Thursday, September 28, 2006

Ayurveda herb holds hope for heart patients
Kounteya Sinha
[ 28 Sep, 2006 0230hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

NEW DELHI: Ayurveda's wonder herb Ashwagandha has been found to prevent heart attack in rats.

In a series of pre-clinical animal studies conducted by AIIMS, researchers have for the first time demonstrated how Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) strengthens heart muscles, protecting it from an attack and significantly increasing its power of endurance and survival.

The herb extract has shown signs that it can stall Necrosis — accidental death of cells and living tissues caused during a heart attack.

It also stalls the harmful release of chemicals by cells that die by Necrosis causing damage to other cells.

The team, led by D S Arya, associate professor of pharmacology at AIIMS, is now planning to undertake human trials on 100 subjects — those who have suffered a heart attack once, those who are prone because they have hypertension and diabetes and those who have suffered stroke several times — to see if Ashwagandha extract provides them protection.

Therapy with Ashwagandha, also known as winter cherry, has been advocated for centuries by most of India's ancient systems of medicine, against illnesses like arthritic inflammation, insomnia, respiratory disorders, asthma, coughs and nervous disorders.

But the AIIMS study has, for the first time, revealed the herb's heart protective properties. According to researcher Shirish Ojha, rats were fed three doses of Ashwagandha extract for four weeks.

On the 29th and 30th day of the study, the rats were injected with two doses of a chemical called Isoproterenol (ISP) which induced heart failure.

Tests then revealed that the rats which were fed Ashwagandha extract survived longer. Subsequent blood tests and examination of their heart muscles under a microscope found that the rats that had received Ashwagandha prior to ISP injections had their heart muscles intact compared to rats that did not receive Ashwagandha extract.

The rats also displayed lower levels of inflammation. Arya told TOI: "Recently, we found how Tulsi protected heart against coronary diseases. Now, Ashwagandha looks even more potent. A year-long human trial, being planned, will show how effective it is on humans."

Monday, September 25, 2006

Common Culinary Spice Has “Roots” in Ayurveda:
Beverly Hills, Calif. (PRWEB) September 25, 2006 -- Many of today’s herbal remedies are far from household names: Arctic Root, Bladder Wrack, and Cat’s Claw. However, there is one herb with health and beauty benefits that is as close to you as your pantry: Turmeric. Derived by grinding the yellow, ginger-like roots from a small plant, native to India, into a powder or paste, Turmeric has a history of healing that dates back 5,000 – 7,000 years ago to the Vedic Texts that outline the practice of Ayurveda (the science of longevity). Here is a quick lesson on the healing, balancing and beautifying properties of this time-honored spice.

Sacred Turmeric and the Asian Culture
The Turmeric plant is sacred to the Himalayan Monks and plays an important role in their herbal rituals. In many Asian cultures, brides and grooms are anointed with Turmeric on their wedding day in order to balance their mind, body and spirit and prepare them for their new roles as husband and wife. In addition, mixing Turmeric with lime creates the distinctive red forehead mark of spiritual followers – the kumkuma. Turmeric is also added to the water used daily in the ritual ablution of the Deities and mixed with unpolished rice as an important offering during puja (prayer).

Turmeric and the Fight against Cancer and Other Diseases
Ayurvedic doctors have long used Turmeric as a medicine for treating diabetes, wounds/bruises, skin rashes, arthritis, bronchitis and liver problems. Today, Western medicine is discovering that this powerful spice also can help the body battle cancer. Recently, researchers at Detroit’s Henry Ford Health System found that the active ingredient in Turmeric, curcumin, can boost the cancer-fighting power of treatment with a naturally occurring molecule called TRAIL, which helps combat cancer cells. Other studies have found Turmeric to be as effective as hydrocortisone in treating cases of arthritis and acute inflammation – without side effects. Turmeric also has important antibacterial properties and is effective in killing Salmonella and E. Coli bacteria.
Common Culinary Spice Has “Roots” in Ayurveda:

Beverly Hills, Calif. (PRWEB) September 25, 2006 -- Many of today’s herbal remedies are far from household names: Arctic Root, Bladder Wrack, and Cat’s Claw. However, there is one herb with health and beauty benefits that is as close to you as your pantry: Turmeric. Derived by grinding the yellow, ginger-like roots from a small plant, native to India, into a powder or paste, Turmeric has a history of healing that dates back 5,000 – 7,000 years ago to the Vedic Texts that outline the practice of Ayurveda (the science of longevity). Here is a quick lesson on the healing, balancing and beautifying properties of this time-honored spice.

Sacred Turmeric and the Asian Culture
The Turmeric plant is sacred to the Himalayan Monks and plays an important role in their herbal rituals. In many Asian cultures, brides and grooms are anointed with Turmeric on their wedding day in order to balance their mind, body and spirit and prepare them for their new roles as husband and wife. In addition, mixing Turmeric with lime creates the distinctive red forehead mark of spiritual followers – the kumkuma. Turmeric is also added to the water used daily in the ritual ablution of the Deities and mixed with unpolished rice as an important offering during puja (prayer).

Turmeric and the Fight against Cancer and Other Diseases
Ayurvedic doctors have long used Turmeric as a medicine for treating diabetes, wounds/bruises, skin rashes, arthritis, bronchitis and liver problems. Today, Western medicine is discovering that this powerful spice also can help the body battle cancer. Recently, researchers at Detroit’s Henry Ford Health System found that the active ingredient in Turmeric, curcumin, can boost the cancer-fighting power of treatment with a naturally occurring molecule called TRAIL, which helps combat cancer cells. Other studies have found Turmeric to be as effective as hydrocortisone in treating cases of arthritis and acute inflammation – without side effects. Turmeric also has important antibacterial properties and is effective in killing Salmonella and E. Coli bacteria.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

5 Truths About AyurvedaPosted on September 18, 2006

by Lindsay Fox






#1 Ayurvedic medicine is less effective.
Truth: It is true that this method of treatment calls for more patience and endurance. The effectiveness can be cited by this example.

Whenever there is a tear in a cloth or a hole in a pitcher, we intend to rectify it using the similar material that it is made of. Similarly any fault in human body also calls to be corrected by use of natural resources, as much as possible.

#2 Ayurvedic medicines are slow in showing results.

Truth: The irony lies with the delay from patient’s side. Most patients visiting holistic practitioners take their time in trying other systems of medicine so as to derive a faster result. This not only delays the effect of medicine, it also hampers the working of the drug. This is because the patient has either tried much more complicated and powerful combination of drugs, the effect of which needs to be neutralized first. Or in the mean time, his malady has substantially become deep rooted and taken chronic form. It may at times show to work slowly, but as the fable goes slow and steady wins the race.

# 3 Ayurvedic medicine has side effects.

Truth: Any side effect from medicine, of any therapy, may result from the misuse of drug, either in processing or in prescribing. As far as side effect or after effect is concerned, I believe time tested medicines are safer provided the former two factors are precise. The safety of Ayurvedic medicine and mode of treatment may be advocated in 3 pints.

1. In Ayurveda the very first principle in treating a disease is to do away with the basic cause, and also to see that no new ailment emerges as a consequence. A disease is eradicated from its roots.

2. Ayurveda insists that medicine be centered at the patient, than on the disease. The mind, body and soul are considered a tripod and medicine is prescribed for overall health augmentation.

3. Since Ayourvda deals with preparations mainly from herbs and natural resources, it is a harmless therapy with least or no side effects.

#4 Ayurvedic medicines are for older patients.

Truth: There is no known limitation in this form of treatment. It is equally suited to all age groups. Ayurveda could be considered a boon for children when their body system is yet tender and in process of immunity building. The natural products do not interfere with their body resistance and at the same time tends to be more safe and comforting.

#5 Ayurvedic medicines are just an alternative.

Truth: Ayurvedic system of medicine is incorrectly quoted as an alternate therapy as this has always been the most ancient and complete system of medicine. It’s been existing before the birth of other medical therapies. The word Ayurveda is itself derived from ‘Ayush’ which means life and ‘Veda’ which means science. There fore, Ayurveda is the complete science of life. It is a treasure to provide every individual a life full of health, vigor and vitality.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

THE ROOT REMEDY

Ayurveda is fast becoming a lifestyle option worldwide. Little wonder, it’s poised for a quantum leap today with India waking up to the potential and benefits of this ancient system of medicine

Posted online: Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 0019 hours IST
Mend your mane

Hair loss can be treated with hypnosis, suggests recent research.
While hypnotherapy attributes hair loss to psychological reasons, Ayurveda holds our modern lifestyle and diet responsible for it. One of the chief causes of hair loss is increased pitta, due to excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, fried, spicy and oily foods, meats and too much of smoking. The primary step of the treatment thus is to balance pitta by regulating your diet.