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.