Easy and Effective Winter Care with Ayurvedic Solutions

I never thought I would ever be providing Chennaiites with winter care solutions! But this winter is turning out to be quite cold and dry. I am receiving many inquiries at my Ayurveda hospital in Chennai, seeking a solution for some of the common winter-related complications, from flu and infection to joint-related disorders. Hence, I thought I could pull out some of the most effective Ayurveda solutions that can help you stay healthy during tropical winters!

What are the common winter health complications?

Most of the health-related issues in winter are because of imbalances in vata, and sometimes kapha roga. Vata is associated with the words cold and dry; hence ensure that you balance vata roga by incorporating warm and moisturizing elements in your routine. Some of the common complications include the following.

Dryness of the skin

Lack of winter care completely strips out all moisture from the skin, leading to scaly and even broken skin. It often leads to intense itchiness, which is also confused with skin allergies. The dryness extends to the joint fluids also – this irritates most body joints, leading to numbness, severe pain, and even limited joint movement. Winter often sees an increase in such complaints. This dryness also attacks the sinuses, exacerbating the condition in those who are prone to sinus complaints.

Flu and other infections

The heavy atmosphere often leads to the irritants and contaminants hanging low in your immediate environment. As a result, flu and other contamination-related contagious conditions are on the rise. The mucus secretion also increases during this season, leading to related infections. Allergic conditions such as asthma are also on the rise during this season owing to the same reason – the allergens are present in the heavy air around the immediate environment.

Digestive complications

Interestingly, our digestive system is quite active during this climate, yet it increases our digestive complications. The reason is our increased hunger, which often prompts us to eat unhealthy or junk food that are tough to digest. This leads to digestive conditions that are entirely avoidable in the first place.

How can you ensure proper winter care with Ayurveda?

Many Ayurvedic solutions can provide you the much-needed relief in winter. The core focus of Ayurveda is to improve nourishment and build immunity – whether it is for your skin, body, or even hair. Rasayanas that rejuvenate your body and mind, building immunity and strengthening your digestive power, are a favorite. The other approaches include a smart combination of physical procedures, internal medications, food, and lifestyle changes.

Abhyangam

Abhyangam is one of the best ways to beat dryness of the skin. Avoid heating the oil excessively and stick to lukewarm coconut, sesame, or other oils that your Ayurveda doctor prescribes. Massages during the mornings are quite effective as they add a protective moisturizing coating on the skin, improve blood circulation, and even reduce stress by calming the nerves. This procedure is also effective in promoting joint movements and in detoxification. So not only do you enjoy a soft, glowing skin in winter, but you can also benefit from clean and fresh internal systems

Using lukewarm water

Although our tendency is to use hot water while taking a bath, avoid extremely hot water and stick to lukewarm water since too much heat removes the moisture and oily nature from your skin.

Preventing dry feet and legs

Dry feet and legs are a common problem in winter. Hence padabhyangam or a foot massage with volatile oils and ayurvedic formulations can not just remove dead cells from your feet but also soften and soothe your feet skin and muscles.

Dryness of the face

Face massage with sesame oil, castor oil, or Ayurveda oils such as nalpamaradi oil can help remove dryness; however, consult with your Ayurveda doctor if you have an oily skin and to determine how long you would need to leave in the oil on your face. Else it might worsen the condition, leading to pimples and pigmentation.

Preventing dryness in the scalp

Often confused for infections, dandruff is more the result of a dry scalp. You can prevent this by a long session of head massage that nourishes your scalp, improves blood circulation, and drives away the dryness. Popular oils include brahmi oil and coconut oil. But oils have a cooling effect on your scalp; hence avoid excessive massages.

A sensible diet

Ensure that your diet calms the vata and enhances your body’s immunity. Prioritize adding warm food and cooked or steamed vegetables to your diet. Use dairy products with care since although they have properties that benefit vata, they can also excessively cool your body, increasing mucus generation. Although you tend to feel hungry in this climate, avoid stuffing your body with too much food or with junk food.

Improve your body’s immunity

Follow a healthy lifestyle of normal sleep-wake cycle, stress-free lifestyle, healthy food, and smart exercise routines that boost your immune system. Supplement your body with Rasayanas as per your Ayurveda doctor’s recommendation.

A cool wintery Chennai is indeed a rarity. But before you can go all out and enjoy the pleasantly cool climate, ensure that your body is strongly protected against the troubles that this cold climate can bring in. Contact me for any further questions you may have about managing winter-related health troubles and proper winter care with Ayurveda. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Gaining Relief from the Painful Frozen Shoulder the Ayurveda Way

Many of us have experienced instances of stiff shoulders and pain in our day-to-day lives. However, extended period pain and stiffness, which worsens over time, can be a frozen shoulder or apabahuka. Frozen shoulder can occur while recovering from an injury, for example, recovering from a fracture in a sling. Interestingly, frozen shoulders are also critical indicators of inherent conditions such as diabetes. Frozen shoulders progressively worsen and soon you are not able to control the pain with simple medications and it affects your daily routine. Hence, I always advise the patients at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai to check such symptoms at the initial stage itself rather than mask their symptoms with medications. But what is a frozen shoulder and what are the solutions that Ayurveda can provide? Here are a few details.

What are the symptoms of frozen shoulders?

Frozen shoulders too are a chronic condition involving pain and stiffness of one or both the shoulders, especially at the joint. The condition develops over time, and in stages. Initially, there is just pain when you move the shoulders or upper arms. The patients experience significant pain in the neck too. This limits the extent to which you can move the shoulders. As days, pass your pain might subside but you feel the stiffness of your shoulders. The limited movement makes it difficult for you to carry out your routine work – such as rotating arms completely or raising your arms. At the later stages the pain resurfaces in the night, when the shoulders are resting.

Why does frozen shoulder occur?

This condition is more common in women and older than 40 years. In this condition, the tissues around the shoulder joint become thick as a result of continued immobilization after an injury, a surgery, or related conditions. It can also occur as a result of complete lack of physical activity. Frozen shoulders are also the result of critical underlying conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, heart conditions, etc. It is also seen in case of a cervical disc condition. It can also occur due to hormonal imbalances and a sedentary lifestyle. Ayurveda relates this condition to vata roga imbalance.

Solutions for frozen shoulders

A customized package of physical procedures, internal herbal medicines, exercise, and lifestyle changes help in overcoming this condition. However, it requires an experienced Ayurveda doctor’s guidance so you get a complete assessment and the perfect treatment protocol. Here are the different treatment approaches your Ayurveda doctor will choose from.

Fomentation: Fomentation relaxes the shoulder muscles, while the heat will help improve circulation to the tissues in the region. This will help improve the movement.
Massage: Ensure that you take your Ayurveda doctor’s guidance to take up shoulder massage sessions to relax the muscles and improve circulation to the shoulder region. Panchakarma also shows incredible benefits by detoxifying the body and restoring shoulder movements.
Lifestyle changes: Completely remove stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol along with carbonated drinks and packaged food items. Ensure that you eat food when it is warm and never skip meals. Ensure that you sleep at regular time and limit exposure to cold. Monitor your exercises and avoid heavy physical strain.
Medications: Ensure that you follow your Ayurveda doctor’s instructions regarding intake of medications such as amla based formulations, ashwagandha, fenugreek, etc.

Managing diabetes: If the condition is caused by diabetes managing blood sugar through medications and controlled diet. Similarly managing any other inherent medical condition is also essential.
Exercise: Stage-wise improvement in range of movements under the strict monitoring of therapists is possible through exercises that not just improve the scope of movement of shoulders but also increase circulation.

Each person’s frozen shoulder condition presents a unique challenge. Hence, never go in for any popular procedure without your Ayurveda doctor’s assessment and recommendation. Contact me for any further questions you may have about frozen shoulders. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Finally, remember, the onset of most diseases are due to faulty diet and lifestyles. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a healthy mind and body by eating nutritious food, sleeping on time, avoiding sedentary lifestyle and exercising.

Punarnava – An Ever-Popular Ayurveda Herb for Rejuvenation and Restoration of t Body

Often called thazhuthama or the hogweed, punarnava is one of the most sought-after Ayurveda herbs. Punar refers to purify and nava refers to new; hence punarnava is primarily used for its restoring properties on the body and mind. Almost every part of this plant has medicinal value, from its roots to its flowers. I too find a lot of benefits from this impressive plant when I plan treatments for my patients at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai. Let’s find out more about this brilliant plant and its multiple applications in Ayurveda.

Punarnava – the characteristics of the plant

This creeper is found all across India, growing wild as a weed, especially after the rains. Its flowers are beautiful and are found in bunches, commonly seen in two colors – purple and white – while its leaves are broad and thick. The roots of punarnava have the most potent medicinal benefits. However, all parts of the plant are effective in managing common medical conditions and in rejuvenation treatment. It is critical in case of imbalances in pitta and kapha rogas. From its ama-pacifying effect on the digestive tract, anti-inflammatory effect, and detoxifying benefits to its diurectic and multiple other benefits, punarnava owes many of its medicinal effects to one of its alkaloidal ingredients.

Punarnava – benefits

This plant is effective across all the major organ systems of the body. Punarnva’s diuretic properties makes it useful in managing kidney disorders and kidney stones. It is also valuable as a digestive, increasing appetite and curing constipation. For the respiratory system, this plant helps in providing relief in case of asthma. In case of providing relief in case of orthopedic conditions such as joint inflammation. It is also effective in treating anemia and menstrual disorders. It detoxifies the liver and is valuable in case of jaundice and other liver conditions. It also helps with weight loss and correcting skin conditions.

Let’s look at some of its important benefits.

Anti-diuretic effect: Punarnava helps in increasing the secretion of urine; hence, it is beneficial in case of urinary infections. It also removes water retention from tissues and body cavities.

Liver condition: Punarnava stimulates bile secretion, which is critical for maintenance of a healthy liver.

Asthma treatment: Punarnava causes thinning of the phlegm and its easy removal from the respiratory system. This helps in removal of blocks from the mucous membrane and in improving the functioning of the lungs.

Digestive tract: This plant removes the ama from the digestive tract, strengthening the stomach muscles and intestine.

Anti-obesity effect: Its anti-diuretic effect helps in removing additional water retention in the body and retaining the electrolyte balance, thus leading to weight loss.

Orthopedic benefits: Punarnava is seen to have incredible benefits in case of arthritis, providing relief from pain, especially in case of inflammatory muscles and joints.

With many more such benefits, Punarnava is really the miracle plant of Ayurveda. To find out more about how you can prepare medications from punarnava and how it can relieve your specific conditions, please do connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Rasayana Chikitsa – Ayurveda Treatment Options You Can Choose from

I’ve already introduced the concept of Rasayana Chikitsa to you and its growing popularity as the wonder treatment protocol for nourishing the body, maintaining the physical and mental health, strengthening the body against diseases, building immunity, rejuvenating the body. With such a wide range of benefits, rasayana chikitsa is indeed one of the most popular treatment modalities in Ayurveda. This treatment is especially relevant in today’s haphazard lifestyle. The excessive mental and physical stress, unhealthy food habits, sedentary routines, poor postures, and disturbed sleep cycles have all taken its toll on the vata-pitta-kapha balance, leading to accumulation of toxins. The result is early aging, poor immunity, stress-related disorders, and new lifestyle-related conditions. Your body needs the rejuvenation of powerful anti-oxidants, nerve tonics, circulation stimulators, muscle and bone strengtheners, and all related benefits.

But rasayana chikitsa is not a simple 30-minute procedure. It requires your time, focus, and dedication and the support of an expert Ayurveda doctor. Rasayana chikitsa is one of the most popular treatment modalities at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai. Its power in nourishing the tissues, preventing recurrence of a disease, and strengthening the body’s immunity is one of the primary reasons why patients seek the support of this treatment. So let’s look at the options you have in this treatment.

How does rasayana chikitsa work?

This treatment modality works primarily by improving circulation at the tissue level, strengthening the tissues and removing the ama from the body. The nutritional correction that this procedure delivers improves the digestive ability or the agni of the body. Hence herbal formulations such as pippali, thulasi, and guggulu help overcome the catabolic or the breakdown effect of age, improving the body’s immunity.

What are the steps involved?

Even a simple chyavanaprash delivers basic rejuvenation effects by improving the body’s metabolic rate and enhances immunity when consumed on a regular basis. Hence you can imagine the incredible effect this treatment can have when you dedicate your time and attention to a full-scale rasayana chikitsa. The process of the chikitsa is termed rasakriya. There are two types of kriyas, one that is customized for today’s busy life and the other that retains all the essential ingredients of a traditional chikitsa.

The decision of course depends on your comfort level and your expert Ayurveda doctor’s opinion. The doctor decides the package that forms the kriya, including herbal medications, exercise, massage, diet, and other details. Every session has a purvakarma of cleansing and panchakarma and a paschatkarma of relaxation.

Kayakalpam for the stringent approach

Kayakalpa procedure is used for those who follow a strict chikitsa approach. You will have to stay in a specially prepared room for the entire duration of the therapy and therapists will monitor you strictly for diet, procedures, exercise, and other instructions. This approach is extensive and can extend even up to 4 months. Adults up to the age of about 65 to 70 years can take up this approach.

Generic approach for today’s busy life

This is a slightly altered approach where you don’t have to cut yourselves away from society for that long. It involves consuming Ayurvedic herbal formulations as per your doctor’s instructions and a set of massages and related procedures on different days. This can extend from a month to about two months. It includes sarvanga abhyangam, padabhyangam, administering enemas, and even udwartana. The process includes swedana and relaxing exercises, with recovery period in between. Of course, diet and lifestyle recommendations also form part of the treatment.

Hence, ensure that you first consult with me about the specific benefits you can gain from this chikitsa before proceeding blindly with individual sessions. Contact me for any questions you have about rasayana chikitsa. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Udhwarthanam – Ayurveda’s Magical Powder-Based Massage for Weight Loss and Healthy Skin

Ayurveda has incredible solutions not just for illnesses and disorders but also for helping you lead a healthy and beautiful life! Udhwarthanam or Udwarthanam is one such procedure that helps your skin stay healthy and glowing, with your body getting rid of most of its excessive fat. This procedure is slowly gaining relevance, given the increasing number of calls my Ayurveda hospital in Chennai is receiving inquiring about Udhwarthanam and its benefits, especially in terms of weight loss. So here is a quick overview about this procedure, its advantages, and the logic behind how it works.

Udhwarthanam is quite a powerful technique that combines the inherent potential of the herbs used in the process and the massage techniques used by skilled therapists. It is also unique because this procedure uses powder rather than oil for the massage.

What are the benefits of Udhwarthanam?

Weight loss is quite a popular benefit that many people seeking to undergo this procedure are aware of. But this procedure also has other important benefits, including achieving a healthy balance between the vata, pitta, and kapha rogas. So let’s first start with the obvious advantage and then move on to its other effects.

Obesity treatment – Ayurveda doctors often recommend Udhwarthanam for treatment of obesity as part of the treatment protocol
This process also helps in curing skin problems and improves the quality of the skin because of the vigorous exfoliation. It is known to help reduce cellulite, remove blemishes, and even reduce skin wrinkles by increasing moisture retention on the skin
The procedure is beneficial in case of joint and muscle complaints too since the massage strokes stimulate blood circulation to the muscles and strengthen them
Improved circulation leads to detoxification, which benefits instances of clogged sweat glands
This procedure is also said to be beneficial for certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, paralysis and high cholesterol levels

How does Udhwarthanam derive its benefits?

The massage technique involves applying powerful strokes in a direction opposite to the direction of growth of skin hair. This means that the therapist will be applying strokes predominantly upward. These strong strokes will generate heat and will ensure that the medication is absorbed through the skin. However, the primary effect occurs because of the pressure the therapist applies during the procedure. This pressure helps in breaking down all the fat that is commonly stored right under the skin. In addition the heat helps in melting the fat away. This fat is called the subcutaneous fat and is one of the main factors contributing to obesity. The additional effect of this massage is the improved blood circulation, which improves the texture and quality of the skin and efficient detoxification.

The process

The procedure begins with the Ayurveda physician examining your body to determine any specific condition requiring attention. The physician can then plan the right combination of procedures in addition to Udhwarthanam, define the number of sittings, determine the exact Ayurveda medication to be used, and choose the right process to be followed. Without this important step, you will most probably be going in blindly for a procedure that might not be entirely beneficial to you.

The next step involves preparing the herbal medications. Dry herbal powders are also called churnams. There are two ways in which you can prepare the medication. The first involves mixing the selected herbal medicated powder with water, milk, or even some oils to form a paste. The second approach involves drying the selected medicated powder completely using heat, commonly using a mud pot. This dried powder is then used as the base for the massage.

The third critical step involves applying the paste or the powder from neck to toe. This is important since the therapist has to ensure complete coverage. Once the therapist applies the prepared medication, the massage begins. This massaging technique is unique, since its strokes are different and quite powerful, involving many critical postures that apply the right pressure at the right body location to breakdown all the fat.

The procedure takes about 30 to 45 minutes. In case of a paste form of medication, the therapist again applies powder on the body the moment the paste dries of. After the intense massage, you will rest completely for about 30 minutes so your body can entirely benefit from the procedure. The process ends with a steam and finally, a bath.

Although Udhwarthanam sounds like a pretty straightforward procedure that is beneficial to all, you will need to be careful about consulting an expert Ayurveda doctor to be sure that your body is ready to bear the intense pressure and heat that this procedure generates. Some conditions contraindicate the use of this procedure, including pregnancy, conditions such as eczema that can be exacerbated by this process, or if you have undergone other intense Ayurveda procedures like panchakarma recently.

Contact me for any questions you have about udhwarthanam. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Avaghaswedam – Complete Rejuvenation with Steam and Herbal Decoctions

Many Ayurveda procedures use steam as an effective vehicle, given its power to open up the skin’s pores and allow all the herbal formulations to be thoroughly absorbed. With the heat stimulating blood circulation and causing perspiration, every procedure that involves steam will definitely lead to detoxification. Avaghaswedam or avagha swedam is a unique combination of sudation or a sweat-inducing procedure and immersion or avagha. This procedure involves preparing a relaxing, deep, warm, medicated bath filled with herbal medications and essential oils. The person sits or even sometimes lies down in this preparation for a stipulated period, resulting in complete relaxation and detoxification. Warm water and even milk are used as vehicles to carry the herbal medication. This treatment is fast becoming popular, given its potential to cleanse your body and relax your mind. Since I am receiving a lot of inquiries in my Ayurveda hospital in Chennai about this interesting procedure, I thought I could provide you a little more information about Avaghaswedam.

What are the benefits of Avaghaswedam?

Avaghawedam is perfect for complete relaxation of not just your body but also your mind. The benefits of this procedure in calming your mind and relieving you from conditions such as stress, anxiety, and insomnia are reasons why this procedure is increasing in popularity. This treatment also focuses on removing muscle- and joint-related pain, and is especially beneficial in the case of a backache, and conditions such as arthritis, hip pain, and sciatica. The procedure also has benefits in case of urinary and menstrual disorders and with allergic conditions. Its intense detoxification and rejuvenation benefits help with giving your skin a healthy glow and weight loss.

How is this procedure beneficial?

The procedure involves the use of a bath where your body is submerged entirely or at least up to the hip region. The bath is prepared from herbal and medicated extracts that your Ayurveda doctor will recommend based on your health condition. In addition, the bath is heated up. All these effects, in addition to the extended period of time, you will have to relax in the bath, will lead to a well-stimulated circulation, relaxation, rejuvenation, and deep cleansing. All the heat produces sweat that seeps out through the skin. The skin is indeed a powerful excretory option your body has. Hence all the toxins that your body releases lead to purification. The specific benefits of the essential oils or medicated extracts are definitely an added benefit. In addition, all the happy chemicals (scientifically termed endorphins) released by the body brings about immense calmness.

In some instances, an oil massage precedes the procedure. Hence when you soak in the warm, medicated bath the penetration of all the goodness of the herbal wonders will be magical. Sometimes a damp cloth supports the back of the neck or even the forehead to tone down the effect of the steam. Some therapies also include serving relaxing tea that prevents your body from overheating. The standard recommended period of this procedure is anywhere between 30 and 60 min.

I highly recommend that you add avaghaswedam to your routine practice of giving your body and mind a well-deserved treat. But ensure that you consult with an experienced Ayurveda expert who can recommend the perfect combination of herbal extracts and vehicle. Contact me for any questions you have about avaghaswedam. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Karnapooranam – The perfect Ayurveda Solution for Tinnitus and Other Ear-Related Complications

The word “karna” refers to the ears; hence karnapooranam is a complete Ayurveda procedure that helps you overcome some of the most common to chronic and rare ear complications. This simple procedure also helps you clean your ears and maintain them in an ever-healthy mode. Ears are one of the most critical players in our body. Without them you are really lost, yet most of us do not treat our ears properly. Especially in today’s earphone-obsessed lifestyle, your ears struggle to maintain their hearing capability. I am hence seeing a steady increase in conditions such as tinnitus when patients come to consult with me at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai. How can a simple treatment such as karnapooranam help in such conditions? Let’s find out.

What’s Karnapooranam and what are its benefits?

Karnapooranam is a therapeutic procedure focusing on the ears. It takes just a few minutes, where the therapist introduces medicated Ayurveda oils, from the simple sesame oil to complex herbal formulations, into your ears and places the formulations there for about 10 minutes. This procedure cleans your ear, removing wax and other dirt particles. It also helps in healing ear-related disorders.

Ear pain and reduced hearing are common indicators of inherent complications with the ear. In such conditions this procedure is useful in enabling a cure. The procedure results in lubricating the entire ear canal and also reaches the smallest and narrowest portions to remove all collected dirt and wax. This simple solution itself helps in improving hearing in many cases and in curing dry and itchy ears, as well as ear infections.

This treatment is also a critical process that helps in overcoming tinnitus or karnanada, a vata roga–based condition that is now becoming increasingly common, thanks to today’s lifestyle options such as excessive mobile phones, exposure to extended periods of loud noise, blood pressure, stress, etc. This procedure helps in delivering relief in this condition too.

In addition karnapooranam helps in strengthening the delicate bones in the inner ear and in strengthening the nerve endings in the ear. All these help relieve stress, control ear pain, manage vertigo and also deliver related support in managing stiffness of the neck and painful jaws.

What does the process involve?

This procedure, although simple, requires some poorvakarma before the therapist starts the procedure. The Ayurveda doctor first examines your ear-related condition and determines the specific herbal oil formulation that the therapist will use. The therapist then helps you lie face upward on a firm wooden table. You will then undergo a relaxing massage – to the head, ear, and neck. This will relax the muscles and improve circulation to the ears. As a result, the medicinal oil will effectively percolate through the skin and circulate through the bloodstream. The therapist then cleans your ears with cotton. Now your ears are ready for the pradhanakarma.

The therapist now shifts your position and carefully fills your ears with the warm medicated Ayurveda oil. The therapist adds oil drop-wise until the oil entirely fills the ear canal. You will need to hold the oil in the ears for about 10 minutes in the appropriate position. This ensures that the body entirely absorbs the medicinal effect of the oil into the bloodstream. After the prescribed time, the therapist cleans your ear to remove the excess oil and repeats the procedure in the other ear too. In some cases, Ayurveda doctors recommend medicated smoke instead of medicated oil. Follow the procedure for about 10 days or as prescribed by your Ayurveda doctor. You will definitely observe a sharp improvement in your hearing abilities and you ear-related condition.

Contact me for any questions you have about karnapooranam. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Knee Joint Pain –Ayurveda-Based Causes and Solutions for This Debilitating Condition

Painful knees are one of the toughest battles that most adults face as they age. The knee joints are most often the first set of joints to lose the battle of strength, resulting in innumerable painful symptoms. W Ayurveda categorizes knee joint pain as a Vata disorder, with kapha influences. Interestingly, Ayurveda also connects ama or toxins as a result of digestive complications to knee joint pain. Let’s find out a little more about how you can manage knee pain with food, exercise, and massages. Since this condition is a common bother for many of my patients at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai, I feel that this little detail will help many of us face knee pain with more confidence.

What causes Knee Joint Pain?

A million reasons can contribute to knee pin – it could range from a simple sprain that just needs some simple rest and Ayurveda-based pain remedy to complications the bone tissue due to lack of nutrition. The latter part of the spectrum of causes raises many concerns. The health of your knee joints depends a lot of the health of your bone tissues. Hence, conditions such as degeneration, in-depth infection, osteoarthritis, and other similar conditions can lead to severe knee pain. Inherent nerve conditions can also lead to knee pain. However, the most interesting connection is between toxins in the digestive system that enter the bone tissues and knee pain. These toxins or ama causes inflammation and severe knee pain. The response of your knee joints to these triggers varies depending on your body’s strength.

Symptoms accompanying knee pain

Many symptoms accompany knee pain, which helps Ayurveda doctors make a confirmed diagnosis. Some of the extremely common symptoms accompanying severe joint pain include stiffness, inflammation, swelling, tenderness, limited ability to move or carry weight, and a distinct coloration.

Managing knee pain

While treating the core cause is essential for getting rid of knee pain, you must be equally watchful about managing knee pain during your recovery period. The approach includes multiple focal points.

Helping the joints in detoxification and rerouting the ama back to the digestive tract and subsequent elimination
Efficient nutrition to the bone tissues
Restoring healthy circulation to the knees
Complete cleansing
Gentle lubrication of the joints to relax surrounding muscles

Knee joint–friendly food

The following food item is found to be incredible for the knees

Ginger is a natural healer, given its anti-inflammatory nature. Adding ginger as a flavoring agent or as ginger tea can work wonders.

The very trustworthy turmeric is known for its antiseptic effect and is equally effective in getting rid of severe inflammation that accompanies knee joint pain

The sap from the bark of the Banyan tree has tremendous pain relief effect – hence using this ingredient often helps in masking the severe pain.

Ashwagandha helps in improving the strength and immunity of the body and in delivering anti-inflammatory effects.

Triphala heals by eliminating toxins such as uric acid from the joints and hence curing inflammation of knee joints.

Massage

Massages that focus on the knee joints relax the region, ease the pain, remove the stiffness and improves blood circulation. This helps with easily moving the affected region. Similarly, alternate heat and cold compress helps in relieving the pain and improving circulation

Yoga and exercise

A carefully planned exercise regimen is critical for recovery from knee joint pain. But avoid self-training and take the support of an Ayurveda doctor who can help you choose the right regimen of exercises

While the actual inherent cause of knee pain definitely requires attention and cure, you can definitely use a healthy combination of the above approaches under the watchful eye of your Ayurveda physician to gain relief from pain.

Contact me for any questions you have about knee joint pain and its inherent causes and cure. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Padabhyangam – A Special Ayurveda Procedure Focusing on the Feet

Ancient Indian healing methods refer to the feet as the windows to our body and mind. Our feet have the answers to most of the conditions affecting our mental and physical wellbeing. Since many nerve endings are found on the feet, massages that focus on these smart parts of the body or padabhyangam are indeed extremely popular. Padabhyangam not only helps overcome tired feet and other diseases associated with the feet but also strengthens nerves, reduces stress, and delivers many other benefits. This holistic approach to delivering vitality to the body starts and ends right at your feet. So let’s find out a little more about padabhyangam.

Why is padabhyangam so popular?

Padabhyangam translates to foot massage. This relaxing procedure when performed by expert therapists under the recommendation and overview of an Ayurveda doctor can have miraculous benefits not only for you but also for your entire body. This procedure has multiple benefits and is also an essential part of sarva-abhyangam or whole body massage. Let’s start from the obvious benefits it has on the feet.

Benefits to the feet

Padabhyangam helps in curing cracked, dry, stiff, sore, or tired feet; roughness in the feet, and a whole range of foot diseases. It strengthens the feet and makes it tender.

Retrieving energy balance

Five critical marmas are present in the feet; hence padabhyangam can remove all the negative energy from these marmas, allowing positive energy to flow through the body

Better eyesight

Feet contain critical nerve endings, especially those that contribute to clear eyesight. Hence a warm massage helps improve eye sight

Improve circulation

This procedure also improves blood circulation; hence this procedure is beneficial in case of circulatory disorders too.

Other conditions

Padabhyangam helps in overcoming the foot-related symptoms in case of conditions such as diabetes and arthritis; for example diabetic neuropathy, epilepsy, high BP, etc. Interestingly, this procedure improves digestion too and is critical in rebalancing the three rogas (vata, pitta, and kapha)

Minimizing stress and anxiety

Padabhyangam calms your mind as much as your body and helps in reducing stress and helping in case of insomnia and related sleep disorders, as well as depression, headache, and chronic fatigue. The procedure also improves immunity

The actual procedure

The specific procedure has many variances; however, it commonly has three stages.

Purvakarma

During this preparatory stage, the Ayurveda doctor does a thorough examination of your condition and recommends not just padabhyangam but also the specific oil-based formulation that the therapist has to use. The therapist prepares the oil formulation based on the type of roga and the desired outcome. Base oils or tailams, milk, or ghee are used as the carriers of these herbal medications. Sesame oil, coconut oil, and even sunflower oil are used commonly. Some of these carrier oils also have their own benefits. Hence determining the accurate type and dosage of medication and oil are critical for an effective padabhyangam procedure. This formulation is warmed.

Pradhanakarma

This is the main procedure, where the therapist applies the formulation in oil across the patient’s feet, soles, heel, and ankle, all the way up to the knees. Therapists use different massage approaches, with about 20 minutes taken for each foot. One of the approaches involves using the hand to stroke, massage, and even rub the feet to improve circulation and stimulate free energy flow across the feet. In another related procedure, the purvakarma of preparing the oil-based formulation happens in a kasa bowl, which is made of bronze. The therapists also warm the oils inside this bowl and then use this warm oil for massage. Foot massage also involves removal of toxins by focusing carefully on specific energy points.

Pashchatkarma

After completing the procedure, the therapist removes the excess oil using hot water or salt water dip.

This simple and popular procedure is extremely popular because of the immense benefits that you can derive. However, please do first consult with an Ayurveda doctor before proceeding with the process since each health condition requires a different oil-based formulation and technique.

Contact me for any questions you have about padabhyangam. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Shamana Chikitsa – Complete Palliative Care from Ayurveda

.Shamana Chikitsa refers to all the Ayurveda procedures and protocols that reduce, suppress, and eliminate disease symptoms. This form of palliative care pacifies the body by balancing the three rogas – vata, pitta, and kapha. These treatments are much simpler and less severe than shodhana chikitsa. They are intended to make the patient recover and feel healthier by suppressing the disease symptoms. Hence, while the inherent disease might still be present the patient undergoing Shamana chikitsa can control the symptoms. Hence, this approach primarily has symptom care as its focus.

These treatments are popular options when strong and exhaustive procedures such as panchakarma cannot be used because the patient does not have the physical or mental strength to bear the intensity of such treatments. Hence, Ayurveda doctors often prescribe this form of treatment when patients do not have the health and stamina to withstand the severity of strong medications, forceful movements of abhyangam, or the physical and mental strain of vamana, virechana, nasya, and other such procedures. Hence, this mode of treatment primarily focuses on Ayurveda medications and recipes that deliver just the right combination of nutrients and medicinal effects that your body needs based on your medical condition.

Applications of Shamana Ckikitsa

Shamana Chikitsa often finds use when the body needs care and improvement but is too weak to handle strong treatments. The treatment also helps in alleviating symptoms after an intense session of Shodhana Chikitsa, where the effects of the Shamana Chikitsa will remove even any residual rogas that are present in the body. These medications help to correct imbalances of rogas, agni, and dhatu through simple oral and external applications, as well as in delicate detoxification. Hence this chikitsa is useful for simple or less severe diseases and disorders that do not have a severe and deep-rooted cause. It is also useful when the intention is to first improve the patient’s strength and then plan treatment.

Therapists use this chikitsa in children younger than about 10 years and in geriatric patients or during pregnancy, where severe procedure might cause harm and for acute health conditions that can easily be annihilated. In chronic conditions, it can only act as a support form of treatment.

How does Shamana Chikitsa act?

This chikitsa does not affect the root of the disease; hence it can never result in complete removal of the disease or cure. The approach, however, reverses the damage caused by the disease. It focuses on altering the body’s roga balance through the administration of the right combination of medications. The approach also involves effecting a change in diet and lifestyle. In common diseases such as fever, cold, diarrhea, and other mild conditions, the roga imbalance does not require any stringent approach. Hence here the Shamana Chikitsa acts as the primary mode of care. In case of chronic and deep-rooted conditions such as diabetes, Shamana Chikitsa only plays a supplementary role. In such cases, the approach helps in purification and improves the overall health of the body.

Three main elements contribute to Shamana Chikitsa – herbal medications (oral and external applications), exercises, and food. A popular example of Shamana Chikitsa is Dashamoolarishtam, which is an effective formulation containing 10 precious herbs. This arishtam is not just a nerve tonic but is also precious in case of anemia and other conditions. Shamana Chikitsa uses extensive, lehyams, kashayams, churnams, arishtams, tailams, lepams, bhasmams, and other formulations.

The decision whether you require a Shamana or Shodhana chikitsa belongs to your Ayurveda doctor. The severity of your condition, your mental and physical strength, your age, and many other factors contribute to this decision. Hence always consult an expert Ayurveda doctor first before proceeding to treatment options.

Contact me for any questions you have about Shamana Chikitsa. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.