Immunoboosters for diabetics during Corona pandaemic

Is SHIRODHARA Ayurveda's Sleep Aid?

In a world where sleep has become such a precious commodity, could the prescription for better slumber be shirodhara instead of a tablet?

Vaidya Ruchi Gulati, MD(Ayurveda), thinks so. “I believe that sleep is the next big health issue, and that Ayurvedic massage shirodhara is a natural complement to sleep,” Ruchi says. “People who don’t necessarily have a sleep disorder tell me, ‘I’m really noticing a lot of benefits from Shirodhara. I’m even sleeping better.’ I hear it all the time, so it makes sense to me.”

From snoring clients to post-massage testimonials, anecdotal evidence abounds. But does Shirodhara massage therapy have an actual, demonstrable impact on sleep? Although answers remain ambiguous, both Ayurvedic physicians and massage therapists are asking the question. And for some people, at least, that means the massage table could be the next best place to search for missing Zs. “Sleep is something I’ve always had an issue with,” says one of Sukh Ayurveda client. “Not only did I have a lot of anxiety, but I’m also a night owl. I wasn’t sleepy at 9 or 10 o’clock. I was sleepy at 1 o’clock. So I’d have a lot of trouble falling asleep. I’d just lie there, and my anxiety would kick in.”

When she was a girl, she suffered from an undiagnosed anxiety disorder that routinely kept her up at night. By treating her anxiety and improving her sleep hygiene, Vaidya Ruchi Gulati eventually was able to resolve her sleep issues.

Sleep Setbacks

Most adults need 7 to 9 hours, although some people may need as few as 6 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day. Older adults (ages 65 and older) need 7-8 hours of sleep each day. According to a 2018 study of more than 10,000 people, the body's ability to function declines if sleep isn't in the seven- to eight-hour range.

Unfortunately, According to a study conducted by a consumer products giant, nearly 93% Indians are sleep-deprived. The changing lifestyle and intrusion of modern gadgets have only aggravated the situation ..
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46547288.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Inadequate sleep is associated with an increased risk of mental distress, as well as numerous chronic health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Sleep isn’t just nice, then. It’s a necessity. Sleep is the time when our body is repairing itself; if you’re not getting enough deep sleep, then you’re compromising your ability to repair damage that’s been done to your body. Sleep deprivation also can interfere with memory, impair immune function, and interrupt the body’s production and regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters. Of course, everyone experiences sleep disruption at some point. When sleeplessness lasts for longer than a few days, however, what began as a sleep disturbance instead becomes a sleep disorder.

Although prescription sleep medication can be helpful for short-term sleep fragmentation, it can also have significant negative side effects like falling and daytime sedation

Therefore Vaidya Ruchi Gulati at Sukh Ayurveda  prefers integrative therapies whenever possible—including Shirodhara. “I think shirodhara can be a very valuable part of a comprehensive care plan esp Pain or stress is the cause.”

Ayurvedic Strategic Lifestyle Changes for Lowering Cholesterol

Ayurveda emphasis that a disciplined diet and exercise plan can help lower LDL and improve HDL.

Here are a few time tested strategies that u may adopt to bring total cholesterol lower and keep it that way

1. Walking 2 miles in 30 minutes 3 times a week constitutes a moderate level of aerobic exercise. That may be enough to raise your HDL cholesterol by 1 to 3 points (higher is better) and lower your LDL cholesterol (lower is better).

If you can't get in a 30-minute block of exercise all at once, do a few minutes of exercise here and there throughout the day (climb the stairs at work, walk around the block on your lunch break, park and walk). Researchers have demonstrated that exercise even without weight loss can have a positive impact on improving cholesterol levels. It is the amount of activity, and not necessarily any changes in fitness or intensity of exercise that is important for cholesterol improvement and decreasing the risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

2. Do deep breathing exercise for 10 min daily. It helps refresh your system and is an effective distress technique too.

3. Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily

4. Quit Smoking. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol levels and increases the tendency for blood to clot

5. Avoid alcohol.

Diet

6. Start your day with fresh fruits and high soluble fibre grain such as oats

7. Eat plenty of vegetables, esp green leafy vegetables, fruits and whole pulses. Certain foods really do have health benefits for controlling cholesterol and overall heart health beyond providing basic nutrition.

·        Broccoli

·        Fish or fish oil 

·        Green leafy vegetables

·        Oranges or orange juice

·        Carrots

·        Garlic 

·        Fiber Oats/oat bran/oatmeal

8 Take enough good fat in food, don’t avoid fat. Sesame oil, olive oil, rape seed oil are healthy.

9. Garlic- one or two cloves before your breakfast is beneficial in boosting HDL

Turmeric and Curry leaves can be used as spices in various foods.

Isabgol (psyllium Husk) at bedtime is also beneficial in boosting HDL

Medicine

10.Arjuna, Guggulu can be added as medication on Ayurvedic physician advice

Conventional Aspects

The NCEP National Cholesterol Education Program has recommended a therapeutic lifestyle-change diet, which should be incorporated in the treatment of all patients. The following are recommendations:

·        Patients should reduce their intake of saturated fats to less than 7% of their total calorie (energy) intake. Their cholesterol intake should be reduced to less than 200 mg/d. Trans fatty acids (the HDL-lowering, LDL-raising fats) should be kept to a minimum. Polyunsaturated fats should constitute up to 10% of total energy intake, and monounsaturated fats, up to 20% of total energy intake. Total fat intake, therefore, should be in the range of 25-35% of total energy intake.

·        Carbohydrates (complex carbohydrates from grains, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) should constitute 50-60% of total energy intake.

·        Patients should consume 20-30 g/d of fiber.

·        The protein content should be approximately 15% of total energy intake.

·        In order to maintain a desirable body weight and to prevent weight gain, the total amount of energy consumed must be balanced in terms of energy intake and expenditure.

Believe in Ayurveda Believe in Group therapy for ADHDs

A child with high levels of activity and low threshold for frustration tolerance ,and

additionally if the child is disruptive, he/she must be psychologically tested for diagnosis

of ADHD. It is becoming popular due to ‘N’  number of causes in developing countries.


Ayurveda plays an important role in curing it. First with the help of personality testing

with ancient Indian psychology principles,the basal mental constitution of the child is

assessed. At second step with the help of Mental status examination, the severity of the

problem is judged. After complete assessment of the child, a session with the parents may

reveal background information about the external causes behind this state of the

child. Once the diagnosis is established with the help of the ayurveda and also according

to ICD 10 guidelines suggested by a registered psychiatrist, plan for the treatment is

selected from Panchkarma therapy. While the child gets these procedures

individually, his/her behavioral issues are dealt in groups of  4-5 kids, with the relatively

similar problems. The age factor is also considered. It is assured that the children of the

same age group are put into one group. Consistent touch with the parents and their

counselling on parent management techniques along with other issues (if necessary),

result into amelioration of the situation.

LOW BACK PAIN

Low back pain is not a specific disease; rather it is a symptom that may occur from a variety of different processes. Back pain can have many reasons, but often no specific cause will be found and the pain will stop. According to ayurveda this is a vata disorder. The vata dosha gets vitiated due to various reasons of faulty dietary and life style habits. This vitiated vata dosha travels throughout the body and accumulates in the area of blocked channels. In this case it finds blockage in the channels of the low back area and gets accumulated there thus causing pain.

Causes of low back pain

Common causes involve diseases or injury to the muscles, bones or nerves of the spine. Pain from the diseases of abdominal, pelvic and chest organs can also radiate to back. Normal pregnancy can also cause back pain due to stretching the pelvic ligaments and straining the low back.

1)  Ankylosing Spondilitis causing stiffness and pain in the spine worsen in the morning.

2)  In cauda equine syndrome, the spinal cord is directly compressed causing nerve compression. The patient may experience pain and loss of sensation in the area supplied by compressed nerve, bowel or bladder dysfunction.

3)  Infections of the bones of the spine are among the uncommon causes.

4)  Nerves infection with herpes zoster virus can cause nerve inflammation in the upper or lower part of the spine causing pain.

5)  Disc prolapse between the lower back bones causes nerve root irritation. Sciatica is a common example of nerve root irritation. In Ayurveda this disease is called Gridhrasi. This disease is caused by vitiated vata and kapha. In this case pain starts from the back and traverses throughout the leg up to the great toe.

Symptoms of low back pain

1)    Pain in the low back area is the primary symptom. The pain may radiate downwards the front, side or back of the leg.

2)    Pain may be worse with activity or prolonged sitting.

3)    Numbness or weakness of the area supplied by the compressed nerve

.   

Management Back pain due to Nerve compression at SukhAyurveda

1)    SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies for Low Back Pain

The most powerful treatments for removing toxins are the SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies. These treatment programs may include Abhyangam massage, Herbal bun (pottali) massage, purgation and mild herbal enema. Kadivasti has a major impact in treating patients of low back pain. These treatments are given in combination according to the patients’ constitution and disease. These create the ideal internal physical environment for healing.

SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies address the problem of toxin accumulation by systematically

• Loosening impurities that have become embedded in tissues and helping liquiefy them for easy absorption into the circulation and eventual elimination.
• Softening and opening the channels of circulation and elimination so proper nourishment can reach the tissues and impurities can be more easily eliminated from them.
• Activating the elimination process for the most thorough cleansing of the entire physiology.

2)    Proper Nutrition

SukhAyurveda Consultant provides guidance for proper diet to be taken and to avoid the food items aggravating disease. Avoid foods that are hard-to-digest (like milk, caffeine, pulses like kidney bean, etc) clogging to the physiology and aggravating to the doshas(functioning modes) that are already imbalanced in you. Favor foods that are easy-to-digest, nourishing, cleanse the physiology, strengthen digestion and balance your body's inner intelligence.

3)    Ayurveda herbs

Their purpose is to restore balance to the doshas(specific functioning modes) whose malfunctioning is causing your condition. SukhAyurveda Consultant selects the appropriate herbal formulas for allieviating vata and kapha doshas.

Traditional Ayurveda theory says that herbs are most effective after a person completes a Detox program. The cleansing and rejuvenation treatments are the main focus at SukhAyurveda. Once cleansing program is finished, maximum benefits are achieved from herbal program.

4)     Lifestyle and Daily Routine

One of the most important factors for maintaining healthy functioning is to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms. When we eat, sleep and exercise in constantly fluctuating and disturbing patterns, the body loses its natural balancing cycles and cannot cleanse or heal itself as effectively. SukhAyurveda Consultants reviews daily routine and creates a daily schedule that will increase balance in physiology and aid in healing of the body.

                   Stretching activities that place additional strain on the back are discouraged. While sleeping on your back keep a pillow under your knees and in case lying on one side keep a pillow in between your knees. This keeps your back straight and helps in relieving pain also. In sitting positions a support to low back should be given by a small pillow or rolled towel.

                   Don’t bend forward to lift heavy objects if you will have to lift weight then keep your back straight up and down, head up and lift with your knees.

5)     Yoga

SukhAyurveda considers Yoga as a non-dietary regiment to improve digestive strength, circulation, nervous system function, the body's healing response.

We offer Yoga classes every day and teach simple but profound set of postures that you can practice daily. For Low back pain we recommend

1)    Shallabh asana

2)    Nauka asana

3)    Bhujang asana

          Many other yogasanas are also advised according to the patient’s problem. Low impact exercises like swimming, walking and bicycling can increase overall fitness without straining the low back.

6)     Strengthening the Body's Natural Healing and Self-Repair Mechanisms

Ultimately every treatment approach must depend on the body's natural healing ability for a real cure of the condition. SukhAyurveda approach is not to attack the disorder with something from the outside, but to attempt to enliven the innate healing response of the body.

The healing response is one of the most complex and coordinated activities within the human physiology and often cannot be strengthened significantly without a comprehensive natural approach.

 

Taking together, all the SukhAyurveda programs described above, aim to create the ideal mental, physical and behavioral environment for healing

Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Ayurveda

                                     

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional GI disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of specific and unique organic pathology. In ayurveda the disease is called Grahini as it occurs due to dysfunction of Grahini kala. The main function of the grahini kala is to retain food until digestion. Due to improper dietary habits and lifestyle, over anxiety, depression and other psychological behaviours digestive fire decreases leading to indigestion. The undigested food leads to toxin formation which disturbs the function of grahini kala. Thus leading to passage of digested as well as undigested faecal matter. The feacal matter may be loose or constipated.

                          According to Ayurveda, psyche and physical fitness are interdependent. Stress causes GI disturbance or vice versa or it coexists, breaking the vicious cycle Stressà GI disturbanceàStressà GI disturbance is the treatment

Symptoms of IBS

1. alternative constipation and diarrhea

2. thirst, anorexia, excessive salivation,

3. joint pain , heaviness in body

4. fever, vomiting

5. eructations with metallic and foul smell

6. burning sensations during defeacation

Four bowel patterns may be seen with irritable bowel syndrome. These patterns include the following:

• IBS-D (diarrhea predominant)
• IBS-A(alternative diarrhea and constipation)
• IBS-C (constipation predominant)
• IBS-M (mixed diarrhea and constipation)

Management of IBS at SukhAyurveda

1) Detoxify

IBS starts when accumulated toxins begin to disrupt functions of digestive system. We at SukhAyurveda provide natural recommendations to remove and help prevent toxin accumulation from:

• Hard-to-digest food
• Poor digestion
• Poor elimination
• Mental and physical stress

SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies for IBS

The most powerful treatments for removing toxins are the SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies. These treatment programs may include Abhyangam massage, Herbal bun (pottali) massage, purgation and mild herbal enema. These treatments are given in combination according to the patients’ constitution and disease. These create the ideal internal physical environment for healing.

SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies address the problem of toxin accumulation by systematically:

• Loosening impurities that have become embedded in tissues and helping liquiefy them for easy absorption into the circulation and eventual elimination.
• Softening and opening the channels of circulation and elimination so proper nourishment can reach the tissues and impurities can be more easily eliminated from them.
• Activating the elimination process for the most thorough cleansing of the entire physiology.

2) Proper Nutrition

SukhAyurveda Consultant provides detailed understanding of which foods to favor and avoid for your condition. Avoid foods that are hard-to-digest (like milk, caffeine, pulses like kidney bean, etc) clogging to the physiology and aggravating to the doshas(functioning modes) that are already imbalanced in you. Favor foods that are easy-to-digest, nourishing, cleanse the physiology, strengthen digestion and balance your body's inner intelligence. Buttermilk should be used instead of milk with added salt, black pepper, and roasted cumin seeds to improve digestion.

3) Creating Strong Digestion

Our ability to properly digest food is as important as what specific food we eat. Incompletely digested foods create toxins and impurities that are eventually absorbed, travel throughout the physiology, localize in tissues and disrupt their functioning. This process plays a major role in IBS

SukhAyurveda Consultant provides recommendations for strengthening digestion including information in the following areas:

• Proper use of spices and cooking oils.
• Herbal preparations for improving digestion.
• Important differences between breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• A simple system to determine a balanced diet.
• Digestion-enhancing foods to favor.
• Digestion-depressing foods to reduce.
• Eating behavior for maximum digestion.
• Proper food combinations to avoid indigestion.
• Non-dietary regiments to improve digestive strength including exercise, specific Yoga asanas and breathing techniques.

Ayurveda herbs

Their purpose is to restore balance to the doshas(specific functioning modes) whose malfunctioning is causing your condition. SukhAyurveda Consultant selects the appropriate herbal formulas for improving the function of grahini kala, strengthening digestion and helping the body purify itself of toxins.

Traditional Ayurveda theory says that herbs are most effective after a person completes a Detox program. The cleansing and rejuvenation treatments are the main focus at SukhAyurveda. Once cleansing program is finished, maximum benefits are achieved from herbal program.

5) Stress Management

Excessive mental, emotional and physical stress can worsen the symptoms of IBS. This is due to hormonal changes and other biochemical responses to stress that can imbalance the nervous system and depress the healing ability of the body.

Enhancing the body's ability to recover from stress is an integral part of our approach to health and well-being. The following programs help reverse the body's response to stress:

• Destress Ayurvedic Massges like shirodhara, takardhara, Ksheeradhara, Abhyangam or pizhichil
• Yoga asana, Pranayam, Meditation

6) Lifestyle and Daily Routine

One of the most important factors for maintaining healthy functioning is to have a lifestyle that does not disturb natural bodily rhythms. When we eat, sleep and exercise in constantly fluctuating and disturbing patterns, the body loses its natural balancing cycles and cannot cleanse or heal itself as effectively. Therefore, regularity in our daily routine can be extremely effective in reducing physiological imbalance at the basis of IBS.

SukhAyurveda Consultants reviews daily routine and creates a daily schedule that will increase balance in physiology and aid in healing of the body.

7) Yoga

SukhAyurveda considers Yoga as a non-dietary regiment to improve digestive strength, circulation, nervous system function, the body's healing response.

We offer Yoga classes every day and teach simple but profound set of postures that you can practice daily. For IBS we recommend

1.     Vajarasana

2.     Supta-veerasana

3.     Pitta-vardhak mudra

Pranayam & Meditation are also advised for their psychosomatic benefits of restful alertness in mind and body.

8) Strengthening the Body's Natural Healing and Self-Repair Mechanisms

Ultimately every treatment approach must depend on the body's natural healing ability for a real cure of the condition. SukhAyurveda approach is not to attack the disorder with something from the outside, like drugs or surgery, but to attempt to enliven the innate healing response of the body.

The healing response is one of the most complex and coordinated activities within the human physiology and often cannot be strengthened significantly without a comprehensive natural approach.

Taken together, all the SukhAyurveda programs described above aim to create the ideal mental, physical and behavioral environment for healing.

Happy Ayurveda!