Ayurvedic bhasma oldest form of nanotechnology

The bhasmas' used in Ayurveda for treatment of various diseases for the past several centuries is the oldest form of nanotechnology, said head of solid state chemistry section at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, Prof AK Tyagi.

Brahmi herb can treat Alzheimer's

[IANS6 December 2009]

Researchers are coming by evidence that herbs like brahmi, associated with the ayurveda system of medicine, can help ward off Alzheimer's

Although what exactly causes Alzheimer's is not known, sufferers experience inflammation of the brain, deposits of beta amyloid, traces of heavy metals and signs of oxidative stress.

Brahmi, a semi-aquatic plant, acts on all of these, said Con Stough, director of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) involved in trials underway at Swinburne University of Technology Brain Sciences Institute (BSI).

"It has an anti-inflammatory effect, is an antioxidant and collates and removes heavy metals and beta amyloid," he said.

Two trials with a brahmi extract called CDRI08, conducted over 90 days, have shown improvements in working memory, particularly spatial memory accuracy.

Top 10 Lifestyle Changes Your Heart Will Appreciate

1. Skip the elevator and use the stairs instead. Just start with one flight. Soon, you'll be ready for two.

2. Start parking your car at the far end of the parking lot. The short walk everyday to and from the store or school helps your heart.

3. If you ride a bus or subway, get off a stop before your destination. Walk the rest of the way.

4. If you can, spend a few minutes of your lunch break taking a stroll outside work or school. It will also help boost your energy levels after lunch.

5. Housework that is done vigorously counts as exercise. Vacuming or mopping can be a real workout!

6. If you have a yard, mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, and raking leaves are also chores that count as exercise.

7. If you have a dog, take it for brisk walks twice a day, and benefit your heart and his!

8. If you have a family, schedule an after-dinner walk. It’s great to help digestion and to start clearing the mind to get ready for bed.

9. Include oats into your daily routine. Just a cup of cooked oatmeal will provide wonderful cholesterol-reducing benefits. (Be sure to check out this month’s special feature on oats!)

10. Try to laugh! Laughter helps release pent up stress and has been proven keep your heart healthy and happy.

Brahmi and Ashwagandha

Inflammation often begins in the mind, for when we create a hard-driving, goal-oriented mental environment and begin to ignore our body’s need for good food, rest, exercise, and a regular yoga practice, we start overworking—and overheating. We know the warning signs but stubbornly ignore them, listening instead to the inner critic that commands us to accomplish more. Brahmi and ashwagandha are herbs that can help. According to ayurveda, they calm the mind without sedating it, leaving it clear, grounded, and inspired. And ashwagandha is a tonic that keeps the body strong and counters overexhaustion. It also treats a variety of ailments that result from depletion: arthritis, nerve pain, and infertility.

Permanent CURE of Diabetes is possible......................

According to nature therapy, diabetes is the result of a problem in the

digestive system. This can be overcome easily, and within a short

duration of time, with regular practice of yoga, change in life style,

daily routine and diet control. Generally, people engaged in sedentary

work suffer from this disease. The insulin produced from the pancreas

reduces both in quality and quantity, resulting in a high sugar level,

and the excess glucose flows out through the urine.

Cure for diabetes:

The patient should be given proper rest and should take a controlled

diet. The following should be kept in mind at the time of treating

diabetes. The patient should be stress free. The digestive system should

function normally and the secondary diseases caused due to diabetes

should also be treated and controlled.

Yogic cure for diabetes:

* Practice of Kunjal Kriya, Naouli, and Shankh Prakshalan is

beneficial in this case. (For detailed instructions of these practices

please see seperate articles on these topics.)

* Uddiyan Bandh cures digestion related problems.

* Practice of Kati Chakrasana, Ardhamatysendrasana, Vajrasana,

Bhujangasana, Paschimottasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, Mandookasana

and Padahastasana are very beneficial for diabetes.

* Bhastrika Pranayama, Ujjayi Pranayama, Nadi Shodhan Pranayama and

Brahmari Pranayama are very beneficial in the case of diabetes.

* The patient should practice all the steps of Surya Namaskar daily.

Diet control for diabetes:

Proper diet control is necessary depending upon the age, work and

condition of the patient.

A person of normal weight who does not do any physical work should take

2000 calories; person involved in medium physical work should take 2500

calories and in case of excessive physical work the calorie intake

should be 3000 calories.

The diabetics with low weight need more calories compared to other

patients.

Overweight people should eat less than 2000 calories to prevent fat.

The best way to fix the calorie intake is to get the urine tested.

Diabetics can eat curd (yogurt) to maintain their physical strength.

Take one to two ounces of bitter gourd juice in the morning to control

diabetes.

Take fat free milk (250-400 ml) or buttermilk or sprouted moong gram

(dahl).

Take 30 mg fenugreek seeds or 50 gm fresh myrobalan juice.

Eat chapattis made with wheat and gram, 250 gm of green vegetables, 25

to 50 gm of salad, 25 gm of lentil (kidney beans), 150 gm of curd

(yogurt) or diluted curd.

Take 30 gm roasted gram in the evening along with a glassful of

vegetable soup or diluted curd (yogurt).

Avoid curd (yogurt) at night.

Important tips for diabetics:

* Mix soybean, fenugreek and gram flour in wheat flour and eat

chapattis made out of this flour. Mix the flours in the following

proportions: Wheat flour-7.5 kg, Gram flour-1.5 kg, Soybean flour- 0.9

kg, Fenugreek- 0.1 kg

* Avoid all types of sweets and sweet food, clarified butter, refined

flour and food made with it, and processed food. Smoking, gutka, and

alcohol are completely prohibited.

* Bitter gourd, wood apple, black plum, and neem leaves are

beneficial in controlling diabetes.

* Green leafy vegetables, cholai, bathua, coriander, mint leaves,

cabbage, cucumber, gourd, wood apple leaves, coconut, radish, tomato,

lemon, carrot, ginger, onion, butter milk, and soaked almond are also

beneficial.

* Avoid intake of starch and rice. Avoid excessive mental work and

indigestion. Do not sleep during the daytime, drink water in gulps.

* Barley is also beneficial for diabetes patients. Mix barley flour

and gram flour in 5:1 ration and eat regularly for eight to ten days.

The glucose does not pass out through urine.

* Roast barley and make a fine powder, make chapatti and eat it for

relief.

* A diabetes patient should walk and jog regularly to control sugar

level naturally. Brisk walk is beneficial if the person cannot run due

to some reasons.

* Practice Agnisar, Dhouti, Bhastrika Pranayama, Uddiyan Bandh along

with Paschimottasana to strengthen the lungs and other Pranayama for

permanent relief.

Home remedies for diabetes:

Grind six-gram fenugreek seeds coarsely and soak in 250 gm water. Crush

it nicely in the morning, sieve it with a cloth, and drink it. Follow

this remedy for two months regularly in order to overcome diabetes

completely. Those who suffer from excess heat due to fenugreek, and

ulcer patients, should take fenugreek with aniseeds. Mix a spoonful of

aniseed and two spoonfuls fenugreek seeds and soak them in a ceramic

bowl in 200 ml water. Sieve with a cloth in the morning.

Chop four leaves of black plum and grind. Sieve the juice in eight grams

water and drink regularly for ten days. Take it every two months for ten

days. This juice is very beneficial in case of sugar passing out through

urine. Chew four leaves of black plum twice daily in the beginning

stages of diabetes to give relief from the third day itself.

Put 60 gm ripe black plums in 300 gm of hot boiling water. Cover the

vessel with lid. Crush them nicely after 30 minutes and divide into

three portions. Take one portion three times during the day to reduce

sugar level.

Dry the black plum seeds in the shade and prepare a powder. Take three

grams twice daily with fresh water to overcome diabetes. Continue this

medicine for 21 days regularly.

With best wishes,

Swami Brahmavidyananda Saraswati

A Sannyasi from Uttarakhand, India

'To control diabetes-eat healthy to feel healthy'

9 November 2009,

VARANASI: While the side effects of modern allopathic drugs used for control of diabetes, one of the fastest spreading disease in the country, is

still being questioned, ayurveda experts in the region believe that drug, diet and exercise control could go a long way in controlling the disease, without costing too much on the pocket.

"Most parts of the country are blessed with indigenous herbs and medicinal plants that are known to control diabetes for years," said Prof KN Dwivedi, head, department of dravyaguna, faculty of Ayurveda, BHU.

Ayurveda drugs prepared from these plants are free from side-effects and naturally induce the immune system to fight against diabetes, he added.

Referring to some of the medicinal plants including Vijaysar (Pterocarpus marsupium), Sadabahar (Lochnera rosea), Gudmar (Gymnema silvestre) and herbs like Methi (Trigonella foenumgraecum) that have potential to control diabetes, Prof Dwivedi stressed on the need for taking balanced diet and indulging in exercise to keep diabetes away.

"There is only one formula to keep diabetes under control-eat healthy to feel healthy," he said. It also means taking balanced diet (adequate calories) and avoiding fast foods especially junk food. Also, light exercise (15 minutes each in the morning and evening) can have wonderful effect on the body, he added.

"Recent studies have shown that by controlling obesity, around 60 per cent cases of diabetes can be prevented. Similarly, the integrated approach of controlling diet, lipid profile and exercise can prevent around 80 per cent of diabetes," he said.

Speaking about some of the qualities of medicinal plants that have surfaced during research work in BHU, Prof Dwivedi said that most of these plants are known to increase insulin sensitivity for controlling diabetes.

They contain natural free radical scavengers (anti-oxidants) that promote glucose absorption from gastro-intestinal tract, he added.

Synergies of Yoga and Ayurveda

Yoga has been classically taught using the terminologies of Ayurveda, especially when describing the physical effects and benefits of various positions or asanas. On the other hand Ayurveda draws on yoga terminology and philosophy to explain the healing practices and holistic approach to life. Both Yoga and Ayurveda teach us to live according to our unique constitution or Doshas.

Yoga and Ayurveda go hand in hand and are the ancient life disciplines that have been practiced in India for a very long time. Yoga is the science of union with the Divine or with Truth, and Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda is the healing side of Yoga, and Yoga is the spiritual tradition from which Ayurveda emerged

Rasayanas: Anti-Aging Secrets from Ayurveda

Ayruveda's 5000 year old tradition is based on food and herbs as the first medicine and key to health and vitality. Their cost effective efficacy without side effects has been creating more Ayurveda advocates in the modern western world lately. Clinics are popping up in several USA states.

Among rasayanas is Ghee, which goes a step further than clarified butter. Ghee is very cost effective because you can make it yourself from unsalted organic butter.

The other two are triphila and chyawanprash. Triphila is dispensed in tablets or powder form as an herbal supplement product containing three herbs. Triphila is not expensive, and the small daily amount required ensures your order will last for longer than a month, often much longer.

Chyawanprash can be used as a jam. Compared to not so beneficial jams on the market, it can be a bit pricey depending on the source. But only two teaspoons a day is sufficient to receive real health benefits. Compared to a lot of anti-aging formulas that have flooded the market, chyawanprash is quite cheap.

Both triphila and chyawanprash are able to be consumed every day for as long as desired or needed. There is no addiction or side effect issues. Most Ayurvedic doctors agree that the longer one takes them, the deeper the effects are. Besides their anti-aging properties, the rasayanas have many positive effects on the digestive system.

MODERN MEDICINE HAS NO PREVENTION

The modern method of detecting disease with medical exams and testing has nothing to do with prevention. By the time a physician has found something wrong, it’s often too late for treatment. Physical exams, mammograms, colonoscopies, and cholesterol tests are merely high tech methods for detecting late stage disease. The only physician who can truly prevent disease is you. You can create and maintain perfect health with the Ayurvedic knowledge of diet and routine you will find at http://ayurveda-foryou.com

Ayurveda can cure hepatitis, sickle cell & cancer

B P Tamrakar, a professor of Ayurveda from Bhilai. He says that Ayurvedic medicines are like amrit or - and cure a disease completely by treating the root cause of the disease. Diseases like sickle cell, thalassemia, hepatitis B and E and even cancer, which remain a challenge for the Allopathic doctors, too can be treated and managed well with Ayurveda. Tamrakar says, "Ayurveda can cure sickle cell to about 90%, turn hepatitis B and E positive patients to negative and prolong the duration between blood transfusions required by a thalassemia patient. But this is possible with right integration of modern medicine with Ayurveda." He has treated 150 sickle cell patients, 70 hepatitis infections and is conducting research with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and College of Pharmacy, Delhi.

Jamnagar's Ayruveda university has started B.Sc in Yoga course from current academic year, currently this course has 50 seats out of which 10 are NRI seats, fees are nominal (.Rs.30,000. / 700$) for three year course.
This course is also recognized by the India's College Education committee UGC.

Sodas Makes You Fat

A huge study in California has revealed that drinking soda drinks (fizzy drinks) makes people fat. The soda industry along with the producers of high fructose corn syrup that is often used in the drinks have been denying for years that there is any connection between drinking soda and putting on weight.

However, the rates of diabetes and obesity in America have been increasing year on year as the population drink ever larger amounts of sodas.

The study comprised of a questionnaire asking amongst other things, about the habit of soft drink use in 4,000 adolescents and 43,000 adults. The researchers concluded that just drinking one soda a day raised the risk of obesity by 27%. As a comparison, of all the adults who drank a minimum of one soda a day, 62% were obese or over weight.

The study also revealed that 24% of adults, 62% of adolescents and 41% of children drink at least one soda daily. This means that 39 ponds of liquid sugar are consumed yearly by the average Californian teenager.

The health cost of this excessive consumption of soda drinks is being met by the health care system and it is certain that obesity and diabetes is taking up a huge amount of the overall resources within the entire health care system. In particular, this is due to heart disease, cancer, depression and other diseases that cost a lot to treat.

The health care providers are now beginning to take note of how much soda drinks are contributing to the total health care cost for the nation.

NaturalNews

More Americans Today Willing to Try Alternative Medical Treatments Like Ayurveda

Santa Clarita, CA, October 10, 2009 --(PR.com)-- There's a strong inclination today among many Americans to try alternative medicines, as Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with western medicine's inability to deal with many chronic disorders and illnesses. Americans are more than willing to explore and see if an alternative medicine like Ayurveda, a traditional form of East Indian medicine that originated thousands of years ago, that's gaining popularity in the U.S., could offer a better solution.

With over a fifth of American hospitals now offering some sort of alternative therapy along with conventional medicine, an astonishing one in three Americans have used — and are continuing to use some form of alternative or complementary medicines, most of them without informing their physicians.

As a complementary therapy Ayurveda's popularity in the U.S. is increasing. "There is a major push for study on Ayurveda in the United States,” says Dr. Daniel Furst, director of clinical research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, who led a study of rheumatoid arthritis to test combinations of allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments to determine efficacy. “It (Ayurveda) has been practiced for 3,000 years [in India]. No one will do it if it is garbage. It will gain credibility if adequately tested and will be used more.” Americans are spending billions on alternative medical treatments. And major hospitals and medical schools are embracing them.

Ayurveda addresses the well-being of the entire person. Herbs and minerals, nutrition and purification, affirmative ways of living are a few of the ways in which Ayurveda treats not just the ailment but the whole person, emphasizing prevention of disease to avoid the need for cure.

Herbs for Healthy Aging:

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Ashwagandha is a shrubby plant which offers tremendous potential as an energizing medicinal herb. Ayurvedic practitioners have used the roots of this plant for centuries with success as a tonic to increase vitality and longevity, as well as to treat health conditions as diverse as tumors and arthritis.Ashwagandha was tested for its anti-aging properties. The subjects experienced significant improvement in hemoglobin, RBC count, hair melanin, and seated stature. Serum cholesterol decreased and nail calcium was preserved, and 70 percent of the research subjects reported improvement in sexual performance.

Amla (Emblica officinalis). Amla is a rejuvenator. It has antioxidant properties and can counter the toxicity of heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt, arsenic, and mercury. It also provides protective properties after one has been exposed to toxic or carcinogenic chemicals.It has powerful anti-cancerous properties and has been used in cancer therapy to cut down the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, one who consumes a rasayana with Amla as the main ingredient is one who will “live for a hundred years without any sign of decrepitude.” Among other things, Amla is one of the richest sources of natural vitamin C available and is well-known as a powerful immune support.

Shatawari (Asparagus racemosus). This herb has tonic, adaptogenic, alterative (curative), and aphrodisiac activities. It is used to treat debility and chronic diseases like infertility, impotence, menopause, lung abscesses, and chronic fevers, as well as stomach ulcers, hyperacidity, and hormonal imbalance and diarrhea. Decoctions of the herb have a soothing effect on dry and irritated membranes, making it useful in treating bronchitis and other respiratory ailments.As a rasayana, it is believed to bring all of the body’s fluids into balance.

Trifala (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, and Emblica officinalis). Trifala is another adaptogen. The combined herbs are synergistic and have digestive and eliminative actions. It has anti-parasitic, anti-yeast, anti-bacterial, and antihistaminic properties. It improves the flow of bile, lowers cholesterol, and can be used as adjuvant in chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Shilajeet (Mineral pitch). Shilajeet is a rich source of naturally occurring minerals. Russian athletes used it as a nonsteroidal body builder and stamina enhancer. Ayurvedic medicine considers it as an aphrodisiac, a tonic for the kidneys and prostate. It helps with benign prostate enhancement and is an immune enhancer.In Ayurveda, Shilajit is considered a rasayana herb and an adaptogen.4 The substance has been found to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form, as well as humic acid and fulvic acid. Clinical research has been conducted to determine Shilajit’s pharmacological activity, and the results have confirmed its traditional uses in treating impotence, sterility, mental diseases, and for improving memory and learning.

Pippli (Piper longum). Pippli helps in digestion, and enhances acid and enzyme secretions. It significantly enhances the absorption of nutrients, herbs, and drugs, and has shown anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic, and powerful anti-parasitic actions.Ancient Ayurvedic texts list Pippli as one of the most powerful rasayana herbs, which means that it is a valuable longevity enhancer. It is also considered a purifying herb, with soothing qualities that help improve the quality of sleep.

What's your Dosha?
North Shore News(September 27, 2009)
In Ayurvedic philosophy, everything in the universe is made up of five elements: earth, air, fire, water and ether. In living things, those five elements combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces called doshas. The three active doshas are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. During different times and circumstances in life, different doshas will be more predominant. The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain your dosha balance.

Vata is formed by ether (space) and air. Vata is movement, the body in motion. It is the energy of respiration, heartbeat, nerve impulse and muscle contraction. Vata circulates the blood and lymph, draws and expels air from the lungs, moves food through the digestive system, and eliminates waste. Vata also governs such feelings and emotions as nervousness, fear, anxiety, pain, tremors and spasms.

Pitta is formed by fire and water. Pitta regulates the body, controlling its metabolism. It is the body in transformation. Pitta governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, body temperature, skin colouration, the luster of the eyes, intelligence and understanding.

Kapha is formed by earth and water. It builds the body and forms its structure: skeleton, muscles, organs, ligaments, tendons and skin are the work of Kapha. And Kapha lubricates the body, ensuring the smooth function of joints. With strength, stability, and solidity, Kapha is the body in repose.
Know more about your Dosha at http://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/consti5.html

Do Garlic supplements reduce the risk of the common cold?

The team, from the University of Western Australia, published its findings online in the July issue of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international nonprofit that analyzes health care information.
That study, in which 146 participants were randomly assigned to take a daily garlic supplement or a placebo, found that those taking the supplement got fewer colds over the three-month study period than those taking the dummy supplement. They also got over their colds faster.
Among ayurvedic preparations 'Lashunadi-Vati' can be useful as garlic suppliment.

sure cure for heart ailments: US experts

By Bhaskar Roy
Times News Network
Thursday, October 23, 2003

Indraprasth - Medical experts in the US have turned to
Ayurved after findings that India's alternative system
of healing can make a dent in the heart attack rates.

Baffled by the fact that enormous resources and latest
medical technology have failed to lower the incidence of
cardio-vascular diseases, they have come here to explore
possibilities of productive research in herbal medicine.

"We are bringing the technology to promote the medicine
system of an ancient civilisation," says Robert
Schneider, one of the 15 American experts currently
participating in a workshop along with the Ayurved
practitioners here.

What brought the focus on the Indian healing system was a
paper in Stroke, the journal of the American Heart
Association, which claimed that with meditation one could
open up the clogged heart arteries.

Another medical journal reported that it was possible to
control blood pressure as much with yoga as medicine.
Schneider claims that heart-induced death risks can be
reduced by 50 per cent by resorting to the Vedic mode of
healing.


But the fact is that Ayurved experts do not have the
license to practise in the US . Since the Federal Drug
Administration (FDA) does not recognise Ayurved as a
discipline, herbal medicine cannot be sold in the US
market. It is sold under the `nutritional supplement'
tag.

Still, Mishra points out, there is demand for Ayurved for
problems like cancer, arthritis, lever and heart
ailments. He admits it is tough to comply with the
stringent regulations of FDA. Perhaps it is here that
Ayurved experts in the US can play a role.

The fact that two million people in America practise
meditation seems to have set the stage for greater
acceptability of Ayurved there.

Penis Enlargement Methods[digghealth.com]
For men looking for penis enlargement methods, herbal remedies are also a great option. These herbal remedies have been widely used in Ayurveda since ancient times, but they have become exceedingly popular only in the recent times. Dong quai, blessed thistle, ginseng, ginkgo, kava kava, maca, black cohosh, golden seal are just some of the herbs that are used to bring about an enlargement of the penis.
These herbs help in extending the length and the girth of the penis by increasing the amount of testosterone, the male sexual hormone.
The popularity of Ayurvedic herbs for penis enlargement is increasing by leaps and bounds with each passing day. Shilajit, an Ayurvedic preparation, is extremely popular in countries such as the US and in the European countries. Several other herbal products such as Vrishya Vati etc. are available which help for both penis enlargement as well as a cure for impotence.
There are many exercises for penis enlargement as already mentioned above. Squeezing and jelquing are the two most popular ones.

Discover more about Ayurveda
September 11, 2009
Learn more about the history of Vedic culture this weekend at the Geeta Bhavan Hindu Temple in Whalley Range, Manchester.
A series of educational talks will take place starting with the first session titled: Ayurveda: Hidden Health on 12 September at the temple based on Withington Road.
The lecture will be held by Dr Divya Prinja, a Manchester university graduate who is currently working at University Hospital in Birmingham.
Dr Prinja went to Rishikesh in the foothills of the Himalayas to discover and learn about Ayurveda, a Vedic science of health and healing.
Dr Prinja will share her knowledge and experience of Ayurveda.
The event will start at 7.30pm and will include prayers and dinner.
For more information contact the temple on 0161 861 9083 or 0161 344 5515.

Full List of 165 Ayurvedic & Unani Government recognized colleges in इंडिया
This list gives all Ayurveda and Unani Colleges in India that are approved by Government of India. The list also gives details whether it is a Government or Private Ayurvedic College.
Hope Ayurveda students will find this list extremely useful.

Prevent swine flu, the ayurvedic way
Express News Service : 20 Aug 2009
BALASORE: With three persons testing positive for swine flu in the State till today and threat of the disease spreading looming large owing to the home-coming of thousands of Oriyas from affected cities like Pune and Mumbai, Ayurvedic physicians have advocated use of herbal and ayurvedic medicines to successfully battle the disease. The Ayurvedic way can be useful in battling swine flu from further spreading, say the experts.


“Use of tulsi, haldi, neem, bhu-neem (andrographis) and guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) are the best applications to prevent the H1N1 virus,” said Santanu Das, a visiting Reader in the department of Toxicology and Applied Medicine in SD Ayurvedic Medical College at Ranchi. “As a precautionary measure anyone can take Sudarshan Phanta (Sudarshan Churna in boiled water to be taken like tea),” he said.

Correlating the swine flu to ‘Vata Sleshmika Jwara’ from its signs and symptoms, Das who is the chief consultant of Narayani Ayurvedic Research Centre at Nayabazar here said, though there is no pharmacologically established drugs in Ayurveda to cure the disease, some immuno-modulating drugs will help in containing it.

“Consumption of 10 to 20 Tulsi leaves at a time is the most safest drug. Besides, turmeric powder is also useful as it is highly beneficial for the treatment of conjunctivitis which is also a viral disease. Similarly, neem increases Immunoglobulin-M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) levels and stimulates the macrophage activities. While bhu-neem stimulates antigen and nonspecific immune response increase CD4 lumphocyte level, Guduchi increases IgG antibodies and is effective for strengthening the respiratory system,” he informed.

“While the available allopathy medicine Tamiflu is taken only after the disease is detected, Tribhuban Kirti Rasa, Dasamula Kwatha, Sudarshan Ghana Bati, Tulsi and Guduchi Kwatha, Sansaman bati are best medicines in Ayurveda,” said Rabi Narayan Acharya, Reader in Drabyaguna department in Institute for Post-Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurvedic University.

Herbs like tulsi can help fight swine flu, claim Ayurveda एक्सपर्ट्स
August 12th, 2009 - 7:45 pm ICT by IANS -
New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Medicinal herbs like tulsi, which is commonly found in people’s homes, can help boost one’s immunity and thus fight Influenza A (H1N1), say Ayurveda doctors.Preeti Chhabra, an Ayurveda doctor in the capital, said that medicinal herbs like tulsi, ashwagandha, guduchi and amla can help boost one’s immunity level, thus helping fight swine flu.
“Keeping the present scenario in mind, some medicinal herbs like ashwagandha, amla, guduchi and tulsi are very good to help boost the body’s immunity and thus help fight diseases. These can either be consumed individually or made into a concoction,” Chhabra told IANS.
“Tulsi in particular is a very good herb because it has both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. It can boost one’s immunity and also rejuvenate after a bout of illness. Therefore, although you can’t call it a cure, it can sure help fight H1N1 virus,” she added.
Rakesh Sharma, another Ayurveda expert, said: “Tulsi has the medicinal property that strengthens the body’s defence mechanism. Not only can it help boost your immunity level, but also help you recover faster.”
“A paste or juice made out of about 20 tulsi leaves, if had daily, will help one strengthen the immunity level and fight viruses like H1N1,” he added.
Kavia Sharma, a mother of two, said that she has started giving her children a thick concoction of tulsi early in the morning to strengthen their immunity level and ward off the H1N1 virus.
“These days I have started giving my children a tulsi paste every morning after soaking a few leaves in water overnight,” Sharma told IANS.
Bhumyamalaki, another herb, has the potential to boost one’s overall body defence mechanism, Chhabra added.
“Bhumyamalaki helps one in fighting diseases like Hepatitis B. And it can help in case of swine flu too,” she said.

Indian herb: Tulsi (basil) can help keep swine flu away: Ayurvedic experts

Lucknow, May 27: Wonder herb Tulsi can not only keep the dreaded swine flu at bay but also help in fast recovery of an afflicted person, Ayurvedic practitioners claim.

"The anti-flu property of Tulsi has been discovered by medical experts across the world quite recently. Tulsi improves the body's overall defence mechanism including its ability to fight viral diseases. It was successfully used in combating Japanese Encephalitis and the same theory applies to swine flu," Dr U K Tiwari, a herbal medicine practitioner says.

Apart from acting as a preventive medicine in case of swine flu, Tulsi can help the patient recover faster.

"Even when a person has already contracted swine flu, Tulsi can help in speeding up the recovery process and also help in strengthening the immune system of the body," he claims.

Dr Bhupesh Patel, a lecturer at Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar is also of the view that Tulsi can play an important role in controlling swine flu.

"Tulsi can control swine flu and it should be taken in fresh form. Juice or paste of at least 20-25 medium sized leaves should be consumed twice a day on an empty stomach."

This increases the resistance of the body and, thereby, reduces the chances of inviting swine flu," believes Patel.

'Alternative medicines can cure swine flu'
Times of India: 10 August 2009, 10:03pm IST

At a time when swine flu is taking lives across the globe with India being no exception to it, very few know that its sure shot treatment is
hidden in the country itself. The oldest mode of medicine -- Ayurveda has a cure for the much talked about swine flu. While there is panic among people when it comes to the tests and medication of the H1N1 virus, the Ayurveda experts claim to know methods of prevention and cure of the disease.

In contrast to Allopathy medication being preferred by the apprehensive patients, there are few takers of the ayurveda medicines even if it claims to provide hundred per cent treatment. Dr Bhagwan Singh, principal and superintendent of State Ayurvedic College, Lucknow, says, "The disease (swine flu) and its treatment is already mentioned in our old books of medicines by sages. On the basis of the symptoms of swine flu, it has been given the name `vatashlesmic' fever in the ayurvedic medicine books."

He further added, "Whenever there is a change in the environment due to spurt in growth of any kind of virus, human beings are the first one to be affected by it. For treating a patient infected with H1N1 virus, ayurvedic medicines like Sanjawini Vati and Tribhuvan Kriti Ras can be given. These medicines are prepared by mixing 12-14 ayurvedic ingredients selected on the basis of the symptoms of the viral disease."

Ayurveda claims to have preventive medicine for H1N1 infection also. Professor, P S Srivastava, department of Kaya Chikitsa, State Ayurvedic College, Lucknow opines, "On the basis of symptoms like cough, cold, sore throat and fever, one cannot be considered as a patient of swine flu. So to be on the safer side, one could take a medicine named as Gurahi for the sake of prevention. Apart from this, one can also have tea or hot water adding black tulsi leaves to it and following other hygienic practices like using mask etc."

Ayurvedic Management of Swine Flu
Pandemic of Swine flu has created panic in our region these days.
We have published an article at our website in which Dr.Joban Modha have tried to elaborate the Ayurveda management of Swine flu.
According to Ayurveda daily and dietary habits plays a major role in any disease. If your digestive fire is normal, your immunity will remain powerful and thus no infection can overrule you. Read complete article here
- http://ayurveda-foryou.com/treat/swineflu.html

Patent rights over traditional Indian system of therapeutic practices

There is no information with the Department of Ayush about any foreign country having established Ayurveda Universities, which are likely to get patent rights over traditional Indian system of therapeutic practices.

The Government has taken the following steps in this regard:

Department of AYUSH has identified some of the effective therapies and treatment of Ayurveda in the identified disease conditions.

i. Ksharsutra Therapy for Ano-Rectal disorders like Fistula in Ano and piles. Ksharsutra is minimally invasive para-surgical Ayurvedic procedure for the treatment of Ano-Rectal Disorders. This involves insertion of a special medicated thread i.e. Ksharsutra through the fistula passage with the help of a probe. A National Campaign on Ksharsutra Therapy has been launched and implemented in 16 States. A National Resource Center on Ksharsutra Therapy has been established in the Faculty of Ayurveda, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi to provide standardized treatment and undertake Research and Development. The treatment has been scientifically standardized and Research and Development is going on to further improve the technique and expand its benefits all over the country.

ii. Panchkarma is another strong area of Ayurveda. Various procedures of Panchkarma are being standardized by Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) and a document prepared by AYUSH has been sent to World Health Organization (WHO) to accept the Panchakarma treatment guidelines on safety and practices.

Aryavaidyashala, Kottakal, a well known institution for Panchakarma treatment, has also been assigned work to standardize Panchakarma treatment procedures.

iii. Under the Golden Triangle Partnership Project (GTP), the Department of AYUSH, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are working together to establish the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment in some identified disease conditions and practices. eg. Dislipeademia Benign prostate Hypertrophy (BPH) etc.

iv. Under the Extra-Mural Research (EMR), Scheme of Department of AYUSH and CCRAS is supporting various research projects to establish the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines.

v. The Government is funding the institutions like National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur; The institute of post graduate teaching and research in Ayurveda (IPGT&RA), Jamnagar under Gujarat Ayurveda University and Faculty of Ayurveda, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi to undertake scientific research to establish the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines.

vi. The Department of Science & Technology and ICMR is also supporting number of research projects on Ayurveda to establish the efficacy as well as safety of Ayurvedic medicines.

vii. Under the National Campaign on Geriatric Health Care through Ayurveda and Siddha, standard Ayurvedic treatment protocols have been prepared by CCRAS which are under publication. Weekly clinics one attracting large Geriatric Patients.

viii. Department of AYUSH has also started a Campaign on Anemia Treatment through Ayurveda. The project has been started in the State of Himachal Pradesh and CCRAS will be expanding this programme in some couple of States also.

ix. Department of AYUSH through Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Committee has published various volumes of Ayurvedic Formularies and Pharmacopeias under which the quality standards of 540 single drugs and 101 multiple ingredients formulations has been published. Therefore, the standardized medicines will ensure the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines and practices.

x. The Department of AYUSH in collaboration with the University of Mississippi, USA, has set up a Centre for Research in Indian Systems of Medicine (CRISM) for promotion, propagation and validation of the AYUSH systems

This information was given by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 22July 09.

Useful Home Remedies for Toothache

1. Asafetida is ground into a paste in lemon juice. This is then slightly warmed. A cotton pad is dabbed in the solution and applied on the tooth cavity. This is a very quick method to relieve the ache.

2. A very simple remedy to allay toothache is to mix some pepper powder with common salt and rub this mixture onto the teeth. Doing this daily will also prevent any toothache problems as well as dental cavities.

3. Mix a pinch of pepper in clove oil. Put this oil directly into the cavity to stop toothache.

A Simple Exercise to Calm the Mind

Each morning I do a simple exercise that calms my
mind, leaving me with a wonderful relaxed feeling to start
the day. This exercise only takes a few minutes. In fact, I
sometimes use it at other times in the day when I need
to relax before an event that might be stressful. If you
have to make a speech in front of a large group of people,
it can quickly reduce anxious feelings that are often felt
when faced by that prospect.

It has a soothing effect on the entire nervous system and
helps to balance brain activity and strengthens the
respiratory system.

This simple exercise is called "Alternate Nostril
Breathing." It falls into a category of exercises called
Pranayama (or simply breathing exercises).

The technique is simple and only takes about five
minutes. Keep your breathing natural as you perform this
exercise. Do not strain or push the air in or out. As with
other ayurvedic exercises, do them in a quiet room
without distractions, concentrating on your movements.

1. Sit erect in a cross-legged posture or in a comfortable
chair.

2. Close your eyes, rest your mind, place your right hand
near your nose. Let your right thumb rest lightly against
your right nostril. Let your ring finger rest lightly against
your left nostril. Exhale slowly.

3. Gently close your right nostril. Slowly and quietly
inhale through your left nostril.

4. Close your left nostril, release pressure on your right
nostril to open it, and exhale slowly and quietly.

5. Without pause, inhale through your right nostril slowly
and quietly.

6. Press your right nostril closed, open your left, and
exhale.

7. This completes one round. Continue to repeat the
exercise continuously for about 5 minutes, then sit
quietly with your eyelids lowered for about 2 minutes.

To learn more about such breathing exercises visit here http://ayurveda-foryou.com/yoga/yoga.html

Diet plan for Diabetes - Type I
In type -1 Diabetes, pancreas does not produce any insulin at all। Hence type -1 diabetics need to take insulin injections in order to control blood sugar levels।The key to diabetes management is diet, exercise and insulin. Exercise regularly but don't go overboard as there is a risk of hypoglycemia ( low blood sugar) in diabetes.Talk to your Physician/ Diabetes Specilaist, take your insulin injections on time and have small frequent meals. Monitor your blood sugar levels with glucometer.Diet plays a very important role in maintaining Blood sugar levels near to normal. Keep the following into account.
- Do not Fast and Do Not Feast.
- Have meals at regular intervals and avoid skipping any meals as it may lower your blood sugar to dangerous levels.
- Make sure there is consistency in your diet and calories should be taken in prescribed amounts.
- Avoid high calorie foods like fried food, junk food, refined starches like common flours (maida), Bombay rava/suji, and products such as noodles, pizza and burgers.
- Have whole grains like oats, whole wheat porridge ( wheat rava/dalia) - Limit intake of rice specially if it is white polished rice. Try brown rice.
- Prefer whole wheat flour chapatis. - Have fruits and vegetables in your diet with the exception of root vegetables like potato, yam, colocasia (arvi) and sweet potato, jackfruit. Fruits to be avoided are bananas, mango, sapota, grapes, litchi, custard apple.
- Include foods rich in fibre and space your meals properly.
- Have a fixed mealtime and avoid snacking in between meals.- Avoid sweets and sugar containing foods.

Richa Saxena, M.Sc. (Nutrition), RD (Regd. with IDA),Consultant Nutritionist ; Registered Dietitian

Health mantras for senior citizens

From Times of India(31 May 2009)

Mental peace is the main mantra of healthy life that brings out a glow of satisfaction on your face and one can achieve it by following a lifestyle that has been recommended by Ayurveda. One has to learn to keep constant dialogue with your body,Keep balance in your diet, exercise and work according to individual health conditions, age and capacity. Everyone has to be persistent about cleanliness and oral and dental care. One needs to keep all body cavities clean for a healthy life.

One must follow nature's clock. Start a day with a glass of lukewarm water, exercise regularly; half an hour walk is advisable. After the age of forty, one should do oil massage and take hot water bath after that. One must be regular in taking good breakfast and meal timings. One should avoid excess oil and spices. Seniors are advised to add fresh fruits, green vegetables, rajgira, nachni and whole pulses in their diet. For good digestion one must keep three to six hours distance in the meals and don't munch anything in between. According to each season seniors should adjust their extra activities. Human emotions make a big impact on one's mental and physical health. Seniors need to have smooth dialogue with other family members. Positive approach is essential to lead a happy life. As a diagnosis in time saves lots of anxiety and money, seniors should keep regular contact with family doctor and with his/her consultation check blood pressure, sugar and thyroid test.

New Online Ayurvedic Herbology Certificate Course
As you all know, we at 'Ayurveda For You' are the first to publish Ayurvedic books in e-book format.
So far we have published 14 ebooks on various topics in Ayurveda. We are successfuly conducting a short term Interactive Online Correspondence Course - "Basic course in Ayurveda" for last 2 years.
We are glad to announce the launch of a new Interactive Online Correspondence Course - "Ayurvedic Herbology".
This certificate course will be conducted through our website- http://ayurveda-foryou.com in collaboration with 'International Academy of Ayurveda'. International Academy of Ayurveda will issue a certificate after completion of course.
This online "Ayurvedic Herbology" course is intended for:
1. Undergraduate students2. Post-graduates students of Ayurveda3. General Enthusiasts of Ayurveda4. Ayurvedic Practitioners5. Aroma therapists6. Alternative medical Practitioners. This online "Ayurvedic Herbology" course is available in two formats1. Only Ayurvedic Herbology Ebook in 4 Volumes and2. Interactive Online Herbology Course- with certificate from International academy of Ayurveda
For more information about this online course please visit -http://ayurveda-foryou.com/herbology_course.html
For more information about the Herbology ebooks please visit -http://ayurveda-foryou.com/ebook/herbology_ebooks.html

The great Indian weight loss trick

Neelanjana Singh

 

 

Like most civilisations whose roots lie in very hoary and splendid traditions, India has been blessed with a great and noble heritage in many realms of human endeavour. This is particularly true of our ancient systems of healthcare such as the ayurveda and the unani. 

Lately, there has been a surge in the popularity of such alternative systems of health management. Not surprisingly, ayurvedic offshoots of weight and health management have acquired an aura of their own. This is also borne out by the fact that I am constantly besieged by many queries on ayurvedic formulations related to the control of weight gain. 

Given such interest in natural remedies for weight control, I have thought it prudent to comment on some of the ingredients in the more popular remedies. Though many of these ingredients are quite harmless, the general belief that anything ayurvedic or natural is free from side effects needs to be categorically denied. Many of the world’s most toxic poisons are found in nature! 

•Honey-hot water-lemon: The most popularly touted formulation — that can be deemed ayurvedic or natural — for losing weight is the lemon juice-honey-hot water combo drink. From the point of view of science there is some merit to this formulation. The lime as well as the hot water act by suppressing appetite. This is caused by the increase in the levels of the chemical cholecystokinin in our bodies that causes appetite to decrease by creating a sense of fullness. 

•Green tea: Pushing my point about caution further, there is scientific data to support the fact that drinking a couple of cups of green tea could rev up your metabolism leading to control in weight gain. Further research, however, is required before we make a strong recommendation. Moreover, green tea extracts taken for weight loss could cause vomiting, nausea and bloating in addition to loading one with heavy doses of caffeine. In fact, many weight-loss teas contain botanical laxatives (Senna, Triphala) and diuretics. 

•Guggul: This is another popular ingredient in weight loss preparations that has been used traditionally. Guggul is a resin/gum and its active ingredient is a plant sterol that reduces fat in the human body. Scientists have studied guggul and preliminary data suggests that it may be associated with a small loss in weight or a reduction in tissue folds. But the studies have been small and it is not yet clear whether guggul offers any benefits over diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity.

•Guar gum: This gum is supposed to block the absorption of dietary fat andincrease the feeling of fullness. It is considered safe but can cause the usual diarrhoea, gas, flatulence. Guar gum should always be consumed with adequate water to avoid any risk of intestinal obstruction. 

Vitamin C Intake Associated With Lower Risk Of Gout In Men
ScienceDaily (Mar. 16, 2009) — Men with higher vitamin C intake appear less likely to develop gout, a painful type of arthritis, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men," the authors write as background information in the article. "Epidemiologic studies suggest that the overall disease burden of gout is substantial and growing. The identification of the risk factors for gout that are modifiable with available measures is an important first step in the prevention and management of this common and excruciatingly painful condition."

Hyon K. Choi, M.D., Dr.P.H., then of University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and now of Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues examined the relationship between vitamin C intake and gout in 46,994 men between 1986 and 2006. Every four years, the men completed a dietary questionnaire, and their vitamin C intake through food and supplements was computed. Every two years, participants reported whether they had been diagnosed with or developed symptoms of gout.

During 20 years of follow-up, 1,317 men developed gout. Compared with men who had a vitamin C intake of less than 250 milligrams per day, the relative risk of gout was 17 percent lower for those with a daily intake of 500 to 999 milligrams, 34 percent lower for those with an intake of 1,000 to 1,499 milligrams per day and 45 percent lower for those with an intake of 1,500 milligrams per day or higher. For every 500-milligram increase in their vitamin C intake, men's risk for gout appeared to decrease by 17 percent. Compared with men who did not take vitamin C supplements, those who took 1,000 to 1,499 supplemental milligrams per day had a 34 percent lower risk of gout and those who took 1,500 supplemental milligrams per day had a 45 percent lower risk.

Vitamin C appears to reduce levels of uric acid in the blood, the authors note; a buildup of this naturally occurring compound can form crystal deposits in and around joints, leading to the pain, inflammation and swelling associated with gout. Vitamin C may affect reabsorption of uric acid by the kidneys, increase the speed at which the kidneys work or protect against inflammation, all of which may reduce gout risk, the authors note.

"Given the general safety profile associated with vitamin C intake, particularly in the generally consumed ranges as in the present study (e.g., tolerable upper intake level of vitamin C of less than 2,000 milligrams in adults according to the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine), vitamin C intake may provide a useful option in the prevention of gout," they conclude.
----------------
Amalaki, the main ingredient of a comprehensive herbal tonic CHYAVANPRASH, is the richest source of natural Vit. C

UnTech Yourself: Simplify Your Life!

Technology can definitely make life easier.

E-mail, rapid communication, RSS and the Internet create vast opportunities for new information. But technology isn't perfect. Adopting new technologies can have a sharp learning curve and many programs have unseen bugs and usability problems. Even more worrying is the fact that this boost in information can cause overload, zapping your time in endless e-mails and feeds to read.

Breaking your paradigm of technology as a cure-all to every problem can open you up to other avenues for solving problems. Technology may be innovative and wonderful, but learning when to unplug the power cord can help simplify your life. Here are some ways you can untech yourself to simplify your life and get more done.

Internet Dieting

Internet, IM, e-mail and web-surfing can be very distracting, often without providing a lot of value. These empty calories often disguise themselves as necessary information but are just noise. Start a thirty day Internet diet to reduce the total amount of time you spend connected to the net.

Notepads

Turn off the blackberry and try using a paper organizer. It may not be as flashy, but it is amazing how effective they are for having basically two features: write and read. Keeping a notepad with you means zero learning curve, zero interruptions and only stores information not noise.

Television Blackouts

Television is full of stimulation. When television is good it can be entertaining, humorous, dramatic and a social activity. When it's bad it is flashing lights providing distraction without value. You might want to experiment with cutting down on television, especially when you know in advance that there isn't going to be any worthwhile programming.

Try cutting down your morning news and replace it with reading books or newspapers. The information will usually be more valuable and text is nonlinear so you can skip information that doesn't interest you. Best of all most books don't have commercials.

iPod Mute

I'll admit it, I love my mp3 player. Great for workouts and doing boring tasks it can add a bit of extra flavor to regular activities. But sometimes the constant noise and music can desensitize you to experiencing the world around you and cut you off from interacting with other people.

Try turning off the iPod periodically. Drive to work without any music. Try exercising with quiet. Try walking in silence when you are by yourself. Not only will this allow you to reconnect with what you are engaged in, it makes it easier for you to actually notice the music when it is playing instead of just having noise.

Read Books

Remember when books used to be made of paper? Cut back on your online reading and head to the library or bookstore and get something you can hold in your hands. Although some online reading is definitely better than books, if your entire library would consist of 500 word articles with flashy headlines, you probably aren't getting a lot of depth.

Get Back to Nature

Go out and spend a half hour in nature. If you live in a big city, at least look for a park or a relatively quiet area. Having a bit of solitude in a natural setting can often inspire ideas where everything is calm. Remember not to bring the cellphone or Blackberry!

Getting back to a natural environment can break away the endless distractions of life and give you some time to really think. I've had many of my best ideas on hikes and walks through nature. If you live in a highly technological world, spending a few hours or days can create even more ideas. I don't believe that this is because nature has some mystical power but simply that it is often such a dramatic change in environment that it triggers new ideas.

Cooked from Scratch

Technology also appears in our food, even if it isn't in the form of circuit boards. Having easy premade and tasty food can be great in a hectic lifestyle, but this kind of eating isn't usually healthiest. Try cutting back on processed foods and making more meals from scratch. Most people say they don't have time, but I believe it is really that they don't know how.

Even if you aren't going to be featured on Iron Chef anytime soon, try cooking a new meal from scratch. I've found that you can often modify recipes to be cooked in less time without resorting to tasteless and processed filler. You might want to set out an hour or two a week to experiment with a new recipe.

Technology is a Tool

I'm not going to be joining the Amish anytime soon. I love the many ways that technology can make us more efficient and connect us with other people. But like any tool, you need to see where its limits are.

If you find yourself becoming a technophile try unteching some areas of your life. You might find a little less tech can bring a lot more value.

By Scott Young.

Getting Children to Eat Vegetables
A recent study has discovered a simple way to get young children to eat their vegetables. Almost every mother knows about the trouble that has to be gone through in order to get young children to eat their daily requirement of vegetables. It's a hard ordeal.

Fortunately, a study undertaken by Cornell University has revealed that simply by allocating catchy new names to ordinary vegetables results in even very picky youngsters to ask for more! Some of the names that they tried and proved very successful were, 'Tomato Bursts' and 'X-Ray Vision Carrots'

The study involved the participation of 186 four-year olds. When they were offered ordinary carrots that were called "X-ray Vision Carrots", the children ate almost double the amount compared to when they were given carrots as just 'carrots' on their other lunch days.

Interestingly, even after the study, the same children ate 50% more carrots when they were called just 'carrots'.
The author of the study, Brian Wansink said, "Cool names can make for cool foods," adding that "Whether it be 'power peas' or 'dinosaur broccoli trees,' giving a food a fun name makes kids think it will be more fun to eat. And it seems to keep working – even the next day."

Even adults are susceptible to the names of foods. A study conducted on restaurants found that when 'Seafood Filet' was changed to "Succulent Italian Seafood Filet," taste rating increased by 12% and sales increased by 28%. Wansink said it was the "Same food, but different expectations, and a different experience."

Researcher Collin Payne said that the trick can be used outside of pre-school children too. He said, "I've been using this with my kids," and added that "Whatever sparks their imagination seems to spark their appetite."

Psyllium Husk (Isabgol) for Constipation

It is imperative to drink copious quantities of
water when taking psyllium, otherwise it just adds to the already
existing problem of constipation. It clogs things up further.

Personally I think Triphala is a much more user friendly product, and
according to David Frawley safe to use on a long term basis. It also
tones the colon and has high levels of Vitamin C.---claire lafferty

Tulsi to 'insulate' the Taj Mahal

Lukhnow - Tulsi, known for its medicinal qualities, will
now help protect the Taj Mahal from environmental
pollution. In an exercise being undertaken by the Uttar
Pradesh Forest Department and the Lucknow-based Organic
India, a million tulsi saplings will be planted near the
marble mausoleum.

Tulsi is one of the best plants to purify the environment.
It cleanses as it releases high amounts of oxygen, which minimises the
adverse impact of industrial and refinery emission. - PTI
The Hindu
Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Turning to Vedic Wisdom to Fix America’s Health Crisis

It’s time to do something about health care that doesn’t depend on the government.

The US health care system is going to be broken for the forseeable future, and only because I am now far enough away from it to have some perspective do I understand that it is the responsibility of each individual to take personal responsibility for his or her health. We have given it over to the government for the past fifty years with disastrous results.

A contemporary reinterpretation of ancient Vedic wisdom advocates a balance of body, mind and soul and offers Ayurvedic treatments to help optimize health and prevent illness.The simple practice of keeping your life in balance means you can avoid the health care system while waiting for it to get better (if it ever does).

And then I will remind you that here in India, people do not rely on the government because they cannot. The power goes in and out constantly, the streets have no curbs and sidewalks, all basic infrastructure is woefully lacking. And yet, life goes on because India has become a nation of entrepreneurs who do not depend for their well-being on “good” government. In the award-winning novel The White Tiger, the author talks about village hospitals in which the doctors never appear, because they are hired by the government to go to the hospital, but pay money to a clerk to check off a ledger that says they’ve already visited the hospital for the week.

You may think this only happens in India, but people in American hospitals wait long periods of time to see a doctor, too, although for different reasons.

In India, this leads people to learn on their own and to take more personal responsibility. It has developed a nation of entrepreneurs. In America, we are currently a nation of learned helplessness, standing in line at the government’s door waiting for our bailouts.

Health care for individuals in far back in the bail out line. If you are currently uninsured, or uninsurable, try reading Ayurveda to get a different perspective on what you can do for your own health.

(Written by francine on February 19, 2009 - 11:33am For: www.ushealthcrisis.com)

Top 10 Reasons for Getting Up Early

I don't always bound out of bed with grand expectations about the day ahead, but when I can hear my grandmother saying, "This is a day the Lord has made: I will rejoice and be glad in it," it helps. And when I get up at the early side of morning instead of the snooze-alarm side, ah, what a difference!

1. It stretches out the morning. You could even see it as a way of living longer.

2. There's no excuse not to meditate.

3. Or go to the gym.

4. You'll be sure and make your bed before you leave the house. Just remembering that you did that gives you a better day.

5. There's time for a real breakfast.

6. You get to see your city or town when it's fresh and new---just you and the street cleaners and the paperboys

7. You don't have to rush to get to work.

8. You can get to your desk with time to spare to straighten things up a bit, check personal email, and maybe start the coffee so the person who usually does that gets a pass.

9. You're starting your day in rhythm with nature. According to the time-honored Indian healing system of Ayurveda, there's a wake-up energy in the early morning from 5:30 to 7 o'clock or so, and a slow-down-and-help-you-sleep energy from 9 to 10:30 at night.

10. You join forces with giants. The bulk of great thinkers past and present were early risers. They didn't miss anything the day had to offer. Get up with them and you won't miss anything either.

(From - Beliefnet.com)

Ayurveda provides balance within
Ayurveda defines a healthy person in a blissful state of balance…when the body, and mind, and spirit function at an optimum level. There is a healthy digestive fire resulting in good digestion and absorption, healthy metabolism leading to healthy cells and a peaceful state of mind.

Ayurveda recognizes that we are comprised of earth, fire, water, air, and ether; elements that are all around us, and in us. Some are more predominant and are expressed in our Doshas.

Doshas are three constituents found in nature—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and under those three umbrellas fall the five elements and other characteristics. A Dosha determines your tendencies: It explains you—from your mental clarity to your ideal climate.

We are all born with an unchanging Dosha, but we can have an imbalance. Ayurveda comes into play when there is an imbalance within the Doshas. It helps us to stay balanced.

Ayurveda recognizes that everyone is an individual, Ayurveda is really about nature. Recognizing that we are a part of nature.