VCO - Virgin coconut oil

I've read about the innumerable benefits of VCO and wanted to give it a try . Strangely enough VCO is not available in the supermarkets or any specialized stores here in Hyderabad in spite of the abundant trees found here.So I had to order it online.
It is less denser with a milder odor than the normal coconut oil.It also tastes milder.
 I am not sure about the other benefits but it is definitely good on the skin.A little oil when rubbed on the skin is showing definite improvement.

Mudras for healing - part 18 - The Lotus Mudra aka the Pankaj Mudra

The lotus flower is mystical and so we can assume that the mudra associated with it has a tremendous potential.

photo author -Madhavi Madhurakavi -please do not use without permission.

To practice this mudra the person is required to sit comfortably with the spine erect.The palms are brought together like in the Anjali mudra, in line with the chest area, near the  heart chakra ( Anahata chakra).
Unfurl the palms gently where the sides of the little fingers, the base of the palms and the thumbs are still touching each other.This resembles a flower.The thumbs are pointing towards the chest and the little fingers are outward.After 3-4 relaxed breaths the fingers close back again with all the finger tips touching each other.This resembles the lotus bud.After 3-4 breaths the fingers are unfurled again. This unfurling-closing as a set can be done for 10- 15 minutes.

Benefits of the mudra:

• The little finger represents the water element and the thumb represents the fire element in the body.So generally this mudra is good for the purification of the body both mentally and for physical health.
•         It relaxes and stabilizes the mind and especially useful for people who are weary with the world and tackles feelings of desperation and despair.
•        It is useful for people suffering from ulcers,blood doshas and fevers.
•     It makes a person look calmer and more beautiful.
•    The person becomes more loving towards the world in general.

Precautions:
It is done only for a few minutes during winters.
People with cough and excess phlegm may need to resolve the problem before practicing this mudra.
Padmasana is most suitable for this mudra to experience the full benefits.

   (Pankaj mudra is also practiced as a still version where the fingers don't move and represent the open bloom like in image 4.I think the health benefits are the same for both the versions but the dynamic version has a synergistic effect when it is combined with meditation.)

A simple tip for headaches

Eating 1-3 cloves of garlic with one gram of salt with a little rice will lessen the head pain.

An aid for high uric acid levels

Drinking lukewarm water which is mixed with lemon juice early in the morning on an empty stomach helps in reducing the symptoms of pain in the joints due to high uric acid levels.
One must also make the recommended dietary modifications and reduce the intake of purine rich foods.
Ginger juice can also be replaced with half the lemon juice at times.

(Do click on the tag 'uric acid'  for more information)

A simple tip to tame a rough personality

image in public domain from wpclipart.com

Visualizing a lotus flower or meditating on a lotus flower will make a person's personality more pleasant and pleasing to others.

Sujok finger massage rings

Sujok finger massage ring - picture released into the public domain by author Madhavi.

I recently came across the finger massage rings recommended by Sujok therapy.These rings look shiny and are  apparently made from a single wire designed to touch most of the acupressure points .They are supposed to be worn like rings and rolled up and down along the finger.The ring should not be worn and only meant for rolling. The massaging is done for all the fingers .2 minutes is the prescribed time for each finger.It is not supposed to be rolled on wounds.Children below 8 years of age should not try this.
The  snug fit ring itself is slightly expandable and dimples the skin on the fingers very superficially for a few seconds.
I am not a Sujok expert but the therapists claim that this practice is said to have very beneficial effects for different kinds of diseases.

Lemon for dental problems

Gargling with water mixed with a little fresh lemon juice eliminates bad breath and also takes care of oral hygiene.

a simple tip for good digestion

thymol-pepper-ghee-rock salt rice.Image released into the public domain by author Madhavi.

Fry 2-3 peppercorns and 2 pinches of thymol * seeds in a few drops of ghee.The seeds are crushed and mixed with 1 spoon of hot rice and rock salt is used as seasoning.
Eating this as the first morsel before eating the regular lunch or dinner will ensure good digestion.

* aka carom seeds, omam, vamu, ajwain ...

A simple tip for heart health

Eating a little ginger with jaggery  early in the morning is very good for heart health and eases the heart block problems.