Ayurvedic tenets for long and healthy life

Ayurvedic tenets for long and healthy life

To lead a long and healthy life Ayurveda recommends a lifestyle based on moderation in all spheres of life. Adapting this lifestyle is liberating and manifests positive changes in body, mind and spirit. Human beings die either naturally due to ageing or due to diseases and accidents. While one cannot foretell death, leading a healthy life keeps away diseases and the attendant suffering.

Ayurveda recommends following certain tenets that when adapted to ones lifestyle and made into a habit can benefit physically, mentally and spiritually.

The basic requirement for a healthy existence is good food, good sleep and good relationship.Always consume freshly prepared food. Avoid all foods of the previous day especially the non-vegetarian ones. Also avoid refrigerated foods.Do not suppress the natural urge to urinate and defecate. Avoid daytime nap. Do not lie down to sleep with head facing north.Eat only when you feel hungry. Eat twice a day. Do not go to bed immediately after supper. Walk for 10-15 minutes before going to bed.Follow a regular routine for sleeping. Go to bed by 10 o’clock at night. Get up at 6 in the morning. Six to eight hours of sleep is necessary to maintain good health.Ayurveda advocates sex in moderation. It stipulates a general rule of sexual relationship once every fortnight (a tough one!). No sex immediately after food, a gap of 4 hours is advised.The Siddhars of yesteryears also suggest the following regimen.Eat twice a day.Apply oil to head and bathe in warm water once every four days.Fast a day, once a week.Sex once a fortnight.Clean the airway passages and nostrils etc (by instilling certain medications into the nostrils) once every 45 days. This helps clear the sinuses.Take purgatives (natural ones) once every four months and cleanse the colons.Take emetics (vomit inducers) once every six months to clear the phlegm etc.Avoid dust and polluted atmosphere.A disciplined mind is necessary to keep away from bad habits and inculcate good ones.

Ayurvedic tenets for long and healthy life - II

Ayurvedic tenets for long and healthy life - II

The rishis and siddhars (spiritually evolved people) of the past discovered the secrets of longevity and have passed it on to the successive generations. These saints saw the harmony that exists in the universe, the day and night, the seasons, the perfect motion of the planets, the yin and yang. They intuitively deduced that human beings are the microcosm of Nature and the vast expansive Universe is the macrocosm. They saw the human microcosm as part of the larger universal macrocosm. Hence they stated that the secret of healthy life lies in establishing harmony within the microcosm based on the harmony that pervades the universe throughout. Their efforts were then directed towards finding ways and means of establishing this universal macrocosmic harmony in the human existence. This search resulted to yoga, meditation, etc.

The Vedas state that the universe is made of five elements namely, earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Human body is also made of the same five elements. So for a healthy living, there should be a healthy balance of all the five elements. The human body’s actions relate to the universe through these elements.

Humans drink water, eat food, inhale air and thus regulate the temperature of their body. They get ‘prana’ from ether. It is the earth that gives them the external form. Bones, tissues, muscles, skin, hair etc relate to earth. Blood, glandular secretions, and all the other fluids in the body relate to water. The third element fire is behind emotions, energy, and vitality. Digestion, blood circulation, nervous system, etc are the spheres of action for fire. Air relates to breathing. Ether is the source of mental prowess and spiritual development. When all of these five elements are in balance and harmony, there is health and joy.One cannot isolate the elements from one another. All elements act in unison. The physical activity is a result of the combined action of the elements. Any imbalance in one element affects the harmony of the whole.Doshas are a combination of the five elements. Vata, pittha and kapha are the three doshas that Ayurveda speaks of. Vata is a combination of ether and air, pitha fire and water, kapha water and earth. Though there is no exact English equivalent for the Sanskrit word dosha, it roughly means force, or one that could easily lose its equilibrium. Human beings are a combination of two or all three doshas with one being predominant. When the doshas get vitiated, (and they tend to get vitiated easily), it results in diseases. Disease comes from outside and is not the nature of the body.

The Return of Ayurveda

The Return of Ayurveda

The limitation of modern medical science once again highlights the inability of the conventional system of medicine to cure various new diseases. To a large extent infectious diseases like small pox, chicken pox, measles etc that were caused by bacteria and viruses etc have been brought under control. There is an increase in life expectancy. But on the other side the number of people suffering from degenerative and neoplastic diseases like cancer, stroke, heart disease is on the increase. To quote The India Times of 28 December 2008, there has been a six-fold increase in the number of diabetic patients, 200% increase in breast cancer patients. Obesity is on the rise too. Drugs developed to treat these conditions enter the market with much fanfare only to be banned after a couple of years for their worse side effects, only useful in fattening the purses of the multibillion dollar drug companies in the process. The deterioration of medical ethics, along with the limitations of modern scientific medicine in curing many diseases has prompted many westerners to seek alternative in the Eastern traditional methods. Ayurvedic therapies and Chinese techniques have become increasingly popular in the Western societies.

The eastern therapies adopt a more humane approach to illnesses and treat the person as a whole. The treatment prescribed brings the patient closer to nature. Herbs and plants, seasonal do’s and don’ts, emphasis on change in lifestyle etc gives him/her a closeness to nature which was lost long back. Thus Ayurveda endeavors to establish in human beings the harmony present in nature.

Ayurveda is a way of life based on ones constitution. And a person’s constitution is determined on the preponderance or lack of three humors namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Based on ones constitution his/her diet, life-style, do’s and don’ts are prescribed. Herbs, plants, salts, metals etc are used in preparation of medicines. Massage, panchakarma etc are some of the therapies for cleansing. My subsequent posts will brief these processes (even though they are beyond the scope of home remedies). 

What is Panchakarma

What is Panchakarma

The aim of all systems of medicine is restoration of normalcy in an individual. This normalcy should reflect in all spheres of life, physical, mental and spiritual. Ayurveda as a holistic system strives to restore normalcy in the individual and it achieves this by the process of Panchakarma. This word Panchakarma means five actions. It is a cleansing and rejuvenating program for the body, mind and spirit.

The old adage ‘microcosm mirrors the macrocosm’ is the basic premise on which Ayurveda and Siddha systems were built. Ayurveda and Siddha systems try to establish the harmony of macrocosm in the microcosm. Everything in nature has its own rhythm. Panchakarma eliminates toxins from an individual’s body and restores the lost harmony.

An ideal personality is one who has a body clear of toxins, a calm mind, stable emotions. His/her system eliminates waste efficiently. All organs function normally.Toxins get accumulated in one’s body due to environmental pollution and stress. The accumulated toxins weaken all the systems and create an ideal setting for development of chronic and degenerative diseases. The individual’s health is compromised in the process. When left unattended they develop into serious ailments which destroys one’s health and wellness.Panchakarma is the ayurvedic way of removing accumulated toxins. By cleansing the body of all accumulated toxins, this process restores the lost vitality and improves bodily function. A subsequent change in lifestyle helps maintain this ideal state of health.

Benefits of Panchakarma

Benefits of Panchakarma

Panchakarma is the process done by an Ayurvedic expert.

Given below are some of the benefits of Panchakarma

• It restores your constitutional harmony thereby improving health and wellness.
• It flushes out toxins from your body.
• It neutralises the negative effects of stress and retards the aging process.
• It strengthens the immune system and builds a resilient you.
• It relaxes you and keeps you calm.
• It improves your health, boosts your energy levels and gives you a clear mind.

Purvakarma is the term that denotes the measures to be followed before a full blown Panchakarma. Snehana or oil massage and swedana or sweating (akin to sweating in a spa) are the two processes that facilitate easy elimination of toxins.

Vamana, virechana, snehavasti, kashayavasti and nasya are the five processes of Ayurveda for elimination of toxins from body and mind.

Panchakarma helps in restoring back your lost vitality.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Tips for Healthy Living

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Tips for Healthy Living

To be born as a human being is a very rare, difficult and very significant feat. The old poetess Avvaiyar says so in her song. When Lord Muruga asks her what the rarest or most difficult thing on earth is, Avvaiyar answered this way. Aridhu, aridhu, maanidarai pirathal arithu. There are so many living beings on earth like animals, birds, insects, plants, creepers etc. Human beings alone are endowed with the sixth sense to differentiate good and bad.

There are a good number of sayings in the old Tamil literature that stress the importance of human birth. They all exhort human beings to make the most of their birth on this planet earth. Human beings should strive to manifest their fullest potential in all spheres of life instead of wasting their time in trivialities. A healthy body and a healthy mind is the cornerstone on which the whole edifice of a fulfilled and balanced life can be built. Subramania Bharathi, the greatest Tamil poet of the 20^th century advises ‘strengthen your body’.

The complexity of the human body is beyond comprehension. With evolution over millions of years, the human body has acquired this phenomenal power. It is this complex structure that enables the human body to withstand and adapt itself to the various environmental onslaughts. Its efforts are geared toward establishing a harmony in human nature. Our ancestors knew for a fact that the human body has an inherent capacity to heal itself. The only requirement on the part of the sick ones is to cooperate with this healing process and not to hinder it.

When there is a radical change in lifestyle it tests the limits of human body's endurance. The contemporary sedentary lifestyle was alien to our ancestors. Lack of exercise, fast food diet, prolonged stress, all these can harm our body. The human body’s capacity to reestablish harmony can weaken as a result of prolonged attack. But the best part is, most of the modern day ailments can be cured with lifestyle changes alone. Herbs can help quicken the process.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Tips for Healthy Living - 2

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Tips for Healthy Living - 2

The rishis of ancient India knew very well the intimate relationship between mankind and natural laws. From this knowledge evolved the basis for the health care system called Ayurveda, the life medicine. It is only now that western medicine has been able to come to terms with this profound truth. All these years it had been treating the person as a machine. The human spirit was reduced to matter. The Newtonian mechanistic way of looking at things was the norm.

It was with Quantum Physics that the western world could release itself off the shackles of this mechanistic view point. The role of Quantum Physics in effecting a paradigm shift in western world thinking cannot be overstated. The immutable truths expressed in the Vedas that have stood the test of time began to make sense to the western mind.

Man came from nature, and he has to live in harmony with it. He/she should not subjugate it to his/her whims and fancies. He should realize the cosmic order that runs through the whole Universe, and cooperate in its fuller manifestation. He being part of the Universe, should imbibe that order in his own personality, in his complete self.Ayurveda helps to establish this universal harmony in ones being. The Ayurvedic philosophy encompasses and takes care of all aspects of human life. It regards the human body as a microcosm of the Universe. One of the basic principles of Ayurveda is the tridosha theory.The human bodily patterns consist of three doshas or health tendencies. These are Vata, Pitta and Kapha which can be equated to wind, bile and phlegm. Vata is connected to movement, Pitta indicates light and heat, Kapha relates to conservation. Susrutha, the great Ayurvedic teacher says, “just as the sun, moon and wind are vital for proper functioning of the outer world, so are vata, pitta and kapha needed for healthy functioning of human body.”Ayurveda insists on diet, proper lifestyle, herbs, exercise and positive attitude. These are critical in effecting an all round development in body, mind and spirit. This way the individual is able to establish in himself the harmony that is found in nature.

Ayurvedic way to tackle menopause

Ayurvedic way to tackle menopause

As of July 2003, around 10 million women in the U.S. were taking some form of hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy for treatment of post-menopausal symptoms came under a cloud when a U.S. study linked it to increased risks of stroke, clotting of blood vessels and cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration cautioned post-menopausal women to weigh benefits and risks of hormone therapy before choosing treatment. The FDA also advised healthcare providers to use the lowest dose of hormones for the shortest possible duration.There may be conflicting signals on hormone therapy for post-menopausal symptoms, but Ayurveda has a time tested approach to the problem.Ayurveda regards menopausal symptoms as imbalances of `doshas' (`pitha', `vata' and `kapha'), which occur as a consequence of ageing.Menopause should be a smooth experience for every woman where it should be regarded as just cessation of the menstrual flow.Ayurveda has excellent solutions for a safe and happy menopause. There are several preparations that can be taken by women who are nearing the age of menopause and remain symptom-free.Ayurvedic treatment involves correcting the imbalance by making use of a diet rich in phyto oestrogens and medications and internal detoxification.These drugs are called Rasayanas (rejuvenators) that act on the whole body, especially the brain cells and uterus (garbhashaya utthejaka-uterine rejuvenators).Asokarishtam, Balarishtam, Chandanasavam, Shankha bhasma (a natural calcium supplement), Satavari lehyam, Ashwagandha rasayanam, Brahmi ghritam(ghee), Triphala choornam can be taken according to the `prakriti' (body constitution).A competent Ayurveda physician can help you select the appropriate remedies based on your constitution.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Lifestyle Changes and Menopause

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Lifestyle Changes and Menopause

Women in their late 40s and early 50s face a lot of physical and psychological disturbances during cessation of their menstrual process. Some physical symptoms include hot flashes, sudden onset of sweating, sensation of heat throughout the body etc. Coupled with this is the risk of postmenopausal weight gain.

To tackle this condition and to effect a smooth transition to the postmenopausal stage Ayurveda suggests some lifestyle changes. Ayurveda regards menopause as imbalance of doshas. Its recommendations include consumption of fresh fruits and leafy vegetables and reduction of intake of hot and sour foods. An exercise regimen consisting of brisk walking in open space for 30 minutes is recommended.Meditation and prayer can help to calm the mind and provide the much needed psychological support.

To neutralize the hormonal imbalance, chandraprabha gulika is taken three times every day after food both morning and night. This preparation is available in two forms, the conventional small peppercorn sized balls and the modern tablets. In case of tablets, two of them can be taken. The conventional balls should be taken after soaking them in a few drops of milk and squishing them to a paste. To complement this, Chandanaasavam and usirasaavam are mixed together and 50 ml of this combination is taken after food both in the mornings and evenings.Application of pinda thailam once or twice a week can take care of body aches and hot flashes. Women who are in the throes of menopause can follow this regimen, even if they do not experience the symptoms mentioned above.

Observation of some dietary restrictions helps in preventing weight gain in postmenopausal women. Intake of sugar, carbohydrate and milk should be reduced to the minimum. Daytime nap is a strict no, no. The importance of consumption of fruits and leafy vegetables cannot be stressed enough. Adequate water intake is also necessary in flushing out waste products from the body.

Some of the ayurveda preparations that can help women facing menopause are asokarishtam, triphala choornam, satavari lehyam, balarishtam etc. These are some of the safer alternatives to the risky hormone replacement therapy recommended to menopausal women by the conventional system.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Home Remedies for Women - 6

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Home Remedies for Women - 6

Menstrual problems occur due to various reasons. One of the main reasons for menstrual disorders is stress, both stress in the household as well as workplace.Anemia, tuberculosis, tapeworms, venereal diseases etc also can lead to menstrual disorders. Before starting any treatment regimen, the root cause behind the menstrual disorder should be identified. This can help in effective treatment of the condition.

Women experience pain in lower abdomen, lower back, and hip regions during menstruation. In addition, some women suffer from headache, stomach ache, pain in hands and legs, back pain and neck pain. Women who undergo pain should increase the quantity of onions, milk, honey, buttermilk, dates in their diet.They should remain active. Inhaling fresh air will help bring down pain.

Women who experience pain in ribs and back, pressure on stomach etc can take raisins and grapes during their periods. A handful of chembaruthi (hibiscus) flower and arugmapul (Bermuda grass) is taken and ground to a fine paste. This is taken with butter. Another alternative is to take 10 hibiscus flowers and ground to fine paste and added to a glass of milk. Taking this on empty stomach during periods is found to be helpful in alleviating pains in the extremities.

Hibiscus flower, rose flower, aavaram poo (Tanner’s Cassia) are taken in equal quantity and boiled in water and reduced to half. This decoction is taken, a spoonful three to four times a day with milk. Dietary restrictions include foods containing, salt and chilli.

Barks of banyan tree, athi (common fig) tree, and naaval (Java plum) tree are dried and ground to a fine powder. The powder is mixed with mondhan plantain (kadhali vazhai) for a night. The resultant liquid is filtered out the next day morning. This is also called as kadhali aasavam. Taking this liquid helps in controlling excessive menstruation.

Maasikkai (Aleppo Oak) is fried to brownish color and ground to a fine powder. A pinch of this powder is taken with honey. This is found to help with excessive menstrual discharge.

Fully dried white arugampul (Bermuda grass) and pepper are powdered and taken with goat milk. This should be done before food in the mornings. This is said to arrest excessive flow. Kernel from the seed of fully ripe mango is a very good remedy. This is dried in shade and ground to a fine powder. This powder is taken with honey.

Women who turn anemic due to this condition can regain their health by taking juice of fresh Bermuda grass (arugampul) before food in the mornings.

One of my earlier posts mentions the importance of adding Black gram and sesame to the diet to deal with most of the menstrual disorders. Dishes made of black gram and sesame can be taken both as a delicacy as well as medicine.Regular and judicious intake of these grains will help in overcoming most of these painful conditions.

Decoction of Asoka tree bark is yet another remedy. Asokarishtam is a boon for all menstrual disorders.

Meditation, prayer, etc will help in dealing with the stresses of day to day life. A genuine spiritual approach to life offers strength and solace to the much stressed women of this century.

Asokarishtam

Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Home Remedies for Women - Summary

Most of the gender specific diseases that affect women revolve aroundmenstruation, childbirth and post menopausal complications. Some problems that women face include irregular menstruation, white discharge, vaginal itch, delayed puberty, excessive discharge etc.

Due to the oppressive nature of the male dominated society, almost all women are faced with self-esteem issues. Those who feel bad being born as women are prone to various illnesses and psycho-somatic disorders. Conversely, women with good self-esteem can lead a healthy life. A lucky few are born in a nurturing environment while the rest have to deal with various issues before restoring their self-esteem.

Some problems with menstruation include painful menstruation, scanty or excessive menstruation, and irregular menstruation. Juice of drumstick leaves is helpful in treating painful menstruation. One cure for excessive menstrual bleed is arugampul (Bermuda grass) juice. Powder of mango seeds is another remedy. Powder of Java plum seeds is yet another remedy for this condition.

One disturbing trend observed these days is girls attaining puberty prematurely (before age 10). You need to seek immediate medical intervention if you find your near and dear ones with this condition. Left untreated, this can impair the functioning of internal organs especially the heart.

While abortion is resorted to by couples for various reasons, frequent abortions weaken the womb. This will impair the capacity of the womb to bear child. It may even lead to hysterectomy (removal of womb). One safe way to avoid pregnancy is for women to take a few tulsi leaves in the mornings.

Nausea and vomiting is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. While in most cases, this tapers off with time, in some cases it persists for quite a long time.Lemon juice with a pinch of salt is helpful in treating this condition. Ginger tea is also found to be effective in tackling this problem.

Women need to do some mild exercises during pregnancy to help with easy child delivery. They should not put on weight during this period. After childbirth, taking neem leaves with turmeric is said to heal all internal wounds and help in recuperation. Mutton curry with garlic, pepper and cumin seeds is an excellent rejuvenator. Kurunthotti paal kashayam is a vegetarian alternative for this.

Breast milk is the best food and medicine for the newborn. It would do a world of good for the child if it is fed on breast milk alone for the first four to six months.For adequate of supply of breast milk, women can add drumstick leaves, tender papaya to their diet. Fried sesame seeds also help in improving lactation. Applying a paste of cucumber seeds on the breasts is also beneficial.

Female infertility increases with age. A woman can be infertile due to genetic reasons. Incomplete or improper development of internal sex organs is another cause. Triphala choornam is said to be effective in such cases.

In general, women’s diet should contain adequate amount of fruits and vegetables.Proper rest and some basic physical exercises are necessary. Meditation and a spiritual outlook to life will help in managing the stresses of daily life. Above all, positive self-esteem is the foundation on which a healthy mind and body can be built to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Arthritis Home Remedy for Heart Problems

Ayurvedic Home Remedy for Heart Problems

“Draksha” is the Sanskrit word for grapes. From time immemorial grapes have been used both for medicinal and nourishment purposes. Ayurveda has recognized the medicinal value of grapes. Draksharishtam and drakshadhi kashayam are famous examples of Ayurvedic formulations using grapes.

Grapes have the capacity to regulate LDL (bad cholesterol). Well known for its anti-coagulation properties it also helps prevent platelet aggregation. It also helps in treating lung, liver and prostate cancers to a large extent.

Studies have shown that the French have lesser heart problems when compared to Americans. Researchers have found the reason to be red wine consumed by the French. I do not advocate taking red wine though for heart problems!Grapes strengthen the heart muscles and also eliminate free radicals. Manganese, potassium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C are some of the constituents of grapes.It is found that people affected with Alzheimer’s disease are also benefited by the consumption of grapes.Fully ripe grapes are the best to consume. Also black grapes have more medicinal value that the green ones.Dried grapes, both black and green are available throughout the year. They have all the medicinal properties as that of the fresh ones.Black grapes or raisins help to cure constipation. For this, soak a few raisins (5-6 nos) in a glass of water before going to bed. Eat the raisins and drink the water the first thing next day morning (after cleaning your teeth of course!). Regular usage for about a month or so corrects even chronic constipation.Grapes are excellent thirst quenchers especially at the time of fever. A couple of raisins taken when feeling thirsty will help quench the thirst as well as revitalize almost instantly. Instead of taking red wine, consuming fresh black grapes is advised for a healthier heart. Or else you can take a spoonful of draksharishta. This is available at all leading ayurveda shops. Draksharishta also helps to overcome lethargy, infuse vitality and promote well-being.

Thus grapes are helpful in maintaining a healthy heart and curing various heart problems.