The Return of Ayurveda

The limitation of modern medical science once again highlights the inability of the conventional system of medicine to cure various new diseases. To a large extent infectious diseases like small pox, chicken pox, measles etc that were caused by bacteria and viruses etc have been brought under control. There is an increase in life expectancy. But on the other side the number of people suffering from degenerative and neoplastic diseases like cancer, stroke, heart disease is on the increase. To quote The India Times of 28 December 2008, there has been a six-fold increase in the number of diabetic patients, 200% increase in breast cancer patients. Obesity is on the rise too. Drugs developed to treat these conditions enter the market with much fanfare only to be banned after a couple of years for their worse side effects, only useful in fattening the purses of the multibillion dollar drug companies in the process. The deterioration of medical ethics, along with the limitations of modern scientific medicine in curing many diseases has prompted many westerners to seek alternative in the Eastern traditional methods. Ayurvedic therapies and Chinese techniques have become increasingly popular in the Western societies.

The eastern therapies adopt a more humane approach to illnesses and treat the person as a whole. The treatment prescribed brings the patient closer to nature. Herbs and plants, seasonal do’s and don’ts, emphasis on change in lifestyle etc gives him/her a closeness to nature which was lost long back. Thus Ayurveda endeavors to establish in human beings the harmony present in nature.

Ayurveda is a way of life based on ones constitution. And a person’s constitution is determined on the preponderance or lack of three humors namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Based on ones constitution his/her diet, life-style, do’s and don’ts are prescribed. Herbs, plants, salts, metals etc are used in preparation of medicines. Massage, panchakarma etc are some of the therapies for cleansing. My subsequent posts will brief these processes (even though they are beyond the scope of home remedies).

I wish all my readers a happy and healthy New Year.

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Ayurveda, Coconut and Cholesterol

Coconut oil has come back with a bang into the kitchens world over. What was once shunned as cholesterol causing, is now prescribed for reducing cholesterol.

People like Dr. Mercola and Dr. Harindran Nair prescribe a spoon of coconut oil every morning for reducing cholesterol (reduction of LDL and regulation of HDL).

Coconut and coconut oil have excellent medicinal and antioxidant properties. Our ancestors knew that for a fact. People of Kerala use coconut and coconut oil extensively in their daily life. The coconut milk was used in preparing very delicious dishes. The advent of vegetable and sunflower oils etc., into the Kerala lifestyle was sudden. Almost immediately sprung up stories of increase in “cholesterol” levels due to usage of coconut oil and coconut. Coconut was thus pushed forcefully down from its position of preeminence.

Now history has repeated itself. Studies now show that the level of cholesterol is on the increase even after stopping usage of coconut oil. And then came the shocking truth, the new oil which was supposed to reduce cholesterol and ‘good for heart’, has increased the cholesterol levels.

So now coconut is rich in antioxidants. Eating coconut is good for stomach ulcers. Tender coconut water is good at reducing ‘heat’. And coconut oil helps in lowering cholesterol.

Virgin coconut oil is useful in treating simple skin problems. It also helps you lose weight.

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Medicinal Properties of Fenugreek

Fenugreek has been used as a home remedy to treat a number of ailments ranging from stomach ache, arresting hair fall, increase virility, general tonic etc.

Fenugreek of late has drawn the attention of the medical world for its anti-diabetic properties. It is available in capsule form in many health food stores.

It can

1. Pacify heat.
2. Stop diarrhea.
3. Soften skin
4. Cure cough.
5. Cure mouth ulcers.

The list goes on and on. My other blog on Siddha Home Remedies lists some of the home remedies that can be made using fenugreek to cure many ailments.

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Flowers as Ayurvedic Home Remedies

Ayurveda uses flowers to cure certain diseases. Flowers play an important role in our lives. Flowers of various hues and colours soothe your mood and relax your mind. The fragrance of certain flowers cools you down. Certain flowers can cure diseases when eaten. Following are some flowers used for treating diseases.

Rose

Even though many colours of roses are available the original roses are the best ones suited medicinally. This alone has the enchanting fragrance. Rosewater prepared from rose flowers is used as eyedrops to keep away all eye related infections. Kulkund made from rose cures ulcers of the stomach. The powder of dried rose petals acts as excellent laxatives.

Jasmine

Jasmine falls under the category of herbs which cure diseases just by inhaling them. For example, most of the mental disorders decrease in severity on inhaling jasmine flowers. It calms your mind.

Sunflower

Oil obtained from the seeds of sunflower can be applied on acne. This promotes healing without suppuration. When applied on swollen joints it is found to reduce inflammation. Sunflower oil is used in preparing various dishes.

Shoe flower

The red five petaled shoe flower has excellent medicinal value.

5-10 petals of the shoe flower are chewed. Drink a glass of water. This is found to cure ulcers of stomach. Also white discharge or leukorrhea can be treated this way.

The petals of 4-5 flowers are ground into a paste and mixed in buttermilk. Drinking this buttermilk cleanses your blood. It also strengthens your heart.

For hair fall, premature graying, and baldness etc a preparation made of shoe flower has proved to be beneficial. This is how you prepare it. Put petals of 50 shoe flowers in linseed oil and put this oil in a bottle. Wrap it with a thin white cloth and place it in sunlight for 10 days. Stir the oil once morning and evening. Filter the shoe flower out from linseed oil and mix coconut oil of equal quantity. This should be applied everyday on the scalp to prevent hair fall.

Plantain flower

Known for its excellent diuretic property dishes made of plantain flower are good in curing most of the stomach problems. They are also good at curing hemorrhoids. Some excellent dishes can be found here.

Neem flower

Gather neem flowers during the flowering season, clean and dry them. Powder the flowers and store them. This powder can be used in preparing rasam etc, to cure pitha and vadha related diseases. It also protects the liver.

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A Simple Ayurvedic Home Remedy for Bloated Stomach

Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of diet and lifestyle to lead a disease free life. By diet it means intake of fresh as well as cooked vegetables and fruits and avoidance of non-vegetarian food. By lifestyle it means observance of certain basics like exercise, yoga etc.

Even intake of vegetarian food is to be in moderation, Ayurveda insists. If not, it leads to indigestion, bloated stomach, improper assimilation of food etc.

One simple ayurvedic home remedy for simple bloated stomach, indigestion etc is given below.

Take 20 drops of lemon, 20 drops of grated ginger juice and 7 drops of honey. Mix them together and keep it ready. Now take a spoonful of cumin seeds and chew them thoroughly. Swallow down the chewed cumin seeds and immediately drink the lemon, ginger honey mix. This will clear the bloated stomach and indigestion due to overeating in minutes.

I will give below one traditional remedy for bloated stomach.

Take 100 gm of coriander seeds and 25 gm cumin seeds. Powder these seeds to a fine consistency and mix them thoroughly. Take a spoonful of this powder and add it to a glass of milk. This is an excellent remedy for a bloated stomach.

Ashta choornam is an Ayurvedic preparation for gas and bloated stomach. Half teaspoon of ashtachoornam is mixed with a bolus of hot rice and taken before the main course. A bit of ghee can be added to this. This is found to stimulate appetite. It helps in proper bowel elimination. It arrests diarrhea due to indigestion. It prevents accumulation of gas in stomach.

One way to prevent formation of gas is to take food based on one's intake capacity. One rule of thumb is to have solids half the stomach, 25% water and the remaining 25% be left empty. This should be found out through personal experience. Ayurveda discourages eating to full.

One of my earlier posts details ways to make some Siddha choornams for gas and indigestion.

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A Simple Ayurvedic Hair Oil for Hair Care

One formula for hair growth used from time immemorial is given below. It has both external and internal components.

The four main ingredients needed to prepare this concoction are

1. Juice of henna leaves 200 ml
2. Juice of karisalankanni leaves (false daisy or swamp daisy) 200 ml
3. Juice of adukku chembaruthi (hibiscus flower and buds) 200 ml
4. Juice of kariveppilai (curry leaves) 200 ml.

Add all the juices to 800 ml of coconut oil and heat the combination.

Anjana kal is a sort of black stone available in local herbal stores in South India. 40 gm of this is ground to a fine powder and sieved using a fine piece of cloth. Also 40 gm of ashes of coconut shell is sieved and stored.

The oil is heated to the required level (one way to test this is to see whether a grain of paddy when dropped into the oil turns to a puffed one).

Place the anjana kall powder and coconut shell powder in a wide mouthed steel vessel. Cover the mouth with a cotton cloth to filter. Pour the hot oil into the vessel and let it cool. Store it in a cool dry place.

Regular application of this oil helps in hair growth. It can be used by people of all ages.

To further strengthen hair growth, ‘lohasavam’ 15 ml can be taken twice a day (morning and before bed).

‘Narasimha Rasayanam’ 1 teaspoon twice a day also helps.

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Ayurvedic Tips for Constipation Part I

One reason for constipation is frequent intake of foods that do not have the necessary viscosity or laxity. Intake of such foods regularly for a few days leads to absence of viscosity in intestines, resulting in hardening of stools which ultimately ends up as constipation.

Suppressing the urge to defecate also leads to constipation in the long run. Similarly exerting oneself to defecte when there is no urge is also harmful.

Absence of exercise results in inaction of rib muscles and this can also lead to constipation.

The posture adopted to defecate can also result in improper defecation. Our forefathers adopted a squatting posture which helped to dilate the anus naturally and it resulted in better and fuller evacuation of the bowels. When using a western closet this does not happen as you have to sit on it like on a chair.

These are some of the reasons for constipation. From this it is quite obvious that changing your diet and adopting an active lifestyle which includes daily exercise can cure constipation to a large extent.

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Ayurveda for Diabetes and Triglycerides

Increasing consumption of sugar in various forms is one reason for increase in triglycerides. Excessive consumption of tea, coffee also increases triglycerides.

The fat (triglycerides) produced by the body from unused calories attach to lipoproteins of the liver and enter into the bloodstream. Thus triglycerides can settle on the walls of the blood vessels and reduce the passage for free flowing of blood into the heart and other vital organs. This can lead to heart attacks. Along with smoking, coffee, alcohol, excessive consumption of sugars can lead to increase in the level of triglycerides.

The great Ayurveda sage Charaka gives following reasons for diabetes and a host of other diseases including elevated levels of triglycerides.

1. Staying in a comfortable physical posture for an extended period of time.
2. Lying in a cushioned bed beyond necessity.
3. Consuming excessively sweetened yoghurt or curd.
4. Consuming chicken, mutton and fish grown in marshy areas.
5. Excessive consumption of sugar and palm candy.

All these lead to increased triglyceride molecules in the body. When the level of sugar in our diet increases, the pancreas is forced to secrete more insulin to process the sugars. The insulin thus released acts on adipose tissues (triglycerides) and these tissues in turn get into the blood stream. The tissues may settle down in aorta thereby thickening the blood vessels. The thickened blood vessels now prevent easy blood flow resulting in heart attacks.

So the most important preventative measure to bring down dangerous levels of triglycerides is to eliminate consumption of sugar and sweet products. For South Indians, consumption of idlis, dosas, puttu, and other dishes made from rice should be reduced to the minimum. This should be substituted with dishes made from whole grains like wheat, barley, oats etc. Diet should include more of fresh vegetables and greens.

How to bring down Triglyceride Levels

Some Ayurvedic herbs, remedies to bring down triglyceride levels include guggul, jambul (Java plum), aavaarai (Cassia auriculata) etc.

One way to reduce or lower the increased levels of triglycerides is given below.

The bark of rose apple or Java plum tree, rose apple seeds or Java plum seeds, turmeric, Indian gooseberries, nannari root, bark of marutham pattai (arjuna terminalea), aavarai (causia auriculata), coriander seeds, all these are collected in equal quantity by weight. They are powdered together and stored in a bottle. Mix 60 gm of this powder in 1 litre water and boil. Reduce it to 250 ml. Half of this kashayam (decoction) is taken morning and evening on empty stomach. This helps lower triglyceride levels to a large extent.

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A Simple Remedy for Joint and Muscular Pains

Joint and muscular pains flare up during the winter season. Ayurveda has very effective formulations to mitigate this pain.

Described below is the method of making 'Karpoorathi thailam' a famous remedy for joint and muscular pains. This oil is applied on areas of pain and massaged gently. For good results, a warm water bath 30 - 45 min after application of oil is recommended.

Though it is available in market readymade, the home made one is more effective. Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty of making the oil.

The ingredients are 1 kilogram of ajwain (Bishop's Weed), 1 litre of coconut oil and 200 gm camphor.

800 gm of ajwain is powdered. This powdered ajwain is added to 6 litres of water and boiled and reduced to 2 litres. This is called kashayam.

The remaining 200 gm of ajwain is then ground to a fine paste using water.

Take a wide bottomed pan and pour 1 litre coconut oil into it. Add the 2 litre kashayam to this coconut oil. Now add the fine paste of ajwain. Heat the mix and let it boil in simmering heat. Once you get a sort of sandy deposit at the base, remove it from stove. Place 200 gm camphor in a steel vessel and pour the somewhat hot oil into this vessel. Allow the oil to cool to room temperature. Now store this oil in glass bottle.

Now the 'karpoorathi thailam' is ready. Apply it on painful joints and muscles and massage gently as explained above.

Courtesy: Dr. Hareendran Nair, Jeevanam

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Some Tips for Hair Removal

A couple of my female readers had queried on removal of unwanted facial hair.

As men grow up they have mustache and hairgrowth on chest, forehand, legs etc. Women usually do not have any growth of hair in these areas.

Each sex will have some characteristics of the other sex to a small extent.

Some Ayurveda experts advise people to involve themselves in activities specific to their gender and not to mimic the opposite gender's activities.

Let us have a brief look at some the conventional options available at the present time for hair removal.

Hair removal techniques are broadly classified as permanent hair removal techniques and temporary hair removal techniques.

Electrolysis and laser treatment are two of the most common permanent hair removal treatments.

Laser treatment utilizes a pulse of light to destroy the hair follicles. Those with dark hair and light skin would find this technique more beneficial as the hair color pigment melanin absorbs the laser light better. One needs to undergo frequent treatments a year and the results vary from person to person.

Electrolysis involves a more invasive approach. It makes use of a needle to destroy hair follicle. Thermolytic method uses heat and galvanic method uses chemicals for this process. Mild anesthetics are used to numb the area to ease the pain.

Temporary hair removal techniques include using depilatory creams (which often involve chemicals), waxing, bleaching, shaving, plucking using tweezers etc.

Depilatory creams are a painless alternative to waxing. They contain sodium and calcium thioglycolate and dissolve the keratin in hair shafts. They give out an unpleasant odor. As these contain chemicals care should be taken not to use it on skin breaks or cuts. This is found to ineffective in dealing with coarse hair.

Waxing is a semi-permanent hair removal technique which involves removing of hair from its root. Thus you obtain a time gap of six to eight weeks for hair re-growth. This is done by application of a thin layer of wax combination on the skin. Paper strip or cloth is then placed over this layer and pressed and ripped off with a swift movement against the direction of hair growth horizontally along the skin.

Bleaching involves application of chemicals on hair, which is left in place for a specific duration of time and then washed off with water. This does not involve removal of hair. The bleached hair appears less noticeable, and the results last for three to six weeks.

Shaving is the process of removing hair using a razor. Shaving gel or foam is applied on the skin to smoothen hair follicles which are then removed using a razor. It is not an appropriate method for women's facial hair removal. Electric shavers are a good alternative to the razors.

Tweezing is a painful process involving removal of a hair or few at a time using metal forceps called tweezers. This is ideal for eyebrows and a few isolated hairs hare and there on face. This method cannot be used for larger areas and it may even result in ingrown hairs in some instances.

One of the oldest hair removal methods is sugaring, which is a lesser painful homemade alternative to shaving and waxing. This process is done by making a paste of sugar, lemon juice, and water that are heated to a candy ball state. Once cooled to bearable levels, a thin layer of the paste is applied on the skin, cover it with a thin piece of cotton cloth and rip it off with a rapid movement just as in waxing. Hair grows back again in six to eight weeks, the new grown hair is found to be thinner. This method is ideal for removing hair from underarms and other sensitive areas. The area has to be free from grease or oil before application of the paste. This is done by applying a thin layer of baby powder or corn powder.

Now for some ayurvedic tips for permanent hair removal.

Following tips are recommended.

1. Increase the intake of blackgram in diet.
2. Reduce intake of hot and sour foods.
3. Apply turmeric paste to face and areas of hair growth while bathing.
4. Asoka gritham 2 spoonful morning and evening on empty stomach.
5. Asokarishtam 25 ml after food at bedtime.

Application of blackgram powder mixed with turmeric powder on face removes oil from face. It does not dry up the skin but arrests unwanted hair growth.

Experience has shown that for permanent hair removal a few sessions of sugaring followed by application of turmeric and black gram (Bengal gram/besan) paste on the affected areas seem to work wonders. The subsequent hair growth is found to be thin and sparse. Repeating the process eventually leads to permanent hair removal.

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How to preserve Gooseberries using Honey

Gooseberry is an excellent source of vitamin C. It keeps you active and drives away lethargy. Honey is an excellent source of energy. It is a natural preservative. It is also an antiseptic par excellent. Gooseberries that are available only 2-3 months in a year can be preserved in honey and used throughout the year. Honey helps retain the vitality and medicinal properties of gooseberries. One way to preserve gooseberries using honey is described below.

A small note on honey, honey harvested from mature honeycombs is the most beneficial. Prematurely harvested honey gets sour quickly and becomes useless.

Take required number of mature gooseberries. Each gooseberry is pierced at various spots (5-6 piercing) with a stainless steel sharp object or thorn. Now take a jar full of pure honey and drop these pierced gooseberries into them. Let the gooseberries be fully immersed in honey. Cover the mouth of the jar with a thin white cloth and place it in sunlight for 1 hour each day for 15 days. Now the gooseberries are storehouses of energy.

On getting up in the morning, after cleaning your teeth, take a honey soaked gooseberry first thing in the morning. This eliminates lethargy and keeps you active throughout the day.

This is an excellent source of energy for both young and old and ideal for strengthening the mental faculties.


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Ayurvedic tenets for long and healthy life - II

The rishis and siddhars (spiritually evolved people) of the past discovered the secrets of longevity and have passed it on to the successive generations. These saints saw the harmony that exists in the universe, the day and night, the seasons, the perfect motion of the planets, the yin and yang. They intuitively deduced that human beings are the microcosm of Nature and the vast expansive Universe is the macrocosm. They saw the human microcosm as part of the larger universal macrocosm. Hence they stated that the secret of healthy life lies in establishing harmony within the microcosm based on the harmony that pervades the universe throughout. Their efforts were then directed towards finding ways and means of establishing this universal macrocosmic harmony in the human existence. This search resulted to yoga, meditation, etc.

The Vedas state that the universe is made of five elements namely, earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Human body is also made of the same five elements. So for a healthy living, there should be a healthy balance of all the five elements. The human body’s actions relate to the universe through these elements.

Humans drink water, eat food, inhale air and thus regulate the temperature of their body. They get ‘prana’ from ether. It is the earth that gives them the external form. Bones, tissues, muscles, skin, hair etc relate to earth. Blood, glandular secretions, and all the other fluids in the body relate to water. The third element fire is behind emotions, energy, and vitality. Digestion, blood circulation, nervous system, etc are the spheres of action for fire. Air relates to breathing. Ether is the source of mental prowess and spiritual development. When all of these five elements are in balance and harmony, there is health and joy.

One cannot isolate the elements from one another. All elements act in unison. The physical activity is a result of the combined action of the elements. Any imbalance in one element affects the harmony of the whole.

Doshas are a combination of the five elements. Vata, pittha and kapha are the three doshas that Ayurveda speaks of. Vata is a combination of ether and air, pitha fire and water, kapha water and earth. Though there is no exact English equivalent for the Sanskrit word dosha, it roughly means force, or one that could easily lose its equilibrium. Human beings are a combination of two or all three doshas with one being predominant. To know your dosha click here.

When the doshas get vitiated, (and they tend to get vitiated easily), it results in diseases. Disease comes from outside and is not the nature of the body.



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Ayurvedic tenets for long and healthy life

To lead a long and healthy life Ayurveda recommends a lifestyle based on moderation in all spheres of life. Adapting this lifestyle is liberating and manifests positive changes in body, mind and spirit. Human beings die either naturally due to ageing or due to diseases and accidents. While one cannot foretell death, leading a healthy life keeps away diseases and the attendant suffering.

Ayurveda recommends following certain tenets that when adapted to ones lifestyle and made into a habit can benefit physically, mentally and spiritually.

The basic requirement for a healthy existence is good food, good sleep and good relationship.

Always consume freshly prepared food. Avoid all foods of the previous day especially the non-vegetarian ones. Also avoid refrigerated foods.

Do not suppress the natural urge to urinate and defecate. Avoid daytime nap. Do not lie down to sleep with head facing north.

Eat only when you feel hungry. Eat twice a day. Do not go to bed immediately after supper. Walk for 10-15 minutes before going to bed.

Follow a regular routine for sleeping. Go to bed by 10 o’clock at night. Get up at 6 in the morning. Six to eight hours of sleep is necessary to maintain good health.

Ayurveda advocates sex in moderation. It stipulates a general rule of sexual relationship once every fortnight (a tough one!). No sex immediately after food, a gap of 4 hours is advised.

The Siddhars of yesteryears also suggest the following regimen.

Eat twice a day.

Apply oil to head and bathe in warm water once every four days.

Fast a day, once a week.

Sex once a fortnight.

Clean the airway passages and nostrils etc (by instilling certain medications into the nostrils) once every 45 days. This helps clear the sinuses.

Take purgatives (natural ones) once every four months and cleanse the colons.

Take emetics (vomit inducers) once every six months to clear the phlegm etc.

Avoid dust and polluted atmosphere.

A disciplined mind is necessary to keep away from bad habits and inculcate good ones.

I am reminded of a quote I found at the entrance of Integral Coach Factory Design and Development Department, "in the chains of a disciplined life, the spirit soars”.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedy for Heart Problems

“Draksha” is the Sanskrit word for grapes. From time immemorial grapes have been used both for medicinal and nourishment purposes. Ayurveda has recognized the medicinal value of grapes. Draksharishtam and drakshadhi kashayam are famous examples of Ayurvedic formulations using grapes.

Grapes have the capacity to regulate LDL (bad cholesterol). Well known for its anti-coagulation properties it also helps prevent platelet aggregation. It also helps in treating lung, liver and prostate cancers to a large extent.

Studies have shown that the French have lesser heart problems when compared to Americans. Researchers have found the reason to be red wine consumed by the French. I do not advocate taking red wine though for heart problems!

Grapes strengthen the heart muscles and also eliminate free radicals. Manganese, potassium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C are some of the constituents of grapes.

It is found that people affected with Alzheimer’s disease are also benefited by the consumption of grapes.

Fully ripe grapes are the best to consume. Also black grapes have more medicinal value that the green ones.

Dried grapes, both black and green are available throughout the year. They have all the medicinal properties as that of the fresh ones.

Black grapes or raisins help to cure constipation. For this, soak a few raisins (5-6 nos) in a glass of water before going to bed. Eat the raisins and drink the water the first thing next day morning (after cleaning your teeth of course!). Regular usage for about a month or so corrects even chronic constipation.

Grapes are excellent thirst quenchers especially at the time of fever. A couple of raisins taken when feeling thirsty will help quench the thirst as well as revitalize almost instantly.

Instead of taking red wine, consuming fresh black grapes is advised for a healthier heart. Or else you can take a spoonful of draksharishta. This is available at all leading ayurveda shops. Draksharishta also helps to overcome lethargy, infuse vitality and promote well-being.

Thus grapes are helpful in maintaining a healthy heart and curing various heart problems.

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Ayurvedic Ways to Cure Dandruff

The oil on scalp gets drastically reduced when the hair root gets dried due to body ‘heat’. When you comb such a scalp the outer layer comes off in scales. We call this dandruff. Excessive use of soap, soap nut powder etc can lead to such a situation. So lessening their usage should benefit you. Instead you can use rice congee, Bengal gram powder, green gram powder etc. These are to be mixed with water and made to a ‘not so watery’ paste and applied on scalp while bathing, instead of the usual soap or shampoo. These will help preserve the ‘dampness’ of the scalp preventing it from getting dried up.

A kashayam made of arugampul (cynodon dactylon) and coconut oil are mixed together along with certain herbs and boiled to obtain ‘doorvathi kera thailam’. This oil can be obtained from ayurveda medical shops. Apply this oil to scalp instead of ordinary coconut oil. This helps in controlling dandruff to a large extent. Females can soak this oil on their scalp for 30-45 minutes before bathing, on Tuesdays and Fridays. This procedure can be adopted by males, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If the dandruff is due to fungal infection, it can lead to itching and ringing sound in the ears, pus in the ears etc. It can spread onto other parts of body and cause itching. In such situations, ‘eladhi kera thailam’ can be applied to the scalp. Adapt the same procedure mentioned above for males and females. Also paste made of milk and pepper can be applied to scalp before bathing. This is also found to be effective in controlling dandruff.


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About Kirutham or Girutham

'Kirutham' is a form of medicine with ghee as its base, mostly taken internally. Mahathiktha kirutham mentioned in the previous post is used extensively to reduce the acidity level of blood and maintain its alkalinity. Some components of the mahathikthaka kirutham are 'nilavembu', 'vetpalai', sandal paste, bark of neem etc. This mahathiktha kirutham is available readymade at IMPCOPS stores. Their website calls it 'mahathikthaka ghritham'.

Thank you Jennifer for that question.

I am spending more of my time learning the ropes of camtasia software, equipping myself to do some videos on certain simple ayurveda herbs and remedies. I am planning to start with neem, 'a tree for solving global problems' according to National Research Council (USA). The first video will be uploaded next week. So please stay subscribed.

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Ayurveda for Acne and Pimples

The areas surrounding the pimples have a sense of discomfort. If you have enough will power not to press the pimples and keep your hands away from expelling the contents inside them you are half way through on your battle against pimples. You can find people of the older generation advise the younger ones not to press the pimples. When you eject out the pus like substance from the pimples, the area blackens and looks scarred. If you refrain from expelling the content, the pimples will subside in time.

Contrary to popular conception, it is not the oil on the face that leads to pimples. Ayurveda recommends proper application of oil like chandnadhi thailam, kumkumaadhi lepam, etc. Similarly application of sandalwood paste on pimples and blackheads is found to be beneficial. It would be ideal to apply sandalwood paste immediately on preparation. Avoid using readymade sandalwood paste tablets for this purpose.

Do not use soap to clean your face frequently. Frequent cleaning can lead to dry skin. According to Ayurveda “heat” is considered to be the cause of pimples and acne. In my earlier articles on 'beauty tips' and ‘dark circles around the eyes’, I had mentioned about the ‘heat’. It is not the increase in body temperature. Lack of sleep, stress, frequent intake of non-vegetarian food, excessive sexual indulgence all can lead to a build up of ‘heat’. To bring down the ‘heat’ bathing after application of coconut or linseed oil on head is recommended. Also cleansing of stomach by way of taking natural purgatives once in a month is recommended (only in case of unrelenting 'heat'). Eat plenty of fiber to avoid constipation. Fruits and vegetables should be used in plenty to maintain a ‘cool’ body.

Drink a glass of water on getting up in the morning. This helps to cleanse the intestines. Use lemon instead of tamarind while preparing eatables. Drinking of tender coconut water is also beneficial. Wheat porridge at night is advised.

Before going to bed apply a thin layer of cream of milk to cover the face. On waking up clean the face with cold water. Scrape a piece of turmeric on a rough surface using a few drops of water. Take out the ensuing paste and add a drop of linseed oil to it. Apply a thin layer of the paste to cover the entire face. After 30 minutes, clean the face using green gram powder.

To complement the external treatment heat mahathiktha girutham and take 10 ml both in the morning and evening on empty stomach. This two pronged approach is found to be very effective in treating pimples, blackhead and acne.


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Some Ayurvedic Home Remedies and Tips for Joint Pain in Winter

How to resolve osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis pain? This question bothers the elderly especially during winter times. Dr. Hareendran Nair provides a simple solution.

Jeevanam is an Ayurveda awareness program telecast in Kairali TV on Saturday mornings. Dr Harindran Nair of Pankajakasthuri Herbals India Limited answers the questions of viewers and also recounts his own experiences in treating various ailments. He offers excellent ayurvedic home remedy tips both curative and preventative, for many diseases. A very articulate individual, Dr Nair is well known for his espousal of the Ayurvedic way of life. I view his program often and can vouch for its usefulness.

In one of his episodes he talks about the aggravation of joint pains during the winter season, especially among the elderly and suggests some excellent remedies. He mentions that rheumatoid arthritis and arthritic pain in general can be lessened to a great degree by following certain simple instructions.

He insists on intake of easily digestible food preferably vegetables. This will help the digestive system to process the food easily. He advocates usage of carrot, cucumber etc in plenty. He says that these vegetables have diuretic properties and help eliminate waste products from our bodies. He also mentions frequent intake of an ayurvedic drug ‘yogaraja guggulu’ if needed.

Then he goes on to elaborate the role of honey and lemon in lessening the arthritic pain. He came to know of this remedy from some of his friends and experimented on it. He further refined it based on his own personal experience.

Two teaspoonful fresh plain lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey (preferably honey obtained from small honeybees called cheruthen in malayalam) is added to one glass of warm water and taken first thing in the morning and similarly on empty stomach in the evening.

Another alternative is, two teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon cinnamon powder (karuva) mixed together and taken once before bedtime.

You can follow any one of the two methods mentioned above.

Also, as an external application mix one teaspoon honey and one teaspoon cinnamon powder to two teaspoons of water and prepare a thick paste. Apply a thin layer of this on the inflamed painful areas.

Eat a piece of dry coconut everyday in the mornings.

Follow this regimen for 3 months for a noticeable reduction in joint pain. This can be followed by people with diabetes also.

Thus osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pains can be eased without side effects.

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