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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Gomukhasana

"Go" means cow. "Mukha" means face.The parted thighs in this asana resemble a cow's lips and one arm up and one down look like the cow's ears and so it is called Gomukhasana.

Technique :
  • Place the left heel on the left side of the anus. Bend the right leg in such a way that the right knee rests on the left knee and the sole of the right foot touches the lower part of the left thigh.Practice will enable you to bring the right heel to the left thigh.
  • Rotate your arm inwardly. the thumb will turn first toward the floor.then point toward the wall behind you, with the palm facing the celling. This movement will roll your right shoulder slightly up and forward, and round your upper back with a full exhalation, sweep the arm behind your torso and tuck the forearm in the hollow of your lower back, parallel to your waist,with the right elbow against the right side of your torso.
  • Raise the first and the second fingers of the left hand. Lower the first and the second fingers of the right hand.
  • If the fingers slip away, try again for two minutes to brig them to the position.
  • Breath slowly. Keep the trunk and the head in a straight line. Change the hands in turn.
  • A fat man will find it difficult to perform this asana . But constant practice will enable him to practice the asana comfortably.
  • Practice this asana four times in the first week. Later, gradually increase the frequency and practice it 6 times. Gradually increase the duration till the limit of 15 min is reached.
  • After some time return to the original position , Afterwards practice it by changing the position of the legs.by placing the right knee above the left knee.
Remember :
  • To start with, first place the right leg by the side of the buttock then left above the right.
  • One knee should remain just above the other knee.
Benefits of Gomukhasana :
  • This asana involves all the three bandhas, Jalandhara bandha, Uddiyana bandha and Moola bandha strongly, susumna nadi naturally gets an abundant flow of oxygen with the result that there is control over the sense organs.
  • This asana cures rheumatic arthritis of the lower legs and fissure and piles (dry).
  • Stretches the ankles, hips and thighs, shoulders armpits and triceps, and chest.
  • Tumour in the axilla is dissolved by this asana.
  • This asana cures constipation, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, backache and arm sprain.
  • Joints become flexible and the bones become strong.
  • This asana helps in observing celibacy and keeping sound health.
  • Moola bandha stops automatically in this asana and so it is very helpful for practicing Pranayama.
  • This asana is useful for longtime meditation.
  • This asana relieves the body of its excessive fat and it increases the vitality.
  • It is greatly beneficial to the persons suffering from insomnia.
  • This asana stimulates the endocrine glands.
Contraindications : People who have bleeding piles and serious neck or shoulder problems should not practice it.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Arjuna

Arjuna is the medicinal plant from the terminalia genus. It is more commonly used in the ayurvedic medicines for the treatment of heart problems. The bark of arjuna has been described as a cardiac tonic. The bark contains large quantities of calcium, small amounts of aluminum, magnesium and tannins an astringent used in preparing leather and manufacturing ink.

Latin name : Terminalia arjuna

Properties :
  • Rasa : kasaya
  • Guna : laghu, ruksha
  • virya : sita
  • Vipaka : katu
  • Karma : hridya, kaphhara, pithara, vrananasana
Preperations : Kshirpaka, juice, decoction, powder

Benefits of arjuna :
  • Arjuna is the best herb for cardiomyopathy like myocardial infarction, angina, coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia.
  • The bark of arjuna tree is a cardiac stimulant and has tonic effect. As a heart stimulant, either a decoction of the thick portion of the bark made with milk should be taken every morning on an empty stomach or its powder.
  • The powder of the arjuna bark is an effective sex stimulant, taken with milk regularly over a period of time.
  • It is useful in renal calculi, or stones. and in promoting flow of bile, and in the healing of wounds.
  • Diarrhoea or Dysentry : A decoction of the bark taken.
  • It is also effective in arresting secretion or bleeding.
  • It is helps to relieve fever.
  • The bark of arjuna is very useful in Asthma. Powder of the bark is made and stored in a well corked bottle. The patient suffering from asthma should keep fast on the day of the full moon. A dish of condensed milk and rice should be prepared and placed where the moonlight falls upon it the whole night 12 gm of the powder should be sprinkled over the kheer and take by the patient.
  • It is effective in curing various types of pain, ulcer, cirrhosis of liver
  • The juice of fresh leaves of arjuna can be used beneficially in earache.
  • It has best result in skin diseases. An ointment made by mixing the bark and honey applied over the affected area.
  • The decoction of the herb is used as an astringent for cleaning sores, ulcers, syphilitic sores.
  • It helps the bones to regain their strength after a fracture, powder of the bark with honey.
Herbal formulation :
  • Kakubhadi powder
  • Arjunarishta
  • Devdarvyarishta
  • Arjuna kshirpaka
  • Arvindasava
  • Arjuna ghrita
Kshirpaka formula :
The bark of Arjuna (or powder) 4 times the milk, and 16 times the water. The process involves the usual decoction process to boi the mixture till the amount of milk only remain.

Dosage of different formulation :
  • Powder : 3-6 gm two or three times a day with milk or water.
  • Extracted juice : 10-20 ml two or three times a day with sugar or honey or milk.
  • Decoction : 20-40 ml two times a day in the concentration of 1:2
  • Kshirpaka : 5-20 gm two times a day.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Mandukasana

While performing this asana, the body takes the shape of "Manduk"(frog). So this asana is called Mandukasana.

Technique :
  • Sit in Vajrasana. spread your knees as wide as possible.
  • Have the inner edges of the feet encircling the buttocks with the big toes of both the feet touching each other.
  • Rest the hands as shown in the figure. Keep the trunk straight.
  • Look straight and breath normally.
  • Remain in this position for 8 to 12 seconds. Perform this asana twice in the first week. Later, practice this asana four time.
  • While inhaling return to normal position and relax.
Benefits of Mandukasana :
  • This asana stimulates the digestive system. It is advised in the treatment of constipation, diabetes and digestive disorders.
  • This asana is effective in reducing the weight of the thighs, hips and the abdomen.
  • This posture helps in tonning the muscles of thigh region and increasing the flexibility of the legs. It assists in the cure of pain in the knees, ankles and back.
  • This asana increase sexual ability. It removes the defects of the reproductive system of women.
  • This asana strengthens the lower parts of the loins.
  • It is useful to cure asthma , insomnia and hysteria.
Contra indication :
people have cardiac problem, patient who have undergone abdominal surgery, severe back pain should avoid this asana.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Wheezing

Wheezing is a high pitched whistling sound associated with labored breath. The underlying cause of wheezing is increased Kapha dosha in the stomach. From there it moves in to the lungs, trachea and bronchi. The increased kapha blocks the natural flow of air creating spasm in the bronchial tree and resulting wheezing or breathlessness.
Wheezing most commonly occures when a person is exhalling. It is sometimes accompanied by a mild sensation of tightness in the chest. Anxiety about not being able to breath easily can cause muscle tension that makes the wheezing worse.

Causes :
Expossure to allergens, fumes, ice cold drinks, very cold air, medication, strenuous exercise, weather changes, foreign objects trapped in the airway, respiratory illness like pneumonia, congestive heart failure, bronchitis, emphysema.

Symptoms :
Laborated breathing, whistling sound upon breathing, shortness of breath, tight & heavy feeling in the chest, Unable to more speak, coughs up bubbly pink or white phlegm.

Remedies for wheezing :
  • Drink Licorice ( yasti madhu ) tea . take 1 tsp of licorice root in one cup of water, add 5-10 drops of mahanarayana oil just before drinking . patient should take one sip every 5 -10 minutes for a day.
  • Take brown mustard oil 1 tsp with natural sugar 1 tsp, twice or thrice daily.
  • A mustard tea (1/4 tsp each ground mustard seed, pippali or black salt) with honey may be drunk two or three times daily.
  • Mix 1 tsp Cinnamon and 1/4 tsp Trikatu in to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes and add 1tsp of honey before drinking , twice a daily.
  • 1/4 cup onion juice with 1tsp honey and 1/8 tsp black peeper, take twice a daily. It will very useful for wheezing.
  • This herbal formula is helpful for immediate relief : Sitopaladi choorna 1/2 tsp, Punarnava 1/2 tsp, pippali - pinch, Abhrak bhasma- pinch. mix with honey, a little bit at a time, for long time once a day.
  • You may also find 1/3 cup spinach juice with a pinch of pippali.
  • Putting 5 to 10 drops of warm ghee in each nostril will helpful.
  • Terminallia chebula (haritaki) has rejuvenative, laxative, expectorant effect.
  • Adhatoda vassica(vasa) manages allergic disorders and stimulates respiratory activity.
  • Acorus calamus (vacha) is very effective. It removes phlegmatic matters from the bronchial tabes, making them free for breath.
  • Ginger, Clove has expectorant properties.
  • Tachyspermum ammi (ajwain) is an expectorant . Its bark in powder form is taken in a decoction with butter milk.
Medicines :
Sitopaladi choorna, Lakshmi vilas rasa, Swasha kasa chintamani rasa, Kanakasava, Kumarisaar, Chyawanaprash, Agastya rasayana, Bharangee guda, Kapha kartari, Gojihvadi kwatha, Swashtone lehya etc.

Other remedies :
  • Yoga : Some yogic asanas are beneficial that Surya namaskar, shankhasana , sarvangasana, supta vajrasana, ushtrasana, matsyasana.
  • Supplements : magnesium may help to prevent bronchial spasms. It may be reduced by taking vita-c & B complex.
  • Diet : eliminate red meat, dairy products, ice cream, ice cold drinks, macrobiotic diet of vegetarian food.
  • Deep breathing or other stress reduction methods may help promote relaxation.
  • Aromatherapy : The essential oils for lavender, and rosemary can relieve congestion. Adding chamomile oil to a vaporizer can very helpful.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sarvangasana

This is one of the most important asanas. Sarvangasana literally means "all parts pose".These inverted asanas work by reversing the effects of gravity on certain parts of the body. When this asana is practiced, all the parts of the body are exercised. So it is called Sarvangasana.

Technique :
  • Lie on your back with the body fully stretched, palms by your side facing down.
  • Slowly raise the legs together up 30, then 60, then 90 and then around 130 degree .so they are extended behind your head.
  • Stay in this position , breathing normally,for a few seconds.
  • Now, gradually exhale again and straighten your legs up to 90 degrees, until they attain a vertical position. Support the back on two sides with both the hands. Keep the elbows on the ground.Let the shoulders and the neck touch the ground. Keep the body steady.
  • Keep the legs raised straight up. Breath normally.Look at the toes of the feet.
  • Bend the legs towards the head. Relax the body and bring the legs back to the ground without jerking the spine.
  • In this asana, the weight of the entire body is borne by the shoulder. Concentrate your mind on the thyroid gland in the lower part of the throat.
  • This asana can be practiced twice a daily. Practice this asana for two minutes in the beginning gradually increasing the time to the limit of half an hour.
Benefits of Sarvangasana :
  • This asana diverts the flow of blood into the thyroid glands and promotes their health. It tones up the blood circulatory system, the respiratory system, the digestive system and the excretory system.
  • It awakens the Kundalini and stimulates gastric juices.
  • It eliminates the longtime diseases of the intestines like indigestion,constipation.
  • It tones up the functioning of the nose and the ears. It purifies blood.
  • It preserves the elasticity of the spinal column and prevents it from being slugging.
  • It eliminates the pain in the heels and other disorders of the feet.
  • It tones up the blood circulation and the digestive system.
  • It prevents nocturnal discharges effectively and helps in observing celibacy. It is a remedy for the diseases of the genitals and the anus.
  • Women can safely practice this asana. This asana eliminates the disorders of the overy.
  • Recommended for women after child birth and for those suffering from painfull menstruation, other female disorders and seminal weakness.
  • It is beneficial to those who suffer from anemia and leprosy.
  • It supplies abundant flow of blood to all the roots of the spinal column.
  • This is an ideal and strength giving asana. It energies and invigorates the body.
  • It eliminates kidney troubles and the diseases of the bladder.
Contraindications :
  • Don't try if you are suffering from organic disorders of the thyroid gland (hyper thyroidism) & chronic nasal catarrh.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Anemia

Anemia has affected million of people all over the world. Anemia is one of the common dietary diseases in which the blood is deficient in the body.Anemia is a decrease in your blood cell count, or a decreased hemoglobin content in the blood. Since red blood cells are the once responsible for carring oxygen to the cells via the hemoglobin a lower amount would mean low oxygen in all your body's tissue.
Anemia is found in any age group. Children, menstruating women, pregnant ladies all are prone to this disease.In ayurveda anemia is known as "Pandu roga ".

Causes :
Deficiency of Iron in the diet, hemorrhoids, deficiency of vitamins(especially vita-c), chronic disease like cancer, especially when the people under goes treatments by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, heavy menstruation, any defect in the bone marrow, the lack of hydrochloric acid.

Symptoms :
Weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, headache, confusions, restless leg syndrom, hairloss, pale skin, ringing in the ears, swelling of the mouth, numbness, tingling, memory loss, depression, discoloration of nails, insomnia, digestive problem, person feels cold often, white & blackheads on the face, pimples with pus, blocked hair follicles with pus on the skin.

Home remedies :
  • Eat a lot of dates, leafy greens & iron products.
  • Drink daily 2-3 cups of white cabbage juice.
  • Take vegetables like beets, potato, tomato, carrots, cabbage, grapes, apples, strawberries like fruits.
  • Peanut butter and candy bars have a lot of iron in them.
  • Dark green leafy vegetables are good source of absorbable iron, salmon and mackerel are good source of B12, and black eyed peas,beans and lentils for folate.
  • Cold water bath is the valuable method in curing anemia, two baths are recommended daily.
  • Take sunbaths are also beneficial as sunlight stimulates the production of red cells.
  • Lemon and honey is highly beneficial when taken during morning.
  • Massaging the body daily also helps to keep the blood level in the body high.
  • A liberal intake of vita-C is necessary for the proper absorption of iron . Amla provides natural vita-C.
  • Deep breathing and light exercise like walking also tones up body and blood level.
  • Various yoga asanas like sarvangasana, paschimotanasana, uttanpadasana, shavasana are beneficial and good.
Herbal remedies :
  • Afsanthin (worm wood) is iron rich content.
  • Ajmoda (celery) is also extremely rich source of dietry iron.
  • Methi (fenugreek) works as an effective blood tonic.
  • Sowa (dill) is taken to regulate the flow during the menstrual cycle. About 60 grams of sowa taken with a 1 tsp of parsley juice.
Ayurvedic medicines :
Punarnavasava, Ghritakumari, Lauhasava, Lauh bhasma, Dhatri lauh, Navayas lauh, arogyavardhini vati, Heamogaurd, syrup, Saptamrita lauh, Punarna mandoor, Nvajivan rasa, Shilajit, etc.