Sunday, February 28, 2010

Happy Holi

Hello friends,

Wish you a HAPPY and SAFE HOLI

-
Dr.Pradip Hira
Ayurved Consultant & Panchkarma Specialist
Ahmedabad(Gujarat-India)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Water Therapy And Ayurveda

Water Therapy was established for the first time by………

We are not here to discuss about water therapy (or Naturopathy), but we are going to know what ayurveda says about water, and how water is useful in daily life or in treatment.

Water Therapy & Ayurveda  means,
Water is essential for all living beings. The world is three fourths surrounded by water. The life of a healthy or sick person without water is unimaginable.

Drinking a glass of Luke-warm water just after leaving the bed it helps flush out all toxins accumulated overnight in the body
Water should not be taken during meal, because it interferes the process of digestion of food. But water may be taken at least half an hour before lunch and dinner.
We should take at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. More water may be taken in thirst or in summer days. But Ayurveda says that one should drink water whenever feels thirsty.

Water Therapy & Ayurveda
means,
Water serves the purpose of medicine in indigestion. Water drunk after digestion is energizing. Water sipped at the time of taking food tastes like nectar. Water drunk immediately after taking food is harmful as poison.
Too much drinking of water does not help digestion. Not drinking even a drop of water has the same effect. So drinking water at intervals, is very helpful in digestion.

Therapeutics Uses of Water:
1) One or two glass of warm water drinking daily in the morning is beneficial in acidity and constipation.
2) Drink more water in renal calculus and urinary infection.
3) Water was great importance in fasting

Water is used both in cold and hot form, both internally and externally. Water is an important structural component of skin cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body is dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water: the brain has 85%, blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water. The functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they are not nourished with good, clean water.

If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work harder. At the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this happens, some of the kidney's workload is passed on to the liver and other organs, which may cause them to be severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a number of minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches. So, how much water is enough for you? The minimum amount of water you need depends on your body weight. A more accurate calculation is to drink an ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.

For calculating your minimum water need per day mail us with your age, sex, weight, @ care@ayurvedhealing.com

Monday, February 8, 2010

Stop Snoring Forever

There's nothing worse than the sound of someone snoring if you're trying to fall asleep. Or maybe it's you who snores, and people tease you about the noise you make in your sleep. Snoring is often not a problem to the snorer but can be a significant nuisance to their partner.

What is Snoring? Why do people snore?

Snoring occurs when air does not flow smoothly through the air passages, or when the soft tissues or muscles in your air passages vibrate. As you fall into a deep sleep, the muscles in your tongue, throat and roof of your mouth (soft palate) relax. This muscle relaxation causes your throat tissues to sag. As you breathe, the sagging tissues narrow your airway and vibrate or flutter, creating the sound of snoring. The narrower your airway becomes, the greater the vibration...and the louder your snoring.
In some cases, snoring is a symptom of a more serious disorder called obstructed sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when part of the airway is closed off (usually at the back of the throat) while a person is trying to inhale during sleep, and breathing stops for more than 10 seconds before resuming again. These breathless episodes can occur as many as several hundred times a night.
People with OSA almost always snore heavily, because the same narrowing of the airway that causes snoring can also cause OSA. Snoring may actually attribute to OSA as well, because the vibration of the throat tissues, which occurs in snoring, can cause the tissue to swell.

CAUSES OF SNORING:
Ayurveda considers snoring as one of the vitiated VATA Dosha disorder. It's the improper movement of PRANA VATA during sleep time disturbing the functioning of UDAN VATA resulting in extra sounds during breathing as Snoring. The PRANA VATA movement obstruction could be due to extra Shleshma (phlegm), Nasarandhra shotha or vakrata (Nasal septum swelling or deviation), Visham vishram stithiti (wrong sleep posture) etc.

The most common reasons of snoring are:
•Seasonal allergies can make some people's noses stuffy and cause them to snore.
•Blocked nasal passages or airways (due to a cold or sinus infection) can cause a rattling snore.
•A deviated septum, which is the tissue and cartilage that separates the two nostrils in your nose, may be crooked. Some people with a very deviated septum have surgery to straighten it out. This also helps them breathe better - not just stop snoring.
•Enlarged or swollen tonsils or adenoids may cause a person to snore. Tonsils and adenoids (adenoids are glands located inside of your head, near the inner parts of your nasal passages) help trap harmful bacteria, but they can become very big and swollen all of the time. Many kids who snore have this problem.
•Drinking alcohol can relax the tongue and throat muscles too much, which partially blocks air movement as someone is breathing and can contribute to snoring noises.
•Being overweight can cause narrowing of the air passages. Many people who are overweight snore.
•Age can be a factor. The older you get, the weaker your throat muscles become. Weak throat muscles cause the surrounding tissues to sag and vibrate.
•When you sleep on your back, your tongue falls backwards into your throat, which can narrow your airway and partly block airflow.




SYMPTOMS OF SNORING:
•People who snore make a vibrating, rattling, noisy sound while breathing during sleep. It may be a symptom of sleep apnea. Consult your Ayurvedic doctor if you snore and have any of the following symptoms or signs:
•Excessive daytime sleepiness
•Morning headaches
•Recent weight gain
•Awakening in the morning not feeling rested
•Awaking at night feeling confused
•Change in your level of attention, concentration, or memory
•Observed pauses in breathing during sleep



MANAGEMENT:

The Ayurvedic perspective is that keeping KAPHA Dosha in balance can help you stay free of the inconveniences of snoring. For that,

1. NASYA KARMA-Medications to relieve congestion of the nose may be helpful in reducing snoring and the likelihood of sleep apnea episodes. Usually treatment of sleep apnea solely by improving nasal airflow does not solve loud snoring or significant breathing episodes. This can be effectively achieved by nasal administration of certain herbs. This is called as NASYA KARMA in Ayurveda. The preparations used for this purpose are shadbindu taila,anu taila etc.
2.KARNA PURANA-This is a process where the entire ear is filled with some oil prepared out of some herbs which help in clearing the channels and thus relieves the congestion.as the obstruction is relieved the patient feels much lightness and sleeps sound.The preparations used for this purpose can be karanja taila,apamarga kshara taila,bilva taila etc.
3.SHIRO DHARA-Very efficient treatment for relieving the stress and strain.It soothes the nerves and thus ensures the sound and deep sleep to the patient.The preparations used for this purpose can be ksherera bala taila,panchguna taila etc.
4. SHIRO ABHYANGA-It has almost similar results as that of the shiro dhara.but it particularly exerts its result on the scalp and the superficial nerves.It strengthens the nervous system and ensures deep sleep to the patient.
5. PRANAYAM-In yogic terms prana means the vital energy and ayam means exercise. Pranayam defines the regulation of the in and out flow of this vital  energy. It explains that the body, breath and the mind are intricately interwoven. When the air moves the mind moves and when the air is stilled the mind also could be stilled. Hence the various techniques employed in Pranayam are to stabilize the flow of air thus to achieve the balanced state of mind.Thus it very much help in clearing the channels of the body and help to relieve the snoring.
6. YOGIC EXCERCISE-Yoga is a physical and mental practice that involves the body,mind and spirit. Yoga's gentle, mindful and controlled movements can provide a non- or low-impact workout for people in almost any physical condition. Yogic exercises -- and there are many -- can ease tense muscles, improve flexibility and enhance strength, balance and endurance.

HERBS:
The preparations made with the following herbs have proved to be very efficient in many cases of snoring-Kantakari (Solanum xanthocarmum), Pippali (Piper longum),Kasamarda (Cassia occidentalis),Brahti (Solanum indicum),Karkatshringi (Pistacia integerrima) ,Agastya (Sesbania grandiflora) etc.



Herbal formulations - Agastye haritaki rasayana 1 teaspoon once,Tablet Kapha ketu ras 2 morning 2 evening,Vyoshadi vati 1 morning and 1 evening. Make a 'Sleep well Tea' to be taken just before sleeping -with Tulsi(Basil leaves),Brahmi(Gotukola),Tagar(Valerian) and a bit green tea leaves.



PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO AVOID SNORING:
•Loose weight and improve your eating habits.
•Try to avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antihistamines before you go to bed.
•Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, or snacks at least four hours before you sleep.
•Establish regular sleeping patterns. For example, try to go to bed at the same time every night.
•Sleep on your left side rather than on your back.
•Tilt the head of your bed up four inches.
•Decongestants. Snoring caused by nasal congestion may be successfully treated with decongestants. Some effective herbal remedies that clear the nasal passages include Pippali (Piper longum) and Kanthkari (Solanum xanthocarpum) Steam inhalation of essential oils of tailaparni (Eucalyptus globulus) or putia (Mentha piperata) can also relieve congestion.
.
Lifestyle advice
•Minimize smoking. Even second hand smoking can promote snoring.
•Go to bed early and get up early.
•Take vigorous exercise several times per week and keep your weight normal
•Panchakarma can be helpful as part of an ama reducing and weight-balance programme.
Dietary advice
•Eat lightly in the evenings, preferably at least 3 hours before bedtime.
•Adopt a Kapha pacifying diet favouring the pungent, bitter and astringent tastes over the sweet, sour and salty tastes and light, warm, dry foods over heavy, cold and moist foods.
•Especially reduce diary foods such as cheese, cream, butter and oily foods.
•Use cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper feely - they help reduce Kapha.
•Sip hot water frequently throughout the day.
•For more on dietary guidelines see Dietary Guidelines.