Benefits of Neem Tree

A very famous herb of India with worldwide fame and having magical properties known for its miraculous medicinal values from past 5000 years. Neem tree is commonly known as margosa tree in English language and Azadirachta indica in biological terms.

Neem is a multipurpose herb, which is recommended in every type of ailment. Following are the wonders of neem, which ayurveda has to offer to this world and modern life style of living.

• Taking bath of neem leaves water is a very common sight in Indian homes that helps our body to counter mild infections, which our body might get in day-to-day activity.
• Its tropical application makes us relieved from acne, eczema and even ringworms.
• In skin related diseases, neem works as blessing of God on mankind. It has an action on almost every kind of skin disease thus making its indication in eradicating every kind of itch, rash, infection and allergy.
• Neem oil is extensively used in hair fall and early graying of hairs with very satisfying results. It also find its application in dandruff and in lice growth.
• Its local application on arthritic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and musculo skeletal pains is highly recommended with good results.
• Due to presence of tickt rasa it is beneficial in indigestion, constipation and restoring taste of mouth.
• It is highly recommended in hyperacidity and epigastric pain as it suppresses pitta that is the main culprit in the aggravation of such illness.
• It is very helpful in curing urinary tract infection.
• It also helps in suppressing extra heat generated in body due to any reason thus helps in maintaining normal condition in hyperthermia. Very useful in suppressing fever.
• It helps in reducing excess micturation.
• It works as an immuno boosting agent therefore making our immune system very strong and efficient to fight against any foreign invasion making our body strong and disease free

Healthy Heart

Heart disease is a very common disease affecting people across the world. It is a major health problem for many people.

Causes:

Other conditions that might have Heart disease as a complication might be potential underlying causes of Heart disease. The list of conditions listing Heart disease as a complication in our database includes:

• Atherosclerosis • Atrial flutter • Dermatomyositis • Diabetes • Friedreich's ataxia • Hemochromatosis • High Cholesterol • Hypertension • Kawasaki disease • Menopause • Mucopolysaccharidosis IV • Nephrotic syndrome • Obstructive sleep apnea • Paget's disease of bone • Pneumococcal pneumonia • Sleep apnea • Smoking • Stroke Type 1 diabetes • Type 2 diabetes • Underweight

Ayurvedic Remedy

Eat Right:
Ayurveda, first and most recommends a proper dietary habit. A proper diet can keep away many health disorders.eat more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, start your day with stewed apples or pears, include soaked blanched almonds in your diet, dress your veggies with fresh lime juice and eat heart-friendly spices such as fresh-ground black pepper and the antioxidant power-spice turmeric. Choose fresh foods over processed foods or leftovers, light foods over rich, deep-fried ones and warm cooked foods over cold, heavy foods. A balanced antioxidant rasayana is excellent nutritional support.

Improve your lifestyle:
Ayurveda also recommends a healthy lifestyle, which will prevent heart disease to a great extent.

• Reduce weight
• Reduce the deposition of fatty cholesterol.
• Reduce the problem of high blood pressure.
• Quit smoking because cigarette smoking alone increases the risk of heart attack a lot.
• Ayurveda asks us to exercise regularly because exercise improves the body by reducing the excess fats.
• Be calm and composed. Try not to be angry. If you are cool then it helps a lot in checking your high blood pressure.
• Take low calorie vegetarian foods.
• Laughter is the best medicine. It is a relaxation therapy and it helps to overcome stress. It really helps you if you have high blood pressure.
• Avoid drinking coffee. Coffee contains caffeine which may increase the blood pressure level in an individual.
• Love and show affection to everyone. If you do this it will really help in dropping your blood pressure, further reducing the risk of heart problems.
• Practice meditation, yoga and asanas like shavasana

Herbal Medicines:

• Allium sativum (garlic) : Mix garlic with butter milk and drink it twice daily. Garlic is very essential in alleviating heart problems by controlling blood pressure.
• Terminalia arjuna (arjuna) : The powder is boiled along with milk and water until it is reduced to half the amount and then it is taken on empty stomach. Arjuna helps in strengthening of the heart muscles and maintaining healthy functioning of the heart. regulate blood pressure.
• Tinospora cordifolia (guduchi) : it is best tonic ,anti age properties.
  
• Withania somnifera (ashvagandha) : It has diuretic activities. It acts as an anti-stress, adaptogen and also possesses its hypotensive and cardiotonic properties
• Commiphora mukul (guggulu) : Increases coagulationand prothrombin time in hyperlipidemic subjects , decreases platelet adhesion, prolongs clotting time, hypocholesterolemic, raises HDL cholesterol, reduces weight, resolves xanthomas, antioxidant.
• Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) : Dip fenugreek in water and keep it over night and chew them in the morning in empty stomach. This will help in reducing cholesterol and fats.
• Zingiber officinale (ginger) : effect on bleeding time, platelet aggregation or thromboxane production.
  
• Emblica officinalis (Amlaki) : Amla has anti oxidative , carminative properties. It helps in maintaining a health y digestive system. It is cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, and antipyretic medicine. Amla acts as antidiabetic too.
• Ocimum sanctum (basil) : used as Hypotensive and cardiac depressant activity, hypoglycemic, antistress, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory.

Others:

• Abha guggulu
• Triphala guggulu
• Hradayarnav rasa
• Curfinal
• Abana
• Hyponid
• Medohar vidangadi lauh
  

Aloe Vera

Introduction

Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant and belongs to Lily family. Aloe has many species grown in different part of the world including dry regions of Asia, Europe, Africa and America. Among all the species of Aloe, Aloe Vera has nutritional value and a specific species known, as Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the best.

For more than thousand years, Aloe Vera has been used as a natural medicine. Scientific studies carried out on it in the past three four decades, has found more than 75 valuable constituents such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, sugar, anthraquinone, and many more. No other natural product contains such large number of constituents useful for humans. Its uses now have been established for various applications. Some of the common uses include its use as energy drinks as it contains lot of polysaccharides, its use as antiseptic for skin care, its use in beauty products and many more.

The Benefits of Aloe Vera

Small-scale studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that Aloe Vera may be beneficial in the following cases:

Applied as a cream for:
- Healing small cuts, insect stings, grazes and wounds.
- Healing and repairing skin tissue after burns, including sunburn.
- Healing skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, general itching.
- Cosmetic uses such as moisturising and improving the elasticity of the skin.

Ingested as a gel/juice for:
- Digestive conditions such as IBS, peptic ulcers, acid reflux, Chron’s disease, candida etc.
- Musculo-skeletal conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, etc.
- Immune-related conditions such as asthma, hay fever and even ME.
- Overall protection (as an antioxidant) against free radicals.

Aloe Drinks

Aloe contains lot of nutrients for human body and it is also a very good adaptor and easily go inside the deep, therefore it not only provides us energy but it is also very useful for treating diarrhea and even ulcer. The number of sugar constituents in it are easily metabolizes in the body and we get quick energy. It is very useful for maintaining pH of the stomach as it alkalizes the unpleasant effect of coffee or tea and therefore it is good for heartburn also. The nutrients from it easily pass in the blood stream and thus it is useful for our vital organs. Aloe drink therefore fulfills the body requirement of nutrients and useful for supplying quick energy to the body.

Aloe helps in building protein and overall health

Aloe contains large number of amino acids. Amino acids are building blocks of protein, which is essentially required by our body. We require 8 essential amino acids through our food to build protein. It contains 7 out of 8 essential amino acids required by our body and therefore it can play a vital role for fulfilling our need of protein in our body.

Aloe Vera acts as antiseptic

Aloe Vera contains a number of antiseptics and it has therefore found its use to treat skin cut, wounds and even mild acne. The antiseptic in it is capable to kill bacteria, viruses and fungus. Many manufacturing companies uses it in the topical antiseptic formulations alone or in combination with other antiseptic ingredients.

Aloe Vera in beauty products

Aloe Vera is being used in number of commercial skin care and beauty products. Lotions containing aloe Vera is used for topical applications and acts as moisturizer and protect the skin from sunlight. Products containing aloe Vera are also useful to improve the skin color and fairness since long time and commercial products containing aloe Vera are used by millions of people worldwide.

Aloe Vera for Hair

Many people use aloe vera products such as aloe vera shampoo and conditioners since long time. Ezymes present in aloe Vera help in strengthening hair. Aloe vera is also found useful for treating androgenic alopecia.

NOTE: Aloe vera is found to cause rashes in some skin, when used externally. So please use this plant products only after consulting your physician.

Headache

Remedies:

* Take clove, cinnamon and almond in equal quantities (around 1 teaspoon each) and grind together with a little water to make a paste. Apply paste on the forehead. A paste made of sandalwood powder can also be applied on the forehead.

* Oil massage on the scalp also relieves tension and headache. Sesame oil, almond oil, mustard oil or ghee (clarified butter) can be used for massage.

* When not suffering from a cold, drink a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water or fill the stomach completely with water.

* Take a few drops of ghee (clarified butter) on your palm. Mix 3 or 4

 pieces of saffron (kesar) in it, and rub it for two minutes. The saffron does not dissolve in the ghee, but its qualities are absorbed. Remove saffron and put two drops of this ghee in each nostril. · Dosage: Follow procedure twice a day.

* Mix 1 tablespoon of milk and half teaspoon of ginger powder and put one or two drops in each nostril twice a day. 

* Heat 1 teaspoon of almond oil. When it cools down, put two drops in each nostril.

* Alternating hot and cold compresses on the head also works well to reduce the swelling inside the head that causes many headaches.

* Breathing exercises are a known cure for headaches. Taking very deep breaths and then exhaling slowly may help.

* Boil some vinegar in water and place it in a bowl. Wrap a towel around the head and bend over the bowl. Inhaling the fumes will help unblock the sinuses and alleviate the headache

* Curtailing your intake of certain foods and easing up on alcoholic drinks, certain fizzy drinks, coffee, and cigarettes will help to reduce headaches.

Herbal Medicines:

Heena: The tender flowers of Henna should be rubbed to a pasty consistency and applied over the forehead for relief.

Jalebi: An easily available sweet, it is of great help in headache. Immerse 2 to 3 jalebis in a glass of warm milk for a few minutes, then drink the mixture once or twice a day.

Ayurvedic Remedies:

* Sootasekhara Rasa 1 tablet along with 3gm of Sitopaladi Churna, should be taken twice a day with a cup of warm milk. This resolves all routine headaches.

* Godanti Mishran, a readymade compound drug available in tablet form, can be taken orally twice a day with some lukewarm water.

* Pathyadi Quatham, an oral liquid, 15ml twice a day with equal water is also a good remedy.

* Shirshuladi Vajra Ras is very useful in general headache.

* Cephagraine tablet: 1 tablet thrice daily for 2 weeks along with cephagraine nasal drops 2 to 4 drops before sunrise give immediate relief even in cases of migraine.

* Vatahara Kashayam, an oral liquid, 2 tsp thrice a day with 4 tsp of water.

Diet: 

Diet is also an important component in the fight against headaches. Affected persons should avoid cold items like curd, ice creams, cold water, cold drinks and should not take bath in cold water, or get exposed to cold climatic conditions as this may aggravate the headache.

Back Pain Video

Really good video to relieve back pain.

Cold and Cough

Remedies

• The body should be kept warm - especially the feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is very helpful.
• Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning, noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it.
• Mix half a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey.
  Dosage: Take several times a day.
• In cases of dry cough (especially during the night), peel a small piece of fresh ginger. Sprinkle some salt on it and chew.
• Take equal amounts of cardamom, ginger powder, black pepper and cinnamon (1 teaspoon each). Add sugar equal to the total amount of mixture and grind to make a fine powder.
  Dosage: Take half a teaspoon twice daily, with honey or warm water after meals.
• In cases of sore throat, a clove or two cardamoms or a few raisins can be chewed.Gargling with warm salty water two to three times a day is also beneficial.

Dos and don'ts
The food and activities that are to be avoided are as follows:

• Cold foods and drinks
• Ice cream, sweets
• Fried foods
• Milk products (cheese, creams, yogurt)
• Sweet fruit juices
• Breads
• Meats
• Nuts
• Pastries
• Sleeping during the day
• Taking a cold shower
• Exposure to cold wind, fans, air conditioners

Following are the substances and activities that should be taken in cough:

• Boiled or steamed vegetables
• Vegetable soup
• Spice teas
• Herbal teas
• Hot milk with a piece of crushed ginger
• Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder mixed in milk provides relief.

Ayurveda and Obesity

The tendency toward obesity is encouraged by two bad habits namely:
1. Lack of physical activity
2. High-calorie, low-cost foods.

In ayurveda the swastha-vritta guidelines are very useful in preventing obesity:

FOOD GUIDELINES

1. The selection of food items should be intelligently done. Any obsession or compulsion in food matters should strictly be controlled.

2. Moong and Masoor in one’s diet are a good means to treat obesity.

3. Obese people should avoid very sweet, salty or oily food especially at night.

4. One should avoid curd and take buttermilk instead.

5. One should always try and drink warm water.

6. Guduchi, Triphala or Musta should be taken mixed with honey. Takrarishta is also advisable. Triphala churna is best advisable at bedtime.

7. Bruhat Panchamoola powder taken mixed with honey may be beneficial too.

8. Amla powder is also useful in reducing obesity.

OTHER GUIDELINES

1. A person desirous of losing weight should stay awake at night. Should try and indulge in more sexual activity, do more physical and mental exercises.

2. Diet control and regular exercises like swimming, jogging, cycling, yoga or a combination of more than one of these is the key in controlling obesity.

3. Sleeping during the daytime should be avoided at all costs.

4. One should join a group that can encourage weight loss in a positive and motivating manner.

5. Initial weight loss should not be the therapeutic goal. The major challenge should be to find out an effective way to sustain this weight loss.

6. It is very important for obese people to get their lipid and sugar levels routinely checked along with blood pressure and other tests related to heart.

Healthy Hair

Hair fall and greying of hair at an early stage of life can be very embarassing, especially for young girls and boys who develop a feeling of social stigma.

Herbal Medicines

1. First and foremost, the scalp of the affected person should be energetically massaged daily for 10 to 15 minutes with fingers, after cleaning it with water. This mechanical action activates the hair follicles by ensuring blood circulation, and warms up the scalp.
2. Amla Hair Oil: Amla hair oil can be made at home itself, by adding fresh juice of Indian gooseberries to pure coconut oil. This should be boiled till the Amla juice is completely absorbed in the oil. This oil should be applied after the above said massage.
3. The powder of amla and Bhringaraj is also used internally in a dose of one teaspoonful thrice daily with milk or water.
4. The pulp of amla and mango mixed together is used externally on the scalp.

Ayurvedic Remedies

1. Some medicated hair oil available over the counter for hair fall are:
   
   • Neeli Bhringamalaka Tailam
• Bhringaraj Tailam
• Brahmi Amla Kesha Tailam

Anyone of these oils should be applied onto the scalp, twice a week at bedtime. Regular washing of the hair with shikakai is a must and soap should be avoided. Greying of hair and hair fall stops in many cases, after 2 to 3 months usage of these oils.

2. Combination of Bhringaraj churna ½ teaspoonful thrice daily and Bhringaraj capsule, one capsule twice daily with water after meals along with Bhringaraj Tailam locally yields very good results.
3. Shad Bindu Tailam is used for inhalation (Nasya) once daily for 1 to 2 months.
4. Neem oil is also used for inhalation twice daily for about a month. Along with this only milk is taken in the diet.
5. Triphala Churna taken 5 to 10gm at bedtime with milk or water for a long time can prove very effective in curing greying and falling of hair.
6. Hair sure oil (Platinum Remedies) is also very good.
7. Sesa oil (Ban) proves very useful if used for 3 months.

Do's & Don'ts

For Baldness

After regular rubbing of the scalp as stated earlier a special oil HAIR RICH OIL should be applied on the scalp and rubbed further, till scalp becomes warm. This promotes hair to regrow, though slowly.

Proper diet, peace of mind, and healthy lifestyle components as detailed in the chapter 'TIPS FOR POSITIVE HEALTH' are essential in these conditions of premature greying, hair fall, and baldness