Ayurveda And Chronic Diseases -Part-IV

OBESITY:
Obesity is the heavy accumulation of fat in your body to such a degree that it rapidly increases your risk of diseases that can damage your health and knock years off your life, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The fat mostly gets accumulated in the areas such as stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, giving one a shape of either a pear, or apple.

The total fat of the body is calculated by various measures such as BMI(Body Mass Index), Fatometer etc. These tests determine the amount of unwanted fat in the body.

Obesity is one of the rapidly rising disorders in this era, which gives rise to various other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis etc.

One needs to get himself checked through the BMI, whether he falls in the overweight or obese category to prevent diseases associated with obesity.

Doctors use BMI because it compares your weight against your height.
Work out your BMI with the following formula:

Take your weight (kg) and divide it by the square of your height (m).
For example, if you weigh 80kg and are 1.7m:
1. Multiply your height by itself 1.7x1.7=2.89
2. Divide your weight by this figure.
3. 80 2.89= 27.7kg/m2.
27.7 is the BMI.


*You are in the normal range if your BMI is between 18.5 and 25 (kg/m2).
*You are overweight if your BMI is between 25 and 30.
*You are obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.
*You are morbidly obese if your BMI is 40 or higher.


AYURVEDA, believes that improper diet along with other factors such as sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, stress etc, blocks the minute channels all over the body. As a result, nourishment of the other vital components ceases and only fat goes on increasing, making the sufferer physically ungainly and weak.

An obese person is the one who, on account of inordinate increase in fat, is disfigured by pendulous belly and breasts, and whose increased bulk is not matched by a corresponding increase in energy.

Treatment of obesity is classified in to different categories which include external, internal treatment along with certain diet and deeds restrictions.

1) External treatment includes application of certain medicated powders and oil to burn the accumulated fat.
From time to time, mustard oil massage is helpful.

* Mixture of turmeric and pathani lodha powder applied before bath is beneficial.

* Dry massage by Haritaki, Shirish, Lodhra, Nagkeshar etc is found to be useful in reducing the fat as well as the bad body odour.

2) Internal treatment includes medications in th form of various formulationa, single drugs etc.

* Guggul is one of the common remedies used in treating the obesity. mostly combination of guggul are used.Triphala guggul, Medhohar guggul, Yograj guggul are the ones which are used.

* Arogyavardhini is the preparation which not only helps to reduce down the fat accumulation, but also maintains the overall health of the person.

* Drinking medicated water prepared by using certain herbs which are pungent and bitter in nature helps a lot.

3) The other type of treatment includes intake of healthy and low calorie diet and inculcating the habit of mild to moderate exercie in our day to day life.


NOTE: The above treatment should be undertaken only under medical supervision.

Ayurveda and chronic diseases part II

*Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition caused by increased levels of glucose(sugar) in the blood. this condition is caused in particular when our body does not produce enough of hormone insulin which helps in proper breakdown and utilisation of glucose. Insulin is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach) which helps to move glucose from blood into the cells of the body, where it is broken down to produce energy.
Diabetes is of two types: Type-1(Insulin dependent diabetes),Type-2(non insulin dependent diabetes)
Type-1 diabetes is caused when the body produces very little or no insulin thus leading to improper utilisation of glucose. In such cases the person has to depend on either insulin injections or antidiabetic medication for life long.
Type-2 diabetes is the condition wherein the amount of insulin produced is very minimal and or is not used properly by the body.
According to Ayurveda, Diabetes is known as 'Prameha' or 'Madhumeha'.
There are 20 types of Pramehas explained in ayurveda. Among these, 'Ikshumeha'(alimentary glucosuria) and 'Kshudrameha' are correlated with conditions in which sugar is found in urine.
Three ways have been prescribed for the management of diabetes in ayurveda. They are diet, deeds and drugs.
Patent formulations used are Shilajit, Vasantkusumakar Ras, Chandraprabha Vati, Triphala Guggul, Gokhshuradi Guggul. commonly used single drugs or herbs include Gudmar, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Neem, Amla, Arjun, Fenugreek seeds, Bilva, Bitter gourd, Triphala Jamun bheej.
These is given either as single drug or in combination.


*Liver Diseases:Liver disease is a term for a collection of conditions, diseases, and infections that affect the cells, tissues, structures, or functions of the liver.
Liver diseases are of two types:
1-diseases due to impaired digestive system, like Anaemia, Leukemia, Jaundice etc.
2-self-oriented diseases, like Liver Cancer, Liver Abcess, Swelling of the liver etc.
*Medications like Arogyavardhini vati, Avipathikar Churna, Triphala Churna, Punarnavadi Guggul are used.
*Herbs such as Bhumiamla, Bhringaraj, Kutaki, Manjistha, Kumari, Neem, Chirayat, Kamdhudha, Punarnava, Gokhshur, green leaves of Raddish, beetroot juice, coconut water, butter milk with curry leaves, cumin seeds,ginger is used as common remedy for all types of liver diseases.


*Renal Diseases:Renal disease is any disease or disorder that affects the function of the kidneys.There are approximately 37 renal or kidney disorders which include renal stones to total renal failure.
In Ayurveda, various renal disease are explained in details. According to this science, our body is made up of 14 'Srotas' or systems. one of them is 'Mutravaha Srotas'(urinary system) of which kidney is the main organ. Its main functions are formation and excretion of urine.
*The ayurvedic medicines useful in renal diseases are Guduchi(tinospora cordifolia), Punarnava(boerhaavia diffusa), Gokshur(tribulur terrestris), Varun(crataeva nurvala), Triphala etc.
*In renal stones, Pashanbhed Churna, Yawakshar,Shweta parpati and Kulath Kwath are beneficial.
*Argwadh (cassia fistula), Trunpanchamula(group of five roots) and Chandan are used in urinary tract infections, especially for burning urination.
Ayurvedic formulations such as Gokshuradi Guggul, Chandraprabha vati, Shilajit, Punarnava Guggul,Punarnavadi Kwath, Varunadi Kwath are found to be very much beneficial.


*CAUTION Above mentioned medicines should be taken only under strict medical consultation.

Ayurveda and chronic diseases Part I

Ayurveda has been found very effective in treating chronic diseases.Below mentioned are few chronic diseases and their treatment by Ayurveda.

ALLERGY:Allergy is a disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain cells resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.
Mild allergies like hay fever, is quite common these days and cause symptoms such as allergic conjunctivitis and runny nose. Similarly, conditions such as asthma are common, in which allergy plays a major role. some people develop allergy to certain food articles, environmental allergens or medications resulting in anaphylactic reactions which can be life threatening and eventually leading to death.
According to Ayurveda, the cause of this disease can be explained by the following concept:
Any imbalance in the equilibrium of the five basic elements of the body which includes Prithvi(earth),Jal(water), Agni(fire), Vayu(air) and Akash(space), leads to the disease.

Certain ayurvedic formulations which help in such conditions include Arogyavardhini, Laxmivilas,Manjisthadi kwath or powder, Chawanprash, Gandhak rasayan.
herbs such as Guduchi, Haritaki, Bhibhitaki, Amlaki which makes the trio 'Triphala', Turmeric can also be used as single drug therapy or in combination.
For allergic rhinitis 'anu taila' can be used as nasal drops along with oral medication.




*ASTHMA:Asthma is a chronic condition involving the respiratory system in which the airway constricts, undergoes inflammation and gets filled with infected mucus.the condition gets triggered by certain things which include environmental allergens(cold air, moist air,certain strong smell), stress or exertion, and,or emotional factors. the disease is characterised by symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing,coughing, perspiration and attacks of the similar symptoms in severe state. after immediate treatment the person feels well, but may remain with milder degree of the above mentioned symptoms for a long time.

Severe attacks of asthma can be life threatening if immediate medical attention is not given.As the diseases progresses, it also shows the following symptoms: anorexia, excessive weakness, oedema of hands and feet, excessive sweating and tachycardia. The patients immune power and functionong of the heart are also weakened.

Some medicinal herbs, useful in the treatment of asthma are: Adulsa(adhatoda vasica), Tulsi(holy basil), Yastimadhu(glycyrrhiza glabra), Arjuna(terminalia arjuna), kantakari(solanum xanthocarpum) and Bhibhitaki(terminalia beterica). These should be mixed together in equal quantity and half a teaspoonshould be taken twice a day either with honey or warm water.

Ayurvedic formulations such as Shwaskuthar ras, Chyawanprash, Sitopaladi churna, Kantakasav, Dashmoolarista have proven to be effective in treating asthma.
Also hot fermentation, with til oil and rock salt massage, on chest relieves breathlessness and relaxes the patient.


*TUBERCULOSIS:Tuberculosis is a disease caused by an infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
It is a disease of the lungs. However, the infection can spread via blood from the lungs to all organs in the body. hence you can develop tuberculosis in the pleura (the covering of the lungs), in the bones, the urinary tract and sexual organs, the intestines, skin and even lumph nodes in the lung root and on the throat can get infected.
In Ayurveda, this disease is called 'rajyakshma' because in past, mainly kings and rich persons used to be affected by this disease due to their excessive indulgence in wine and women. This led to the vitiation of the vital components of the body, especially the shukra dhatu(semen), and made the affected person weaker day by day. so it was called as rajyakshma or kshaya rog.
Commonly used ayurvedic medicines are:Sitopaladi churna with honey is beneficial for cough expectoration. Ashtangawaleha and chyawanprash is also beneficial.
For blood in mucus, bol parpati with pomegrante juice and drakshasava twice daily after meals can be given.
For overall debility, powder of Shatavari, Ashwagandha, and White musali with milk is useful.

certain formulations include Arogyavardhini, Shwaskuthar ras,Lagumalini vasant, Laxmivilas, and Suvarna kalpas are helpful.

CAUTION: The medicines should be taken under strict medical supervision.