Vishnukantha for excess menstrual bleeding in ladies

Some ladies suffer from menorrhagia or heavy periods .Some get periods twice a month.For all these menstrual irregularities Vishnukantha is a boon.
Pound-4-5 leaves and eat with a little rock candy sugar/mishri.The problem of over bleeding is resolved.
 This is also very effective for people who suffer from a burning sensation while passing urine.(burning micturition)

-Also see previous posts for more info on this plant.

Vishnukantha or Aparajitha plant cure for Migraine

Even the most stubborn migraine is cured according to the tip released by Acharya Balakrishnaji of Baba Ramdevji's Ashram.

Image in public domain-Clitorea ternatea-Sangu pushpam.

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/girikarnikaaparajitha-to-strengthen.html
this link  has more info.




English name:Butterfly pea.
Maharastra and kerala:Sank pushp

 Wash and clean the root.Extract the juice of this root and put 4 drops in each nostril.Even the most stubborn Migraine is cured.This also cures all types of head pains .Must be done once a day for a few days for the symptoms to disappear.
The root can be pounded and made into a paste with water and this is applied on the forehead for faster relief.

A good cure for knee pain due to vata doshas

Dry roast methi seeds  and grind to a very fine powder. Filter this powder through a clean ,light and  slightly perforated cotton cloth. This is known as vastrakaaliyam  in Telugu.The resulting powder is very smooth.
                   Eating 3 gm of this powder with a glass of water in the mornings and evenings will definitely decrease the knee pain.One must also practice Vajrasana.This asana helps in digestion and attacks the pain and  decreases the symptoms of knee pain due to vata doshas.
(also see the previous posts for more info on methi seeds)

For loose sticky stools...

This is a home remedy as suggested by Pujya Asaramji Bapu :
                50 gms of fenugreek leaves juice ¹ is mixed 6gm of rock sugar ² and taken .The consistency of the stool improves.
Alternatively 20 gm of dried fenugreek leaves ³ is mixed with 40gm curd.Eating this also helps in digestion and controls the stool movements.


1.    Menthi koora in Telugu,Methi in Hindi
2 .  Mishri in Hindi,Patika bellam in Telugu,Kalkandu in Tamil.
3.  Kasoori  methi in Hindi.

(Any kind of diarrhoea or dysentery should be immediately treated as there is a danger of dehydration and dark coloured,tarry sticky stools also should be diagnosed immediately as it could indicate some fatal diseases.)

Fenugreek seeds help for Diabetics

fenugreek seeds-image in the public domain-from wikipedia.

Wash and soak 10 gm of the methi seeds*  in water overnight.Drink the water in the morning on an empty stomach and eat the seeds after crushing them.This brings down the sugar levels in the blood after 1-2 months.

  *menthulu in Telugu and vendhayam in Tamil.

A good cure for Acidity

Mix 2-3  crushed lemon flowers with 2 spoons of ginger juice and a pinch of black salt or rock salt.Drinking this mixture will relieve the  acidity symptoms.

Wish you a Merry Christmas

Loose motions and vomiting

These home remedies help to relieve the symptoms  of  loose motions and vomiting :

• 1-2 gms of dried ginger powder(sont) taken with  a spoon of honey will definitely improve the situation.
• Drinking 10 ml of onion juice also reduces the symptoms and decreases the nausea .

Significance of Thoranam / Bandhanvaar

Hindus festoon the upper frame of their  main door with mango leaves and marigold flowers on festivals and auspicious occasions.
The twigs of the green mango leaves and the orange flowers serves as a decorative and also has a lot of  medicinal value.
The threshold * below is smeared with a lot of turmeric paste and dots of vermilion kumkum  on it makes it a very pretty site.
During functions or poojas and rituals the main door is flanked by banana saplings or trees.This completes the picture of a religious ceremony.
The significance of the thoranams being:
     The saplings and the green mango leaves give a lot of oxygen which is needed in the surrounding area .
The leaves and turmeric have germicidal (anti-germ) properties.
The mango leaves  and the marigold flowers also give a lot of positive vibrations which helps the people who gather in that place.
Marigold flowers repels mosquitoes and some insects.


* Chaukat in Hindi and Gadapa in Telugu.

Mallotus Phillippensis or the Kamala tree

Kamala tree:Photo source:J.M.Garg GNU free documentation license from wikipedia.

It is also known as the Dyer's rottlera tree or the Monkey face tree.
Hindi name: Kamala , Kapila , Sindhuri tree, Rohini tree
Tamil name: Kapila poti
Telugu:  Kumkuma chettu
Sanskrit name :  Kampilyaka

The red berries are used to dye wool and silk.It has many medicinal properties .
   This small tip from Baba Ramdevji's ashram is:
The juice of the red berries can be used a sindoor  on the forehead for ladies.This will very good for the health  and reduces their gynec problems.

Natural insect repellents

Insects dislike the smell of garlic.Crushed garlic bundles kept in different parts of the room keep the insects away.
Black jeera and a piece of sandalwood kept in the cupboards will preserve the books and clothes.
Tulasi churna kept in bundles also help in keep insects at bay.
.

Castor plant leaves for increasing milk in lactating mothers

castor oil plant-ricinus communis-image in the public domain from wikipedia.

Castor bean plant or Wonder tree :
Latin name:Ricinus communis
Telugu name:Amudhamu mokka
Hindi name for castor oil:Erad ka tel
Tamil name for castor oil:Vezhakennai
Malayalam:Chittamankku
 The seeds of the castor bean plant are highly poisonous but the commercially prepared oil has no such toxic properties and it is safe.

The leaves of this plant are boiled in water.The water is poured over the chest area of the mother and the leaves are tied like a poultice on the area.This  is said to increase the production of milk in a lady.

  There are many galactagouge herbs(which increases milk production for a mother) in Ayurveda and the simplest being fennel seeds.Eating  fennel seeds (saunf) helps the mother to a great extent to increase the secretion of milk.

For babies to sleep well

Mix 5 drops of onion juice and 5 drops of honey  and feed it before the child sleeps-This will ensure a restful sleep in children.
(It is not recommended to try this for children below 1 year of age)
-As told by Asaramji Bapu in the book "Arogya nidhi )

Parijatham flowers recipe to boost energy

Shade dry the flowers of the night flowering or the Coral jasmine.Powder.Mix equal quantities of rock candy sugar.Eating a spoon of this is said to boost the energy levels in a person.
-info from Acharya Balakrishnaji of Baba Ramdevji's Ashram.
(Refer the previous posts for image and more info)

4 Winter health care tips

Sont *water works well for colds and other problems in winter:Refer the link for more details:

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/02/dried-ginger-water-cure-for-some.html

Sont -jaggery-ghee mix for winter season:

Mix 2 gm of sont powder,10 gm of jaggery and little Cow's ghee and warm in a vessel till the jaggery melts.Remove from flame-mix everything well .Eating this mixture on an empty stomach wards off colds and other breathing problems.

Preventing Colds:
Sucking on 2 peppercorns for a while will prevent colds and coughs in the winter season.

Suryabedhi Pranayam:

The person should be seated comfortably with spine erect.
 The thumb of the right hand is placed over the right nostril and the index and middle fingers are used for closing the left nostril.
Inhale slowly through the right nostril to full capacity and close the right nostril with the thumb.
Now exhale through the left nostril.
This is one set.
Doing 10 sets a day is recommended in the beginning which can be increased till 15 but only according to one's capacity.
This must be done slowly and gently .The nostrils must be closed very firmly but without undue pressure .

 This must be done in winter months but in very cold places it can be practiced during the winter and summer months. 

(this is a very basic kind of suryabedhi-there are many more alterations and modifications but this works well enough for beginners)

• It aids in digestion
• Prevents coughs and colds
• Said to delay old age
• It is said to ease ladies of their menstrual problems.

A word of caution:this should not be practiced by people who are suffering from high B.P ,Heart diseases and asthma.

* Sont-dried ginger,sonti in Telugu,chukku in Malayalam and Tamil.

Mudras for Healing -Part-10-Vaayu Mudra

Vayu mudra

This mudra is practiced for removing the excess and harmful 'wind' in the body.
It is useful for many diseases.The index finger is pressed on the base of the thumb and the thumb is pressed over the index finger.The other fingers are kept straight.
This must be practiced for 15 minutes twice or thrice daily and must be stopped once the symptoms disappear.
Benefits:

1. This immediately removes problems from excess gas in the stomach,bloated feeling and flatulence and constipation.
2. This is a very good mudra for reducing knee pains and joint pains.
3. It is also good for peple who are suffering from vata pains .
4. This mudra benefits people who are anxious all the time about little things,nervousness,it improves the mental strength,sleeplessness,head spinning.
5. It works well even for back pain if it is out of vata dosha and also for people who are suffering from pains due to decrease in the  synovial fluid( which lubricates the joints), and for creaking  noises of bones.
6. This also normalises the working of the ear to a certain extent.
7. This reduces the involuntary twitching of the eyelids
8. It also reduces hiccoughs
9. It also helps and makes the skin normal if it is very flaky and dry.
10. this also works well for chipping of nails due to vata doshas and brittle hair

Coral Jasmine help for Arthritis

(also see previous posts for image and more info)
The powder of the panch ang (or the 5 parts-the root,stem,leaves,flowers and seeds) is used for the treatment.It should be available in any Ayurveda pharmacy.

      Boil 5 gm of this powder in 200 gm of water till it reduces to half and filter and cool.Drinking this tea will reduce the painful symptoms of Arthritis.

A simple help with Coral jasmine for Sciatica pain

Sciatica pain can be very severe  which shoots down from the waist to the foot and people may be unable to move at times.It is also called Renganbhayi in Hindi.
Acharya Balakrishnaji from Baba Ramdevji's Ashram has recommended this decoction for reducing the pain.
          Crush 3-4 leaves of the Coral jasmine and boil in 2 glasses of water and wait for almost half the water is evaporated.Cool and filter.Drinking this decoction 2 times a day  works very well in reducing the symptoms of sciatica and also reducing the pain.
(see previous post for the image and more info)

Nyctanthes arbortristis or the night flowering Jasmine-an intro

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis.Photo source:wikimedia commons,Photo author:J.M.Garg GNU free documentation license. 

English name:Coral Jasmine,Tree of sorrow.
Hindi:Harsringar
Telugu:Parijathamu
Tamil:Pavazha malli
Sanskrit:Prajakta
Also called Parijat.
The flowers are extremely pretty with  white  bifurcated petals and an orange stalk and a mild fragrance.This is also very useful  in Ayurveda.Hindus love this flower as it has a rich religious significance too.
It is used for treating fevers,gynec problems,ring worm infections,coughs and many painful conditions.
It has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
Keeping the flowers in the house is said to eliminate all the vaastu Doshas.
The tree clears the air in the vicinity and it is good to have one in the garden.
(see the newer posts for the the medicinal properties of this plant)

2 simple ayurvedic tips for cataract

1. Extract the juice of the Palash flower.Put 1 drop each in both the eyes.This helps people who are suffering from cataract especially if it is in the early stages.For more info  and picture of palash:  http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/palash-tree-leaves-as-healthy.html
2. Mix a few drops of rose water and the juice of the leaves of Punarnava.Put one drop each in both the eyes.For the image of punarnava and more info see:http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/01/kidney-problems.html

(As requested by Uma)

Triphala eye wash

Soak a small  spoon of triphala churna/powder in a glass of water overnight.
Filter this mixture well through a very fine cloth in the morning.Wash closed eyes with this water .
This works very well for people with all kinds of eye problems.
  Jala neti is very effective and if  practised for 4-5 months it has the power to cure all types of ear,nose and throat problems.
Triphala water gargling  is also very effective for all kinds of gums and teeth problems.
Maha trifala gritha is an ayurvedic preparation which cures all kinds of eye problems especially if they are in the preliminary stages.It is trifala churna mixed in a base of Cow's ghee with little honey.
Also see for more info.
http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/01/remedy-for-constipation.html

Recipe for eye drops as recommended by Baba Ramdevji

Mix:
1 spoon of ginger juice
1 spoon of white onion juice
1 spoon of lemon juice
3 spoons of honey.
filter very well with a clean cloth .Store in a  small glass bottle.
This should be refrigerated.
Dosage:
Use this mixture as eye drops .1 drop twice a day in the morning and evening in both the eyes.
This is also available as "Netra Jyothi" eye drops in Baba Ramdev's  pharmacy outlets.
This is said to improve the vision of the eyes and also reduce cataract and glaucoma symptoms.This can  also  be used by people who have redness in the eyes, eye strain.This home made eye drops  removes the fine dust from the eyes and  also prevents further diseases associated with eye problems.

It is also essential that one should practice pranayam daily in the mornings.This will make the recovery faster.

(Cataract and Glaucoma can become dangerous if left untreated at the right time.A doctor's advice is necessary.)

Custard apple leaves as an anti-lice treatment

Custard apple leaves juice should be applied on the scalp and washed off well with a herbal shampoo after 15-20 minutes.This should be done for 4 days.The lice problem is generally resolved within this.

link for the herbal shampoo recipe:http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/06/ayurvedic-shampoo.html

A few simple Ayurvedic health snacks for children

1. Dates soaked in water makes an excellent refreshment for kids.Soak clean dates in water for around 4-5 hrs.The water is sweet and nutritious and the dates are rich in vitamins and minerals and aminoacids and fibre.This reduces the weakness in a person.
2. Coconut-Jaggery mix.-Grated Coconut is cooked in thick jaggery syrup and rolled into balls.This can be stored for a week.This makes a delicious and high energy snack.
3. Soaked Ground nuts-Raw peanuts with the brown skin on is washed and soaked overnight.This makes a very nutritious snack for the entire family.
4. Sprouts-The benefits are many ...
5. Sesame seeds laddoo                                     http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/sesame-seeds-laddoo.html                                   

Reader's contributions are welcome as

I am  a mother of two children and I'm always on the lookout for new "healthy snacks" .

An oil for joint pains

Roast 3 cloves of garlic in Castor oil*  till black.Cool and filter.This oil reduces joint pain to a great extent when massaged on the painful areas.

* Erad ka tel in Hindi

Vellkennai in Tamil

Amudhamu in Telugu.

Ajwain or vaamu lehyam -an excellent recipe for indigestion

Hindi-Ajwain

English-Thymol seeds,carom seeds

Tamil:Omam

Telugu:Vaamu

Malayalam:ayamodagam

Sanskrit:ajamodika.

 The recipe is similar to Kasyapa Lehyam as mentioned in this post

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/simple-recipe-for-indigestion-problems.html

Ingredients needed

Ajwain -100 gms

Cow's ghee-100gm

Mishri-Rock candy sugar-100 gm

Powder the rock sugar.

Melt the ghee.

Dry roast the ajwain and powder well and sieve.Mix the powders and add the ghee.

The mixture sets into a lehyam.Store in a glass jar.

Eating one spoon of this lehyam an hour before dinner cures most of the stomach problems.It decreases flatulence,eliminates all kinds of gas problems .Children may be given a little more than half a spoon.

Other ways to fight Stomach Ulcers

1. Seethali Pranayam ( A special breathing technique) can be practised to reduce stomach ulcers.
2. Stress only aggravates the ulcers so keeping a calm mind can do wonders for the body .
3. Press the area on the palm as shown in the picture below for 5 minutes .The pressing should be done gently and with mild pressure  with small breaks with the thumb of the other hand.This must be done on both the hands.This acupressure technique must be done at least for 40 days for good results.

acupressure for  stomach ulcers

(Also see the previous posts)

Necessary dietary modifications for Stomach Ulcers.

1. Alcohol consumption should be avoided.
2. Smoking should be avoided.
3. A vegetarian diet should be preferred.
4. Hot beverages like tea,coffee should be avoided.
5. Spicy food should be avoided.
6. Buttermilk should be consumed only in moderate quantities.
7. Salt and sour tasting foods must be minimized.
8. drinking a small glass of cold milk will reduce the burning of the stomach 

(Also see the previous post)

A good remedy for stomach ulcers

Coarse grind :

1. 10 gm  fresh ginger
2. 10 gm Jaggery 
3. 10 gm sesame seeds/til seeds

Roll this paste into a small laddoo and keep it under the tongue and swallow the juice slowly.
This must be done twice a day.The paste must be freshly prepared and should not be stored.One must not eat or drink anything for an hour after eating this lozenge for ulcers.
This must be done at least for a month for the ulcers to subside.
 This is very effective for burning in the stomach and other symptoms associated with the disease. .
-As told by Panditha Elchuri.

Ulcers are caused by various factors-like ,stress,H.Pyroli infection,some syndromes,improper eating habits-A physician's consultation would be necessary if symptoms persist.

Curd and garlic cure for high Blood pressure

Crush 5 small cloves of garlic and mix in a small bowl of curd.Eating this mixture in the morning  on an empty stomach will definitely lower the blood pressure levels.Care should be taken that no medicine should be taken at least for 2 hrs after this.
This should not be done for more than 5 days in a row.Repeat this course if necessary after a few days.The problem should disappear after the third course.
--This health tip is as told by Sri  Satya  Sai Baba .
(Taken from a book where Baba mentions this to a devotee named Peddha bottu amma)


(Discontinue use if any uncomfortable symptoms appear.People who have gastric disturbances might not be able to tolerate this well)

Prickly chaff plant or Apamarga or Uttareni plant-Uttareni oil recipe for reducing fat deposits-part 2

The thailam made from the juice of the Uttareni plant is highly recommended by Dr.Elchuri for reducing the fat deposits.
The recipe is as given below.
Wash the leaves and stems of Uttareni well and drain off the excess water.Extract the juice of the plant and measure.Add equal quantity of Sesame seed oil* to it .Pour the mixture into a heavy bottomed pan and stir the mixture frequently over very low flame till all the water evaporates.Cool and filter and store in a clean dry glass jar.
Usage:
The oil must be warmed slightly and massaged over areas which have more fat deposits.The general problem areas are the thighs and the tummy areas and at times the upper arms.One must wait for an hour for the oil to seep in and then take a bath.This helps in toning the skin .The body looks younger and thinner.
 (this oil is for external application only)

The previous post has more info and an image.

*sesame seed oil / gingelly oil / nuvvule nooni /nallennai/oil from sesame seeds.