The Foundation of Good Eating Habits – With Ayurveda

‘The Act of eating’ is life giving and The Process of digestion, is the critical half of it!!! Benefits of right Eating Habits-Eating for maximum benefit requires awareness and is important for the development of consciousness as well as our physical health—

Stimulating Digestion- When we sit down to eat with our stomach in a relaxed posture and our awareness on the taste, texture and smell of the food, then digestion is greatly improved. For optimal digestion, our bodies need a suitable environment, for it to start an uplifting and a settled environment allows the body to process and absorb the nutrients from our meals. Standing, walking, driving and other similar activities can inhibit digestion.

Another way to improve digestion is stimulate the ‘Agni’ or Digestive fire in our stomach, before we begin eating. Weak digestive fire may result in fatigue after eating —

So, to handle this, “The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians” recommends Right Eating which include the following—

*Eat sitting down, in a settled environment, without the T.V on.

*Eat a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger with a few drops of lemon and a pinch of salt, before a full meal. The blend of spices activates the salivary glands, producing the necessary enzymes to help digest the nutrients in the food and help support absorption by the body.

* Follow nature’s prescription of suitable times to eat. Our digestive system is closely tied to the solar cycle.

*Ayurveda suggests that lunch be the largest meal of the day, since that is the time when the digestive fire is at maximum potency. As the sun goes down, so does our digestive fire.

*Avoid ice-cold drinks and foods

*Chew food thoroughly.

*Stay Hydrated.

*Eat mindfully and only when hungry.

*Add healthy fats to your diet. Good Digestion requires eating enough fat.

Good Nutrition goes beyond eating foods that are fresh and wholesome. If the process of digestion is sluggish, the body creates sticky food residue called ‘Ama’, that can clog the channels in our body and hinder the process of assimilation. Proper digestion and metabolism on the other hand results in the conversion of the foods you eat into healthy body tissues.

A few Ayurvedic Dietary Rules—

-Leave 4 hours between meals with no snacking [Eating in between meals weakens the digestive fire].

-The sign that the previous meal is digested is when the breath is fresh.

-Drink hot water to stimulate the digestive fire [Agni]

-Eating foods with cold, wet and heavy qualities, weakens the Agni.

-Avoid contradicting food combinations, such as raw and cooked foods together and very hot and cold foods at the same time.

Therefore, what you eat can nourish and strengthen the digestive fire, boosting your digestive system—or on the other hand it can smother it, leading to an impaired, weakened or imbalanced Agni. So, the health goal is to balance this ‘Digestive Fire.’

“A diet of Simple Foods is the Best for your Gut”

Joint Pain Treatment in “Ayurveda”

Joint Pain Treatment – Joints are the vital parts of our body and in case injured or inflamed, they can cause immobility and pain. Joint pain and stiffness are common complaints about many.

Notable causes of joint pain can rise from, number of conditions that include–

*Medical complications arising from treatments for other problems.

* While there are many kinds of joint pain, the most common ones are Osteo Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It can be very worrisome and can make a person unable to fully perform his/her daily activities. In severe cases, it disrupts sleep to a certain extent.

*Injury or Accidents

*Inflammation of joints

*Leukemia

*Degeneration

*Sprains and strains.

Common Symptoms of Joint Pain-

*Swelling

*Stiffness

*Limited range of motion

*Tenderness

*Fever

*Weakness

Holistic Treatment of Joint Pain— Through Ayurveda— Ayurveda offers ‘Safe and Effective treatment alternatives for joint pain.

The herbs used in Ayurveda have all shown to reduce inflammation by interfering with the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body.

The Efficiency of joint pain treatment through Ayurveda—

Ayurvedic specialists explain that joints are the vital parts of the body and in case of a disease, injury or fracture, they cease to function as they ought to. Treating joint pain with an ayurvedic approach is an individualized process. A patient is 1st diagnosed and evaluated as per the symptoms. Doctor may require an X-ray or an MRI, before treatment. Any treatment approach will aim at balancing the ‘Vata’[ combination of air and ether] which causes the inflammation and pain. Your treatment approach is influenced by the severity of the joint condition. Treatments also include massaging the joints with enriched oils and other herbs. Applying the medicated paste on the diseased joint is another treatment approach.

What happens in Ayurvedic Treatment—

Ayurvedic medicines combined with some joint exercises and therapies help to give natural and gradual relief from stiffness, swelling and joint pain. You can get rid of taking pain killers provided you do comfortable and easy movements regularly. Ayurvedic medicines can help in maintaining the healthy joints, from there on.

Does Ayurvedic Treatment have a Permanent cure for Joint Pain???

Well, Ayurvedic medicines work best to cure and root out the joint pain but it is just a remedial approach, depending on the nature and extent of the problem.

Ayurveda is —Holistic Healing Through Herbs

7 ways to reduce back pain in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is all about natural healing and it has its origins in the Vedic culture of India. The word Ayurveda means (ayur =life, veda= knowledge). This age old tradition has been here for many years and still holds a cure for many ailments.

These days a lot of us face lifestyle related diseases and back pain is one of them. Also known as ‘Nitambha shoola’ or ‘Kaati shoola’ that causes pain and muscle weakness.

Here are the 7 ways to reduce back pain in India

Kati Bashi (Back oil dough therapy)

One of the most popular treatment in Ayurveda, diffused oil is used on the back. The process helps the oil to get submerged in the body which gives a healing impact. It’s a tried and tested method that gives a huge relief instantly to the patient suffering from back pain.

Camphor oil therapy

‘Camphor’ or ‘karpoor’ is widely used for Ayurvedic treatment. This is a very simple technique, but can work wonders for the back pain. Heat some coconut oil and add a few pieces of camphor. Once it gets cooled, store in air tight container. Massage it daily before bedtime.

Cut down intake of pungent spices

Daily intake of pungent spices can aggravate back pain. It dries the body and disbalances the ‘vata’ which results in back pain.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus has many benefits and the healing properties are immense. It’s a very simple procedure to cure back pain. Just add a few drops in the water and use it before bath. You will get energized and will instantly see a relief from back pain as well.

Turmeric and Ginger

It has inflammatory properties that help in reducing pain in the body. Daily intake of these will prevent back pain from spreading.

Follow a Vata diet

The kind of food you consume creates a massive difference in the body. Have a warm, mildly spiced diet that will maintain a proper balance in the body. Overeating irritates the Vata.

Exercise

Exercise is something one must not avoid. Mild stretching and exercise can ease the pain. It helps to relax the muscles. Start with 15 minutes and gradually increase the timing .

Back pain can cause serious discomfort in the body. Because of our modern lifestyle, our movements have become restricted and we often consume junk food. Follow these simple principles and keep back pain at bay.

Muscle Weakness Effectively with Ayurveda

Muscle weakness is often not a condition by itself, but it is an indication of another underlying disorder. Most of us are however not clear about or aware of what muscle weakness is all about and how it can be identified. The first clue to an underlying muscle weakness is that you will not be able to derive the desired muscular movement although you apply the required force – say, while lifting your arms or even standing up. When regular muscle movements become painfully slow and laboured, then it’s time to check with your expert Ayurveda doctor to be sure that nothing is wrong. Very often I see in my Ayurveda hospital that patients do not notice muscle weakness as a symptom as an initial indicator of an underlying problem and seek help only at later stages. So here is a quick detail about what muscle weakness is all about and how it can be managed. I am not discussing specific conditions that cause muscle weakness here. I will address each individual condition in my other posts.

Muscle weakness – associated with other conditions

Sometimes muscle weakness can just be the result of a prolonged bed-ridden condition where the entire body is immobile. Alternatively, it can also be a symptom of conditions such as myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, hypotonia, stroke, neuralgia, adrenal insufficiency, sciatica, etc.

Symptoms

Of course, the common indicator is severe muscle pain when you attempt to move. Difficulty in moving around and performing routine tasks, muscular cramps and spasms, tendency to fall, stiffness and burning sensation in specific regions, muscle twitching, and related symptoms. These symptoms will also be associated with other pointers such as fatigue, diarrhea, vision issues, headaches, numbness in the limbs, etc.

Treatment options

One of the most critical steps before proceeding with just managing your muscle weakness s to go to a trusted Ayurveda doctor to understand what the weakness is due to. An expert Ayurveda doctor will do a thorough assessment and then determine why you have this condition. Hence, in addition to helping you overcoming your weakness, your Ayurveda doctor will also help you resolve the underlying condition.

All approaches to managing muscle weakness aims at improving the quality of your daily routines and in enabling the growth and health of muscles. Your Ayurveda doctor will often provide you a healthy mix of some of the following treatments so you recover well.

Panchakarma – if your body is strong enough to withstand the procedural requirements of panchakarma treatment, this detoxification therapy is indeed ideal for removing toxins from the muscle tissues and enabling circulation. This increases nutrition to the muscles and helps in strengthening the muscles.
Abhyangam also helps in strengthening the muscles by improving circulation to the massaged region. In addition, the massage movements also stimulate the target muscles.
Kizhis such as navarakizhi deliver focused treatment options where you are aware of the specific muscle group that is weak. The herbal formulation will also deliver its specific action in addition to the effect of the fomentation.

Other treatments such as swedana and vastis also are effective in enabling muscle tissues and overcoming weakness. The common goal of most of these procedure is to eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body, regain the balance of the three rogas, and nourish the muscle tissues to grow and overcome the source of the weakness. They also reduce pain by minimizing muscular stress

Other approaches

A common treatment approach includes supplementing these procedures with recommendations of lifestyle changes. This includes adding yoga and exercise to your daily routines and following a sensible diet plan that retains the balance of the three rogas.

Managing and overcoming muscle weakness first involves determining the root cause of this symptom. This needs the support of an Ayurveda doctor. Then always follow what the Ayurveda doctor recommends as a customized treatment plan to treat and manage the symptom of muscle weakness.

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

Credits to http://ayush.gov.in/

Detoxify and Nourish Your Body with Ayurveda – Panchakarma Treatment Chennai

Panchakarma is Ayurveda’s power-packed secret for detoxifying the body from the harmful effects of imbalances in rogas, accumulating ama in the digestive system, reduced immunity, and other conditions that affect the body and mind. Panchakarma literally means five modes of treatment that serve as five critical approaches to purify the body and mind, resulting in complete rejuvenation. The treatment approach is personalized – depending on every individual’s requirements in terms of age, health status, mental status, strength, body constitution, roga balance, how strong the digestive system is, and immunity, in addition to other details. With many inquiries that I receive at my Ayurveda hospital in Chennai focusing on details regarding Panchakarma Treatment Chennai, I thought it’s best to give some quick refresher pointers on what Panchakarma is and why it is so beneficial to restore health.

Why should you embrace Panchakarma?

Panchakarma has evolved as a strong therapeutic procedure that is fast embracing not just staunch believers of Ayurveda but also every wellness-seeking individual. The benefits of this miraculous treatment modality is quite well-known by now. Panchakarma’s ability to restore your body’s mental and physical balance, enabling complete internal detoxification, curing illnesses, and building immunity is what makes it the gold standard of Ayurveda treatments.

Here are some of the well-known benefits of Panchakarma:

Body purification by removing the toxins accumulated in the body through digestive tract, nose, and skin.
Improved blood circulation and hence nourishment to the cells and tissues
Improved metabolic capability since the body is now rid of all harmful elements
The rejuvenated body is now strong with impressive immunity
Panchakarma also delivers the benefit of weight loss
This treatment modality also calms the mind, relieving it of all stress

Panchakarma Treatment Chennai, hence strengthens the body, mind, and soul by getting rid of all the toxins that accumulate in our body and stress our mind as a result of our current lifestyle choices.

What happens in Panchakarma?

This is definitely not a one- or two-day wonder where you walk in, get a massage, and walk out. It requires many weeks and individual-based complete focus to complete the protocols. The process can be physically and mentally exhausting. Hence an experienced Ayurveda doctor has to necessarily perform an in-depth assessment of your body’s situation and determine your capability of undergoing this strenuous procedure.

Panchakarma includes 5 treatment protocols, but the entire process includes three critical stages:

Poorvakarma
Pradhanakarma
Paschatkarma

Poorvakarma

This stage prepares the body for the strenuous protocols of the main treatment. At this stage your expert Ayruveda doctor will review your body constitution, immunity levels, and mental strength to determine the exact karmas to be used in the treatment. Your therapists will then prepare your body to withstand the strenuous pradhankarma. This preparatory steps include snehana and swedana.

Snehana involves massaging the body with a select herbal formulation that your Ayurveda doctor recommends specifically for you. The massage improves blood circulation, relaxes your muscles, and helps in moving out the toxins from the tissues. Swedana involves fomentation, which softens and relaxes the tissues and helps remove the toxins in the form of sweat.

Pradhanakarma

The most exhausting part of the procedure is the pradhanakarma. Each procedure requires extensive focus and skill; hence ensure that your therapists are experts who work under the stringent supervision of your Ayurveda doctor. The multiple steps of this stage include purgation, enema, nasal treatment, and digestive tract cleansing.

Vamana

This first step is critical to remove kapha roga imbalance, which helps in case of allergies, asthma, cough, nasal congestion, and related conditions. The process involves inducing vomiting through a combination on snehana, swedana, and internal medications. This requires a few days, as the body needs to completely remove the toxins.

Virechana

This step focuses on the digestive tract and hence is beneficial to correct pitta roga imbalances that cause digestive disorders, skin conditions, joint pain, jaundice, diabetes, and other conditions. Virechana involves inducing purgation and thorough cleansing of the bowels using both internal and external treatments such as Ayurvedic purgatives and massages, respectively.

Basti

This involves administering enemas and related ghee or milk-based Ayruvedic formulations through the rectum. This step removes vata, pitta, and kapha roga imbalances and is great for digestive tract conditions such as colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, piles. muscular spasms, arthritis, kidney stones, and obesity.

Nasya

This fourth step involves administering Ayurvedic oil-based formulations through the nasal cavity and then flushing them out along with the toxins. This procedure removes toxins from head and neck. This step is useful in managing insomnia, nasal conditions, sinusitis, and migraine.

Rakthamokshana

This step is rarely followed and is considered only in case of severe skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and other related disorders. This involves removing impure blood from a selected area or the entire body.

Paschatkarma

The body is exhausted after multiple days of this strenuous treatment; hence the paschatkarma helps in nourishing the body back to normalcy. The experts watch your body’s response to ensure that there are no untoward responses to the detoxification procedure. For Panchakarma Treatment Chennai, your Ayurveda doctor will plan and monitor your diet so you are gradually nourished back to health. Your doctor will also make healthy lifestyle recommendations.

Contact me for any questions you have about panchakarma treatments, and their benefits. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Tharpanam – Long-lasting care and nourishment for your eyes through the magic of Ayurveda

Tharpanam in the context of Ayurveda treatments means nourishment and netratarpanam specifically refers to nourishing and caring or the eye. This is a popular treatment to cure ailments of the eye and to remove effects of stress on the eyes. Any influence of vata or pitharoga on the eyes can also be cured with tharpanam. This cleansing procedure is also critical in preventing eye irritation, strain, and diseases, delivering an overall cooling effect and strengthening the nerves arising from the eyes. Tharpanam is becoming an increasingly popular treatment at my Ayurveda clinic in Chennai. Given today’s extensive use of mobile phones, tabs, and laptops, our eyes are perennially strained. This procedure comes in as a savior in such instances. So, here are a few details about tharpanam.

Benefits of tharpanam

Tharpanam completely relieves the harmful effects of a fatigued eye, including reduction of puffiness around the eyes, removing headache, alleviating strain to the eyes, removing basic eye problems such as dry eyes, soothing inflammation, and strengthening the nerves of the eye. Tharpanam is also an effective solution for conditions such as corneal disorders, retinitis, and optic nerve disorders. This treatment is also found to be effective in degenerative eye disorders such as glaucoma.

Procedure

The procedure involves placing medicated Ayurveda formulations, especially ghee-based preparations, into the eye sockets. This requires preparing strong poultices made from lentils. This batter is placed in the form of a ring around the eye region. The formulation or ghee is warmed and poured into this ring. The ring-shaped well seals any leakage and retains the warmth for maximum effect. The duration of time for which the formulation is placed inside the well differs, but the procedure usually extends to about half an hour. It usually lasts for more than one session, depending on the purpose of the treatment and the presence of any underlying disorder. After the process, the medication is removed by draining. At the end of the procedure the region of the eye is gently cleaned with a neat cloth and the eyes are sometimes subjected to fomentation to ensure that the medicated oil is entirely absorbed by the body. Sometimes, the doctor recommends applying a bandage around the eye in the night, after the treatment and between sessions. You might also be given supplement Ayurveda medications and recommended special diets during your recovery period.

The key to the success of this procedure is the composition of the formulation, the ability of the poultice to seal in the formulation, the warmth of the formulation, and the duration. The poultice has to be leak proof and has to be placed around the eye sockets carefully so that the entire region on top of and around the eye is exposed to the medication. The Ayurveda doctor determines the type of formulation, duration, and number of sessions based on the inherent condition of the eye. The patient has to keep the eyes open as much as possible all through the procedure. Hence this could be quite a challenge. But the procedure results in rested eyes and completely distressed eyes and even better eyesight.

Points to note

While undergoing this treatment and during recovery, there are a few rules that patients have to follow. Completely avoid bright light since this adds to the strain. Either avoid going out in the sun or wear eye protection, such as sun glasses, when you go out. Restrict the amount of time you spend in front of the television, mobile phone, and computers. Equally restrict reading and other activities that irritate and strain your eyes. The intention is to completely relax your eyes. Check with your doctor before you start your daily routine practices such as having a hair bath, food, etc.

Contact me for any questions you have about tharpanam, the procedure, and its benefits. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

Ayurveda Guidelines for a Healthy Bone-Friendly Diet

As an Ayurveda doctor, I am observing an alarmingly increasing tendency over the recent years for people to develop bone-related disorders. Bones form the framework of our body; hence weakened bones will completely reduce your body’s strength and lead to all types of complications from osteoporosis to a crippling body pain. The best form of cure is definitely prevention, and in addition to a bone-friendly lifestyle, following a bone-friendly diet is critical. But what are the common causes of bone-related issues? Let’s take a look.

Common causes of bone-related issues and why bone-friendly diet

Menopause: Menopause leads to a complete change in a woman’s hormonal profile, especially as a result of lack of estrogen production. As a result, the bones in women become weak and easily prone to injury
Reduced intake of calcium and other bone-friendly elements: Calcium and Vitamin D are the core enablers of a healthy bone structure. If your daily diet does not include enough sources of these two food elements, then you definitely run the risk of facing a bone disorder.
Certain conditions and drug increase the elimination of calcium in urine. If this does not get compensated with the right extent of intake, then the bone structure considerably weakens.
A tendency for bone disorders such as osteoporosis is hereditary. Hence when you know that your chances of developing a bone disorder are high, it is better to develop a preventive plan.
Poor lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle, poor postures, and complete lack of physical exercise are all aggravating factors for bone disorders.
Fall and accidents also lead to bone issues, where the bone formation process needs to be enabled with some additional nourishment.

So, now we know the common reasons why we worry about fortifying our bones. Let’s now look at some of the do’s and don’ts of bone nourishment and what a bone-friendly diet looks like.

Don’t

Never go overboard with salt. Salt causes excessive elimination of calcium through the urine.
Avoid cold and bitter-tasting food items
Avoid alcohol and dried vegetables
Avoid processed and canned foods

Do’s

Eat nuts, green leafy vegetables, and dairy prodcuts so you get your regular intake of vitamin D.
Don’t forget your ghee – include it in all your meals
Sources of plant estrogens are great diet inclusions – for example, soyabeans and sesame seeds.
Milk, buttermilk and all the milk products should be included generously in your diet.
Always check the nutrition value on food packets to find the level of vitamin, salt, and calcium in them
Include a lot of proteins in your food, from legumes to beans.
Include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet; for example, bananas, papaya, watermelon, carrot, spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, and mushrooms
Try adding a lot of brown rice in your diet
Sesame is one of the best source of calcium, so add it liberally to your diet.
Many herbs are precious in supporting strong bones; for example, triphala, aamla, ashwagandha, and brahmi are great sources of calcium.

Never ignore your bone since they form the foundation of your body. Hence in addition to a healthy lifestyle, follow a healthy and bone-friendly diet to keep all bone-related disorders at bay. To find out more about bone-friendly diet, please do connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.

How Effective Is Ayurveda for Paralysis Management?

Paralysis is a condition that completely derails the normal functioning of specific muscles or almost the entire muscular system. The complete loss of mobility of the affected area is the result of interference in the nerve impulse transmission from the brain across all the muscles of the body. Ayurveda terms paralysis as pakshaghat. There are different types of pakshaghat depending on the affected regions of the body. Today’s stressful life has indeed contributed to increasing incidence of paralysis. What causes paralysis? How can we use Ayurveda for paralysis management effectively? Let’s find out

What are the types of paralysis?

Paralysis can affect the entire body, sarvang pakshaghat, or specific portions of the body, such as the face, one side of the body, the face, the limbs, or the trunk and limbs. Each type of paralysis has a specific term – from monoplegia to hemiplegia.

What are the symptoms?

A critical characteristic of paralysis is loss of all voluntary movements in the affected part, along with muscle stiffness and painful spasms. In certain conditions it affects speech and other activities of daily living, leading to depression.

What causes paralysis?

Ayuveda considers paralysis to be an imbalance of the vata roga. Since vata roga is responsible for coordinating movements of the body, any imbalance caused by vata roga will affect the muscular movement. The core issue in paralysis is the lack of communication between the nervous system and the muscular system. The condition can affect the entire body or can be localized. It can also be a lifelong condition or a temporary setback. Paralysis often results from worsening of other pre-existing conditions, such as stroke or high blood pressure, head injury, autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, transient ischaemic attack, cerebral palsy, exposure to toxins such as botulin, or even sudden mention stress. Today’s stress-prone lifestyle is also a critical cause of increasing incidents of paralysis.

In most of these conditions, the smooth flow of blood to the brain is affected, so the brain does not receive the oxygen and other critical nutrients that it needs. Hence the nerve cells weaken and die. This leads to a complete lack of communication with the muscles in the region that are connected to these nerve cells. Often the nature of the symptoms provides a clear indication of the specific nerves that are affected and the cause of the paralysis.

What are the options in Ayurveda for paralysis management?

Ayurveda approach focuses on regaining the vata roga balance and correcting the patient’s lifestyle. My treatment plan depends on the specific patient’s condition, the type of paralysis, the cause, the person’s physical and mental strength and other details. Hence at my Ayurveda hospital in Chennai, my first step is a detailed assessment of the patient and planning a condition-specific protocol. Each patient requires a unique treatment approach, which includes panchakarma treatment, pizhichil, shirovasti, food, medications, and long-lasting lifestyle changes. This is certainly a slow process and the time to rehabilitation will vary from person to person, and definitely on the extent of disruption that paralysis has caused to the body. Here is a quick summary of the specific advantages each treatment protocol can achieve.

Panchakarma is critical for complete detoxification, improvement of circulation, and enhancement of muscular strength. However, it is physically taxing. Hence, we Ayurveda doctors first assess the patient’s fitment before proceeding to this treatment modality.

Other physical treatments include abhyangam, pizhichil, shirodhara, sarvangadhara, and other approaches that use the power of three techniques, medicated oils and fluids, steam, and massage. Expert therapists can use strict techniques to stimulate muscles, nerve endings, circulation, mind, and body over a period of time, reducing stress and increasing wellness.

Internal medications focus on restoring the body’s agni and strengthening the nerves and muscles, along with rasayanas that stimulate body nourishment and pacify the vata.

Food intake is monitored and controlled strictly, allowing warm food and fluids and completely banning junk food and cold food intake. Strict adherence to meal times and eating healthy and fresh food makes a world of difference.

Lifestyle changes are specific to the person’s health, body constitution and living conditions, controlling the sleep cycle, extent of activity, relaxed environment, and stress-free living options.

When you choose Ayurveda for paralysis management, you must understand that there is no one treatment option that will bring any magic cure. It is a long process and the result depends on the patient’s current condition and individual situation. Hence always go in for a detailed assessment with an experienced Ayurveda doctor instead of blindly jumping into treatment options as intense as panchakarma treatment. This condition requires a lot of patience and dedicated effort by the right expert.

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

Sirolepa – An Effective Ayurveda Treatment for Scalp and Head-Related Conditions

Sirolepa directly translates as an application to the head. Also called pothichal, this treatment is an extremely procedure that Ayurveda doctors prescribe for scalp and head-related conditions, from simple headache and dandruff cure to even supplementary care for hemiplegia and mental disorders. A simple application of a paste of herbal formulations across the entire scalp and allowing the medications to permeate through the scalp for a specific period for more than one session can have a significant effect on the body and mind. Sirolepa is one of the most common procedures that I recommend for my patients visiting my clinic in Chennai, especially for its calming effect. Let’s find out a little more about Sirolepa.

Benefits of Sirolepa

Sirolepa shows incredible benefits in curing conditions such as headache, dandruff, and other conditions affecting the hair and scalp such as graying of hair and hair fall. It also shows incredible improvement in case of facial paralysis, disorders of the eye, and even scalp disorders, as well as ear-, nose-, and throat related disorders. The procedure helps in sharpening vision and helping cure insomnia. However, one of its other predominant effects is that the treatment keeps the body and mind calm and peaceful, removing fatigue and anxiety. An interesting application of Sirolepa is in enhancing memory power and managing mental disorders such as vertigo, depression, hyperactivity, and Alzheimer’s disease by using potent medications in the form of pastes during the procedure. Overall this procedure is useful for vata rogas and pitta rogas.

Procedure followed for Sirolepa

There are many simple variants of the Sirolepa; however, the overall procedure is common. As a first step, the therapist first performs a gentle head massage with herbal oil. This process lasts for about 15 minutes. After this preparatory step, the main process begins. The therapist now prepares a herbal formulation in the form of a paste. The main ingredients depend on the type of condition the patient has and the purpose of the treatment. The decision about the specific medicinal herbs and the carrier oil is taken by the Ayurveda doctor after a thorough examination of the patient.

The commonly used herbs include amla, rasanadi, shikakai, triphala, brahmi, and bringaraka. The carriers are usually ghee or buttermilk or any other potent carrier. The therapist prepares a finely ground paste and places the paste all over the scalp evenly, ensuring that every part of the scalp is covered with a thick layer. The entire scalp is then covered with a fresh banana leaf or lotus leaf, which is tied securely. The therapist then waits for 15 minutes for all the medications to seep through and enter the blood stream through the scalp. The banana leaf is then removed and the entire paste is removed and the excess oil wiped off or washed away. Rice bran water is sometimes used for this process. The overall procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes.

In some variants of this process, a thin muslin cloth is tied over the forehead, so that the paste does not seep through to the eyes. As a last step the therapist gives a warm water bath to the patient.

Sirolepa is not recommended as a one-time procedure. It is repeated across 2 to 3 weeks, with definite period of rest between two sessions. Only then will the patient observe considerable benefits. However, please be sure to consult an expert Ayurveda doctor who can perform a detailed diagnosis and recommend just the right mode of Sirolepa, in terms of the herbal formulation, for you.

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

Nourish Your Digestive Agni with Ayurveda-Based Approaches Based on Your Body Constitution

Agni means fire, but Agni is also the core source, responsible for creating and nourishing life. Agni or fire is hence critical for Ayurveda, and is one of the five structural elements or building blocks of the human body. One important responsibility of fire is nourishment or digestion. A healthy digestive system ensures a strong digestive agni and hence a well-balanced mind, body, and soul. However the approach to proper nourishment to protect your agni varies between vata-, pitta-, and kapha-dominant personalities. What are the ideal food habits that you need to follow for these three different types of people? How can these habits promote your digestive agni? Let’s find out.

Ideal food habits for Vata-dominant people

Vata indicates warmth; hence people whose vata roga is predominant must focus on consuming warm food that is cooked well. They must stay away from cold and even uncooked food. Ensure that you maintain a healthy gap between meals and eat small amounts across multiple times rather than stuff your digestive system with heavy and unhealthy food. This regular approach of feeding the human body with healthy food will benefit a vata-type personality.

Recommended foods include soups, well-cooked food, rice and other grains, butter, nuts, oils, and juicy fruit. Avoid salads and similar raw and cold food that’s drying, including apples. Reduce your intake of legumes and ensure that you soak them overnight to reduce the flatulence they cause. Limited intake of milk and other dairy products are also recommended.

Ideal food habits for Pitta-dominant people

Pitta is all about fire and their bodies are primarily warm. As a result these individuals have a pretty strong digestive system and fast metabolism. Although they can manage most food items, they should ideally stay away from salty and sour food and items that increase the body heat further. These lucky individuals can afford to add considerable sweet, cool, and raw food like salad in their diet. Most grains including rice and wheat, dairy products, and most vegetables are good for them. Very few items such as garlic, hot spices, excess salt and sour fruits and vegetables should be avoided. Of course, lime can be added. Although their digestive system is strong, they should reduce the intake of legumes and oil, except coconut oil.

Ideal food habits for Kapha-dominant people

People with kapha-dominant personality have high immunity but their rate of metabolism is slow; hence they have a high tendency to put on weight. So their food intake must help them take their mind off food and focus on health. This means they should include more of bitter-tasting food in their diet. These individuals must be extremely careful about what they eat, avoiding fatty and fried food, heavy dairy, and grains. Focus on grains such as millet and barley, vegetables from above the ground, and raw and steamed food. Avoid excessive sweets, nuts, and legumes. Limit salt intake and heavy food. The focus is to eat light.

General Ayurveda-based recommendations to nourish your digestive agni

Avoid snacking between meals – give your body time to assimilate each meal before going to the next
Prepare your digestive system for a meal by taking warm fluids
Eat smaller amounts but for more number of times across a day and eat only when you are hungry
Breakfast and lunch can be heavier than dinner – ensure that dinner is always light
Focus on what you eat – chew your food well and enjoy what you eat
Make it a point to add spices and ingredients such as turmeric, pepper, ginger, and cumin, which have carminative, antiseptic, and weight loss effects
After eating enable your digestive tract to breakdown the food and absorb nutrients; hence avoid sleeping after a meal
Detoxify your digestive system regularly with cleansing through fasting and smart dieting

These approaches will not only nourish your digestive agni but also help you avoid hurting your digestive system and your entire body. You will need the support of your trusted Ayurveda doctor to assess what your body type is and then follow a specific and dedicated diet model. Contact me for any further questions you may have about planning your diet. You can connect with me at http://www.miayurveda.org/ or call me at +91-9444615161.