Stress

Managing Stress

Author: Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra

These are truly stressful times we live in. Body, mind, heart and spirit are all subjected to the ravages of day-to-day stress. Worries about security, economic difficulties, emotional trauma – stressors like these can take a toll on health and longevity if not addressed in a timely fashion.

To be effective in treating stress, it's important to be specific. With the Ayurveda approach, we always try to target the etiological (causal) factors and then bring that area into balance. But we are careful not to create imbalance in other areas that may produce negative side effects.

There are three different manifestations of day-to-day stress from the perspective of Ayurveda - mental, emotional, and physical. Each requires different approaches and therapies.

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High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure

Publication: Ayurveda - The Science of Traditional Medicine
Author: Vaidya Bhagwan Dash / Suhasini Ramaswamy

Blood pressure varies from person to person depending upon their age, sex, physical, and mental work done by them. Older males and those who are exposed to more mental and physical work than normal maintain a higher blood pressure than others. In young people, damage to the functioning of the kidneys may cause high blood pressure. Excessive intake of salt, lack of exercise, mental worry, sleeplessness, among others, is responsible for high blood pressure.

Treatment

All medicines which alleviate vayu and strengthen the nervous system are useful in this condition. Garlic is an excellent drug as it produces a heating effect on the body when taken raw. Garlic made into a paste and mixed with butter-milk is very effective in treating this condition. Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentia) is a common drug used very also widely in the allopathic system of medicine. In Ayurveda, the whole root of this drug is used in its raw state.

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Chronic Fatigue

Power Foods for Energy

Author: Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra

When you need a high-energy fix, do you reach for a power bar or power shake? Or do you resort to caffeine, chocolate, or high-sugar snacks when you feel that "end of the day" sag? It may surprise you, but the real energy-boosters are fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and whole grains. These are the foods that are rich in 'Chetna,' the healing and nurturing influence of nature. They are so alive with nature's intelligence that fatigue-causing toxins cannot accumulate in the body when you eat them.

Grains for Power

Athletes have long relied on carbohydrates in grains for long-term endurance and energy. Yet not all carbohydrates are created alike. A Croissant, for instance, is high in fat and low in nutrition. The most nutritious carbohydrates are whole grains, which have been found to lower cholesterol, inhibit cancer-causing activity and harmful bacteria in the intestines, and lower blood glucose level. And of these whole grains, Rye, Quinoa, Amaranth and Millet are the most nutritious, because they are especially high in protein and minerals. They are also high in fiber, and thus have a detoxifying value. These are the same auspicious grains that are described in the Vedic texts and are used for Vedic ceremonies.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Publication: Ayurveda - The Science of Traditional Medicine
Author: Vaidya Bhagwan Dash / Suhasini Ramaswamy

Rheumatoid arthritis begins by affecting the joints which become swollen and painful and spreads to other parts of the body.

Treatment

This disease may cause deformity if not treated immediately. In the initial stage, Mahayogaraja guggulu is useful. In winter, a larger dose is taken than in summer. A medicated oil, namely, Mahanarayana taila should be used for a gentle massage over the joints. In the beginning, this disease affects the small joints in fingers. Stiffness of the small muscle of the hands generally comes next and the fingers tend to get bent and ultimately become frozen. The infection then spreads towards the trunk involving the wrist joints, ankle joints, elbow joints are affected then Brihadvata chintamani, another recipe of medicinal plants, is used. The dosage depends on the intensity of pain and duration of disease. Castor oil should be taken as a purgative every evening. Apart from its purgative effect, castor oil has a therapeutic effect on the patient’s joints.

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Memory Loss

Memory Loss

Memory entails retention of the knowledge of an event and the power to recall. There are some 600 million nerve cells in the brain united together with numberless fibres into countless combinations which constitute what we call our memory. The fibres connecting the cells are known as association fibres; they provide the link between two objects and their knowledge. Sound memory depends on the rational grouping of ideas of things in the mind, so that one may call upon the other. The man who ponders most over the occurrences of his daily life will, other things being equal, has the best memory. But no training will make up for a deficiency of nerve cells and, association fibres, which are inborn characteristics.

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Diabetes

Diabetes
Publication: Ayurveda - The Science of Traditional MedicineAuthor: Vaidya Bhagwan Dash / Suhasini Ramaswamy

In Ayurveda, this is known as madbumeba. Madbu means honey and meba to pass out through the urine. Our modern life style is the prime cause of the disease. Excessively starchy diets, the manner in which we eat and drink, intake of tinned and preserved food, mental stress and strain, and lack of exercise are responsible factors.

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Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction
Author: Dr. Savitha Suri
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for his sexual needs or the needs of his partner. Erectile dysfunction is sometimes called as “impotence”. The term "erectile dysfunction" can mean the inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or the ability to achieve only brief erections.

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