Dinacharya is the ayurvedic term for daily routine. Following a proper dinacharya is one of the best methods to prevent disease, promote good health and prolong life. Unhealthy lifestyle can lead to problems like acidity, indigestion, stress and other lifestyle-related disorders. This approach also helps to manage these.

The daily routine is based on the individual’s basic body constitution [known as dosha].

Ayurveda emphasises on various times of the day and night, which correspond with the three doshas.

Early to bed and early to rise has been enthusiastically promoted by ayurveda. Waking up before sunrise not only helps cleanse the system better, but also helps precise planning of the day.

Food

Tan mana bhunjeeta—total devotion or concentration while eating—has been advocated in ayurveda. So, watching television or working on a computer during meal time is a complete no-no. Eat only when hungry.

Ayurveda considers fresh and healthy food the best. It places a lot of importance on eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid food with preservatives, permitted colors, and food that has been over-cooked, burnt or seasoned with lot of spices and salt.

The quantity and quality of food as per an individual, health status, season, and age has a beneficial effect. Ayurveda advocates daily use of moong dal, honey, ghee, green gram, amla, black currants, and cardamom [elaichi] in your diet.

Along with food, it is important to practise good lifestyle habits regularly as per your body type [vata prakruti person needs to stick to daily oil massage; pitta person should reduce spices]. This is best done in consultation with an ayurveda practitioner.

Oil massage

Just as machines need periodical oiling to keep them running, we too need to keep our joints and bones lubricated.

Mix and heat coconut, castor, sesame or olive oils together. Cool them and preserve in a bottle. Massage your entire body with the mixed oil. After allowing the oil to soak into the skin, wash it off using besan [chick pea flour].

You can also add turmeric powder to it. An oil massage followed by hot water bath is an effective tool to prevent diseases and stay young, healthy and energetic.

Natural processes

Ayurveda believes in obeying nature. Natural urges like passing stools and urine, sneeze, yawn, cough, tears, vomit, hunger, and sleep should not to be controlled frequently, as it leads health problems. Tackle them as soon as you feel the urge.

Emotions

Manage negative emotions like anger, jealousy, greed, unbridled lust and passion, coveting the wealth, dishonesty, and cowardice. The ability to control these is a positive step towards a healthy life.

Fear is yet another factor that keeps us away from happiness. Fear can cause discomfort, sleeplessness, and other serious diseases. Replace fear by logic and in justified fears, try to surrender yourself to God. Fear of failure may make you run away from real opportunities.

Face your fear. Positive thinking, group prayers and regular practice of yoga and meditation helps overcome negative emotions. Analyse the situation and act accordingly.

Prayer should be a part of your daily routine as it keep your immunity intact by co-coordinating the mind, body and spirit. Spending time in the company of books, honest people, and nature, is also beneficial.

Sleep

Sleep when sleepy and try to maintain a regular bed time [whenever possible]. The duration of sleep changes depending on each individual, season, mental-physical exertion, and health condition.

You should feel fit, energetic and fresh when you wake up. This is an indication to determine the quality and quantity of sleep.

Avoid sleeping during daytime, if you want to enjoy perfect health, as it interferes with digestion and metabolism.

Seasons

Ayurveda not only recommends a daily routine, but also seasonal routine to stay fit and fine. It advises one to undergo seasonal cleansing called panchakarma to purge the body of toxins and promote wellbeing.

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People experience backache at various points on their back. It varies in symptoms like intensity, duration, triggering and relieving factors, and needs to be managed accordingly. It could be due to exertion, bad posture or as complex a cause as a renal condition.

Here is a list of causative factors, which could be avoided to prevent backaches at all times and places:

• Bad posture i.e. sitting in a wrong position for long or sitting, bending, standing for many hours. Your posture should be changed. Taking a break of five minutes in between helps.
• Wearing high-heeled shoes or ill-fitting footwear
• Obesity surely is a causative factor for backache and can be prevented. Maintain weight to make sure that your back is not burdened by excessive weight.
• Sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise
• Infection, anywhere in the body
• Sleeping on an uneven surface or too soft mattresses
• Jerky movements
• Digestive disturbance, flatulence and constipation
• Osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Menstrual problems like PMS [premenstrual stress], menopausal aches or excessive bleeding, or painful menstruation.
• Smoking and other addictions.
• Stress.

Oil massage—when and how?

People usually start oil massages and take fomentations to relieve pain, which are helpful. But, one must be cautious not to overdo it and immediately consult a doctor if pain persists or gets worse.

Medicated oil can be prepared using any of the following or all of them—clove, garlic, asafoetida, cumin, ginger or aniseeds. These should be powdered and boiled in oil [gingili, mustard, til, coconut oil]. This massage should be washed off using hot water or herbal fomentation [papaya leaf, castor leaf or cabbage leaf can be heated and placed on painful area] to get relief.

Tip: Any of the above oils with camphor dissolved into it acts faster.

Diet and lifestyle

Eating a balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables is a must. Food and beverages that help relieve constipation should be preferred. Avoid eating fried food, and food that causes flatulence like peas, potatoes, and caffeinated drinks like coffee, and tea. Drinking fresh fruit juice, ginger tea, clove tea with liquorice powder or pomegranate juice, or lemon juice also helps.

Sedentary lifestyle can cause backaches. So it is advisable to start simple exercises like walking or jogging regularly before aches and pains start.

Herbal plasters

Garlic, ginger or potato paste can be smeared on a thin cloth and applied on the affected area. Garlic paste may cause some transient blisters and application of soothing oils will heal it. [If blisters do not manifest, garlic paste would be one of the best plasters to relieve pain.]

Tips to relieve pain

• Yogasanas that are beneficial for back pain are Bhujangasana, Halasana, Shavasana, Shalabhasana, and Uttanpadasana. But, remember not to over do. Also, don’t start these asanas after you develop backache. Learn yogasanas from a qualified person even if you have not got backache till now.
• Resting on firm mattress helps. Shavasan is a sure way to ease backache. Too much of bed rest may act adversely so beware of taking too many days off from work.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects if you suffer from backache and, if it cannot be avoided, do it in such a way that your back is not hurt. Bending the knees and maintaining the back straight helps ease the weight on the back.
• Bend one knee slightly and try sleeping on your back or on the side that pains more, this relieves pain.
• Start regular activities, which improve your posture and prevent or reduce activities that cause pain.

The post Backaches no more appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Oil array

There are many oils that are good for your hair. Of these, coconut, almond, jojoba, sesame and castor are natural oils, while Bhringamalaka, neelibringadi, dardurodi and amla oil are herbal.

Natural oils are often teamed with essential ingredients like eucalyptus, juniper, lemon, sandalwood, lavender, myrrh, tea tree, rosemary, basil and peppermint among others. These ingredients add aroma to the oils along with their therapeutic properties. These are strong and work best when mixed with carrier oils like almond, avocado, burdock, camellia, castor, jojoba, macadamia nut, olive, coconut, peanut, sunflower, safflower or sesame oil.
When you choose an oil, you have to also consider the quality of your hair and general health in addition to the properties of the oil. This is because some oils might not suit you. For instance, some oils are cooling and if you have a tendency for catching colds, using such oils might trigger colds in you.

Let’s understand the different hair oils available and their properties to make the right choice.

Coconut oil

The oil is extracted from the flesh of the coconut. Coconut oil penetrates deep and nourishes the hair follicles along with the shaft. Researchers from the Princeton University too concede to this fact.

It has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties and hence is beneficial in infections of hair and scalp. It is a source of essential fatty acids and is rich in vitamin E and K, iron and minerals.

Coconut oil is an excellent emollient and ensures growth and nourishment of hair. It has been used since centuries owing to its safety and effectiveness.

Hair loss or thinning due to medication, hormonal changes, stress, and pollution can be managed by skillful and regular application of coconut oil. It protects hair by preventing swelling and shrinking of hair shaft­—the primary reason for hair damage.

The oil also helps in dandruff, scalp infection, dry hair, split ends and other hair problems. The Coconut Research Board, USA, lauds it as an effective conditioner and its ability to help in re-growth of damaged hair.

It is also a good carrier oil. It has no shelf-life and needs no preservatives, nor does it require any refinement or processing and is inexpensive. The coconut oil that is commonly available is refined and hence doesn’t have a strong coconut aroma.

Coconut oil significantly reduces protein loss from hair [even damaged hair] when used before/after hair wash, found a study by The Research and Development Department of the Nature Care Division, Mumbai.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is derived from the seeds of the jojoba plant that grows in the American desert. It is also known as pignut, coffee berry and deer nut. Native Americans have been using this oil for skin and hair problems since many centuries. Jojoba oil is similar to the sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Hence, it helps nourish a dry scalp. It is usually referred to as liquid wax and it contains many nutrients including vitamins E and B that are beneficial to the hair. The oil has great penetration properties; it is particularly known to dissolve dirt and sticky build-up on the scalp, helping keep the hair clean.

It is known to bring out natural colour and keep hair tangle-free.

Although it’s not known to be harmful, it’s advisable to do a patch test for this oil before you use it on the scalp because it may cause allergic reactions in some. This oil too has a high shelf-life.

Castor oil

Castor oil is highly recommended for growing thick, black hair and also to relieve scalp infection. The germicidal properties of omega-9 essential fatty acids present in castor oil protect the scalp and hair from microbial and fungal infections.

In addition, the fatty acids nourish the hair and prevent the scalp from drying by retaining moisture. It also has oleic acid similar to olive oil and the two are usually mixed together before application for better results.

Castor oil has been used for scalp massage in infants and has been known not only to ensure healthy hair but also bestow overall good health.

As castor oil is thick and can penetrate fast, it is best avoided in people suffering from sinus congestion, high intraocular pressure [eye pressure], high blood pressure and those suffering from constipation and other digestive problems.

Olive oil

Olive oil is best known for eliminating dandruff and for conditioning the hair. Olive oil was first used by the Greeks. It has vital ingredients that prevent the formation of dihydro- testosterone, a hormone responsible for hair thinning and male-pattern hair loss. This oil is rich in vitamins E, D and K, niacin and biotin, all of which ensure healthier, thicker hair. The phenol compounds in olive oil help in repairing the damage caused by pollution, alcohol and cigarette smoke. It also regulates sebum production and lubrication of the scalp and hair. It’s considered to be great for hair and skin during winter.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil [til oil or gingelly oil] has been in use since the Indus valley civilisation. It has antioxidant properties and when used for head massages, relieves stress and acts as a relaxant. It also mitigates anxiety, nerve and bone disorders, poor circulation, poor immunity, insomnia, lethargy, aches and pains. The oil takes long time to turn rancid and is therefore a good ingredient in herbal oils.

Almond oil

Almond oil is non-greasy and has all the right nutrients to nourish a dry scalp. It’s perfect for those who don’t like strong odours since it has a mild aroma. It is safe and does not cause irritation like some hair oils. Oleic acid and linoleic acid form the major fatty acids in it and has beneficial bioflavonoids, vitamin E and calcium and is soothing to hair and scalp, thereby fostering hair growth. According to Herbal Ayurveda Research Centre, India, regular use of almond oil reduces hair fall.

The lesser-known oils

Rosemary oil stimulates hair follicles and prevents degeneration of hair.

Avacado oil has nutrients such as proteins, vitamins A, D, E, and B6, amino acids and folic acid, which nourish hair. The oil is popular among African Americans.

Emu oil has been extensively used by aboriginals in Australia and has been valued for its health promotion of the scalp.

Neem oil is used in cases of scalp itching or infection.

If some oil doesn’t reduce your symptoms or triggers hair fall, dandruff, burning eyes, greying or split ends, change it immediately, though it’s highly unlikely if you use herbal or natural oils.

Ayurveda says…

The nature or prakruthi of hair oils differ as does the prakruthi [constitution] of every individual. An oil will work better if it suits your constitution.

Vata: Use sesame, castor or almond oil. You can also add herbs like bala, eranda, bramhi, vaccha and bilwa that pacify vata.

Pitta: Use olive or coconut oil. You can add amla, hibiscus, bringaraja, chandana or yesti to them.

Kapha: Jojoba or mustard oil [not recommended in summer]. You can add neem, tulsi, bringaraja or bramhi to them.

For better results, the oils have to be applied warm.

Don’t massage the scalp with oil…

• If you are suffering from high fever, blocked nose and sinuses, constipation or digestive problems.
• Immediately after surgery or on the day of chemotherapy.
• The day you undergo emesis [vomiting] or purgation.

Avoid using oils containing minerals, petroleum oils or gels, harsh additives and permitted colours like parabens
or sulfates.

This was first published in the February 2012 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Based on its effect, Ayurveda categorises food as satvik, rajasic and tamasic. Rather than categories, consider each of these as a cluster of tendencies and you’ll intuitively know which foods are good for you, and which aren’t.

Ayurveda says…

To a great extent, our mothers [or others who are in charge of feeding us when we are babies] are responsible for developing our satmya or food-lifestyle.

We as babies too display preference for certain foods or tastes. Such a preference is determined by our prakruti or inherent traits.

For optimum health a person should consume all six tastes—bitter, sweet, sour, salty, pungent and astringent—in varied proportions.

Satvik food

Food that is freshly-made or organically-grown in a farm or field is satvik. Beverages and edibles that don’t aggravate your anger or that make you feel more cheerful and calm are satvik.

Milk [preferably cow’s milk] ghee, honey, butter, fresh fruits like apples, grapes, pomegranate, dates, coconut, figs, nuts [especially almonds, raisins] green gram, coriander, cumin, turmeric, fennel, fenugreek, cardamom, fresh sweets in small quantities, freshly-made warm khichadi without excessive spices, porridge, kheer made of dairy products are all satvik foods.

Food taken in serene atmosphere and in limited quantity is also satvik. However, stimulants like coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco are not.

The place and time of eating, also affects a food’s satvik quality. For instance, if a satvik food is consumed in excess, frequently or around midnight, it becomes less satvik. Satvik food bestows positive qualities on a person.

It increases feelings of joy, contentment, kindness and is good for intelligence, wisdom and memory. It also aids in decreasing fear, lust, greed and such other negative emotions.

This is why spiritual gurus and saints eat satvik food. Buddha and Mahavira are two examples. Satvik food helps in one’s spiritual journey. Hence, an elephant or a cow that relishes fresh lush grass is gentle and docile.

Rajasic food

It includes spicy food and food that gives a lot of energy. Fish, meat, eggs, garlic, onion, egg plant, chillies, fried food, beverages and edibles that are consumed more than needed, excessively salty, sour, pungent or hot foods are classified as rajasic. Rajasic food promotes enthusiasm, creativity and productivity. Excessive Rajasic food fosters negative emotions like lust, jealousy malice and makes a person vain, avaricious, and pompous.

Rajasic food was recommended for warriors because they required the qualities that it develops. In the animal kingdom too, tigers and lions feed on rajasic food—flesh and blood, and hence are aggressive.

Tamasic food

Excess food and food that makes one lethargic and dull are all classified as tamasic food and is not advisable. Preserved, frozen, junk and stale food, curds, jams, jellies, beef, excessive spices that in turn increase appetite and induce overeating are tamasic too.

Consuming tamasic enhances feelings of fear and inferiority in a person. Such food can even give rise to criminal tendencies. Crocodiles or foxes eat rotten flesh and are dull, lethargic and cunning.

This was first published in the July 2011 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Here’s how to avoid these problems to appreciate the goodness of the season.

Block the sun

Excessive exposure to sun can manifest as sunburn, sunstroke, suntan or heat exhaustion. They are different from one another but can be overlapping in causes, symptoms and management.

Symptoms could manifest as any of these or together with different intensity—dizziness, nausea, light-headedness, severe headache, clammy skin, heavy perspiration, muscle tremors, cramping, seizures, irregular heartbeat and so on.

If any of above manifest, place the person in a cool place and give him lots of fluids to drink. If symptoms persist, get immediate medical help. A better way is to prevent these from happening.

• Avoid going out in the scorching sun.
• Use broad-rimmed hats or caps, or Indian style headgears like turbans, towels, and duppattas to protect from the strong sun rays.
• Use good quality sunglasses.
• Apply mild lotions to keep skin cool and healthy.
• Shower twice a day. Apply cooling oils before and after bathing. Use creams/lotions made up of coolants like red or white sandal, neem, turmeric powder, and rose essence.
• Drink tender coconut water with honey and / or cardamom.
• Wear garments that keep you cool, like cotton.

Keep away from bites

Insect bites could cause symptoms with different intensities in different people—local swelling, swelling of the whole body or mucus membranes, nausea, asthma, giddiness, headache and abdominal cramps could manifest.

Here are some simple precautions you need to take:

• Keep your surroundings clean; clear away any water logging in and around your house.
• Clean the drains, ditches and gardens regularly.
• Check that the doors, windows have tight-fitting screens to keep away mosquitoes and other insects.
• Keep your body covered as much as possible.
• Avoid venturing out bare feet and check places you choose to sit on for crawling creatures.

If you get an insect bite, remove the sting and give the area a mild rub. Apply either onion juice or honey over the region repeatedly. People rarely need much more medical attention. However, the management depends on the type of insect bite.

Mind what you drink and eat

Consuming food or beverages from unhygienic places and consuming stale food usually guarantees infection, which then leads to digestive problems like gastroenteritis vomiting, nausea, or food poisoning. Keep your food and your food habits as hygienic as possible.

People who go for holidays during summer are at a high risk of developing diarrhoea due to indiscriminate eating. In case this happens, stop intake of all solids immediately. Drink water with a pinch of salt and a spoon of sugar, pomegranate juice, or tender coconut water with fenugreek seeds to stop diarrhoea and replenish the loss of nutrients. Having lassi mixed with fenugreek/cilantro/coriander/sugar/cumin/cardamom/rosewater also helps.

Stay away from allergy

Allergies commonly affect children causing sneezing, runny nose, tearing, or skin rashes. Pollen, weeds, animal dander, mold, mist, mite, and chemicals are some powerful allergens. They can be troublesome if you already have a weak immune system.

Recreational water illnesses [RWIs] are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water and they can cause various infections of the skin, ear, respiratory system, eye, and could also manifest as diarrhoea.

In such cases, swimming in unhygienic pools, eating junk food should be avoided. Summer allergies can be prevented by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and adopting a healthy lifestyle with a regular exercise routine [that is inclusive of pranayama] to boost the immunity.

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Evening primrose

Evening primrose has gamma-linolenic acid [GLA], an omega-6 essential fatty acid, which helps in boosting the immune system and in conditions of genuine deficiency. It has the potential to prevent cardiovascular conditions, certain cancers, and diabetes.

Research also suggests its use in the treatment of ageing problems, alcoholism, acne, heart disease, hyperactivity in children, multiple sclerosis, weight control, obesity, PMS [post menstrual syndrome] and schizophrenia.

It is effective in alleviating the symptoms of, menstruation, endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts.

Green tea

It is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Common green and black tea leaves consist of about 25 – 30 per cent flavonoids, including quercetin, gallic esters, carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid [vitamin C], minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium or zinc, and certain phytochemical compounds.

Research suggests that women who drink green tea regularly can fight ovarian and breast cancers better. They also have less heart disease and stroke, lower total and LDL cholesterol, and recover from heart attacks faster. Green tea with honeysuckle is known as pimple tea and helps in normalising hormones and weight.

Women who drink sufficient amount of green tea before menopause reduce, by more than 50 per cent, their chances of suffering from breast cancer or its severity and recurrences also are lowered. This also helps in maintaining weight, and prevents complications of obesity.

Ginko biloba

It is said to be one of the most researched and abundantly sold herbs. Its extract improves circulation to brain and all parts of the body. It can thus be of help in treating poor concentration, confusion, absent-mindedness, decreased physical performance, fatigue, headache, dizziness, premenstrual syndrome, depression, and anxiety.

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Look out for these signs

Burning sensation in feet, palms, eyes, scalp, stomach, chest, acidity, heart burn or burning any where in the body, bleeding in the nose or gums, bad breath or bad odour, mouth ulcers, boils, acne or rashes, excessive or irregularities in sweating, hot flashes, excessive thirst or decreased or disturbed sleep, headache, burning urination or defecation or loose stools, and fatigue could suggest that body is slowly going out of control and that pitta dosha in the body is out of balance.

Sometimes the above could manifest together with symptoms like irritability, anger, frustration, aggressive behaviour or hostility. A person could also suffer from loss of appetite or vomiting or nausea or different sets of symptoms. It is important to keep pitta dosha in a balanced state to enjoy perfect health.

Eating mangoes, chillies, spicy food, yogurt, junk food, fried food, cookies, aerated drinks, alcoholic drinks, smoking in excess or varied pattern of eating, sleeping, and working can add up and manifest the above symptoms in different intensities.

Sometimes the digestive secretions in the body increase but are diluted and hence are not able to cope up with the demands of the body. This causes problems and it is thus advisable to keep a tab on what you eat.

Here are some simple dietary and lifestyle regulations that can do the trick.

• Take 1/2 to 1 tbsp of castor oil with one tbsp hot water to cleanse the digestive system. Or, get an ayurveda expert to suggest most suitable mild cleansing method depending on your condition.
• Drink 300 – 500 ml of water or seasonal fruit juice early morning before your morning walk or yoga practice. This helps cleanse the body heat.
• Adopt pitta-pacifying diet and yoga practices like shitali sheetakari pranayama.
• Avoid frequent snacking or eating before you feel hungry. Eat when hungry and avoid excess salt, spices, pungent and sour tasting food and beverages.
• Eat fresh fruit, vegetables like bitter gourd, cabbage, carrots, fresh ginger, onion, dairy products like sweet lassi, milk, ghee, dry fruits like sweet raisins, almonds, and figs.
• Have herbs like coriander, cumin, cardamom, mint, fennel, neem, sandal, and liquorice.
  • Soak one tablespoon coarsely powdered coriander in warm water.
  • After 6 – 8 hours, squeeze and decant the water.
  • Add crystal sugar before drinking.

  This can be taken 2 – 3 times a day. Having liquorice tea with more milk also helps.

• Add two cups of warm water to a cup of curd and churn. Remove the butter and add 2 – 3 spoons of rose water to it. This has a soothing effect on the body.
• Take sufficient rest, bland diet, plenty of fresh fruit juice preferably made from apples, grapes, pomegranate, sweet lime, lemons with cardamom powder. Meditation, group prayers calms the mind and helps balance the mind and body.
• Avoid being overly critical of others or self to keep yourself cool.

Being moderate in everything you consume or do is the real rule that one needs to follow to keep body and mind cool and relaxed.

Below are tips to manage five conditions known to be caused by the imbalance of body heat or pitta dosha

Mouth ulcers

Mouth ulcers due to increased body heat can be prevented by the following simple tips:

• Avoid eating hot, spicy food, anger, resentment, tension, depression as they cause mouth ulcers frequently.
• It is important to maintain oral hygiene. Gargle with cooling herbal decoctions like coriander, sandal, neem, and amla.
• Squash freshly cut onion and place them on the ulcers formed 2 – 3 times a day. This treatment stings a little bit, but helps rid of these ulcers faster.
• Take 5 – 6 drops of castor oil mixed in two spoons of warm milk or water at bedtime for a week.
• Stop chewing tobacco, paan, and smoking as repeated mouth ulcers caused by them could lead to cancer.

Mouth ulcers may occur frequently due to acidity, constipation, and a disturbed digestive system.

Indigestion

Observe what causes your indigestion and avoid it. It could be that your body needs to be cooled. Sleeping in the noon after meals can hamper digestion as also sleeping after heavy meals, bathing or any physical exertion immediately after meals. Overeating, frequent snacking, eating while not hungry and irregular food habits are bad for health.

Drink homemade lassi with cumin, coriander, little salt, ginger, and curry leaves. Fasting once a fortnight helps tone up the digestive system. Fasting can either be done by drinking sufficient water or eating small quantity of fruits and vegetables. Taking suitable laxative once in three months is also beneficial.

Simple, regular physical exercises are helpful to regulate digestive system. Stress, anxiety, fear can hamper your digestive system to a great extent.

Burning urination

Drinking sufficient water can be the first step towards getting rid of burning during urinating.

Avoid excessive coffee, cokes, tea, and alcohol. Consume cucumber juice or tender coconut water with coriander powder, crystal sugar or cardamom, coriander or liquorice tea, or other cooling herbal teas.

Sip water mixed with 1 – 2 spoons of honey and 1 – 2 finely powered cardamom.

If you are consuming lot of spices, hot food and tend to sweat more, drink more water.

If your job requires you to sit for many hours, remember to take a break to drink water. If you are always in air-conditioned atmosphere you may not feel thirsty and forget to drink water and this may also be one reason for suffering from burning urination.

Drinking lassi seasoned with curry leaves, coriander, cumin, and ginger is also advised. But if burning urination is frequent and you are prone to repeated urinary tract infections, get your blood glucose checked and get an experts advice.

Acne/Pimples

Pimples, or allergic rashes could be due to increased body heat. It is best to avoid junk food and opt for healthy options like fresh vegetables, fruits, and lassi.

Our skin needs fresh air too. Wash your face frequently especially after returning home from outdoors. It helps keep your face free of pimples. At the same, decrease the use of cosmetics as they can be harmful to your skin.

Constipation worsens pimples. If you get pimples after you consume fried food, or chocolates, avoid consuming them frequently.

If you get pimples just before your menstrual cycle, try taking a small spoon of castor oil mixed with 1 – 2 spoons of warm water at bedtime. This should be taken once a week before the cycle starts. This also helps rid the discomfort during menstrual cycle. Consuming sufficient water, fresh fruit juice is also recommended.

Burning eyes

Burning eyes could be due to excessive strain, or working for long or irregular hours in front of the computer. This may result in computer vision syndrome. It may also be due to following a irregular eating or sleeping pattern or travelling frequently or working in hot climates. This results in fatigue in the eyes or red eyes.

Dos

• Placing a cucumber or cotton soaked in rose water on closed eyes helps cool the eyes.
• Taking an head and feet massage can also benefit as this helps release heat from the body through the extremities.
• Gazing at the moon, stars at night daily relaxes eyes and helps preserve and improve vision.
• Sprinkling or splashing cool water frequently relieves eye strain.

Don’ts

• Crying or being sad, worrying frequently, losing temper can damage your vision.
• Staring at lustrous objects, excessive use of eyes without rest [working on a PC, telescope, microscope etc for many hours at a stretch] has been found to harm vision.
• Walking bare feet, and exposing your eyes and head to excessive cold, heat, smoke, and dust is best avoided.
• Constipation or diarrhoea can worsen vision. So, regular bowel movements should become a part of your daily routine.
• Being relaxed and cheerful helps improve not only immunity and vision, but also keeps eyes cool.

The post Keeping cool appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

For luscious lips this winter

Nowadays some companies have a very strict dress code – they insist that every one should wear a smile. But, how can you smile if your lips are chapped? Chapped lips are not only unsightly but also can be painful and prevent one from performing routine activities like drinking, talking, eating, smiling.

Lips become slightly sore and red or may manifest with intense symptoms like bleeding painful cracks. One needs to find out the reason to heal this condition faster.

This could manifest due to diverse reasons, the most common ones being the exposure to vagaries of weather, allergic reactions and nutritional deficiency. While wind and cold have been cited as reasons for this, the frequent and prolonged exposure to sun can also cause it. So prevent over exposure to vagaries of weather.

Some medications like Isotretinoin [prescribed in acne] could cause dry lips as side effects, which usually disappears 2 weeks after the drug is stopped. Acyclovir, which is used to treat oral herpes, may result in cracked lips associated with burning sensation etc. Chapped lips can manifest if you have started any new medication or changed cosmetics, mouthwash or toothpaste.

Listed below are some easy tips so you can smile your heart away.

• Apply ghee with or without honey on chapped lips. Apply this 2-3 times a day or at bedtime.
• Either mustard oil or coconut oil or sesame oil to be applied or dropped into the navel to attain faster results.
• Cucumber slices or lemon juice can be applied frequently to cure this condition.
• Grind rose petals with milk cream or butter or ghee and apply on the lips to cure severe and chronic chapped lips.
• Glycerine with lemon juice and rose water helps when applied regularly.
• Apply honey and give a mild massage, then wash off using warm water. Following this, apply milk cream or ghee and leave it on for a few hours to have healthy pink lips.
• Gargle either with cooking oil or medicated oil regularly after brushing your teeth. This not only helps in the prevention of oral cavity but also improves the health of your lips.
• Milk cream with or without little turmeric should be applied 2-3 times a day when one has painful chapped lips.
• Bee wax with a little cooking oil or ghee and honey can be used as lip balm to prevent cracked lips.
• Aloe vera gel or fresh aloe leaf pulp with turmeric and honey can be applied on painful, red chapped lips. Apply this 3-4 times a day for a few days to get rid of pain and redness.
• Melt good quality bee wax or paraffin and add turmeric, coconut oil and neem leaf juice. When it comes to a cream-like consistency it is ready for application. This cream can be applied every night and washed off in the morning or applied 3-4 times a day and washed off after 15-20 minutes.

These tips will help you flaunt your million watt smile this winter. So smile, it is after the only second best thing you can do with your lips.

For dainty feet

Healthy feet indicate the health of a person and their attitude towards health. Here are some simple, doable tips to prevent or heal cracked heels.

• Soaking feet in warm water or medicated water, daily for about 20 minutes. Then, using a pumice stone to get rid of dead skin.
• Make a pulp of a papaya or ripe banana. Mix it with honey and, ghee or bee wax and apply it on affected heel and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse it carefully and dry well.
• Melt good quality of bee wax; add some coconut oil or sesame oil or mustard oil to which neem leaf juice and turmeric could be added. Wear cotton socks after applying this cream. The next morning the feet should be washed well using warm water and gentle soap.
• Wear clean socks and shoes with no back [heels open] to prevent fissures in winter.
• Ayurveda recommends oil massage daily especially to feet, head and ears to prevent aging, ensure sound sleep and keep sense organs in perfect condition. Feet massage using herbal oils has been advocated to keep feet in perfect condition.
• Specific yoga asanas, like saravangasana, halasana, and trikonasana that enhance circulation to feet, are highly beneficial in prevention and cure of heel fissures. Nadishudhi or simple pranayama practiced regularly improves peripheral blood circulation and improves feet health.
• Washing feet after a walk or after returning home helps keep the feet cleansed and healthy.

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Whether it’s boosting immunity, reducing stress, enhancing cognitive function, or promoting vitality, ashwagandha has earned its place as an elixir par excellence. From ancient times to modern science, the herb continues to be a cornerstone of natural medicine, addressing a wide array of health issues without significant side effects.

The Ashwagandha Plant

Ashwagandha is a branched, evergreen shrub that typically grows between 0.3 to 1.5 meters tall. Its leaves are egg-shaped, and its greenish-yellow flowers are hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive parts. The plant bears small orange-red berries, and its roots are whitish-brown. It flowers throughout the year and is native to India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

The demand for Ashwagandha is growing, with India producing over 1,500 tonnes annually, while the need exceeds 7,000 tonnes, making its cultivation a priority.

Scientific Insights

Studies have shown that ashwagandha can slow the aging process, boost hemoglobin and calcium levels, and improve sexual performance. A notable double-blind study conducted in India on children aged 8 to 12, where 2g of ashwagandha root was administered daily for 60 days, demonstrated significant improvements in body weight, red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, and grip strength (The European Journal of Herbal Medicine, 1998).

Healing Properties of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha’s versatility in treating various health conditions is truly remarkable. Here are some of its key benefits:

1. Stress Relief

Clinical studies have confirmed that ashwagandha acts as a potent adaptogen, helping the body manage stress more effectively. Taken with milk, either alone or with liquorice (licorice), it can significantly reduce stress levels.

2. Insomnia

Known for its mild sedative properties, ashwagandha root promotes deep sleep, making it effective for treating insomnia. When combined with herbs like Brahmi or Jatamamsi, it offers non-addictive relief from sleep disorders.

3. Digestive Health

Ashwagandha root aids in treating digestive problems such as dyspepsia and loss of appetite. It helps restore normal digestive function and can be taken with ginger or pepper for enhanced effects.

4. Respiratory Health

The herb is beneficial for treating respiratory issues like colds and coughs. The root can be consumed as a powder or decoction, while the berries and seeds are also effective for alleviating chest complaints.

5. Eye Health

A combination of ashwagandha root powder, amalaki fruit powder, and cardamom, taken with sugar or honey, can help maintain and improve vision.

6. Brain Tonic

Ashwagandha is widely recognized as a tonic for the brain and nervous system, improving cognitive function and boosting immunity. It also aids in recovery during periods of convalescence.

7. Libido Enhancer

For enhancing libido, ashwagandha taken with sugar and ghee offers notable benefits. It is also useful in treating conditions like spermatorrhea (involuntary ejaculation), with 2-4g of powdered root taken daily alongside sugar, honey, long pepper, and ghee.

8. Women’s Health

Ashwagandha supports reproductive health in women, alleviating issues such as abnormal vaginal discharge and infertility. A decoction of its roots with Vidarikand, Mulethi (liquorice), and milk increases breast milk production. It can also be combined with Shatavari, Madhuyashti, or Pipalli for enhanced effects.

9. Impotency

Consuming equal portions of ashwagandha powder and sugar (3-5g) with milk daily is believed to aid in curing impotency.

10. Piles Treatment

A mixture of ashwagandha bark, nirgundi, kateri fruits, and paipal, burned and applied as fumigation to the rectum, can help alleviate piles.

11. Blood Purifier

Regular consumption of a blend of ashwagandha and sugar powder (around 4g daily) works as a natural blood purifier when taken with honey.

12. General Health & Debility

Ashwagandha root is beneficial in treating general debility. Joint and muscle pain can be relieved when its powder is consumed with honey and clove. It also supports cardiovascular health, urinary tract function, and helps manage age-related degenerative conditions. For children suffering from low immunity or being underweight, this herb can be an excellent remedy.

Precautions

While ashwagandha is generally safe for consumption, some precautions are necessary. The herb generates significant heat in the body, so it is advisable to use it in combination with other cooling herbs to balance its effects. It also contains withanolides and other compounds that act on the central nervous system, which can cause a sedative effect by relaxing the muscles. Therefore, it’s important to use it under appropriate guidance.

Summing Up

Ashwagandha remains a vital herb in Ayurveda, offering a broad spectrum of benefits that address both physical and mental health. Its ability to manage stress, improve cognitive function, and promote vitality makes it a unique remedy in today’s fast-paced world. While it offers numerous advantages, it’s essential to use this herb under proper guidance to maximize its potential benefits. As research continues to validate its uses, ashwagandha stands as a symbol of Ayurveda’s timeless wisdom, helping us find balance in body and mind naturally.

Last updated on 23^rd September 2024

The post Ashwagandha: A Timeless Remedy for Modern Wellness appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Bala goes far beyond the present day concept of physical immunity. Besides physical immunity, it includes psychological and spiritual immunity. Bala provides endurance against any disturbance.

Types of immunity

Ayurveda has always believed that prevention of diseases is as important as or rather more important than its management. Being born to healthy parents bestows certain immunity – “sahaja bala” – immunity by inheritance. The other important factor that dictates immunity is seasonal vagaries and is termed as “kalaja bala” [immunity bestowed by seasonal and circadian variation].

“Yuktikruta bala” [strategies to improve immunity] represents acquired immunity, in which disease can be defended. Some factors that determine the state of one’s immunity are:

• Health of parents
• Quality and quantity of food consumed by the expectant mother, lactating mother and then the individual.
• Immunity bestowed by being born in the right season
• Environmental conditions of the country or region
• Age of the person
• Physical and psychological state
• The physique – proportionate or disproportionate
• Natural lifestyle
• Seasonal vagaries.

Immunity differs in people

People sharing the same climate, parents, food and air exposed to similar causative factors do not react similarly. While diseases afflict some, some are unaffected. Infection can manifest as diseases, if the body is not strong enough to fight them off.

Do you suffer from any of these…

• Recurrent infections
• Often troubled by headaches, cold, cough, fevers, allergic rashes or sneezing.
• Easily tired and over stressed
• Excessive physical or mental exertion
• Irregularities in lifestyle
• Diminished or irregular appetite.

If you have the above symptoms, then you need to take action.

Perk up your immunity

Ayurveda proposes a daily and seasonal regimen to keep the body healthy. Staying up or working till late hours, irregular eating, excessive snacking, exposure to stress or fatigue, and sleeping during the day affect the digestion and circadian rhythms.

• Regular exercises like yoga, jogging, walking and swimming promote immunity. Yogic asanas, pranayama and dhyanas are highly recommended. To gain maximum benefits choose exercises that best suit you.
• Organically grown, freshly made and easy-to-digest foods are suggested. Dairy products like milk, ghee, yogurt and home-made cheese in appropriate quantities are said to be beneficial to all. Seasonally grown fruits and vegetables are also good.
• Processed and packaged food should be avoided. Frozen, fried or canned foods having preservatives are best avoided. However food that you have been eating all your life should not be changed all at once.
• If you are planning a family, ensure that you adopt proper nutrition and natural lifestyle, to enhance immunity of the offspring. Keep away from smoking, alcohol and drugs to beget a healthy and happy child. The mother’s attitude during and after pregnancy has a major impact on the baby’s immunity. Mothers-to-be should hear or sing melodious songs, read sacred books, wear beautiful and comfortable clothes, adorn herself with fragrant flowers, ornaments and always be in a happy and serene atmosphere. Being creative and engaged in productive-but-light activities is highly advocated.

Hence, it important to follow a daily routine for the digestive system and other bodily rhythms to work smoothly, thus keeping our immunity high.

Some of them are:

• Waking early has many benefits
• Give yourself a warm oil massage daily followed by a warm shower or bath. This stimulates the organs of the body, flushes out impurities, and builds resistance to stress and disease
• Daily prayer of any sort has been found to reduce frequency of falling sick and hospitalisation
• Having meals together is beneficial
• Wear light fabrics in summer and warm thick clothes in winter
• Transition between seasons puts stress on the immune system and makes you more susceptible to illness. Take extra care of yourself during these transitions
• Seasonally, Ayurveda recommends precise food, lifestyle variations and cleansing called panchakarma, rasayana [exclusive herbo-mineral preparations] to boost immunity.

Ayurveda focuses on encouraging individuals to increase their immunity through natural means. Its simple strategy – “Favour nature and nature will support you!”

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