Natural Healthcare Guide

Massage is one of the important part of Ayurveda and is the basic way of Indian life. Each Indian child, right from the day he/she is born, gets everyday massage. Whether it is the occasion of marriage or issue of gaining post natal strength for a new mother- massage is the ultimate thing to do. Apart from the everyday massage, Ayurveda also recommends many special types of massages such as Abhyanga, Garshana, Shirodhara etc. Basic Principle Behind Ayurvedic Massage The Ayurvedic massage techniques rest on certain basic theories of Ayurveda. One of such theories is that of Panchkarma- the five types of therapeutic measures. Ayurveda believes that any problem occuring to human body is the result of imbalance among the three toxins or “doshas”- Vaata, Pitta and Kapha. Panchakarma consists of five basic types of advanced treatment for balancing the vitiated Dosha from the body. Snehana or Massage is one of the subsidiary of Panchakarma. It includes other Ayurvedic thera...

Custard Apple ( ANNONA SQUAMOSA) Custard Apple or Seethaphal is a tropical fruit tree that grows easily. It was first culivated in West Indies. Its botanical name is 'ANNONA SQUAMOSA'. It is very popular in India. The pulp of the fruit is mixed with milk to make custard. As it has the taste of custard it is called 'Custard Apple'. The fruit has a peculiar aroma. Custard Apple is used to make Jams, Jellies and sherbets.  The plant is propogated by grafting as well as through the seeds. Grafted plants produce fruits from the first year itself. The plant usually flowers between March and July. The fruits should be plucked before they are ripe and stored for ripening.  Custard apple promotes digestion and is used as a cure for vomiting, diarrhoea, dysentry and vertigo. The unripe fruit is dried and powdered and is used as a cure for treating lice. The fruit is low in calorie content and contains minerals like iron, phosphorous, calcium and riboflavin.  ...

Fruit Juices to Beat Summer Try out juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple during summer. Consumption of fruits and juices reduces body heat and benefits in controlling body temperature. The strength of the body will be lost during this period. People feel tired and exhausted during the season due to extensive heat rays of the sun, the watery portion (or Kapha) of the body of people, animals, plants, foods and the entire environment will become dry and the vata will become more in the body and the atmosphere. The skin will become dry and may precipitate skin diseases as eczema.. What to Drink and Eat: One must drink the juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple. This is to say foods and juices of sweet and cold and easily digestible must be consumed. The preparations of sugar, barely/green gram, sharbats, buttermilk with sugar candy are to be used daily to cool the body. One must take the food of white rice wit...

Kerala Ayurvedic Massages and Treatments Sirodhara, Ksheeradhara, Daanyamalardhara             DHANYAMLA DHARA Warm herbal liquid is poured all over the body in a rhythmic way through a special vessel for 45 minutes to 1 hour daily. This treatment is very effective for hemiplegia, paralysis, rheumatic complaints etc. DHARA In this process, some herbal oils, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc., are poured on the forehead in a special method for about 45 minutes in a day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is mainly for insomnia, vatha predominated diseases, mental tension and certain skin diseases. DASAMOOLA KSHEERA DHARA Medicated milk is poured all over the body and head with a special vessel from a certain height in a rhythmic manner. This treatment is good for insomnia, mental tensions, headache due to pitha dominant, menopause problems etc. SARVANGA KASHAYA DHARA This treatment is a kind of ...

This treatment gives relief from rheumatic problems   Author: SN AYurveda The foundation of ayurveda is based on the principle to live with nature in harmony. Ayurveda is a traditional Indian science that is potent to support and relieve the patients from many chronic diseases. Symptoms of rheumatological problems are fever, swelling, tenderness and more. Ayurveda illustrates that the three doshas - vata that represents air and pitta signifying fire is mainly in charge of digestion and kapha that indicates earth is the stabilizing force, all these must be well-balanced. The equilibrium in all three humors contributes to the psychological status of a person. Rheumatological problems and ayurveda suggests that the rheumatic issues are due to the imbalance of vata that is responsible for the health of nerves and skeletal framework. The different types of rheumatic problems include arthritis, sciatica, spondylitis, slipped disc, frozen shoulder, gout and more. These are the ...

The soaring temperature has taken its toll. Sweltering heat has resulted in many deaths and heat strokes , that result in high fever and weakness. It is advised to increase the intake of water with the inclusion of fruits and green vegetables in the diet. Regular cleansing, toning, exfoliation, moisturizing and regular use of sunscreen before stepping into the sun is also recommended. Nature is a treasure trove of fruits, vegetables and herbs that are the key to healthy life. - Mango Panna  Boil a raw mango and soak it in cold water. Once it's cool, peel the skin off. Add some cumin seeds, salt, pepper, crushed mint leaves and adequate water. Blend until smooth. Consume at least three times a day. - Lemonade  Prepare the age-old "nimboo paani" with lemon juice, sugar and chilled water. Drink as much as you can, especially when venturing out in the sun to combat dehydration and get instant energy. - Yoghurt ('lassi' / buttermilk)  If you are fond o...

According to Boston University researchers, between 30 to 50% of children and adults in the United States are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency. While this deficiency can lead to rickets in children, in adults, it is associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and immune dysfunction. Experts believe that sensible exposure to sun, an consumption of vitamin dietary supplements may be the best way to deal with this preventable medical condition. The following are some newly discovered benefits of vitamin D 1. Reduced risk of Fracture - A study found that oral vitamin D supplements taken at a dose of at least 400 international units daily, were linked to a decreased risk of bone fractures in older adults. (Archives of Internal Medicine, Mar 2009) 2. Protection from Diabetes - If you consume the right quantities of vitamin D, it may protect you from diabetes or even delay its onset. Further, it may reduce complications in those who've already ...

Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which prevent our bodies’ cells from damage due to oxidation. The process is not very different from preventing your car from being rusted. Fast realizing the increasing knowledge of public about the many health benefits of antioxidants as they are being published, the marketers of cold drinks have begun promoting green tea drinks flavored with fruit juices. Apple, lemon, strawberry, peach, and pomegranate, you name it and it’s out there for sale. Green Tea is often consumed as a dietary supplement. A dietary supplement refers to vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other substances (e.g weight loss supplement) meant to improve your diet. Green tea comprises EGCG or the epigallocatechin gallate that makes the tea power packed with the advantages of antioxidants. As far as aging is concerned, many studies blame free radicals within our bodies as the ones responsible of it. Consequently, the higher the quantity of free radicals in your body...

Mankind has been coping with ailments since the beginning of its existent. Home remedies have often proved useful and passed along for many generations. Some home remedies have been improving and changing with current fashion. Even though the medical field has developed a lot in the last century, we often see the home remedies to be the most effective solution. Some home remedies for dry skin, in particular, are known for their effectiveness. Home remedies for dry skin are widespread mainly because they are not risky or dangerous nor are they expansive. So don't spend your hard earned money on doctors. Try to help yourself first with home remedies. Dry skin typically happens in most people during the winter season. Dryness typically occurs because your skin lacks moisture. This means that there is a lack of water in your skin. In the past various magazines have suggested home remedies for dry skin like drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will cure this ailment. Howe...

It is common for many of us to face a burning sensation in stomach and chest at times. This is in most cases due to excessive secretion of acidic material in the stomach. This in medical terms referred as acidity or gastritis. In Ayurvedic terminology, this is referred as amlapitta, amla meas the super sour taste and Pitta is the Dosha . This means there is excessive secretion of Pitta Dosha (one of the three doshas) in the stomach. There are several factors that lead to the acidity or amlapitta in the body like a poor or imbalanced diet, heavy smoking, weak immune system, stress etc. When there is acidity problem in the body, it is denoted by many symptoms like loss of appetite, burning sensation in chest, stomach, nausea, indigestion, abdominal bloating, etc. Amlapitta Process When the Pitta Dosha is disturbed from its normal state by taking viruddha bhojan (incompatible food), vikrita bhojan (stale food), ati amla (too much sour, spicy food), vidahi (decayed) and oth...

The traditional Ayurveda study favors the use of certain specific natural herbs for treating obesity or reducing weight. These herbs are not just effective but also are safe for use as these do not render any kind of side effects on body. Have a look at some of the natural herbs recommended by ayurveda for treating increased weight: Triphala (Emblica Officinalis) Triphala is known for reducing fat and boosting the hemoglobin levels which ultimately results in weight loss. Also it is an effective anti-oxidant which helps in weight reduction. Guggul (Commiphora Mukul) The herb guggul particular herb helps in burning fats and controlli ng the cholesterol levels in blood. It is thus, popularly used for curbing obesity and weight reduction. Since, it is a natural herb, it is considered much more safe and superior than the other antibiotics and medicines. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Sweets are a major reason behind increasing weight. Hence, it is really helpful in reducing weigh...

Ayurveda places much importance on body massages of various types. Among all ayurvedic massage types, Abhyanga massage is the most popular one that uses herbal oils to rejuvenate the body. A step ahead of “Abhyanga Massage” is the “Shila Abhyanga Massage” or the Ayurvedic hot stone massage. In it, hot water treated stones, mostly Basalt stones of varying sizes are placed at key points of the body (along both sides of the spine). Stone massage delivers efficient tissue and muscle massage at a pressure level that is comfortable to the person receiving it. The main benefit of hot stone massage therapy is to promote healing and longevity by releasing tension and connecting the flow of prana (vital energy) throughout the body. Other benefits of stone massage therapy include the following. Stone massage stimulates the circulatory system. It helps in releasing toxins out of body. It induces deep relaxation and calms the psyche. Stone massage therapy also relieves pain and muscle spas...

Headache Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment What is a headache? A Headache is defined as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes. What are the Different Types of Headaches? Common headache types are: Tension-Type Headache Migraine Headache Cluster Headache Hormone Headache Tension Headache -are the most common type of primary headache. Up to 90% of adults have had or will have tension headaches. Tension headaches occur more commonly among women than men. Symptoms pain description: dull pressure or tightness location: both sides of head & sometimes neck duration: 30min to a full week frequency: infrequent to daily other common symptoms: fatigue, sensation of a rigid band circling and pressing on the head. Migraine Headache- are the second most common type of primary headache. Migraine headaches affect children as well as adults. Before puberty, boys and girls are affected e...

Introduction Effective home remedies for acne and Natural Acne Treatments to have clear and smooth skin permanently. Get rid of whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, nodules, cysts and more. What Causes Acne All acne is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which is made up of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair. These units are found everywhere on the body except on the palms, soles, top of the feet, and the lower lip. The number of pilosebaceous units is greatest on the face, upper neck, and chest. Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum, which is responsible for keeping the skin and hair moisturized. During adolescence sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more sebum under the influence of hormones, also called androgens. After about age 20, sebum production begins to decrease. Acne & Bacteria A bacteria, known as Propionibacterium acnes, is a normal inhabitant of the skin. It uses sebum as a nutrient for growth, therefore increases in follicles...

Next time you are not able to fall asleep, don't just pop up that sleeping pill! They are harmful if taken frequently- you know that! Just follow some natural ways to cure your sleeplessness. Here are some home remedies for giving you restful good night's sleep! Don't go by the general theory of ' daily eight hours sleep'. Ayurveda advocates quality of sleep. The quantity of sleep is decided by individual body. It may range from anywhere between 5-8 and even 9 hours. Find for yourself, how much sleep you need to feel afresh! Set your body clock by following nature's pattern. Rise when sun rises, even sometime before that, and go to bed no later than 10 pm. Don't let the routine disturbed on weekends too! Exercise keeps us fit but do it in the morning. Exercising late in the day or in evenings raises our energy levels and makes us too active to go to sleep. If you can't find time in the morning, make sure you exercise at least 4 hours before y...

Ayurveda is fast becoming a preferred remedial treatment for various health related issues. The main reason for this bent is the use of natural herbs and medicines which do not render any kind of side effect on body. It is rather wise to follow a natural treatment for skin and hair related issues as taking allopathic medicines for such problems for a long period of time can effect negatively on the body. Here are few natural remedies which can help a great deal in treating baldness and hair loss. -To promote hair growth one has to bring about a major change in the food habits which would include a daily consumption of 10-12 glasses of water with a diet balancing the 'Pitta Dosha'. Inclusion of green leafy vegetables, eggs, fruits and dairy products in the daily diet can be effective in promoting hair growth. -Almond oil and coconut oil are known to have therapeutic effect on h air as well as head. Massage the scalp with any of these oils religiously for ten minutes every ...

Now-a-days ayurveda is being looked upon as a much preferred set of medication for treating various ailments. It is actually wise to cure diseases using natural medicines, as herbal remedies do not render any kind of ill effects on the body. One of the many disorders which can be helped using ayurveda is obesity. For this, natural herbs lose belly fat in an effective manner. The natural weight loss tips are full of recommendations for using natural weight loss herbs. One can easily loose weight with the ayurvedic herbs and treatments available in ayurveda science. Mentioned below are some of the natural herbs which effectively help in healthy weight loss. Have a look at them: Aloe Vera Aloe vera is an effective ayurvedic element for losing weight. Aloe vera juice helps in improving digestion and cleaning the digestive tract thus, avoiding the accumulation o f all kinds of fatty acids and toxins. Gymnema Sylvestre Gymnema Sylvestre is popularly known as the 'sugar destroyer...

Hair as such is a long filament of dead keratin protein but has alive follicle and cell beneath the scalp. There is one basic factor for healthy hair that if you are healthy then you will have long and shinny hair but on the other hand any problem like excessive hair fall, patches of baldness or dryness of hair means that there is some health related problem that should be immediately looked into and rectified to stop the further aggravation of the problem. Secret behind growth and condition of hair is proper diet, stress free nature, yoga, oil massage and sound sleep. In all natural oils are very beneficial for hair growth and among these, coconut oil is regarded as the best as it has solved the problem of many people. Since ages coconut oil has been used for curing skin as well as hair problems as it has anti fungal and anti bacterial properties. Regular use of this oil leads to supple and soft skin as well as hair. Also hair breakage and split ends are reduced to minimum by reg...

Usually not life threatening, allergies can be quite a pain when they cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, rashes, swelling or asthma. And while they can be managed with prescription drugs , you too can do a lot to defend yourself against them. With the help of the following tips you could do away with allergens before they get on to you. 1. Bathe Before Bedtime: Taking a shower before you doze off would ensure to wash away pollens and other allergens caught in your hair and on your skin. 2. Clean House Objects: Remove houseplants and frequently clean shower curtains, damp walls, bathroom windows, indoor trashcans and areas with dry rot. This would reduce the amount of mold in your home. 3. Murder The Mold: Killing the culprit mold is also important. To carry out the slaughter, mix water and chlorine bleach and clean it. And this treatment doesn't even interact with your anti allergic medication! 4. Remove Mold Havens: All the carpets need to be removed from ba...

Diabetes mellitus, also known as the silent killer because it slowly damages our bodies isn't curable at present. But no matter how abstruse the disease, some purely natural substances are beginning to show promise as researches continue. Diabetes is a syndrome which causes a disordered metabolism, and results in abnormally high blood sugar levels that damage our bodies. For now, there isn't a cure, though the disease is manageable with the aid of anti-diabetic drugs including pills and insulin shots. While a cure eludes doctors and scientists, Complementary and Alternative medicine (all therapies excluding conventional medicine) might enable the disease management a lot better without any side effects, perhaps. How broccoli fights the disease? One of the most undesirable consequences of having diabetes is the increased risk of getting heart disease and stroke. In fact people with the disease are at risk, five time over than healthy individuals. So how broccoli hel...

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Heartburn Gastrointestinal reflux disease, better known as "GERD," is a growing health care concern in the United States, as well as Europe, Asia and South America. Acid-reducing medicines like Aciphex and Nexium (a.k.a. PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors) are among the most heavily prescribed drugs in the US. These drugs may be useful to help quench the gastric fires that we stoke with our fast-food diets, but used chronically, they can be troublesome. We need stomach acid to absorb many of our nutrients, so chronic suppression of stomach acid can lead to depletion of a number of important minerals and vitamins, including calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, sodium, beta-carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin C and possibly vitamin D. Acid in the stomach also helps protect us from bacterial infections. While short-term use is likely safe, taking these drugs routinely for more than a year raises the risk of o...

Yoga originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. It is a system of mental and physical exercise that can have an immense effect on many areas of life, including the health of your hair. Hair loss is largely caused by genetics, but lifestyle also plays a role, and the principles of yoga can help. Blood Circulation Blood circulation is a key component to a healthy scalp and hair. There are several yoga poses that can increase blood flow directly to the head to provide more oxygen to your scalp and hair follicles. Stress  Relief It is common knowledge in all areas of medicine that stress is a major cause of many health problems. It can also cause your hair to thin and eventually fall out. The entire purpose of yoga is to create balance between your body and mind. Practicing yoga, even for beginners, will help you manage stress in your life more effectively. You will be able to realize a state of ease and calm more often, and any adverse effects the stress has had on yo...