AYURVEDIC TIPS AND DIET FOR PSORIASIS

Ayurveda believes that impurities in the blood associated with emotional factors are the cause of the disease. According to Ayurveda Psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha.

Ayurvedic treatment for Psoriasis

Ayurveda suggests Panchakarma for the treatment of psoriasis. This is because detoxification of the body is very essential for the treatment of psoriasis. Both systemic and topical treatments are used in the treatment.

Ayurvedic Diet

Psoriasis patient is also given a strict diet regime called pathyam or parhes (dietary restrictions)

• Drinking fresh bitter gourd juice mixed with one teaspoon of lime juice on an empty stomach is an effective psoriasis treatment
• Non vegetarian diet is strongly prohibited. Sea food and red meat are not recommended.
• Avoid consuming opposite foods.
• Take care not to consume foods which cause indigestion.
• Do not eat too much salty, sour or acidic foods. Say no to radishes, urad dal, sesame, curds, fish and other sour foods.
• Avoid consumption of Alcohol and Quit Smoking.
• Avoid taking spicy food and consume only easily digestible food.
• Include more fruits, vegetable, fruit juices in your diet. Bitter gourd, curd, boiled vegetables, pumpkin etc… are good psoriasis diet.
• Avoid animal fats, eggs, processed canned foods from your diet.

Ayurvedic Tips for Psoriasis

• Do not control natural urges like vomiting, urination, bowel emptying, etc.
• Exposing to mild sunlight daily for 20 to 30 minutes will improve the texture of the affected area of the skin.
• Avoid consumption of Alcohol and Smoking. It aggravates psoriasis.
• Avoid sleeping in afternoons.
• Avoid using soap while taking bath instead use gram flour ( besan) and use a herbal scrubber.
• After washing, pat the skin dry, don’t irritate it by rubbing vigorously.
• Apply moisturizing creams liberally on affected areas after bathing.
• Apply moisturizing gel or cream at regular intervals to maintain the moisture level of the skin.
• Smear on herbal balm which is infused with vata and kapha balancing herbs.
• Avoid all factors which trigger psoriasis. Reduce stress levels through meditation and yoga.
• Avoid pricking, peeling and scratching skin.
• Opt for cotton clothes over synthetic ones.
• Use separate, clean clothes and towel for your use.
• Do not take a cold water bath immediately after a heavy work out, travelling, a long walk, etc.
• Application of avocado oil gently on the effected part is found to be an effective treatment.
• Cod liver oil, lecithin, linseed oil, vitamin E, and zinc fasten the healing Process.
• Taking bath in sea water is found to be very effective in psoriasis treatment.
• Application of coconut oil, olive oil on the affected areas are extremely relieving. It moisturizes skin.
• Applying aloe vera cream thinly to irritated skin and rubbing lightly is effective. Take gel directly from fresh cut stem and apply.
• Place a cup of chopped cabbage in a bowl containing hot boiled water. When the water has cooled in the external container,  take the cabbage and place it on the infected areas. Press with a soft towel. Minimizes itching and soothes affected areas.
• Mental health is absolutely necessary for an effective treatment of psoriasis. Try deep breathing and relaxation exercise to reduce stress.

Exercise Regularly. Be positive. Activate your energy levels. Keep yourself engrossed by reading to avoid thinking and increasing worries.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR PSORIASIS

Psoriasis  is a non infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin . Psoriasis is associated with dryness, itching, silvery scales on the skin and flakes on the scalp. Psoriasis can begin at an age of 20 or between 5 and 60 years too. It affects both the genders and the exact reason for Psoriasis is not known.

There is no treatment for psoriasis that can guarantee 100% result. Psoriasis is an auto immune disorder of the skin resulting in hyper proliferation of the skin especially at the elbows, knees, scalp. A natural psoriasis treatment that may help one person may have no effect on another person. Psoriasis treatment requires strict dietary restrictions and life style practices.

Ayurveda believes that impurities in the blood associated with emotional factors are the cause of the disease. Psoriasis known as Sidhma Kushtam  is believed to occur due to vitiation of vata and kapha according to the ayurvedic concept. Irregular food habits, consumption of food items that cannot be eaten together for eg: diary products with fish, excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, jaggery ,sour and salted items etc can activate skin ailment. Alcohol and tobacco consumption will act as a catalyst here. Ayurveda emphasizes on the effect of stress which worsens the person affected by psoriasis.

Panchakarma treatment for psoriasis

Panchakarma, the basic body purification method is used in the treatment of psoriasis. Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis goes through several stages .

• Lepanam (application of ointments),
• Abhayangam (oil massage),
• snehapanam (taking medicated ghee),
• pizhichil (full body massage),
• avisnanam (medicated steam bath),
• sirovasti (keeping oil on head) and
• bastis (medicated enema).

Both systemic and topical treatments are used and can include drinking medicated ghee, purging and vomiting to detoxify.

• Detoxifying, by inducing vomiting (Vamana) and purgation (Virechana).
• Using medicated buttermilk dripping overhead (Dahara)
• Followed by pasting the entire body topically with a paste of medicines and mud,
• Finally medicated enemas (Basthi’s) are given for a week.

Internal medications in the form of herbal concoctions and medicated ghee has to be consumed for atleast three months.

Herbs used in Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis

• Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and will help relive pain, reduce inflammation. Due to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, it relieves the pain, swelling and inflammation associated with psoriasis, arthritis etc.
• Garlic (Allium sativum) – helps purify the blood and get rid of toxins
• Neem – purifies and detoxifies, helps the immune system and has antis, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It enhances immune system and neem oil is an antiseptic in itself. Will help with the redness and itching of psoriasis.
• Guggul a resin from a tree that grows in India it is anti-inflammatory and helps remove excess fats and fluids from the body. Kaishore guggul is useful remedy for psoriasis.
• Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)- Kakmachi – The juice of the leaves of the black nightshade can be applied locally on the affected regions. It helps in reducing the inflammation of the skin, and also has beneficial properties in minimizing discomfort and itching.
• Aloe vera:  The gel extracted from the medicinal herb may be affected directly on the affected parts. The anti burn property is helpful to minimize itch and gives a cooling effect on the skin. Moisturizes skin and extremely helpful for plaque psoriasis.
• Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)–The flowers of the jasmine reduces pain, inflammation and soothes itching.

11 RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT DIABETES NATURALLY

Diabetes is spreading all over the world. People of all ages are having diabetes. This is basically due to change in food habits, lifestyle of people at work, lack of physical labour, severe pressure of mental work and stress, fast food culture. The amount of insulin produced by pancreas is reduced in quantity , thereby leading to the increase of sugar in blood . Excess sugar gets eliminated from the body through urine. Diabetes is a life time health problem, it can be controlled by medication and dietary regulations.

There are 2 major types of diabetes mellitus: they are Insulin dependent Juvenile Diabetes Type I in which the body is unable to produce insulin and Non Insulin Dependent Adult Onset Diabetes Type II  in which the pancreas produces insulin, but it is insufficient for reducing the blood glucose to normal levels.

Best home remedies for preventing diabetes naturally as advised in Ayurveda is:

1) Consume Bitter gourd or Bitter melon known as ‘Karela’ in Hindi. You can have bitter gourd in any form raw juice or steamed with salt , onion and green chilly. It is good to reduce blood sugar levels. The blood sugar lowering action of the vegetable in the form of juice or cooked vegetable has been clearly established in both experimental and clinical studies. Bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed anti-diabetic properties

2) Consume Indian black berry or black Jamun in any form. The fruit is very good to reduce sugar levels. The seeds can be dried and powdered too.

3) Fenugreek or Methi seeds  is a common home remedy for Diabetes.  Add 2 teaspoons of powdered Methi seeds in milk and consume it daily

4) Curry leaves or Kadi patta in Hindi,  taken early in the morning is also very good for reducing diabetes obtained due to heredity factors. It also cures diabetes due to obesity.

5) A spoonful of Cinnamon , Dalchini in Hindi helps reduce blood sugar levels. Cinnamon has a compound called Methylhydroxy chalcone polymer.  It helps cells absorb glucose faster and converts it to energy so your blood sugar levels remain low.

6) Kidney beans known as lobia in Hindi have a greater fiber content and are rich in carbohydrates. Soak it for few hours and then cook it. Very good to reduce blood sugar levels.

7) Use onion and garlic liberally. Both are now known to have a significant ability to lower blood sugar. You can consume few pods of garlic and few slices of onion raw for better results.

8) Amla,known as goose berryhas high vitamin C content and is effective in controlling diabetes. A tablespoon of amla juice, mixed with a cup of fresh bitter-gourd juice, taken daily for two months will secrete the pancreas and enable it to secrete insulin.

9) Quinao  (pronounced as Keen-wah) known as bathua in Hindi is also low in fat, has fiber, and is a good source for manganese which is good for carbohydrate metabolism and helps regulate blood sugars.

10) Take ten tulsi leaves, ten neem leaves and ten belpatras with a glass of water early morning on an empty stomach. It will work wonders in keeping your sugar levels under control.

11) The leaves of Jamun have power to control conversion of starch into sugar and a good example of ayurvedic cure of diabetes.

You need to combine exercise in addition to diet controls. Avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking are most advantageous for individuals with diabetes.

You can balance fruits and vegetables  with your meals. Have Broccoli, zucchini, prunes, cantaloupes, grapefruit, apples, strawberries, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, spinach.

Fats slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream so it’s important we choose the right fats. Mono-unsaturated fats may help lower your risk for increased blood sugars. The best choices to use are Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Nuts, Peanut Butter, Flaxseed Oil, Omega-3 rich fatty acids (like those found in most fishes and in walnuts) and Avacados.

Preferably have wheat rava , dhalia in Hindi as porridge or upma. Good meal at dinner time.

Have multiple meals in a day in small quantities. Precaution is better than cure. Keep a watchful eye on the food you take, hygiene practices to avoid health problems later.

HOW TO REMOVE STRETCH MARKS NATURALLY

Stretch marks are caused by various reasons like sudden weight gain, losing weight, hormonal changes, puberty , pregnancy and when an individual strives for muscle building. This is experienced by few individuals only. It is very embarrassing as you need to change your dress styles, you are very conscious about stretch marks in different patterns and dark colors. Such marks tend to affect regions around abdomen, breasts, thighs, and upper arms.

Stretch marks occur due to stretching, pulling and tearing of the dermis – skins middle layer . During pregnancy itching of skin especially on the tummy is very common. It is believed that the baby within is having thick hair. Avoid scratching skin, situation will worsen with more marks. After pregnancy when skin shrinks the stretch marks become predominant. The absence of collagen fiber also results in stretch marks for few. Initially it will be in reddish or purple color and gradually fade away with time after delivery.

Stretch marks affects the skin only , there is no other health issues. Since everyone desires to look their best here are a few home remedies to follow.

• Start paying attention to your skin at the early stages only. You need to apply a good moisturizer containing Vitamin E. Almond oil can be applied as Vitamin E adds to the development of elastin and collagen content of the skin, thereby serving to ease the stretch marks.
• Lavender oil  and cocoa butter are also effective for minimizing stretch marks caused during pregnancy and lactation too.
• Try herbal alternatives, massage the affected areas regularly with oil extracts from wheat gram and olive , very effective for speedy easing out of stretch marks.
• Folic acid prescribed by most gynecologists during pregnancy and lactation also contributes majorly towards healing stretch marks.
• Regular moisturizing the skin during pregnancy will benefit to keep stretch marks far away.
• Oats is a natural scrub which minimizes stretch marks. Soak Oats for an hour and scrub over the areas
• Aloevera is rich in salicylic acid .A combination of olive oil and aloe vera in equal quantities is a good scrub and helps in removal of stretch marks.
• Remember stretch marks will totally fade away for a lucky few and will appear less significant for the people affected .
• To avoid itchy feeling of your skin take warm water bath and gently massage with oil. This will create a cover and you will get relief.
• Avoid usage of chemical creams and tubes to minimize stretch marks. The skin may react to these products and you will have irreparable damage of skin.
• Food rich in zinc, Vitamin C, protein and Vitamin K , serve to repair stretch marks. Thus citrus fruits, nuts, fish, milk, large helpings of green salad should be consumed abundantly to help ease stretch marks.
• Drink good quantity of water to keep body hydrated. It helps keep skin moisturized and minimize stretch marks.
• A home remedy for stretch marks goes as follows. Mix a pinch of turmeric in 10 ml of pure coconut oil. Apply this on stretch marks. The same remedy is recommended by ayurveda acharyas.
• Application of kumkumadi lepa or kumkumadi taila also helps to reduce the stretch marks.

HOW TO CARE AFTER A MISSED ABORTION

Missed Abortion is a painful process and if you were longing to have a child, the aftermath process should be dealt with lots of care. The patient is physically as well as mentally shattered.

The common terms referred are miscarriage, missed abortion where the process is natural and not induced. Abortion is termed when removal of the foetus is by unnatural method or medicinally intervened.

Following are the symptoms observed and the precaution to be taken is also mentioned.

CRAMPING:

Cramping is not always a sign of a problem. At times cramping indicates that there are blood clots in your uterus, you have a strained muscle near your uterus, or your uterus is contracting to its normal size.

Remedial methods to relieve cramping are:

• Massage your abdomen. Push down starting from below your belly button towards your pubic hair. You can lie down or sit on the toilet. Massaging will help you to pass blood clots that might be causing your cramping.
• You can lie down on the side that hurts and pull the bottom knee up towards your chest, or put your leg on a chair and lean into the direction of the pain. If you get relief from this, the pain is most likely due to muscle strain and can be treated by resting.

FEVER:

If you feel hot or have cramping, take your temperature. If your temperature is over  100.4 degrees, you need to consult your doctor. Fever can be a sign of infection. Most infections can be treated with medication and do not require hospitalization. Recommended to go for early treatment . Intense cramping that is not alleviated by medication recommended by Doctor or tenderness of the abdomen can also be signs of infection.

BLEEDING:

If the amount of bleeding increases to soaking more than one maxi pad in one hour or if you begin to pass blood clots larger than a golf ball, inform the doctor and take medical advise. Do not waste time as the patient will have heavy blood loss, become anemic and have further health problems.

BREAST TENDERNESS:

Following your abortion, your breasts may remain tender for as long as two weeks. It is also possible for milk to come into your breasts. This is more likely to occur if you were more than 12 weeks in the pregnancy, measuring from your last menstrual period.

Remedial methods to relieve breast tenderness are:

• Place cabbage leaves on your breasts and cover with a supportive bra. Cabbage leaves should be changed every 2 hours until tenderness is relieved.
• Wear a tight fitting bra (even while you sleep).
• Do not stimulate your breasts.
• Do not squeeze or express the milky fluid.
• Take medication as per Doctors advise to minimize pain and discomfort.
• Ice compresses on your breasts for ten minutes every 2 hours may also provide relief.

Precautionary measures to protect your uterus and tubes from infection are:

• You should not have sexual intercourse for 2 weeks. However, when you do resume having intercourse, have your partner wear a condom and/or be certain that you are using some type of birth control. You may be more fertile after an abortion.
• Use sanitary napkins only, Do not use tampons for 2 weeks.
• You may take a shower and wash your hair, but no tub baths for 2 weeks.
• No swimming for 2 weeks.

To make sure you recover completely:

• You may go to work or school on the day following the procedure. However, REMEMBER no strenuous exercise or heavy lifting over 20 kgs because this can cause you to bleed more.
• Be sure to take all of the medications given to you according to the directions on the label.
• We do not advise douching in general, but especially refrain from douching until after your follow-up exam.
• All of your pregnancy signs and symptoms (except breast tenderness) should decrease within 48-72 hours.
• Your next period should start four to eight weeks after your abortion. In case you do not get your periods after 8 weeks, consult your Doctor .
• It is possible to get pregnant right after your abortion, so if pregnancy is not desired, a method of birth control is recommended.

General Tips to avoid a Miscarriage:

• In the initial stages of pregnancy there will be lots of hormonal changes , the dwarf characters  in body constitution will become dominant and therefore you may come across few heredity problems like wheezing, allergies , skin rash like pimples all over face, vomiting, morning sickness , diabetes,  thyroid etc. The mentioned factors will vary from person to person.
• No antibiotics must be taken during  pregnancy.  Antibiotics increase the heat of the body.
• Opt for natural remedies only or based on advise of the Gynecologists – Doctor you are consulting.
• In Ayurveda – arishtam and churna powders are prescribed. You need to take the advise of the Ayurveda doctor as most recommend pathyam meaning diet restrictions. This will complement the medicine.

Natural remedies to avoid a miscarriage:

• Take some amount  of asafetida (Hing) and dissolve in water. This must be consumed once daily during the months of pregnancy. In case you have had a miscarriage earlier  then asafetida water must be given in that month. This is considered very effective after an abortion.
• Have a spoonful of fresh juice of vitamin C mixed with honey every morning.
• In order to lower the heat in the groin area, a towel must be dipped in cold water and compressed in that area. This must be done once a day.

DIET RECOMMENDED AFTER AN ABORTION

Miscarriage is one of the most painful experiences that a woman may go through her life. You  were expecting a baby and unfortunately miscarried, your emotional and mental health is very much affected. Not to mention the physical health risks that a miscarriage may pose afterwards.

After an abortion, the woman needs to be very careful in her diet to recover back soon. The operation or miscarriage can be small but the side effects on the body can be huge. Eating the right kinds of foods after a miscarriage may help speed up the process of recovery for you; not just in the physical sense, but also emotionally and mentally. There are many foods that you can include in your diet which are beneficial for you after a miscarriage

Heavy bleeding, reducing iron and vitamin B12, B9 and B2, or riboflavin levels in the body are few health problems after an abortion. The doctor will advise on the medication to be taken till the mandatory visit.

In case of any painful symptoms or excessive bleeding do not hesitate to consult the doctor .

To reduce the risk of anemia and osteoporosis, the diet should have nutritional supply with more emphasis on iron, B vitamins and calcium. Let’s understand the diet of a woman after an abortion.

Diet recommended after an abortion / miscarriage:

1. Increase the intake of proteins in the diet. Adequate supply of vitamins and inorganic salts should be included to get iron supplement in the body. This helps to prevent anemia and have the nutritional supply.

2. Easy to digest food is a must after an abortion. Do not eat cold or greasy food. Preferably drink water that is boiled and cooled.

3. Fish, tender chicken, eggs, animal liver, meat, soybean, milk, dates, lotus seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables add nutrition to the diet.

4. Excessive sweating is a common health problem after an abortion. So, have 8-12 glasses of water daily. This prevents dehydration and constipation.

5. Include protein rich food after an abortion. Protein supplement in body helps increase the production and count of blood cells. Eggs, cold fish, baked beans, bananas, avocado, carrots, cottage cheese, peas, oranges, green leafy vegetables and almonds are few protein rich food.

6. For non vegetarians: fish, shellfish, tuna, beef, pork, chicken, lamb, cooked dry beans and peas provides high protein, iron and B vitamins.

7. Low fat dairy products supply calcium and keeps you strong. Dairy products also provide proteins and vitamins.

8. Avoid eating spicy food. Include chicken or eggs in two meals.

Follow this diet after an abortion to recover the body from the contraception failure. In addition to these rest is required to avoid back pain problems. The entire system has taken a major change therefore you need to take rest. No excessive strain to the body and minimize working in cold water.

The body really needs to rest and sort itself out. Be gentle and caring on yourself. Take some time to understand what you are going through and rest and focus on taking care of yourself. You don’t have to rush back to work right away. Work can wait!

HOW TO REMOVE DANDRUFF – HOME REMEDIES

Dandruff on scalp in the form of crust or lumps is a common problem for many. Dandruffs are caused due to aggravated Vata dosha resulting in dry scalp. Dandruff occurs when dead scalp cells accumulate as shiny flakes at the hair roots. It causes severe itching and redness, leads to further damage when scratched.

Some of the factors causing dandruff are:

Excessively oily scalp,  Improper maintenance of greasy hair , unhygienic hair conditions cause accumulation of toxins on the scalp, dry weather, scalp sensitivity, poor immune system, fungal infection, stress, hormonal imbalances. poor diet leading to dandruff.

Some of the easy home remedies – natural healing are:

Coconut oil is wonderful as a hair conditioner. It conditions the dry head, and softens the hair. Take equal quantities of lemon juice and lukewarm coconut oil (or any of your favorite head massage oil) and mix them well. Gently massage this mixture on your head in circular motions with your finger tips. For better results leave it for overnight, or at least for 30 minutes before washing your hair.

Fenugreek prevents hair loss, thinning of hair and baldness. For dry dandruff: Take 2 tbsp of fenugreek seeds and soak it overnight. Separately soak shikakai-soap nuts in water . Make a fine paste of soaked Fenugreek it in the morning and apply it on your scalp. Leave it for half an hour, and then wash it off thoroughly with water and shikakai / reetha (acacia concinna ). Use this treatment twice a week.

Lime juice can prove to be an effective treatment while dealing with dandruff, especially in the oily condition. Lemon juice cleans the hair free off the stickiness, and gives shine to the hair. It has antibacterial effect too. It protects scalp and skin too. Squeeze 2 limes. The lemon peels can be massaged on the scalp for 2 to 3 minutes . Continue massaging scalp with 2 tspns of lime juice, leave it for 30 minutes. Wash hair after this duration. You can follow this schedule once a week.

Vinegar balances the pH of the hair, protects and covers the hair shaft, and imparts smoother surface. It is an excellent home made after shampoo rinse. Mix 2 tbsp of vinegar with 6 tbsp of water, and apply it on your head with a cotton ball, or finger tips, and keep it over night. Shampoo your hair the next morning using vinegar mixed water.

Eggs are proteins and proteins are the building blocks of good, shiny, healthy hair. This pack nourishes the hair, and aids in removing dandruff. Mix 2 beaten eggs with 2 tbsp of water and 2 tspns of lime juice, and apply this mixture on wet hair. Slowly, and gently massage the mixture on your scalp for some time. Leave it for 15 minutes, and then rinse your hair with lukewarm water.

Olive oil helps dislodge dandruff flakes and also nourishes your scalp. Besides that, the oil also supplements your scalp and hair with essential vitamins A, K, E, provides anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory qualities and even moisturizes. Heat 3 tspns of organic virgin olive oil until it is warm to dip your fingers and apply over your hair and scalp . Leave it for 30 minutes. Wash your head and hair using mild shampoo .

Add 2 gms of camphor in 50 ml of coconut oil and store in a glass bottle. After 3 days apply the oil onto scalp and massage well. Leave it overnight.

These are simple remedies that can be followed with items available in your kitchen. Allocate some time to yourself and you will be thrilled with the results.

Your effort has ensured the dandruff are away. Continue the scalp care as dandruff is known to resurface.