Ayurveda | Ayurveda Tips | Diseases		HEALTH CARE PROGRAMMES
AYURVEDIC CONCEPT OF DISEASE The Ayurvedic concept of disease explains pathological condition in terms of doshas, dhatus and malas.The Ayurvedic concept of disease defines two terms, vikruti and prakruti. Vikruti is the abnormal or diseased condition of the body while prakruti refers to the normal physiological and mental state.   Fibromyalgia Psoriasis Arthritis Stress Infertility   Fibromyalgia   Fibromyalgia is a recently recognized disorder that is regarded as a chronic condition associated with the experience of non-inflammatory pain and tenderness in muscles, ligaments, joints and fatigue. Fibromyalgia is a relatively common condition, estimated to affect about four percent of the general population. It is very similar to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); Only point of difference is presence of musculoskeletal pain in Fibromyalgia and that of fatigue in CFS. Low level of Serotonin is considered to be most important biochemical criteria. The primary treatment goals should include raise serotonin levels, improve sleep quality, and assure adequate magnesium levels. Symptoms Generalized aches or stiffness at many sites for more than three months. Generalized fatigue Chronic headache including migraines Sleep disorder, particularly timings of cycles Neuronal and psychological complaints Swelling Numbness/ tingling sensations Ayurvedic View It can be described as 'Mansa Dhatugat and Mansavrut Vata'. Fibromyalgia is perceived as a Vata imbalance. Vata is the main imbalance and aggravated Vata destabilizes the nervous system and can create hypersensitivity leading to pain and tenderness. Accumulation of Ama (toxins) and shrotorodha are also contributory factors. Ayurvedic Approach of Fibromyalgia and CFS Treatment The aggravation of Vata dosha and accumulation of Ama (toxins) are the primary causes and should be treated mainly. Associated weak digestion, constipation, and effects of chronic stress should also be tackled. Panchakarma Therapy Pre-purification Measures namely 'snehan' and 'swedan' are very useful to balance 'Vata' and to loosen the toxins. Snehan is the Herbalized Oil Massage. This oil is applied to the entire body with a particular type of massage. Swedan is sudation or sweating and is given immediately following the snehan. An herbal concoction may be added to the steam to further enhancement of effect. Daily herbalized oil massage also provides a deeply soothing and balancing effect to the entire nervous system. The motion of massage creates heat and friction which enhances circulation and helps cleanse the areas of chemical impurities that could be aggravating and hyper-sensitizing nerve tissues. Diet and Nutrition Following is the diet suggested for the patients suffering form Fibromyalgia and CFS Vegetable juices and soups Coconut water and Coconut milk Juice of carrot, Cucumber, Beetroot Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin Spices like cumin, coriander, ginger asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric. Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt Khichadi (recipe made by cooking rice and mung dal, 1:1 or 1:2 proportion) The patient of Fibromyalgia and CFS should avoid the following Eating hot, spicy and fried foods, sweets, foods like brinjal, cabbage, Cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes. Too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate, cocoa. Sleeping during the day and staying up late at night Mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief. Yoga for Stress Management and Improved Mental and Emotional Function It is well documented that fibromyalgia is often worsened by heightened stress, anxiety and mental fatigue. There are hormonal changes and other biochemical responses to stress that can aggravate the nervous system, and the immune response. The sleep disturbance that is often created by fibromyalgia symptoms increases fatigue which in turn increases one's susceptibility to stress which in turn aggravates the fibromyalgia condition. Meditation,Yoga, Pranayama and studying of spiritual philosophy are all recommended for supporting personal healing and relaxation of the mind. Efforts should be made to increase the Sattvic quality of mind. Yogasana Various stretching exercises are known to have a positive effect on fibromyalgia. Regular practicing of sets of different postures are helpful in creating a healthy flexibility throughout the body. Yogic breathing practices will also create a state of restful alertness in mind and body. Progressive deep relaxation, i.e., shavasana (Corpse posture) brings about a relaxed state of mind which prepares the individual for meditation. Lifestyle and Daily Routine One of the most important factors for balancing Vata and maintaining stability in the nervous system 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. Therefore regularity in our daily routine can be extremely effective in reducing Vata imbalances. Ayurvedic Herbs Decoction of the roots of ten herbs (Dashamularishtam) should be given in the dose of 30 ml., twice daily. Daily use of the Ayurvedic compound 'Triphala choorna' is recommended  to cleanse the colon. Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with warm water helps to reduce pain  and inflammation in Fibromyalgia. Dosage: twice a day Garlic is useful for detoxification and to enhance immune system function. Guggul is a very helpful herb for relief of pain. Licorice root supports the glandular system and acts in the body like cortisone,  but without the harmful side-effects. Caution: If overused, licorice can elevate  blood pressure. Do not use this herb on a daily basis for more than seven  days in a row. Avoid it if you have high blood pressure Ginger Tea. Ginger is a good alternative to aspirin to relieve minor aches and  pains. Steep 1 teaspoon of the grated root in 8 ounces of hot water for 10 minutes.  Strain. Add honey for taste, if you like. Alternatively, take 1 to 2 Grams of  powdered ginger a day with food. Generic preparations available in market such as Dashamularishtam , Triphala guggul, Maharasnadi quath , Vata Vidhwans Rasa etc. can be taken under the guidance of a ayurvedic physician   Arthritis   Arthritis is one of the most common ailment for which Ayurvedic help is being sought these days. Disease process in Arthritis According to Ayurveda mostly pains are caused by the aggravation of vata (air) dosha. Arthritis is a condition which is caused by accumulation of ama and aggravation of vata. (Ama is a toxic by-product of improper digestion.) This ama circulates in the whole body and deposits or gets collected at the sites which are weaker. When it deposits in the joints and at the same time there is aggravation of vata, it results in a disease called amavata. This amavata is arthritis. Remedies As described above ama and vata are the main causes, so efforts should be made to digest ama and to reduce the vata. The digestion should be improved so that no further ama is produced. Efforts should be made to relieve the pain and inflammation. This is the line of treatment according to Ayurveda. Fasting is very beneficial for digesting the ama. The fasting be complete or partial depending on the strength of the person, season and place. Two tea spoons of lemon juice mixed in 250 ml. of warm water and a tea spoon of honey is good to take twice a day -morning and evening. Body massage with sesame or mustard oil helps to reduce the vata and thus reduce the pain. The joints affected by pain can be massaged for longer time. Light exercise is useful but you must know your limits: as a general rule if any exercise, including walking, causes pain after one hour, you have crossed your limit. Liberal intake of orange juice or sweet limejuice or Vitamin C enhances the efficacy of any anti rheumatic drug, since Vitamin C can reduce skeletal pain. Guggul is a very helpful herb for curing arthritis. If available it can be taken in one to 3 gm dose twice a day after meals with warm water. Contra-indications: Not recommended for people with kidney disease or acute rashes. Diet and Regimen Foods which are easily digestible and do not make wind or gas are good. Vegetable juices and soups are good. Juices of carrot, beat root and cucumber mixed together is also beneficial. Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt is also good. Fruits like apples, oranges, grapes and papaya can be taken. Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin are good. Cooking with spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, asafetida, garlic, fennel and turmeric is also helps a lot. Avoid eating hot, spicy and fried foods, sweets, wind forming foods like cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes should be prohibited. Avoid taking too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate and cocoa, excessive smoking Sleeping during day time, staying up late in the night and mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief etc., should be given up. Regular physical exercise and every day massage with oil, once or twice a week, should form an important part of life style.   Infertility   What is infertility ? ncapability of the woman to conceive, after one year of regular sexual union without contraceptives, or to retain the fetus till childbirth is called as infertility. It is a problem, which not only affects the physical life of the woman but also disturbs the social and emotional life of the couple. According to some experts about half the childless marriages are due to abnormalities in the male partners though women are traditionally blamed for sterility. Infertility is also assigned to factors relating to non production of sperms or to other reasons relating to quality. Factors Involved in Creating a Healthy Child According to Ayurveda, conception takes place due to healthy sperm, healthy ovum, and a healthy uterus. For both men and women, reproductive health depends on the health of the shukra dhatu, or reproductive tissue. In women the shukra tissue creates the ovum as part of the monthly cycle, and in men the semen is formed due to sexual stimulation. The shukra tissue itself is created as part of a long chain of metabolic transformations, starting with the digestion of food and including the transformation of food to nutrient fluid, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow and finally, to shukra tissue. Healthy shukra tissue, then, according to ayurveda, depends on the health of all the other tissues in the body. Causes of Infertility Problems with infertility can arise when nutrition does not reach the reproductive tissue; this can happen due to under nutrition, poor digestion or obstruction due to toxins. Having sex by compulsion with a person whom you do not like. Eating spicy, salty and hot food increase pitta and destroys shukra (semen). Overindulgence in sexual activities leads to shukra kshaya. It may lead to clibya (impotency). By controlling sexual urges for longer duration leads to veeryaavarodha (Obstruction of semen) and this leads to decreased libido. Infertility can also arise when the reproductive tissue is damaged by infection or trauma. Some acquire the impotency by birth. General Guidelines for treatment Determine the Constitution of both the partners. Clear any obstructions or blockages. Tonify any weaknesses. Ensure that the digestive fire is strong. Ensure that the nervous system is relaxed. Being loving and loved is the best tonic for fertility.   Psoriasis   Psoriasis is a non-infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin. It is characterized by well-defined erythematous (reddish) plaques with large adherent silvery scales. The main abnormality in psoriasis is an increased proliferation of the skin layers due to excessive division of the cell in the basal layers of the skin. Severe itching may associate with the plaques. Dryness of the skin and silvery scaling are characteristics of this condition. 1% to 3% of the most population has Psoriasis. It is very common among Europeans and North Americans. It is often seen between 15 to 40 yrs of age. The exact reason behind Psoriasis is unknown. There is frequently a genetic predisposition. A child with one affected parent has a 15% chance of developing the disease and this rises to 50% if both the parents are affected. Streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract may exacerbate the condition. Deprivation of sunlight influences this condition and mental stress plays an important role in aggravating the condition. Certain drugs like chloroquine, chlorpropamide, lithium and practaol may aggravate this condition. The peculiar lesions will be raised and red with dry, silvery-white scaling. Size may vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. Common sites are scalp elbows knees and lower back. Pitting of the nails is very common. Involvements of palm is not uncommon. Many may develop sero-negative inflammatory arthritis, which is characterized by multiple involvements of joints and pitting on nails. Ayurvedic view Many basic Ayurvedic texts have explained skin diseases, which resembles Psoriasis. According these references, Psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha. (Two of the basic energies/humors, which maintains our body equilibrium) Accumulation of low potency poisons (Dooshi vishas), are the basic pathological changes taking place in the system. Irregular food habits, consumption of foodstuffs that cannot be eaten together (Eg: diary products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, sour and salted items etc can activate the pathogenesis. Alcohol and tobacco consumption will act as a catalyst here. Ayurveda do emphasize on the effect of stress in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis. Treatment Coming to the treatment aspects of Psoriasis according to Ayurveda, it aims at the detoxification of the body or elimination of toxins from the body fluids. It is achieved by "Panchakarma" treatments. Current schedule, comprising various treatment aspects of Ayurveda is aiming at a better control of Psoriasis. This includes internal and external medications purely of plant origin. Rough out line of this schedule is as follows. Consumption of medicated ghee, considering the Dosha type of the Psoriasis and the person, for 5 to 7 days. Detoxifying, by inducing vomiting (Vamana) and purgation (Virechana). This is followed by medicated buttermilk dripping overhead (Dahara) and pasting the entire body with a paste of medicines and mud. Basthies (medicated enemas) are being done for 8 days and internal medicines like herbal concoctions; medicated ghee has to be consumed for at least 90 days. A strict diet regime has to be followed during the entire treatment period and it is better to continue as vegetarian. Yogurt, black gram, chilies and salted thing have to be restricted. It is better to avoid refrigerated/chilled foods. Psoriatic must keep a state of mental calmness.   Stress   These are times when our thinking ability blocks and go through emotional and physical stress. Today, we can not actually contradict or reject from the fact that one of the most common problems, that we are facing is "Stress". Nowadays every individual is facing stress problems by various ways. Starting from school children, college pass-outs, working professionals to senior citizens, no age group is left out of this problem. As per recent studies done by American Psychological Association, states that more than 40 % of all adults undergo through poor and weak health problems because of stress and around 70 to 90 % of all physician office visits are for stress related ailments. In addition it has also been found that 70 to 90% of adults who regularly visits primary care physicians to overcome stress related problems, sometimes feels so depressed that stress has become one of the prime killer factors in today's fast-paced times. The majority of global population is suffering from hypertension has stress related problems. It is very important to understand that too much of stress in your life can surely hamper your interpersonal relationships at home or on the job. You can become negatively influenced in your attitudes and thoughts. Apart from this, recent medical research states that around 90% of illness and disease is stress-related. Stress actually obstructs our physical functioning and various bodily processes such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and other stress-related sickness. Our body, mind and heart all are subjected to ravages of daily stress problems, worries or suspicions regarding emotional trauma or economical crises, and these crises can be very dangerous and distress our health if not addressed properly. Ayurveda is one holistic approach that can help in overcoming stress related issues or problems. Ayurveda is one of the oldest and ancient sciences of life that primarily focus on metal and physical health maintenance and is deeply spiritual in origin. Unlike any other traditional western medicine, it is not just restricted to healing of diseases, but also lifts up the mind and body of any individual. It also provides a clear and cohesive treatment for stress related hazards in a natural way.Ayurveda teach us in understanding our mind, body at a deep mental or physical level, and this knowledge enable in identifying conditions, activities, or foods that can further help in keeping ourselves fit and healthy. The holistic approach of Ayurveda deals with various stresses related dangers in its own normal manner. It concentrates on the impact of the mind on body, and vice versa. Carefully designed ayurvedic programs like soothing body massages works at the physical level can soothe the aching muscles and tensed nerves. The most important advantage of having ayurveda treatments to overcome stress related problems it that is brings complete fulfillment to the aspiration of everybody. We can not define ayurveda merely as discipline of the medicine; rather it is a science of existence to achieve longevity and ideal lifestyle. It brings back the mental permanence, and enhances our self reliance, liveliness, mental simplicity, which in turn directly brings about a deep and superior sense of relaxation and wisdom of well being.		REJUVENATION THERAPY BODY PURIFICATION THERAPY SLIMMING PROGRAMME BODY PURIFICATION PROCESS PANCHAKARMA CHIKILSA PANCHAKARMA PROGRAMME BODY IMMUNIZATION & LONGEVITY TREATMENTS SPINE AND NECK CARE PROGRAMME PSORIASIS TREATMENT PROGRAMME BEAUTY CARE PROGRAMME PRIME TREATMENTS PIZHICHIL NJAVARAKIZHI SIRODHARA(THYLA, THAKRA, KSHEERA) SIROVASTHI VASTHI(SNEHAVASTHI, KASHAVASTHI) KADEEVASTHI UROVASTHI NASYAM DHANYAMLADHARA KIZHI KSHEERADHOOMAM THARPANAM KARNAPOORNAM LEPAM FACE PACK GENERAL MASSAGE REJUVENATION MASSAGE ABHYANGA UDAVARTHANAM SNEHAPARAM