3 AYURVEDIC TIPS

AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian medical science, the origin of which can be traced back to more than 5000 years. The source of Ayurveda are the vedas , the oldest available classics.Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, derived from two roots: ayur, which means life, and veda, which mean knowledge. It is fair to say that Ayurveda is the science of life.Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life. It is only system of medicine which incorporates suggestions and remedies for both healthy and diseased people. Centuries before the World Health Organization recognized that health is not merely the physical well being and just the absence of disease, ayurveda was dealing with the mental, physical and social well being of an individual.

According to Ayurveda every individual is made up of five elements, namely:

Prithvi or earth.

Apa or water.

Tejas or fire.

Vayu or air.

Akash or space

The disease process:According to Ayurveda, health is a state of balance between the body, mind and consciousness. Within the body, Ayurveda recognizes the three doshas( bodily humors) vata, pitta and kapha; seven dhatus(tissues), blood, plasma, fat, muscle, bone, nerve, and reproductive; three malas(wastes), feces, urine and sweat; and agni, the energy of metabolism. Disease is a condition of disharmony in any of these factors. The root cause of imbalance, or disease, is an aggravation of dosha, vata-pitta-kapha


Ayurvedic healing teaches that there are three basic constitutional “types”: earthy Kapha, fiery Pitta, and airy Vata. Once you know your type (we are blends of all types, but one usually stand out), you can learn to analyze your personality and body type, and find out which foods, exercises, lifestyles--even jobs--are most beneficial for you. Here is an illuminating quiz to help you find your Ayurvedic type


WHICH AYURVEDIC TYPE OR LIFE ENERGY TYPE YOU ARE?

Take each statement, and assign the number that is most appropriate beside each one (0=never applies; 2=sometimes applies; 4=often applies).

VATA

• My skin is dry.
• I can’t seem to moisturize enough.
• I’m slim and can eat whatever I want without putting on weight.
• My digestion feels irregular: Sometimes I’m ravenous; sometimes I have no appetitite.
• I learn new things easily, but my long-term memory isn’t great. I am creative and enthusiastic.
• I give out so much energy that sometimes I need to rest up to recover. My energy levels fluctuate a lot.
• I dislike the cold, be it in weather, food, or drinks.
• My moods change easily.
• Stress makes me feel fearful and insecure.

SUBTOTAL SCORE:

PITTA

• I am of medium build and have a well-balanced shape.
• When I get indigestion, it tends to manifest as burning sensations.
• I love iced drinks, ice cream, and other cold foods.
• I have a large appetite and digest food very quickly. My mind is generally well-focused and alert.
• People consider me passionate, confident, and courageous.
• I don’t like heat much: It tires me, and I sweat easily.
• I tend to be impatient, and sometimes anger easily.
• I am determined, critical, and stubborn.
• I’m rarely daunted by a challenge.

SUBTOTAL SCORE:

KABHA

• I have a solid build.
• As a baby, I was big boned.
• My digestion is slow, and I feel heavy after eating.
• I gain weight easily and am slow to lose it.
• I am patient and even tempered.
• I’m able to remain calm and unruffled under stress.
• I feel I’m slower than others to grasp new concepts.
• Once I really learn something, I never forget it.
• Once I get going, I have loads of stamina, but I’m not a high-energy person.
• I have a caring, compassionate nature.
• I don’t like humidity and dampness, but I’m fine in very hot or very cold conditions.

SUBTOTAL SCORE:


Now add up each of your three dosha sub-totals, and insert the totals in the space below. Your highest score reveals your most active dosha.

• VATA:
• PITTA:
• KABHA:

AYURVEDIC DAILY LIFE STYLE:(DINACHARYA)

In order to keep the tridoshas in a state of healthy equlibrium and digestion & metabolism (agni) in proper order, Ayurveda prescribes for each individual a specific daily routine ( dina – day & acharya – behaviour). The various stages to this daily routine, influenced by the specifics of your prakriti, that will enable you to make the most out of your life, are :

WAKE UP


Since our biological clocks are attuned to the rising and setting of the sun, it is obviously better to awake at sunrise in perfect synchronisation to the natural clock. An ideal time to let the body cells soak in the strength of a tempered sun to be charged for the day. Drinking a glass of luke-warm water helps flush out all toxins accumulated overnight in the body

NATURAL URGES

The last portion of the night being ruled by vata – involved in the process of elimination – dawn is the best time to eliminate the body's physical waste. Proper elimination also helping remove the kapha that naturally accumulates overnight. Defecation once or twice daily is the best. Preferably not immediately after a meal. But urination then is wise. Examine your eliminations each morning and if you notice any disturbance indicating poor digestion, go on a fast. It will allow the body rest to correct the system before disease sets in. Never suppress the natural physical urges as elimination, hunger, thirst, sleep, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, flatus and ejaculation, for it will lead to discomfort and even disease


CLEANLINESS

Thorough washing of the limbs, face, mouth, eyes & nose purifies the bodies sense organs. Best done with a bath in clean water, it should accompany brushing of the teeth (should be repeated after every meal), scraping off a toxicated coating of ama from the tongue, occasional gargling of salt water with a pinch of turmeric to keep gums, mouth & throat healthy, proper cleaning of the nose and the ears and washing the eyes with warm water held in mouth for moments (saliva being very good for the eyes). Keep your hair trimmed, nails filed and wear clean clothes. Feel free to use perfumes in moderation and feel good.


EXCERCISE

Either passive like massage or active like aerobics or both as in yoga postures, regular exercise increases the body's stamina and resistance to disease by facilitating the immune system, clearing all channels, promoting circulation & waste disposal, and destroying fat. Done regularly, it can reduce anxiety but become addictive. Depending on age & body type, kaphas can go for heavy exercises, pittas should do it in moderation and vatas should perform yoga and not aerobics. Never exert more than half your capacity, during illness, just after a meal and without rhythmic breathing. Swimming, walking and even laughing are excellent options.



MASSAGE



Necessary for every person, a regular self-massage with herbal oils is usually adequate but needs to be supplemented with professional attention occasionally. It makes the skin supple, controls vata by reducing its cold, dry, light, rough & erratic qualities, enhances blood circulation, encourages quicker removal of metabolic wastes and relaxes the body. Follow the normal direction of hair growth, use a little extra oil over the body's vital parts, massage the scalp and head at least weekly and just the soles of your feet if short of time.


MEDITATION

Ideal for disciplining the mind and removing stress & strain, it is best done after a quick bath to cleanse yourself. Critical in satisfying the mind's hunger, when done well it is so nourishing that even the body can survive on less. Control of desire, or mental hunger, is the key to longevity and immortality. Anything can be meditation so long it is sincere and heartfelt. The simplest and healthiest involves the sun and its golden colour is deemed the most nourishing and productive. While this routine acts as a critical shield of defence against the destabilising influences of an external environment, by using selective choice in some of the other factors mentioned below you can easily improve upon the condition of your total health.

CLOTHING

In shielding from extreme temperatures, it tends to reflect the temperament of the wearer in a society showing growing preponderance of the same. Should always be light & airy, and made of natural fibres as cotton, wool, linen or silk. Always wear clean, and never anyone else's except that of a saint. Since energy is brought into the body through the crown of the head and exits from the soles of the feet – extracting abnormal heat from the system – the polluted energy usually collects in the footwear. So avoid wearing other's footwear, try not to take shoes into the house and walk barefoot whenever possible. And wooden sandals are more healthy than animal skin or rubber shoes.



EMPLOYMENT


Since work consumes at least one-third part of our lives and success or failure in your profession affects self-confidence, self-worth, it is important that the nature of work should match well with your prakriti.
Vata people love work that requires sudden bursts of intense energy. But it tends to exhaust them also. So to balance it off, despite their dislike, they should be in routine jobs, slightly repetitive. Need a soothing home and work environment to smooth out their rough edges. They need adequate rest, specially in the afternoons. And should avoid places where the air is exceptionally cool and dry e.g. the freezing cold inside electronics manufacturing outfits or exceptionally dusty fertiliser mills. The ideal jobs must have enough excitement to hold their interest and sufficient routine to avoid imbalances.
Pitta people are very practical, making good administrators but not original thinkers. By nature aggressive and self-promoting, these realists see everything as a contest that has to be won. Insisting on being in the forefront of all activity, they cram as much work as they can, demanding perfect functioning from their bodies all the time. They do not take delays and obstacles to their plans well and must seriously try to be fair to and keep their professional and private lives separate. They should avoid work that is physically irritating or involves heat (as welding or metal casting) and listen more to others. They should ideally have sufficient challenge to keep them occupied without the stress of severe competition.

Innate Kapha stability and balance makes them great administrators. They must make a conscious effort bring in change or variety to their otherwise staid and routine lives. And ensure that even if work is not physically active, leisure is. Slow to get going in the morning, competition is good for them although they may find it stressful.




CHOICE OF PET

Often an extension of their owner's personalities, pets should ideally be chosen so as to have a therapeutic effect on your doshic imbalances.
Vatas get along famously with dogs, the canine's loveable, sloppy, open-heartedness reassuring and stabilising their cold, fearful, fickle nature. Some do well with small, furry high- strung animals as guinea pigs that arouse the maternal instincts in the owners.
The cat is the Pittas favourite. With strongly held opinions on most subjects, the feline presents continuous challenges, even with its movements.
Kaphas in turn prefer birds, the avian's light chirpiness helping offset some of the dosha's natural ponderousness. For some large dogs prove beneficial as the canine encourages them to exercise along with



CHOICE OF PARTNER

Ayurvedic wisdom suggests that like types make better mates because of similar mental processes, attitudes and sexual proclivities. Unfortunately, two people of similar dispositions are likely to have the same defects too. Choosing the right partner who will stimulate, inspire you to evolve into better individual thus becomes very important.


SLEEP

A state of physical inertia with mental relaxation, sleep promotes proper growth of the self. Night is the natural time to sleep and mid-day catnaps should not be more than 15 minutes long except for the very young, very old, very weak and those intoxicated, diseased, exhausted or traumatised. Avoid having a full meal just before retiring to bed. Sleeping on the right side is the most relaxing and good for yoga. On the left, it is most digestive and increases interest in food, sleep and sex. Sleeping on the back indirectly and on the stomach directly encourages disease. Sleeping with crown of the head facing east and feet into the west promotes the best meditative sleep. Washing the hands, feet & face just before improves sleep. Never sleep in the kitchen and go to bed only to sleep. 6 to 8 hours of daily sleep is essential. The ideal form of sleep is yoga – a state of complete physical inertness with retention of mental alertness & awareness




TIPS ON DIET

What we eat has a profound effect on our mind as well as the body. It is not only important as to what we eat but it is equally important as to how we eat. Following are a few tips on diet which help in getting the best out of what we eat.Fresh ginger with a small amount of salt should be taken 10 to 20 minutes before food.

• The diet, especially hard substances should be properly chewed


• Wherever possible intake of curd or buttermilk should follow food.


• The food should be tasty, fresh and good in appearance


• It should neither be very hot nor absolutely cold


• Water should be avoided at least 15 minutes before food. The quantity of water after food should be small. Let it be drunk often


• Heavy (Guru) food should be taken in a limited quantity.


• 
  Heavy food should not be taken at night. The proper time of night meal is two to three hours before going to bed. After night meal, it is better to go for a short walk, of say hundred steps.


• Heavy work or exercise should be avoided after food.


• After meals, heavy mental or physical work should be avoided. Some rest is advisable for proper digestion of food

TIPS ON SLEEP

Sleep is most important for maintenance of health and longevity for the human beings. It is appropriately called 'Jagaddhatri ' because of its mechanism of overcoming wear and tear of the body due to physical work and mental stress and tissue loss. Numerous researches have shown the adverse effects of lack of sleep on mind and body.

• One should sleep with head to the east or north.
  


• The bedroom should be absolutely clean, well ventilated and free from noise and disturbance.
  


• The bed must be neat clean and free from bugs.
  


• The bedroom should be draught free.
  


• One should avoid sleep when the brain is excited e.g. after reading, thinking, drinking etc.
  


• The mind must be as free from worldly affairs and worries as possible while going to bed.


• This may be achieved by praying to God at the time of going to bed.
  


• Sleeping late at night leads to ill health.
  


• A minimum of 7 hours sleep is required in 24 hours to repair the wear and tear of the body.


• Sleep during the day should be avoided as far as possible. However, if one keeps awake at night, he can take some sleep in the daytime. Day sleep is not contraindicated in summer but in winter the day sleep increases kapha thereby causing respiratory and digestive troubles.


• It is advisable to massage the head, soles and palms with oil before going to bed. By massage dreams can be controlled.

OBESITY

Obesity is technically defined as having a body weight in excess of 10% of the recommended weight for height. In practice though, being obese depends on the accepted cultural standards. People in the West are generally far more sensitive socially, as compared to the orient

CAUCES

Overeating, heavy food, cold food, excessive sleep, sleeping in the day and hormonal imbalances. Ayurveda believes that excess body weight is due to a weak digestive fire or the ‘agni’

REMEDIES

The main thrust is to improve the digestive fire with the use of appropriate herbs combined with the correct lifestyle.

Fasting is considered beneficial but care must be taken to avoid fruit juices during the fast. Vegetable juices and herbal teas should instead be taken.

Mild laxatives like Triphala (3-5 gm at bed time) or Aloe gel can be used.1 gm. of Guggul with ginger and honey taken three times a day is good.½ gm of Shilajeet with ginger and honey can also be taken three times a day.

Trikatu powder which is made with black pepper, long pepper and dry ginger is also very good for improving the digestive fire.Hot spices like cayenne, black pepper, ginger and garlic should be used in cooking.

Avoid fried and heavy foods.

Try to eat warm and freshly cooked meals.

Avoid sleeping in the day.

COMMON COLD

Common cold, true to its name continues to be one of the most common afflictions. According to Ayurveda it indicates the first stage in the breakdown of our bodily defenses.

REASONS

Colds and flues are generally Kapha (phlegm) diseases. Exposure to cold air, seasonal changes are Kapha increasing factors. Exposure to hot and cold conditions alternatively in a short period is also responsible, as for example having cold water or drink immediately after coming in from the sun.

REMEDIES

• An anti-Kapha diet should be taken. It should be warm, light and simple. Dairy products according to Ayurveda are Kapha promoting and should be avoided.
  Lemon and ginger juice can be taken with warm water and honey three times a day.
  


• A good formula can be made with equal parts basil, sandalwood and peppermint, 2- 3 tsps. put them in a cup of water bring to boil and then have it upto three times a day.
  


• Sitopaladi powder is an extremely effective remedy for common colds and problems of sinus congestion. The dose is 1-5 gm with honey, three times a day.
  


• Sweating is very helpful. One simple method is to induce sweating is to drink a hot cup of tea, and lie down in the bed and take some blanket and let the body sweat for 15 – 20 minutes.

ARTHRITIS AND JOINT PAINS

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Despite lot of research and effort, an effective cure has still eluded us. All that can be offered are the anti inflammatory and pain killers like Aspirin. According to Ayurveda arthritis is primarily a vata (air) disease which is due to accumulation of toxins in the joints and is known as amavata

SYMPTOMS

The main symptom of this disease is severe pain in the affected joints. The tissues in and around the joints become inflamed and movement of the joint becomes extremely painful. Untreated arthritis may lead to permanent deformity of the affected joints.

CAUSES

Causes include internal and external factors. It is more common in cold, damp and windy climates. Internally it is a condition which is related to low Agni (poor digestive fire) and poor digestion which leads to the accumulation of toxins (ama). The toxins (ama) produced in the colon are taken up by various parts of the body and depending on the site of deposition, it causes many diseases in the body. For example, if it deposits in the lungs, it causes cough and asthma, in the intestines it causes dysentery. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, that means if biological humor air is also disturbed, it results in a disease called amavata or arthritis.

REMEDIES

1. The first step in treatment is to burn up the accumulated toxins and this can be achieved by reviving the digestive fire.
   


2. Short fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama.
   


3. Eating habits should be regularized and heavy, damp, ama forming foods should be avoided.
   


4. Hot spicy herbs can be very useful like, cayenne, cinnamon, dry ginger and galangal.
   


5. Hot gemstones such as ruby or garnet set in gold can be used.
   


6. Bake one or two egg plants (about 250gms.). Mash it properly and fry it in about 50ml. Castor oil. Some spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric and salt can be added to it while frying. This recipe can be taken once daily for two to three months. Adding two cloves of garlic while cooking makes it very beneficial.
   


7. Medicated oils used for massage are very helpful in relieving stiffness and pain in the joints, whole body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain.
   


8. Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are beneficial for external application. They can be combined with herbs like ashwagandha in sesame oil for external applications.
   


9. Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound Triphala is recommended to cleanse the colon.
   


10. Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. It is most specific for cleaning and strengthening the bone tissue. If available it can be taken in one to 3gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water.
    


11. Taking 2gm turmeric powder twice a day along with warm water helps in curing arthritis.

CONSTIPATION

Constipation is a very common problem these a days. Our lives of constant rush, late nights and fat food habits have turned constipation into a problem of epidemic proportions. If a person does not pass stool at least once in 24 hours, he is considered to be constipated according to Ayurveda

CAUSES

Accumulation of toxins in the colon as evidenced by a coated tongue is considered to be the main pathology. The cause of constipation on a pyhsical level is dietary - eating food which is difficult to digest. Our lifestyle also is an important factor – sleeping late, rushing off to work in the morning without giving proper time for evacuation, excessive stimulation like watching lot of television etc. all lead to constipation

CHRONIC CONSTIPATION

Dietary issues should be looked at in the first place. The aim should be to have oily and bulky foods like, dairy products, whole grains, bran, raw fruits and vegetables. Fruit juices like prune and grape can be taken. Olive and sesame oil should be used

REMEDIES

• Triphala is a very famous Ayurvedic compound it consists of three tropical fruits, haritaki, amalaki, and bibhitaki. It is an excellent general colon cleanser and tonic as well as a Rasayan (rejuvenator). The normal dose is 5–15 gm. taken at bedtime with lukewarm water.
  


• Aloe gel 1-2 teaspoons three times a day is also good.
  Psyllium husk powder 1-2 teaspoons in warm water before sleeping is also very good.
  


• Strong laxatives like senna and rhubarb are good for acute constipation but should be used with caution. In the long run they can precipitate constipation.
  


• Enema – many cases of acute and chronic constipation which are not benefited by the above medications may requires enema therapy. A word of caution though; enema should only be undertaken under the guidance of an Ayurvedic expert only

ADD ON

• 
  The digestion must be improved with the use of light spices like, cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric powder, fennel and asafetida.
  


• Drinking a glass of warm milk at the time of going to bed helps in evacuation, the next morning.
  


• Do not stay up late in the night. Regulate your sleeping hours. Ayurveda advises to go to bed early and rise early.
  


• In the morning after waking up, drinking a glass or two of water, preferably warm water, and then waiting for a few minutes before going for evacuation helps in cleaning the bowels.
  


• Massaging the whole body with oil(abhayanga) once or twice a week and applying oil or ghee on the naval every day helps in curing constipation.