Archives for July 2021

Constipation

What is Constipation?

Constipation is a condition that makes it laborious to pass stools. Normally, this condition means slow and sporadic bowel movements which last over a few weeks or more. This condition occurs because Vata is being expressed as hardness and dryness. Continue reading to learn how to treat constipation naturally.

What are the Symptoms of Constipation?

  • Difficulty and straining moving stools out of rectum
  • Moving 3 or fewer stools in a week
  • Hard or lumpy stools
  • Difficulty removing all stools out of rectum

What are the Causes of Constipation?

  • Blockage in rectum or colon
  • Nerve system problem
  • Muscle difficulty
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Improper diet
  • Dehydration

When to see a Doctor?

If you notice sudden changes in your bowel habits, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Regular screening: Not necessary.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Constipation

  • Try Vata-Pacifying Diet: If you have too much Vata system, try the Vata-pacifying diet. Try to avoid cold food, beans, salads, dried fruit, cold or warm drinks, and vegetables that have been overly cooked. Adding some oil to the Vata-Pacifying diet is a great idea.
  • Consume More Fiber: Eating more foods that have fiber will help your body be able to pass stools easier. Foods like oat bran, oatmeal, wheat bran, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains are filled with fiber and would make a great addition to your iet.
  • Ghee and Milk: This gentle yet effective combination is great for Pitta and Vata types, but may increase Kapha too much for Kapha types. Warm a cup of milk and then add 1-2 teaspoons of ghee and stir. Consuming the formulation at night will help your body relieve its constipation.
  • Try yoga: Doing various yoga poses such as the Leg Lift, Sun Salutation (Twelve cycles daily), and Chest-Knee pose will help relieve your constipation.
  • Exercise Regularly: Staying active is a key part in relieving your constipation. Try swimming, walking, or yoga to help keep your body in great condition.
  • Drink More Water: Try to have 4-5 glasses of water daily. Water along with tea or juice will help provide your body with the nutrients it needs.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Constipation

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Ginger tea with Castor Oil I Flaxseed (in warm water) I Triphala I Roasted Fennel Seeds

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not known.

Dry Skin

What is Dry Skin?

Dry skin isn’t a diagnosable health condition, rather a more basic skin condition that is very common and not dangerous by any means. Especially prevalent in areas that are dry and cold, dry skin occurs when your skin cannot produce enough moisture to keep it healthy. This may lead your skin to crack, be irritated and scaly.

What are the Symptoms of Dry Skin?

Dry skin is normally temporary; however, it can be a lifelong condition or develop into eczema. Any of these symptoms can be a sign of dry skin:

  • Gray, tarnished skin
  • Peeling or Scaling
  • Red patches
  • Skin develops cracks that may have bled or dry blood
  • Skin looks and feels rough
  • Tightness around skin after being in contact with water

What are the Causes of Dry Skin?

  • Harsh Soap: Hand soap may have chemicals that target oil, including the natural oil your skin makes. Using these types of soaps will make the skin on your hands dry.
  • Heat: Being in or near hot places will dry up your skin. For example, being near stoves, outdoor fires, space heaters will reduce the humidity and dry up your skin.
  • Hot Showers and Pools: Swimming in pools that are strongly chlorinated or hot may make your skin dry. In addition, taking a hot shower for an extended period of time may dry out your skin.
  • Skin Conditions: Those that have psoriasis or eczema are more likely to have dry skin.
  • Weather Conditions: During the winter, cold and dry climates will make your skin dry. However, if you live in a place that has cold and dry conditions year-round, your skin may be dry year round.

When to see a Doctor?

The majority of people who have dry skin can cure it through home remedies. However, you should see a dermatologist if:

  • Difficulty sleeping because of dry skin
  • Dry skin begins turning red
  • Scratching causes infections and open sores
  • Skin begins peeling in large areas
  • Your skin remains dry after using home remedies

Regular screening: No regular screening is required, unless your doctor recommends that you do regular checkups with a dermatologist.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Dry Skin

Dry skin can be mostly cured by implementing these basic lifestyle practices:

  • Apply Aloe Vera to sunburns
  • Apply lotion directly after showering and to dry spots
  • Avoid scorching hot showers or baths
  • If your home is dry, try a humidifier
  • Shower in under 10 minutes
  • Stay hydrated
  • Use a body wash that has moisturizes

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Dry Skin

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Sandalwood | Neem | Aloe Vera | Moringa | Jasmine leaves

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Cataracts

What is Cataracts?

Cataracts is a health condition that makes your vision cloudy and difficult to see out of because particles of Kapha build in the eye, decreasing its transparency and translucency. Those that have had an eye injury, diabetes, or older age are more susceptible to having cataracts. As the cloudiness in the cataract grows, the blurriness increases making it even harder to see.

What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?

  • Using a stronger reading light
  • Difficulty seeing in the night
  • Blurred vision
  • Seeing double in one eye
  • Colors begin to fade or turn yellow
  • Halos form around lights
  • Overly prone to changes in glare and light
  • Yearly changes in contact lens and glasses prescription

What are the Causes of Cataracts?

  • Diabetes
  • Prolonged use of steroids
  • Radiation therapy
  • Smoking tobacco
  • Ultraviolet light radiation

When to see a Doctor?

If you notice a sudden and noticeable change in your vision, consult your eye doctor immediately. Otherwise, your vision may change over time. Make an eye appointment to get your eyes tested and your glasses prescription adequately set.

Regular screening: If you don’t have any problems with your vision, you only need to see your eye doctor once every 2-4 years.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Cataracts

To reduce your risk of developing cataracts:

  • Wear sunglasses while outside
  • Visit an eye care specialist regularly
  • Avoid smoking
  • Eat healthy foods filled with antioxidants
  • Stay at your recommended weight
  • Stay on top of your diabetes or other health conditions

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Cataracts

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Saffron | Brahmi | Punarnava | Shatavari | Castor Oil

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not known.

Eczema (Atopic dermatitis)

What is Eczema?

Eczema, scientifically known as Atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition. Generally found in children, it makes the skin itchy and red. Although no cure has been discovered, there is a wide variety of treatments available such as cream that prevents outbreaks and relieves the itchiness. Avoiding harsh chemicals, applying eczema cream often, and moisturizing will all help to reduce and treat your eczema.

What are the Symptoms of Eczema?

Eczema symptoms include:

  • Itchy and dry skin
  • Brown to reddish patches, occurring on the eyelids, upper chest, neck, wrists, ankles, feet, hands, and in the creases of knees and elbows
  • Bumps that may release fluid if scratched
  • Scaly, cracked, or thickened skin
  • Swollen, sensitive, or raw skin due to scratching
  • In babies, the scalp and face are the predominant places to look

What are the Causes of Eczema?

Eczema is not contagious and therefore not spread between people. Rather, it is a gene variation or the result of an allergy (environment factors). Unfortunately, eczema can spread around the body if not properly treated.

When to see a Doctor?

  • Eczema starts to interrupt daily activities
  • Home treatment does not work
  • Infected skin: yellow scabs, pus or red streaks
  • Is so uncomfortable that the condition is affecting sleep and daily activities

Professional Medical Help: Get professional medical help immediately if your child has a fever and what appears to be infected eczema.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Eczema

  • Replenish your skin with lotion twice per day
  • Try to identify and avoid triggers that worsen the condition
  • Take shorter showers or baths
  • Take a diluted bleach bath no more than twice a week
  • Use gentle and light soaps
  • Dry off carefully
  • Avoid the following foods: Refined sugar, fried food, salty or spicy food, meat, processed food, yeast heavy, acidic fruits, tomatoes, and dairy products.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Eczema

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not known.

Memory Problems

What is Memory Problems?

Memory problems, scientifically known as Amnesia, is a health condition that causes a person to forget specific memories or events that have recently happened. Memory loss is a scale ranging from forgetting a name or important date to Alzheimer’s disease that causes a person to forget and fail to recognize their family members.

What are the Symptoms of Memory Problems?

Memory loss is struggling to remember information like a person’s name or an important date. Generally, memory loss causes forgetfulness in facts and specific details, where a person struggles to recall the details. Memory loss rarely affects memories that had strong emotions attached, like the birth of a child or a wedding day. Although memory loss is a brain disease, it will likely not affect your physical or emotional abilities.

What are the Causes of Memory Problems?

Memory loss can occur because of any of the following reasons:

  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Cerebrovascular Disease
  • Chronic medical conditions
  • Disease infections
  • Head Trauma
  • Malnutrition
  • Medication side-effects
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Psychological conditions,
  • Sleeping Disorders
  • Untreated trauma

When to see a Doctor?

If your memory loss begins to affect your ability to accomplish daily activities, plan to visit your doctor, especially if your memory loss gets worse. They may perform testing based on what is the cause of your memory problem.

Regular screening: Although memory loss is oblivious, people or their peers can notice when they struggle to remember events and details.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Memory Problems

Since having a memory problem is a brain issue, no lifestyle change will quickly fix the problem. However, these lifestyle tips may help:

  • Engage and challenge your mind with puzzles
  • Ensure that you are exercising
  • Maintain healthy eating habits
  • Manage any chronic health conditions
  • Organize your home
  • Try socializing with others
  • Try to get a good night’s sleep every night

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Memory Problems

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not known.

Migraine

What is Migraine?

A migraine is when a person has an extreme headache. Often, there is a pulsing sensation or a severe amount of throbbing. This extreme head pain usually has physical symptoms such as sensitivity to sound and light, vomiting, and nausea. The headache portion of a migraine usually lasts 4-72 hours and often interferes with daily activities because the pain is so extreme.

What are the Symptoms of Migraine?

Migraines typically have four (4) phases; however, a person may not experience all four phases during a migraine:

Prodrome: The first phase of a migraine begins nearly 24 hours prior to your migraine. Those that experience migraines often can recognize the symptoms and prepare for a migraine. The symptoms included: increased urination, yawning, fluid retention, mood changes, and cravings for food.

Aura: During this phase, you may see zig-zagging lines, bright or flashing light. Physically, you may feel like you have been grabbed or touched, although, in reality, no one has touched you. This Aura phase may happen during or before a migraine.

Headache: During the 3rd and most noticeable phase, a strong headache commonly occurs and begins to worsen. Usually, there will be pulsing or throbbing on one side of the head. If not headache is present, here are some other symptoms:

  • Painful to sneeze, cough, or move
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Sensitivity to Sensitivity to odors, noise, and light

Postdrome: After the headache, this is your body’s recovery phase. Usually, signs of exhaustion, weakness, and confusion are common post-migraines symptoms, which may last for 24 hours.

What are the Causes of Migraine?

Migraines typically are triggered by an emotion, symptom, thought, or activity; however, this trigger is different for everybody. If you struggle with migraines, be aware of what may trigger than to happen. Once you discover your trigger item, avoid it if possible or seek help from a medical professional.Here is a list of some items that may trigger a migraine:

  • Anxiety
  • Flashing or bright lights
  • Excess caffeine or caffeine withdrawal
  • Women hormonal changes
  • Loud noises
  • Medication overuse
  • Medicines
  • Too much physical activity
  • Skipped meals
  • Stress
  • Strong smells
  • Sudden change in environment or weather
  • Tobacco
  • Too much or lack sleep

When to see a Doctor?

If you have one of the following symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately:
  • An extreme headache that comes suddenly
  • A headache could be a sign of a stroke because there is also weakness, numbness, double vision, seizures, confusion, a stiff neck, and fever.
  • Getting a headache after a head injury
  • A chronic long term headache that gets worse after sudden movement, straining, coughing and physical activity

    • Regular screening: If you think you have or have had a migraine, consult your doctor. They may prescribe you medicine that reduces your risk of having a migraine.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Migraine

  • Reduce Your Pitta: You are likely experiencing Migraines because your pitta is out of control. Attempt to soothe your pitta by avoiding spicy and hot foods, citrus or sour fruits, or fermented food. Relieving your pitta is strongly recommended for migraine relief and prevent future migraines.
  • Proper Breakfast: Some people get headaches in the morning after breakfast, so you must eat a good breakfast that helps to prevent migraines. Try peeling a ripe banana, chopping it to pieces, and then adding a teaspoon of warm ghee to it. For flavor, add a teaspoon of date sugar and a pinch of cardamom on top. This particular breakfast should help to reduce pitta and prevent further headaches.
  • Avoid Harsh Sunlight: Since migraine headaches occur because of an overwhelming amount of pitta, direct sunlight can cause pitta to increase; therefore, try to wear a hat while outside.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Migraine

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
The following herbal compound will be beneficial: 5 parts Shatavari, 4 parts Brahmi , 3 parts Jatamansi, 3 parts Musta. Try ½ teaspoon twice a day after meals and consume it with water. This formula should reduce the pitta and pain from the headache.
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not known.