Ayurveda remedy and Ayurveda Help

Prepare Tulsi Tea At Home

2012-01-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

Texts of ayurveda describe the properties of tulsi as follows. It is light to digest and dries tissue secretions. Tulsi tastes hot and bitter. It can penetrate deep tissues and has anti helmenthic properties. Due to these properties it normalizes kapha and vata. Leaves, flowers, seeds and roots of Tulsi are used in ayurvedic preparations.

Preparation of Tulsi Tea:

Ingredients:

1. Tulsi leaves : (Dry or Raw) - 1/4 cup
2. Tender barks :( Dry or Raw) - 3 tea spoon
3. Clove: 1
4. Pepper (optional) - 1
5. Cumin seeds (Jeera): - 1/4 spoon
6. Water - 4 cups
5. Honey: 2 tea spoons
6. Lemon (optional) - 1/2 tea spoon

Method:

Warm clove, pepper and cumin seeds (jeera) on a hot pan. Powder this with the help of mortar and pestle. Finely chop tulsi leaves and tender barks of tulsi. Mix clove, pepper, cumin seeds and tulsi leaves. Pound this mixture in mortar till it becomes coarse.

Boil 4 cups of water in a saucepan and add the coarsely ground ingredients. Allow it to boil till the water content reduces to one cup. Filter the decoction and allow it to warm down. Add honey when
decoction is luke warm. Lemon juice can be added to this .

Uses of Tulsi tea:
Regular consumption of Tulsi tea helps to detoxify skin. This herbal drink helps to prevent acne eruption, dark circles, flaring up of psoriasis, allergic rashes and other skin infections.

Tulsi tea is an effective home remedy to relieve constipation, indigestion and it acts as an appetizer.

Regular consumption of tulsi tea reduces inflammation of joints in conditions like arthritis and gout. It reduces blood sugar and blood cholesterol level. Thus it is helpful in conditions like diabetes.

Tulsi tea rejuvenates liver and reduces inflammation of liver. Hence texts of ayurveda recommend use of tulsi in jaundice and other liver diseases.

Tulsi tea when consumed regularly acts as a nervine tonic. It increases memory power, reduces migraine headache and acts as a stress buster.

Tulsi tea is an age old remedy for cough, common cold and throat pain. Regular use of tulsi tea helps to boost immunity of lungs and respiratory system. It acts as an expectorant and relieves the blocked airways of bronchial tree.

Seeds of tulsi can be added to the list of ingredients while making tulsi tea. Tulsi seeds are effective in premature ejaculation and also increase quantity of semen.

Pepper, cumin seeds, honey and clove impart a wonderful flavor to tea and enhance the medicinal properties of tulsi tea. Honey is called as “Yogavahi”. The substance which has a quality of penetrating the deepest tissue is called as Yogavahi. When honey is used with other herbal preparations it enhances the medicinal qualities of those preparations and also helps them to reach the deeper tissues.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com .Read more about Tulsi Tea at http://www.ayurhelp.com/cooking/tulsi-tea.htm

Benefits and Uses of Neem, Tulsi, Wheat Grass and Amla on Skin Care

2012-01-05T04:45:00.000-08:00

You might be surprised to know that skin is the largest organ in human body. It is a kind of sheath that separates us from the outer environment. It protects our internal organs from getting exposed to the harsh climatic condition pravelling outside. Any problem in skin or any kind of infection to the skin can causes threat to the internal organs. It helps in keeping our vital organ from hanging outside the body getting infected very easily. It also helps in maintaing body temperature. More importantly it helps us in perceiving sensation of touch.

According to modern sciences skin is made up of three layers. Named epidermis the outer layer, dermis the middle layer and subcutaneous fat the inner layer. Ayurveda believes that skin has six layers.

Epidermis is the outer most layer of the skin and is the part of the skin, which is visible with our normal eyes. This layer of skin keeps on producing new cells, as 30000 to 40000 cells are lost every minute. It contains a very important content name melanin that is a very talked about things now a days. Melanin imparts colour to our skin. More the melanin content darker is the complexion. Actually melanin is a protective device of your skin that helps you to protect from sunburns and very harmful ultraviolet rays or more commonly called UV rays. This is the reason tanning occurs in people who get exposed to sun. But melanin production is not enough to give all round protection to protect skin from dehydration and cancerous cell production. Important thing about epidermis is that it is composed of dead cells hence is non vascular i.e. it does not have blood supply and nervous supply.

Second is the dermis layer that lies below the epidermis. As it is beneath the epidermis hence dermis is not visible. Dermis serves very important function in the protective and perceptive role that skin plays. It serves many functions, as it possesses nerves ending, vascular supplies and glands (both oil or sebaceous glands and sweat glands). Due to presence of these factors we can perceive the touch sensation. Vascularity to the skin initiates in dermis and hence helps in providing proper nourishment to the skin cells. Dermis also contains sebaceous glands or more commonly called oil gland, which helps our skin in lubrication thus helping it from catching any infection. It makes our skin work as raincoats therefore help skin from getting sogged and swelled away in water. Sweat glands play a very important role in our life. Most important of all is that it helps in maintaing our body temperature; secondly it plays an excretory role by excreting out harmful toxins that might have formed in our body; thirdly it helps in protecting our body from microorganism as it possess antibacterial properties.

Third and the most important of all the layers is the subcutaneous fatty layer. Its role is to work as a shock absorber in he body and to maintain body heat from getting transferred to outside temperature. It also helps in holding internal organs tightly as it is present beneath the skin. This also contains a very peculiar feature that only mammals possess i.e. hair follicles. This layer is full of hair follicles out of which hair grows out. Nourishment of hairs depends upon the sebaceous glands, which opens into the hair follicle thus proving it with shine and nutrients.

Types of skins

It is really very essential to know the kind of skin you possess, as right care of skin can help in reducing any skin problems and avoid diseases.
There are mainly 5 types of skin: -

1.Normal skin: It not a commonest kind of skin. It is soft, smooth, velvety and evenly textured skin with no flaky dead cells and no pores visible. Proper distribution of oil and moisture is there that makes it a balanced skin i.e. not excessively dry and not excessively greasy. It is clear and free from blemishes

2.Dry skin: Skin is said to be dry, when skin is dull, patchy, reddened and flaky especially around eyes. Dry skin may cause formation of fine lines on cheeks, under eyes and corners of mouth. These conditions happen when oil or sebaceous glands are not supplying good nourishment and lubrication to the skin. If proper care is not given to the skin then it may lead to initiation of wrinkles in early age.

3.Oily or greasy skin: This kind of skin is thick, dull in colour and shiny in appearance. Due to over secretions of oils or sebum through oil gland, makes skin pores open and skin becomes sticky, which attracts dirt and dust from the environment. Due to this tendency, dirt and dust particles blocks the skin pores which are already widely open in oily skin leads to problems like black head, white head, acne and other skin related problems.

4.Combination skin: Commonly seen skin texture which is the combination of two kind of skin i.e. some of the skin area is dry and some of the area is oily. Usually it follows the pattern of "T" i.e. the greasy part is usually the portion which is vertical to nose crossing nose (nose, mouth and chin) and horizontal on fore head and hence referred to as "T-Zone". The area left i.e. cheeks is comparatively dry.

5.Sensitive skin: This kind of skin is very sensitive to any change in environmental conditions or any kind allergies, which may be caused due to procedures like bleaching, makeup's and other external applications.

How to know that what type of skin you possess

It is a very simple method to know that what kind of skin you possess by following procedure mentioned below.

Whenever you wake up in morning, wipe your face with dry tissue soon after leaving your bed. If you find oil on that tissue, you possess oily or greasy skin. If you find grease on the center panel then you possess combination skin. If there is no grease at all then you either have dry or normal skin.
Now to check weather your skin is dry or normal. Just do one thing, wash your face with non-greasy soap and water. If you are left with the feeling of stretchiness and tightness on skin then you possess dry skin otherwise you have normal skin. If in daily routine you easily get skin allergies, rashes, itches and boils then your skin supposed to be sensitive

Our skin faces mainly three kinds of troubles

1.Firstly disease caused directly to skin from external source.

This includes diseases that directly infect the skin from outside for example fungal infection in early stages etc

2.Secondly disease caused due to systemic disorders.
This is the second category of the disease, which is caused due to systemic infection in the body. For example leprosy, psoriasis

3.Thirdly it may represent mere symptom of another disease.
In this skin is the mere face that represents the symptom of any disease prevailing in the body. For example loosening of skin, which might be caused by dehydration.

How to make skin to happy so that it may remain healthy and glows with shine.
1.Protect your skin from over exposure of sun by using sunscreens

2.Carry an umbrella or a cap with you when overexposed to external environment

3.Don't smoke and drink excessively

4.Wash your skin gently and with lots of care

5.Moisturize your skin regularly

6.Shave with care and softly. Only shave in direction of hair growth

7.Use of good skin cleansers and toners regularly to open up blocked pores.

8.Drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices

9.Eat healthy food and avoid junk food.

10.Avoid use of chemicals on your skin

Inspite following these measures if you are not able to achieve the healthy and good skin then you must read below.

Here are some herbal remedies that is the answer to all your problems

Benefits of neem on skin
·Neem is a wonder herb. Since early times neem is known for its wonderful properties and marvelous results on skin. It works as blood purifier and is very helpful in eradicating toxins from the blood that are supposed to cause harm to the skin.

·Local application of neem powder or neem oil has miraculous results. It is a famous anti microbial herb, it renders all the microorganisms inactive therefore helping in proper healing of wound without causing any infections and septic conditions

·Good results have been seen on skin problems like acne and blemishes. It helps in disinfecting the hair follicles and helps in eradicating the particle which is the main culprit in blocking the pore

·Taking bath of neem leaves socked water helps our body to counter mild infections, which our body might get in day-to-day activity

·Neem helps in early healing of burns and injuries that might also helps in fading of scars that are left after the any injury

·Tropical application and internal use of neem makes us relieved from eczema and even ringworms

·Neem is very helpful in providing internal glow to the skin by providing natural supplements that are required for good and healthy skin

·Neem is extensively used in hair fall and early graying of hairs with very satisfying results.

·It also find its application in dandruff and in lice growth

·Neem is helpful in lighting dark circles which are usually caused due to life style disturbances

Effects of Tulsi, the holy basil on skin

·Tulsi behave as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent thus helps in eradicating any of the microorganisms developing on the wound and the skin.

·Tulsi is a wonderful blood purifier that helps in eradicating any toxins circulating in blood and helps us from any kind of foreign invasion there fore helps in protecting our skin from acne and other skin infections.

·It helps in normalizing our digestive system thus helpful in treating cause by which dark circles are caused.

·Tulsi is helpful in skin conditioning by improving blood circulation thereby helping each and every cell to get its part of nutrition and oxygen that helps in glowing skin

·Tulsi works as a powerful antioxidant thereby helps in preventing early aging signs and makes the skin young as never before

Wheat grass and its effects on skin
·Wheat grass has been used since ages as it is helpful in providing required vitamins and minerals that are very helpful in nourishing skin and helps it to look healthy

·Due to presence of vitamin E in wheat grass, it helps in preventing aging and also helps in maintaing shine on the skin.

·Vitamin E also helps in preventing dark circles around eyes

·It is a good remedy in any skin disorder, as it possesses the cold potency, which is helpful in curbing skin disease that are of hot potency.

·Super oxide dismutase (SOD) present in wheat grass helps in slowing the aging process of cell thus gives the property of rasayana to wheat grass

·Alanine, an amino acid helps in promoting blood formation there fore helpful in formation of RBC (red blood corpuscles), WBC (white blood corpuscles), blood platelets etc. which are helpful in providing proper nourishment and protection to cell from any foreign invasion

·Vitamins A present in wheat grass is very useful in improving vision of eyes therefore helping in providing proper nourishment to the skin under eyes preventing dark circles and sagging down of skin

·Iron is helpful in hemoglobin production therefore is helpful in increasing oxygen carrying capacity of blood and is helps in imparting pinkish colour to the skin

Amla and its benefits on skin
·It is very helpful in skin diseases as it has sheet virya (cold potency), it inhibits pitta dosha and thus helps in getting relief from it as all the skin disorders are caused by pitta dominance.

·Regular use of Amla promotes glow on skin and delays wrinkles or loosening of skin. Good results have been found in eczema.

·Its internal use as well as its local application on scalp gives good results in hair loss as it provides nourishment to the skin on head (scalp).

·It stimulates hair follicles thus promoting hair growth and also improves texture of the hair.

·It also prevents premature graying of hairs and dandruff, which is flaking of dead cells of the scalp.

·Indian women generally use Amla to wash their hairs, which act as natural hair conditioner as it helps in providing good nourishment and also helps in normalizing blood supply

·It is helpful in making skin glow and works as an antioxidant therefore prevents wrinkles and loosening of skin.

Aloe vera: a skin specialist herb
Aloe vera is an herb extensively used in enhancing beauty in natural way.

·Aloe vera is known to help in condition known as dermatitis (an inflammatory disease of the skin) therefore helps in relieving from it

·It stabilizes digestive system and therefore is very essential in providing proper nourishment to the skin.

·Being an herb of cold potency, it helps in fighting against any skin diseases that are caused by pitta related disorders

·It works as magic in burn cases and researches have proved its efficacy in healing wounds faster than any thing

·It is helpful in erasing blemishes and dark spots on face generally caused after pregnancy.

·It helps in fighting with acne and other allergic disorders of skin thereby making pores clear and healthy

·Helps in lightening of the skin colour, as it helps in fighting extra amount of melanin that has been produced in body

·It works as an antioxidant therefore helps in fighting with the age related changes that has occurred with growing age

·Helps in slowing down the wrinkles developing on the skin.

·Helps in increasing circulation of blood thus facilitating easier oxygen exchange between the cells thus providing them nourishment
Read complete article at http://www.ayurhelp-shop.com/articles/herbs_skin.htm

Skin care with herbs

2012-01-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

Skin is the largest organ in human body .Naturally fresh and healthy skin is protector of body and a thing of beauty. Texts of ayurveda recommend many herbs and natural remedies to protect our skin from acne, pimple, scars, marks and wrinkles. These herbs and herbal remedies not only help in the above mentioned conditions but also effective in other skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema etc.

Structure of skin:

It is essential to know about structure of skin before analyzing the causes which make changes on skin. Skin is made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues. Microscopic section of the skin shows two distinct parts. Epidermis is the top most layer. The upper layer of epidermis contains dead cells which gradually cast off. These cells are gradually replaced by fresh new cells produced by basal layer which is the lower layer of epidermis.

The Dermis lies below epidermis and consists of net work of collagen fibers which is responsible for elastic properties of skin. Sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles and sweat glands, are all present in dermis and get blood supply from the subcutaneous tissue present below dermis. Sebaceous glands get activated during puberty and produce oil like substance called sebum.

According to ayurveda acharya Sushruta, the skin has seven layers. These layers when get affected by imbalanced doshas (vital energetic forces of body) give rise to different skin diseases.

Herbs like tulsi, neem, saffron, turmeric, sandal wood, amla etc help to keep the skin healthy and disease free. Here is the list of benefits these herbs provide.

Tulsi: Tulsi helps in many skin disorders. It is effective in skin rashes, insect bites and itching. Leaves of this plant are effectively used in ring worm infections and lucoderma. Paste and Juice of Tulsi leaves help to reduce acne, pimples and scars.

Neem: The neem is proved to be beneficial in treating skin diseases because of its antibiotic, antifungal and blood purifying properties. According to ayurveda principles vitiated Kapha and pitta cause skin diseases. Neem pacifies vitiated kapha and pitta, thus helps to cure skin ailments. It promotes wound healing as it is antibacterial and astringent. In psoriasis it reduces itching, irritation, roughness of skin and heals the psoriatic patches. In same way it heals eczema too. It reduces infection and inflammation of acne. Neem helps to maintain the health of scalp skin and prevents dandruff.

The combination of neem and tulsi help immensely to control diseases of skin.

Saffron: Saffron helps to reduce dark pigments, dark circles under eyes, acne and pimple. It helps to increase fairness and glow of skin.

Turmeric: Blood nourishes the skin and it is known fact that pure blood always keeps the skin glowing and radiant. Turmeric purifies blood, nourishes skin and gives it a healthy natural glow and radiance. A traditional face pack of India consists of gram flour, pure turmeric powder, milk and honey. This reduces inflammation of skin, acne, pimples and prevents many skin ailments.This pack prevents formation of wrinkles.

Sandal wood: Sandalwood has many antimicrobial properties. Ayurveda acharyas recommend use of sandal wood as a part of natural skin care regimes to heal and soothe many skin ailments and conditions. One of the primary uses of this wonder herb is that it can kill germs, soothe inflamed skin, and clear blemishes left even by stubborn acne. Regular use of sandalwood helps to get clean and clear skin.

Kumkumadi Lepam is an authentic ayurvedic preparation for acne, pimple, dark circles, pigments, scars and marks

Amla: The juice of amla fruit reduces burning sensation of skin. It strengthens the hair follicles and reduces the inflammation of scalp skin. Amla boosts immunity of skin and helps to prevent acne and pimples.

Balanced diet, healthy life style, walking etc coupled with use of skin friendly herbs, help to keep the skin healthy, radiant and young looking.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations. Read complete article at Skin care with herbs

10 Winter Skin Care Tips

2011-12-25T23:18:00.000-08:00

Summer is much more benevolent on your skin than winter; the former brings out your glowing radiant skin while the latter, can shock it with strong winds and cold temperature. Your skin becomes flaky, chapped and dry in winter and you need to take proper winter skin care for retaining its glory. According to reports of International Dermal Institute, almost 59% of women said that dry skin was their main problem during winter. If that is your story, here are 10 winter skin care tips you should know:

Water
You may have heard the usefulness of drinking water many times, but very few of us really pay attention to it. But that is a great mistake as dry skin can be combated effectively if you hydrate your skin internally by drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day.

Exfoliate
During winter it becomes really important to exfoliate your skin so as to remove dead skin cells. You can use an exfoliating brush or a loofah every time in the shower for retaining a fresh and smooth skin. If you really want to pamper your body, then you can use a good exfoliating scrub as well.

Moisturize
The next important winter skin care tip involves use of moisturizer. It is important to moisturizer all year through, but it becomes really essential during the harsh winter days. Your skin becomes dry during this period and so, as skincarephysicians.com suggest, switch to a moisturizer that is oil based or use an oil-based ointment. Moisture loss will be minimal is such cases leaving your skin supple and soft.

Lip Balm
Along with your skin, your lips are very vulnerable to winter woes. So the next winter skin care tip is on how to keep your lips from becoming chapped and dry during winter. Petroleum jelly or lip balm is your best friend in this regard and also stop the habit of licking your lips now and then as it aggravates the problem of chapped lips.

Avoid Heating
We all love to cuddle up in front of a heat source at full blast during cold winter days. But such a pass time can harm you skin to a great degree. When you close the windows and turn on the heat inside you room, you create a very dry environment indoor that has low humidity. That is why it is better to wear another hoodie instead as such an environment can dry out your skin.

Tepid Showers
Like a hot room can dry our skin, so can hot water. So do not use very hot water while showering but tepid water. Also do not take long showers to avoid drying out your skin.

Sunscreen
The next winter skin care tip involves the use of sunscreen, something you do not use or think of using during winter. But skin care expert suggest using a layer of sunscreen while going out in winter as well because sunscreen protects your skin from all kinds of hard weather elements, other than sun.

Flaxseed Oil
Along with using winter skin care tips that will hydrate your skin from outside, you need to keep it hydrated from inside as well. This oil is the best choice you have as it is rich in essential fatty acids which are good for you body in every way. The oil is readily available in form of capsules from your nearest pharmacy.

Swap the Soap
Your skin can feel taut and deprived of essential oils if you use wash off cleansers or soap during winter. That is why use a creamy, rich cleanser for nourishing and balancing your skin.

Hats and Gloves
The last skin care tip is regarding something most people overlook during winter; and that is protecting the skin on their hands, neck and chest. The best way of doing that is just wearing a good quality gloves and scarf.

Read complete article at http://www.ayurhelp.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11026 http://www.ayurhelp.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11026

Rejuvenation therapy with Drakshadi Rasayana

2011-12-19T02:59:00.000-08:00

Rasayana therapy or Rejuvenation therapy helps to slow down aging process, increases memory, boosts body immunity, and enhances complexion and youthfulness of skin. Sense organs and voice regain their sharpness. Rasayana therapy rejuvenates whole body and as well reproductive system thus making one to feel young and energetic in all aspects of life.

Consumption of herbal rasayana preparations is known as “Aushadha rasayana”. One can reap the benefits of rasayana therapy by regularly consuming “Aushadha rasayana”. “Drakshadi Rasayana” is one such herbal rasayana preparation.

Drakshadi rasayana contains draksha (grapes or Vitis Vinifera) , amla or amalaki (Indian gooseberry or Emblica officinalis ), Honey, Ginger, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra or madhuyashti), sugar , long pepper and ghee

Grapes: Grapes act as body coolant. They boosts memory power and act as a brain tonic. They help to relive constipation and promote digestion. These berries act as cardiac tonic and increase blood hemoglobin. Grapes are known to balance rakta (blood) and pitta. Hence they are very useful in gout and allergies. They strengthen the lungs and help in patients who are recuperating from tuberculosis, bronchitis and asthma. Grapes help in cystitis and burning micturition as they sooth the inner layers of bladder and act as diuretic. Fertility of men and women increases with the regular consumption of these berries. They strengthen the female reproductive system and increase the sperm count and sperm motility. Grapes play an important role in boosting immunity of skin and thus protecting it from various skin disorders.

Amalaki or amla (Indian gooseberry or Emblica officnalis): Amla or amalaki balances tridoshas. It strengthens hair follicles and rejuvenates skin on scalp. Regular consumption of this fruit boosts immunity of skin and prevents outbreak of acne and pimples. It reduces burning sensation of eyes, enhances memory, strengthens nervous system, normalizes digestion, reduces acidity, rejuvenates liver and relieves constipation. It acts as good cardiac tonic and helps to increase hemoglobin level in blood. Amla acts as an aphrodisiac and increases sperm count and sperm motility. It rejuvenates male reproductive system. This berry soothes burning sensation of urinary tract and very useful in cystitis and burning micturition.

Honey: This ingredient acts as an instant energizer, as sugars in honey are quickly absorbed by digestive system. Due to its hygroscopic properties it helps in quick healing of wounds and growth of healing tissue. It is very useful in bed wetting disorders. It rejuvenates damaged skin and acts as antioxidant. Honey boosts body immunity as it increases number of white blood cells. It is known as “Yogavahi” as it penetrates the deeper tissues. Its addition in herbal preparations helps to enhance the medicinal properties of herbs and help these herbs to reach the deeper tissues.

Thus the medicinal properties of the above ingredients have made “Drakshadi Rasayana” useful in many conditions like

Anemia: The precious ingredients like grapes, amla and honey help to nourish blood and help in anemia.

Indigestion: Drakshadi rasayana helps in promoting digestion and increasing appetite.

Acidity: Amla and grapes are known to reduce acidity. Thus drakshadi rasayana helps to reduce acidity and flatulence. It also help to reduce vomiting sensation and nausea.,

Asthma, Tuberculosis,Bronchitis and cough: Drakshadi rasayana boost immunity of lungs. It strengthens the lungs, boosts immunity and nourishes blood. All these facts together help patients who are recuperating from Asthma, Tuberculosis, Bronchitis and cough. It also prevents further damages due to repeated infection of respiratory system.

It is very useful in pregnancy and acts as a fetal nourisher. It helps to prevent miscarriages and abortions. Drakshadi rasayana reduces acidity and vomiting.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations. Read complete article at Ayurveda Rejuvenation with Drakshadi Rasayana .

Health benefits of butter – An ayurveda perception

2011-11-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

Dictionaries define butter as “a solid emulsion of fat globules, air, and water made by churning milk or cream and used as food”. Butter is known as “Navaneeta” in Sanskrit. It is referred as navaneeta in texts of ayurveda too. Butter is usually made from cow’s or buffalo’s milk. But it can be made from milk of other mammals like sheep, goats, camel etc.

Butter prepared out of cow’s milk contains saturated fats, monosaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, plenty of Vitamin A, Vtamin D, Vitamin D and Cholesterol.

Texts of ayurveda consider butter prepared from milk of cow, buffalo and sheep for medicinal use. The health benefits of butter are very well explained in ayurveda.

Butter prepared from cow’s milk has the following medicinal properties.

• It acts as a body coolant.
• This butter nourishes body tissues and increases body energy level.
• The complexion of skin and strength of body increases when butter is consumed.
• Butter increases appetite.
• It alleviates vata and pitta.
• Very effective in piles or hemorrhoids.
• Reduces cough.
• Elderly people and infants are benefited by butter. It acts like an elixir when administered to infants and elderly.

Butter prepared from buffalo’s milk has the following medicinal properties

• It increases vata and kapha.
• Butter prepared from buffalo’s milk is heavy to digest.
• Consumption of this butter alleviates pitta, burning sensation and tiredness.
• It increases quality and quantity of semen.
• Body fat or medho dhatu gets increased by consuming this regularly.

Butter prepared from sheep’s milk alleviates vata, pitta and kapha and is superior to all other types of butter.

Sheep milk is treasure of nutrients. It is richer in vitamins A, B, and E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium than cow milk. The chains of fatty acids in sheep milk have many health benefits. They have little effect on blood cholesterol level of humans. It is easy to digest fat portion of sheep milk.

Health Note:

• If you have atherosclerosis, heart disease, high cholesterol ( hypercholesterolemia) in the upper range 200-239 mg/dL or high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia), the American Heart Association recommends a maximum daily limit of 200mg of dietary cholesterol, and advises no more than 7 percent of calories be eaten in the form of saturated fat.
• A new study shows that exposure to a chemical called diacetyl, a component of artificial butter flavoring, can be harmful.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda remedies .Read more about medicinal properties of butter at Health benefits of butter – An ayurveda perception

Taking Care To Grow Great Hair

2011-11-14T23:24:00.000-08:00

When you consider all aspects of personal care and hygiene, many people tend to overlook the care that should go into their hair. Although hair is only dead skin cells, that does not mean that it should not be properly cared for! Neglecting to care for your hair could result in many health problems—and cause you to become unpopular among your friends and colleagues. Additionally, taking good care of your hair can help to prevent hair loss and balding. It is as simple as following basic nutrition and hygiene guidelines.

Normal Hair Growth And How To Speed Up The Process

The average head has over 100,000 hairs, each of them sitting in hair follicles that lie just underneath the skin. No one hair follows exactly the same growth cycle; they all grow independently of one another. In normal hair growth, there are three main stages: anagen (the growth stage), catagen (the transition stage), and telogen (the resting stage). The growth stage can last for as long as seven years.

Speeding up hair growth can be a matter of getting the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients. A deficiency in nutrition can lead to dull, stringy hair, and even temporary hair loss! A common side effect of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia is hair loss. This indicates that eating the proper amount of food is important to preventing baldness.

There are several essential vitamins that aid hair growth. Deficiencies in these specific vitamins can cause problems with hair growth. Zinc and biotin (which is related to vitamin B) are both associated with hair health. Zinc can be found in meat and eggs, while biotin can be found in most protein sources.

Another hair care essential is having enough fat in your diet. People on low-fat and no-fat diets are often at risk to suffer hair health consequences, because they can cause the scalp to dry up. Omega-3 fatty acids can help to ensure a healthy scalp and crop of hair.

Healthy Hygiene Help

Another aspect of hair care is regularly washing it with shampoo and conditioner. For people with abnormal hair conditions, such as dandruff, there are special shampoos available to help treat them. It is also important to limit flat-ironing and blow-drying your hair, because this can cause it to dry out.

The Hair Makes The Person

Hair care reflects a lot about your health habits and how much you value personal appearance. To avoid baldness and stringy, dead, or dry hair, follow nutrition and personal hygiene basics.

Read complete article at http://www.ayurhelp.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=11024

Aphrodisiacs for Men - Natural Male Aphrodisiacs to Increase Stamina

2011-11-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

It is not uncommon for men to sometimes experience a decrease in their desire for making love. It can happen due to various factors, either physical or psychological. Sometimes men might find helpful to use certain aphrodisiacs in order to increase their libido, especially in periods of intense stress when their ability to focus on the love life might be affected. Natural male aphrodisiacs are meant to enhance the desire for sexual activity and stimulate men without having any side effects. When referring to aphrodisiacs for men, we can mention both herbs and certain foods.

In what concerns natural male aphrodisiacs based on herbs, the following herbs are the most common.

1. Tribulus Terrestris - It is a relatively new herb for us, although the Indian and the Chinese medicine were largely using it. It increases both libido and potency in men.

2. Maca - It increases sexual desire in men and in ancient times it was used by Incans before going to battle.

3. Ginseng - It enhances the desire for sexual activity and it is also a herb with revitalizing effects in what concerns the entire body.

4. Muira puama - It is used for treating erectile dysfunction and it also has a beneficial effect in restoring the sexual vitality in men.

5. Damiana - It increases sexual appetite in both men and women.

6. Horny goat weed - It is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction and it also increases libido. It was discovered after its effects were noticed on goats and that is why it is called like this.

Some men find more helpful to use foods as natural male aphrodisiacs. They are indeed a "more pleasant" way of "getting in the lovemaking mood". Foods that increase the libido in men are

1. Grapes - You have seen many lovers having grapes and cheese for dinner. The combination has powerful aphrodisiac effects, especially if combined with red wine.

2. Exotic fruits - Guava, pomegranate and pineapple are both tasty and stimulating.

3. Avocado - It is known as a natural male aphrodisiac from ancient times and its effects are due to the high content of minerals and fibers.

4. Chocolate - It has aphrodisiac effects on both men and women and it stimulates the brain to release substances that are responsible with lovemaking.

The list of foods is not exhaustive, as there are many others who can improve libido and increase the desire for lovemaking activity. It is also worth mentioning eggs, oysters, honey, almonds, caviar, chilies or fennel.

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The Health Benefits of Grapes and Their Uses in Home Remedies

2011-11-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

There are a few thousand kinds of grapes with very different chemical composition.

Grapes are 65-85% water, 10-33% sugar (glucose and fructose), phlobaphene, gallic acid, silicic acid, quercetine, anin, glucosides - mono delphinidin and delphinidin, fruit acids, like apple acid, salicilic acid, phosphoric acid, lemon acid, amber acid, formic acid and a little bit of oxalic acid, pectins, tannic substances, salts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, cobalt, iron and vitamins B1, B2,?6, ?12, ?, ?, ?, ??, K, folic acid and enzimes.

Grape skin has tannic substances and essential oils.

Grape seeds have tannic substances, phlobaphene, lecithin, vanilla and fatty oil.

Grape leaves have sugar, quercetine, carotene, inosite, tannic substances, betain, tartaric acid, apple acid, ascorbic acid, protocatechine acid, potassium, sodium, iron and silicon.

Grapes have been used for treating metabolism disorders, liver, kidney and lung disorders and cardiovascular problems. Grapes improve metabolism and have diuretic, anti inflammation, light laxative and inducing perspiration effect.

Grapes help with nervous exhaustion, hypertension, high blood pressure, bronchitis and gout. Eating grapes strengthens your body when you need to recover from anemia, gastritis with high acidity, metabolism disorder, chronic insomnia and constipation.

It is recommended to include grapes in your diet in the first stage of tuberculosis.

Drinking grape juice daily for a long time helps to lower high blood pressure.

There many grape home remedies in folk medicine.

Extract of grape leaves (boil 1 part of grape leaves with 10 parts of water for 15 minutes, let it cool and filter it) is used for gargling your throat if you have angina and for washing your body if you have skin disorders.

You should eat raisins, if you cough, have an angina, ulcers in your mouth, bladder disorders and hemorrhoids.

Warnings:

-Grapes and grape juice are not recommended for obesity, stomach ulcers, diabetes, colitis, diarrhea and dysentery.

-You will get an upset stomach if you eat grapes with milk, cucumbers, melon, fish, beer, mineral water and fatty meals.

-If you have a cavity in a tooth, eating grapes or drinking grape juice will intensify your tooth destruction. Rinse your mouth every time you eat grapes.

Yulia Berry is a professional makeup artist. It has been her passion to collect the most interesting natural home remedies, healthy diet plans, and beauty and makeup tips from different countries. She spent a few years researching alternative cures and healthy dieting.

Read complete article at http://www.ayurhelp.com/wordpress/?p=231

Ayurveda Medicinal Properties of Grapes

2011-11-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

Common Grape Vine ( Vitis Vinifera ) is known as Draksha in ayurveda. This is widely grown in western parts of India, Punjab, Kashmir, central Europe, Turkey, Morocco and Portugal . The grape vine has long, woody stems rooted to ground. Stems are covered with flaky bark. The grapevine usually grows up to 35 meters. It has alternative, broad, palmate leaves. The unripe fruit is usually green and ripe fruit is dark purple in color. Ripe fruits are covered with light grey wax coat.

Grape vine has acquired numerous names by virtue of its shape and medicinal properties. These names have been coined by ayurveda acharyas. It is known as “Draksha” as it is liked by one and all. Due to its medicinal properties it increases the moistness of our body tissues and softens the dried ones. Hence the name “Mrudweeka”. Grapes get the name “Gosthani” as the shape of fruits resemble mammary glands (udder) of cow.

Chemical Composition of Grapes

Grapes contain 70 to 80% water and numerous organic and inorganic compounds. These are sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, nitrogenous compounds, aroma compounds, minerals, pectic substances. They are also good source of bioflavonoids

Ayurveda Medicinal Properties of Grapes

Grapes are sweet to taste and act as body coolants. They are soft, heavy to digest and increase the moistness of body tissues. By virtue of these properties this fruit alleviates vata and pitta. Hence these berries are used in diseases which arise due to vitiation of vata and pitta.

Usefulness of grape berries on different organ systems are given below.

Nervous system: Due to their property of alleviating vata the use of grapes is recommended as nervine . It boosts memory power and acts as a brain tonic.

Digestive system: Vata and pitta regulate functions of digestive system. Since grapes alleviate vata and pitta, they are widely used in digestive disorders like constipation, jaundice and thirst.

Circulatory System: These berries act as cardiac tonic. They strengthen the muscles of heart and increase the nutrient components (hemoglobin) of blood. Grapes are very useful in diseases which arise due to vitiation of rakta (blood) and pitta . Therefore the use of this fruit is recommended in Gout and allergies.

Respiratory System: Draksha or grapes help to strengthen lungs. Expectoration of kapha or Phlegm can be very easily achieved with the help of this fruit. Thus grapes are used as main ingredients in ayurvedic preparations which are administered in respiratory conditions like Tuberculosis, cough, bronchitis etc.

Urinary System: Grapes act as diuretics and increase frequency and volume of urine. It soothes the inner layers of bladder. For this reason grapes are recommended in burning micturition and cystitis.

Reproductive system: Grapes help to increase fertility of Men and women. It increases quality and quantity of semen, sperm count and sperm motility. It also helps to strengthen the female reproductive system. These berries are known as “Vrishya”, which means they help in erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

Effect on skin: Grapes help to reduce burning sensation of skin and skin allergies. It boosts the immunity of skin and help to prevent various skin diseases.

General health: Grapes facilitate a good supply of nutrients for recuperating patients. This fruit is of immense help to persons who want to increase their body bulk.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations.Ayurveda Medicnal properties of Grapes

How To Get Sufficient Sleep Even If You Work At Night

2011-08-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

There are people who need to work during night shifts. But the problem with this work schedule is that it can be very demanding and quite unhealthy. In fact, not everybody can stick to working at night for more than six months.

Due to financial problems, rising prices of oil and even mortgage woes, many feel compelled to accept whatever work schedule is available; even if it means that they have to toil during the graveyard shift. But majority of those who have to work when the moon is shining feel that they are in perpetual jet lag because their sleeppatterns have been disrupted. Besides, they often find it difficult to sleep when the sun is already up and shining. If you are one of those who have no choice but to work at night, you need to understand that you can hang on to your work schedule without necessarily sacrificing your sleep.

Here are some ways you can bring back sleep into your life:

Wear Dark Sunglasses

In order to achieve a restful sleep, your body needs to produce some melatonin, a hormone responsible for making a person achieve a reinvigorating slumber. However, the production of this chemical is actually dictated by your bio clock and is only released during nighttime. If you see bright lights the moment you get out from work, your body will know it is morning and will not make the hormones you need to have a restful sleep. So what do you have to do about it? Simply wear dark sunglasses to trick your mind into thinking that it is night and it is time for you to sleep.

Maintain A New Sleep Schedule

It is advisable to sleep immediately after work. Furthermore, you have to make sure that you sleep at the same time everyday, even during weekends or your days off. Maintaining a schedule will help regulate your body clock, which is important in order to help you meet your daily sleep requirements. The reason why a lot of nighttime workers struggle to change their body clock is their inability to maintain a consistent sleep pattern. Many tend to sleep at night during weekends or days off.

Dark Is Right

Another way to trick your mind into thinking that it is nighttime is by putting up a curtain or shade that is dark. You have to remember to make your room cool, cozy and dark. You can also try wearing an eye mask if you are sharing your room with other people. In order to bring noise levels down, try wearing an earplug.

Say No To Caffeine

Do not worry. You will not have to sacrifice your caffeine fix in order to reach a relaxing sleep. Just make sure that you do not eat or drink anything that is loaded with caffeine at least five hours before you hit the bed.

Mini Breaks Are Important

The things you do while at work actually have a lot of impact on your sleep patterns. It would be better to have mini breaks throughout the shift to help make you feel less stressful when you go home. It would also be advisable to do some stretching and exercise while you are at your desk or when you are having your break. However, do not do any strenuous exercise at least three hours before your bedtime.

Go Easy On The Energy Drinks

Energy drinks have been the beverage of choice of people who work during the night. In fact, some people drink several bottles or cans of such drinks in just one shift. However, the caffeine content of this type of beverage can be very high. Sometimes, drinking green tea is more effective than chugging up energy drinks to keep you awake while you are working.

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What Are the Common Health Problems of a Call Center Agent?

2011-08-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

The increasing number of young professionals today that are employed as call center agents in different BPO sector are amazingly high especially with the contact center company. It helped a lot in decreasing the unemployment rate particularly in the Philippines. However, there are issues today regarding the health problems of call center agents that should be addressed by every contact center management.

Working in a contact center company may sound easy because a Bachelor's degree is not a requirement. All it takes is for one to speak fluently like Americans or British, and you get a good paying job. Apparently, a call center job makes an agent unhealthy if proper working habit is not being measured. This nocturnal job gives drastic changes to the life of a young professional and may be hazardous to your health if safety measures are not being practiced.

Regular night shifts, longer hours of work, sitting for a few hours while talking over the telephone and reading pre-scripted conversations from a computer, the incredibly high work targets and quotas, manage an irate caller, the coffee and cigarette, this is the life of a common call center agent. Where every minute counts for every agent, from the moment he or she logs in to the computer, a 15 minute break before dinner for a coffee and cigarette, a one hour break for a heavy meal, and another 15 minute break before the end of the shift. This performance monitoring contributes a whopping stress on the life of an agent.

Working at night on a regular basis gives drastic change to ones biological clock. This turned out to be the major cause of health-related problem of an agent. This causes insomnia to most people who have sleeping difficulties during daytime. It can easily be treated once you seek an advice from a doctor. However, it may lead to chronic insomnia if you do not address well to this kind of illness. This is a primary severe disorder that could last longer than 1 month and maybe more dangerous to your health.

Another common problem of a call center agent is eye problem. Soreness, dryness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and headache, this is labeled as Computer vision syndrome or CVS. This is a very real problem for many people who spend many hours everyday in front of a computer. Sometimes, simply reorganizing your work environment to develop better ergonomics is all you need to do to reduce eye strain and other vision problems related to Computer vision syndrome. In some cases, a pair of computer eyeglasses may help you, but the best way to know above all is consult a doctor first. It is better to consult a doctor right away once you feel something unusual in your health before it is too late.

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Dealing with Sleep disturbances while working in shifts –An ayurveda view

2011-08-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

Our body functions like hormone release, body temperature, sleep-wake cycles etc, are caused due to Circadian rhythm which intern controlled by our biological clock. Circadian rhythms are responses of living beings for its surrounding environment, primarily to light and darkness. This rhythm follow a roughly 24 hours cycle and causes physical, mental and behavioral changes.

The biological clock of our body is situated in hypothalamus of brain. This clock is a group of nerve cells called suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN. SCN controls the secretion of hormone melatonin which makes us sleepy. When there is less light the SCN sends signals to brain to secrete more melatonin. Thus the sleep and wake cycle are in rhythm with night and day.

Employees who work in shifts especially at nights experience sleep disturbances due to disruption in biological clock and disturbance in Circadian rhythm.When these disturbances become chronic the health of employees gets affected.

Employees who work in rotating shifts or exclusive night shifts experience “shift work disorder”. Shift work disorder can lead to Insomnia or excessive sleepiness. This eventually leads to increased risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Psychiatric problems like depression may be triggered due to sleep disturbances.

Due to Circadian rhythm the digestive system is active in day and sluggish at night. Awaking at night impairs digestion.Inadequate sleep and caffeinated drinks taken during night shift aggravate the problems of digestive system. Acidity and ulcers are very common in employees who work in night shifts.

According to principles of ayurveda a good and timely sleep nourishes all tissues (dhatu poshana) and balances three doshas. This keeps our body healthy. Proper digestion and nourishment of body tissues boost body energy and immunity to diseases. Altered sleep pattern vitiates vayu which intern cause degeneration of tissues and imbalance of doshas.

Vayu which gets aggravated due to disturbed sleep dries up the tissues. “ratrau jaagaranam rooksham”.The vitiated vayu causes the following condition.
• Improper digestion or disturbances in digestion.
• Either Insomnia or increased sleepiness.
• Reduced concentration in work.
• Premature aging which leads to dry skin, wrinkles, grey hair, hair loss etc.
• Lowered immunity.
• Low sperm count and sperm motility.
• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature ejaculation
. Low libido.
• Reduction in quality and quantity of semen.
• Depression.
• Irregular menstrual cycle in women.

Tips to reduce health hazards due to shift work:

1. Adjust your shift in a definite pattern like – day shift- evening shift- night shift. This slow transition in sleep pattern helps the biological clock to adjust itself.
2. Avoid consumption of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. This helps to retard aging process and keeps the digestive system healthy.
3. Keep your work place brightly lit during night shifts.
4. Use blackout blinds or heavy dark colored curtains to block sunlight when you sleep during the day.
5. Switch off your mobile phones when you sleep in day. Ask your family members not to disturb you.
6. Consume light food before leaving for night shift.
7. Avoid junk foods and aerated drinks when you work.
8. Take warm shower before going to bed.
9. Drinking a glass of warm milk before going to bed helps to replenish nutrients and nourish tissues which have dried due to Vayu.
10. A complete body massage once in week with vata balancing herbal oil helps to reduce fatigue and prevents early aging symptoms like wrinkles, dry skin etc.
11. Massaging head with herbal oil helps to reduce hair loss and premature graying.
12. Try to spend around 30 minutes daily, for a brisk walk or light work out in gym.
13. Drink plenty of water to maintain water balance. This increases body moisture level and reduces effects of vitiated vata.
14. Avoid refrigerated foods and beverages.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Dealing with Sleep disturbances while working in shifts –An ayurveda view . Read article at drsavithasuri@gmail.com

Oil Massage

2011-07-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

From the 5000-year-old Ayurvedic healing tradition of India to being referenced in the writings of Homer, Socrates and Plato, oil massages are not a new idea. Adding warm massage oil to the experience of a massage can be blissfully relaxing and wonderfully comforting, while it rejuvenates your mind and body. Not only does it enhance the relaxing nature of the massage, but it also aids in healing processes. The smooth gliding motion that a massage oil helps to achieve nourishes the skin and helps to dissolve accumulated toxins and stress, which promotes general good health.

Benefits of an Oil Massage

Tones the muscles along with the whole physiology
Helps to keep the joints flexible
Relieves fatigue, aches and pain in the body
Calms the nerves
Increases the circulation
Improves the complexion of the skin by adding luster to it
Improves energy and mental alertness
Promotes deeper and better sleep
Nourishes the whole body, promoting longevity

To get the most benefits of an oil massage, it is best to use chemical-free, cold pressed, organic vegetable oils, or massage oils with herbs added to them, or a massage oil to which an essential oil used in aromatherapy has been added. Given below are some of the best massage oils along with their benefits.

Massage Oils

Olive Oil: Helps to relieve stiffness because of its warming effect.

Apricot Kernel Oil: An excellent massage oil for reducing stress. It is very good for all types of skin, especially skin that is aging prematurely.

Jojoba Oil: An anti-bacterial, deep penetrating oil, especially good for acne and eczema.

Borage Oil: This is another oil that penetrates deep, and stimulates and regenerates. Especially good for psoriasis and eczema.

Kukui Nut Oil: This is a light oil with a slightly warming effect. It is an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial oil.

Avocado Oil: Being a heavy oil, it is best used diluted in a lighter oil.

Almond Oil: A light oil, it is also anti-inflammatory. It is especially good for dry skin, although it is beneficial for most types of skin.

Coconut Oil: A heavy and thick oil, it is best to warm it before use. It is especially beneficial for cracked, dry skin.

Grapeseed Oil: This is beneficial for all skin types, plus it is non-allergenic.

Castor Oil: this is a sticky, thick oil which is particularly good used on scar tissue and to draw out toxins. It is most efficacious used in a poultice.

Different kinds of oil suit different types of skin. Hence, it is best to try out the various kinds of oils to see which suits you the best. Also, many people have a preference for particular oils due to their aroma, along with the effects of certain oils compared to others.

Oil Massage Technique

Although it is best to get an oil massage from a masseuse, self-massage can be quite effective too, although perhaps not as satisfying. Or, you could learn the technique and give your partner a rejuvenating oil massage. Here is how you do it:

First, warm the oil, making sure it is not too hot.
Then, dip the tips of your fingers into the oil and apply it all over the body lightly.
Allow the oil to be absorbed by the skin for a while, say about five minutes.
Then, using the fingers and the palms start massaging the whole body.
Use circular massaging motions on the head and the joints, and straight motions on the limbs, back, the chest and abdomen.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
On sensitive areas like over the heart or on the abdomen, use light pressure.
Where there are nerve endings, like the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, use extra oil, and spend more time.
After you finish massaging the whole body, allow 10 to 15 minutes to relax, letting the oil and the massage do their work.
Then, get into a tub of warm water or have a warm water shower.

When you come out of the bath you will feel a great sense of rejuvenation and relaxation. Try and get an oil massage at least once or twice a week. You will find that it is well worth it.

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Ayurveda medicinal properties of Ksheerabala oil

2011-07-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Ksheerabala oil (taila) is recommended by ayurvedic physicians for body massage. It has innumerable medicinal properties by virtue of its ingredients and method of preparation. Ksheerabala oil or ksheerabala thailam contains the herb Bala (Sida cordifolia), Milk and pure sesame oil.

First sesame oil is processed with several herbs like triphala, musta, lodra etc which help to remove its odour and increase its potency. This method is called as “murchana”. The oil gets a good fragrance and color after the process of murchana.

The paste and decoction of bala or Sida cordifolia , milk and water are added in required quantities to processed sesame oil. This mixture is boiled according to the guidelines given in ayurvedic pharmacology. The ksheerabala thailam or oil thus formed is filtered and stored in air tight containers. The fat soluble active principles of bala (Sida cordifolia ) get dissolved in sesame oil through this process.

Ksheerabala taila is usually used for body massage in detoxification process. (Panchakarma) . It is rich in “Satva guna” and hence more “satvic”. The medicinal properties of the ingredients are as follows.

Bala (Sida cordifolia): Bala normalizes vata and has anti inflammatory properties. It soothes excited nerves, helps in strengthening muscles. Due to these properties ksheerabala oil effectively help in conditions like Arthritis, Gout, Sciatica, Stiffness of joints, Nervous debility, Neuralgia, body pain etc. Bala is known to increase quality and quantity of semen and has aphrodisiac properties. Hence massaging this oil helps in low libido, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

Milk: According to principles of ayurveda milk has cooling effect on body. It refreshes body and mind. Milk nourishes body, increases libido, quality and quantity of semen and helps in erectile dysfunction. Milk accelerates wound healing.

Sesame Oil: Sesame oil brings aggravated vata to normal condition. When it is infused with various herbs, it almost cures all diseases. Sesame oil increases hair growth and enhances volume of hair and its shine. It strengthens the hair roots, kills lice and prevents formation of dandruff. It heals the boils of scalp caused by infections and prevents hair loss. Massaging sesame oil on body has immense benefits. It rejuvenates body skin and increases its glow and fairness. It strengthens and tones the muscles and ligaments. Sesame oil massage is very beneficial in body pain, joint pains, insomnia and dry skin.

Traditionally Ksheerabala oil is used in Arthritis, Gout, Sciatica, Stiffness of joints, Nervous debility, Neuralgia , Insomnia, Cracking Joints, Paralysis, Spondylosis, Inflammations, Lumbago, Rheumatism, etc. This oil is widely used in ayurvedic body massage. This helps to relax body muscles and is of good help for body builders as it tones up muscles. Regularization of sleep and slowing down of aging process are other added advantages of ksheerabala taila massage

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda consultations
Read more about Ksheerabala Oil

Can Psoriasis Cause Hair Loss?

2011-07-26T03:24:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis Is An Autoimmune Condition: Many people mistakenly think that
psoriasis is very similar to dandruff or other conditions that involve excess sebum or androgens. In fact, this is an autoimmune condition in which excess skin production causes scaly patches that sometimes take on a silvery white appearance. You'll often see areas like the elbows and knees affected, but the scalp is not at all off limits.

It's pretty well known that there are many autoimmune conditions that cause hair loss including alopecia areata, lupus, and Hashimoto thyroiditis. Many doctors are reluctant to place psoriasis in this category, but I personally think that you can make this argument as the timing between the two will often suggest a connection. The treatment for these conditions vary. But in terms of hair loss, there is a European study that has shown promise using and rotating specific essential oils rubbed into the scalp.

Other Theories On Hair Loss, Hair Thinning, Or Shedding Along With Psoriasis: Many doctors will tell you that when this condition occurs on the scalp, the plaque and scales can choke out the hair follicles and keep healthy hair from growing (only while there is a flare in place.) Often, this doesn't not occur over the entire scalp. There will more often be patches that you can clearly see being affected and that is where you'll see the hair being compromised or thinning. (This process is pretty hard to miss and is pretty obvious upon close inspection.) However, typically when the area heals, the hair will become normal again.

The other possibility is that a flare has placed stress upon the body. The body in turn will often shut down some functions to conserve. One of these function is the hair growth cycle and what you will get as the result is a condition called TE (or telogen effluvium.) This happens when a large number of hairs move from the growth cycle to the rest cycle. This is followed by a shedding of the hair. What you'll see is a lot of hair falling out at one time all of a sudden. This is the same thing that happens to women after they give birth. Typically, the shedding will stop in a few weeks or months and as long as their are not scales or patches on the scalp, regrowth should be fine.

Stopping Hair Loss Related To This Condition: Obviously the best course of action to stop the loss is to effectively treat the condition. Often this happens with trial and error with your doctor. Some doctors use medications and some use a laser or alternative therapies. However, some folks find that treating the symptoms isn't doing anything for the hair. In these cases, you may want to look at lessening the inflammation on and in stimulating your scalp to produce healthy regrowth. Sometimes, you will have diffuse thinning that doesn't really present like TE shedding and / or doesn't occur in the effected areas. In these cases, you may want to look at other possibilities. It's not inconceivable that the hair situation does not relate to the psoriasis in some cases.

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Psoriasis Lotions and Creams

2011-07-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a skin condition which creates a thick build up of extra skin on the surface of the body. These thick skin patches are referred to as psoriasis plaques, and they often develop on the scalp, knees and elbows. Some psoriasis sufferers however, get the scaley psoriasis skin plaques on other places of their body too. In some cases the skin patches can build up on the face, hands, ankles, and feet. In rare cases psoriasis plaques will develop over most of the body too.

Since psoriasis creates very thick patches of skin which is dry, red, itchy and flaky, many people not familiar with the condition will automatically try using extra creams and lotions to treat the skin areas. Unfortunately most of these don't work very well though, because they're too thick to penetrate the thick skin plaques psoriasis creates.

There are some creams and lotions however, which can help soften the dry skin area, and some can help reduce redness and itching too. The most effective creams and lotions to use for psoriasis though, contain herbal or vitamin additives which are better able to penetrate the thick skin layers, plus these ingredients tend to work best at helping thin the psoriasis skin plaques out a bit too.

There are also medicated prescription creams and lotions used for psoriasis as well. These can only be prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist though, and they often contain various ingredients which may help thin the psoriasis skin patches, reduce itchiness, or help suppress the new skin growth which causes the problems. Prescription psoriasis creams and lotions may have ingredients such as coal tar or a Vitamin D derivative. Some also have steriods which help suppress the immune system, and this is what helps slow down the growth of new skin.

The reason prescription psoriasis creams and lotions are made to slow down skin growth is because psoriasis is caused by an over reaction of the body's immune system. Instead of creating new skin about once a month like healthy immune systems do, a psoriasis affected immune system will generate new skin every three to five days. This is too fast for the existing skin to die off and be shed from the surface of the body, so the skin piles up in the form of the thick skin plaques mentioned previously.

Herbal creams and lotions used to treat psoriasis usually contain aloe vera. Using pure aloe vera juice however, tends to work better than using a cream or lotion which simply contains a little aloe vera. Often creams and lotions don't have enough aloe vera in them to do much good. Aloe vera will help soften psoriasis plaques, plus it can help thin the skin patches out too because it helps remove dead skin. Aloe vera also promotes healing, so it can sometimes help reduce the severity of the psoriasis plaques too.

Creams and lotions which contain oatmeal can also be quite helpful, and plain old fashioned oatmeal by itself is the best for the reasons already stated. Psoriasis creams and lotions which contain oatmeal will help clear off dead skin faster though, because oatmeal is a natural exfoliant. Oatmeal also does a wonderful job of softening skin too, and it can help relieve the itching caused by psoriasis as well.

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RAKTAMOKSHANA (LEECH THERAPY) – MAGIC OF AYURVEDA

2011-07-19T04:46:00.000-07:00

Leech therapy has shown drastic result in patients with Pain disorders, psoriasis, Eczema, Swelling and all other kind of skin infections.

Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital has recently started its RAKTMOKSHAN DEPARTMENT where many chronic diseases are treated by Leech Therapy.

Leeches are 'worms' with suckers on each end. Leeches can range in size from a half of inch to ten inches long. They are brown or black in color. Some feed on decaying plant material. Others are parasites, feeding on blood and tissue of other animals.

According to Ayurveda, Leech at first bite, only sucks impure bold from the skin and only the pure blood is left so it is a blood purification therapy .Later, when it starts sucking pure blood, the patient feels patient feels pain and in this way

Blood-sucking leeches suck your blood using two ways: they use a proboscis to puncture your skin, or they use their three jaws and millions of little teeth. They live just about anywhere where water is. But leeches are still being used to suck blood! The leech can remove any congested blood to allow normal circulation to return to the tissues, thus preventing gangrene from starting.

Storage of leeches

Leeches are stored in a Glass Aquarium filled with up to 2/3 by non-chlorinated water, covered by fabric with a good elastic or thread band (leeches can crawl out without it - the smallest hole is big enough for them).

Keep in mind leeches must breathe (they can breathe through fabric but not through a plastic cover) Change the water every 3-6 days (depends on quantity of leeches in a jar). Clear water that is free from chlorine is necessary for maintaining leeches. Avoid placing leeches in chlorinated water. Leeches are sensitive to substances such as chlorine, copper, and other chemicals. Non-chlorinated tap water in most areas is suitable for leeches. Do not use distilled water alone since its extreme purity can be harmful to the leeches' metabolic balance. Keep the water clean. Once the water shows signs of becoming dirty or polluted, it should be changed. Water of the aquarium has to be changed every 3-6 days, depends on quantity of leeches.

Changing the water of Leeches

Cover the jar opening by gauze and dump the old water. The gauze will absorb the grease from the jar (pieces of the old leech skin, etc.) Then pour some fresh water in the jar. Sudden temperature changes could harm the leeches, so keep your containers with fresh water in the same room where you keep the leeches. Ideal temperature for Leech is in a range of 40F to 80 F (5-27 C). Leeches can live up to one year without food so there is no need to feed them.
Leeches live Up to 10 years. It depends on many factors that are out of our control: quality of water, smells, quality of ventilation, sharp temperature or pressure changes, etc. Leeches can die after a meal just because they have eaten too much.

Indications of Leech Therapy are:

Eczema
Psoriasis
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Cellulites Sciatica
Inflammatory Reactions
Blood purification
Varicose Veins
Rheumatic Diseases
Diabetic Wounds
Boils and abscesses
Hypertension
Thrombosis (blood clot)
Alopecia
Herpes zoster

Safety and Adverse Affect of Leech Therapy

Leech therapy rarely ever leads to serious complications. The local pain of treatment and short-term itching are regular side effects. Prior to treatment, the patient should be advised accordingly and asked to sign a consent form describing the relevant side effects (see Appendix). Prevalence data from systematic and prospective studies are only available for some of the different side effects of leech therapy.

Local Pain during Treatment

Perceptions of the local pain of leeching varies. Most patients describe a local dragging pain that occurs immediately after the leech bites and persists for around one to five minutes. As more and more saliva is introduced into the tissues, the anesthetic effect of leech saliva begins to take effect. The perceived intensity of the leech bite varies from one individual to another. A slight (or sometimes somewhat stronger) rhythmic pulling sensation is usually noticed for the first one to three minutes after the start of feeding. Whether stimuli of exactly the same intensity are perceived as painful or are not perceived at all is certainly dependent on the individual's personality, but also depends on that person's concentration on the leech or attitude toward leech therapy. Many people never even notice the leech bite, for example when they are bitten under water while their attention is focused on something else. Frequently, the more anxiously the patient focuses on the leech preparing to bite, the higher the pain perception. If latex gloves must be worn for hygienic reasons, the leech therapist should never use forceps on the leech.

Local Itching

Transient itching at the site of the leech bite in the first few days after treatment is very common and should not be mistaken for an allergic reaction. Transient itching at the site of the leech bite in the first few days after treatment is very common and should not be mistaken for an allergic reaction.

Blood Loss

Leech therapy is always associated with a certain degree of blood loss, which is clinically irrelevant in most cases. The cause of this wound-healing disorder is unknown. Improper handling, especially early stoppage of after bleeding from the wound, squeezing the head of the leech with forceps, forceful removal of the leech before it has finished feeding, and failure to keep the animals in fresh water, have frequently been implicated as potential causes.
Steps for application of Leech

Purvakarma (before procedure)
1 Proper snehana (oleation) and swedana (sudation) of the patient.
2 Purification of leech by pouring the leech in haridra (turmeric powder) and water.
3 Part preparation – cleaning of place by turmeric water. The patient’s skin is cleaned thoroughly with soap and water or turmeric water.

Pradhana karma (main procedure)

1. Application of honey or by making an incision or a needle prick at the desired site so that of blood is produced and the leech attaches to the wound / incision quickly.
2. Steer the leeches head to the area to be treated. The head of the leech can be recognized by is searching forward movements, while the tail end is used as a sucker for attachment, The leeches must be applied in adequate numbers to area of maximum infection / congestion.
3. When Leech starts sucking blood, cover the leech with wet cotton.
4. When the leech has finished sucking the blood, usually within 30 minutes, remove it (if it does not come off by itself) by applying salt or turmeric powder on its head.
5. Ensure that the same leech is applied next time to the same patient.
6. Check the bleeding & clotting time of the patient. These should be normal.

Paschata karma (after procedure)

1. Induction of emesis to the leech by dusting of haridra churna (turmeric powder) on its mouth.
2. Sometimes pressing the leech from caudal to front end is required for proper emesis so Press the detached leech between fingers to force out the sucked impure blood.
3. Then put back in fresh water container. Leech should be freed in fresh water, where it swims swiftly and then settles down.
4. The patient’s area where the leeches have been put should be examined for local infections.
5. The minor wounds can be cleaned and washed with honey, and bandaged.
6. One leech should be reserved for one particular patient.

Why Sometimes Leech Doesn’t Bites?

Remedy is possible through warming up and cleaning the skin. Further measures those are helpful the skin soften and the blood circulation promote. If the leech does not want to bite at all, there is the possibility the skin with a needle to puncture still.

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Benefits of Amla: Prevent Aging and Promote Longevity

2011-07-14T04:38:00.000-07:00

Amla is one of the prestigious herbs that prevent aging and promote longevity. It has been found to be the most abundant source of Vitamin C in the plant kingdom containing as much as 20 times that of an orange. It is supposed to rejuvenate all the organ systems of the body, provide strength and wellness. It also helps us to keep away from all the diseases by boosting our immune system.

Amla is one of the widely used herbs in ayurvedic medicines. Charak and sushrut widely mention the use of amla for curative purposes. Amla due to sheet virya potency is widely used in diseases caused by pitta disorders. Well renowned ayurvedic preparations like chawanprash, triphala and amlaki rasayan possess dominance of Amla.

Pharmacological Properties of Amla

Amla is a proven antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic, yeast inhibiting, nematicidal, anabolic, anti-hepatoxic, anti-hyperhidrosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, anti-spasmodic, hypolipidemic, and hypotensive relieving properties. According to ayurvedic doctors, Amla has the ability to make our live more then 100 years like a youth.

Benefits of Amla

• Cure skin disorders: It is very useful in skin diseases as it has sheet virya in potency. It inhibits pitta and thus helps in getting relief from all the skin disorders caused by pitta dominance. Regular intake of Amla promotes glow on skin and delays wrinkles or loosening of skin.

• Control hair loss: Its internal use as well as its local application on scalp helps to control hair loss. It stimulates hair follicles thus promoting hair growth and also improves texture of the hair. It also prevents premature graying of hairs and dandruff.

• Improves eyesight: It is very useful in improving eyesight. It also counters diseases like reddening, itching and watering of eyes. It has also shown some good results in cataracts.

• Control sugar level: It is also very useful in controlling blood sugar level. Prepare a mixture of amla, jamun and bitter gourd powder (equal quantities). Take one teaspoonful of this mixture once or twice a day to make your diabetes under control.

Recommended Dosage of Amla

Amla powder is widely used today for enhancing general immune system. According to U.S. RDA, daily intake of dietary vitamin C is as below:

Infants (age below 1 year): 30 to 35 mg
Children (age 1 to 14 years): 40 to 50 mg
Adolescent (age 15 to 18 years): 65 to 75 mg
Men (age over 18 years): 90 mg
Women (age over 18 years): 75 mg

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Amla Uses and Benefits

2011-07-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

A prestigious herb finds it mention in charak samhita as a rasayan. Rasayan is a thing that prevent aging and promote longevity. Extensively used herb in making ayurvedic medicines because of its miraculous actions. According to ayurvedic doctors regular usage of Amla will make you live more then 100 years like a youth. Amla is supposed to rejuvenate all the organ systems of the body, provide strength and wellness. It keeps us away from all the diseases by boosting our immune system.

Known as Emblica officinalis in biological terms and amlaki in Sanskrit language, is richest natural source of vitamin C. Amla possess five out of six rasa. Only lavan rasa is not present. It is sheet virya (cold potency) in nature. It also possesses guru (heavy), ruksh (dry) and sheet (cold) properties, which make it, work best on pitta disorders, although it helps in suppressing all the three aggravated doshas.

Amla has a medium sized tree, which ranges from 20 - 25 foot. It possesses yellow-colored flowers that blossom from February to May. Its fruit is greenish yellow in appearance, which is available from October to April. It generally occurs in the area 4500 ft. above sea level. Plant part used is fruit.

Amla is a wonder herb with numerous indications. Due to its sheet virya potency it is widely used in diseases caused by pitta disorders. It has found an esteemed place in ayurvedic preparations. Chawanprash, triphala and amlaki rasayan possess dominance of Amla. It is used to substitute vitamin C in disease like scurvy. It has actions on all the systems of the body.

Following are the indications:

·Digestive system- due to presence of five rasa it finds it s application in decreased appetite, indigestion, acidity, constipation, gastric troubles, and flatulence. It also helps in restoring mouth taste and promotes salivation. It also strengthens the teeth. It is helpful in improving liver function. Good results have also been seen in gastric ulcers, as it is sheet virya in potency. It is also beneficial in piles.

·Circulatory system- it has a good effect on circulatory system and is of great importance to heart. It keeps check on all the toxins in the body circulating in blood; moreover it also checks the plaque formation in arteries, as it possesses tickt rasa. It helps in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar level. It helps in producing good quality red blood cells.

·Respiratory system- It is very helpful in countering kapha, hence very helpful in throwing out sputum from the respiratory tract. It gives very good results in chronic cough, child hood and allergic asthma and tuberculosis.

·Nervous system- As it also helps in suppressing vata dosha therefore, it is extremely helpful in providing nourishment to the nerves and is helpful in paralytic conditions. It also works as brain tonic and helps to grasp thing easily. It makes our sense organs work well and makes our reflexes sharp It is also helpful in marinating calmness in mind and suppresses mental tensions and stress. It also improves general intelligence level of a person.

·Reproductive system- It helps in improving quality of sperms due to its madhur (sweet) vipaka property. It is also helpful in curbing discharges from vagina and is responsible for toning and providing strength to the female genital tract.

·Excretory system- it is helpful in condition s like Dysurea (painful urination).

·Skin- it is very helpful in skin diseases as it has sheet virya in potency. It inhibits pitta and thus helps in getting relief from it. All the skin disorders are caused by pitta dominance. Regular use of Amla promotes glow on skin and delays wrinkles or loosening of skin. Good results have been found in eczema.

·Hairs- its internal use as well as its local application on scalp gives good results in hair loss. It stimulates hair follicles thus promoting hair growth and also improves texture of the hair. It also prevents premature graying of hairs and dandruff. Indian women generally use Amla to wash their hairs, which act as natural hair conditioner.

·It acts as anti pyretic agent due to sheet virya potency. It also acts as anti-inflammatory agent thereby suppresses pain and swelling.

·Eyes- It finds great application in improving eyesight. It also counters diseases like reddening, itching and watering of eyes. Good results have also been seen in cataracts.

·General -As it comes under the category of rasayan, hence works as anti aging agent. It also improves general health weakness. It keeps tridoshas i.e. vata pitta and kapha in balance there by marinating equilibrium in body. It also makes our body's immune system strong therefore help to fight diseases.

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Amla Is a Wonder Herb With Numerous Indications

2011-07-14T04:15:00.000-07:00

Amla is supposed to rejuvenate all the organ systems of the body, provide strength and wellness. It also helps us keep away from all diseases by enhancing the immune system.

Amla is one of the herbs widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. Charaka and Sushruta widely mention the use of amla for curative purposes. by the power of Amla virya sheet is widely used in diseases caused by pitta disorders. Well known Ayurvedic preparations as chawanprash, triphala and Amla rasayan amlaki domain owner.

Pharmacological Properties of Amla

Amla is a proven antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti, anti-viral mutagenic yeast inhibiting, nematicidal, anabolic, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-hyperhidrosis, anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, lipid-lowering properties to alleviate the antispasmodic and hypotensive. According to ayurvedic doctors, Amla has the ability to make our lives more than 100 years of his youth.

Benefits of Amla

or cure skin diseases: It is very useful in skin diseases as it has the power virya sheet. It inhibits pitta and thus helps to get relief from all skin disorders caused by pitta dominance. Regular intake of Amla promotes glow on skin and delays wrinkles or loosening of the skin.

o Control of hair loss: Its internal use as well as its local application on scalp helps to control hair loss. It stimulates hair follicles thus promoting hair growth and improves hair texture. It also prevents premature graying of hair and dandruff.

o Improving the view: It is helpful to improve eyesight. In addition, the counters of diseases such as redness, itching and watery eyes. It has also shown good results in cataracts.

o control of blood sugar: It is also useful for controlling the level of blood sugar. Prepare a mixture of amla, jamun and bitter gourd powder (the same amount.) Take a teaspoon of this mixture once or twice a day to make your diabetes under control.

Amla is known as Emblica officinalis is an herb from India, which is widely used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It is believed by Ayurvedic physicians that if a person regularly takes amla can live to an age of 100 years without any complaint. In this article we will learn more about this magical herb and see where we include in our own lives.

Where?

Usually found in areas that are close from 4500 to 5000 meters above sea level. It has a medium sized tree ranging from 25 to 30 feel. Usually bears fruit from October to April, which is greenish yellow in color, round and smaller than the size of a golf ball.The best way to take vitamin c , holy basil

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Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) rasayana - A rejuvenating Preparation

2011-07-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

Amalaki or amla is known for its rejuvenating properties. This fruit is also known as Indian gooseberry. Here is a simple recipe to prepare amalaki rasayana based on ayurveda principles .Amalaki rasayana can be used with whole wheat bread, chapati or parotas. This recipe can be eaten with spoon followed by a glass of cold milk.

Ingredients:

Fully Ripe amla or amalaki – 1 cup (take fully ripe amlas and wash it well with water. Wipe off the water content with a clean cloth. Cut these fruits into pieces and remove stalk and seed. The pulp thus obtained should measure 1 cup)
Water – 2 cups
Ghee – 2 tea spoon
Sugar – 1 cup
Honey – 2 tea spoon
Spices: Dry ginger, jeera (cumin seeds), pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom powder – ¼ tea spoon each and pound it well to get a tea spoon full of powdered spicy mixture. (These are called prakshepaka dravyas in ayurveda. These enhance the fragrance of preparation and make it more palatable. The spices increase the appetite and digestion. They also help the herbal ingredients to reach the tissues.

Boil amalaki pulp with water, in medium flame till water reduces to 1 cup. Remove the soft pulp with a strainer and allow the pulp to cool. Do not throw the boiled water. When the pulp gets cooled grind it in a clean blender. Place the ground pulp on a clean cloth and squeeze the juice to the boiled water. Add sugar to this water and boil well till it forms sugar syrup. (One thread sugar syrup). Mean while fry the squeezed pulp in ghee and when the pulp starts leaving the ghee add one tea spoonful of spice mixture. Transfer this to boiling syrup and mix well. Remove this from heat and allow it to cool down. Add honey when it gets completely cooled.

Medicinal properties of ingredients:

Amalaki or amla has immense medicinal properties. It rejuvenates skin, liver, body and balances all three doshas. It reduces burning sensation of eyes and helps in hair growth. Emblica officinalis rejuvenates male reproductive system and helps to increase sperm count and sperm motility. It also soothes the inner layers of digestive system and urinary bladder. Regular consumption of this herb helps to boost body immunity.

Ghee increases memory power, clarity of voice and boosts body energy. It rejuvenates skin and enhances glow of skin. This ingredient also helps to increase quality and quantity of semen.

Honey has immense medicinal properties. It boosts body immunity and accelerates wound healing. It energizes and rejuvenates body. This sweet ingredient helps to reduce obesity and blood cholesterol. When applied with face packs dark pigments, acne, pimples, scars and marks get reduced.

Precaution: Do not add honey when the preparation is hot.

This rasayana instantly energizes body. This preparation is a very good rejuvenator and helps in body building. It improves appetite and increases digestion. As this rasayana contains amalaki it boosts memory power and immunity. Men suffering from infertility are benefited by this preparation.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of Ayurveda help through ayurveda remedies .Read more about Amalaki Rasayana at Amamalaki (Embelica Officinalis) Rasayana

What Do Garlic, Apples, Papaya and Cucumber Have To Do With Your Blood Pressure Problems?

2011-06-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

Each one can help lower your blood pressure.

Garlic (a good substitute for salt) is a blood thinner. If used in moderation it has been shown to help lower blood pressure. Because it is a blood thinner it will reduce the ability of the blood to clot, so don’t start eating it at every meal. Once or twice a day in food that you would eat with salt and substituting garlic power (not garlic salt) has been shown in clinical studies to help blood pressure to normalize.

Apples contain potassium and phosphorus and are low in sodium. Apples with honey (preferably truly raw honey that has never been heated at all) have long been used for to reduce blood pressure problems. Potassium has been found to reduce the risk of a heart attack. By eating apples, one or two a day, sodium in the tissues is reduced and replaced by potassium and blood pressure comes down.

Papaya contains vitamins A, C, B complex as well as amino acids, calcium and iron. Half a papaya has more vitamin C and potassium than an entire orange. It has half the calories of a banana and 5 percent of the folate. Potassium and folate are nutrients necessary to heart health.

Cucumber included with other vegetable juices (carrot, beet, lemon, 2 cloves of garlic) in a drink has been seen to lower blood pressure in as little as one day. The above ingredients can be taken in a drink 2 to 3 times during the day. Here is the proportion: carrot 8 oz, cucumber 5 oz, beet 3 oz, lemon 1 oz, garlic juice of 4 cloves. Cucumbers are a good source of potassium, phosphorus and calcium as well as being a good diuretic.

Using a substitute method can help make a habit of health-giving foods. Try taking something “good” and let it substitute for something “bad” (coffee, tea, sugar) in your diet. For example: remove the salt from the shaker on your table and put garlic powder in it instead. When watching TV eat a sliced apple instead of potato chips or other salty snacks. Treat yourself to a papaya at lunch and let it displace some of the “meat and potatoes” you might otherwise eat. When you eat salad include lots of thinly sliced cucumbers, or add cucumbers to your blender when making any kind of drink.

The challenge is to find what works for you. Without changing much of anything you can, over time, re-invent your habits. The mistake is to go too fast. Trying to change everything in a week or in a day won’t work. Change just one thing today and later, maybe weeks later, after the change you made has been truly assimilated into your daily routine, then make another change.

Make it easy, ridiculously easy, to make the change (say from chips to sliced apples). Ridiculously easy (and slow) changes give you a chance and can save your life by reducing your blood pressure problems.

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Oily Skin Care Information

2011-06-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

Having oily skin can be the worst thing to do at any age. Oily skin occurs mostly among adolescents, but it can happen to anyone. Normally, with age, the skin becomes dry instead of oil. Oily skin can cause buttons, acne, and especially black causes. The causes of oily skin can come from the contraceptive pill, diet, pregnancy, certain cosmetics, the hot and humid climate and can run in the family. The skin has oil-producing sebaceous glands that can be hyperactive where more oil will be produced from the pores. This will leave your skin shiny, thick, and leave it with a dull color on your face. Oily skin fat that looks, feels greasy to the touch and is subject to black spots and the buttons is known as oily skin.It is imperative to keep oily skin clean and to control excessive secretion of the side oil.

On positive, oily skin tend to age more gradual compared to other types of skin, such as oil protects natural oily skin of fine lines and wrinkles. One cause you may not think about is nutrition.Make sure you are eating a well-balanced diet with vegetables, fruits and whole-grain cereals. You might also check to the grocery store "organic" foods because they have no pesticides, which are bad for your skin.

A good way to keep your skin is oily, having to wash my face every day with warm soapy water. This keeps the pores of the skin clean and fresh to give way to oily. You can also try using a clay or mud mask. Check to see if your skin is sensitive, and if it is, then try using white or pink-type clay. Also, try to use antiseptics on your face for cleaning. This can be done before applying makeup and before bedtime. Skin This information will help you keep your skin becomes oily and have a healthy glow. About 30 minutes before taking a bath, try to apply a half-teaspoon of lime juice and cucumber mixed. This will also help to keep your skin to be oily. If you try to stay away from fatty foods, which helps keep your skin free of oil.

Skin Care has a lot to do with the right to eat, to keep a glimmer fresh and healthy, you should eat green leafy vegetables, which will give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and who did shine. You can go online to find more tips for skin care oily skin to keep the oil away. This will keep the buttons and black spots there. Defects with acne and also begin to disappear with the best skin care. As long as you maintain a good healthy diet and to take the necessary steps to keep your skin clean to be oily, so you do not have problems with oily skin. Therefore, check online or you can even go to your bookstore or library to learn more about oily skin, skin care and what you can do to maintain a healthy and beautiful.

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All About Jackfruit You Should Know

2011-06-12T20:30:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for unique fruit to mix with your drinks or dishes? Go to local supermarkets and buy a jackfruit. You probably never knew about this fruit before, but once you taste it, you will love it.

Jackfruit is believed indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India. Later on, it spread early to other parts of India, Southeast Asia, the East Indies, and Philippines. Besides being planted in those areas, it is also planted in central and eastern Africa. In Brazil and Surinam, this fruit is increasingly popular. In tropical areas, it is even a common garden tree.

If you do not have any idea about this fruit, just imagine durian, but in larger shape. Do not get surprised on its size since it is known as the largest edible tree-grown fruit on earth! Can you imagine fruit which size is 350-900mm in length and 250-500mm in diameter? The weight even can reach 80 pounds!

When you first experience tasting this fruit, you may think that the smell is unpleasant. The fully ripe smell is "sharp", although it can not be compared to durian. The fruit is unusual as it is borne on the main branches, the trunks, and occasionally even from surface roots of the tree. The tree grows to an enormous size, like a large eastern oak, so it looks sturdy and massive.

When the fruit ripens, the exterior part, or the skin, turns into green or yellow. After peeling the skin, you will find large edible yellow bulbs with sweet taste. Before peeling a fresh jackfruit, you better oil your knife first because it is very sticky.

Jackfruit is often cooked for main course dishes, desserts, soups, drinks, ice creams, fruit salads, and even chips. For main course dishes, people tend to cook it when unripe and immature, but they use the fully ripe ones for desserts. It is also available canned in sugar syrup, or frozen. Some manufactures worldwide also produce dried jackfruit chips which have unique taste. You can even roast and boil the seeds!

Jackfruit contains many vitamins and minerals. It can help prevent cancer since it contains isoflavones, antioxidants, and phytonutriens. It can also help cure ulcers and indigestion. It is also good for your diet since it is a source of dietary fiber. Now, go to local markets, get a jackfruit, and mix it with your dishes!

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