How to deal with diabetes

In Ayurveda, this is known as madhumeba. Madhu means honey and meba to pass out through the urine. Our modern life style is prime cause of the disease. Excessively starchy diets, manner in which we eat and drink, intake of tinned and preserved food, mental stress and strain, lack of exercise are responsible factors.

Treating diabetes means a strict regimen whereby sedentary habits are avoided and a certain amount of physical exercise is undertaken. Food which helps the action the enzyme should be eaten. Most pungent and bitter food work towards this. Thus, turmeric, bitter vegetable like bitter gourd and fenugreek are recommended. Honey, though a form of sugar, is not prohibited in diabetes. Collected from different types of flowers which may be astringent and bitter in taste, honey, if pure and natural, may cure diabetes. Honey from neem flowers is particularly useful.

Treatment: There are fourteen medicinal sources with anti-diabetes and property, preparation of which relieve the manifested signs and symptoms of diabetes, and also tries to curb the disease at its root. All these drugs primarily work at the site of the origin of the disease. They directly affect the pancreas and liver. They provide the tissues of these glands with proper nourishment and help tone them up. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain also gets rejuvenated and exercises better control over the liver, the pancreas, the suprarenal glands and the kidneys.

How to deal with hiccups

Hiccups or bikka roga is produced as a result of spasm of the glotties and diaphragm. Depending upon of the doshas involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, different types of symptoms are manifested.

Treatment: peacock feather ash mixed with honey is considered to be the best therapy for the condition. Eladi vati, which contains cardamom as an important ingredient, is also a popular tonic in this treatment. It is usually taken with honey.

Diet and regimen: leftover cooked rice, tender radish, goat’s milk and garlic is advisable. Fatty, heavy and cold food is not permitted. Rest is necessary. Natural urges should not be suppressed.

How to deal with cough

Cough is a symptom of several diseases affecting the chest and throat. It may be accompanied by sputum or it may be just a dry cough. It may be acute or chronic. Irritation and pain in the throat, spitting out large quantities of sputum which may be foul smelling; pain in the chest, back and abdomen; fever, loss of appetite, vomiting; difficulty in breathing; spiting of blood and loss of weight; headache, sneezing, giddiness and sleeplessness are symptoms associated with cough.

Remedies:

• For cough associated with spitting of sputum, slight pain in the chest and loss of appetite, juice, paste of powder of vasa ( 1 tea spoon ) and ginger juice (1/2 tea spoon ) id available.
• For cough associated with irritation and pain in the throat, hot tea prepared with basil leaves, clove and ginger juice (1/2 teaspoon) should be taken three times a day.
• For cough associated with fever, sneezing, headache and loss of appetite, half a teaspoon of a powder of long pepper, black pepper and dry ginger may be taken with one teaspoon of honey or a cup of warm milk three times a day.
• Hot fomentation of the chest with sand or rock salt tied in a piece of cloth is useful.
• Applying mustard oil on the chest and throat can help.

Diet and regimen: curd, bananas, oranges, cold beverages and oily food are to be avoided. Garlic, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, cumin seeds may be useful if taken in food. Drink only warm water. Do not sleep during the day, especially, after eating. Avoid exposure to rain and cold and wear sufficient warm clothing. If there is constipation, taken a mild laxative, i.e. one teaspoon (5 gm ) of powder before going to bed with warm water or warm milk.

Indian Pennywort

Indian Pennywort is a common creeping herb, rooting at the nodes. The leaves are kidney-shaped, mildly-toothed and palmately nerved. The flowers are in clusters, each bearing three or four small flowers. It grows in gardens in gardens and damp uncultivated areas.

Herbal use:

1. Alters the process of nutrition and excretion and restores normal functioning of the body.
2. It promotes the flow of urine.
3. Reduces inflammation.
4. Gentle laxative.
5. Purifies the blood.
6. Soothes the nerves.
7. Is a local stimulant.
8. Treatment of leprosy, skin diseases, chronic inflammation of the skin, chronic ulcers, contagious sores, chronic and piles.
9. Externally used to cure abnormal swellings, inflammations and internally to check fever.
10. It is used for relief from dysentery.
11. As a tonic for improving memory.
12. Good for hair growth and checks hair fall.

Instructions:

1. The decoction or infusion of the plant is used for leprosy, skin disease, and chronic inflammation of the skin, chronic ulcers, contagious sores, chronic rheumatism and piles.
2. The juice, extracted from the plant, applied externally is used for abnormal swellings of various parts of the body, and for inflammations. The juice is also taken internally to check fever, in doses of 5 drops in water a day.
3. The dry powdered leaves of the plant are good for tuberculosis and the recommended dose is two tablespoons every 2 hours.
4. Externally used as a lotion, the decoction of the plant is very good for falling hair and baldness.
5. Extraction from the leaves can also be mixed with coconut oil and applied on the head before bath and as a regular hair-oil. This strengthens the hair follicles and promotes hair growth.

Major parts used: The whole plant.

How to deal with high blood pressure

Blood pressure varies from person to person depending upon their age, sex, physical and mental work done by them. Older males and those who are exposed to more mental and physical work than normal maintain a higher blood pressure than others. In young people, damage to the functioning of the kidneys may cause high blood pressure. Excessive intakes of salt, lack of exercise, mental worry, sleeplessness, among others, are responsible for high blood pressure.

Treatment: All medicines which alleviate vayu and strengthen the nervous system are useful in this condition. Garlic is an excellent drug as it produces a heating effect on the body when taken raw. Garlic made into a paste and mixed with butter-milk is very effective in treating this condition. Sarpagandha is a common drug used very widely also in the allopathic system of medicine. In Ayurveda, the whole root of this drug is used in its raw state.

Combining foods

According to the teachings in Ayurveda, particular foods should not be combined because they put a strain on the digestive process. All substances have put a strain on the digestive process. All substances have their own tastes, energetic, and postdigestive effects, which influence how the food is digested and utilized. The different digestive demands of foods eaten at the same meal may strain the digestive system and deplete agni. Such foods, when eaten at separate meals, may, however, be properly digested and so add to your wellbeing.

The antagonistic qualities of foods that are not ideally combined may be reduced by one pot cooking.

Unfortunately, the rules about food combining cannot be simply set out as a comprehensive table that says “Do not eat this with that.” At with all things in Ayurveda, everything is relative and general rules have to be applied individually. If your digestion is poor, you need to take more care about combining foods than if you have a strong digestive capacity.

It is essential that you learn to understand not only what your body is telling you but also the state of your agni or digestive capabilities, which will vary from time to time. You may already know that some foods do not agree with you, or that sometimes they do and on other occasions they do not. Your own observation is a good teacher.

A Note about Aromatherapy

Aroma therapy is a term that is the treatment to cure diseases by using oils which is extracted from plant known as essential oils. This oils are used for massage, medicine and bathing. Essential oils quiet differ from other herbal products because it distilled only lighter phytomolecule. Aromatherapy had been used for around 6000 years ago. The Greeks, roman and ancient Egyptians all used aromatic oil well mainly for body massage and bathing.

Essential oils are rich in monoterpene which is a class of termanes and it consist of two isoprene units and exist the molecular formula c10 h 16 and sesquiteprines which is also a class of termanes and it consist of three isoprene units and have the molecular formula c15 h 24 as well as rich in aldehyde, ketones and light hydrocarbon known as VOCs.

The word aroma therapy was first used by French chemist Rene Maurice gattefosse in the year 1920.he was happened to get accident in his perfume laboratory. Suddenly he set his arm in lavender oil and he was surprised because he was relieved from pain soon. At the very moment he started to research on oils. later he devoted his life in this process.

Ayurvedic herbalist's collection

Gum-resin of guggulu Sprouted mung

...is the only kind of pulses allowed in the diet of a rheumatic patient. The gum-resin of guggulu is the most important ingredient used in medicines which cure rheumatism.

Cumin seeds

Adding cumin seeds to the food during an attack of dystentery is beneficial.

Mung

This pulse is good for the heart as well as rheumatic patients.

Castor seeds

Oil derived from them is an excellent purgative.

Masoor

This pulse too is good for the heart.

Chillies

Chillies are usually asked to be avoided by Ayurvedic physicians as in most diseases, they are a harmful condiment.

Turmeric Powder

Turmeric powder mixed with warm water is an effective cure for bronchitis.

Black pepper

Black pepper is very useful in combating heart diseases.

Fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek seeds help in curing diabetes.

Asafoetida

Asafoetida is good if taken when there is an attack of cough.

Suvarna sutashekhara

Suvarna sutashekhara is an important Ayurvedic drug for migraine, which consist of Mercury, Copper, Sulphur, Borax and Gold.

Cheese, Wheat and Milk

Cheese, Wheat and Milk are part of the prescribed diet for colic pain.

Turmeric Powder

Turmeric powder in warm milk is a reliable household remedy for fever with common cold.

Fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek seeds can cure cough.

Jaggery

Jaggery obtained from palm fruit has many remedial properties, one of them is curing headache.

Isabgol plant and busk

Isabgol busk in warm water is the most effective cure for constipation.

Ginger

Chewing a piece of ginger before eating prevents and cures indigestion.

Clove oil

Applying clove oil is a very effective cure for toothache.

Castor leaves

Castor leaves smeared with castor oil help mitigate joint pains.

Neem leaves and twigs

Brushing one’s teeth with neem twigs is an ancient Indian practice as the medicinal properties of neem are manifold.

Exercises

Regular exercise helps improve the digestion: it rises again, keeps the channels unobstructed, expels the wastes of cell metabolism, and keeps the muscles supple. Almost everyone will benefit from exercise, but the exercise must be suitable for your constitution. Too much exercise increases vata.

The ideal amount of exercise varies with each individual. Ayurveda says you should exercise to half your capacity. For example, if you know that after running for 30 minutes you are exhausted, then you should not run for more than 15 minutes. Another way to tell when you have had the optimum amount of exercise is when you begin sweating on your forehead, under your armpits, and along your spine.

Drying therapy in Ayurveda

Drying therapy involves the intake of pungent, bitter and astringent substances like cakes made of mustard and sesame, as also honey. Sexual indulgence is prescribed. This therapy is recommended for patients suffering from diseases where the channels of circulation are obstructed and there is an excessive dominance of the aggravated dosha which is manifested in the vital organs of the body through spasticity of the thighs, gout and serves urinary disorders.

Ayurvedic herbalist's collection

Apple

Apple is considered very good for the heart.

Oranges

Oranges are prescribed for patients with a high blood pressure.

Bananas

Bananas are useful for patients suffering from hysteria and heart disease.

Grape

Grape juice should be taken regularly during jaundice.

Bael

Bael fruit is one of the best tonics for the heart.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate is prescribed in case of amoebic dysentery.

Papaya

Ripe papaya is one of the best cures of constipation.

Mangoes

Mangoes have a cooling effect on the body and help combating hysteria.

Pineapple

Pineapple is an effective cure for patients with heart disease.

Garlic

Garlic is the best remedy for patients with high blood pressure.

Pomegranate fruit and juice

Pomegranate fruit as well as fruit juice is advised for patients suffering from jaundice.

Haritaki fruit

Haritaki fruit is an effective cure for bronchial asthma.

Brahmi

Brahmi helps in calming the mind in hysteria.

Mandukaparni

Mandukaparni is an important medicinal herb prescribed for the cure of leprosy.

Katuti

Katuki is useful in liver cirrhosis.

Neem flowers

Neem flowers are a prescribed diet in cervical spondylosis.

Basil juice

Basil juice regulates the heart.

Amalaki fruit

Amalaki fruit, one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, is good for the heart as well as for asthmatic patients.

Vasa

Vasa is very useful in curing chronic bronchitis.

Arjuna

Arjuna, good for the overall health of the heart, also prevents clotting in the coronary arteries.

Lemon juice or just the fruit

Lemon juice or just the fruit is an effective cure for amoebic dysentery.

Headaches from the Ayurvedic point of view

Ayurveda considers headache to be of various kinds depending on the predominance of the dosha involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. The causative factors can be both physical and psychological. Defective eye-sight, inflammation of the sinus, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, brain tumour, prolonged overwork, emotional strain, exposure to excessive heat, indigestion, constipation and several other factors can cause headache. Headache is a symptom of many other diseases like fever, influenza and bronchitis.

The signs and symptoms associated with headache vary with the aggravation of each dosha. Thus there are headache associated with a heavy head, running nose, watery eyes and so on, those which happen particularly in the early hours of the morning, during the rainy season or in the winter, and immediately after a meal. In summer and autumn, headache is often associated with a burning sensation in the head and bleeding from the nose. This is the pitta type of headache. The vata type of headache is always associated with giddiness, dryness and roughness of the eyes and pain in different parts of the head.

Vegetables: Ayurvedic Medicine Characteristics

Therapeutic use is made of drugs of vegetable origin, animal products and metals, minerals, gems and semi-precious stones. They are processed only in order to render them non-toxic, palatable and therapeutically more potent. No synthetic additives are used in these processes. The processes themselves have been carefully designed of the medicines’ ingredients.

Toxic ingredients such as aconite, mercury and arsenic are made to pass through elaborate processes before they are used. Only minute doses are prescribed after their efficacy has been tried and tested over time.

Ayurvedic medicines not only cure the patient of diseases, they also provide immunity against future attacks. In normal healthy individuals, they help to revitalize the body cells and stimulate the immune system.