Likewise even Star Health covers non allopathic treatments except naturopathy under its Unique Health Insurance policy. Again under Cholamandalam MS General Insurance the company has decided to design a product to cover treatments under Ayurvedic hospitalization as it is the most popular of the alternate treatments.

It is important to note that no one cover is large enough to completely cover alternative treatments. One has to buy a standard health insurance from select insurance companies and others that offer coverage for Nonallopathic treatments.

Yet to be on the safer side before going for an alternative and make a claim, do check if treatment is indicated in the document of insurance

The modern culture of junk food, eating food very fast is not suited for human bodies. Again the concept of fast food joints or ‘darshinis’ like in a city like Bangalore may be the order of the day as it becomes convenient for modern day lifestyle. However this is against ayurvedic principles where it does not recommend humans to stand and eat and advocates eating in sitting position and be in a relaxed frame of mind. As Maharishi Ayurveda propagates the individual needs to concentrate on taste, texture and smell of food to aid in digestion.

Stimulating the digestive fire or agni is very important in Ayurveda. For those who complain of poor hunger, Ayurveda recommends the intake of ginger and lemon juice. However please note that if you have the body type that has too much internal heat then alternatives like pomegranate chutney in small quantities may be more suited for you. Other healthy suggestions are avoiding caffeinated drinks or ice cold drinks including water. Water should be at room temperature and should accompany meals to help in good digestion rather than cause a hindrance.

Warm foods are preferred for breakfast in comparison to cold foods like cold milk, cold cereal as they become harder on digestion. Do note that fruit is better digested if had in the morning as part of breakfast or had as mid morning snack. As health practitioners recommend drink enough water. Even if it is cumbersome make it a habit to have at least eight glasses of water.

According to ancient principles of Ayurveda eating at regular meal times whether it is breakfast or other meals of the day, digestion is going to be easier for the human body. Also foods that are cooked fresh are good for digestion so avoid packaged foods or consuming reheated leftover foods that are not in principles of good eating habits.

Lunch should be in good sizeable portion as this will be the main meal. Indian foods are the best in terms of nutritional value and hence posses the quality of getting easily digested. Wherever you are staying in southern or northern part of India choose food that suit the climate.

Also make sure to eat a few salads like cucumber, tomatoes, onions and home grown sprouts. If this is made as a daily routine it will be slowly imbibed as part of the meal. For dinner try and have a vegetable soup every alternate day. Have a light dinner like dal, rotis and vegetable dish or rice dal and side dish comprising of boiled vegetables.

OTHER IMPORTANT GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW FOR EFFECTIVE DIGESTION ARE:

1. Eat food slowly by chewing properly each morsel in the mouth. Do not gulp food down just because you are in a hurry.
2. Do not engage in any other activity like watching television or working on computer or laptop while eating as the process of eating gets diverted and you will really not be able to concentrate on eating.
3. Make sure to leave some space in your stomach just before you complete your meal. This will ensure better digestion rather than eating until heavily full.

Please note: Use the information above mentioned for reference only and not as a substitute for doctor’s advice.

Listed are a few books written by well known authors. Please note these are the recommended books in English. There are many other books that are popular written in Sanskrit or Hindi (Indian languages). Meanwhile you can definitely have a look at these titles the next time you are a book store as AyurShop is recommending these books.

1)”Ayurveda – A Life of Balance: The Complete Guide to Ayurvedic Nutrition & Body Types with Recipes” – By Maya Tiwari

Publisher – Healing Arts Press, Pages – 368

The book has inclusions of a thorough profile of the seven body types and the foods best suited to each. The author is credited to be the first to include a complete discussion of the personality or psycho spiritual attributes of the Ayurvedic body types, as well as food charts, seasonal menus, and recommended daily routines for each type.

2)Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing by Usha Lad and Dr. Vasant Lad, Publisher – Motilal Banarasidas

More than 100 delicious ayurvedic recipes are included in this book. Pages- 254

This is a cookbook and much more. In fact Ayurveda teaches that food plays a primary role in maintaining health. Dr. Vasant Lad and Usha Lad present authentic and tasty Ayurvedic recipes designed to promote vitality and well-being. Each recipe carefully balances the three individual constitutions – vata, pitta, and kapha. Everything from the common cold and skin problems to stabilizing blood sugar in diabetes, all using familiar household herbs, fruits and vegetables, the book gives a comprehensive solution in the form of cookbook

3)Principles of Ayurveda by Anne Green, Publisher- Thorsons Publication. Pages- 173

It is said that for a western reader Ayurveda as a science is overwhelming and confusing unless explained in the simplest terms. Anne Green very clearly and systematically introduces Ayurveda; India’s ancient healing system and sister science of yoga and tantra, in a western voice.

4)Yoga and Ayurveda ; Self–Healing and Self- Realization by David Frawley, Publisher – Lotus Press USA, Motilal Banarasidas, India. Pages- 350 pages

David Frawley is an American Hindu author who has published books on topics such as Hinduism Yoga and Ayurveda. This book introduces the different types of energy (such as the five pranas), subtle bodies (koshas), energy centres and pathways (chakras and nadis), energetic nectars (ojas and soma) and discusses the Ayurvedic view on diets, healing, herbs, yoga postures and meditation.

 5)Ayurvedic Healing for Women; A Guide to Vitality and Health– By Dr. Robert E Svoboda. Publisher – Healing Arts Press. Pages – 192

Ayurveda for Women explores in detail the landmark changes associated with the three stages of life–childhood, adulthood, and old age–and provides practical advice on exercise, sleep, diet, beauty care, meditation and massage, sex and relationships, childcare, menopause, and other issues central to women’s lives today. Simple to enact and profound in effect, Ayurveda could be the answer many women are seeking.

Consumers need to note that only ‘asavarishta’ (herbal liquid preparation) and ‘bhasma’ (metallic-herbo formulations) have no expiry date and can be used even after two years of manufacturing.

This comes in the light of a number of ayurvedic preparations involving medicated ghee and oil, including Mahanarayana Taila with analgesic properties are used in Panchakarma procedure and most of them have a shelf-life of 18 to 24 months. According to the Pharmacovigilance Centre for North Region, the rule 161 (B) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945 has made it mandatory to print the manufacture and expiry date of all ayurvedic, siddha and unani ( ASU) drugs from April 1, 2010 onwards.

The film travels nearly 15,000 kilometres through landscapes of exceptional beauty and geographical variety in India, Greece and USA. For several months Pan Nalin and his research team constantly searched out people and places almost all over the world; to do total justice to this exceptional subject, to voice the story of Ayurveda through exceptional Vaidyas (Ayurvedic Doctors), patients and experts.

Some of the Vaidyas have revealed their secrets and open their home and clinics to contribute to the film. Plant searching tribes took them into dark corner of jungle where a rare endangered plant still grows wild. Ancient Palm-leaf manuscripts locked away for 3 to 5 centuries were looked for and made use of. Ancient ‘Mud-Scanning’ method of Diagnosis has been considered extinct and lost but their months long efforts managed to track down the last surviving place. A rarely seen lost science of Marma, vital points, and how it can kill or cure; was demonstrated on a goat for the first time revealing vital points which can paralyze.

During the 3 long years while preparing the film Pan Nalin was himself surprised despite being exposed to the science of Ayurveda in his family, to discover how scientific Ayurveda is. “I personally believe that our world of today, into a new millennium, is going to need natural arts of healing like it never did ever before. Spirituality and natural balances will play a vital role in governing our happiness in near future. No single film can do justice to the vast science of Ayurveda but for me the film is just a sharing, but the sharing that inspires, naturally” quotes Pan Nalin.

Visit http://www.ayurvedafilm.com/ to read more about the film and to get a sneak peek into what’s in store in the movie.

This exclusive 24-bed (30 bed capacity) Ayurveda hospital with air-conditioned (optional) premium, private, and semi-private rooms is located off the Intermediate Ring Road connecting Indira Nagar to Koramangala, adjacent to Dell-EGL. The treatment rooms are most hygienically maintained. All rooms are airy, well-lit, with en-suite bathrooms, flat screen televisions and WiFi internet access.

AyurVAID Hospital is the first Ayurveda Hospital in Karnataka to have a dedicated water treatment plant to ensure that all oil and other sediments are separated from treatment water before it is let off into the public drainage system. They also adhere to the Government of India’s Bio-medical Waste guidelines, as well as the Water and Air Acts.

The residents of Bangalore are in for  a world class Ayurveda medical care facility.

Here are the top ten reasons why you should be using Patchouli Oil.

• Patchouli oil is best known for its anti depressant properties. The oil not only lifts up your mood and relieves your senses of any tension but also reduces your anxiety and depressed feelings.

• As mentioned earlier, the fragrance of the oil lets it be a part of perfuming your rooms or even in incense sticks for your Pooja room.

• The oil is a popular massage oil and is also used in Aromatherapy for    The oil has anti fungal, anti septic, anti viral and anti bacterial properties and hence can be used for any above mentioned related allergies or infections.

• It is a very good skin care oil that prevents skin infections and problems such as acne, drying of skin, scars, etc. It also has anti aging properties that keeps your skin looking young and rejuvenated.

• The oil’s sweet smell also makes a great perfume. It helps it keeping your body odour at bay.

• Adding a few drops of the oil into your clothes before washing them will not only give them a fresh smell but also destroys the bacteria and other microbes that could be in the clothes which will cause allergy.

• Spraying Patchouli oil based liquid in your house will keep away insects, mosquitoes, bugs and other annoying flying creatures.

• It has also shown increased benefits in weight loss, sex related problems, urinary problems and helps in flushing out the toxins and cholesterol from your body.

• Last but not the least, it increases the immunity of your body and hence prevents illnesses like cold, cough, fever, headaches, infections and abdominal problems.

These reasons should cover the most important aspects of your daily life and hence the reason why Patchouli Oil should be a part of your health regime.

Ayurveda looks at migraine as mostly a pitta dosha, which is an imbalance in the body heat. Migraine could also be caused as part of the vata dosha or kapha dosha as well but pitta dosha is looked into as the main cause.

Ayurveda looks at balancing the doshas so as to bring about not just a bodily balance but also solve the root cause of the problem.

Herbal cures include the use of chyavanprash, ashwagandha, shatavari, brahmi, jatamamsi and gudachi amongst others. Herbal hot oil massage also known as Shirodhara is used to relieve headaches.

Other than that, some basic things can one can incorporate to relieve oneself of migraine can be done on a daily basis. Since it is summer, avoiding the Sun as much as possible would help to a large extent since the heat from the Sun also increases the pitta levels in the body. If staying out in the Sun is unavoidable, protect yourself from the Sun by taking an umbrella or putting on a wide hat.

Nature has answers to everything. And to relieve you of a migraine, a walk amongst greenery is your answer. A regular walk in the evening in a park or a garden or any other scenic place will not only make you feel good and relaxed but will also keep your headache away.

Pranayama is another solution that will give permanent results when followed with punctuality. Shitali pranayama is also known as the cooling breathing exercise. This involves rolling your tongue like a tube and breathing in air through your mouth. You will feel your saliva and your tongue cooling while you inhale. Exhaling is done from the nose. Following this breathing technique regularly not only keeps you healthy but will be a sure solution to bring your headaches down and also keep your body cool and the pitta in check.

Following these simple techniques will help you keep your migraine at check.

But for something so complex and intense, we never think that there would be a way of eating fruits to gain maximum benefits from the same. It’s summer and it’s the season of mangoes and watermelons. But have you ever thought for a moment that these could not only be enjoyable to eat but could also be made healthy if eaten the Ayurvedic way? Here’s how you eat them!

Mangoes are rightfully called the king of fruits and we all await the summer season to relish this fruit. But mangoes are known to increase body heat and cause dysentery. To avoid this displeasure you could consume a pinch of ginger powder or just eat a small piece of ginger (you could add a pinch of salt and a drop of lime juice to the ginger piece) as soon as you eat a mango. This will control any ill effects a mango could cause to your body.

Watermelons are another favourite of a lot of people for the season. These are not only sweet but also hydrating to your body. But to make it more beneficial to you, add black pepper powder to the watermelon pieces and eat them. This will help in reactivating the digestive activity which has usually come down in the season.

Enjoy your summer fruits the healthy way!

An hour before you take a shower, massage your body with oil meant for muscle relaxation, joint pains or just regular body massage oil. Take a mildly hot shower after this. After the shower, drink a warm glass of milk mixed with honey. You could also eat dates. This will not only comfort your body but will make you feel relaxed throughout the day and will make you want to hit the sack as soon as you find one.

You could also try breathing exercises or just simply close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing rhythm so that you can clear your thoughts and not have anything bothering you before you go to sleep.

You could also soak your feet in warm water mixed with relaxing oils before going to bed. Pat your feet dry and massage your feet with a lotion or a foot cream. Relaxed feet make you feel peaceful and comfortable which will help you fall asleep quickly.

Try these and like hey say, sleep like a log!