Publication: mapi.com
Author: Unknown
People find different ways to beat back the blues. Some listen to music, others seek solace in natural beauty, and still others comfort themselves with food. And then there are those who simply take a bath. It cleanses their body, they say, and lifts their spirits every time.
Ayurveda, too, sees bathing as a therapeutic activity. A leisurely bath relaxes tense muscles, irons out a creased brow, opens clogged pores, restores moisture to the tissues, and adds a healing dimension to your day.
If preceded by a luxurious all-body massage, your bath can be a truly divine experience.
Bathing in the Ancient World
Bathing has always been accorded the status of an intimate, sacred activity in Indian life. During their explorations of ancient India’s Indus Valley Civilization in Mohenjo Daro, archaeologists unearthed a large pool-like structure with steps leading down at both ends. This is believed to have been a public bath. In addition, homes in this surprisingly advanced civilization had their own private baths and an elaborate drainage system.
Not just India, but several other world cultures have treated the bath as a healing activity. In ancient Greece, water was regarded as a gift of health from the gods themselves. In Rome, ruins of hot and cold sunken baths can still be seen at Pompeii. Napoleon’s wife Josephine Bonaparte’s bathtub is said to retain its musk perfume, more than 150 years after it was built.
Bathing as luxury
As the world discovered the comfort and pleasure a bath could bring, new ways were found to make it a luxurious experience. Ancient ayurvedic texts speak of royal baths featuring rose petals, milk, honey, and turmeric. The Roman baths at Pompeii were resplendent with mirrors, marbled walls, and silver faucets. Mary, Queen of Scots, used wine in her bath.
Today, of course, we have an amazing range of bath accessories to choose from. Put together, bath sponges, loofahs, pillows, salts, and lotions can make even the simplest bathroom resemble a beauty boutique.
But there’s great news for those who don’t believe in or cannot afford such indulgence. A truly luxurious bath that leaves you feeling like a million dollars can be part of your daily routine-all you need is a good-quality herbalized massage oil, some paper towels, and a mild herb-based soap.
That Million-Dollar Feeling
The ayurvedic daily self-massage is called Abhyanga. It does a number of things to make you feel great. Massage helps to release impurities and toxins that accumulate in the skin.
It endows you with energy.
It calms the emotions.
It helps you think clearly and stay focused. It placates Vata dosha, which in turn helps calm the other doshas-Pitta and Kapha.
Massage moisturizes and strengthens the seven types of body tissue.
Saturday, 8 September 2007
Eight powerful steps to be healthy
Publication: Ayurveda AHC
Author: Dr. Jayashree Nataraj
One who follows these eight powerful steps, will lead a quality life and keeps the diseases at a distance.
Hitha ahara- consuming food which is congenial to the constitutions, adequate for the age, appropriate for the balanced state of doshas and dhatus. Suitable combined, processed, and consumed in a pleasant atmosphere.
Hitha vihara- Physical exercise to keep the body fit, exercises should be selected according to the age, profession, constitution, and season.
Samikshyakari- an attitude with which one can analyze and discriminate between the beneficial or non beneficial - is the basic requisite either to select a food or an activity, even more so the thoughts.
Vishyeshvasakthah- achieving anything is the desire of the sensory organs. When this desire becomes an ambition/greed, the stress is more both physically and mentally, and becomes the cause for disease. Thus, to be healthy one needs to have control over the senses.
Datha- willingness to share helps in keeping away from self-centeredness, and improves social health.
Samaha- treating every one equally without any prejudice. This brings in social well-being.
Sathyaparah- Truthfulness keeps the individual relaxed.
Apthopasevi ?caring for others. Serving friends (who are our guides, philosophers and well-wishers).
As diseases are caused by psychosomatic reasons, these eight steps shall have the impact on all the components of one’s health.
Author: Dr. Jayashree Nataraj
One who follows these eight powerful steps, will lead a quality life and keeps the diseases at a distance.
Hitha ahara- consuming food which is congenial to the constitutions, adequate for the age, appropriate for the balanced state of doshas and dhatus. Suitable combined, processed, and consumed in a pleasant atmosphere.
Hitha vihara- Physical exercise to keep the body fit, exercises should be selected according to the age, profession, constitution, and season.
Samikshyakari- an attitude with which one can analyze and discriminate between the beneficial or non beneficial - is the basic requisite either to select a food or an activity, even more so the thoughts.
Vishyeshvasakthah- achieving anything is the desire of the sensory organs. When this desire becomes an ambition/greed, the stress is more both physically and mentally, and becomes the cause for disease. Thus, to be healthy one needs to have control over the senses.
Datha- willingness to share helps in keeping away from self-centeredness, and improves social health.
Samaha- treating every one equally without any prejudice. This brings in social well-being.
Sathyaparah- Truthfulness keeps the individual relaxed.
Apthopasevi ?caring for others. Serving friends (who are our guides, philosophers and well-wishers).
As diseases are caused by psychosomatic reasons, these eight steps shall have the impact on all the components of one’s health.
Prakkruti According to Date of Birth
Publication: Ayurveda AHC
Author: Suyog Dandekar
To achieve of our aims in life it is necessary that our body remains healthy. For this we need to know about food habits, environment, rest, sleep, exercise and vices. In the same way we also need to know how our basic prakruti is formed. means from the time of conception when the fetus grows in the mother?s womb to the time the body dies, everything in nature affects the body. The mother is nurtured by the food and water present in nature and the fetus is nurtured by the blood formed from that food so what is consumed in those months as well as environment then plays a major role in the formation of the fetus.
Conception takes place by fusion of the male sperm and female egg 9 months before birth. It is at this time that PRAKRUTI of that person is determined and later on in 7 months rasa rakta etc 7 dhatus are formed.
If we look at this retrospectively and see which dhatu is formed in which month the treatment part becomes easier. For this we have made a chart to explain it in a better way.
E.g. suppose a person is born in January we can see from the flow chart which Dhatu has been developed in every month and so we can decide how each Dhatu is to be treated.
There is one more method by which we classifying PRAKRUTI according to the birth date ?
1) KASHAR DHARMI - (Hot) (Alkaline)
2) AMLA DHARMI - (Acidic)
3) SAMA DHARMI - Neutral Prakruti.
Overall, people who are born in between 15th Nov. to 15th Feb. are conceived in the summer i.e. hot season so these people are known to have SHAR PRAKRUTI. Our body often craves for what is deficient so people with Kshar Prakruti often like cold or mild things like milk, ghee, rice and tend to consume them more.
People born in between 15th Feb to 15th June are often conceived in the rainy season and have AMLA PRAKRUTI. These people suffer from hyperacidity and reflux disease. These people crave for hot spicy food. They like to eat hot food.
People born in between 15th June to 15th November are often conceived in winter and such people have neutral or Sama Prakruti. These people like sweet as well as spicy food.
A good understanding of nature and keen observation goes a long way in treating diseases.
Suppose a person is born at the end of May. His conception has occurred in September. This is the month for formation of Rasa dhatu. In this month it rains form time to time. It increases the dilution of the Rasa dhatu. At the end of the 1st month of fetus acquires a solid shape.
The 2nd month is October. This month has hot days and cool nights. It increases the heat and in turn the pitta dosh. In this month the Aagasthi star rises in the sky. The acidity of the rainy season is gone and the water becomes pure and crystal clear. Nature is bountiful because of the recent rains and in this month the Rakta dhatu is formed. Organs like the liver spleen and intestines are fomed.
Because the water contains no impurities and is very pure Ayurvedic medicines are prepared in this month.
In November the sun starts its course to the south ? i.e. DAKSHINAYANA. It is the time when the cool rays of the moon are very powerful and it is the beginning of winter. Cool breeze starts blowing and people tend to remain healthy. Their apetite increases and the muscles i.e. MANS DHATU develop in this month e.g. the heart.
In December the Kapha dosha increases and so does its properties. Natural strength of the body increases and MEDA dhatu develops in this month forming tendons and nerves. The kidney develop from the Meda Dhatu. From the 4th month towards pregnant woman starts craving for certain food apetite increases and the fetus develops nicely.
(ASTI DHATU) Bone formation takes place in the month of January and the bones start becoming strong (asthi).
The 6th dhatu majja develops in February. Because of the properties of Kapha the majja dhatu is nourished and memory, intelligence etc increase.
In the seventh month the extract of all Dhatus shukra is formed i.e. Oja in March. The properties of Kapha and shukra being similar the Kaph which is in the body becomes liquid because of the heat and good quality Shukra dhatu is formed.
In the eighth month the ?oja? is intermittently in the fetus and the mother?s body. So either of the two live if the delivery takes place in the eighth month.
After birth the child is taken care of by the parents till he understands what is good for him.
If proper steps and proper care is taken before conception occurs we can give rise to a newer generation that is healthy. To achieve this the male sperm and female egg are overall needs to be of good quality. The signs of this is given in Ayurveda. The parents should get themselves examined from a Vaidya before planning to have a issue and plan so that the abnormalities of the parents do not affect the baby and conceive in the given month as advised.
Author: Suyog Dandekar
To achieve of our aims in life it is necessary that our body remains healthy. For this we need to know about food habits, environment, rest, sleep, exercise and vices. In the same way we also need to know how our basic prakruti is formed. means from the time of conception when the fetus grows in the mother?s womb to the time the body dies, everything in nature affects the body. The mother is nurtured by the food and water present in nature and the fetus is nurtured by the blood formed from that food so what is consumed in those months as well as environment then plays a major role in the formation of the fetus.
Conception takes place by fusion of the male sperm and female egg 9 months before birth. It is at this time that PRAKRUTI of that person is determined and later on in 7 months rasa rakta etc 7 dhatus are formed.
If we look at this retrospectively and see which dhatu is formed in which month the treatment part becomes easier. For this we have made a chart to explain it in a better way.
E.g. suppose a person is born in January we can see from the flow chart which Dhatu has been developed in every month and so we can decide how each Dhatu is to be treated.
There is one more method by which we classifying PRAKRUTI according to the birth date ?
1) KASHAR DHARMI - (Hot) (Alkaline)
2) AMLA DHARMI - (Acidic)
3) SAMA DHARMI - Neutral Prakruti.
Overall, people who are born in between 15th Nov. to 15th Feb. are conceived in the summer i.e. hot season so these people are known to have SHAR PRAKRUTI. Our body often craves for what is deficient so people with Kshar Prakruti often like cold or mild things like milk, ghee, rice and tend to consume them more.
People born in between 15th Feb to 15th June are often conceived in the rainy season and have AMLA PRAKRUTI. These people suffer from hyperacidity and reflux disease. These people crave for hot spicy food. They like to eat hot food.
People born in between 15th June to 15th November are often conceived in winter and such people have neutral or Sama Prakruti. These people like sweet as well as spicy food.
A good understanding of nature and keen observation goes a long way in treating diseases.
Suppose a person is born at the end of May. His conception has occurred in September. This is the month for formation of Rasa dhatu. In this month it rains form time to time. It increases the dilution of the Rasa dhatu. At the end of the 1st month of fetus acquires a solid shape.
The 2nd month is October. This month has hot days and cool nights. It increases the heat and in turn the pitta dosh. In this month the Aagasthi star rises in the sky. The acidity of the rainy season is gone and the water becomes pure and crystal clear. Nature is bountiful because of the recent rains and in this month the Rakta dhatu is formed. Organs like the liver spleen and intestines are fomed.
Because the water contains no impurities and is very pure Ayurvedic medicines are prepared in this month.
In November the sun starts its course to the south ? i.e. DAKSHINAYANA. It is the time when the cool rays of the moon are very powerful and it is the beginning of winter. Cool breeze starts blowing and people tend to remain healthy. Their apetite increases and the muscles i.e. MANS DHATU develop in this month e.g. the heart.
In December the Kapha dosha increases and so does its properties. Natural strength of the body increases and MEDA dhatu develops in this month forming tendons and nerves. The kidney develop from the Meda Dhatu. From the 4th month towards pregnant woman starts craving for certain food apetite increases and the fetus develops nicely.
(ASTI DHATU) Bone formation takes place in the month of January and the bones start becoming strong (asthi).
The 6th dhatu majja develops in February. Because of the properties of Kapha the majja dhatu is nourished and memory, intelligence etc increase.
In the seventh month the extract of all Dhatus shukra is formed i.e. Oja in March. The properties of Kapha and shukra being similar the Kaph which is in the body becomes liquid because of the heat and good quality Shukra dhatu is formed.
In the eighth month the ?oja? is intermittently in the fetus and the mother?s body. So either of the two live if the delivery takes place in the eighth month.
After birth the child is taken care of by the parents till he understands what is good for him.
If proper steps and proper care is taken before conception occurs we can give rise to a newer generation that is healthy. To achieve this the male sperm and female egg are overall needs to be of good quality. The signs of this is given in Ayurveda. The parents should get themselves examined from a Vaidya before planning to have a issue and plan so that the abnormalities of the parents do not affect the baby and conceive in the given month as advised.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Stop, Look Stop - Ayurveda and Contentment
Publication: mapi.com
Author: Unknown
Stop, Look, Stop!
Ayurveda and Contentment
“The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. — Epictetus
“Joyful.” The very word has such a warm, fuzzy feel to it.
But when was the last time you felt truly, totally joyful?
If you’re happy with what you have and what you are doing, it’s easy to be joyful. That is why ayurvedic healers see contentment and health as synonyms — they define total health as swasthya: a Sanskrit word that means “settled in oneself” (swa: self, stha: established).
But in today’s world, swasthya is becoming increasingly hard to achieve. That’s because most of us are chasing happiness in the wrong places. We’re looking for it in terms of job success, social approval and money.
Imagine that you are on a journey. Along the way, you pass many a beautiful garden. What a pity if you just keep driving along, watching the landscape through your windscreen–never taking the time to stop, step out and take in the fresh air, touch a soft petal, or breathe in the fragrance.
In much the same way, we’re all speeding through life, hurtling ourselves toward goals that are at best, dubious in their capacity to make us truly joyful.
But the great thing about life is, you can apply the brakes anytime. Whatever your age and however deep your stresses, you can stop to re-examine your attitudes–to smell that rose. Then, with a of eyes, you can proceed afresh–on a new journey toward joyfulness.
Getting rid of some old mindsets and acquiring new ones along the way will make this new journey a breeze.
OLD MINDSET: “I don’t look good.”
How can your journey of life be a pleasant one if you’re unhappy in the thought that you appear less-than-attractive to the world?
Lack in body confidence is one of the most common reasons people don’t feel good about themselves. Some time back, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health published a survey of 3,500 people who were asked to assess their self-image. The survey found that women in particular are prone to feeling fat–even though more men are overweight.
NEW MINDSET: “If I can find a few minutes for myself every hour or so, I can look and feel great.”
In ayurvedic philosophy, negative self-image is the result of what is called pragya aparadh or a mistake of the intellect. The human intellect becomes prone to committing errors when the mind and body are subjected to stress at work, tensions at home, lack of good sleep, irregular routines, and improper diet. Each of these has the potential to make you feel down in the dumps, disrupt your metabolic rhythm, affect the quality of your skin and hair, and thus, cause the intellect to commit the mistake of feeling inferior.
To restore the wisdom of your intellect, start by taking one simple step. Slow down and give yourself some much-deserved attention. Find time to make up to your body and mind for the days, weeks, months, or possibly years of neglect. Don’t feel guilty about having done all that neglecting–we all do it to some degree.
Start with the body. The great thing is, our bodies are not only very resilient, but also incredibly responsive to the smallest gesture of kindness. Five simple ways you can feel good about the way you look:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. It restores moisture balance to your skin, cleanses your system, and makes you glow.
Give your skin some intensive lipid support. Maharishi Ayurveda’s range of herbal Youthful Skin products will help you cleanse, tone, and moisturize your skin just the way nature intended it.
Eat fresh, warm foods as often as you can–fresh vegetables, seasonal fruits, whole grains. Filled with sattva or natural goodness, such foods bring bliss to the body and the mind.
Treat your body to a warm oil massage every morning–and if possible, massage your lower limbs, hands and feet before bed with a light, quick-penetrating massage oil such as the Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Men and Women. Daily massage or abhyanga is immensely calming and rejuvenating.
Get rid of those under-eye bags and that tired feeling. Ensure that you get restful sleep every night. Among Maharishi Ayurveda’s self-care systems are herbal combinations that will help you get “Blissful Sleep” each night.
OLD MINDSET: “All work and no play…is old hat. If I want that job/promotion/car…and I DO, I need to work, work, work!”
It’s a not-so-heartening statistic: one in every three Americans works at the desk and downs lunch at the same time. An equal number never leave the office during the day, according to a recent Oxford Health Plans survey.
Are you really happy spending most of your life’s journey inside those four walls?
NEW MINDSET: “No: I won’t be a POW (Prisoner of Work). I’ll take care not to burn out–because unlike a car or a microwave, I cannot be replaced!”
For some people, work is akin to worship. Which is not a bad thing in itself, except when goals related to job success take precedence over other, just as fulfilling aspects of daily living.
It needn’t be this way. It is perfectly possible to achieve both success and happiness if you keep your goals in perspective.
Taking just 20 minutes in the morning and evening to practice a meditation technique such as Transcendental Meditation® is a tremendous way to shed your daily stresses and lead the mind toward its natural state of restfulness.
Further, Nature has gifted earth with bountiful healing herbs that can infuse their timeless intelligence into the human mind, making it feel rejuvenated and strong once again. Maharishi Ayurveda harvests and blends the best of these herbs in precise proportions, using traditional, time-tested methods. Hundreds of people feeling the effects of job burnout aver that ayurvedic herbal supplements such as Amrit, Youthful Mind, Worry Free Tea, Blissful Joy, and Slumber Time herbal tea have helped them tremendously.
The herbs in these formulas go to work on the tiniest tissues of your being, restoring the flow of natural intelligence throughout your body and mind.
OLD MINDSET: “I really do want to spend time with my friend/take a vacation with my spouse, but oh well, someday, when I have the time.
How often do you experience that light-hearted feeling that comes with being near someone you love? You might just want to experience it more often when you read this: researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have actually analyzed that feeling. It is not simply your heart lifting, but your blood pressure dropping! So that now you have a solid health reason to find time for those you care about.
NEW MINDSET: “The company of good, positive people is nourishment for my mind, spirit, and, yes, body! Why postpone that joy?”
Therefore, do something today that will bring you one step closer to a family-member or a friend. Some ideas:
Write that thank-you note.
Take time to phone a friend.
Plan a vacation with someone you love–even if it is a day-trip.
Cook a healthful ayurvedic meal together with a friend. Cook using Maharishi Ayurveda’s delicious Churnas and Ghee– they are convenient and made from the finest ingredients.
Give a friend or a neighbor a gift of Maharishi Ayurveda’s healing mind-body beverages, such as Slumber Time tea, Be Trim tea or Raja’s Cup.
Think of these small steps as “Scenic Overlooks” which give you time to stop and enjoy the beauty of life and living.
Author: Unknown
Stop, Look, Stop!
Ayurveda and Contentment
“The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things. — Epictetus
“Joyful.” The very word has such a warm, fuzzy feel to it.
But when was the last time you felt truly, totally joyful?
If you’re happy with what you have and what you are doing, it’s easy to be joyful. That is why ayurvedic healers see contentment and health as synonyms — they define total health as swasthya: a Sanskrit word that means “settled in oneself” (swa: self, stha: established).
But in today’s world, swasthya is becoming increasingly hard to achieve. That’s because most of us are chasing happiness in the wrong places. We’re looking for it in terms of job success, social approval and money.
Imagine that you are on a journey. Along the way, you pass many a beautiful garden. What a pity if you just keep driving along, watching the landscape through your windscreen–never taking the time to stop, step out and take in the fresh air, touch a soft petal, or breathe in the fragrance.
In much the same way, we’re all speeding through life, hurtling ourselves toward goals that are at best, dubious in their capacity to make us truly joyful.
But the great thing about life is, you can apply the brakes anytime. Whatever your age and however deep your stresses, you can stop to re-examine your attitudes–to smell that rose. Then, with a of eyes, you can proceed afresh–on a new journey toward joyfulness.
Getting rid of some old mindsets and acquiring new ones along the way will make this new journey a breeze.
OLD MINDSET: “I don’t look good.”
How can your journey of life be a pleasant one if you’re unhappy in the thought that you appear less-than-attractive to the world?
Lack in body confidence is one of the most common reasons people don’t feel good about themselves. Some time back, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health published a survey of 3,500 people who were asked to assess their self-image. The survey found that women in particular are prone to feeling fat–even though more men are overweight.
NEW MINDSET: “If I can find a few minutes for myself every hour or so, I can look and feel great.”
In ayurvedic philosophy, negative self-image is the result of what is called pragya aparadh or a mistake of the intellect. The human intellect becomes prone to committing errors when the mind and body are subjected to stress at work, tensions at home, lack of good sleep, irregular routines, and improper diet. Each of these has the potential to make you feel down in the dumps, disrupt your metabolic rhythm, affect the quality of your skin and hair, and thus, cause the intellect to commit the mistake of feeling inferior.
To restore the wisdom of your intellect, start by taking one simple step. Slow down and give yourself some much-deserved attention. Find time to make up to your body and mind for the days, weeks, months, or possibly years of neglect. Don’t feel guilty about having done all that neglecting–we all do it to some degree.
Start with the body. The great thing is, our bodies are not only very resilient, but also incredibly responsive to the smallest gesture of kindness. Five simple ways you can feel good about the way you look:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. It restores moisture balance to your skin, cleanses your system, and makes you glow.
Give your skin some intensive lipid support. Maharishi Ayurveda’s range of herbal Youthful Skin products will help you cleanse, tone, and moisturize your skin just the way nature intended it.
Eat fresh, warm foods as often as you can–fresh vegetables, seasonal fruits, whole grains. Filled with sattva or natural goodness, such foods bring bliss to the body and the mind.
Treat your body to a warm oil massage every morning–and if possible, massage your lower limbs, hands and feet before bed with a light, quick-penetrating massage oil such as the Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Men and Women. Daily massage or abhyanga is immensely calming and rejuvenating.
Get rid of those under-eye bags and that tired feeling. Ensure that you get restful sleep every night. Among Maharishi Ayurveda’s self-care systems are herbal combinations that will help you get “Blissful Sleep” each night.
OLD MINDSET: “All work and no play…is old hat. If I want that job/promotion/car…and I DO, I need to work, work, work!”
It’s a not-so-heartening statistic: one in every three Americans works at the desk and downs lunch at the same time. An equal number never leave the office during the day, according to a recent Oxford Health Plans survey.
Are you really happy spending most of your life’s journey inside those four walls?
NEW MINDSET: “No: I won’t be a POW (Prisoner of Work). I’ll take care not to burn out–because unlike a car or a microwave, I cannot be replaced!”
For some people, work is akin to worship. Which is not a bad thing in itself, except when goals related to job success take precedence over other, just as fulfilling aspects of daily living.
It needn’t be this way. It is perfectly possible to achieve both success and happiness if you keep your goals in perspective.
Taking just 20 minutes in the morning and evening to practice a meditation technique such as Transcendental Meditation® is a tremendous way to shed your daily stresses and lead the mind toward its natural state of restfulness.
Further, Nature has gifted earth with bountiful healing herbs that can infuse their timeless intelligence into the human mind, making it feel rejuvenated and strong once again. Maharishi Ayurveda harvests and blends the best of these herbs in precise proportions, using traditional, time-tested methods. Hundreds of people feeling the effects of job burnout aver that ayurvedic herbal supplements such as Amrit, Youthful Mind, Worry Free Tea, Blissful Joy, and Slumber Time herbal tea have helped them tremendously.
The herbs in these formulas go to work on the tiniest tissues of your being, restoring the flow of natural intelligence throughout your body and mind.
OLD MINDSET: “I really do want to spend time with my friend/take a vacation with my spouse, but oh well, someday, when I have the time.
How often do you experience that light-hearted feeling that comes with being near someone you love? You might just want to experience it more often when you read this: researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have actually analyzed that feeling. It is not simply your heart lifting, but your blood pressure dropping! So that now you have a solid health reason to find time for those you care about.
NEW MINDSET: “The company of good, positive people is nourishment for my mind, spirit, and, yes, body! Why postpone that joy?”
Therefore, do something today that will bring you one step closer to a family-member or a friend. Some ideas:
Write that thank-you note.
Take time to phone a friend.
Plan a vacation with someone you love–even if it is a day-trip.
Cook a healthful ayurvedic meal together with a friend. Cook using Maharishi Ayurveda’s delicious Churnas and Ghee– they are convenient and made from the finest ingredients.
Give a friend or a neighbor a gift of Maharishi Ayurveda’s healing mind-body beverages, such as Slumber Time tea, Be Trim tea or Raja’s Cup.
Think of these small steps as “Scenic Overlooks” which give you time to stop and enjoy the beauty of life and living.
Friday, 17 August 2007
An Herbal Menopause Therapy Gets A Closer Look
Publication: USA Today
Author: Rita Rubin
Black snakeroot, squaw root, rattle root, rattle weed, bugwort.
Call it what you will, the herb most commonly known as black cohosh has been used to treat even more conditions than it has names.
Native Americans treated rheumatism, malaise, malaria, colds, constipation and hives with it, to cite a few. In the 19th century, according to the National Institutes of Health’s website, alternative medicine practitioners prescribed it for lung and neurological conditions as well as female reproductive tract problems, such as threatened miscarriage, labor pain and infertility.
More recently, women have been turning to black cohosh supplements for relief of hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. The top-selling brand is Remifemin, made by Schaper & Bruemmer, a German company.
Nothing relieves hot flashes like estrogen, but concerns about its safety have spurred many women to look for “natural” alternatives on the assumption that they are benign. However, based on reports of several dozen hepatitis cases in black cohosh users, Australia and several European countries last year began requiring a warning about liver toxicity on supplement labels.
The regulators in those countries think the risk is extremely low, but the problem is that nothing for the treatment of menopause symptoms, including black cohosh, has been studied as widely as estrogen, whose risks and benefits have been clearly delineated. Complicating matters is the fact that there are about as many different kinds of black cohosh supplements as there are names, because they’re regulated like foods, not drugs, by the Food and Drug Administration.
Different formulas, results
Remifemin itself has changed over the years, says family physician Adriane Fugh-Berman, associate professor in the complementary and alternative medicine master’s program at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine.
“One of the problems with dietary supplements is, unlike drugs, you can change something and keep it under the same label,” she says. “Remifemin used to be a liquid and now it’s a tablet.”
The lack of uniformity in supplements may at least partly explain why the results of clinical trials comparing black cohosh to sugar pills have been mixed. That, and the tiny size of the studies.
The latest trial, a year-long study involving 351 women published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that 160 milligrams of black cohosh a day was no more effective than a sugar pill.
In an accompanying editorial, UCLA internist Carol Mangione says the well-designed study “makes an important contribution, albeit one that will disappoint women who have been hoping for an effective, safe alternative to estrogen.”
Physician Tieraona Low Dog, director of education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, wonders if the scientists who conducted the latest study got the dosage right.
“The dose for black cohosh may be much higher than that used in this trial,” Low Dog says. “Imagine if we did a trial on ibuprofen administering 40 milligrams every six hours for arthritis pain. If it didn’t work any better than placebo, one would conclude it was ineffective. However, the truth would be that the dose was inadequate.”
Fredi Kronenberg, a Columbia University scientist and director of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, notes that the latest study used black cohosh extracted with a different type of alcohol than is used in making Remifemin, and no one knows whether that might boost or inhibit its effectiveness.
In an e-mail statement, Eckehard Liske, a scientist with Remifemin maker Schaper & Bruemmer, said the North American Menopause Society deemed the most recent study of Remifemin, published in 2005, an example of “level one” — the top level — evidence of effectiveness. “Remifemin is a safe and effective intervention for the relief of hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause,” Liske said.
Treatment has many fans
No question, many women swear by Remifemin and other black cohosh supplements. The latest study found black cohosh to be no more effective than a sugar pill, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t work at all. Kronenberg notes that studies of hot-flash remedies have consistently found a strong placebo effect — by the end of the most recent study, 30% of women taking the sugar pill reported fewer and less severe hot flashes.
Maybe that finding simply reflects the fact that hot flashes subside over time in most women, whether they take anything for them or not. Or maybe, Kronenberg says, it points out that we still have a lot to learn about the physiology of hot flashes and the power of the placebo effect.
“I can’t help but observe that for those who think herbal medicine is passé or ineffective, this study provides further confirmation,” Low Dog says of the latest black cohosh study. “For those who believe herbal medicines are effective — this study is just one more example of how researchers get it wrong. And consumers — well, they just end up confused.”
Author: Rita Rubin
Black snakeroot, squaw root, rattle root, rattle weed, bugwort.
Call it what you will, the herb most commonly known as black cohosh has been used to treat even more conditions than it has names.
Native Americans treated rheumatism, malaise, malaria, colds, constipation and hives with it, to cite a few. In the 19th century, according to the National Institutes of Health’s website, alternative medicine practitioners prescribed it for lung and neurological conditions as well as female reproductive tract problems, such as threatened miscarriage, labor pain and infertility.
More recently, women have been turning to black cohosh supplements for relief of hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. The top-selling brand is Remifemin, made by Schaper & Bruemmer, a German company.
Nothing relieves hot flashes like estrogen, but concerns about its safety have spurred many women to look for “natural” alternatives on the assumption that they are benign. However, based on reports of several dozen hepatitis cases in black cohosh users, Australia and several European countries last year began requiring a warning about liver toxicity on supplement labels.
The regulators in those countries think the risk is extremely low, but the problem is that nothing for the treatment of menopause symptoms, including black cohosh, has been studied as widely as estrogen, whose risks and benefits have been clearly delineated. Complicating matters is the fact that there are about as many different kinds of black cohosh supplements as there are names, because they’re regulated like foods, not drugs, by the Food and Drug Administration.
Different formulas, results
Remifemin itself has changed over the years, says family physician Adriane Fugh-Berman, associate professor in the complementary and alternative medicine master’s program at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine.
“One of the problems with dietary supplements is, unlike drugs, you can change something and keep it under the same label,” she says. “Remifemin used to be a liquid and now it’s a tablet.”
The lack of uniformity in supplements may at least partly explain why the results of clinical trials comparing black cohosh to sugar pills have been mixed. That, and the tiny size of the studies.
The latest trial, a year-long study involving 351 women published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that 160 milligrams of black cohosh a day was no more effective than a sugar pill.
In an accompanying editorial, UCLA internist Carol Mangione says the well-designed study “makes an important contribution, albeit one that will disappoint women who have been hoping for an effective, safe alternative to estrogen.”
Physician Tieraona Low Dog, director of education for the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, wonders if the scientists who conducted the latest study got the dosage right.
“The dose for black cohosh may be much higher than that used in this trial,” Low Dog says. “Imagine if we did a trial on ibuprofen administering 40 milligrams every six hours for arthritis pain. If it didn’t work any better than placebo, one would conclude it was ineffective. However, the truth would be that the dose was inadequate.”
Fredi Kronenberg, a Columbia University scientist and director of the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, notes that the latest study used black cohosh extracted with a different type of alcohol than is used in making Remifemin, and no one knows whether that might boost or inhibit its effectiveness.
In an e-mail statement, Eckehard Liske, a scientist with Remifemin maker Schaper & Bruemmer, said the North American Menopause Society deemed the most recent study of Remifemin, published in 2005, an example of “level one” — the top level — evidence of effectiveness. “Remifemin is a safe and effective intervention for the relief of hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause,” Liske said.
Treatment has many fans
No question, many women swear by Remifemin and other black cohosh supplements. The latest study found black cohosh to be no more effective than a sugar pill, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t work at all. Kronenberg notes that studies of hot-flash remedies have consistently found a strong placebo effect — by the end of the most recent study, 30% of women taking the sugar pill reported fewer and less severe hot flashes.
Maybe that finding simply reflects the fact that hot flashes subside over time in most women, whether they take anything for them or not. Or maybe, Kronenberg says, it points out that we still have a lot to learn about the physiology of hot flashes and the power of the placebo effect.
“I can’t help but observe that for those who think herbal medicine is passé or ineffective, this study provides further confirmation,” Low Dog says of the latest black cohosh study. “For those who believe herbal medicines are effective — this study is just one more example of how researchers get it wrong. And consumers — well, they just end up confused.”
Alternative Medicine: Tuina: Ancient Pain Relief Meets Modern Life
Publication: Seattlepi.com
Tuina (pronounced “twee-naa”) has been used widely in traditional medicine clinics and hospitals in China as well as in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan for thousands of years. The knowledge and skill has been accumulated and improved throughout its very long history. Tuina is a form of Chinese manual medicine. It is commonly used to prevent and treat disease by removing obstructions and increasing vital energy, called Qi (”chee”), through manual methods, herbal remedies, heat pads, cupping and moxibustion.
Tuina practitioners are trained in five-year educational programs in traditional medicine colleges in China. After graduation, they serve additional apprenticeships under close supervision of experienced Tuina practitioners. Retired Tuina doctors often come to teach and pass their experience to other doctors and discuss difficult cases.
Tuina medicine is increasingly used to promote circulation, reset the relationship between bones and their surrounding tissues, increase joint flexibility, heal soft tissue and sport injuries, and balance Yin-Yang function of internal organs.
Tuina is a unique and independent medicine used for preventive as well as therapeutic purposes for both chronic and acute diseases. Diseases and conditions addressed in the U.S. by Tuina practitioners include back pain, sciatic pain, headache, muscle tightness, frozen shoulder, neck pain, tennis elbow, insomnia, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, stroke recovery, joint dislocation, poor childhood appetite and even the common cold.
To find a qualified and well-rounded Tuina expert, look for an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who is well versed in traditional Chinese herbs and also has the LAc credential, which stands for “Licensed Acupuncturist.”
Tuina (pronounced “twee-naa”) has been used widely in traditional medicine clinics and hospitals in China as well as in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan for thousands of years. The knowledge and skill has been accumulated and improved throughout its very long history. Tuina is a form of Chinese manual medicine. It is commonly used to prevent and treat disease by removing obstructions and increasing vital energy, called Qi (”chee”), through manual methods, herbal remedies, heat pads, cupping and moxibustion.
Tuina practitioners are trained in five-year educational programs in traditional medicine colleges in China. After graduation, they serve additional apprenticeships under close supervision of experienced Tuina practitioners. Retired Tuina doctors often come to teach and pass their experience to other doctors and discuss difficult cases.
Tuina medicine is increasingly used to promote circulation, reset the relationship between bones and their surrounding tissues, increase joint flexibility, heal soft tissue and sport injuries, and balance Yin-Yang function of internal organs.
Tuina is a unique and independent medicine used for preventive as well as therapeutic purposes for both chronic and acute diseases. Diseases and conditions addressed in the U.S. by Tuina practitioners include back pain, sciatic pain, headache, muscle tightness, frozen shoulder, neck pain, tennis elbow, insomnia, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, stroke recovery, joint dislocation, poor childhood appetite and even the common cold.
To find a qualified and well-rounded Tuina expert, look for an experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who is well versed in traditional Chinese herbs and also has the LAc credential, which stands for “Licensed Acupuncturist.”
What Foods to Eat for Your Dosha
Publication: ayurvedahc.com
Author: Shailesh Jain
We all know that for healthy living we require a balanced diet constituted of protein, carbohydrates and fats, minerals, vitamins etc. Ayurveda has expounded about the diet in detail. The Ayurvedic diet is one that not only nourishes the body, but also restores balance of ‘tridoshas’ which is very much essential for maintaining Health. Depending on our dosha, or constitutional type, some foods can be beneficial, and others should be reduced or avoided. These same foods may have the opposite effect on another dosha. The science of Ayurveda teaches that right diet is the foundation of healing. For maximum health and vitality, the ideal diet is one that balances our doshas. Here we Ayurvedic food recommendations to balance each of the three doshas.
You will find some individual foods contradicted in different articles and books. The suggestions below are from an author living in India. Geographical location must also be considered. In the end, it is up to your intuition and personal experience choosing foods that balance your dosha. This article is for educational purposes and not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure any illness. Readers are advised to seek professional care for health issues
VATA DOSHA:
The qualities of Vata are cold, dry, light, hard, and rough.
VATA PACIFYING FOODS:
General: excess Vata can be counterbalanced with nutritive and tissue-building foods that are warm, moist, heavy, soft and oily, as well as foods with a sweet, sour and salty taste. For example, Vata pacifying foods include ghee, soft dairy products, wheat, rice, and bananas. A person with a Vata constitution should favor foods like hot cereal with ghee, hearty soups and vegetables, and whole cooked grains and chapatis. Spicy foods are generally okay for Vata.
Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, green beans, okra (bhindi), onions and garlic, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips.
Fruits: Bananas, coconuts, dates, mangoes, melons, peaches, all sweet fruits in general.
Grains: Oats, (basmati) rice and wheat
VATA AGGRAVATING FOODS:
General: Foods with the Vata qualities, such as crackers, frozen desserts, and large amounts of raw vegetables and salads, will aggravate Vata. Also, refined foods such as white flour and white sugar have light and dry qualities (and nutrition has been striped from the food) and would be best avoided by people with Vata constitutions. Pungent, bitter, astringent; light, dry, cold foods, stimulants like smoking, alcohol, junk food, sugar, tea (esp. long leaf teas and green tea), and brown rice.
Vegetables: Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, brinjal, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peas, peppers (simla mirch) potatoes, sprouts, tomatoes, and zucchini (tori). If you do have these vegetables cook them in pure desi ghee or unrefined til oil. Tomatoes are best avoided except as a small addition to salads.
Fruits: Apples, pears, pomegranates.
Spices: Vatas can have almost all spices and herbs in moderation when there is aggravated Vata, the following are to be taken with caution: coriander seeds (dhaniya powder), fenugreek (methi seeds), saffron, turmeric, parsley. Avoid too much hot and dry spices such as dried chili, which will aggravate dryness.
Author: Shailesh Jain
We all know that for healthy living we require a balanced diet constituted of protein, carbohydrates and fats, minerals, vitamins etc. Ayurveda has expounded about the diet in detail. The Ayurvedic diet is one that not only nourishes the body, but also restores balance of ‘tridoshas’ which is very much essential for maintaining Health. Depending on our dosha, or constitutional type, some foods can be beneficial, and others should be reduced or avoided. These same foods may have the opposite effect on another dosha. The science of Ayurveda teaches that right diet is the foundation of healing. For maximum health and vitality, the ideal diet is one that balances our doshas. Here we Ayurvedic food recommendations to balance each of the three doshas.
You will find some individual foods contradicted in different articles and books. The suggestions below are from an author living in India. Geographical location must also be considered. In the end, it is up to your intuition and personal experience choosing foods that balance your dosha. This article is for educational purposes and not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure any illness. Readers are advised to seek professional care for health issues
VATA DOSHA:
The qualities of Vata are cold, dry, light, hard, and rough.
VATA PACIFYING FOODS:
General: excess Vata can be counterbalanced with nutritive and tissue-building foods that are warm, moist, heavy, soft and oily, as well as foods with a sweet, sour and salty taste. For example, Vata pacifying foods include ghee, soft dairy products, wheat, rice, and bananas. A person with a Vata constitution should favor foods like hot cereal with ghee, hearty soups and vegetables, and whole cooked grains and chapatis. Spicy foods are generally okay for Vata.
Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, green beans, okra (bhindi), onions and garlic, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips.
Fruits: Bananas, coconuts, dates, mangoes, melons, peaches, all sweet fruits in general.
Grains: Oats, (basmati) rice and wheat
VATA AGGRAVATING FOODS:
General: Foods with the Vata qualities, such as crackers, frozen desserts, and large amounts of raw vegetables and salads, will aggravate Vata. Also, refined foods such as white flour and white sugar have light and dry qualities (and nutrition has been striped from the food) and would be best avoided by people with Vata constitutions. Pungent, bitter, astringent; light, dry, cold foods, stimulants like smoking, alcohol, junk food, sugar, tea (esp. long leaf teas and green tea), and brown rice.
Vegetables: Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, brinjal, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peas, peppers (simla mirch) potatoes, sprouts, tomatoes, and zucchini (tori). If you do have these vegetables cook them in pure desi ghee or unrefined til oil. Tomatoes are best avoided except as a small addition to salads.
Fruits: Apples, pears, pomegranates.
Spices: Vatas can have almost all spices and herbs in moderation when there is aggravated Vata, the following are to be taken with caution: coriander seeds (dhaniya powder), fenugreek (methi seeds), saffron, turmeric, parsley. Avoid too much hot and dry spices such as dried chili, which will aggravate dryness.
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