Do the bleak winter months drop you into a depression?

Welcome readers!!!!...If you have noticed difficulty in waking up in the morning,nausea,tendency to oversleep or overeat?.Or lack of energy ,difficulty concentrating on or completing the task?And or withdrawal from friends or feeling of hopelessness.?And all this is happening when winters are around for last two years or more?If answer to these questions is ‘yes’ then it’s time to consult your psychologist,may be you are heading towards Seasonal Affective disorder.In it’s beginning stage,it’s not severe,but if ignored,it may get worsen with transforming itself in major depression disorder(MDD).Here are some solutions provided to you as per Ayurveda,a science that told everything about life style ,be it a day to day schedule or activities as per seasonal variations.

7 ways to avoid SAD naturally

1 Do a lot of physical exercise,like brisk walking.

2 Suryanamaskar is strongly recommended as the best physical exercise.

3 Take a lot of time out in direct sunlight at least one hour a day.

4 Avoid day sleeping .

5 Eat healthy and balanced diet.

6 In case of nonavailability of sunlight,Atap Sevani.e.sitting in front of artificial fire with spine facing.

7 Take out time for positive self talk,Replace negative arbitrary thoughts with positive and motivating ones. You may  even share with like minded people.

Happy Ayurveda!

Diet for Vata Constitution

A wholesome diet is essential not only for maintaining health but also for fighting diseases. Intake of proper quantity of food promotes longevity, does not aggravate the doshas, and maintains the digestive capacity. One needs to observe some basic rules alongwith intake of a wholesome diet:

• Consumption of warm food is essential as it helps in digestion and also with the downward passage of vata.

• Oily food is beneficial as it helps in stimulating the digestion process, gives strength to the body and sense faculties, and improves complexion.

• Food should be consumed only after the digestion of the previous meal, as then it promotes proper digestion, appetite, proper manifestation of the natural urges and promotes longevity of the person.

• Food with contradictory potencies should be avoided.

• Eating food at the right place and the right time helps to reduce emotional strains.

• Eating in a hurry or carelessly results in the food entering the wrong passage and gives rise to consequences that causes serious complications.

• Eating too slowly does not give satisfaction and impairs digestion.

• Food should be eaten with concentration and self-confidence.

• Knowledge of the benefits of food is essential for good health. Apart from this one also needs to follow a disciplined life or at least avoid habits that are bad for one's health.


Habits advised for people having vata constitution are

• Massage with til or mustard oil.

• Application of aromatic powder e.g. Sandalwood.

• Bathing with hot water.

• Sleeping during daytime.

• Singing and dancing.

• Evening stroll under moonlight.

• Listening to good things.

• Avoiding stress.

Habits not advisable and hence best avoided are

• Fasting

• Eating in little quantity than sufficient

• Too much of worries, fear and anger

• Excessive coitus

• Excessive talking, singing and traveling

• Purgation restricted.

Diet advised for people having vata constitution

Food Item

• Wheat

• Rice

• Urad (Black gram)

• Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

• Til (Sesamum)

• Kanji (Starch)

• Milk

• Curd

• Sweets

• Ghee

• Oil

• Old Jaggery

• Caster oil

• Coconut

• Sarnso (Mustard)

Vegetables

• Potato

• Brinjal

• Parwal (Pointed gourd)

• Onion

• Drumstick

• Elephant root

• Ginger

• Garlic

• Carrot

• Kachhi muli (Radish)

• Banana flower

Fruits

• Mango

• Tamarind

• Pomegranate

• Orange

• Coconut

• Amala (Emblic myrobalan)

• Banana

• Lime

• Sugarcane

• Berry

• Amrut (Aconite / Monk's hood)

• Tarbuj (Water melon)

• Shahatun (Mulberry)

Dry Fruits

• Cashew nut

• Almond

• Pista (Pistachio nut)

• Akrot (Walnut)

• Alubukhara (Plum)

Masala /Spices

• Ginger

• Tamarind

• Jeera (Cumin seed)

• Tejpatra (Himalayan silver fir )

• Tulsi (Sacred Basil / Holy Basil)

• Pudina (Spear-Mint / Garden mint)

• Black pepper

• Loung (Clove)

• Garlic

• Mirchi (chilli)

• Sounf (Fennel)

• Sauchal salt (Rock salt)

• Hing (Asafoetida)

• Elayachi (Cardamom)

• Keshar (Saffron)

Animal Products

• Milk

 • Curd

• Buttermilk

• Butter

• Buttermilk

• Ghee (Saturated fats

Diet restricted for people having vata constitution

Food Item

• Chana (Bengal gram)

• Moth (Aconite bean)

• Chauli (Amaranth tender)

• Old Barley

• Corn

• Masoor (Lentil)

• Vatana (Peas)

Vegetables

• Moth (Aconite bean)

• Chauli (Amaranth tender)

• Karela (Bitter gourd)

• Kakdi (Cucumber)

• Tindali (Coccinia cordifolia)

• Ladies finger

Fruits

• Ripe Mango

• Jamun (Black berry)

• Papaya (Papaw / Papaya)

• Jackfruit

• Bilvafal (Bael)

• Sitafal (Custard apple)

Dry Fruits

• Singhada (Caltrops / Water chestnut /Singhara nut )

• Khajur (Date)

• Supari (Betel nut)

Ayurvedic Massage Therapy for Diabetics

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can all benefit from the relaxing effects of professional massage therapy. Everyone knows that living with diabetes involves a certain amount of stress. Because the human body is designed to respond to stress with a fight-or-flight response, stress tends to raise blood sugar levels.

Massage is useful in relieving stress, even for non-diabetics. It lowers the heart rate and blood pressure while relaxing muscles and increasing endorphins, all of which results in a sense of well-being.

Circulation and Neuropathy

Many diabetics have poor circulation, and Elakzhi or Patrapinda swedanam massage therapy are known for promoting increased circulation. Regular massage helps move blood through congested areas of the body, flushing lactic acid from your muscles and enabling more oxygen-rich blood to flow in.

Neuropathy is another possible side effect of diabetes, and massage has proven helpful in triggering an endorphin release that raises your pain threshold. Elakzhi or Patrapinda swedanam massage therapy release serotonin and oxytocin in your body, which can relieve chronic pain.

Blood Sugar Awareness

Dr. Ruchi Gulati, recommends taking precautions to avoid hypoglycemia during a massage. Of course that's a good policy during any activity, from driving to swimming, but it's especially important during massage therapy - because deeply restful relaxation might make symptoms of an insulin reaction easier to overlook.

Make sure to tell your professional SukhAyurveda Massage therapist about the possibility of hypoglycemia, and how you handle it (with glucose tablets, a soft drink, or some other preferred method), so you can relax and enjoy the calming effect of your relaxing massage session.

Happy Ayurveda!

HYPERACIDITY AND MORE

In case of hyperacidity, gastric acid secretion from glands of stomach increases. The excess amount of acid causes burning sensation in upper part of the abdomen. According to Ayurveda it is known as amlapitta. In Ayurveda the pitta dosha includes whole enzymatic, hormonal secretions and digestive juices of the body. In amlapitta, pitta dosha which is bitter increases and gets vitiated due to wrong dietary habits and life style. This vitiated pitta dosha becomes sour (amla) in taste, that’s why it is called amlapitta. Normally this pitta helps in digestion of food but in vitiated form it does not complete the digestive process and causes indigestion. This undigested food cause toxin formation.

Causes of Hyperacidity

1)      Excessive physical and mental stress.

2)      Pitta aggravating diet like spicy, salty and fried food.

3)      Excessive intake of citrus fruits.

4)      Excessive exposure to heat like wandering in sun heat.

5)      Prolonged fasting.

6)      Modern medicine considers H. Pylori infection as the most common cause of hyperacidity.

Symptoms of amlapitta

1)      Burning sensation in chest is the cordial feature of amlapitta.

2)      Sour eructation, bloating, abdomen distension especially after meals.

3)      Indigestion of the taken meals.

 Management of Amlapitta at Sukhayurveda

1)      Detoxify

Hyperacidity starts when accumulated toxins begin to disrupt functions of digestive system. We at Sukhayurveda cure underlying root causes like indigestion, constipation, gastritis etc. and provide natural recommendations to remove and help prevent toxin accumulation from:

a)      Hard to digest food

b)      Poor digestion

c)       Poor elimination

d)      Mental and physical stress

Sukhayurveda detoxifying therapies for amlapitta include abhyangam full body massage, therapeutic purgation etc.

2)      Proper Nutrition

As Amlapitta is the disease of digestive system, so, proper diet has a key role in its treatment. We at Sukhayurveda provide proper diet chart to the patients of amlapitta. Pitta pacifying food is recommended. Avoid curd, citrus fruits, tomatoes, excessive salt, tea, coffee, spices and favor foods that are easy-to-digest, nourishing, cleanse the physiology, strengthen digestion and balance your body’s inner intelligence. Sukhayurveda consultant advises:

a)      Proper use of spices and cooking oils

b)      Herbal preparations to improve digestion

c)       Proper spacing between breakfast, lunch and dinner

d)      Favoring foods which stimulate digestion

e)      Reducing consumption of foods that depress digestion

f)       Proper food combinations to avoid indigestion

g)      Non-dietary regiments to improve digestive strength including exercise, specific yoga asanas etc.

3)      Ayurveda Herbs

We at Sukhayurveda also provide proper herbal formulations for hyperacidity and to cure its underlying cause also like constipation, indigestion, excessive stress, gastritis etc. Drugs which are pitta pacifying and improving digestion are used mainly. Amla, mulethi, Draksha, kshar, shankh, shukti are mainly used to cure hyperacidity.

4)      Stress Management

Excessive mental and physical stress also is a causative factor for hyperacidity. We at Sukhayurveda also provide stress relieving programs. Our destress therapies include shirodhara, takradhara, ksheerdhara, aromatherapy, oil massage etc. Stress causes increased gastric acid secretions causing hyperacidity and it also interferes with digestive process causing indigestion. Enhancing body’s ability to recover from stress is an integral part of our approach to health and well-being.

5)    Lifestyle and daily routine

One of the most important factors for maintaining proper health is to have a lifestyle that does not disturb body’s natural rhythms. Sukhayurveda consultant reviews daily routine and creates a daily schedule that will increase balance in physiology and aid in healing of the body. Avoid excess exposure to heat. Never lie down immediately after taking meals.

Strengthening the body’s Natural Healing and Self-Repair Mechanisms

We at Sukhayurveda not only aim to cure the disease but also to cure the underlying causative factors. We boost one’s inner power to fight with diseases naturally. The healing response is one of the most complex and coordinated activity 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.

Happy Ayurveda!

GOUT AND AYURVEDA

Gout is a metabolic disorder of uric acid. Levels of uric acid increased in the body either due to its increased production or due to its decreased removal from the body. It results in an excess of uric acid in the tissues or blood. This excess amount of uric acid causes gouty arthritis in joints, kidney stones or deposition of uric acid crystals in skin or tissues forming tophii. In Ayurveda it is called Vatarakta. In this the vitiated vata dosha gets combined with impure blood (rakta dhatu) and travels throughout the body causing symptoms in skin, joints and deep tissues.

Symptoms

1)  Sudden onset of pain in joints. Most commonly the pain starts from great toe of the feet, but any other joint can be affected.

2)    Swelling, redness, tenderness in the joints. Painful movements of joints.

3)    Increased sweating.

4)    Deposition of uric acid crystals in skin forming tophii most commonly on the ear pinna.

Aggravating Factors

1)    Intake of alcohol especially beverages.

2)    Diets rich in red meats, yeast and oily fish.

3)    High protein diet like soya products, pulses, dairy products.

4)    Uric acid levels increase at puberty in men and at menopause in women.

5)    Ayurveda views cold exposure and indigestion also as aggravating factors.

Diseases associated with a higher incidence of gout include hypertension, diabetes, renal insufficiency, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and early menopause.

Management of Gout at Sukhayurveda

1)    SukhAyurveda Detox Therapies for Gout

We at Sukhayurveda provide detoxification therapies for vatarakta (gout). According to Ayurveda Vatarakta is of two types. When the symptoms of gout are present only in the skin (like tophii on ear pinna) then the disease is called superficial or uttan vatarakta. When it involves deep structures and joints it is called gambhir vatarakta. In vatarakta, vitiated vata dosha impurifies the blood i.e rakta dhatu. We give various kinds of lepam for local application which work as blood purifier. For vatarakta we at Sukhayurveda give abhyangam massage, potali massage, oil enema, therapeutic purgation to eliminate toxins from body. These all procedures act as vata pacifying therapies and helps in relieving symptoms.

2)    Proper Nutrition

Proper nutrition is the key to remain healthy. Our body built has a direct relation with food whatever we eat. We at Sukhayurveda give proper nutrition guidance according to different diseases. As Gout is basically a metabolic disorder so diet has a great emphasis on its cause and treatment. Low protein diet and low cholesterol diet help in lowering serum uric acid. So avoid soya and meat products, pulses having higher amount of proteins.

3)    Ayurveda Herbs

Sukhayurveda consultant makes different formulas of herbal preparations for gout which vary from person to person according to one’s own body constitution. Suranjan is the drug of choice in case of vatarakta. Guggul, rasna, giloy are also used to treat vatarakta.

       

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. Sukhayurveda consultant advises you a proper lifestyle which creates a healthy inner environment of the body. Maintaining a high level of hydration with water at-least 8 glasses of liquids per day is helpful in reducing recurrent gouty attacks. Weight reduction in case of obese patients is also helpful. Maintaining good control of sugar levels in diabetics is also helpful.

5)    Yoga

Sukhayurveda considers yoga a non dietary regiment to improve digestive strength, blood circulation, nervous system function, healing response of body. We at Sukhayurveda offer yoga classes every day and teach simple but profound set of postures that you can practice daily. Yoga offers stretching of the joints and muscles to help with flexibility which can also help prevent gout episodes and symptoms. The patient in the beginning phase of disease should go for micro-exercises then move to more challenging movements.

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. We not only cure disease but also treat the root cause of the disease and also boost one’s inner resistance power for disease.

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

Happy Ayurveda!

Cervical Spondylitis

Cervical spondylosis is a common degenerative condition of the cervical spine. It is most likely caused by age-related wear and tear affecting vertebral bones, joints and discs of the neck. As discs age, they fragment, lose water and becomes stiff. Body reacts towards it and develop bony growth i.e. osteophytes. These bony growths put pressure on spinal nerves causing symptoms of the disease. According to Ayurveda this is called Grivasandhigat vata. It is aggravated by vitiated vata and ama. Ama is undigested food in a toxin form and it blocks micro channels of the body due to its viscosity and thus causing accumulation of vata dosha in the neck region by blocking the channels of neck.

Aggravating Factors

1. Repeated motion injury in metro cities mainly Computer related . These can be worsened by bad posture and sitting for extended periods of time.
2. Familial cases have been reported; a genetic cause is possible.
3. Smoking also may be a risk factor.
4. Ayurveda views exposure to cold, indigestion , prolonged sitting in inappropriate posture also as aggravating factor 

Symptoms

1. Intermittent neck and shoulder pain is the most common symptom seen. 
2. The neck pain experienced with cervical spondylosis is often accompanied by stiffness, with radiation into the shoulders or back of head that may be chronic or episodic with long periods of remission. 
3. One third of patients with cervical spondylosis present with headache, and greater than two thirds present with unilateral or bilateral shoulder pain. A significant amount of these patients also present with arm, forearm, and/or hand pain.
4. Greater than one third of patients with cervical spondylysis have anxious or depressed moods related to their decreased mobility.

Management of Cervical Spondylosis at Sukhayurveda

1) Sukhayurveda Detox therapies for Cervical Spondylosis

We at Sukhayurveda not only cure disease by medicines only but also give internal purification by various ayurvedic panchkarma therapies. For Cervical Spondylosis we provide abhyangam full body massage, grivavasti, potali massage, medicated oil enema and therapeutic purgation. Oil enema and therapeutic purgation have a major impact on it as it is a vata disorder and large intestine is the place of natural vata. Moreover it also cleans aam from the intestines. We at Sukhayurveda provide special programmes for Computer related injuries.

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

• Loosening impurities that have become embedded in tissues and helping in liquiefying 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. 

The risks of computer related injuries can be reduced or eliminated with proper posture, practical tips, Yogic exercises and Ayurvedic therapies.

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, strengthening 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 Cervical Spondylosis. 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.. 
• Proper food combinations to avoid indigestion. 
• Non-dietary regiments to improve digestive strength including exercise, specific Yoga asanas and breathing techniques. 

4) 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 your body. Traditional Ayurveda theory says that herbs are most effective after a person completes a Detox program. To improve digestion trikatu, chitrak are best drugs to be used. Gugulu, rasna, ashavgandha, nirgundi etc are the main drus used for relieving pain.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 Cervical Spondylosis. Stress causes headache and worsens neck pain and stiffness.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.

• Yoga asana, Pranayam, Meditation 
• Sukhayurveda Office stress programmes. 
• De-stress Ayurvedic Massages like shirodhara, takardhara, Ksheeradhara, Abhyangam or pizhichil. 

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. These all lifestyle disturbances can be prevented by simple measures provided by Sukhayurveda .
SukhAyurveda Consultants reviews daily routine and creates a daily schedule that will increase balance in physiology and aid in healing of the body.
Instruction in body mechanics focuses on low-load concepts. These include avoiding forward bending and rotation of the neck, avoiding prolonged extension of the neck, avoiding prolonged sitting or standing, and selecting the proper chair.

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. Exercises designed for cervical pain include isometric neck strengthening routines, neck and shoulder stretching and flexibility exercises, back strengthening exercises, and aerobic exercises.
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

We at Sukhayrveda not only cure disease but also boost one’s inner capacity to fight with diseases.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.

Happy Ayurveda!

Frozen Shoulder

A Frozen shoulder is a shoulder joint with significant loss of its range of motion in all directions, especially when we turn the arm upwards and away from the body. It is also known as Adhesive Capsulitis. According to ayurveda it is known as Avabahuk and it is caused by vitiated vata dosha. Due to faulty dietary habits and life style vata dosha is vitiated and it travels throughout the whole body. Where it finds the blockage of channels it accumulates there and in avbahuk the channels of the shoulder joint get blocked and it causes accumulation of vata dosha there. Vata dosha causes symptoms like pain, pricking sensation, stiffness and difficulty in movements.

Causes of Frozen Shoulder 

1. Inflammation, scarring, thickening and shrinkage of the capsule surrounding shoulder joint.
2.  Injury to the shoulder joint
3. Tendinitis, bursitis and rotator cuff injury

Prevalence of Frozen Shoulder

It is more prevalent in patients of Diabetes and chronic inflammatory arthritis of shoulder joint, after chest or breast surgery. Long-term immobility of the shoulder joint can put the people at risk to develop frozen shoulder.

Management of Frozen Shoulder

1) Sukhayurveda Detox and Purification therapy

We at Sukhayurveda concentrate on treating the root cause of the disease. Frozen shoulder is mainly a disease of vata dosha and first of all we give the therapy to pacify vata dosha. Our detox therapy includes abhyangam, Oil Bath i.e. Pizichil and Herbal Bun Massage medicated enema and nasayam i.e. nasal insufflations in case of frozen shoulder. These therapies vary from person to person according to their constitution and disease causing factors. This gives a lot of relaxation to muscles surrounding shoulder joint.

2) Proper Nutrition

SukhAyurveda Consultant provides detailed understanding of which foods to favor and avoid for your condition. Favor foods that are easy-to-digest, nourishing, cleanse the physiology, strengthen digestion and balance your body’s inner intelligence.

3) Ayurveda Herb

Sukhayurveda consultant advises various herbal formulas according to the disease. Drugs like rasna, nirgundi, guggulu etc. have a good pain relieving effect in joint disorders like frozen shoulder. The above mentioned drugs should be taken only after consulting a Qualified Ayurvedic Physician. We at Sukhayurveda provide various formulations of all these and many more herbs.

4) Life style and daily routine

SukhAyurveda Consultant advises proper life style to the patient for reduction of the episodes of exacerbation and rehabilitation. Sedentary life style, excessive exercises, cold exposure and wandering in rain should be avoided. Bathing with cold water should be strictly avoided. Warm water bath is recommended.

5) Yoga Therapy

Physiotherapy and yogasanas have a major role in restoring the movements of the Frozen Shoulder. We at Sukhayurveda provide specific yoga therapies and exercises for the patients of various Diseases. Shoulder rotation exercises help relieving pain and increase shoulder joint movements. Maintaining as much range of motion as possible in your shoulder is important. Sukhayurveda consultant advises you how to move your shoulder joint through comfortable range of motion planes to avoid further stiffening.

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

Sukhayurveda not only cures disease by therapies but also boost one’s inner strength to fight with diseases naturally. 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. We not only gives relief from pain but also make internal environment strong to not to develop the disease again.

Taking together, all the SukhAyurveda health programmes described above you can create the ideal mental, physical and behavioral environment for healing.

Happy Ayurveda!