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The plant Tribulus terrestris is known for its medicinal properties. It is known as “gokshura “ in ayurveda. Tribulus terrestris is widely used in alte ative systems of medicines. In European folk medicine it is used to treat headache, dizziness and sexual dysfunction like premature ejaculation. In Chinese medicine this herb is used in treatment of liver, kidney and cardiovascular problems.
Introduction Back pain is the most common complaint among adults under 45. Back pain brings their activities to a complete halt and intervenes in the progress of their career. Researchers say that it is really a challenge to a physician to find out the true cause of back pain. Here is a ...
Diseases which are related to blood vessels are called vascular diseases. Blood vessels play an important role in the process of erection. The two chambers of penis (corpora cave osa,) which run throughout the organ are filled with spongy tissue. The corpora cave osa are surrounded by a membrane, called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries.The flow of blood creates pressure in the corpora cave osa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea helps to trap the blood in the chambers, thereby sustaining erection.
Sida Cordifolia is an erect hairy plant which grows up to 180 cm. It grows as a weed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of India and Srilanka. Sida Cordifolia belongs to family Malvaceae. It has heart shaped leaves (hence name Cordifolia) and yellow coloured flower. Seeds are black or grey coloured. Ayurveda acharyas have grouped this plant under Balya (body strengthening herbs), Brimhaniya ( body bulk increasing herbs), Prajasthapana ( herbs used to cure infertility), Madhura skanda (herbs with sweet taste) and Vatasamshamana (Herbs which normalize vata dosha).
Butter milk is known as “Takra” in ayurveda. Its properties and medicinal qualities are described in as follows. Takram laghu kashayaamlam deepanam kaphavaatajit || Showphodaraarshowgrahanidoshamootragrahaaruchee | Pleehagulmaghritavyaapadgarpaanduvaamayaan jayeth ||
What is back acne? Back acne is same condition as facial acne. The sebaceous glands on skin get stimulated by androgen and produce excess sebum. Sebum is an oily substance produced by oil glands of skin. Over produced sebum clog’s pores on skin and prevent the release of dead skin cells. Thus dead cells, sticky sebum attract bacteria which thrive in these pores to form acne. Back acne have to be treated very carefully as back skin is very thick and oil glands produce more sebum.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for his sexual needs or the needs of his partner. Erectile dysfunction is sometimes called as “impotence”. The term "erectile dysfunction" can mean the inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or the ability to achieve only brief erections. Men with diabetes usually face erectile dysfunction. About 75% of diabetic men suffer from erectile dysfunction or impotence. The erectile dysfunction develops earlier in diabetic men than non diabetic men.
Ingredients: Rice: 1 cupr Water : 3 cupsr Thick curd: - 3 cupsr Finely chopped coriander leaves – ¼ cupr White grapes (slit into halves) – 1 cupr Broken Cashews – ¼ cupr Curry leaves – 15 Red chilly – 2 Mustard – ¼ tea spoonr Asafetida – 1 pinchr Sugar – ½ spoonr Ghee – 2 tea spoonr Oil – 2 tea spoonr Salt to taste
Dry skin on heel always has a tendency to crack. Continued pressure on heels aggravates the condition. Persons suffering from diabetes have to take an extra care about dry cracked heel. Micro organisms like fungus and bacteria tend to settle down in these cracks causing infection and wounds. The increased sugar level in blood creates a congenial atmosphere for bacterial growth, as bacteria need sugar for their growth. Hence treating a wound in diabetes becomes very difficult.
Low sperm count, reduced sperm motility and malformed sperms are main causes for male infertility. There are various biological and environmental factors which affect sperm count, motility and morphology. Many of these factors have been mentioned in ayurvedic texts. The causes of low sperm count are briefly explained below. Age :
Dark circles under eyes are a common beauty problem. These under eye dark circles give us an appearance of tiredness or illness. They make us to feel worse and are rather detrimental to our self esteem. What are dark circles under eyes? The skin below our eyes is very thin and is sparsely ...
Acne is a very common skin problem which affects young people at their puberty and few adults till they reach 45. Acne are referred as Youvana pitikas (which means the eruptions of youth) in ayurveda. This shows the prevalence of acne from ages. Ayurveda has described the causes of acne and ...
Hair loss is experienced by all of us at one or the other time. To know the causes of hair fall, it is very essential to know the structure of hair and its normal growth cycle. Structure of hair
It is known to everyone that cigarette smoking is harmful and addictive. But very few know the risks of cigarette addiction. Smoking inflicts body with many irreversible damages and reduces the human life span by 25 years. Effects of Smoking on Body:
Cummin seed or jeera is seeds of flowering plant Cuminum Cyminum . This plant, native of east India and east Mediterranean, belongs to family Apeaceae. The herbaceous plant Cuminum Cyminum grows to a height of 20- 30 cms. Leaves of this plant are pinnate and bear thread like leaflets.
Ingredients: Carrot – 1medium sized ( cut into medium cubes) Potato – 2 medium sized ( cut into medium cubes) Green peas – ½ cupr Cauliflower (gobi) – 1 cup (florets) Coriander leaves – ¼ cup (finely chopped) Onion – 1 medium sized (finely chopped) Bread crumbs – ¾ cupr Corn flour – 1 tea spoonr Semolina (sooji) - ½ cup Red chilly flakes – 1 tea spoonr Fresh lemon juice – 1 tea spoonr Turmeric – ¼ spoonr Jeera powder (cumin seed powder)- 1 tea spoonr Dhaniya powder(coriander seed powder)- 1 tea spoonr Ginger garlic paste – ½ tea spoonr Garam masala- 1 tea spoonr
Monsoon brings joy as plants wear a green look, rivers swell to brim and dry lands become wet. The grim side of this season is increased humidity, which troubles humans. What is humidity? Humidity is the amount of water vapour in air. It is usually described as “relative humidity” and expressed in percentage. 100% humidity means the water vapour in the air is at its maximum at that particular temperature.
Banana is the largest herbaceous flowering plant. This plant grows 6 to 7.5 meters tall. This herb belongs to genus “musa”. The plant has soft pseudo stem and spirally arranged long leaves. Leaves may grow 2.5 meters long and ½ meter wide. This plant is known as “Kadali” in Sanskrit. The fruit is known as “kadali phala”. Fruits, stems and flowers are regularly used in south Indian cuisine.
Massage has been used as a remedial measure from centuries. Massaging causes various physiological effects which comfort the body. Manually kneading or manipulating the soft tissues to relieve pain, discomfort, stress and to promote health and wellness is called as ‘massage’. The techniques of massage to promote health and wellness are called “Massage Therapy”.
According to ayurvedic texts our body is crisscrossed by srotas or channels or tube like structures. This net work contains both microscopic and macroscopic channels. ( Digestive system, nervous system , circulatory system etc are few examples of these channels). Innumerable physiological process like breathing, blood circulation, fsecretions of enzymes, hormones etc , flow of signals, supply of nutrients, filtration of toxins , excretion of waste etc are aided by these tubular structures.
Gout usually affects big toe, heel, ankle, elbow or wrist. It is a form of arthritis which is acute in onset. The gout attack occurs suddenly and passes away after a week or ten days. Severe pain, redness and swelling in joints are typical symptoms of gout. Gout occurs when uric acid level increases in blood. Increased uric acid level leads to formation of urate crystals which get deposited in joints and tissues. This process precipitate gout attack.
Once while browsing through the internet, I came across a short and sweet poem, written by an unknown author, describing the beauty of eyes and expressions hidden in them. The poem was so beautiful that I just made a note of it. Here is the poem. In Your Eyes In your eyes I see a thousand ...
Ghee and oil are widely used in ayurveda system of medicine as mediums to administer herbal preparations. Herbs, pastes of herbs or decoction of herbs are infused in oil or ghee and later administered to patients after diagnosing the conditions and diseases. Properties of ghee: Ghee prepared out of cow’s milk is considered to be having medicinal properties and is widely used ayurvedic preparations. Dhee kaanthismruthikaarakam balakarm medhokaram shuddhikrudvataghnam shramanaashanam swarakaram pittapaham pushtidam Cow’s ghee has following properties
Panchakarma involves 5 types of detoxification methods. They are 1. vamana 2. Virechana 3. Anuvasana basthi 4. Niruha basthi 5. Nasya karma Vamana
Sesame is an oil crop which is widely grown in India and China. Sesame is a common ingredient in almost all cuisines around the world. With a rich nutty flavor, it has gained an important place on kitchen shelves. Sesame is an annual plant. This erect plant grows to a height of 40 to 90 cms. The leaves vary in size and shape. The flowers are bell shaped and vary in color (white, pale yellow, purple). The fruit of this plant is a capsule and contain small seeds. Upon ripening the fruit naturally splits and releases the seeds. The seeds have highest oil content than any other oil seeds.
75% of earth’s area is covered by water. Water is the major component of all living beings and it is the major constituent of human cells. Ayurveda considers water (aap or jala) as one of panchamahabhutas. ( Panchamahabhutas constitute human body). Water provides a good medium for most of ...
Boerhavia diffusa or Puna ava belongs to the family Nyctaginaceae . This is also known as spiderlings as this plant grows low and spreads like spider web. Boerhavia diffusa is identified by name Puna ava in India. Ayurvedic texts immensely praise the medicinal properties of this plant.
Headaches are one of the most common health grievances of students, adults and even children, Headaches are very common and usually do not point to a serious illness. But even a mild headache can disrupt your daily activities What actually happens in your body to cause headache? The skull bones and brain tissues do not have pain sensitive nerve fibers. But muscles of face, mouth, throat, neck , scalp and blood vessels on the surface and base of brain are sensitive to pain as they contain pain sensitive nerve fibers.r
Frequently we come across many people who suffer from obesity and they struggle hard to lose weight. But there is a section of people who put a great effort to gain weight or increase their body weight. Underweight men and women are at an increased risk of medical problems. Skinny women are more prone to miscarriages and breast cancer. Under weight men are at an increased risk of infertility problems, such as low sperm count, reduced semen volume etc.
Unhealthy semen or abnormalities in semen lead to infertility in men. According ayurveda unhealthy semen is known as dooshita shukra. When vitiated doshas affect semen, the semen loses its ability to fertilize egg. The semen and its contents are referred as “beeja” in ayurveda. The Sanskrit word “Beeja” denotes seed. Acharya Charaka while explaining semen and its vitiation by doshas, gives the following example. Yathaa beejamkaalaambukrimikeetagnidooshitam | Na virohati samdushtam tathaa shukram shareerinaam ||
Major cause for male infertility is low sperm count, low sperm motility and a large number of malformed or abnormal sperms. Various environmental and biological factors affect the sperm count. Numerous ways are explained in ayurveda to increase sperm count, sperm motility and thus increase fertility of men. The causes for low sperm count and natural ways to increase sperm count are explained below.
Psoriasis affects both genders. This condition is not infectious. It is a prolonged inflammation of skin. The causes of psoriasis are still unclear. Psoriasis may start at any age. Here are few home remedies and self care tips for psoriasis. 1. Keep skin moist: Apply plenty of moisturizer on the skin. Smear coconut oil or sesame oil on the body before taking bath. Gently remove dried skin flakes without hurting the underlying skin. Use moisturizing agents which are thick and greasy. Avoid drying of skin. Dry skin leads to cracks which may bleed leading to infections.
Cracked heels are one of the most common beauty problems caused by drying of skin. The desire to wear attractive foot wear will remain just that with cracked heels. Cracked heels are also referred to as heel fissures. When these fissures are deep they may bleed and become painful. Some times they may also get infected. Ayurveda classifies cracked heels under “kshudra rogas” (common diseases without much complecations) and explains the causes and remedies for cracked heels. Cracks or fissures usually appear on outer edges of heels when the skin on these parts is dry and thick.
Aged persons need more nutrients to aid the repair process of body. Their body needs more vitamins and proteins as it experiences continuous degenerative process. Elders‘ diet should be simple, nutritious and easily digestible. Here is a recipe which help to supply good amount of vitamins, proteins, antioxidants , minerals and many more. Dry fruit milk mix Ingredients: Almonds – one cupr Shelled Pistachios – one cupr Cardamom – 10 in numberr Saffron- ¼ spoonr Ragi- ¼ cup Method:
The herb Guduchi is a climber. It belongs to Minispermaceae family and has a botanical name Tinospora Cardifolia. This herb usually grows in tropical regions and is available in abundance in India, Myanmar and Srilanaka . The climber bears heart shaped leaves and yellow colored flowers. The fruits are round and turn to bright red color when ripe. It is also known as Giloy in Hindi.
Ksheerabala oil (taila) is recommended by ayurvedic physicians for body massage. It has innumerable medicinal properties by virtue of its ingredients and method of preparation. Ksheerabala oil or ksheerabala thailam contains the herb Bala (Sida cordifolia), Milk and pure sesame oil. First sesame oil is processed with several herbs like triphala, musta, lodra etc which help to remove its odour and increase its potency. This method is called as “murchana”. The oil gets a good fragrance and color after the process of murchana.
Banana is effectively used as an active ingredient in many home remedies for different health conditions. Beauty Face packs: Bananas are rich source of vitamins and minerals which are vital for skin. Face masks of banana help in many skin conditions. For dry skin: Banana face pack nourishes and increases the moistness of dry skin.Mash ripe banana and add two tea spoons of milk. Apply this pack on cleaned face and wash it off after 25 minutes. This makes the dry skin soft and supple
Dry skin looks dull and life less due to lack of moisture. Well hydrated skin glows and exhibits a healthy look. Wrinkles develop at an early age due to prolonged dryness of skin. Dry, rough and wrinkled skin gives an aged appearance. Dry and cracked skin harbor microbes and cause fungal ...
Common Grape Vine ( Vitis Vinifera ) is known as Draksha in ayurveda. This is widely grown in western parts of India, Punjab, Kashmir, central Europe, Turkey, Morocco and Portugal . The grape vine has long, woody stems rooted to ground. Stems are covered with flaky bark. The grapevine usually grows up to 35 meters. It has alte ative, broad, palmate leaves. The unripe fruit is usually green and ripe fruit is dark purple in color. Ripe fruits are covered with light grey wax coat.
Black gram or black lentil is known as urad dal in Hindi. In texts of ayurveda this bean is known as “MASHA”. Black gram is a bean grown mainly in south Asia. The plant of this bean is erect and hairy. It is an annual herb. It has a tap root which branches to form branched roots. The cylindrical pod of this plant contains seeds. The pods are usually six cm long.
Garlic has immense medicinal value. It is used as main ingredient in many ayurvedic preparations. Preparation of Garlic coconut spread (garlic dry chutney) Ingredients: 1. ½ dry grated coconut 2. Dry Red chillies –(according to taste) 3. Garlic cloves – 8 to 10 4. Sugar – ½ tea spoon 5. Tamarind – a small grape size 6. Salt – quantity required 7. Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1 tea spoon 8. Coriander seeds ( Dhaniya ) – 1 tea spoon 9. Sunflower oil – 1 tea spoon Method:
Ayurveda acharyas repeatedly emphasize on not to control natural urges. The texts of ayurveda mention again and again that body immunity level reduces when urges are controlled. The untoward effects of controlling urges of sneezing and thirst are explained below.
Stress is one of the main causes for heart disease, erectile dysfunction, low libido etc. Anything which leads to stress can cause the following effects 1.Difficulty in sleeping: Stress and worry can cause insomnia. Insomnia leads to tiredness and fatigue 2.Indigestion: Stress causes indigestion or stomach upset as it interferes with hormones and nervous system signals that are involved with food digestion.
Before pondering about the diet plan please note these thumb rules for diabetes diet 1. A strict no for sweets, chocolates, ice creams, jams, jellies etc 2. Stay away from fats- avoid ghee, butter, deep fried foods, red meat etc 3. Divide your diet in 5-6 small portions spread over a day. The best way is 3 small meals 2 healthy snacks. 4. Include more vegetables and fruits. Here is an example for south Indian diabetes diet plan. Please consult your physician or qualified dietician before implementing any diet plans.
Kumkumadi lepam is an age old ayurveda remedy for acne and pimples ( known as youvana pitikas in ayurveda), dark circles, pigments, scars and stretch marks. Kumkumadi lepam contains skin friendly herbs like Saffron, sandal wood and Turmeric . Action of Ingredients: Saffron: Saffron helps to reduce dark pigments, dark circles under eyes, acne and pimple. These magic red stigmas increase fai ess and glow of skin when applied as face pack.
Definition of Erectile dysfunction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for his sexual needs or the needs of his partner. Erectile dysfunction is sometimes called as “impotence”. The term "erectile dysfunction" can mean the inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or the ability to achieve only brief erections. Ayurveda defines Erectile dysfunction or ED as follows. Sankalpapravano nityam priyaam vashyaamapi sthreeyam ||rnna yaathi lingashaithilyaath kadaachidyaathi vaa yadi |r
Patients suffering from diabetes have to be well educated about their diet to keep the blood sugar level under control. A well planned diet always helps to keep the diabetic complications at bay. Here are few important facts which have to be carefully noted by diabetic patients, while consuming food. 1.Spread your daily diet over three healthy meals and two healthy snacks. 2.Strictly avoid extra intake of salt. Pickles, fast foods, chips, chats etc are laden with salt. Hence avoid these in your diet.
Walking is the best exercise for everyone. Its innumerable benefits are lauded by health experts from all fields. Walking is the best and safe form of exercises, which can be adopted by persons irrespective of their age. Hippocrates has said “Walking is man's best medicine “. Men who suffer from impotence can reap the benefits of walking. Walking can definitely reduce the use of Viagra. Here are few facts which explain the advantages of walking and how it helps in impotence.
In herpes there is an involvement of three doshas (vata, pitta , kapha) and four tissues (blood, lymph, skin and muscle).It is caused by imbalance of three doshas which in turn vitiate four tissues .The ratio of involvement of doshas can be decided by carefully examining the symptoms exhibited during a herpes outbreak. For those who are not familiar with ayurveda and concepts of doshas it may become difficult to diagnose herpes on these principles. These symptoms are exhibited in genital herpes (HSV 2) and oral herpes (HSV 1) Symptoms of herpes when vata dosha is dominant: .
Introduction :When a person is overweight, health professionals advise him to lose weight. Losing weight means burning extra fat accumulated in tissues of body. In this process there are chances that we may lose portion of lean muscle mass. When a person undertakes a weight loss program it is very important to give extra care to prevent loss of lean muscle mass. Let us separately view over weight or obesity and lean muscle mass.