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Recycle Urine- Consume it to stay healthy!

November 19th, 2010

Urine Therapy is one of the most popular techniques mentioned in the scripts of Ayurveda. It is not surprising that people might be repulsive towards the idea of consuming ones urine since it is considered a waste that is thrown out of the body. This notion of urine being a toxic waste is a misconception and it has been seen to be helpful in curing many diseases. Some of the serious diseases like tuberculosis, asthama, cancer, osteoporosis, gout, impotence, diabetes, gangrene, hyperacidity, heart disease, stomach related problems, intestinal problems, psoriasis, piles, etc are seen to be cured with urine therapy.

A person’s own urine has antibodies that are perfectly suited to cure the particular disorder in the body which makes it important to consume ones own urine. People’s misunderstanding of urine such as it being a waste and that the body doesn’t need it and hence has thrown it out of the system should be gotten rid of .It should be understood that urine is a  derivative of the blood and contains elements differing in compositions which are filtered and collected in the kidneys when in excess. This is sterile and is free of almost all bacteria.

Urine is available in synthetic form for making consumption less a hassle. But urine in its natural form is best for consumption since it has no side effects. This is die to the presence of natural enzymes and antibodies in urine which is not present in synthetic urine.

Urine therapy is now rediscovered and is widely used and accepted in curing various diseases.

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Migraine relief with Ayurveda

November 3rd, 2010

Migraine is one of the most common types of headache found in people and predominantly in women in comparison to men. Though it is found in a lot of people the actual cause is not clearly known and different people can have different triggers that leads to a migraine.

Allopathy may have a lot of on the counter medications that will give temporary relief from the headache. Migraines affect our normal working patterns especially when it is accompanied by nausea, throbs and similar discomforts.

Ayurveda tries to find the root cause of migraine by taking into consideration the body states in terms of the Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. Ayurveda suggests a healthy diet, Yoga and Panchakarma treatments to get rid of migraine.

Diet :
Good dietary habits would help an individual maintain good health and offer immunity from recurring bouts of headaches. Consuming cooked vegetables without oil should be encouraged. Have a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Vegetable juices and soup, fruits and fruit juices including apple, mango, should be taken in ample quantities. Highly-fruit based diet for a day or two can relieve pain. Grapes, lemons, cabbage juice are especially important. Rice, salad and buttermilk can always be consumed.

Yoga:
Simple yoga treatments have been found to serve both as an alternative and as a supplement for dealing with Migraine and Headaches. Yoga is known to offer both cure and immunity from headaches. Headaches caused due to tension and worry can be alleviated through deep breathing and relaxation, especially in a lying down position in a quiet place. Inverted postures, or those where the head is lowered briefly, increase oxygen to the brain and can reduce headache-causing strain. However, for those suffering from severe headache like migraine, any type of exercise can be injurious.

Panchakarma:
Nasya or medicated oil drops used for the treatment of migraine is of two types. The first is called “Shirovirechan”, in which strong, irritant medicines are instilled as nasal drops, which induce sneezing and watery discharge. The second is called as “Avapidak nasya’ in which a paste is prepared of a herb or several herbs, and the liquid is inserted in the nostrils. Usually, herbs like Vacha (Acorus calamus) and Pippali ( Piper longum) are used along with honey. Both procedures are aimed at removing the cause of the headache and the pain.

The medicated enema used in migraine is called as “Anuvasan Basti”. Small quantities of medicated oils, usually about 50 ml. are given at regular intervals, on an outpatient basis. Oil of Sesame and Mahanarayan oil (containing mainly Asparagus racemosus) are usually used for this purpose.

Ayurvedic medications:
Suvarna Sutashekhara Ras is the most commonly prescribed Ayurvedic drug for treating migraine. It is not just a preventive but also a curative means Dose: It is given in the dose of 125 milligram twice daily. The medication is to be taken with milk. Godanti Bhasma is a medication to be taken with honey three times a day. Other preparations include Tribhuvankirti, Bhallatakasav, Triphala Guggulu

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Say goodbye to Anemia with Ayurveda

October 28th, 2010

Minor imbalances in the blood components of our body are capable of opening up a plethora of health issues, and anemia is one such common medical conditions of the blood which is characterized by low count of red blood cells (RBC). As per an official estimate released by the World Health Organization (WHO), anemia affects over one-third of the total population of the world.

This is an alarming report that calls for immediate measures, hence curbing the further outspread of iron deficiency causing anemia is a critical requirement. Besides incorporating iron-enhancing medications, extending treatments at the nutritional level has already shown great results in improvising imbalances. Herbal treatment with iron supplements like AnemiCare not only increases the quantity of iron in the body, but it also supplements the body with Vitamin C, Folic Acid and Calcium.

The simple truth is that the problems of anemia arise due to reduced or inadequate intake of iron-rich food in our diet. Our body depends majorly on iron supply from external sources in order to produce red blood cells in our bone marrows. Technically, iron is an inseparable blood component used in the structuring of blood hemoglobin, and the redness of the blood is indicative of the presence of hemoglobin. Meanwhile, there are various other underlying causes of anemia excluding inadequate dietary intake, and they are— stomach ulcers, chronic internal bleeding due colon cancer, uterine cancer, intestinal polyps, hemorrhoids and so on.

People suffering from one of these medical conditions are subjected to continuous and slow loss of blood, as a result the amount of iron in their bodies remain below the threshold limit at all times. Also, vitamins and essential minerals aid in the production of red blood cells in the blood, so in other words iron, vitamin B12 and folate are the main components required in the making of hemoglobin in the blood.

In conformity with the degree of anemia in the body whether acute or chronic, an anemic person may exhibit symptoms ranging between fatigue, low energy, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations and paleness. But, severe cases of anemia are reportedly characterized by chest pain, dizziness, loss of consciousness, discoloration of stool, increased heart rate, breathing and more.

In similar lines with modern medicine, Ayurvedic treatment for iron deficiency causing anemia focuses on the importance holistic approaches. Both type of treatment methods employ the power of dietary supplements and healthy lifestyles. Increasing the intake of iron-rich foods such as mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, parsley, watercress, brussel sprouts, beans, lentils, soya beans, fortified iron whole grains, seafood like oysters, clams, tuna, salmon et al are the simplest remedy for overcoming pang of anemic distresses.

If you reckon Ayurveda to be the safest means for treating the problems of anemia, then AnemicCare, a potent herbal iron supplement, is the right choice for your \health. This purely herbal product carries zero side-effects and time-bound use of this vegetarian capsule guarantees relief from spells of dizziness and fatigue. It is capable of improving your stamina and replenishes vitamin C, iron and folic acid in your body system.

Make Ayurveda a part of your life and enjoy limitless happiness!

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Ayurveda helps to combat stress

October 21st, 2010

Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) has a number of easily implementable strategies for reducing the impact of stress on your body and mind.

  • Do a regular whole-body self massage with black sesame oil. When applied to the skin, this oil releases serotonin naturally in the body and rapidly eases the stress symptoms. You may have to do the massage daily for a week then reduce to two to three times weekly.
  • Practice slow, deep breathing for five minutes, morning and evening. This activity (called pranayama in Ayurveda) reduces the activity in the mind (beta frequency >18Hz).
  • Do yoga at least three times weekly for about half an hour daily. The “Moon Salute” is a powerful de-stressing sequence of yoga postures. The “Sun Salute” helps to protect the body against excessive stress and allows you to recover more easily.
  • Use non-toxic ayurvedic herbs to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of stress.These are a few well known anti-stress herbs: Ashwagandha, Bacopa Chyawanprash, Gotu Kola, Guduchi, Damiana, Zizyphus.
  • Use a warm de-stressing drink every night before bed. Use half a teaspoon of grated nutmeg in a cup of warm milk. Drink this just before bedtime. If you are allergic or sensitive to cow’s milk, use soy or rice milk.
  • Learn to meditate. This is one of the best long-term methods in bringing stress under control. Just 20 minutes twice daily can make an enormous difference.

This has been a contribution of Dr Anand Ramphal and Rajen Cooppan.

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Curcumin or turmeric can stop cancer in its earliest stages

October 14th, 2010

According to experts, curcumin or turmeric can stop cancer in its earliest stages, long before it is detectable. It works at the level of the cell.

Foundation for Head and Neck Oncology president Dr Anil D’cruz said there have been a lot of innovations in head and neck oncology research. “Earlier, advanced patients were administered high doses of chemotherapy. Now there are low doses of metronomic chemotherapy. There are anti-cancerous agents as simple as curcumin that is used vastly in Ayurveda,” he said.

Integration of different streams of medicines and making cancer care affordable were the buzz words at the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies world-tour meeting on Wednesday.

To give advice on how to make services affordable was member of governing council of Medical Council of India ( MCI) and chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya, Dr Devi Shetty, who said: “India will have a model healthcare system in five years. We have a population of 1.2 billion people and 28 million babies are born every year. Fifty per cent of our population is less than 25 years old. It’s a huge strength. When I was a medical student, I was told that healthcare in India is going to be very expensive. But look at America now, 50% of the population doesn’t have decent medical care,” he said.

He gave examples of model insurance schemes like Karnataka’s Yeshasvini, following which Andhra Pradesh implemented Arogyashri and Tamil Nadu implemented Kalaignar. “We are currently helping six states to launch micro health insurance schemes. Healthcare infrastructure is undergoing a sea change. Karnataka alone has more nursing colleges than America. At Health City, we are performing around 54 heart surgeries per day,” he added. (TOI)

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The secret to good health

October 11th, 2010

The Nature Cure Yogashrams of Rev. Dr. Thomas Maliekal, ND, PhD have helped more than 50,000 patients since the first one was established in 1981. Many patients with serious diseases have been successfully cured. He looks into the various aspects of food intake that would affect health in general and gives the following advice:

The right way to eat and drink:

Rev. Dr. Maliekal stressed the importance of chewing well, until solid becomes liquid, before swallowing. He also advises against drinking liquids while eating solid food. “Take your liquids half an hour before eating, or one hour after,” he says. When one’s appetite is good, it is best to eat during the day only. At night, liquid food like soup can be taken, or fruit be eaten two hours before sleeping. Incidentally, a fruit (one variety at a time) should be taken alone at a meal, for best results.

When drinking, don’t gulp your drink in but slowly sip it. A person may drink warm or normal temperature water, but never cold drinks because these stop digestion and lead to gassiness. As a general rule, avoid food and drinks that are too hot or too cold.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Maliekal’s Model Diet:

6 a.m. – Drink pure water or vegetable juice like cucumber (which could “melt” blocks in arteries, according to Rev. Dr. Maliekal)

6:30 a.m. – Meditation and exercises

8 a.m. – Eat fruits

11 a.m. – Take some vegetable juice, vegetable soup, or coconut water. May be taken with honey, muscovado sugar.

12 noon – Have some rice or wheat bread (1/3) with green leafy vegetables (1/3), and cooked vegetables (1/3). Don’t take fruits with the meal.

2 p.m. – Have a glass of water

4 p.m. – Eat fruits or nuts

6 p.m. – Have cooked veggies, soup, and whole wheat bread

8 p.m. – Have some soup, honey water, or water with lemon juice

9 p.m. – Bedtime

If your produce is not organic, simply clean them by soaking in warm salt water or warm vinegar water from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then rinse them using clean water.

5 Power Recipes-

Daily Drink:
Mix vegetable juice (cucumber, zucchini, carrot, etc.) with juice of green, leafy vegetable (mint, parsley, malunggay, pechay, spinach, oregano, basil, etc.). Experiment with the combinations to get the taste you want.

Peanut Milk:
Mix peanut and water in a blender. Great for growing children. You can also add some coconut milk.

Daily Dessert:
Mix papaya, coconut milk, and muscovado sugar in a blender. You may also use honey instead of muscovado, and add raisins or other fruits.

Mango Chutney:
Mix mango, raw coconut (firm), greens, salt, onion, and chili. You may also fry the coconut to get a variation in taste.

Best Salad:
Mix orange slices with shredded coconut and muscovado sugar. You may also add/substitute papaya, grapes, or other fruits.

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Simple home remedies for sore throat

October 11th, 2010

Although, gargling with salt water or adding a pinch of salt and turmeric to a glass of warm water and gargling with the mixture, are all good remedies for sore throat, they can be used more as a preventive option than a curative one. Discussed here, are few more traditional effective home remedies that can comfort and cure a sore throat.

Ginger: Add a teaspoon of ginger powder to a glass of boiled water. When it has cooled down, add one to two drops of honey and the juice of half-a-lemon. The resulting mixture could be used for gargling all through the day.

Clove: Chewing a clove with rock salt or crystals of common salt is useful to soothe an irritating throat.

Fenugreek: Mix four teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in a glass of warm water. Boil the mixture, and allow it to simmer. The resulting solution can help relieve sore throat. On cooling and straining, the resultant mixture can be used for gargling.

Cumin: Boil a glass of water by adding a teaspoon of cumin seeds and a piece of ginger. Simmer, allow the mixture to cool and gargle with water.

Basil: Boil basil leaves with water and drink twice a day. This can also be used for gargling as and when required.

Henna leaves: A decoction of the leaves can be used as gargle, in cases of throat pain for effective relief.

Cinnamon-cardamom mix: Take a teaspoon each of powdered cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, ginger and powdered sugar, and make a decoction. A teaspoon of this, when taken twice a day with honey or warm water, will heal a sore throat and ease any congestion in the throat.

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Asparagus, garlic in daily diet helps shed weight & control diabetes

September 28th, 2010

Including food like asparagus, artichokes and garlic in daily diet, can help shed excess weight, while also helping to keep blood sugar levels under control, revealed a recent study.

Researchers have noticed that a diet rich in fermentable carbohydrates such as garlic, asparagus and artichokes can suppress hunger, while also helping the body in regulating blood sugar levels. The reason behind this could be because these foods prompt the release of gut hormones that reduce appetite. They enhance the sensitivity to insulin, thereby leading to better glucose control.

A Dietician at Imperial College, London, Nicola Guess, also the study lead, said on investigating the appetite and glucose level control in people with Type 2 Diabetes, it is hoped that there will be a way out to prevent its onset
Therefore, if the study has been successful, it can be determined if such fermentable carbohydrates can form an effective and affordable health intervention, to reduce an individual’s risk of developing diabetes.

Currently, the Charity Diabetes UK is funding research into the health benefits of such foods. If it is found to be effective this could be used as treatment for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

An earlier study by the Leicester University had revealed that eating green leafy vegetables, including Broccoli, kale, spinach, cabbage and sprouts, on daily basis can cut the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

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Ayurvedic Health and Wellness Center Opens in Mountain View, California

September 27th, 2010

Mountain View, CA:  Dr. Jay Apte  announced the grand opening of her new 4,100 sq. ft. Ayurvedic Health and Wellness Center  in Mountain View, California. The Center, dedicated to bringing together the benefits of ancient wisdom and western knowledge, features a clinic staffed by an expert team of Ayurvedic doctors, yoga & meditation studio, diet & lifestyle counseling, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage services, special rejuvenation programs, cooking classes, lectures, and seminars.

As part of its comprehensive menu of services, specifically designed to improve quality of life for busy Silicon Valley professionals and their families, the Center also provides the highly sought-after Ayurvedic rejuvenation program “Panchakarma” which incorporates a series of customized detoxifying, balancing, and nourishing therapies. Developed thousands of years ago, Panchakarma is a time-proven therapy for increasing energy levels and brain function, strengthening the immune system, and increasing longevity.

“As healthcare in the United States transitions from “sickness care” to “wellness care” in the 21st Century, there is a growing need for holistic and wellness centers, says Dr. Jay Apte, founder of the Ayurvedic Health and Wellness Center. “An increasing number of people are opting for complementary and alternative medicine approaches such as Ayurveda and other natural philosophies, to solve their health problems because these therapies emphasize prevention, incorporate all aspects of human being – body, mind, spirit – instead of focusing only on physical body. We create “custom tailored” wellness plans, rather than one size fit all programs.”

Centrally located in the heart of Silicon Valley, near many of the world’s leading technology companies, the Center offers corporate wellness programs to address the special needs of high stress individuals and provides informational programs and seminars for individuals, groups, and businesses on Ayurveda, as well as other disciplines such as acupuncture and chiropractic. Plans are also in place to open a holistic store to offer various health and wellness products including holistic, ready-to-cook, pre-packaged foods and herbal supplements.

The Center  celebrated its grand opening with an open house on September 11th and 12th between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

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