Author: Ayurved

The concept of Ayurveda has its genesis in the Indian sub-continent and is considered as an alternative form of medicine in the other parts of the world. Ayurveda is successfully practiced in India and is used to treat a majority of diseases.

Ayurvedic medicines are made up of natural ingredients and are free from any side-effects. The medicines provide the human body all the things it wants and completely eradicates the use of adverse supplements and foodstuffs that act as a barrier in the treatment.

Apart from Ayurvedic medicines, Ayurveda also involves numerous therapeutic techniques which involve physical pharmacy techniques and even prayers. However, their main essence lies in their safety.

Relevance of Ayurveda in the modern society

The importance of Ayurveda and its therapeutic techniques in the contemporary society differ geographically across the world. That is, it has gained more popularity in Asia but is not widely used in the western world thereby creating a discrepancy in its use. However, Ayurveda has earned a place as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the western world especially in the United States. As a majority of US consumers give more importance to quick healing techniques and prefer the use of technology, Ayurvedic medicines have gained little significance in the contemporary society. This is also evident with the research practices carried over in the United States. As compared to over more than 100 colleges in India, there are only 20 colleges in the US involved in the research practices and their research is also limited to few Ayurvedic practices such as the dietary changes, herbal treatments, and massage techniques. Ayurveda in itself is a large domain and its relevance in the society is almost trivial.

Many medical scientists and physicians criticize the clinical relevance of Ayurvedic treatments and assert that clinical studies in Ayurveda are limited, and their effectiveness is debatable. They mainly refer to the emphasis of Ayurveda on providing different kinds of treatments for various people having the same disease.

Everything said and done, as research is a never-ending process and drug discovery losing its sheen day by day, it is important for the western world to come up with new plant-based drugs through active Research and Development (R&D). Traditional therapeutic practice such as the Ayurveda can work wonders in this arena and can help in the development of medicines free from side-effects and risks.

Aging is a natural process of life and affects everyone eventually. However there are some options to look one’s best;you can call it ‘aging gracefully’. It is not only the skin that needs to be looked after but the whole body.

Anyone can look and feel younger, and be healthier. The key to anti aging is based on the lifestyles one leads, the food one eats, exercises and many other factors that affect the overall aging process. A healthy lifestyle helps in the anti-aging process. It requires some commitments and dedications.

Exposure to sunlight:

It is one of the leading causes of aging of the skin. Regular use of a broad spectrum of sunscreen is important to slow down the skin’s aging. It is important to use it on the face, neck and arms and other exposed areas of the body.

Diet:

Healthy eating habits have the biggest effects on the anti-aging process. It is important to have a variety in the diet and not indulge too much on a particular food, especially those with high-fat contents. Being individual in a diet needs, it is important to find out what particular needs a body type requires, more specifically what areas are lacking right now. Typically a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains with moderate portions of meat and diary is suggested for those looking for leading a healthier lifestyle. Diet is an important aspect of the anti-aging process, and the better one can feed and nourish the body with fruits and vegetables the better it will look and feel.

Water:

An adequate amount of water is essential for the body to stay hydrated, and 2-3 liters or even more is what is ideally recommended.

Exercise and lifestyle:

Lifestyle can make or break the anti aging process. Factors like work schedules, stress, and adequate sleep can have a huge impact on aging process.Getting the required eight sleep at night is the most important thing one can do to slow the aging process, and look and feel better. Yoga is and excellent therapy for maintaining good health.

Skincare:

Good skin care is an essential part of antiaging and there are numerous skincare products to choose from. Using an age-appropriate skincare product is important. Regular use of an effective product will go a long way in keeping the skin looking healthy and young. Choice of a good moisturizer, face wash, anti-aging cream and eye cream is very skin-specific, and your dermatologist should recommend an individual skincare regimen.

Dermatology treatment:

Dermatological treatments are numerous for anti-aging. They include botox, laser, dermal filler injections, chemical peels microdermabrasion, and skin tightening procedures to name a few.

By and large, children respond very well to herbal remedies, even if the taste can make administering them a bit of a struggle! Adding honey or mixing with apple juice will usually help to make home remedies more palatable.

Tablets or capsules can often be opened and ground up, and taken on a spoon mixed with honey, maple syrup, and so forth. Children typically fall ill and recover quickly which can be very alarming for parents since a healthy baby at 8:00 am can be a very sick one by 11:00 am.

The main worry in acute illness is controlling fever and keeping the temperature below 102 F (39 C). Children with fevers approaching this level (and above) need medical attention. That being said, the very unwell child at 2:00 pm can be running around again by 6:00 pm; kids bounce back. Get to know your child’s typical pattern when falling ill; you will often be able to recognize the difference between day-to-day problems and a potentially serious illness. The former can be safely treated with herbal remedies while the latter needs professional advice and treatment. If in doubt, always err on the side of caution and seek advice from registered doctors.

Some herbal remedies which are suitable for children.

Guidelines on dosage levels for children are given in Dosage and sensible use:

• Garlic (Allium sativum)
• Marshmallow (Althea officinalis)
• Caraway (Carum carvi)
• Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita)
• Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
• Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
• Cinnamon (Cinnamonum verum)
• Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
• Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
• Elecampane (Inula helenium)
• Plantain (Plantago spp.)
• Blackcurrant (Ribes nigra)
• Yellow dock (Rumex crispus)
• Elderflower/berry (Sambucus nigra)
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
• Linden flowers (Tilia spp.)
• Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
• Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva)
• Nettle (Urtica dioica)