Hypertension
Hypertension (known as Rakta Gata Vata in Ayurveda) is elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries. The increase in blood pressure depends upon a person’s age, sex, physical and mental activities, family history, and diet. Normal blood pressure of a healthy adult individual is 120 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic.
Causes
Unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyles are the chief causes of hypertension today. Most of the food items that we consume – fast foods or items packed with preservatives and chemicals – create digestive problems in the body. Impaired digestion leads to accumulation of ama (toxins), which further lead to the high blood pressure. The food we eat is digested by our digestive fire (jatharagni) to produce nutrient plasma. This plasma nourishes all other dhatus (body tissues) and aids in the production of healthy blood, which circulates all over the body through various channels (srotas).
However, if digestion is impaired, the nutrient plasma ends up producing digestive impurities or ama. This ama mixes with plasma and makes it sama (combined with ama) or heavy. As a result, the blood thus produced also becomes heavy or sticky. This heavy blood (laden with impurities) circulates through various channels and toxins start accumulating in weaker channels of the body. When accumulated in the heart’s channels, these toxins cause narrowing of the channels. The blood has to therefore end up exerting more pressure to circulate through these channels, leading to the condition of high blood pressure.
Additionally, stress, anxiety and negative mental feelings also cause increase in blood pressure. Other causes could be history of BP in the family, obesity, lack of exercise, consumption of high-fat and low-fiber diet, excessive intake of tea, coffee, and refined foods, etc.
Symptoms
· Pain at the back of the neck (occipital headache)
· Palpitations
· Dizziness or vertigo
· Fatigue
Ayurvedic View
The Ayurvedic line of treatment for hypertension is aimed at identifying the root cause of the condition and then administering herbs that can eradicate the problem from its roots. For this to happen, it is imperative that digestion is improved and the digestive fire is strengthened. Secondly, the toxins that have already accumulated in the heart channels have to be eliminated. And lastly, mind relaxation techniques – including meditation, yoga and pranayama – are recommended to ensure that the mind remains calm and stable.
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
· Avoid meat, eggs, table salt, pickles, tea and coffee.
· Avoid smoking as it increases heart rate.
· Increase use of garlic, lemon, parsley, Indian gooseberry (amla), watermelon, grapefruit, skim milk and cottage cheese. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure; brisk walking, jogging, swimming and athletics are good options. Laughter is the best medicine, as it relieves stress and anxiety, which are the main causes of high blood pressure in today’s lifestyle.
Home Remedies
· Make a juice of 3-4 garlic cloves, 10-12 basil leaves, and one fourth cup of of wheat grass. Have once a day.
· Mix 1 teaspoon of onion juice with an equal amount of honey. Take once a day for 1 week. Upon noticing improvement, continue for several more days.
· Mix 1 gm of garlic paste with a glass of buttermilk. Drink this buttermilk twice a day.
· Grind 10 gm of roasted watermelon seeds. Add the powder to 2 cups of water and boil for about 15 minutes. Strain the liquid and consume daily in the morning and evening.
The word 'anaemia' actually comes from the word 'mia' which means blood. Anaemia means absence of blood and refers to the reduction of haemoglobin level in body. Normal level of haemoglobin in adult females is between 12 to 16 g/dl while in adult males it is between 14 to 18 g/dl. When haemoglobin level falls below the minimum parameter, anaemia ensues. In Ayurveda anaemia is compared with Pandurog.
Causes
Diminished production, increased destruction or severe loss of red blood cells leads to anaemia. Defficiency of iron, thyroxine, vitamins B12, C & folate results in diminution of RBC production while various infections, toxins, antibodies and congenital structural abnormalities lead to their increased destruction. Apart from this, diseases like hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, intestinal worms, various types of cancers, liver & kidney diseases and excessive bleeding (due to any reason) can cause anaemia.
Symptoms
· Headache
· Loss of appetite
· Fatigue
· Weakness
· Breathlessness
· Haemoglobin level below normal
· Giddiness
· Swelling around eyes
· Whitish tint on skin, nails & eyes
· Palpitations
· Sleeplessness
Ayurvedic View
In Sanskrit 'panduta' means whitish colouration. Since anaemia is characterized by whitish tint on skin, eyes & nails, it is called Pandurog in Ayurveda. It is caused by improper diet, weak gastric fire, malnutrition, worms, loss of blood and eating soil. All such factors cause production of ama (toxins) in stomach which then blocks the channels of rasa dhatu. This results in paleness and other symptoms of pandurog. Depending upon which particular Dosha is vitiated, pandurog has been classified into Vataj, Pittaj, Kaphaj and Sannipatik types in Ayurveda. Vataj pandurog (caused mainly by vitiated Vayu) is marked by pale, blackish, dry skin, bodyache and constipation. Pittaj pandurog (caused mainly by vitiated Pitta) causes pale, yellowish skin, fever, giddiness, thirst, excess sweating and sour belching. Kaphaj pandurog (caused mainly by vitiated Kapha) displays itself through pale, whitish skin, heavines & swelling in body, vomitting, and breathlessness. Sannipatik pandurog is caused by vitiation of all three Doshas and therefore have mixed characteristics.
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
· Attention should be paid to gastric fire in anaemia to avoid indigestion. Heavy, spicy, fried food is prohibited. Non-veg items, eggs are also not allowed.
· Light meals, rice, lentils, soups, vegetables and fruits like pomegranate and melons are perticularly recommended.
· Food articles cooked in iron pots are good in iron deficiency anaemia.
· Problems like bleeding piles and excessive menstruation should be attended immediately as they often lead to anaemia.
Home Remedies
· Take half cup of apple juice and half cup of beet root juice. Mix apple juice with beetroot juice. Add honey to this and stir well to mix. Have this juice twice a day.
· Take one teaspoon of black sesame seeds, milk (1 cup), Honey or jaggery (-1-2 tsp) and warm water to soak sesame seeds. Soak sesame seeds in warm water for 2 hours. Grind it to get a paste. Strain and mix it with a cup of milk. Add honey or jaggery and mix well. Have this sesame flavored milk daily.
· Take 1 teaspoon of turmeric juice mixed with honey daily.
Known as Pinas in Ayurveda, sinusitis is a condition in which the sinuses are blocked with mucus and become inflamed. Sinusitis may attack people of any age and sex. Kids suffering from cold and other viral infections are prone to Sinusitis, and so are Asthma patients.
Causes
Increased intake of dry, oily, spicy, or too hot or too cold foods, and foods that are heavy, indigestible and incompatible foods cause impairment of all three doshas. Impaired Kapha(Water) accumulates in the sinuses, thus blocking the flow of Vata (Air). Impaired Pitta (Fire) causes swelling and irritation of the tissues of the sinuses. Other factors responsible for this condition are suppressing natural urges of tears and vomiting, exposure to cold or dusty and dry weather, staying awake till late in the night, and sleeping in the daytime.
Symptoms
· Sneezing
· Heaviness in the head
· Feeling of heaviness
· Blocked or runny nose
Ayurvedic View
Ayurvedic treatment of sinusitis involves liquefying and expelling aggravated body energies with the use of certain Ayurvedic herbs and diet as well as nasal therapies and applications. The Panchakarma treatment of Nasya is quite effective in dealing with sinusitis.
Diet & Lifestyle Advice
· Have freshly-prepared and easily-digestible warm food, lots of vegetables, and fresh fruits.
· Take warm water plain, or prepare it with cinnamon and black pepper.
· Eat plenty of garlic and ginger.
· Avoid cold, heavy, oily foods, cold drinks, chocolates, ice cream, cold water, etc.
· Get plenty of rest.
· Sleep while lying on one side and with a pillow beneath the head. This prevents the accumulation of mucus in the air passages and helps to avoid difficulties in breathing.
Home Remedies
· Boil 1 to 2 liters of water and add a few drops of clove oil (or a large spoonful of cloves), 10-12 crushed mint leaves, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil (or 1/3 cup of eucalyptus leaves). Inhale the steam for 10-15 minutes. Continue this twice a day until congestion clears and then once a week to clear the phlegm that gets deposited in the sinuses.
· Have 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger juice with 1 teaspoon of honey in it twice a day.
· Crush 4-5 peeled garlic buds and inhale the fragrance. This will reduce nasal congestion.
· Mix 1 tsp of crushed garlic and 1 tsp of turmeric with 2 tbsp of honey. Take 1 tsp daily.
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