Swedana – An Ayurvedic Treatment That Detoxifies through Sweat | Best Ayurveda Hospital in Chennai

Swedana – An Ayurvedic Treatment That Detoxifies through Sweat

Swedana means sweating; hence any Ayurvedic treatment that involves swedana promotes sweating to enable detoxification. As an Ayurveda doctor in Chennai, I observe an increasing curiosity among people about the benefits of swedana. Hence, I thought I could give you a quick introduction to the benefits of this treatment and its various types.

What is swedana?

Swedana helps in detoxification and reestablishing the balance between Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in the body. The sweat glands are one of the sources that eliminate toxins from the body. The thousands of sweat glands, when stimulated can help in mobilizing the toxins in the inner layers of the skin and muscles, getting rid of them. This benefit makes swedana a critical preparatory procedure of the Panchakarma treatment.

Many of us associate swedana with the steam box, the closed box that most of us have used as the last step of a body massage. But you can classify this treatment modality into many types based on the duration, the specific part or the whole body, the intensity, and the source of sweating. Yoga or exercises that cause sweating is classified as swedana in Ayurveda. But steam is the most common source of sweating in Ayurveda.

Steam box swedana

In this form of treatment, a herbal infusion induces steam. Patients sit inside a wooden box, surrounded by this steam. The duration varies, but it is usually about 30 minutes. They start sweating extensively and through this sweat the toxins of the body are eliminated. This process is also shown to stimulate circulation. The comfort of patients during this process is of primary importance since the temperature in the steam box is quite high. So if patients are sensitive to high temperature, then they will require close attention.

Other benefits of swedana

Although detoxification and balancing the doshas are critical advantages of this procedure, it also has other specific benefits.

The skin and subcutaneous tissues experience increased blood flow, resulting in improved nutrition, loss of fatty tissue, weight loss, and a well-nourished skin
The procedure also helps in relieving stress and pain
It also helps in loosening the muscles and providing relief in case of joint pain, back pain, and body stiffness
Swedana delivers immense benefits in case of allergies and rheumatoid arthritis
This treatment provides relief in case of menstrual pain

With such impressive benefits from just a simple step – sweating – Ayurveda strongly recommends swedana as a treatment that will help keep your body strong and your skin refreshed.

Sesame Oil, Paste, and Other Products – Ayurveda’s Magical Solution for Most Rogas

Sesame or til is the wonder product of Ayurveda, with an unimaginably long list of uses, from oil massages to eye treatments. As an Ayurveda doctor, I have always maintained sesame as one of my most precious magical components in many of my Ayurveda treatments.

A precious element of the traditional practice of Ayurveda, sesame is a common ingredient in many herbal formulations. This wonder element finds use in overcoming dry cough, toothache, and digestive complications. It is also a miracle component that improves bone health and heals wounds. With a million other miraculous powers, sesame is one of the most powerful ingredients of Ayurveda. Let’s look at some of the magical properties of sesame.

Sesame seeds for balancing the body’s vata

Sesame has a moisturizing quality and increases the body heat – so we use sesame in Ayurveda to balance out vata rogas of the body. It also supports the digestive system and nervous system, along with moisturizing the skin and hair. Hence this component is to be avoided if the body has excessive heat and toxic built up with the systems. This magic ingredient also influences at least three crucial marma points of the human body – the heart (which controls emotions and relationships), the root (which influences the mental strength), and the spleen (which influences intellect and self-confidence).

Science has proven that sesame is an antioxidant, and is rich in vitamins K and E. It also includes minerals and ions such as magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Sesame’s uses in Ayurveda

Rejuvenation

Sesame oil is a rejuvenator, since it nourishes the skin, penetrating all the way down to the nerves and bones. It also calms the body and mind, enabling deep sleep and triggering sharp thinking. Sesame oil is a great nourishment for the skin and hair. All these properties make sesame oil a popular ingredient of abhyangam.

Herbal formulations for digestive ailments

Sesame seeds are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It strengthens the entire digestive tract, especially the colon since it improves bowel movements by softening the stool. Sesame is however contraindicated when the body heat is too high.

Sesame and the skin

Sesame’s moisturizing qualities make it ideal for fighting dryness of the skin. It’s a popular ingredient for massaging babies and in case of shirodhara. This oil also promotes sound sleep and overcome headaches.

Sesame for strong teeth and gums

Sesame oil is ideal for overcoming toothache. It is also a great mouthwash since it supports strong gums and teeth, killing the bad bacteria in your mouth.

Sesame oil in the ear

Sesame is a common ingredient in ear drops and is useful for removing ear wax. It is also of great use in curing tinnitus and even improving hearing.

Nasal lubrication

Nasya or sniffing sesame oil lubricates the nasal tract, helping you overcome sinus complications and clearing all the mucous from it. You should massage your nostrils with your little finger after dipping it in warm sesame oil.

The wonder drug of Ayurveda is sitting right inside most of our kitchens. So why not start from the humble and modest sesame to transform yourselves into healthy, calm, and strong individuals?

Abhyangam – The Power of Ayurvedic Oil Massage

Abhyangam is the traditional form of Ayurvedic oil massage that delivers immense health benefits. The use of warm (sometimes, cold) herbal oil formulations for different types of massage movements is relaxing to the body and mind. As an Ayurveda doctor in Chennai, I have seen a steady increase in awareness for Abhyangam, not just as a treatment option but also for its wellness benefits.

However, many of us are still not clear about Abhyangam and the overall procedure. So, here is a little note about Abhyangam.

Purpose of Abhyangam

Ayurvedic oil massages have two critical elements – plenty of herbal oils (specific oils for specific purposes) and specific massage techniques depending on the purpose of the abhyangam. Both these elements are critical in improving the circulation of blood across the body, especially the extremities of the body – the arms and legs.

However, the process has to be done carefully else it will cause a blood flow overload on the heart, especially in the case of a full body massage. Oil massages are recommended to be part of a person’s daily routine. This procedure has innumerable advantages.
1. It’s a powerful detoxification procedure, rejuvenating the body and mind. Along with svedana, Abhyangam forms a critical part of the Panchakarma therapy.
2. The process nourishes the body and has been proven to improve the skin and body’s complexion and youthful appearance. It helps keep dry skin at bay because of the lubricating effect on the body and helps the skin stay young.

3. Oil massages are a great option for weight reduction, since the process removes toxins from the body and burns fat

4. This procedure has a calming effect on the nerves and supports relaxing sleep. Interestingly, the moment the procedure is complete, you will definitely feel a peaceful sense of satisfaction.

5. Abhyangam helps in overcoming stress and their common signs including fatigue and stiffness of the body.

6. Abhyangam is definitely a critical component of therapy in case of vata rogas; however, the procedure is effective in case of pitta and kapha rogas too, with different components, including herbal powders.

Popular oil massage ingredients

Yes, oil is the star of Abhyangam, with a wide range of herbal oils delivering specific health benefits.
1. Sesame oil is a popular choice, with its antioxidant capabilities making it tone of the most preferred options for Abhyangam for vata rogas.

2. Other herbal medications like ashwagandha are used depending on the specific condition the massage is focused on.

3. Other popular ingredients include ghee, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, and brahmi oil. Of course, there are many specific herbal formulations that provide focused relief.

How is Abhyangam performed?

Different Ayurvedic experts perform Abhyangam using different procedural approaches. But the general approach includes the following steps:

In the first step, apply warm oil using the fingertips with a gentle pressure and definite strokes.
The second step includes ensuring that the oil seeps through the skin.
The third step includes applying controlled pressure and definite movements across the entire body for the oil to entirely seep through and to enhance the circulation. Perform the massage at a slow pace, with more pressure applied at the distal ends of the body and lighter pressure applied to sensitive regions such as the neck and heart region.

The direction of massage strokes and the extent of pressure applied are critical for achieving the desired results. For example, straight strokes help improve circulation in the hands and legs, while circular strokes work magic at joints and the abdomen.
A short period of rest after the massage, followed by a warm bath, completes the magic. Yes, your body feels oily but this is essential for the oils to take complete effect.

There are different types of abhyangam for different purposes, from full body and face massages to foot massages and procedures focused on the marmas. Experts perform procedures for specific body conditions; for example, for sprains and fractures. But before you proceed with abhyangam, make sure that you approach a well-experienced Ayurvedic specialist who has expertise in Ayurvedic oil massage and is entirely knowledgeable in the intrinsic details.

Managing Sports Injuries With Ayurveda

As an Ayurveda doctor, I have noticed a recent increase in inquiries about managing sports injuries with Ayurveda. Well, sports medicine is quite a significant category of Allopathy, so it is not surprising that Ayurveda practitioners like me have been receiving queries about possible options in treating sports injuries. Although Ayurveda does not include a specific category for sports medicine, this ancient practice was extensively used for treating warriors, maintaining their health and focusing their minds to be ready for immediate action. Ayurveda was also the main source of treatment for war injuries. Hence, by extrapolation, Ayurveda is indeed a great option to look at for sports injury management – especially for the musculoskeletal system.

Sports injury and the musculoskeletal system

Bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles are the common culprits in most sports injuries. So the focus of this blog post is on these types of injuries. Sports injuries can be acute, as a result of a sudden injury, commonly leading to sprains, fractures, and ligament tears. However, some injuries happen over time. Chronic wear and tear of the musculoskeletal system can result from the extensive use of specific parts of the body or by ignoring a deep musculoskeletal injury. Accordingly, the Ayurveda approach to treatment will also vary depending on the nature of the injury – whether it is acute or chronic.

Some of the common sports injuries that can be managed through Ayurveda are fractures to head, shoulder, arms, or anywhere in the body; inflammation of tissues; joint pain; back injuries from slip disc to sciatica; injuries to the wrist, elbow, fingers, ankle, and foot; complications to the knees; and hamstring and quadriceps injuries.

Ayurveda can also help in complete detoxification and rejuvenation of the musculoskeletal system.

Ayurveda for managing sports injuries

Managing sports injuries through Ayurveda involves taking a holistic approach rather than just symptomatic treatment. The treatment also ensures that the vata-pitha-kapha balance of the body is regained, eliminating Ama from the body. It packages internal medicine, pain relief, packs, steam, case-based massages, physiotherapy, detoxification, diet, case-based exercise, lifestyle changes, rest, and rejuvenation.

In case of acute injuries, the focus is on managing the inflammation and pain and to regain the lost activity of the affected area. Of course, the important step is to accurately identify the type of injury. Ayurveda has detailed assessment procedures to determine the exact location and nature of injuries, which helps in quickly determining the treatment options.

In case of chronic injuries, prevention becomes as important as the cure; hence lifestyle changes and treating the overall person, not just the specific site of concern, becomes relevant.

General treatment approach

In general, the following treatment options are what your Ayurveda doctor would choose from in case of sports injuries

Internal medicines: Ayurvedic herbal formulations have a wide range of effects, from healing injuries to relieving pain. Injury-specific medications can help rebuild tissues, bones, cartilages, etc., and help in complete rejuvenation.
Subtle massages with antiinflammatory natural oils can help with pain relief.
Applying pressure in core focal points of the body (marmas) provide relief from joint pain and muscular strain. This also improves circulation to these parts of the body. The process involves applying a lepa of medicinal herbs at the site of injury. After some time, a pressure is applied at specific points of the body.
Bandaging specific parts of the body is a great option to manage fractures or injuries where maintaining immobility is critical for a cure.
Diet: Managing diet is critical to recovering completely from sports injuries – this involves avoiding salty and heavy food, as well as sugar and citrus food, but increasing the intake of whole grain bread and cereals, proteins including meat and legumes, and food that enable tissue growth.
Of course, as the musculoskeletal injury heals, monitored physiotherapy sessions, yogasana, and detoxification helps complete recovery.

Thus, although Ayurveda doesn’t have a category for sports medicine, it has the required artillery to defeat sports injuries. But select an expert Ayurveda doctor who can accurately identify the condition and choose the right treatment option.

Reclaiming Your Lives after Paralysis: Ayurvedic Treatment for Paralysis

Traditional Ayurvedic texts extensively detail paralysis, or Pakshavadha. This condition involves a varying percentage of loss of muscular functioning either in a specific part of the body or, in extreme scenarios, across the body. An extremely complicated condition with multiple variants, paralysis is becoming an increasingly common condition in today’s stressful world. As an Ayurveda doctor, I see an alarming increase in the percentage of the incidence of paralysis in the recent times. What triggers paralysis and is there any Ayurvedic treatment for paralysis? Is there an option to rehabilitate your lives after a paralytic attack? So, let’s find some answers!

What really goes wrong in paralysis?

Our ability to move depends on our muscles and on the nerves from the spinal cord and brain. They communicate between the muscles, spinal cord, and brain to control the movement of the body. When this smooth communication is disturbed in any way at any point along the nerves, the movement of a portion of or the entire body is disturbed. This leads to loss of muscle control, muscular weakness, and eventually paralysis

Types of paralysis

The location of paralysis indicates the specific, affected nerves. Hemiplagia indicates the involvement of the side of the brain opposite to the paralyzed side. Quadriplagia affects the neck, arms, legs, and torso, while paraplagia affects the hips and the lower parts of the body. Other forms include diplegia and monoplagia, where the limbs are affected,

Cause

Paralysis can be complete or partial, since the main cause of paralysis is the deterioration of the nerves. Paralysis can occur as an extension of other conditions including cerebral palsy, demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis, tumor, stroke, brain hemorrhage, or sudden injuries. It occurs as a result of any damage to the nervous system – central or peripheral. Paralysis that slowly spreads across to different locations of the body is a strong indicator of a progressively degenerative condition. Accidents, sports injury, and falls carry a high risk for paralysis; however, in today’s stressful times uncontrolled and high blood pressure is a common cause. Today’s lifestyle priorities, from food and lack of exercise to worrisome sleep habits contribute significantly to hypertension and the risk for paralysis.

Symptoms of paralysis

In paralysis, loss of sensation is a critical symptom that affects muscular strength, leading to complete or partial loss of movement. The other symptoms include noticeable changes to almost every system of the body from circulation to the digestive system, muscular spasms, propensity for infections, loss of urinary control, and difficulty in speaking.

Treatment for paralysis

Ayurveda treatment helps in rehabilitation from paralysis and also has increased chances of enabling recovery, especially when the treatment starts early. A strict regimen of diet, lifestyle transformations, massages, and other physical therapies help in stage-wise improvement in the case of paralysis. When combined with panchakarma treatment, Ayurveda treatment becomes truly effective in rejuvenating the body.

Many forms of massages with herbal formulations help in restoring muscular health and stimulating the nerves. Focus the whole body massages or just on the affected parts. Other therapies include pizhichil, nasyam, kizhi, and snehanam.

The critical focus of Ayurvedic treatment for paralysis is to enable nerve rejuvenation and facilitate lifestyle modifications. Identifying the pattern earlier and approaching an experience Ayurveda doctor will definitely make a huge difference.

Ayurveda Treatment for Fractures: Nature’s Approach for Permanent Healing

Fracture is referred to as Bhagna in Ayurveda. A common scenario in day-to-day life, fracture is a main concern when anyone has a fall or is involved in an accident. At my Ayurveda clinic, fracture is a common complaint. So how does the bone recover after a fracture? What does Ayurveda treatment for fractures involve?

Let’s take a look!

A quick introduction about fractures

Fractures occur as a result of falls, or even at times when a person’s bones are weak because of osteoporosis or rare conditions that cause brittle bones. Ayurveda explains fractures or Bhagna as a break in the continuous structure of the bones, resulting in its lack of motion. A break in the bone can be a dislocation, also called Sandhi Muktha, or a fracture, also called Kanda Bhagna. Ayurvedic texts describe at least 12 types of dislocations and 6 types of fractures. The Ayurveda treatment of fractures is hence distinct for each type.

Symptoms and primary care

The symptoms of a fracture are quite well known. The excruciating pain, excessive swelling, and complete immobility are the characteristic symptoms of a fracture. Any amount of shifting weight does not resolve the pain. Ayurveda treatment recommends placing the suspected part of the body completely immobile and tying it securely using cloth. The patient must be immediately taken to the Ayurveda doctor for treatment. Avoid using other home remedies such as ice pack, which can worsen the condition.

Diagnosis and treatment

Your Ayurveda doctor will first diagnose your condition by evaluating the appearance of the location. The doctor will then determine the type of fracture or dislocation and by using the touch-and-feel approach confirm the diagnosis.

Since recovery from a fracture involves giving time for the new bone tissues to develop, the treatment focuses on enabling complete restoration of normal bone functioning. The time required to heal depends on other underlying conditions such as osteoporosis, the nature of the fracture, whether other regions such as the ligament are involved, and the age of the patient.

Serious dislocation, multiple fractures or fracture to certain vital points requires expert attention. But the usual approach too requires an immensely skilled practitioner who can set the bones back to their original positions carefully, aligning it accurately. This is a critical step in correcting fractures of the bone.

After this step the specific location has to be maintained immobile using splints, which are usually made from bamboo or wood. The fractured portion of the body is bandaged with the splint firmly and strongly to help facilitate bone tissue recovery.

The bandage will need to be changed once in a while and the fractured portion treated with herbal formulations for enabling easy recovery. This approach also helps in healing the surrounding tissues.

Another crucial aspect of fracture treatment is relief from pain, which is managed by external application of herbal oils and internal medicines.

Oil massage only by experts helps ensuring quick recovery and that the bones set in the right shape. Supporting treatment approaches such as herbal packs and steaming helps control the inflammation. However, these must be performed only by well-trained experts.

Final recovery

Physiotherapy is a useful technique to gain back the lost mobility after the fracture heals. Minor exercises in a monitored environment helps in quick recovery. Heavy exercise is not encouraged, but after complete recovery, the patient can resume routine activities.

Ayurveda Treatment for Improving Bone Density – Fighting Bone Wear and Tear with a Healthy Lifestyle

Bones (and teeth) are referred to as asthi dhatu in Ayurveda. Asthi dhatu gives our body its structure and the ability to move around and perform multiple activities. This strong framework of our human body hence definitely needs a lot of care and attention. However, poor lifestyle and constant wear and tear tends to reduce the bone density. Moreover, as we age our body’s capability to form bone tissues reduces, leading to lowered bone density. During my decades of practice in Ayurveda treatment in Chennai, I have been seeing a consistently increasing number of people with complaints of bone weakness. A primary reason for this is definitely our today’s lifestyle. So let’s look at how Ayurveda looks at bone weaknesses and their solution.

Causes of bone density variations as per Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, bone density is connected to the balance between the vata, pitta, and kapha nature of the body. Any imbalance either reduces or increases the bone density. When the proportion of kapha is greater in the body the bones become denser, when the proportion of pitta is high the bones are not dense but they become weak, and when the proportion of vata is high the bone density becomes drastically low. Hence, different combinations of the vata, pitta, and kapha rogas lead to multiple bone conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and even bone cancer.

Here are some of the conditions that increase the propensity for bone conditions owing to varying bone densities:

Menopause in women – which causes hormonal variances and hence affects production of bone tissues
Heredity – genes definitely play a significant role in increasing the risk factor for bone diseases
Vitamin D deficiency
Thyroid hormone imbalances
Corticosteroids and other medications that lead to loss of bone tissues
Conditions that lead to loss of calcium from the blood through urine
Increased tendency for fracture
Elderly showing sudden decrease in weight

Ensuring healthy lifestyle with strong bones

Since Ayurveda categorizes poor bone density as a vata dosha, most treatments and lifestyle changes focus on overcoming this dosha.

Abhyanga with sesame oil: Sesame oil is the most preferred oil for oil massages since they promote healthy bones.
Increased calcium and vitamin D intake: Natural sources of calcium and vitamin D such as milk and other dairy products, beans, and grains help in protecting the bones
Herbal medications: A wide range of herbal medications (e.g., ashwagandha and brahmi) protects the hormonal balance and prevents deterioration of the bone tissues
Sesame seeds: Sesame seeds are the best friends of healthy bones; hence add them more to your daily meals, starting with your glass of milk.
Exposure to the sun: Now that’s not going to be tough for tropical countries! Make sure you go out in the sun every day for a brisk walk
Reduce salt intake: Salt captures calcium and makes sure that it is removed from the body; hence watch the amount of salt you consume.
Be active: Although we did mention that wear and tear reduces the bone density, a completely sedentary lifestyle too is quite dangerous. Hence include moderate physical activity as part of your daily routine. Yoga is extremely beneficial since many asanas specifically focus on improving bone quality.
Panchakarma treatment: The complete detoxification procedure helps remove all the ama from the body and rejuvenate your bone tissues too

Conclusion – healthy you means healthy bones

Bone health is completely dependent on what you eat and how you live. Yes, heredity also matters, but with some strong support from Ayurveda treatment you can easily include a healthy regimen in your day-to-day life to eliminate most of the risks of reduced bone density.

Panchakarma – A Five-Modality Treatment for Wellness and Detoxification

As an Ayurveda Doctor practicing in Chennai, I have keenly observed the increasing awareness about Panchakarma treatment among people across all lifestyles. There is a definite curiosity about what panchakarma is all about and why is it so beneficial for the body. Let’s check out some interesting facts about Panchakarma.

Panchakarma is a collection of five intensive treatments that completely eliminate all the toxins from the body. This treatment has gained immense popularity because it successfully overcomes the dangerous consequences of the current lifestyles that most of us lead. Unhealthy diets, poor exercise regimens, and harmful habits lead to the accumulation of ama or toxins in the body. The purpose of Panchakarma is to get rid of all the ama and help the body regain its balance.

Panchakarma is a disciplined collection of treatments that vary from massages to nasal administrations and enemas that cleanse the body in definite stages. Each step of panchakarma has a specific purpose and plays a critical role in rejuvenating the body and mind. Panchakarma can be customized based on the presence of specific ailments and on the specific needs of the body – the age, the imbalance, the roga, the person’s digestive ability, and many other related factors. Since this treatment requires a high level of expertise, you are advised to approach trusted experts who have proven their capability in Ayurveda treatments

Three stages of Panchakarma treatment

The three stages of Panchakarma treatment include purva karma, pradhana karma, and pashchath karma, which mean pre-treatment, primary treatment, and post-treatment, respectively. Panchakarma or the 5 steps form part of the pradhana karma.

Purva Karma

The preparatory step, purva karma, includes three essential processes that helps prepare the body for the elaborate procedure. The first process includes measured consumption of ghee and other herbal preparations that stimulate the body to expel wastes. This step also includes different types of oil massages and steaming that softens and relaxes the body to accept the positive interventions of the Panchakarma treatment that will follow. The oil massage process is termed snehana and it includes different types of massages:

Abhayanga, which includes a complete massage with herbal oils
Garshana, which involves using silk or wool to massage dry skin and improve blood circulation
Shirodhara, which is a process where a thin stream of warm herbal oil is poured over a person’s forehead
Pizhichil, which involves pouring a thin continuous stream of herbal oil and then massaging the body.

The final step is swedana, or steaming, that helps loosen the toxins within the body.

Pradhana Karma

Pradhana Karma includes Panchakarma, which includes vamana, virechana, niroohavasti, nasya, and rakthamokshana.

Vamana involves therapeutically inducing vomiting. In this first step, all the toxins are removed from the body, and the kapha is pacified. This step is especially beneficial in the case of asthma and acidity.
Virechana refers to purgation or excretion of toxins, induced by herbal preparations, which enable complete elimination of wastes from the bowels. This step is beneficial in pacifying pitta.
Niroohavasti is a medicated enema that is administered on an empty stomach. This step pacifies the vata. Specific pre-treatments such as abhyanga and steaming help simplify this step.
Nasya involves administering herbal medications through the nostrils. This helps in completely cleansing the ear, nose, and throat regions, and is especially useful in case of headaches and migraines
Rakthamokshana is an optional step since it involves blood letting using medicated leeches. It is especially useful in case of skin disorders and allergies.

Given the sensitive nature of rakthamokshana, anuvasana basti is a popular alternative. This process involves the administration of fats and oils in the form of enema such that they lubricate the large intestines.

This elaborate pradhana karma successfully detoxifies the entire body.

Pashchath karma

Pashchath karma involves getting the body back to normal with the right diet that helps the body regain its regular digestive capacity and rasayana treatment to rejuvenate and nourish the body.

Conclusion – Panchakarma treatment for holistic well-being

Panchakarma treatment can be customized based on the specific requirement. Although it can be undergone by people of any age, about 30 to 50 is the common range of patients who prefer to take up this treatment. This treatment is delivered in cycles, with stages of rest in between. However, there are many versions of Panchakarma treatment, ranging from a weekly session to an elaborate 2-month session.

Ensure that you trust the experts who will be administering the treatment before you embark on your Panchakarma treatment journey.

Ayurveda Treatment for Lifestyle-Related Disorders: Neck Pain from Text Neck Syndrome

A recently coined term, text neck syndrome is commonly used to refer to the pain you experience in your neck after a long day’s work on the laptop or after prolonged sessions on mobile phones, Kindles, and tabs. Yes, today’s sedentary lifestyle puts your poor neck through a lot of stress, too much typing and texting and stretching your neck muscles as you bend your heads down when on these devices. This condition is becoming increasingly common among the age group of 20 to 35 years, since people are increasingly adopting sedentary lifestyles compromising on their exercise and outdoor timings to spend more time online. As an Ayurveda doctor practicing in my Chennai clinic for decades now, I have seen a startling increase in the incidence of youngsters come to me with complaints of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain; stiffness; and even dizziness. The culprits most often are these “smart” devices.

Characteristics of text neck syndrome

This pain in the neck and stiffness, or manyasthamba, is commonly attributed to vata and ama in Ayurveda. This condition has many characteristic symptoms, but ignoring it can lead to severe complications including early-onset arthritis and unnaturally increased spine curvature in youngsters.

The early symptoms of neck pain from text neck syndrome include the following:

Severe, intermittent pain in the neck, radiating to the shoulders and upper back.
Stiffness and tightening neck and shoulder nerves and muscles.
Headache and dizziness.
Numbness of fingers.

Avoiding text neck syndrome

The best solution to avoid getting into the hassles of managing pain is to first avoid overusing these devices. Remember to take ample breaks between your busy work schedule on the laptop or hectic mobile phone-driven life.

Exercise

Learn and practice the right yoga poses to provide you some relief from your debilitating pain – from balasana to uttitha trikonasana. Learn from the experts and practice regularly to see long-term relief.

The right posture

Use ergonomic chairs and tables to correct the posture of your head and neck when online. Remember to do simple neck exercises every 30 minutes, which will give some rest to your stretched neck muscles and nerves.

Medical attention

Seek medical attention from your Ayurveda clinic that delivers Kotakkal Ayurvedic treatments.

Common Ayurvedic management approaches

Purification through abhayangam and other massages that control the vata in the body and loosen up the impurities to eliminate them from the body.
Nutrition control by avoiding milk and pulses and encouraging simple-to-digest foods.
Ayurvedic formulations that enhance the muscular strength of your body and relieve pain.
Controlling stress and taking your mind and body through a series of rejuvenating therapies that relieve stress from your system.
Change to a healthy lifestyle in terms of disciplined sleep–wake time, food, physical exercise, posture, etc., so the body is given enough time to become strong again.

Conclusion

Text neck syndrome is entirely avoidable by following a healthy and disciplined life with controlled online time and the right posture. With support from experts in Ayurveda you can definitely reclaim your life from the pain caused by text neck syndrome.

Manage the Brittle Bones Effectively – Ayurveda Treatment for Osteoporosis

As an experienced practitioner of Ayurveda in Chennai over many decades, I have noticed a consistent increase in the incidence of osteoporosis among people. Yes, osteoporosis is becoming a common condition, especially among middle-aged and elderly women. It literally means porous bones or weak bones. In this condition, the density of the bones reduces way below acceptable levels. Hence the bones become brittle, weak, and prone to fracture. Even the slightest of trauma can result in painful fractures. Another characteristic feature of osteoporosis is the characteristic bending of the upper back.

Variance in estrogen levels during the postmenopausal stage is considered to trigger osteoporosis in most instances. Estrogen is known to promote the production of bone, hence when its levels decrease, the bones become weak. Yes, this condition is also seen in men, but women are more prone to this condition.

What causes osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that worsens gradually and hence might not be noticeable immediately. So focus on avoiding the habits and conditions that could increase the propensity for osteoporosis. The risk for osteoporosis is huge in case of the following conditions

Hormonal imbalance
Vitamin D or calcium deficiencies
Steroidal medications
Family history of osteoporosis
Food habits – excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol
Lifestyle – sedentary or excessive smoking
Other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease, and cancer
Medical procedures such as gastrectomy

Management of osteoporosis

Ayurveda classifies osteoporosis or bone loss, also called asthikshaya, as a vata roga. As the vata increases, the density of the bone tissue, or asthidhatu, decreases. So eliminating elements that increase vata or reducing the effects of increased vata is the solution to managing osteoporosis.

Diet and lifestyle modification play a critical role in balancing the vata in your body, managing osteoporosis, and strengthening the bones.

Say no!

Food that increases acidity in your body and leaches out the calcium from bones, as well as fatty foods that dissolve out Vitamin D
Sedentary lifestyle
Alcohol
Overeating
Heavy exercise
Tendency to fall: Avoid any surface that increases the chances of falling, e.g., granite flooring, too many stairs, or lifting weights.
Salt and processed foods: Sodium catalyzes loss of calcium from the body

Say yes!

Beets, garlic, broccoli, ladyfinger, buttermilk, legumes, ginger, whole grains, nuts and mineral- and vitamin-rich food
Milk, ghee, and food rich in calcium
Exposure to sunlight
Healthy lifestyle that incorporates moderate exercise
Abhyanga with sesame oil and other oils that bring down the vata
Sound sleep – irregular sleep is a surprising cause for osteoporosis. Many studies have proven a link between sleep and osteoporosis
Yoga: Yogasana postures focusing on managing osteoporosis are quite effective in promoting healthy bones
Panchakarma: Regular purification of the body with a stringent Panchakarma procedure helps effectively manage bone disorders

Managing osteoporosis requires a consistent focus from both the patient and the family. A complete change in lifestyle and the support of an expert Ayurveda doctor will help you manage your condition effectively.