Sukhanidra, Ayurvedic Sleep Therapy

Sukhanidra is a form of Ayurvedic treatment aimed at pacifying mind and to treat such conditions like insomnia (sleep deprivation), anxiety and depression.

Sukhanidra (sukanidra) means calm sleep or sound sleep.

Insomnia or lack of sleep is in fact a serious problem that can cause other disorders like anxiety and depression. A good night’s sleep can reduce anxiety and depression.

Sukha nidra treatment program is aimed at creating a pacifying environment to facilitate sleep. The treatments include body and head massage with medicated oils. Sirovasty, thalam, ksheera dhara, thaila dhara etc are employed.

The person is also given medicines to strengthen immune system and blood circulation. Yoga and meditation further pacifies the soul of the person. He or she will be able to sleep calmly at night, effectively reducing anxiety and stress related problems.

Sukhanidra (also spelt sukanidra, sukha nidra, suka nidra) treatment lasts for 7 to 21 days, during which the person is kept in a pacifying environment. The person receives full body medicated oil massage, head massage with medicated oil and spends time doing yoga and practicing meditation techniques.

A person can expect immediate positive results in the form of reduced stress, increased confidence, better immune system and calm sleep.

Nidra in Malayalam means sleep. This is a treatment aimed at ensuring calm, sound sleep to pacify troubled minds and souls. Though it appears to be a very simple treatment, the benefits are manifold. Seasoned Ayurveda practitioners in Kerala give good treatment for people from parts of Kerala, India and around the world.

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.