You can Stay Healthy this Winter

If you follow the Ayurvedic dietary guidelines and lifestyle for each season, you can develop an established, permanent state of immunity, when sickness is no longer a threat. This is the third level of immunity (Yuktikrit), which is the goal of Maharishi Ayurveda. This is what "Bala" really means, "a state without disease"

Winter gets a bad rap. It's called the flu season, the cold season, and the season when contagious diseases abound. Yet according to Maharishi Ayurveda, winter doesn't have to be this way. Winter is actually the best season to improve immunity. It's not a weakening season if you know how to strengthen immunity.

To understand how to improve immunity in the winter season, you first need to understand the unique concept of immunity in Maharishi Ayurveda. Bala, which literally means "strength," is the Ayurvedic word for immunity.

Bala goes far beyond the Western concept of physical immunity. Besides physical immunity, it includes psychological immunity, and spiritual immunity. Bala provides endurance against any disturbance to these areas.

In Ayurvedic terms, immunity is connected with the digestion. When digestion is strong and appetite is good, then immunity is strengthened. Whatever weakens digestion weakens immunity. It's that simple.

Raising Your Immunity Quotient

Besides diet and lifestyle, there are other factors that determine your immunity quotient. These include your heredity, the season of the year and your age. It is even possible to develop an established level of immunity that remains stable throughout all the ups and downs of life. The chart below explains these three levels of immunity.

Three Levels of Immunity

1.Hereditary (Sahaj) - the innate level of immunity, which you are born with.
2.Seasonal (Kalaj) - fluctuating levels of immunity due to the change of seasons, different stages of life, and planetary cycles.
3.Established (Yuktikrit) - a balanced, permanent level of immunity that can be realized by following an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle. This type of immunity can be "planned" using dietary and lifestyle principles and herbal preparations.
If someone is born with an innately low level of immunity, that fact cannot be changed. So that's why in Maharishi Ayurveda, we focus on strengthening the second type of immunity, which fluctuates with the seasons, age, and planetary cycles. One reason that winter is a good season for building immunity is that the digestion is stronger in cold weather. Just as your home's heating system works harder in cold weather, so your inner digestive fire stokes up when the air turns chilly.

Winter is the season when nature is ready to nurture us. Due to the digestive level being very high, people feel hungrier, and can actually digest food better in winter, thus nourishing their bodies more.

People just think this season is bad for immunity because as appetite increases, people start eating more junk food and heavy, hard to digest foods, and thus weaken their immunity. But it's important to understand that we are creating the bad immunity, not that nature is giving us that.

For this reason, it's more important that people eat immunity-boosting foods in winter, and that they follow the Ayurvedic daily routine. This should be the regimen in winter, to nourish the mind and body by getting more rest and eating well. Other seasons are better for purifying, but winter is the time to build up and nourish all systems--the hair, the nails, and the skin. It's also the best season for taking Rasayanas and herbal products, because the high level of digestion helps people to assimilate them better.

Immunity-boosting Foods and Lifestyle Tips for Winter

In general, immunity-boosting foods include those that are fresh, organic, easy to digest, pure and wholesome. These include fresh, organic milk and yogurt, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and ghee (clarified butter).

Foods that are hard to digest should be avoided if you want to increase your immunity. Commercially processed foods, as well as canned, frozen, and packaged foods are old and difficult to digest, so they weaken immunity. Leftovers, foods grown with chemicals, and foods laced with preservatives tax the digestive system and clog the channels of circulation, creating a sluggish, compromised immune system.

Foods that nourish and balance the body in the cold, dry, winter season are the sweet, sour and salty tastes. It's best to eat less of the astringent, bitter, and pungent tastes in winter, although all six tastes should be included in your diet. Warm, home-cooked, unctuous foods are ideal, as long as they are not deep-fried and are cooked with easy-to-digest oils such as ghee or olive oil. Avoid cold or ice-cold foods, as cold foods and drinks douse the digestive fire and decreases immunity.

Lifestyle also impacts immunity. Staying up late, working at night, eating at irregular times, exposing the body to stress and fatigue, and sleeping during the day can all affect the digestion and body rhythms - and thus compromise the immune system. That's why it's important to follow the Ayurvedic daily routine, to keep the digestive system and other bodily rhythms working smoothly, and thus keeping the immunity high.

In winter, when the days are shorter and the nights are longer, it's natural for the body to crave more rest. Try going to bed a little earlier, and you will wake up with more vitality and freshness. Winter is a more inward season, when nature is at rest, so you can take advantage of this natural tendency by giving the mind and body extra nourishment in winter.

Doing a daily self-massage (abhyanga) will also help enhance immunity. Self-massage stimulates all of the organs of the body, flushes out impurities, and builds resistance to stress and disease.

If you follow the Ayurvedic dietary guidelines and lifestyle for each season, you can develop an established, permanent state of immunity, when sickness is no longer a threat. This is the third level of immunity (Yuktikrit), which is the goal of Maharishi Ayurveda. This is what "Bala" really means, "a state without disease".

So this winter, try giving your immunity a shot in the arm - and spend the cold season staying warm and healthy.

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

Ayurveda Regimen for Winter Depression

Long nights, short days, sweaters, warm clothes and chilly weather make many of us sick and depressed. This depression which surfaces especially in winter is a Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and is often called as winter Time Blues or Winter depression. The exact cause for this depression is as of yet unclear. But yet few scientists believe lack of exposure to sunlight as the reason for this disorder.

The symptoms of winter depression are tendency to over eat, craving for carbohydrates and sweets and weight gain.

Had our ancestors observed this change in humans? The answer is yes. Have they recommended any remedies? Yes, they have recommended simple and effective natural remedies to overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder. They have laid down explicit guidelines about diet and lifestyles which have to be followed according to seasons.

The winter season is marked as Hemanta ritu and Sisira ritu in Ayurveda. Hemanta ritu starts from mid November and ends in mid January. This falls in southern solstice which is called as visarga kala or dakshinayana in Ayurveda. Sisira ritu starts from mid January and lasts till middle of march. Sisira ritu falls in Northern solstice which is called as Aadana kaala or uttaraayana.

The response of human body to this season is very well explained in Ayurveda. People will have increased strength and their digestion capacity is increased during the winter season. This is marked by increased hunger. These symptoms are caused by increased body fire which is supported by vata. Vata inside body increases in winter because of cold and dryness which is prevalent in outer atmosphere.

The winter time depression is noticed mostly in persons who have vata as major constituent in their prakriti or body constitution. The cause for this type of change is longer nights of winter.

Light therapy is recommended by doctors for winter time blues. Exposure to artificial light may cause headache, Irritability, Eye strain, Inability to sleep and fatigue. Exposure to sunlight and if sunlight is not available sitting near fireplace is the remedy suggested in Ayurveda.

Keeping the home well lit with lights help to reduce the intensity of depression.

Moderate exercise like yoga is another remedy for winter depression. Ayurveda recommends oil massage (abhyanga) to body and head (moordha taila). Indulging in sexual act to keep the moods elevated and to keep the body warm is another strongly suggested Ayurvedic remedy.

Meeting friends who are kind and understanding boosts morale and brightens up the day. Spending time with friends on the beach helps to expose your body to sunlight and keeps your spirits high.

Relaxing with meditation, massage , light music and laughter helps to great extent.

The following Ayurvedic tips help to prevent and reduce the intensity of seasonal disorder of winter, the winter time blues.

Expose yourself to sunlight as much as you can. In absence of sun light sitting near fire place is very helpful.

Massage your body with vata balancing herbal oil (abhyanga). Never forget to apply oil on your head (moordha taila). Then remove the oil by taking hot water bath. A mixture of flours of yellow gram (channa), green gram (moong), fenu greek seeds (methi) in equal proportion is the best herbal scrub which can be used to remove the oil. This mixture prevents the washing of natural oil from skin.

Consume hot soups. Use vata balancing foods like wheat, oil, corn, black gram and jaggery. Tickle your taste buds with sweet, sour and salt tastes. Always use hot water for all daily routine activity. Use thick blankets and sheets made of cotton, silk and wool. Always wear foot wear. Indulge in sexual act. Spend your leisure time with friends and relatives whom you like.

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

Indian Board of Alternative Medicine introduces its Mobile Van for Health, Environment and Peace

Indian Board of Alternative Medicines introduced its Mobile Van focusing on Health, Environment and Peace on the 10th of December, 2010 in Kolkata, India. The inauguration was carried out by Dr. Suresh Kumar Agarwal, President of the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines in the presence of Dr. Damir A. Shakambet of The... International Society for Bioregulatory Medicine, London (U.K.), Revd. P.S.P. Raju (Bishop of Kolkata), Muni Shree Ji (Leader of the Jain Samaj), a former graduate of I.B.A.M. from Burma and a team of I.B.A.M. volunteers.

With the primary objective of I.B.A.M. being to promote, propagate and advance the science of alternative systems of medicines, this Mobile Van is a part of I.B.A.M.'s charitable activities aimed at disseminating information on higher standards of health and free medication.

We thank everyone involved in this noble cause and for helping I.B.A.M. move a step ahead in achieving its Goals.

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

How to Use Essential Oils for Christmas

Christmas time is a perfect time to become experienced in diffusing and blending essential oils. By learning How to Use Essential Oils for Christmas one can assist in getting everyone into the festive spirit of the season. There is nothing better than creating an atmosphere of relaxation, warm spices, the smell of pine needles, or some other woody aroma for the holiday season.

Naturally, cinnamon, clove bud, and ginger are strong in aroma, quite warming, and considered to be spicy essential oils. So when diffusing these scents a few drops will go a long way or try enhancing the mood by adding the mild scent of orange blossom to create a pleasing aroma.

Staying Healthy for the Holidays

Christmas is also the time of the year that health issues (colds, flu, and other viral illnesses) are on the increase due to the winter season. So it is a perfect time to be proactive and keep your anti-bacterial and anti-viral therapeutic essential oils on hand. So replace the usual synthetic room fragrances with a diffuser and essential oils that can potentially help to keep your family healthy by warding off the spread of viral sicknesses. Tea tree, neem, and eucalyptus found on the hub titled, Therapeutic Essential Oils and Healing are good for their anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities; however others within this hub can assist in fighting the cold/flu season.

There are numerous oils that can be used at Christmas time and then can be used throughout out the year. Coniferous oils like Fir Needle, and Scottch Pine, minty oils of Spearmint and Peppermint, spicy oils like Cinnamon and Nutmeg, woody oils like Cedarwood and Sandalwood, and resinous oils like Frankincense and Myrrh.

For Healing and Holiness during the Holidays

Frankincense Essential Oils

The history behind the essential oil scents of frankincense and myrrh may entice one to learn how to implement these two therapeutic essential oils into the holiday season. Christians are familiar with the story of the 3 Wise Men that bought the precious gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh to the baby Jesus. Frankincense is mentioned in one of the oldest known medical records, the Ebers Papyrus (dating from sixteenth century BC) an ancient Egyptian list of 877 prescriptions and recipes. During these times frankincense was more valuable than gold and only those with great wealth and abundance possessed it.

In ancient times frankincense was used to treat every conceivable illness know to man, known for its anointing, and healing powers. However, healing was reserved for priests and priestesses only. And the power to heal at that time was focused more on the sacred art of practiced rituals than the actual healing power of the oil itself.

The frankincense aromatherapy is said to increase spiritual awareness, promote meditation, improve attitude and uplift one’s spirits. Add frankincense essential oil to sandalwood for enhancing and supporting the skin’s natural ability to rebuild DNA. The medical properties consist of being an anti-depressant, anti-tumoral, immuno-stimulant, and can be used to treat cancer, depression, inflammation, stimulate the immune system, and treats respiratory infections.

Myrrh Essential Oils

As stated early Myrrh and Frankincense are resinous oils and they both have similar medical properties. Myrrh is also mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus and listed in Hildegard’s Medicine (a compilation of early German medicine) by highly regarded Benedictine herbalist Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179).

It is written that the Arabian people used Myrrh for many skin conditions, such as chapped lips, cracked skin, and wrinkles. It can be used to treat cancer, cancer, hepatitis, tooth/gum infections, skin conditions (chapped, cracked, stretch marks, and wrinkles) and fungal infections like Candida, ringworm, eczema, etc.

Myrrh essential oil promotes spiritual awareness, is uplifting, and also contains sesquiterpenes (i.e .defensive agents or pheromones), which stimulate the limbic system of the brain and the hypothalamus, pineal, and pituitary glands. The medical properties of Myrrh essential oil is a powerful antioxidant, analgesic/anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, anti-turmoral, and anti-viral.

How to Use Essential Oils for Christmas

Fun Facts and Festivities

There are many ways one can use essential oils for the Christmas holidays; you can add aroma to wreaths, pine cones, ribbons, and other decorations, also you can add scent to the wrapping paper of your gifts.

Artificial Tree

Here’s a nice Christmas tree blend that can be used just to provide the aroma of a live tree around an artificial one or a wreath.

Combine 5 drops Spruce essential oil, 3 drops Fir Needle essential oil, 3 drops Pine essential oil and 2 drops Cedarwood essential oil. If you want to mellow the scent add a few drops of Juniper oil for a well rounded smell.

Firewood

Add one drop per log for your fire and only include one scented log per fire of essential oils like sandalwood, cypress, cedarwood, frankincense and myrrh. Make sure you let the oil soak into the wood over night prior to using it for the fire to avoid dangerous sparks.

Wrapping Papers

Place 2 drops of oil on a cotton ball and place the wrapping paper in a sealed bag over night. Use woody smells like cedarwood or frankincense for men. Try using geranium or cinnamon for women, and mandarin or lemon for children. However, if you happen to know that individuals aromatherapy smell, then surprise them by placing that on their gifts.

Candles

As I’ve stated before I love candles and use them almost daily to add pleasant moods and aromatics to a room. Try adding an essential oil to the candle as soon as the wax starts to melt; normally one drop by the wick is enough. Bay is a good choice but I like to add peppermint, cinnamon, mandarin, or other spices to mine. Here is a blend you can mix and try on you candles to create a unique holiday aroma -4 drops of mandarin, 1 drop of geranium, and 1 drop of cinnamon.

Baking Goodies

If you choose to bake or prepare other food items, please be sure to purchase only therapeutic grade essential oil products. Essential oils like cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom can be added to your cakes, pies, puddings, and other desserts.

Note: Read your essential oil products carefully, if the label states "external use only" such oils are not to be ingested by mouth.

Tips and Warnings

■Never apply therapeutic essential oils directly to skin unless advice by an expert to do so. Such tactics can be harmful if performed inappropriately.
■Use blends undiluted in diffusers, in potpourri, on radiant heaters, or on wood chips. But, never near a flame where it can catch fire.
■For a room spray mix your blend with 1 cup distilled water and 1/2 Tbs alcohol or glycerin.
■Create a custom holiday perfume by mixing your blend with 2 Tbs pure Jojoba Oil, perfumer's alcohol, or your favorite carrier oil.

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

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine: The Ayurvedic Approach to Nutrition

It is ironic how something as obvious as nutrition has become overlooked in the modern health care system, and how in the name of convenience our fast paced society has given way to fast foods, microwaves, quick fix medicines, and eating on the run. Fortunately, there is a growing focus in the important role that nutrition plays in maintaining good health. In Ayurveda, India's ancient science of life, health and longevity, food plays a prominent role in promoting health and is therefore considered medicine.

Dating back over five thousand years, Ayurveda is still a highly respected form of health care in India today. According to this holistic system, everyone has a unique constitution or prakruti—an individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics determined by many factors surrounding the time of conception and birth. Disturbance of this balance due to emotional and physical stress, trauma, improper food combination and choices, as well as seasonal and weather changes may lead to imbalance and eventually to disease. If we understand how such factors affect us we can take appropriate actions to minimize their effect and eliminate the causes of imbalance. In this sense, the path toward health is always individual. There is no single approach that is right for everyone, whether it relates to diet, lifestyle, exercise or the use of medicinal herbs.

According to Samkhya, the philosophical foundation of Ayurveda, creation expresses itself through the five elements—ether or space, air, fire, water and earth. These elements manifest in the body as the three governing principles or humors called doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Everyone has all three of these doshas to varying degrees, although one and sometimes two tend to be predominant and the other(s) secondary. In balance, the doshas promote the normal functions of the body and maintain overall health. Out of balance, they create mental, emotional and physical ailments.

Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement and is made up of the air and ether. By nature it has dry, light, mobile and cold qualities. When aggravated, it can cause flatulence, constipation, tremors, spasms, asthma, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, as well many neurological problems.

Pitta represents the fire and water elements of the body. It has mainly hot sharp and oily qualities. Pitta disorders include hyperacidity, ulcers, skin eruptions, chronic fatigue, Crohn's disease, colitis, gout and numerous inflammatory disorders.

Kapha is made up of earth and water, and is associated with heavy, cold, damp and static qualities. Out of balance, kapha can cause obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, edema, asthma, tumors and a variety of congestive problems.

Aggravation of the doshas can affect the digestion and can create toxins, or ama from poorly digested food. As ama accumulates in the tissues and channels of the body it slowly but surely affects the flow of prana (vital energy), immunity (ojas) and the cellular metabolism (tejas), eventually resulting in disease.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, one of the main keys to maintaining optimal health as well as to support the healing process is to help the body eliminate toxins and to reestablish constitutional balance. To achieve this, Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition through proper food choices, food combining and cooking methods, as well as herbal nutrition, all based on the specific needs of the individual and any current imbalance of the doshas.

Ayurvedic nutrition is a vast topic that takes into account the individual constitution, the medicinal value of culinary spices, the theory of shad rasa (or six tastes, which should all be present for a meal to be balanced), and more. As mentioned before, in Ayurveda food is considered medicine. Likewise, herbs are also used for their nutritional and nourishing qualities, or to counteract any doshic imbalance and toxin formation as a result of poor digestion.

For optimum nutrition, care should be taken to insure that food be organic, fresh and whenever possible locally grown. In Ayurveda food, drinks, and spices are categorized according to their taste (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent), the energetic effect they have on the doshas, as well as their post-digestive effect on the tissues. This is why when choosing foods it is important to understand our original constitution so as to eat foods that have the opposite qualities to those that are already predominant in the constitution. Furthermore, understanding the current state of the doshas is also crucial for making the right food choices.

Vata types tend to more deficient by nature and have light body frames, variable digestion and often have a tendency towards gas and constipation. Therefore, they do best eating warm, nourishing, unctuous and primarily cooked foods, and should avoid dried, cold, frozen and excess intake of raw foods. Also, they should avoid pinto, garbanzo or black beans, which are hard to digest and tend to increase intestinal gas. Vata is balanced by sweet, sour and salty tasting foods.

Pitta types tend to have strong appetites and good digestion, but have a tendency toward hyperacidity and inflammatory disorders. So they should avoid eating greasy, hot spicy, salty and fermented foods, as well as sour and acidic fruits. Pitta is balanced by bitter, sweet and astringent tastes.

Kapha types are large framed with a tendency toward weight gain, obesity, sluggish digestion, lethargy and congestive disorders. They do best on a light, reducing diet low in carbohydrates and avoiding dairy, cold food and drinks, poor quality oils and sweet treats. Kapha is decreased with pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.

Before talking about the use of spices in Ayurvedic cooking I should point out that although Ayurvedic food is traditionally Indian cuisine, it is not by any means limited to it. Also, by the same token, not all Indian food is Ayurvedic. In fact, Indian restaurant food is often overly spicy and drenched in poor quality cooking oils. What makes food truly Ayurvedic is the fact that it is selected and cooked according to the specific needs of the individual, or that it is balanced for all doshas (tridosha).

Many of the spices used in Ayurvedic cooking such as turmeric, ginger, cumin, fenugreek, coriander and cardamom, amongst others, are also medicinal herbs used in Ayurvedic herbology. Cooking daily with those spices can greatly enhance digestion, absorption and assimilation of food, improve one's appetite and elimination, nourish the internal organs and prevent doshic imbalance. Spices also provide a harmonious blend of the six tastes. Taste is medicinal and is the first form of nourishment. A meal containing a balanced blend of the six tastes, aside from being more appealing to the tongue, is also more digestible at a deep cellular level.

Modern research is now validating the benefits of many of the herbs and spices used in Ayurvedic cooking. Turmeric for instance, is highly effective in the treatment of type two diabetes, skin diseases, infections and hepatic and inflammatory disorders. Cumin, coriander, fennel, nutmeg and cardamom are extremely helpful in the treatment of a wide variety of digestive complaints, as is ginger for the treatment of respiratory congestion, fevers and colds. There are literally thousands of medicinal uses to such spices. Even today in much of rural India the wisest doctors are often the mothers and grandmothers who know the uses of their “kitchen pharmacies.”

Another vital aspect of Ayurvedic nutrition is proper food combining. In Ayurveda not all foods are compatible. Certain foods when eaten or cooked together can disturb the normal function of the digestive fire and promote the accumulation of ama (toxins) in the body. Various factors, such as the tastes, qualities, and energies of certain foods, as well as how long they take to digest, affect how well certain foods will combine. Heavy foods such whole grains, dairy, meats and starches don’t combine well with light foods such as fruit, which digest quicker. Another example, when sour and acidic fruits are combined with milk, which is sweet and cooling, this causes the milk to curdle and become heavy in the intestines. Ayurveda places great emphasis on the art of food combining.

Ayurveda encourages us to take responsibility for our health as much as possible by making appropriate changes in diet and lifestyle. What we eat and how we live on a daily basis can be our strongest allies in restoring and maintaining health. All other therapeutic measures will be strongly supported by this daily effort.

Along with a balanced diet, incorporating other healthy habits into a daily routine can prevent imbalance at its very root. A lifestyle that integrates regular eating and sleeping habits will bring discipline and help maintain the harmony of the doshas, thus promoting overall good health. An Ayurvedic clinician can provide dietary and lifestyle guidelines, as well as herbal nutrition, more specific to the individual constitution, doshic imbalance and situation of each person.

Inducting Rasayana Therapy in Our Daily Routine

Ayurveda , the oldest health science has eight branches. Rasayana (rejuvenation) is one of them. Rasa has different meanings like juice, taste, essence, flavor or emotion, but is not limited to any of these in itself. In therapeutic process Rasa is concerned with the conservation, transformation, and revitalization of energy. Rasa nourishes our body, boosts immunity and helps to keep the body and mind in best of health.

The Aim Of Rasayana

The Rasayana therapy enhances the qualities of rasa, enriches it with nutrients. With such enriched excellent Rasa, one attains longevity, memory, intelligence, freedom from disorder, youthfulness, excellence of luster, complexion & voice, optimum development of physique and sense organs, mastery over phonetics, respectability and brilliance.


Types of Rasayana

1. Types of rasayana preparations which can be consumed according to the needs.

a). Kamya Rasayanas

Kamya rasayanas are promoters of normal health. These boost body energy levels, immunity and general health.

■Pranakamya - romoter of vitality and longevity
■Medhakamya - Promoter of intelligence.
■Srikamya - Promoter of complexion.
b). Naimittika Rasayana

Naimittika rasayanas help to fight a specific disease.

2. Types of Rasayanas on the basis of place of Therapy

a). Kuti Praveshika Rasayana - Indoor Rasayana Therapy.b). Vatatapika Rasayana - Outdoor Rasayana Therapy.

3. Types of Rasayanas On the basis of diet and life styles.

a). Aushdha Rasayana - Drug Based Rasayana.b). Ahara Rasayana - Dietary Rasayana.c). Achara Rasayana - Lifestyle Rasayana.

Preparation for Rasayana Therapy

It is very essential for a person who wishes to undergo rasayana therapy to undergo samshodhana (detoxification) as a preparatory procedure. The samshodhana process detoxifies both body and mind. A detoxified body and mind is a like a clean cloth which readily absorbs the color in which it has been dipped unlike a soiled cloth which looks soiled even after coloring with best colors.

But when a person is not eligible for samshodhana or is not able to get samshodhana then he can also consume rasayana preparations which still boost the qualities of rasa in his body.

Effect of Rasayana Therapy

Rasayana therapy enriches nutritional quality of Rasa, enhances digestion and metabolism by normalizing agni or body fire, and promoting the competence of channels

Benefits of Rasayana

The main purpose of Rasayana therapy is to retard the aging process and to delay the degenerative process in the body.

■It enhances the intelligence, memory, body strength, luster of the skin, and modulation of voice
■It nourishes the blood, lymph, muscles, tissues, semen, and thus prevents Chronic degenerative disorders like Arthritis.
■Improves metabolic process and quality of body tissues and eradicates diseases of old age.
■Helps to attain optimal physical strength and sharpness of sense organs.
■Rasayana has marked action on reproductive organs and also nourishes shukra dhatu (semen).
■Rasayana nourishes the whole body and improves Immune system and hence the natural resistance to infection will be more.
By following Achara Rasayana one can be more Satvik and surge ahead in the spiritual field by his pure daily routines like speaking truth, not getting angry, by having control over his sense organs and calmness.

Natural Foods which Act as Rasayanas

Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula)

It is called as Haritaki because it cures all the diseases. It has been alternatively named as Abhaya with appreciation on its action since it bestows permanent long life to those who use it always. It is also known as Vijaya since it is a conqueror of all the diseases.

Fresh, round and heavy fruits of Haritaki are always best. The fruits should sink in water and also be devoid of any diseases. Such fruits are rich in taste and potency.

The fruit should be slit into two or three pieces and the seed should be removed. Such fruit pieces are cooked with four parts of water till they soften. Then they should be removed and allowed to cool. One part of ghee and one part of honey is added to this and kept aside for three days. It should be consumed later taking care of digestion power. After this rasayana is digested shstika sahli rice with cow's milk is consumed. By using this Rasayana one will be free from wrinkles, baldness and premature graying of hair. This gives very good memory power, eye sight and a long healthy life.

Ghee (Clarified Butter)

It is the best known Rasayana which is a very good rejuvenator and Longevity promoter. It also improves digestion, has soothing effects on the nervous system, improves the glow of skin, enhances memory power, helps to retain the grasped matters and increases ojus.

Ghee has a very good rate of absorption and it is a very good medium for transporting the nutrients of the food to the tissue.

So make sure that you use a spoon of Ghee to your daily food which is very easily and readily available to one and all. (This is not applicable to people who have high blood cholesterol).

Lemons

These are very rich source of Vitamin C and are known for there unique action like improving the resistance to cold, controlling the bleeding of gums, healing wounds and formation of scar tissue. The lemon acts as purifier and nourishing agent. Squeeze half lime in a glass of lukewarm water and add two tea spoons of honey to it. This helps to reduce weight when consumed in empty stomach at early hours of day.

Ginger

Ginger improves digestion, removes ama (body toxin which causes diseases). Hence it is accepted world wide as medicine. Always use dry ground ginger which is more concentrated in its effects and flavor. Sprinkle little dry ginger powder on a spoon of lemon juice and add little salt. This should be consumed forty-five minutes before meals to have a very good appetite and digestion.

Cumin Seeds

Cumin seeds helps in digestion, digests and expels and balances doshas.

To expel body toxins start the day with drinking Luke warm water with powdered cumin and ginger.

Green Gram

Green gram is very light to digest and are best for people who have digestion problems. They are among the best legumes for there supreme digestibility and health giving qualities. Those who prefer light food can opt for this food.

Dates and Figs

These are known excellent source of energy. They also help to build the body tissues and improve the hemoglobin percentage. Hence eat two to three dates or figs a day.

Almonds

These are nourishing and life-supporting. Eat five to six Almonds a day to build energy and strength. It is proved that Almonds helps in reducing the blood Cholesterol levels. Almonds are also known to help in improving memory.

Lassi

It is a beverage prepared by mixing two part of water and one part of yogurt. It can be made as a sweet beverage by adding little sugar or honey and little ground cardamom. For people who do not like sweet taste it can be made as a delicious salt and sour beverage by adding roasted cumin seeds and little salt. It is an excellent nutritive, digestive beverage and can be used during meals or taken as a desert after meal.

Seasonal Fruits

Always use the juicy fresh fruits which are available in the season. They are of high nutritive value and are body purifiers also.

Along with all these food and medicinal Rasayana one should follow Achara Rasayana (Moral Conduct) to have very good effects of rasayana

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

Stop Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Many people all over the world suffer from various anxiety and panic disorders and regularly live with panic and anxiety attacks. Enduring a panic attack is certainly not a joke. Whether you are the one experiencing an attack, or you are watching a friend or family member having this problem, you can feel physical, mental and emotional pain that is involved.

A panic attack sufferer will have many symptoms such as :

■almost paralyzing fear
■excessive sweating, hot flashes or sudden chills
■difficulty breathing, feeling as you can't get enough air
■muscle spasms, trembling or shaking,
■irregular heart rhythms
■fear of dying or becoming insane,
■may feel nauseated, dizziness, lightheadedness.
■numbness of fingers and toes
■chest tightening

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring severe panic attacks.

Anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by exaggerated anxiety and worry about all aspects of everyday life events even there is no obvious reasons for worry. Sufferer of this disorder tend to always expect disaster and cannot stop worrying about health, work, money,relationships, family, or any other activity in which they get involved. Over the time, their daily life becomes a constant state of fear, worry and dread which interferes with the persons´s daily functioning and all life- activities.

When these disorder(s) start to progress, the most common activities like traveling to a public place, driving a motor car or meeting new people can become impossible for sufferers from anxiety or panic attacks or an anxiety disorder. So many people come to the stage that they completely lock themselves in security of home for many months or years. Being imprisoned by fears is very typical symptom of panic and anxiety disorder.

Many or even all other mental psychological disorders are also caused by fear and stress which people carry within (obsessive-compulsive syndrome, PTSD, bipolar syndrome, schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit disorders, eating disorders, various personality disorders...) , so anxiety and lack of experience how to cope with anxiety is in the root of all mental disorders.

It is also known in psychology of diseases, that some people, instead of developing mental disorders, transfer their fears into the one body organ or one part of the body - after some time they develop physical illness on that place, which, if many cases results with surgical removal of that particular organ.

Cause of Anxiety and Panic Attacks

According to one theory of panic disorder, panic attacks occur when the body's normal "alarm system," the set of mental and physical mechanisms that allows a person to respond to a threat, tends to be triggered unnecessarily, when there is no danger.

Well, is it really so?

None of sufferer of panic attacks got this problem completely "out of blue sky". There is always deep psychological root behind them or/and some body imbalance.

Body Imbalance as Cause of Panic and Anxiety Attacks:

■Low level of Iron in blood or Calcium imbalance (especially insufficiency) can easily cause real panic attacks
■Zinc and Magnesium insufficiency can cause panic attacks
■Endocrine imbalance is most often cause of panic attacks - any problem with thyroid, pituitary gland, reproductive glands, pancreas (sugar in blood), adrenal glands - can be cause of intensive panic attacks.
■Lack of vitamins B (especially B12) can cause anxiety and panic attacks
■Lack of sleep and rest produces body/mind imbalance sometimes resulting in anxiety and panic attacks
■use of drugs, medicaments or alcohol is often producing anxiety and panic attacks
■various chronic diseases can be cause of anxiety and panic attacks
Psychological Roots of Panic and Anxiety Attacks:

■panic attacks often run in families where there is high level of stress, pressure and deep nervousness. While living in such family one person can develop all needed predispositions for developing panic or anxiety syndrome
■unhealed traumatic experiences act in the brain as constant pressure which all the time creates patterns of fear and panic, even when one is not completely aware of that. Over the time, body reacts with fear even if there . is no real reason for that - but happenings we remember from the past create constant tension and constant rush of adrenaline, so attack happens even when in present time everything seems to be OK.
■very often it happens the following: person who only once or twice experiences panic attack, becomes so afraid of them, that they start to occur again. Why is that? Panic attacks are high traumatic events for themselves, so they create in brain new traumatic patterns - due to the high emotional charge of attacks, brain starts automatically to attract and create new attacks - fear of them is signal for brain to create new one.
■A lot of people have panic attacks while there is something what is highly unfavourable in their life (f.E relationships, job, place where they live, financial situation etc). If they suppress and try to deny that fact and do not deal with real problem, after some time body will express this deep stress and dissatisfaction on very obvious way - in the form of anxiety or panic attack.
■Non-assertive and submissive behaviour
Lack of Assertiveness and Submissive Attitude Causing Panic Attacks and Anxiety

The way how one communicates and interacts with other people has big influence on accumulation of stress and fear in his/her body- which can result in panic and anxiety attacks (disorders).

Many of those that suffer from panic attacks engage in a passive style of communication or interactions with others, that is known as lack of assertiveness...

What is lack of assertiveness?

It is polite and always respectful communication style, actually too polite and too understanding, that also denies needs of person who performs it. This un-assertive, submissive way of communicating in combination with low self-esteem seems to contribute to panic attacks while being frequently present in those that are afflicted with panic attacks. Some other components of submissive communication are: apologetic, passive, indecisive, helpless, wailing, moaning.

Why panic and anxiety attacks happen in case of lack of assertiveness / submissive behaviour?

In this world, where many people tend to be aggressive and dominant, self-denial is psychological suicide, so highly intelligent body defend system reacts on submissive behaviour with high level of panic, trying to pass the message to the person, that such behaviour is inappropriate for survival, actually dangerous and self-destructive.

Inability to express assertive behaviour can happen due to the:

■type of job somebody performs (f.E many jobs require unnaturally polite and servile attitude from their performers)
■family role (f.E traditional family role of women and children - is submissive one, this is very probably a reason why women are twice more likely to suffer from panic attacks than men and why young adults are also more prone to panic attacks than middle aged people. )
■the way how people are nurtured in the childhood (no self-esteem developed)
■spiritual and religious beliefs if they include denial of one´s ego and blind obedience to the commands
■submissive behaviour can be performed in only one (major) segment of life, but can highly influence the health and other person`s activities
When person recognizes that submissive behaviour is causing anxiety, fears and panic attacks, only solution is to - to change behaviour and learn how to implement assertive communication and attitude instead of being submissive.

What IS assertive communication?


Assertive communication is the ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest and direct way with respect for oneself. It recognises our rights whilst respecting the rights of others. It allows us to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions without judging or blaming other people. And it allows us to constructively confront and find a mutually satisfying solution where conflict exists. Assertiveness is a form of communication in which needs or wishes are stated clearly with respect for oneself and the other person in the interaction. Assertive communication is distinguished from passive communication (in which needs or wishes go unstated) and aggressive communication (in which needs or wishes are stated in a hostile or demanding manner).

Medications for Panic and Anxiety

Medications for panic and anxiety, prescribed by medicine, when used on regular basis, never cure anybody from anxiety - they just give temporary relief and deeply suppress the fears. Fears suppressed by medications have tendency to accumulate on subconscious level and in every cell in the body, they also grow bigger, while person under medications is continuing to deny real problem, so sooner or later these fears will explode again - either when person tries to stop using medications, or while person is still taking medications, in which case Doctors prescribes new cocktail (which will also solve nothing and create new amount of unbearing anxiety and panic).

In addition to above mentioned, many medications prescribed for panic and anxiety create depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and panic by themselves.

There is also a lot of prescribed medications, for various chronic or acute health problems, that create anxiety or panic as common side effect. (corticosteroids, birth control pills....just to name the few, list is very long, everyone should check the list of side effects while experiencing any mental and emotional problem while being on some medications.)

Many people try to cope with anxiety with the help of alcohol and various drugs. These substances do not heal - they also just create temporary relief but on long term basis they create new fears and new problems.

There are many natural ways to treat this problem, from various remedies and supplements, to simple breathing techniques. Accumulated fears very rarely go away on their own.

Healing Panic and Anxiety disorder

Fears are normal part of our emotions - our nervous system produce that tension to protect us from the dangers of outer world how we could get clear message that we should escape from dangerous situation. Without fears we could not survive, so reasonable amount of instinctive fears is normal part of life and does not represent any disorder. The problem arises when person becomes overloaded with anxiety and fears , which have tendency to create the new ones (logical or illogical, conscious or subconscious), so panic attacks are clear signal that something is happening what is presenting danger for - emotional, psychological (ego-identity), mental or even physical survival of the person who tries to deny or suppress that.

Everyone has fears. The deepest fears people could have are that ones connected with survival, materialization of life-goals, fears about what future might bring.

In majority of cases, there is no "quick and instant way" of healing panic and anxiety disorder. Everyone should find the way how to cope with his/her own fears. Natural healing should go step by step, because deep psychological self-healing must be involved in the process - people usually deny real roots of their fears and so often it takes months or years that they recognize real problem that is affecting them, especially if it is connected with unhealed traumatic events in the past or real problems in the present time which threaten ´their psychological identity. Self-denial and denial of problems and traumatic events is the most common habit of anxious people, due to that, healing cannot go quickly.

There is many natural remedies which can help people to strenghen the body, heal the nerves and improve brain chemistry which leads them to fear as:

■GABA - aminoacid that help body to relax and have positive influence on mood
■5-HTP aminoacids, that help body to produce more serotonin, "hormon of joy"
■Vitamin B Complex (vitamins B are essential for healing the nerves),
■Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron...
■Royal Jelly can do the miracles to some people to improve their body and brain chemistry.
Breathing Exercizes For Managing Panic and Anxiety

Breathing is extremely important for self-help during the panic attacks. The trick is to learn deep abdominal breathing - that way of breathing is helpful to many people to stop progress of panic attack and even more - as successful prevention to attacks.

Regular practicing of breathing and/or Yoga exercizes strenghten body and mind - so they can help everyone to start to cope better with life and gain more courage and balance, as well as one learns to keep focus on positivity.

Music has one of the most healing effects on body and mind, especially when is connected with sounds of the nature and can help everyone to feel happy, relaxed and secure.

Healing anxiety is very challenging on the most positive way. It requires a lot of self-analysing, learning importance of keeping focus on positivity in the life, learning various relaxing or meditation techniques which can help person to heal traumatic experiences, learning how to establish gratitude and trust towards life .

Mental and emotional positivity is so important when one wants to establish life in which fears will not prevail - negative thoughts and beliefs create the fears, positive ones - create pleasant life-circumstances.

Anxious people are mostly frightened of life itself, because of deep insecurity they feel. Majority of us nobody taught how to live happy and how to cope with life as it is. Majority of people are not adequately prepared for circumstances that they face while living their lives. Without adequate psychological "weapons" and emotional "tools", many feel that they are just thrown into cruel jungle of modern world. Nothing strange that these people start to develop anxiety and panic and start to avoid new challenges in life .

Only solution is - learning how to live and be happy and this is never-ending process.

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Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

Homeopathic Remedies for Dogs

If you would like to avoid a trip to the vet and try some natural remedies for your pampered pooch then you might want to consider using a homeopathic remedy to cure their ailments. Homeopathy for dogs works just like it does with humans in that it helps stimulate the dog's own natural immune system to fight back against the illness.

Most of the over the counter homeopathy medicines for pets are much milder than for humans and they do not add any chemicals or harmful additives. However you still need to consult a vet who specialises in homeopathic remedies to ensure you use the correct dosages.

The most common illnesses that these medicines can treat include skin irritations, arthritis, allergies and intestinal disorders. However they can also be used for bites, stings and minor cuts and abrasions to heal the wound fast.

Homeopathy Medicines for Dogs

Some of the more popular homeopathic remedies for dogs include:

Aconite (Aconitum Nappellus) - used for fever, colds and preventing shock in the case of an emergency.

Apis (Apis Mellifica) - for bites, stings and allergic reactions on the skin.

Arnica (Arnica Montana) - bruising, bumps, muscle injuries.

Arsenicum (Arsenicum Album) - vomiting, diarrhoea, food poisoning or other conditions related to toxins entering your dog's system.

Hepar Sulph (Hepar Sulphuris) - for inflammatory conditions such as skin, gum or ear infections, abscesses and cuts that you fear might get infected.

Ledum (Ledum Palustre) - Cuts, bites and other deep puncture wounds to the body.

Nux (Nux Vomica) - If your dog has ingested a toxic substance this can be given on the way to the vet to help prolong your pet's life.

Phosphorus - For haemorrhaging or excessive bleeding (either from the body, the mouth or the anus).

Rhus Tox (Rhus Toxicodendron) - Arthritis and other joint pain conditions.

Silica (Silicea) - If your dog is not a great healer, this will help heal skin conditions like cysts, ulcers and abscesses. Is great for pets with sensitive skin.

Are Homeopathic Treatments for your Dog Safe?

Generally speaking they are safer than regular conventional medicine however you still need to use them with care. You want to make sure that you give your pet the correct dosage so that they work safely and effectively.

Usually you will get a prescription from your homeopathic veterinarian who will give you the dosage in the form of pellets which you can give them directly to your dog or use the powder mixed with water.

Most treatment's require that you give it to your dog around 30 minutes to an hour prior to their meal.

You should see an improvement in your dog's condition within a few days of treatment.

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Text and History of Ayurveda A Hindu Heritage of Healing

The Origins - The Myths and Legends

Indian art of healing is almost as old as the religion of Hinduism itself. Āyurveda attained a state of reverence and is classified as one of the Upa-Vedas - a subsection - attached to the Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda contains not only the magic spells and the occult sciences but also the Āyurveda that deals with the diseases, injuries, fertility, sanity and health. However, the secrets of life were revealed even in the first Veda, the Rg Veda. The five elements of creation, the Pancha-maha-bhuta, namely the earth, water, fire, air and ether form the basis and essence of all life forms. Out of these arise the three doshas, namely Vata, Pitta and Kahpa. These three doshas unfortunately have been crudely translated as air, bile and phlegm. But the Āyurveda texts, which treat all diseases based on the disequilibrium of these three doshas, are lot more complex. The knowledge consists of three aspects of Āyurveda known as the Tri-Sutras - cause of illness (etiology), symptomatology of disease process and treatment of disease.

Āyurveda incorporates all forms of lifestyle in therapy. Thus yoga, aroma, meditation, gems, amulets, herbs, diet, astrology, color and surgery etc. are used in a comprehensive manner in treating patients. Treating important and sensitive spots on the body called Marmas is described both in Āyurveda and in Dhanur Veda (another Upa-Veda dealing with martial arts and military science). Massages, exercises and yoga are recommended.

The venerable state of the art of healing was enhanced by the myths and legends of the god of healing, Divodasa Dhanvantari, a patron deity of medicine. The science of medicine was said to have been taught to the sages by Divodasa Dhanvantari, who later wrote them down in the text of Āyurveda. According to another legend, the knowledge of healing originated from the creator Brahma himself, who taught it to Daksha (protector of all beings), who in turn taught it to Indra. When diseases and death became rampant a gathering of the great sages was held in the Himalayas. Sage Bharadvaja volunteered to learn the craft from Indra. He then taught the science to his pupil Ātreya, a legendary healer, who then transmitted this knowledge through his disciples. Compilations of this knowledge are called the Āyurveda. Other patron saints of medicine were the twins called Ashvins, who were patrons of eyesight and were physicians that treated the gods themselves.

Ātreya held a competition among his six disciples namely Agnivesha, Bhela, Jatūkarna, Parāshara, Hārīta, and Kshārapāni. Each established a school of his own and taught the traditions of Āyurveda. Agnivesha Samhita was the most

Texts of Āyurveda

Compilations of Ātreya and Agnivesha are lost. The knowledge we now have is by three surviving texts of Charaka, Sushruta and Vaghbata. Charaka (1st century A.D.) based his Samhita on Agnivesha Samhita. Sushruta (4th century A.D.) based his Samhita on the Dhanvantari School of Āyurveda. Vaghbata (5th century A.D.) compiled the third set of major texts called Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Sangraha. The former is more succinct and is based on both Ātreya and Dhanvantari schools. Ātreya's School of Physicians and Dhanvantari's School of Surgeons became the basis of Āyurveda and helped organize and systematically classify into braches of medicine and surgery.

Sixteen major supplements (Nighantus) were written in the ensuing years - Dhanvantari Bahavaprakasha, Raja and Shaligrama to name a few - that helped refine the practice of Āyurveda. New drugs were added and ineffective ones were discarded. Expansion of application, identification of new illnesses and finding substitute treatments seemed to have been an evolving process. Close to 2000 plants that were used in healing diseases and abating symptoms were identified in these supplements.

Dridhabala in the 4th century revised the Charaka Samhita. The texts of Sushruta Samhita were revised and supplemented by Nagarjuna in the 6th century in a treatise called Upa-hridaya.

There developed eight branches/divisions of Āyurveda:

1.Kaya-chikitsa (Internal Medicine)
2.Shalakya Tantra (surgery and treatment of head and neck, Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology)
3.Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
4.Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
5.Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
6.Kaumara bhritya (Pediatrics)
7.Rasayana (science of rejuvenation or anti-aging)
8.Vajikarana (the science of fertility).
The dates of the authors are still very controversial. Some historians place the lifetimes of Ātreya, Charaka and Sushruta in the Vedic period, around 600 B.C. These are based on the references to the authors that seem to have surfaced in earlier texts than the proposed dates mentioned in this article. When the history is completely rewritten and there is no more controversy, everyone hopefully can agree upon a constant date. Until then we should not worry about the timeline and only admire the scientific approach these ancient authors followed, striving to perfect the art of healing that could rival a modern scientific research.

Many modern medications were derived from plants alluded to in Āyurveda texts. The oft cited example is that of Rauwolfia serpentina that was used to treat headache, anxiety and snakebite. Its derivative is used in treating blood pressure today.

Two areas of contribution of Indian physicians were in treating snakebite and prevention of small pox. Detailed account of steps to be followed after a poisonous snake bite including application of tourniquet and lancing the site by connecting the two fang marks and sucking the poison out is described. A decoction of the medicinal plant Rauwolfia serpentina is next applied to the wound.

A form of vaccination for small pox was commonly practiced in India long before the West discovered the method. A small dose of pus from the pustule of small pox lesion was inoculated to develop resistance. Such methods of building immunity were practiced in other fields as well, against other diseases in order to develop antibodies against the infecting organism or a poison.

Charaka Samhita

Charaka was said to have been in the court of the Kushana king, Kanishka during the 1st century A. D. Some authors date him as far back as the 6th century B.C. during Buddha period. The sacred trust between physician and patient was held in high esteem by Charaka and patient confidentiality, similar to the Hippocratic Oath, was deemed the proper conduct for a practicing physician. Charaka also told us that the word Āyurveda was derived from Āyus, meaning life and Veda. Nevertheless, according to Charaka the word Āyus connotes more than just life. Āyus denotes a combination of the body, sense organs, mind and soul. The principles of treatment in Charaka's teachings took a holistic approach that treated not just the symptoms of the disease but the body, mind and soul as single entity.

Compiled by Charaka in the form of discussions and symposiums held by many scholars, Charaka Samhita is the most ancient and authoritative text that has survived. Written in Sanskrit in verse form, it has 8400 metrical verses. Following the Ātreya School of Physicians, the Samhita deals mainly with the diagnosis and treatment of disease process through internal and external application of medicine. Called Kaya-chikitsa (internal medicine), it aims at treating both the body and the spirit and to strike a balance between the two. Following diagnosis, a series of methods to purify both the body and spirit with purgation and detoxification, blood letting and emesis as well as enema (known as Pancha-karma) are utilized. The emphasis seems to be to tackle diseases in the early phase or in a preventative manner before the first symptoms appear.

Āyurvedic diagnosis and treatment is traditionally divided into eight branches (sthanas) based on the approach of a physician towards a disease process. Charaka described them thus:

1. sūtra-sthāna, general principles2. nidāna-sthāna, pathology3. vimāna-sthāna, diagnostics4. sharīra-sthāna, physiology and anatomy5. indriya-sthāna, prognosis 6. chikitsā-sthāna, therapeutics 7. kalpa-sthāna, pharmaceutics 8. siddhi-sthāna, successful treatment.

Detailed accounts of various methods of diagnosis, study of various stages of symptoms and the comprehensive management of debilitating diseases like diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, asthma and arthritic conditions are to be found in the Charaka Samhita. There is even a detailed account of fetal development in the mother's womb, which can rival descriptions of modern medical text books. Charaka lists more than 500 remedies in his Samhita.

Charaka also wrote details about building a hospital. A good hospital should be located in a breezy spot free of smoke and objectionable smells and noises. Even the equipment needed including the brooms and brushes are detailed. The personnel should be clean and well behaved. Details about the rooms, cooking area and the privies are given. Conversation, recitations and entertainment of the patient were encouraged and said to aid in healing the ailing patient.

Sushruta Samhita

Sushruta was a surgeon in the Gupta courts in the 4th century A.D. He followed Dhanvantari School of Surgery and is one of the earliest surgeons of recorded history. Though Indian mythology is full of accounts of healing through transplantation of head and limbs as well as eye balls, Sushruta Samhita is the first authentic text to describe methodology of plastic surgery, cosmetic and prosthetic surgery, Cesarean section and setting of compound fractures. Sushruta had in his possession an armamentarium of 125 surgical instruments made of stone, metal and wood. Forceps, scalpels, trocars, catheters, syringes, saws, needles and scissors were all available to the surgeon. Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery of the nose) was first presented to the world medical community by Sushruta in his Samhita, where a detailed method of transposition of a forehead flap to reconstruct a severed nose is given. Severed noses were common form of punishment. Torn ear lobes also were common due to heavy jewelry worn on ear lobes. Sushruta described a method of repair of the torn ear lobes. Fitting of prosthetics for severed limbs were also commonly performed feats.

Sushruta wrote, 'Only the union of medicine and surgery constitutes the complete doctor. The doctor who lacks knowledge of one of these branches is like a bird with only one wing.' While Charaka concentrated on the kaya-chikitsa (internal medicine), Sushruta's work mainly expounded on the Shalya Tantra (surgery).

The Samhita contains mostly poetry verses but also has some details in prose. 72 different ophthalmic diseases and their treatment are mentioned in great detail. Pterygium, glaucoma and treatment of conjunctivitis were well known to Sushruta. Removal of cataract by a method called couching, wherein the opaque lens is pushed to a side to improve vision was practiced routinely. Techniques of suturing and many varieties of bandaging, puncturing and probing, drainage and extraction are detailed in the manuscript. Sushruta lists more than 700 herbal medicines.

Ashtanga Hridaya

Vaghbata in the 5th century compiled two sets of texts called Ashtanga Sangraha and Ashtanga Hridaya. The latter of the two combines both the Ātreya and Dhanvantari schools. It details the Kaya-chikitsa of Charaka Samhita and the various surgical procedures of Sushruta Samhita. Exhaustive descriptions of kapha, vayu and pitta are given. However, the emphasis seems to be more on the physiological rather than the spiritual aspects of the disease processes. Ashtanga Hridaya is written in prose whereas the Ashtanga Sangraha is in poetry form.

The Ancient Indian Physician

Originally only Brahmins were practicing physicians. Later people from other castes became well versed in the art of healing and a term Vaidya came to be applied to the practitioners. Merely by their art and knowledge, the physicians gained high social status regardless of their caste of birth. The court physician was of political importance and sat on the right side of the throne, an important symbolic place. Though the physician, patient, the nurse and the medicine were all important in curing a disease, the physician was thought to be the most important.

The codes of conduct for physicians and medical students were laid down by the texts of Laws of Manu. The poor and downtrodden were to be treated free of charge. Others were charged according to their ability to pay.

The physician was expected to behave in an exemplary manner, conforming to the highest ideals of professional and personal life. His dress, manner and speech were expected to be beyond reproach. Medical education was arduous, consisting of many years of sacrifice learning the art of healing. Visiting the sick, collecting herbs and preparation of drugs, memorizing the Vedic texts of Āyurveda, performing procedures on dead animals, melons, and leather bottles and bladders were part of the training. These exercises helped refine both theoretical and practical training of the student. When finally the student is deemed ready to practice on his own, he is certified by the ruler. The system closely resembles that of the Hippocratic Oath of Greece.

How much influence Greece had on Indian medicine is hard to say. We know that astrology and astronomy were both greatly influenced by the Greeks (solar calendar, for example). Most of the texts available to us were written after the Greeks made their appearance (Alexander in 3rd century B.C.) and stayed in the Northwest India for several decades. How much the Indian physician learned from the Greek counterpart and vice versa is a question not answered.

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80, Chowringhee Road
Calcutta - 700002
India
http://www.altmedworld.net

The Best Herbal and Homeopathic Antibiotics and Antiviral Remedies

People always used herbs and other products of nature as efficient way of dealing with inflammation, bacterial and viral infections and as disease-prevention - for strenghtening immunity.

The first modern antibiotic, famous Penicilin, is actually product of nature, it is derived from Penicillium funghi that is common kind of mold that grows on bread and fruit and it was in use as a part of folk medicine for centuries before was officialy discovered by Scotish scientist Robert Flamming in 1928.

Discovery of Penicillin was very important for the improving health of humanity - this antibiotic helped so many people to get cured from, up till then, non-curable diseases - especially gonorrhea, syphilis, meningitis, diphtheria, rheumatoid fever, pneumonia and Staphylococcus's infections - Penicillin saved very many lives.

In the meantime, things went in the wrong direction - when Penicillin was invented it was meant to be used for very serious health conditions only, but very soon people started to misuse it and overuse it, so many bacterias developed resistance on Penicillin and many people became allergic. Over the years many new other antibiotics were invented, that also have very serious side-effects Penicillin never had, and medical experts started to prescribe them literally for every condition that might include some infection or inflammation .

Today many people consume various antibiotics on the same way they eat candies and start to take them in the earliest childhood, usually without any need, as result their immune system becomes very week while not getting chance to fight infection on it´s own. Today we can find all sorts of antibiotics in all meats and diary products that are given to the cattle against infections. No wonder why so many people suffer from immunodefficiency.Officials from the USA National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control have reported that the overuse of antibiotics in medicine has created a real epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so today antibiotics are not helpful as they are supposed to be.

There are two types of antibiotics:

■that ones which are derived from the living organisms - like Penicillin or aminoglycosides
■and syntetic ones, as the sulfonamides, quinolones, oxazolidinones
Synthetic antibiotics have much more serious side effects on the body then the first group that is derived from the natural sources, and are much more risky for use.

Most common side effects of antibiotics - are gastrointestinal problems and yeast outgrow that is not possible to control. Weakness of immunity is also common side-effect, so you become more vulnerable on other infections. Many people develop chronic fatigue after misuse of antibiotic.. They also kill all good bacteria you have in the body, and through that cause major weekness of all inner organs. Antibiotics are very toxical for the liver.

In so many cases, pure natural alternatives give us the best option to fight all sorts of infections we get during the life. Immune system needs some challenges to become stronger and develop antibodies, natural methods help immune system to quickly solve problem with infections without causing any side-effects. Medical antibiotics should stay reserved for the serious health conditions only and should never be taken more often then every two years. Even if you really need them, you should ask your Dr to prescribe you those medical antibiotics that are derived from natural sources and avoid syntetic ones if possible.

Antibiotics should be always used together with probiotics, that strenghten your beneficial bacterial population you need to be healthy, so they will cause less damage to the body. It would be also wisely if antibiotics are needed, to combine them with natural cures and continue with natural cures after use of antibiotics.

Herbal Antibiotics

Herbal antibiotics are extremely powerful.

There is story from history of herbal antibiotics - in medieval Europe, plague was common killer. There was no cure, not effective profilaxe known, people were dying one after another by deadly infection. Some of them managed to survive, among them there were four thieves in France who were robbing bodies of death or dying ones whithout any fear of plague while being completely protected with all sorts of antibiotic herbs - they consumed them and also soaked their clothes in the mixture of the same herbs. The magical herbs they used as anti-plague remedy were lavender, thyme, rosemary, sage and garlic).

There are certain rules with use of herbs as antibiotics:

■they should be used as soon as problem arises, not when infection already became too serious
■herbal antibiotics should be also used as prevention, not only for treatment, on that way one might never need to use medical antibiotics
■it is very important that one listens his body well so is able to adjust dosage of herbs to the real needs of the body
■not everyone reacts well on all herbs - what is cure for one person it is not necessarily the cure for somebody else.

Sage (Salvia Officinalis) is one of the mightiest herbal antibiotics that in addition has strong antiseptic and antiviral properties. Sage has bitter taste, but adding sugar or honey solves the problem. This magnificent herb was in medieval time called "heals all", and is very helpful in healing so many health conditions - and especially as main remedy or support in treating all bacterial and viral infections as well as antiinflammation remedy.

For healing infections it can be used as tea, prepared as syrup or extract, alone or in combination with some other herbs. It can also be applied on skin for treating the skin infections and wounds.

Garlic As Antibiotic

Garlic is also well -known and very powerfull natural antibiotic that has strong antiviral properties. Adding garlic to regular meals, prevents so many diseases and infections. Dosage for healing infections can be more then 10 cloves per day (cut on small pieces or as juice). Because of smell, many people decide to use it in caplets. It is great for treating all bacterial and viral conditions. It cleans blood, strenghtenes immunity and improves intestinal health what no syntesized antibiotic would ever do.

Garlic lowers the blood pressure, so for people who have to low BP garlic is not nessessarly the ideal solution.

List of other herbal antibiotic is very long:

Some of the most known are:

■Olive leaf - very strong antibacterial and antiviral remedy.
■lavender
■tumeric
■thyme
■rosemary
■grapefruit seeds
■Echinacea
to name only few.

Nature is so full of gifts that are here to help us.

Homeopathic Antibiotics

Homeopathy knows very many remedies that work much quicker and better then any known antibiotic, much quicker then any herb, while not causing any possible side-effect, only improvement. There is group homeopathic of remedies called nosodes that are prepared exactly from the bacteria, viruses or other parasits they need to treat (very dilluted and potensized what gives them the big strength) and they can target and reasonably quickly destroy any harmful microorganism in human body.

Most usually they need to be mixed with other homeopathic remedies for improving immunity, and more general ones for treating the infections and inflammation (like f.E the remedy Gunpowder) to be fully successfull. There are also homeopathic remedies, that are derived from various antibiotics, without any side-effects, and that can be included in healing. The trick of success in homeopathics as antibiotics is also in adequate potency and in needed dosage - many people need higher dosages then some homeopaths usually recommend and certainly more then one remedy in order to have full effect in healing. Not everyone needs the same dosage, potency strength, neither the same remedies. Positive attitude towards healing is also needed, as well as one´s life-style needs to be adjusted to support the healing process and not to work against it.

Homeopathics can be used as cure from side-effects of regular antibiotic use or misuse and be taken together with medical antibiotics to neutralize their side-effects. They can be taken together with herbs - they are able to tremendously improve healing. They can be used as prevention against infectious diseases (prophylaxes ) - what medical antibiotics never should be used for (!).

Psychology of Infections and Inflammations - Influence of Emotions on Immune System

Many infections and inflammations people develop in the body have various causes underneath like:

■low immunity because of unhealthy style of life, misuse of medications, unhealthy food full of hormones and antibiotics etc.
■psychological cause - prolonged inflammation or infection that is constantly repeating and never healed is most often connected with inner dissatisfaction with some other aspects of life (job, relationship, unhealed traumas etc.). If psychological cause is not understood, such type of inflammation or infection cannot be healed for good - nor with natural cures neither with antibiotics.
■fear from micro-organisms and belief that they are always more powerful then human immune system . This fear killed many people then any disease itself, especially mass hysteria caused by some new or old virus or bacteria.
When somebody is not content with life - doors to diseases are widely open. People are frightened from bacterias, viruses, parasites and other microorganisms, and tend to forget that good immunity is product of inner balance and bad one is product of stress and lack of love.

One of the most important organs that works for immune system is - endocrine gland thymus, which is located in the chest, two inches above the heart . This little gland helps body to produce all needed antibodies for healing infectious diseases. But this endocrine gland is highly sensitive on feelings - the truth is that thymus can work only when we are content and feel love. If not, thymus does not perform it´s duty at all.

This tricky and highly sensitive gland was researched form scientists and there were for many years convinced that thymus can work only in young people, and that it´s activity naturally stops some time after puberty. Of course, research was performed only on ill people, otherwise this would mean that after puberty none of us is able to create enough of antibodies,or none at all, but findings of research certainly misguided scientists, who also did not research influence of stress, feelings and traumatic events on human body and it´s functions. Due to the such type of researches, they started to treat thymus as more or less useless, and encouraged them to continue to develop much stronger medications in order to kill all possible microorganisms, instead of letting body to develop natural defence systems.

Infections are caused by the fact that body is not able to develop antibodies to the microorganisms - what bring us back to the thymus.

Every type of immunodeficiency (what means - low immunity) starts with inability of thymus to produce cells that kill micro-enemies of the body:

■If thymus does not work, microorganisms win the battle.
■if thymus works well, infection or inflammation are short and they finish on their own because antibodies are developed, or so often there is no infection or inflammation at all.
As any endocrine gland - thymus is sensitive on hormones we produce, and hormones are - FEELINGS. Well, everyone who is in love knows that love brings health and protects from any illness.

Although for self-defence of the body thymus is of main importance, immune system is connected with health of all endocrine glands (including liver and spleen), nerves that are everywhere in the body (even in the intestines), health of blood and lymphatic system but all good or bad that happens in human body is influenced by power that our emotions and thoughts have on our health. As mentioned before, our hormones are literally our feelings and all important body communication is performed exclusively through the hormones . They are messengers to the body who give orders to it´s organs - "do this", " do not do that", "work stronger", "take the rest", "be healthy", "destroy yourself" - if we are constantly full or fear, anger, stress and dissatisfaction, we push our body and immune system to work against us, because imbalanced hormones created by our negative attitudes and feelings bring destructive messages to the body.

Microorganisms are not enemies they kill us - we are the ones who help them to do that and give them the power they do not have. If we are afraid of them - we send messages to the body that there are stronger that natural defence of the body, so body immediately gives up the battle against them and start with self-destruction by letting microorganisms to invade all cells and body organs.

Our psychological mechanisms have exclusive influence on health of our bodies, so if we let ourselves to be led by love for ourselves and not by fear from micro-organisms, we will be able to choose our cures wisely.

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