Ailments & Remedies

1.Skin allergy

From the Ayrvedic point of view, the activities in the human system are controlled by the three "doshas" - "vata, pitta and 'kapha' and any disturbances in one or all of them can cause disease. It is known as 'udarda' and 'sheetapitta' in Ayurveda.

Skin as per body type:

 Vata skin is in general dry, thin, cool to the touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to the influence of dry windy weather.

Pitta is mostly fire, so the Pitta skin type tends to have more breakouts, photosensitivity, less tolerance to hot food, less tolerance to fieriness in temperament. Pitta skin looks ruddy, and is warm to the touch. Pitta skin types tend to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other skin types.

Kapha dosha is predominantly water and earth, so Kapha skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth -- it can be greasy, thick, and more tolerant of the sun.

Causes of skin allergy

 Skin allergy is the body’s over-reaction to one or more allergens. There are thousands of different allergens all around us and almost any substance can provoke an allergic reaction in someone (who is very sensitive) in our environment.

allergy types

There are four main types of skin allergy, each caused by different allergens. Fortunately, there are many ways to relieve the symptoms. But in order to choose an appropriate treatment, it’s important to identify which type of allergy you have.

• Contact dermatitis
The Greek word ‘Dermatitis’ means ‘inflammation of skin’, is caused by touching a certain substance. In most cases, the main symptom is a red rash, but it could be one of a number of allergens that causes it, including metals, chemicals, rubber, plants and even pets.

• Prickly heat
Warm weather often causes the itchy red rash known as prickly heat. The exact reason is not known till date, but some people think it’s due to sweat getting trapped under the skin.

• Bites and stings
Irritations from insect bites and stings can be uncomfortable but reactions tend to be short lived.

• Urticaria
This type of allergy is often called nettle rash, because it comes up as an itchy red rash, raised in the middle. Confusingly, it has nothing to do with stinging nettles at all but is caused by eating a certain food or taking a particular drug.


Sexual Impotency

Diet	• Take extra amount of water. • Bitter substance should be taken regularly. • Avoid extra amount of proteins and fat • Avoid difficult to digest food. • Avoid the types of food which irritate your skin
Lifestyle	• Clean body properly. • exercise regularly. • Avoid excess sun rays. • Avoid chemical based creams. • Keep your room pollution free. (Remove old carpets)

2.Sexual impotency

Sex is a basic instinct like hunger. Sexual activity, however, demands complete concentration and relaxation. It cannot be performed in haste and tension. People who are usually tense and over occupied are unable to follow these norms. Many Persons, therefore, suffer from sexual dysfunctions. The most common male sexual dysfunction is impotence.

Symptoms

Impotence takes three forms.

• There is primary impotence when the man’s erectile dysfunction is there from the very beginning of sexual activity and he simply cannot have any erection.
• Secondary impotence is the commonest and this implies that the man can normally attain an erection but fail on one or more occasions in between normal activity.
• The third form is associated with advancing age.

Root causes

Sexual impotence may result from phychological illness such as depression which lowers both sexual drive and erectile function, tiredness, alcohol abuse, the therapeutic use of oestrogens, paralysis of parasympathetic nerves by drugs or permanent damage to them, and diabetes.
Other causes of impotence include a devitalized condition of the system in general. The main problem of secondary impotence is the apprehension created by an earlier failure, which generates a good deal of anxiety for the next time.

Herbal Home Remedy	• Garlic • Onion • Asparagus • Drumstick • Ginger • Raisins
Diet	• Diet is an important factors, to begin with the patient should adopt an exclusive fresh fruit diet. Take fresh fruits and fresh fruit juice twice daily. Concentrate on food like nut, cereals , vegetables, fruits, milk, honey etc. Avoid smoking, alcohol, tea, coffee all processed canned refined and denatured foods especially white sugar and white flour and products made from them
Lifestyle	• A vigorous massage all over the body is highly beneficial in the treatment of impotency as it helps to revive muscular vigour which is essential for nervous energy. The nerves of the genital organs are controlled by the belvic region. Hence acold hip bath for ten minutes in the morning or evening is very effective.

3.Skin Care

Skin and nails provide a look at the inner health of the body. These outward "signs" can tell you a lot about the condition of your inward health.

Often we may have problems with our skin such as dull skin, skin likely to break out in blotches or skin that dehydrates easily. All of these problems and many more indicate the lack of proper nutrition.

Poor diet, drugs, alcohol, excessive sun exposure, environmental toxins and tobacco smoke increase free radical damage and decrease enzyme activity. Both free radical damage and the reduction in enzyme activity can hasten the appearance of the following problems; wrinkles, age spots, sagging skin and ultimately can also to skin cancer.

Free radicals oxidize cells, making normal cell metabolism impossible. Enzymes can help prevent or treat skin damage by fighting these free radicals and reducing stress on bodily systems.

The skin reflects our overall health and acts as a barrier against the outside world, is the largest organ and is composed primarily of collagen. Collagen fibers form an elastin network that makes up connective tissues. The skins elasticity, strength and smoothness come from the makeup of the collagen fibers.

Skin Functions
• protects internal organs and tissues from injury
• preserves valuable moisture and helps maintain normal body temperature
• protects the body from toxins, viruses and bacteria

The Skin's Vitality Can be Measured

To measure the amount of free radical damage you must perform the skin elasticity test. Grasp the skin on the back of the hand between the
thumb and index finger. Raise the skin and release it. The skin fold should immediately flatten. If a ridge remains, the skin is aging and damaged by connective tissues and muscles binding together. Enzymes battle both by improving blood supply and then the nutrient supply by the skin,s dermal layer.

Herbs	• Neem • Sandalwood • Manjistha
Diet	• Take extra amount of water. • Bitter substance should be taken regularly. • Avoid extra amount of proteins and fat. • Avoid difficult to digest food. • Avoid that types of food which irrited your skin.
Lifestyle	• Clean body properly. • Need to do exercise regularly. • Avoid excess sun ray. • Avoid more amount of chemical based creams. • Keep your room pollution free.

4.Hair Loss

Hair is a complex and delicate part of your body. Keeping it healthy and beautiful is a challenge. Here's a guide that will help you do just that .

Hair is cylinder of dead tissue. Damaged hair can never be fully restored to its original condition. The main factor in growth of the hair is the kind of cells that exit in the hair follicles from which the hair grows in the individual person. Each individual hair is also different in one individual .Hair- care products are intended to promote certain favorable conditions of hair and to reduce of eliminate properties of hair, which are regarded as undesirable

Symptoms & Causes

Reasons for Hair Loss

Both men and women lose hair for similar reasons. Hair loss in men is often more dramatic, and follows a specific pattern of loss which has been termed "Male Pattern Baldness". This loss is caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Factors for male hair loss include: heredity, hormones, and aging. This may also apply to women but to a lesser degree. Women may experience loss of hair after menopause and 2-3 months after having a baby. Other contributing factors include: poor diet, poor circulation, acute illness, radiation, chemotherapy, high stress, thyroid imbalance, certain drugs, coming off the contraceptive pill, diabetes, high doses of vitamin A (more than 100,000 IU), sudden weight loss, high fever, iron deficiency, ringworm, some fungal infections, chemicals and hair dyes, vitamin deficiencies, and lack of proper nutrition

Drastic or premature hair loss may be caused by:

1. Stress and bodily weakness from overwork.
2. Dietary imbalances or nutritional deficiency.
3. Using abrasive shampoos, hair lacquers, dyes and bleaching, etc.
4. Endocrine disorder.
5. Genetic factors.
6. Infectious diseases.
7. Hormonal metabolic changes in lactating women.
8. Nutrient and protein deficiencies in the hair cells.

Modern Day problems Associated with Hair and Scalp:

For most hair related problems, internal medicine plays important role then external application. In recent times hair & scalp have become target of many ailments. There are many problems that can be associated with hair & scalp due to:

1. Air and water pollution.
2. Use of shampoos and conditioners containing harsh chemical.
3. Use of common combs and brushes in establishment such as barbershops and beauty saloons. Problem associated with scalp arise due to lowering of the resistance may be because, frequent washing with the strong soaps and shampoos, excessive secretion of oil and sweat glands, over exposure to sunlight. There are three common diseases associated with scalp.
4. Seborrhea
5. Dandruff
6. Hair loss

Healing Options

Herbs

• Bhringaraj • Amla • Heena • Jaba

Lifestyle

• The foremost consideration in the treatment of this disorder is to keep the hair and scalp clean so as to minimise the accumulation of dead cells. • The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. • The most effective way to brush the hair is to bend forward from the waist with the head down towards the ground and brush from the nape of the neck towards the top of the head.

7.Kidney stone

Urinary stones are generally formed by calcium, phosphates or oxalates. The main parts of the urinary tract are the kidney, ureter, bladder and urethra. The stones are formed primarily in the kidney and sometimes remain there without being noticed for a long time. In certain circumstances they are slowly dissolved or dislodged and come down, and during this process, they become lodged in a narrow part of the tract, giving rise to excruciating pain.

Stones are formed in the body because of vayu. It creates a type of dryness I the body because of which the chemicals start accumulating over the nucleus, that ultimately takes the shape of a stone. At times the entire kidney is filled with these stones and it becomes calcified and stops functioning. If urine is not excreted through the kidneys or excreted in small quantities, uremia sets in and causes many complications. The same phenomenon takes place if a piece of stone gets lodged in ureter or bladder.

Symptoms:

The patient experiences pain in the lumber region of the kidneys at the back of the body. The pain radiates towards the genital organs. There might be fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, sleeplessness and painful urination. At times blood may appear in the urine.

Causes:

The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough water. Try to drink enough water to keep your urine clear (about 8 to 10 glasses of water a day). Some people are more likely to get kidney stones because of a medical condition or family history.

Kidney stones may also be an inherited disease. If other people in your family have had them, you may have them too. Some people are more susceptible to forming kidney stones, and heredity certainly plays a role. The majority of kidney stones are made of calcium, and hypercalciuria (high levels of calcium in the urine), is a risk factor. The predisposition to high levels of calcium in the urine may be passed on from generation to generation.

Herbal Powder	• Gokshura powder • Varuna powder • Shilajit powder
Diet	• The patients should not take beans and pulses. Yellow variety of pumpkin & lady's finger are strictly prohibited. While variety of gourd are very useful in this condition. Lot of water intake.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle	• Patients should not sit continuously for a long time after taking food he /she should either walk for a few minutes or lie down. Should sit on a soft cushion. Patients should develop the habit of drinking plenty of water which will help him/her to cleanse the urinary system and will help prevent the formation of stones.
Yoga	• Vajrasana • Forwardbend (Paschimothana Asana)

8.Fever

Fever refers to a condition of the body in which the temperature goes beyond the normal .It is also characterized by disturbance in the normal functioning of the systems. It is a common ailment, which occurs both in children and adults.

The average temperature of a healthy body ranges between 98.4 degree F and 99.5 degree F. It is liable to marginal variations, depending on the intake of food, the amount of exercise, and the temperature of the body occurs between the hours of 1.30 am to 7 a.m. and the highest between 4p.m to 9 p.m.

Symptoms:

Fever generally begins with slight shivering, pain in the head and various parts of the body, thirst and great lassitude. The flow of urine is scanty. As the fever rises, the pulse and respiration become faster. Finally, there is profuse sweating, a copious flow of concentrated urine, and general relief of symptoms.

Root cause:

The term fever has a very wide application. It is the symptom of a body’s fight against infection. It is one of the most common features of the several diseases. In many cases, it is a secondary symptom of the disordered state of the body with which it is associated .the real cause of all fevers, including common fever, however, is the accumulation of morbid matter in the system due to wrong feeding habits and unhygienic conditions of living. Fever is thus a natural attempt on the part of the body to rid itself of toxic matter.

Herbs	• Holy Basil • Fenugreek • Saffron • Raisins • Apricot • Grapefruit • Orange • Bloodworm
Diet	The patient should be put on a fruit juice and water at the beginning of the treatment. The procedure is to drink the juice of an orange in a glass of warm water every two hours from 8am to 8 pm. After the temperature has come down to normal for a few more days. In this regimen, he should take three meals upon a well balanced diet according to his age, with emphasis on fresh fruits, and raw or lightly cooked vegetables.
Lifestyle	While the patient is on an orange juice fast, a warm water enema should be given daily to cleanse the bowels. Cold compresses may be applied to the head in case the temperature rises. Complete bed rest is advisable.

9.Dandruff (Scariness of the scalp)

The term dandruff generally refers to the condition of the skin where in shiny, silvery scales separate from the scalp and collect amidst the hair. The condition can become troublesome when the skin gets infected.

Symptoms:

When the hair is combed or brushed, or when the scalp is scratched, the scales from the scalp fall like snowflakes and settle on the eyebrows,
 shoulders and clothes. These scales sometimes appear as lumps or crusts on the scalp. Often there is itching as well and the scalp may become red from scratching.

Root causes: The main causes of dandruff are impairment of general health, development of a toxic condition mainly due to taking of wrong foods, constipation, and a low vitality due to infectious diseases. Other factors contributing to this disorder are emotional tension, harsh shampoos, and exposure to cold, and general exhaustion.

Healing Options

Home Remedies	• Fenugreek seeds • Lime • Green Gram Powder • Snake gourd
Other Remedies	• Dandruff can be removed by massaging the hair for half an hour with curd which has been kept in the open for three days or with a few drops of lime juice mixed with alma juice every night before going to bed. Another measure, which helps to counteract dandruff, is to dilute cider vinegar with an equal quantity of water and dab this on the hair with cotton wool in between shampooing. Cider vinegar added to the final rinsing water after shampooing also helps to disperse dandruff.
Diet	• People should avoid spicy and greasy food because it helps dandruff to increase and spread. People should add more vegetables and fruits on the diet. It is very essential to take fresh foods avoid taking tinned and canned foods add more green vegetables and fruits. • Strong tea and coffee, processed foods should be avoided for the dandruff.
Lifestyle	• The foremost consideration in the treatment of this disorder is to keep the hair and scalp clean so as to minimise the accumulation of dead cells. The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. The most effective way to brush the hair is to bend forward from the waist with the head down towards the ground and brush from the nape of the neck towards the top of the head. The scalp should also be thoroughly massaged everyday, using one-finger tips and working systematically over the head. This should be done just before or after brushing the hair. Like brushing, this stimulates the circulation, dislodges dirt and dandruff and encourages hair growth. Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also a useful measure in the treatment of dandruff. Use any herbal shampoo for clean the hair. Also a herbal hair pack can be prepared and used by mixing henna powder, curd, ritha power together and apply on the head keep it for ½ an hour and wash with water, after this you wash your head with a herbal lime based shampoo for dandruff. Lime is good for dandruff as well as conditioner.
Yoga	• Cobra (Bhujanga Asana) • Vajrasana

10.What is Stress

The term "stress" is difficult to define and may mean different things to different people in divergent circumstances. The oldest definition is that of Hans Selye who defined stress as the "non-specific (i.e. common) result of any demand on the body, whether the effect be mental or somatic".

According to latest health reports, Stress is said to be one of the largest killers of man today. Stress is now becoming more accepted as being crucially related to our total health - physical, mental and emotional. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the majority of all physician visits are prompted by stress-related symptoms that are known to cause or worsen medical conditions

Stress is our response to specific stimuli called "Stress inducers". Or they are the events that generally produce stress. They may be temporary or chronic, leading to negative health consequences or outcomes changing a person's life. Although life itself is dependent upon certain forms of stress, it is only when stress is handled poorly by the body or mind that it becomes a health hazard. Stress that is expressed or experienced negatively can be linked to many physical complaints, from headaches and hypertension to symptoms affecting a person's mental state. Anxiety, depression and feelings of anger, fear, helplessness or hopelessness, and other emotions are often linked to stress.

Two powerful body systems cope with stress. The nervous system controls the rapid body changes, while the endocrine system regulates the longer-term patterns of stress response by releasing hormones into the blood. The adrenal activates the sympathetic nervous system, reducing the normalizing effects of body function. This increases the metabolic rate, heart rate, circulation and blood pressure. In addition, effectiveness of the digestive system is diminished and disturbances in sleep patterns become common.

How stress is created?

Interchangeably used with the word anxiety, stress relates mutually to our social and psychological environment. Major situations like divorce, marriage, retirement, death in the family, pre-natal conditions, a job loss and other emotional upheavals as well as minor hassles like waiting in line for hours, getting struck in a traffic jam, misplacing or losing something, disputes, even daily household chores and competitive examinations in fact any unsettling human experience can sometimes become stressful and play havoc with a person's health.

In the work place and even at home, stress can test a person's problem-solving abilities. The demands of everyday living are numerous and if a warning bell is sounding somewhere within you, it's time you pay heed to it.

Stress alarm - Identify your Stress triggers

What are the warning signals? Are you moving towards a stress burnout? If you have been experiencing the symptoms listed below, over extended periods of time, it's time you acted - now!

    Can't cope, can't concentrate, Feel hopeless, helpless, depressed.
    Always tired
    Often irritable and angry. Can't control your temper
    Eat too much or too little. Eat too many fats, too much salt and sugar
    Have trouble sleeping. Don't get enough sleep, or sleep too much and still feel tired
    Smoking in excess. More than normal intake of alcohol, caffeine or drugs
    Have frequent headaches, backaches, and stomachaches
    No time to talk to friends and family
    Cut back on exercises
    Family tensions run higher than usual. You and your spouse fight more often
    Not interested in sex.
    Always sick lately. Get cough and colds and other viral infections more often than you used to
    Allergies and skin rashes
    Disinterested in life, in general

Would you like to analyze your stress?

What are the causes of stress?

Dr. Selye called the causes of stress "stressors" or "triggers." There are two kinds of stressors: external and internal.

External stressors include:

    • The Physical environment noise, bright lights, heat, confined spaces.
    • Social (interaction with people): rudeness, bossiness or aggressiveness on the part of someone else.
    • Organizational: rules, regulations, "red tape," deadlines.
    • Major life events: death of a relative, lost job, promotion, and new baby.
    • Daily hassles: commuting, misplacing keys, mechanical breakdowns.

Internal stressors include:
    • Lifestyle choices: caffeine, not enough sleep, overloaded schedule.
    • Negative Thinking: Pessimism, self-criticism, over-analyzing. • Mind traps: unrealistic expectations, taking things personally, exaggerating, rigid         thinking.
    • Stressful personality traits: perfectionist, workaholic, pleaser.

It is important to note that most of the stress that most of us have is actually self-generated. This is a paradox because so many people think of external stressors when they are upset (it is the weather, the boss, the children, the spouse, the stock market). Recognizing that we create most of our own upsets, however, is an important first step to dealing with them.

he most important thing is, to be able to monitor your stress levels and know how to deal with your problems as they appear. The body is superbly equipped to deal with stress, but up to a certain level. If you're adaptive resources become overworked and exhausted, your body ceases to function smoothly. Different organs then can become stress targets. 
S So how do you guard against stress?

Herbs:

    • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)br />     • Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
    • Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi)