Ayurveda Basics: How to use it to heal yourself

Most will agree that allopathy is simple and quick; if you have headache, take an aspirin (or something stronger). However, in India, there are several homemade remedies, and most of them are Ayurvedic remedies.

The advantage of using Ayurveda for healing is that it uses natural ingredients, many of them are already part of the Indian diet. Most Indians understand and trust Ayurveda, just as the Chinese practice traditional Chinese medicine.

For ages, people in India have relied on Ayurvedic practices to heal everything – from infertility to digestive issues. Now, this ancient healing system that originated in India has gained popularity worldwide. In the Western world, Ayurveda therapies and practices have now been integrated in general wellness applications, and in some cases, in medical use as well.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda comprises of two words, Ayu and Veda; Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge or science.

Ayurveda is an Indian art of healing which is as old as the religion of Hinduism. Vedas, the holy books of Hindus mentions the detailed knowledge of spiritual insights and self realization of human life. Ayurveda is a sub section attached to the Atharva Veda which gives detailed knowledge about the diseases, injuries, sanity and health. All these secrets of life were discussed on the basis of three doshas – vitta, pitta and kapha and their cure with various herbs.

How is Ayurveda different from modern medicine?

• In Ayurveda, every individual is unique and there is no diet or lifestyle routine that works for everyone.
• Ayurveda focuses on prevention, provides guidance on how to maintain physical and emotional health.
• Food and lifestyle routines are considered the most important medicine. If you come to an Ayurvedic doctor with a complaint, you are more likely to leave with a recipe than with a prescription for pills.

Branches of Ayurveda (Ashtangas)

1. Kaaya cikitsa(general medicine)
2. Baala cikitsa(paediatrics)
3. Graha cikitsa(idiopathic)
4. Saalaakya cikitsa(ophthalmology & otorhinolaryngology)
5. Salya cikitsa(surgery)
6. Damshtra cikitsa(clinical toxicology)
7. Jaraa cikitsa(rejuvenative therapy)
8. Vrsha cikitsa(reproductive medicine)

Basic Principles of Ayurveda

Ayurveda views the world in light of three constitutional principles: vata, pitta, and kapha. Learn more about these Ayurvedic body types.

Ayurveda and Beauty

Beauty in Ayurveda is referred as “subhanga karanam. Ayurveda believes that the beauty of secret lies in merging our inner self with our outer self.

According to Ayurveda, outer beauty is a reflection of lifestyle, healthy eating habits, and good health. Each type of body structure, whether big, medium or thin, can be beautiful as long as good health exists. Ayurveda believes that you are what you eat, and you are what you digest. It is all about diet. A clear complexion begins with efficient nutrition, proper digestion, absorption of nutrients, and normal elimination.

Inner beauty draws its sustenance from the spiritual wealth within our self that is, our spiritual qualities, mental abilities, inner reserves of strength, and emotional states. Loving and accepting all, which is positive in life, is what we call as truly beautiful in Ayurveda. True beauty comes from a peaceful, calm interior, and relaxed mind.

Ayurveda for Obesity

Ayurveda for treating obesity, cholesterol, helping fat loss.

Obesity or fat is called Med in Ayurveda. Its an essential ingredient for the human body but when it starts increasing disproportionately, the resultant weight gain gives rise to various kinds of diseases.

That is why its important to stop unnecessary fat accumulation.

Excess fat accumulation can happen for various reasons – absence of physical work, eating excess of oil and sweet, and heredity. Excess fat increases pressure on heart, liver, kidney.

Ayurveda talks about ingredients that can reduce weight and fight obesity. These are Triphala, Gokharu, Kaanchnar, Shuddh, Guggul, Dry Ginger Powder, Pepper, Chitrak, Pimpali and Vidang.

These ingredients increase the body’s capability to digest fat, which decreases the accumulation of fat. Generally in a month one begins to feel light weight, but it takes three to four months for the body to be able to digest the extra fats and see results.

Regular exercise is advised. Quantity of oil, butter, sweets, rice, brinjal, potatoes, salt and sugar in diet should be reduced.

Ayurveda for Strength

We get the power to do our daily activities from our muscles, so it is necessary to take care of the muscles of all our body parts.

Symptoms of weak muscles: Loss of Muscular strength and its motivating action in any group, rickets, weight loss, general debility, paralytic conditions, decreased immunity.

Causes of poor muscle strength: Old age, chronic diseases, inadequate food, excess spicy foods, irregular lunch hours, Smoking, alcohol consumption, decreased immunity because of different diseases, all above are the causes for loss of muscular power.

Ayurvedic remedy for better muscle strength & tone. This blend of select herbs and oils helps tighten and firm muscles with regular use.

You get Ayurvedic muscle tonic to build muscular power, to strengthen the muscles of the joints & bones. It’s also great for sportsmen and extremely useful for growing children. It helps to fight fatigue & weakness, control weight loss, and develop better immunity power.

Besides its also important to indulge in physical exercises like Yoga, Walking, Suryanamaskar for better overall strength.

For good overall health, its also important to have nutritional food, and avoid stale food, alcohol, smoking, sleeping late at night.

Ayurveda for Intelligence

To shape a career, to succeed in competitive exams, it’s important to study but its also important to have better concentration, memory, and comprehension. And Ayurveda can help here also.

Herbs like Bramhi, Shankpushpi, Ashwagandha, which are mentioned in Ayurveda, are known to enhance the above mentioned qualities – related to intelligence and memory. Herbs like Vekhand, jatamaansi, badishep provide stability. Tulasi gives more power to the brain.

If consumed for a considerable amount of time, you can hope to achieve great success in exams.

Ayurveda also endorses the saying “Early to bed and early to rise”. It says in the morning, you should get up before 6am (ideal time to wake up) and you should hit the bed before 11pm (ideal time to sleep.) Make sure your child follows it to stay more attentive and focused.

Ayurveda for Cough & Common Cold

There are many Indians who experiencing Chronic cough and cold, asthma. Sinusitis, allergic rhinitis. Sore throat. Nasal congestion.

Ayurveda can help provide relief from problems such as pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.

Kadha prepared with lemongrass and tulsi used to be a quick homemade remedy for the common cold and cough in the olden days. Most ayurveda-based treatments use herbs like ginger, pepper, cinnamon & leaves of parijatak, bel, tulsi & lemongrass. This remedy is useful against the common cold & increases resistance power.

Here are some more home-made, ayurvedic remedies to cure cough & common cold.

• Gargle with warm, salty water two to three times a day
• Glass of warm water mixed with one tea spoon of lemon juice and one tea spoon of honey can be taken 2-3 times a day.
• You can have Cofco twice a day

Ayurveda for Indigestion

Ayurvedic approach (home remedies) for Indigestion.

Do you experience a Decreased appetite, Feeling of fullness, Bitter taste in mouth or coated tongue, Belching or gas?

In that case, you could be suffering from Indigestion.

Here are some home-made, ayurvedic remedies to cure indigestion (peptic ulcers, loss of appetite and heartburn).

• Pomegranate juice help balance the acid in the stomach.
• Fresh aloe vera gel straight from the leaf is also quite effective for indigestion.
• Baked fennel seeds are also recommended to help settle the stomach and balance digestion.
• Take Pachak Vati tablets twice a day for 1 month

Ayurveda for Acidity

If your lifestyle includes irregular meals, frequent junk food, late-night work, drinks, night-shifts, etc., you are likely to suffer from acidity.

Here are some symptoms of acidity – Burning sensation, nausea, vomiting, sour or bitter belching. Ulcers in mouth, gastritis. Severe headache. Itching all over the body.

Ayurvedic treatments (home remedies) to cure Acidity:

• Crush two pods of cardamom (with or without the skin), boil the powder in water and drink the cooled juice for instant relief.
• Elaichi is also known to stimulate digestion and relieve stomach spasms.
• You could take pentacid tablets (2 tablets twice a day dor 1 month)

Ayurveda for Diabetes

Those suffering from diabetes experience an increased level of blood sugar and require frequent use of Insulin which can have ill effects on important organs like Kidney, eyes, may cause late healing of wounds, etc.

Ayurveda prescribes natural / Herbal treatments for controlling Type 1 / Type 2 diabetes.

For these symptoms of Diabetes, Ayurveda has prescribed the use of ingredients like Saptchakra, jambu beej churn, Haridra Naag, Vang, Jasad, Madhunashini.

Blood sugar can be controlled effectively by taking a proportionate mixture of Ayurvedic medicines regularly.

Ayurveda for Kidney (Urinary System) Diseases

When you eat food in order to nourish the body, the liquid-waste produced (during the biotic process) is filtered through blood by kidneys and thrown out of body in the form of urine.

Purification of blood is done in the kidneys. There are several tiny blood vessels in kidneys, known as ‘Nephrons’. These nephrons filter the waste from the blood, which is then discharged through urine.

Effectiveness of these nephrons decline over the years, and there are several reasons for it (old age, kidney disorders, and so on).

Over-exercise, too much alcohol, consumption of dry food, drinking less water, holding up urine discharge, etc. are some of the reasons for diseases of urinary system like urinary stones, burning sensation, problems in urinating, urinating in small quantity, pelvic pains, infection in the urinary tract, discharge of puss and proteins through urine.

For enhancing the capacity of Kidneys, ayurvedic medicines like Gokshur, Punarnava, Yavkshar, Vanga bhasma, jasad bhasma (prescribed in Ayurveda) are useful.

These treatments can help increase the time span between two dialysis treatments. In many cases, the efficiency of the Kidneys is restored as before, which means dialysis is not required.

For Urinary System related diseases, Varun, Pashanbhed, Gokshur, Punarnava, Yavkshar, Guggul, atc. are prescribed in Ayurveda and useful in these diseases. These herbs increase the power of urinary system and improve the process of urine formation as well as help to discharge urine in a proper manner and proportion.

IME-9 Ayurvedic Diabetes Medicine

IME-9 is an effective Ayurvedic medicine for controlling diabetes, developed by C.C.R.A.S. (MINISTRY OF AYUSH GOVT. OF INDIA). KUDOS Ayurveda is distributing IME-9 all over India.

Diabetes (Madhumeha in Hindi) is growing at a much rapid pace. Its a dangerous disease that leads to many other complications. Many say diabetes can be compared to termite (what it does to wood), or what rust does to iron. If uncontrolled, lot of other problems can occur…eye problems, kidney problems, heart problems, and more.

IME-9 has been developed by CCRAS (scientists and doctors) after spending crores of rupees. It has been introduced after successful Human clinical trial study.

The best part is that its ayurvedic medicine that has no side-effects. IME-9 includes constituents that naturally repair pancreas to generate insulin and control the sugar level. Lot of people have experienced benefits in 1-2 months.

Health is indeed wealth and now you can enjoy things in life. IME-9 a great invention for diabetes patients, and it cost only 5Rs one tablet. So if you have diabetes or have high sugar levels, opt for IME-9.

More details on Website: IME9.in