Ayurvedic oils for common cold

Catching up with common cold is as easy as falling off a log. Though it is not an acute problem, it has the worst power to completely spoil your routine activities. Common cold is often irritating, maddening, frustrating and disgusting. It changes your look and gives the impression of being completely sick. Over-the-counter drugs might often look attractive, appealing and seem to be the quickest way for treating your cold. Frequent intake of such medications might look like granting you instant relief but do not destroy the virus completely and have their own adverse side effects. This may be due to the excess intake of chemical formulas like acetaminophen, intranasal zinc, dextromethorphan (DXM), Tylenol etc.  All you need to take in at this time is a natural therapy like Ayurvedic oils that destroy the harmful virus from within, proffering you better health and a protective shield to prevent recurrent infections.

Causes and symptoms: This might occur due to seasonal changes, contagious virus spread through air, through minute air droplets from the affected person and much more during all times of the year. Each year billions of people in the world are affected by cold and a recent report says that it is over one billion people who are affected by cold in the United States every year. Little ones get cold often from their schools and day care centers when the other children next to them are affected by cold cough, sneezes or blow their nose.

Common cold lasts up to 7 days and the troubling symptoms are runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing, headache, muscular pain, sore throat, cough, decreased appetite, sneezing and at times may lead to viral fevers also.

Ayurvedic essential oils for common cold: You will certainly feel great if you come to know that using Ayurvedic essential oils for your common cold can treat your illness without making you feel tired and drowsy like your cough syrups and other over-the-counter medicines. Few such energizing Ayurvedic oils are:

  1. Eucalyptus essential oil: This is a celebrated remedy for years together for common cold and its unfavorable symptoms. Eucalyptus essential oil helps in effectively fighting cold, cough, bronchitis, asthma, flu, sinusitis, fever and other such infections. You can use it as a vaporizer, rub or add few drops to your bath tub or to hot water for steam inhalation.
  2. Peppermint essential oil: Peppermint oil with its anti-viral properties is a proven remedy for respiratory illnesses like flu and cold. Peppermint essential oil blended with rosemary and lavender essential oil can be added to boiling water and this steam can be inhaled for getting complete relief from headache, cold, blocked nasal passage, congestion and mental fatigue inducing a peaceful sleep thereafter.
  3. Lavender essential oil: Lavender essential oil is always known for its therapeutic properties and is of great use in treating cold, influenza, cough, headache, insomnia, muscular pains and few other problems related to common cold. This efficacious oil inhibits germs and instantly kills viruses. It acts as a defensive mechanism and boosts your body’s immunity, helping you fight sturdily against cold. You can add it to your bath tub or use it as a room diffuser that will purify your environment by devastating the germs.

No more nervousness or uncomfortable feelings the next time when you get cold as these Ayurvedic essential oils will help you stay as cool as a cucumber and bid goodbye to your annoying cold.

Reference Links:

  1. Over-the-counter drug by Wikipedia
  2. Common Cold from A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia by PubMed Health
  3. Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse by Kids Health from Nemours

Ayurvedic Ways of Healing Heart Disorders

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. You can find the real truth of this verse if you take it close to your heart!!! Heart is one of the most vital human organs, not only because it propels oxygenated blood to the human body, but also propagates one of the most essential elixirs of human life to the humanity, which is LOVE & PEACE!!!! How difficult would it be to come across a problem with such a prodigious part of your body!!!! Even the simplest issue may lead to serious outbreaks if not treated properly. I’m not here to threaten you; rather I’m just trying to share some of the splendid ‘heart’ shielding systems of the stupendous scintillating science called as Ayurveda.

Before selecting the right treatment to proceed with, the most important thing that one should know is the root cause of the ailment that he/she suffers from. The top most imperative idea behind this fact is that it helps you to explore the depth of the treating process of an ailment and whether it progresses with the root cause rather than just momentarily moving with the ill effects of the illness. Heart diseases have become so common and the major root causes are listed below:

1. Stress – Drain the Strain from your Brain: Chronic stress is that one major contributor for heart problems for it plays a vital role in promoting hormonal alteration and biochemical retorts, which activates the cardiovascular disease and draws it under the deadly shadow of PRESSURE!! Stress is also a silent contributor to hypertension, poor eating habits, weakened digestion, slow elimination and increased cigarette smoking, which are all the major risk factors of heart diseases.

Ayurveda and Ayurvedic essential oils play an important role in dealing with the three types of stress a human body can experience namely Mental Stress, Emotional Stress & Physical Stress. Mental stress can be brought under control by managing the mental activities which is greatly induced by aromatherapy, meditation and an expert Ayurvedic massage therapy. Emotional stress can be kept at bay by undertaking an Ayurvedic pattern of daily diet which includes cup of warm milk with cooling rose petal, cardamom, garlic, onion, coriander, cilantro, mint etc. A simple self-massage with cooling oils like coconut oil can help you in the long run for managing a good night’s sleep, which is trusted to bring down your emotional stress. Physical stress can be pacified by taking the necessary rest and following moderate exercises, switching to a healthy Ayurvedic diet and a soothing Ayurvedic massage.

2. Ineffective Circulation – Try circulating it: One of the key sources of heart problems is ineffective circulation of blood, which is caused due to hardening, inflammation or congestion of the arteries. Ineffective circulation of blood can restrict blood flow as well as set excess pressure on the heart muscles and tissues. Some of the factors that greatly influence proper blood circulation and Ayurveda’s role in toning up these factors are:

  • Nutritious Food – Human’s Best Intake: The very first wealth a human should possess is health and the key technique of acquiring this wealth is the intake of nutritious food. There are certain food items that are heavier and clogging in nature. It affects blood circulation. Ayurveda suggests natural remedies in healing blood circulation issues. Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna) is one such nature’s gift, which has some unique properties that help in strengthening the cardiac muscle, reducing arterial congestion and lowering blood pressure.
  • Digestion, Elimination, Metabolism – Three keys to better circulation: Digestion, Elimination and Metabolism are the three key processes that go hand in hand in harmonizing the process of circulation. The ability to digest is even more important than what is actually consumed. Even a nutritious food may turn notorious if the process of digestion is improper. Poor ability to digest may even turn the stalest food to toxic, which act as clogging impurities that find shelter in the vessel walls.
  • Elimination is that one process which when slows down makes the body to absorb the impurities. These impurities when absorbed not only clog the vessels but may even damage them!
  • Metabolism comes into effect in building the tissues properly and removing the waste products created by cells and tissues. There are many toxic waste products which possess the ability to damage vessel walls and one such product is free radical.

Ayurveda, as everybody knows is one source of enormous healing methodologies that provides complete solution for supporting systematic digestion, elimination and metabolism.

3. Daily Diet & Lovable Lifestyle – Live it!!! Love it: You can predict your future with the diet and lifestyle you follow. Yes, this is absolutely true since your diet and lifestyle frames the healthy structure of your body both internally & externally. A nourishing diet truly cherishes your body and if not taken in the right way it can exactly show its adverse effects.  Ingesting heart friendly herbs, spices and staples like garlic, turmeric, ginger, saffron, whole grains, pulses etc, can help you a long way prolifically.

4. Live right to lead right with a righteous lifestyle: Yoga – a simple systematic sibling of Ayurveda helps in stabilizing your body skillfully. One can follow practicing this wonderful tool, which can shape your lifestyle blissfully!!!

It is always good to remember that prevention is better than cure. No matter what the root cause is? It is only you who is responsible for all that happens to you!! Nature has blessed us with plenty of uncountable resources, which can be proved fruitful if utilized in the right way. Let us make use of the heart of Nature – Ayurveda to soothe the human heart.

Thought for the day:

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.                                                            –Helen Keller 

Suggested Reading:

  1.  AYURVEDA FOR CORONARY HEART DISEASE by Dr.Shashikant Patwardhan
  2. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles by Vasant Lad
  3. The Digestive System and the Process of Nutrition in Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Medicine by C. Scott Ryan

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurvedic Treatment For Heart Diseases by Ayurveda For You
  2. The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach To Cardiovascular by Authentic Ayurveda Health Spa – The Raj
  3. Ayurveda Approach To Treating Stress by Holistic Healing

A Hearty Happy And Healthy Christmas With Ayurveda

It’s time to sing and ring the magic of Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Yes! Christmas has come and most of us are keeping our fingers crossed to experience the adventure, joy, admiration, surprise, kids’ gala, cakes, gifts, partying and all the great things that are an exclusive part of this great festival. By now you must have bought the finest gifts for your near and dear ones following the best gift ideas from various sources.

While this energy demanding eve has thousands of reasons to enchant you, it also has at least a hundred reasons to test your healthiness. The most prominent among them are tiredness, overeating, excessive drinking, rundown, stress, fatigue and running around busily as if you are about to bring home the moon for this Christmas even after buying all that you need. The perfect health of our friends and family is like an icing on the cake along with their delight and happiness heaped for Christmas. Ayurveda, the ancient science of healing for over 5000 years has the best in its kitty for everyone to enjoy the bliss of good health this Christmas.

Ayurvedic tips for healthy Christmas: Follow these simple Ayurvedic tips to stay energetic and full of life, this Christmas Eve.

1. Eat right: Ayurveda strongly states that the root cause of all illnesses is improper digestion. This is mainly because the partially digested particles remain in the system as toxic substances known as ama, which clogs our physical and mental channels functioning in the body. The most trusted Ayurvedic text, Charaka Samhita says that eating the right food at the right time in the right way can keep you hale and healthy. Avoid food items that are heavy with excessive oil, fat and cholesterol. Think before over-indulging yourselves in the lip-smacking dishes in the Christmas party. According to Ayurveda, drinking hot water can help you in quick digestion. Plan and choose your cup of tea to stay hale and hearty this Christmas.

2. Think positive: ‘The Science of life’ or Ayurveda is a realistic science that recommends positive thinking for harmonious and vivacious living. Negative thinking or pessimism can suppress your peace of mind and a busy season like Christmas will have its own ways to bring in mood fluctuations that may force in negative feelings. Keep your mind relaxed, calm and collective while attracting enough of positive energy to enjoy the real ecstasy of this season. Using essential oils like Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Sandalwood, Lemon, Marjoram, Thyme and Peppermint can instill the real confidence and uplift your mood with its energizing, stimulating, revitalizing and soothing properties.

3. Speak with your mind: Spending some quality time for YOU is more important than anything else as you can share the sense of real happiness and celebration only when your mind is stable and serene. Practicing the art of meditation along with the pure aroma of healing essential oils can grant you mental wellness and the power to beat the heat of this Christmas season. Make it a habit to practice Pranayama, the art of balanced breathing for enhancing the quality of your life, strengthening the mental power and enjoying the freedom of a healthy heart. According to Ayurveda, the healing force is within us and only when your mind is ready to get rid of an illness, your physique adapts to it.

4. Drink sufficient water: Water is the elixir of life and enough of water will help you stay active and hydrated. Drinking hot water is the classic Ayurvedic remedy for eliminating the toxic substances in your body and can make you feel light on the go. Try avoiding alcoholic beverages and even if you are forced to have it, know your limits to evade any problems.

5. Sleep tight: Early to bed and early to rise is the principle behind a successful life as a good night’s sleep promises a refreshing start to the following day. The best way to blow away your fatigue, stress and tiredness due to your busy Christmas schedule is to sleep tight throughout the night. Ayurveda suggests the intake of dinner before 7:00 PM and go to bed before 10 PM, helping you to relax your muscles, soothe your senses and assist other vital functions of the body.

Take a refreshing walk with your near ones especially in the morning to drive the dynamism and heartiness of nature. Wish you a hearty, happy and healthy Christmas.

Thought for the day:

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. -Roy L. Smith

Suggested Reading:

  1. 21 Ways to Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday Season (21 Ways Books) By Daisy Sutherland
  2. One Trip Around the Sun: A Guide to Using Diet, Herbs, Exercise and Meditation to Harmonize with the Seasons by Rory Lipsky
  3. Daily Aromatherapy: Transforming the Seasons of Your Life with Essential Oils by Joni Keim, Ruah Bull

Reference Links:

  1. Tips to stay healthy this Christmas by The Co-operative Magazine
  2. The Healing Force Is Within Ourselves by Ayurveda France
  3. The Root Cause Of All Disease According To Ayurveda by Bodhimed