Stay healthy with Ayurveda: Obesity - Treating it Ayurveda Way

Stay healthy with Ayurveda: Obesity - Treating it Ayurveda Way: Obesity - Treating it Ayurveda Way Obesity is a condition characterised by improper fat metabolism and storage in the body especial...

Osteo Arthritis Treatment with Ayurveda

Osteo Arthritis Treatment with Ayurveda

Oteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints which usually occurs with old age. The joints have a cartilagenous part and a synovial membrane filled with synovial fluid. This synovial fluid is a thick substance which lubricates the joints and facilitates movement. It also prevents the cartilages from wearing off, hence maintaining the integrity of the joint. In osteoarthritis, there is a thinning and drying up of the synovial fluid and degeneration of the synovial membrane. This leads to friction between the cartilages and their degeneration. This degenerative process is progressive and results in permanent bone deformity and pain. Mostly the weight bearing joints are affected especially the knee, hip etc and sometimes the feet, hand and spine are also affected. Any previous injury to the joint and overweight are some of the predisposing factors of osteoarthritis.

Symptoms:

• Pain which worsens on exertion.
• Swelling of the joints
• Cracking sound in the joints on movement.
• Restricted  movement in the affected joint.
• Spasm of the surrounding muscles.
• Fluid accumulation in the joint.

Osteoarthritis- modern management

The main stay of treatment in case of osteoarthritis is pain management. It is achieved by painkillers and injecting steroids into the affected joint which gives short term relief from pain. In more severe and chronic cases, total joint replacement is resorted to.

Osteoarthritis In Ayurveda:

This condition is very clearly explained in Ayurveda as Sandhigata Vata. The vata (one of the thre bioregulating principles of the body) aggravated by various reasons like improper diet, over exertion, injury, exposure to cold, suppression of natural urges, staying awake at night, old age etc, affects the joints, dries up the lubricating synovial fluid, degenerates the joints and causes the disease.

So the main stay of treatment is pacification of Vata and nourishment of the joints. Panchakarma treatment especially Vasti is very effective for Vata related disorders. Other external treatments like massage, Elakizhi, Januvasti, Sarvanga Dhara are very effective in retarding the degenerative process. These treatments when complimented with good food habits, internal medicines like guggulu preparations, kashayams etc, and small modifications in lifestyle, the outcome is excellent with remarkable improvement in pain and enhancement of the health of the joints, that too without any side effects.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE:

The digestive fire plays an important role in pathogenesis of any disease. Similarly, even in this condition, one has to rectify the digestion and bowel movement before expecting and change in the disease condition. The digestion should be regulated with light foods which are not too oily, easily digestible and should not aggravate Vata. Mostly dals, tubers like potato etc aggravates Vata and hence should be strictly avoided. The quantity of food should also be appropriate and one must eat only after feeling hunger. Day sleep has to be strictly avoided, so is bath in cold water and exposure to cold wind. One should ensure good sleep at night. Any disturbance in the bowel has to be rectified at the earliest. Constipation increases Vata in the body which in turn causes pain in the affected joint.

One can add moderate amount of ghee in the food which increases the digestion and facilitates pacification of Vata. One should not consume the food which is refrigerated and cold since it increases the heavy nature of the food and hampers the digestive fire. One must always consume food which is freshly prepared, not too hot, pleasing to the mind and body, consisting more of vegetables, fresh fruits, green leaves and pulses. Meat soup nourishes the tissues and joints, but it should be avoided by people who are obese.

Finally weight management is an important factor in management of this disease. More the weight, it causes stress on already stressed out joint and further degenerates it. But to much of strain in form of exercise also is harmful. A balanced treatment comprising of external therapies, internal medications, diet and lifestyle regulation gives excellent result in the management of this condition.

Obesity - Treating it Ayurveda Way

Obesity - Treating it Ayurveda Way

Obesity is a condition characterised by improper fat metabolism and storage in the body especially under the skin. This storage of fat causes a large number of problems to the body, affecting many organs. When the energy supply to the body exceeds the requirement, the excess energy is stored in the form of fat mainly under the skin for future use. This storage of fat by the body is a defensive mechanism as a contingency store during a period of shortage. But unfortunately, the period of shortage never occurs and its just more and more fat which gets stored in excess in the body everyday. There is an increase in the number of obese individuals in the present time. Many factors can be attributed to this drift like excess availability of resources and a wide choice of foods, machines assisted life, sedentary work pattern and lifestyle and increased stress levels.

Obesity may lead to many other complains such as diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, liver disorders, vascular diseases etc. It reduces the quality of life and work efficiency. It is a complication when present with other physical and mental ailments. It creats problem at multi organ level. Only on rare occasions, obesity occurs as a result of hormonal imbalance or genetic in nature. But most of the time it is due to improper dietery intake and a sedentary lifestyle.

Symptoms:

• Increased body weight.
• Flabbiness of the abdomen and waist.
• Lethargy
• Breathlessness on even mild exertion,
• Dislike for physical activity.
• Excessive sleep.
• Increased perspiration on exertion.
• Low sexual activity

Management of Obesity:

The first line of treatment for obesity is dietary management and more physical activity and regular exercise. No medication can help in this condition like a proper diet and an active lifestyle. In dietary management, crash dieting or complete fasting will not help, on the contrary it is very harmful. There should a change in the type of food rather than drastic reduction in food quantity. Some people resort to eating when they are stressed. Such individuals should identify this process and should find ways to manage stress in a harmless and healthy way like meditation, yoga etc. In extreme cases of obesity, modern medicine offers surgical solutions like partial or total gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery etc. These surgical procedures are associated with their own complications like heart diseases, stroke etc.

In Ayurveda, there is a deep understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease rather than just considering it as excess fat under the skin. The body is made up of 7 tissues namely Rasa (nutrition part which seperates from the food), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscles) , Medas (fat), Asthi (bones), Majja (marrow) and Shukra (semen and the other hormonal complex for reproduction). The Rasa is formed from the food after it undergoes transformation with the digestive fire. Each of the tissue possess a digestive fire of it own which metabolises that tissue and transforms it into the successive tissue element.

In case of obesity, there is a fault at the level of Medas (fat). The fire in this dhatu is impaired hence the proper transformation of this tissue to the next level of Asthi does not happen and it leads to the accumulation of this tissue in the body which results in Obesity or Sthoulya. Kapha (one among the 3 bio regulating principles of the body) which has qualities similar to medas is also vitiated in this condition.There is also the impairement of the digestive fire and a block in all the channels of the body due to this vitiated Medo dhatu.

The main line of management is increasing the digestive fire of the body and also of the individual tissue, clearing the channels of the body and elimination of any undigested toxins from the body. Panchakarma therapies are best suited for this purpose. It helps in removing the block from the various channels of the body and clearing the body of the Aama (undigested toxins). The internal medications are also administered which helps to cut down the fat and also increase the tissue's Digestive fire, so that the fat which is cut down easily transforms to the successive tissues. But these medications work effectively only after the purificatory therapies. Udwarthana is the treatment of choice when it comes to external procedures. This involves rigorous massage of the body with fine herbal powder, which results in the liquifaction of the subcutaneous fat and it is eliminated through the pores of the skin.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE:

Diet plays the most important part in the treatment of this condition. Since the digestive fire is hampered even at the tissue level, the diet should be light and easy to digest comprising more of fresh leafy vegetables and fruits. Pulses and cereals should be supplemented instead of carbohydrate and fat containing foods like rice, meat etc. Over eating and intake of heavy and hard to digest foods are to be strictly avoided. Fried oily foods should also be avoided. Day sleep has to be strictly avoided. One should indulge in regular exercise and an active lifestyle. Physical exercise can involve simple walking for atleast 45 mins every day. Vigilant monitering of the weight can help prevent the complications of obesity like arthritis, hypertension etc.

Oil bath and bath in cold water has to be avoided. Simple boiled vegetables, fruit salads, high fibre containing foods like oats etc are beneficial. Groundnut oil should not be used for cooking, instead sesame oil can be used. The diet should always consist of small portion of digestive drugs like cumin, pepper etc which can be included easily as a part of cooking.

Migrane - Treating it Ayurveda way

Migrane - Treating it Ayurveda way

Migraine is a debilitating disease characterised by moderate to severe headache which is throbbing in nature, often associated with nausea and localised to one side of the head. The actual cause or pathogenesis of this disease is not yet known. Some believe it is due to some inflammatory reactions taking place in the brain which causes the blood vessels and regions of brain to swell creating pressure on the neighbouring nerves and giving rise to pain. This inflammatory reactions also stimulates the pain centers of the brain giving rise to the excruciating and debilitating pain characteristics of this condition. It is still not clear what triggers this inflammatory reaction. Some of the factors might be

• Irregularity in sleep
• Hunger ,  fasting
• Hot sun
• Hormonal stimulation especially in women.
• Adverse stimulation of the senses like bright light, loud noise, strong smell
• Excess cold
• Some foods like alcohol, coffee, spices etc.

Symptoms:

• Headache, mostly unilateral, moderate to severe, throbbing in nature.
• Nausea, loss of appetite
• Dizziness and visual disturbances
• Sensitivity to light, sound and smell

Treatment in modern medicine is basically administration of analgesics according to the requirment of the patient and the condition. It is supplemented with antiemetics and other symptoms are treated symptomatically. Although a variety of pain relievers are available to treat a migraine, it only suppresses the pain. The problem persists in the body and prolonged use of painkillers have been known to cause severe side effects.

Migraine – In Ayurveda

Like any other disease, migraine is also caused by any of the three bioregulating principles  of the body namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The causative principle can be identified  by the symptom exhibited.  Predominantly it is the Pitta which affects the channels of the mind and causes this disease along with the undigested  toxins  called aama.

Hence in Ayurveda, treatment is based on regulating the digestive system with pacification of the Pitta dosha. Medicines to improve the strength of the nervous system is also found to be effective. Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapies are very effective in treating the disease. Special treatments like Shirodhara and Nasya are recommended in this condition. Shiro pichu can also be resorted to in this condition. These treatments complimented with internal medicines gives excellent relief from this condition.

Diet and Lifestyle:

Identifying the triggering factor is an important step towards an effective management of the disease. Right diet in this case is the one which pacifies Pitta dosha. One must avoid spicy, hot, and sour foods. A cooling diet is beneficial as a curative and preventive measure. Fresh fruits and vegetables and a diet with ghee and butter is indicated.

Avoiding exposure to hot sun, exposure to moon light, soothing head massage, meditation, regular practice of Yoga and pranayama etc are very effective in curing migraine.

Hair loss and Ayurveda

Hair loss

Hair loss is a cause of great concern and worry for people. Hair growth occurs in cycles. It occurs in 3 phases- growth phase, transitional phase and resting phase. At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls and new hair starts to grow in that follicle. Problem occurs when there is a disruption in this cycle. The hair may fall prematurely during it's growing phase or the hair which falls does'nt grow back. This leads to loss of density in the hair. Hair loss is common in males rather than females. In males one can usually find frontal baldness with the backward receding of the hair line, or baldness developing on the vertex of the head. These patterns are very rare in females. In females it is usually diffuse hairfall resulting in reduction of overall density of hair. Pattern baldness is usually confused with patchy hairfall of alopecia areata.

Causes:

• Stress
• Some medications
• Skin disorders especially psoriasis, dandruff etc
• Any illness or surgery.
• Harmonal imbalance
• Heridity
• Aging
• Anaemia
• Pregnancy and lactation.

Due to these causes, either the blood circulation to the root of the hair is hampered or the blood becomes deficient of the nutrients to nourish the hair.

MANAGEMENT:

In Ayurveda, hairfall and baldness is more common in people of Pitta constitution. They are also more prone for premature greying. But first the cause of hairfall has to be identified and treated accordingly. Usually increased Pitta (which is one among the 3 bioregulating principles of the body) causes hairloss. Pitta is increased in the body due to improper diet which consists of hot, spicy, salty and sour food items, excessive exposure to sun, anger, stress, improper sleep pattern, unhealthy food habits etc. Therapies like shirodhara, Ksheeradhara, shiropichu with oils capable of pacifying Pitta is very effective in hairfall. Use of Nasya (process of instilling medications into the nostrils) regularly, strengthens the hair roots and prevents hair loss. It also reduces the effect of Pitta in the head region. When dandruff is the causative factor of hairfall, it can be effectively treated with head massage with ayurvedic oils. Oil usage with usage of internal medications to  treat anemia has remarkable effect in controlling hairfall. Medical conditions like psoriasis, harmonal imbalance have to be treated with relevant medications and when this is supplemented with oils and therapies to reduce hairfall, it is very effective. Yoga and pranayama is recommended for people for whom stress is the main reason for hairloss.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE:

• One must take healthy diet rich in all nutrients.
• Intake of very spicy, hot, sour and salty food items has to be avoided.
• One must wash the scalp and hair with a mild shampoo atleast twice a week
• One must use luke warm water for washing hair. Too much hot water has to be avoided.
• Rinsing hair with Triphala powder mixed water or with water in which dried fruits of Amla is soaked overnight , is very beneficial.
• One must wear cap or should cover the head while going out in sun and dust.
• One must take diet rich in Iron like dates, dry grapes etc
• Application of hair packs with herbs beneficial for the hair like Amla, henna, hibiscus, curry leaves etc is useful.
• Avoid using chemicals on the hair like conditioners, sprays etc.
• Regular use of oil with gentle massage to the scalp is good for improving the blood supply to hair roots.
• Regular practice of yoga and pranayama is important to free the body of stress

Insomnia - Treating it using Ayurveda

Insomnia - Treating it using Ayurveda

Insomnia is a disorder of sleep which is characterised by difficulty in falling asleep through out night. According to the duration of the complaint, it can be either episodic or transient, acute or short term lasting for less than 3 weeks and chronic or long term. It is sometimes a sign or symptom of some other physical or mental complaint. The main cause for the condition is improper sleeping habit, going to bed at different time each night, day sleep, too much light or noise in the place of sleep, spending too much time on the bed when not sleeping, sedentary lifestyle, watching television or working on computer while on bed etc. Some medications, chemicals, stress, anxiety, some painful disease condition, pregnancy etc can also lead to insomnia.

Sleep is important for many reasons. Most of all, it is an important regenerative process and the body gets repaired during sleep, and it is very much essential for proper functioning of the brain. When one does not get a restful, night's sleep, the person ends up being tired through out the day time, which affects the work efficiency and the concentration.

Symptoms:

• Trouble falling asleep.
• Sleep gets easily disturbed during night.
• Not feeling refreshed on waking up from sleep.
• Feeling tired and sleepy during day time.

MANAGEMENT:

The medical management of insomnia in modern is mainly use of Antihistamines, sedatives and anti depressants. They have many complications like creating dependence or when used long term, it may lead to tolerance too. Psychiatric intervention is also sort when the problem is chronic. Stress and anxiety management, cognitive behaviour therapy, etc are also tried in such cases.

In Ayurveda, sleep is considered as one of the three pillars of life. When one has a disturbance in it, either less or excess, it has a negative impact on the health, physical and mental. Sleeplessness causes emaciation, vitiation of Vata, one of the three bioregulating principles of the body, and creates toxicity in the body. Vata is very much aggravated in the body when one does not have a proper sleep and also, when the Vata is aggravated in the body, it leads to insomnia and disturbed sleep. Vata is aggravated due to:

• Intake of very dry, spicy and sour food substances.
• Intake of cold beverages and food items.
• Intake of foods of mutually contradictory characteristics, eg curd and fish, milk and any sour food item.
• Avoiding food intake when hungry
• Taking insufficient quantity of food.
• Exposure to dry and cold winds.
• Being awake at night.
• Excessive indulgence in sex.
• Doing strenuous exercise and work.
• Travelling long distance.
• Sitting in improper posture for long duration.
• Habitual suppression of urges of urine and feaces.
• Old age

So the main line of treatment for insomnia is prevention of cause and pacification of the aggravated Vata. Vata is effectively controlled by use of oil. Shirodhara is another treatment procedure which is very effective for insomnia. Lukewarm oil is made to drop in a thin stream on the forehead in this procedure. It has a very soothing effect on the mind and relaxes the body. This is the treatment of choice for chronic insomnia. Oil can be substituted with milk (ksheeradhara) or buttermilk (takradhara), according to the requirement. Abhyanga or massage has a very remarkable effect on this condition. A full body massage pacifies vata and is effective in insomia due to associated conditions like periodic limb movement disorder, restless leg syndrome etc. These treatment procedures complimented with internal medicines which have pacifying effect on the mind, is effective in treatment of this condition. Yoga and pranayama, ensures a peaceful state of mind and body which brings forth restful sleep at nights.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE:

• One must take adequate amount of dinner which has proper amount of fat in it.
• Excessive dry and spicy foods should be avoided especially at night.
• One must keep the mind free and relaxed while going to sleep.
• Reading good books esp on spirituality at bedtime is helpful.
• Playing relaxing and pleasing music at bedtime has beneficial effect.
• One must regularize the sleeping time and should go to bed early at the same time.
• Day sleep should be avoided
• One must avoid doing official work or spending time on the bed during day time.
• Milk, sugarcane juice, soups, meat soups, curd of buffalo milk , black gram, food prepared with flour etc are some substance which induces sleep.
• Soaking the leg in warm water mixed with little salt, just before bedtime ensures good sleep.
• Massage to the head and foot with oil is very beneficial.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Treating it with Ayurveda

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Treating it with Ayurveda

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. The wall of the intestine usually exhibits rhythmic contractions called the peristaltic movements, which facilitates the passage of the contents from one part to the next. In this condition, the walls of the intestines are sensitized to even mild stimulus which causes excess spasmodic contraction of the wall of intestines. Specific foods like caffeine, spicy foods etc may initiate such response or at times just the presence of food in the intestines can trigger such response. Stress is an important causative factor. The symptoms may start after an episode of intestinal infection.

SYMPTOMS:

• Abdominal pain
• Frequent bowel movements
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Urgency in bowel evacuation
• Flatulence
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation of bowels
• Distension of abdomen
• Anxiety

MANAGEMENT:

Management of this condition in modern medicine is through administeration of anti spasmodics, anti diarrheals (in case of IBS with diarrhoea) , stool softeners (in case of IBS with constipation), fibre supplementation, anti depressants etc. These medications used long time can have their own complications and these involve only symptomatic relief rather than treatment of cause.

This condition can be correlated to disease called Grahani described in Ayurveda. A person who suffered with diarrhoea (because of any infection), if he indulges in improper food and lifestyle, his digestive fire which is already weak, gets further affected and leads to this condition. This disease is characterised by diarrhoea or constipation, fullness of abdomen, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, emaciation, etc.

The digestive fire is greatly affected in this condition. Hence , the first line of treatment is regulation of the digestive fire and elimination of the undigested toxins. The treatment for indigestion, namely fasting, administeration of digestives and carminatives are indicated. When the toxins are profound, it first has to be eliminated through detoxitification. In Ayurveda, detoxification is done through the Panchakarma therapies of Vamana (emesis) and Virechana (purgation). These procedures complimented with internal medicines gives remarkable results in this condition. When IBS is stress induced, Shirodhara, has very good calming effect on the mind. With the right diet and lifestyle and with regular practice of Yoga and Pranayama, one cn effectively manage the disease.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE:

The diet should be light and easily digestible.

• Use of Ghee regularly has very good effect over the digestive system.
• Too much oily food has to be avoided.
• Too much heavy, spicy, hot and salty foods has bad impact over the digestive system.
• Digestive and carminative spices like cumin, pepper, ginger, asafoetida etc should always be used in our diet.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Curd should not be taken regularly.
• Food should be taken only after one feels hungry.
• Sipping hot water at intervals helps in increasing digestion.
• Avoid excessive cold beverages and food.
• Foods which are old or refrigerated should not be consumed.
• Avoid day sleep
• Regular and mild exercises helps to increase digestion.
• Practicing Yoga regularly help to regulate the digestion and bowel movements.