Alternative Health Tips
Alternative Health Tips
Naturopathy is Swasha Vritha or the prophylactic or preventive
aspect. Ayurveda is the Athura Vritha or Therapy. Both are related
sciences.
Daily Routines or Dinacharya, according to Ayurveda
The ideal time to get up is 04.30 AM. This is known as Brahma
Muhurtha or the Time of Brahman, the Absolute. After getting up, one
should know the condition of the body. Then one should brush one's
teeth and go to toilet for bowel movement. One should brush teeth
twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Then one should go in for an
Oil
Bath. Oil, preferably
coconut oil
should be used. This oil should be pasted all over the body and one
should wait for at least 30 minutes and then take a bath. Cold bath
is ideal but for those suffering from diseases hot
water bath is good.
Oil bath gives you good sleep.
Weakness of the body will disappear. Your body will grow in
strength. Your eyes will sparkle. "
Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam " says Ayurveda ( Daily you should go in
for Oil Bath ). But those suffering from
indigestion and excess Kapha should not go in for Oil Bath.
Pathya
- Diet Control
When Ayurvedic medicines
are taken, one should observe Pathya or Diet Control.
The Six Tastes of Ayurveda are - Sweet, bitter, astringent, sour,
pungent and salty. Those suffering from Hyperacidity or Ulcer should
not take in foods that are
Sour or Pungent. This is known as Pathya. For every disease, there
are foods that should not be taken in. For people suffering from
heart trouble,
cholesterol containing eggs, meat, beef etc should not be taken
in. This is Pathya.
Now there is a saying in Ayurveda that for one observing Pathya,
there is no need for medicine, as negative food is phased out and
Spontaneous Cure takes place. Also for one not observing Pathya, as
intake of medicines become useless, as negative food devastates his
disease. Pathya means the Way to Health. Apathya means taking in the
negative food which foster the
disease.
Banana - Nature's Tonic
The Banana is full of vitamins and minerals. It contains iron,
phosphorus and vitamins like Niacin and Riboflavin. A big banana can
confer more than 200 calories.
The fructose contained in banana turns to energy after intake. Along
with protein and starch, it contains minerals like sulphur, iron,
magnesium, copper & calcium. There is less
fat content in bananas.Bananas will reduce the acidity in
blood.
It contains Vitamins C, A, B, D & E.
Along with bananas, warm
milk should be
taken. This is the ideal food for growing children. But then the
obese
should not take milk along with bananas. As Bananas have
Rasayana properties, use of it will keep you young. You can live
for months only on bananas. Bananas can be used as medicine for
patients with liver complaints and for digestive tract disorders.
Also it can be taken by those suffering from Malnutrition and
Scurvy. Also for patients suffering from eye and dental diseases. (
as it contains Vitamin A & Cacium ).
Continence or Brahmacharya
By Continence or Brahmacharya, we mean the control of libidinal
life. Both Ojas ( Light ) and Veerya (
Virility
) are based on the Seventh Tissue Element,
Semen.
Avoid the misuse of this great
Dhathu,
says Ayurveda. Too much indulgence in sex makes you lose this
Seventh Tissue Element and this will result in weakness of body.
Body ache,
headache etc will be the result. Loss of
semen
adversely affects reversely the other Six Tisssue Elements.
If you observe Brahmacharya ( practise Continence ), improved
memory, grasping
power, physical strength, discriminative intellect, mental
happiness, increase of Ojas or effulgence on the face etc will be
the result. In order to have good health, you have to control sex.
But then as pure Brahmacharya is impossible for married men,
controlled Brahmacharya or celibacy is advocated.
Insomnia
Lack of
sleep is
due to many factors - Anxiety, mental tension, over
exercise, emotional suffering
etc. When Anger and enmity are suppressed, sleeplessness is the
result.
Constipation, digestive tract disorders, coffee, tea etc will
destroy sleep. Thoughts about sleeplessness will only compound the
problem. Use of sleeping pills is not ideal. You may have to depend
on such pills. And increasing the quantity is asking for trouble. If
Alcohol is taken along with pills, there will repercussions.
Avoid beverages like Cola, tea and coffee. And take in less fatty
foods. Avoid fried foods. Take only small quantity of food at night.
If you have warm milk before going to sleep, if you keep the mind
tranquil, you will doze off to slumberland. You should take food 3
hours before going to bed. It will be better if you can hear
peaceful music. Reading is also a good habit which will take you to
slumberland. You should walk at least half an hour before going to
sleep. It will help to digest the food taken.
Meditation will
give you good sleep.
Constipation
The modern fast food culture is responsible for
Constipation. Anxiety, fear, mental tension - all these create
Constipation.
Naturopaths averr that
Constipation is the root cause of all diseases. Some antacids
also create
Constipation. In certain conditions,
water will be absorbed in the Colon and faecal matter may
solidify. Such hard stools are difficult to dislodge.Lack of proper
timing of food, anxiety, mental problems etc all cause Constipation.
Constipation will create
back pain,
weight in the stomach,
headache,
loss of appetite etc.
Intake of fruits and vegetables organically grown, 12 glasses of
water daily, ensure mental peace, correct bowel movements - all
these will cure Constipation
Gas Trouble or Hyperacidity
This is a very common disease. In India, there are very few homes
without antacid tablets ! On one side, we take a lot of antacids and
on the other take in acidic foods ! Amongst the Six Tastes, that
which is Sour, Pungent and Salty foster Hyperacidity.
Fried foods, foods containing Masala, very cold drinks,potato,
plantains - all these foster Gas Trouble. Lack of exercise is one of
the causative factors. Also working seated for long hours. Mental
tensions also foster this disease. It is not what you eat, but it is
what eats you that is the cause of this common disease.
Mental pain, thoughts of revenge, fear - all these pave the way for
this malady. There is an Emotional Center in the brain. When we have
mental upsets, this Emotional Center stimulates the oxintic cells in
our stomach to secrete Hyrochloric Acid.Lots of gas going from the
rectal tract, indigestion - all these
are the symptoms of gas trouble. Naturopaths averr that Constipation
is the cause of this disease, nay, for all diseases !
Hurry, Worry and Curry are the main causative factors for this
disease. Eating food fast, overeating, foods with masala, sour,
pungent, salty foods, pickles, chillies, potato, soda, cola, chilled
beer, nictoine, alcohol, very hot foods, chewing gum - all these
cause Hyperacidity.Prevention is better than Cure. Avoid the Apathya
foods and be healthy !
Contradictory Foods
Contradictory Foods are known in Ayurveda as " Samyoga Viruddha".
When contradictory foods are taken in, it will increase the Doshic
imbalance and becomes the cause of many diseases.Shrimp and Milk,
Fish and butter, Sour fruits & Milk - are some examples of
Contradictory Foods. They are to be avoided at all costs.
Chicken & butter should not be taken in simultaneously.
Honey and
ghee in equal quantities also is prohibited in Ayurveda
Colon Hydrotherapy
Naturopathy says that diseases are caused by the accumulation of
morbid matter. Natural Hygiene says the cause is Toxemia, or the
infusion of toxins into the blood.
One of the methods of
cleaning the Colon is Enema or Colon Hydrotherapy.I have been
practising Enema for the last 18 years. In 1989, while I was
participating in an Exhibition Stall in Trichur ( a 41 day affair ),
the nearest stall was a Naturopathy stall and the Chief Naturopath
told me that the best way to get rid of Gas trouble was to take 15
light enemas.
I bought an enema can and have been doing this when I have any
rectal block. This therapy is effective as we can see putrified
faecal matter going out 10 minutes after the enema is administered.
This is Jalopasana or Water Therapy or Hydro Therapy. All the
ancient cultures advocated Hydro Therapy, as Water has got
tremendous medicinal properties. Not only faecal matter, but gas,
mucous and toxins go out of the rectal tract.
Fasting Therapy
Fasting Therapy is one of the best therapies. The digestive
system gets rest during fasting. " Lankhanam Paramoushadam " -
Fasting is the best medicine. Water Fasting, Fruit Fasting, Juice
fasting --- there are many types of fasting. Juice Fasting is
superior to Water Fasting as the body is supported nutritionally.
The basic principle of Naturopathy is that Nature has healing power
and that the Five Doctors are the Elemental Five -Earth, Water,
Fire, Air and Ether. ( Annam Brahma ). By Annam is not meant Food,
but the Five Doctors, the Five Elements. " The Five Doctors are the
best, as the Five Elements are prior to all ", declares the
Upanishads. ( Annam hi bhoothanam jyeshtyam, thasmad Sarvoushadam
Uchyathe )
Ghee - The True Rasayana
Rasayana
Therapy is
Rejuvenation Therapy. That which rejuvenates the body is
Rasayana. Ghee is considered to be the True Rasayana. All Ayurvedic
preparations are based on ghee, I mean, almost all the Rasayanas.
Ghee contains Vitamins A E, K D etc. Vitamin E and Vitamin A are
anti-oxidants. Diseases are caused by the excessive production of
Free Radicals and these two are antidotes to Free Radicals. The
famous Chyavan Prash is based on Ghee. It is said that the Rasayanas
confer beauty, longevity, intelligence, youthfulness, health etc.
Ghee, taken in moderate quantities, will confer these.
Article by G Kumar, astrologer, writer and programmer of
www.eastrovedica.com
He has 15 years research experience in Stock Market Astrology and
other in various other branches of Astrology. Recentlyhe was awarded
a Certificate by the Planetary Gemologists Association as a
Planetary Gem Advisor.
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