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

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”

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”

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

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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

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.

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."

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."

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.

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।

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?

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.'

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.

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

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.

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.

Ayurvedic Cooking Makes a Comeback!
(Thaindian.com - Bangkok,Bangkok,Thailand)
Ayurveda literally means ‘the science of life’. This ancient but highly advanced science stresses on correct food habits, appropriate exercise, specific breathing techniques and a peaceful meditative mind as the pathways to a long and healthy life.
Ayurvedic cooking is based on the ancient texts of the Ayurveda where the food prepared is not just flavourful but is also believed to cleanse the body of toxins and rejuvenate the system.
The basic principals of Ayurvedic cooking places equal importance on the cooking technique as of the ingredients themselves. Freshness is a vital factor (so think twice before reaching out for those tinned chickpeas!) The right food taken at the right time in the right combination based on individual body types is believed to be the key to good health.

Eat your way to hair health - ayurvedic tips for lovely tresses
Ayurvedic recommendations for your hair are not only effective at maintaining hair strength, color and luster, they also steer you away from chemicals-based hair care that can create health problems in the long term.

Healthy lifestyle habits lowers heart risk even with late-starters
Published September 6th, 2007 in Heart Care, Immune Strength, Exercise Guide, News and Researches.

Leading a healthy lifestyle even if later in life, could lower the risk of developing heart disease and premature death within years of changing habits.
Researchers of Medical University, South Carolina, tried to find out if late-starters could actually gain the rewards of healthy habits like eating fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking, controlling weight gain, and walking thirty minutes a day.
Once the tracking process began, nearly sixteen thousand people in the age group of 45 to 64 years, only about 8.5 percent were following all the four healthy habits mentioned above. Among the other adults, 8.4 percent began practicing the four healthy habits within six years after the beginning of studies.
The middle-aged who began including five or more vegetables and fruits every day, exercising for atleast 2.5 hours a week, keeping tab on their weight gain, and gave up smoking, decreased their risk of heart diseases by thirty five percent and the risk of premature death by fourty percent within four years after they started. Their rate of heart attacks and death rates matched with those who had been following the healthy lifestyle habits all through their lives.
The results indicate that picking up all four habits eventually leads to a sharp decline in heart disease risk, and death from any cause. However, to gain health benefits, it took all four habits to be incorporated, as including only three healthy lifestyle habits, resulted only in a modest decrease in overall risk of death, and in no significant decrease in heart disease. However, the results do not necessarily mean that one can wait until they turn 40 to 50 to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

Massage parlours- threat to Ayurveda
Times of India - India
"Even though this shows the growing popularity of Ayurveda, the attempt to dilute the system for purely commercial interests will do great harm to this ...

Unlike other streams of treatment like Allopathy and Homeopathy, Ayurveda has treatments that help rejuvenation and wellness. This trait makes it vulnerable to be excessively commercialised.

"To do an oil massage as per the Ayurvedic texts, we need seven therapists and a systematic method has to be adopted as per the advice of the doctor. The choice of oil, massage, preparations etc are prescribed after evaluating the condition of the patient."

Turmeric moves from the kitchen shelf to the clinic
The researchers state that although turmeric (Curcuma longa; an Indian spice) has been described in Ayurveda, as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and is referred by different names in different cultures, the active principle called curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a yellow pigment present in turmeric (an ingredient in curry powder) has been shown to exhibit numerous activities.

The researchers claim that various preclinical cell-culture and animal studies suggest that curcumin has potential as an antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic agent; as a mediator of chemoresistance and radioresistance; as a chemopreventive agent; and as a therapeutic agent in wound healing, diabetes, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and arthritis.

Pilot phase I clinical trials have shown curcumin to be safe even when consumed at a daily dose of 12 g for 3 months. Other clinical trials suggest a potential therapeutic role for curcumin in diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, pancreatitis, psoriasis, chronic anterior uveitis and arthritis.

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON KSHARASUTRA

Given the safety, cost-effectiveness and the success rate of Ksharasutra in the treatment of anal fistula, the Department of AYUSH, in collaboration with the ICMR and the CCRAS, is organizing a National Campaign to promote the use of Ksharasutra in ano-rectal diseases. A National Workshop is being organized on 24-25 August 2007 in the auditorium of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Eminent experts in Ksharasutra will be participating in the Workshop. In keeping with the increased interest in Ksharasutra in foreign countries, a renowned Japanese expert Dr. Kenji Tazawa will also be participating in the National Workshop

Ayurvedic Medicine can offer weight loss Tips Tailored to your Body type.

What’s your dosha?

According to Ayurveda each person has a unique mix of three mind/body principles that create specific mental and physical characteristics. The three principles are called “dosha.”

Two people struggling with their weight could have two totally different recommendations based on ayurveda.According to a person’s body type (dosha), that determines what type of exercise they should do and what time of day they should exercise.

People with Kapha body type, which is most prone to being overweight, may need to exercise more than once a day at specific times and for longer periods. Additionally, because that body type often has a hard time absorbing liquids, they need to be careful not to consume to much water with their meals.

Kepha patients need to include a large amount of ginger in their diets to improve their digestive fire. However, patients who do not have a Kapha body type would suffer from heartburn is they consumed too much ginger, making it important to have a correct dosha identified.

Magic shrub Guggul

12 Aug 2007:It's a wonder shrub that is giving India's Rs 5,000 crore-worth ayurveda industry sleepless nights. Guggul, a four-metre shrub, known for its powers of reducing high cholesterol levels besides bringing relief to patients suffering from rheumatic arthritis and thyroid, has started to disappear from India.
National Research Centre for Medical and Aromatic Plants (Gandhinagar), Central Arid Zone Research Institute (Jodhpur), Agricultural Research Institute (Gujarat) and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (Lucknow), have been asked to start research on this plant. Scientists will look at how to make this plant grow across India (at present it only grows in arid zones), how to make it produce the resin at regular intervals (at present, it exudes gum every 10-12 years), how to extend its lifespan (it dies after the gum is extracted) and how to improve its germination.

Promising native plant from Sri Lanka and India lowers type-2 diabetes

Fri, 2007-07-20 05:11 Colombo, 20 July (Asiantribune.com): A native plant popularly known as "Kothala Himbutu" among Lankan Ayurvedic practioners and "Ponkoranti" by Tamil Ayurvedic practitioners, has now been scientifically proven to "lower acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes."
According to the latest American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, "the extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia and insulinemia in persons with type 2 diabetes after a high-carbohydrate meal." The experiments were conducted by Jennifer A Williams, Yong S Choe, Michael J Noss, Carl J Baumgartner and Vikkie A Mustad. They have concluded "the results from this study suggest that Salacia may be beneficial to this population for postprandial glucose control."
"Kothala Himbutu" / "Ponkoranti", scientifically Salacia oblonga (alternatively Salacia reticulata) is a woody plant found in the forests of Sri Lanka and India. The roots and stems of Salacia Oblonga are used extensively in Aryuveda for the treatment of Diabetes. Its roots too are used for Ayurvedic medicine, but are "acrid and bitter." The study is published in the latest American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 86, No. 1, 124-130, July 2007.
The summary / extract of it given below in full:
Extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes1,2,3,4
Jennifer A Williams, Yong S Choe, Michael J Noss, Carl J Baumgartner and Vikkie A Mustad
1 From the Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH (JAW, YSC, and VAM); Radiant Research, Cincinnati, OH (MJN), and Radiant Research, Edina, MN (CJB)
Background : Two previous studies tested the efficacy of Salacia oblonga extract in healthy adults.
Objective: This study evaluated the effect of an herbal extract of Salacia oblonga on postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingestion of a high-carbohydrate meal.
Design: Sixty-six patients with diabetes were studied in this randomized, double-blinded crossover study. In a fasted state, subjects consumed 1 of the following 3 meals: a standard liquid control meal, a control meal + 240 mg Salacia oblonga extract, and a control meal + 480 mg Salacia oblonga extract. Serum glucose and insulin samples were measured at baseline and at postprandial intervals up to 180 min.
Results: Both doses of the Salacia extract significantly lowered the postprandial positive area under the glucose curve (14% for the 240 mg extract and 22% for the 480 mg extract) and the adjusted peak glucose response (19% for the lower dose and 27% for the higher dose of extract) to the control meal. In addition, both doses of the herbal extract significantly decreased the postprandial insulin response, lowering both the positive area under the insulin curve and the adjusted peak insulin response (14% and 9%, respectively, for the 240 mg extract; 19% and 12%, respectively, for the 480 mg extract) in comparison with the control meal.
Conclusions: The extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia and insulinemia in persons with type 2 diabetes after a high-carbohydrate meal. The results from this study suggest that Salacia may be beneficial to this population for postprandial glucose control.

Source: Yahoogroup: Ayurvedfriends

Read more about Useful Ayurvedic Herbs for Diabetes

Expiration date of ayurvedic medicines

There are a number of half-truths about ayurveda floating around. "Ayurvedic medicines do not have an expiration date" is one such half-truth.
The concept of expiration date for medicines used in modern medicine arises from the fact that after a certain time, the substances undergo a change which makes them either uneffective or toxic.
At the time when the major texts on ayurveda were written the practice was to consume the medication immediately after preparation.
A majority of the medicines were in the form of decoctions, pastes, medicated oils and medicated ghees.
Over a period of time bhasma of metals and other inorganic substances began to be used mainly due to the fact that they were effective in small doses.
This branch was called as Rasa-Shastra and preparation of mercury and sulphur was the base of this science.
Besides the efficacy in small doses these medicines also became widely used as they could be stored for a longer time and hence there was never the question of what to do if a particular substance (plant) was not available.
A majority of medicnes in Rasa-Shastra can be utilised a long time after their preparation and hence can be termed as not having an expiration date.
However in plant based medicine the picture changes. As mentioned before it was never expected that a medicine would be prepared and used even the next day, so there was no question about thinking about expiration both in terms of loss of efficacy or toxicity.
But with change in time the need to prepare and store medicines need to be felt. Those who were uncomfotable with rasa-shastra medicines (there are many ayurvedic practioners even today who never use rasa-shastra medicines, not out of fear of the brouhaha caused over metals in medicines but because they consider it to be inferior to plant based medicines) and used only plant based preparations had to resort to powder form and their variants like mashi (coal preparations), guti (small tablets), vati (medium size tablets), guggul (a medicinal substance which also acts as an adhesive) etc.
Since many of these are plant based it is unlikely that they will turn toxic after a certain period of time, but they will surely loose their efficacy.
So if a person has a doubt whether a one year old choorna will work or not, he is loosely told "dont worry, there is no expiry date for ayurvedic medicine".
While this may be true that it wont cause any harm, it is most certain that a one year old powder will not show the desired result.
There is an entire chapter in Sharangdhara Samhita where the efficacy period of various medicnes is mentioned. This can be taken to mean expiration period for the same.
Having said that, there are only 3 types of ayurvedic medicines which do not have an expiration period.
First is ofcourse the bhasmas as explained above. Second is medicated ghees and third is asava/arishtha preparation (alcholic preparation).
Infact it is said that the older the ghee or asava/arishtha the more efficient it is. This ofcourse takes into account the fact that they are properly and hygenically stored. However many unscrupulous alter this information to say that all ayurvedic medicnes fit the bill.
I have had many ayurvedic medical representatives explaining to me why I should use their dated products using this argument.
So for the record :-
1) Ayurvedic medicines do have an expiration period in the sense that the become ineffective after a certain amount of time. This period may be as short as 4 hours for freshly prepared decoction to around 2 years for properly prepared and stored tablet forms. Even medicated oils should not be used if they emit a stale odour.
2) Only bhasmas, ghees and asava/arishta have no expiration period.
3) Ghees and asava/arishta if prepared and stored properly increase in efficacy over a period of time.
Cybervaidya - AYURVEDA ONLINE Yahoo Group

Places For Meditation and Yoga
"Rishikesh, which translates as 'Land of Rishis or Yogis,' could be considered the capital of yoga and meditation in India. There are many ashrams along the banks of the holy river Ganga. Most are low-budget, offering no-frills accommodations and a fairly strict daily vegetarian diet (complete avoidance of eggs, meat, garlic, onions, intoxicants, cigarettes, etc.). All have wonderful tranquil locations -- quite and peaceful, perfect for contemplation and meditation. These are excellent places to learn and practice yoga from skilled exponents of the art.

Some of the Ashrams offering yoga and meditation classes in the Rishikesh area are the Yoga Study Centre (91-1364-243-1196), Yoga Niketan Ashram (91-1364-243-0227), Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Sri Ved Niketan Ashram (91-1364-243-3537). Courses range from a week to a month and include daily yoga and meditation classes, satsangs (devotional gatherings), and bhajans (hymns). There is limited space so you must book in advance. There is an annual event (International Yoga Week) held at Parmarth Niketan Ashram every February/March, which would be an excellent introduction to the various yoga styles.

Total number of overweight adults: (20 through 74 years old) approximately one-third or 58 million Americans. (overweight defined as a BMI value of 27.3 percent or more for women and 27.8 percent or more for men) Nearly 70 percent of the diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease are related to obesity.

Obesity more than doubles one's chances of developing high blood pressure, which affects approximately 26 percent of obese American men and women.

Every year, 300,000 people in the U.S.A. die from being overweight These are frightening statistics. However, in this day and age, there are some amazing options for those wishing to shed weight, fast!

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT AND MAINTAIN IT ?
PUT AN END TO YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PROBLEMS! It's a proven fact that for most people diets don't work. But now you can shed unwanted pounds SAFELY, NATURALLY AND PERMANENTLY!

Welcome to the world of weight loss and total health through Ayurveda and Yoga.

5 Truths About Ayurveda by Lindsay Fox

#1 Ayurvedic medicine is less effective.
Truth: It is true that this method of treatment calls for more patience and endurance. The effectiveness can be cited by this example.
Whenever there is a tear in a cloth or a hole in a pitcher, we intend to rectify it using the similar material that it is made of. Similarly any fault in human body also calls to be corrected by use of natural resources, as much as possible.

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

# 3 Ayurvedic medicine has side effects.
Truth: Any side effect from medicine, of any therapy, may result from the misuse of drug, either in processing or in prescribing. As far as side effect or after effect is concerned, I believe time tested medicines are safer provided the former two factors are precise. The safety of Ayurvedic medicine and mode of treatment may be advocated in 3 points.
1. In Ayurveda the very first principle in treating a disease is to do away with the basic cause, and also to see that no new ailment emerges as a consequence. A disease is eradicated from its roots.
2. Ayurveda insists that medicine be centered at the patient, than on the disease. The mind, body and soul are considered a tripod and medicine is prescribed for overall health augmentation.
3. Since Ayurveda deals with preparations mainly from herbs and natural resources, it is a harmless therapy with least or no side effects.

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

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

Carrer options after BAMS
There are so many avenues that I have decided to open discussion on each course separately. Here is a general outline.
Practice options
Plain G.P.
G.P. with Panchakarma/ Yoga
Consulting practice
Consulting practice with Panchakarma / Yoga
Day care indoor facility with or without Panchakarma /Yoga
Indoor hospital with or without Panchakarma / Yoga
Health resort or spa with or without Panchakarma / Yoga
Old age home / Rasaayana chikitsa kendra
Specialist resorts like cancer resort / rheumatology resort /skin care resort
Specialized practice
KC
Prasuti- strirog
Shalya
Ksharsutra
Shalaakya & Netra
Cardiology
Skin
Psychiatry
Diabetology
Sports medicine
Geriatrics
Paediatrics
Orthopedics
Rheumatology
Dietetics
Beauty treatment
YogaJobs in India
Teaching
Teaching hospitalsZPPHC & RH
Pharmacies
Research projectsHealth resorts
Other fields
Medicinal Plantation
Translation Services
Trading in Ayurvedic drugs
Jobs abroad
Health spas
TeachingImport export
Courses after BAMSIn Ayurved fieldUniversity of Pune
PGPP (TAMV Pune)Ayu.
Dietetics
Beauty treatment
MBA Ayu Pharma
Analytical techniques
Health sector Other than Ayurved
M.Sc. Health Sciences
MPHCRCDMMUHS Nashik
M.Sc. Pharmaceutical sciences
Clinical ResearchFields other than health
MBA any branch
MBA Biotechnology
Database management
Content provider for databases
CHOICE IS YOURS

Skin Care

Herbs for the management of acne.
THE skin is the largest organ of the human body, both in terms of surface area and weight. It accounts for 15% of total body weight.
Skin is essential in many ways. It acts as a physical barrier and prevents harmful substances and microorganisms from entering the body. It protects body tissues and the network of muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels against injury. It also controls the loss of fluids like blood and water, helps regulate body temperature through perspiration, and protects from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays.
The skin consists of three layers (outer – epidermis; middle – dermis; and lower – subcutaneous tissue). It also contains structures like sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair and hair follicles.
Sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance called sebum and are found over the entire surface of the body except for the palms, soles, and dorsum of the feet. They are largest and most concentrated in the face and scalp – the sites of origin of acne. Sebum protects hair and skin, and keeps them from becoming dry, brittle, and cracked. It also inhibits the growth of microorganisms on skin.
Acne
Acne is a common skin disorder, affecting virtually all adolescents and adults at some time in their lives. Although overall health is not impaired, acne is not a trivial disease, as it can produce cutaneous and emotional scars that last a lifetime1,2,3. Numerous psychological problems stem from acne, some even resulting in decreased employability in adulthood4.
Acne is characterised by whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red pimples. Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.
This condition is most common in teenagers; three out of four teenagers have acne to some extent, probably caused by hormonal changes that stimulate oil (sebum) production.
People in their 30s and 40s may also have acne. Young women are more likely to have intermittent acne due to hormonal changes associated with their menstrual cycle.
Each skin pore is an opening of a hair follicle, which contains a hair and a sebaceous gland. When skin pores are blocked due to excessive sebum secretion and accumulation of dirt, debris and bacteria, acne is produced.
This blockage further leads to inflammation and painful cysts. Severe acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. Although the exact cause of acne is not known, certain factors such as greasy and fried foods, greasy cosmetic products, drugs, birth control pills, stress, and humidity can trigger acne.
Skin care regime
Good skin care calls for a mix of internal and external cleansing. Internal cleansing refers to removal of toxins in the blood and other inflammatory mediators that can give rise to various skin problems.
Regular skin regimes include the use of the right cleansers, toners, lotions and moisturisers for a healthy and clean skin. An unhygienic, poorly protected and undernourished skin is susceptible to acne.
Maintain good skin hygiene; clean your skin and remove dirt, grime and make-up by using mild soap, lemon or honey. Lemon removes grime and oil, while honey has antibacterial and antiseptic properties and prevents scar formation.
Avoid excessive or repeated washing of skin. Use non-greasy and water-based cosmetics. Avoid squeezing, pressing or pricking pimples. Be relaxed, and avoid tension, stress and excessive worry.
A number of herbs are used in Ayurveda for the treatment of acne and pimples.
Masura/Lens culinaris/lentil
Lentil has been cultivated and valued as an article of food since ancient times. It has also been used medicinally in many European countries.
Lentil is valued for its high protein content. It is astringent, nourishing, blood-enriching and effective in skin diseases. It is used as a natural cleanser for clarifying and enhancing skin complexion. The astringent, cooling and anti-inflammatory properties of L. culinaris help in reducing the inflammation due to acne.
Kumari/Aloe barbadensis/Barbados Aloe
Aloe barbadensis is a perennial plant with long, erect leaves that contain a sticky juice. The leaf juice forms the main source of this herb.
Aloes have been used for a host of diseases, particularly those connected with the digestive system. A. barbadensis possesses emollient, astringent, cooling and healing properties and is widely used in various creams, lotions and shampoos.
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of A. barbadensis have also been well documented5,6,7. It is beneficial in various skin disorders such as acne, sunburn, bruises, and dermatitis.
Nirgundi/Vitex negundo/five-leaved chaste tree
Vitex negundo is a large, aromatic shrub. It has astringent, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, membrane stabilising and antioxidant properties8. These properties make V. negundo an excellent and effective herb in the treatment of skin disorders.
Shalmali/Salmalia malabarica/silk cotton tree
Salmalia malabarica is a large and tall, deciduous tree. It is astringent, cooling, styptic and anti-inflammatory. Hence, it is beneficial in acne and skin eruptions. S. malabarica also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties, which are attributed to “shamimin”, one of its active constitiuents9,10.
Acne involves both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The presence of inflammation-causing substances and toxins in the blood and the damage brought about by factors such as pollution and free radicals work together to cause acne, pimples and other skin problems. Ayurveda prescribes various herbs, such as Neem, Haridra and Manjistha, for internal cleansing and to keep the skin healthy and glowing.
Nimba/Azadirachta indica/neem
Neem is a useful tree that is indigenous to India and is cultivated all over the country for its bark, leaves and fruits. Since time immemorial, all parts of the neem tree – the leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots and bark – have been used for the treatment of inflammation, infections, fever, skin diseases and dental disorders.
Nimbidin is a major active principle of Azadirachta indica that helps in inflammation. Neem leaves and their constituents exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects11. These properties are of immense value in skin conditions like acne and pimples, eczema, and dermatitis. It is also useful in preventing free radical-induced skin damage.
Haridra/Curcuma longa/turmeric
Turmeric has been used traditionally as a spice in Asian cuisines for its powerful antiseptic properties. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is an excellent antiseptic. It possesses antioxidant, tonic, blood purifying, anthelmintic, and digestive properties.
Studies have demonstrated the potent antioxidant activity of curcuminoids, active compounds found in Curcuma longa, and their ability to prevent skin damage caused by free radicals12.
Ayurveda believes inner toxicity to be a key factor behind many skin disorders. Therefore, skin problems, including acne, can be better managed by attending to overall health, not just skin. Healthy, glowing skin is, in fact, a reflection of a healthy body.

References
1. Webster GF. Inflammation in acne vulgaris. J. Am. Acad. Derm. 1995;33:247-53.
2. Kligman AM. An overview of acne. J. Invest. Derm. 1974;62:268-87.
3. Koo J. The psychosocial impact of acne: Patient’s perceptions. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 1995;32:S26-S30.
4. Cunliffe WJ. Acne and unemployment. Br. J. Derm. 1984;115: 386.
5. Saada HN, Ussama ZS, Mahdy AM. Effectiveness of Aloe vera on the antioxidant status of different tissues in irradiated rats. Pharmazie. 2003;58(12):929-31.
6. Hu Y, Xu J, Hu Q. Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) extracts. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2003;51(26):7788-91.
7. Bautista-Perez R, Segura-Cobos D, Vazquez-Cruz B. In vitro antibradykinin activity of Aloe barbadensis gel. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2004;93(1):89-92.
8. Dharmasiri MG, Jayakody JR, Galhena G, Liyanage SS, Ratnasooriya WD. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of mature fresh leaves of Vitex negundo. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2003;87(2-3):199-206.
9. Rani P, Khullar N. Antimicrobial evaluation of some medicinal plants for their anti-enteric potential against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi. Phytother. Res. 2004;18(8):670-73.
10. Faizi S, Ali M. Shamimin: A new flavonol C-glycoside from leaves of Bombax ceiba. Planta Med. 1999;65(4):383-85.
11. Subapriya R, Nagini S. Medicinal properties of neem leaves: a review. Curr Med Chem Anti-Canc Agents. 2005;5(2):149-56.
12. Bonte F, Noel-Hudson MS, Wepierre J, Meybeck A.Protective effect of curcuminoids on epidermal skin cells under free oxygen radical stress. Planta Med. 1997;63(3):265-66.

This article is courtesy of Himalaya Healthcare.

Interactive Online Correspondence Course - "Basic course in Ayurveda".

As you know, we at 'Ayurveda For You' are the first to publish Ayurvedic books in e-book format. So far we have published 11 ebooks on various topics in Ayurveda.
We are glad to announce the launch of a new short term Interactive Online Correspondence Course - "Basic course in Ayurveda".

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 "Basic course in Ayurveda," is intended for:
1. Healthcare professionals, who want to upgrade and deepen their knowledge in their fields of specialization or widen their knowledge into the field of Ayurveda.
2. Professionals and lifelong learners interested in taking continuous education courses.
3. This course is also useful for physicians interested in alternative medicine systems, non - medical practitioners, dieticians, dietary assistants, physiotherapists and Yoga teachers, who are interested in widening their professional and personal competence.

For more information about this online course please visit -http://ayurveda-foryou.com/online_course.html

Correlation between Triguna Tridosha and Panchamahabhoota

Triguna correlation with panchamaha bhootha.
Earth - Tamas
Water - Satva, Tamas
Fire - Satva, Rajas
Air - Rajas
Space - Satva

Tridosha and Triguna correlation
Vata – Rajas, Satva
Pitta – Satva, Rajas
Kapha – Tamas, Satva

Tridhosha and bootha correlation
Vata - Space, Air
Pitta – Fire
Kapha – Water and earth

More information in our New online course 'Basic Course in Ayurveda'

Dinacharya in Summer:
Ayurveda advises particular regimens to be followed in each season known as 'Ritucharya'.Summer (Greeshmaritu in Ayurveda) is the last season of 'adanakala' where the loss of energy from the earth is the most. Being a part of the cosmos the depletion of vital energy affects the human being in the same manner and leads to severe loss of strength. Since the sunrays become powerful and destructive day after day, there will be excessive evaporation and progressive deterioration of qualities like moist, soft, smooth, slimy and cold which in turn causes more dryness, roughness and heat in the body. In order to protect the individual from the above impact of summer, Ayurveda advises specific foods and lifestyle. Foods which are sweet, easy to digest, nutritious and cold. Preparations of corn flour and arrowroot with sugar are good to have in this season. Milk is very cool and strengthening. Fruits like grapes, watermelon, ripe mango, banana, jackfruit, pomegranate are to be eaten. Tender coconut water, buttermilk and sweet lassi are some of the ideal drinks for the season. Different types of dairy products are advisable. Water boiled with a combination of herbs-Mustha (Cyperus rotendus), Sandal wood, Coleus, Parpataka, Useera (Vetiveria zizanoides)- is an ideal drink for the summer. Water boiled with bark of pathimukha, roots of useera, coriander seeds etc and kept in earthen vessels is also good. Intake of ghee should be more. Take bath in cold water. Wear fine, thin, light cotton apparel. Spend the day in a cold atmosphere. Growing indoor plants and maintaining water fountains are helpful to sustain an ideal temperature. Sleep in spacious rooms with more ventilation. Summer is the only season when daytime sleep is permitted. Application of sandal paste and rose water is good.

Ayurvedic cure for Asthma?
The incidence of Asthma has increased considerably because of todays stressful living and Ayurveda holds the key to its cure.
Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs, which inflames your airways (Bronchi). It is characterized by*Shortness of Breath or difficulty in breathing*A feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest.*Frequent upper Respiratory infection and wheezing*Coughing - usually dry, light and non-productiveIn today's stressful living, the incidence of asthma has increased considerably. Children suffer more than adults and the disease is more common in boys than in girls.Asthma attacks are not all the same. Some are worse than other. Many people with asthma have problems only occasionally, but others struggle with it every day. It can be life threatening particularly if it is not treated adequately and promptly.

Ayurvedic insight into asthma has a broader perspective. It classifies asthma as an acutely Kaphic disorder with simultaneous accumulation of ama (toxin which is produced by undigested and uneliminated food particles) at respiratory system brought on by excessive mucous and phlegm. Although the human body has a great intelligent, natural healing system that is capable of rejuvenating itself, the formation of toxins reduces this natural capacity. So, the versatile approach of Ayurveda helps in treating asthma as the focus is on the root cause of the disease. Hence, the therapy does not focus on the disease but the cause.

Treatment: Ayurveda emphasizes on treatments to eliminate such toxins and balancing the Dosha. Some such treatments are:
*Vamana ( Therapeutic vomiting)
*Virechana ( Purgation therapy)
Vamana is the procedure in which we eliminate the waste product (kapha toxins) which are collected in the body and respiratory track from its roots (stomach) through the mouth. The course of treatment involves loosening and mobilizing the toxins in an effort to finally eliminate them. After vomiting, the patient feels very comfortable as most of the congestion, wheezing and breathlessness will disappear along with the clearing of sinus. As the process of purification is done from the roots, the chances of sudden asthma attacks is brought under control. After Vamana, the Virechana therapy and internal medicines plays a role to stop further production of toxins and strengthen the immune system, make the respiratory system more resistant, enhance self-reliance, vitality and mental clarity. Treatment for children below 14 years and aged people should be only through internal medicines.

Indian herbal supplement may harbour pancreatic cancer cure
April 18: Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute have demonstrated that a commonly used Indian herbal supplement, triphala, has the potential to slow down the growth of human pancreatic tumours grafted onto mice.

The findings offer hope that one day a treatment for the disease may be developed, though the experts have warned that the study is still at a very early stage. Triphala is a herbal preparation used in the traditional Indian medicine system Ayurveda. It contains the dried and powdered fruits of three plants, and it is said to ease intestinal-related disorders and promote good digestion. The current research confirms the findings of previous studies that have shown triphala to have an anti-cancer activity in cell cultures. It also shows that the herb does not damage normal pancreatic cells. During the study, mice grafted with human pancreatic tumours were administered a triphala solution five days per week. When the researchers carried out their comparison with those in control group of mice after four weeks, they found that tumours in triphala-treated mice were half the size of those in the untreated mice. They also noted that the tumour cells in treated mice had higher levels of proteins associated with apoptosis, the process by the which the body normally disposes of damaged, old of unneeded cells. "We discovered that triphala fed orally to mice with human pancreatic tumors was an extremely effective inhibitor of the cancer process, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells," said Sanjay K. Srivastava, Ph.D., lead investigator and assistant professor, department of pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine."Triphala triggered the cancerous cells to die off and significantly reduced the size of the tumors without causing any toxic side effects," he added. The study also revealed that though triphala had activated tumour-suppressor genes, but did not negatively affect normal pancreatic cells. "Our results demonstrate that triphala has strong anti-cancer properties given its ability to induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells without damaging normal pancreatic cells," said Dr. Srivastava. "With follow-up studies, we hope to demonstrate its potential use as a novel agent for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer," he added. The study is being presented in a late-breaking session at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Copyright Dailyindia.com/ANI

Ayurveda enhances immunity
Tuesday April 10 2007 16:50 IST
Dr Remya Krishnan
Infectious diseases continue to be a major health problem today, and still rank very high as a cause of death in India. The major reasons behind them include illhealthy life-style in a polluted environment, development of new drug resistant strains and constant administration of immunosuppressive therapies.
The term ‘infection’ reflects the process of successful invasion and establishment of pathogenesis in the tissues of the host, which are capable of being transmitted to another host. Once established, the pathogenesis will manifest in the form of a disease, often as a minor form or as a typical illness. Sometimes it will not manifest, depending upon various factors of the host. In Ayurveda, the host factor is considered prior to the microbe factor; though the role of several pathogens in the causation of infections is mentioned. Even if a person gets exposed to the chances of infection, he could be or not be a victim of the disease, depending on several factors.Impaired state of digestion and metabolism in the individual, more commonly occur as an outcome of an erroneous diet and lifestyle and by exogenous factors like climatic variations.

Ayurvedic approachThe mode of approach of management in Ayurveda is two-folded - prevention and cure. The following principles are adopted.Promoting digestion and metabolism of cellular toxins and metabolites by appropriate medication and specific food habits.Increasing the efficiency of natural drainage mechanism of the body by medicines and often purifactory therapies which will check the chances of a further infection.Enhancement of patient’s own immune power to combat infections by administering immunomodulatory drug formulations and a specific diet regimen.Combating infections with mere symptom alleviators like antipyretics in the case of raised body temperature and antibiotics never fight against the exact cause of pathogenesis. Irrational and prolonged use of antibiotics which include bactericidal and bacteriostatic drugs, which are used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, may often cause gradual alarming resistance against these pathogens.
Impaired drainage mechanism of the body and declined immunity combined with the neglected diet and lifestyle congenial to the disease makes the individual susceptible to a more severe form of infection, even if the present one seems to be suppressed for a while.
Prevent infections
Maintenance of proper hygiene by taking daily shower in luke warm water in an empty stomach.Adoption of healthy lifestyle and food habits. Consumption of bakery foods, canned foods, drinks, too much fatty and spicy food are to be reduced to the minimum.A person most prone to a microbial attack is the person with worst digestion and excretion.Getting aware of one’s own gut and switching over to foods which favour the digestive power with moderate intake of fats and spices in normal conditions is ideal for health.Drinking warm water boiled with crushed dried ginger and coriander seeds are excellent to drain off the cellular wastes and toxins from the circulation. These drugs are immunomodulatory as well.Frequent medication fumigation with neem leaves, guggulu or asafoetida maintains the purity of atmosphere and checks the spread of infections.
Ayurveda stresses the importance of having a balanced mind in preventing and combating infection.The patient should seek medical help at the earliest and should stick on to the medications and wholesome regimen advised by the doctor for a healthy and speedy recovery.
Interesting reading- AIDS & Ayurveda

Now, Gomutra in powder form
Saturday April 7 2007 12:56 IST
BELGAUM: ’Gomutra’ -urine of cow in powder form? Seems to be impossible? A doctor from Kittur village in the district has made this possible. He claims that the powder can cure several chronic ailments. Gomutra has a special place in Ayurveda. However S P Hiremath, who has ‘transformed’ Gomutra in to powder says that though Gomutra was a ‘Ram Baana’ for several diseases, nobody succeeded in transforming it in the form of powder.The 56 year doctor, who lives in village, says that he has been doing research on Gomutra since three decades and now the research has paid him expected results. Hiremath earlier served in Army and returned to his hometown after his retirement and took up farming.However he developed interest in Gomutra as each and every villager considers Gomutra as holy and at the same time it can cure diseases.He started his research on Gomutra and he found that Gomutra has enormous power to cure several diseases including skin diseases. Hiremath told this website's newspaper that the powder can cure cancer and is a best medicine for heart disease. It can also cure kidney stones, liver stones. It is best to increase potency too, he said. He also claimed that he had cured epilepsy with Gomuthra. Hiremath said the powder can increase the memory power of the children if it was given regularly along with the milk. He said he experimented on himself before prescribing it to others. Hiremath said only Gomutra of usual cows - seen in the country side is useful to prepare the powder. The Gomutra of Jersy cow has no medicinal value he added. Food habits like non-vegetarian, alcohol consumption, smoking, chewing gutkha and other habits have to quit to see results of the powder.

Yoga camp by Swami Ramdev in Chicago
India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Swami Ramdev, world renowned Yogi well versed in Sanskrit, Ayurveda and Vedic philosophy, will be holding his Yoga Camps for the first time in Chicagoland this July.
The man whose name has become synonymous with Yoga in India and elsewhere will be here from July 11 thru July 15 at Max-McCook Athletic & Exposition located in Mc-Cook, Illinois, to teach the ancient yogic science of Pranayama to thousands. Swami Ramdev started efforts to popularize Yoga in 1995 with the establishment of Divya Yoga Mandir Trust along with Acharya Balkrishna. The mission of the trust is to spread yoga to the masses and heal as many patients as possible. Now thousands of people are attending his yoga camps or shibirs. Millions watch his television programs all across the globe and read his books and learn from DVDs. To him goes the credit of starting a yoga revolution in India and overseas.
Swamiji has envisioned a Rs 100 crores dream project entitled Patanjali Yog Peeth at Bahadrabad, about 20km from Haridwar. According to him, it is expected to catapult Yoga and Ayurveda to its zenith, and lead to mental, spiritual and physical development of people. To be completed in three years, it is an ambitious project with a Yoga university, a naturopathy department which can handle 1,000 patients at a time, a residential complex of patients, a hall for 5,000 people to practice Yoga and the world's largest hospital ward to treat 5,000 patients a day.
All the proceeds received from Swamiji's July Chicago Camp will go to this Rs 100 crores Patanjali Yog Peeth project. The yoga sessions will be morning and evening 6 am to 9 am and 6 pm to 9 pm. This five-day camp is being organized by Anu and Bharat Malhotra. Anu Malhotra has been teaching free pranayama classes for the past five years at American Physical therapy and Sports Medicine Clinic.

Ayurvedic Cuisine
Pakoras are an Indian snack that's usually deep-fried, but Sondhi has taken the guilt out of eating these delicious treats by baking them instead.
Baked Pakoras (Bhajias)
11/2 cups gram (chickpea) flour
3/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, grated or minced
1/2 tsp. garlic, crushed or minced
1 tsp. fresh green chilies, minced'
1 tsp. salt, or to taste
1 cup plain yogurt
1 bunch spinach, chopped, about 4-5 cups
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Olive oil spray
Chutney
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, combine flour, cumin, ginger, garlic chilies, salt and yogurt and beat with wooden spoon until well mixed. Stir in spinach and baking powder. Pour mixture into lightly oiled 9-inch loaf pan. Cover with foil and bake for about 70 minutes. Test with toothpick; if it comes out clean, it's done. Cut into slices, lightly cover with olive oil spray, and place on a baking sheet. Increase oven heat to broil and place in oven for 4 minutes, flipping once, until slightly crisp and brown Watch carefully to ensure they do not burn. Serve with a favourite chutney.

Consider one of the commonest and cheapest of Ayurvedic medical formulations -
Triphala Emerging as Potent Cancer and Cholesterol Fighter

Triphala (a combination of three tropical dried fruits, Haritaki (Terminalia Belerica), Amalaki (Phyllanthus Emblica) and Bibhitaki (Terminalia Chebula) - which is now emerging as one of the most potent anticancer agents.

Last year I wrote about research being done on Triphala which was subsequently incorporated in Wikipedia entries on Triphala and on Research and innovations in Ayurveda.

Forthcoming research in 2007 is even more exciting. Triphala is active against HIV and against cholesterol related risk for Coronary Artery Disease.

Phytotherapy Research reported Feb 1 on the use of Triphala against common bacterial isolates from HIV infected patients. That report from scientists at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India 600 113, revealed that both individual and combined aqueous and ethanol extracts of Triphala have antibacterial activity against the bacterial isolates tested from HIV patients.

Another group of scientists from the same instituion report in the Feb 1 issue of Yakugaku Zasshi highlights the efficacy of Triphala on total cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein (LDL), Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), High density lipoprotein (HDL) and free fatty acid in rats with high levels of cholesterol. ‘The data demonstrated that Triphala formulation was associated with hypolipidemic effects on the experimentally induced hypercholesteremic rats.’

And last October, scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center confirmed that Triphala has the ability to develop into a novel herbal protector against radiation induced damage to the DNA of mice exposed to whole body irradiation.

Turmeric wards off Alzheimer's, cancer
As people live longer than ever before, age-related diseases like Alzheimer's are also on the rise.

With no known cure, Alzheimer's is a massive burden.

A study conducted in the University of California shows that one of the reasons why the rate of Alzheimer's in India is four times lower than in the USA is because turmeric is used in Indian cooking.

Turmeric contains a powerful substance called curcumin, which shields the brain from the damage that leads to Alzheimer's.

In 1989, Bharat Aggarwal, a leading researchers on turmeric, threw some turmeric onto cancer cells. The results were unbelievable. He found that turmeric cut down inflammation, preventing the replication of cancer cells.

It was this anti-inflammatory character of turmeric that led researchers to experiment with brain cells in rats, proving curcumin effective in Alzheimer's disease.

Healing properties

The research fits in with Ayurvedic knowledge, which uses turmeric to treat cancer and memory related disorders because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities.

The difference is Ayurveda uses turmeric in combination with other herbs or with milk while modern research aims at isolating curcumin and using it as a drug.

Aggarwal prescribes a daily dose of 8 gms of turmeric, about 40 times the amount of turmeric used in Indian cooking.

Experts in India say such a dose could be less safe than Ayurvedic prescriptions.

"It can react in cases of gastric ulcers. We also advise people to take it with milk. So it's absorbed by the fat in the milk, not otherwise," said Dr Joshi, Ayurvedic expert, BHU.

"Ayurveda says use the herb in its full form. It balances the side effects," added Ajay Sharma, President, Baidyanath.

Trials underway

Clinical trials on humans are on in the US to test curcumin's safety and efficacy in treating pancreatic cancer and preventing lung and colon cancer.

If successful, the future could see curcumin being developed into a drug much less toxic than existing anti-cancer drugs.

In India too, scientists are combining turmeric in anti-cancer drugs to reduce both dosage and toxic side effects.

Trials combining turmeric with malaria drug chloroquin to fight chloroquin resistance are also on. If this works, it can prevent many malaria deaths in India.

Yoga a panacea for AIDS, cancer: Ramdev : HindustanTimes.com
BRUSHING ASIDE all the charges in his piquant style, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev once again claimed that Pranayam could cure cancer and raise CD4 cell count in AIDS patients. "But the irony is that instead of giving me funds for further research on cancer and other genetic diseases, the Health Ministry has slapped a notice on me," he said.

Talking to media persons at Mahamandaleshwar Swami Hansdas camp in Ardh Kumbh Mela area on Wednesday, Baba Ramdev said Pranayam was not a medicine. It regulates body metabolism and reduces stress hormones. "The government spends over Rs 250 crore on the research of single salt of an allopathy medicine. But we don't get a single rupee help for reviving the ancient science of Yoga and Ayurveda," he said.

"But we are quite excited over the results we got on patients suffering from blood cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumour, high BP and heart diseases. All the clinical evidences are available with us. We have now planned to invest Rs 250 for research on genetic diseases at Patanjali Peeth Hardwar," he added.

Baba Ramdev said as many as 1.15 crore people had benefited from Pranayam.

It reduces cholesterol within nine days and balances different chemicals in the body. "Still, I don't want people to trust me blindly. Neither I want them to disbelieve my claims. I only want people to experience the benefits of Pranayam and Yoga. The Pranayam also leads to spiritual awakening. The seven Paranayams taught in the Yoga camps were discovered by our seers thousands of years ago. I did some research on Pranayams and found that it has magical effect on the body," he said. Replying to the allegations that he charged excess money for Yoga camps and Ayurveda treatment, Ramdev said, "This is not true.

We are running four centres in Hardwar, Patna, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar, where Ayurveda medicines are distributed free to poor patients. We are also planning to open these centres in other states."

Baba Ramdev said he charged fees for Yoga camps to fund research activity.

"We need funds to develop Yoga and Ayurveda as holistic science. I also want to put an end to all controversy on Pranayam and Yoga," he said. With a touch of humour, Ramdev said he would take a dip in the holy Ganga but only in the company of media persons.

Now Vedic mantras to cure diseases
Now look forward to new age healing through mantras! Sanskrit scholars of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit University have initiated a research project, said to be the first of its kind, to treat various diseases through Vedic chants.

A state-of-the-art astrological lab costing Rs.8 million ($1.5 million) will be set up in the university premises. The city-based National Ayurveda Institute is also participating in the research.

The lab would involve modern scientific gadgets and instruments like high-capacity binoculars, telescope, cameras etc to enable scholars to observe the planetary and other solar activities.

Different teams would be constituted on the basis of the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda, the Vedas and astrology to diagnose about 100 general and incurable diseases and their treatment.

In a two-year period, the scholars would analyse and study the impact of rays of various planets and other celestial bodies through various perspectives, bringing into practice traditional Indian treatment and therapies mentioned in Vedic literature.

Experts claim that solar therapy, radiotherapy and several other present-day treatments are actually based on Ayurveda. They also said that if the research proves to be successful, the treatment would be cheaper.

"If the project is successful then people would certainly get a better and cheaper treatment facility without any side-effects", said Ramdev Sharma, an Ayurvedic doctor.

"The project is in a preliminary stage and will only take off in the next couple of months. We expect good results", Vinod Shastri of the University of Rajasthan, told IANS.

"Each letter of Vedic mantra has immense power. After knowing the symptoms, diseases can be treated effectively through a combination herbs and mantras," said Shastri, who is also an eminent astrologer.
Read about Music Therapy and Ayurveda

Use coriander juice to improve weak eyesight
According to the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, if a small quantity of Dhanyaka leaf (or, coriander) juice is taken with honey it can have positive effect on eyesight.

Two to three teaspoons (7-14 milliliter ml.) coriander juice with 5-10 gram honey can help in improving eyesight

Ayurvedic care for techies

T'PURAM: Long working hours, sleepless nights, junk food and caffein. What comes with huge pay packages for techies in Bangalore is a life of stress, strain and hypertension. Not any more.

The age-old tradition of Ayurveda will now salvage our new age gizmo spotting techies from their health woes with Pankajakasthuri Herbals, one of India’s leading ayurveda pharmaceuticals, entering into the scene with specialised health care services for IT professionals.

Pankajakasthuri managing director Dr J Hareendran Nair told this website's newspaper that the company would soon be entering into an agreement with various IT majors in Bangalore including IBM to start in-house ayurvedic centres in their companies.

‘‘We are entering into a tie up with some IT companies in Bangalore to set up in-house ayurvedic service centres. We are conducting the final round of talks and most probably our centres will start functioning in these companies by the first week of February 2007.’’

Around 10% of the 5 lakh IT professionals in Bangalore are found to have serious health problems including hypertension, back ache, impotency, pressure, obesity, spontalitis and stress. It is this startling increase in lifestyle diseases among IT professionals that prompted Pankajakasthuri to start its ayurvedic centres in IT companies, said Dr Hareendran.

‘‘ The fact that most of these professionals are youngsters below the age of 35 makes it all the more pathetic. The rigorous nature of their job and sort of high tension life they are leading, completely neglecting their health, will lead to complications in future. Ayurveda, as a way of life can improve the way of life of IT professionals in more than one way,’’ he said.

‘‘We are aiming at delivering ayurvedic treatment to the employees of these companies in a palatable form. Our services will include giving employees healthy food and ayurvedic health drinks instead of junk food, coffee and colas.’’ Weekend stress-relief therapies like massaging, meditation and panchakarma besides yoga classes will be the highlight of the programme, he said.

Popular heartburn drugs linked to hip fractures - CNN.com

University of Pune Ayurvedic Studies Program Enrollment Active

The National Institute Of Ayurvedic Medicine Ayurvedic Studies Certificate Program
at Pune University, Faculty of Ayurved (Pune, India)
Six Week and Twelve Week Programs

Next: January 15 to February 23 2007 (6-week) or
January 15 to April 6 2007 (12-week)
If you wish further information or assistance please contact Paul Griffiths, NIAM Administrator at ayurveda@niam.com or call (845) 278-8700.

Indian Ayurvedic Firms to Strike $120 Billion Herbal Market
Traditional houses of ayurveda in India, which make up for small share of global herbal industry of US$ 120 Billion, have begun to deviate from classical texts in order to take ayurveda to export markets such as Middle East.

Coimbatore based AVP (Arya Vaidya Pharmacy), by introducing chyawanaprash – an admired health tonic that helps boost energy, memory and immunity – in the form of a biscuit, has been the trend setter in this respect.