Hridroga or Heart Diseases

Hridaya or hrudaya is heart and roga is disease. Hridroga or hrudroga is a disease that affects heart.

Hridroga or heart diseases today attack people of all cultures. Previously thought of as a problem of developed world, heart diseases are now common in developing and underdeveloped countries.

There are different factors involved in the cause of hridroga. Diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol deposition on the walls of blood vessels etc are the main reasons of hridroga. Hereditary or genetic factors too play an important role in the development of heart diseases.

According to Ayurveda Acharyas like Charaka, heart is the seat of consciousness and emotions. Negative emotions weaken heart while positive emotions strengthen it.

The functioning of all other organs of the body and the working of mind and soul depends on the healthy state of heart.

According to Ayurvedic principles, a person becomes unhealthy whenever his or her aahar (food) or vihar (lifestyle) becomes unhealthy. Vyamam or physical exercise and yoga meditation are necessary for well being of heart, body, mind and soul. It is only when the body, mind and soul are in perfect harmony that we can say the person is healthy.

The stressful lifestyle, relative lack of physical activity, taking of high calorie-low nutrient food, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc cause heart diseases more prevalent.

There are a few simple techniques that you can follow to prevent heart diseases.

• Early to bed and early to rise makes a man –and woman– healthy wealthy and wise. If you are a late to bed and late to morning type, try to be healthy, wealthy and wise - just for a change and enjoy the benefits.



• Practice yoga or exercise daily. A brisk walk of 30 minutes in the morning has its benefits on your body and heart. Take light exercise for longer periods than taking heavy exercises for a short burst.



• Laugh a lot. True. Laughter is a good medicine for heart. It relaxes body muscles and produce hormones that are good to body while reducing production of stress hormones like adrenaline.



• Meditate daily. This will help you pacify your mind, which will reduce blood pressure. It is good for your heart too.



• Treat others with love and care. If you don’t care to love humans, treat your pet animals or birds with love and care. It removes unwanted pressure from your mind. You will eventually understand the benefits of filling your heart with love and affection instead of anger, hatred, stress and pain.



• Follow a vegetarian diet. Human digestive tract is evolved to receive vegetarian food.



• Avoid packaged food, canned food, preserved food items. Substitute them with fresh fruits.

OK you know (from eternity), prevention is better than cure. When it comes to preventing heart diseases, prevention becomes sweeter too.

Home Remedy, Ayurvedic Weight Loss

Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Obesity

Weight loss methods according to Ayurveda, weight loss natural methods described here.

1. Take lot of fresh fruits daily.
2. Take at least 10 glasses of water daily.
3. Exercise daily – if no other exercise regime seems to fit you, try brisk walking for half an hour daily early morning. Swimming is the best exercise. Try bicycling, running, badminton etc on a regular basis. Walking is enough if nothing else is feasible.
4. Take a glass of carrot juice after the walk.
5. Include tomato, cabbage, lime juice, honey and mint in your daily intake of food.
6. Avoid milk products like ice cream, butter, cheese, etc.
7. Avoid alcohol.
8. Avoid high-carb food like chocolate, sweets and overly cooked pastries, fast food, etc.
9. Instead of two or three big meals, take four light meals at 3-4 hours apart.
10. Minimize intake of salt.
11. Include ginger, pepper, cinnamon, etc in cooking.
12. Substitute rice with wheat.
13. Take a teaspoon of honey daily.

Guggulu (Commiphora Mukul) is used in the treatment of obesity. Take Guggulu with triphala.

Some fat burning fruits and vegetables are listed below

• Apple
  
• Bitter gourd (bitter pot)
  
• Cabbage
  
• Carrot
  
• Litchi
  
• Mango
  
• Papaya
  
• Pineapple

Egg white is also beneficial in weight loss, but yolk increases fat in body.

Ayurvedic Diagnosis; Roga Pareeksha

There are different methods to follow in roga pareeksha or diagnosing the disease in Ayurveda.

Prasna (interrogation) is the process of obtaining data about present illness, diseases in the past, his/her lifestyle change or activities in the immediate past, etc.

Panchendriya Pareeksha (test using five senses, panchendriyas) is the physical examination. The body is divided into six major regions – head, neck, chest, abdomen, and two extremes. It also includes identifying the state of srotas and dhatus. Physical examination also includes darshana (by sight) and sparshana (by touch).

Ashtavidha pareeksha (ashtavidha pariksha) or eight-fold examination includes checking eight physical aspects of the body

1. complexion
2. eyes
3. voice
4. tongue
5. skin
6. stool
7. urine and
8. pulse

The roga pareeksha and rogi pareeksha are methods for identifying the cause of the disease and the stage of the disease. The response of the condition to medications is also observed until the person is declared complete healthy.

Ayurveda and Sex

Sex, according to Ayurveda and the Kamasutra, is a divine process that is responsible for the very existence of human race on the face of earth. Kamasutra, the ancient science of love and love making describes in detail a variety of factors involved in practicing safe and fulfilling sex.

In India, sex was never considered something to shun about. According to Ayurveda, children is an asset. From having intercourse to delivering children and bringing them up with healthy body, mind and imparting in them, the training to see life in positive life and showing them the good way of life is an elaborate process. One noticeable thing about Ayurveda is the relative silence about family planning, contraception methods, or abortion – why destroy the greatest asset one can get? Sal-Santanangal (or children of good qualities, physically, mentally and spiritually) is the ultimate aim of sex.

Vageekarana Chikitsa (Aphrodisiac Treatment)
Aphrodisiac therapy or treatment has a prominent place in Ayurveda. It is part of Vrisha, one anga or branch in ashtanga or eight principle branches of Ayurveda. Removing the imbalances of doshas or tridosha (vata, pitta, kapha) comes before vageekarana chikitsa (aphrodisiac therapy).

Good physical qualities, semen quantity and quality, is the aim of vajeekarana chikitsa.

There is also a list of qualifications for both men and women. The man should be compatible to his woman in physical, mental, and on an astrological basis.

A man shall go to his wife only. Meeting other women is strictly prohibited in Ayurveda. The only place to ejaculate semen is vagina – masturbation and all other forms of unnatural sex are prohibited.

Although Kamasutra suggests 64 different sexual positions, Ayurveda recognizes only the common method –woman bottom and man top. Experimenting on this for bodily pleasure causes woman body to position in different forms, which can cause immediate to long-term faults to woman body and also to the child.

Vageekarana chikitsa or Jaara chikitsa (aphrodisiac therapy) suggests Panchakarma for purification of physiology and semen. Panchakarma is not necessary for women because of physical peculiarities.

Ayurveda suggests physical union of loving couples as the one way to enjoy divine pleasure. Here an assembly of panchendriya (Five Senses – touch, sight, etc.), physical organs, and mind takes place.

Shahnaz Husain and Ayurvedic Beauty Care

KeralaAyurvedics.com takes a moment to salute a successful lady entrepreneur who spread word about Ayurveda around the globe. Her forte is Ayurvedic beauty care, leading the wave, managing a $100 million company with 450 herbal beauty care products and 650 franchise beauty clinics in 104 plus countries.

Shahanz Hussain has been conferred with several awards for excellence in business and promoting Ayurveda around the world. Indian Government has conferred her with civilian recognition, Padma Shri award in 2006.
(News: http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/26/stories/2006012616481600.htm)

In her career of 30 plus years, Shahnaz Husain has got big names like late Princess Diana, novelist Barbara Cartland etc in her portfolio of customers.

Her widely repeated quote, “I do not sell products. I sell an entire civilization in a jar” gives an idea to importance she attaches to her business.

Ayurvedic beauty care and Ayurvedic health care goes hand in hand. Shahnaz Hussain noticed the harmful effects of chemicals on skin and body while she was studying cosmetology in Iran. The search for an alternative to chemical cosmetics attracted her to Ayurveda.

With her experience in cosmetic beauty care practices in London, Paris, New York etc has planted in her the need of easy to use and apply Ayurvedic cosmetic products. Her career as an entrepreneur kicked off with her opening a salon at her house in Delhi in 1977.

She later extensively studies Ayurvedic text and extracted Ayurvedic treatment methods for skin diseases and herbal combinations that keep skin and hair healthy and glowing. Shahaz Husain brand of company still is privately owned.

The company grows herbs to manufacture Ayurvedic cosmetics. Shahnaz Husain franchise beauty care and Ayurvedic anti aging clinics has put Ayurvedic beauty care firmly on world beauty care market.

Classification of Medicines by Ayurveda Acharyas

Different Acharyas (great teachers) of Ayurveda have classified Ayurvedic medicines differently. According to Charaka, there are 50 groups of medicines, Sushruta classified medicines into 37 categories and Vagbhata classified Ayurvedic medicines into 31 groups.

Here is a list of classification of types of Ayurveda medicines by Acharya Sushrutha.

1. Jeevaneeyam (promoting life)
2. Brimhaneeyam (promoting growth)
3. Lekhaniyam (reducing growth)
4. Bhedaneeyam (promoting evacuation)
5. Sandhaaneeyam (promoting virility and efficiency to produce offsprings)
6. Deepaneeyam (promoting appetite)
7. Balyam (promoting bodily strength)
8. Varnyam (promoting complexion)
9. Kantyam (promoting voice)
10. Hridyam (creating pleasant feeling)
11. Triptighnam (reducing satisfaction)
12. Arsoghnam (treating piles)
13. Kustaghnam (treating skin diseases)
14. Kandughnam (treating itching)
15. Krimighnam (destroying parasites and intestinal worms)
16. Vishaghnam (eliminating toxin of poison effects)
17. Sthanyajananam (inducing lactation)
18. Sthanysodhanam (purifying breast milk)
19. Sukrajananam (promoting sperm production)
20. Sukrasodhanam (purifying sperm)
21. Snehopagam (promoting lubrication by oil secretion)
22. Swedopagam (promoting sweating)
23. Vamanopagam (promoting vomiting)
24. Virechanopagam (promoting purgation)
25. Aasthaapanopagam (non-oily enemata)
26. Anuvaasanopagam (Oily Enemata)
27. Sirovirechaniyam (evicting diseases that affect head)
28. Chardinigrahanam (control vomiting)
29. Trishnaanigrahanam (capable of controlling thirst)
30. Hiccanigrahanam (treating hiccough)
31. Purisha Sangrahaneeyam (reducing faecal matter)
32. Purisha Virajaneeyam (purifying faecal matter)
33. Mutra Sangrahaneeyam (reducing urine secretion)
34. Mutra Virajaneeyam (purifying urine)
35. Mutra virechaneeyam (increasing urine)
36. Kaasa Hara (destroying cough)
37. Swasahara (destroying dyspepsia)
38. Swayathuhara (destroying swelling)
39. Jwaraharam (destroying fever)
40. Sramaharam (relieving exhaustion)
41. Daahaprasamanam (relieving unnatural sensation of thirst)
42. Seethaprasamanam (relieving cold)
43. Udardaprasamanam (relieving rashes)
44. Angamardaprasamanam (relieving pain in body parts)
45. Sulaprasamanam (relieving colic)
46. Sonitaasthaapanam (restoring blood)
47. vedanaasthaapana (relieving pain)
48. Prajaasthaapana (restoring consciousness)
49. Prajaasthaapana (pregnancy care)
50. Vayasthapana (arresting aging)

These 50 are the types of Ayurvedic medicines according to Sushruta Acharya.

Ayurveda and Natural Medicare

Ayurveda sees late worldwide acceptance as a natural holistic treatment method. Now people increasingly are aware of the effects of chemicals entering our body in the name of prescription medicines. Ayurveda is not just about treating diseases. It is about living a life with fullness of health by mind, body and soul.

Medicines in Ayurveda are prepared from the flowers, seeds, roots, stem and plant products like resins. There are some claims that Ayurvedic medicines have a large content of heavy metals. The fact remains true that almost every human being on face of earth has at least a hundred different harmful chemicals in his/her body.

Ayurvedic philosophy depends on treating the person as a whole by identifying his/her body type (vata prakriti, pitta prakriti or kapha prakriti) and not the diseases. It is about helping the person regain that natural healing power, instead of applying some chemicals to kill the bacteria or virus that attack the body.

Ayurvedic remedies may take some time before showing results, but there will not be major side effects that are very common with different prescription medicines. Make use of the incredible power of herbs for natural medicare with Ayurveda.

Relaxation techniques in Ayurveda is also a major thing to study. Dinacharyas help persons attain what is expected of him. Laziness and being exhausted are states that you must avoid. All you have to do to attain your full potential is to do your karma only. Nothing more – exhausting, nothing less – don’t be lazy. You will be in a relaxed state of mind, you don’t over-exert your body, thus your body too will be healthy.

Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

According to Jataka Tales (the stories that tell the life history of Gautama Buddha), Jeevaka, the legendry physician treated Buddha. He also treated King Bindisara, the father of Emperor Ashoka.

As Jeevaka completed his studies at the Ashram of his Guru, Aatreya, he was asked to present a plant with no medicinal value as his Guru Dakshina. Gurudakshina is the gift of offering a disciple gives to his teacher when his education is completed.

Jeevaka searched the whole of Sarlaka Mountain to find such a plant with no medicinal value. He returned to his teacher empty handed and told his guru that he was not able to give him a guru dakshina. He also said to his teacher that not only the plants, but also the smell, sunlight, and sound originating from the stream that passes mildly by are filled with medicinal power. Some heal physical ailment of humans, while others cure ailments of animals or plants. Some are good for curing any mental condition.

Then Guru Aatreya smiled at him and said “everything in this world has its own significance”.

This is the basis of Ayurveda. When you think about Ayurvedic medicinal plants, think that every plant on earth is a medicinal plant.

The thing is to identify the method to identify and extract that medicinal power for appropriate use.

Same species of plants growing at different places can have different medicinal values. For example the plants growing in Himalayas will not be the same as the ones growing in Agastya hills of Kerala. The natural habitat, climate, available minerals, presence of other plants and trees, etc have influence on the medicinal properties of plants. This may not be primarily identifiable, but it is a fact there is at least a minor difference in the medicinal property of same species plants growing in different locations.

Cultivation of medicinal plants has picked up speed. In India and in places outside India there is large-scale cultivation of medicinal plants. Using of chemical fertilizers is a strict no-no for medicinal plant cultivation. It is also to be noted it is not possible to recreate the natural surroundings at which a medicinal plant grows in a different location.

Keep the story of Jeevaka and his Teacher, Guru Aatreya in mind, whenever you hear the term Ayurvedic medicinal plants or Ayurvedic medicinal herbs.

The following is a (naturally) incomplete list of medicinal plants and herbs used in Ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurvedic Diagnosis of Patient

Ten-Fold Rogi Pareeksha Diagnosing the Person
Ayurveda rogi pareeksha or patient examining is the detailed process of identifying the social, physical and mental conditions of a person that seeks treatment. Rogi pareeksha is a detailed ten-fold process. The physician studies the person as a whole – his/her level of emotional stability, lifestyle, etc are the things to look for.

The ten fold rogi pareeksha routine as described by Charaka in his book Charaka Samhita are described below.

Prakriti - prakriti refers to the physical condition of a human being. It is the some total of the state of tridoshas and trigunas. Identifying the states in each place forms the first step in assessing the physical and mental state of a person.

Vikriti – vikriti is the vitiation from prakriti. Diseases caused due to vikriti are easier to treat than diseases caused due to prakriti itself. The state of vikriti is identified by closely examining the dhatus, malas, and the emotional control of the person.

Sara – Sara refers to the quality of sapta dhatus. The conditions of dhatus are classified as pravara (good), madhyama (medium) and avara (poor). Pravara suggests excellent immune system and condition. In Sara, the physician also checks the extent of satwa in the mind of the person. Emotional stability, clear thoughts, calmness, optimism, etc are regarded as high level sattwa, while a decreased level of this quality refers to rajas and tamas gunas of trigunas, the three qualities of mind.

Samhanana – samhanana refers to the physique of the person. A compact body frame usually suggests a healthy body. Lean or obese body are unhealthy.

Pramana – pramana or examining body proportion involves assessing the relationship between the lengths of spread arms and the height of the person. An almost same length is a healthy sign. There are also several other measurements that tell the physician about a well proportioned body.

Vyayama shakti – (or strength for exercise) is the strength of the person for physical exertion. Appropriate secretion of metabolic or endocrine products during physical is essential for good endurance in demanding situations.

Satmya – adaptability measurement. It is a process of measuring the capabilities of the person to physically or mentally adapt to changing conditions. It is a complex process, measuring the mental and physical reaction of the person to demanding conditions. His/her psychological, neurological, immunological conditions are checked. No other treatment method had similar tests.

Sattva – checking mental balance. It is the capability of the person to continue doing what is required of him without giving heed to distractions – both physical and mental.

Ahara Shakti – or the power of digestion, this test involves checking the metabolic capacity of the person. To take, digest and absorb food to the body.

Vaya – vayassu or age – Ayurvedic physician compares the actual age of the person with his or her apparent age. Sounds strange, but a person appearing younger than he or she really is, is a sign of health. There are different things to look for – skin condition, hair, lifestyle, etc.

Surgery in Ayurveda-Salya Tantra

Salya Tantra or Surgery in Ayurveda
Surgery has longer history than treatment using medicines in Ayurveda. Salya Tantra or the technique of surgery is one of the eight branches of (asthanga) Ayurveda. Ayurvedic surgeons are traditionally known as Dhanwantareeyas (after Dhanwantary).

Lord Dhanwantary’s image has in his one hand a pot of Amrit (the divine nectar of immortality) and in the other a leech, suggesting surgery. Dhanwantary has once taken incarnation as a human, as the son of the king of Kashy. (Human) Dhanwantary’s great grandson, Divodasa was an expert in Salya Tantra or surgery. Sushrutha, Ouradra, Pushkalavada and Oupadhenan had their education under Divodasa.

Dhanwantary and Jeevaka did surgery for brain, while Nimi specialized in ophthalmologic surgery. Bhoja was an expert to treat wounds occurred from weapons (sword, arrow, etc) and Sushruta specialized in cosmetic plastic surgery. Westerners got the idea of plastic surgery, when a local Ayurvedic surgeon re-created the nose of a British soldier named Kovaski, which he lost in a battle with Tipu Sultan of Mysore in 1792. Now Sushrutha is regarded as the father of modern plastic surgery.

There are surgical methods for treating bodily pimples, cancer, cataract, bones and diseases that affect urinary bladder, liver, intestine, etc. Surgical methods were also practiced on ear, nose and throat. Dental surgery too was not rare.

Surgery had three main phases, poorva karma (pre-surgery), Sashtrakriya (surgery) and paschath karma (post-surgical treatment). Poorva karma involves diagnosing the disease and the part of the body that affects the health of the person and pashchath karma refers to post surgical care.

Sasthrakriya is the Sanskrit word of surgery. Sasthra means a weapon and kriya means and action. Thus sasthrakriya or surgery is an action with a weapon or tool. There are about 108 different tools used in surgery, all of them have striking similarities with the surgical instruments that allopathic surgeons use.

In Kerala (and India) dealing with blood was considered an inferior thing. The surgeon also was responsible for the health of the patient. If any serious damage happens to the patient, the surgeon had full responsibility. He even got death sentence. All these have led to the extinction of surgery in India.

By Kerala Ayurvedics.com

Healthy Ayurvedic Seasonal Routines

Ritucharya Explained
The change in seasons affects human body in a large scale. Climatic changes can bring in certain diseases to humans. Rithu charyas (ritucharyas) are directed to keep man protected from diseases that can occur due to change in seasons.

Though the seasons explained in ritu charyas are not exactly the same in all geographic locations, one can form his own rithucharya based on climatic conditions existing at his place.

According to Ayurveda there are six different seasons (ritu or rithus). Sisira (Sisiram – winter) January-February, vasantha (vasantham, basanta, basantha -Spring) March-April, Greeshma (greeshma, grishma, grishmam – Summer) May-June, Varsha (varsham, barsha – rainy season) July-Aug, Sarath (sarat, sarata – Autumn) September-October and Hemant (hemanta, hemantam – dew) in November – December are the six ritus. However, not all six climates are experienced in India (and Kerala in special) today. The four main climates now experienced in India are sarath, hemant, greeshma and varsha. In Kerala, one can now only identify only three main climates – a prolonged rainy season, a short summer season, and a shorter autumn season. Now a days it rains in Kerala all year round – probably a symptom of climatic changes, a disease that affects bhumi or the earth.

Ritu charya for Sarath (Autumn)
During sarath rithu, pitta dosha becomes prominent. Hot so hot food items are advisable for this season. Never sleep in daytime. Honey, small pea, green vegetables, green berries, red-rice, etc form good food items for this season.

Ritu Charya for Hemantha (dew-snowy season)
Kapha dosha is prominent this season. Enable the body to fight the cold outside this season. Energy rich food items like milk and milk products, ghee, carbohydrate rich food items like rice, wheat, whole gram, etc.

Ritu Charya for Greeshma (Summer)
This season has vata as prominent dosha. Avoid heavy physical exertion this hot season. Drink lot of water, juice, butter milk, lemon juice, etc. Take bath in cold water. Include all possible seasonal fruits in your daily diet – jack fruit, tomato, banana, water melon, cucumber, etc. Wear cotton clothes.

Ritu Charya for Varsha (rainy season)
This is the season when humans are most prone to diseases. Thippali (piper longum or Indian long pepper), honey, dried ginger, honey, ghee, etc shall be used with grains – rice, wheat etc. Eat lot of carbohydrate rich food and drink water that is cooled after boiling. Avoid day-sleep and physical exertion. Expect some kind of digestive problems during this rithu.

Sarath and vasantha ritus are pleasant seasons with hot days and cold nights. Hemant also doesn’t irritate any of the tridoshas.

It is uttarayana kala (north travelling time) during the first six months of the year. That is the sun travels over the northern hemisphere. This months are collectively called ‘adaala kalam’, which means something that sucks away energy. General body condition will be weak during this season. Avoid food items with bitter or hot tastes and include sweet tasting, sour, salty food items in your diet. Orange, banana, grapes, pineapple, jackfruit, etc are good fruit items that one can include in his diet.

July to December and up to January is dakshinayana kalam (the sun travels over the southern hemisphere). Body is better equipped during this season. One can include sweet, sour, salty food items in his/her diet.

These are all the directions by ancient Ayurveda acharyas. At first, you may feel these directions are not viable. On a closer look, you can find adjusting food and clothing according to seasons ensures smoothing mingling with nature, the natural route to better health.

By Kerala Ayurvedics.com

Dinacharya; Healthy Ayurvedic Daily Routine

A Good Dinacharya to Follow
Ayurveda suggests two types of charyas or routines, Dinacharya and Ritu Charya. Ritu charya is the change in daily routines according to climatic changes.

Dinacharya or daily routine forms the basis of health or unhealthy state of a man (or woman or child). Here is a healthy dinacharya routine that everyone can follow.

Waking up
There is a time to wake up. It is called Brahma Muhurtha, which starts three hours before sunrise. Healthy persons, if they mind their health should rise up before sunrise – Ayurveda Acharyas say.

Don’t jump up from the bed immediately after waking up. Spend some time lying on the bed, assessing the state of the body. Are there any different feelings of pain or unnatural sensations on the body?

A good exercise to enhance memory and brainpower without medicines – bring to mind the things happened in the previous day from the moment you woke up to the moment you fell asleep. Teach children to follow this exercise, the results will be sharper memory and better alertness.

Then answer to nature’s call. After that brush the teeth with fresh twig of vep, ungu, neer maruthu, or karingali plant. Prepare the toothbrush by softening one end. Chukku, pepper powder, thippaly, induppu, etc with honey can also be used for brushing. Take extra care not to damage gums.

Cleaning the tongue is also necessary to remove hindrances to breathing, and for fresh breathe.

One should bath everyday. Before bathing, one should apply oil (coconut oil, gingelly oil, etc) over body, under feet, and all parts of body. There are different benefits for applying oil all over body. The first among them is their effectiveness in increasing blood circulation. It shoves away tiredness and keeps the body fresh and healthy. It also helps in preventing wrinkles of skin. applying oil on head before bath strengthens senses, nervous system and circulatory system. Persons suffering from fever, stomach upset, etc shall not apply oil on head. Bathing without applying oil can cause vatha related diseases in the future.

Use hot and cold water for bathing – use hot water for below neck and cold water for head. Don’t take a bath immediately after meals.

A carefully followed exercise regimen gives different advantages to your body - general health, enthusiasm, better digestion of food, etc. are some of them. Persons with defective digestive system shall not attempt exercises. Physical exertion can be maximum in cold months and in spring. Only light exercise is needed in other seasons.

Massaging the body after exercise is also good for body.

Don’t overdo anything – exercise, sleeplessness, going to woman, etc can cause deterioration to body.

All the above things are primarily aimed at keeping body in good condition. One must also keep his mind in good condition.

Willingness to help other living things in need is required to attain satisfaction. Associate only with people that think and do good deeds only. Associating with people with wrong intention can harm your peace of mind.

Don’t believe everyone, don’t view everyone with skeptic eyes either. Don’t talk about bad things happened to you to others. Don’t strain eye, ear, tongue, etc. Avoid travel at night.

Stop all activities – both physical and mental – before you feel tired. Don’t gather, sell or drink wine.

Don’t think about or engage in sex during dusk. It is also not good time to eat, sleep, serious thoughts, etc. Don’t take any food from enemies, prostitutes, and people you don’t know. View the matters of others as your own and do all possible help to them. Keeping this ensures health, longevity, good fame, etc.

This is the general outline of dinacharya. This will give swastya or state of rest and health to body and mind while keeping tridoshas balanced.

Kerala Ayurvedics.com

Ashtangahridaya; the Heart of Eight Branches of Ayurveda

The Heart of Ayurveda

The term Ashtanga Hridaya literally means the heart of eight organs (of Ayurveda). Asthangahridaya tells what you can find in this great Ayurvedic classic by Vagbhata, written in the fifth century AD.

“kaya-bala-grihordhwanga
salya-damsthra-jaravrishan
ashtanganithasyahu
schikitsayeshu samsritha”

The above slogan tells that kaya chikitsa (treating physique or body), bala (baala) chikitsa (pediatrics), griha chikitsa (psychiatry), urdhvanga chikitsa or shalakya tantra (eye, ear, nose and parts above neck), salya tantra (surgery), damsthra chikitsa (toxicology) and jara chikitsa or rasayana chikitsa (rejuvenation therapy), vrishya chikitsa or vajeekarana chikitsa (aphrodisiac therapy) are the eight branches or organs (angas) of Ayurveda.

Ashtanga hridaya is the book that tells in detail about all the eight angas of Ayurveda. It is the sum total of all knowledge spread across millions of slogas from thousands of books written by eminent Ayurveda practitioners and teachers from the past. All topics regarding Ayurveda are concentrated to some 7000 slogas in Ashtangahridaya.

Ashtanga vaidyas of Kerala learned and practiced all of the eight branches of Ayurveda. There are different vaidya families that concentrated on specific angas only. Pampinmeykkattu family is still known for damsthra chikitsa, mainly treating snake venom related conditions.

Astagahridaya tells in detail about dinacharyas (daily routine), ritucharyas (seasonal routines) etc. Ritucharya is the method of adjusting our daily activities like taking bath, food and drinks, work and travel, entertainment, rest and sleep etc. It also details the methods of controlling our thoughts, words, action, and even what we look at and see.

There is a sloga in Ashtangahridaya, which we can regard as the corner stone of health;
Nityam hithahara vihara sevii
Sameekshyakaree vishayeshuasakthaha
Datha samassthya paraha kshamava
Napthopaseveecha, bhavatya rogaha

The meaning of the sloga goes like this –
Take good food, do moderate physical exercise, think well before starting risky ventures, live a life of self respect, give alms according to your capacity, love all alike, tell only truth, maintain composure under pressure, be forgiving, mingle with good people –

The brief sloga tells about the ingredients of good physical and mental health. Deviating from this lifestyle can cause diseases.

The Reliability of Ashtangahridaya
Vagbhata Acharya, in the concluding part of Ashtangahridaya inscribes a sloga as follows.

Idamagamasidhathwal
Prathyakshaphaladarsanal
Manthraval Samprayokthavyam
Na Meemamsyam Kadhanjana

The translation goes like this – this much (the scripts of ashtangahridaya till this point) is an accumulation of memories from past experiences. Practicing them will give scalable results. Continuously recite this as a mantra. Thus, you will get the powers and you can utilize this knowledge with confidence.

Ashtangahridayam indeed is the concentrated form of all knowledge of practitioners of Ayurveda till the time of Vagbhata. All the knowledge in Ashtangahridaya is in highly processed (samskrita) form. One can be said to be a vaidya if he has this knowledge.

No one can prove even a word in Ashtangahridaya untrue. It not only have the treatment methods, medicines, etc listed, but also the lifestyle requirements, the root-cause of diseases, etc are all true according to the uncountable Ayurvedic practitioners that bear witness to the effectiveness of Ayurveda.

Sreedhareeyam – The Best Place for Ayurvedic Eye Treatment

Save your loved ones from total blindness, before it is too late...

Sreedhareeyam is the place to catch, if the eye is becoming dimmer... Read on...

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic bind eye condition, which starts with night blindness and gradual loss of sight towards complete blindness or very near to that condition in his or her 40s or 50s. In some cases the persons can go complete blind in their childhood itself. Approved medical science writes off this condition as un-treatable or un-curable.

There is however treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. The place where you find Ayurvedic treatment of RP may surprise you to total unconsciousness. The place is a laid back Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Center named Sreedhareeyam, located at Koothattukulam, some 48 km away from Ernakulam, Kerala in India. It is not only RP, but several eye disease cases that are written off by modern medicine are cured at this place.

Eye care or treatments for diseases affecting eyes comes in Shalakya Tantra, one among the eight branches of Ayurveda that deals with diseases that affects parts above neck.

Dr. Nelliakkattu Parameswaran Parameswaran Namboodiri (or Dr. NPP Namboodiri) founded Sreedhareeyam Ayurveda Eye Hospital and Research Center, in the year 2000 as a proof to the world that there is enormous potential for Ayurveda in eye care and treating diseases that affect eyes. Dr. NPP Namboodiri served as an Ayurvedic physician in Ayurveda Hospitals run by Kerala state government.

Sreedhareeyam was started as a small hospital, with capacity of just 8 beds. Now it is an ISO recognized institute with about 260 beds, where people from far North India and abroad. There is an in-house research center, pharmacy with manufacturing facilities within the hospital premises that spread over 40 acres.

In the year 2005 alone, there were 27,999 persons benefited from the eye-care treatment of Sreedhareeyam. About 10% of the patients are from abroad, 35% are from Kerala itself and the rest from all parts of India.

Most eye-patients reach this treatment center after trying all other treatment options available to them, including surgery.

There are treatments for short sight, glaucoma (caused by increased fluid pressure inside eyeballs), diabetic retinopathy (caused due to damage to blood vessels in the eye), macular degeneration, etc have treatments here.

There are thousands of testimonials to testify the value of this hospital. The most prominent among them are the treatments given to Saritha Agarwal, the wife of Brijmohan Agarwal, the chief minister of Chathisgarh (a north Indian state) and Dr. PS Warrier, the preeminent Ayurveda doctor of India, whom the Government of India honored with Padmasree Award.

Aphrodisiacs – From Ayurveda and Others

Humankind of all ages used some kind of aphrodisiacs, most of them, naturally herbs. It will be curious to have a look at the aphrodisiacs used in India and other parts of the world.

Milk
Milk, in normal cases is not regarded as an aphrodisiac. Yet again, the newly wed bride and groom share a glass of milk in the evening of their wedding day. The milk usually will be added with ground pepper, almond, honey or sugar. Vatsyayana in his world renowned text of Kamasutra suggests the use of fennel juice in milk. Milk provides the nutrients to the body and help the couple sustain their passion.

Eggs
Egg yolk, is considered to be an aphrodisiac by Arabs. It is a natural symbol of fertility throughout the world. Egg yolk coupled with honey can sustain the power for longer times. There are Arab stories that tell about men that stayed on for about 41 days by taking just egg yolk and honey.

Honey
Hey, Honey. The reference here is real natural honey that bees collect from thousands of flowers. Honey is universal symbol of love. There will not be a place on earth’s face where the couples don’t address each other honey when they feel it.

Rose
“My Love is a Red Red Rose” who can forget this line by Robert Burns? Rose is real stimulant and enhancer of sex life. Aromatherapy uses the smell of rose flowers to create that soothing effect and calmness.

Shilajit
Shilajit is traditionally an important aphrodisiac in India that enhances passion and gives ‘power of a bull’ to men of any age.

Mucuna Pruriens (Naikkurana, Indian Ginseng, Goat Weed)
Viagra can be called artificial Naikkurana. This plant in the bean family is used by Indians for many centuries and now the world appraise the effectiveness of this herb. Though it is primarily a male sex stimulant women too use it. The results are visible in less than three weeks in the form of increased sexual desires, fuller and better erections, stamina, good general health, etc are the benefits of taking the seeds of this herb.

Ginseng
Chinese alternative for Naikkurana, this herb has a history of over 5000 years as an effective aphrodisiac. Roots are the main usable part.

Pineapples
Oh, Yeah! Pineapples have aphrodisiac properties. Take a glass of vitalizing pineapple juice everyday. To get the aphrodisiac effect, make a cocktail with some honey and a bit of rum.

Strawberries
Strawberry is sexy to feed and be fed. Choose dark red berries, that take you to high mountains of desire. It is rich in vitamin C, the visible effect is most prominent.

Betel Nut
Chewing of ripe betel nut collected from betel palm, along with betel leaves has a long history in India. It is a favorite pastime for both men and women. Both of them are offered to god and as dakshina to gurus at the start of education. Ayurveda considers betel nut as an aphrodisiac.

By Kerala Ayurvedics.com

Unhealthy Food Habits -Taking Incompatible Food

The directions of Ayurveda acharyas on food habits appear to be too tough to follow in present conditions.

Appetite, according to Ayurvedic principles is the mechanism of body to tell the brain that the body needs food. Eating food at the right time will automatically create appetite or hunger at the right times – this is the basis. Man needs to take food only two times a day – in the morning and in the evening. The body requires food only after the taken food is digested.

One will not feel appetite when his mind is disturbed – sadness, anger, fear, etc are negative emotions. Food taking with a disturbed mind doesn’t get absorbed by the body. Eating food should be in a pleasant environment, possibly in the presence of family or friends.

Eating the food should be a slow process. Completely chew the food before swallowing. This is needed for good digestion of food. Another thing is not to take cold water with food. A little walk a few minutes after taking food can help in better digestion of the taken food. Don’t exert body immediately after taking food. Another thing is to avoid eating for time pass.

Any food that can affect the balance of any of the three doshas of tridosha can be termed a virudhaharam (virudha aharam, virutha aharam, viruthaaharam) or incompatible food. Certain food items when combined together can create reactions. These reactions can sometimes be harmful to health. Food items that cause such reactions are known as incompatible food.

Curd and milk, chicken and ghee, etc are examples of incompatible food combination.

This may not be a serious problem to healthy persons pursuing a continued exercise regimen. However, pregnant women, weak persons, elderly persons and children can be affected by such incompatible combinations. It is necessary to check the nature of food and food combination one takes.

There are also chances for food poisoning. The general symptoms of food poisoning are described in different Ayurvedic texts. Infected meat has blue lines, milk has dark red lines, alcoholic drinks have black and white lines, etc provide quick diagnostic measures of food poisoning.

Excess intake of alcohol can cause serious damages to liver. Too much of sweets and fatty food can affect teeth and can upset stomach. They also affect the health of bones and can cause beauty problems like pimples. Its effect on diabetes is well known to everyone.

The preservatives added to food are also chemicals that can act as poison. Modern researches hint that accumulation of chemicals from such preservatives and additives can even stunt the mental growth of children.

People at the time of origin of Ayurveda, the science of life didn’t have to worry much about baked or fried food items. Modern man eats a lot of bakery products like cake, pastries, drink artificial drinks like colas – all these can cause different problems to digestive system, blood, and bones.

Family Traditions in Ayurveda, Ashtavaidyas of Kerala

Ashtavaidya is an Ayurvedic practitioner who is proficient in all the eight different branches of Ayurvedic treatment. Kerala’s rise as a prominent center for Ayurveda is in a great way indebted to the selfless service of ashtavaidyans. Their service can’t be fully appreciated without mentioning the social situations that prevailed in India and Kerala till less than a century ago.

Racial discrimination was prevalent in this land and the veda or science knowledge was restricted to upper class Brahmins. They were the only vaidyas. A vaidya is a practitioner of Ayurveda or an Ayurvedic physician. It was impurity for the Brahmins to touch or even see people of lower castes. The ashtavaidyans denied this tradition and practiced salya tantra (surgery technique) on people from all castes. Thus ashtavaidyans got their place in their community lowered. Other Brahmins that did poojas at temples didn’t recognize practitioners of vaidya (vaidyans). Thus, marital alliances between Brahmins practicing vaidya and Brahmins that remained pure from touching people of lower castes ceased.

Learning and practicing Ayurveda to practice vaidya caused the vaidyans not pursuing education of Vedas and pooja rituals. However, later this condition changed and now marital alliance is possible between all Namboodiri or Brahmin families.

Vaidyamadam family, a family that traditionally practiced asthavaidya was a bit different and they practiced Vedas and participated in Yagnas and poojas. History suggests that this family was not known for salya thantra (surgery). They give and take women to and from almost all Namboodiri families.

These ashtavaidyas or ashtavaidyans have recorded their treatment methods. Tracing down descendents of Ashtavaidyas is a difficult task today because of the relative indifference of such families with other Brahmin families.

Thaikkattu vaidyar, Kuttancheri, Vaidyamadam, etc are some of the families usually associated with ashtavaidyans.

Prasoothi Tantra; Ayurvedic Care for Pregnant Women

Prasoothi Tantra refers to the care given to pregnant woman. Prasoothi literally means an expecting woman. Prasoothi tantra refers to the health conditions, diseases and their treatments, and special treatment food and lifestyle modification that lead to the birth of a healthy child.

Prasoothi Tantra has three divisions
Garbhini Paricharanam (Garbhini Paricharya) or Ante-natal phase which denotes to diagnosis of pregnancy and the care for a garbhini (pregnant woman).

Prasava Kaala Paricharanam (Prasava Kaala Paricharya) or natal phase starts with labour pains and ends with delivery of placenta.

Soothika Paricharanam (Soothika Paricharya) or Post Natal Phase – deals with the care of the newborn baby and the nursing mother.
Identification of Pregnancy
There are signs to look for immediately after union, within a week or a month.

Sadhyogruheeta or Sadyogruheeta garbha lakshana (probable signs of Pregnancy)
The woman will experience drowsiness, uneasiness, feeling of something pulled into the body, repeated spitting, pain in chest, more semen remains in the vagina without flowing out – etc are symptoms that show very low probability of pregnancy.

Vyaktha Garbhalakshana/Dowhrudya Lakshana (Positive signs of Pregnancy)
These are clear indications of pregnancy – they are missing periods, vomiting without any reason, newfound fondness towards sour food items, darkening of lips and areola, milk secretion in breast etc. Repeated drooping of eyes, aversion to good smells, tiredness, etc are the other symptoms. Acharyas like Sushrutha, Bhaavamisra, Vagbhata, etc suggests that the nutrients that the mother takes are diverted to the development of embryo, hence the signs of drowsiness and tiredness.

Garbhini Parcharya
Garbhini Parcharya insists good ahara (food), vihara (daily routine – lifestyle) and vichara (thoughts). All the three will have effect on the expected child.

Wholesome diet has prime concern in garbhini paricharya as the development of the baby depends solely on the nourishment that the woman takes. The first three months of pregnancy and the months after seventh one are considered to be extremely important.

First three months mark the formation of foetus (or fetus). The expecting woman wants to take lot of fruits or juice, coconut water, milk, and food items in liquid or easily digestible form. Apart from the healthy diet, certain medicinal preparations are also recommended. One example is sukhaprasava ghritam (medicated ghee that facilitates easy delivery).

Keywords: garbhini parcharya, garbhini paricharanam, prasooothi tantra and prasoothika tantra

Learn more about Ayurveda at http://www.keralaayurvedics.com

Ayurveda, the Ancient Science of Life

Ayurveda, which evolved around 600 BC in India, is a holistic system of medicine that stresses on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them. Today this unique branch of medicine-a complete natural healing system that depends on the diagnosis of the body's humors to achieve the right balance has become an indispensable health science. Dhanwanthari Bhagawan is considered as the god of Ayurveda. Ayurvedic regimens are fast becoming the world's preference to revitalise the body, mind and soul for healthy living.

The word Ayurveda means "Knowledge of Life" or "Science of Life". It is the ancient health science evolved after a long research work of eminent scholarly sages. Ayurveda is the philosophy of life .It teaches one to deal with difficult conditions affecting the body and mind. This ancient science cures diseases from its origin (from its root). It is an excellent rejuvenating therapy and a wholesome prescription for living to the fullest in close communion with nature.

Treatment processes to detoxify and to build up immune system is very special to Ayurveda. Different kinds of massages is based on the fact that increasing body temperature provides chemical energy that stimulates metabolism. This reduces body weight, decreases or eliminates cellulites, provides relief from rheumatic diseases, arthritis, low back ache, frozen shoulder etc...

Learn about Ayurveda at http://keralaayurvedics.com/