Happy Smoking Ayurvedic Way

There is an ongoing concern about smoking cigarettes, beedis, et al., and its bad effects on health. While the drive is on to discourage people from indulging in this smoking, ayurveda has a mention of smoking using ayurvedic drugs,which actually brings health benefits.

What is this Ayurvedic smoking about?
This type of smoking is prescribed for conditions like heaviness of head, running nose, hemicarnia (one-sided headache), when there is pain and thick discharges from ears and eyes and nose due to infections, foul smelling breath, loss of appetite, hair loss, jaw lock, lethargy, loss of interest in any activities, cough, hiccups, and when mucous is stuck in throat.

Ayurvedic way of smoking uses drugs such as harenu, black cumin, naga kesara, sandalwood, tej patra, dalchini, guggulu, agara, sugar candy, peepal bark, two varieties of lotus, and few other ayurvedic drugs (Ref: Cha.su 5/20).

While the preparation of cigarette, its length, and usage are expalined in detail in ayurvedic texts, the usage is usually done with the help of a cigarette holder.

Most importnt thing to remember is that "Smoke should not be expelled through nose; it should be done only through mouth."

Signs of Proper Smoking:
The smoking is said to be done correctly if you feel a clearness in your sense organs, throat, and chest. A lightness in the head is very much expected.

Thus smoking is not injurious to health if the right type of cigar is used.

Enjoy smoking in an Ayurvedic way, thus continuing with your habit, but in a beneficial way!.

Remedy for Cracked Lips

Cracked lips are one of the most common problems of winter. It is due to excess dryness within the body, and the wintry winds just sap your body of liquids. The excessive drying up can make you start bleeding in your lips too.

External Treatement - To avoid or control the chapped lips apply butter to your lips frequently.

Internal Treatment - Drink lots of water. Ensure that there is a large intake of milk and milk products like curds, butter, ghee. This helps boost your vitamin B complex which in turn helps fight the colds and wintry winds.

Breathe..... Just Breathe to Live Long and Healthy

These days, most of the health issues are due to excess of mental work than physical work. All our physical activities are now shared with the electronic equipments like washing machines, micro ovens, vaccuum cleaners, computers, vehicles, and not to forget, housemaids or house helps.
Due to nuclear families, busy neighboursm and busy couples in their own work world, we hardly interact with people much, not to forget the task targets in IT companies, and work pressure at offices our mental sharing has reduced immensely. There are hardly any get togethers to sublimate any social interaction where one can relax their tensed minds and thus their exhausted bodies.

We need physical activities help us to break down the energy and use for the overall development of our body including our muscles, bones, blood, etc. When there is not enough physical activity the body energy is not utilized properly utillised, and with constant mental stresses there is an immense and constant pressure or stress on the brain. This in turn affects major centres of our brain that is pituitary, pineal, hippocampus, etc leading to major harmonal imbalances, metabolism imbalances, disturbed blood and air circulations. These are opening invitations to major disease conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, irregular periods, PCOS, infertility, thyroid disorders, and many more.

One easiest way to come out of this vicious circle is to do any of household actvity by yourself, be it sweeping, mopping, washing utensils, making chappatis, grinding, etc. These household chores not only burn your calories, but also give some time to be with your family members. If these are not possible, then make it a point to start your regime of walking, jogging, suryanamaskara, etc. The important trick here is to get yoruself involved in some Deep Breathing Techniques for just five minutes for 4 to 5 times a day atleast.

Deep Breathing Techniques like Anuloma Viloma, Pranic breathing, simple abdominal breathing, sectional breathing, and brahmari technique. You can choose any of these or all of them, depending on which one you are comfortable with. These breathing techniques are sure to bring a drastic change in your lifestyle as they:
- control your emotions (including anger, loneliness, and depression)
- improve concentration
- control the gush of thoughts in your mind, thus making you feel more at control of your response to your stress
- help you to make better decisions
- keep you calm and happy always.

One simple thing that is so important too - Never forget to share a Smile With Your Loved Ones.

Leech Therapy for Blood Purification

In Ayruveda, leech therapy is used to purify blood as well as for any chronic skin ailments such as tumours, piles, chronic ulcers, and leprosy. In arthritis leech therapy is used to reduce the swelling.

Leech therapy is specific for pitta dominant ailments, which is usually associated with burning sensation, redness in the skin, etc. While the type of leech used depends on the type of treatment, the pre- and post-treatment too are specific and should be done under supervision. The number of sittings depend on the degree and condition of the ailment.

Before you start on Yoga...

As all of us know how difficult it is to do and continue yoga on your own. Ask yourself a few questions before you join yoga or any other fitness classes.

First question should be "Why do you want to do Yoga?" It tells you the reason as to why you are starting and also the results you are expecting from it.

Second Queston is "How long?" This will help you determine how many days or months or year are you going to practice it, you are now fixing your target.

Recall all the silly reasons you might use to skip the classes, and compare how important are they than your goal of learning yoga and its results.

Everyday recall your aim and reason to have joined the classes.

Tell to yourself "If Not Now Then Never".

With these questions and thoughts start into your yoga or fitness class, and then see how you will enjoy the daily practice and achieve your results. At the end of the day, its all about developing positive attitude within ourselves.

Just as they say 'All is Well That Ends Well"

Ayurvedic Regimen for Winter

As we all know apart from curative medicine ayurveda also talk about preventive care for all seasons. With the winter season in, here are some references where ayurveda talks about what to do, what to eat, etc., during winter season in order to maintain a good health.

Ayurveda says, during Winter:
-  We should preferably take food that is spicy, pungent, and sour in order to maintain the body temperature within our body and thus manage the cold climate.

- If you are a non-vegetarian, you are advised to have non-veg which has lot of oil, bit salty, and sour to taste, viz. fish, any sea food, poultry meat, etc.

- As the digestive fire within us is very strong and any can digest any heavy food easily, try to eat more during winter. Try and eat as much as possible, the pulses available during the season.

- Try to take honey and warm water. You can also consume alcohol in limited quantity.

- Should take more milk products like curds, butter, and cheese, sugar cane and its products, oily food, freshly harvested rice.

- As the moisture in body dries off causing  dryness in the body,so external supplement of  oil should be applied.

- Should go for oil massage and steam bath, sauna bath etc,. You can try an external application of agaru drug or any moisturising cream to avoid excess dryness of the skin.

- Cover your body with thick warm clothings.

- Indulge in sexual activity.

 

How to Get A Glowing Skin

It is dream of everyone to get glowing skin and to look beautiful. Some supportive ways to achieve that glowing skin are:
- A regular practice of deep breathing
- Wash your face with normal as you return from outside
- A simple ice massage before you leave your home
- Good, regular sleep of at 6-7 hours
- Intake of healthy food and sufficient water regularly
- A smiling face (just being happy)
- Drinking and applying tender coconut water

Some of ayuvedic preparations like Kumkumadi [an applicant], Multhani Mitti, Raktha Chandanadi Churna, and Manjistadi Kashaya can help bring a glow into your skin always. It is preferred that an ayurvedic physician gives you directions in using these various medications.