Knowledge of Ayurveda

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Ayurveda

Ayurveda at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Aloe Vera is a medicinal plant which belongs to the family of Cactus. There are several varieties of this plant but only one particular variety is used for medicinal purposes. The medicinal reputation of Aloe Vera dates back to many thousand years. The Latin word Vera meaning true was added to this particular species of Aloe plant to distinguish it from the rest of the aloe plants. Only this particular species has the therapeutic properties. The medicinal properties of the Aloe Vera plant have been re-discovered recently. But it is one of the age old natural remedies used by our ancestors. Aloe Vera is a truly magical herb.
The properties:-
Antibiotic Property - Aloe Vera plant products have been produced for the treatment of various skin ailments. The Aloe Vera gel has many therapeutic healing properties. It has a unique mixture of antibiotic, analgesic, growth stimulating and astringent properties. The Aloe Vera gel is therefore effectively used for treatment of sun burns, burn injuries, Scarring of the skin, and also for healing of cuts, wounds and scratches. The antibiotic properties of this gel helps in the treatment of other skin diseases such as Eczema, dry skin diseases, and other allergic conditions. I t can also be used in treatment of insect bites, stings and other skin inflammations.
Analgesic Property - Another very useful property of this Aloe Vera gel is its pain healing or analgesic effect. The Aloe Vera gel is used in reducing pain during dental treatments. It can be effectively used in treatment of mouth ulcers, sores, blisters. It provides quick relief of pain after dental surgical procedures. Aloe Vera is also used for pain healing purposes in the treatment of piles and Hemorrhoids. Aloe Vera also helps to improve digestion and absorption and elimination of food.
Growth Stimulating Property- Aloe Vera gel has enzyme in it which stimulate the growth and formation of new cells. The Aloe Vera gel has the capability to penetrate the outer layer of the skin and it removes the dead cells caused by the infection. The enzymes present in the gel, help in the formation of new cells around the infection and thus heals the part. This property of Aloe Vera makes it a good choice for the treatment of burns. Burn injuries heal miraculously faster when aloe gel is used. Aloe Vera is effectively used treatment of pains associated with Arthritis and other rheumatic pains.
Other Characteristics
COSMETICS- All these magical properties of Aloe Vera makes it suitable in developing various cosmetic products. The present cosmetic industry has launched several Aloe Vera products for removing scars, blemishes, pigmentation spots, bruise marks, blotches and wrinkles. Many people have benefited by these products. These Aloe Vera products have helped women to look younger.
LAXATIVE- Aloe Vera gel also acts as a mild laxative. I t can be used in the treatment of chronic constipation and for treatment of Ulcers. The gel inhibits the secretion of hydrochloric acid by the mucosa of the stomach thus helps in healing of ulcers.

Ayurveda - Acne Home Remedies

Acne Home Remedies

All home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water & fresh juices. Water is excellent at flushing out toxins and restoring health.

Extract juice of one lemon and mix with equal quantity of rose water. Apply this mixture on the face and let it stay for about half an hour. Wash the face with fresh water. About 15 days application helps cure acne, pimples and reduces blemishes and scars.

A couple of garlic cloves, crushed and dabbed on the face 1-2 times a day. One of the smellier acne home remedies!

Grind orange peel with some water to a paste and apply on affected parts.

Aloe Vera juice applied twice a day can greatly speed up the healing of acne lesions.

Mix sandalwood paste with rosewater and apply on the face. Rinse off after 30 minutes.

Mix mint juice with turmeric powder and apply on affected area. Leave for 15-20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water.

Ice down the acne before bed, by morning it should be noticeably less swollen. Works best on larger pimples that have not yet formed a head.

Mix some vinegar and salt in a bowl. Pour a little bit in your hand and rub it on the pimples. Soak a face towel in it and dab it on the bumps. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off.

Blend cucumber and make a paste. Apply this as a mask on your face and leave it for 1/2 hour and then rinse. This refreshes your skin and prevents acne.

Mix the paste of tender neem leaves with turmeric and apply of affected area. An eastern approach in curing acne.

Make a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. Repeat for two weeks, pimples will disappear forever.

For mild acne patients, it is recommended that they clear their face of the excess oil. Sebum, or the oil produced by the skin oil glands, is recognized as the main cause of acne outbreaks along with other internal body system factors. Ideally, the face must be washed twice a day with mild soap or cleanser. Excessive washing may be more harmful than good as this action may spread the infection to other parts of the skin.

Acne is a skin disorder for which medical science has not yet developed any treatment for complete cure. However, there are quite a number of acne treatments and medications available in the market. Also, many acne sufferers exercise the use of home remedy for acne.

Before anything is said about home remedy for acne, let it be first established that science has already found evidences to counteract the stand of many acne myths and fallacies. Take for example the excess consumption of chocolates, peanuts and oily foods. In actuality, these foods, though rich in oil, are not consequential to acquiring acne. Additionally, dirt or foods neither cause acne.

Acne is brought for by several internal actions in the body, the most significant of which is the excess sebum produced by the oil glands termed as sebaceous glands. Consequentially, bacteria will thrive on the skin pores due to the extra oil. This then will be acted upon by the white blood cells, which will trigger the natural inflammation. Once this occurs, the skin disorder will trigger the onset of acne. But beyond this factor, there are still a number of indirect causes to acne such as hormonal imbalances, stress, unhealthy lifestyle and naturally oily skin.

The most common home remedy for acne is the skin oil removal through frequent washing. It is recommended that washing of the face as a part of a home remedy for acne is done only twice a day, once in the morning and later I the evening. In line with this, an alternative home remedy for acne is the complete cleaning of the body. Remember that when this home remedy for acne is performed, it is essential that the face is not rubbed too rigorously as this may spread the infection throughout the entire face surface. Also, only mild soaps and not scrubs, must be used.

Another common home remedy for acne is the use of benzoyl peroxide. This topical treatment (some may call it homeophatic treatment) works wonders for many mild acne patients. Majority of over the counter acne medications contains a certain level of benzoyl peroxide. This comes in forms of lotions, soap, gel and creams. Obviously, it is applied on the surface of the skin.

Basically, it is used to dry the skin so that the excess sebum can be eliminated. This home remedy for acne may dry your skin if too much solution is applied. However, this can be resolved through reducing the frequency and quantity of application.

Another frequently used home remedy for acne is the use of ice cubes. Some acne sufferers wash their faces with ice cubes for ten minutes. This home remedy for acne relieves the pain of inflammation for some but this process naturally closes the skin pores so that the skin penetration of the acne-causing bacteria is prevented.

Additionally, a housewife who has an acne patient husband discovered an unusual home remedy for acne. She related that one day, she just decided to pick a bottle of Head and Shoulders while shopping and had it used by her husband to treat the acne prone parts of his skin. Amazingly, within 3 days the acne inflammation her husband was suffering for many years subsided.

Moreover, herbs, teas and spices are also useful as home remedies for acne. More specifically, included in the selection of nature's home remedy for acne are garlic, rosemary, and herbal teas. The basic principle for all these herbal home remedies are to apply them on acne infected areas. Leave them for some minutes and you will see that in days, your skin may arrive to smoother, healthier and evenly toned texture. For garlic however, it is essential that you do not leave it on your skin for too long as it may burn the skin surface.

Ayurveda - Bad Breath Home Remedies

Bad Breath Home Remedies

Bad Breath can be caused by many things,cavities, dentures, smoking, alcohol, lung infection, throat infection, everything from certain foods to poor oral hygiene. So here are some tips that may help you with bad breath.
Brush your teeth after every meal.
Chew some cardamom seeds to sweeten your breath. The aromatic flavour in cardamom is a breath freshner.
Add 1 lemon juice with some sugar and salt to a glass of water and drink it often.
Parsley is a great food to neutralizer. It's leaves are rich in chlorophyll, nature's own deodoriser. Chew some leaves for fresh breath.
Tea made from Fenugreek (methi) seeds is also beneficial in bad breath and bad odour.
Brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
Rinse your mouth before sleeping with a glass of water with the juice of half a lemon added.
Drink Water throughout the day.
If you keep teeth, tongue, and mouth clean, you will not suffer from the problem of bad breath. You should take all care in cleaning your teeth by using proper tooth brush and adopting correct brushing technique. Follow the good oral hygiene rules. Please read all the information given in the related links given above.

Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Skin Care
Healthy internal radiance is regarded by Ayurveda as the true definition of beauty. The skin is seen as the mirror of inner health. The external body is simply the manifestation of everything that happens inside, including our emotions. By addressing the components of our life, we can control our skin's health.
At the heart of Ayurveda is a detailed system of diagnosis according to constitutional types (dosha). In the aesthetics of Ayurveda, we notice stress shown on the skin in different ways. Our skin may be dehydrated, oily, acne prone, or subjected to occasional or frequent rashes, depending on our constitutional type. As we age, most of us are aware that our skin just doesn't look as good as it could-doesn't have a glow to it.
In Ayurvedic aesthetics, healing mixtures of pure herbs are often mixed from literally hundreds of possible combinations according to the condition and constitution of the client, then a therapeutic facial massage follows. Ayurvedic facials consist of varying combinations of marma points or lymphatic massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy. In general given the right support, cleansing and nourishing, skin can naturally bring itself into harmony.
Kapha, EARTH type of Skin
People with Kapha type of skin are Earth predominant and also have a strong water element. The characteristics of Kapha are oily, cold, heavy, soft, slow, dense, dull and lubricating. The skin imbalances can be identified by the following characteristics, cool, fair, oily and thick skin, large pores with proneness to cystic acne, and deep wrinkles.
Vata, AIR type of skin
These people are born with predominantly Vata, air and ether elements. The charactersics of Vata are light, dry, cold, rough, and mobile. Vata type of skin imbalance is seen as thin, dry, rough and cold, prone to premature aging. A lack of sebum occurs because the sebaceous glands are low in number and are sluggish. The small pores charactersitc of this type of skin lose water quickly. The loss of water leads to tiny superficial wrinkles. Signs of aging, therefore appear much faster for Vata constitutions than with other types of skin.
Pitta, FIRE type of skin
People with Pitta type of skin are Fire predominant and also have a strong Water element. The characteristics of Pitta are slightly oily, hot, light, mobile, sour-smelling, sharp fluid, and pungent. Pitta skin imbalance is usually warm, reddish, sensitive, with blotchy red patches, medium pores with large pores in the T-zone, and proness to blackheads and allergic reactions.
Founding Principles of Ayurveda
Ayurveda (Ah-yur-vay-dah) literally means science of life. The ancient science of Ayurveda has been the traditional medicine of India for over 5000 years. The primary focus of Ayurveda is to ensure longevity (Ayur) by maintaining and promoting health.
Ayurveda asserts that we are all born into an unchanging constitution known as dosha. The main doshas are based on a combination of the five universal elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements combine to form three basic constitutions or doshas: Vata (ether and air), Pitta (fire and water), Kapha (water and earth).
A person is characterized by his or her proportion of doshas present in the body. These doshas are influenced by diet, environment, state of mind, etc. Each dosha can go out of balance and Ayurveda states that by following a diet and lifestyle that corresponds to our body's inherent makeup, we can stave of illness. Restoring and maintaining a level of balance is the key to healing and managing health.
Ayurveda attempts to balance or restore these doshas through understanding each person's unique combination of elements (doshas). This is achieved through questioning, pulse and tongue diagnosis, and a physical exam. To restore balance, Ayurveda relies on dietary guidelines, herbal preparation, lifestyle, meditation and yoga.
Ayurveda is not viewed as an alternative to or substitute for western medicine. Ayurveda seeks to prevent disease by detecting the imbalances and correcting them. It can be used in combination with western medicine and western herbs. The role of Ayurveda is to rebuild tissues, strengthen the immune system and restore balance to the whole person.
As Pratima puts it: "When we follow the laws of nature, we have balance and harmony. Internal harmony brings happiness, and happiness brings health and beauty."

Ayurveda solves hair problem

Hair Care Tips and Ayurveda
Cutting down your extra calories in your daily diet and your way of life are two main factors that influence the health of your hair. Poor diet, ill health and shortage of any specific vitamin in your body affect the eminence of hair and problems like dandruff, thinning hair, going hairless, early graying etc, spoil your hair. Here are some Ayurvedic based tips for your healthy hair care….
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Ayurvedic Remedies for Dandruff:
Mix up a spoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut oil. Instead of coconut you can use neem oil otherwise. Keep this mixture in a air tight container, preferably a glass container and use this oil to massage your scalp before going to bed. Practice this continuously for at least 15 days and feel the difference of your healthy scalp. After 15 days do it for alternate days for the best of result.
Add a spoon of castor oil, mustard oil and little coconut (or neem) oil and massage your scalp every night and have a shampoo the day next.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Hair loss:
Massage the scalp gently with coconut or almond oil daily for 10 to 15 minutes.
Boil neem leaves in water. Cool, strain and rinse hair with it.
Increase green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts in the diet. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, Soya beans, whole grains and nuts.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Premature graying of Hair:
Apply a paste made from 2-Tsp. henna powder, 1-tsp. curd, 1-tsp. fenugreek seed powder, 1 tbsp. coffee, 2-tbsp. mint juice and 2-tbsp. basil juice. Apply this paste to the hair for two hours. For a darker color, leave this paste in for 3 to 4 hours. Wash hair with any natural shampoo.
Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1-teaspoon everyday.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Itchy scalp:
Rub the scalp vigorously after washing the hair. It increases the blood circulation, and activates the sebaceous glands.
A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth. The juice of alfalfa mixed with that of carrot, and lettuce juice is also good to take.
Daily application of coconut oil mixed with lime- juice on the hair is also beneficial. Applying juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also good.
Washing the hair with a paste of cooked Uraddal (black beans) and fenugreek (methi) 2-3 times a week.
A paste of licorice made by grinding it in milk can be applied in the bald patches. It induces hair growth. A paste of seeds of lemon and black pepper may also be applied on the bald patches.
Use Amla (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna) for washing the hair.
Enhance oiling and massaging of scalp.
Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three times in a week.
Use medicated oils on the scalp and massage gently in the roots of the hair.
The diet should contain more green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean and vitamin A.

Advantages of Ayurveda

Advantages of Ayurveda
It is preventive, protective, health primitive and curative in nature. At the same time herbal remedies are self contained, and nutritive rendering them harmless and non toxic. This provides a constructive approach against destructive forces.
Ayurveda is not man made but is believed to be divine gift. It is for us to study, seek, search and take the benefits from the treasure of knowledge.
Ayurveda is mainly based on herbs, plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables and all vegetation that grows around us in plenty. It is our native system based on the peculiar indian conditions. Further whatever is available on our own country is bound to be more suitable in creating good health to us rather than borrowed knowledge as well as materials. Charaka samhita stresses the same point.
Ayurveda begins when everything fails and when the treatment is uncertain and prolonged, ayurvedic approach is the right choice since it cures chronic and stubborn diseases by its deep-rooted treatment procedures and drugs.