Category Archives: Ayurvedic Therapy

Top 5 Ayurvedic Tips To Treat Prostate Cancer

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I was literally shocked when I came to know that Prostate cancer is the second-prominent reason for deaths due to cancer among men in the United States. It was much more deplorable when I heard that an autopsy analysis proved that approximately 1 in 3 men above 50 years old had histologic confirmation of Prostate cancer. The contemptible news was that there was about 33, 720 estimated deaths in the year 2011 due to prostate cancer in the United States. The number of the male populace diagnosed with prostate cancer remains high and is expected to increase in the forthcoming years also. Our ancestors have suggested numerous natural healing methodologies in the Ayurvedic texts to treat prostate cancer and reduce its complexities on par with nature.

Causes and symptoms of Prostate cancer: It has been found that 1 out of 3 men of age group 60 to 69 are affected by prostate problems like prostatitis and when left unnoticed it gradually develops prostate cancer. Prostate is a walnut-sized small yet a vital part of the male reproductive system found in front of the rectum and below the bladder. The vital function of the prostate gland is to secrete a fluid that is a part of the semen. Prostate cancer is the second most common category of cancer in American men and stays as the second predominant cause of cancer death in America.

The appropriate reason for prostate cancer still remains as a myth. The factors that enhance the risk of prostate cancer are hereditary, aging, prolonged smoking, continuous intake of alcohol, excess indulgence in sex, accumulation of phlegmatic constitution mainly for men in colder areas, ethnicity (African American doubles have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer), irregular eating habits and the lack of essential vitamins in the diet.

The most common symptoms of prostate cancer are frequent urination, dreary pain in the lower pelvic region, blood in the semen or urine, reduce in weight, lack of appetite, burning sensation while urinating, destabilized urine flow, swelling of the prostate gland, painful ejaculation, increased pain in upper thighs, hips, bones and lower back.

Ayurvedic treatment for prostate cancer: The best way to treat prostate cancer is to follow Ayurvedic treatment as it is claimed to be natural, safe and treats the system without any adverse side effects. Prostate, being a part of the male reproductive system known as Shukra dhatu shows signs of the emotional, spiritual and physical relationship that the affected individual has previously had with his reproductive potential. According to Ayurveda, prostate cancer is a slowly growing syndrome that gets adverse with age and it involves aggravation of all the three doshas. The most fruitful Ayurvedic remedies for prostate cancer are:

1. Healthy Ayurvedic diet: Hippocrates rightly said that ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’. Ayurveda states that a healthy eating habit can help you prevent enormous diseases and prostate cancer is one among them. When nature has gifted us with natural cures in the form of fruits and vegetables, why should we trust machines and chemicals in treating our illness? The best diet tips to combat prostate cancer are to take in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower as they have anti-cancerous properties attributed to the presence of indole-3-carbinol, acting as a powerful anti-androgen and proven to fight the production of cancerous cells in the prostate.

Choose low glycemic foods like legumes, fresh juicy fruits that reduce the risk of cancer, remember to add turmeric in your daily diet as the presence of Curcumin has been proved to arrest the spread of cancerous cells and prevent the cancer causing elements in the prostate, make it a practice to add garlic in your diet everyday as the presence of selenium and allicin in garlic has been witnessed to prevent and control prostate cancer.

Reduce the intake of food items with animal fat and excess protein as they take much time to digest and have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Make sure that you always choose fresh food items instead of processed or stored food varieties. Add enough of vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids (present in carrot, spinach, cantaloupe, kale, sweet potato etc,) and vitamin A as these nutrients have promising antioxidants that can help you in fighting numerous cancerous diseases and aid in strengthening the immune system.

2. Yogasana: Practicing certain Yogasanas regularly in the early morning can help you in fighting prostate cancer with power and confidence. The most promising asanas for treating prostate cancer are Sarvangasana, Garudasana, Shirshasana, Sinhasana, kapalbhati, bhastrika and Pranayama, the art of yogic breathing. Get proper guidance from a practiced Yoga expert, who can aid you better in performing these asanas in the right manner.

3. Ayurvedic essential oils: The concentrated and pure oils extracted from plants are known as Ayurvedic essential oils. It has been proved that certain essential oils like Sandalwood essential oil (has been proved to eradicate 90% of the cancerous cells in case of breast and prostate cancer) and Turmeric essential oil (Curcumin in this oil is proved effective in combating cancerous cells in numerous cancers including prostate cancer with its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties) efficaciously kill cancerous cells and are relatively non-toxic to other normal cells of the body.

Clinical studies have revealed that essential oils that are rich in limonene like Orange essential oil, Lemon essential oil, Idaho Balsam Fir essential oil and Tangerine essential oil are useful in fighting cancer. Few other essential oils include Grapefruit essential oil, Frankincense essential oil, Lavender essential oil and Thyme essential oil.

4. Ayurvedic herbs: There are innumerable herbs for reducing the complicacies of prostate cancer. Ayurveda suggests the use of herbs in such a way that it treats the imbalances of the three predominant doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. The most effective herbs for prostate cancer due to vata vitiation are guggulu, gokshura, roots of the salep orchid and punarvana for their invigorating power. Prostate problems due to pitta vitiation are treated with herbs like barley, hog weed and khus khus as these herbs stabilize increased pitta with their cooling properties. Warm herbs like ginger, cinnamon and guggulu assist in treating prostate cancer due to kapha vitiation.

The other defensive herbs for prostate cancer are milk thistle, with its powerful ingredients like silybin and silymarin that are attributed to the anti-tumor properties of milk thistle herb in the view of the Herbal Safety project from the El Paso University of Texas. Stanford University suggests the use of Green tea for cancer as it acts as a powerful cancer-preventing agent. This is mainly because of the presence of polyphenols compounds in Green tea like flavanols, epigallocatechin and catechins that alleviates the free radicals, which smash up DNA paving way for cancer.

5. Tips to prevent: Prevention is always better than cure and in extremely severe conditions there is no use in crying over the spilt milk. The first and foremost simplest measure in preventing prostate cancer is to strictly follow an Ayurvedic routine that iterates on healthy lifestyle habits like rising up early in the morning before sunrise, regular bowel movement, oral hygiene that helps remove toxins known as ama in the mouth, simple physical exercises, yoga, meditation, Abhyanga or massaging with Ayurvedic essential oils, sufficient intake of water, nutritious diet in the right time and early to bed.

Ayurvedic texts talk about the importance of sunlight for healthy living and numerous research studies have substantiated this fact by proving that good levels of vitamin D protects the body from the risk of cancer and as most of us know, sunlight is the rich natural source of vitamin D. A brisk walk in the morning can not only supply sufficient vitamin D but it also fortifies the immune system, making you strong from within.

Do not panic as nature is the best doctor that can guard your health and protect you from such life-demanding diseases. As determined men, let’s take up a strong revolution to create a world that is free of prostate cancer with the greater support of Ayurveda, the mother of all healing sciences.

Disclaimer: Please do not use any of the herbs or essential oils without the recommendation of your Ayurvedic Practitioner, who knows your health condition and the remedies that would suit you better.

Thought for the day:

“Prostate cancer is like golf. You need to play it as it lies. Because the disease is variable, each treatment solution requires a unique strategy.” – Dr Charles “Snuffy” Myers

Suggested Reading:

  1. Dr. Katz’s Guide to Prostate Health: From Conventional to Holistic Therapies By Aaron E. Katz
  2. The Herbal Remedy for Prostate Cancer By James Lewis Jr.
  3. 21st Century Understanding Cancer Toolkit: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), Unconventional Treatments, Herbs, Vitamins, Diets, Naturopathic Medicine, Ayurvedic, Homeopathy By National Cancer Institute

Reference Links:

  1. The Management of Localized Prostate Cancer by American Urological Association Foundation
  2. Prostate Cancer by Urology Care Foundation
  3. Prostate Cancer by Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula

Ayurveda For Memory Loss: 3 Ways To Stimulate Your Brain Power

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‘Wondering whether you have locked your home?’ after stepping into your office. Thinking whether you turned off the stove while you are half asleep? Made your little one wear his/her sports dress on a ‘strictly uniform’ demanding Monday morning? Trust me, then you are travelling on the not-so-smooth road of memory loss. It’s not only you but many of us suffer from memory loss. Pharmaceutical drugs can help you temporarily but very soon you may be affected by perilous side-effects. The best and the natural way to treat memory loss is by following the paths of our ancestors, who have gifted us with Ayurveda, the mother of all healing sciences.

What is memory loss? The best function of the human brain is the power of recollecting and retaining information and that is known as memory power. This is assisted by neurotransmitters or brain chemicals, the imbalance of which causes memory problems. Memory loss is the loss of ability to remember things or events that may be recent or from memories of the past or both together. It is also known as amnesia, loss of memory, forgetfulness, amnestic syndrome and impaired memory. Loss of memory can be permanent or transient depending upon an individual and his environment.

What causes loss of memory? Thousands of reasons could be attributed to this unusual forgetfulness but the predominant ones being aging, stress, depression and other psychological disorders. Few other causes of memory loss are alcoholism, drug addiction, weakened immunity, brain disorders, exposure to chemical or toxic substances, lack of nutrition or imbalanced diet, genetics, accidents or other traumatic disorders, cancer treatments like chemotherapy and brain radiation and certain other nervous disorders.

Ayurveda and memory loss: The Sanskrit term for memory loss in Ayurveda is Smriti Naasha. It generally occurs due to vitiation of vata dosha or kapha dosha. Increased vata can end up in “in one ear, out the other” syndrome. Balanced vata is imperative for all the functions vested with the nervous system, whereas pitta balance is responsible for sharp mind, focused thinking and clarity of mind. Balance in kapha dosha fosters movement and carries the information to the brain through nerve impulses and helps to save it on the brain tissue. The 3 trusted Ayurvedic remedies for treating loss of memory and enhancing brain power are:

Ayurvedic essential oils: Essential oils are natural extracts from plants. The immemorial essential oil to treat memory loss is Rosemary essential oil as it is said to have a positive effect on the cognitive function and boosts brain power. This is why the celebrated English Herbalist Nicholas Culpeper rightly said that Rosemary “Helps a weak memory and quickens the senses. The chymical [essential] oil drawn from the leaves and flowers, is a sovereign help…touch the temples and nostrils with two or three drops.”  This essential oil is also proved to sharpen the mental faculties while improving the cognitive performance.

Calamus essential oil contains terpenoids with sedative effect, trusted to empower the nervous system. Famous Botanist M. Daniel from the M.S. University strongly says that Calamus is effective in treating mental disorders, memory loss and augments memory power and intellect. The other effective essential oils for enhancing memory power are Basil essential oil, Thyme essential oil, Clary Sage essential oil, Roman Chamomile essential oil, Ginger essential oil, Lemon essential oil and Grapefruit essential oil.

Ayurvedic herbs: Intake of Ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi, Gotu Kola, Acorus Calamus, Ashwagandha, Celastrus paniculata, Nardostachys, Convolvus Pluricaulis and few other herbs have been proven effective in treating memory loss problems. Brahmi is known as an excellent brain and nerve tonic that is used to perk up the intellect, support learning and treat memory disorders and cognitive impairment. The famous ‘Phytotherapy Research’ of the A&M University, Texas has proved that Brahmi herb protects against Alzheimer’s disease.

Herbalist Penelope Ody says that Gotu Kola is an endurance tonic that reduces stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and enhances the memory power while invigorating the brain and central nervous system. In her popular book ‘The Holistic Herbal Directory’, she suggests the use of Acorus Calamus to augment mental awareness and memory power.

Ayurveda recommends the use of Convolvus Pluricaulis for memory problems as it is an exceptional tonic for revitalizing the functions of the brain and stimulate the nerves. Celastrus paniculata is also known as the intellect tree with its neuro-protective, anti-depressant, sedative and stimulant properties. The oil extracted from the seeds of this plant is used as a brain tonic for treating memory loss by Ayurvedic practitioners.

Yoga and Meditation: Regular meditation improves the power of concentration and aids in self-realization, paving way for mental wellness mainly due to the positive changes created in the brain wave patterns. Practicing Pranayama, the Yogic breathing method helps in attaining inner peace along with enhanced spiritual skills, high concentration and memory power. Other effective Yogasanas for treating memory loss problems are Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand), which revitalizes and invigorates the entire body, Balasana (Child pose) that helps in normalizing the circulation after performing the head stand, treats nervous irritability, anxiety and fatigue.

Along with these Ayurvedic remedies, light and cleansing diet including fresh fruits, organic vegetables, nuts, ghee etc, will boost your insight and aid in strengthening your memory power. No more worries and only sweet and strong memories, undoubtedly with Ayurveda.

Thought for the day:

[Memory is] a man’s real possession…In nothing else is he rich, in nothing else is he poor.                                                   –Alexander Smith

Suggested Reading:

  1. Ayurveda and the Mind: The Healing of Consciousness By Dr. David Frawley
  2. Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization By Dr. David Frawley
  3. Life’s a Smelling Success: Using Scent to Empower Your Memory and Learning By Alan Hirsch

Reference links:

  1. Memory loss by MedlinePlus (A Service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  2. A Clear Mind and Good Memory With Ayurveda by Namaskarhealing
  3. Rosemary boosts brain power! By Robert Tisserand

Pranayama: The Ayurvedic Health Benefits Of Balanced Breathing

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Have you ever thought about the way you breathe or the real magic behind your breathing? What will happen if your breath stops for a minute or two? Unimaginable and sounds pathetic, right? Pranayama can be called as the art of breathing for healthy living. This Sanskrit word means ‘extension of the life force’ in which ‘Prana’ means ‘breath or life force’ and ‘ayama’ means ‘expansion or to extend’. Ancient Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita have explained in detail about ‘Prana’ and its role in health and ailments. According to Ayurveda, Pranayama is a respiratory exercise and an exemplary technique to maintain physical health and augment mental health through spiritual values while harmonizing with the universal prana.

What is Pranayama? Pranayama is a vital part of the Yogic science, which is the sister science of Ayurveda. With the clear definition derived from the above para, all I have to explain about this spiritual healing technique is that it is the ‘control of breathing in a learned style’. This ideal breathing practice helps the body to meet its necessary oxygen requirements and release carbon-di-oxide and other toxins from the body. Pranayama should be done only after getting a proper training from an expert in Yoga. If done incorrectly, this exercise might increase the imbalances in the doshas, consequently ending up with diseases.

The three simple steps of Pranayama include Puraka (Inhalation), Kumbhaka (Retention) and Recaka (Exhalation). Slow and deep inhalation helps in the intake of enough oxygen for the body followed by total retention of the inhaled oxygen, which enables the system to acquire it. At the time of retaining the breath within, attention is focused on any particular part of the body like the forehead or the heart for gaining inner light. The final step is exhalation that is done through lungs or abdomen, where the impurities from your body are exhaled out.

Ayurvedic health benefits of Pranayama: Ayurveda is a holistic healing methodology that considers an individual as a universe in the universe based upon the solid principle that universe is also made up of the 5 vital elements and human body is also made up of the same 5 elements. Ayurveda considers ‘Pranayama’ as a juncture at which an individual’s own consciousness attains oneness with the universal consciousness. This paves way for realizing the immortal spirit vested within our body. The most significant health benefits of Pranayama according to Ayurveda are:

1. Enhances the quality of life: Pranayama or Yogic breathing helps you learn the art of deep and slow breathing, which aids in reduced rate of breathing. The normal respiratory rate in adults is about 12 breaths per minute at the time of rest. Increased respiratory rate like 20 or 30 breaths per minute are seen only in sick people, especially who are diagnosed with cancer, cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS and few other chronic conditions. Dr AC Guyton has said in The Textbook of Medical Physiology that “All chronic pain, suffering and diseases are caused from a lack of oxygen at the cell level”. Ayurveda recommends the practice of Pranayama to acquire enough oxygen to all the cells of the body and for reduced rate of breathing say about 5 to 6 breaths per minute. This helps in relaxation of nerves and muscles while lessening the wear and tear of internal organs.

2. Longevity or Increased life span: Increased life span or longevity is based upon an individual’s rate of breathing, according to Yoga, the sister science of Ayurveda. Pranayama teaches one to lower the rate of breathing and directly contributes to increased life span. As most of us know, one of the predominant living organisms on earth that has the highest life span is Tortoise and the major reason being its reduced rate of breathing that is only 4 to 5 breaths per minute.

3. Contributes to a healthy heart: A healthy heart is an incredible treasure supporting your welfare. This is an active organ of the body that works 24/7 in all the 365 days in a year. Practicing Pranayama regularly helps in the circulation of more oxygen to the blood and consequently supplies more oxygen to the heart and its muscles. This supports better functioning of your heart and effectively removes the toxins from the body.

4. Improves mental health: Inculcating regular practice of Pranayama strengthens your mind and grants you ultimate solace. A disturbed mind and a stressful life demands most of our time and steals our joy and serenity. Pranayama can also be called as positive breathing as it sows positive thoughts in our mind and emancipates the negative feelings like materialism, anger, depression, jealousy, stinginess, sluggishness, egotism and many other. This healing exercise improves the concentration power and paves way for better memory, enhanced spiritual skills and the eternal feeling of inner peace and harmony.

5. Healthy aging: Pranayama is the perfect way of treating the imbalances of all the three doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. Vata aggravation leads to ill-health especially when a person turns older. Practicing Pranayama on a regular basis helps in keeping the mind and body in control. The sufficient amount of oxygen taken in by the body assists in treating Vata imbalances where Air is the predominant energy. This helps in protecting the health of the heart and lungs while preventing the negative symptoms of aging like rheumatism, backache, loss of vitality, solidifying arteries, improper blood circulation, dry and wrinkled skin, listless diaphragm and much more.

Start practicing Pranayama in a clean, bug-free environment especially in the early hours of the day when the energy levels of your body and the nature are at its best. Using aromatic Ayurvedic essential oils with therapeutic values while doing Pranayama can help you serve your health conditions better as it instills a positive sensation while fostering your body to accept the inner power granted by the natural fragrance of these oils. I can sense a ray of hope everyday when I practice Pranayama with the everlasting company of my favorite spiritual oils for fragrance, yes Frankincense essential oil along with Bergamot essential oil. It’s your turn now.

Thought for the day:

Inhale and God approaches you.  Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you.  Exhale, and you approach God.  Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.                                -Krishnamacharya

Suggested Reading:

  1. Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing By B. K. S. Iyengar
  2. Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha/2008 Fourth Revised Edition by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
  3. Moola Bandha: The Master Key by Swami Buddhananda
  4. Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization by Dr. David Frawley

Reference Links:

  1. Pranayama by Wikipedia
  2. Pranayama, Yoga, and Ayurveda by California College of Ayurveda
  3. Normal Respiratory Rate and Ideal Breathing by NormalBreathing.com