mesothelioma

symptmoms of mesothelioma
chest wall pain is common in mesothelioma.
pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung is often found in mesothelioma.
shortness of breath is seen in many cases of mesothelioma.
fatigue or anemia is always associated with mesothelioma.
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough is also seen in mesothelioma.
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis ) is detected in mesothelioma.
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

abdominal pain in mesothelioma is rare.
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen can be detected in ivestigation.
a mass in the abdomen is seen in many cases but also a coomon feature of mesothelioma.
problems with bowel function and
weight loss as in other cancers is also a symptom of mesothelioma.
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
Now lets see what ayurveda can contribute in treating mesothelioma.
As in all diseases mesothelioma also prevention is best method that can be adopted .
If detected as in other cases rasa prepartions like makaradwgam ad
mercury preparations would be very effective in mesothelioma cases .
panchara kar is very effective in mesothelioma cases but only in early cases which are diagnosed .

sandal wood and beauty care

Santalum album it is known to medical professionals and as sandal wood to common man ,is widely used as a perfume in mediterranian and in asia ,it has essentil oil which has a very plesent smell.
Sandalwood is a small tree that grows primarily in India. The wood of its stem, which grows from 20 to 30 feet high, is heavy and straight-grained and varies in color from white when young to yellow or orange when older. its oval leaves are covered with a whitish bloom; its small flowers, varying in color, grow in numerous cymes.
The essential oil contains high amounts of alpha- and beta-santalol. These small molecules possess antibacterial and sedative properties. Synthetic sandalwood does not contain the active ingredients.
The medicinal properties of sandalwood reside in the transmutation of sexual e
nergy.
Ancient Indians have transferred the well kept beauty secrets to their future generation. Out of the Indian beauty aids, sandalwood has a unique place. It has been used as a cream, medicine as well as a make up in India. Explore those explicit beauty secrets of sandalwood to enhance your beauty!

In India, two varieties of sandalwood are used for skin treatment. The white sandal is used for make-up and skin care. The red sandal has been widely acclaimed for its medicinal values and skin care abilities.

Sandalwood skin care
Sandalwood is an ancient Indian Ayurvedic remedy for many skin complaints and conditions. It is also known to cleanse and condition the skin, leaving it moisturized, free of germs and protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Application of the sandalwood paste on your body ensure a glowing skin to you.
Mix 5 tablespoons of coconut oil with 2 teaspoons of almond oil. Add 4 teaspoons of sandalwood powder and apply the mixture to the overexposed areas. This sandalwood tone oil will keep your skin complexion even. It will also remove the suntan and will stimulate a fairer complexion.

In olden days queens used to smear themselves with sandalwood and turmeric paste to keep their maintain a fairer complexion and to sexually stimulate the king.
When applying sandal wood paste on face care should be taken that sandal wood should not be let to dry it should be moistened with rose water to avoid skin getting too dry.

Ankylosing spondylitis and ayurveda

Ankylosing spondylitis is two to three times more common in males than in females. In women, joints away from the spine are more frequently affected than in men. Ankylosing spondylitis affects all age groups, including children. The most common age of onset of symptoms is in the second and third decades of life.

Over time, chronic spinal inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. The sacroiliac joints are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). The sacroiliac joints are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the spine and the sacroiliac joints.
Each of these arthritic conditions can cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies." Each of these arthritic conditions can cause disease and ulcerative colitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systemic rheumatic disease, meaning it can cause inflammation of the spine, as well as other organs, such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Ankylosing spondylitis shares many features with several other arthritis conditions, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Ayurveda treatments is best counter this dreaded disease ,treatments are vasti(with special drugs ) along with that virechana and continuous internal medication will help the patient to recover ,continuous medication and treatments once in six months can help the patient counter the pain and other symptoms .but there should be caution once the disease reaches its advanced stage (the fusion of spine has started then ayurvedic treatments is also of very little help the point here is to stat early treatment.

Grapes-wounder drug

Grapes have been known to man more than 6000 years.Grapes has been used both as medicine and nutritional purpose.Not only Ayurveda but also Greek philosophers have hailed the healing properties of grapes.Grape cultivation and wine making were known to Chinese before 206 BC.
Grapes is used in wide array of wines ,cultivated all over India .Ayurveda considers grapes best of fruits because of its healing properties. abundance of dextrose Grapes are sweet ,sour ,cool and have mild laxating property.The abundance of dextrose makes it energy booster.Grapes are bet for quenching thirst.
According to Ayurveda grapes has a pacifying effect on Vata and pitta and increase kapha.It improves the haemoglobin level .It is effective in all blood related diseases from jaundice to eye diseases.
Grapes contain Vitamin B6,Vitamin C,sodium chloride,tartaric acid,thiamine ,iron phosphorus and citric acid.
Washing of eyes with dry grapes decoction will help in faster healing of eyes after cataract surgery.
Home remedies:
Drink a glass of water in which 20-30 soaked raisins (dried black grapes ) it relieves dryness in your throat.Chewing a handful of raisins in bed time ,along with a glass of warm water will relieve constipation.Raisins eliminate flatulence from intestines by lubricating intestinal mucosa.In jaundice raisins should be consumed with cow's milk.Here grapes can play vital role by pacifying vata thus reduces cough



If you are overstressed or have insomnia ,consume four table spoons of grape preparation 'Drakshaarista' with warm water .This can do wonders in heart diseases also.Grapes has cosmetic value too.Grape seed oil is used in cosmetics.Consuming 200 gm of grapes and carrot on an empty stomach can reduce fat and improve complexion.

Stress and ayurveda

Stress
• Stress is physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. Tension is mental or emotional strain, suspense, anxiety, or excitement. Anxiety is a reaction to a real or imagined threat, a general feeling of uneasiness.
• Stress can be brought about by a traumatic accident, death or emergency situation.
• Stress can also be side effect of a serious illness or disease.
• Can't cope, can't concentrate, and feel hopeless, helpless, depressed and tired.
• Often irritable and angry, can't control your temper.
• Eat too much or too little, eat erratically.
• Have trouble in 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 stomach aches.
• Cut back on exercises.
• Family tensions run higher than usual. You and your spouse fight more often.
• Not interested in sex.
• Get cough and colds and allergies.
Ayurveda defines a person as the replica of the macrocosm and advise him to live in tune with the nature.
Health in Ayurveda
• Health in Ayurveda is defined as "svasta" means established in the self.
• The health in Ayurveda is the state of harmony experienced by the self in physical, mental and spiritual levels.
Ayurvedic View of Stress
• According to Ayurveda stress affects the agni or the internal metabolic fire which in turn affects digestion and metabolism, so the circulatory rasa dhatu (plasma), raktha (blood), mamsa (muscle tissue), medas (fat and adipose tissue), asti (bone and cartilage), majja (marrow and nervous tissue); sukra (reproductive fluids) will be affected.
• Above all the ojas or body's entire defence mechanism will be affected.
• Hidden stress affects agni (digestive fire), dosa, dhatu, and ojas, produce degeneration, depletion and accelerates aging process.
• This produces cellular damage and produces wide range of diseases either chronic or acute.
• Vata is the dosa which react very much to the stress which in turn vitiate other factors. There is a close relationship between respiratory rate and restlessness.
Ayurvedic management
It is inevitable in to avoid stress in today’s synthetic life, it all boils down to how best we can cope with. Ayurveda advocates regular oil massage as a preventive measure .In chronic cases intake of rasayans and doing ayurvedic treatments.

Oil massage
• Application of oil on head and body parts is one of the daily routine in Indian culture.
• Processed sesame seed oil is used generally for Vata and Kapha
• Coconut oil is good for Pitta
• For Vata people it is advised every day, for Pitta alternative days, for Kapha people once in a week
• Oil bath is avoided in cases of indigestion, cough, cold, diarrhoea, fever, menstrual cycle, conjunctivitis, post emesis therapy, purgation and infectious diseases etc.
• Application of oil on the head, ears and feet is necessary.
• Warm water bath after fifteen to thirty minutes is advised.
• Avoid cold water bath, ice creams, curd, sex, day sleep, alcohol, exposure to sun and exertion during the day of massage.
Benefits of oil bath• It controls Vata, promotes strength and sleep, overcomes fatigue, provides growth, prevents old age, mitigates pain, and promotes hair growth and vision.
Qualities of Rasayana• Improves appetite, digestion and assimilation; enhances serum proteins, fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
• Improves muscular tone and retards the changes in the skin that develop with age, promotes regeneration of epidermal cells.
• Assures normal sleep.
• Re-establishes regular bowel habits.
• Relieves vague aches and pains.
• Promotes healthy vigour and a sense of well being.
Special Treatment for Management of Stress
• If the guidelines adopted by the person fails he should consult an ayurvedic doctor and he does treatment like Sirodhara (pouring medicated oil in a continuous stream over the scalp of a person), shirovasti (allowing the oil to stand on the scalp of a person by fixing a cap), nasya (nasal application of medicines are done) special medicines like manasamitram, brahmi, asvagandha, vaca, sankapuspi, jadamamsi are highly effective in these conditions.

Viagra (Natural )

Aswagandha (Viagra )is Ayurvedic viagra ,It is also equal to chinese ginseng .
It is very effective not only effective in sexual problems but also in neurogenic conditions.
The root of the plant appears in remedies for cough, rheumatism, gynecological disorders, fatigue, emaciation, inflammation, ulcers, sore eyes, and diminished brain function. The Gods Make Love: The Great Hot Plant Of all the medicinal plants used in India’s several millennia old tradition of Ayurveda, ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, is the most esteemed of Ayurveda’s herbs, as they imbue the user with life itself.
“A great many formulas in Ayurveda use ashwagandha(viagra ).” I asked about the sexual effects of the plant to a renowned sexologist in ayurveda. “For that purpose it is the best of the best. Men and women take ashwagandha to rebuild sexual vitality, and to restore proper and healthy sexual function. All doctors recommend it. It is the supreme medicinal plant.”
Ashwagandha (viagra )is a strong and vigorous plant, thriving where other plants wither and die The plant is forgiving too, and requires little attention and no irrigation, even in the parched climate of southern India. Harvest is usually between January and March. It takes a year to bring the plant to maturity.That why it is so effective in sexula problems like Viagra.
Unlike Viagra it does not have any sideeffects ,infact it boost sexual power and immunity.
The root is very potent, and it unquestionably builds sexual vitality Ashwagandha (viagra )is not a myth as far as its sexual effects are concerned. We work with many clinicians, and we get very good information about the results they obtain with patients. It is also especially good for restoring vitality and full sexual potency. “Ashwagandha (viara )is used in many cases, for virtually every condition.
This use is so effective, the tribal people, whose mediWhat accounts for ashwagandha’s seemingly remarkable versatility as a beneficial healer? The plant is rich in potent alkaloids, among which are withamosine, visamine, cuscohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, pseudotropine, anaferine, isopelletierine, and withaferincine is different from traditional Ayurveda, still use ashwagandha for sex. You can ask any of the tribals what ashwagandha is also used for sexual purposes. This use is so effective, the tribal people, whose medicine is different from traditional Ayurveda, still use ashwagandha(viagra ) for sex. “Among the tribals, ashwagandha is also used for sexual purposes.
Home remedy
The Indian Materia Medica recommends use of ashwagandha for general debility, impotence, general aphrodisiac purposes, brain fatigue, low sperm count, nervous exhaustion, and in any cases in which general vigor must be restored. For men and women, for the old and the young, ashwagandha builds strength from within.; Often, this strength and vitality manifests as newfound or restored sexual vigor and function. One ayurvedic aphrodisiac formula combines one part ashwagandha to ten parts milk and one part ghee (clarified butter). You boil the mixture down until only ghee remains. This end product is called Ashwagandha Ghrita. You take about a heaping tablespoon of this mixture in the morning and in the evening, and according to ancient texts, you will experience a significant boost in libido and sexual stamina.

Sex and ayurveda(updated)

Ayurveda always advocates that you should not control your natural urges including sexual urge .kamasutra the authentic vedic book on sex ,states that we should not control our sexual urge ,it goes on to say that
If a man or a woman doesn't get a chance of union after seeing and the liking the other person, it can cause them such symptoms like constant thinking about their subject, lose of sleep, emaciation, abstinence, shamelessness, madness, fainting, madness, fainting and death – in that order. Unfulfilled love is fatal .
Not only Ayurveda says this even Muslim religion tell this in different words
- if a man doesn't have the (financial) capabilities to marry a woman, he shall fast (to suppress his sexual desires). This is because the suppressed sexual feelings are looking for a vent.The same point is reiterated in modern research also These researches acknowledge 'suppressed sexual feelings cause schizophrenia'. Recent researches conducted in the west on relationships also prove the point.
Even within married life, man and woman may be suppressing their sexual desires. The notion and societal programming that sex is wrong also counteracts on their minds. The fear of society and lack of knowledge of sexuality of the other sex are the principle reasons of suppressed sexuality.

sex and ayurveda

Their lots and lots told about sex in Ayurveda from psychology to physiologic problem .It is very interesting but there are thousands and thousands of combinations told to try all those we need to live for 100 years my aim to explain all practical medicines that can be followed .Sex has been a complicated problem for Ayurveda medicine to be evolved .And many people rob in the name of Ayurveda and siddha medicine treating for sex problems.
There are two reasons why they make money in this way.
1.Men are ready to spend any amount to get treated for sex.
2.Even if they don't find results they will not sue ,will not tell this matter to others ,because it will be embarrassing to any man to be treated for sex problems.
My genuine aim to throw light on sex problems that can be treated.
What is vajikarana?
It is branch of ayurveda dealing with medicines and procedure to enhance man's sexual virility to help maintain good progeny.

Is it relevant today?
YES.It is very much much relevant as ,the quality of human sperm is going down , along with wide spread cases of infertility.

Who are eligible for this treatment and medicines?
All healthy young adult male from 21 to 70.

Is there any side effects?
not at all,unless metals ,metals [heavy] are not used in preparation.

what are those medicines?
they are plant based and should be taken under strict medical guidance.

what are the procedures?
vasti[enema] is the best treatment for this problem.

cases in which sperm count is 10 to 20 million , have greater chances of reviving their youth, but in case of azoospermia it is very difficult to get result.


what is the history behind this branch of treatment?

in olden days kings used to have many wife's , in order to help them to maintain their vigour was the main purpose, later it evolved as a separate branch in Ayurveda.vagi means horse,which symbolically represents sexual vigour.
I was editing this article while checking for spelling it was red wherever Ayurveda was spelt ,i thought it is going to show no suggestion but it is correcting ayurveda with Ayurveda .That is a great sucess friend .

Fibromyalgia and ayurvedic management

Fibromyalgia is one among medical conditions puzzling modern medical people ,and most often misdiagnosed as rheumatism.Though it is not life threatening it cripples the person incapacitating from doing their normal day day to chores .It is characterised by chronic constant pain responding little to pain killers.It is not progressive meaning it does not get worse but there are periods of remission (flare ups leading to acute and debilitating pain )other symptoms associated include fatigue and tenderness even on light touch ,new research shows genetic predisposition
is also a factor .women are predisposed to this condition.
Now lets lets find ways of treating this puzzling condition in ayurveda ,Our body is made up seven tissues and three humours vata ,pitta and kapha .This particular condition is caused by vata (the humour which causes pain aggravating on muscle tissue).
There are excellent treatments available in ayurveda with evidence based on cases treated with ayurvedic medicine .The general scheme includes massage ,shirodhara and certain internal medicines .It is worthwhile to note that these treatment as are available in many parts of the world now.

Manjista and beauty care

Rubia cordifolia( manjista ) is in the plant family of rubiaceae
Botanical Name : Rubia Cordifolia
Family Name : Rubiaceae
Common Name : Indian Madder, Madderwort, Lukelangafu, Lukera Batuzi
Part Used : Roots, Stem
Habitat : Throughout india in hilly districts.
Product offered : Roots,Stems
Uses : The roots are alterative, anodyne, antiphlogistic, antitussive, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, styptic, tonic and vulnerary. They are used to lower the blood pressure. The roots are used internally in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, internal and external haemorrhage, bronchitis, rheumatism, stones in the kidney, bladder and gall and dysentery .
The stems are used as they are considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency. They are used in the treatment of blood disorders and spreading fever of kidneys and intestines. A valuable red dye is obtained from the root and stems. Roots are made into paste for application into ulcers, inflammations and skin troubles. A decoction of leaves and stem is used as a vermifuge.
This dye is the thing we which we use for beauty ,it makes makes the skin fairer and increases the complexion.

Ayurveda and beauty care

There is lot of beauty treasures in ayurveda what is common is facial there is much more than that. Ayurveda principles lay down that beauty is not skin deep ,and it is truly so ,when you are healthy a good glow to the face .And many a time it is not so in today's synthetic life ..to note a few you should know that there are hundreds of drug in ayurveda that aims at beauty care .So i have panned rain with beauty tips in the following blogs

Vinca rosea

this drug is very good in type 2 diabetic patients ,and also very effective preventing cancerous growth ,i was introduced to the drug as good anti diabetic medicine ,but when i digged deep found that it is very effective in cancer .
Vinca rosea is grown throughout India. It has certain properties to soothe the nervous system, and acts against restlessness. It also prevents the growth of cancerous cells. It is also an anti-depressant and relieves muscle pain. It has sedative and tranquilizing properties.

Though the white to light purple flowers are good to see, they smell very bad. In Malayalam, it is called savam nari poovu, which means it smells like a dead body.

Vinca Rosea is in the plant family apocynaceae

Family Name : APOCYNACEAE

Botanical Name : VINCA ROSEA

Common Name : PERIWINKLE, MADAGASCAR PERIWINKLE, SADABAHAR

Part Used : LEAVES, ROOTS

Habitat : Grows throughout India and found as an escape in waste places and sandy tracts.
i wanted back my claims with research results i have included this bit
The experimental activity of a new clinically confirmed antitumor compound,
Vincaleukoblastine (C46H58O9N4),(VLB) as the sulfate has been described. Greatest
activity was seen against the P-1534 acute lymphocytic leukemia in DBA/2 mice.
Late as well as early stages of this leukemia were significantly affected by this com
pound. No synergistic or additive effects have been observed in combination therapy
with other antitumor compounds.
A second indole-indoline alkaloid, leurosine, isomerie with VLB, has also been ob
tained from Vinca rosea Linn, with similar demonstrable experimental antitumor
activity.
Two other alkaloids, vin doline (CssHasOz) and catharan thine (C2iH2402N2), also
obtained from Vinca rosea, were devoid of antitumor activity singly or in equimolar
concentrations, but have been postulated as the biogenetic precursors of VLB and
leurosine.
Preliminary studies in vitro demonstrated that certain compounds were capable
of reversing the growth-inhibitory activity of VLB against human monocytic leu
kemia cells. These compounds were coenzyme A, aspartic acid, tryptophan, a-ketoglutaric
acid, ornithine, citrulline, arginine, and glutamic acid.
VLB and leurosine are representatives of a new class of clinically active antitumor
compounds which may interfere with the cellular metabolic pathways leading from
glutamic acid to urea, and from glutamic acid to the citric acid cycle.

Cancer and ayurveda

ayurveda ,touches cancer very superficially ,there is beautiful quote for cancer which is known as Arbuda -which states that when the ahangara of the cell increases it starts growing abnormally .
Though ayurveda explains cancer and its treatment it does not mention so many types as we see today.At this point it is worthwhile to mention the siddha system of medicine which has excellent medicines for cancer but the problem is most of the medicines are mercurial preparations which may cause dangerous side effects if not administered with proper care .Having said that there are many herbs which are very very effective in treating cases of canccer ,i will be going through the herbs and in which cancers it can be in my subseqent postings.

Credit crunch

Every one knows what credit crunch by now ,is it affecting ayurveda,The answer is surprisinly NO , If a survey conducted by ASSOCHAM is any indication which goes on to say that yoga and ayurveda has helped lot of them to cope with stress caused by financial mayhem.
The survey said the meltdown in Indian economy and its after effects have led to higher input costs and credit access is virtually getting out of hands for large corporate’s of over Rs 5,000 crore turnover. This has brought 68% of CEOs under severe pressure to fulfil their commitments in last 9-10 months.

Only a minor lot of 32% of CEOs succeed in countering their restiveness and fatigue. The ASSOCHAM survey on “Current Business Scenario If Causing Stress to CEO’s” took views from 400 business tycoons.

According to the survey, 68% CEOs continue to reel under tremendous stress and fatigue as a result of current meltdown and slog to deliver desired results in limited time at their disposal and make adjustments both on margins of their top line and bottom line profitability.

In the survey of 400 CEOs of public and private sector companies having affiliation with the chamber, 128 CEOs responded that they get rid of their stress successfully through yogic krias, gym, sports such as golf and cycling, music and morning stroll.
Over 40% CEOs are now moving towards new emerging ayurvedic treatments , massage, acupuncture, acupressure etc. According to ASSOCHAM, large metros and towns in the coming 5-6 years will have huge ayurvedic centres to suggest treatment for stress overcoming .
Hope this will bring to the ayurvedic freternity which lacks financial back up ...

Blood pressure and ayurveda

Blood pressure is pressure exerted by the pumping action of heart on the blood vessels. It can go above normal because of the peripheral resistance also. There are two types of pressure exerted
Systolic pressure is the pressure exerted when the heart is not pumping blood if this goes up then there is a greater risk because the heart should not exert pressure beyond a limit when at rest.
The other one is systolic that is pressure exerted when blood is pumped, it not as riskier as the other one because the heart can race higher during physical activity and it will come down with rest

Causes
Although it has frequently been indicated that the causes of essential hypertension are not known, this is only partially true because we have little information on genetic variations or genes that are over expressed or under expressed as well as the intermediary phenotypes that they regulate to cause high BP.A number of factors increase BP, including (1) obesity, (2) insulin resistance, (3) high alcohol intake, (4) high salt intake (in salt-sensitive patients), (5) aging and perhaps (6) sedentary lifestyle, (7) stress, (8) low potassium intake, and (9) low calcium intake. Furthermore, many of these factors are additive, such as obesity and alcohol intake.

How do we interpret a high blood pressure ayurvedically
The force exerted by heart is vata and the resistance offered by the blood vessels is kapha, so basically it is a kapha vata disease.
the management should also be kaphavata haram.

calpol given to children leads to asthma?

The authors of the study, published in The Lancetmedical journal states use of paracetamol at least once a month – classified as “high use” – increased the symptoms risk 3.23 times.
Taking calpol or Junior paracetamol in the first year of life increased the risk of hay fever and eczema at the age of 6 and 7 by 48 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.They emphasise that the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol for relief of pain and fever in children. Instead, they support existing guidelines of the World Health Organisation that paracetamol-based medicines should not be used routinely, but should be reserved for those with a high fever (38.5C or above). Experts point out that in these cases, giving children medication outweighs the risks of not doing so.
Now you may wounder me being an ayurvedic physician showing a keen interest in this study published.It not show -'hey see not only ayurvedic medicines are labelled dangerous modern medicines too have their part' if that is the thing running through your mind ,you have got me wrong .
The point i want to make is we(both ayurvedic physicians and patients ) don't have a good understanding of fever .My father who is also a ayurvedic vaidya never ad viced his patients especially children's not to administer paracetamol for fever unless it is very high ,when i was young i wondered why my father is against the use of a mendicant which gives so much relief from fever that too for kids ,and when i read this article i literally cried what a great man he is (and a good physician definitely) because the research authors are saying exactly the same.
So coming to the treatment of fever treatment in ayurveda it is first treatment explained in ayurveda while listing diseases and it takes almost whole lot of verses than any other disease. It is shame that a treatment explained was almost neglected in current practise ,how patients come with fever to an ayurvedic physician very few .Instead everyone knows popping a paracetamol or two would see the fever running out of them .But wait do you understand what fever is -it is your body telling i need rest or something is wrong with me ,its just an indicator -by taking paracetamol we are just switching off the indicator .
first line of ayurvedic treatment is fasting next is giving digestive medicine and so on ....... and it is time consuming but effectively treats the problem .
The point i want to make is it is our duty to create awareness among general public in every little way we can.

Relation Between prakruti and genetics

A landmark study, the first of its kind in the world, finds links between Prakriti, a fundamental principle of personalized medicine of Ayurveda, and modern genomics for development of predictive and personalized medicine. The study reveals that it is possible to identify groups within normal individuals of the populations, which could be predisposed to certain kind of diseases, and also might respond differently to drugs. Such integration of the principles of Ayurveda with genomics, appropriately termed as Ayurgenomics by the authors, holds great potential and promise for future predictive and personalized medicine at an affordable cost.

For the first time it has been demonstrated that normal individuals within the same ethnic population, clustered on the basis of clinical criteria described in Ayurveda, show variations in the basal levels of blood parameters used in routine for diagnostic purposes, as well as in basal levels of expression of genes.

Human genome sequencing and subsequent mapping of genetic variability has allowed us to identify genetic variations and patterns of variability across diverse global populations. India has also put systematic and concerted efforts to identify relatedness amongst the diverse Indian populations at genetic level. The first step in this regard was the CSIR led Indian Genome Variation Consortium project which provided the first genetic landscape of India. In this project, 55 distinct populations of India, classified on the basis of linguistic lineage and ethnicity from different geographical zones of the country, were found to cluster into five major groups of relatedness.

However, despite greater genetic similarity there was high inter-individual variability within each cluster. This inter-individual variability confers differential susceptibility to common diseases like diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease and differential drug responsiveness. Therefore, the next logical step was to identify groups within these related populations that are likely to be similarly predisposed or protected from the disease. According to Ayurveda, an individual’s basic constitution, Prakriti, to a large extent, determines predisposition and prognosis to diseases as well as suitability of preventive and curative regimen for the same. This study explored whether this ancient and documented system of Prakriti analysis could be correlated in modern biology terms.

For this purpose, more than 1000 individuals were screened, out of which 120 individuals of predominant prakriti were identified, and subsequently 96 unrelated ethnically matched healthy individuals with predominance of either Vata (39 individuals), Pitta (29) or Kapha (28) prakriti, belonging to an age group of 18 – 40 years with equal numbers of both genders (n=48 in each case) were recruited for further analysis. Blood sampling was carried out from these individuals following all ethical guidelines. DNA, RNA and serum were isolated and whole genome expression profiling, using H19Kv8 cDNA microarray as well as biochemical testing for 33 parameters used in routine testing was carried out to study whether these groups exhibit any differences. These subjects were all from North India and of Indo-European origin. The genetic background of the subjects was reconfirmed through analysis of genetic similarity with this group and populations of the Indian genome variation project. The subjects shared genetic affinity with the Indo-European populations of North India.

In this study, normal individuals of the three most contrasting Prakriti types, namely, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, were identified following clinical criteria described in Ayurveda in Indian population of Indo-European origin. It was observed that these Prakriti types exhibited differences at biochemical profiles like liver function tests and lipid profiles and hematological parameters like haemoglobin level etc. Differential gene expression was found in significant number of housekeeping and disease related genes. A significant variation in expression of genes related to metabolism, transport, immune response and regulation of blood coagulation etc. was also observed.

The results of the study conceptualized by Prof Samir Brahmachari, Director General, CSIR and led by Dr. Mitali Mukerji at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology have been reported in the Journal of Translational Medicine recently (September 2008). There was intense involvement of Dr. Bhavana Prasher an Ayurveda expert and Dr. Sapna Negi a senior molecular biologist (senior authors of paper) along with a team of trans-disciplinary people that included Ayurveda doctors, molecular biologists, biochemists, bioinformaticians and statisticians.

Ayurveda medicine and health insurance

Now we shall look into an entirely new field in ayurveda that is health insurance .I am sure many of you would be covered by medical insurance policies ,and rightly you would have a doubt whether your treatments would be covered by these insurance policies .Unfortunately not all treatments are covered.
Lets have a detailed look at the insurance scenario in India first
Hope you know how these companies work ,there are companies where you buy policies like icici lombard,bajaj alliance ,Ttk healthcare etc ,these are called tpa or third party administrator
And there are companies which would cover the policies

The IRDA (Insurance Regulatory Development Authority has recognized the following companies in India)



National Insurance Company

New India Assurance

United India Insurance

ICICI Lombard

Tata AIG

Royal Sundaram

Star Allied Health Insurance

Cholamandalam DBS

Bajaj Allianz Apollo

AG Health Insurance Company

Insurance industry in India has witnessed a sea of change since the opening of the sector for private participation. Most of these insurance companies have appointed TPA(Third Party Administrator) and the best thing to happen on the service front is introduction of third party administrators. The introduction of this new breed of intermediaries in the sector will benefit both the insured and the insurer. While the insurers are benefited by reduction in their administrative costs the insured is benefited by better service.
Now lets come to Ayurveda ,what happens is all these policies are designed for allopathic system of medicine ,unfortunately we cant apply the same standards to ayurveda,And all these companies have allopathic doctors to evaluate the insurance claims ,they cant do this properly ,now companies have introduced the ayurvedic doctors as staff ,But the funny thing is even these doctors have to work on rules designed for allopathic medicine,So they blindly refuse to process the claims or process the claims that are not genuine .
Ensure with your tpa whether they cover ayurvedic treatments before taking a policy.That way you make full use of the money you pay ,In today consumer driven world ,consumer is the king when many ask whether they cover ayurvedic treatments these companies would be compelled to include Ayurvedic treatmnents in their policies .As of now only a selected few companies cover ayurvedic treatments in their policy.

Management of Acid peptic disease in ayurveda

Almost all gastric disorders can be managed well in ayurveda ,in fact all treatments in ayurveda aim at balancing the digestive fire .
Many people are not aware that ayurveda has the best cure for all these disease and of course avoiding all actions and foods which has basically caused them is mandatory , be it ayurveda or any system of treatment for that matter.
The most common conditions like gastric and duodenal ulcer can be treated with medicnices which give immediate relief and medicines which aim at curing the condition .Both modalities have to adopted for best results .virechana woulsd be handy in all these conditions .the treatment can take anywhere between one month to six months .Acid reflex or reverse peristalsis is another common condition seen and it can also be manged well with ayurvedic medicines and proper diet.

Endangered plants in used in ayurveda

This article is for doctors and not for patients.
Lets include some practically useful things in our curriculum.
.I would ask how many of our doctors including me know the endangered species , a handful would be knowing ,It should be included in curriculum in dravya guna and be should be taught to students.We study virya ,vipaka ,guna ,karma ,synonms ,its also important that we study the status of the plant or animal we are dealing with ,whether it is endangered or not.
"With demand and commercialisation growing fast, the future of the wild plants which have helped most of humanity for centuries is now more uncertain than it has ever been," One species highlighted by Plantlife as being under threat is tetu lakha (Nothapodytes foetida), a small tree found in rainforests in south India and Sri Lanka and used for anti-cancer drugs in Europe. Others include a saw-wort known as costus or kusta (Saussurea lappa) from India whose root is used for chronic skin disorders, and the tendrilled fritillary (Fritillaria cirrhosa) from Sichuan, China, used to treat respiratory infections.
Although the crisis has been looming for years, the herbal medicine industry is failing to ensure the sustainability of its supplies. It has established that 11 of 16 herbal companies in the UK, for instance, harvest all the plants they sell from the wild, and the remaining five grow only a small proportion.
As practising ayurveda doctors we should be aware of endangered plants and animals ,it gives us environmental responsiblity .other reason is it is getting stricter and stricter in foreign countries countries where medicines are exported from Asian countries.

Controversial subject

On 27Th August 2008 the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published article by Saper et al. on heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines. . The APA together with its cooperation partners NAMA (USA) and VEAT (Germany) have issued a Joint Response to the above article.
So lets consider why this hype around heavy metals in ayurveda.
We should understand a few basic facts before going deep into the issue of heavy metals
As per my knowledge of ayurveda and use of heavy metals in ayurveda I am making few points here
What are these heavy metals ? is the first question that would naturally pop up in any ones mind .
These are metals which can be toxic it exceeds certain permitted levels in body .
Now you may ask why on earth do these people use toxic metals and minerals as medicine .
There is a simple philosophical answer to this 'NECTAR(Amruth or elixir )when taken in excess is poison.And poison when judiciously used is the best medicine.
It all boils down to the physician he has to use medicine based on his judgement ,In some cases we need to use these medicines ,see for instance ,when treating cancer we can use certain mercurial preparations ,It is gamble but if it saves a person then i would go for that ,and it has saved lives .
Now, who will make a mistake or who is prone to make mistake ,because of their ignorance ,the people who call themselves practitioners after undergoing training for 1 or 2 year ,without proper understanding ,when they practise they are bound to make mistake ,it not their fault ,they are not trained to do this ,In India or Srilanka it is taught as a medical profession .So we see a lot of cases ,we are given full time education .It is not the case else where .So it is up to patients they should demand to be treated by a qualified physician ,It is your right ,Today's world is costumer driven ,whatever you wish will come true .
Did i deviate from the subject ,I Thought it is necessary .
The so called heavy metals are not brought into use today or yesterday ,not 10 or 20 years ,it has been used for centuries .They should be purified as told in texts ,when we tend to mass produce them ,it is not possible to maintain the strict standards ,that is when things stated to go wrong in the beginning ,Then came the era of big companies producing medicines ,they found it very lucrative ,because ,these medicines are very effective ,very cheap to produce ,(it becomes costly when you all purificatory procedures)the problem comes when they don't purify them properly .And they don't that why we are facing such a problem today.
These medicines are very effective in leukemia ,cancer and certain other condition ,It is a risk worth taking ,Because these medicines can save the life f the person ,(as we use chemotherapy or radiotherapy) which has many side effects but it saves the life.
What we need today is educating the patient ,It is a hard task ,but achieve able ,if we synchronise our efforts towards that's with out vying for short term personal gains

New study

Ayurveda has got medicines for hepatitis B and now it has beeb proved too.

"Phyllanthus blocks DNA polymerase, the enzyme needed for the hepatitis B virus to reproduce. In one study, 59% of those infected with chronic viral hepatitis B lost one of the major blood markers of HBV infection (e.g. hepatitis B surface antigen) after using Phyllanthus for 30 days.

Ayurveda and sankrit

We can aptly say that the grace ayurveda has got is because of Sanskrit language since almost all texts of ayurveda are in sanskrit .The beauty of sanskrit is every word used in sanskrit will have a meaning for instance ayurveda is derived from two words ayu -life (length of ones life span ) veda - knowledge or science .
To give a deeper understanding lets take some of the words which has the meaning human body.I presume most of you would know the words cataboilsm and anabolism ,or simply put catabolism is the breaking down process and anabolism is the building up process ,together they form metabolism.
Metabolism is a important process in physiology the word sarira in sanskrit means -that which undergoes destruction .and Deha means- body , which is being build up ,so when explaining certain thins they just change the word in description ,the whole lot things change there ,it not for the rhyming purpose the change the words .
For example when reexplaining condition in which body is deteriorating the apt word would be sarira .
Finally i don't know whether i made the point across to you ,hope i made some sense..

Metals and minerals in ayurveda

Be careful when you buy over the counter ayurvedic drugs . Look for the contents and always use medicine under medical supervision.
A study in the August 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association points out that around 20% of ayurvedic products purchased through the Internet have significant levels of arsenic, lead and mercury. About 60 percent of the samples were from U.S. companies and 40 percent from Indian companies. Twenty-one percent had significant levels of lead, mercury and arsenic. The ingestion of these metals “could result in lead and/or mercury ingestion's 100 to 10,000 times greater than acceptable limits..". This is not the first time that the Journal has reported this. In 2004, a similar study uncovered very similar facts. The existence of heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicine will not be a surprise to most Indians who are probably familiar with the claims of Ayurvedic Vaidyas, that these, in a suitably processed form are not harmful to the human body. The Wikipedia article on Ayurveda quotes Vaidyas as claiming that the practice of using heavy metals therapeutically as anti-microbial and anti-cancer agents is an old one and they have no toxic effects since as they are "meticulously and elaborately processed to oxides, salts and ashes that do not have the same biological activity as the more active, unprocessed compounds".. The described detoxification is a simple chemical process which involves four successive rounds of boiling the crude Aconitum root in cow's urine (twice) and cow's milk (twice). This process is claimed to chemically modify both toxic and proposed therapeutic components of the root. It also extracts some of these compounds from the root into the boiling solvents, thereby decreasing their concentration in the final product.
These medicines has to be used very carefully.

Kashaya vasti

When we say vasti -it is enema,both sneha vasti and kashaya vasti comes in that ,so that makes the pancha karma whole with kashaya vasti ,sneha vasti ,vamanam ,virechanam and nasyam.So what is kashaya vasti and what is sneha vasti .Please bear in mind that though the are classified under different headings ,both are used alternatively in 7 ,15 ,30 days of vasti.So it all seems theoretical if i am going to explain all these things ,it may interest serious students of ayurveda but not patients and this blog is targeted at patients who have very little idea of ayurveda.
It is very effective and no parallel treatment is found in other medical system ,this is very unique,please don't confuse this with enema in naturopathy or water enema of modern medicine,its nothing like that ,.When all those enemas are aimed at temporary relief ,Vasti takes care of the disease from the root.
Before signing off
Kashaya vasti is enema where a combination of medicines are used where quantity of medicines range from 500 t0 930 ml
Sneha vasti is oil or ghee ( as the name indicates) used for and quantity ranges from 60 ml to 300 ml.

Vasti

Vasti (Enema or Colonic Irrigation) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Vasti is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating treatment. Benefits Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Colitis, Convalescence, Cervical Spondylosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation, Digestive disorders, Backache & Sciatica, Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly, Obesity, Piles, Sexual Debility & Infertility.

Now a break

I was reading an article about population of European union by 2060 ,Britain would be the highly populated European country ,and i imagined myself in 2060 it seemed odd ,weired i should 80 by then a burden to the society (as the per this report )and many more people would be there like me in their eighties (as people are living longer ),may be by the time India would be a super power ,the whole way the world be changed ,may i will read this blog too ,who knows , i could not imagine myself as a eighty year old .........

Nasyam

Nasyam is more or less essential in all ailments above the neck. However its efficacy is no less in the ailments of the lower body too.
Oil is instilled through the nostrils (2 - 5 drops) after being given an invigorating face massage with steam.

· lubricates all the sense organs, improves sense of smell, hearing, taste, memory
· slows down the greying of hair, clears all sinuses and delays the ageing process
· very effective in sinusitis, Migraine and insomnia.
· permanent cure for diseases such as Swooning, Delirious Fever, Hemiplegia, Epilepsy, Facial Paralysis and Frozen Shoulder, and not to mention diseases of the head.

Virechana

Virechana is medicated purgation , it is the cleansing of the Pitta and the purification of the blood toxins from the body that are accumulated in the pitta asayas( liver and gallbladder). It completely cleanses the gastro-intestinal tractGenerally, it is administered three days after the Vamana treatment but this may vary. If Vamana therapy is not needed, Virechana can be administered directly after purvakarma. Virechan cleanses the sweat glands, small intestine, colon, kidneys, stomach, liver and spleen. A number of effective and safe herbs can be used as a laxative. This includes senna, prune, bran, flaxseed husk, dandelion root, psyllium seed, cow's milk, salt, castor oil, raisins and mango juice,madana phala. When taking these laxatives, it is important to adhere to restricted diet. Benefits of Virechana help root out skin diseases, chronic fever, piles, abdominal tumors, worms, gout, jaundice, gastrointestinal problems, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, asthma, headaches, elephantiasis and gynecological disorders. This karma mainly aims to eliminate doshas that cannot be removed by Vamana karma such as the kidneys, lungs and sweat glands. This elimination process of vitiated doshas through rectum is called Virechana. The purvakarmas used for virechana karma (purgation therapy) vitiate the doshas and bring them into the koshta (abdomen). Purgative drugs are dominant in earth and water elements and have downward movement. The synonyms of virechana are rechan and praskandhan. Procedure of Virechana The patient should be first subjected to Oleation , Fomentation , Emisis and Samsarjana Karma (post operative) as described earlier. Then start internal Oleation for 3 to 7 days. Followed by medicated Steam bath for 3 days. A day before Virechana light and warm diet is advised. Purgative drug should be administerted after 7.00 a.m. i.e : after completion of "Kapha kala" (time). Administer the standard drug formulations, for producing Virechana. Factors like disease state, body - mind constitution, age, state of Dosa , person time and mental condition needs to be taken in to consideration. Hot water in small quantity and "Yastimadu" Phanta is to be given at regular intervals, to induce bouts, while cold water is absolutely contra - indicated. Following are the diseases for which Virechana karma treatment can be given
Fever.
Skin diseases.
Haematemesis.
Epistaxis.
Fistula.
Haemorrhoids.
Splenic disorders
Tumors
Goiters
Lymphadenitis
Artificial poisoning
Cholera.
Retention of urine
Leprosy.
Inguinal swelling.
Intestinal torpor
Cardiac disorders.
Rheumatic conditions.
Anorexia

Vamana

Literally speaking vamana is vomiting -why on earth would someone induce vomiting as treatment ? sounds crazy isn't it
Ayurveda works differently the name doesn't indicate the whole treatment ,the treatment involves lot of preparation ,the process takes seven days of preparation .special ghee diet is given with certain other restrictions.
Who can go for this
Persons suffering from kaphaja skin diseases ,asthma ,and for detoxification
Who cant go for this
Persons who are very weak ,who are dry ,who are not willing to go for this ,person not confident of this treatment
What is some ineligible undergoes the treatment
There are many side effects ,the mildest being headache severest being severe petrification of skin with bad smell.
The principle behind vamana is bringing the toxins to abdomen and eliminating it by vomiting on seventh day.
I personally have seen only 3 or 4 vamanas it becoming rarer these days only a handful of hospitals practice vamana ,i doubt anyone abroad practise vamana at all.The beauty of ayurveda is even with out a important treatment like many physicians are successfully treating many conditions.

Panchakarma

Vamana is one of the panchakarmas all those explained before are purvakarmas the actual panchakarmas are vamana ,virechana ,kashaya vasti ,matravasti and nasyam which i will introduce to you in my future briefing ,now all these things cannot be practised in commercial ayurveda (spa ayurveda ) because all these these involves greater attention from physician and therapists ,and medicines .As mentioned these treatments are very effective ,when done in many cases .

Janu vasti

I was busy with a project, free now i can blog as usual

Now coming to my topic ,it is one treatment which comes handy when treating cases with osteo arthritis ,when done in courses of 7 ,14 or 21 ,along with other treatments . The principle involved is very simple the gravity of the oil should cause the oil to penetrate into the joint ,when we speak ayurvedically its taila is best vata samana dravya and most of these conditions are due to increase of vata.

Shirovasti

This involves keeping a leather cap in the head and oil is kept in the head for set period of time ,usually 20 minutes to 30 minutes ,while categorising the effectiveness of treatment this is ranked as first ,followed by shiro dhara ,pichu and shiro abyangam.

• Migraine


• Paralysis


• Insomnia


• Anxiety

Kati vati

A well is made with blackgram flour and warm oil is retained for 20 to 30 minutes ,the expected action is percolation of oil into the affected area there by delivering the medicinal effects ,relaxing the the person and relieving from the pain ,It may difficult for patients with asthma and certain health conditions cant lie on their back.

• Sciatica.


• IVDP.


• Muscular spasms.

Nyavara kizhi

Nyavara is the name of the rice used for the treatment ,it can be either used as a kizhi just rub all over the body ,the rice is boiled with milk ,bulk promoting herbs and meat and then tied into a bolus and given as a kizhi to promote ,muscle as in pseudo muscular dystrophy ,polio myelitis .where there is wasting of muscle ,it should be done for 14 ,21 ,28 days continuously .

• Pseudo muscular dystrophy


• Paralysis


• Cerebral palsy

Takra dhara

Takra means butter milk ,from my earlier post you have an idea of shirodhara ,what they do here is boil milk and medicines and add little curd keep it over night ,it is then churned and shirodhara is done with that buttermilk .It is very cooling and very effective in skin diseases ,like psoriasis .

• Psoriasis


• Insomnia

Shirodhara

Signature treatment of ayurveda.The process involves continuous dripping of oil on forehead,either cold or lukewarm depending on ailment treated ,for 30 to 40 minutes.It is done either for 3 ,7 ,14 ,21 day depending on the severity of the ailment.Patients are advised to take rest during the treatment.Because only a relaxed mind and body can enjoy the treatment,once the patient enjoys the treatment the effect of the treatment will be doubled.

• Depression.


• Headache


• Hypertension


• Paralysis


• Diseases of the eye
• Insomnia

Kizhi

Kizhi treatment is a therapy wherein heated herbs and medicinal oils are tied in cloth bags; and placed on the area to be treated. This is followed by specific massages, done using the fingers, heel of the hand or palm. The pressure application varies according to the nature of ailment and the spot.

Benefits

• Relives pain and stiffness.


• Relaxes body.


• Opens the sweat pores,and helps in removal of toxins.


• Removes knots from body.

Abyanga

One of the main treatments in ayurveda ,known to common man as body massage ,is corner stone all treatments because sneha(application of oil to body ) and steam to body are basic of all treatments .It has got loads of benefits ,the whole process involves application of medicated ayurvedic oil in seven positions ,for 40 to 45 minutes .It can either done with pressure or with little pressure depending on the condition .Concentration should be on the affected part of the body .

• Improves the circulation to the extremities.When circulation increases ,the skin is invigorated and looks younger and the skin complexion increases .Relaxes the body .
• Removes the toxins from the body ,through the lymphatic route .
• Induces sleep .
• In vata diseases it relives pain and stiffness

Ayurveda Treatments

Ayurveda has many unique treatments which we cant find in other systems of medicine ,thats how this 5000 year old science survives .It is very tough and lenghty if i try to explain all with in this space,So i will make it short and useful so that this page doesnot bore you .

See what this child has to say

Hi guys see how responsible this girl is ......words cant match this video WATCH THIS

Dhanwantari -God of ayurveda

Dhanwantari is the God of ayurveda according to history of Ayurveda Dhanwantari originated from the the sea when devas and asuras churned in sea with meru mountain He came out with Amrutha (Elixer ) in hand .irrespective of their religion most of ayurveda vaidyas pray Dhanwantari,there are many hymns in sanskrit in praise of Him.

Surgical branch of ayurveda is also known by the name Dhanwantari samprdaya ,which means those who follow Dhanwantari.

Sleep and Ayurveda

The pace of life gets faster and faster, and people try to cram more and more into every minute of the day.

Ayurveda says one should get six to seven hours of sleep .And all except vata prakruti persons should avoid day sleep ,and especilally during panchakarma .
As things get more hectic, sleep tends to get short shrift. It's seen as wasted time, lost forever.
"For healthy people, there's a big temptation to voluntarily restrict sleep, to stay up an hour or two or get up an hour or two earlier," said Dr. Greg Belenky, director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University Spokane.
"But you're really reducing your productivity and exposing yourself to risk," Belenky added.
That's a message doctors are trying to spread to Americans, including the estimated 40 million people who struggle with some type of sleep disorder each year.
Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1880, people slept an average of 10 hours a night. These days, Americans average 6.9 hours of sleep on weeknights and 7.5 hours a night on weekends, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
"The group of people getting optimal sleep is getting smaller and smaller," said Dr. Chris Drake, senior scientist at the Henry Ford Hospital Sleep Disorders and Research Center in Detroit. "When a person's sleep drops to six hours or less, that's when a lot of things become very problematic."
While experts recommend seven to eight hours of sleep each night, the amount needed for an individual can vary.
But lack of sleep affects a person in one of two ways, Belenky said. First, sleeplessness influences the day-to-day performance of tasks.
"The performance effects are seen immediately," he said. "You short-change yourself of sleep, and you see the effects immediately. You can make a bad decision. You can miss something. Have a moment's inattention, and you're off the road."
The longer-term effects of sleep deprivation involve a person's health. Doctors have linked lack of sleep to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, depression and substance abuse.
"Hormones that process appetite begin to get disorganized," said Drake, who's also an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. There's a decrease in the amount of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, when a person gets too little sleep. At the same time, ghrelin -- a hormone that stimulates appetite -- increases with a lack of sleep.
Too little sleep also interferes with the body's ability to regulate glucose and can cause inflammation leading to heart problems and a rise in blood pressure. "There's a stress response to being in a sleep loss," Belenky said.
The types of people not getting enough sleep also break down into two groups. First, there are those who make the conscious choice to go without enough sleep.
"It's sort of part of the culture," Belenky said. "People pride themselves on getting little sleep. You'll hear people bragging, 'I only need six hours a night.' So there's a macho element here."
On the other hand, there are people who are suffering from sleep disorders. These disorders include:
Insomnia, an inability to go to sleep or stay asleep.
Sleep apnea, or breathing interruptions during sleep that cause people to wake up repeatedly.
Restless legs syndrome, a tingling or prickly sensation in the legs that causes a person to need to move them, interrupting sleep.
Someone suffering from any of these problems should visit their doctor or see a sleep specialist, Belenky said.
Sleep apnea, the most prevalent sleep disorder, can have particularly serious long-term effects if left untreated. "You're waking up out of sleep to breathe. You can't sleep and breathe at the same time," Drake said. "It's a risk factor for developing major cardiovascular health effects."
Some people who have trouble sleeping will resort to mild sedatives like Ambien and Lunesta.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently asked the makers of these sedative-hypnotic drugs to strengthen their warning labels. This action followed reports of dangerous allergic reactions, as well as a host of bizarre behavioral side effects that include sleep-driving, making phone calls, and preparing and eating food or having sex while asleep.
Drake and Belenky both consider sleeping pills to be fine for the short term if taken properly.
"Sleeping pills are a temporary solution," Belenky said. "If you're upset about something or have situational insomnia, or you're trying to sleep at the wrong time of day because you've traveled across time zones, they are effective."
But, both doctors noted the pills will do nothing to help a chronic sleep problem. "They don't address the pathology of their sleeplessness," Drake said.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health offers these tips for getting a good night's sleep:
Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
Avoid exercising closer than five or six hours before bedtime.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol before bed.
Avoid large meals and beverages late at night.
Don't take naps after 3 p.m.
Relax before bed, taking time to unwind with a hot bath, a good book or soothing music.
If you're still awake after more than 20 minutes in bed, get up and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy. Anxiety over not being able to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.

Ayurveda treatments like shiro dhara ,takra dhara ,tala potichal ,and medicines like jata mamsi ,sarpagandha ,and some purified narcoticas are used to induce sleep.

Way to get the desired child

This is a calander which helps to get male or female child according to the age of the mother and and which month she becomes pregnant ,and amazingly it works ,i have checked with my friends and it is working you are not going to lose anything by trying this then why dont you try.you are not going to loose anything by trying it.

It is simple to do the calculation ,first they age of the women who is planing for the child should be noted ,then look for the child in as male or female column and then look for the month in which she should be pregnant.

for eg: if a woman of 30 years wants a female child she should get pregnent on march or may .

and if a woman of 25 wants a male child she should get pregnent on feb,april ,jun ,aug ,oct ,november ,december.

Try this diet for weigt loss

Weight Loss Diet Program
The following diet and health program was developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc. and is intended for their exclusive use. This program was developed in conjunction with a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. General Motors Corp. wholly endorses this program and is making it available to all employees and families. This program will be available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities. It is management's intention to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.
This program is designed for a target weight loss of 10-17 lbs per week. It will also improve your attitudes and emotions because of its cleansing systematic effects.
The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the food eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value.
This plan can be used as often as you like without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will begin to feel lighter because you will be lighter by at least 10 lbs. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.
During the first seven days you must abstain from all alcoholYou must drink 10 glasses of water each day

Day One

All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Day Two

All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.

Day Three

A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.

Day Four

Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.

Day Five

Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.

Day Six

Beef and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.

Day Seven

Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.
Tomorrow morning you will be 10-17 lbs. lighter than one week ago. If you desire further weight loss, repeat the program again. You may repeat this program as often as you like, however, it is suggested that you are allowed two glasses of white wine in addition to the instructions on the program. You may substitute champagne for white wine. Under no circumstances are you to drink any other alcoholic beverages with the exception of beer which is allowed. Any liquor (bourbon,vodka, rum) is forbidden. Cream drinks are especially forbidden. You may have an occasional cordial such as creme de menthe or schnapps, but you must always limit yourself to two drinks. If you wine, drink only wine that day. If you have beer, drink only beer that day, etc. Alcohol adds empty calories to your diet. However, after the first week it will help your digestion and settle your stomach.

G.M.'S Wonder Soup
The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup.
28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavouring as desired.
Additional Comments
Vegetables as may be taken in the form of a salad if desired. No dressing except malt, white or wine vinegar, squeezed lemon, garlic, herbs. No more than one tea spoon of oil.
You have been given a recipe for the WONDER SOUP which can be eaten in unlimited quantities. This soup is a supplement while you are on the program and it should be a pleasure to eat. Not everyone likes cabbage, green peppers, calory etc. This recipe is not inflexible. You may substitute vegetables according to your taste. You may add any vegetables you like: asparagus, peas, corn, turnips, green beans, cauliflower, etc. Try to stay away from beans (lima, pinto, kidney, etc.), however, because they tend to be high in calories even though they are very good for you.
Beverages you may consume while on the program :
Water (flavoured with lemon/lime if desired).
Club Soda is OK.
Black Coffee. No cream or cream substitute. No sugar or sweetness.
Black Tea = Herb or Leaf.
Absolutely nothing else except the fruit juices which are part of day seven. No fruit juices before day seven.
How and Why It Works
Day One you are preparing your system for the upcoming programme. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature's perfect food. They provide everything you could possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.
Day Two starts with a fix of complex carbo-hydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fibre.
Day Three eliminates the potato because you get your carbohydrates from the fruits. You system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
Day Four, bananas, milk and soup sound the strangest and least desirable. You're in for a surprise. You probably will not eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the past three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets. You will be surprised how easy this day will go.
Day Five, Beef and tomatoes. The beef is for iron and proteins, the tomatoes are for digestion and fibre. Lots and lots of water purifies your system. You should notice colourless urine today. Your allowance calls for the equivalent of five "quarter ponders". Do not feel you have to eat all this beef. You must eat the six tomatoes.
Day Six is similar to day five, Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fibre from vegetables. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today, compared to day one.
Day Seven finished off the program like a good cigar used to finish off Victorian meals, except much healthier. You have your system under control and it should thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it.

Medical tourism and ayurveda

Medical tourism is gaining momentum as cost of treatment is going up,so people are searching for cheaper destinations where they can get quality treatment ,as people look out for these kind alternatives, ayurveda fits into that as an alternative method of treatment (it is sad to hear that ayurveda is classified under alternative system ,when the system can offer cure for some disease where the main stream methods cant offer much help now) ,i am drifting from my subject ,coming back to the point ayurveda is going to a big of chunk of medical tourism as many big players are vying for the lions share f the market ,it is the time as competition increases quality of service will increase along with that ,new innovative methods will be tried ,money will flow in and once the money flows rest will be taken care of .So watch for this interesting space lot of things going on in the background ,many big hotel groups have in house ayurveda rejuvenation programmes going on ,and the new players are learning the tricks of the trade .Between Delhi's crushing crowds and Mumbai's glamour and glitz -- not to mention the countless temples and castles -- there's no shortage of exotic attractions for travelers in India. But a growing number of visitors are spending less time at the Taj Mahal, and are instead seeking out the medical and spiritual benefits of traditional Ayurvedic treatment at the high-end spas popping up all over India.
Ayurveda, which literally means "knowledge of life," originated in South India more than 5,000 years ago and is considered a longevity science in the subcontinent. In simple (and possibly overly brief) terms, Ayurveda says the body consists of three main aspects: vata, pitta and kapha. These can come out of alignment due to pollution, stress, disease and even just the strain of everyday life. The goal of an Ayurvedic practitioner, then, is to rebalance to this system -- thereby bringing the subject back to his or her "true self."

case discussion

I like to discuss a recent case of psoriasis in my blog
The person affected is of Scandinavian origin he has this for the past 20 years with remission and relapse ,but never has been cured all his life , and this problem runs in his family ,he underwent treatment and there is no improvement so far expect slight reduction in itching ,since it is a chronic case it takes it takes time to cure ,I have asked him to be patient and I will posting is improvements in future postings.

diet for kapha prakruti person

kapha

· Dairy. Low-fat milk is better. Always boil milk before you drink it -- which makes it easier to digest -- and take it warm. Do not take milk with a full meal or with sour or salty food. You might add one or two pinches or turmeric or ginger to whole milk before boiling it to help reduce any Kapha-increasing qualities in the milk.
· Fruit. Lighter fruits, such as apples and pears, are better. Reduce heavy or sour fruits, such as oranges, bananas, pineapples, figs, dates, avocados, coconuts and melons, as these fruits increase Kapha.
· Sweeteners. Honey is excellent for reducing Kapha. Reduce sugar products, as these increase Kapha.
· All beans are fine, except tofu.
· Reduce all nuts.
· Grains. Most grains are fine, especially barley and millet. Do not take too much wheat or rice, as they increase Kapha.
· Spices. All are fine, except for salt. It increases Kapha.
· Vegetables. All are fine, except tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and zucchini. They all increase Kapha.

· Vigorous regular exercise, a little each day.
· Warm temperatures.
· Fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes.
· Favor pungent, bitter, astringent tastes and light, dry and warm foods.
· Reduce heavy, oily, cold foods and sweet, sour and salty tastes.
· Seek out variety and new experiences.
· Stay warm in cold, damp weather.
· Early to bed, early to rise.