Alternative Medicine Correspondence Courses

Alternative Medicine Correspondence Courses: "Indian Board of Alternative Medicine is a Government registered organization, internationally recognized and the largest institution of Alternative Medicine ..."

Doctor of Naturopathy / Natural Medicine Course (ND/NMD) Correspondence Course

Doctor of Naturopathy / Natural Medicine Course (ND/NMD) Correspondence Course: "Indian Board of Alternative Medicine is a Government registered organization, internationally recognized and the largest institution of Alternative Medicine ..."

Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy

Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy

Of all the conditions that can make a persons life a misery, hayfever has got to be one of the worst. Year after year the pollen count rises and the eyes start to water, and unfortunately sometimes the conventional remedies don't work out too well.

Forunately the are some amazing Homeopathic Hayfever Remedies which can help you through those pollen filled months. Using homeothapy hayfever remedies throughout the year can drastically reduce hayfever symptoms, and even sometimes remove them completely.

Homeopathic Mixed Pollen Homeopathic Herbal Remedies

One of the most common types of homeopathic hayfever remedy is a mixed pollen concoction. This goes well with other homeopathy hayfever remedies, and can often relieve many of the most common hayfever symptoms by attuning your body to the differing types of pollen.

Homeopathic hayfever remedies which use the mixed pollen can give you a good base coverage of protection against some of the most common types of pollen which cause allergies and hayfever.

Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy Allium Cepa

To treat severe sneezing, streaming watery eyes, and a runny nose, allium cepa is a great homeopathic hayfever remedy. Allium cepa is particularly useful for those who have most of their hayfever symptoms in the morning, although it is still effective throughout the day as well.

Homeopathy Hayfever Remedies with Arsenicum

A strong tickling sensation in the nose, combined with heavy sneezing mixed with a burning liquid can easily be treated with Arsenicum, otherwise known as Arsen Alb. This particular form of Hayfever can cause depression and irritability

Treating this style of hayfever with homeopathic remedies can help sooth the physical symptoms, and brighten up the day for the mental symptoms.

Homeopathic Hayfever Remedies with Euphrasia

If the hayfever sufferer suffers from burning eyes, which itch and water constantly, then Euphrasia can be a great homeopathic hayfever treatment. Euphrasia can also treat the sore throat, dry cough, and blocked nose at night.

Homeopathic hayfever remedies with euphrasia can help sooth all of these symptoms, and make life just a little bit more livable again.

Homeopathic Remedy Gelsemium

When hayfever becomes strong enough to make your entire body feel lethargic, your eyes heavy, a burning throat, violent sneezing, and an insistent tickle in the nose, mixed with a constant depression, Gelsemium homeopathic remedies can help.

Homeopathic hayfever remedies including Gelsemium are incredibly affective at treating these debilitating hayfever symptoms.

Nux Vomica Herbal Remedies

Nux Vomica, sometimes Nux Vom, is best used for hayfever which has symptoms of extreme irritation all over the face, mixed with a stuffed nose and constant sneezing fits.

Homeopathy Nux Vomica remedies provide relief for these symptoms allowing you to get on with your day, without worrying about hayfever. Nux Vomica is a good all around homeopathic hayfever remedy.

Homeopathy Pulsatilla Hayfever Remedy

Pulsatilla homeopathic hayfever remedies are perfect for relieving hayfever symptoms which include large amounts of thick catarrh, and sneezing which is often relieved in open air. Pulsatilla also helps relieve the irritable, depressed, and tearful symptoms which also come with this kind of hayfever.

Homeopathic pulsatilla hayfever remedies are good at relieving both the mental and physical affects of hayfever.

Homeopathic Sabadilla Hayfever Remedy

Homeopathic sabadilla hayfever remedies provide relief from spasmodic sneezing fits, constantly streaming nose, which gets worse with flowers, and a tickling of the nose and mouth. Sabadilla will also help deal with some of the mental affects of hayfever including depression and nervousness.

Homeopathy hayfever remedies with sabadilla provide great relief for hayfever symptoms, even in the height of pollen season.

Homeopathy Silica Hayfever Remedy

Silica homeopathy remedies can help deal with a stuffed up blocked nose, but on top of that it also helps deal with some of the more unpleasent feelings that hayfever can bring. This includes irritability, nervousness, slugishness, and a low tollerence to pain and loud noise.

Hompeopathic silica hayfever remedies can be incredibly useful in treating mild hayfever with these symptoms!

Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy

Using one, or a combination, of these top Homeopathic Hayfever Remedy can help relieve even the worst of hayfever symptoms without the side effects of conventional medicine. Using a homeopathic hayfever remedy will allow you to enjoy the spring and summer months, when the weather is the nicest but the weather is the worst!

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

Homeopathic Remedies for Headaches

Homeopathic Headache Treatment

Many people suffer from chronic headaches and migraines, which can easily ruin a persons life on a day to day basis. Fortunately homeopathic remedies for headaches can help relieve the symptoms of headaches, whether they are a chronic problem, or the result of injury.

Homeopathic headache remedies are a safe, simple and effective way to treat headaches, their natural properties help to relieve the pain and dizzyness of headaches.

Homeopathic Arnica Headache Remedy

If you are suffering form headaches due to physical head trauma then homeopathic arnica can help relieve both the pain and swelling associated with this.

Homeopathic arnica remedies are one of the best homeopathic headache cures for physical head trauma. And can also help heal any other injuries which you may have received.

Homeopathic Headache Remedy Belladona

Belladonna is a strong homeopathic headache remedy for right sided headaches and migraines. This is especially useful when the migrane sufferer is also suffering from hot skin, with cold hands and feet. The homeopathic belladona headache remedy is one of the best migrane treatments for right side headaches.

Homeopathic Headache Remedy Bryonia Alba

Bryonia alba homeopathic headache remedies are ideal for treating headaches which throb and pulsate above the left eye. When it comes to headaches which tend to arrive early in the morning and cause dry mouth, Bryonia Alba homeopathic remedies can help treat these symptoms effectively.

Bryonia Alba is particularly effective for those headaches which are sensitive to noise and movement.

Homeopathic China Headache Remedy

The china homeopathic headache remedy is an extremely affective homeopathy remedy for headaches caused by dehydration and anemia. These symptoms often need to be treated with more than just homeopathic remedies, if you have suffered from dehydration it is also important to drink a lot of water, and take replenishing salts.

Cimicifuga Homeopathic Remedy for Menstrual Headaches

Cimicifuga is a great homeopathic remedy for menstrual headaches and menstrual migraines. When using homeopathy remedy cimicifuga you can help to relieve headaches and migraines which commonly appear during the menstrual period naturally.

Using homeopaty remedies with cimicifuga will help with the headaches, and help to relieve some of the other menstrual conditions such as gloom and irritability.

Homeopathic Migraine Remedy Cocculus Indicus

Cocculus Indicus is one of the best homeopathic migraine remedy for those wo suffer with headaches, mild dizziness, nausia and mild insomnia. With the homeopathy migraine remedy cocculus indicus you can quickly help relieve these symptoms, although it is best to use them in a preventative way!

Homeopathy Maigraine Remedy Cyclamen

Cyclamen is an effective homeopathic remedy perfect for treating migraines which cause dizziness, blurred vision, and spasming eyes. Cyclamen is also particularly effective if the migraine is causing dry mouth, weakness, sensitivity to temperature change, and emotional fluctuations.

The Cyclamen homeopathic migraine remedy is a particularly effective solution for any migraine.

Homeopathic Headache Remedies Gelsemium

Gelsemium is another great homeopathic remedy for headaches which helps deal with blurred vision. The homeopathic gelsemium headache remedy is a safe treatment for 'tight' headaches.

Gelsemium is one of the most common homeopathy headache remedies, and is well known as one of teh most reliable homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy Headache Remedy Natrum Muriaticum

Natrum Muriaticum is an excellent homeopathic remedy for headaches, especially headaches which are caused by strees, and pounding, beating, headaches. Using Natrum Muriaticum is an essential part of any homeopathy remedy for headaches which beat with the flow of blood. Homeopathic natrum muriaticum is also great for treating minor depression and greif.

Homeopathic Remedy for Headaches Nux Vomica

Nux Vomica is one of the best available homeopathic headache remedies for tension headaches, it is also one of the few homeopathic remedies for hangovers.. Nux vomica also helps protect against headaches from noxious smells.

Taking nux vomica is a great way to relieve stress related headaches.

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

Yoga and Cancer - Yoga Benefits For People With Cancer

Yoga is a mind-body exercise that originated in India more than 4,000 years ago. A fundamental component of ayurveda (the traditional medicine system of India), yoga combines precise postures, deep breathing, and meditation in order to promote physical and emotional health.

The Health Benefits of Yoga
Research suggests that yoga may help ease symptoms associated with these health conditions:

Yoga has also been found to help promote weight maintenance and reduce heart disease risk.

Yoga For People With Cancer
Studies suggest that yoga may offer many benefits for people coping with cancer. Here's a look at some key findings.

1) Relieving Anxiety

Yoga may help ease anxiety in breast cancer outpatients, according to a 2009 study of 98 outpatients assigned to receive either yoga training or a brief therapy session prior to undergoing surgery. The study also showed that daily yoga sessions helped manage treatment-related side effects.

2) Reducing Stress

Breast cancer outpatients who practice yoga may have lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than those who don't practice yoga, according to a study published in 2009.

3) Improving Quality of Life

In a pilot study published in 2006, researchers found that a seven-week yoga program significantly improved quality of life for cancer survivors. The researchers also observed a significant improvement in emotional function among the study's 20 yoga-practicing participants.

4) Enhancing Sleep Quality

A 2004 study of 39 lymphoma patients indicates that weekly yoga sessions may help reduce sleep disturbance, improve sleep quality, lengthen sleep duration, and reduce the use of sleep medications.

Is Yoga Safe For People With Cancer?

If you have cancer -- or any other chronic condition -- be sure to talk to your doctor about choosing a yoga program that's right for you. While yoga is generally considered safe, certain postures may be difficult to achieve or may induce muscle and/or joint damage if not executed properly.

It's important to note that practicing yoga is not known to slow or stop the growth of cancer.

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

The Best Seller - "The Violet Flame" An Integrative Holistic Complementary Therapy

Prof. Dr. Teodor Vasile, from Romania, is associated with Indian Board of Alternative Medicines for a long time. His tremendously successful work "The Violet Flame – an integrative holistic complementary therapy”, which has been the best seller of 2008 in Romania is published in English version.

We wish similar success to this version also.

This book has been dedicated to Dr. Suresh Kumar Agarwal, President, Indian Board of Alternative Medicines which reads as:

" I wish to dedicate the first English edition of this book to His Excellency Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Agarwal, President of the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, at the same time thanking him for the trust, support and care he and his family have always shown me so that every time I have gone to India I have felt as if I were coming back to my second homeland, to discover it, to admire all its marvels and to receive the wisdom of its spiritual Masters."

Homeopathy for day to day Problems!

To err is human and we all commit many errors in our day to day life, the result of which is bodily and mental discomforts that we may encounter. Every person is the author of his health, as rightly said. Similarly every person can be a care-taker of his own body and health with mild homeopathic medicines. Yes, homeopathy can always be thought as the primary mode of therapy for smaller problems at home. Certainly one needs to know about homeopathic philosophy and principles before one starts prescribing even for family members and others.

But with practice and in-depth reading of homeopathic material medica, one can safely use homeopathic medicines, especially while traveling, at night when the doctor’s help cannot be sought, etc. This is obviously true in case of minor problems. For major ones, it is better to visit doctor as soon as possible.

Here are some of the problems for which you can help yourself-

(1) Minor cuts and bruises-
• Calendula- For minor cuts and bruises this medicine prepared from Marigold is truly the powerful healing agent. Give a single dose internally and you can also go for local application in case of cut. If you are using tincture, make sure you dilute it with water before using locally.
• Arnica- For cuts and bruises where the internal blow is prominent with soreness of the part; Arnica Montana is the remedy that tops the list. Arnica is a very powerful remedy also to stop excess bleeding and to prevent hematoma in case of mild to moderate head injury as well. In any case of head injury, Arnica is the baseline remedy that must be given in high potency as far as possible, to avoid future complications.
• Ruta- for sprains, this is the remedy to be thought after Arnica. Wrist and ankle sprains top the list, along with sore bruised pain.
• Rhus tox- This is one of the most frequently indicated remedy for sudden sprains due to reaching for high objects or lifting heavy weights. One also needs to differentiate between Bellis perennis while treating sprains due to lifting heavy weights. Pelvic soreness due to lifting heavy weights goes more in favor of Bellis perennis.

(2) Minor eye problems-
• Euphrasia- Mild or moderate conjunctivitis that feels better in open air calls for Euphrasia.Bland coryza (cold) and acrid lachrymation (burning eye discharge) are the key symptoms.
• Symphytum- Blow to the eyeballs leading to black eye is the key symptom of Symphytum. You will notice positive change within a single dose too fast.
• Ruta- Eyestrain with headache and painful hot eyes due to reading fine print or sewing, etc calls for Ruta. Bruised sensation and weariness of eyes are to be noted. Differentiate between Argentum nitricum though. Ruta is aggravated from cold, while Argentum aggravated by warmth, so you have the point to differentiate.

(3) Spasmodic dysmenorrhea-
• Mag phos- This is the chief remedy as far as mere pain in abdomen is concerned. For immediate relief, you can even try Mag phos 12X, tablets, dissolved in warm water. You may enhance the potency if sure of the similimum. ‘The girl bends forwards to press the abdomen to feel better’ is Mag phos.
• Viburnum opulus- This is one of the rarely thought but frequently indicated remedy for sudden onset of spasmodic dysmenorrhea. Very scanty offensive menses with crampy pains running down the thighs indicated Vib op.
• Belladona- Suddenly increasing and lessening pain goes in favor of Belladona. Hot, offensive, bright red and profuse bleeding is characteristic.

(4) Colds-
• Sabadilla- When the symptoms are acute and sneezing is profound, Sabadilla is the choice of remedy. Watery and profuse nasal discharge is characteristic.
• Dulcamara- Windy weathers and rains leading to coryza may call for Dulcamara. Dryness of nasal mucus membrane despite having colds is characteristic. Wants to cover the nose to keep it warm!
• Belladona- When the symptoms are acute after the localization, Belladona may be indicated. The person goes in rains or cold weathers and catches up cold with dryness itchy throat the next day; Belladona is the remedy many times. Headache and feverishness associated with colds and suddenness of symptoms are to be noted.
• Hepar sulph- Usually indicated after 2 to 3 days of starting cold and cough. Rawness of throat is the chief symptom that gets aggravated by least cold. Just a single dose acts as anti-infectant in most cases.

(5) Cough-
• Spongia- Dry irritating cough with breathlessness calls for Spongia. Night aggravation must be considered and give just a single dose.
• Ipecac- If there is sputum production with irritating cough with clean tongue but nauseating feeling, Ipecac may be of help.
• Antim tart- In children where there is chest congestion with excessive sweating and sour food aggravation, Antim tar is of help. Especially when the child gets cough after eating sour citrus fruit, Antim tar is the remedy in many cases. If the chest is wheezy and cold aggravates, Antim ars may be thought.
• Drosera- Excessively irritating cough that ends in vomiting may need Drosera. It is a very potent remedy indicated even in whooping cough. Give just a single dose in 30C potency and see the marvelous results when indicated.

(6) Constipation-
• Nux vomica- Distended abdomen after meals with ineffectual urging for stools calls for Nux vomica. Patient wants to go for stools recurrently without satisfactory feeling after defecation calls for Nux. There might be associated hyperacidity without the actual vomiting.
• Bryonia- Dry hard stools absolutely without an urge to stools calls for Bryonia. Assiciated with excessive thirst.
• Magnesium mur- Constipation in infants and children. Knotty scanty stools in children during dentition calls for Mag mur.
• Plumbum- Should be considered in chronically constipated. Hard, lumpy, black stools with spasm of anus. Constricted feeling at anus calls for Plumbum.

(7) Diarrhea-
• Nux vom- It may be surprising for beginners in homeopathy that Nux vomica is one of the chief remedies for both constipation and diarrhea. The principle symptom is the unsatisfactory urging to stools. And upon this very symptom, this remedy can be used for both the problems.
• Aloe soc- Watery stools after beer consumption and they are so forcibly passed that at times passed without notice.
• Pulsatilla- Rich fatty food leading to diarrhea with rumbling in abdomen calls for Pulsatilla. Fruits aggravate during diarrhea or they may be the cause. Stools of varied colors.
• Chamomilla- Esecially indicated in children when the child has excessively offensive, greenish, watery stools with crampy pain in abdomen. Extreme irritability must be looked for before prescribing.
• Croton tig- Summer diarrheas with nausea and forcible yellow stools calls for Croton tig. Better on taking hot water is the principle indication.
• Podophyllum- Profuse watery stools with prostration may need Podophyllum. During dentition too it is indicated when no two stools are alike.

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

Stress-Free Holiday Travel

Long delays and canceled flights ... traffic jams ... inclement weather ... crowds ... all these factors and more can make traveling during the hectic holiday season a nightmare for many people. Yet, getting together with friends and family is part of what makes the holiday season so special.

It's possible to travel stress-free. Once you understand what imbalances are caused in your physiology by travel, you can take steps to protect yourself and prevent the imbalances from developing. Ayurveda, the 5000-year-old science of healing from India, offers practical ways to travel without stress.

Imbalances Caused by Travel

Vata dosha, the Ayurvedic principle that governs movement in the physiology, tends to get disturbed during travel. In particular, continuous sitting disturbs Apana Vata, which controls the downward movements of elimination and purification. Traveling in fast-moving vehicles and an unpredictable routine aggravates Prana Vata, which controls mental and emotional balance. Pachaka Pitta, responsible for digestion, can also get disrupted by an irregular schedule of meals and sleep.

Steps to Stay Balanced

These practical suggestions can help you maintain your physical, mental and emotional equilibrium through travel and hectic times:

Before Travel
(for at least a week before departure)

Be meticulous about adhering to a regular routine. Taking pains to keep Vata in balance before you begin your journey will help you withstand stress, time pressure, multiple demands and unpredictability better. This means eating your meals at about the same times each day, with lunch being around noon and dinner about 3 hours before you go to bed. It means going to bed by 10:00 p.m. and getting an adequate amount of sleep. It means planning tasks in advance so you are hurrying around less.

Eat Vata and Pitta pacifying meals. Sweet lassi is an excellent lunchtime beverage. Avoid extremely sour foods such as pickles and vinegar and very spicy foods such as cayenne or hot chili peppers. Eat plenty of sweet juicy fruits, warm milk blended with rose petal preserve, light proteins such as mung beans.

Do a daily self-massage with an herbal or aroma massage oil. Massage helps boost circulation, enhances mind/body coordination, keeps the skin lubricated and tones muscles. The aches and pains and minor stiffness from sitting for long hours in cramped places that tend to crop up during travel will be minimized, and your resilience and energy levels during and after travel will be higher.

A scalp and head massage at least three times a week can be very helpful. Use a light oil such as almond or coconut. Gently warm a couple of teaspoons of the oil. Persons with longer hair may need more, to cover all the hair as well as the scalp. The oil should be warm enough to be soothing, not uncomfortably hot. Pour the oil on your palm and apply it evenly all over the scalp and the back of the neck close to the hairline. Using your fingertips, gently massage the oil into the scalp, working the oil in for about 4-5 minutes. Ideally the oil should be left on overnight (use a shower cap to protect your bed-linens) and shampooed off the next morning. If leaving it on overnight is impractical for you, leave it on for 2-3 hours, then shampoo your hair well to rinse it off.

Take vitality-enhancing herbs such as the Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry). Rejuvenative herbs have the ability to boost natural immunity, increase resilience to day-to-day stress and build energy levels. You'll stay fighting fit even if the people sitting around you have fallen prey to the latest bug floating around.

Eat cooked prunes and figs at breakfast to ensure regular elimination. The build-up of toxic matter (ama) in the physiology is what leads to disorders. Make sure that wastes are regularly flushed from the system.

During Travel

Drink a relaxing herbal tea, or sip plain water. Avoid carbonated or ice-cold beverages, because they disrupt digestion. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Eat fresh fruit and light, easy-to-digest foods. These will help keep Vata and Pitta in balance. Avoid "junk" foods or heavy, hard-to-digest foods.

Listen to soothing music or meditate. Diffuse a relaxing aroma through a personal diffuser or aroma locket to help keep Vata dosha in balance. If you feel nausea, eat some fresh ginger or add some fresh ginger to warm water and sip on it. Research has shown that ginger can help prevent motion sickness.

After travel

Drink lots of warm water through the day to replenish moisture levels and assist in cleansing the channels of the body. Eat light yet nourishing foods such as mung bean soup for a few days to allow your digestion to adjust. Continue to drink herbal tea, two or three cups a day.

A daily massage will enhance circulation and calm the mind and nervous system.

Finally, catch up on rest.

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

Managing Diabetes Naturally

When we eat, our bodies break down the proteins, carbohydrates and fats we consume to be used as the building blocks of our bodies. Carbohydrates, such as those found in bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and cereals are first digested and converted into simple sugars in the intestines and then move from the intestines into the bloodstream. These simple sugars are our body’s first choice for energy production.

Glucose, a form of simple sugar is the basic fuel the body uses for energy. In order for our bodies to utilize this sugar however, it must be transported across the cell membrane where it can be used to feed and fuel our cells. Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, and more specifically by the islets of Langerhans, which are scattered throughout the pancreas, stimulates our body’s cells to absorb sugar, thus removing it from the blood stream.

When our bodies cannot properly utilize glucose, thus causing it to stay in the blood, we are diagnosed as having diabetes. Diabetes is a disorder which disrupts the mechanism by which the body controls blood sugar. The build-up of sugar in the blood, characterized by diabetes, can cause the cells of our bodies to be starved for glucose and can, if left unchecked, lead to damage of the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.

There are two types of diabetes: insulin dependent or Type 1 diabetes and non-insulin dependent or Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, is often referred to as juvenile or childhood-onset diabetes. Here, the pancreas cannot make the insulin needed by the body to process glucose. For individuals with Type 1 diabetes, while natural therapies may help the body be more receptive to insulin, they require regular injections of insulin to maintain health.

On the other hand, individuals with Type 2 or Adult-onset diabetes, their bodies produce varying amounts of insulin, but more often then not, the ability of their body’s cells to absorb sugar is diminished. While there are "classic" warning signs that often accompany diabetes, i.e., excessive thirst, excessive hunger, excessive urination, excessive tiredness, and unexplained weight loss, many people with type 2 diabetes do not have these symptoms. Individuals who are at a greater risk include people who are: over age 40, are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, have had diabetes during pregnancy, have high blood pressure or high blood fats, have the stress of an illness or injury, are a member of a high-risk ethnic group such as African-American, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian. For these individuals, natural therapies tend to work well.

Recommendations For Wellness

Reduce your consumption of starchy foods that are high in carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, processed cereals, rice or that have a high glycemic index rating. The Glycemic Index is a system that ranks foods based on how they affect your levels of blood sugar.

Consume a high fiber, whole foods diet and work to eliminate preprocessed junk foods from your eating regimen.

Start an exercise program! In most cases, weight reduction can help those with type 2 diabetes. In addition to decreasing body fat, regular exercise has been show to improve insulin sensitivity.

Dietary fiber, such as psyllium has been show to improve glucose tolerance in some studies.

Incorporate brewer’s yeast or a chromium supplement into your health program. Chromium helps improve glucose tolerance by increasing our body’s sensitivity to insulin.

Supplement with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, Vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium and zinc. Individuals with diabetes tend to have low levels of these important nutrients in their blood. In addition, these supplements have been shown to help to reduce damage to the eyes, nerves and kidneys - health problems that are often experienced by people with advanced or long term diabetes.

Alpha Lipoic Acid has also been show to improve insulin sensitivity.

Evidence suggests that supplementation with vitamin D can increase insulin levels in some people.

The herb Nopal can help to strengthen the liver and the pancreas thereby improving our body’s ability to utilize insulin.

Some sources recommend that you avoid the amino acid cysteine which has been reported to break down insulin and interfere with sugar absorption.

Stevia, a naturally sweet plant makes an excellent sugar substitute without the drawbacks of sugar. Stevia can be used in cooking as well.

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

Managing Mental Stress Overload with Ayurveda

Each of us has a unique stress-tolerance quotient. Rather than attempt to banish stress from your life (is that even possible in today's world?), Ayurvedic healers recommend that you try and balance your stress-tolerance quotient so that you are able to manage stress instead of it taking over your life.

According to Ayurveda, mental distress occurs when the mind and the brain are taxed way beyond their normal ability to handle stress over a period of time.

Restoring balance requires addressing your diet and lifestyle along with balance-restoring herbs and therapies.

Signs of Mental Stress Overload

What are the signs of mental stress overload? If your answers to the following questions are mostly "yes," it is likely you have overtaxed your native ability to deal with stress:

• Do you often feel worried, restless or anxious?
• Do even small additions to your workload -- one additional deadline or one extra chore -- make you feel overwhelmed?
• Do you toss and turn in your bed at bedtime, unable to fall asleep?
• Do you always feel rushed; or feel that your days are too full?
• Do you feel frazzled and find it difficult to focus?
• Do you find yourself spacing out, more forgetful than normal?
• Do you flit from task to task but end up not completing any?
• Does anxiety make you breathe short and fast sometimes?

For many of us, this imbalance is all too common. Vata, the Ayurvedic physio-psychological factor that governs the mind, is thrown out of kilter with increased activity, movement or stimulation. Multi-tasking has become a way of life for us: grabbing a quick bite when trying to complete a project, drinking our morning beverage as we drive to work, talking on the phone while we put away the groceries. Even normally grounded persons can only go so long at a breakneck pace before they feel the effects of an imbalanced Vata. Daily commutes in rush-hour traffic, jobs that come with lots of travel, chauffeuring kids from one after-school activity to another: chopped up days leave many of us feeling fragmented and disoriented. And our senses are victims to a constant stream of stimulation all day long. The result? A cluttered, tired mind, frayed nerves and a brain that is wearing out, cell by weary cell.

Ways to Manage the Stress

Short of retiring to a hermitage in the Himalayas, how can you manage mental stress and stay vital and strong? Put our recommendations to the test--they can be incorporated into your regular day, no matter how full and hectic, and will help you stay balanced even in the midst of an urban jungle:

1. You know the rest of your day is going to be hectic, a stream of deadlines and mad dashes from here to there and back, so eeeeeease into your day with a soothing, grounding 10-minute wake-up routine. The key to success is to follow the routine faithfully every morning, whether you are at home or away.

Wake up at first light, and try and do that without a strident alarm or a DJ to jar you awake. Open your eyes and soak in the morning air and light. Sit up gently in bed, and take long, deep breaths for five minutes. Deep steady breathing will help you get off to a calm serene start. Stretch your arms out and above your head, then lower them gently. Do this a few times. Then, and only then, get out of bed. And when you do, head to your kitchen for a large mug of hot lemon water instead of to your computer to check your e-mail.

2. Sneak some serenity breaks into your regular day with choices that pacify Vata. When you can, choose silence over noise, soothing gentle music over talk radio, an evening stroll over television. Shut your office door or find a quiet spot at work or home after lunch for a few minutes of deep breathing and mental shut-off time.

Silence is a powerful mental rejuvenator, therefore seek it and savor it. Meditate for fifteen minutes every morning and evening when you can, or at least once a day. Meditation quiets mental static, recharges your body and brain, enhances focus, elevates mental performance and is an excellent way to pacify Vata. There are many types of meditation: find a good teacher and get started today.

3. Remember those five minutes of deep breathing you practiced upon awakening? Gradually acclimate yourself to breathing that way all the time. This may take a while, and you'll need to remind yourself often at the beginning, but the dividends will be rich once it becomes routine: rapid shallow breaths diminish prana - life force - and tire the mind and body. As you draw in a long breath, imagine the fresh burst of prana infusing every cell in your brain with new energy and life, and as you expel stale air out, imagine the tiredness and mental clutter emptying out. Proper breathing is free and takes little effort, and it's so important for health!

4. Woo sleep. Adequate quality sleep every night is essential to keep your mind alert, your memory keen, your attention span long and your focus laser-sharp. Diffuse the essential oil of lavender or a Vata-pacifying aroma blend in your bedroom one half-hour before you plan to retire. And retire early when you can--10 pm or earlier is ideal.

Your bedroom should be dark and silent, with a window open a crack for fresh air when the weather is not inclement. Drink a cup of warm milk an hour before bed (dairy or rice milk), spiced with a pinch of nutmeg if desired. Massaging your hands and feet with a small quantity of a light non-staining massage oil can be helpful. Once in bed, close your eyes and practice deep breathing for five minutes, letting go of whirling thoughts and worries and focusing your mind instead on a serene mental picture - a calm pond bathed in morning sunlight, a snow covered mountain range against a cloudless blue sky, gentle rain falling on green leaves, a deep velvety yellow rose in full bloom - as you consciously let go of Vata-aggravating mental clutter, you will drift off into sleep and awake refreshed and ready for another day.

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine
80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
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