Prickly chaff plant or Apamarga or Uttareni plant-an intro-part 1

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  Uttareni plant-Rough chaff.

Latin name : Achyranthes aspera

English : Prickly chaff ,Rough chaff,devil's horse whip

Hindi : Latjeera,Chitchita

Sanskrit : Apamarga

Telugu : Uttareni

Tamil: Katalati nayuruvi

• Rough chaff plant has many medicinal properties and used in many different schools of medicine and folklore.
• This is also a 'potherb' (green leafy vegetable) .
• However pregnant ladies must avoid using the leaves juice either internally or for external application.It may induce abortion .
• Different parts of the plant are used to expel the foetus,to clean up the uterus,to induce labor pains in a lady, to treat a lady's menstrual problems, to treat habitual abortions and also to increase fertility in women.
•  The infusion of the whole plant is used to treat coughs,colds.
• The powder comes in useful to treat different kinds of urinary tract infections,digestive disorders and also to treat high BP.The juice of the plant is also used to treat skin infections.  
•   Some studies have shown that this plant when taken internally it  increases the thyroid hormone in rats.
• There is also a claim that' Renal dropsy '- (a condition where there is an accumulation of watery fluid beneath the skin due to a malfunction of kidneys.) can be cured with the help of the plant's infusion.

(the subsequent posts will describe some of the medicinal uses)

5 tips for intestinal worms in children

(As requested by a reader)


All the tips mentioned are recommended by Pujya Sri Asaramji Bapu.

1. 11 papaya seeds are eaten on an empty stomach early in the morning.This must be done for 7 days in a row.This treatment must be repeated only after a year.Smaller children can be given fewer seeds.(4-5).(pregnant ladies must avoid eating papaya seeds)
2. 2 spoons of Pomegranate juice taken twice a day will not let the worms survive.this must be done regularly.
3. The juice of the leaves of the Bitter gourd leaves must be taken with a glass of very warm water.This treatment kills the worms in the stomach of children. (the plant must have been growing in a clean open ground and  on clean water)
4. 10 gm of Neem leaves juice+10 gm of honey must be taken internally.
5. Powder Ajwain/thymol seeds .Mix an equal amount  of jaggery to it.Pound the mixture and make them into small tablets of 1-2 gm each.Shade dry the tablets.Store in a clean jar.1 tablet must be given thrice a day for small children aged 3-5 years.

A simple home remedy for worms in the stomach

Soak 2 dry figs overnight in clean water.Eat these figs in the morning on an empty stomach.Do this for 3 days.The worms will be cleared out.
-As told by Pujya Asramji Bapu.

Bed wetting problems in children-Tip 4

Dried Dates

Soak dried Dates (dry dates)* in water .Let the child eat 2  of these dates before bedtime.This will also help and controls the bed wetting problem.

* called Chuhare in Hindi
Endu Karjooram in Telugu.

Bed wetting problems in children-Tip 3

Pound 200gm jaggery and 100 gm  black sesame seeds and 50 gm ajwain*  .Let the child eat 10 gm of this mixture twice a day.This will arrest the bed wetting.

* Ajwain is also called Carom seeds or thymol seeds in English.
Omam in Tamil and vaamu in Telugu.

Bed wetting problems in children-Tip 2

At times worms in the intestine could cause bed wetting in children.Once the worms are cleared out the problem will subside

Bed wetting problems in children-Tip 1

Bed wetting is quite a common problem in children and in medical terms it is called Nocturnal enuresis.
  Giving 1 teaspoon honey to children before sleeping helps reduce the problem.Bigger children may be given 2 spoons.

A very simple home help for high cholesterol levels.

Cinnamon-Picture released into the public domain by author Madhavi Madhurakavi.

This kitchen remedy for high levels of cholesterol in the blood is recommended by Pujya Asaramji Bapu.

 Take 100 ml of water and add 1-2 gms of Cinnamon* powder to it .Boil till half the water remains.Drink this infusion in the mornings with half a spoon of honey on an empty stomach.It is better to try this in the winter months.The honey can be avoided if the person is diabetic.
This should be done for 3 months.

* Cinnamon is called Dalchini in Hindi

Honey water gargling for Tonsillitis

People who are suffering from tonsillitis can try gargling with honey water(1 spoon honey mixed in a glass of water).This will reduce the uncomfortable symptoms.

Cashews for mental strength and improving memory

Eating 5-6 cashews with 1 spoon honey in the mornings ensures great emotional and mental strength in a person.Children may be given 2-3 cashews.It must be noted that a person should avoid eating more than 7 cashews a day.This might upset the digestive power.

Figs help for indigestion

This tip is especially  for people who can't tolerate milk .

Soak 2 figs in water overnight.Drink up the water in the morning and chew the figs well.This will ensure proper digestion and also helps people who have problems digesting milk.

A simple remedy for Anemia or iron deficiency.

Pound 3-4 soft dates with milk and add a little ghee in it.Eating this mixture will prevent Anemia.

A good appetiser

Pound soft date fruits,ginger,chillies and rocksalt.Eat one teaspoon of this chutney /dip with rotis or rice.This will improve the digestion and also increase the appetite in a person.This kitchen remedy also works well and eliminates gas problems.

Sesame seeds laddoo

Chimmili or sesame seeds -jaggery laddoo

Sesame seeds/gingelly seeds/til  are pounded with an equal  amount of jaggery and made into marble sized balls.
 These laddoos  are very delicious to eat and also provide a lot of energy.
A lady who has gynec problems can eat one ladoo a day 5 days before her periods and stop when the cycle starts.It is said that this preparation cleans the uterus by inducing healthy contractions and the lady's menstrual problems are solved.However a pregnant lady should avoid eating this.

Forgiving and healing..an intrinsic connection

(An attempt made by me  to imitate the great genius Picasso)

It is very important  to forgive ourselves and others for the  healing process to start.The karmic link between both the parties is cut off after complete forgiveness by the victim.If the victim harbors any negative impressions of the incident or the person the negative feelings like revenge and anger affect the aura of the person and that in turn affects the health of a person.The helplessness and the anger is carried  to the subsequent  births.This becomes a vicious cycle.The best thing would be to nip off the negative feelings when they start to develop.

It is also important to forgive oneself completely.This is as important as forgiving others.

The significance of the lotus flower-Part-3-Medicinal uses

This tip is recommended by Pandita .Elchuri.
If the lotus flower paste is applied like a pack on the chest area and washed off after half an hour the  chest area of  the ladies becomes firmer.
This should be done at least for a month for good results.

The significance of the lotus flower-Part-2-Medicinal uses-for excessive thirst.

Latin name:Nelumbo nucifera
Telugu-thamara
Tamil:Thaamiraipoo
Hindi-Kamal

A cure for excessive thirst:
Soak the soft portion of the seeds in half a litre of water and then filter.Drinking this water helps in controlling of the thirst of a person.
-As told by Panditha Elchuri.

The significance of the lotus flower and some of it's medicinal properties-Part-1 Spiritual significance

Lotus flower -image in the public domain

I think a lotus flower is breathtakingly beautiful .This beautiful blossom also has a lot of spiritual significance.
It is very unique with it's  big succulent waxy petals and seeds which resemble the spouts of a gardening can and the distinctive fragrance in the background.

In almost all cultures it is a symbol of purity. It basically represents the"Ascension of man ".

 A segment from Madame Blavatsky's  " The Secret Doctrine" rightly expresses the importance of this flower--


"The Lotus-seed contains within itself a perfect miniature of the future plant, which typifies the fact that the spiritual prototypes of all things exist in the immaterial world before those things become materialised on Earth.
Secondly, the fact that the Lotus plant grows up through the water, having its root in the Ilus, or mud, and spreading its flower in the air above. The Lotus thus typifies the life of man and also that of the Kosmos; for the Secret Doctrine teaches that the elements of both are the same, and that both are developing in the same direction. The root of the Lotus sunk in the mud represents material life, the stalk passing up through the water typifies existence in the astral world, and the flower floating on the water and opening to the sky is emblematical of spiritual being" .


(The book is available online in many sites)

A simple dietary modification for people with Asthma

It is always better for Asthmatic patients to use cow's milk instead of buffalo's milk.

Endangered plants and what we can do to help...

It is a fact that 20% of the world's plants are in the endangered category.More than 70% of the medicinal plants are endangered in India .This is very distressing because if the very delicate eco balance is upset the consequences will be disastrous for mankind in general.
  There is more information in the Botanical survey of India site and the ICUN (The International Union for Conservation Of Nature) site and the list of endangered species is growing at an alarming rate.
The different  broad categories in the conservation status  are :

Extinct-EX
Extinct in the wild-EW
Critically Endangered-CR
Endangered-EN
Vulnerable-VU
Near threatened-NT
Least Concern-LC


           A few species  in the Indian region which can be mentioned are the Pterocarpus santalinus or the Red sandalwood or the Rakthachandanam tree,The Sariba plant which is used in many Ayurvedic preparations ,Cycas beddomei and the list goes on....
          The very good looking Tigers are at least being talked about but so many species of plants are becoming extinct in the mute mode.
 One simple way to help our plants is by conserving their  habitat as a whole.We must try to plant as many native species of plants as possible in wastelands and along roads .This will attract the native insects and that in turn the native birds and this conserves the habitat as a whole.The exotic and ornamental plants which are not native will always try to to dominate the native plants and do not let them thrive.
 We are entirely dependent on plants so it would only be wise to protect them if we wish to secure our own future.Moreover these green inhabitants have been so useful to us for millions of years that we are obliged to help them in return.The cause may be altruistic or selfish but it's time to act now.

Great Compassion Mantra (High Definition)

This is a very beautiful mantra  I came across in You tube with the lyrics and explanation of " The Great Compassion Mantra " associated with the Kuanyin mother.

Goddess of Mercy - Kwan Yin Mother



Kwanyin mother-photo released to the public domain by Madhavi Madhurakavi.





 
Mother Guanyin or Qwanyin is the mother of Compassion worshipped in most parts of China,Japan ,Korea,Vietnam and others where Buddhism is followed.
She is the thousand armed and thousand eyed mother and also called the Mother of fertility and it is believed that all health problems vanish just by uttering her name.
She may also be represented like a man and she is also immortal.She carries a crystal vase in one hand and the legend goes to say that it is the water  meant for creation .Some also interpret that the water is for healing people as she is the one who "Listens to all the sounds (sorrows) of the world and rushes to help them.
Her crown usually has the "Amitaba Buddha".
She generally is represented like a  self luminescent lady with a  long flowing  white gown holding a Willow branch or a rosary.
 The picture is a photograph of my own statue which I bought in Vietnam and I'm very proud to have her in my home.
       
   

Rubia tinctoria or Manjishta-an Introduction

Rubia tinctorium or Manjishta-image in the public domain.

English name : Common Madder,Indian Madder
Latin name : Rubia tinctoria
Sanskrit : Manjishta
Hindi  : Majith
Tamil : Manditti
Telugu : Tamarilli

The leaves are star like and are like whorls around a central stem.It can grow up to 1.5 m in height but the stems are very weak.It produces black berries .The roots are reddish and is used as a dye.

Manjishta in Ayurveda:

It is used as a blood purifier and in digestive disorders.The root  is also used in many skin diseases and detoxification of body.The menstrual cycle also is regulated by using this root infusion.
The leaves tea are also used in treating epilepsy.
However it should not be taken in large amounts and pregnant ladies and lactating mothers can avoid the use of Manjishta.

A natural way to prevent Liver problems with Tamarind.

Latin name: Tamarindus indica
Hindi : Imli
Tamil : Puli
Telugu : chintapandu.
English : Indian date,Tamarind
 





Tamarind flower-image in Public domain released by James Conrad.



Tamarind fruit is used in Indian cooking and many Ayurveda washes and preparations.This method of keeping the liver healthy is suggested by Pandita Elchuri.
Collect a lot of Tamarind flowers when in season and dry them well in an  airy open space.Store the dried flowers well in a dry place in a glass or ceramic pot.Check it frequently for any kind of fungal attack.
  These dried flowers can be used in the place of tamarind or when a sour taste is required.They can also be added to veggie side dishes.This small dietary change does a lot of good to the liver and protects it.

Medicinal properties of the Liquorice Plant or Glycyrrhiza glabra.3- To regulate periods in women and cure menstrual problems

Recipe with Liquorice root for gynec problems:
Pound 100 gm raisins and 100 gm Athimadhuram root powder together.the mixture looks like a paste.
Eat 10 gm of this mixture and then drink milk before bedtime.
 This is especially useful for ladies who get their periods twice a month.
It is also useful for men's health.
It is very useful for people who feel excessively sad without any appropriate reason.
---This recipe is as told by Pandit Elchuri and  the name of this is  "Draksha Rasayana".
However high B.P patients and people suffereing from kidney problems and pregnant ladies can avoid this lehyam.

Wish you all a very happy Diwali.

Medicinal properties of the Liquorice Plant or Glycyrrhiza glabra.Part 2-A simple way to control hunger and thirst

Liquorice plant -image in Public domain-from wikimedia.

"Eating one clean healthy and  not so tender leaf of this athimadhuram / muleti / liquorice plant  early in the morning on an empty stomach will decrease the hunger and thirst of a person  to a great extent throughout the day.
This is often used by yogis who are under constant meditation.The hunger suppressant property of this herb helps them."
--This tip  is as told by a Yogi I had the good fortune of meeting.
(Disclaimer notice:I have not tried this and I have no guarantee that the tip works...The readers are requested to try this at their own discretion.)

Medicinal properties of the Liquorice Plant or Glycyrrhiza glabra.1-A natural way to cure addiction.

Glycyrrhiza glabra-Licorice root-image in public domain.

Latin name:Glycyrrhiza glabra

Telugu:Athimadhuramu

Tamil:Athimadhuram

hindi:Mulethi,Muleti

Sanskrit:Yashtimadhu,Yashtimadhuka

English:Liquorice.

This plant has many medicinal properties and used extensively in Ayurveda and the Western medicine.It is used for coughs ,colds,as a soother for intestines,for treating urinary problems,for nerve related problems and many more.
Generally the root is used for the medicine.

A simple natural way to cure addiction with the help of Athimadhuram plant.

There is a simple way to cure addiction with the help of this plant.This tip is as told by Panditha Elchuri.

The root is available in all Ayurvedic shops.A small piece is kept under the cheek and sucked on for 3-4 hours.This discourages the person from chewing betel leaves or tobacco or consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes.Slowly these habits which spoil the health of a person will disappear .

A word of caution:
People suffering from high B.P and kidney patients and pregnant ladies should avoid consuming excess athimadhuram.

An extremely simple home remedy for hair growth.

For luxurious hair growth there is a simple method as recommended by Pandita Elchuri.
   Grind 2-3 fresh Gooseberries.Extract the juice mix equal quantities of Lemon in it .Apply this juice over scalp .Leave it on atleast  for half an hour before rinsing off with an Ayurvedic Shampoo.

An easy remedy for itching and rashes in winter-3

As recommended by Pandit Elchuri:
Mix 3 teaspoons of ginger juice and little(appr. 10 gm) old jaggery and eat this mixture 1 hr before dinner.This is a sure shot cure for all skin rashes and itching caused due to excess accumulation of phlegm in the body and pitta disorders.This is also called Seetha Paithyam in Telugu.