Dr. Reema Sonkar

Carom (ajwain) is a crucial herb that is found in all Indian kitchens and is used primarily as a taste enhancer. Carom has numerous medicinal properties that make it beneficial for maintaining a good condition of your health. Dietary regime that utilizes carom on a regular basis can derive a lot of health benefits in the long term.

The following are some of the benefits of carom:

1. Acidity- Carom has anti-acidity properties that can prove beneficial in providing relief from the symptoms of acidity and enables you to control your problem your acidity effectively. A solution made from a pinch of salt, carom and lukewarm water, when consumed every morning or post meal on a regular basis, works wonders.
2. Asthma- The smoke of carom seeds act as a bronchodilator that is effective in easing the breathing pattern. If an asthma patient utilizes the mixture of carom seeds and jaggery twice daily on a regular basis, it will provide considerable relief from the discomforts that are associated with asthma.
3. Diabetes- Carom has medicinal properties that aid you to control your blood sugar level. Consumption of a solution made from a tsp of neem powder, half tsp of cumin powder, carom seeds and a glass of hot milk on a regular basis can help you manage your blood sugar.
4. Cold and migraine- Carom can be utilized for the treatment of recurrent and persistent cough and cold. Inhalation of grounded carom seeds is effective in providing relief from constant headache, cold and migraine.
5. Stomach problems- Carom seeds have mild alcoholic properties that can be utilized to treat the problem of stomach pain and indigestion. A mixture of carom seed and salt when consumed with a sip of water is effective in providing relief from the symptoms of indigestion and stomachache.
6. Menstrual cramps- Application of carom seed oil can help you achieve speedy relief from the discomfort of menstrual cramps. The seeds of carom act as an effective nerve tonic and reduce the intensity of menstrual cramps.
7. Sperm count- Carom seeds are effective in increasing sperm count and can also be utilized to treat sexual dysfunctions. Roast a mixture of tamarind kernel, carom seeds and clarified butter; add a tsp of the mixture and honey to a glass of milk and consume it on a regular basis prior to sleep to achieve speedy results. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ayurveda.

Skin is a very vital organ of your body as it protects your body from external injuries and also helps in regulating your body temperature. The gradual development of cancer cells on your skin region is known as skin cancer. Skin cancer is a very common disease that is affecting people worldwide. Many causes are responsible for skin cancer.

Some of them are stated as follows:

• Overexposure to sun rays. The Ultraviolet rays can cause serious damage to your skin that can lead to cancer.
• Sun burns may also result in the development of cancer cells
• Frequent exposure to toxic chemical substance can also trigger skin cancer.
• A frail immune system may also contribute to skin cancer.
• Certain scars on your skin, if left untreated, may become cancerous and eventually lead to skin cancer.
• Consuming unhealthy foods and being unhygienic may also lead to skin cancers.

Skin cancer may develop all over your body or on any particular region of your skin. It can spread to other parts of your body rapidly. The symptoms of skin cancer depend on the type of your cancer.

Some of the common symptoms of skin cancer are as follows:

• A sore on your skin that cannot be healed
• Swelling of your skin
• You may also get an itching sensation frequently
• Appearance of bumps
• Bleeding of the affected areas
• Appearance of reddish spots
• A bleeding mole

Skin cancer is absolutely curable if treated at an early stage. Ayurveda offers effective remedies for treating skin cancer.

They are mentioned below:

1. Panchakarma therapy is the most effective treatment for healing skin cancer. It involves purification and removal of harmful toxins from your body through its 5 constituent therapeutic treatments namely, Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Basti and Raktamokshana.
2. Drinking green tea can be very helpful. It is known to have anti cancerous properties which help prevent and combat this killer.
3. Including more of citrus food in your diet such as lemons, oranges; excluding oily, fried foods and cutting down on higher quantities of sugar can prove to be beneficial.
4. Applying turmeric paste on the affected areas may help you to guard against skin cancer.

You must not ignore skin cancer and seek advice from a doctor as early as possible since the process of metastasis (spreading of cancer cells to different spots of your body) is very rapid in this case.

In Ayurveda, acne is known as YouvanaPidaka, where Youvana is youth and pidaka is skin eruption. Acne is related to both facial skin health and hormones and with Ayurvedic treatment; you can actually get rid of these. 

Before you get treated for acne, you must know the causes of getting acne. 

Causes of Acne:

According to Ayurveda, the following reasons may result in eruption of 'pidaka'.

1. Too much intake of fried food that vitiates Pitta and Kapha.
2. Using cosmetics that directly affect the facial skin.
3. Waking until late night resulting in imbalance of bodily functions. 
4. Anxiety and stress that lead to imbalance in metabolism and release toxins.
5. Changes that take place within the body during adolescence. 
6. Family history

All these may lead to over production of sebum that clogs the pores. Sometimes bacteria are also responsible for acne. 

Hormonal imbalance is another cause that leads to acne on the face. 

Treatment of Acne with Ayurveda:
There are certain things that can be followed at home so that you can keep your skin clean and clear. 

1. Wash your face thoroughly with Luke warm at least three to four times a day. 
2. Using herbs that are useful in detoxifying and blood purification. For instance, neem and turmeric have anti-bacterial effect that cleanses the area with acne and helps them heal quickly. 
3. Applying sandal wood or turmeric pastes that are complexion enhancer.
4. Mind smoothening medicines and coolants.
5. If there is hormonal imbalance, then get a therapy for balancing hormone. 

There are different herbs that are useful for treating acne. They are

1. Turmeric or haridra: it helps in reducing the oily nature of the skin and adds luster to the skin. 
2. Neem or Nimba that is well known for its blood purification properties. 
3. Berberis Aristata or daruharidra that helps in reducing the acne scars and helps to get a glow on the face. 
4. Hemidesmusindicus or sariva that is a good blood purifier.
5. Sandal wood or chandan for treating the acne with a soothing effect. 
6. Red sandal wood or raktachandana that purifies the blood and improves the blood circulation.
7. Nutmeg or jathiphala for reducing the scar marks of acne. 
8. Indian Gooseberry or amlaki that nourishes both skin and the blood. 
9. Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Ashoka that are well known for treating hormonal imbalance. 

By adding these in your diet and stopping fried foods, you can see changes in the acne marks. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Almost all the metabolic processes in a person's body are influenced by the hormones produced by the thyroid gland. The most common types of thyroid diseases caused due to dysfunctional thyroid glands are Thyroid nodules, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Goiter, Thyroiditis, and Thyroid Cancer. 

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is underactive and the amount of hormones produced is insufficient. Hypothyroidism can be caused due to multiple reasons such as iodine deficiency, radiation or surgery on the thyroid gland, and drugs such as lithium and phenylbutazone. You should note that treating thyroid is not a speedy process and a reoccurrence of symptoms might also take place. However with the appropriate remedies and proper diet control, one can make sure that these symptoms are less pronounced. 

Ayurveda: According to Ayurveda, imbalance or disequilibrium in the doshas is the main cause of hypothyroidism. The Kapha dosha i.e. the dosha responsible for body fluids and lubrication and Pitta dosha i.e. the dosha responsible for fire and water body humors, are vitiated. Lifestyle and diet discrepancies further promote imbalances in the doshas. Hypothyroidism is categorized under the Yapya diseases which recur once you cease to take the treatment. 

Treatments:

1. It is essential to consume adequate quantities of milk. 
2. Apart from that, coconut oil is one of the best remedies for a hypothyroid patient, since it increases slow and sluggish metabolism. Coconut contains MCFAs i.e. medium chain fatty acids and MTCs i.e. Medium chain triglycerides in abundance which help the metabolism be revved up. 
3. Ayurvedic herbs useful for treating hypothyroidism are kanchnar, Bauhinia variegata i.e. purple mountain ebony, Jatamansi, brahmi, guggulu, shilajit, gokshura, and punarnava. 

Remedies:

1. Consume a mixture of Indian gooseberry i.e. amla churna with honey, daily before breakfast. 
2. One of the main causes of Hypothyroidism is insufficient amount of iodine. Drinking the juice acquired from jalakumbhi i.e. Pistia Stratiotes everyday in doses amounting from 11gm to 22gm increases the iodine content and helps treat hypothyroidism. If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult an ayurveda.

Ayurveda is a holistic method of treatment which focuses on treating the cause of the disease rather than the symptoms. There are Ayurvedic remedies, which boost the immune system that keeps the body healthy. A well-functioning immune system is essential for your body to be in optimal health.

The various Ayurvedic tips that help in boosting your immune system:

1. Use spices in your food: Various spices such as cumin not only add flavor, but also have certain properties which help in boosting immune system. They aid in the digestive process and allow the nutrients in the food to be absorbed more readily.
2. Choose wisely: You must eat natural foods as much as possible for a healthy immune system. Eating processed foods creates various problems in the body which reduces your immune strength. Eating natural foods also provide your body with the necessary nutrients and vitamins, which are beneficial for the body.
3. Limit alcohol intake: You should restrict alcohol consumption as it impairs the functioning of white blood cells in the body. It also impairs the oxygen delivery mechanism of the body.
4. Exercise on a regular basis: You should exercise on a regular basis to keep your body healthy. Exercises such as running improves your cardiovascular endurance and increases stamina levels in the body.
5. Sleep: You should get 6 to 8 hours of sleep to help your body recover and regenerate. Lack of sleep can impair the functioning of the immune system and makes you prone to various disorders.
6. Herbs: Various herbs such as ginger, garlic and amla help to boost your immune system as they contain various medicinal properties. They increase the white blood cells in the body which enhance the immune system.
7. Meditation: Meditation has been linked with lower stress levels; implying that it has a beneficial effect on your body.
8. Pranayama: You should practice pranayama as it helps in strengthening the body and calming the mind. It reduces stress in the body thus enhancing your overall well-being. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that focuses on improving your overall well-being, rather than just focusing on the symptoms of the disease. Being a complete natural based method, it has no side effects. Ayurvedic remedies for kidney stones emphasize on improving your lifestyle and diet to keep the energy balance in your body.

The causes of kidney stones range from factors such as an imbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and spicy food. Less water consumption is also a major cause of kidney stones. These factors cause problems in the various doshas in the human body, leading to diseases. It leads to toxin formation in the body called ama. These toxins trickle down to the urinary tract, causing crystals to form, thus leading to kidney stones.

Ayurvedic remedies consist of using diuretic herbs to dissolve the stones. Once the stones are dissolved, it is then recommended to use various cleansing techniques such as Panchakarma, which helps in strengthening the body. It is recommended to drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily and urinate whenever the urge occurs.

If the bladder stores the urine for a long time, then it leads to kidney stones. You need to cut down on foods that contain salt in excess. Add more green vegetables to your diet as they provide the body with essential nutrients such as calcium.

A comprehensive list of the changes you should make are:
1. Avoid eating dry and heavy foods
2. Limit consumption of coffee, tea, pickle based foods and cold drinks
3. Restrict consumption of non-vegetarian foods such meat and poultry
4. Drink adequate water regularly
5. Consume parboiled rice, brown rice and ginger
6. Consume lots of fruit juices, soup and water
7. Increase water consumption during summer months
8. Don’t suppress the urge to urinate

Some herbal remedies to control kidney stones are combining “mehendi” with water to form a decoction and then consuming it. Increase consumption of horse-gram as it decreases risk of kidney stones. Make sure you exercise on a regular basis as it improves your overall well-being and keeps you healthy. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an ayurveda.

Breast cancer, is a type of cancer, which is common to women, where cancer cells grow on the breasts or the female mammary gland. It starts out with the formation of a small lump in your breast and can spread out to your other organs very rapidly. It generally affects women above forty years of age. Breast cancer can be classified into two types. They can either start forming on the inner linings of your milk ducts ( known as Ductal carcinoma) or in the lobules which supply milk (known as Lobular carcinoma).

There are many causes responsible for breast cancer they are mentioned below: 

• Obesity or post-menopausal obesity (Learn more about Heart Diseases Post Menopause)
• Exposure to frequent radiation (X-ray)
• Consumption of alcohol
• Being taller than average
• Start of periods at an early age
• Late menopause
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Consumption of birth control pills

The most common symptoms of breast cancer are as follows: 

1. Formation of a lump in your breast
2. Swelling or shrinking of your breast
3. Change of size, shape and color of your nipple
4. Blood or milk discharge from the nipple
5. Breast pain
6. Itching sensation
7. Appearance of rashes (Learn more about to maintain the skin health)

Breast cancer if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage may turn out to be fatal. Ayurveda offers promising cures for breast cancer.

A few of the Ayurvedic remedies are mentioned below: 

1. Include foods, which are well supplied with vitamin D in your diet. Researches show that women with less amount of vitamin D in their bodies are more likely to develop breast cancer. Consider including foods like eggs, orange juice, dairy products and fish like salmon in your diet.
2. Drink more of green tea as it has anti cancer properties.
3. Exercises like walking, yoga, meditation and certain breast exercises can help you to relax the pain sensation, reduce stress and also get cured.
4. Incorporate bitter gourd in your diet. Researches show that bitter gourd can kill those cancer cells, which cause breast cancer.
5. Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, tulsi, curcumin have certain properties that can destroy cancer cells.

If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ayurveda.

Piles or haemorrhoids is a condition in which the rectal veins become inflamed, thus causing bleeding and swelling. Hemorrhoids are clumps or cushions of tissue which get aggregated around the anal canal and are full of blood vessels, muscles and elastic fibres. Piles can be of various sizes and are found inside the anus or around the anal region. However, piles found inside the anal canal are way more common than the external ones.

In most cases, this condition can be treated by taking required medicines along with following a high-fibre diet. However, in some cases, the piles might be severe and need to be removed surgically. The common symptoms of piles are blood discharge while eliminating faeces and abnormal enlargements around the anal region. Piles might also be characterised by excessive itching of the anal region and pain during defecating.

In Ayurvedic terms, piles are called ArshaShoola which translates to extremely painful conditions akin to the piercing of needles. This condition can be gotten rid of by availing of various Ayurvedic remedies.

Treatment-

Surgical treatment of piles is not necessary; rather it has been observed that recurrence of the condition is experienced by people who usually undertake surgery. Treatment of piles using Ayurveda usually includes dietary and lifestyle changes; making most of the remedies easily implementable. Listed below are some Ayurvedic remedies:

1. Herbs: Herbs used for ayurvedic treatment of piles include Haritaki and jimikand.
2. Diet: Permanent moderation of diet is needed for the treatment of piles. Some dietary changes include:
   • Starchy foods such as yellow pumpkin and potato should be avoided and replaced with fibrous foods.
   • Inclusion of mango and sesame seeds adds bulk to the diet and helps in preventing constipation.
   • Natural food softeners such as ‘jambul’, ‘amalaki’, dried figs and papaya are also recommended.
   • Vegetables having larger amounts of roughage, such as turnip, onions, radish, ginger and bitter gourd should be added to the diet.
3. Lifestyle Changes: Some of the basic lifestyle changes include:
   • Regular cleansing of the colon.
   • Regular exercise is mandatory.
   • A normal and healthy sex life should be followed. Aggravation of symptoms of piles is caused due to abnormal or excess sex.
   • Avoiding sitting for long periods.
   • Consume enough water in a day (about 2-3 liters). If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an ayurveda.