Category: Ayurved

Temporary loss of memory is a common phenomenon with almost everyone. Like forgetting where we kept the key, name of a particular person. These can be normal for a person, as unless we give importance to a thing/name brain tend to keep it in a rather volatile area which gradually vanishes.

If these symptoms are prevalent one has to worry about it. There can be various reasons why a person faces memory loss/poor memory issues. Below are a few.

1. Consumption of alcohol seems to have a great effect on brain’s poor performance. It is known that higher alcohol consumption kills brain cells, resulting in poor memory.
2. If a person is too much stressed or under anxiety, forgetfulness become prevalent.
3. If there is a tumor in the brain, it can cause memory loss and poor memory for the patient.
4. If there was a head injury, it can lead to loss of memory.
5. Deficiency of B1 and B12 vitamins can also lead to poor memory
6. If the patient is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, poor memory is very common.
7. Drug consumption like LSD, marijuana, cocain etc. can lead to memory loss.

According to Ayurveda, memory is nothing but the healthy nerve cells in the brain which are of kapha nature. It is observed that most of the memory problems are because of the stagnation of kapha or aggravation of vata dosha.

Diet

Avoid any kind of highly fried food. Fast foods should be avoided. Avoid heavy meat.

There are few recommended foods and diet for the patient, which should be followed for quicker recovery from this condition.

1. Sweet potato, tapioca and okra are found to be helpful in restoring memory. Spinach, which produces Pitta in the body can be a good food for the patient.
2. Take fresh vegetables daily.
3. Consumption of almonds, oranges, ghee and milk are known to be helpful for the poor memory condition.
4. Add carrot  and beet to patient’s daily food. Carotene, found in carrot is very helpful to treat poor memory condition. It also helps in enhancing pitta which is good for better memory. Juice of carrot and beet can be given daily to the patient.
5. Fruit fast can be very useful to cleanse the whole system. Remember to consult a doctor to understand which fruits are good for your body type. Avoid fruit fast, if the patient tends to get hypoglycemia.
6. Take lighter and easy digestible food during the treatment.

Home Remedies

1. Amla is known to be very helpful for the patient with poor memory.
2. Brahmi is the most recommended herb in Ayurveda to treat poor memory.  Take a teaspoonful Brahmi powder and boil it with milk for a few minutes. Add a pinch of saffron. Take this before going to bed everyday. This is proved to be helpful for ages.
3. Brahmi ghee, can be taken daily before breakfast, for added benefits for the brain.
4. Brahmi, jatamamsi, bhringaraj and shankhapushpi are well known for their benefits to treat poor memory. Take one teaspoonful of each and prepare tea. This is very helpful for the patient.
5. Take 5-10 almonds daily.
6. Take one teaspoonful of Aloe Vera gel, ¼ teaspoonful of bhringaraj powder with a pinch of pepper is beneficial when taken thrice a day.
7. Ginkgo and gotu kola are found to be very beneficial for the brain activity as they help in better blood circulation.
8. Mandukaparni (centella asiatica) is known to be a memory booster. Take a cup of the decoction of the whole plant, before going to bed daily for a month.

Ayurvedic Remedies

1. Brahmi Vati is a recommended medicine is Ayurveda. 1 tab can be taken daily with milk after food.
2. 1 tab of Brento can be taken twice daily after food.
3. Take one teaspoonful of  Brahmighrita twice daily.
4. Take 1 tab of Mentat thrice daily.

General advices for good memory

1. It is found that when we repeat things brain tend to remember for longer. Before going to bed, try to remember what all you did during the day one by from morning to night. This will also help in doing exercise of your brain, making it healthier.
2. Try to develop a rhythmic approach to remember things. The way we learned to remember A-Z.
3. Many times memory become inaccessible due to various reasons. Meditation can be a good way to link to such memory location which are unlinked by your memory.
4. Make exercise part of your life. Walk daily for half an hour. Walking is found to be very helpful in keeping the body and mind healthy helping in a better memory.
5. Yoga is another best way to improve memory power. Inverted pose, bow, cobra and savasan are found to be very helpful for a strong memory. Practice these yoga daily in the morning or evening on an empty stomach.
6. Avoid toxic substance like alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, etc. These will give you temporary high. But the lows will be painful for your life. These can severely damage your brain function.
7. Practice pranayama daily. It is very good to boost memory power.
8. Do an Brahmi oil massage daily. Massage your feet and scalp with this oil.
9. Apply few drops of nail-warm Brahmi ghee in the nose. This can help in improving memory.

For couples who are planning for a baby but are not able to conceive it is a matter of great concern. While most of the couples will go to seek help of conventional medicines, but going the Ayurvedic way can also help in enhancing the chances of conception. Ayurveda also offers the natural way of treating infertility without causing any side effects. In this post we will try to discuss some Ayurvedic methods that can help couples in enhancing their chances of conceiving.

How Ayurveda can work on treating infertility?

The Ayurvedic approach is as scientific as conventional medical system. Infertility in humans is compared with plants in Ayurveda. The process is quite similar to the nurturing of a seed into a plant. Lets have a look at how the infertility treatment is planned in Ayurveda.

In human ovulation and menstrual cycle is called as Ritu in Sanskrit, which is similar as season in plants. Healthy uterus is comparable to fertile land and is known as Kshetram. Proper water and nourishment in the plant is comparable to proper nutrient in human being and is termed as Ambu. The last one is Beejam which means the quality of seed in the plant and can also be attributed to the quality of ovum and sperm in human.

The basis of Ayurvedic treatment is to ensure that the ovulation process in the women is proper and she is able to produce healthy ova. It also ensures that the man is producing enough sperm count for conceiving. It is also quite important to ensure that the reproductive organ of both men and women are functioning healthy.

According to Ayurveda a person’s health mainly depends upon following factors:

• Bio energies should be in equilibrium state, i.e. doshas should be in proper state, these are Pitta, Vata and Kapha.
• Proper functional digestive system
• Seven layers of body body tissue or sapta dhatus should be healthy.
• Balanced senses
• Proper functioning excretory system

When the proper function of the body is disturbed due to improper diet or lifestyle, then it leads to diseases or ailments. While the conventional medicine may be able to treat both the partners, Ayurveda take account of the condition of both as individual and try to get rid of the toxins present in their body. This restores tranquility and balance that helps in conception.

The science of conceiving

The success of conception depends upon the health of the sperm, ovum and uterus. In both men and women, the reproductive health of the individual depends upon the health of the reproductive tissue or the shukra dhatu which is created inside one’s body. Proper metabolism and efficient digestion, help in conversion of nutrient from food into body muscles, bone, and bone marrow and in shukra dhatu. Shukra dhatu is responsible for production of ovum during the monthly cycle and the same helps in production of semen in men during sexual excitement.  Hence the health of the shukra dhatu depends largely upon the healthy functioning of the other body organs.

What factors helps in smooth conceiving?

There are many physical, psychological and environmental factors that can affect fertility in both women and men. Let’s have a look at a few reasons from Ayurveda’s perspective that can affect fertility.

• Health of reproductive organ is quite important for conception. In case of a man, sperms and in case of a woman, its uterus, which is responsible for a smooth conception. However, lack of proper nutrition, toxin accumulation and poor digestion deprive the organs from nutrients and makes them unhealthy.
• Lack of emotional connection with the person also makes it difficult to conceive. Having sex on compulsion with someone you didn’t like or are not attached to makes this process a lot more difficult. At the same time if you are over-indulged in the sexual activities, then it can lead to shukra kshaya and can cause impotency.
• Irregular diet is also responsible for the ailment. Eating salty, spicy or food with lots of preservatives can increase pitta and destroys semen or shukra.
• There is also indication that controlling sexual urges for longer duration also leads to veeryaavarodha which means an obstruction in the normal semen flow. This decrease the libido.
• Often infertility is also caused by the tissue damage due to trauma and infection.

Treating infertility

The basic principle of Ayurvedic treatment lies in the detoxification of the body, this helps every single cell to receive proper nourishment and helps them to perform optimally. If your organs are working fine then your probability of conceiving increases by folds. The Panchakarma therapy of Ayurveda is the first step in the treatment aimed to help couples with conception.

Panchkarma process

This helps the body in getting rid of toxins. Once the detoxification occurs the digestive system gets automatically corrected at micro level and hence each cell starts to receive proper nourishment.

Once the nutrients starts to reach each and every part of the body, it starts nourishment. Nutrients like vitamins and minerals reaches to the detoxified cells along with the hormones, enzymes and sufficient quantity of oxygen. This helps in proper functioning of the cells and improving their self-sustaining healing properties. This helps in boosting immunity and improving chances of conceiving.

Minimum of about 21 days is needed to complete the whole process. The entire Panchakarma process is comprised of three steps.

• Pre process: This consists of various massages and internal medicines. This helps in relieving of cellular toxins and flush them out through excessive sweating.
• Proper Process: This phase is the eliminating phase where all the collected toxins are eliminated from the body by using procedures like:
  1. Special oil massage or Sneha vasthy
  2. Consuming various Ayurvedic decoction or Kashaya Vasthy

• Elimination of toxins with purgation or Virechanam

1. Purifying through the nose or Nasyam
2. Excreting toxins or Vamanam
3. Post Process: It is the last stage of the treatment and is the rejuvenating phase that enhances the positive energy flow in the body. It also helps in establishing connection between mind and soul. It is an important part of the process as emotional well-being of a person helps in the conception.

Panchkarma is not the only process that helps in treating infertility. Depending upon the situation and health issues of the couple,  some other methods or treatments are planned alongside with Panchakarma.

Other treatment processes that are used to ensure conception are:

• Abhyanga is a form of therapeutic oil massage that is done to restore the balance between the doshas. The oil used in the process is pre-medicated and used with specific herbs for desired results.
• Podikkizhi is a treatment process that is done with the powdered herbs and is quite effective in relieving deep rooted tension, stimulating circulation, cleaning toxins, providing strength to muscles and getting rid of excess kapha. This also helps in sweating out toxins.
• Snehapanam is the treatment process involving consumption of medicated ghee. This helps in treating digestive disorders.
• Elakizhi is a massage with the medicated herbs and leaves. Fresh leaves of any anti-Vata plant like Eranda (Ricinus Communis), Rasna (Pluchea), Arka (Calotropis Procera), coconut leaves, cur cumin and lemon are fried with some herbs and tied with clothes. These clothes dip into warm oil, which is then used for massaging the body. The massage promotes better circulation of blood and helps in perspiration, thus eliminates wastes from the body.
• Njavara is a form of red rice, which is cooked with herbal decoction and milk. It is then squeezed through the cotton pouch and then massaged on the whole body. This process is repeated until the whole preparation spreads evenly on the body. As rice loses the warmth it is removed.
• Kashayavasthy is a cleansing enema where a mixture of oil, honey, herbal paste, etc. are administered to the individual as per the requirement and the condition. This treatment helps in reducing vata and treat several disorders.
• In Pizihichill process the whole body is washed in the steam of lukewarm medicinal oil with massage. It offers protection to the body against illness and helps in building immunity. It is also quite effective in treating various ailments like arthritis, paralysis and sexual weakness.
• Lepanam is the procedure by which the medicated paste is applied directly to the body depending upon the specific condition. The paste is removed once it dries. The thickness depends upon the condition of the patient. This should be avoided in people with sensitive skin.
• Avagaham is the relaxing sized bath where one has to sit in a tub filled with warm decoction of the herbs. The body is then anointed with the medicated oil and plunged bath is given to the individual in the tub containing decoction of herbs according to individual condition.
• Evening Therapy includes thakradhara or thailadhara that helps in reducing the assimilation of emotional toxins in the body by use of relaxation techniques.

Normally the methods of treatment and the medication may be selected according to the ailment level in the patient and the constitution of the body. A final plan for treatment is made only after doing a proper health assessment of the individual.

A good head massage stimulates the nervous system and revitalizes the body. According to the Ayurvedic system applying oil on hair and massaging it enhances strength and quality of the hair. Other than that applying oil also offers several benefits like improved sleep, calm mind, relief from headache, prevents premature graying of hair, relief from insomnia and stress etc.

It works best when you apply warm oil fused with medicinal herbs and apply it on your hair or scalp. Most of the Ayurvedic oil recommended for massage is infused with one or more herb that is good for your hair. These medicinal herbs are usually cooked in the carrier oil and are kept for usage.

Although there are several choices on the list to choose from but Ayurveda emphasizes on choosing something that suits your body composition and hair type.

Hair type and time of application of hair oil

If your hair is dry, thin and fuzzy then your hair type falls in Vata category and if your hair is thin, but prone to graying then you have Pitta hair type. If your hair is thick and oily then you have Kapha hair.

Oils like almond and sesame oil act as a good base for the people with vata hair type as both the oils have incredible properties to nourish the scalp and reduce stiffness. For the pitta type of hair, cooling oil like coconut oil can be an ideal choice. Coconut is considered as pitta pacifying and hence can prove effective against hair issues caused by pitta dosha.

For the people with kapha type of hair can use sesame or olive oil because of their cleansing property which helps in keeping the pores open.

When is the best time to apply oil?

It is recommended that the oil massage during the evening time is most beneficial. If you divide the whole day into three parts, evening is the time which is dominated by the vata dosha. The application of sesame oil in the evening helps in calming down the vata dosha. Coconut oil is advised for usage in the morning as it can increase vata dosha if applied in the night.

To enhance the quality of the hair and to stimulate hair growth, it is advisable to apply hair oil in the night and take a warm water bath in the morning. Applying oil after the bath is not advised as it can attract dust and dirt when you go out. For better hair growth try applying the oil directly on the scalp, root of the hair and on hair length. It is always good to warm your oil a little as it helps in better absorption.

Benefits of different hair oils

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is widely used in India as it helps in preventing dandruff when applied on the dry scalp. It gives nourishment to the damaged hair and also conditioned them. People living in the hot climate usually use coconut oil as it serves as an excellent cooling agent. It also helps people who suffer from the pitta dominant condition. But if you are living in colder region, then use of coconut oil with its cooling nature may prove against you as it may increase kapha primarily in the people who are prone to cough, cold, allergies, etc. But if you still want to stick to the coconut in the colder region then you should mix a teaspoonful of black pepper powder in to about 100 mil of coconut oil. Heat the mixtures for 5 min. Filter the mixture and use it while it is warm.

Amla

Amla is quite effective oil for most hair related problems and helps in rectifying several problems like dizziness, headaches and other pitta conditions. Most of the Ayurvedic oils contain Amla as a major constituent. It can also be used with coconut oil as a carrier oil for providing excellent protection against the damage caused by the sun.

Brahmi

Brahmi is also known as Indian Pennywort or Gotu Kola and is used mainly to prevent hair loss and giving volume to the hair. Brahmi oil is made by mixing it with sesame oil or any other carrier oil. It can be then applied directly to the scalp. Brahmi helps in soothing mind and nervous system other than nourishing your hair.

Bhringraj

It is also known as False Daisy or Eclipta Alba. It holds a prominent place in the aurvedic system of medicine for hair treatment. It is often used with sesame oil or coconut oil for massaging of scalp. It contains high amount of protein that stimulates hair growth and helps in restoring sign of the hair.

Neem Seed Oil

Neem has a prominent place in Indian cosmetic and medicinal system for thousands of years. Neem seed oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids. It also has prominent anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. However, it is difficult to use it alone as it tends to solidify at room temperature, so it is mostly used in combination with olive oil as a carrier for application. It helps in stimulating hair growth and averts dandruff.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is used as the base oil for almost all massage oil in the ancient Ayurvedic system. The oil is the ideal choice for hair as it relieves you from headache, hair graying, dandruff, baldness and hair fall. It also helps in making your hair black, shiny, longer, deep rooted and also helps in offering sound sleep. After applying sesame oil massage take a warm water bath after a few hours. It helps in inducing relaxation. Its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties protect hair from the damage caused by chlorine mixed in the water.

Almond Oil

Almond oil is used in Ayurveda to treat vata dominant hair. As it is rich in vitamin E, magnesium and calcium it can be used directly for hair massage. It is sometimes also used as carrier oil for other aurvedic medicinal oils to provide shine, luster and strength to the hair. It also helps in controlling hair loss and damage.

These are some of the common oils recommended by Ayurveda for hair usage. However, if you are looking for any specific hair problem like baldness or alopecia, it is advisable to contact an Ayurvedic practitioner for advice on type of medicine or medical oil usage.

Vertigo is a condition in which a person loses control over his body movement and most of the time feels sensation of lightheadedness, dizziness and imbalance. Although vertigo cannot be defined as a chronic condition, the person needs support from others. He always gets a feeling that all objects are moving around him and will fall if he tries to move. The nausea has been always a predecessor in most of the vertigo cases.

In Ayurved, Vertigo is termed as ‘Brahma’, a condition where vitiated pitta combined with vitiated vata makes one feel like spinning.

Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo is mainly caused due to digestion disorder and gas formation, due to ear disease caused by fluid imbalance in the ear, distorted eye sight, nervous system disorder, migraine attack, blood circulation trouble, incompetent sexual activity, frequent epilepsy attacks, lack of sleep, brain tumor, utter fatigue etc. All these may attribute to the cause of vertigo but most prominent reasons behind vertigo are diseases affecting inner ear.

Recommended Ayurvedic treatment

The Ayurvedic treatments recommended for treating vertigo are:

• Patient suffering from vertigo can get relief if he/she consumes a mixture of ‘Duralabha Quath’ of about 50 ml along with ghee twice a day.
• Amla extract or juice with ‘Suvarna Sootashekhar Ras’ about 50-60 mg can be taken twice to reduce the effects of vertigo.
• A mixture of about 10 ml each of Saraswatarishta and Ashwagandharishta mixed with about 20 ml of water can be consumed twice daily for effective relief.
• A mixture of 100 to 250 ml of milk and powdered shankhapushpi about 1 to 2 gm is quite effective in dealing with the condition when taken twice a day.
• Panchkarma treatment like ‘Shirodhara’ is also quite effective.
• In case you are also suffering from constipation, take about 6 gm of amaltas with haritaki decoction during bed time at night.
• If the cause of the vertigo is insomnia, then taking about 10ml of Ashwagandharishta or about ½ tsp of its powder with water is also effective.
• Taking about 120 gm of Yogendra Ras with milk is also effective in providing relief.

Home remedies that are effective against vertigo

There are several home remedies defined in Ayurveda that are effective in treating vertigo. Let’s have a look at some of the best home remedies for vertigo.

Keep about 1 teaspoon of dried amla and coriander seeds soaked in water for a whole night. Strain the mixture, add some sugar and drink it in the next morning. Repeat the process for few consecutive dates.

Heat about 2 tsp of Til (sesame oil) oil and mix them in half tsp each of finely ground or powered cinnamon and cardamom. Apply the oil mixture on your head.

Make a mixture of almond about 8 pieces with some (about 8 pieces) seeds of pumpkin along with  3 tsp of wheat. Soak the mixture in water for the whole night. Next morning, remove the outer skin of the almonds and grind the almond into fine paste. Heat about 2 tsp of ghee and fry about half tsp of cloves into it. Add the paste to the ghee-clove and boil the whole mixture. Add some sugar to make it sweet (if required) and consume the mixture in the next few days.

The herbs generally used for treating Vertigo are Vacha (Acorus Calamus), Giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia), Yavasa (Alhagi pseudalbagi), Pitpapda (Fumaria Officinalis), Sariva (Hemidesmus Indicus) etc.

Lifestyle measures and diet plan that needs to be followed

Consume plenty of green vegetables and fruits, avoid consuming extra salt and keep distance from the junk food. Take plenty of rest and include raisins, poppy seeds, citrus fruits, vegetables and date in your diet.

Practicing a few relaxation techniques and avoiding pillow will help with better blood circulation to the brain.

Precautions that needs to be taken

When a patient is experiencing vertigo attack, he/she should not be allowed to move alone. The precaution should be taken while accessing staircase in lieu of the attack. The use of narcotic drugs, alcohols and tobacco should be strictly avoided. Try to restrict the patient’s diet to simple, light, spice free food stuffs. Do not allow the patient to operate any heavy machinery or to drive his/her car.

When summer is at its peak, it’s time when many of us fall victim of sunburn. It’s time for us to be aware of various remedies available for sunburn. Most of the counter sunburn measures available in the market include steroids. In this post we will be listing some of the natural alternatives for prevention and cure of sun burn.

Sunburn can be regarded as a severe inflammatory skin condition which is caused due to overexposure to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. According to Ayurveda, the people with the pitta type body constitution are more vulnerable to sunburn.

Ayurvedic treatment of Sunburn

Use of Aloe Vera gel or cream is quite effective in treating sunburn. In case you have access to the aloe Vera plant then it would be better to cut it open and use the gel from the plant directly. Application of aloe Vera provides instant relief to the sun burnt areas.

Coconut oil is also effective for providing instant relief from minor sunburn.

You can also use equal proportions of sandalwood and turmeric paste with little water. Apply the mixture on the burnt area for relief.

Cow milk is also known for its cooling effect. Dipping a gauze pad into milk and putting it on the affected area can also offer quick cooling effect.

A mixture of equal amount of turmeric, yogurt and barley is also effective against sunburn.

You can also use cool compressed bath or soothing gel or cream that contains sandal oil, aloe Vera, sandal paste, lettuce pulp, rose oil or a mixture of vinegar and olive oil. Ayurvedic oil such as Madhuyashtyadi, chandanadi, Ksheerabala, pinda Thailam, Dhanwantharam etc. can be used for treating sunburn as per medical advice. Other Ayurvedic medicine like Manjishtha, Triphala, Amalaki, Saariva, Usheer, Mandukpami, Gokshur and Haridra are quite effective in treating sunburn.

Other Ayurvedic ointment manufactured by combining Saariva, majistha, Chandan, usher, haridra, yashtimadhuk and mandukparni are quite effective when applied to the sun burnt parts.

Other medicines that are used in Ayurveda specifically to treat sunburn are Rogya-Vardhini, Kamdudha-Ras, Chandanadi-Vati, Chandrakala-Ras, Chandan-Bala-Laxadi oil, Panch-Tikata-Ghrut, mahanarayana oil, Shata-Dhout-GHrout, Gandhak-Rasayan, Usheerasav and Saarivasav.

Few home remedies for treating sunburn

There are many traditional home remedies that are effective in treating sunburn.

• Mix about 2 tsp of tomato juice and 4 tsp of buttermilk. Use the mixture on the affected part. Leave it there for about half an hour and then wash it off.
• You can cool the affected area by bathing it in cold water several times a day.
• We all know the cooling capability of cucumber. In case of sunburn, keep a cold cucumber slices on the affected area or pour some cucumber juice on the place with the help of cotton ball. You can also use grated cucumber and apply it on the affected part.
• Sunburn can also be soothed by applying rose water.
• Buttermilk is also a good cooling agent. It can be used effectively for sunburn. Wash the affected skin with chilled buttermilk to speed up the recovery process.
• Applying thick cold curd on the affected part or using a mixture of curd, sandalwood and calamine powder can be quite effective in getting instant relief.
• The paste of calamine powder with rose water or cucumber juice when applied on the skin offers effective relief.

Prevention is better than cure

The best way to prevent sun’s ultraviolet ray’s damage to your skin is to avoid the exposure. Minimizing the exposure of the skin to the sun, especially between 12 noon to 4 pm in the evening can help you in preventing sunburn. If you have to step out of your home or office during these hours, then it is advisable to lower or minimize the skin exposure.

Before leaving your home in a sunny day, take a few drops of neem oil and mix it with sesame oil. You can apply this mixture on your skin. This can act as a natural sun block. Drinking plenty of water is also advisable.

Application of neem oil on the skin before and after the shower also helps in nurturing your skin. It acts even better if you add a few drops of sesame oil to the neem oil before application. Coconut oil can also be used for the purpose. Indian Aloe also acts as an effective sun protector, this can be used before going out in the sun to minimize the damage.

Consumption of spicy or fermented food should be avoided during the summers. Taking carbonated drinks, oily or spicy foods and caffeine should also be avoided.

Try to consume as much fluid as you can as it will keep your skin well-hydrated and hence offers protection against ultraviolet rays. Alternatively, taking water boiled with the camphor powder and root of hemidesmus indicus. Use of buttermilk and mango juice also helps in beating the summer heat.

Sandalwood paste can also be used as an effective sunscreen and offers excellent protection against sunburn.

It is recommended to drink plenty of water before going out in the sun. Drinking watermelon juice, lemon juice, coconut water, etc. can also help in keeping you fit as it keeps the body hydrated, which in turn reduces the harmful effect of ultraviolet rays of the sun.

The majority of the ingredients present in the kitchen helps a lot in boosting immunity and are capable of curing numerous lifestyle diseases when consumed in proper manner and in right quantity. For minor troubles and illness these home remedies can prove to be quite effective. But it is quite important to know how to use the commonly available items from your kitchen to cure minor ailments. Let’s look at some suggestions from Ayurvedic experts about using commonly found items in your kitchen for treating simple diseases.

Use of dry ginger for treating indigestion

In most of the Ayurvedic medicines, dry ginger which is also known as chukka in southern India, is a common composite. Due to its digestive and carminative properties it is used in several medicines. Ayurveda believes that ingestion is the major cause of several metabolism related diseases. Hence, it prescribes daily consumption of dry ginger to keep check on the illness.

Dry ginger should be washed, crushed and added to the boiling water before consumption. The mixture can be stored in a container and can be used for drinking as a replacement of water. This mixture helps in flushing out toxins from the body and helps in improving digestion and the reduction of minor blocks from the blood vessels. For the treatment of gastritis, dry ginger powder mixed with a glass of water can serve as an excellent medication.

The famous ‘Chukka Kappi’ or ginger coffee from south India is a special coffee, which is full of amazing health benefits. Other than ginger it also contains several other beneficial herbs like tulsi, cumin, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, jaggery and cardamom. The drink is quite effective in treating minor ailments like cough, cold and even mild fever.

Some of the recent researches have also indicated that if the dry ginger is consumed on a daily basis, it helps in the development of immunity against cancer. During the summer time buttermilk prepared with crushed pieces of dry ginger along with leaves of lemon plant acts as an excellent thirst reliever and helps in improving digestion. It also helps in keeping a check on various illnesses brought by the scorching heat of the summer.

Sesame seeds for curing menstrual issues

Collect some dry roasted sesame seeds and make a powder of it. The powder can be stored in an airtight container. Include this powder in small quantities in your regular diet. The consumption of the sesame powder can help in building strong teeth, hair and bones. Women suffering from irregular mensuration are suggested to consume decoction of sesame seed. (Adding a pinch of jiggery with sesame seeds.)

Coriander as an effective treatment for mouth ulcer

Coriander act as an effective medicine against indigestion, nausea, stomach problems and even mouth ulcers. Coriander seeds can be crushed and added to the boiled water. This mixture can be used to gargle once it cools down. The gargle helps in removing bad breath and mouth ulcer. Even chewing coriander leaves can also provide relief from tooth and gum problems.

Black pepper for treatment of common cold

Black pepper is one of the most common spice used in the kitchens across the globe, it adds flavor to the dishes. Other than spicing up the food it can also be used for medicinal purposes. It acts as an effective medicine for all cold related problems. Including black pepper in your daily diet, especially during the monsoon month helps in keeping a check on cold and cough related from problems. It is quite effective against mild throat pain and phlegm. A decoction can be easily made by boiling few tulsi leaves along with black pepper in water to provide instant relief against cough and cold.

Asafoetida is quite effective for stomach problem

Asafoetida or hingu helps in improving digestion by stimulating the flow of digestive fluids in the body and at the same time it also treats gastritis and helps in de-worming your stomach. Adding a tablespoonful of asafetida with lukewarm water and drinking it, will keep a check on gastritis. For children palkayam can be used with a drop of honey for treatment of stomach pain.

Turmeric as an effective medium for purifying blood

Turmeric is used extensively in the Indian dishes to provide flavor and color to the dish. We already know and have read about the extensive medicinal properties of the turmeric. People with minor allergies should include turmeric in their regular daily diet. Turmeric acts as a great blood purifier. When mixed with honey and taken on a regular basis, it can provide relief from sore throat and helps in curing mouth ulcers. Turmeric is also used to treat several ailments from diabetes to common cold attributing to its unique medicinal properties.

Shallots can act as an effective medicine against acidity

Many people are not really aware of the medicinal properties possessed by shallots. Shallots are quite effective in removing phlegm from your body and also help in keeping a check on gastritis. Intake of one or two shallots in your daily diet can help in preventing dysentery and diarrhea. Shallots are also used for treatment of acidity. Adding 3 to 4 shredded shallots with boiled milk and taking it after the breakfast can help in treating acidity.

Cumin seeds as an effective agent to boost immunity

Cumin or jeera is commonly used in kitchens for culinary purposes. Other than adding flavor to food it also acts as an excellent immunity booster. Roasted cumin seeds when added to boiling water act as decoction and provide great relief from gastritis, tiredness and indigestion. For the children who are suffering from minor asthma, powdered cumin seeds mixed with a drop of honey can help in providing temporary relief. Drinking jeera water also helps in improving digestion and helps in providing relief from digestion related problems. Drinking Jeera water also helps in quenching thirst.

The change in the season from summer to winter brings in various changes to the human body. In Ayurveda, this transition is also known as Vata. Vata is the element of air. Vata governs various physical aspects in the human body like physical movement, ingenuity and acuity.

Colder season increase the Vata level in the body. This could bring in trouble if your body is pre-dominant with vata. According to Ayurveda excess of vata can make you vulnerable to the numerous physical and mental problems.

Symptoms of vata dosha are:

• Fear, depression and anxiety
• Restlessness
• Disorganised
• Too much thinking
• Forgetting day to day task
• Impatience
• Moodiness
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Acne in lower part of the face and around chin
• Sore throat, cold and dry cough

If you are experiencing these symptoms especially during the winter season then it may be because of the Vata dosh. But you don’t have to worry about it; Ayurveda has simple and holistic solution. Let’s check on the few dietary and lifestyle changes that you can adopt to avoid any such problems.

Try to consume extractive food and avoid eating raw veggies

Ayurveda treats balanced diet as the key to perfect health. Augmented and extracted foods are little bitter in taste. However, these foods help your body by keeping food moving in the digestive tract. They act more like a cleaning agent but consumption of too much of these may increase your vata dosha and can result into sickness. So, it is advised against eating raw vegetables during the cold season. It is recommended to cook your vegetable with sesame oil or ghee before consumption. Ghee also aids in stimulating hunger and helps in absorption of nutrient from the food.

Some typical extractive foods are beans, garbanzos, black peas and lentils. Other than that you can also have some leafy veggies like chard, spinach or collards. Broccoli, cauliflower, celery, nuts, corn etc. can also be used in the diet.

Give emphasis on augmented foods

Augmented are quite good in soothing and balancing vata dosh. Most of these foods are heavy and sweet in taste. According to Ayurveda you should consume about 40 % of extracted food and 60 % of augmented food in your diet. But in the colder season you can increase the ratio to about 70% for augmented food and 30% for extracted food.

Some typical augmented foods that you can induct in your diet are brown/white rice, cereals, barley, oatmeal, beets, millet, quinoa, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, zucchini, squash etc. These foods are quite helpful in balancing your vata dosha.

Follow the routine

The major sign of vata dosha are difficulty in sitting at one place, restlessness, overreacting and loss or sleep or insomnia. Let’s have a look at some lifestyle tips that can relieve you from vata dosha.

Try to wake up at the same time in the morning. Make habit of performing daily routine of meditation and yoga asana. Try to take your meals at the same time each day. Before going to bed rub some sesame oil on to the bottom of your feet and put on a pair of socks. Try to sleep early.

A quick recap

• Consume warm, cooked meals at the same time of the day. Keep the ration of 70:30 for augmented and extracted foods.
• Avoid consumption of raw veggies and juices during the cold season.
• Maintain your routine

The key behind getting relief from the excess vata lies in the routine you follow and lifestyle you maintain. A healthy mind lives in a healthy body.

A tasty treat

A delicious vata soothing recipe containing dates, cinnamon and apple.

Ingredients:

• 2 apples
• 9/10 dates
• 2 cup of water
• 2 tsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp grounded cardomon
• 1 tsp ginger (grated)
• 1 tsp cinnamon

How to make?

Peel and slice both the apples. Then put all the ingredients into a saucepan and boil it over high heat. After the water starts to boil lower the heat to medium and seethe the mixture for 5 minutes. Using a scoop transfer the content into a juice, blender or food processor and blend it until it forms puree. Stir puree into a pane and serve it.