Archives for August 2021

Golden Milk (Masala Turmeric milk)

Haldi doodh or golden milk as popularly known in Western society, is a version of milk mixed with ground turmeric and other spices. It is a warm comforting drink with turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties and is good for those days when you feel run down due to the weather.

Good for all doshas. Should avoid consuming at night for high kapha constitution

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 10 Minutes
Serves: 2 persons

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups of Milk preferably cow’s whole milk
  • ¾ t ground turmeric
  • 3 to 4 cardamom pods
  • 1 t thinly sliced ginger
  • 5 to 6 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 small cinnamon stick
  • 1 t of sugar or honey or maple syrup
  • Sliced almonds and pistachios for garnish (optional)
  • 1 or 2 saffron strands for garnish (optional)

Method

  1. Put the milk on the stove in a saucepan and add ground turmeric to it when it is lukewarm.
  2. Add crushed green cardamom pods, sliced ginger, black peppercorns, and cinnamon.
  3. Add in the sweetener and whisk everything together.
  4. Keep it over low flame for 5 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from heat and let it sit for another 5 minutes covered with a lid. This helps soak all the flavors from the spices.
  6. Strain the milk and serve.
  7. Garnish with sliced nuts and saffron strands (optional)

Serving suggestions

You may sprinkle some nutmeg powder before serving.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Gulkand (Rose Petal Jam)

Gulkand is a sweet rose petal preserve and an effective Ayurvedic formulation with natural cooling properties. It is a powerful antioxidant and offers numerous health benefits. It helps in digestion, controls pimples, boils, blemishes, reduces acidity and stomach heat. It also provides relaxation and restful sleep when taken before bed with milk.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 2 to 3 weeks
Serves: 450 to 500 gm

Ingredients

Method

  1. Collect and wash fresh rose petals (preferably Indian red rose) and let them dry.
  2. Crush or finely chop the rose petals.
  3. Mix these with sugar and cardamom and place in an air-tight container.
  4. Keep it in sunlight for 2-3 weeks and stir every day with a dry and clean spoon. It’s ready to serve once it gets sticky and syrupy.

Serving suggestions

Can be blended with milk and taken as a cooling drink.
Desired dose for adult: 2 tablespoons/day

Notes

Contraindications
People with diabetes should avoid it as it contains sugar.
Obese people may consume only a small quantity.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Rasala (Medicated yoghurt)

Rasala is basically churned yogurt with sugar and spices like pepper added to it. This recipe is good for the gut and can be useful in inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and colitis. It is generally recommended to have this in summer and autumn.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 15 Minutes
Serves: 1 glass (200-250 ml)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh yoghurt, plain
  • ½ t crushed black pepper
  • 2 t jaggery or sugar
  • Salt to taste (preferably Himalayan salt)
  • 1 ½ t ghee (preferably cow’s ghee)
  • 1 t mustard seeds
  • ½ t fenugreek seeds
  • ½ t cumin seeds
  • 1 dried red chili
  • A pinch of turmeric optional

Method

  1. Blend together yogurt, pepper powder, jaggery, and salt.
  2. Melt ghee in a pan and add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, red chilies, and curry leaves to it and wait till it sputters.
  3. Pour this seasoning over churned yogurt and serve with roti or rice.

Serving suggestions

Can be served as a health drink by adding more water and lemon juice.

Notes

Contradiction- During respiratory illness.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Eye Irritation

What is Eye Irritation?

Eye irritation is an eye condition that occurs when you have some sort of disturbance in your eyes or the surrounding area. You may experience irritations such as itching, pain, tears, etc.

What are the Symptoms of Eye Irritation?

There are some common symptoms of eye irritation. They are itchy eyes, teary eyes, redness in the eyes, eye pain. One may also experience more severe symptoms such as blurred vision or light sensitivity.

What are the Causes of Eye Irritation?

  • One of the main causes of eye irritation is allergy. In case your eyes encounter any sorts of allergen that disturbs the membranes of your eyes, you develop severe eye irritation.
  • You may also have eye irritation if you are accidentally exposed to smoke, dust, or any chemicals. It may also irritate if any foreign object gets into your eyes. The extent of irritation depends on the size of the foreign object that is stuck in your eyes. The bigger object will cause more irritation than the smaller object.
  • Using computers, laptops, or mobiles for a long time may irritate your eyes. This is called “Digital Eye Strain”
  • You also may get infected by some viruses or fungal infections that may cause irritation in your eyes.

When to see a Doctor?

The eyes are the most important organs in our body and should not be ignored if you develop any problems related to your eyes. Seek medical attention if you notice any concerns in your eyes. However, the symptoms may not always be serious for eye irritation but should be checked out to be safe.. Rush to a doctor or hospital if you have a severe eye injury such as a cut or punctured eye, blurred vision, or a harmful chemical in the eye. This is an emergency situation.

Lifestyle Prevention of Eye Irritation

Some of the obvious instances of getting eye irritations cannot be avoided but some lifestyle changes may prevent you from getting eye irritations and help you protect your eyes. Reducing alcohol consumption is one of them. Also, quitting smoking can help. Protecting your eyes from the sun is important and wearing good quality sunglasses is advised. Also, try to give rest to your eyes and avoid looking at the screen of your computer or mobile for a longer time.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Eye Irritation

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Shankhpushpi | Jatamansi | Aloe Vera gel | Castor oil | Rose water | Fennel
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Fainting and dizziness

What is Fainting and Dizziness?

Fainting is a serious health condition that happens when someone loses consciousness and posture due to decreased blood flow to the brain. Dizziness on the other hand is described as a range of sensations, like feeling to be fainted or feeling unsteady and it makes a false impression that you or your surroundings are whirling and is often called vertigo.

What are the Symptoms of Fainting and Dizziness?

The symptoms of dizziness and fainting are mostly common. People with these conditions may feel heaviness in their legs, feeling warm or hot without even being exposed to it, start sweating, feel nauseous, and/or become confused. Some severe conditions may be falling over, appearing pale, weaker pulse, etc.

What are the Causes of Fainting and Dizziness?

Several different circumstances can trigger fainting. These include heart problems such as irregular heartbeats, convulsions, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), anemia, and difficulties with how the nervous system controls blood pressure. On the other hand, dizziness can be caused by inner ear disruption, motion illness, and medication side effects. Occasionally it’s affected by an underlying health condition, for example, poor circulation, infection, or injury.

Sometimes fainting may occur in otherwise healthy individuals. The instances when an individual with no underlying health condition suffers from fainting include, unexpected exposure to an unpleasant sight or experience. Abrupt emotional upset can also cause fainting.

When to see a Doctor?

In case someone experiences recurrent fainting and dizziness needs to see a doctor. If the dizziness is prolonged and unexplained then visiting a doctor is a must just to examine the possibility of other serious health conditions that are causing fainting and dizziness.

Lifestyle Prevention of Fainting and Dizziness

Lifestyle prevention of dizziness and fainting is really difficult as these conditions are caused by numerous factors which are very difficult to control. However, some of the obvious causes of these conditions can be prevented. Obvious conditions such as dizziness from exercise can be controlled by drinking a lot of water. Exercising too much can cause you to release excess sweat from your body and you become dehydrated. Whenever you feel dizziness while working out, take a rest and drink water. Also, deep breathing can help you recover from dizziness and vertigo. Try to take a deep breath and hold for a few seconds behind the belly button. This exercise will surely help you. Regular health check-up is also very important to rule out the possibility of having any underlying disease and not knowing it. If you know that some diseases may trigger possibilities of dizziness and fainting then you can take precautions.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Fainting and Dizziness

Herbal formulas: If you determine that the dizziness is primarily due to pitta, a wonderful Ayurvedic herbal formula may prove helpful. Mix these herbs:

  • Brahmi 1 part
  • Jatamansi 1 part
  • Saraswati ¼ part
  • Take ½ teaspoon of the mixture 2 or 3 times a day with water after meals.
Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known.

Edema

What is Edema?

Edema is a medical condition that is caused when the extra fluid is trapped in your body’s tissues. This can be the consequence of some medications, or it can happen during pregnancy. Other medical conditions can trigger Edema, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or cirrhosis of the liver. Edema can affect any part of your body but most are seen in arms, legs, ankles, and feet.

What are the Symptoms of Edema?

  • The symptoms of Edema are very similar to other ailments. So if you develop any of the following symptoms, a check-up needs to be done to identify if it is Edema or any other ailment which is causing these signs.
  • Swelling is one of the main symptoms of Edema. In case you notice any swelling in your legs, arms, foot, or in any other part of the body, there is a possibility that you are suffering from this condition. The puffiness under the skin, or stretch and shiny skin in your legs and arms is also one of the symptoms of Edema. Sudden increases in abdominal size may also be caused by Edema

What are the Causes of Edema?

Several factors may cause Edema. A few of the obvious factors are sitting for a long time or staying in one position for too long, consuming a lot of salty food, liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, and/or kidney failure. Pregnant women can also develop this condition as the body produces extra fluid during pregnancy which may lead to edema in the hands, legs, face, or ankle. Edma is also considered one of the early premenstrual signs.

When to see a Doctor?

If you are suffering from swelling, stretched or shiny skin then you should see a doctor. Also if you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath then without any further delay visit a doctor. During pregnancy these are normal and if you don’t face any severe difficulties then no need to call your physician.

Lifestyle Prevention of Edema

Preventing Edema can be possible by following some basic steps. Staying physically active is a very important preventive measure to avoid Edema. Also, try to avoid excess sodium in your diet. Giving your feet a raise when you are seated for a longer time is also advised. Also, drink a lot of water and fluid to wash out any trapped fluid from your body’s tissue.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Edema

  • Ayurvedic remedies have been proven as one of the most effective treatments for Edema. There are some Ayurvedic herbs and oils that are very useful in treating this condition.
  • For swelling of the nose, you can try nasya with Brahmi oil or plain ghee. Rosewater is very effective for treating eye swelling. Apply a few drops of rose water and that will help you reduce the swelling fast. For the swelling of toes, ankle, and legs, you can apply turmeric and sandalwood paste. Also herbs like neem, Guggulu can be added to your diet.
Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs: