated to understand from an ayurvedic point of view to choose herbs and practices that specifically like a bullseye accuracy give you the desire results you are wanting within a very short period of time between 7 days, 21 days, or 45 days and beyond depending how severe the problem is.
 
Or how long you let it go before tending to it properly.
 
Finding and consulting an Ayurvedic Practiconer is possible worldwide.
 
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise cannot be over emphasized. Mild.moderate or sports players level whichever you find yourself you must exercise at your level of comfort seven days a week. Ayurveda prescribes specific types of exercise based on your body type.
 
If you chant the word Meda because it is a Sanskrit mantra it will vibrate the specifics biochemical frequency and amplitude and strengthen that tissue. Chanting has been a science studied and perfected in the advanced siddha traditions. Now ther is irrefutable evidence to the health benefits of chanting the Sanskrit mantras. Yes this true of chanting any prayer that invokes grace.This is the specific science of mantra based health restoration without even herbs in many cases and especially so if you go to a master.

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Osteo Arthritis- Ayurveda Treatment
Author: Rajesh Nair

Osteoarthritis which is known as sandhigatavata in ayurvedic medicine may occurs due to some particular food, poor blood circulation, dryness, over exertion or a low nutrient supply to the joint.
 
It is an important vata disease described in ayurvedic classicals like Charak samhita and Ashtanga hridaya. It is caused by the inflammation and loss of cartilage and affects the joints of knees, hips, lower spine, fingers and toes.
 
Vayana vata dosha, one of the five types of vata dosha (dosha of air and empty space) governs the entire body and mind movements, like blood flow, heart pulsation, breathing and the thoughts in mind. The vitation of this type of vata causes rheumatism. Osteo arthritis is essentially a vata disorder, with the involvment of pitha and kapha doshas.
 
Vata has a dry and light qualities and its vitiation leads to imbalance of kapha dosha, depleting the syniovial fluid that provides cushion and lubrication to the joints. This depletion leads to osteoarthritis in which the cartilage in the joints wears away causing friction, pain and limited joint mobility and affects the large weight-bearing joints, like the hips and knees, also hands,feet, and spine.
 
Symptoms of this disease are edema, pain, tenderness, stiffness, pain on work etc. It also starts with aging and the following factors contribute to the vitiation of vata dosha:
 
1.Consuming dry, cold or stale food, irregular sleeping habits, suppressing natural urges.
 
2.Getting exposed to asevere cold and dry weather.
 
3.Excessive travel, leading a vata aggravating life style and undergoing mental trauma.
 
4.Exerting oneself excessively on the joints or any accident which occurs in the joints.
 
When food taken is not digested properly it causes ama (toxins) which weakens the colon and it circulates through whole body and gets accumulated in the bones and joints. The toxins will block the body channels and inturn vitates vata dosha.
 
Ayurveda treats Sandhigata vata by modifying the diet, lifestyle, recommends light exercise, and advises one to undergo Panchkarma and Purvakarma detoxification techniques. It also uses appropriate non toxic ayurvedic herbs which help in lubricating the cartilages within the joints thereby strengthening it.
 
It can be managed by:
 
1.Eating lot of vegetables, freshly cooked foods, hot soups of lentils, pulse, moderate quantity of ghee and oils to lubircate the dried joints.
2. By avoiding oily and deep fried foods.
 

3.Doing a regular mild exercise programme to enable the joint to move and prevent further damages also by noti ndulging in any hard job which may damage the joints.
 
4.Daily massaging with the mahanaraya oil or specific oils prescribed by an ayurvedic doctor is used to calm down the vata dosha.

 
Ayurvedic drugs aim to reduce the vitiated vata and also to improve the kapha and pitha functions. The main drug that is recommended to treat this degenerative disease is Karaskara. Sahachara, bala, devdar, shallaki etc are also used. Main preparations used are qwath, arishta , choorna, tablets and ghrit.
 
In order to cleanse the toxins from the colon Triphala, which is a mild laxative is given. Triphala has specific action to pacify vitated vata.
 
Trikatu is given to enhance the digestive fire and will enhance the equilibrium of pitha dosha.
 
Guggul helps to strengthen the bone tissue. It reduces the inflammation and edema, pacify kapha dosha.
 
In order to control inflammation of the joints, Ayurveda suggests Boswellia gum or phellodendron bark and scute root and it is used in combination with myrrh gum, fang feng root, qin and jiao root.
 
Commonly used medicines are Sahacharadi qwath, Guggul thikta qwath, Maharasnadi qwath, Rasnerandadi qwath, Balarishta, Dhanwantharishta, Karasakar ghrit, Guggul thiktaka ghrit, Shadpala ghrit. Ashwagandha, Bala, Shallaki, Guggul and Rasna are used in pure herbs form.

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Acne free skin through Ayurveda
Author: Dr Savitha Suri

Acne is a very common skin problem which affects young people at their puberty and few adults till they reach 45. Acne are referred as Youvana pitikas (which means the eruptions of youth) in ayurveda. This shows the prevalence of acne from ages. Ayurveda has described the causes of acne and recommends the best natural herbal acne remedies too.
 
What causes acne?

A large number of oil producing glands called "sebaceous glands" are present under the skin ( see figure  (http://www.ayurhelp.com/Normal_skin.htm) - skin cross section) on face, back, chest and shoulders. During puberty or menopause due to the influence of the sex hormones, which are produced in male and female, these glands become more active and produce an oily secretion called "sebum". The sebum makes the skin more oily .The excessive sebum clogs the skin pore or the pit of the hair follicle forming acne.

The blocked pore or acne acts as an excellent habitat for bacteria. The bacterial infection causes inflammation (red, painful swelling of the infected area) of the clogged pore or hair follicle leading to eruption of pimples.

Vata and Kapha are two main doshas, which are involved in eruption of acne and pimples. Rakta dhatu or blood also plays an important role in formation of acne.
 
Vata when gets vitiated due to unhealthy diet and lifestyles affects other two doshas (kapha and pitta) to aggravate them. Aggravated pitta affects rakta dhatu or blood. The vitiated blood affects the skin and causes excess secretion of oil from sebaceous glands. Kapha has sticky property. The aggravated kapha imparts the stickiness to the oil produced by sebaceous glands of skin. Thus the  thick sebaceous plugs are formed in skin pores and hair follicles leading to eruption of acne.
 
Acne worsens when:
 
Grease, dirt or other harsh chemicals accumulate on skin. 
You have Increased stress levels. 
You indulge in Squeezing or pinching of acne. 
When there are hormonal imbalances during menstrual cycle, menopause and puberty. 
You are under medications like steroids or hormonal therapy. 
 
 Precautions to be taken to avoid exaggeration of acne eruptions:
  
 •   Avoid foods which are spicy, dry and oily which may cause indigestion and lead to vitiation of   vata.  
 •   Keep a habit of emptying bowels regularly this always normalizes vata.
 •   Avoid fast foods and soft drinks.
 •   Wash your face twice daily with mild cleanser.
 •   Put a hair band to avoid falling of hair on face. The sweat and dirt accumulated on hair may fall on facial skin through hair strands
 •   Avoid application of scrubs.
 •   Wash your hair regularly with mild shampoo to keep it clean and avoid dandruff.
 •   Squeezing and pricking of pimples cause scaring. Hence avoid this
 •   Avoid exposure of skin to severe climatic conditions.
 •   Avoid oil based moisturizers. Water based moisturizers are always beneficial.
 •   Drink plenty of water.
 •   Practice a regular exercise regimen 

 Natural Herbal acne Home Remedies: 
 •   Wash your face with lukewarm water and mild soap twice a day. 
 •   Wash fresh methi leaves (fenugreek leaves) and grind it to make a paste. Apply it on face and wash it off with lukewarm water after 10 minutes.
 •   Grind juicy tender neem leaves with turmeric to a consistency of paste. Apply this paste on acne and pimples. Wash this off after it dries.
 •   Apply a face pack of ripe tomato pulp and wash it off as soon as it dries naturally (preferably after 45 minutes) .
 •   Do not keep the make up while sleeping. Cleanse it with a mild herbal cleanser. 
 •   Mix besan flour (gram flour) with rose water and apply a face pack.
 •   Consuming fresh vegetable salads and fresh fruits keeps the skin healthy and resistant to blemishes.
 •   Drink plenty of water (15 glasses a day)

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Ayurveda and Alzheimer's disease Treatment
Author: Dev Sri

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative brain disease. Gradual memory loss, poor cognitive skills, dementia and personality problems are the main symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. Though there is not a complete cure for Alzheimer's, Ayurveda has the knowledge to treat an Alzheimer's patient.

Ayurvedic treatment for Alzheimer's disease is very much on its developmental stage. Ayurveda scientists in India, US and Germany are on the lookout of an effective cure for Alzheimer's disease using Ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi.  

According to Ayurveda, all the diseases are caused due to imbalances in body. Tridosha concept is the basis of Ayurvedic knowledge. The food, the daily actions, the thought etc should be in tune with tridoshas.

Alzheimer's disease is due to imbalance of vata, which is common in old age. According to Ayurvedic principles, vata in the tissues of nervous system, especially brain gets imbalanced. This directly leads to problems like lower levels of co-ordination, clear thinking, lack of inhibitions and retarded words and actions. 

Mano vaha srotas or the mind-channel that carries thoughts is affected due to vitiation of vata. This is the reason for delusions and mental disturbances. 

Once the causes are identified it is easy to prescribe the cures. In case of Alzheimer's, Ayurveda too offers some assistance in helping a person live with Alzheimer's. 

According to Ayurveda, the tensions and stress a person experience during his or her life cause disturbances to vata, the accumulation of which causes severe nervous problems. Pressure at work, pressure experienced while changing places, constant separation from close family members, etc all add up to the mental conditions. 

In India too the large family system of living is fast depleting. People move into a small family. In the not-so older times, say before 1980s, Indian families were large with a lot of family members. There is support for the family members all the time from other members. This system has constant reinforcing power on individual members and they enjoy healthy minds. 

Ayurvedic treatment for Alzheimer's:

Vata imbalances are common in old age. Ayurveda Alzheimer's treatment mainly aims at restoring vata balance. 

Ayurvedic therapy for Alzheimer's starts with choice of a vata balanced diet. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) powder with milk, ghee or skimmed milk according to the digestive capacity of the person is the first re-arrangement in daily diet. This soothes and empowers vata. 

Daily oil massage before bath is another important part of Alzheimer's treatment in Ayurveda.

The person at his or her old age must get enough nutrients. There are specialized rice preparations beneficial for persons who experience the onset of or advanced stage of Alzheimer's disease. 

Ayurvedic cleansing processes like panchakarma are not indicated for aged people. Other mild cleansing techniques like fumigation and enema are directed to purify body tissues. 

Nervine tonics like brahmi, aswagandha etc are main herbs for Alzheimer's treatment.

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Woman and Childcare in Ayurveda
Author: Dev Sri

Ayurvedic woman and childcare rules lay out solid action plans to ensure health of woman and children. In India, women are ascribed divinity, solely because of their ability to give birth to a child and thereby retaining human race on the face of earth. 

Bala chikitsa (child care) is the wing of Ayurveda that deals with woman and childcare. Bala means a child and chikitsa means treatment. According to Ayurveda woman and children are no separate entities but inseparable factors. This is because the health of the woman during pregnancy directly affects the health of the baby. Any post-natal disease to mother can also deprive the child of essential nutrient in the form of breast milk.

Ayurveda also considers woman as the first teacher of a child and every aspect of proper development of a child is directly linked to the physical and mental health of mother.

Woman and childcare in Ayurveda in principle starts before the formation of fetus inside the womb. Healthy fetus formation is the result of the union of a healthy man and a healthy woman, at the right time and in the right manner. 

This branch of Ayurveda deals with impotency, infertility, prenatal, natal and post natal care. Neonatal care has significant importance according to Ayurvedic concepts. The care given to a newborn child is equivalent to a life-time of health care. The right treatments and care given to a newborn baby at the right times will ensure healthy development of the child as a person and contributing member to the society.

The basis of woman and child care Ayurveda is found in ancient Ayurvedic treatises – Ashtanga Hridaya, Sushrutha Samhita, Charaka Samhita and Vagbhata Samhita.

Vagbhata Samhitha and Ashtanga Hridaya (both by Acharya Vagbhata) has comprehensive guidelines about day to day care of pregnant woman and new born child. Both mental and physical health of a mother is important to the progeny. There is specified treatment and caring method for expecting women in Ayurvedic woman and child care.

This includes a highly nutritive diet specially formulated for each month of development of the fetus and diet that ensures lactation. Specific issues like nausea, vomiting, constipation etc that occurs during the pregnancy have effective treatments in Ayurveda woman and child care.

The food and medicines also prepare the woman for a smooth delivery of a healthy baby.

The food items that an expecting or nursing mother takes must be pure and free from any toxins like pesticides or chemicals. Any violation from the Ayurvedic rules can lead to the birth of an unhealthy child.

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Sciatica-without Surgery through Ayurveda
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

SCIATICA, Gridhrasi in Ayurveda, is a Vata roga, characterized by Sharp Shocking pain radiating from the Hip unto Thigh, Calf or the Toes in one or both the Legs. Numbness, Weakness, Tingling sensation & Discomfort along the path of the Sciatic Nerve are the results of Compression, Irritation & Inflammation of the Sciatic Nerve. 

The most common causes are Lumbar herniated disc, Lumbar Spinal stenosis, Degenerative disc disease, Aging, Osteoporosis, Spondilitis, Pelvic Infections, Tumors, Diabetic neuropathies etc.

In the later & complicated stages of Sciatica, the gait of the affected person resembles that of an Eagle's walk & the inflamed nerve appears like Eagle's beak, hence the term Gridhrasi. 

Majority of these patients give a history of lifting heavy weights on their head or back, adopting improper spinal postures while sitting or bending forward, riding two wheelers on bumpy roads, female patients standing for a longer time in kitchens - these all contribute to the unbearable & excruciating pain called Sciatica. 

Ayurveda believes that Sciatica/Gridhrasi is caused by the aggravation of vayu. Sometimes the vitiation of kapha along with vata brings on the attack. At times constipation precipitates or aggravates an attack of sciatica. 

Ayurveda prescribes the perfect prescription for Gridhrasi. It includes: 

Dietary Regimen: Pulses, beans, and fried foods should be prohibited. Curds and other sour substances should be avoided. Saffron, in small quantities, should be mixed with milk and given to the patient to drink. 

Life style Regimen: Gentle exercise of the leg is advised. Exposure to damp and cold should be avoided. Swimming in warm water is a good exercise for legs. The patient should use a hard bed and wear a lumbo-sacral belt. Yogic exercises like Halasana, Shalabhasana, and Bhujangasana may be undertaken after pain has subsided to prevent recurrence of sciatica. 

Internal Medications: include many types of Ayurvedic preparations like Thailams, Grithams, Gutika, Pills, Lehyams, Churnams, Asavaaristams and Kashayas are prescribed by a qualified Doctor after a thorough examination of the patient. 

External therapies: includes the famous Panchakarma & Rejuvenation therapies. Abhyangam, Nadi Swedam, Elakizhi, Pizhichil, Kati vasthi, Matra vasthi and other Ayurvedic procedures are performed accordingly for a period of 7/14/21/28 days thus treating the underlying cause of the disease without any side effects. 

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Diseases: Causes and Remedies in Ayurveda
Author: Dev Sri

Ancient Ayurveda principles suggest the universe is made of five basic elements called pancha bhootas. There is a harmonious synchronization between microcosm (human body) and macrocosm (the universe) because of the sharing of these five bhootas. 

These panchabhootas in turn forms three doshas or principle humors in human body, known as tridoshas. The three doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. Vata (air) is responsible for movement of nutrients, air, blood and communication through nervous system. Pitta is responsible for digestion and energy. Kapha forms the physical characteristics of body – stomach, limbs, joints, sense organs etc.

Vata is predominant in large intestine, kapha in chest and pitta in stomach. Childhood is kapha dominant period, youth and middle age is pitta dominant stage and oldage is vata dominant period. That means the diseases affecting children will be mainly of kapha type diseases. Vata type diseases attack people at oldage.

Seven dhatus or sapta dhathus form the whole of human constitution. Flesh and muscles are mamsa dhathu, digestive juices are rasa dhathu, blood is rakta dhathu, fat is medas or meda dhathu, bone is asthi dhathu, bone marrow is majja and shukra or shukla is reproductive cells of man and woman.

Malas are by-products of dhatus, most of which must be eliminated from the body. Otherwise it becomes toxic to body.

According to Ayurveda, when the doshas, dhathus and malas are in balance, the human body is healthy and imbalance results in a disease or a group of diseases to body.

Prevention of diseases according to Ayurveda:

The balance is maintained by our daily intake of food, daily activities and elimination of wastes without allowing them to become toxic malas in body.

The food we eat and the actions we undertake must not disturb the balance of tridoshas, saptadhathus or malas.

Food should be fresh, warm, normally cooked and easy to digest.

Don’t eat too much. Leave a gap of at least four hours between meals.

Get proper sleep and do moderate levels of physical exercise. Rasayana chikitsa is preventive measure against all kinds of diseases.

Treatments according to Ayurveda:

There occur imbalances to any one or more of the doshas. Ayurveda treatment aims at restoring the balance as quickly as possible. If an imbalance is left unattended, the imbalance can get out of control.
According to Ayurveda, human body has the powers to regain the balance. Ayurvedic medicines, dietary controls and massages are aimed at strengthening the natural balancing power of the body to quickly regain the balanced state. 

Almost all herbs, leaves and elements found in nature can offer help at appropriate occasions. The herbs that are quickly available and greatly beneficial for a variety of conditions are termed as Ayurvedic herbs. Ayurvedic herbs and Ayurvedic herbal combinations used for the treatment of various diseases act only to strengthen the body. Side-effects from Ayurvedic herbal drugs are extremely rare. 

Apart from the physical aspects of health, Ayurveda also puts great emphasis on mind and soul. Ayurveda touches the physical, mental and spiritual levels of a person and offers guidelines for healthy demeanor in all the fronts.

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Ayurveda Skin Care and Wrinkle Reduction
Author: Raj Kumar

Ayurveda is a system of medicine that has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, and is currently in use by millions of people from that region of the world. The word 'ayurveda' translates roughly as the 'knowledge of long life'. The system itself is not only concerned with physical health, but also with mental, social and spiritual aspects of a patient's health. Although it is considered to be a traditional form of medicine, Ayurveda actually incorporates a system of surgery.

The philosophy of Ayurvedic medicine revolves around maintaining the balance between three bodily humors, known as doshas. Only when these doshas are in perfect equilibrium can the body exist in good health. Thus the main aim of Ayurveda physicians is to maintain the balance between the doshas of your body, as they believe that this will allow the body to heal and recover of its own accord from wounds or diseases.

The application of Ayurveda medicine to skin care and wrinkle reduction is achieved through the proper selection of your diet and supplements. An Ayurvedic physician, having determined the imbalance between your doshas, will recommend changes to your diet that will help to bring your doshas back into balance. This will help make your body healthier, and allow it to better heal and regenerate, thus helping to reduce the effects of wrinkling and also resulting in healthier skin.

Ayurvedic skin care is also highly recommended because it is a completely natural method of skin care, and uses only natural and organic substances in order to achieve its ends. This is good news for patients who suffer from allergies and sensitive skin, as the medicines used in Ayurvedic medicine are not likely to cause any adverse reactions when applied to their skin or ingested as supplements.

Ayurvedic medicine also includes supplements that are designed to bring your doshas back into balance, thus allowing your skin to better heal itself. Healthier skin will regain its original elasticity, helping to reduce the evidence of wrinkles as your skin springs back into its normal shape and no longer holds the shapes of the creases and folds that form wrinkles.

Ayurveda medicine also follows the philosophy that tastes are useful in the treatment of diseases and bodily disorders. Each taste is effective for the treatment of a particular set of diseases or disorders. This belief in the natural healing effect of tastes means that any medicine administered by an Ayurvedic physician will be organic in nature. Organic medicines and treatments are in great demand because the artificial and synthetic substances included in some other types of anti-wrinkle treatments have unknown side-effects.

All this makes Ayurveda medicine a highly sought after remedy by many seeking a natural solution to their skin care and wrinkle problems.

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Ayurveda for Stress Relief
Author: Juliet Cohen

Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. Stress is the internal distribution of force per unit area that balances and reacts to external loads applied to a body. Stress is not always a synonym for distress. The individual responds to stress in ways that affect the individual as well as their environment. Everyone is familiar with stress. We experience it in varying forms and degrees every day. In small doses, stress can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem. Increased stress increases productivity – up to a point, after which things rapidly deteriorate, and that level also differs for each of us. It’s much like the stress or tension on a violin string. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others. True stress is an alternative definition in which the initial area is replaced by the current area. In engineering applications, the initial area is always known, and so calculations using nominal stress are generally easier. Winning a race or election may be more stressful than losing but this is good stress. When the stress tensor is needed to fully describe the state of stress in a body, it is useful to break the concept up into smaller parts that have physical significance.  

Stress is nothing but uncomfortable state of mind. It is the state of mental or emotional strain. Ayurveda, the "Science of Life. Ayurveda believes this to be Maanas Dosha (mental disorder).  There are several single herbs and compounds that give relieves in stress. According to ayurveda, human body is made of three doshas—vata, pitta and kapha, which are also present in the nature. These three doshas are in constant interaction with each other inside human body and, also outside of it, with the three doshas of nature. The three doshas govern all metabolic activities. When their actions in our mind-body constitution are balanced, we experience psychological and physical wellness. Brahmi is the most important rejuvenative herb in Ayurveda. Brahmi helps to awaken the crown chakra and balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Chandan-Calms down the stress by suppressing Pitta dosha. Yashtimadhu improves cognitive functions of the brain. Ashwagandha is proven anti-stress herb. This regulates the chemical-imbalance in the brain. It is also good for people who do physical labor or exercise a lot, to help the body adapt to physical stress. Ashwagandha  increases the quality and quantity of Ojas, the master coordinator between the body and consciousness. It helps pure consciousness slide into the physiology.

Stress response (also called the fight or flight response) is critical during emergency situations, such as when a driver has to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Stress vitiates Prana Vata, which governs the activity and energy of the brain. It can also be activated in a milder form at a time when the pressure's on but there's no actual danger - like stepping up to take the foul shot that could win the game, getting ready to go to a big dance, or sitting down for a final exam.  Ayurveda, the ancient science of healing from India, considers one of its primary objectives to be preserving the continued good health of the healthy. It is provides a clear, concise, cohesive regimen to help people correct conditions such as stress response in a natural way. Vata dosha in general tends to get disturbed during travel.  Drink Vata Tea or Worry Tea. These herbal teas are especially formulated to pacify Vata-related imbalances. Avoid carbonated or ice-cold beverages, because they disrupt digestion. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Ashwagandha nourishes the crucial mind-body connection and psychoneuro immune response (called PNI). It helps coordinate the mind and senses, as  well, which is essential for good quality sleep. It is also a powerful Medhya Rasayana, which means that it enhances all three aspects of mind power (Dhi -- omprehension; Dhriti - memory; and Smriti -- recollection).  

Tips of Ayurveda for Stress:

1.Brahmi helps to awaken the crown chakra and balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain. 

2.Chandan-Calms down the stress by suppressing Pitta dosha. 

3.Yashtimadhu improves cognitive functions of the brain. 

4.Ashwagandha is proven anti-stress herb.  This regulates the chemical-imbalance in the brain.  

5.Stress vitiates Prana Vata, which governs the activity and energy of the brain.

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Ayurveda Epilepsy Treatments
Author: Dev Sri

Epilepsy (seizure disorder, fits) is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent instances of seizure or tremors. These are due to abnormal excitation from brain. Epilepsy treatment methods are aimed at controlling the disease. Most cases of juvenile epilepsy don't pass over to adulthood.

Not all epilepsy cases are alike. Sometimes there can be apparent reasons like stress, brain injury, genetic conditions and parasitic infection of brain. It is also observed that instance of epilepsy can occur without any solid provable reason.

Epilepsy due to specific reasons like use of certain drugs, epilepsy as withdrawal symptom, seizure due to abnormal levels of sodium in blood are temporary cases and will be cured without any special treatments apart from the medicines and diet to return to normal health.

Epilepsy treatment in Ayurveda:

Apasmara or apasmaram is the term used for epilepsy in Ayurveda. The reasons sited by Ayurveda scripts include stressful life, lazy life, poor diet and suppression of natural urges.

Each person is different and each case of epilepsy is also different. Thorough examination of the patient by an Ayurvedic physician is essential to identify the right treatment for a person.

Epilepsy in most cases is a vata disorder. However, it can also be caused by vitiation of pitta or kapha. Imbalances of all the three doshas are also not very rare.

Vata type seizure is mainly a mental problem. Stressful days, poor sleep and mental exertion are reasons. Digestive problems like gastritis, constipation etc. can also be reasons.

Rest, normalized diet and specific time to take food can help such persons control epilepsy. Abhayanga or Ayurvedic oil massage, shirodhara (pouring of medicated oil over head), thalam (retaining medicated oil on head) helps in pacifying mind. Nerve tonic herbs like Aswagandha (Withania somnifera), Brahmi (Bacopa monniera), Jatamamsi (Nardastachys jatamansi), Shanka pushpi (Evolvulus alsinoides) etc are used to pacify nervous system and to reduce instances of abnormal brain functioning.

Inflammations inside head due to diseases like Encephalitis cause pitta type seizures. Exposure to heat is a high risk factor in such cases of seizures. Kapha type epilepsy is due to blocks in central nervous system. A sedentary or highly secluded life can lead to this condition.

Kapha type epilepsy is also characterized by excess salivation. Tulsi (holy basil), Acorus calamus, etc are the type of herbs beneficial in kapha epilepsy.

Prevention of Epilepsy Ayurveda way:

Regulate the lifestyle with Ayurvedic daily routine (dinacharya).

Stay as much positive about the day and life as possible. Don’t allow tensions to creep in to your mind. Don’t get excited at anything. Start practicing yoga meditation.

Keep your daily diet fully nutritive. Don’t eat late at night. If possible go for five or six small meals a day, instead of one or two big meals.

Massage your soles with medicated oil before going to bed. This will give your head a cooling effect.

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Ayurveda Treatment for Psoriasis and Eczema
Author: Dev Sri

Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis lasts for 21 to 28 days and effectively cures psoriasis. All types of psoriasis and skin diseases have effective treatment in Ayurveda.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that takes a toll on the confidence of a person. It is characterized by silvery scales or plaques on skin. Skin cells are easily lost. Skin will also be dry. 

According to Ayurveda psoriasis occurs due to vitiation of vata and kapha doshas. The reasons can be incompatible food taking, accumulation of toxins etc.

Panchakarma, the basic body purification method is used in the treatment of psoriasis. Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis goes through several stages viz. lepanam (application of ointments), abhayangam (oil massage), snehapanam (taking medicated ghee), pizhichil (full body massage), avisnanam (medicated steam bath), sirovasti (keeping oil on head) and other bastis (enema). A psoriasis patient is also given a strict diet regime called pathyam.

Guggul is an Ayurvedic herb useful in treating difficult conditions of psoriasis and eczema.

Neem has enormous potential of purifying blood. It is one among the best blood purifier and detoxifier known to Ayurveda. Neem enhances immune system. Neem oil is an antiseptic in itself. Neem leaf extracts are used in antiseptics and can be effectively used in treating dryness of skin, acne, psoriasis and eczema. It destroys fungus and bacteria and is best for almost all kinds of skin diseases including redness of skin and itching.

Ayurvedic treatment of psoriasis and eczema utilizes a three-pronged strategy taking into account the ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle) and aushada (medicines). Along with the application of medicines, the person also needs to control his diet and lifestyle to attain maximum results of psoriasis/eczema treatment.

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Treat Allergies with Ayurveda Naturally
Author: Rajesh Nair

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system maintains that although allergens such as pollen, dust, and dander trigger symptoms in susceptible people, they are not the primary cause of allergies instead it is the accumulation of ama (toxic) and low immunity.
 
Ayurveda emphasis that the improperly digested foods (ama), and impurities, such as chemical additives, are absorbed into the body, travel through the circulation and lodge in the respiratory tissues, skin and other tissues prone to allergy. These accumulated wastes and toxins block the channels, trapping the toxins inside the tissues, and activating the immune system.
 
When this toxics material interact with the Skin, they can cause rashes, itching,burning sensations and discoloration. If the respiratory tract is involved, sneezing, inflammation and mucous drainage will occur.If the tissue involved is the digestive tract, diarrhea can result. 
 
The qualities that predominate and the season or conditions that bring on or worsen the allergy reveal the doshas that are involved. Determining the dominant aggravated dosha helps in the creation of an individual
specific treatment plan.
 
Vata type allergies may present with symptoms of dry cough with dry phlegm, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and irregular digestion and elimination, and will likely worsen in dry or windy environments and in the fall season. 
 
Pitta type allergies will show up as heated symptoms such as burning eyes, rashes, loose stool, and irritation and may get worse in hot environments and the summer time. 
 
Kapha, being moist, dull, and heavy, will have the most abundant clear or cloudy mucous production and sluggish digestion, and will worsen in the spring time as the weather warms up and the accumulated kapha from the winter begins to "melt." 
 
From an Ayurvedic perspective, allergies, as with any condition, reflect a unique situation in each person's array of symptoms and underlying imbalances and its allergy treatment will emphasize on the four steps: boost the digestive fire, adjust the diet to support a "clean burn," detoxify, and restore the strength of the immune system.
 
According to Ayurveda, an ancient healing system, one develops allergies when ojas (life force) is depleted & when the immune system is weakened. High quality ojas is primarily built from proper digestion of wholesome foods, and is depleted through stress, lack of rest, toxic foods, irregular eating habits and routines & turbulent emotions. Ayurvedic management of allergies includes:
 
a) Diet, Nutrition and Digestion - Allergies can be aggravated through improper diet. Foods that can be easily digested, creating nutrients that are then assimilated into the tissues to rebuild their strength is advised. Prepare foods in ways that create maximum nourishment for the body.
 
b) Stress Management and Improved Emotional Function - Allergies are worsened by heightened stress and mental fatigue. Sleep disturbance that is often created by symptoms of allergies increases fatigue, which in turn increases one's susceptibility to stress, which in turn aggravates the allergy condition. Meditation relieves the stress component of allergies.
 
c) Lifestyle and Daily Routine - Regularity in our daily routine is highly effective as one of the most important factors for balancing Vata and keeping the natural cleansing processes strong is to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms
 
d) Ayurvedic Herbs - Appropriate herbal formulas is advised for aiding the healing process, strengthening digestion and helping the body purify itself.
 
e) Herbal Oil Massage - Daily oil massage creates heat and friction which enhance circulation and help cleanse the areas of chemical impurities that could be causing symptoms of allergies.
 
f) Cleansing therapies - Treatment program of massage, application of herbal preparations and mild internal cleansing therapies like panchakarma is the cornerstone of ayurvedic treatment.
 
g) Exercise - Ayurveda considers proper stretching and flexibility exercises to have a very positive effect on the body's healing response and the treatment of allergies. Yoga breathing practices create a state of restful alertness in mind and body.

 
Thus, Ayurveda is an integrated approach to allergy as it eliminates toxin buildup, stabilizes the nervous system, enliven the healing ability of the body and manage stress and thereby strikes the allergy at its root.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Ayurveda Treatment
Author: Rajesh Nair

In Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of healing, wrong and irregular food habits, nervous imbalance, stressed life style, low immunity, non adherence to the natural rhythms of body and negative emotions like jealousy, anger, hatred leads to deranged agni which is the main cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
 
Jathara agni (digestive fire) found in the small intestine helps in breaking down the food in the smaller molecules to be digested easily.
 
If it is weakened due to above reasons, it leads to indigestion or malabsorption or ama(toxins) and if it is strong a burning sensation can be felt.Digestion is ruled by Jathara Agni by the support vata, pitta and kapha in its own unique manner.
 
Any imbalance in it affects the role of that particular dosha in the digestive process and in the end affects the function of the other doshas in digestion and manifestation of IBS.Aggravation of doshas leads to deranged digestive fires i.e, Vata dosha leads to Vishama Agni, Pitta aggravation leads to Tikshna Agni and aggravated Kapha leads to Manda Agni.
 
IBS which is categorised under Grahani, occurs due to one or more of dosha imbalance and it weakens the duodenum. According to Ayurveda, duodenum, helps in digestion and also hold it until it is properly digested and then it allows it to be passed through colon where it is excreted. Its inefficient functioning leads to either releasing its content earlier or retain the content for a longer period. So an alternating loose bowel and constipation occurs which is the main symptom IBS.
 
Ayurveda aims at eliminating the toxins and restoration of proper digestion and it helps in bringing back the basic strength and immunity of the body thereby treating IBS in a natural way.
 
 
Ayurveda, an ancient system of medical system believes that Irritable bowel syndrome is caused mainly due to accumulated toxins because of improper digestion. Stressed filled life also indirectly contribute to IBS. It emphasis that it can be treated by a little changes in the diet, lifestyle, yogic practice (yogasanas, breathing techniques, meditation) along with the intake of ayurvedic medicines which are in the form of herbal formulas.
 
They are the nutritional supplements which helps rectify imbalance of doshas.
 
But consult a ayurvedic practioner as each individual body is unique. Herbs helps mainly in strengthening the digestive process and flushes away the toxins and they have more anti oxidant actvity. Kaidaryadi qwath, Kaidaryadi tab, Pippalysavam, Indukantam tablet, Dadimadi choornam, Vaiswanara choornam etc are the medicines. Also following too are used to treat IBS.
 
Vrukshamla, Amlavetasa, Dadima and Badara in the form of powder along with trikatu (Pippali, Shunthi, Black Pepper), five salts added with sugar can be used with vegetables, pulses, cooked cereals.Always while take soups (raddish soup. Cereal) with black pepper and add Panchakola to it.
 
Triphala capsules (Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Emblica officnalis gaertn)  is very helpful in detoxitification process and it strengthens the whole gastro intestinal tract thereby helping to treat IBS.
 
Ayurvedic Trikatau special rasayana is effective one for fighting IBS. Home remedy that is recommended by ayurveda is ginger and amla.Herbs like Peppermint (has anti-spasmodic actions), Fennel, Chamomile, Caraway are safe when used in correct dosages.
 
Diarrheal IBS can be treated by rhkutaj ghan bati, Hingwashtak churna, Kapoor ras etc.Constipation I.B.S are taken care by Avipatiikar churna, Brihut Triphala Churna, Haritaki Churna, Caster oil, oshnodak Bastee and other.
 
To attain a balanced mind which indirectly helps to fight IBS, Ashwagandha churna, Saraswat churna, Maha sudershanadi churna, Brahmi churna, Saraswatha ghritham, Saraswatharishta, Aswagandharishta should be taken.

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Stress Complications & Healing Through Ayurveda
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

Fast paced life, skipping breakfast/lunch/ dinners, Chinese/ fast foods/ junk food cultures, busy schedules, sleepless nights, competition & complexity of Today’s World- in this process of hectic growth we subject ourselves to all kinds of unlimited physical & mental stresses. 

Besides stress & fatigue, an accumulation of toxins can interfere with the normal functions of the body. After 25 or 30 high levels of toxins also accelerate the rate of degeneration of the body. The human body is no different to a vehicle, which needs constant care & servicing. 

Ayurveda brings about the balance between our physical & mental aspects and helps us to remain naturally beautiful. Herbs of tremendous medicinal values are found abundantly in nature. Ayurveda uses these herbs individually and in special blends to treat every kind of physical & psychological problems. 

As the stress builds up, we move towards the lack of confidence and a feeling of inferiority becomes a part of our life. Lest the thorn / the cause/ the toxins/ stress is removed only then the normal healing mechanism of the body is initiated or else it effects the other organs of the body & thus incurable diseases are produced. 

Skin, the largest organ in our body directly reveals the energetic level of the entire psychophysical unit, it is a transparent mirror where the movement of the doshas bring about changes also of a radical nature in its biochemical balance. Skin is the expression of our overall state of health; this stress invariably affects it. The diseases of the skin like psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, lichen planus etc occur due to this stress.

For males as young as 25, multiple late nights and unlimited stress can lead to a diminished sexual desire, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, impotency, low sperm count, semen discharge with urine and the damaging feeling of inferiority accompany with all these sexual problems. The same stress factor in females will lead to low sexual desire, infertility and loosening of breasts etc.

5000 years old ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has a lot to offer for millions of people to combat stress, the effects of which are often associated with skin, sexual health of the individuals. Since times immemorable, ayurveda has been advocating many rejuvenating recopies for improving & maintaining good health, which leads to a normal and happy life thus improving the deficiencies without any side effects. 

Treatment procedures mainly involve the changing of nutritional protocol & life style by which we can greatly influence our physical, mental & emotional health. While each patient should follow a regimen tailored to his/ her individual needs, the five classical procedures are meant to detoxify the human body- THE PANCHAKARMA CHIKITSA-are particularly beneficial. They are:

 

1) VAMANA: a medicated emesis therapy cleanses kapha collected in the body & decongests the respiratory tract. 

2) VIRECHANA: a medicated purgation therapy, removes toxins from the body that are accumulated in the gastro intestinal tract. 

3) VASTHI: cleanses the accumulated toxins from all over the body. It is also highly beneficial in rejuvenation therapies. 

4) NASYAM: nasal administration of medicated oils to cleanse accumulated kapha dosha from the head & neck regions. 

5) RAKTHA MOKSHANAM: blood letting using leeches etc effective in haemopathological conditions. 

Once the toxins are removed and the body is purified from doshas responsible for causing the diseases then rejuvenation procedures & therapeutic massages are beneficial. Judicious combinations of scientifically standardized drugs having rejuvenating correcting imbalances are administered for the promotion of a healthy normal living of the person.

Rejuvenation procedures include: 

A simple ABHYANGA revives body, mind, senses and the soul, increasing energy levels and thus promotes the feeling of well being. 

SIRODHARA in which medicated oils are streamed on to the fore head, relaxes the central nervous system, melting away all the stresses & strains. 

PIZHICHIL(medicated oil bath) Sarvanga dhara/ kaya seka provides the ultimate rejuvenation and increases the circulation around the body.

ELAKIZHI(herbal leaf bundle massage) is a highly rejuvenating treatment used to treat chronic back pain, sciatica etc.

NAVARAKIZHI( shali shastika pinda swedam) is very effective in emaciation, debility, strengthens tissues and is anti ageing.

We at “THE KERALA AYURVEDIC CARE” , Panchakarma centre, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad offer Genuine, Shastrokta, Value based & High Quality Treatments for all the Chronic Ailments through AYURVEDA & PANCHAKARMA. We are open on all days. We are presently celebrating 7th anniversary. Intrested persons please contact 92461 66636/ 9866666055/ 66101140.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/stress-complications-healing-through-ayurveda-hyd-377529.html

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Ayurveda Massage
Author: swornalakshmi

Ayurveda is a science of natural health care that originated in India as a sister science to yoga. It is approximately 5,000 years old and yet its teachings are timeless. The Light on Ayurveda Educational Foundation (LOAEF) publishes a journal of clinical ayurveda for students and practitioners of Ayurveda. The foundation exists to bring the knowledge of ayurveda to all. On this website can be found ayurvedic resources including a calendar of events, seminars, and courses teaching the science of Ayurveda. To help one find where to study the science of Ayurveda, this website has a listing of ayurvedic schools and colleges throughout the United States and abroad, including courses offered via distance learning. 

Aurveda-massage:  For those interested in consulting with a practitioner versed in Ayurvedic science, we offer practitioner listings. Here one can find ayurvedic practitioners offering the specialties of ayurvedic massage, shirodhara, yoga and ayurveda, panchakarma therapy, and ayurvedic health education and guidance. The science of Ayurveda is based on understanding the principles that bring harmony and balance to an individual, in body, mind and spirit. It includes an understanding of the elements and the manifestation of the elements in terms of the three doshas. Harmony in one’s life is brought about by techniques to balance the doshas. This may include the addition of yoga and meditation practice, the utilization of herbs, changes in one’s diet and ayurvedic cleansing through panchakarma. 

The science of Ayurveda includes the incorporation of seasonal and daily routines. It is highly attuned to the study of the changes in nature, including climactic conditions, seasons, and the daily cycles of time. When one achieves balance, one can attain the highest state of health. Ayurveda offers the world a system of preventive medicine. It also excels in dealing with chronic illnesses. Both of these areas present the greatest challenges to western medicine.  

Ayurvedic practitioners are now educated through many schools and colleges offering courses in this science. Graduates of these courses may offer their services as health educators or consultants. They may offer specialized ayurvedic spa therapies including abhyanga (ayurvedic massage), shirodhara (streaming of warm oil on the forehead to quiet the mind), or panchakarma (a special combination of ayurvedic cleansing therapies). Yoga and meditation are often integral to their practices. Herbs may be utilized to assist in balancing and cleansing.

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Kerala Ayurveda
Author: Sara

Ayurveda which is Kerala's treatment was not noticed for some days. But now has gained popularity more than the modern treatments. Not only in India but influenced the whole world mainly in Western countries . It is a remedy for all type of diseases and illness. A treatment without side effects. It is used not only as a treatment , but as a rejuvenate. It gives us relief from our stress and strains . It provides a natural remedy for many ailments. A solution to our strained and stressed lives.

Ayurveda is system of holistic treatment in India which existed from ancient time onwards. It is believed to be the oldest healing science from it all other healing systems developed. The word Ayurveda is a combination of 2 Sanskrit words. "ayu" which means life and "veda" means knowledge. It provides a well balanced health to both the body and the mind.
 
From Kerala Ayurveda you will learn how foods, herbs and spices can combine together to create a delectable cuisine of health and pleasure. You will be able to discover how herbs and spices can be transformed as a medicine for the body. We can experience in our own life the health practices and have the opportunity to share this wisdom with others.
 
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Kerala Ayurveda – the Path to Great Health
Author: Jessica Shankar

Ayurveda is among the oldest medical and health sciences of the world. The ancient Indian system of healing ailments and diseases is practiced in almost all the regions of India on some scale or the other. However, Kerala is the hotbed of Ayurveda in India and is rampantly popular, especially among foreign tourists. Kerala, in fact, is known among many other things, for its Ayurvedic resorts and centers. Kerala’s tropical weather, soothing waters and balmy breezes also help speed up the healing process for many. 

Legend has it that at the beginning of the creation of the world, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, created the vedas along with Ayurveda in a book comprising of 100,000 shlokas. Slowly, Brahma spread the knowledge of Ayurveda. It was then organized into eight branches, which are together known as Ashtang Veda. These branches were: 

Internal Medicine - Kayachikitsa Tantra 

Surgery - Shalya Tantra 

Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat - Shalakya Tantra 

Pediatrics - Kaumarabhritya Tantra 

Toxicology - Agada Tantra 

Purification of the Genetic Organs - Bajikarana Tantra 

Health and Longevity - Rasayana Tantra 

Spiritual Healing - Bhuta Vidya

Ayurveda aims to restore health by using natural materials for treatments. No chemicals are used for the host of treatments offered by Ayurveda. Substances such as oil, herbs, and minerals are largely used. Ayurveda asserts that every living and non-living organism in this universe is an amalgam of five eternal elements, called Pancha Maha Bhoothas. These elements are – Air, Fire, Water, Ether, and Earth. These eternal elements reside in the body as three subtle energies that control the body and mind. These energies are called Vatha, Pitha and Kapha. 

All diseases stem from absence of harmony between these three energies. Ayurvedic treatments aim to restore this harmony and promote well being, both physical and spiritual.

Kerala Ayurveda  has earned a name for itself in the world of Ayurveda. This ancient science continues to be practiced with great dedication here. Kerala is also home to families that have been using and practicing Ayurveda for more than ten generations. This fact alone lends Kerala Ayurveda all the credibility in the world. They surely know what they are doing.


Kerala Ayurveda – the Path to Great Health
Author: Jessica Shankar
  
According to Ayurveda, our natural state is one of health, happiness and an inner sense of well-being.    "Health" is defined as the body being clear of Toxins, the mind is at peace, emotions are calm and happy, wastes are efficiently eliminated and the organs will functioning normal condition.

In a Busy, Stressful and Toxic world, our Physical and Mental systems accumulate toxins  causing deterioration in bodily functioning. This eventually weakens our systems, which opens the door for Chronic, Degenerative, and Non-Specific Diseases to develop. These can evolve into Serious Specific Diseases, ultimately damaging an individual’s Health and Wellness. 

Panchakarma can help by reversing these negative effects of daily living. It can restore your natural state of health and wellness by cleansing your body of toxins, bringing balance into your system and improving bodily function. It can also help you sustain this process by making positive changes in lifestyle.

The Panchakarma Therapeutic process appears quite simple in its application. However, its effects are powerful and effective. Panchakarma is a unique, natural, holistic, health-giving series of therapeutic treatments that cleanse the body’s deep tissues of toxins, open the subtle channels, bring life-enhancing energy thereby increasing vitality, inner peace, confidence and well-being. 
 

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Ayurveda in Kerala
Author: Dev Sri

Ayurveda, which literally means the science of life, is the ancient Indian discipline of holistic treatment and method of living. Ayurveda Kerala practitioners had yogi like prominence in Kerala society. Practicing Ayurveda would take a man some 30 years to complete, under the careful guidance of a skilled practitioner. It is also noted that there is a medicine or treatment method for every disease in Ayurveda.

Ayurveda Kerala now has literally means the treatment one would get at an ayurvedic spa or ayurvedic resort in the areas of lakes, hills or beaches. There are also many ayurvedic hospitals in Kerala, where ayurvedic doctors who have passed out from ayurvedic Medical College practice. 

Ayurvedic treatment strictly follows the rules set by ancient ayurvedic researchers. The methods of Ayurveda include medication, massaging and external application of medicines. Kerala Ayurveda practitioners would tell you that all diseases – both physical and mental – are caused due to imbalances of the natural physical state. There are three states that you need to keep in balance, Satva, Rajas and Thamas. The diet we take has the power to influence the natural physical conditions of a person. 

While undergoing treatment, it is also necessary to follow a rigid ayurvedic diet to get the full benefits of the treatment. Finding Ayurvedic centers in Kerala is not a big problem. There are Kerala government recognized treatment centers, where you can spend your time with rejuvenation therapy, marma chikitsa (specialized massaging) or calming down your nervous system with a soothing ‘dhara’.

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Ayurveda- an Ancient Form of Medication System
Author: Dev Sri

Ayurveda, the most widely used term now a days is one of the oldest form of treatments.This named treatment system is the proven practice of the new millennium. Valuing the importance of Ayurveda, even people from far of land come to experience this rejuvenating natural treatment. Healthy mind and body has become the most discussed aspect of the new generation. Ayurveda is divided into eight branches called Ashangaveda.

Then healing power of Ayurveda has worked wonders in the life of many. Kerala, one of the famous centers of Ayurveda treatment draws a special attention, besides its natural beauty. The rejuvenating therapy is mastered by diet, Yoga, massage, aroma, exercise, meditation etc. 

Ayurveda or Health science is about 5000years old in the Indian Health Care system. The system that was followed by the ancestors is a special gift to its followers. Based on the vedic philosophy, Ayurveda prescribes a healthy life style that retains one from any sort of illness. The ‘Tridoshas’ (vatha, pitha and Kapha) are the main constituent of any illness in the human body. The harmony of the body with the five elements of nature helps to maintain a healthy life. 

The treatment includes:

•    Abhayangam - oil massage 45mts /day for 14days. This is effective for obesity.

•    Dhaynamla dhara-warm herbal solution poured all over the body for 14days, 1hr daily. This is recommended for rheumatic complaints.

•    Dhara – pouring of some sort of herbal liquids, medicated milk, butter milk etc on the head for 7 to 21 days about 45mts a day. Good for mental tension, skin diseases etc

•    Kativasthi - on the lower back warm medicated oil with herbal paste boundary is kept. This is effecdtive for spinal disorders and back pain.

•    Kizhi- it is done for about one hour a day for seven to fourteen days. This process of application of herbal leaves and herbal powders with warm medicated oil is good for spondilosis, osteo arthritis, arthritis with swelling etc,

•    Ksheeradhoomam- this milk steam treatment is effective for facial paralysis, speech disorders and other nervous disorders of the face.

•    Lepanam- this medicated herbal paste is applied on the inflamed area.

•    Nasyam- useful to cure headaches, mental disorders, skin diseases etc, the medicated oil is applied through the nose for 7 to14 days.

•    Jnavara Kizhi- the treatment is effective for joint pain, rheumastism, high blood pressure etc. amixture of cow;s milk, balamoola Kashaya and cooked rice is in big boluses is massaged over the whole body with pressure.

•    Pizhichil-the whole body is anointed with lukewarm herbal oil is better for about one hour or more should be continued for 7 to 14 days.

•    Shiro Vasthi – with a cap fitted head of the patient, the herbal oil is poured about 15m to 1hour for 7 to 41days.

•    Snhapanam - intake of medicated ghee for a period of 8 to 12 days, is a treatment for leukemia, arthritis, psoriasis

•    Thalam - medicated oil mixed with a special powder is applied on the top of the head, is good for insomnia, migraine, ENT problems etc

•    Udvarthanam -a massage with a special powder is effective for rheumatism, obesity, paralysis etc, is to be done for a period of 14 to 28 days, 30 to 45mts daily.

•    Urovasthi - on the chest the warm medicated oil is kept for about 45mts, effective for asthma and other respiratory problems.

•    Vasthi - this medicated enema of herbal oil applied through the rectum is an effectve curative for chronic constipation, gastric complaints, rheumatism, paralysis etc

•    Yoni Prakshalanam - the purification of the genital organs done by the application of medicated oils through the vaginal route is also better for gynecologic disorders.

Precautions:

•    Persons with serious liver and renal problems are not preferred to take oil massage.

•    Pressure and other parameters of the blood should be normal before starting any treatment.

•    Obsessed, hepatic, renal and diabetic persons are not prescribed to take ‘navara kizhi’ fro the whole body.

•    Persons with cerebral thrombosis are not recommended to take ‘SiroDhara’

•    Only under the guidance of the physician, intensive steam bath should be taken.

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Nature’s Finest Souvenir- Kerala
Author: Neel anderson

A place gifted with all esteemed facilities, a spot blessed with entire necessary amenities, is nothing but Kerala-the Travelers paradise. To make a relaxing and comfortable trip is the dream of every traveler but there remains a tough question in how to make this dream into a reality. A narrow fertile strip of land on the south-west coast of India, Kerala welcomes the global tourist with its enormously hallowed gifts of lush vegetation, serene beaches, dazzling mountains, hill station, wildlife-bird sanctuary, pilgrim centers, festivals, forts and palaces.
  
 Kerala-the God’s own country is renowned as a heavenly portrait dotted with countless enchanting hues. It has erected as an example for religious harmony. This outstanding south west coast of India is known as countries ambassador in the world of travel and tourism.    Kerala  ,   India  's most sophisticated civilization, p eaceful and pristine with hundred percent literate people, Kerala is also India's cleanest state. Kerala has a charming inheritance of art and culture. Khatakali a rhythmic dance based on ancient epics and 'Kalarippayattu' the world’s oldest martial art, renowned in all over the world.
  
 Periyar is highly preferred as a halt of lakes and jungle walk. Elephant ride is exciting; just take a mahout, who will able to guide you in your entire journey. So don’t think twice just jump to experience the antiquities of the spice coast of India. The Kerala cuisines identified for its spicy and hot look successful enough in pampering the visitors’ taste buds. Traditionally, the Kerala food is served on a banana leaf where the visitors are expected to take food with right hand. Coconut and flavors of spice makes the Keral Food eye catchy and alluring.
  
Kerala is emerging as a must see destinations in the universe.  Trivandrum is an ideal vacation destination for the honeymoon couple having some enchanting private swimming pools, heritage hotels, beaches, houseboats, lagoons, and charming landscapes. One of the most memorable experiences for the tourist visiting Kerala is the prospect to explore the backwaters of Kerala on a house boat (Kettuvalalm). If you are longing for some exotic   Kerala backwaters tours   then make your visit to Alappuzha or Alleppey, an imperative tourist centre in Kerala. To speak about Kerala’s attractive places is to describe mainly of the sensitize lakes, the sparkling backwater, the luxuriant jade hill stations, energetic beaches, the succulent Cuisine and moreover the gracious people.
  
 Kerala Ayurveda is gaining tremendous prominence day-by-day and thus accountable in making a sure visit of travelers from all across the universe. The Ayurveda of Kerala is believed to have the property of combating diseases and filled with the mantra of healthy life. Kerala Ayurveda is now able to develop a wide range of therapeutic measures, so grasp the tips of positive health related to physical, mental and spiritual upliftment of human being.
  
Make a   Kerala tour   wrapped with unforgettable reminiscences of care, love and pleasure. Keralites (the people of Kerala) are extremely liked for their harmony and temperaments among themselves. Hospitality is a part of Kerala culture; they always welcome the outsiders as well as the foreigners with open hands and heart.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Ayurveda & Osteoathritis
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

Osteoarthritis is the most common condition, affecting the weight bearing joints (e.g. knees, lower back, hips, etc.), often described as "wear and tear" arthritis.  

In human body the ends of the bones in normal joints are covered with a smooth, slippery tissue called cartilage, which provides protection to our bones. Joints also contain a fluid called synovial fluid, which acts as a cushion or "shock absorber" and lubricates the joint. In people with osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. The thinner synovial fluid does not provide a good cushion. For this reason, the cartilage covering the ends of the bones begins to break, which leads to pain and stiffness in the joint. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disorder, because of degeneration of cartilage covering the ends of the bones. In Ayurveda this condition is called as Sandhighat Vata. 

This condition can be a very mild disease or a severe disease that greatly limits everyday activity. For example, if patient has Osteoarthritis of the knee, patient may feel pain and swelling in the knee area and pain gets worse during movement of the knee. Patient may feel or hear crunching or cracking sounds on movement of joints. X-rays usually confirm diagnosis. 

Ayurvedic Science is based on the principles of Bio-energy. There are three types of Bio-energies or Doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which control metabolism and all other functions of human body. The equillibrium of the Doshas provide complete health and imbalance of these Doshas lead to various disorders. Osteoarthritis (Sandhighat Vata) is a Vata disorder in which excessive Vata energy causes dryness in the joints followed by pain, swelling and stiffness of affected joints. 

Ayurvedic therapy in Osteoarthritis not only prevents further deterioration in the joints but also rejuvenates the damaged cartilages. 

Ashwagandha, Guggul and Shilajit, one capsule or tablet each twice a day with large glass of water for six months produce excellent results in Osteoarthritis. These herbs do not cause any side effect even for long-term use. As acute pain may not be felt in every case of degeneration, one must think of starting treatment at the very initial stage. 

Ayurveda & keraliya panchakarma  increases mobility and decreases disability in osteo arthritis. The therapies include: Abhyangam, Swedam, Elakizhi, Pizhichil, Navarakizhi, Janu vasthi, Virecanam, Matra vasthi etc. These differ from person to person and are decided by a Specialist Ayurvedic Physician according to the age, severity, intensity, and disability of the patient. 

Ayurvedic diets and life styles are selected as per constitution of the individual. One should avoid being overweight, because excess weight increases the load on the joints. Regular exercises of knee joints help the patient to remain fit. 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Tour to Kerala – an Experience of a Lifetime
Author: Article Manager

Located on the tropical southwestern coast of India, Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations that attract tourists from all part of the globe. Tour to Kerala offers plethora of options in a culturally rich, naturally salubrious and spectacularly captivating setting. Kerala is bestowed with extraordinary natural beauty and unique culture. Kerala is famous for its art and architecture, ayurveda and spa, beautiful hill stations & beaches, lovely lakes, exotic backwaters, rare flora and fauna, warm hospitable smiles from its people etc. All these features of Kerala make this place world's most preferred tourist destination that every tourist loves to visit.    

Tour to Kerala  provides lifetime opportunity to experience palm-fringed water passages, rice fields, traditional villages and captivating surroundings. It let one experience the nature at its best at Kerala backwater, sun-kissed beaches that are dotted with coconut trees. Kerala is an ideal destination for leisure, which have unique geographic features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destination. Kerala the land of great natural beauty is aptly known as the traveler's paradise and tour to Kerala leaves one just astonished with its rich art and culture.    One of the major attractions of tour to Kerala is its exotic beaches. Exploring the beautiful beaches of Kerala is a delightful and unforgettable experience. Beaches of Kerala are very popular among tourists hailing from all parts of the world. Tour to Kerala will let one experience dream holidays in the lap of nature and under the sun in its well-maintained, neat and clean, and offering fairy-tale ambiance beaches. One can't just stop himself from exploring the exotic beaches on his tour to Kerala . Beaches are categorized in various categories such as romantic beaches, honeymoon special beaches, family beaches, entertainment beaches, tropical beaches, Ayurveda special beaches, yoga special beaches, etc.    Travelers from all part of the world tour Kerala especially for its lush green landscapes. In no other part of India one can find such greenery as Kerala enjoys. Lush green landscapes of this place create a wonderful ambiance for spending holidays in the nature of lap. Apart from scenic and natural beauty there are several other sports and activities that can be enjoyed in Kerala tour by the tourists. Water sports, fun, entertainment, Ayurveda, etc are some added features of Kerala tour.    Undoubtedly, beaches are the prime attractions of Kerala  but breathtakingly backwaters are also enjoyed by the tourists. Backwaters tour to Kerala provides wonderful opportunity to see nature at its best by close. The most preferred and suitable way to explore green backwaters are by hiring a traditional rice boat or luxury packed modern houseboat.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Kerala Beaches and Backwaters Tours
Author: michaelbraganza

Beaches and backwaters are the prime attractions of Kerala, India tours. The beautiful Indian state of Kerala has some of finest beaches in the world. Beaches here are exceptionally beautiful and nature has blessed them uniquely. Tourists from all over the world visit Kerala beaches in quite large numbers. Beaches provide amazing sightseeing options as well as wonderful holiday options. Beaches are dotted with swaying palm coconut tress creating green and serene ambiance for memorable holiday. Beaches are ideal for swimming. There are several options to do on Kerala beaches, such as; swimming, sun bathing, beach volley ball, water fun, water sports, nature walk, river cruise, sunset watch, etc. You will surly love to enjoy these beach activities on your Kerala beach tours.

 Beaches of the state are also known for Ayurveda and Yoga. There are several spa, yoga and ayurvedic treatment centers on the beaches of the state. Ayurvedic treatment resorts on the beaches are considered as the prime attractions of the Kerala tours and travel. Ayurvedic resorts of the state provide refreshing and mind relaxing holiday option. Today Kerala is globally name for its ayurvedic beach resorts among those tourists who want to get rejuvenated and revitalized as well as sightseeing and memorable holiday. Today Ayurveda – the Indian ancient treatment system – is at its boom. And people willing to get refreshed their mind and blow embark on ayurveda tours in Kerala from all over the world. There are several hotels and resorts that are widely acclaimed for ayurvedic treatment and massage therapy as well as wonderful stay & holiday options. They are also known for excellent accommodation.
  
 Beaches of the state are also known to host several activities. Playing with gentle surf, swimming, sunset watching, playing with golden sands, lazily relaxing under the palm coconut trees, nature walk, sightseeing, river cruise, enjoying beach volley ball, etc are some of popular beach activities. You will too love to enjoy these thrilling activities on our beach tours in Kerala, India. You will also love to enjoy delicious sea food while exploring Kerala’s exquisite beaches. There are several food joints serving mouth watering sea foods, and traditional cuisine of the state. Some of popular beaches of the state are Kovalam, Alleppey, Bekal Beach, Fort Kochi, Varkala, Beypore, Kappad, etc. Well, you are looking for a beach destination to celebrate your holiday in memorable holiday Kerala’s beaches are just right for your. Explore Kerala’s exquisite beaches that are known for great scenic beauty and serenity.
  
 Apart from beaches, backwaters of the state have also widely acclamation. Backwaters are breathtakingly beautiful and worth exploring. They are excellent example of ecosystem. They are naturally blessed and their shorelines are dotted with palm coconut trees, traditional village, ancient temples, modern cities, and rich flora and fauna. Backwaters of the state have a prime positing in every  tour package in Kerala , India.
  
 Backwaters of the state can be best explored by hiring a traditional rice boat or modern luxury packed houseboat. One can hire a houseboat for short period or long period with several houseboat curies operators dotted on the backwater destinations of the state. Kerala house boat tour over the tranquil and scenic backwaters is also very popular among honeymoon tours. Enjoying houseboat stay is the ideal way to enjoy Kerala honeymoon tour. Not only backwaters or houseboats, in fact, entire Kerala is an ideal destination of honeymoon holidays and honeymoon couples from all over the world prefer Kerala as their honeymoon holidays. Celebrating honeymoon in Kerala is simply unforgettable.   There are several Kerala tour packages available in the market making enable you to explore Kerala beaches and backwaters in more and more convenient ways. Apart from beaches and backwaters; verdant hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, various plantations, temples, forts, palaces etc are also very popular attractions of  Kerala package tours . When you will travel to Kerala you will know why the state is known as “God’s Own Country”.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Recognition of Ayurveda as a Scientific Treatment Method
Author: Dev Sri

It is really a strange thing that international communities do not recognize Ayurveda as a scientific method of treatment. This centuries old treatment method has stood the test of time and still flourishes as the prime method of treatment in different parts of India, especially in Kerala and South India. There are systematic methods to identify diseases, prepare medicines, treatment methods. Surgery is also involved in Ayurveda.

Sushrutha, known as the father of modern plastic surgery lived in India many centuries ago and his method was Ayurveda. 

Lack of a concerted effort to gather the traditions spread across Kerala and present them in a knowledgeable way is a reason for the delaying of recognition of Ayurveda by international community.

There needs a concerted effort for experiments, clinical trials, in a scientific manner. People generally and westerners in special are somewhat skeptical about the effectiveness and safety of Ayurveda. They require clinical observation and proof after trials – Ayurvedic methods can pass any tests.

However with these clinical trials, we can't forego the traditional methods of preparation of medicines and preparing the patient to receive the treatment. Here the traditional methods of treatment are the best method.

Millions of people pursue Ayurvedic treatment in India. The number of foreigners getting favorable results out of different treatment methods is also on the rise. Careful recording of such treatments is the necessary first step towards passing the clinical trials. This is especially true when it comes to treatment methods that can be taken by millions of people worldwide. However, clinical trials are not possible in all cases. Recording as much of the therapeutic processes is necessary to get Ayurveda recognition it deserves. Recording of all possible therapeutic practices can accumulate towards a common database, which provides the necessary statistics about the effectiveness of specific medicines and practices used in Ayurveda.

Another factor is listing of the component herbs – and possibly the derivates from such plants and their specific influences on human body under different conditions. Large scale research is still pending on different medicinal plants from the forests of Kerala, India. Extension of this research can bring out the medicinal properties of plants that grow naturally in other countries. They too will have medicinal properties – it will probably help in developing Ayurveda specific to different countries other than India.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Psoriasis -the Best Ayurveda Can Provide..
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by eruptions of superficial papules and larger patches with phenomena of chronic inflammation. The name Psoriasis seemingly emerged from the Greek word 'Psora' meaning 'itch'. The aetiology of Psoriasis is unknown.Various investigators have suggested many theories to explain the origin of the disease. The theories of nervous origin have been given the best substantiation. According to this theory, psoriasis is caused by the disturbances in the functions of the nervous system. It is very well known that psoriasis or its relapses sometimes develop after psychic traumas or mental stress.

Psoriasis is one of the more serious skin diseases. Incidence of Psoriasis is on the rise in the recent times. It is believed that there are 6 million Psoriasis patients in North America alone and 2.5 lac new cases are being reported every year. It is not a contagious or an infectious disease but a life style induced disease. Psoriatic patients suffer from systemic disorders in which the immune system sends faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle process of the skin. Once the disease in triggered, the skin cells pile up on the surface of the body faster than normal. Normally, skin renews itself in about 30 days. It takes 30 days for the new skin cells to work its way up from the innermost layer of skin to the surface. In psoriatic condition, these cells reach the top in just about 3 days. The result is raised areas of skin called plaques. After the cells reach the surface, they die like normal cells, but there are so many of them that the raised patches turn white with dead cells peeling off.

 

There is much more emotional than physical suffering by the patient and he/she is forced to withdraw from most of his/her social activities due to the physically unappealing appearance on the skin. Ignorance and inadequate information about the disease lead to social ostracism of the patient in his/her social circles. Let us have a correct perspective of Psoriasis through Ayurveda.

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND TYPES:

Generally the disease appears as a papulation - eruption of small circumscribed solid elevation of the skin in ones and twos. They may be discrete or confluent and silvery scales will appear on the papulations. The lesions usually occur at first on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower limbs and later spread all over the body. Psoriasis patients are likely to develop psoriatic arthritis which gives joint discomfort, swelling, stiffness or throbbing. Psoriasis usually goes through cycles of relapses and remissions. In Ayurveda, Psoriasis is termed as 'Sidhmam'. Though there are many types of Psoriasis, the two recognized as the most common and widespread are: 

1.    Dry, circumscribed papulations with very prominent silvery scales.

2.    Moist and/or suppurating papulations with scales.

 

As per Ayurvedic science, type 1 is the result of the combined effect of 'Vata' and 'Kapha' doshas of the body and type 2 is the result of combination of 'Vata' and 'Pitta' doshas of the body.

CAUSES:

Human skin, though simple, is a complex system comprising protective, circulatory, sensory, lubricatory and thermo-regulatory components. Psoriasis is a condition of the skin related to the imbalance of the blood chemistry (Rakthadooshyam). Climate, food habits, anxiety, depression, heredity, etc in singly or in different combinations are considered to be the causative factors of Psoriasis. 

Incompatible life styles, which could initiate the disease, among others, are: - 

a)   Exposure to extreme climatic and weather conditions.

b)   Alternate exposure to cold (air conditioned) and natural environment.

c)   Drinking of very cold water/beverages when the body is warm.

d)   Faulty food and drink habits. 

e)   Heavy physical activities on a full stomach.

f)    Mental stress & strain, job pressures, anxiety, depression, effects of psychic trauma etc.

 

The above conditions affect the physiological homeostasis (balance of functions of the internal organs) and upset one's temperature regulatory mechanisms. An area of the brain called Hypothalamus controls a person's body temperature. In persons with Psoriasis, it has been observed that the temperature regulatory mechanism of the Hypothalamus is upset. Clinical studies by reputed Ayurveda hospitals and Ayurveda Medical Colleges in Kerala have recorded a higher body temperature of the patients at the time of admission for treatment. Mentally stressful conditions of the patient contribute very largely to this higher body temperature and the mental trauma experienced by him/her due to the disease aggravates it further. After treatment the body temperature has been observed to revert back to normalcy.

The higher body temperature cause lesions on the skin to appear and when the scaly epidermis is peeled off and discarded, the underlying dermis and its complex systems of blood vessels, nerve endings etc are affected adversely. 

The food constituents in excess that could trigger the onset of the disease are: 

a)   Hot, salty, spicy, acidic food.

b)   Freshly harvested grains and sesame seeds in particular.

c)   Milk and milk products, particularly yogurt and buttermilk.

d)   Fish, honey, jaggery (crystallized/ partly dehydrated molasses).

e)   Alcohol.

TREATMENT: 

Ayurveda provides a promising treatment for the disease. A very important part in the treatment of psoriasis is played, in addition to general therapy, by a proper regimen and elimination of harmful factors from the patient's working and living conditions. The patient's regimen must provide for at least 7-8 hours of daily sleep, vitamin-rich food and regular outdoor hours (not less than 1 ½ to 2 hours a day). The patient should be very thoroughly examined and in cases of internal or nervous diseases, should be given corresponding treatment. It is very important to safeguard the patient against any nervous shock.The patient should avoid allergy causing food and should take sufficient 

quantity of water. Any soap or shampoo should not be applied over the lesions.

Traditional Ayurveda treatment addresses the:

a)   Purification of blood.

b)   Rejuvenation of the complex systems of the skin, the nervous system in particular.

c)   Temperature regulation of the body.

d)   Strengthening of the body immunization system, and

e)   Psychological stabilization.

 

Time-tested Ayurveda procedure, Panchakarma chikitsa (Panchakarma treatment which encompasses five distinct treatment procedures) is the best course of treatment. Of the five ingredients of Panchakarma treatment, three are used to treat Psoriasis. They are: - 

1)   Snehapanam (consuming medicines with ghee as its base)

2)   Vamanam (taking medicines that induce vomiting)

3)   Virechanam (taking medicines that act as purgatives)

The treatment purifies the entire system and stabilizes the metabolism of the patient. The body immune system is built up through intake of specially prepared herbal potions.

Other procedures used to stimulate the body functionary systems and stabilize the mental and psychological condition of the patient are: - 

a)   Application of medicated oil on the head.

b)   Applying medicated pack on the head.

c)   Dhara (pouring medicated fluid/other liquids on the head in slow unbroken stream for a specified time).

d)   Therapeutic Yoga, Meditation, Reiki and Pranic healing sessions. 

The net result of the treatment is :

 a)    Blood purification by Snehapanam. 

 b)    Stimulation of hypothalamus by Dhara resulting in temperature regulation of the body.

 c)    Stabilizing the blood chemistry by ensuring balanced nutritious food, which are more alkaline than acidic.

 d)    Immunization of the body.

 e)    Achieve a psychological state of mental well being by application of Yoga, meditation, Reiki, Pranic healing etc.

 Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Panchakarma in Ayurveda
Author: swornalakshmi

Ayurveda is the oldest existing health care system. Ayurveda's growth graph in the past decade has been impressive. The Indian government, with an eye on nationalistic legitimacy, is also promoting ayurveda. Besides, private enterprise is active in what can be called the Kerala school of ayurveda. The result is the blossoming of panchkarma clinics and hospitals al lover India. The panchkarma are the five internal cleansing procedures akin to the six in yoga. They are: vasti (enema), vamana (vomiting), virechana (purgation), nasya (application of herbal preparations through the nostrils), and rakta moksha (therapeutic release of toxic blood). 

In Europe and America, new ayurveda hospitals are now focusing almost exclusively on panchkarma and allied treatments, perhaps because getting medicines ratified by drug authorities is a time-consuming and expensive process. 

Panchakarma literally means the science of life. It follows that prevention of disease, promotion of health and longevity are given the requisite importance in addition to the curative aspect. Like the four Hippocratic humors, ayurveda's starting point is the tridosha (vata, pitta and kapha) theory.ording to Ayurveda, diet should be chosen according to the season, constitution of the individual and the specific doshic imbalances that are present. 

The equilibrium between Man and Nature leads to perfect health. The five elements in nature ((ether, air, fire, water and earth) are present in every human being and govern every life on Earth. These five elements are in fact present in the naturally available food that we eat. Therefore any imbalance in the relation between man and nature is bought in equilibrium by the art of maintaining a proper diet.

Ayurveda, yoga's sister science and the world's oldest surviving system of healing, shows us that the key to feeling in step with the seasons is to harmonize with nature, to follow her lead and dance to her rhythm. The ancient Indian system, particularly its Kerala school; which is back in the reckoning after a brief hiatus, is as much concerned with promoting health and preventing disease as it is with curing ailments. Life Positive takes you to visit some flourishing practitioners and hospitals. Please Purchase Online  http://ayurvedasbeautycare.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Kerala Holidays: Places to Visit
Author: Mansi Gupta

Kerala also known as God’s own country, the name itself is synonymous with heavenly experience and to see this heavenly place all you have to do is pack your bags and head straight away to Kerala. Kerala is a place of multiple opportunities of which you can select the ones that interest you the most and design your own package for your Kerala tour. You can come to Kerala for various reasons and the best part is that you will find various tour packages here catering to your different needs, some of the famous tours are honeymoon tour, backwater tour, beach tour, ayurveda tour, best of  Kerala Tourism , wildlife tour etc. There and many more such tours are designed to make your Kerala tour revolve around the activities that interests you most and to make all those activities accessible in your time permits. You can also custom make your own tour packages wherein you can mix two packages into one and so on. However, some of the most exciting activities that can be done and seen when you are in Kerala for holidays - exploring the nature, watching the cultural fests, treating yourself with mouthwatering dishes, enjoying the natural treatments and so on. You might have experienced some of the most exotic spas in the world but the ayurvedic treatments in Kerala are an unparallel match. Ayurveda is an ancient medical science of India which has cure to most of the physical and mental problems but the natural way. So experience this healing power of nature at Kerala which is fast becoming a hub for alternative medicines in India and also one of the reason for increasing tourism in Kerala.

Now if we talk about the scenic places in Kerala that you can explore during your Kerala tour, than we can say Kerala as a whole with all the hooks and corner is scenic but if we choose those special places than the first one in the list would be Munnar – a hill station which is 120 km away from Cochin and famous for its picture perfect locations and tea and coffee plantations. Then there is backwater of Kerala that you should not miss for anything in this world because it is one of the most serene and calm places to find peace of mind in this world. Then there are those famous beaches of Kerala with waters and sand to make your holiday package a complete one. Some of the most famous beaches of Kerala are Kovalam, Varkala, Mararikulam, Alleppey etc. Visit these beaches to experience the beautiful sunsets with crystal water and sands around, a perfect way to relax in the evening. Also the best way to judge a place is by experiencing its culture and the best way to soak in the vibrant culture of Kerala is by Witnessing the snake boat racing which takes place only once in a year before Onam, if you are on time for your Kerala tour then don’t miss the enthralling experience of this race. Generally to witness so many happening things you have to visit many places. But all this and much more exotic things can be experienced at one place and that is Kerala. So to have a calm, serene and rocking vacation at the same time, opt for Kerala holidays.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Ayurveda Concept of Sexual Rejuvenation
Author: Dr. Rajesh Nair

Ayurveda believes that sex is a natural biological drive and to deprive oneself out of it may throw him/her out of balance. We are all aware that food and water are the basic requirement to exist in this world, in the same manner everyone needs sex.
 
Sexual intercourse involves all the five senses sight, sound, smell, taste and touch and it is believed to be an elaborate process of mutual stimulation gifted to man kind by Nature. It views love making as a union of body, mind and soul which is a more fulfilling experience and it also acts as an emotional bond between husband and wife.
 
According to Ayurveda, intercourse is the divine process and enjoying it in a relaxed manner leads to a healthy offspring. Pure body and a calm mind is a must for an effective intercourse. Parents mental state during the intercourse plays a great role in the overall health of the offspring and ayurveda advises one to undergo a purification therapy that flushes out the doshic imbalance, thereby resulting in a better sex life.
 
Kapha, one of the tridohas is responsible for keeping up the sexual vigour. Rasa and Shukra are among the seven tissues that help in sexual feelings. Doshic state of parents at the time of conception too influences the child.
 
By taking some aphrodisiac before entering into a sexual intercourse, the quality and quantity of the semen is promoted and the sexual enjoyment is enhanced. Shukra Stambhaka are the ayuredic drugs that are used to increase the span of love making.
 
The reproductive tissues are the essence of all dhatus ( tissue elements) which has the power to create life. Sexual intercourse is believed by ayurveda to creat a new life and bring back youthfulness to the couples. It emphasis that during intercourse, the couple's attention should be focused on the breathing, mind and the semen through which all the three levels of human being viz physical, mental and emotional are being acted upon and intercourse becomes a love meditation
 
Ayurveda recognizes the importance of a full and active life which facilitates the fulfillment of one's duties. According to Charaka, the ancient Ayurvedic teacher, even saints and holy men of yore found that their long stay in the plains as mendicants had sapped their vitality. Therefore they sought refuge in the Himalayas where Indra gave them the secret of rejuvenation therapy.
 
What is Rejuvenation Therapy?
 
Rejuvenation therapy is known in Ayurveda as Rasayana chikitsa. It seeks to ward off decay and debilitation through a mix of massages, medicines and right conduct. The treatment is indicated for two types of patients: those who have become debilitated prematurely through dissipation and bad habits; and those who are aging naturally but would like to ward off the physical manifestations of old age.
 
Sexual Rejuvenation
 
This treatment is known in Ayurveda as Vajeekarana or enhancement of sexual prowess. This is resorted to in case of patients who, though young, have become impotent due to natural causes or due to excessive indulgence; those who have lost their normal sexual urge or those who suffer from the effects of venereal diseases. Semen is considered as one of the seven vital elements of the body. Ayurveda considers semen as the source of physical beauty, energy, intelligence and physical strength. Loss of semen due to over-indulgence or other reasons can lead to severe illnesses including loss of memory, depression and physical weakness.
 
Ayurveda has very potent and time tested medicines for sexual rejuvenation such as Dasamoolarishta, Aswagandharishta, Saraswatarishta, Sidhamakaradhwajam etc. Body massage, including Njavarakkizhi and dhara are also indicated in persons who are physically weak. Such treatment should, however, be taken on the advice of experts in Ayurveda.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/ayurveda-concept-of-sexual-rejuvenation-577705.html

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/kerala-ayurveda-538294.html

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Ayurveda Natural Care
Author: swornalakshmi

Ayurveda is an ancient system of health care and is native to the Indian subcontinent. The word "Ayurveda" is a tatpurusha compound of the word ayus which means "life" or "life principle", and the word veda refers to a system of "knowledge". Hence "Ayurveda" is often called the "knowledge of life".  

Ayurveda-natural-care   According to Charaka, "life" itself is defined as the "combination of the body, sense organs, mind and soul, the factor responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth". According to this perspective, Ayurveda is associated with measurement and protection of "ayus", which includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures which relates to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony.

Ayurveda operates on the concept which explains various materials of vegetable, animal, and mineral origin having some medicinal importance. The medicinal properties of these materials has been documented by the practitioners and used for centuries to cure illness thereby helping to maintain good health. Ayurvedic medicines are made from herbs either alone or in combination with minerals, metals and several ingredients of animal origin. The metals, animals and minerals are purified by individual processes before being used for medicinal purposes. 

India is worldwide famous for its ayurveda treatment. There are various centers for authentic ayurveda treatment across the country, and Kerala has emerged as the most famous destination for the ayurvedic treatment in India. The treatment mainly comprises of aroma therapy, powders, and tablets, medicated oils etc. prepared from natural herbs, plants and minerals. Ayurveda gives a complete look into the lifestyle of a person. Two most important aims of Ayurveda are: to maintain the health of healthy people and to cure the diseases of sick people. 

“According to ayurveda, a holistic approach to heart health requires you to nourish the emotional heart as well as the physical heart. The heart is not just a pump - it is the fountainhead of all emotions, whether it is joy and exhilaration or sadness and frustration. Mental and emotional stress disrupts the heart. Please Purchase Online  http://ayurvedasbeautycare.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ayurveda-natural-care-377178.html

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Stress Complications & Healing Through Ayurveda
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

Fast paced life, skipping breakfast/lunch/ dinners, Chinese/ fast foods/ junk food cultures, busy schedules, sleepless nights, competition & complexity of Today’s World- in this process of hectic growth we subject ourselves to all kinds of unlimited physical & mental stresses.

Besides stress & fatigue, an accumulation of toxins can interfere with the normal functions of the body. After 25 or 30 high levels of toxins also accelerate the rate of degeneration of the body. The human body is no different to a vehicle, which needs constant care & servicing. 

Ayurveda brings about the balance between our physical & mental aspects and helps us to remain naturally beautiful. Herbs of tremendous medicinal values are found abundantly in nature. Ayurveda uses these herbs individually and in special blends to treat every kind of physical & psychological problems.

As the stress builds up, we move towards the lack of confidence and a feeling of inferiority becomes a part of our life. Lest the thorn / the cause/ the toxins/ stress is removed only then the normal healing mechanism of the body is initiated or else it effects the other organs of the body & thus incurable diseases are produced. 

Skin, the largest organ in our body directly reveals the energetic level of the entire psychophysical unit, it is a transparent mirror where the movement of the doshas bring about changes also of a radical nature in its biochemical balance. Skin is the expression of our overall state of health; this stress invariably affects it. The diseases of the skin like psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, lichen planus etc occur due to this stress.

For males as young as 25, multiple late nights and unlimited stress can lead to a diminished sexual desire, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, impotency, low sperm count, semen discharge with urine and the damaging feeling of inferiority accompany with all these sexual problems. The same stress factor in females will lead to low sexual desire, infertility and loosening of breasts etc. 

5000 years old ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has a lot to offer for millions of people to combat stress, the effects of which are often associated with skin, sexual health of the individuals. Since times immemorable, ayurveda has been advocating many rejuvenating recopies for improving & maintaining good health, which leads to a normal and happy life thus improving the deficiencies without any side effects. 

Treatment procedures mainly involve the changing of nutritional protocol & life style by which we can greatly influence our physical, mental & emotional health. While each patient should follow a regimen tailored to his/ her individual needs, the five classical procedures are meant to detoxify the human body- THE PANCHAKARMA CHIKITSA-are particularly beneficial. They are:

 

1) VAMANA: a medicated emesis therapy cleanses kapha collected in the body & decongests the respiratory tract.

2) VIRECHANA: a medicated purgation therapy, removes toxins from the body that are accumulated in the gastro intestinal tract.

3) VASTHI: cleanses the accumulated toxins from all over the body. It is also highly beneficial in rejuvenation therapies. 

4) NASYAM: nasal administration of medicated oils to cleanse accumulated kapha dosha from the head & neck regions. 

5) RAKTHA MOKSHANAM: blood letting using leeches etc effective in haemopathological conditions.

Once the toxins are removed and the body is purified from doshas responsible for causing the diseases then rejuvenation procedures & therapeutic massages are beneficial. Judicious combinations of scientifically standardized drugs having rejuvenating correcting imbalances are administered for the promotion of a healthy normal living of the person. 

Rejuvenation procedures include: 

1.A simple ABHYANGA revives body, mind, senses and the soul, increasing energy levels and thus promotes the feeling of well being. 

2.SIRODHARA in which medicated oils are streamed on to the fore head, relaxes the central nervous system, melting away all the stresses & strains.

 

3.PIZHICHIL(medicated oil bath) Sarvanga dhara/ kaya seka provides the ultimate rejuvenation and increases the circulation around the body

 

4.ELAKIZHI(herbal leaf bundle massage) is a highly rejuvenating treatment used to treat chronic back pain, sciatica etc.

 

5.NAVARAKIZHI( shali shastika pinda swedam) is very effective in emaciation, debility, strengthens tissues and is anti ageing.

 


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/stress-complications-healing-through-ayurveda-hyd-377529.html

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Ayurveda Herbal Care for Liver Disorders
Author: Rajesh Nair

Ayurveda describes kaamala or Jaundice as one of the major diseases of yakrit (liver). The obstructive and infective jaundice are described in ayurvedic classical texts.
 
Pathogenesis
 
When a person indulges on diet which increases pitta( one among the three somatic humors), like excessive alcohol intake, heavy, oily, and spicy food, pitta becomes aggravated and results in disease of blood, muscle tissue, biliary system and liver. These then manifest as kaamala or jaundice. It is also mentioned in the texts that if a person is anaemic he is more prone to kaamala.
 
Symptoms
 
Yellowish discolouration of the eyes, nails, skin, and oral cavity, yellowish/reddish discolouration of faeces and urine, generalized weakness, burning sensation,loss of appetite and taste, vague body pains and weakness in all sensory organs and emaciation.
 
There are different types of Kaamala described in Ayurveda 
 
Shakasritha: There is only mild aggravation of pitta and vata in this type of Kaamala ( acute jaundice) and this can be cured relatively easily.
 
Kumbha Kaamala: If not treated Kaamala ( acute jaundice) in due course turns into Kumbha Kaamala and becomes difficult to treat.
 
Panaki: This is considered to be late/advanced stage of Kaamala.
 
Haleemaka: This is an advanced stage of pandu roga (anemia). This occurs when both vata and pitta are vitiated. The disease is manifested with greenish-yellow discolouration, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, body ache, burning sensation, loss of taste and dizziness.
 
Tastelessness, thirst, vomiting, fever, headache, loss of appetite, lethargy, pain in chest are also often referred to as associated ailments of Kaamala.
 
Treatment of all liver diseases in Ayurveda concentrates on Pitta dosha rather than the organ itself. All liver diseases have imbalances of pitta and agni. Apart from this, ojus is also affected. As the liver is the basis of Pachaka Pitta, all diseases of the liver can be treated concomitantly by treating Pachaka Pitta.
 
The liver is also an organ of fire, All Bhuta-Agnis( fire): Nabhasa Agni, Vayavya Agni, Tejo Agni, Apo Agni, and Parthiva Agni are all situated here. These agnis and Ranchaka pitta originating in the liver serve to break down substances into their respective elemental factors akasham(space), vayu(air), thejus( fire), ap( water), and prithvi(earth ) and distribute them to the appropriate tissues (dhatus) in the body.
 
Bearing all these things in mind, an ayurvedic physician treats liver diseases, considering them as pitha rogas (diseases manifested through the vitiation of pitha). The medicines and diets that alleviate pitha are commonly used for all types of liver diseases.
 
The herbs that are effective for treating liver disorders are Bhumyamalaki, Bhringaraj,Turmeric, Guduchi, Haritaki, Kalmegha, Kutki, Musta, Pippali, Punarnava and Licorice.
 
Panchakarma has been proven to be good help. Rasayana therapies after panchakarma should include pippali. Apart from these Pippalyadi choornam, pippali vardhamana yogam, pippalichitraka gritham, pippali gritham, chitraka gritham, rohitha gritham and maharohita gritham can be used with good efficacy.
 
For Kaamala and Pandu, snehanam with Kalyanaka Gritham, Panchagavyam, or Mahathiktakam is preferred. Thereafter proper Virechana( purgation) should be done. Triphala, amrutha, etc should be used daily with honey.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/ayurveda-herbal-care-for-liver-disorders-592183.html

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Slipped Disc???come to ‘ayurveda’ for Better Relief!!!
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

What is a disc? 

The spine is made up of the vertebrae (the bones making up the spine), which have cartilage discs between them. The discs consist of a circle of connective tissue with a central gel-like core. This makes the spine flexible and at the same time acts as a protective buffer. 

In the centre of this column of vertebrae and discs is the spinal canal, which contains the spinal cord and it continues as a bundle of nerve fibres called the cauda equina stretching down towards the sacrum. Between each vertebra, the spinal cord has nerve root connections to other parts of the body.

The spine is divided into three parts: 

Neck (cervical vertebrae)

Chest (thoracic vertebrae)

Lower back (lumbar vertebrae).

The spine is connected to the ribs at the chest. 

What is a slipped disc? 

A slipped disc is when the soft part of the disc bulges through the circle of connective tissue. This prolapse may push on the spinal cord or on the nerve roots. However, it is worth noting that 20 per cent of the population have slipped discs without experiencing any noticeable symptoms. 

The term 'slipped disc' does not really describe the process properly - the disc does not actually slip out of place, but bulges out towards the spinal cord. 

What is the cause of a slipped disc? 

Many factors increase the risk for slipped disc: (1) lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, lack of regular exercise, and inadequate nutrition substantially contribute to poor disc health. (2) As the body ages, natural biochemical changes cause discs to gradually dry out affecting disc strength and resiliency. (3) Poor posture combined with the habitual use of incorrect body mechanics, hard physical labour(delivery) can place additional stress on the spine. 

Combine these factors with the effects from daily wear and tear, injury, incorrect lifting, or twisting and it is easy to understand why a disc may herniate. A herniation may develop suddenly or gradually over weeks or months. 

At what age can a slipped disc occur?

 

A slipped disc in the lower back is most often seen between the ages of 30 and 50. In the cervical vertebrae around the neck, slipped discs are most often seen between the ages of 40 and 60.

A slipped disc occurs most often in the lumbar region of the spine especially at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels (L = Lumbar, S = Sacral). This is because the lumbar spine carries most of the body's weight. People between the ages of 30 and 50 appear to be vulnerable because the elasticity and water content of the nucleus decreases with age.  

What are the symptoms of a slipped disc? 

A slipped disc can be symptom free. If it causes pain, it is primarily due to the pressure on the nerve roots, the spinal cord or the cauda equina. 

Symptoms of nerve root pressure: 

Paralysis of single muscles, possibly with pain radiating to the arms or legs. There may also be a disturbance of feeling in the limbs.

Symptoms of pressure on the spinal cord: 

Disturbance of feeling, muscle spasms or paralysis in the part of the body below the spinal cord pressure. For example, pressure on the spinal cord in the chest area will cause spasms in the legs but not in the arms. Pressure on the spinal cord may cause problems with control of the bladder.

Symptoms of pressure on the cauda equina: 

The symptoms can include loss of control of the bladder function, disturbance of feeling in the rectum and the inside of the thighs and paralysis of both legs. These are serious symptoms and anyone developing them should contact a doctor immediately.  

What happens in an Ayurvedic session?  

The initial consultation involves taking the total health history of the patient. A visual analyze is carried out by examining the eyes, color of the tongue, nails, skin, etc. Once the verbal and visual analyze are completed, further investigation involves examining the tender points (marma points). Focusing on these marma points the ayurvedic physician discovers the malfunctioning of the organs.  

Based on these investigations, a final picture is drawn about the patient's condition in relation to the three biochemical forces; vata pitta kapha. The dis-alignment of spinal vertebrae and musculo skeletal system is mainly concentrated and special attention is paid to the patient's food habits and life style. With full history and investigation the ayurvedic physician determines the amount of treatment required. Usually the treatment period is 7/14/21/28 days according to the severity of the disease.

 

The Treatment usually involves a series of ABHYANGAM, SWEDAM, NASYAM, ELAKIZHI, NAVARAKIZHI, KATI VASTHI, KASHAYA VASTHI & ANUVASANA VASTHI etc. Marma chikitsa, Meru Chikitsa(Ayurvedic Neuro-Therapy) along with Vatahara chikitsa and Brumhana chikitsa are given utmost importance. 

In four to six weeks, the majority of patients find their symptoms are relieved without surgery! Be optimistic about your treatment plan and remember that less than 5% of back problems require surgery! 

Prevention:

Aging is inevitable, but lifestyle changes can help prevent the disc disease. Risk factors include poor posture and body mechanics, weak Spinal muscles, smoking and obesity. Start now to adopt habits that will help preserve your spine for the future.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/slipped-disccome-to-ayurveda-for-better-relief-376396.html

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Ayurveda Herbal Care for Liver Disorders
Author: Rajesh Nair

Ayurveda describes kaamala or Jaundice as one of the major diseases of yakrit (liver). The obstructive and infective jaundice are described in ayurvedic classical texts.
 
Pathogenesis
 
When a person indulges on diet which increases pitta( one among the three somatic humors), like excessive alcohol intake, heavy, oily, and spicy food, pitta becomes aggravated and results in disease of blood, muscle tissue, biliary system and liver. These then manifest as kaamala or jaundice. It is also mentioned in the texts that if a person is anaemic he is more prone to kaamala.
 
Symptoms
 
Yellowish discolouration of the eyes, nails, skin, and oral cavity, yellowish/reddish discolouration of faeces and urine, generalized weakness, burning sensation,loss of appetite and taste, vague body pains and weakness in all sensory organs and emaciation.
 
There are different types of Kaamala described in Ayurveda 
 
Shakasritha: There is only mild aggravation of pitta and vata in this type of Kaamala ( acute jaundice) and this can be cured relatively easily.
 
Kumbha Kaamala: If not treated Kaamala ( acute jaundice) in due course turns into Kumbha Kaamala and becomes difficult to treat.
 
Panaki: This is considered to be late/advanced stage of Kaamala.
 
Haleemaka: This is an advanced stage of pandu roga (anemia). This occurs when both vata and pitta are vitiated. The disease is manifested with greenish-yellow discolouration, weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, body ache, burning sensation, loss of taste and dizziness.
 
Tastelessness, thirst, vomiting, fever, headache, loss of appetite, lethargy, pain in chest are also often referred to as associated ailments of Kaamala.
 
Treatment of all liver diseases in Ayurveda concentrates on Pitta dosha rather than the organ itself. All liver diseases have imbalances of pitta and agni. Apart from this, ojus is also affected. As the liver is the basis of Pachaka Pitta, all diseases of the liver can be treated concomitantly by treating Pachaka Pitta.
 
The liver is also an organ of fire, All Bhuta-Agnis( fire): Nabhasa Agni, Vayavya Agni, Tejo Agni, Apo Agni, and Parthiva Agni are all situated here. These agnis and Ranchaka pitta originating in the liver serve to break down substances into their respective elemental factors akasham(space), vayu(air), thejus( fire), ap( water), and prithvi(earth ) and distribute them to the appropriate tissues (dhatus) in the body.
 
Bearing all these things in mind, an ayurvedic physician treats liver diseases, considering them as pitha rogas (diseases manifested through the vitiation of pitha). The medicines and diets that alleviate pitha are commonly used for all types of liver diseases.
 
The herbs that are effective for treating liver disorders are Bhumyamalaki, Bhringaraj,Turmeric, Guduchi, Haritaki, Kalmegha, Kutki, Musta, Pippali, Punarnava and Licorice.
 
Panchakarma has been proven to be good help. Rasayana therapies after panchakarma should include pippali. Apart from these Pippalyadi choornam, pippali vardhamana yogam, pippalichitraka gritham, pippali gritham, chitraka gritham, rohitha gritham and maharohita gritham can be used with good efficacy.
 
For Kaamala and Pandu, snehanam with Kalyanaka Gritham, Panchagavyam, or Mahathiktakam is preferred. Thereafter proper Virechana( purgation) should be done. Triphala, amrutha, etc should be used daily with honey.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/ayurveda-herbal-care-for-liver-disorders-592183.html

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Control Hairfall Through Ayurveda
Author: Rajesh Nair

According to Ayurveda, dandruff is a condition of the skin where shiny, silvery scales separate from the scalp and collect amidst the hair. It is then categorized in "shodra roga". It is named as "darunak" which appears due to an imbalance of all three doshas. The primary doshas involved are pitta and vata.
 
The primary doshas involved are pitta and vata. Pitta is an Ayurvedic humor which symbolize heat or fire and vata is dry and rough in nature. The increase of Vata and Pitta in the body leads to destruction of Raktadhatu thus giving rise to impurities in the blood. This in turn leads to poor nourishment of the scalp.
 
In an aggravated state, both doshas cause production of specific impurities. These impurities are dry and heating in nature. These impurities accumulate in the deep tissues of the scalp and cause contamination of these tissues. Contamination of the deep tissues and aggravated vata-pitta dosha cause itching and patches on scalp. Due to these factors, the scalp sheds larger than normal amounts of dead epidermal cells, which leads to the dandruff problem.
 
Vata associated dandruff has pain as a symptom, while the Pitta associated dandruff has a burning sensation in the scalp hence the line of treatment is to generally pacify both pitta and vata.
 
The main causes of dandruff are impairment of general health, development of a toxic condition mainly due to taking of wrong foods, constipation, and a low vitality due to infectious diseases. Other factors contributing to this disorder are emotional tension, harsh shampoos, and exposure to cold and general exhaustion. One should take care to avoid all these mentioned above.
 
Ayurvedic herbal preparations like Karanj (Pongamia pinnata), Backuchi (Psoralia coryfolia), Tulsi (Ocimum snctum), Giloya (Tinospora cordifolia), Neem (Azadirachta indica) are recommended.
 
Cobra (Bhujanga Asana) and Vajrasana are the recommended yogic practices which go a long way in treating emotional imbalance thereby preventing dandruff.
 
Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system has a promising remedy for dandruff, in which the dry skin flakes off the scalp resulting in itchiness. It believes that aggravation of Vata is its main causes and suggests the following modified diet and lifestyle to pacify doshic imbalance.
 
Include plenty of green vegetables and fruits in the diet.Drink mineral water, herbal teas and unsweetened fruit juice.Spicy, greasy fermented foods and baked products must be avoided.
 
Strong tea, coffee and processed foods should be avoided. Intake of alcohol,milk, dairy products, sea foods, animal proteins and fatty foods are also to be avoided.
 
Foods that are high in vitamin C such as tomatoes, oranges, lemons, tamarind, etc. which contain acidic content, must be avoided. Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also a useful measure in the treatment of dandruff. Develop a regular exercise regimen as it stimulates the circulatory system.
 
Take care while using some contraceptive pills - some products deplete the vitamin B-complex and zinc which could bring dandruff. Use any herbal shampoo for cleaning the hair. Create a herbal pack by mixing henna powder, curd and ritha powder together. This pack is very effective.
 
Keep the hair and scalp clean so as to minimize the accumulation of dead cells. The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. Keep hair well oiled. Have a regular mild shampoo then, dry your hair and brush it in order to remove the flaky dandruff from it.
 
Stress affects your overall health and triggers dandruff or exacerbates existing symptoms. Take care to do meditation or yoga to bring down your stress level.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/control-hairfall-through-ayurveda-591680.html

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How Ayurveda Treats Parkinsonism
Author: Rajesh Nair

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder resulting from degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain that controls movement creating a shortage of the brain signaling chemical dopamine, causing the movement impairments characterizing the disease.
It has probably existed for many thousands of years. Its symptoms and potential therapies were mentioned in the Ayurveda. Ayurveda considers Parkinson's disease to be the result of the vitiated Vata.
 
It is vata that controls the overall level of balance and activation of the nervous system in an individual.
Kampavata is the term used in Ayurvedic texts to explain Parkinsons (Kampa:tremor, Vata metabolic derangement ) predisposing  to  neurologic and mental diseases.
 
Various signs & symptoms associated with the disease such as akinesia, drooling, reptilian stare, tremor, constant somnolence, rigidity,and dementia were described in Caraka Samhita.
 
The first symptom of Parkinson's disease is tremor (trembling or shaking) of a limb, especially when the body is at rest. Tremor often begins on one side of the body, frequently in one hand. Other symptoms include slow movement (bradykinesia), an inability to move (akinesia), rigid limbs, a shuffling gait, and a stooped posture.
 
There is no complete cure for Parkinson's disease. Many of the patients are only mildly affected and need no serious treatment for several years after the initial diagnosis.
 
Ayurvedic medicine has been shown in various medical trials to help treat different diseases.Ayurvedic therapeutic agent Mucuna pruriens ( Kapikachu )showed effective results with only minor side effects.
Paralysis agitans, is an independent description of Kampavata (Kampa:tremor, Vata metabolic derangement Predisposing to neurologic and mental diseases) described in Ayureda.
 
Several preparations containing Mucuna pruriens(Kapikachu) were descrided for treatment of patients with Kampavata. The major active compound present in Mucuna pruriens is levodopa. Levodopa is the major drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
 
The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
 
Sirodhara therapy refers to the Pouring of warm medicated herbal oil on the person's forehead from a suspended oil filled vessel. The medicated oil is made by boiling herbs and fruits such as gooseberry, bala, sandalwood, bael, liquorices, nut grass tuber,winter cherry etc in gingerly oil, coconut oil, ghee and milk.
 
Njavarakizhi  is a process in which the whole body or any specific part is made to perspire by applying custom made cotton pouches containing medicated rice cooked with herbal decoction and milk. Sida,spreading hog weed, winter cherry are the herbs used in making the decoction.
 
Thalapothichil is the application of herbal paste on the scalp of a patient and covering it with banana leaves. The process cools the brain and provides relaxation to the mind.
 
Fruits and herbs such as gooseberry, Liquorice, asparagus, henna, lotus seeds, sandal, nut grass tuber, vetivera etc are used in the preparation of this herbal paste.
 
Main purification therapies.
 
This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment stage. The two commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for Parkinson's disease are Nasyam and Vasthy.
 
Nasyam is the pouring of herbal oil in drops in to the nostrils and inhaling the contents. This opens up the head channels and enables the herb extracts to act directly on the central nervous system. The herbal oil is a mixture of sesame oil and herbs such as Sida plants, Bael and Vitex etc.
 
Vasthi An effective enema therapy, 'Vasthi' is termed as the ace colon cleaning panchakarma treatment where special medicines are introduced through the anal route for the evacuation of accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes. Dill seeds, honey, rock salt,herbal pastes, oils and decoctions are the main ingredients used in vasthy.
 
The evidence suggests that Parkinson's disease existed in ancient India under the name Kampavata and herbal preparations containing levodopa and panchkarm had been used to treat this disorder.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/how-ayurveda-treats-parkinsonism-572728.html

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Osteo Arthritis- Ayurveda Treatment
Author: Rajesh Nair

Osteoarthritis which is known as sandhigatavata in ayurvedic medicine may occurs due to some particular food, poor blood circulation, dryness, over exertion or a low nutrient supply to the joint.
 
It is an important vata disease described in ayurvedic classicals like Charak samhita and Ashtanga hridaya. It is caused by the inflammation and loss of cartilage and affects the joints of knees, hips, lower spine, fingers and toes.
 
Vayana vata dosha, one of the five types of vata dosha (dosha of air and empty space) governs the entire body and mind movements, like blood flow, heart pulsation, breathing and the thoughts in mind. The vitation of this type of vata causes rheumatism. Osteo arthritis is essentially a vata disorder, with the involvment of pitha and kapha doshas.
 
Vata has a dry and light qualities and its vitiation leads to imbalance of kapha dosha, depleting the syniovial fluid, that provides cushion and lubrication to the joints. This depletion leads to osteoarthritis in which the cartilage in the joints wears away causing friction, pain and limited joint mobility and affects the large weight-bearing joints, like the hips and knees, also hands,feet, and spine.
 
Symptoms of this disease are edema, pain, tenderness, stiffness, pain on work etc. It also starts with ageing and the following factors contributes to the vitiation of vata dosha
 
Consuming dry, cold or stale food, not regular in sleeping habits, suppressing natural urges.
 
Getting exposed to asevere cold and dry weather.
 
Excessive travel, leading a vata aggravating life style and undergoing mental trauma.
 
Exerting oneself excessively on the joints or any accident which occurs in the joints.
 
When the food we eat, is not digested properly it causes ama (toxins) which weakens the colon and it circulates through whole body and gets accumulated in the bones and joints.
 
This toxins will block the body channels and inturn vitates vata dosha.
 
Ayurveda treats Sandhigata vata by modifying the diet, lifestyle, recommends light exercise, and advises one to undergo Panchkarma and Purvakarma detoxification techniques. It also uses appropriate non toxic ayurvedic herbs which helps in lubricating the cartilages within the joints thereby strengthening it.
 
It can be managed by
 
Eating lot of vegetables, freshly cooked foods, hot soups of lentils, pulse, moderate quantity of ghee and oils to lubircate the dried joints. By avoiding oily and deep fried foods.
 
Doing a regular mild exercise programme to enable the joint to move and prevent further damages also by noti ndulging in any hard job which may damage the joints.
 
Daily massaging with the mahanaraya oil or specific oils prescribed by an ayurvedic doctor is used to calm down the vata dosha.
 
Ayurvedic drugs aim to reduce the vitiated vata and also improves the kapha and pitha functions. The main drug that is recommended to treat this degenerative disease is Karaskara. Sahachara, bala, devdar, shallaki etc are also used. Main preparations used are qwath, arishta , choorna, tablets and ghrit.
 
In order to cleanse the toxins from the colon Triphala, which is a mild laxative is given. Triphala has specific action to pacify vitated vata.
 
Trikatu is given to enhance the digestive fire and will enhance the equilibrium of pitha dosha.
 
Guggul helps to strengthen the bone tissue. It reduces the inflammation and edema, pacify kapha dosha.
 
In order to control inflammation of the joints, Ayurveda suggests Boswellia gum or phellodendron bark and scute root and it is used in combination with myrrh gum, fang feng root, qin and jiao root.
 
Commonly used medicines are Sahacharadi qwath, Guggul thikta qwath, Maharasnadi qwath, Rasnerandadi qwath, Balarishta, Dhanwantharishta, Karasakar ghrit, Guggul thiktaka ghrit, Shadpala ghrit. Ashwagandha, Bala, Shallaki, Guggul and Rasna are used in pure herbs form.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/osteo-arthritis-ayurveda-treatment-572182.html

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Erectile Dysfunction "impotence" Speciality
Ayurveda Treatments
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as ‘Impotence’, is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity.  Erectile dysfunction is different from other conditions that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation and orgasm.
 
Erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence) varies in severity; some men have a total inability to achieve an erection, others have an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, and still others can sustain only brief erections. While ED can occur at any age, it is uncommon among young men and more common in the elderly. By age 45, most men have experienced ED at least some of the time. 

Erectile dysfunction can occur if one or more of these requirements are not met. The causes of ED include: Aging, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Cardiovascular diseases, Cigarette smoking, Nerve or spinal cord damage: Substance abuse like   Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and alcohol abuse, Low testosterone levels, Medications Depression, anxiety and Stress etc.

A diagnosis of Erectile dysfunction is made in men who have repeated inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance for at least 3 months. Candid communication between the patient and the doctor is important in establishing the diagnosis, assessing its severity, and determining the cause. During patient interviews, doctors try to answer the following questions:
 
The physical examination  can reveal clues for physical causes of Erectile dysfunction. Common  Laboratory Tests  to evaluate erectile dysfunction include: Complete blood Picture, Semen Analysis, Urinalysis, Lipid profile, Blood glucose levels, Blood Hemoglobin A 1c, Serum creatinine, Total testosterone levels, PSA (prostate specific antigen) Levels.  A Psychosocial examination  using an interview and questionnaire may reveal psychological factors contributing to erectile dysfunction.  The sexual partner also may be interviewed   to determine expectations and perceptions encountered during sexual intercourse.
 
Ayurveda defines Erectile dysfunction or ED as follows:   
 “Sankalpapravano nityam priyaam vashyaamapi sthreeyam na yaathi lingashaithilyaath kadaachidyaathi vaa yadi!!  Shwaasaarthaha swinnagaatrshcha moghasankalpacheshtitaha  mlaanashishnashcha nirbeejaha syodetat klaibyalaxanam!!”
  
This means even though a man has a strong desire to perform sexual act with a cooperative partner, he cannot perform sexual act because of looseness (absence of erection) of his phallus (penis). Even if he performs sexual act with his determined efforts he does not get erection and gets afflicted with tiredness, perspiration and frustration to perform sex.

A qualified and experienced Ayurvedic Doctor inquiries about Medications taken / being taken, Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, Smoking, Diabetes, Heart disease, Circulatory conditions, and special emphasis is given on to the psychological issues. A detailed examination of the Genitalia, Pulses, Dhatus, Srotas, and Assessment of Ojas and Agni is done for the diagnosis of  ED (Dhathukshaya) according to Ayurveda. 
    
  
Based on the detailed diagnosis an individual specific treatment schedule is chalked out to include the following:

Cleansing, Purification and Detoxification of the Dhatus; a schedule of Panchakarma Therapies to dislodge, liquefy, mobilize and evacuate the accumulated Dhoshas, with an aim to cleanse and purify the countless body channels is carried out.  ABHYANGAM  (Oil application on entire body),  SWEDANAM  (Medicated Steam),  ELAKIZHI  (Leaf Bundle Massage),  PIZHICHIL  (Sarvanga Dhara or Oil bath),  SHALI SHASHTIKA PINDA SWEDAM  (Navarakizhi),  SHIRO DHARA  (Pouring of oil on the head),  UTTARA VASTHI  etc are carried out. Rejuvenation Procedures, Diet Management, Life Style Corrections, Stress relieving Procedures, breathing Exercises like Pranayama etc are followed for the best results in treating ED.

Specially prepared and Research Ayurvedic medicines are given internally which improves and rejuvenates the Vascular and Neuro muscular activity and also to stabilize the male hormones (Testosterone). This is the most important phase of Shamana Chikitsa (Curative treatment).
  
We give the best Treatments for     “Erectile Dysfunction”   with high success rates at The Kerala Ayurvedic Care, Speciality Panchakarma Centre, 3-6-101/1, St no: 19, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad-29. Contact   Dr Kranthi Vardhan   on 9246166636 for appointments, evaluation and Treatment. 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/erectile-dysfunction-quotimpotencequot-speciality-ayurveda-treatments-569979.html

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Sukhanidra
Author: Dev Sri

Sukhanidra is a form of Ayurvedic treatment aimed at pacifying mind and to treat such conditions like insomnia (sleep deprivation), anxiety and depression.  

Sukhanidra (sukanidra) means calm sleep or sound sleep. 

Insomnia or lack of sleep is in fact a serious problem that can cause other disorders like anxiety and depression. A good night’s sleep can reduce anxiety and depression.

Sukha nidra treatment program is aimed at creating a pacifying environment to facilitate sleep. The treatments include body and head massage with medicated oils. Sirovasty, thalam, ksheera dhara, thaila dhara etc are employed.

The person is also given medicines to strengthen immune system and blood circulation. Yoga and meditation further pacifies the soul of the person. He or she will be able to sleep calmly at night, effectively reducing anxiety and stress related problems. 

Sukhanidra (also spelt sukanidra, sukha nidra, suka nidra) treatment lasts for 7 to 21 days, during which the person is kept in a pacifying environment. The person receives full body medicated oil massage, head massage with medicated oil and spends time doing yoga and practicing meditation techniques. 

A person can expect immediate positive results in the form of reduced stress, increased confidence, better immune system and calm sleep. 

Nidra in Malayalam means sleep. This is a treatment aimed at ensuring calm, sound sleep to pacify troubled minds and souls. Though it appears to be a very simple treatment, the benefits are manifold. Seasoned Ayurveda practitioners in Kerala give good treatment for people from parts of Kerala, India and around the world.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/sukhanidra-356176.html

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Neck Pain- Ayurvedic Treatments and Relaxation Therapies
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

What is neck pain? 

Pain in the neck can be due to injury, a mechanical or muscular problem, a trapped nerve caused by a bulge in one of the discs between the vertebrae, or from arthritis of the neck. 

It can range from very mild discomfort to severe, burning pain. 

If the pain is 'acute' - sudden and intense - it is called a crick in the neck or muscular rheumatism.

If the pain has lasted more than three months, it is termed 'chronic' neck pain.

Neck pain is a very common condition and is more frequently seen in women than men.

Most people will experience pain in the neck at some point in their life.

What causes neck pain?  

Many things can trigger neck pain. These include: 

Trauma or injury 

Worry and stress 

Falling asleep in an awkward position 

Prolonged use of a computer keyboard. 

For most people, no specific reason for the pain can be found. However, in some cases it is possible to make a precise diagnosis. The underlying problem could be Slipped disc, brittle bones (Osteoporosis), Cervical Spondylosis, deformed natural curvature of the spine (Scoliosis) and, very rarely, structural damage due to Tumours or Infection. Finally, road traffic accidents involving whiplash injury may result in acute or chronic neck pain that takes several months to improve. 

What does neck pain feel like? 

General pain located in the neck area as well as stiffness in the neck muscles. 

The pain may radiate down to the shoulder or between the shoulder blades. 

It may also radiate out into the arm, the hand, or up into the head, causing a one-sided or double-sided headache. 

The muscles in the neck are tense, sore and feel hard to the touch. 

Acute pain can give rise to abnormal neck posture in which the head is forced to turn to one side

The pain at the base of the skull may be accompanied by a feeling of weakness in the shoulders and arms. 

There may be a prickly or tingling sensation in the arms and fingers. 

How does the doctor make a diagnosis?  

In most cases, a neck problem can be diagnosed by carrying out a thorough examination that may include all or some of the following: 

Testing the movement of the neck. 

Testing for trapped nerves. 

Examination of the muscles. 

Examination of the movement of the joints of the spine, neck and hands. 

How is neck pain treated?   

Ayurveda suggests the following choice of treatment:  

Diet management: 

Intensive muscle training, yoga, pranayama & other stress releaving exercises. 

Ayurveda & Keraliya Panchakarma Therapies for a period of 7/14/21/28 days according to the severity of the disease which includes Shiro dhara(pouring continuous stream of medicated oil, buttermilk etc on the fore head and doing a gentle & soothing  head massage), Shiro vasti(A special technique of bathing the head in medicated oils using a special cap like apparatus), Abhyangam( A whole body massage with specific herbal oils,  achieves deepest healing effects by naturally harmonizing Body, Mind, Soul and the Senses), Nadi Swedam(medicated steam bath), Nasyam(administration of medicated oil through the nose, cleanses accumulated Kapha toxins from the head and neck region), Elakizhi (herbal leaf bundle massage), Shastika Sali Pinda Swedam/ Navarakizhi (A highly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked, tied into boluses and dipped into an herbal decoction and warm milk, then skillfully massaged all over the body), Pizhichil (medicated oil bath), Greeva vasthi(a treatment done on to the neck to decrease cervical spinal compression) etc.

What medication is given?  

Medicines used in this treatment includes Thailams, Churnams, Asavams, Aristams, Ghrithams, Lehyams etc prepared from ayurvedic herbs like Rasna, Nirgundi, Dasamoola, Aswagandha etc based on severity, stage of the disease, age, prakruthi of the patient. Vata hara, Brumhana Oushada Ahara Vihara are also advised to these patients. 

 

Exercise:

People with weak neck muscles are more prone to neck problems and in such cases, an exercise programme to strengthen the neck is a good idea. Pranayama and other neck exercises relieves the stress in the neck. 

Future prospects:

This depends on the underlying cause of the pain. The prognosis is generally good, provided the patient remains active and obtains the correct treatment without delay.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/neck-pain-ayurvedic-treatments-and-relaxation-therapies-377053.html






Beauty Care of Modern Life Shirodhara is Best Method
Author: swornalakshmi

Shirodhara or Shiro dhara is a method of relieving stress and avoid many mental illnesses. Stress is a common problem in modern world, with demands from society and profession. Shirodhara is the continuous flow of medicated oil through the head. Sesame oil is used in most parts of India, while coconut oil is the main base in Kerala. The patient will be laid on a special wooden plank on his or her back. A tiny stream of oil continuously oozes out of a vessel with a central hole. The oil falls on the center of the forehead of the person.

Shirodhara  often comes after full body oil massage. The environment that the practitioner prepares for the therapy will also be free of any noise and most suited for deep relaxation, which provides complete rest to mind. It allows one to overcome stress related conditions like insomnia, anxiety, chronic headaches, hypertension and asthma. It also strengthens hair and skin of the head.

Shirodhara brings in several benefits including improved blood circulation to the brain, provides nourishments to hair and scalp, reduces nervous tension, and helps in sound sleep. There can also be different conditions of head, throat, eyes, ears and nose. Fits and epilepsy are two main conditions for which shirovasthi is suggested.It improves the functioning of sense organs and central nervous system. Shirodhara also improves your mood and fights depression.

Shirodhara is one part or feature of the ancient Hindu holistic medical practice of Ayurveda. "Shirodhara" is a Sanskrit word combining two other words - "shiro" meaning "head", and "dhara" meaning "flow". Shirodhara treatments feature the steady streaming of warm, fragrant oil onto the "third eye" on your forehead, followed by scalp massage, and - depending on the treatment - by other body massage as well. Please Purchase Online  http://ayurvedasbeautycare.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/beauty-care-of-modern-life-shirodhara-is-best-method-491545.html

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Amavata (rheumatoid Arthritis): an Ayurvedic Approach & Cure
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a Joint Disorder, which affects Multiple Joints at various sites.  It is described as  “Amavata”  in Ayurveda. The word ‘Ama’ means Toxic material generated as a un wholesome product in the body due to weakening of digestive fire. This ‘Ama’ is then carried by ‘Vayu’ and travels throughout the body and accumulates in the joints, which is the seat of ‘Kapha’. As this process continuous, all the Joints are gradually affected, which results in Severe Pain and Swelling in the Joints. When ‘Pitta’ also gets aggravated, it causes Burning Sensation around the Joints.

 General Clinical Features: 
 “Angamardaaruchistrushna alasyam gouravam jwara!  
 Apaka sunyatanganam amavathasya lakshnam!!”      
      
 ·         Body Pains
 ·         Lack of Taste
 ·         Thirst
 ·         General Weakness
 ·         Feeling of Heaviness
 ·         Fever
 ·         Morning stiffness of the Joints
 ·         Pain and swelling in the affected parts
 ·         Shifting of pain in Joints
 ·         Constipation
 ·         Indigestion
  
Ayurvedic Management of Amavata: 
a. Ahara Chikitsa or Dietary regimen: 
One should take Old Rice, Butter Milk, Wet Ginger, Garlic, Wheat, Bitter gourd and Horse Gram in his diet. Avoid consumption of Dairy products, Sweets, Oily foods, Chinese Food, Junk and Fast Foods, Salty and Sour Foods, Jaggery, Black Gram, Fish, Cold Drinks and Ice Creams.
 
b. Vihara Chikitsa or Life Style Modifications:  
One should avoid Cold Breeze and Excessive Wind. Bathing with cold water should be strictly avoided. Warm water bath is recommended. It is also advisable to take a gentle walk after consumption of food. Also it is good to avoid water intake immediately after consuming food.

c. Aushadha Chikitsa or Drug Therapy: 
‘Guggulu’ is the most effective drug in treating ‘Amavata’. Also herbal preparations of Ashwagandha, Haritaki, Rasna, Sunthi, Pippai and Trivrut are helpful in ‘Amavata’. Administration of caster oil is also very effective in this disease. The mentioned drugs should be taken only after consulting a Qualified Ayurvedic Physician.

d. Panchakarma Chikitsa or Detoxification Procedures: 
 This is a purification procedure. By taking this Therapy Toxins are eliminated from the body. The course is as follows:

1. Snehana: 
Internal and external oleation to the body / affected parts is given as a preliminary process.

2. Swedana:
 This is done by application of steam on the affected parts. It helps in reducing inflammatory conditions in the body. Especially in ‘Amavata’ fomentation with sand bag is recommended. Sankara Sweda is also very helpful. In chronic cases Shali shasthika pinda sweda is recommended.

3. Virechana Karma:
 It is a type of Purgation which is induced by oral intake or herbal compound preparations. By the process of Virechana, the ‘Ama’ is eliminated from the body. Also the bowel is cleansed, which results in proper absorption and assimilation of the medicinal preparations properly.

4. Vasthi karma:
This is done by administration of herbal enema. It is helpful in chronic cases. Kashaya Vasthi, Anuvasana Vasthi and Matra Vasthi etc are planned according to the Patient’s  requirement and necessity.
 
Ayurvedic Treatment for  Amavata  lasts for  14    to    28  days depending upon the severity of the disease, patient’s Constitution (Prakruthi).  
  
Care of Joints in ‘Amavata’
 
Physical activities causing pain in the joints should be avoided. 2. Staying in one position for too long should be avoided. 3. Good posture of the Joints should be maintained. 4. One should sleep on a firm mattress or bed. 5. Weight should be controlled as excess of weight adds stress to the joints. 6. Exercise is very important to keep the joints in working condition.
 
Preventive aspects: 

It is always better to take Preventive Measures before a disease affects us. In order to prevent ‘Amavata’ care should be taken to avoid Sedentary Habits. Also one should perform Daily Exercises or Yoga. One should also avoid Heavy, Viscous and Incompatible foods. Instead one should take High-fibre and Low Fat Diet.  Care should also be taken to keep our Digestive Fire intact, as the case of all diseases is the weakening of digestive fire. 
 
The aim of our life is attainment of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. But it is possible only if we stay Healthy. So let us make a promise, to stay Healthy by following a Healthy Diet and Life Style as described in ‘Ayurveda’ - The Science & Art of Life.  
 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/amavata-rheumatoid-arthritis-an-ayurvedic-approach-cure-dr-kranthi-hyd-456219.html

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Shirodhara Makes the Deep Relaxation
Author: swornalakshmi

Shirodhara or Shiro dhara is a method of relieving stress and avoid many mental illnesses. Stress is a common problem in modern world, with demands from society and profession.

Shiro means head and dhara is an unbroken flow. Shirodhara is the continuous flow of medicated oil through the head. Sesame oil is used in most parts of India, while coconut oil is the main base in Kerala. However there are also other oil based chosen based on the different requirements of the person. The patient will be laid on a special wooden plank on his or her back. A tiny stream of oil continuously oozes out of a vessel with a central hole. The oil falls on the center of the forehead of the person. The oil will be comfortably warm and the process continues for 30 to 45 minutes. The person experiences unexplainable relaxation and brightness.

Shirodhara often comes after full body oil massage. The environment that the practitioner prepares for the therapy will also be free of any noise and most suited for deep relaxation, which provides complete rest to mind. It allows one to overcome stress related conditions like insomnia, anxiety, chronic headaches, hypertension and asthma. It also strengthens hair and skin of the head.

Shirodhara brings in several benefits including improved blood circulation to the brain, provides nourishments to hair and scalp, reduces nervous tension, and helps in sound sleep. It improves the functioning of sense organs and central nervous system. Shirodhara also improves your mood and fights depression. Please Purchase Online  http://ayurvedasbeautycare.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/shirodhara-makes-the-deep-relaxation-469560.html

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“meru Chikitsa” – Ancient Ayurvedic Spinal Care
Author: dr r kranthi vardhan

What is meru dandam? What is its significance? 

The Spine, Meru Dandam, in Ayurveda is a remarkable combination of strong bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, large muscles and highly sensitive nerves. It is designed to be incredibly strong, protecting the highly sensitive nerve roots, yet highly flexible, providing for mobility on many different planes. Most of us take this juxtaposition of strength, structure and flexibility for granted in our everyday lives—until something goes wrong. Once we're in pain, we're driven to know what's wrong and what it will take to relieve the pain and prevent a recurrence.

 

Why are we usually subjected to neck & back pains?

This spine has a natural S shaped curvature and has two weak portions one at the cervical and the other at the lumbar regions. Any excess pressure in these areas increases the incidence of severe spinal damage. The first symptom to be observed usually is the neck and the back pain followed by the weakness, numbness, radiating pain, discomfort and finally disability. 

What are the structures of the spine that produce neck & back pain? 

Many different structures in the spine are capable of producing back pain or neck pain, including:

·    The large nerve roots that go to the legs and arms may be irritated 

·    The smaller nerves that innervate the spine may be irritated 

·    The large paired back muscles may be strained 

·    The bones, ligaments or joints themselves may be injured

·    The disc space itself can be a source of pain 

What are the causes of spinal damage? 

Irregular spinal postures, lifting heavy weights, increased car and motor driving, using dangerously uncomfortable chairs, stress, age, obesity etc. increases the pressure in these sensitive structures of the spine which ultimately leads to Cervical Spondilitis, Slip Disc- in the cervical region & Lumbar Spondilitis, Sciatica, Disc Prolapse, Degenerative Disc- in the lumbar regions and Osteoporosis in general. 

Where can you get the solution for your spinal problem? 

Whether your back is tender, or you have a 'slipped' disc, or you wake up with a stiff neck, or any damage on to the spine; Ayurveda has answers for you!

What is Ayurveda? 

Ayurveda, the science and art of life, is the oldest system of Indian medicine. It is not only the ancient science of preventative health & healing but also a philosophy of living. Ayurveda mainly cures by removing the root cause of the disease. 

What is meru chikitsa? 

Ayurveda deals almost in all branches of medical science. ‘meru chikitsa’ is one of them, that has been developed thousands of years ago. The term “meru chikitsa”  (meru means ‘Spine’, therapy is ‘application’) places chief emphasis upon the Spine and its associated structures thus maintaining proper health of an individual. 

Meru chikitsa-The Spinal Care is an ancient ayurvedic therapy based on the vedic principles & philosophy. This natural healing therapy deals with spine proper and its nerves, muscles, joints and blood & lymphatic channels. Authorities in the field believe that the body is co-ordinated by three different humors or energy forces i.e.; Vata, pitta and kapha. This therapy helps in restoring and balancing the energy forces of the body that regulates the physiological equilibrium to perform better function of the body mind soul & the senses.

How does meru chikitsa work? 

Meru chikitsa is a complete system of healing, incorporating mechanical, psychological, bio-force, and biochemical aspects of the spine along with the nerves. It discovers the root cause of the disease and treats the same in an integrated manner. The disorder of the bodily organs causes an imbalance in the biochemical forces leading to the development of diseases. These therapies activates or deactivates the organs, through pressure or massage on the nerve channels to stimulate or depress the blood, & other body fluids and the nerve currents so as to restoring the balance and harmony of the body thus helping the body regain its equilibrium. 

What happens in the session? 

The initial consultation involves taking the total health history of the patient. A visual analyze is carried out by examining the eyes, color of the tongue, nails, skin, etc. Once the verbal and visual analyze are completed, further investigation involves examining the tender points (marma points). Focusing on these marma points the ayurvedic physician discovers the malfunctioning of the organs. Based on these investigations, a final picture is drawn about the patient's condition in relation to the three biochemical forces; vata pitta kapha. 

The dis-alignment of spinal vertebrae and musculo skeletal system is mainly concentrated and special attention is paid to the patient's food habits and life style. With full history and investigation the ayurvedic physician determines the amount of treatment required. Usually the treatment period is 7/14/21/28 days according to the severity of the disease.

What therapeutic methods are applied? 

The treatment usually involves a series of ABHYANGAM, SWEDAM, NASYAM, ELAKIZHI, NAVARAKIZHI, KATI VASTHI, KASHAYA VASTHI & ANUVASANA VASTHI etc. Marma chikitsa along with Vatahara chikitsa and Brumhana chikitsa are given utmost importance. 

What are the applications? 

It is used as a therapy for chronic as well as acute diseases of the spine. It does not merely concentrate on particular malfunctioning of a system or disease, but deals broadly with the whole body especially the spine. 

What Ayurveda / meru chikitsa does is... 

·    Apply scientific and holistic approaches to treatment. 

·    Assist the body (mind-body-spirit) in restoring its natural equilibrium, thus enabling self healing. 

·    Treat the whole human system and not only the apparent illness.

 ·    Treat with no side effects. 

·    Provide immediate healing of some ailments, whereas others may need relatively longer duration. 

·    Advocates a Natural way of living as the preferred way of living.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/meru-chikitsa-ancient-ayurvedic-spinal-care-hyd-376408.html

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Psoriasis
by Dr. Savitha Suri
Psoriasis is a prolonged inflammation of skin. The causes of psoriasis are still unclear. This condition is neither infectious (Does not spread from one person to another) nor does it affect the general health. It affects both the genders and may start at any age. 
Psoriasis is quite common, affecting around two per cent of the population, although people with very mild symptoms may not be aware they have it. Psoriasis can begin at any age but usually starts either around the age of 20 or between 50 and 60.
Causes of Psoriasis
As said earlier according to modern medical science the causes of psoriasis are unknown. But the following factors can trigger psoriasis.
1.Heredity - If one parent is affected then there is 15% of chances for the child to suffer from psoriasis. If both the parents are affected then the possibility of child getting the psoriasis is 60%.
2.Throat infections trigger psoriasis.
3.Trauma or hurt on skin like cuts, bruises or burns may cause psoriasis.
4.Some medicines or skin irritants initiate psoriasis.
5.Smoking and alcohol are other two factors which activate psoriasis.
6.Mental stress or psychological trauma may also set off psoriasis
What does Ayurveda say about Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is caused by vitiation of vata and kapha dosha. The vitiated doshas affect the skin and blood tissues. They also influence water element of the affected region on skin. Thus the skin which is influenced by affected doshas becomes discolored (white or copper colored), scaly and thin.
Causes of vitiation of Doshas
1. Consuming opposite foods.
2. Controlling natural urges.
3. Exposure to severe climatic conditions
4. consuming food that are too salty, too sour and/or too heavy for digestion.
5. Sleeping during the afternoon.
6. Taking bath in cold water immediately after physical exertion.
7. Mental stress.
Changes that occur on skin during psoriasis
It takes 27 days for skin to replace itself with new mature skin cells. But the regions of skin affected by psoriasis the skin replace itself within 3-4 days with plenty of immature skin cells forming thick psoriatic patches.
According to Ayurveda principles the vitiated vata dries the water element of skin and also initiate rapid growth of skin tissue. The vitiated Kapha dosha causes itching on the affected skin. The blood which is affected by vata and kapha adversely influences healing process.
Self-care for psoriasis
• Avoid all factors which trigger psoriasis.
• Reduce stress levels through meditation and Yoga .
• Do not prick, peel or scratch skin. This may trigger psoriasis.
• After bath or wash pat dry the skin. Do not rub the towel vigorously on skin.
• Avoid soap. Instead use gram flour (besan flour) as soap dries the skin.
• After washing, pat the skin dry, don't irritate it by rubbing vigorously.
• Apply moisturizing creams liberally on affected areas after
• Opt for cotton clothes over synthetic ones.
Ayurvedic tips for Psoriasis
1. Avoid consuming opposite foods.
2. Do not control natural urges like vomiting, urination, bowel emptying etc.
3. Do not take cold water bath immediately after an heavy work out, traveling,
    a long walk etc.
4. Take care not to consume foods which cause indigestion.
5. Absolutely do not eat too much of salty, sour or acidic foods.
6. Avoid sleeping in afternoons.
7. Say no to radish, urad dal, sesame, jaggery (gur), curds, fish and other
    sour foods.
8. Always apply besan flour instead of soap.
9. Smear herbal balm which is infused with vata and kapha balancing herbs.

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Keep Back Pain at Bay
by Dr. Savitha Suri
Introduction
Back pain is the most common complaint among adults under 45. Back pain brings their activities to a complete halt and intervenes in the progress of their career. Researchers say that it is really a challenge to a physician to find out the true cause of back pain.
Here is a quick take on the anatomy of the human back. Our body depends on the spinal column for structural stability and mobility. We twist, bend and flex with the help of spinal column. The spinal column is made up of 24 vertebrae, 7 in the neck (the cervical vertebrae), 12 in the thorax (the thoracic vertebrae), and 5 in the lower back (the lumbar vertebrae). The sacrum, located just below the lumbar vertebrae, consists of 5 fused vertebrae. The tailbone, or coccyx, with its 3 to 5 fused vertebrae, lies just beneath the sacrum. These vertebrae are placed one on another from skull to pelvis. Spongy discs are present in between vertebrae .The spinal column is tightly wrapped by muscles and ligaments.
The spinal cord is enclosed within vertebral canal which is formed by alignment of vertebrae.
Acharya sushruta describes anatomy of spinal column as follows.
Prushte trimshat -
The number of back bones are 30 (Cervical-7 , Thoracic – 12, Lumbar- 5, vertebrae fused in sacrum -5 , coccyx -1 ). While describing the joints in spinal column it has been said as “Chaturvimshatihi prishta vamshe“. This means there are 24 joints in spinal column.
Maamsaanyatra nibaddhani siraabhihi snaayubhistatha. |
Asthinyaalambanam kritwaa ||
The ligaments and tendons hold the bones and muscles together.
Causes for back ache
Bones and thighs are mainly occupied by Vata . Vata controls and directs the body movements. Back pain occurs when vata in this region gets aggravated due to unwise physical activities (mithya yoga of karma), exaggerated physical activities (Ati yoga of karma ) or less physical activities (hina yoga of karma).
1.Back ache usually arises from spasm of muscles that support our spine. The muscles supporting spine go into spasm when we lift things unwisely, bending over too sharply, sitting in a unsuitable chair, etc. These type of movements are called as “Mithyaa yoga of karma or action ” in Ayurveda.
2.Back pain can be triggered when we sneeze, climb into a car, or bend down to pick up the newspaper.
3.Osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, viral infection, bladder or kidney infection, gynecological problems in women, tumors and trauma may also cause back pain.
4.Lack of motion or hina yoga of karma and bad posture may affect us when we sit or stand for long periods of time. On the other hand repetitive motion or Ati yoga of karma like too much of bending, lifting or twisting also affects our back.
Other potential causes for back ache are:
Overweight
Wearing high heeled shoes
Carrying heavy weight
The vitiated vata causes stiffness of joints, pain and limits the movements of back.
Solutions for back pain
1.Stay calm.
2.A complete bed rest for 24 - 48 hrs relieves back pain in most of the instances. Walk a little every few hours to keep the blood flowing and the muscles toned.
3.Applying vata balancing oil like ksheerabala oil on affected region and Naadi sweda (mild steam bath on affected area ) of affected region relives the pain quickly.
See your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
1.If you are above 50 and sudden onset of severe pain or pain localized to spine
2.Pain due to recent fall or trauma.
3.Pain in hip and leg.
4.Back pain unrelated to posture.
5.Bowel or bladder control problems.
6.Numbness in the groin or rectal area.
7.Extreme weakness in legs.
8.Unsteadiness while walking
9.Fever or weight loss accompanying the pain.
10.Pain that does not lessen over time even after rest
Prevention of back pain
1.Keep the muscles well conditioned by improving sitting, standing, stretching postures. Well-conditioned muscles are less susceptible to injury.
2.Never bend at the waist or stoop to pick up an object. Instead, lower the body to the level of the object by bending the knees. Grasp the item, hold it close to the body, and raise yourself with your legs while keeping your back straight.
3.Do not lift very heavy objects.
4.Whenever possible, prop yourself up.
5.Lean against a wall or pillar while waiting for a bus or standing in line at the bank.
6.Keep footstools around the house. Alternatively prop up one leg on stool while doing standing chores.
7.Sleep on a firm mattress and find a comfortable position.
8.Wear low-heeled shoes.
9.Standing straight will do wonders for your back.
10.Sit on a comfortable chair that supports the curve of lower back.
11.While sitting for long hours rest feet on a low stool so that knees are above hips.
12.Do not sit or stand in one position for a very long time. Get up periodically and walk for a while.
13.Avoid activities which hurt back.
14.Do not sit in same position for long hours. It may prove hazardous to back. Take break in between and move around.
15.Avoid becoming overweight. Overweight increases the risk of back pain.
Tips for software professionals to avoid back pain
1.Select a correct chair, with a relatively straight back and good lower back support. If the chair doesn't offer lower back support, keep a rolled up towel or cushion to support the back.
2.Correctly position the chair, keyboard, and monitor. Feet should be on the floor, with knees at hip level; forearms should form a right angle with upper arms; and the computer terminal should be at eye level.
3.Adopt a relaxed, upright working posture and allow the chair to support.
4.Avoid slouching forward or leaning back too far.
5.When you are at work stand up, walk around, stretch forward, backward, and side to side once in 30 minutes.
6.Increased stress and strain enhances the chances of back pain. Hence remember to relax! Yoga and meditation are best techniques to relax
7.Eat healthy food which is rich in fiber. Avoid sweets, oil, soft drinks and overeating to reduce the chances of weight gain.
8.Sex should be avoided during acute stage of back pain as it exaggerates the condition.



Ayurvedic Home remedy for backacheIngredients
Nirgundi leaves (Hindi - samhaalu) (Botany- Vitex negundo) (English - Five leaved chaste) and Karanja leaves ( Hindi - Ditauri) (Botany - Pongamia pinnata) (English - Indian beech).Collect fresh leaves of Nirgundi and Karanja. Tie them in a thin cotton cloth to form a big ball . Boil this leaves' ball in water and when it is tolerably hot apply this on affected part. When the leaves become cold reheat them by putting the leaves' ball in boiling water. After half an hour take out the leaves from ball , grind them to a paste and bind it on affected area.    

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Ayurvedic Treatment of Arthritis (Painful Joints)"
Dr. Shashikant Patwardhan
Arthritis is one of the most common ailment for which Ayurvedic help is being sought these days.

Disease process in Arthritis
According to Ayurveda mostly pains are caused by the aggravation of vata (air) dosha. Arthritis is a condition which is caused by accumulation of ama and aggravation of vata. (Ama is a toxic by-product of improper digestion.) This ama circulates in the whole body and deposits or gets collected at the sites which are weaker. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, it results in a disease called amavata. This amavata is arthritis.
Remedies
As described above ama and vata are the main causes, so efforts should be made to digest ama and to reduce the vata. The digestion should be improved so that no further ama is produced. Efforts should be made to relieve the pain and inflammation. This is the line of treatment according to Ayurveda.
Fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama. The fasting be complete or partial depending on the strength of the person, season and place. Two tea spoons of lemon juice mixed in 250 ml. of warm water and a tea spoon of honey is good to take twice a day -morning and evening.
Body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain. The joints affected by pain can be massaged for longer time.
Light exercise is useful but you must know your limits: as a general rule if any exercise, including walking, causes pain after one hour, you have crossed your limit.
Liberal intake of orange juice or sweet limejuice or Vitamin C enhances the efficacy of any anti rheumatic drug, since Vitamin C can reduce skeletal pain.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. If available it can be taken in one to gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
Contra-indications 3: Not recommended for people with kidney disease or acute rashes.

Diet and Regimen
Foods which are easily digestible and do not make wind or gas are good. Vegetable juices and soups are good. Juices of carrot, beat root and cucumber mixed together is also beneficial. Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt is also good. Fruits like apples, oranges, grapes and papaya can be taken. Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin are good. Cooking with spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric is also helps a lot.
Avoid eating hot, spicy and fried foods, sweets, wind forming foods like cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes should be prohibited. Avoid taking too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate and cocoa, excessive smoking
Sleeping during day time, staying up late in the night and mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief etc., should be given up. Regular physical exercise and every day massage with oil, once or twice a week, should form an important part of life style.        
–

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Ayurvedic Treatment of Fibromyalgia (CFS) Dr. Shashikant Patwardhan

Fibromyalgia is a recently recognized disorder that is regarded as a chronic condition associated with the experience of non-inflammatory pain and tenderness in muscles, ligaments, joints and fatigue.  Fibromyalgia is a relatively common condition, estimated to affect  about four percent of the general population. It is very similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); Only point of difference is presence of musculoskeletal pain in Fibromyalgia and that of fatigue in CFS. Low level of Serotonin is considered to be most important biochemical criteria. The primary treatment goals should include raise serotonin levels, improve sleep quality, and assure adequate magnesium levels.
Symptoms
Generalized aches or stiffness at many sites for more than three months.
Generalized fatigue
Chronic headache including migraines
Sleep disorder, particularly timings of cycles
Neuronal and psychological complaints
Swelling
Numbness/ tingling sensations
Ayurvedic View
It can be described as 'Mansa Dhatugat and Mansavrut Vata'.  Fibromyalgia is perceived as a Vata imbalance. Vata is the main imbalance and aggravated Vata destabilizes the nervous system and can create hypersensitivity leading to pain and tenderness. Accumulation of Ama (toxins) and shrotorodha are also contributory factors.

Ayurvedic Approach of Fibromyalgia and CFS Treatment

The aggravation of Vata dosha and accumulation of Ama (toxins) are the primary causes and should be treated mainly. Associated weak digestion, constipation, and effects of chronic stress should also be tackled.

Panchakarma Therapy
Pre-purification Measures namely 'snehan' and 'swedan' are very useful to balance 'Vata' and to loosen the toxins. Snehan is the Herbalized Oil Massage. This oil is applied to the entire body with a particular type of massage. Swedan is sudation or sweating and is given immediately following the snehan. An herbal concoction may be added to the steam to further enhancement of effect. Daily herbalized oil massage also provides a deeply soothing and balancing  effect to the entire nervous system. The motion of massage creates heat  and friction which enhances circulation and helps cleanse the areas of  chemical impurities that could be aggravating and hyper-sensitizing nerve tissues.
Diet and Nutrition

Following is the diet suggested for the patients suffering form Fibromyalgia and CFS
Vegetable juices and soups
Coconut water and Coconut milk
Juice of carrot, Cucumber, Beetroot
Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin
Spices like cumin, coriander, ginger asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric.
Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt
Khichadi (recipe made by cooking rice and mung dal, 1:1 or 1:2 proportion)
The patient of Fibromyalgia and CFS should avoid the following
Eating hot, spicy and fried foods, sweets, foods like brinjal, cabbage, Cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes. Too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate, cocoa. Sleeping during the day and staying up late at night  Mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief.
Yoga for Stress Management and Improved Mental and Emotional Function
It is well documented that fibromyalgia is often worsened by heightened stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. There are hormonal changes and other biochemical responses to stress that can aggravate the nervous system, and the immune response. The sleep disturbance that is often created by fibromyalgia symptoms increases fatigue which in turn increases one's susceptibility to stress which in turn aggravates the fibromyalgia condition.
Meditation,Yoga, Pranayama and studying of spiritual philosophy are all recommended for supporting personal healing and relaxation of the mind. Efforts should be made to increase the Sattvic quality of mind.
Yogasana : Various stretching exercises are known to have a positive effect on fibromyalgia. Regular practicing of sets of different postures are helpful in creating a healthy flexibility throughout the body. Yogic breathing practices will also create a state of restful alertness in mind and body. Progressive deep relaxation, i.e., shavasana (Corpse posture) brings about a relaxed state of mind which prepares the individual for meditation.

Lifestyle and Daily Routine
One of the most important factors for balancing Vata and maintaining stability in the nervous system is to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms. When we eat, sleep and exercise in constantly fluctuating and disturbing patterns, the body loses its natural balancing cycles. Therefore regularity in our daily routine can be extremely effective in reducing Vata imbalances.

Ayurvedic Herbs
Decoction of the roots of ten herbs (Dashamularishtam) should be given in
the dose of 30 ml., twice daily.
Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound 'Triphala choorna' is recommended
to cleanse the colon.
Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with warm water helps to reduce pain
and inflammation in Fibromyalgia. Dosage: twice a day
Garlic is useful for detoxification and to enhance immune system function.
Guggul is a very helpful herb for relief of pain.
Licorice root supports the glandular system and acts in the body like cortisone,
but without the harmful side-effects. Caution: If overused, licorice can elevate
blood pressure. Do not use this herb on a daily basis for more than seven
days in a row. Avoid it if you have high blood pressure
Ginger Tea. Ginger is a good alternative to aspirin to relieve minor aches and
pains. Steep 1 teaspoon of the grated root in 8 ounces of hot water for 10 minutes.
Strain. Add honey for taste, if you like. Alternatively, take 1 to 2 Grams of
powdered ginger a day with food.
Generic preparations available in market such as Dashamularishtam, Triphala guggul,
Maharasnadi Kwath, Vata Vidhwans Rasa etc. can be taken under the guidance of a ayurvedic physician.  

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Five Ayurvedic Suggestions for Attaining Your Ideal Weight Naturally
Shreelata Suresh
One
Don't practice deprivation, whether it's fasting or skipping meals or denying your cravings--it's the quickest way to start a vicious cycle of weight gain. Instead, eat three meals a day--a small breakfast and dinner and a more hearty lunch, and add a healthy mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack if you feel hungry. Ayurveda does recommend portion control though--the quantity of food you consume at a meal should be no more than what you can hold in your two cupped palms, and you should get up from the table before you feel satiated and completely full.

The key to weight management is effectively metabolizing what you eat, eliminating wastes efficiently and letting the digestion system get a break between meals. Fasting will only further disrupt your metabolism by not giving it anything to "work on" on the days you fast. Same with skipping meals – if your digestive system does not get something to work on at around the same times each day, it will not function at peak efficiency when you do eat. And the way to handle cravings is to gradually educate your taste buds to desire only what is good for you, by actively choosing more foods that are right for you each day and eliminating those that are not. Denying cravings only leads to binges when your body can't take it any more.

Two
Work with your digestion rhythms, not against them. Many of us today follow an eating pattern that isn't healthy: we skip breakfast, eat a hurried lunch at our workstation or on the go, and then eat a large dinner, often too close to bedtime.

According to Ayurveda, your digestive agni – the "fire" in your stomach that cooks the foods you eat and makes them into rasa, the nutritional essence that builds healthy cells and tissues, is most active around noon. That's why Ayurvedic teachings recommend that the largest or heaviest meal of the day be lunch. A typical Ayurvedic vegetarian lunch includes two or three servings of cooked veggies, a lentil dish, a whole grain, a chutney (a relish made with spices and fruits or vegetables), and lassi, a beverage made by blending fresh yogurt and pure water. Breakfast and dinner should consist of more easily digested foods. For breakfast, eat a helping of sweet juicy fruit, and warm cooked cereal. For dinner, eat light one-dish meals, or vegetable or lentil soups. A small handful of soaked and blanched almonds or walnuts makes a nutritious mid-morning or afternoon snack. If you follow this meal pattern, your digestion is generally never taxed beyond its capacity, and your body efficiently metabolizes the food you eat.

Three
Keep your internal machinery clean. You take your car in for an engine oil change periodically, you sharpen your lawnmower blades at the start of each growing season, you give your house a good spring cleaning each year…shouldn't you be giving the systems of your body at least a similar degree of attention?

It's true that your body is built to eliminate wastes on its own, but it may need a little help occasionally. The cleaner you keep your insides, the more efficiently your digestion works to deliver nutrition to the cells and tissues and move toxins out of the body. If toxins build up in the body, all the internal systems become less efficient, and one effect can be that you put on weight and feel heavy and lethargic even though you are eating right. Ayurveda recommends herbal formulations such as Triphala to gently aid the process of internal cleansing.

Four
Exercise. The original Ayurvedic texts were written long before the wheel or television came around to make couch potatoes of many of us. Walking was a necessity, so everyone got lots of exercise each day. Today we need to consciously work out to incorporate the same level of activity into our daily routine.

Enjoy your exercise activity and it will be easier to stick to it. Also, remember that all of us don't benefit from the same amount or type of exercise. Choose your exercise activity according to your natural constitution / build and your tendency to gain weight. While walking is universally beneficial, Pitta persons might also gravitate towards water sports while Kapha individuals need to add something really energetic such as racquetball.

Five
Get enough sleep each night. Research studies have connected sleep deprivation to obesity as well as to poor eating habits, a sluggish metabolism and depression, all of which in turn also contribute to weight gain. Ayurvedic healers recognized this connection between sleep and digestion long ago, hence the Ayurvedic ideal daily routine, which urges you to be in bed before 10 p.m. and wake up before 6 a.m. for the best quality and quantity of sleep.

Eating a lighter meal at night, and finishing the meal at least two hours before you go to bed will help you fall asleep quicker. Manage your work and R&R time so you don't have to stay up late to meet work deadlines or to "wind down" with late night T.V. To help your physiology adapt to higher levels of stress or more demands on your body and mind, take Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is known for its adaptogenic capability and as a tonic for the nervous system.   

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Hair and Scalp Massage
The Ayurvedic Secret for Gorgeous Hair– Shreelata Suresh
According to Ayurveda, a healthy beautiful head of hair requires an ongoing care routine that starts with nourishment. Why wait until you experience hair problems? As with your skin, start taking care of it now, and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come.
Massaging the scalp and hair with warm oil, preferably infused with hair-friendly herbs, is the best way to nourish the scalp and hair topically. Not only does the massage work wonders for your hair, but it also relaxes the mind and nervous system. The oil for the massage can be customized by hair and body type. If your hair is thin, dry and frizzy and prone to split-ends, you have Vata hair. If you have fine hair prone to premature thinning or graying, you are Pitta-predominant. If you are predominantly Kapha, your hair will tend to be thick and oily.
The Benefits

A warm oil massage, done at least once a week (if you have more Vata in your make-up, you would want to try to do it two to three times a week), has the following benefits:
It lubricates and conditions the scalp, helping to prevent flakes and dry scalp without the use of harsh chemical shampoos.
It helps enhance blood circulation in the head and neck area. When the scalp is “tight” from stress, circulation and hair growth are impeded.
It helps relax the scalp and increase pliability.
It helps strengthen the roots of the hair and nourishes the hair-shafts, promoting new hair growth and strengthening current hair.
It helps soften and condition the hair, making it more manageable.
It spreads the natural oils of the hair, increasing hair luster and vibrancy.
It helps protect hair from the damaging effects of the sun and harsh weather by improving resiliency over time.
It is replenishing and rejuvenating for dry, damaged hair, and helps prevent excessive brittleness and split-ends.
It helps pacify Vata dosha. Especially when enriched with Vata-pacifying herbs, a warm oil hair and scalp massage can be wonderfully relaxing for the mind and nervous system.
When fortified with cooling, Pitta-pacifying herbs, the hair and scalp massage can help balance Pitta dosha and help prevent Pitta-related problems such as premature graying or thinning of hair. It also helps reduce body heat in general, especially if you have been up late a few nights or your eyes are smarting from too much close work on the computer or reading. A Pitta-pacifying massage also helps promote emotional balance.
The massage helps relax the muscles in the neck area.
The hair and scalp massage can help promote sound sleep at night.
Choosing a Massage Oil
If you are Vata-predominant, choose almond oil or sesame oil as the base oil. Both of these oils are very nourishing for the scalp and hair and help reduce stiffness and tightness in the scalp.
For Pitta persons, cooling coconut oil is the ideal choice. Because coconut is very Pitta-pacifying, coconut oil massage can retard hair problems such as thinning and premature graying that are associated with an aggravated Pitta dosha.
If you are Kapha-predominant, sesame or olive oil are good choices. Olive oil has purifying properties that help keep pores open.
While massaging with a dosha-appropriate base oil can be helpful, Ayurvedic oils designed for hair and scalp massage typically include one or more hair-friendly herbs to augment the benefit of the massage. Traditionally, these herbs are slow-cooked with the oil, and the oil is then strained and ready for use.
Brahmi helps calm the mind and nervous system, pacifies Vata and is very nourishing for the hair. It helps promote hair thickness and body. Amalaki is cooling, nourishing and purifying all at the same time, so it is wonderful for all types of hair. It is especially beneficial for Pitta-predominant people because it pacifies Pitta and helps ward off premature thinning and graying of hair. It also helps prevent dry scalp and flakes. Bhringaraj, which translates to “king of tresses,” is also Pitta-pacifying and very nourishing for the hair. Hibiscus is cooling and helps maintain hair color and vitality. Neem is good for Kapha hair; it has purifying and cleansing properties. Rosemary and Lavender are excellent for all types of hair. Rosemary helps stimulate hair follicles and promotes growth, helps retard premature thinning and graying, and soothes and conditions the scalp. Lavender stimulates hair growth, balances oil production and replenishes the hair and scalp. Jasmine helps alleviate stress.
How to Do the Scalp and Hair Self-Massage
Pour some oil into a bowl and warm the oil by placing the bowl in some hot water. The oil should be warm but comfortable to the touch.
Using the pads of your fingers, apply the oil little by little to different parts of your scalp, parting your hair as needed. Also work some oil along the length of your hair. Then, using the pads of your fingers, work the oil into your scalp, using circular motions. Slow, deliberate movements are relaxing while steady but vigorous movement helps enhance energy and circulation. Cover your entire scalp, all the way down the sides to your ears and at the back to your neck. Leave the oil on for at least 30-60 minutes, longer if you can. If you like, you can dip a towel in hot water, wring it out, and wrap it around your head after your massage for added conditioning and softening of hair. You can even leave the oil on overnight—place a thick towel over your pillow to protect your linens. Shampoo out with a gentle, natural shampoo.   

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Hair and Scalp Massage
The Ayurvedic Secret for Gorgeous Hair
According to Ayurveda, a healthy beautiful head of hair requires an ongoing care routine that starts with nourishment. Why wait until you experience hair problems? As with your skin, start taking care of it now, and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come.
Massaging the scalp and hair with warm oil, preferably infused with hair-friendly herbs, is the best way to nourish the scalp and hair topically. Not only does the massage work wonders for your hair, but it also relaxes the mind and nervous system. The oil for the massage can be customized by hair and body type. If your hair is thin, dry and frizzy and prone to split-ends, you have Vata hair. If you have fine hair prone to premature thinning or graying, you are Pitta-predominant. If you are predominantly Kapha, your hair will tend to be thick and oily.
The Benefits

A warm oil massage, done at least once a week (if you have more Vata in your make-up, you would want to try to do it two to three times a week), has the following benefits:
It lubricates and conditions the scalp, helping to prevent flakes and dry scalp without the use of harsh chemical shampoos.
It helps enhance blood circulation in the head and neck area. When the scalp is “tight” from stress, circulation and hair growth are impeded.
It helps relax the scalp and increase pliability.
It helps strengthen the roots of the hair and nourishes the hair-shafts, promoting new hair growth and strengthening current hair.
It helps soften and condition the hair, making it more manageable.
It spreads the natural oils of the hair, increasing hair luster and vibrancy.
It helps protect hair from the damaging effects of the sun and harsh weather by improving resiliency over time.
It is replenishing and rejuvenating for dry, damaged hair, and helps prevent excessive brittleness and split-ends.
It helps pacify Vata dosha. Especially when enriched with Vata-pacifying herbs, a warm oil hair and scalp massage can be wonderfully relaxing for the mind and nervous system.
When fortified with cooling, Pitta-pacifying herbs, the hair and scalp massage can help balance Pitta dosha and help prevent Pitta-related problems such as premature graying or thinning of hair. It also helps reduce body heat in general, especially if you have been up late a few nights or your eyes are smarting from too much close work on the computer or reading. A Pitta-pacifying massage also helps promote emotional balance.
The massage helps relax the muscles in the neck area.
The hair and scalp massage can help promote sound sleep at night.
Choosing a Massage Oil
If you are Vata-predominant, choose almond oil or sesame oil as the base oil. Both of these oils are very nourishing for the scalp and hair and help reduce stiffness and tightness in the scalp.
For Pitta persons, cooling coconut oil is the ideal choice. Because coconut is very Pitta-pacifying, coconut oil massage can retard hair problems such as thinning and premature graying that are associated with an aggravated Pitta dosha.
If you are Kapha-predominant, sesame or olive oil are good choices. Olive oil has purifying properties that help keep pores open.
While massaging with a dosha-appropriate base oil can be helpful, Ayurvedic oils designed for hair and scalp massage typically include one or more hair-friendly herbs to augment the benefit of the massage. Traditionally, these herbs are slow-cooked with the oil, and the oil is then strained and ready for use.
Brahmi helps calm the mind and nervous system, pacifies Vata and is very nourishing for the hair. It helps promote hair thickness and body. Amalaki is cooling, nourishing and purifying all at the same time, so it is wonderful for all types of hair. It is especially beneficial for Pitta-predominant people because it pacifies Pitta and helps ward off premature thinning and graying of hair. It also helps prevent dry scalp and flakes. Bhringaraj, which translates to “king of tresses,” is also Pitta-pacifying and very nourishing for the hair. Hibiscus is cooling and helps maintain hair color and vitality. Neem is good for Kapha hair; it has purifying and cleansing properties. Rosemary and Lavender are excellent for all types of hair. Rosemary helps stimulate hair follicles and promotes growth, helps retard premature thinning and graying, and soothes and conditions the scalp. Lavender stimulates hair growth, balances oil production and replenishes the hair and scalp. Jasmine helps alleviate stress.
How to Do the Scalp and Hair Self-Massage
Pour some oil into a bowl and warm the oil by placing the bowl in some hot water. The oil should be warm but comfortable to the touch.
Using the pads of your fingers, apply the oil little by little to different parts of your scalp, parting your hair as needed. Also work some oil along the length of your hair. Then, using the pads of your fingers, work the oil into your scalp, using circular motions. Slow, deliberate movements are relaxing while steady but vigorous movement helps enhance energy and circulation. Cover your entire scalp, all the way down the sides to your ears and at the back to your neck. Leave the oil on for at least 30-60 minutes, longer if you can. If you like, you can dip a towel in hot water, wring it out, and wrap it around your head after your massage for added conditioning and softening of hair. You can even leave the oil on overnight—place a thick towel over your pillow to protect your linens. Shampoo out with a gentle, natural shampoo.   
Shreelata Suresh

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Managing Mental Stress Overload with Ayurveda
by Shreelata Suresh
 
Each of us has a unique stress-tolerance quotient. Rather than attempt to banish stress from your life (is that even possible in today's world?), Ayurvedic healers recommend that you try and balance your stress-tolerance quotient so that you are able to manage stress instead of it taking over your life.
According to Ayurveda, mental distress occurs when the mind and the brain are taxed way beyond their normal ability to handle stress over a period of time.
Restoring balance requires addressing your diet and lifestyle along with balance-restoring herbs and therapies.
Signs of Mental Stress Overload

What are the signs of mental stress overload? If your answers to the following questions are mostly "yes," it is likely you have overtaxed your native ability to deal with stress:
Do you often feel worried, restless or anxious?
Do even small additions to your workload -- one additional deadline or one extra chore -- make you feel overwhelmed?
Do you toss and turn in your bed at bedtime, unable to fall asleep?
Do you always feel rushed; or feel that your days are too full?
Do you feel frazzled and find it difficult to focus?
Do you find yourself spacing out, more forgetful than normal?
Do you flit from task to task but end up not completing any?
Does anxiety make you breathe short and fast sometimes?
For many of us, this imbalance is all too common. Vata, the Ayurvedic physio-psychological factor that governs the mind, is thrown out of kilter with increased activity, movement or stimulation. Multi-tasking has become a way of life for us: grabbing a quick bite when trying to complete a project, drinking our morning beverage as we drive to work, talking on the phone while we put away the groceries. Even normally grounded persons can only go so long at a breakneck pace before they feel the effects of an imbalanced Vata. Daily commutes in rush-hour traffic, jobs that come with lots of travel, chauffeuring kids from one after-school activity to another: chopped up days leave many of us feeling fragmented and disoriented. And our senses are victims to a constant stream of stimulation all day long. The result? A cluttered, tired mind, frayed nerves and a brain that is wearing out, cell by weary cell.
Ways to Manage the Stress

Short of retiring to a hermitage in the Himalayas, how can you manage mental stress and stay vital and strong? Put our recommendations to the test--they can be incorporated into your regular day, no matter how full and hectic, and will help you stay balanced even in the midst of an urban jungle:
1.You know the rest of your day is going to be hectic, a stream of deadlines and mad dashes from here to there and back, so eeeeeease into your day with a soothing, grounding 10-minute wake-up routine. The key to success is to follow the routine faithfully every morning, whether you are at home or away.

Wake up at first light, and try and do that without a strident alarm or a DJ to jar you awake. Open your eyes and soak in the morning air and light. Sit up gently in bed, and take long, deep breaths for five minutes. Deep steady breathing will help you get off to a calm serene start. Stretch your arms out and above your head, then lower them gently. Do this a few times. Then, and only then, get out of bed. And when you do, head to your kitchen for a large mug of hot lemon water instead of to your computer to check your e-mail.
2.Sneak some serenity breaks into your regular day with choices that pacify.
3.Vata. When you can, choose silence over noise, soothing gentle music over talk radio, an evening stroll over television. Shut your office door or find a quiet spot at work or home after lunch for a few minutes of deep breathing and mental shut-off time.
Silence is a powerful mental rejuvenator, therefore seek it and savor it. Meditate for fifteen minutes every morning and evening when you can, or at least once a day. Meditation quiets mental static, recharges your body and brain, enhances focus, elevates mental performance and is an excellent way to pacify Vata. There are many types of meditation: find a good teacher and get started today.
4.Remember those five minutes of deep breathing you practiced upon awakening? Gradually acclimate yourself to breathing that way all the time. This may take a while, and you'll need to remind yourself often at the beginning, but the dividends will be rich once it becomes routine: rapid shallow breaths diminish prana – life force – and tire the mind and body. As you draw in a long breath, imagine the fresh burst of prana infusing every cell in your brain with new energy and life, and as you expel stale air out, imagine the tiredness and mental clutter emptying out. Proper breathing is free and takes little effort, and it's so important for health!
5.Woo sleep. Adequate quality sleep every night is essential to keep your mind alert, your memory keen, your attention span long and your focus laser-sharp. Diffuse the essential oil of lavender or a Vata-pacifying aroma blend in your bedroom one half-hour before you plan to retire. And retire early when you can--10 pm or earlier is ideal.

Your bedroom should be dark and silent, with a window open a crack for fresh air when the weather is not inclement. Drink a cup of warm milk an hour before bed (dairy or rice milk), spiced with a pinch of nutmeg if desired. Massaging your hands and feet with a small quantity of a light non-staining massage oil can be helpful. Once in bed, close your eyes and practice deep breathing for five minutes, letting go of whirling thoughts and worries and focusing your mind instead on a serene mental picture – a calm pond bathed in morning sunlight, a snow covered mountain range against a cloudless blue sky, gentle rain falling on green leaves, a deep velvety yellow rose in full bloom – as you consciously let go of Vata-aggravating mental clutter, you will drift off into sleep and awake refreshed and ready for another day.  

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Six Basic Steps to Health and Longevity

– Shreelata Suresh
The most basic of activities have a profound influence on our well-being. Yet it is these very basic activities that are often accorded second, third or last place in our daily lives. It is time to take a good hard look at our daily routines and re-learn the basics that are essential for health and longevity.
Breathe!
Breath is essential for survival, and breathing the first and most basic activity we learn. On average, we breathe 22,000 times a day, and how we breathe is crucial to good health and longevity. The deeper, slower and smoother we breathe, the more prana (life-force) we provide to the physiology. Deep breathing forces us to slow down and relax, helping over the long-term to fight the effects of stress. From the perspective of modern science as well, more oxygen to the blood, brain and muscles helps elevate energy levels and maximize mental performance. But because of sheer lack of attention to this most basic of functions and the multiple stressors we are bombarded with all day long, few of us remember to breathe deeply or correctly. We take quick shallow breaths hurriedly, often through the mouth instead of the nose, as we rush about our daily activities. It’s time to re-learn how to breathe for health and longevity.
Pranayama is a traditional series of breathing exercises often taught with yoga. If you can, find a good yoga instructor to instruct you in this ancient science of breathing for health. Even if you do not learn pranayama, stay attentive to how you breathe, and you will automatically start to breathe deeper and slower. It is also good to set aside some times during the day for aware breathing—as upon awaking, before going to bed, before workouts, before and during meditation etc. Deep breathing before bed can hasten sleep and improve the quality of sleep. Breathing deeper before exercising helps enhance energy levels and increase the output from your workouts. During times of pressure, sit down and breathe deeply before you respond.
Drink water
The elixir of life is the second most important ingredient for well-being, and again, one that is often overlooked by many of us. Water is essential not only for re-hydration but also forms the basis of good blood, dewy skin and healthy body tissues. Every cell in your body, as well as the space between cells, every tissue and every organ needs water. From the perspective of modern science as well, drinking about one-half of your weight in fluid ounces of water each day is essential for health. While Ayurvedic healers do not specify a blanket quantity, they recommend using your urine as a guide to whether you need to drink more water—if your urine is not clear or it looks too concentrated, you need more water. Inadequate water can cause headaches and grogginess and more severe dehydration has even more serious health repercussions. As we grow older, our body’s thirst signals become weaker, and it is then even more important to remember to drink enough water through the day.
While we need to drink a lot of water through the day, it’s important to sip the water over time rather than gulp down large quantities at a time. Do not drink too much water just before or during a meal. Ayurvedic healers also recommend spice teas—water boiled with therapeutic spices—for added health benefit. Also, remember that it’s important to drink water—milk, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks do not count. Fruits and vegetables with high water content, fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups suited to your constitution are helpful, but it is also important to drink just plain pure water each day. Make sure the water you drink is pure; have your drinking water tested for purity and use a good filter.
Eat Right
This is an exhortation Ayurvedic healers never tire of voicing over and over again. The right kind and quantity of food is so important that it is accorded an even higher status than medicine in Ayurveda. “Annaha brahmaha” goes the Ayurvedic saying—“Food is divine.” Eating inappropriate foods or following poor eating routines and habits not only have short-term repercussions on energy levels, mental clarity and emotional well-being, they also seriously damage health and well-being over the long-term sometimes causing irreversible damage to the physiology and shortening our life-span.
Ayurvedic healers do not have a “one-size-fits-all” approach to diet and nutrition. Your dietary needs are unique to you, and you have to develop the diet that is ideal for you over time. There are general guidelines for food choices for people with more or less of each of the three doshas—vata, pitta and kapha—in their prakriti (original constitution) and vikriti (current state of the doshas), but within these general guidelines you can choose what works best for you. Listen to your physiology carefully and it will guide you to the foods that enhance not just your physical but also mental and emotional balance. Whatever your food choices, eat pure, fresh, whole, natural foods.
Follow a good eating routine. Do not take short-cuts with your meals, sandwiching them between other activities. Treat mealtimes as sacred. Prepare and cook your food with loving care and attention and eat in silence or in a harmonious atmosphere. Prepared lovingly and eaten with gratitude and reverence, the food will turn to ojas in your system—the substance that Ayurveda defines as the essence of life and the finest product of the eating and digestion process.
Sleep
Another basic for health and longevity, sleep is becoming a rare commodity for many in our frenetic, 24/7 society. According to Ayurveda as well as modern science, sleep is essential for our minds and bodies to recharge and prepare for the next day. Lack of sleep impairs the digestion, contributes to ama accumulation, clouds the brain and places greater demands on every part of the physiology with each passing day. Modern science has linked sleep deprivation to elevated blood pressure, obesity and depression.
Ayurveda does not prescribe eight hours of sleep each night for everyone. You have to determine the sleep quota that is adequate for you to function at peak levels by monitoring your sleep and activity levels over a period of time. Times of extra pressure need to be compensated with extra sleep time.
The quality of sleep is as important as the quantity of sleep you get. Ayurveda defines the most productive sleep as occurring when the mind, the charioteer of the senses, is completely disengaged from the senses. Sleep obtained in the earlier part of the night is more productive, so go to bed early, definitely before 10 pm, and arise early, before 6 am. Aromatherapy, a soothing cup of herbal tea, deep breathing and a bedtime lower limb massage can all help you fall asleep easier and enjoy a deeper, more restful quality of sleep. Abhyanga, the daily Ayurvedic massage, is also helpful for promoting a better quality of sleep.
Exercise
Just as good quality sleep at night is essential to help the physiology recharge, adequate levels of physical and mental activity during the day are important for well-being and longevity. The Ayurvedic daily routine encompasses both physical exercise and mental activity, and the view of modern science as well is that the admonition “use it or lose it” is equally valid for your muscles as it is for your brain.
As with diet and sleep, Ayurvedic healers recommend structuring an exercise program that is ideal for your needs. If you are trying to balance Kapha dosha, for instance, you would choose more robust forms of exercise such as aerobics, singles tennis or long-distance jogging. If you are trying to keep Pitta in balance, swimming in summer and skiing in winter might be options to investigate. Walking and yoga are universally beneficial because they can be tailored to individual needs, and convenient because they need no special equipment, can be done alone and everyday.
Exercise early in the day for increased energy levels during the day and ease of falling asleep at night. Do not exercise on an empty stomach or just after a meal. Do not exercise to the point of pain or exhaustion. Moderation in exercise is the key to balance.
To stay in shape mentally, make lifelong learning an integral part of life. Travel, enjoy new experiences, read, do puzzles, or take up a new hobby or project to keep the mind sharp and alert. Gardening, music, teaching and volunteering are examples of activities that can be mentally enriching and emotionally and spiritually rewarding. If your work involves intense mental activity, stay recharged by taking frequent short breaks to breathe deeply, stretch or drink some water.
Meditate
Take thirty minutes each day to recharge body, mind, senses, heart and spirit with meditation. Research shows that meditation helps enhance your ability to manage stress, it promotes mental clarity and emotional balance and does wonders for physical health from promoting good sleep to reducing hypertension.
Meditation can be done in the morning or the evening or both morning and evening. Meditate in a silent, serene atmosphere, in a room free of clutter or amid nature. Sit erect, facing east or north, and start with a few minutes of aware breathing before beginning your meditation. After your meditation, take a few minutes to rest quietly before resuming your daily routine. The aroma of pure sandalwood and Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi can help enhance the quality of your meditation.  

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Ayurveda and Day-to-day Stress
These are truly stressful times we live in. Body, mind, heart and spirit are all subjected to the ravages of day-to-day stress. Worries about security, economic difficulties, emotional trauma – stressors like these can take a toll on health and longevity if not addressed in a timely fashion.
To be effective in treating stress, it's important to be specific. With the Maharishi Ayurveda approach, we always try to target the etiological (causal) factors and then bring that area into balance. But we are careful not to create imbalance in other areas that may produce negative side effects.
There are three different manifestations of day-to-day stress from the perspective of Maharishi Ayurveda-mental, emotional, and physical. Each requires different approaches and therapies.
Mental Stress

Mental stress, according to ayurveda, is caused by an overuse or misuse of the mind. For instance, if you perform intense mental work many hours a day, or if you work long hours on the computer, it can cause an imbalance in Prana Vata, the mind-body operator concerned with brain activity, energy and the mind. The first symptom of Prana Vata imbalance is losing the ability to handle day-to-day stress. As the person becomes more stressed, it impacts mental functions such as dhi, dhriti, and smriti -- acquisition, retention, and recall. The person's mind becomes hyperactive, yet the person loses the ability to make clear decisions, to think positively, to feel enthusiastic, and even to fall asleep at night.
To address day-to-day mental stress, it is important to begin by managing mental activity. Secondly, you can take measures to pacify Prana Vata, for example, by:
Favoring Vata-balancing foods, such as sweet, sour, and salty tastes. 
Favoring warm milk and other light dairy products.
Performing a full-body warm oil self-massage everyday.
It is important to get plenty of rest, and if you are having trouble falling sleep, avoid stimulants like caffeine and sip on herbal tea instead. Relaxing aromatherapy and meditation can help calm the mind.
Emotional Stress
Emotional stress can be caused by a problem in a relationship, the loss of a relative, or any situation that might hurt the heart. Emotional stress shows up as irritability, depression, and emotional instability. It affects sleep in a different way than mental stress-it can cause you to wake up in the night and not be able to go back to sleep.
Emotional stress disturbs Sadhaka Pitta, the mind-body operator concerned with the emotions and functioning of the heart. To balance emotional stress, you need to favor Pitta-pacifying foods and routine, such as:
Eating lots of sweet juicy fruits.
Favoring Pitta-pacifying foods such as the sweet, bitter and astringent tastes. 
Drinking a cup of warm milk with cooling rose petal preserve before bed.
Cooking with cooling spices such as cardamom, coriander, cilantro, and mint.
A daily self-massage with a cooling oil such as coconut oil.
Going to bed before 10:00 p.m. 
Physical Stress

Physical stress is caused by misuse or overuse of the body, such as exercising too much or working for extended periods at a job that is physically taxing. This can cause a person to experience physical fatigue, along with mental fogginess, difficulty in concentrating, and dullness of the mind.
Excessive physical strain causes three sub-doshas to go out of balance: Shleshaka Kapha, the subdosha concerned with lubrication of the joints and moisture balance in the skin, Vyana Vata, which governs the circulation, nerve impulses and the sense of touch, and Tarpaka Kapha, which governs the neuro humors.
Another reason for physical stress can be too little exercise, which results in a sluggish digestion and the formation of ama, the digestive impurities that clog the channels. In either type of physical fatigue, the process of regenerating cells slows down, and thus the cells themselves become physically tired.
The solution is to balance Vata and to support Kapha to make the body more stable and nurturing, for example, by:
Getting adequate rest and moderate exercise.
Following a Vata-Kapha pacifying diet.
Performing the full-body warm oil self massage everyday.
Certain foods are natural stress busters according to ayurveda. These include walnuts, almonds, coconut, sweet juicy, seasonal fruit such as pears, apples (cooked if possible), milk, and fresh cheeses such as panir or ricotta.
If you build your resilience to day-to-day stress through natural methods, you can begin to experience stressors more as a challenge or a positive opportunity for growth. If you learn to evoke the 'stay and play' rather than the 'fight or flight' response, you can truly live a life of self-actualization, and become a 'spiritual being' in human form.
Note: Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three psycho-physiological Ayurvedic principles that govern all the activities of the mind and body. A person enjoys perfect health if these principles are in perfect balance.   
– Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra

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AYURVEDA IN THE WORLD
-The Globalization of Ayurveda
by Swamini Mayatitananda
Swamini Mayatitananda (Mother Maya) spoke at the World Ayurveda Congress, Kochi, India, November, 2002. This event attracted the largest[ever] international gathering of Ayurvedic enthusiasts including nearly 2500 of India’s finest vaidyas and scholars. Mother Maya was the only woman invited to present a keynote speech at this historic event. The following is excerpted from her address.
The focal theme of this historic gathering is about India’s role in the globalization of one of her national living treasures - Ayurveda. Responding to the growing popularity of Ayurveda throughout the world, India’s vaidyas have gathered here in pursuit of a common goal - the desire to be a primal force behind the globalization of Ayurveda’s extraordinary and timeless system of healing. Demand for Ayurveda from the world community of consumers as well as industry response serve to guide Ayurveda’s movement toward globalization. For India to succeed in her quest to guide the dissemination of Ayurvedic education and the distribution of its medicines and literature, we must first address a paramount concern. How do we globalize Ayurveda without impairing its timeless and essential wisdom?
Like the entire treasure trove of Vedic sciences, the wisdom of Ayurveda is intended to serve the whole universe, its humanity and all species. Due to its inherent nature, Ayurveda is already serving a global community. The imperative question is, “how does India safeguard Ayurveda’s purity and authenticity, (notwithstanding the intellectual property rights of this biodiverse science that rightfully belongs to India) as she moves her science and adapts it to the manifold conditions in global communities throughout the world?”
First, India must regain her confidence in herself and in the rich legacy of her ethnographic and revelational sciences. Ayurveda as a science of Revelation is pramanam - pure knowledge born of sastra - the living wisdom revealed by rishis, for the benefit of humanity and its cultivation of consciousness. Sastra (Hindu spiritual texts) is compiled of the revelations of the rishis whose knowledge had been handed down through an unbroken chain in oral tradition of the gurukula since the beginning of time. The rishis were adept at focusing their awareness and shifting their perceptual fields. They entered elevated states to “see” truth, retrieving information directly from the cosmos and revealing it for the welfare of their community. Ayurveda, the oldest paradigm of health and healing known to the world, grew out of the rishi tradition. In safeguarding the living treasure that is Ayurveda, it behooves us to reclaim the revelational basis of Ayurveda and the traditional gurukula way of teaching from which it originates.
For the past 23 years, Wise Earth School of Ayurveda has been developing curricula whose aim is to reclaim Ayurveda’s original principles and practices as science revealed by rishis, and restoration of the gurukula way of teaching. Since its timeless origins, the practice of Ayurveda has taken many unexpected turns. Owing to colonization and the critical period that followed after 1835, Ayurvedic education and other allied healing systems such as Siddha and Unani were forced to desist in India. The movement for Ayurveda went underground as Western conventional medicine usurped its place as the dominant practice. In the early part of the nineteenth century, the visionary efforts of a handful of remarkable vaidyas in Bengal began to revive Ayurveda’s original education and regenerated national enthusiasm for India’s First Medicine. By the mid 1900’s, this resurgence caught the attention of the Indian government which began to design a new curriculum for Ayurveda - retooling Ayurveda’s education with allopathic principles of medicine.
Ayurveda, as it has been taught and practiced in all government sponsored institutions in India since this time, is largely influenced by the allopathic physicians and conventional medical academicians who had helped shaped its new practice. Whereas this process of adaptation has proven a positive adjunct for Western conventional medicine and thereby improving its practice, it does not define Ayurveda. Ayurveda is an extremely adaptable life science and can lend effulgence to the most mundane of sciences. Fulfilling its sacred intention of health for all, any part of its knowledge may be used to serve the well-being of humanity. Due to its inherent nature, Ayurveda may be adapted to meet the needs of all peoples and communities under manifold numbers of diverse conditions, but, in so doing, we must be diligent in our efforts to safeguard its pure and essential principles. Ayurveda is pramanam. Its preservation demands that it be restored to its whole and original form and that form must become its greater practice.
There is a growing trend among allopathic practitioners who are seeking “alternative” methods of healing to embrace Ayurveda. These good men and women recognize the vast limitations within the present conventional disease-care system which takes an approach that is largely prescriptive. From their perspective, the concept of adapting basic principles of Ayurveda and other holistic modalities of healing with their already acquired medical knowledge can only improve the quality of health care they offer. It serves to lessen a patient’s exposure to toxicity and harm resulting from a system that is based on standardized protocols.
To borrow wisdom practices from Ayurveda to improve the quality of health care in conventional medicine is becoming common practice and an acceptable reality. However, integrating Ayurveda as a complementary form of medicine to Western conventional medicine is quite a different matter. Many argue that this process would improve and modernize Ayurveda making it interface more cohesively with other health care models. Unlike conventional Western medicine, Ayurveda does not need another modality of science - conventional or holistic - to make it complete in its wisdom or its application. Furthermore, Ayurveda is a preventative, health-oriented system as opposed to conventional medicine that is a disease-care system. Its timeless principles and practices do not need to be modernized, integrated, or melded into any other modality - health care, disease care, or otherwise.
Evidently, the overriding desire expressed by popular culture to “integrate” everything speaks to a profound need to bridge gaps and eliminate boundaries that separate the human family from each other and their immutable source in consciousness. However, the process of integration to which we are referring has never been known to diminish the outcome of conflicts inherent in the process of combining diverse and nonparallel systems and traditions. To the contrary, history has proven that unity is not accomplished when diverse cultures, traditions, or sciences are melded together. This kind of integration inadvertently create conflicts because the inherent power of each entity becomes diminished, its life force impaired. Popular culture does not recognize the epicentric life force of prana that supports every form of life; in fact, it interferes and tampers with it.
Five hundred years or more of erroneous thinking have placed the world on the brink of disharmony. This is evidenced in the destruction of nature; the physical, emotional, and spiritual impoverishment of the human spirit as reflected in the progressive rise of disease, violence, poverty, wars, crimes; the savage attempts at eradication of indigenous life; the breakdown of familial and community values and lifeways; and the killing of the animals. Our humane memory of humanity is severely vitiated.
Unity is a noble goal for it is the act of interconnecting all realities through deep knowledge and understanding of each individual rerity. Unity is about nurturing diversity through spiritual knowledge, love, respect, and preservation. Positive change and transformation can only occur through profound regard for the preservation of each independent life force, be it a person, species, religion or science. Those who advocate making Ayurveda part of a larger body of integrated medicine are obviously ignorant of the timeless principles that inform the Vedic sciences. Ayurveda as an ethnographic science of revelation is Veda, and therefore greater than any of its anga, or parts. It is more than an eight-pronged system of medicine. Ayurveda is whole science of living in harmony with nature and all her beings.
We must break the silence that betrays truth - a silence imposed on India’s Vedic culture by its perpetrators. We must reclaim dharma for preservation of India’s storehouse of Vedic knowledge, and take care not to commercialize it but to safeguard the universal wisdom of the rishis for the benefit of all. At this pivotal juncture of India’s history when quantum economic growth is inevitable, it is critical that we restore the knowledge of Ayurveda to its original status as a spiritual, revelational science, reclaiming her dharma as the world’s First Medicine. This great reform is necessary if we are to preserve the pure and eternal wisdom of Ayurveda.
Swamini Mayatitananda (formerly Bri Maya Tiwari) is a cornerstone in the development of Ayurveda in America. Through her Wise Earth School of Ayurveda founded in 1980, she has been offering a revival of Ayurveda’s sadhana education to awaken our inner medicine potential for healing. Wise Earth School of Ayurveda is a sanctuary to hundreds of sadhakas worldwide who have been carefully trained by Mother Maya to practice, disseminate and share Wise Earth’s principles and practices in Ayurveda; to transform disease, despair and violence into health, peace and prosperity.


Acidity – Causes, Home Remedies and Preventive Measures - Dev Dev Sri
According to several Ayurveda experts, acidity is the direct result of change in food habits. As such acidity was not a severe problem in Vedic times and little reference can be found to this ailment. Charaka and Sushruta mentions the disease in their treatises – Charaka Samhita and Sushrutha Samhitha. Madhava Acharya also mentions the disease as Amla-pitta or acidic pitta. The ancient name of the disease tells about the acidic nature.

When talking in dosha terms, acidity occurs due to vitiation of vata, kapha or both. Three types of vitiation only.

The primary cause of acidity is credited to inappropriate food habits of modern man. People today hardly ever think about compatibility of food.

Incompatible food is poisonous. There are specific rules to control the quality and quantity of food we take. The food habit also must be bind to a specific rule of timing.

Taking food several times a day, eating more food than one needs, eating excess sweet, sour or spicy items, fried food, hard to digest food etc are reasons for acidity. Having no regular timing for taking food is another reason for acidity. This destroys the balance of pitta of digestive system.

According to Ayurveda, the reasons for acidity are not entirely physical.

Negative emotions like anger, anxiety, depression can be responsible for the onset of acidity.

Ayurvedic home remedies for Acidity

Powdered Indian gooseberry (amalaki) mixed in warm milk is a good medicine for mild to moderate cases of acidity. You can also take gooseberry powder with a teaspoon of honey.

Chew some tulsi (holy basil) leaves.

Chew a small piece of fresh ginger with a pinch of sea salt.

When suffering from acidity, drink five to eight glass of coconut water a day.

Chew a piece of clove.

Heat two or three petals of garlic and chew it down.

Acidity - Preventive measures

Keeping a healthy daily food regimen can avoid instances of acidity. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables and drink 8-12 glass of water according to your physical capacity.

Avoid incompatible food.

Take light meals that make it easy for digestive system to quickly digest the food you eat. If you eat too much bulky meals, it will become hard for the digestive system to digest the food.

Identify the reasons for stress. This will help you better manage stress in your day to day life.

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Ayurvedic Treatment
Attention Deficit Disorders: An Ayurvedic Perspective
Managing Cancer: Part I
Attention Deficit Disorders: An Ayurvedic Perspective
by John Douillard, D.C.
The diagnosis, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is classified by three symptomatic characteristics: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. In recent years much research has gone into identifying the cause of ADD. Thorough investigations have gone into lifestyle, sugar intake, excessive TV watching, and even chemical toxicity during pregnancy, an occurrence once thought to be the cause of minimal brain disorders or ADD. In all the research only a small and insignificant percentage of cases with ADD proved positive for such causative factors. To date, these factors remain neither proven nor disproved.

In Ayurveda, ADD or hyperactivity falls under the heading of Unmada, which is a general heading for Mania’s, or in this case a type of minimal brain disorder. The definition given by Caraka, Ni. Ch VII, V5, states that Unmada is a wandering of mind, intellect, consciousness, knowledge, memory, inclination, manners, activities, and conduct. It also describes five possible causes for this condition: vata, pitta, kapha, and sanni-pata (the aggravation of all three doshas) and exogenous factors (genetic or outside factors).

We must remember that many of our modern diseases did not exist as such in the past, therefore an exact differential diagnosis may not be drawn or quoted from the original texts. I do believe, however, that the texts will describe the underlying factors that would elicit the symptoms of ADD.

The Western classification of ADD is by three consistent symptoms. Each of these symptoms specifically relate to one of the three doshas when out of balance.

Inattention – when the individual is unable to focus on any one thing for a length of time, is primarily a kapha symptom. The mind seems dull and lethargic unless it is accompanied by physical or kinetic activity. Imbalances are an accumulation of the dosha: too much kapha creates depressed mental faculties, or inattention. However, when the mind is hyperactive, excessive vata can create inattention and/or hyperactivity.

Hyperactivity – this symptom is a classic depiction of a vata imbalance. The mind is restless and racing, legs and feet cannot be still. It seems impossible for the mind or body to settle down and relax and/or focus.

Compulsive Behavior – these symptoms of action without thought are typically controlled by pitta. Students will blurt out answers, jump up in class and show little ability to think through or control their actions.
Although everyone at times will seem either a bit compulsive, hyperactive, or unable to keep their mind on their work, this disorder is classically a combination of all three imbalances at the same time – known as sannipata. Because all three doshas are out of balance simultaneously, sannipata becomes a chronic condition and more difficult to treat. In extreme cases the disorder of sannipata is said to be incurable. ADD, however, is a minor disorder classified by no known neurochemical imbalances to date and can be successfully treated with a comprehensive Ayurvedic regime.

The final category of cause mentioned by Caraka are the exogenous factors. These factors translate from Ayurveda to genetic susceptibilities, and the factors that can exacerbate genetic weaknesses are many. Each individual body type may be triggered into an ADD response by a variety of the previously mentioned factors (TV, sugar, lifestyle, and toxicity). There will probably not be one cause for every case of ADD. Each individual must be treated as an individual and offered a unique and tailored package of therapies for his or her condition.
One factor that has been overlooked by researchers when looking into dietary factors is the ingestion of growth hormones. Growth hormones are stimulants injected into animals to increase growth rates, and there have not been any long-term studies on the effects and use of these hormones. However, in vegetarian societies such as India, ADD is relatively unknown. In America, on the other hand, where the diet includes large amounts of red meats, poultry, and milk, ADD has become prevalent. The consumption of hormone-free meats, eggs, and milk, or a vegetarian diet, should be examined as potential treatment and prevention.

In the case of all the above described causes of ADD, the underlying factor is a deficiency of Prana, or Energy, in the body. This may not seem the case as kids are jumping off walls and displaying hyperkinetic behavior. It appears that they have too much energy and need to be settled down. In Ayurveda this apparent excess in energy is caused by a lack of Prana (energy that controls vata) which must be sufficient to naturally calm the nervous system. Without sufficient prana, the nervous system can run out of control and lead to ADD symptoms. A similar phenomenon is seen with insomnia, a symptom of prana depletion. Insomniacs actually need more energy or prana to settle their own nervous system. A sedative could actually further deplete the patient. Ritalin, the common Western drug for ADD, is a stimulant drug that seems to work well for the symptoms of ADD, possibly for the same -reasons.
General Treatment

In a situation when all three doshas seem to be out of balance and the symptoms indicate that a lack of prana vata is present, the treatment protocol should be strengthening and building.
• Remove all chemicals and preservatives from the diet.
• Eat organic meats and foods whenever possible.
• Incorporate the following formulas:
Formula for Nervous System Dysfunction and Depletion:

Soak 3 unpeeled almonds overnight in a glass of water with one whole black pepper and one teaspoon fennel seeds. In the morning, remove the skins from the almonds and crush all three ingredients into a paste. Add equal parts sweet butter and honey to taste. Take this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and do not eat for 1 1⁄2 hours afterwards. Continue every morning for 15 days.
Formula to Rejuvenate and Detoxify the Nervous System through Synergistic, Free Radical Scavenging Effects:

Equal parts Brahmi, Ashwagandha, and Gudduchi. Take 1 teaspoon of the combination 2 times a day with hot water or with ghee and honey to make a paste.
Formula to Strengthen and Calm the Nervous System (Tonic)

Equal parts of Jatamansi, Shankpushpi, and Brahmi. Take 1⁄2 teaspoon of the combination after meals t.i.d. Vacha (Acorus calamus) can also be added to this combination if easily tolerated by the patient.
Meditation

Meditation is probably one of the most important self-help techniques employable in the treatment ADD. Meditation will accustom the mind to being calm. In time, the individual will begin to take this calm into all activity, and will replace stress-induced hyperactivity with -composure.
Pranayama

Specifically, chandra bhedna, or the cooling and calming breath, is indicated for ADD. All pranayama techniques will move prana or energy. Chandra bhedna will both increase the availability of prana and provide a neurological calm needed by the body. To perform pranayama, inhale deeply, to your capacity, through the left nostril with the right nostril closed, then exhale as slow as possible through the right nostril with the left nostril closed. Repeat this for a minimum of 10 breaths and gradually increase to a maximum of 5 minutes.
Panchakarma

Panchakarma is a very powerful seasonal detoxification and rejuvenating
process that can be extremely useful in the treatment of ADD. It provides not only a cleansing on a cellular level but also deep calm and subsequent access to one’s own being or consciousness. Once this experience of being is accessed and infused into every cell in the body, the body can heal. The vedic concept of Pragya Praradh, “the mistake of the intellect”, wherein the intellect forgets its true reality as a field of consciousness and love, is credited as the cause of all disease. Ayurveda is dedicated to the restoration of this reality.
Abhyanga

Abhyanga, Ayurvedic massage, begins this treatment for the first 40 minutes. This is followed by swedna, an herbal steam (using dashamula, or “ten roots decoction”), which one performs for 20 minutes. Shirodara, in which body-temperature oil is poured over the forehead for 20 minutes concludes the session. This is repeated for seven days
Basti

Basti is an herbal enema, made with bala, vacha, and haritaki boiled down from four cups of water to 1 cup. Add 1 cup of sesame oil and administer each night for seven nights.
Nasya with Brahmi Ghee (adapted for home use)

Massage the head and neck, then take a hot shower. Following this, steam the face and neck by using the following method: fill a large bowl with freshly boiled water. Add 1-2 drops eucalyptus oil or Vicks Vaporub. Take a clean, large towel and drape it over the head to make a tent. Lean over the bowl so that the steam is trapped inside the towel tent. Inhale the steam for two to three minutes. Gently apply hot towels to the neck and face. After steam inhalation follow instructions below to sniff Brahmi ghee.

Using an eye dropper, place two or three drops of brahmi ghee (see recipe below) directly into both nostrils. Sniff the oil into the sinus cavity. Hold both nostrils closed, then breathe in through the nose while rapidly closing and opening the nostrils. Repeat the sniffing procedure three times.

An alternate lubrication method: Place a few drops of the oil in the palm of the left hand. Dip the little finger of the right hand into the oil. Insert the oiled finger into both nostrils until they are well lubricated. If you use this method, make sure that your hands are clean and that the nail of your little finger is clipped short. Continue with the sniffing procedure described above. Repeat as needed. Do not perform within two hours of bedtime.
Brahmi Ghee Recipe
Boil 3 teaspoons of Brahmi (powder, leaves, or crushed tablets) in one cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain the liquid through a cotton cloth. Add a cup of ghee to the remaining liquid and boil this mixture until the water is evaporated (approximately 15 minutes). Take care that the brahmi-ghee doesn’t burn once the water is evaporated.
Reprinted from Volume I, Issue One, Fall 2002.
John Douillard, D.C. is a former professional athlete and author of The 3-Season Diet, and Body, Mind, and Sport. Currently he co-hosts a top rated radio talk show in Colorado called "Health Time." John received a Ph.D. from the Open International University, which was established by the World Health Organization and the United Nations University. He has been the Director of Player Development for the New Jersey Nets and consultant to many of the world’s top Olympic and championship athletes. John practices Ayurvedic and Chiropractic Sports Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, where he lives with his wife and five children.






The Seven Signs Of Arthritis - Winnie Warrant
Over 355 million people worldwide have some form of arthritis. Arthritis comes with over 100 variations of rheumatoid disease, early detection and treatment of rheumatoid disease helps to cure arthritis before the disease causes permanent joint damage. There are seven early warning signs of arthritis. Since arthritis is such an epidemic, affecting over 355 million people worldwide, we should all be well aware of the early warning signs.

1. Swelling in one or more joints

Joint swelling can be caused by many factors. Arthritis could be the factor responsible for swollen joints. The swelling joints that caused by arthritis mainly due to fluid accumulates in the joints and resulting in painful inflammation.

2. Early-morning stiffness

You encounter stiffness in and around joints especially in the early morning. The stiffness may lasts from a few minutes to an hour in early stage and duration increase as the time goes. You should pay attention to this sign and get the medical advice because stiffness is one of early warning signs of arthritis.

3. Recurring pain or tenderness in any joint

You feel abnormal pain and tenderness at your body joints; the pain comes and goes from time to time. It's better for you to get early diagnosis of the cause of these abnormal pains; the pains can be caused by any potential diseases and arthritis is one of highly potential causes. Hence you should not look lightly if you encounter any pain and tenderness occurs on your body joints.

4. Inability to move a joint normally

Sometime fatigue or excessive exercise can cause inability to move a joint normally. Under this condition, it is temporary and it will recover after a while. But, if the inability to move a joint normally is unexplained, it should trigger your alert on the potential arthritis.

5. Obvious redness and warmth in a joint

Redness and warmth in a joint can be a sign of arthritis inflammation. If you found you have these symptoms, consult a physician for early diagnosis.

6. Unexplained weight loss, fever, or weakness combined with joint pain

You feel your body is very weak and tired, in additional to that you frequently have fever and your weight loss unexplained. Your body has given you sign about something wrong with your body. If these symptoms are combined with joint pain, then it's likely you have faced some form of arthritis.

7. Symptoms like these lasting for more than 2 weeks

If the above symptoms lasting for more than 2 weeks, you should not take lightly of them, visit a physician to make an early diagnosis of the problems.

In Summary

Arthritis is an epidemic that affecting over 355 million people worldwide, you should beware of any sign of arthritis; make diagnosis and treatment to cure the arthritis while the disease still in early stage and before it causes permanent joint damage.
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Brahmi: Brain Tonic to Boost Your Memory
Author: Dr John AnneAuthor: Dr John Anne


For improving our mental skills and improving the performance of the brain one has to be alert about the surrounding and has to do something that promotes out brain cells. To achieve this we have to take some supplements that would help us. More over if these supplements bear no side effects than it’s just like hitting a jackpot. The name of this jackpot is Brahmi.

Brahmi is an ayurvedic herb that is also known as Bacopa monniera in biological terminology. Since ages it has been extensively use to improve memory skills and mental performance. Since centuries bacopa has been herb of choice for enhancing brain functioning.

This is a plant that is found in damp and warm climate. The leaves of the plant are succulent and are thick as it is adapted to store water. The leaves are alternately arranged. The plant bears white flowers that are small in size and possess 4 to 5 petals. It is semi aquatic plant and is commonly grown in aquariums for decorative purposes. It is generally found grow in marshy areas and areas that are near wet lands and river. It is commonly seen growing in areas of Indian sub continent, Africa, china, Taiwan and parts of America.

Brahmi is very useful herb and is extensively used by ayurvedic doctors in India. Various benefits of Brahmi is given below in which Brahmi has been the herb of choice.

· Anti- oxidant – it works as one of the best antioxidant by having a scavenging power for free radicals that are solely responsible for causing senile changes in the body. It is very helpful in preventing the formation of the free radicals and also helps in removing the debris out of the cell. It can be used both locally and for oral use.

· Epilepsy – it is very helpful in treating the condition of nervous system. Any kind of diseases that are caused due to nervous system abnormality can easily be treated with the regular use of bacopa or commonly called as Brahmi. It strengthens the nervous system and also tones it up to cope with the abnormalities. As these nervous disorders are caused due to vata disorder in the body, Brahmi is very efficient in making vata dosha to regain its normalcy state. Brahmi is hot in potency there by helps in curbing the vata effect. It is also helpful in strengthening the problems that are being related to brain and improves the reflex actions.

· Anxiety – Brahmi is extremely helpful in treating the anxiety disorders. It regulates the blood in the body and eradicates any kind of deposition of the plaque that disrupts the blood flow through the arteries. It also helps in relaxing the spasm that is the main reason for causing anxiety conditions. It also relaxes muscles in the brain therefore helping in releasing the toxins that primarily causes condition of anxiety.

· Brain enhancer – Brahmi is one of the best brain enhancer. Brahmi is very helpful in improving the brain condition and tones up the brain. It helps in providing brain with the proper vitamins and minerals that due to certain reason get depleted causing decreased performance of brain. It is also helpful in improving the mental condition and is highly recommend to students to enhance their learning ability. This is also given to old people firstly as it has the tendency to inhibit the senile changes and secondly it improve the memory skills.

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Types of Arthritis and Treatments
Author: Dr John Anne

Arthritis is one of the most common diseases that occur globally. The term arthritis is a general term that is used for almost a group of 100 diseases.

These diseases bear some similar characteristics like inflammation and pain in joints. Arthritis word is a Greek word that literally means inflammation in joints. Though some people suffering from arthritis might not complain inflammation in the joint but the common complain is discomfort in joint.

Out of these 100, major three occurring arthritic conditions are

(a) Osteoarthritis – it is a condition in which the cartilaginous tissue that is present in the joint gets converted to bony structures. Due to this body tissue formation the movement of the joints gets restricted and there is severe pain in the joint on movement. In ayurvedic terminology it is known as sandhi gata vata and is caused due to vata vitiation in the body.

(b) Gout – gout is a disease that is commonly seen in rich people due to their luxurious life style. This disease occurs due to life style disorders and commonly seen in people who lacks physical activities in their life style. In these diseases the serum uric acid gets increased and due to this its crystal formation occurs that ultimately settles in the joints. As the joint space gets occupied with these crystals of uric acid. On movement, these crystals hinder the free movement of the joint. In ayurveda this situation is called as vata Rakta.

(c) Rheumatoid arthritis – it is a condition in which our immune system attacks our own body. It is an autoimmune disease that can lead to the joint inflammation. Some times the surrounding tissues also get inflamed. In ayurveda it is known as aamvata. It happens due to vata vitiation in the body. It causes severe pain in joints and very often swelling is present.

Symptoms

· Pain in joints
· Inflammation
· Restricted movements
· Arthritis initiates in small joints first
· Joint is warm
· Generally red color is seen on the affected joint

Home remedies for arthritis

Below are some of the home remedies that are very effective in treating arthritis.

· Rub the castor oil on the affected joint to get instant relief from pain. Castor is known as errand in ayurveda. It is helpful in suppressing pain as castor is vata suppressant.

· Ashwagandha is an herb that is very effective in suppressing pain and reducing inflammation in the joint.

· Garlic is also very effective in suppressing pain and reduces the inflammation of the joint.

· Shallaki an ayurvedic herb also is one of the best pain reliever in the arthritic condition. It is also helpful in reducing the swellings on the joint.

· 2 table spoon of lemon mixed with the honey and is then taken with a cup of warm water gives immense relief in arthritic pain.

· Mix a spoon of cod liver oil in a glass full of freshly derived orange juice is also an effective remedy for treating joint pains and arthritis

· Half tea spoon of turmeric powder is taken in warm milk is very effective remedy in treating arthritis

· You can immerse the joint in the hot water and can move the joint in it.

· Hot vinegar can be applied on the affected joint to get the instant relief.

· The joint can be rubbed with a mixture of two parts of olive oil and kerosene oil. It is an effective treatment for getting instant relief from arthritis.
 

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