Ayurveda For You

2012-01-23T22:49:00.000-08:00

Ashwagandha, Shatavari and Turmeric Are Great Herbal Ayurvedic Remedies

One of the efficient health tonics for males to attain physical strength, masculinity, virility and potency is Ashwagandha. This herbal tonic is being used in the Indian sub-continent as an effective herbal medicine since more than twenty five hundred years. While it is a good health tonic and it can be used daily as a healthy diet supplement, it is also used as a preventive and curative medicine against a number of diseases and sickness.

The good thing about this herbal medicine is that is increases the efficiency and strength of our immunity system and since it is herbal and natural medicine perfectly suitable for our health and digestive system, it causes no side effects. This herbal medicine is also effective as an adaptogenic agent and it helps in preventing, reducing and curing restlessness, weakness, headache, stress, depression and hypertension. In addition, this herbal ayurvedic medicine can also be used as a natural pain reliever.

Shatavari is popular too. Especially for women. A female body is quite different from male body and it requires extra care and specific health promoting medicines. One of such medicines that are specifically meant to help women gain internal strength and better immune system is shatavari. This herbal medicine is very helpful for women as it not only help them in improving their immune system, it also acts as an adaptogenic agent and helps them to cope with the changing environment and the hormonal changes that occur in the female body.

Since this herbal drug can efficiently help women to improve their immune system, it is considered as an effective protective and preventive medicine that helps women to fight against a number of diseases and illnesses. It also helps females to avoid stress, anxiety, depression, hypertension, restlessness, body pains, weakness, mood swings, strains and other symptoms of hormonal changes.

Ayurvedic herbal medicine Turmeric is widely considered as a great healing agent in the Indian sub-continent. This herbal medicine is not only used as an external healing agent for injuries, wounds and cuts, it is also used as an internal healing agent to sooth and cure internal injuries. This ayurvedic medicine is perfectly suitable for human body and digestive system and in fact it is used as a food additive spice in Asian countries. It is being used as an effective ayurvedic medicine since ages. According to recent medical research studies, the active agent of turmeric is curcumin which helps in fighting against a variety of cancers and it is a strong anti carcinogen agent.

One can use Turmeric to successfully fight against and cure prostate cancer and it is also used to prevent breast cancer from spreading and infecting the lever. Since this ayurvedic medicine is healthy to use as a food ingredient, it can be taken regularly to attain proper health benefits.

2011-11-14T04:56:00.000-08:00

World Diabetes Day

[14 November 2011]

World Diabetes Day raises global awareness of diabetes - its escalating rates around the world and how to prevent the illness in most cases. Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, the Day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.

WHO estimates that more than 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention.

Key elements for preventing diabetes and staying healthy are - Simple lifestyle changes -- including healthier diets, regular exercise (30 minutes five times per week) and a modest weight loss of five to seven percent. And you can cut your chances of getting diabetes by almost 60 percent.

What these simple changes in lifestyle could be ?
What is the best exercise suitable for Diabetes prevention ??
How to achieve the desired weight loss safely and permanantly ???

Ayurveda has provided right answer to these questions. In fact this is the theam of our Best seller e-book "Ayurvedic Cure of Diabetes"

2011-09-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

Ayurvedic Training Offered in 2011-2012 by the California College of Ayurveda
The school offers Ayurveda training in English via the Distance Learning program throughout the world. Programs include Ayurvedic Body Therapies (Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Svedana), Ayurvedic Health Practitioner and Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. The practitioner program (Level I) begins Fall 2011 and is also available online in the Live Internet Program.
Have you ever wondered why we become sick or what is the end cause of disease? Understanding this is very profound and yet simple: once we understand the cause of disease we can begin heal. Ayurveda teaches us that all disease begins when we are living out of harmony with our environment. When we take in inappropriate impressions from our environment through any of our senses, we choose to weaken the body and create an internal environment which supports the creation of disease. We could disrupt our body's internal energy flow. The Ayurveda studies program offered teaches all the principles of living in harmony with the environment.
Healing through Ayurvedic Medicine involves all five senses. Through taste, we utilize proper diet and herbs. Through sight, we utilize proper color and beauty. Through smell, we utilize aromatherapy. Through sound, we utilize music and sound energies. Finally, through our skin we take in specially prepared herbal oils and receive ayurvedic massage (abhyanga). In addition to five sense therapy, Ayurveda advocates the periodic removal of accumulated toxins and food residues through specialized purification procedures called panchakarma.
The school offers Ayurveda education in English via the Distance Learning program throughout the world. For more details visit Ayurvedacollege.com or call 530 478 9100 . The program is also offered in Spanish throughout Latin America. For more details visit Escuela Ayurveda.

2011-09-11T03:51:00.000-07:00

Holy Basil(Tulsi) - A Herb for Diabetics
Compounds in Holy Basil have been shown in clinical trials to nourish the pancreas and specifically help generate healthy new beta cells. These beta cells are the body's insulin-production factories, and insulin lowers blood sugar.
Holy Basil helps other cells in your body open up their receptor for insulin. This lightens the load on your liver and adrenal glands. You may also notice fewer cravings for sweets.

2011-09-05T02:54:00.000-07:00

Antiaging Ayurvedic Herb- Amalaki
Who would ever have thought what a little, green fruit approximately the size of a tennis ball can achieve? Amalaki which is occasionally known as Amla is a fruit that is grown in India beneath the famous Himalayan Mountains. Modern study indicates Amalaki to be one of the most encouraging botanicals that bring about cellular rejuvenation, augment vitality and improve immune capabilities. Tales abound regarding the therapeutic properties of Amalaki and its incredible antiaging benefits.Within the Hindu folklore, Amalaki is reserved within a station of honor. The fruit has long been reported in the Ayurveda or as it is frequently identified as Indian medicine arts. It’s listed within the pages as a tremendously robust rejuvenator possessing the gift to purify the human body and to effectively oppress illness.

2011-07-04T03:35:00.000-07:00

Amazing photos from outdoor yoga photo contest by YogaBlaze.

Find more photos like this on YogaBlaze

2011-06-04T23:05:00.001-07:00

Ayurvedic Natural Antibiotic
Long before modern medicine came out with the magical powers of antibiotics, ancient Indian system of medicine Ayurveda have benefited from Kalmegha, a natural antibiotic.

Kalmegha is technically called Andrographis peniculata. The herb is also called Kalpanath and Kiryat. Kalmegha is bitter in taste and unpalatable. But it has a myriad medicinal properties including its ability to fight leprosy, boost immunity, kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, control fevers of various origins including malarial and typhoid, keep the stomach in good health, and provide relief from haemorrhoids.

Of late, research has been taken up on the medicinal properties of Kalmegha. The studies were centered around Kalmegha’s ability to kill cancer cells, reduce upper respiratory tract infections etc. There are also claims of Kalmegha improving the immunity in people living with HIV/AIDS.

2011-05-02T04:18:00.001-07:00

Health Benefits of Trikatu
Trikatu is a special herbal combination of herbs to prevent obesity. Trikatu has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-helminthes. It helps in removing the worms from the body and thus improving digestion. Trikatu is a combination of natural herbs and is safe and effective. It helps maintain healthy digestion and removes toxins from the body. Trikatu helps rejuvenate your body cells and also helps prevent any infection from inflammation of the digestive organs.

Trikatu has natural anti-histamine and thus helps prevent infection and inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It prevents your body from an allergic reaction. It is safe to use the product for a long period of time, because it does not produce an adverse reaction. Regular intake of this product helps to increase your appetite. Trikatu inhibits the formation of gas and so it helps in proper digestion of food. The digested food is used by your cells to give you energy to carry out various activities.
Trikatu increases metabolic activity and the rapid absorption of nutrients. Trikuta is also a very good product for the bad odor from the mouth to treat. It helps to improve the taste of the mouth. Chew your food well in the mouth for effective digestion and absorption of food nutrients. Trikuta also helps maintain the normal flow of blood into your cells.

Trikatu works on your skin and very helpful to prevent any allergies. Trikatu keeps your face and your skin fresh and glowing.

2011-04-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

MEDHYA HERBS IN AYURVEDA

Medhya herbs in Ayurveda include's:-

1)Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)

2)Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica)

3)Shankapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)

4)Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

5)Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina)

6)Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi)

7)Vacha (Acorus calamus)

8)Yastimadhu (Liquorice)

9)Tribulus terrestris(Gokshura)

These herbs are mainly used in Ayurveda for treatment of mental diseases.These medicinal plants have wonderful action that can calm mind and it can also increase or decrease mental functions.Herbs such as Bacopa monnieri,Convolvulus pluricaulis, Centella asiatica increase's memory and the Rauwolfia serpentina,Withania somniferais used to calm patient.
Extracts of all these herbs are available here at - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/paypalstore/ghana.html

2011-02-27T05:07:00.001-08:00

Excellent Ayurvedic Herbal treatments for acne scars

1. Sandalwood (Chandana) is best for all skin related problems. It maintains the glow of the skin. Sandal wood paste must be applied to your skin as a face pack till it dries out. After drying you it must be removed with help of cold water or with a soft towel dipped in cold water. Acne scars and dull skin can both be treated through this treatment.

2. Aloe Vera is an exceptionally beneficial herb with medicated values. This herb is well known as a natural home herbal remedy for removing acne scars. Cooling as well as the soothing affects of aloe vera helps a lot in revitalizing the skin. Mix aloe vera gel with essential oil and apply to your skin. This paste has antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and restorative properties that heal acne, reduces the acne scars, moisturizes the skin and restores it.

3. Mint Leaves are the most common and widely available herb. This herb is very well known as one of the best treatments for removing acne scars. For preparing a remedy with this herb you just have to pick around 10-12 fresh leaves and then press or squeeze the leaves to extract its juice. The juice of the leaves have all medicated values and healing properties that help in clearing your skin and help you get rid of acne scars .

4. Fenugreek (seeds of methi herb) also provide an excellent ayurvedic acne scar treatment. For preparing the medicinal solution you must first boil 1 liter water and add a small teaspoon of methi seeds. Once the water gets boiled you have to put it aside and let it cool. Apply it to your skin where there are acne scars. You must do this atleast for a week and see miraculous difference.

2011-02-18T02:11:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon promotes weight and blood sugar control
Studies have shown that cinnamon, the common kitchen spice frequently sprinkled on breakfast oatmeal and included in sweet potato pie, lowers blood glucose levels. Along with the benefits that it brings to this area, additional testing and folklore say that cinnamon also has fat-burning properties that will aid in weight loss.

Published in 2003 in the journal Diabetes Care, a study concluded that in people with Type 2 diabetes, consuming daily low levels of cinnamon that is between 1 to 6 grams (or approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons) reduced blood sugar levels. How cinnamon effects this result is still to be determined but the study also showed that the results lasted in the individuals even as long as twenty days after ceasing to use cinnamon. In 2009, a Scandinavian study showed that in healthy individuals 3 grams of cinnamon per day lowered blood sugar levels after eating a meal. Higher insulin levels lead to less use of excess blood sugar (and sugar is stored in the body as fat), so a reduction in insulin after a meal is significant. If cinnamon can help control the level of blood sugar and, by offshoot, fat levels, then that is corroboration of what some have said regarding its weight loss potential.

Learn moreabout Cinnmon: http://ayurveda-foryou.com/ayurveda_herb/cinnamon.html

2011-02-02T02:32:00.001-08:00

Cinnamon Helps Prevent Diabetes”

Several research studies are showing that cinnamon is able to help prevent diabetes. Cinnamon which is a common spice appears to regulate as well as prevent diabetes. Coming from the internal bark of the cinnamon tree, cinnamon has been used extensively for medicinal and culinary purposes. Traditionally cinnamon is used for treating congestion, colds and diarrhoea.

Recent studies discovered that it is high in antioxidants which experts believe will help it to reduce the speed of ageing as well as lower chronic disease risk.

In his book "Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, And Stimulants -- Dangerous Drugs on Trial," David W Tanton writes that "Not only does cinnamon activate essential enzymes in the body thus stimulating the receptors in the cells so they will respond more efficiently to insulin, but it also inhibits the enzymes responsible for deactivating ... causing insulin resistance."

Tanton further reveals that "Cinnamon bark actually contains calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and vitamins A, Bi, B2, and C, many of which are important for the prevention or treatment of diabetes."

The conclusion of reviewing eight studies carried out on human volunteers clearly showed that blood sugar levels were effectively reduced after meals and also in between meals by including cinnamon in the diet. It was also observed that cinnamon supplementation could lower diabetic complications.

One of the studies reviewed revealed that cinnamon had beated pharmaceuticals in effectiveness. The study which the "Journal of Diabetic Medicine," published showed that people supplemented with cinnamon had better blood sugar level improvement than those given conventional diabetic drugs.

2011-01-13T02:06:00.000-08:00

ARJUNA ON HEART
Terminalia arjuna is an herb found in abundance in the Himalayan forests, Bengal, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The saponin glycosides found in this herb are responsible for an inotropic effect, meaning that the force with which the heart and other muscles contract is affected. The arteries are strengthened by its flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. This important herb also interacts with LDL cholesterol, accelerating its turnover in the liver and inhibiting its oxidation, thus contributing to cholesterol reduction in the body. Terminalia Arjuna has the potential to correct abnormalities in endothelial cells, those that line the interior of blood vessels. A study in 2003 indicates that it has beta-blocking activity. Terminalia has no toxicity, does not interact with drugs and has no contraindications.

Studies on this herb are very promising. In a 2002 double blind crossover study published in the Indian Heart Journal, 58 males diagnosed with ischemic heart disease were given either the standard medical treatment (isosorbide mononitrate, a blood vessel dilator), Terminalia Arjuna, or a placebo for one week. They were monitored for symptoms of angina (severe chest pain) during exercise. Terminalia reduced symptoms better than the placebo and was equal to the standard medical treatment.
Read more about Terminalia Arjuna here - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/ayurveda_herb/arjuna.html

2011-01-05T02:17:00.000-08:00

Triphala hinders growth of pancreatic cancer cells
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute suggests that a commonly used herbal supplement, triphala, has cancer-fighting properties that prevent or slow the growth of pancreatic cancer tumors implanted in mice. The study found that an extract of triphala, the dried and powdered fruits of three plants, caused pancreatic cancer cells to die through a process called apoptosis – the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted or unneeded cells. This process often is faulty in cancer cells. Results of the study, abstract number LB-142, are being presented in a late-breaking session at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 14-18, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Triphala, one of the most popular herbal preparations in the world, is used for the treatment of intestinal-related disorders. It is typically taken with water and thought to promote appetite and digestion and to increase the number of red blood cells.
Read moreand buy Triphala here - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/ayurveda_herb/triphala.html

2010-11-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

Men Secret Health Issues
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.

2010-10-13T03:33:00.000-07:00

HERBS FOR DIABETES-
These are –
1.Saptrangi – Salacia oblonga
2.Vizaysaar – Pterocarpus marsupium
3.Gurmaar – Gymnema sylvestrae
4.Jamun – Syzigium cumini
5.Bilva Leaves- trees of Aegle marmelos
6.Karela – Momordica charanatia
7.Methi – Trigonella foenum graecum
8.Neem – Azadirachta indica
9.Tulsi – Ocimum office
10. Daruhaldi – Berberis aristata
11. Haridra – Curcuma longa
12. Sadabahar- Vinca rosea
13.Amla – Emblica officinalis

1. Saptrangi – Salacia oblonga
This is a fantastic remedy for diabetes. It is a hierarchy whose bark is effective popular scheming diabetes. It is extensively considered all the rage the western herbal schools, except clothed in Ayurveda it is living being worn because ages. The herb comprise been bring into being headed for comprise diabetes scheming properties.
2. Vijaysaar – Pterocarpus marsupium
This is a cumbersome hierarchy whose bark is self-same beneficial for diabetes. The bark of the hierarchy is ended hooked on a impassive flute afterward the flute is termed being “The miracle cure for diabetes”. a number of irrigate is reserved all the rage the impassive flute overnight in addition to is consumed beforehand daylight next to diabetes patients. The dye of the run changes headed for chocolate also flute is altered past more or less 1 month at what time the run dye does not change. Diabetes hold contains wring of bark of this miracle tree.
3. Gurmaar- Gymnema sylvestrae-
all the rage Hindi language, ‘Gur’ wealth darling after that ‘Maar’ entail Kill. Gurmaar wealth “The baby killer”. It is a wrap around with the intention of is acknowledged because ages clothed in Ayurveda for its baby scheming properties. topical studies illustrate with the intention of it contains Gymnemic acid molecules liable for its anti-diabetic action. They attach in the midst of glucose molecules popular the guts in addition to inhibit their entrance hooked on the blood stream. along these lines it is effective clothed in scheming baby levels.
4. Jamun – Syzigium cumini-
It is a accepted fruit hierarchy emergent mad popular plains of India. The seeds of this hierarchy are dried cheery with at that moment a powder is ended of them. The powder of the seeds of Jamun fruit is self-same effective popular scheming darling levels. It is contracting popular nibble which is contrary headed for sweet. whatever thing contracting popular nibble is of use for diseases caused via too much lovability comparable corpulence moreover diabetes.
5. Bilva – Aegle marmelos-
This hierarchy has three trees concurrently taking place its branches. whichever hierarchy who has recipe of three trees is well thought-out clothed in Ayurveda to the same degree divine then seat of lady Brahma, Vishnu with Mahesh. The trees are untaken all Mondays popular Shiva temples. This fruit of this hierarchy is beneficial popular short-tempered bowel syndrome. The trees of Bilva are first-rate for diabetes. The trees are dried also powder is ended with varied together with additional herbs for top results.
6. Karela – Momordica charanatia-
The juice of this fruit is a miracle popular treating moreover preventing diabetes also its complications. 30 ml of Karela juice all daylight vacant stomach is optional for greatest results. It bottle be in use down by Amla juice for outshine results, because Amla is full popular unaffected vitamin C next is additionally effective popular diabetes. Karela contains organic chromium along with additional micronutrients, but Amla is and creamy popular organic anti-oxidants comparable vitamin C moreover others.
7. Methi- Trigonella-foenum-graecum-
because ages Fenugreek is living being worn in the function of a medicine popular India, Egypt, medium east also additional antediluvian civilizations. Fenugreek has first-rate properties headed for convey baby levels when fine in the same way as cholesterol levels underneath control. The seed powder of Methi is worn headed for worse timetabled darling levels. It bottle be varied together with herbs described above.
8. Neem – Azadirachta indica-
Azadirachtin, Nimbin after that Nimbidin are effective alkaloids bring into being all the rage neem. They ham it up not solitary for instance blood purifiers except what’s more wheel baby raze to the ground self-same effectively. Neem is what’s more of use popular countless skin diseases comparable eczema, psoriasis, rashes. The skin diseases connected in the midst of diabetes too counter headed for this herb quickly. It moreover helps all the rage defrayal missing the blocked channels furthermore maintains the current of fury commencing in the liver furthermore improves liver function.
9.Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum-
It is commonly recognized in the same way as ‘The Holy Basil’ is a sacred bury according headed for Hindu mythology. ancestors clothed in India worship this bury being it has tremendous medical properties. expected manipulate of trees of this bury wheel blood baby levels self-same effectively. It is moreover of use all the rage countless types of cancers, viral furthermore bacterial infections, sore throat, cough after that chill etc.
10.Daruhaldi – Berberis aristata-
This is a bulb emergent generally popular South India. The roots of this herb are in use outdated as well as grinded well. The herb powder stimulates pancreas headed for pump extra insulin hooked on blood. It too helps clothed in preventing insulin resistance amongst cells. It acts in the same way as a waterway icebreaker for glucose hooked on the cells. This moreover purifies the blood.
11.Haridra- Curcuma longa-
This is self-same accepted herb as well as is usually called Turmeric. Turmeric powder is an effective anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory after that individual of the greatest unaffected anti-diabetic. It factory popular the similar route in the same way as Berberis aristata. It helps clothed in purifying the blood, waterway opener, helps popular sinking the insulin resistance after that along these lines creation the street for glucose hooked on the cells.
12.Sadabahar- Vinca rosea-
It is each time peak plant, emergent just about popular all accommodation clothed in India. It is recognized to the same degree periwinkle clothed in English. The bury contains self-same precious alkaloids ‘ vincristine’ after that ‘vinblastine’ which are worn clothed in allopathic medicine being anti-cancer injections. The herb trees are self-same beneficial all the rage scheming the diabetes. The herb trees are assorted by additional herbs described higher than headed for find nice results.
13.Amla – Emblica officinalis –
Amla is world’s richest organic find of vitamin C along with is nature’s super anti-oxidant. individual amla contains 30 era extra vitamin C than an orange. It prevents ageing along with thus delayes the inception of complications of diabetes. Amla powder, Amla juice bottle be consumed frequently headed for progress the settlement all the rage diabetes as a consequence additional diseases.

2010-10-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

‘Rasayanas’ can stretch life span
(deccan Chronical Report)

Hyderabad, July 10: Rasayanas or herbal preparations mentioned in the ancient ayurvedic texts — Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita — are capable of fighting ageing and increasing longevity, reveals a pioneering experiment on the common fruit fly, Drosophila.
Drosophila and human beings share 13,601 common genes and most of the experimental results obtained from the fruit fly can be extrapolated on humans. Ayurveda doctors at the Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore, have proved that the life span of Drosophila can be extended by almost half through administration of ayurvedic rasayana. Doctors from Uppsala University, Sweden, also collaborated in the work.
The life span of Drosophila melanogaster increased between 51 and 55 per cent when it was fed with a standard rasayana preparation, suitably adapted for insects.
A Drosophila fly normal lives for minimum of 40 days to maximum of 53 days. In the experiment, the life span of the fruit fly shot up to 81 days to 91 days. Every fruit fly fed with the ayurvedic rasayana had an increased life span of minimum 28 days.
“Rasayana' forms the seventh of eight subdivisions of ayurveda’s earliest extant text, Charaka Samhita. Sushruta says rasayan ‘reverses naturally occurring senility’ (swabhava vyadhi nivarana) and so ‘prevents death’ (marana nivarana), further indicating that rasayanas are considered ‘Special herbal formulations’ conceived through prolonged consideration of their components,” said Dr S. Priyadarshini, the assistant professor.

2010-09-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

12 Indian foods that cut fat

You don't have to acquire a taste for olive oil, seaweed or soya to maintain a low-fat, healthy diet. Indian cuisine can be healthy too, if it's cooked with oil and ingredients that take care of your heart and health. Ayurveda suggests you include all tastes - sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent - in at least one meal each day, to help balance unnatural cravings. Here are 12 foods/ingredients that can help you lose weight and gain health:

Turmeric: Curcumin, which is the active component of turmeric, is now an object of research thanks to its properties that suggest they may help to turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake of curcumin may also help to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting thereby helping to prevent heart attack.
Cardamom: The Indian spice is known as a thermogenic herb, one that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. In Ayurveda, cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently.
Chillies: Foods containing chillies are considered to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies.
Curry leaves: Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can also help with your weight loss plan. These leaves are known to flush out fat and toxins, thereby reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.
Garlic: One of the most effective fat-burning foods, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats.
Mustard oil: The pungent-tasting oil has low saturated fat as compared to other cooking oils. It basically consists of fatty acid, oleic acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. It has antioxidant and cholesterol-reducing properties and is good for the heart. It is also loaded with essential vitamins.
Cabbage: Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction.
Moong dal: The bean sprouts contain rich quantities of Vitamin A, B, C and E and are an excellent source of many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. The dal is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programmes, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fiber, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fiber content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilising blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.
Honey: It is a home remedy for obesity. Honey mobilises the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning.
Buttermilk: Leave cola, drink buttermilk. The traditional homemade buttermilk is the somewhat sour, residual fluid that is left after butter is churned. The probiotic food contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake of buttermilk provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add many fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss.
Millets: Fiber-rich foods such as millets - jowar, bajra, ragi, etc - absorb cholesterol and help increase the secretion of the bile that emulsifies fats.
Cinnamon and cloves: Used extensively in Indian cooking, the spices have been found to improve the function of insulin and to lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.
Eisha Sarkar[Mumbai Mirror]
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You can read more about weight management by Ayurveda & Yoga in our ebook - 'Losing weight with Ayurveda and Yoga'

2010-09-02T22:39:00.000-07:00

Ayurveda? For My Thyroid? What Is It & What Does It Have to Do with Me?
Post Published: 02 September 2010
Author: Dear Thyroid
Category: Ayurveda? For My Thyroid? What Is It & What Does It Have to Do with Me?, Guest Bloggers
This post currently has 3 responses. Leave a comment

I’m always interested in the following question: How can I revive my thyroid beyond what is offered by conventional medicine? Let’s toss around this question together as part of integrating western medicine with Eastern wisdom traditions such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Often the integration part become arcane and my eyes glaze over as I read monotonous tombs of information on these ancient systems. So, let’s try to keep this lively and accessible.

Today: Ayurveda, or “knowledge of life,” — an ancient healing system that acts as a sister science to yoga. I’m a yoga teacher but not an Ayurvedic Physician – please keep that in mind as you read my words. I have been a student of yoga for 30+ years, and a student of Ayurveda for only 10 years. Ayurveda is based on understanding your constitution and imbalances, with the goal of manifesting your optimal health and wellbeing but customized to you and your uniqueness.

OK, but why is Ayurveda actually interesting to me, a 43-year-old mom with no free time and little patience for an archaic system of healing? Well, Ayurveda initially captured my attention because it fills a gap we encounter in Western medicine: Ayurveda actually engages with not simply the medical science but also with the nature, scope and purpose of life. Ayurveda’s basic tenet is that the purpose of life is to express divinity in our daily experience.

Hmmm, say more.

Ayurveda believes that the original cause of disease is forgetting our true nature, as my current guide, Jessie Holland, puts it. With Ayurveda, our goal is to keep our body healthy so we can fulfill our dharma or purpose. This happens with reprioritizing the environment, philosophically, and also balancing the five basic elements (air, water, ether, fire, earth); or put more specifically, with herbs, food, how you eat, how you perceive stress and configure your life.

Let’s circle back to the practical info on the thyroid and what Ayurveda offers.

One Ayurvedic herb I use a lot in my practice is ashwagandha, which regulates both the adrenals and the thyroid. It is known as an adrenal double adaptogen, meaning that it helps tonify your cortisol levels – so that your cortisol doesn’t get too high or too low. Ashwadandha can make your thyroid make more thyroid hormone, and in folks who take thyroid aumentation, particularly Synthroid, I recommend starting with a quarter- or half-dose.

What about iodine? Here’s one of my favorite Ayurvedic therapies for those with hypothyroidism: bladderwrack (or as I like to call it: bladderwhack). What’s especially thrilling about bladderwrack is that it’s TONIFYING, meaning that it not only lifts your thyroid function – it acts in an adaptogenic fashion. Here are more details on bladderwrack, paraphrased from my favorite online medical journal, Wikipedia: Bladderwrack helps women with abnormal menstrual cycling, at doses of 700-1400 mg/day, and has been demonstrated to decrease estradiol levels (so it helps correct estrogen dominance, referred to in my previous posts). Care must be taken in people with hyperthyroidism – excess doses can cause tremor, increased pulse, high blood pressure.

Another herb is suggested for some with hypothyroidism: shilajit, which is considered to be divine nectar given to mankind to live youthfully. Shilajit increases our vitality when it has withered as a result of stress and anxiety. While it is literally translated as an herb that allows you to conquer mountains and destroy weakness, more physiologically, it helps with movement of minerals – specifically calcium, phosphorus and magnesiu, which is often derailed in thyroid dysfunction.

Some of the Ayurvedic texts are rather impenetrable. Here’s an example from Textbook of Ayurveda by Vasant Lad, noted Ayurvedic scholar and Director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico (note: agni refers to your “fire” or “radiant energy”):

“Jatru agni. There are two schools of thought about jatru agni. One says this refers to urdhva (upper) jatru granthi (the thyroid gland), which maintains metabolism. Another says it is adha (lower) jatru granthi (the thymus gland), which maintains immunity. I like to make it simple and say jatru agni refers to both. These glands of the endocrine system are part of majja dhatu, so they are related to the chakra system. Jatru agni in the thyroid is important for regulating cellular metabolic activity. The thyroid is a bridge between bhuta agni and the seven tissues, maintaining the functional integrity of the bhuta agni and dhatu agni. The agni present within the thyroid relates to T3 and T4 hormones and it kindles agni at the cellular level. Cellular metabolic activities are governed by jatru agni and, if jatru agni in the thyroid is sluggish, a person’s metabolism becomes slow and they easily put on weight. If jatru agni is hyperactive, a person loses weight at the beginning, but the increased appetite can make the person eat a lot and their weight can vary. If there are certain repressed emotions, such as grief, or sadness, these can also impair the function of the thyroid gland.”

Huh? I get the part about the repressed emotions, and love that aspect of Ayurveda – that undigested emotions result in disease – but the stuff on jatru, bhuta and dhatu agni is completely opaque. Someone explain it to me, please.

In Ayurveda, here are the foods that are good for those of us with thyroid problems: old rice, barley, mung dal, cucumber, and milk products are recommended (assuming you’re not allergic). Sour and heavy substances are contraindicated.

Another favorite recommendation from Ayurveda, which sends me into a happy dance, is coconut oil. According to Ayurveda, coconut oil offers promise today to sufferers of hypothyroidism and slow metabolism. Fatty acid chains in coconut oil, known as medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), offer worthy health benefits and not found more abundantly in nature outside coconut oil. For my hypothyroid friends, coconut oil may help rev up your sluggish metabolism. I drizzle one tablespoon on my vegetables at lunch, and use it to cook. I especially like Spectrum’s spray coconut oil for cooking.

It’s been a rapid tour of what Ayurveda offers your thyroid, and just the very tip of the iceberg, but hopefully this post will have you thinking outside of the box about other ways of tonifying your thyroid.

Written by, Dr. Sara Gottfried

Read more about Ayurvedic management of thyroid in our ebook - Ayurvedic Management of thyroid Disorders.

2010-07-09T05:49:00.001-07:00

Sinusitis is just not a simple headache that you may experience occasionally. It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in the sinus cavities behind the forehead, cheekbones and between and behind the eyes. While an occasional attack is understandable, there are many people who suffer from chronic sinusitis. The reasons could be a weak immune system, environmental pollution, allergies caused by pollen, wheat and dairy products, or intolerance to strong fragrances and perfumes.

Miracle Herbs:
While severe cases require the administration of antibiotics, you cannot use them for a lifetime. The best way to stave off recurrent sinus attacks is to boost the immune system by including some miracle foods in your diet. Some of these are:

Ginger: Ginger is critical in fighting colds, coughs, sinus and bronchial infections. Since it has antioxidants, ginger inhibits the formation of inflammatory compounds and helps to reduce swelling and pain.

Black pepper: It is very effective in preventing bacterial infections in the mouth, colon, digestive system and urinary tract. In fact, it disinfects foods in which it is added and infuses them with its protective properties. A concoction prepared with black pepper, clove, ginger, tulsi leaves and cinnamon, can serve as an effective
remedy for sinusitis. You can add some honey to it for flavour.

Pimpli: Pimpli is a traditional Ayurvedic herb sourced from roots and fruits of the pimpli plant. It helps to relieve cough, cold and sinusitis. It is also useful to treat chronic bronchitis, asthma and diseases of the spleen.
Combination of powders of these three herbs is called "Trikatu choorna" and is very useful in these conditions.
You can get it here - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/paypalstore/choorna.html

2010-06-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

Growing Basil For Its Excellent Health, Medicinal Benefits and Ayurvedic Remedies
Basil is also known as “Sacred Tulsi” or “Holy Basil”. It is cultivated and known for around 5000 years. The tropical regions of Asia, Iran and India were the producers and consumers of basil for a long time till it became a popular herb thanks to the extremely beneficial properties of basil.

Brief meditative exercise helps cognition

2010-05-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

Brief meditative exercise helps cognition
Read more about Yoga(meditative exercise) here - http://ayurveda-foryou.com/yoga/yoga.html

2010-04-12T02:46:00.001-07:00

Greatly Relieve Your Daily Stress with Tulsi Tea
(NaturalNews) Tulsi tea originated in India and the tropical regions of Asia over 5,000 years ago. This herbal wonder is respected and honored for its rich antioxidant and adaptogenic properties, both of which are beneficial to reducing stress and promoting mental clarity. Commonly referred to as Holy Basil, this sacred plant is a principle herb in India's holistic health practice of Ayurveda.

2010-04-09T20:24:00.001-07:00

Ayurved sure cure for heart ailments: US experts
Times News Network

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.

2010-03-14T20:12:00.001-07:00

Global Ayurveda Summit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with the Ayush (Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Sidha and Homoeopathy), Union Government and the State Government will organise a global ayurveda summit from March 24 to 26 at Hotel Le Meridien in Kochi. The event will have three components; an international conference, exposition and a focused business to business meeting platform.
The conference is the first major international leadership forum with the theme, ‘Global Health Challenges: Ayurveda solutions’, which is expected to have a participation of over 500 industry leaders and experts from India and abroad.
For more information on the summit and registration, log on to www.globalayurvedasummit.in

2010-02-26T00:43:00.000-08:00

Indian bitter melon may harbour breast cancer cure

Washington, DC: An extract from bitter melon, a vegetable common in India and known as 'karela' in Hindi, helps trigger a chain of events that kills breast cancer cells and prevents them from multiplying, claims an Indian-origin researcher at Saint Louis University.

Ratna Ray, PhD., professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University and lead researcher, said she was surprised that the extract from the bitter melon she cooks in stir fries inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells.

"To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells," Ray said. "Our result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon extract significantly induced death in breast cancer cells and decreased their growth and spread."

2010-02-18T04:39:00.000-08:00

Triphala for Cancer patients
Recently, a human clinical research study on an Ayurvedic formulation Triphala Choorna was conducted at Vydehi Institute of Oncology and Research center.

The formulation used is an oral rinsing solution with water and honey. It proved to be effective in treating oral mucosistis (inflammation and ulceration that occurs in the mouth of cancer patients undergoing chemo or radiation therapy.

Method of usage
5gm (01 Tsp.) of Triphala fine powder was mixed in 200ml of water and boiled. The decoction was cooled to room temperature and one teaspoon of honey was mixed with it. The patients were encouraged to rinse vigorously for at least 30 seconds and retain the decoction in the mouth for 3-5 minutes before spitting/swallowing.

Conclusion
The patients who were on regular oral rinse with Triphala did not produce mucositis above grade two until the end of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This has helped them continue radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions without taking any treatment breaks.

2010-02-02T07:22:00.001-08:00

Ayurvedic Cooking
Gourmets groan when asked to switch to a health diet as it usually means giving up yummy, tasty stuff for bland food. But not anymore. Ayurveda teaches that you can be healthy even while indulging your taste buds. You can make mouth-watering dishes that are nutritious and healthy too. Most health problems are caused by an improper diet. In Ayurveda every food has its own taste (rasa), a heating or cooling energy (virya) and a digestive consequence (vikapa). You upset your system if you combine foods of different nature such as fruits with milk. Ayurveda teaches a rational way to prepare food keeping in mind the dietary need of the individual based on his or her body type and prakurti (body constitution of vata, pitta and kapha).
The focus of Ayurveda cooking is healing, prevention and health care. Food prepared in Ayurveda style also reduces stress and helps cure heart ailments, diabetes and asthma. Cloves ease toothache, fennel with dry coriander reduces acidity, ginger shoos away the cold and turmeric has antioxidant properties.

2010-01-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

Indo-Swedish health week to start from tomorrow

INDIA TO OFFER EXPERTISE IN YOGA AND GENERIC DRUGS
The Indo Swedish week, to commemorate the first anniversary of the signing of the MoU between the two countries,is being observed from 1-5 th February. Ms. Maria Larsson, Hon’ble Minister of Elderly Care and Public Health, Government of the Kingdom of Sweden would leading a delegation.She would also be accompanied by Ms. Karin Johansson, State Secretary to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs,and around 70 delegates from Sweden. The health week would be inaugurated jointly by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Swedish Minister on Monday .

The two countries have their traditional strengths which they would like to share. India would like to offer its expertise in traditional medicines like yoga and ayurveda as well as good quality and cheap generic drugs; while Sweden would like to offer its expertise in the field of diagnostics and medical education.

The two countries have identifed common areas of collaboration for which thematic workshops in six fields viz antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, medical research, health policy research, alcohol policy and adolescent health is being organised at the National Institute of Health and family Wellfare on the 2nd February. Activities for the week are planned at Hyderabad, Bangaluru and Mumbai.

2010-01-14T07:02:00.000-08:00

Invite for US experts to learn Ayurveda
Anuradha Mascarenhas(Expressindia.com)

Pune The Union Health Ministry has invited a team of US-based medical experts on January 27 to encourage Indo-US ayurvedic research and give them an opportunity to understand ayurveda and its practice. The government will also send a team of ayurveda experts to US where they will impart lessons of yoga, meditation and oil massage treatments.
The five-day visit will explore the possibilities of introducing evidence-based ayurveda, yoga and meditation in the United States medical education, research and patient care areas and promote research between the two countries under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.

Dr Navin Shah, former president of American Association Physicians of Indian Origin, told The Indian Express via email, that the Health Ministry has invited top medical experts and researchers to New Delhi. Shah will lead the delegation — Dr David Eisenberg, Harvard Medical School, Dr Anastasia Rowland-Seymour, Johns Hopkins University, Dr Benjamin Kligler, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr Aviad Haramati, Georgetown University, Dr Victoria Maizes, University of Arizona and Dr Anne Nedrow, Oregon Health and Science University.

“Under Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), in some of the US medical schools, information is provided on herbal medicine, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. However, no recognised course on ayurveda is taught in the US medical schools,” said Shah.

The presentations will focus on benefits of ayurveda in five major diseases and benefits of five herbs (simple or in combination) in treating various diseases. A special lecture will deal with the role of diet in both health and diseases.

“The team will scrutinise 10 proposals put forth by ayurveda experts for joint Indo-US research. This will help Indian ayurveda institutions and faculties to interact with their US counterparts for research collaborations,” said Shah.

“The National Institute of Health, USA, has also evinced interest in such joint projects,” Shah said adding the delegation will visit Ayurved Medical College and Hospital in Jaipur. India has 150 ayurveda colleges; 50 post-graduate ayurveda institutions; 70,000 students; 10,000 faculty members; and 3,000 ayurveda hospitals.

The delegation will also visit one ayurveda pharma factory to understand the drug formulation, production, preservation, safety, and research areas.

Two ayurveda professors from India will visit six US institutions and provide evidence-based lectures to medical students, faculty members, and the practicing physicians.

2010-01-13T08:42:00.000-08:00

Food and mood: Awareness can lead to healthier path

Cindy Sutter Camera Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2010 10:52:40 AM MST

If you made a New Year's resolution, chances are it had to do with your how you eat -- the perennial No. 1 change people say they would like to make in surveys.

And chances are that almost two weeks into that resolution, you may be wavering a bit when it comes to your healthy intentions. Maybe you feel cranky, irritable and hungry, even though you're eating healthy food and the right number of calories. Or perhaps you just don't feel satisfied by what you're eating, even though you're stomach is full.

That could be because you haven't stuck the right balance between food and mood.

"It's kind of like the chicken and the egg," says Esther Cohen, a nutritionist and holistic wellness coach. "They both have a profound effect on one another."

Nutritionists describe the food-mood cycle of the typical American diet thusly: The day starts with coffee and a high-carbohydrate breakfast, which leads to a mid-day crash, and a hurried lunch, often with more carbs and caffeine. A mid-afternoon crash is fixed with a bar or candy, the energy from which dissipates just as the harried worker arrives home to interacting with the family's similar cycle. That might lead to a glass of wine, a quick dinner and the urge for something sweet afterward.

It's this real estate bubble-like relationship with food that led to the cabinet currently being full of whole grains and the fridge full of fruits and veggies. Yet, perhaps that great feeling you were expecting hasn't quite arrived.

Quality food

Cheer up. Every school of nutrition agrees that whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and healthy fats are the building blocks of healthy, sustainable eating habits, whereas processed foods never will be.

"The more refined a product is, the more it has been altered from its whole or original state, the more rapidly it, too, is processed within us, causing a greater insulin imbalance and a greater stress on neurotransmitters, which are what affect our mood," Cohen says.

You just need to figure out the best way to consume that bounty of whole foods.

First they should taste good.

Nutritionist Jennifer Workman of the The Balanced Approach in Boulder, combines western nutrition and sports medicine concepts with Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old Indian nutritional framework that takes into account with a person's individual constitution and the seasons of the year. It also stresses the taste and enjoyment of food.

"Is your diet balanced? Do you have all six tastes," Workman asks. "If you're only eating sweets, you're going to set yourself up for cravings."

The six tastes, according to Ayurveda are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent.

"Most people know when they sit down to a decent meal," Workman says, adding that such a meal would be a healthy protein such as tofu or chicken, vegetables, good spices and flavors, finished with a cup of tea.

"If (people are) grabbing bars, eating the wrong things at the wrong season, it sets them up for cravings and feeling out of balance."

Listening to your body

Understanding your own body and how food affects it is key to finding balance in your diet.

"Everyone is different," Workman says. "There has yet to be the one diet that's going to fix everybody. Individuation is very important, finding the right balance for a person."

Finding that balance is made easier working with a professional who has knowledge of food and can spot trends in your personal habits, but you can learn to listen to your body and draw some conclusions yourself.

Feeling the effect of a particular type of food is an intuitive part of being human that has been lost to busy schedules, food marketers and diet books, not to mention the siren call of concentrated sugars our evolutionary ancestors never encountered.

Cohen, who also is director of Seven Bowls School of Nutrition, Nourishment and Healing, says she frequently has clients who tout a particular nutrition book they've just read.

"They're so removed from having any type of body sense," she says. "It's really wonderful ... to begin to experience how our foods feel ... as opposed to reading (how to eat.)"

Cohen says it's important to eat slowly and consciously.

"Maybe the food is perfect, but if I'm eating standing up and talking on my cell phone, I'm not getting the benefit," she says.

She recounts the story of one client who ate a lot of fast-food burgers.

"Once he had to sit down and chew, he discovered he really didn't like them," she says.Nutrition Counselor Debbie Sarfati-Steinbock says one key to body awareness is noticing the effect of a food on your mood, energy and level of cravings afterward.

"When we evaluate how a food is, we can't only evaluate it on taste," she says. "That would be like walking into a store (and saying) 'This sweater is soft. I want it,' without looking at the price or size or color."

She says many people who complain of low energy are spiking up their energy with caffeine and sugar, so that they don't know what healthy energy feels like.

"They're used to so much artificial energy," she says. "(Healthy energy) is not elation and depression. It's a much more consistent type of energy."

A good start

How, then, to get on that healthy path and to figure out what works for you?

Sarfati-Steinbock advises starting with breakfast. She has clients try a high-carbohydrate, whole-grain type of breakfast one day and a high-protein breakfast such as a vegetable omelet the next.

She says which is best depends on individual metabolism. Clients are asked to pay attention to how they feel by lunchtime. If that bowl of oatmeal lasts till lunch, they should stick with that approach. If they feel better with more protein, fewer carbs and some fat, that the path to stay on.

One of her clients, Rachel Smith, who lives in Westminster, noticed a big change in the way she felt when she started eating according to Sarfati-Steinbock's advice. Smith originally sought out the nutritionist when her then-6-year-old son was experiencing behavior problems. In the process of changing his diet, the whole family got a nutrition makeover, mainly adding more fruits and vegetables.

Before changing her diet, Smith says she had problems such as skin rashes.

"I would get headaches. I felt tired, grouchy and kind of overwhelmed," she says.

Smith tried the breakfast test, and realized she felt much better eating a higher protein breakfast. A typical breakfast now might be a large plate of sauteed kale with a couple of eggs cooked in.

"I noticed I had more energy when I ate protein and vegetables in the morning," Smith says.

She also found that she ate less during the day and felt more satisfied. The higher carbohydrate breakfast left her wanting more.

"I'd open the cabinets, sort of looking for something," she says.

Now she eats her carbs later in the day when she wants to wind down.

"I might eat oatmeal as a bedtime snack," she says.

Cohen says paying attention to what we eat can be life changing. She asks clients to tell her what foods make them feel good and then suggests similar foods to help boost their system.

"Often the food chooses us, rather than us choosing the food."

2010-01-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Take Help of Ayurveda

It's a week and more into 2010 – what's happened to your New Year's health resolutions? We usually make the same ones year after year: to lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, etc. And we find that most of our resolutions have fallen by the wayside in a month or two.

So to help break that habit, we have borrowed from ayurveda, a science of medicine from ancient India that has been in practice for more than 6,000 years. This form of medicine seeks to re-establish the harmony between the mind, body and environment. Ayurveda's premise is that keeping this balance maintains health, and, conversely, a loss of balance leads to physical ailments

2010-01-09T04:17:00.000-08:00

There are many alternative healing, and holistic healing educational programs out there. From Massage Therapy, Reiki, Aromatherapy and Oriental Medicine – the list is endless.

However, Ayurveda – the health system from VEDAS and India is still catching on. Besides Deepak Chopra, Dr. Vasant Lad, and California College of Ayurveda, there are still no big Ayurveda Course providers.

This is why we are SO excited to bring you the past, present and future of AYURVEDA through website- http://ayurveda-foryou.com

2009-12-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-12-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-11-27T23:53:00.001-08:00

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.

2009-11-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-11-14T00:37:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

'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.

2009-10-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-10-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-19T00:46:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-10-17T01:32:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-10-14T22:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-10-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-23T01:21:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-19T01:32:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-09-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-15T20:53:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

'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."

2009-08-09T00:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-31T22:56:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-04-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-18T05:43:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-13T02:54:00.000-07:00

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."

2009-03-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-02T03:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-23T22:28:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-02-17T16:52:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-01-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-12-19T04:11:00.000-08:00

Presence of metals in Ayurvedic drugs within permissible limit

Published: December 19,2008

New Delhi, Dec 19 :India today denied that some Auyurvedic drugs manufactured by leading companies contained toxic heavy metals more than their permissible limit as reported in a US journal.

The article, which appeared in August 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), said detectable levels of lead, mercury or arsenic were found in some Ayurvedic products manufactured by Goodcare Pharma, Baidyanath, Maharishi Ayurved and Sharangdhar Pharmaceuticals.

The US Food and Drug Administration had urged the consumers to use caution with Ayurvedic products based on the information contained in the JAMA article, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said in the Rajya Sabha.

He said the government took immediate steps to test the samples of the drugs mentioned in the JAMA article in labs accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Laboratories (NABL).

" After examination it was found that no Indian-exported herbal Ayurvedic medicine contained toxic heavy metals more than the permissible limit,"he said.

Presence of heavy metals was not detected in purely herbal Ayurvedic formulations, he added.

The minister also informed the House that metals are essential ingredients of formulations in herbo-mineral and herbo-metallic preparations. However, they are permitted to be used only after due purification and only in small quantities to act as catalysts for activation of other herbal ingredients to increase the efficacy of the medicine.

Nevertheless, the Centre has made testing for heavy metals mandatory in all purely herbal Ayurved, Siddha and Unani medicines to be exported since January 2006, he added. [Source: PTI]

2008-12-11T02:41:00.000-08:00

Basil - the new anti-ageing weapon
Holy Basil (Tulsi) which has been long used in Ayurvedic medicine and as a home remedy for treatment of colds, fever, coughs, and skin diseases, has now emerged as the best weapon to protect against the harmful effects of ageing, according to recent researches by the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester.

Although native to India, The Basil (Ocimum Sanctum) is commonly used for cooking purposes in the west, while in other parts of Asia it is used a rejuvenation drug to promote youthful state of physical and mental health. Ayurvedic medicine has been long using basil extract to treat several illnesses.

During their study, the pharmacy researchers noticed that the holy basil extract is effective in elimination of harmful molecules and safeguards against damages caused by few free radicals found in key organs such as the liver, heart and brain.

2008-11-15T20:30:00.000-08:00

Practical tips on eating habits as per Ayurveda

What to Eat? How to Eat?

Ayurveda explains the role of food in maintenance of vigorous health. There is an interesting and important episode described in the text of Ayurvedic Medicine. While discussing with Rishi Punarvasu - the author of “Charak Samhita”, some Vaidyas (ancient Ayurvedic doctors) raised the query “Ko ruka?” (Meaning: who does not fall ill?). Somebody said - one who eats Chyavanprash (a paste created from healthy ingredients) every morning, other said “Who takes lavan bhaskar and triphala regularly?” while others opine eating chandravati every day as the source of health. Finally the fundamental principle of natural maintenance of good health was expressed by Vagbhatt as - Hitbhuka, Mitbhuka, Ritbhuika.

Hitbhuk: which means eat that which is nourishing for your health and do not eat merely for taste.

Mitbhuk: which means eat moderately (only that much which is essential for sustenance of the vitality and stamina of the body).

Ritbhuk: means eat that which is earned and prepared by righteous means and also what is suitable in a particular season.

Broadly speaking, the above principles are not new to us. We all have read or heard about these in one form or the other. But how many people (including ourselves) really pay attention to these? In view of the life-style adopted by most of us today and considering the growing pollution in the gross and the subtle environment, we ought to be more careful about healthy food.

So first let’s understand categories of food.

1. Suka Grain (Cereals): Wheat, rice, barley, maize, millet, corn, etc. are principle ingredients of Indian cooking. The cereals are natural sources of nourishment for human body. Carbohydrates are their major constituents. They also contain about 6% to 12% proteins. The presence of minerals and vitamins is, however, nominal in the cereals; only vitamin B is found in greater quantity in their outer sheath. The shelf life of these cereals ranges between one to two years after harvesting. Sprouted cereals have more nutrition value and are richer in proteins and vitamins.

2. Sami Grains (Pulses and Legumes): This category of grains consists of grams and pulses, which are rich in proteins. Gram, green gram, kidney-bean seeds, red and yellow gram and lentil, black-gram, soybean seeds, dry-peas, etc. fall in this category. These are main source of proteins for vegetarians. The protein contents and mode of metabolism of these are healthier and more compatible with the metabolic functioning of the human body as compared to those in the non-vegetarian foods (meat, chicken, eggs etc.) Use of fresh sprouts of whole pulses and legumes in balanced quantities in breakfast and main meals is an excellent means of maintaining natural health.

3. Kandamula (Tubers and Roots): Potato, sweet tuber (sweet potato), carrot, beetroot, turnip, radish, etc. are members of this class of naturally healthy foods. They are rich in carbohydrates and are important sources of balanced calories in our bodies and activation of metabolism. These, if eaten in appropriate quantities, are good means of strength and energy in the body system. These could even be used as substitutes for varieties of cereal dishes. The rishimunis (Sages) of the ancient times used to take only Kandamula as their main food. The term ‘phatahara’ for the food prescribed during fasts refers to these only.

4. Phal (Fruits): As we all know, vitamins, minerals, natural glucose and carbohydrates are present in substantial proportions in fresh fruits. Amalki, apple, bilva (wood-apple), banana, black-plum (rose-apple), dates, figs, grapes, guava, mango, orange, pomegranate, papaya, sweet-lime, etc. are easily available fruits in almost all parts of India. According to Ayurveda, these fruits also have medicinal properties. Fruits like apricot, cherry, pineapple, strawberry, etc. could also be used when available. Ayurveda emphasizes that fruits should be eaten in their specific season, and should be naturally ripe. Overripe or rotten fruits are harmful. Raw fruits would be difficult to digest and will not have the desired natural qualities. Care should be taken to avoid eating fruits preserved in cold storage and those ripened through the use of chemicals like carbide. These have severe negative effects; frequent use of such unnaturally ripened fruits might cause dreaded diseases like cancer.

5. Sakas (Vegetables): Fresh vegetables are important ingredients of a healthy food. They provide us with essential vitamins, minerals, and compounds. Use of different types of green beans, bitter gourd, brinjal (eggplant), cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, green-gourd, okra (bhindi), tomato, etc. is very good for health. Different types of vegetables supplement each other in fulfilling the body’s requirement of vitamins, minerals etc. Likewise the use of fruits, specific vegetables should also be consumed only in the specific season of their natural growth. Use of vegetables of one season in another season is prohibited in Ayurveda.

6. Harit (Greens Leafy Vegetables): Coriander-leaf, fenugreek-leafs, green peas, mint-leafs, radish-leaf, spinach, etc. should be part of a healthy diet. Iron, calcium and other mineral and vitamin C and E etc. present in these green leafy vegetables or salads, are essential for our body’s proper nourishment.

7. Suska Phal Va Tilahan (Dry Fruits and Oil Seeds): Almond, cashew nut, chestnut, coconut, groundnut, peanut, pistachio, etc. are very rich in proteins. The oils inside these provide natural lubricants and facts necessary for the body’s mechanical and other functions. The edible, oily-seeds of sesame, mustard etc. also serve this purpose.

8. Iksu (Glucose rich substances): Molasses, sugarcane, sugar treacle, and other glucose rich substances fall in this category. These are often used to sweeten the drinks and eatables. These contain hundred percent carbohydrates, which are the major source of producing energy in the body.

9. Ambu (Watery or juicy substances): This category includes all edible substances that are rich in water-content. Fruits like watermelon, which contain about 90% water, are prominent in this category. Major part of our body-system is filled with water. We should fulfill the consistent requirement of its supply by drinking substantial amount of water. Fresh lemon squash, etc. and juice of watery fruits, if taken in balanced quantities, also supply us with other nourishing substances along with water.

10. Goras (Milk products): Milk, curd, buttermilk, cheese, etc. fall in this group. Pure milk (esp. that of cow) and buttermilk are described as ‘divine’ food or best source of nourishment for sadhakas. Many people observe kalpa (long-term fasting) only with the intake of milk or buttermilk. Milk (especially, cow-milk) is said to be a whole food in itself. Curd is also nourishing food with several medicinal qualities, if taken fresh and in appropriate quantities in different seasons as per one’s prakrati (level of tridosa). Fresh cheese and its products (if not fried) are wholesome sources of calories. Buttermilk (takra) is referred in Ayurveda as an important medicinal food. Condensed milk and milk powder might be easy to preserve and use, and may help in making delicious dishes, but these are harmful to health, particularly in the cozy life-style we have adopted and because of the chemical synthesis processes used in their preparation. Use of condensed milk and milk powder or dairy whiteners should therefore be avoided as far as possible. In view of the reports of adulteration of milk by mixing urea and other chemicals, contaminated water, etc., these days, we should be careful in verifying and ascertaining that milk and its products are free from toxins.

11. Sneha (Oils and Fats): Butter, ghee (butter clarified by boiling and straining), edible oils and fatty substances, if taken in balanced amounts, are also part of a healthy diet. These are highly rich in calories. (On an average, about nine calories are gained from 1gm of any of these substances). These help in fulfilling the requirements of lubrication of body parts (especially, joints) and energy production in the body-system. They also generally contain vitamins A, D, E and K. However, excess use of these substances is harmful to both physical and mental health. Extra care should therefore be taken to keep the level of proportion of this category to the essential minimum in our daily meals.

12. Krattana Va Yaugika (Cooked Food and Edible Compounds): Ayurveda considers ‘cooked food’ as a separate class of food. All the categories described above are independent of each other and, as we know, most of the constituents of these could be consumed raw or sprouted. Cooking changes the natural properties of food ingredients. However, eating this class of food is important because proper cooking (esp. of cereals and pulses) makes the food easily digestible and many of the new edible compounds produced under this process would also be of vital use in the metabolic system and other body-functions. Cooked food could consist of members of more than one of the above classes and help giving new combined positive effects. The concept of cooking as referred in Ayurveda is quite different from what it is for most of us today.

Cooking today is mostly aimed to make the food more delicious; different experiments are tried out by the catering experts in this regard and new ‘dishes’ and new recipes are derived. Deep fried food, varieties of spices and arbitrary combination of foods of non-compatible natural qualities are harmful to our health according to Ayurveda. But we don’t think of it as long as the food is palatable. The use of pre-cooked food-ingredients and the so-called “fast foods” should be avoided, as it has very adverse effects on our body-system. Apart from lacking in nourishing value this type of ‘modern’ food is very likely to impair the normal functioning of our digestive system and cause harmful mutations due to the chemicals in the preservatives, the artificial flavors and the chemically processed cooking involved in its preparation.

Having looked at the different categories of edible foods described in Ayurveda, let us now see what the Ayurvedic Principles tell us about - what, how much and when to eat? Why to eat and how to eat?

What to eat?

The principle of “Hitbhuk and Ritbhuk” conveys us that we should always eat properly earned, pure, seasonal and nourishing food. A balanced combination (depending upon the physical and mental labor required in one’s daily routine) from the above-described categories of healthy foods would be best suited. For example, you may use wheat, barley, maize, and some pulses, curd, butter, groundnuts, oilseeds, etc. in appropriate quantities with larger amounts of green, leafy and other vegetables; some sprouts should always be part of your food. Don’t over-cook or deeply fry; use of spices, salts, sugars and oily substances should be restricted to the essential minimum. One should always eat fresh food; resist consuming toxic substances, stimulating and alcoholic drinks, and non-vegetarian foods. If you want to enjoy vigorous mental and physical health as per the guidelines of Ayurveda abstain from tobacco, betel-nuts, betel-leaves, etc.; stop taking wine, liquor and other alcoholic drinks; resist from drinking tea or coffee as well; never eat eggs, fish, chickens, any kind of animal-flesh etc.

How much to eat?

The answer lies in the principle of “Mitasi Syat”. Meaning, eat moderately. Howsoever nourishing or healthy the food may be; it would cause harm if eaten in excess. So, be cautious about the quantity of your diet. Don’t fill your tummy more than half its space, leave one-fourth for water and the remaining one-fourth for air. Those doing physical labor need more of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. But those engaged in sedentry and mental work or meditation-devotion etc. should take lighter foods such as boiled vegetables, thin chapatis, daliya (boiled crushed wheat), milk, sweet fruits, etc.

When to eat?

As per the vedic routine, one should eat only twice a day after performing agnihotra (homam) in the morning and in the evening (before sunset). In today’s circumstances, the best timings for the morning meal are any time between 8 a.m. to 12 noon and those for the dinner sometime before 7 p.m. This way the food is easily digested and keeps the body strong and energetic. In any case, be regular in the timings of taking your meals; avoid eating late in the night. One of the major causes of metabolic disorders and varieties of diseases caused thereby is that people keep watching TV and eat very late in the night. Remember that it takes about 8 to 11 hours for proper natural digestion of food. Eat only when you feel hungry. (Suppose you are not hungry at the regular timings, don’t eat; you may take only something light, say milk with water as a substitute). Eating is a kind of agnihotra. The ahutis (offerings) are made in agnihotra only when its fire is lit well; putting the ahutis in half-burnt or smoldering wood would only produce smoke instead of healthy effects of agnihotra.

Why to eat?

Eat to maintain and strengthen the health and vigor of your body.

Healthy mind resides in a healthy body. And therefore Vedas say that “We shall regard our body as the temple of our soul and maintain its sanctity and health by observing self-restraint and punctuality in our routine”. The purpose of food is to sustain healthy and harmonious functioning of the body system, the physical medium of our life, to enable us to perform our duties towards God and His creation. Food is not meant to satiate the greed of our tongue or stomach.

How to eat?

Take your food gracefully in a calm state of mind, paying full attention to eating; every morsel should be chewed properly. Food should be revered like the prasada (offerings made to the Deity). Enough water should be taken before and after the meals. Water is like nectar for our vital functions. Drink at least a glass full of water before taking food. Don’t drink more than half a bowl of water while eating. Drink sufficient water after about an hour of taking the meals. This helps in proper digestion.

The type of food and mode of eating should also take into account the seasonal effects. The rainy season is very critical with respect to healthcare through controlled food. In this period (known as visarga kala in Ayurveda) the sun begins to move towards the winter solstice (daksinayana). The vata accumulated in the body due to the heat of summer begins to show its ill effects, it diminishes the appetite and causes gastric troubles, etc. Normal digestion also takes longer time in this season because of this vata, which, if one does not take proper care in the selection of food and eating habits, catalyzes the dosha of pitta as well. The rise in humidity makes this season risky towards the rise of kapha dosa. People prone to cold and cough should therefore be extra careful about their food during the monsoons.

In view of these Ayurvedic observations, one should eat light and easily digestible meals and firmly resist from lavish, heavy stuff. Else the vicious effects of undigested food and associated accumulation and rise of doshas will invite one disease after the other, some of which might manifest gradually in the successive seasons. As a preventive measure, drinking water should be boiled in this season and vegetables and salads, etc. should also be washed in clean, boiled water. A combination of sweet-sour-salty juicy substance should be used in food to reduce the vata effect. Ginger should be used in food preparation to make it easily digestible. Vegetables like green gourd, bhindi (okra) paraval (snake-gourd), are suitable, as these do not increase gastric problems; use of sprouts or pulses of green-gram and roasted or cooked maize is also beneficial.

Ayurvedic scriptures advise against the use of milk in the month of shravan (the second month of rainy season in India) and buttermilk in bhadon (the third month of rainy season in India); curd should be generally avoided during the entire season of monsoon. Viral fever, malaria, typhoid, jaundice, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and skin infections are quite common diseases (in India) during this season.

Necessary precautions should be taken in this regard. Preventive herbal medicines may also be used as a support in high-risk areas.

If preventive care is taken as regards taking healthy foods in the rainy season, the winter would prove to be beneficial towards enhancing the vigor and health of the body. Ayurveda also lays stress on spiritual effects of food.

By Dr.Hiren Parekh

2008-11-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

Ayurveda to cure chemotherapy effects

New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS) India has patented an ayurveda medicine that promises to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy during cancer treatment and improve the blood platelet count among patients.

The medicine, Medihope, made by a Pune-based manufacturer, Hope Ayurvedic Medicine Private Ltd., was awarded the patent after it received favourable field results. It will be in the Indian market within a month.

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is known to weaken the immune system, cause weight loss, decrease the hemoglobin percentage and blood platelet count.

The composition produced from 12 medicinal plants helps increase the blood platelet count and hemoglobin percentage, there are other benefits like maintaining the white blood cell count and increase in the weight of patients. It also reduces pain from chemotherapy.

2008-10-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy and Preemies: What to do?: Benefits of music during pregnancy

2008-09-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

Basil is new anti-ageing star

Holy Basil could be the latest weapon in the war against wrinkles, according to new research.

A study has found that holy basil – a close relative of the herb commonly used in Western cooking – contained anti-ageing antioxidants that help to protect against free radicals, cancer-causing chemicals that attack organs like the heart, liver and brain and damage nerve cells.

Holy basil is native to India, and its people have long recognised its rejuvenating qualities, harnessing its extract in their ancient system of Ayurvedic medicine to treat disorders like fevers, colds, malaria and diabetes.

The researchers, led by Dr Vaibhav Shinde from Poona College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra, studied the herb for anti-ageing and antioxidant properties, and presented their findings at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester.

According to the Telegraph, Dr Shinde said: ‘The study validates the traditional use of herb as a youth-promoting substance in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It also helps describe how the herb acts at a cellular level.’

He added: ‘I am now using holy basil in my own cooking and hope it will be beneficial.’

2008-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

PROPAGANDA AND MISINFORMATION AGAINST AYURVEDIC MEDICINES - SAYS DEPARTMENT OF AYUSH
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14:19 IST Press Information Buereau, Government of India http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=42239 Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has in a press release issued on 2.9.2008 has stated that the reports regarding Heavy Metals in Ayurvedic herbal medicinal products originating from South Asia and available in Boston South Asian grocery stores containing potentially harmful levels of lead, mercury and/or arsenic are flawed and disclose a strong bias against Ayurvedic medicines. The above article by Doctor Robert B. Saper of Department of Family Medicine, Boston Medical Centre and others published in the Journal of American Medical Association, August 27, 2008 is a rehash of his earlier article published in JAMA, December 15, 2004. In Table 3 of his August 27, 2008 article Dr. Robert B. Saper et al have included even those herbal medicines in which Lead, Mercury, Arsenic is below the WHO permissible limits which discloses the bias of Dr. Saper and his team against Ayurveda medicines. The Department also mentioned a study of 600 medicinal plants samples collected by Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha in association with ITRC (CSIR) Lucknow Sriram Institute of Industrial Toxicology, New Delhi and Shastra University, Thanjavur, which disclosed that these Indian medicinal plants did not have Lead, Mercury, Arsenic above WHO permissible limits. It needs to be emphasized that as per the directions issued by Department of AYUSH, herbo-metallic compounds are not being officially exported because of heavy metal concerns and only purely herbal Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medicines are being exported from India with effect from 1st January 2006 after certification of heavy metals below the permissible limit by the manufacturing unit. Testing of heavy metals and other contamination in purely herbal Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani products is already a part of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) notified by the Department of AYUSH in 2003. A project for Physico chemical characterization and toxicity studies of 8 widely used Bhasmas (Rasa Aushadhies) in CSIR laboratories found them to be non-toxic after 28 days toxicity studies. 90 days toxicity studies are underway. Supplementary Good Manufacturing Practices for Rasa Aushadhies have also been prepared of which draft publication has been done. Department of AYUSH asserted that issues raised by Dr. Saper, howsoever flawed, will be responded to by Indian Scientists on the basis of their research on Ayurveda herbal and herbo-metallic medicines through research publications in due course. DS/GK/Ayush/385

2008-09-03T03:06:00.000-07:00

Anti- Cancer Ayurvedic Medicines

Cancer has become of the most common diseases in today’s date. Awareness and support programs have sure helped lend support to the ones who are suffering cancer or on the initial stages of the deadly disease. There have been many claims of foods that prevent or keep you away from cancer. Even Ayurveda steps in and shows us the various drugs that have an anti-cancer effect and they also deliver various other benefits as well.

Following is the list of few well known drugs with anti cancer properties as mentioned in the ayurvedic literature.

1. Ashwagandha (Latin: withania somnifera) - The roots of ashwagandha are used as a medicine. Ashwagandha is bitter, sweet, astringent, light and unctuous. It stimulates digestive power and promotes expulsion of gases, increases quantity of urine, reduces swelling, pain and congestion of uterus. It is useful in cough, asthma, wrinkling of skin and pain in legs, back and waist. It is a tonic for muscles and generative organs and increases the quantity of semen. Withaferrin is the active ingredient in the roots of ashwagandha. If its paste is applied on the surface, the tumour stops growing, it protects bones from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dose: Ashwagandha powder is taken in dose of 3 to 6 grams per day. Ashwagandharistha is taken as 20 ml. It is contraindicated in persons with pitta constitution.

2. Anantamoola (latin:sariva hemidesmus indicus) - The root is used as medicine. It is sweet, unctuous, heavy, cold and fragrant, and subdues all the 3 doshas. To introduce doshas, there are five fundamental elements that make up the universe–space (akasha), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (apu) and earth (prithvi) and as per the Human view there are three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha and each of them use a combination of two of the above elements. Vata dosha combines space and air, Pitta dosha is made up of fire and water and Kapha dosha is a combination of water and earth.

Anantamoola purifies blood and increases the quantity of urine and sweat. It is a tonic and increases the quantity of semen. It is useful in fever, skin diseases, itching, burning, oedema and bleeding tendency. It contains active ingredients which have anticancer properties to some extent and is particularly useful to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dose: Anantamool powder 3 to 6 grams.

3. Amalaka (Latin: emblica officinale) - Amalaka is the best tonic i.e. rasayana nad subdues all the three doshas. It is a good tonic for all the tissues and all the age groups. Amalaka and pomegranate though sour subdue pitta. It is useful in bleeding disorders, prameha (Diabetes), haematuria (appearance of blood in the urine), burning sensation, fever and jaundice. Amalaka contains tannin, terbechin, korilagin and elagic acid. Elacid acid is an antioxidant and controls free radicals. It is useful to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dose of amalaka powder is 3 to 6 gms per day or 10 to 20 ml juice twice a day.

4. Hareetaki (Latin: termialia chebula) - Hareetaki subdues vata because of sweet and sour tastes. It subdues pitta because of sweet and astringent tastes. It subdues kapha because of pungent and bitter tastes. The qualities and actions of amalka and hareetaki are similar. Amalaka is cold while hareetaki is hot. It is useful in cough, asthma, heart disease, prameha, oedema and obesity. It promotes intellect and is good for eyes. It contains tannin and terbechin. It reduces the free radicals and it’s a great antioxidant. It is also useful in reducing the side affects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dose is 3 to 6 gms powder per day.

5. Bibheetaka (latin:terminalia bellerica) - Its fruits are used and it is astringent, dry, light, hot and acts as an eye tonic. It is useful in cold, cough, asthma, hoarseness of voice and blood in sputum. It contains gallic acid, elgic acid, chebulic acid and cystosteral which decreases the free radicals and acts as antioxidants. It is useful in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dose is 3 to 6 gms per day.

6. Triphala - it is a mixture of powders of amalaka, karretaki and bibheetaka. All these protect the patient from free radicals. It acts as a tonic and postpones ageing and slows the growth of cancer.

Dose is 2.5 to 3 gms per day.

7. Kumara (Latin: korphad-aloe vera) - Its leaves are thick and contains sticky thick white colored juice. It is sweet, heavy, unctuous, sticky, cold, and subdues kapha and pitta. It is useful in cough, asthma, enlargement of liver and spleen, enlarged lymph glands, urinary disorders and bleeding disorders. It has 23 polypeptides of this emodin and lectve have anti-cancer properties. Kumara increases the number of T – lymphocytes and the number of cytokines in lymphocytes. It is useful in all cancers except cancer of brain and pancreas. It reduces the size of tumors which could not be done without operation otherwise.

Dose is 10 to 20 ml of juice of leaves per day.

8. Kutaki, katuka (Latin: picrorrhiza kurroa) - The roots of kutaki are used as medicine. It is bitter, dry, light, cold and subdues pitta and kapha. In small doses it stimulates liver function and is choleritic. In large doses it acts as purgative. It is useful for jaundice and cancer of skin and liver.

Dose is ½ to 1 ½ gm per day.

9. Kakamachi (Latin: solanum nieurum) - Its leaves, fruits, roots, flowers and bask i.e., the entire plant is used as medicine. It is bitter, light, and unctuous which tones the voice. The glycosides in kakamachi inhibit the growth of cancer of uterus. It is worth trying for the cancer of larynx. If taken in excess it produces vomiting, diarrhea, pain in abdomen and headache. Medicines and diet which subdues pitta are helpful.

Dose: of its juice is 10 to 20 ml. per day.

10. Ghaneri - narakya amrutya - It contains quinolone alkaloids, camplothocin which are known to have anticancer properties.

11. Guduchi (Latin: tinospora cordifolia) - It is a parasite which grows on trees of mango or kadu nimbi (Neem/Azadirachta indica). The steam of guduchi is used as medicine. It is bitter, astringent, pungent, hot, and stimulates digestive power. It subdues all the three doshas and acts as a tonic. It is useful in jaundice, disease of liver and spleen, diabetes, burning and fever. It prevents neutropenia which is a side effect of cancer therapy with cyclophosphamide. It improves the function of G.M.C.S.F. it reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dose: 3 to 6 gms of powder per day. Guduchi satva is taken as 1 to 2 gms of powder per day. While its decoction is taken in dose of 50 to 100 ml per day.

12. Chitrak (Latin: plumbago zevalnica) - The skin of roots of chitrak is used as medicine. It is pungent, light, hot, penetrating, and dry and increases appetite and digestive power. It is useful in curbing of enlargement of liver and spleen and piles. Plumbagin is the active principle of chitrak and is useful in lymphocytic leukemia.

Its dose is 1 to 30 gms of powder (of its skin of roots) per day. If given in larger doses, it gives rise to burning in stomach and burning micturation. It may cause abortion if given to pregnant woman.

13. Tagara (latin:valeriana wallichii DC) – Again this herb also has been reported to have anticancer properties.

14. Bala (Latin: sida cordifolia linn) - The roots, leaves and seeds of bala are used as medicine. It is sweet, light, unctuous, and cold and is a tonic for hair and generative organs. It is useful in thin, lean and weak people and for weakness in cancer. An anticancer ingredient is found in bala.

Dose is 3 to 6 gms of owder per day or 10 to 20 ml of juice per day.

15. Tulsi (Latin: holybasil ocimum sanctum) - The leaves, roots and seeds of holy basil are used as medicine. It is pungent, bitter, light, dry, hot deodorant and a heart stimulant. It is useful in cold, cough, fever, asthma, vomiting and backache. The seeds of tulsi increase the quantity of urine and decrease the burning sensation. The leaves of tulsi contain ozone. If in spite of adequate supply of glucose, the supply of oxygen is less, the normal cells get converted into carcinogeni cells. It is useful in cancer because of ozone. It is likely to be useful in cancer of lungs.

Its dose is 3 to 6 gms of seeds or 10 to 20 ml of its fresh juice.

16. Bhallataka - marking nut (Latin: semicarpus anacardium) - The marking nut tree is 20 to 40 feet tall. Its fruits are used as medicine. Bhallataka is pungent, bitter, light, unctuous, and hot. It subdues kapha and vata and increases pitta. “kaphajow na cha rogostiya yum na bhallatakum jayatey’’ which denotes that there is no disease caused by kapha which is not cured by bhallataka. As cancer is a disease when kapha dosha is dominant, bhallataka should be tried in all varieties of cancer. It should not be given to patients in whom symptoms of pitta like fever, burning sensation, bleeding are present. It should not be given to pregnant women and individuals with pitta constitution. It is useful in curbing of enlargement of liver and spleen, enlargement of glands and hemiparalysis. Marking nut should be held with forceps on a flame of a candle. As it melts, oil starts dribbling. The oil drops should be allowed to fall in a cup of milk 5 to 10 drops of the oil should be stirred in the cup of milk and the milk should be drunk daily.

Its dose is 5 to 10 drops of its oil with milk per day. In powder form it is taken as 1 to 10 gms after boiling it with milk. Remember that marking nut is notorious as it causes irritation and allergic reactions. And these are very common. So, one should use it with care and under guidance of an experienced ayurved-acharya. This medicine should be treated with butter, ghee and coconut applied locally and taken internally to reduce its side effects and increase the potency.

17. Bhoomyamalaki (Latin: phyllanthus amorus) - The entire plant is used as medicine. It is bitter astringent, dry, light and cold. It is useful in jaundice, bleeding disorder, skin diseases, burning sensation in body, urinary disorders, enlargement of liver and spleen and disease of uterus. It is useful in cancer of skin and liver. Its dose is 3 to 6 gms in powder form or can be taken as juice form in dose of 10 to 20 ml per day.

18. Shatavari (Latin: asparagus racemosa) - The tubers of medicine is used. Shatavari is sweet, bitter, heavy, unctuous and cold. It promotes growth of fetus. It is a tonic for breast and female generative organs. It is given to mothers to increase the milk supply. It reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Its dose is 5 to 10 gms per day or juice can be taken in 10 to 20 ml dose per day.

19. Garlic - Its cloves are used as medicine. It is pungent, bitter, salty, and sweet in taste. It is hot, penetrating, unctuous, sticky, it increases pitta. It promotes intellect and increases quality of semen. It acts as a tonic for bones and breasts. It is useful in cold, cough, asthma, rheumatism, heart diseases, hyperlipedemia and in all sorts of diseases caused by vata dosha. It also helps in diseases predominant in pitta dosha like stomatitis, fever and diarrhea. Preferably should be consumed in winter and spring. It should not be taken in summer and sharad ritu (post monsoon season). It is useful in cancer of oesophagus, stomach and lungs.

It is taken as powder form in dose of 3 to 6 gms per day with ghee or 2 drops of its oil per day with ghee (clarified butter).

20. Shilajit - It is bitter, pungent and rasayana. It is useful in oedema, anaemia, breathlessness, prameha, curbing of enlargement of liver, spleen, glands and prostate. It is useful in obesity, piles, urinary stone, obesity and rheumatism.

Its dose is 250 mg to 1 gm per day.

21. Guggul - It is a gum collected from the barks or trunks of the tree. It burns the skin as it is an irritant to the skin. It gets melted in heat and gives white color to solution when dissolved in water. It is light, dry, minute, fragrant, unctuous, sticky, bitter, pungent and hot. It increases red and white blood cells and subdues all the three doshas. It is useful in rheumatism, curbing enlarged lymph glands, skin diseases, prameha, obesity, oedema, piles, urinary stone. As gugggul is hot, one should avoid eating pungent and sour food items, alcoholic drinks, sex, exercise, sitting in sun, and getting angry.

By Dr. Hiren Parekh

2008-08-23T07:32:00.001-07:00

Food for thought and inner peace
India’s traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, categorises food as satvik, rajasik and tamasik.
Satvik food is vegetarian, simple and easily digestible. Such food is basic, cooked in minimal heat and is eaten fresh, immediately after it is prepared.
Rajasik food is high in both taste and nutrition, with more oil and spices, while tamasik food is overcooked and processed.
All food closest to the natural form are satvik. They include milk, milk products (non-processed), fruits and fresh vegetables (except garlic, onion, scallions and chives).
Spices like turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, aniseed and cardamom are used in satvik cooking. Raw food may not be satvik as it may harbour parasites. Integral to a satvik diet is to avoid intoxicants like alcohol and stimulants like tea, coffee and tobacco.
Satvik cooking is easy and full of flavour, contrary to popular belief. Spices like cumin and coriander are often used. Only certain spices and ingredients need to be avoided. Eating such food also gives the body and digestive system a much-needed break.
One should redefine satvik to fit the broader vision of today’s generation. People should feel free to question the reason for restrictions or benefits of eating satvik food.
“It does not give you a size zero figure, nor does it give you glowing skin. But it is a concept which if followed with dedication can give you an overall feeling of inner peace and control the emotions of a person and makes him more relaxed”

2008-08-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

2008-07-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

Look deep into her eyes - and detect diabetes
WASHINGTON: Look deep into someone's eyes and know what is in their hearts - or whether they will eventually get diabetes!
Yes, a new screening device that pinpoints early symptoms of impending eye disease also helps doctors detect patients prone to diabetes.
The instrument, designed by scientists at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Centre, captures eye images to detect metabolic stress and tissue damage.
The non-invasive device takes five minutes to test both eyes. For diabetics, diagnosed or not, it potentially offers advantages over blood glucose testing, the "gold standard" for diabetes detection.
The device measures the intensity of cellular fluorescence in retinal tissue. A high level of such fluorescence -- or flavoprotein autofluorescence (FA) -- is a reliable indicator of eye disease.
Victor M. Elner and Howard R. Petty, authors of the study, then measured the FA levels of 21 individuals who had diabetes and compared the results to age-matched healthy controls.
The scientists found that FA activity was significantly higher for those with diabetes, regardless of severity, compared to those who did not have the disease.
Petty, a biophysicist and imaging expert, explained that hyperglycemia - or high blood sugar - is known to induce cell death in diabetic tissue soon after the onset of disease but before symptoms can be detected clinically.
Petty also observed that unlike glucose monitoring, elevation of FA levels reflects ongoing tissue damage.
The findings of the study have appeared in the latest issue of the journal Archives of Ophthalmology

2008-07-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Ayurvedic Organic Jeans: Custom Clothing Company Makes Garments That Possess Medicinal Benefits

MUMBAI, India, July 8 -- Make Your Own Jeans (www।MakeYourOwnJeans।com), a company with global presence, specializes in making customized jeans to meet personal needs। They have recently created a new fashion product using techniques that go back over 5,000 years and are said to heal the body.This new organic jeans product uses a process that originated in India; it's called Ayurveda. Fabrics are dyed in medicinal herbs as a means of practicing Ayurvedic medicine to treat various illnesses. Ayurveda-treated fabrics expose these medicinal herbs to the body through the skin - the body's largest organ. Depending on which herbs are used in the dyes, Ayurveda-treated fabric may treat a broad range of medical conditions including skin ailments, diabetes, arthritis, digestive problems, high blood pressure and more. Each dye may contain up to 50 different herbs. MakeYourOwnJeans.com has received an Organic Certificate for their chemical free, Indian-origin fabrics from the Netherlands; the natural hand process dyeing is performed in the forests of India. Even the building where the fabrics are dyed is comprised of organic bricks.

2008-05-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

The healing power of Ayurveda
We live in a stressful world। Be it at home or work, most of us are caught up in the rat-race and hardly have time for relaxation। Stress can lead to a host of ailments but Ayurveda could pave the way to a healthier life।"Ayurveda is not merely a treatment, it is a philosophy," says Dr. Vasantha Kuruneru, who has established the 'Euro Veda Lanka', an Ayurvedic hospital in Panadura ,Shrilanka .

2008-04-12T23:47:00.000-07:00

Ashwagandha -
Peter Rodrick (LAChronical.com)April 12, २००८
Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera or has a long medicinal history dating back 5000 years. Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is a very significant herbal drug in Ayurveda or Indian System of medication. This meticulous herb was used to treat a variety of infectious diseases as well as tremors and inflammation especially arthritis.
Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is a stunning delicate plant inhabitant to Indian subcontinent. Defined by green leaves, branched limbs, and topped by seeded yellow flowers. Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is an eye-catching in look and of very importance in Ayurveda or Indian System of Medication. Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera has a vast history, about 5000 years, as a holistic herb used to treat a variety of ailments.
Historically these Diseases include:Tremors, Inflammation, Infectious Diseases,Longevity,Sexual Enhancing
The shoots of the Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera shrub are used in food and in India seeds of the Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera are used to thicken milk. African tribes also use Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera to treat fevers, and other inflammations.
Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is usually crushed and used in a traditional Ayurvedic formula called Shilajit or shilajatu. Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera has comparable properties as Chinese ginseng.
Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is heat neutral which means it has no warming or cooling properties. Unlike ginseng which is a warming herb.
The active components in Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera are alkaloids and withanoloids which provides it with the properties it possesses. Withanoloids within Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera provides it all its medicinal character. Withanoloids consist of steroidal molecules which act to fight inflammation. Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is frequently compared to Chinese ginsengs which contain molecules like withanoloids called ginsenosides. For this reason Ashwagandha is frequently called Indian ginseng. Therefore, both ginseng and Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera kindle the immune system, stop inflammation, increase memory, and helps maintain general healthy and wellness. Also it is known to augment the production of bone marrow, semen, and inhibits the aging process.
The modern medical uses of Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera are diverse. One area in which it has been helpful is in the treatment of mental health issues. One study in particular gave thirty anxiety sufferers forty ml doses two times a day of a solution with its major ingredient of Withania Somnifera. After one month, all anxiety symptoms including panic attacks and paranoia had virtually disappeared. American counselors have also found the herb useful in treating depression, alcohol addiction and schizophrenia. Also, when Ashwagandha or Withania Somnifera is taken frequently memory and learning skills augment noticeably.

2008-04-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

National seminar on Ayurveda to fight depression
Chandigarh, April 5
Suffering from chronic depression even after a number of allopathic pills? Well, it’s about time you turn to ayurveda for answers।
The ayurveda experts working at the Banaras Hindu University have started treating the patients with Panchkarma.
A combination of counselling, ayurvedic drugs and oiling sessions, the therapeutic emesis (vomiting of the toxins) helps in cleansing the body.
Talking to the Newsline on the sidelines of the National Seminar on Ayurveda here today, faculty at the Department of Kayachikitsa, BHU, Varanasi, Dr J S Tripathi, said the department has cured around 350 patients of chronic depression so far, with Panchkarma.
“We are the only centre who are experimenting Panchkarma on the depression patients and the majority of them are getting cured without experiencing any relapse. It’s a six months rigorous treatment programme which has to be followed by the patient,” said Dr Tripathi.
The therapy involves three distinct steps to weed out depression.
The first step is psychotherapy (sathvavajaya), which primarily includes the patient’s counselling to assess the root of the problem.
The second step includes administering drugs like Kapikatchu and aswagandha on the patient for a few days after which, he/she is admitted in the ward.
The third stage is Panchkarma, wherein a mixture is prepared, over a period of 5-6 days and administered to the patient at the end of the week for the internal cleaning of the system.

2008-03-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Music Therapy helps in speedy recovery from Stroke
According to researchers, listening to music for few hours a day helps in speedy recovery of patient from stroke outcomes।
A study conducted by Finnish researchers on 54 patients who suffered stroke on the right or left hemisphere middle cerebral artery, noted that those patients, who listened to music for few hours a day showed better results in verbal memory and focused attention, and generally displayed a positive mood, than others who listened to only audio books or nothing at all.
The music therapy was done for two months, as soon as the patients are admitted to the hospital. The music selections were chosen by patients themselves, and they were assessed for upto six months after the stroke.
The researchers found that three months after the stroke, verbal memory improved by 60 percent from the first-week post-stroke among music-listening patients, by 18 percent among audio book listeners and by 29 percent in non-listeners. Also focused attention and ability to control and perform mental operations improved by 17 percent among music listeners, but no improvement was found among non-listeners or audio book listeners. It was also found that the music listeners’ group was less depressed when compared to non-listeners.
This study was published in the February issue of ‘Brain’, which shows the link between stroke recovery and listening to music.
The First Author of the University of Helsinki, Teppo Sarkamo said “Based on our findings, we suggest listening to music for a couple of hours everyday during early stroke recovery phase. This when done, along with the other care and rehabilitation that the patient receives, could prove to be an easy-to-conduct and inexpensive means of facilitating cognitive and emotional recovery.”
According to researchers, music helps recovery of stroke patients due to three neural mechanisms which are: through enhanced alertness and mood mediated by a part of nervous system which plays a role in inducing pleasure, arousal, motivation, memory and reward; through direct stimulation of music for recovery of damaged areas in the brain; through the ability of brain to renew or repair its neural networks after damage।
From - ayurvedictalk।com

2008-03-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D 'cuts risk of diabetes'

Exposure to sunlight allows the body to manufacture vitamin DGiving young children vitamin D supplements may reduce their risk of developing type 1 diabetes later in life, research suggests.
Children who took supplements were around 30% less likely to develop the condition than those who did not.
Type 1 diabetes results from the immune system destruction of pancreatic cells which produce the hormone insulin.
The study, by St Mary's Hospital for Women and Children, Manchester, appears in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Type 1 diabetes is most common among people of European descent, with around two million Europeans and North Americans affected.
It is becoming increasingly common, and it is estimated that the number of new cases will rise by 40% between 2000 and 2010.
The Manchester team pooled data from five studies examining the effect of vitamin D supplementation.
Not only did the use of supplements appear to reduce the risk, the effect was dose dependent - the higher and more regular the dose, the lower the likelihood of developing the disease.
Sun exposure
Previous research has found that people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have lower concentrations of vitamin D than those without the condition.
Studies have also found that type 1 diabetes is more common in countries where exposure to sunlight - which enables the body to manufacture vitamin D - is lower.
For instance, a child in Finland was 400 times more likely to develop the disease than a child in Venezuela.
Separate research has linked low levels of vitamin D and sunlight to other autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Further evidence of vitamin D's role comes from the fact that pancreatic beta cells and immune cells carry receptors or docking bays for the active forms of the vitamin.
It is thought that vitamin D helps to keep the immune system healthy, and may protect cells from damage caused by chemicals which control inflammation.
Dr Victoria King, of the charity Diabetes UK, said: "Much more research, in particular controlled trials which compares the results when one group of people are given vitamin D supplements and one group is not, are needed before we can confirm a concrete association between vitamin D and type 1 diabetes."
Governnment experts recommend vitamin D supplementation for at least the first two years of a child's life, although the Chief Medical Officer for England has suggested supplements for the first five years is a good idea.

2008-03-05T03:08:00.000-08:00

India's 'healing' herb-dyed cloth

Could an ayurvastra bedspread tempt you into the land of nod?Cloth infused with the herbs of traditional Indian medicine is becoming increasingly popular as the country's stressed urban workers seek cures for conditions such as insomnia and eczema.
Wearing a special shirt is claimed to cure itchy or sore skin, while sleepless nights can be taken care of by putting a herb-infused sheet over your mattress.
The herbs are selected according to the traditional Indian medicine known as ayurvedia, with the infused cloth known as ayurvastra.
"We have selected 28 medicinal plants based on ayurvedic texts and theory - then we dip the natural cotton into it to make sleeping cloths," the chief dyeing technician of the ayurvastra project, Rajan Kay, told BBC World Service's Culture Shock programme.
"For skin problems we select a plant like indigo, and mix with the plant turmeric."
Proper effect
The main centre for ayurvedic practices is Kerala, where it has existed alongside Western medicine for two centuries.
The Keralan government is set to release a report on a local clinical trial that claims the clothes do indeed have health benefits.
And cloth which calms the nerves is certainly proving popular with stressed-out IT consultants from nearby Bangalore.

The herbs are added during the dyeing processBut Catherine Stubberfield, who has worked with textile manufactures all over the world before moving to work with ayurvastra, warned that the clothes must be combined with the right lifestyle to have the proper effect.
"I believe that wearing natural cotton, wool or silk which has been dyed naturally is going to obviously help your skin, but I think as far as the healing goes ayurvedia is a way of life," she said.
"Wearing a T-shirt made of ayurvedic dyeing is not going to cure you. What the government report will say is if you take it with ayurvedic medicine, it is OK. But it is very difficult for people from the West to understand this."

2008-02-25T03:40:00.000-08:00

Ayurveda, finding favours from CEOs
Anurag Sharma New Delhi, Feb 25 (PTI)

With rise in demand for ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines, thanks to advertisement and marketing techniques, traditional ways of treatment systems are sought after by patients who are looking for ways for cure of various chronic and lifestyle induced ailments।Anoop Misra, Director, Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, Fortis Group of Hospitals, says that the demand for Ayurvedic medicines has fast increased in the last five years to more than 3,000 crores, as they have started marketing their products in a better manner and also done scientific trials to prove the permanent cure of some diseases।But as far as the emergency and cardiac medicines are concerned, there is no alternative to allopathy, he adds।According to a survey by ASSOCHAM, of the 400 Indian CEOs surveyed, over 40 per cent of the CEOs are taking to ayurvedic treatments to handle stress like naturopathy, massage, acupuncture and acupressure. Metros and towns in the coming 5-6 years would have huge ayurvedic centres for treating stress related disorders, it said.Amrit Kalsi, Senior Medical Officer, Delhi Government, says, "The demand for ayurvedic medicines has increased in the last few years and to cure chronic ailments such as respiratory diseases, fevers, skin diseases, viral infections, asthma and allergic disorders, people are choosing the traditional way of treatment before allopathic."

2008-02-11T23:53:00.000-08:00

By Raphael Calzadilla, B.A., CPT, ACEeDiets Chief Fitness प्रो

Here are a few hot, new classes that will not only make you feel sexy, but will also help you to strip (no pun intended) some body fat।

Belly Dancing Looking for a form of sexy movement not found in the hollow confines of a weight room or on a boring treadmill? In search of true woman-power? This is one of the most popular new classes being taught in gyms and aerobic studios. Instead of boring crunches, you’ll be learning diaphragm breathing; instead of performing rep after rep on an adductor machine, you’ll be moving your hips like an out-of-control twister. Belly dancing is one of the best ways to gain complete control of your abdominal muscles and hips, learn how to breathe deeply and master your own body. Not only that, it’s totally fun.
Cardio Strip Tease This class is raising eyebrows and leading many women on a path of discovering just how wonderful and sexy they actually are -- no matter how much they weigh. Cardio strip tease actually became popular a few years ago, but is experiencing resurgence lately.The goal is a low impact, total body workout with slow and sensual movements commonly associated with the local strip club. Don’t worry! No one will be recruiting you for the local happening spot -- but you will drop stubborn body fat. In fact, a 135-pound woman can burn 400-500 calories in one hour with this program.
The workout was developed by Jeff Costa. He refers to it as the "Circles of Movement" training techniques. The technique allows the body to engage the core muscles and teaches one to move in patterns that are natural and easy people of all ages -- no matter what the fitness level.
A bit too inhibited to attend a class? No problem. Costa has a Cardio Strip Tease video series, which allows you to burn fat in the comfort of your home. Time to take it off!
Belly Fusion This new and exciting class combines modern dance movements with belly dancing. The class is intended to tighten the waist, hips and abs by combining modern dance with sexy belly dancing movements. The dance moves improve your balance and coordination and the belly dancing release your sensuality. In a series of invigorating moves, you’ll blend total-body muscle tightening exercises, body consciousness, female power and dance energy.
Pole DancingLike in strip clubs। Now you think I’ve lost my mind, no doubt। When I first learned of this class, even I doubted its validity, but this is one of the most popular new classes out there. For 60-90 minutes, women are increasing strength, burning calories, improving coordination and experiencing just how sexy they can be. Actress Sheila Kelley, formerly of the 80's hit courtroom drama L.A. Law, actually teaches others how to pole dance. The classes are intended to help women feel sexy and confident, without relying on anyone else to make them feel that way. As an added bonus, participants get in great shape, lose fat and feel amazingly empowered. One of my jobs as a trainer is to teach people to think “out of the box.” If you hate the thought of exercise, then it’s time to throw away the traditional sets and reps workout for awhile. It’s time to get fit, lose fat and feel sexy.

2008-01-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

De-stress with आयुर्वेद
The term 'Stress' is difficult to define. Because it is subjected to the sensation associated with various symptoms and reasons that differ from one person to another.
Even though it may not pose harmful to the physique, it gradually overtakes our health vulnerably.
Studies show that 70 to 90 per cent of adults visit primary care physicians for stress related problems, which is said to be one of the largest killer in today’s fast-paced times.
Ayurveda theory articulates that, stress is a state of mental/emotional/physical strain, which is said to be a Manasa Dosha (Mental Disorder). Many of us feel, we are under more stress than our parents were 30 years ago.
The goal and priority of the contemporary human is to possess materialistic status and fast economic growth, thus resulting in losing the virtue and value of life। Hence ultimately we all succumb to the so called stress, which is also created by a highly competitive atmosphere, sedentary lifestyle and urbanised living with excessive needs, lack of time, financial crisis and excessive commitments and workaholism। The high levels of stress or chronic stress crumbles our immune system, which is the root cause of psychosomatic disorders such as* *Gastrointestinal disorders*Ischemic heart disease*Diabetic mellitus*Bronchial Asthma*Migraine*Arthritis*Anxiety, depression, Insomnia etc।,

One can’t get rid of stress, but can manage it better ।To reduce the stress and lead to better quality of life Ayurveda Provides clear, cohesive regimens such as Shirodhara & Abhyanga for stress management and Panchakarma for stress-related diseases।

2008-01-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

India’s Glorious Scientific Tradition- research had taken deep roots in India
Such a description of the cell is not possible without a microscope. This means that the author of Vriksh Ayurveda, must have had the knowledge of the microscope thousands of years ago. At that time, no one in the west knew about it. This was the scientific vision of Vriksh Ayurveda. If it is considered to be written even in 200 AD, then let us see as to when the west gained knowledge about the microscope and botany. It was only about 200 or 300 years ago and they have been acknowledged as great scientists and our country, which had this knowledge ages back, was called the country of snakes and snake charmers! We need to contemplate on how many years it must have taken to carry out the research and then acquire such a deep scientific foresight, because in no other country has botany been studied so long ago and in such detail as in India. However, our scholars of botany do not have this in the textbooks because they do not know Sanskrit. Whether they know the language or not, if in the future, they make Sanskrit compulsory for the science students, then the path to the history of science in this country will be wide open. How can anyone who does not know Sanskrit learn about Vriksh Ayurveda?

2007-12-24T01:54:00.000-08:00

Deuba calls for protecting rare medicinal herbs
Nepalgunj, Dec. 20: The second national herbs, herbal products and spices exhibition fair and seminar began here from today. The theme of the fair is- Let's publicise Nepali herbs in the world and make it the backbone of national economy.'

2007-11-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

ANCIENT WISDOM, MODERN SCIENCE
In Ayurveda, there are many herbs that may help with obesity.
OBESITY is a global public health problem2. The health consequences of obesity range from increased risk of premature death, to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life.
Being obese can also put you at increased risk of non-fatal, but debilitating health problems, such as respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems, skin problems, and infertility.
Overweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance.
In many cultures, traditional herbs may have more acceptance than prescription drugs in trying to alleviate the problems caused by obesity3. Various herbs such as Vrikshamla (Garcinia cambogia), Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Meshashringi (Gymnema sylvestre), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and Medhika (Trigonella foenum-graecum) are recommended for obesity in Ayurveda.

2007-11-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

EU likely to revise guidelines for imports of Indian herbal drugs - livemint
Local manufacturers currently face a barrier in the form of a 15-year usage criterion; hopeful of speedy resolution

2007-10-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

Triphala – Herbal Colon Cleanser and Constipation Cure
Dr. John AnneOctober 22, 2007
Triphala is an amazing contribution of Ayurveda, the ancient study of natural medications. Triphala is a preparation that is essentially formulated with three myrobalans, known as Amalaki, Bibhitaki, and Haritaki. These three myrobalans refer emblic myrobalans (Emblica officinalis), belliric myrobalans (Terminalia bellirica) and chebulic myrobalans (Terminalia chebula) respectively.
Benefits of Triphala
Triphala is used to enhance appetite and digestion process. It increases red blood cell counts. It is used to remove extra fat from the body system. If it is used internally, it helps clear digestion process and alleviate the symptoms of headaches. However, there are other claimed benefits associated with the usage of Triphala such as enhancing skin complexion and skin texture.
Since ancient times, Indian continent is rich with the blessings of various useful herbs that not only aid in treating various health hazards, but also in promoting overall healthy balance, both physically and psychologically. In India, people usually take Triphala on a regular basis, no wonder the diseases are far away from that individual.
Each of the fruit components of Triphala takes a great care of the body system by promoting gentle purification of all toxic elements of the body, while improving the digestive system throughout. Due to its ability to nourish internal organ of the body, it resembles the care of the mother to her child. With its high nutritional value, it cleanses the body at the deepest organic level without running down the reserves of the body system. That makes this preparation one of the best among all herbal medications in the world.
Triphala reduces the serum cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It significantly improves function of the liver as well as blood circulation. It has the ability to exert a remarkable protection against cardiovascular diseases.
Ayurvedic Significance
As stated in the study of Ayurveda, the body system is composed of three humors or tridosha. These three humors are known as vata, pitta and kapha. Vata interprets ‘wind’, relating to mind and nervous system. Pitta is interpreted as ‘fire’, relating to metabolic transformation inclusive of digestion and absorption of food. Kapha interprets ‘water’, relating to anabolic or development processes in the body system. Now the three constituents that is, Amalaki, Bibhitaki and Haritaki represent these three humors. Amalaki is related with pitta humor, so it helps treating inflammatory complications, liver problems, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, infections and many others.
Apart from that, Amalaki offers its significant role as antibacterial and antiviral substance, pronounced expectorant and cardiovascular nourishment tonic. Bibhitaki corresponds to kapha humor. It helps treating asthma, allergies, coughs and bronchiole complications. Haritaki is linked with vata humor. It is helpful in treating chronic constipation, nervousness and anxiety.
Triphala is a well-balanced formulation of these three constituents. All of these three constituents have been studied scientifically and the result confirms the traditional benefits of the same. In total, it is one of the best Ayurvedic rasayana or preparation that offers an excellent solution for lowering cholesterol level, reducing high blood pressure, enhancing blood circulation, improving digestive system and managing eradication without being dependent on laxatives.
Form of availability
You can avail it typically in either of two forms. Either you may have powder or you may have it in the tablet form. Traditional studies suggest taking this medication in the form of powder or churna. You may mix 2 to 3 grams of the powder along with lukewarm water and mix it very well. You can have it either in the evening time every day or you may have it divided into three parts and have it throughout the day following a particular time. Both adults and children can take benefit from it; however the dosages will be varied.
If the dosage is taken in larger quantity, it works as a laxative, whereas if the dosage is low, it functions like an effective blood purifier.

2007-10-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

Increasing Americans learning Yoga, Ayurveda

New York, Oct 7: The ancient Hindu healing methods of Yoga and Ayurveda have found an increasing number of Americans learning the Indian practices.

Numerous Yoga and Ayurveda centres now dot New York City, which offer meditation and exercise sessions.

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