Acne & Pimples

Acne & Pimples

Acne is a skin condition in which there is excess production of oil from the sebaceous glands leading to the blockage of hair follicles. It is the most common problem of adolescents, therefore, it is known as Yauvanpidika in Ayurveda; Yauvan means ‘adolescence’ and pidika means ‘pustules or papules’.

Home Remedies:

• Prepare a paste by mixing equal quantities of saffron, turmeric, margosa (neem), red sandalwood, basil, and fuller’s earth with buttermilk or milk. Apply twice a day.
• Prepare a powdered mixture of coriander seeds, fennel, basil, turmeric, and Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) in equal parts. Take ½ teaspoon of this powder 15 minutes before lunch and dinner.
• Have 1 teaspoon of powdered Indian gooseberry fruit (amla; amalaki) in morning and evening with water.

Diet and Lifestyle:

Avoid spicy, oily, bitter, and sour foods. Eat fresh, unprocessed food. Increase the use of herbs that have cooling effects on the body like fennel, coriander seeds, Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki), and aloe vera. Increase intake of water to about 8-10 glasses per day, and take coconut water. Wash your face frequently with mild herbal soaps. Cleanse your face with lemon peels.

Anorexia (Loss of Appetite)

Anorexia (Loss of Appetite)

Anorexia means not having any desire for food even though the person is hungry and food is available according to his or her tastes. In Ayurveda, anorexia is known as aruchi. The condition can arise due to a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and wrong eating patterns.

Home Remedies:

• Prepare a mixture of ¼ teaspoon of ginger juice, ¼ teaspoon of lime juice and a pinch of rock salt. This is one dose. Have this preparation 15 minutes before meals, twice a day.
• Clean the tongue after brushing the teeth. This removes the mucus and helps the taste receptors work properly.
• Make a powder of dried ginger root, black pepper, long pepper, celery seeds, cumin seeds, and rock salt in equal quantities. Store it in an airtight vessel. Take 1 teaspoon with the first bite of food at a meal, twice a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:
A single day of fasting is good for digesting ama (mucus). Have freshly prepared warm food. Meals should be taken at regular intervals, so that the previous meal gets digested. Avoiding snacking between meals. When psychological factors are involved, creating a happy and calm atmosphere helps to improve the condition. Being in the company of good friends and relatives relieves stress and improves digestive power.

Arthritis

Arthritis

Arthritis is related to vata aggravation. This often manifests as tension and anxiety, related with pain. There is also a natural aggravation of vata in the elderly. In the case of arthritis, the aggravated vata combines with ama (toxin) and is deposited in the joints. This state is called ‘amavata’.
Ama (toxin) is the result of improper digestion.

Diet
Fruits can be taken in the morning with milk and some nuts and seeds. Lunch may consist of steamed vegetables, bread and a glass of buttermilk. The dinner should usually consist of green vegetables, sprouts (alfalfa, fenugreek, mung or green lentils), bread and salad. Taking a glass of warm milk before bed is good. Cardamom and fennel can be boiled in this milk too. Non-vegetarian foods, tea, coffee, chocolates, sodas, white flour and sugar products, white rice, chemical additives and strong spices should be excluded from the diet. Foods that increase vata should also be avoided. This includes very cold or chilled foods, dry foods, light and airy foods (cabbage, lettuce and raw vegetables). Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, green beans and mushrooms increase vata. Raw apples, dried fruits and any preserved foods also increase vata.

Some Home Remedies

• Green lentil (mung) soup mixed with crushed garlic cloves is easily digested and can ease inflammation.
• The use of castor oil is very helpful in cleansing ama (toxin) and balancing vata. Take one tablespoon before bed, once or twice a week.
• Equal quantities of powdered fenugreek seeds, turmeric and ginger powder can be mixed together. One teaspoon can be taken in the morning and evening.

Exercise & Regimen:
Meditation and relaxation are other very beneficial activities. Try to concentrate on a certain object, and slowly increase the length of time meditated each day. Regularity of time, place and practice are very important for meditation. A suitable time is the twilight—dawn and dusk. A gentle head massage (with or without oil), some form of fragrant aromatherapy, and soft music also helps relaxation.

Backache

Backache

Backache or back pain is a common problem encountered by many people due to poor diet and bad posture. It occurs when the flexibility of the spine is affected. Also the condition can be the result of a spinal disc problem, injury to the ligaments around the spine, nerves emerging from the spinal cord, injury to muscles of the back, or diseases of the organs of the pelvis.

Home Remedies:

• Have 2-3 teaspoons of psyllium husk with a glassful of hot milk at bedtime. This will evacuate the rectum, treating constipation, which is one of the main causes of flatulence and vata aggravation.
• Have 1 teaspoon of castor oil with a glassful of milk at bedtime. Castor oil is considered one of the best oils to pacify vata dosha.
• Massage the affected area gently with warm sesame oil and cover with a cotton cloth. Avoid exposure to air or cold wind.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid having cold, stale, or fried foods; junk food; and aerated and alcoholic beverages, as these aggravate vata in the body. Have freshly prepared warm food and chew the food properly as it helps in complete digestion, preventing constipation and flatulence. Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of purified butter to food to pacify the dry nature of vata. Have early and light dinners to aid better digestion because at night metabolism gets sluggish. Avoid excessive physical exertion and take complete rest. Avoid sitting in one posture for long periods. Take a small break every hour. Make a habit of doing light exercises in the morning like walking, jogging, or stretching exercises, and have regular body massage to alleviate vata.

Bedwetting

Bedwetting

Bedwetting (Enuresis) means unknowingly passing urine in bed at night by individuals after the age when bladder control should have been established. The problem is common during the pre-adolescent stage of life. Up until the age of six to eight years, bedwetting is a normal phenomenon that fades over time, but some children continue to wet their bed even after eight years of age. The child fails to have control over the passage of urine while sleeping. In Ayurveda, it is known as shayyamutra, i.e., passing of urine on the bed.

Home Remedies:

• Make a mixture of jaggery, celery seeds and black sesame seeds in equal quantities. Give 1 teaspoon of this mixture to the child with a cupful of milk in the morning. Continue this for 1-2 months. This should preferably be given in the winter or cold weather as it has a heating effect on the body.
• As worm infestation is also a possible cause, deworming is helpful in children suffering from bed-wetting. For this, give a piece of jaggery (about 20 grams) to the child in the morning. After one hour give the child ½ teaspoon of celery seeds with a pinch of rock salt. Repeat this once a week for 4 weeks.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of the pulp of Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) with 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper powder. Give this mixture to the child before going to bed.

Diet and Lifestyle:
The child should avoid intake of fluids 2 hours before going to bed. Parents should help the child develop the habit of passing urine before going to bed. Do not scold or humiliate your child for bedwetting. Instead, lovingly guide the child to overcome this problem. Reassure your child that it is not a big problem and can be solved. Do not disclose the child’s problem to relatives and friends or to the child’s siblings.

Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial Asthma

In Ayurveda, Bronchial Asthma is known as tamak swas, which is a chronic, intermittent, inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by episodes of dyspnea, cough, airflow obstruction, and wheezing. Psychological stress aggravates the condition.

Home Remedies:

• Boil ½ teaspoon of freshly grated ginger in a glass of milk and add ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder to it. Have it twice a day, preferably with 1 teaspoon of chyavanprash.
• Take ginger tea mixed with 2-3 crushed garlic cloves.
• Massaging the chest with warm sesame oil mixed with salt helps to loosen the phlegm deposited in the chest, especially, when followed with steam inhalation.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid smoking and exposure to dusty and cold air. Drinking herbal teas or sipping lukewarm water with honey is helpful. To avoid ama (mucus) formation, have freshly prepared warm meals at regular intervals. Eat less than the full capacity of the stomach. Heavy foods like dairy products, fried foods, pickles, cold foods, rice, beans and legumes should be avoided.

Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical Spondylosis

This is a kind of arthritis that affects cervical vertebrae and is characterized by pain at the back of the neck (radiating towards the upper limbs) and vertigo while bending downwards. There might be sensory loss and numbness in the upper limbs. In Ayurveda it is known as Grivasandhigatvata. There are some degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae. This, when coupled with trauma or incorrect posture while sitting or sleeping leads to the manifestation of cervical spondylosis.

Home Remedies:

• Gentle oil massage with lukewarm sesame oil on the whole body followed by hot fomentation (application of moist heat) pacifies vata.
• Have 2-3 raw garlic buds on an empty stomach in the morning with water.
• Make a powdered preparation of dried ginger root, celery seeds, and cumin seeds in equal quantities. Add rock salt to taste, and have 1 teaspoon with water at bedtime.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Increase intake of oily foods that are easily digested, sweet things, purified butter, vegetable soups, milk, almonds, and sesame seeds. Avoid rice, refined flour, kidney beans, and other foods that cause flatulence. Avoid physical and mental exertion, get a good night’s sleep, and have regular, gentle body massage with lukewarm sesame oil.

Constipation

Constipation

Constipation is usually related to the imbalance of the Ayurvedic body energy, vata. Vata imbalance causes dryness in the body, and problems related to movement and internal transportation of substances.

Diet:
Avoid fried food, white flour and white sugar products, cheese, and processed food. Try not to drink tea or coffee. Dry, cold or light food should not form a large part of the diet.

Drink water regularly during the day. However, do not drink water immediately after or before meals. Try not to overeat, and have at least 4-5 hours between two meals. Avoid heavy food, or food that is difficult to digest at night, and eat at least 2 hours before sleeping. Drinking a glass of hot milk before bed is also good.

Home Remedies:

• Develop a habit of drinking water in the morning. Start with 2 glasses of water, and increase intake up to 6 - 7 glasses. It is more beneficial if this water can be stored in a copper container overnight.
• Figs are a good remedy for constipation. After washing them in hot water, three or four dried figs can be soaked overnight in water. Eat them first thing in the morning, and drink the water in which they were soaked. They should also be taken in the evening. Try this treatment for three or four weeks.
• Drinking warm water with lemon juice and a pinch of salt is good. This can be taken several times a day.
• Take 2 teaspoons of castor oil before bed. Aloe Vera gel can also be taken to ease the symptoms. Have a couple of teaspoons each morning and evening.
• Eat around 8 fresh apricots.
• Boiling raisins in milk, and drinking this before bed, can cure constipation.

Cough & Cold

Cough & Cold

Common cold may sometimes be due to weak digestion. When the food we eat is not fully digested, it transforms into mucus known as ama (toxin). This circulates through the body and reaches the respiratory system, where it causes colds.

Diet:
Cold food and drinks, ice creams, sweets, fried food and milk products (cheese, creams, yogurt) should not be consumed. Sweet fruit juices should also be avoided. Breads, meats, nuts and pastries are also not good to take.

Follow a light and warm diet like boiled or steamed vegetables and vegetable soup. Spice teas, herbal teas and hot milk can be taken (if boiled with a piece of crushed ginger). Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder can be mixed with the milk.

Home Remedies:

• Take ½ teaspoon of ginger powder with 1 teaspoon of honey. Black pepper can also be added.
• Chewing a piece of fresh ginger with a little salt on it will ease coughs.
• Half a cup of warm water mixed with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey can be taken several times a day.
• Equal quantities of powdered fenugreek seeds, turmeric and ginger powder can be mixed together. One teaspoon can be taken in the morning and evening.
• In cases of a sore throat, a clove or two cardamoms or a few raisins can be chewed.
• Gargling with warm salty water is also beneficial. This can be done two or three times a day.

Dandruff

Dandruff

Excessive shedding of dead skin from the scalp is called dandruff. Skin cells die and flake off, so a small amount of flaking is normal, but when it increases beyond a certain limit, it results in social and self-esteem problems. In a normal condition the scalp skin dies and flakes off in a month, while in those suffering from dandruff, this happens every 2-7 days. It is also associated with redness and itching.

Home Remedies:

• Mix 2-3 teaspoons of coconut oil with 1 teaspoon of Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) juice. Gently massage the scalp with this each day.
• Add 10 drops of lemon juice to 1 egg white, and beat well. Apply to the scalp and hair once a week.
• Mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon mustard oil, and 1 cup yogurt. Apply this to the hair ½ to 1 hour before washing the head and hair.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Wash hair regularly 2-3 times a week with a mild shampoo. Massage your hair with oil every time before washing the head and hair. Indigestion, constipation, and acid stomach should be treated. Avoid spicy, greasy, hot and penetrating foods, junk food, and aerated drinks. Have food with good nutritive value; include fiber-rich foods, salads, fruits, and lentils.

Diabetes

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder that impairs the body’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates and is characterized by abnormally elevated blood glucose (sugar) levels and the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. There are two types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1 diabetes occurs primarily in children and young adults and has a rapid onset and progress. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes has evolved as a major disease in the last decade, usually affecting those over the age of 40 and having a slow onset and slow progress. It is a lifestyle disease caused by a high-fat diet and too little exercise. The body produces insulin, but the cells become insulin resistant (unable to utilize the insulin).

Home Remedies:

1. Take 2 teaspoons of bitter gourd (karela) juice once a day. One can also increase its use as a cooked vegetable.
2. Take 1 teaspoon of Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of bitter gourd juice twice a day.
3. Chew 10 holy basil leaves (tulsi), 10 margosa leaves (neem), and 10 bael leaves (belpatra) on an empty stomach in the early morning.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Include whole grains in the diet, such as wheat bread/pasta and brown rice. Cheese and yogurt prepared with skimmed (nonfat) milk may be taken. Use garlic, onion, bitter gourd, spinach, raw banana, and black plum. Make a flour mixture of 1 part barley, 1 part black chickpeas, and 4 parts whole-wheat flour and use this to form pancakes and bread. Avoid sweet, sour, and salty foods, potatoes, sweet potatoes, colocasia (taro), yams, fresh grains and pulses (legumes), whole yogurt (high in fat), and heavy, oily and spicy foods. Avoid sweet fruits like pineapple, grapes, mangoes, etc. Start doing some light exercise, such as brisk walking. Build up to a brisk walk of 30-40 minutes in the morning and again in the evening. Avoid sleeping in the daytime as it increases kledaka kapha.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea

The main symptom for diarrhea is the passage of loose and liquid stool several times during the day. This condition is usually accompanied by cramps, dehydration, wind and distention in the abdomen, weakness and mild fever.

Diarrhea is caused by either a weak digestive fire or increased pitta. When food is not properly digested or absorbed, it passes out in semi-liquid or watery form. Improper eating habits, such as eating food which the system cannot digest, eating a meal before the previous one is digested, and irregular eating habits, are some of the common causes of diarrhea.

Diet:
Most people have a general idea of the foods which cause these problems. For example, if a person feels heaviness, uneasiness, wind, distention or stomach ache immediately after eating a certain food, it indicates that the particular food is not easily digested. Generally, foods which are fried in oil or ghee (clarified butter), meats, vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, beans, nuts and sweets are difficult to digest. So they should be eaten less frequently and in small quantities.

Eating contradictory (incompatible) foods, such as taking milk and citrus fruits simultaneously, can cause digestive upsets. Impure food or water, eating food which the system is not used to, infection of the alimentary canal, or psychological factors like grief and nervousness can also lead to diarrhea.

Home Remedies:

• In cases of excessive thirst, water boiled with coriander seeds should be given (after straining). Pomegranate juice in small quantities can be also given frequently.
• A decoction prepared from pomegranate skin is very useful in stopping diarrhea. To prepare the decoction, take 50 grams of fresh pomegranate skin. Soak it in 800 ml. of water for one hour. Boil until a quarter of the volume remains (200 ml). Store this mixture in a clean, dry bottle. A couple of tablespoons can be taken several times a day. If there is blood in the stools, add half a teaspoon of honey to the decoction.
• Another helpful remedy is a sugar and salt solution. Mix one teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of common salt in a cup of water. Small doses of this mixture (around a quarter cup) can be given whenever the patient wants to drink.
• A paste made of sesame seeds (1 teaspoon) and a few tablespoons of goats milk is also beneficial.

Regimen:
Fasting helps in digesting toxins in the intestine, although it should not be practiced if the patient is weak. As the absorption power of the intestines is very low, the patient should not eat too much at one time. The principle is to eat less, but more frequently if necessary.

The diet must be easy to digest. Only foods that bind the stool like yogurt, rice, banana, apple and pomegranate should be taken in the beginning. Easily digestible foods like boiled vegetables, boiled rice, khichadi and fruits should be eaten. Khichadi is prepared by cooking together rice and mung dal (green lentils). Digestive spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric and cardamom should be used for cooking.

Liquids should be given in small quantities (3 or 4 sips) at one time, though it can be given more frequently—at intervals of thirty minutes. Fruit juices can also be taken in small quantities.

Patients should take complete rest until they gain enough strength and energy. Physical exertion of any kind like exercise, sexual activity, sports, singing, dancing etc. should be strictly avoided. The mind should be relaxed and free from all kinds of tension. A gentle oil massage on the head is also helpful.

Dysentery

Dysentery

Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the colon that results in diarrhea or passing of stools with mucus and is usually preceded by gripping abdominal pain. Sometimes blood is also present in the stools. In Ayurveda, it is known as pravahika, which means ‘tenesmus’ (feeling the need to empty the bowels).

Home Remedies:

1. Bael is the best remedy mentioned in Ayurveda for dysentery. Take 1-2 teaspoons of the pulp of the fruit with water twice a day.
2. Take a glassful of buttermilk with a pinch each of rock salt, black pepper, and roasted cumin seed powder twice daily with breakfast and lunch.
3. Fasting for 1-2 days allows the digestion of ama.
4. Take 1 teaspoon of powdered preparation of dried ginger root, cumin seeds, nutmeg, and black pepper in equal quantities. Add 2 teaspoons of psyllium husk and a pinch of rock salt. Have this once in the morning with buttermilk, and again later in the day with lukewarm water.
5. Take ½ teaspoon powder of Terminalia chebula (Haritaki) with lukewarm water at bedtime.
6. Take 1 teaspoon powdered mixture of dried ginger root, black pepper, and long pepper with lukewarm water twice a day.
7. Boil 50 grams of pomegranate rind in 200 milliliters of milk until only 70 milliliters of milk remains. Divide it into 3 equal parts and have 3 times a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Increase intake of tomato, Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki), garlic, asafetida, and ginger. Avoid spicy, greasy, fried, stale, canned, and refrigerated food. Take simple and easily digestible foods like boiled rice and porridge. Avoid overeating, eating before the previous meal is digested, late night dinners, and in-between meal snacking. Foods like yam, potato, sweet potato, and colocasia (taro) should be restricted.

Eczema

Eczema

Eczema is a disease characterized by skin rashes that have redness, swelling, itching, dryness, and flaking. The skin itches and when scratched, results in a rash. In Ayurveda, this is known as vicharchika. It occurs when the immune system becomes unbalanced, so the condition is often associated with other allergic conditions like allergic asthma, hay fever, etc. Genetic factors, debility, climate, and psychological factors can dispose one to the condition.

Home Remedies:

• Prepare a decoction by boiling 20-30 margosa (neem) leaves in about 4-5 cups of water for 20 minutes. Let it cool and use this water to wash the affected area.
• Boil 30 grams of Indian gum tree (babul) bark and 30 grams of mango tree bark in 1 liter of water for 30 minutes. Use this water to make a hot compress (fomentation) on the affected part. After fomentation for about 15-20 minutes, clean the skin with dry cloth and apply purified butter as an ointment.
• Mix 1 teaspoon powder of licorice root with a small amount of sesame oil. Warm this in a pan and then apply to the affected part. Wrap a bandage over it and leave for 3-4 hours. Repeat twice a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid spicy or oily food and a hot humid atmosphere. Wear loose, cotton clothes. Avoid synthetic fibers as they inhibit perspiration. Avoid soap or use mild herbal soap for bathing. Use a soft, smooth towel and avoid rubbing the skin. Avoid tea, coffee, hot spices, and canned and preserved foods.

Fever

Fever

Common symptoms of fever are high temperature, headache, muscle ache, burning eyes, loss of appetite, coated tongue, excessive production of saliva, feeling of heaviness and nausea.

Aggravation of one, two or all the three doshas may cause fever. This aggravation resulting in fever can have many different sources—it can occur as a result of infection, because of external injury, insect bite or poisoning. Anything which disturbs the heat controlling mechanism of the body can cause fever. Fever can also be a symptom of many conditions, like bronchitis, pleurisy, tuberculosis, jaundice, malaria, measles or influenza.

Diet:
In all cases of fever, Ayurveda initially advises fasting so that the aggravated doshas or toxins can be digested. Proper treatment should involve a diagnosis of the root cause of the fever. For example, if the cause of fever is an infection, treatment for the infection should be taken.

Home Remedies:

• Warm water (half glass) with one tea spoon lemon juice can be taken 3 to 4 times a day.
• Applying a paste of sandalwood powder on the forehead of the patient is also beneficial. The paste can be prepared by mixing a little water in sandalwood powder.
• If the fever goes higher than 102 degree Fahrenheit, it should be brought down by putting pieces of cloth soaked in cold water on the forehead, hands, arms and feet. The cloth pieces should be regularly changed after a few minutes.
• Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of warm milk and one teaspoon honey or some other sweetener. Take this decoction twice a day.

Regimen:
A light, easily digestible diet is advised for a patient suffering from fever. Boiled or steamed vegetables, vegetable soup, fruit and fruit juices, small quantities of cow milk can be taken two to three times a day. A special preparation called khichadi is very good. It is prepared by cooking together rice and green lentils (mung dal). Spices like cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, ginger and salt can be also be added to khichadi. Egg plant, bitter gourd and cooked radish and barley water is good. Small amounts of whole grain bread or biscuits can be taken with milk. Heavy foods that are difficult to digest like fried foods, fast foods, meat, chicken, fish, and raw foods should be completely avoided.

The patient should take ample rest. Exposure to extreme cold or heat, exertion, exercise, mental stress, sexual activity and any other type of physical activity should be avoided until the patient regains strength.

Gout

Gout

Gout is a painful condition of the joints. Initially the small joints of the body are involved, such as those of the toes and fingers. The problem is due to impaired uric acid excretion. In Ayurveda, gout is known as vatrakt, as the main dosha involved is vata and it affects rakt dhatu.

Home Remedies:

• Swallow 2-3 fresh, peeled garlic buds with water on an empty stomach in the morning.
• Boil 10 rose petals in 4 tablespoons of vinegar until an ointment develops. Apply this ointment 3-4 times a day on the affected joint.
• Prepare a mixture of equal amounts of fenugreek seeds powder, turmeric powder, and dried ginger root powder. Have 1 teaspoon of this powder with lukewarm water twice a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid all sour, pungent, and fried foods; red meat; alcohol; and tobacco. Take light and easily digestible food like steamed or boiled vegetables or vegetable broth. Use wholegrain bread and cereals, and increase intake of seasonal fruits except banana. Increase the use of garlic, ginger, cumin, fennel, coriander, cardamom, and cinnamon in cooking. Avoid dairy products, especially yogurt. Take light and gentle exercise, as the joints should not be kept immobile. Massage the joints gently with lukewarm oil for 20-30 minutes every day and then have a warm bath. This will relax and relieve the joint pain. Avoid damp and cold places, and keep the body warm.

Hair Loss & Premature Graying

Hair Loss & Premature Graying

Stress, worry, anxiety, and inadequate nutrition lead to hair loss and premature graying of hair. A certain amount of hair loss is considered normal, as old strands are replaced by new. When hair loss is excessive, care must be taken. Similarly, the graying of hair after a certain age is a normal phenomenon, but when this starts in the early years of life, one should look for remedies. This is a common problem in young adults, making them look older than their age. It can also occur in children. In Ayurveda, this disorder is known as khalitya-paalitya.

Home Remedies:

• Mix powdered Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) and sesame seeds in equal amounts. Take 1 teaspoon twice a day with water.
• Heat 250 milliliters of coconut oil in a pan, and add 3-4 Indian gooseberries cut into pieces. Heat until the gooseberries turn dark brown or black. Use the oil for a hair massage 2-3 times a week.
• Take 1 cup of curry leaves and grind them with 1 cup of buttermilk. Apply this to the hair for 1 hour, and then wash the hair with an herbal shampoo.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid pitta-aggravating foods like spicy, heavy, and oily foods, as well as tea and coffee. Avoid refined foods, refined sugar, junk food, and alcoholic and carbonated drinks. Increase intake of fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, and vegetable juice prepared from lettuce, carrot, capsicum, and alfalfa. Avoid using chemical products on the hair. Try to use herbal oils and shampoos.

Headache

Headache

Headache can be caused by sinusitis, hypertension, constipation, over working, mental stress, indigestion, acidity, sleeplessness and fever. Often, it is also present as a symptom of another disease. As there are many different potential causes for headache and migraine, the treatment cannot simply be pain relief. Lifestyle and diet needs to be carefully considered and appropriate changes made.

Diet:
Vegetables without oil or spices, vegetable and fruit juices and soups are recommended. Fruits like apples and grapes, and some sweets and dairy products can be taken moderately according to digestive capacity. Rice, salad and buttermilk are beneficial. In the morning, take a glass of water mixed with a teaspoon of honey.

Avoid fried food, frozen or cold food, meat, spicy or dry food, tea, coffee, and food that cannot be easily digested. Yogurt should be avoided especially in the evening. Ayurveda also recommends against taking sour or acidic food. Minimize the consumption of pickled or smoked food, alcohol, cheese and chocolates as much as possible.

Home Remedies:

• Grind dry ginger and make a paste by adding water. Apply this poultice on the temple.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of clove, cinnamon, and almond powder together. Add a little water to make a paste. Apply this paste on the forehead.
• Mix a pinch of clove powder in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon oil. Apply this mixture on the forehead or temples.
• Take I tablespoon of almond oil and boil it. When it cools down, put two drops in each nostril.

Hypertension

Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure means elevation of blood pressure above the normal range, which depends upon a person’s age, sex, physical and mental activities, family history, and diet. Normal blood pressure of a healthy adult individual is 120 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic.

Home Remedies:

• Make a juice of 3-4 garlic cloves, 10-12 basil leaves, and a small quantity of wheat grass. Have once a day.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of onion juice with an equal amount of honey. Take once a day for 1 week. Upon noticing improvement, continue for several more days.
• Keep clean potable water in a copper urn overnight. Have 3-4 glasses in the morning.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid meat, eggs, table salt, pickles, tea and coffee. Avoid smoking as it increases heart rate. Increase use of garlic, lemon, parsley, Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki), watermelon, grapefruit, skim milk and cottage cheese. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure; brisk walking, jogging, swimming and athletics are good options. Laughter is the best medicine, as it relieves stress and anxiety, which are the main causes of high blood pressure in today’s lifestyle.

Indigestion

Indigestion

According to Ayurveda, a toxic material called ama is produced as a result of indigestion. Fasting is a very nice method to digest this ama. If the patient is fat and strong he can fast completely for two days. Taking fruits, fruit juices and boiled vegetables for one week is also a very beneficial way of fasting.

Diet:
A light and easily digestible diet is advised for a patient suffering from indigestion. The patient should take plenty of boiled vegetables, fruits, fruit juices and lemon juice. Fresh and cooked food should be taken. Cooking with spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, fresh ginger, black pepper, asafetida etc. is beneficial. A meal should not be taken until the previous meal has been digested.

Home Remedies:

• Taking lemon juice in warm water three times a day improves digestion.
• Chewing a piece of raw ginger (about one gram) with rock salt or common salt is good. This should be taken about five minutes before each meal.
• Drinking buttermilk is very beneficial to improve the digestion. It should be taken at the end of a meal. It is better to mix some roasted cumin seeds and a little rock salt or common salt in this.
• Drinking plain soda water gives immediate relief with symptoms like wind, distended stomach and acidity.
• Eating about three grams of anise seeds improves digestion.

Exercise & Regimen:
Sleeping during the day, especially after lunch is prohibited as it produces indigestion. The patient should not stay awake late in the night. He should be free from mental stress, anxiety, fear and grief. Physical exercise according to the strength is beneficial.

Insomnia

Insomnia

Sleep is a natural phenomenon of giving adequate rest to the body and mind. Inability to fall asleep at night for many hours or inability to have a sound sleep deprives one of natural rest and interferes with activities during the day. Stress, worry, improper diet, and lack of relaxation are some of the conditions that aggravate sleeplessness. In Ayurveda, insomnia is known as anidra.

Home Remedies:

• Have a glass of whole milk (full cream milk; without the cream removed) with green cardamom powder before going to bed.
• Have 1 teaspoon of licorice root powder with a glass of milk on an empty stomach in the morning.
• Boil 3 grams of fresh mint leaves or 1.5 grams of dried powder of mint leaves in 1 cup of water for 15-20 minutes. Take lukewarm with 1 teaspoon of honey at bedtime.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Have fresh fruits, avocado, pasta, rice, dairy products, and sweet foods. Include nuts like almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts. Have salads with a dressing of cream, yogurt, or vegetable oils. Use whole-wheat flour and brown rice instead of refined varieties. Increase use of butter or purified butter in foods. Avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and aerated drinks after dusk. Avoid watching television or working on the computer late at night. Have a body massage with sesame oil, followed by a bath.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle Cramps

When we use the muscles that can voluntarily be controlled, such as those of our arms and legs, they alternately contract and relax as they move. Muscles that support our head, neck, and trunk contract similarly in a synchronized fashion to maintain our posture. A muscle (or even a few fibers of a muscle) that involuntarily contracts is called a spasm. If the spasm is forceful and sustained, it becomes a cramp. A muscle cramp is thus defined as an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax. This causes a visible or palpable hardening of the involved muscle. Muscle cramps can last anywhere from a few seconds to a quarter of an hour or occasionally longer.

Home Remedies:

• Massage the area of muscle cramps and spasm with sesame oil.
• Cramps in the foot can be relieved with a ginger soak. Put 1 or 3 tablespoons of salt, ¼ cup ginger powder and 2/3 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water and soak the foot. This is an effective way for relaxing muscles.
• If an abdominal cramp is caused by gas or indigestion, use this herbal antacid formula: Mix ¼ teaspoon guduchi, ½ teaspoon shatavari, and a pinch of shanka brasma. Take this 1 or 2 times a day after eating.

Diet and Lifestyle:

Avoid excessive intake of salt, chilies and spices, sour items, pickles, junk food, carbonated drinks, and other poor dietary practices. Go to bed early every evening. In the mornings, have an oil massage using sesame oil, almond oil, or olive oil; massage the entire body and then take a warm bath. Regular meditation, yoga, and gentle exercise such as walking are highly recommended

Obesity

Obesity

Obesity or overweight is a condition characterized by excessive deposition or storage of fat in adipose tissues.

Diet:
Eat honey, fresh rice gruel and barley meal. For barley meal, the seeds are roasted and grinded to a flour, which is then mixed with water and/or honey (optional), and rolled into a dough. This is very good for weight loss.

Avoid eating all sorts of fried, oily, greasy, heavy foods, which are difficult to digest. Also avoid sweets and newly harvested or brewed (Picchil) foods like new curd, new grains and new alcohol, which have been stored or matured for less than a year. Also keep meats, milk products, jaggery and white flour products to a minimum, since they lead to weight increase.

Home Remedies:

• Mint is very useful. Mint tea will help. If green mint is available you can make a paste of with some simple spices and use it with meals.
• Vegetables like bitter gourd and bitter drumsticks are useful.
• Taking of honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. Take a daily tablespoon with hot water.
• Fasting on honey and limejuice is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss of energy and appetite. In this mode of treatment, one teaspoonful of fresh honey should be mixed with a juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water. It can be taken several times in a day at regular intervals.

Exercise & Regimen:
It is advisable to give up sedentary habits and to take exercise. Sleeping during the day, reclining on sofa and soft chairs, and a lethargic way of life should be given up.

Piles

Piles

Piles, also known as Hemorrhoids, are swollen veins of the anal canal. The inflammation may be internal, occurring inside the anus, or externally protruding through the anus. They are often associated with a long history of indigestion and constipation, resulting in hard stools. They can be dry or may bleed. External hemorrhoids produce less bleeding than internal ones, where the veins more frequently will burst.

Home Remedies:

• Apply sesame oil on external dry piles followed by warm fomentation (warm moist compresses or sitting in warm water). The easiest method is to sit in a tub with the buttocks submerged in warm water.
• Make an ointment by mixing an equal amount of powdered long pepper and turmeric with milk (preferably cow’s milk). Apply this on the external piles.
• Eat 4 figs twice a day, in the morning and evening. Saturate 4 figs in water for the whole night; eat these in the morning. Remember not to drink water prior to eating the figs. Saturate another 4 figs in the morning to be eaten in the evening. Do this every day for 4 weeks.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid the intake of heavy, dry, cool, and stale foods. Avoid refined foods like jams, pastries, packaged, and canned foods. Also avoid tea, coffee, aerated drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Avoid pickles, potatoes, and root vegetables except radish and carrot. Also avoid excessive fasting, overeating, eating during indigestion, and eating incompatible food. Increase the intake of whole-wheat flour, whole grains, brown rice, barley, legumes (lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas, soybeans, etc.), buttermilk, rock salt, Indian gooseberries (amla; amalaki), green leafy vegetables, and foods that are rich in fiber. Eat more fruits including oranges, figs, strawberries, kiwis, bananas, pears, papayas, apples, grapes, and mangoes. Increase daily liquid consumption in the form of water, soup, juice, milk, buttermilk, etc. Have freshly-prepared warm food with a little purified butter added. Engage in light exercise like walking, yoga, and swimming. Avoid sleeping during the daytime and waking up late in the night.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis

Sinusitis occurs when the tissues lining the air-filled spaces within the bones of the face are swollen. There is sneezing, difficulty in breathing, and a feeling of heaviness in the head. In Ayurveda, it is known as pinas.

Home Remedies:

• The first step is to reduce the swelling of the sinuses, which can be best done by inhalation of steam. Boil 1 to 2 liters of water and add a few drops of clove oil (or a large spoonful of cloves), 10-12 crushed mint leaves, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil (or 1/3 cup of eucalyptus leaves). Inhale the steam for 10-15 minutes. Continue this twice a day until congestion clears and then once a week to clear the phlegm that gets deposited in the sinuses.
• Have 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger juice with 1 teaspoon of honey in it twice a day.
• Crush 4-5 peeled garlic buds and inhale the fragrance. This will reduce the congestion.

Diet and Lifestyle:
A person suffering from sinusitis should have freshly-prepared and easily-digestible warm food, lots of vegetables, and fresh fruits. Take warm water plain, or prepare it with cinnamon and black pepper. Eat plenty of garlic and ginger. Avoid cold, heavy, oily foods, cold drinks, chocolates, ice cream, cold water, etc. Get plenty of rest. Sleep while lying on one side and with a pillow beneath the head. This prevents the accumulation of mucus in the air passages and helps to avoid difficulties in breathing.

Stomach Ache

Stomach Ache

Stomach ache or abdominal pain is a very common problem. Making a definitive diagnosis of the cause of abdominal pain can be difficult, because many diseases can result in this symptom. Common pain in the belly (abdomen) is usually related to indigestion or an upset stomach. This occurs when the digestion process is more difficult than usual for the body to perform. This may occur as a result of certain foods, eating too fast, or eating food that is past its sell-by date.

Home Remedies:

• Mix 1 teaspoon each of mint juice and lime juice; add a few drops of ginger juice and a pinch of black salt. Drink this mixture to alleviate pain.
• Grate a small piece of ginger and extract its juice. Apply this juice on the bottom of the belly and massage it gently. This will be effective in curing stomach ache.
• Mix 2 teaspoons lemon juice and ¼ teaspoon rock salt powder in ½ cup of water. Have this mixture 3 times a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Beneficial foods include apples, fully-ripened bananas, carrots, figs, rice, cassava, nuts, beans, pulses (legumes), and leafy green vegetables. Avoid eating fatty, sweet, spicy, oily, or heavy foods, caffeinated drinks, carbonated drinks, milk and cream. Also avoid sleeping in the daytime, drinking alcohol, having food at improper times, excessive sexual intercourse, excessive exercise, working late at night, and eating food when the previous meal is not yet digested.

Ulcers

Ulcers

An ulcer is a wound or erosion in the lower portion of the food pipe, stomach, or duodenum. A gastric ulcer occurs when the natural resistance of the stomach tissues towards acids and the digestive juices decreases. There is pain in the middle of the chest after having a meal because the food irritates the ulcer, therefore one tends to avoid eating. In a duodenal ulcer, there is increased acid secretion in the stomach, which trickles down into the duodenum and erodes it. This condition occurs on an empty stomach and so one prefers to overeat. In Ayurveda, gastric ulcer is known as annadravshool. Annadrava means ‘assimilated food’, and shool means ‘pain’, i.e., ‘pain that arises when the food is eaten’. The duodenal ulcer is known as parinaamshool: parinaam refers to the ‘post-digestive fluid’, so parinamshool is the ‘pain (shool) occurring after the final stage of digestion in the stomach’.

Home Remedies:

• Have 1 glassful of cold milk with a pinch of green cardamom powder and 1 teaspoon powdered rock candy (or unrefined sugar), 3-4 times a day or whenever there is pain.
• Take 1 teaspoon of Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki) powder with ½ teaspoon of powdered rock candy (or unrefined sugar) twice a day on an empty stomach.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of roasted barley flour into 1 glassful of water. Add 1 teaspoon of powdered rock candy (or unrefined sugar). Have this 3-4 times a day.

 

Diet and Lifestyle:
Have light and easily digestible food. Use whole-wheat flour, brown rice or parboiled rice, cow’s milk, coconut water, and barley water. Avoid heavy, dry, penetrating, spicy, and sour foods. Avoid fish, mustard oil, mustard seeds, pulses, rice, tea, coffee, and alcohol. Avoid waking up late in the night, sitting under the sun, and fasting.

Urinary Difficulty

Urinary Difficulty

Difficulty in passing urine is known as Dysuria. It might be associated with pain. The condition can arise due to a urinary tract infection, any obstruction in the pathway, or an abnormal narrowing of the urethra.In Ayurveda, urinary difficulty is known as mootrakrichhra; mootra means ‘urine’ and krichhra means ‘difficulty’.

Home Remedies:

• Massage the lower abdomen with lukewarm sesame oil for 20-30 minutes. After that, take a sitz bath (sit in a tub filled with lukewarm water).
• Mix powdered bark from the three-leaved caper tree (varun) and the puncture pine (gokhru) in equal proportion. Take 1 tablespoon of the powder with water twice a day.
• Boil 10-12 basil leaves in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes. Mix with 1 teaspoon of honey. Take twice a day.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Increase intake of liquids, brown rice, jaggery, rock candy (or unrefined sugar), buttermilk, watermelon, muskmelon, dates, coconut, Indian gooseberry (amla; amalaki), and purified butter. Avoid very heavy, hot, penetrating, sour, salty and spicy foods; incompatible foods; fish; and sesame seeds. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, physical exertion, overindulgence in sexual activities, traveling on fast vehicles, and sitting under the sun for a long time.

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection is a common condition that arises when there is an infection caused by bacteria. The infection usually starts in the urethra and then travels up to the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract. There is a burning feeling when urinating and an increased frequency of urination. The condition is more common in females, as the urethra is smaller (becomes infected more easily) and near the anus (a source of contamination). Also some conditions like diabetes, bowel incontinence, kidney stones, immobility, reduced intake of fluids, and pregnancy can contribute to urinary tract infection.

Home Remedies:

• Put 3 tablespoons of powdered coriander seeds and 1 tablespoon of powdered rock candy (or unrefined sugar) in a vessel (preferably an earthen pot) containing 3 cups of water. Keep it overnight. Mix well and drink 1 cup of the liquid 3 times a day. This is a very good remedy for pacifying pitta in the urinary tract.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of roasted barley water in 1 cup of water. Add ½ teaspoon powdered rock candy (or unrefined sugar). Have this twice a day. This is a very good diuretic and cooling preparation.
• Have 1 teaspoon of powdered Indian gooseberry fruit (amla; amalaki) with a glassful of water on an empty stomach in the morning.

Diet and Lifestyle:
Avoid intake of hot, oily, spicy, sour, salty, and bitter foods. Increase intake of liquids in the form of water, juices, coconut water, and other cooling drinks. Increase intake of pitta-pacifying herbs like green cardamom, coriander, red sandalwood, licorice root, etc. Avoid working in the sun or in a hot atmosphere such as near furnaces and boilers. Take a cold-water bath 2-3 times a day with ½ teaspoon of powdered red sandalwood added to the water.

Prickly heat

Home remedy using chickpea flour and margosa leaves.Take ½ bowl of chickpea flour(Besan).Add 15-20 crushed margosa(Neem)
leaves.Add little water to make a paste Mix well Apply on the affected area Leave it for 15 min Wash off with cold water This removes the dead skin cells and provides relief from inflammation

How to Kick the Habit

How to Kick the Habit

I quit smoking 21 years ago. I had three young children, and one day I looked at my infant son and threw the cigarettes in the garbage! Quit, done.

Today, it seems you don’t just throw the pack out. You pick a date, you talk to your doctor, you decide what might best work for you, and you hope from there it sticks. It’s not just cold turkey anymore. With so many   more options these days, the chances are better you will succeed.

Acidity

Acidity

Symptoms:Repeating air passing through throat, Heart burn, Burning sensation in throat, Dyspepsia, Fatigue are main symptoms of acidity.

1)Unripe coconut water should be taken 100 to 500 ml.
2)3-6 gram fruit pulp powder of Amla should be taken.
3)Fruit pulp powder of Chebula and whole plant powder of Eclipta alba with jiggery maybe given with hot water.
4)A decoction made by Ginger, Coriander , Leaves of Patol
should be taken in the dose of 15-25 ml
5)20 ml Juice of Asparagus or 3 gram powder of Asparagus may be given

Mumps

Mumps

1)Warm salt water gargles, soft foods and extra fluids.
2)Hot compress over affected area.
3)Give 100mg/kg powder (prepared in equal quantity of Mustaka, Pippali, Ativisa and Kakarshringi) with honey.

Joint pain

Joint pain Joint

pain is most common in winter season that mainly effect to the
elderly people of society.
1)Mix the Ginger , Black Paper and Piper longum in equal part and take 1-2 gram with hot water.
2)Apply the turpentine oil
mixed with Eucalyptus oil adding with mustered oil on effected part.

Common Cold/Flu

Common Cold/Flu

1)Common cold (jukam) is the most common illness that affects people during winter. 

2)Another measure is cloves of garlic boiled in water, which
provides an immediate relief to cold.
3)Inhaling the vapours of turmeric or eucalyptus oil can stop the running nose, which is again most common during this season.