Dr. Ramesh Rai

Diabetes or madhumeha, is a serious disease that affects many people worldwide today. Diabetes, which is referred to as maha-roga is the excess of glucose in blood. As a result, you cannot consume sweetened food, get excess urges to drink water or urinate. However, Ayurveda has the most effective solutions to control diabetes naturally.

Read on to know what best natural medications are there to cure diabetes:

1. Gymnema Sylvestre or Gurmar
It is one of the most effective remedies to diabetes. It is a hypoglycemic component, which makes it ideal for treating diabetes. It helps in reducing dependency on insulin by regeneration of residual beta cells of the pancreas.

2. Coccinia indica
It is another herb which regulates diabetes very well. This plant contains components which, after consumption of carbohydrates, prevent the sudden increase in blood glucose level. It can also prevent any adverse effect on other organs of the body due to diabetes. It is found to reduce oxidative stress amongst diabetes patients by surging the Vitamin-C levels in the plasma, and also prevents the fluctuations in fatty acid levels amongst diabetes patients.

3. Azadirachta Indica or neem
It is one of the most common household antiseptics and a wonderful cure for diabetes. It enables high glucose tolerance, and also prevents diabetic neuropathy, which may cause severe fatalities.

4. Morus Indica or Mulberry
It is a food that is experimentally proven to reduce diabetes. Daily consumption of mulberry leaves for 15 days at a stretch have been beneficial in limiting approximately 38% of diabetes cases among its consumers. It also protects you against oxidative stress by building the antioxidant defense system of the body, and is also known to correct any lipid-profile abnormality. It also delays the possibility of the appearance of cataract as a result of diabetes.

5. Momordica Charantia or bitter gourd
It is another common remedy found in most Indian households. Even though it is extremely bitter in taste, its medicinal properties are exemplary, and are extensively used in Ayurvedic medicines. It also targets the beta cells of the pancreas to help boost up insulin secretion by increasing their number. Bitter gourd also helps to release more insulin by way of regeneration of the pancreas.

6. Eugenia Jambolana or Indian Jamun
The Ayurvedic cure reduces blood sugar level and increases the release of insulin. The extract of "jamun" seeds help in healing of wounds quicker, usually impaired by diabetes.

7. Trigonella Foenum or methi
It is another household ingredient that serves medicinal purposes in case of diabetes patients. Even 1gm of fenugreek seeds could reduce diabetes sharply in a short span of 2 months. This benefit is because of the presence of diosgenin, a compound with hypoglycemic properties.

However, all these medicinal plants should be advisably consumed under proper guidance from professional practitioners only.

Ayurveda is an ancient healing technique that is very effective for today's lifestyle ailments. For many people a low back ache can be quite a pain. While strong pills and capsules may give you temporary relief they do not address the core issue and have a number of side effects. Ayurveda on the other hand, addresses the trigger to the back ache and has no side effects.

Take a look at these ayurvedic techniques to cure low back pain:

1. Cut out on spices

We may think it unrelated, but low back pain is often accompanied by indigestion. Spinal cord nerves connect to back muscles and digestive organs. Hence, a small change in your diet can have a great impact on your health. Spicy food aggravates the digestive system and has a drying effect on the body. By cutting back on spices and oil, the digestive system can work better and there will be less stress on the nerves connecting the spinal cord and back muscles and thus lesser back aches.

2. Warm your body

According to ayurveda, back pains are caused by an increase in vata dosha or the amount of air and ether elements in the body. Warming the body can help lower these levels. Apply a heat pack to the back as a way of keeping the external body surface warm. Additionally, add warm food to your diet. This opens out any blockages in your digestive system and in turn reduces low back pain.

3. Padahastasana

Ayurveda is very closely linked to yoga. Padahastasana is a yoga asana which addresses lower back pain by opening up the digestive channels and allowing the vata dosha to flow easily through the body. To practice this asana stand with your legs together and lift your arms straight above your head while inhaling. As you exhale, bend forward from the hips while keeping your back and legs straight. Try and touch your toes. Hold the position for as long as possible and come back to the starting position while inhaling.

4. Anuloma Viloma

Anuloma Viloma is a breathing exercise that balances the vata dosha. This is a technique that involves breathing from alternate nostrils. To begin, close the right nostril with your thumb and inhale through the left nostril. Close both nostrils and hold your breath for a few seconds. Then, release through the left nostril. Repeat this process, starting from the left nostril.

5. Bishop's weed seed tea

Tea made from the seeds of Bishop's weed is can provide instant pain relief from low back pains. This is suitable for men and women of all ages except those with heart problems.

The core principle of ayurveda is to listen to your body's messages. These techniques will help you become more tuned to your body's needs and keep you free from back aches.

Cow Urine Therapy has been in practice for many health problems in India for centuries. In India, cow is a symbol of spirituality and cow urine is not only used in devotional practices, but also comes packed with a bunch of health benefits.

'Kamadhenu' is worshipped for thousands of years as the Goddess who fulfils desire. In Ayurveda, cow is considered as the mother of all entities as the products obtained from cow are beneficial to all mankind in many ways. The milk, urine, curd, ghee and dung obtained from cow are beneficial in different ways as food supplement and medicine. Cow urine or Gomutra destroys the poisonous effects of residues and makes body disease free. The medicinal usage of Panchgavya, especially cow urine is practiced in Ayurveda which is classified as complementary and alternative medicine.

The two Indian epics, Shushruta samhita and Charaka samhita, have described that the consumption of cow urine produces body warmth. In modern medical science, it has been well established that the thyroid hormones are responsible for producing body warmth. The oral administration of cow urine has thyroid stimulating effect and therapeutic value of urinary iodine present in the cow urine is immense. Cow urine or Gomutra contains iodine, which is easily absorbable from the gastrointestinal tract. The mean urinary iodine levels in dairy cows may vary from 79.2 to 94.8 micrograms of iodine per litre of urine depending upon their physiological conditions. Iodine is an essential element to produce thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine and thyroxine. These are catabolic hormones that generate heat and cause body warmth. It has been proven that the cow urine contains iodine in required level for normal functioning of thyroid gland.

Urinary iodine concentration in cow urine varies depending upon its biological status and it could stimulate the patient's thyroid gland activity on oral administration of iodine. Thyroxine stimulates more oxygen utilization and heat production by many different cells of the body.

During iodine deficiency, the pituitary gland secretes enhanced amounts of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which causes compensatory adjustment.This leads in the production of more extensive secretory epithelium which in turn will result in enlargement of the thyroid gland and loss of colloid material in the thyroid follicles. In this scenario, exogenous supplementation of iodine brings back the normal thyroid status.

The administration of cow urine, which contain good levels of iodine, can keep the thyroid gland activity on a better footing. We now have the support of scientific validation for the experience of warming up of the human body after consumption of cow urine or Gomutra. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Are you looking for ways to relax with your baby and bond with him/her well? Then giving him/her a massage every day can be the best way to ensure normal growth and development of the infant along with nurturing him/her. Everyone is aware of the fact that massaging is an important way to bond with the newborns but there is even more that a soothing massage can do. It goes beyond the generic inventory of systemic strokes and has been proved a necessary component for the overall improvement of the baby. Ayurvedic massage is an Indian system of medicine which is concerned about the holistic healing of human beings and is over 5000 years old.
Regardless of whether your baby is a just a month old or several years, an Ayurvedic massage can help in engaging with the baby mindfully and connecting with him/her in non-verbal ways along with proffering several other benefits that include:

1. Improvement of sleep: In a study conducted at the Touch Research Institutes of the Miami School of Medicine, it was found that babies and toddlers who were massaged for 15 minutes prior to sleep received good sleep and showe less sleep delays as opposed to toddlers and infants who were told a story before going to sleep. Ayurvedic massage with almond or coconut oil aids the child in sleeping deeply and more soundly and needless to say that the parents would sleep better if the child is sleeping soundly.
2. Stimulation of growth hormone: Numerous underweight babies are born in the hospital each day resulting in longer hospital stays and increasing medical expenses. But many pieces of research have proved that if underweight babies are massaged for 15 minutes about 3 to 4 times a day, it could result in 47 percent more weight gain and they could leave the hospitals about 6 days earlier than others who were not massaged. If a baby can be discharged from the hospital almost a week earlier, it could lead to significant amount of savings without compromising the health of the child, and not to mention its emotional benefits on the parents.
3. Boosting the function of the gastrointestinal tract: Constipation, gas, and colic are the three main physical distress that all babies do go through no matter how healthy they are. It is also very disturbing for the new parents who are not able to understand how to calm the baby. But the good news is that easy to learn massage techniques can aid in moving along digestion and the gas that is creating discomfort for the child. It could yield significant results in just a few minutes of massaging with mustard oil. There are some families where there is a tradition of using ghee for massaging babies.
4. Relieving the pain and stress of teething: Teething is one of the most difficult times for both the infant and the parents but fortunately, there is a special facial massaging technique that can boost the release of endorphins which are the natural pain reliever in the human body. It also aids in lowering the levels of cortisol in the baby so that the stress levels are decreased along with the pain of teething.

Thus, you should massage your baby every day in order to help him grow happily while establishing a strong bond with him until he becomes 2 years old. You may also consult an Ayurvedic expert who can educate you on the correct method of massaging your child. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Sciatica is a painful condition in which the sciatic nerve of the legs gets affected. It is also associated with the lower back pain and can aggravate to such an extent that the gait and the posture of a person can drastically reduce. Though there are conventional methods and medications to treat the condition, ancient Ayurveda offers the best solution in treating the symptoms. Let us take a look at how the ancient wisdom can successfully keep the condition of sciatica under check.

Ayurveda for Sciatica
As per Ayurveda system of medicine, the condition of sciatica was termed as Gridhrasi. This is because the patient's gait is altered due to the intensity of the leg and gets slightly curved due to pain. As a result of this, his walk resembles that of a vulture (Gridhra). Many factors lead to sciatica, most common ones being that the person bends the body at unreal angles and sitting for a prolonged period. Other factors can include accidents or physical trauma due to an injury and old age. In some rare cases, infections and tumors can cause exertion on the sciatic nerve, and this can lead to sciatica.

How Ayurveda Heals
Ayurveda generally categorizes the diseases by the doshas and sciatica is caused by vitiated Vata (one of the primary doshas in the body which is responsible for the movement and functionality of the body). Sometimes even Kapha, a dosha responsible for lubrication and bodily fluids can also cause sciatica. The fundamental principle in an Ayurvedic treatment focuses on restoring the imbalances in the doshas. It effectively channelizes the treatment from the roots. It consists of three methods in the eradication of sciatica. The first one is the elimination of accumulated toxic products in the body followed by the correction and rejuvenation of the body.

Diet too plays a significant role and certain foods like fried foods, pulses and beans should be completely avoided. Patients also need to get his rest only on a hard bed during the treatment cycle, and gentle leg exercises can be done along with the medications. There are certain therapies like Abyanga swedam, Pathrapotali swedam (Elakizhi), Sarvangadhara (Pizhichil), Kadeevasthy, Navarakizhi that are done to relieve the pain. The most important of all is the Vasti treatment to cure sciatica permanently. These therapies focus mostly on reducing the inflammatory changes and underlying causes of Sciatica, thereby strengthening and nourishing the entire spine & supporting tissues. The treatment cycle usually lasts 4 – 5 weeks.

Ayurveda is safe
The biggest advantage of an Ayurvedic treatment method is that it is extremely safe and that there are no side effects. It effectively acts as a detox thus getting rid of the harmful substances from the body along with curing the symptoms. Ayurveda can be effectively used for treating Sciatica and keep the condition from reoccurring. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

 There are several lovely and gentle herbs that can help children in different ways as they quickly respond to the effects of the herbs. These herbs can be used not just for improving the conditions of an ailing child but also teaches them the wonderful benefits of Mother Nature. If a parent is willing to use some herbs for the children, then it is imperative to know which herbs are best suited for the individual kids.

It is very important to do your homework well before choosing the herbs to administer on kids. Herbs have a long history of helping children and their families to be healthy and steer clear from common ailments. But it is crucial to note here that children tend to be more sensitive than the adults and they respond much quicker to the mild herbs.

A few of the herbs for your child suggested by Ayurveda:

• Nourishing plants: There are some plants which act as a nutritive potion for the child and the herbal resistance proffered by these nourishing herbs comes from the high amounts of minerals, vitamins and different types of phytochemicals which are effortlessly absorbed by the children. Some of these herbs include nettle, oat straw, raspberry, dandelion, seaweeds, violets, marshmallow, rose hips, and alfalfa. These herbs can be used for making soups, salads, and casseroles. They may also be used in making refreshing teas and ice pops. Yet, one should remember that not all herbs will be suitable for the child. A few may not suit the child while others may work wonders for him/her. So, it is important to consult with an Ayurvedic expert before administering herbs.
• Gentle nervines: Nervines are a class of herbs which helps in nourishing and calming the nervous system and they are wonderful to soothe the central nervous system. It is great for those children who suffer from the uncontrollable amount of anxiety, stress, and nervousness. These herbs are great for alleviating the tiredness that kids face after a hard day’s toil. Herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, rose petals, spearmint, lavender, and catnip are regarded as nervines and they are great for treating occasional insomnia and body pains. It is a good practice to use these herbs on a regular basis in order to experience a calming comfort.
• Herbs also help in treating illness: It goes without saying that it is a great thing to use natural remedies for helping a child feel better. There are some herbs which can aid in alleviating signs and symptoms of a runny nose, sore throats, tummy aches and coughing. Some of the best herbs that can be used for this purpose include violet and pansy, elderflower and berry, anise seeds, cinnamon, garlic, thyme, and marshmallow. Certain nerviness is also known to provide beneficial effects for an ailing child.

Thus, herbs are a natural way of prevention and cure of many conditions in children, however, it is important to know how these herbs need to be administered. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!