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Archives for September 2021

Kidney Stones (renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis)

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What is Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are a condition that occurs when there is hard sediment made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys.
There are mainly three types of kidney stones, Calcium stones, Phosphate stones, and Oxalate stones. Calcium stones are mostly painless. It will only cause pain when it starts leaving the renal pelvis to go through the ureter. A person with a thyroid gland or parathyroid gland is more prone to develop this type of stone.
Phosphate stones are mostly painful and aggravate the bladder. It is mainly rough which causes more pain than calcium stones. People who eat a lot of nightshade plants like potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes tend to increase phosphate in the system and it causes this type of stones.
Oxalate stones are the most hazardous stones due to their sharpness. They aggravate, burn up and cause bleeding. This type of stone is most painful and caused by a diet that has high oxalic acid.

What are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?

  • A kidney stone normally will not trigger signs and symptoms till it moves inside your kidney or passes into your ureters. It may block the flow of urine and cause the kidney to swell If it is stuck in the ureters, which can be very painful. At that moment, you may encounter these signs and symptoms:
  • Most people with this condition experience acute and intense aches in the side and back, and underneath of the ribs along with the discomfort that emanates to the lower belly and groin. You may also suffer from the ache that happens in ripples and varies in intensity. Additionally, you may experience pain or burning feeling during urinating
  • Other symptoms may be accompanied by these symptoms. Such as pink or red urine. You may also see cloudy urine which is mostly foul-smelling. Constant urge to urinate or urinating more frequently than usual in small amounts can be the symptoms of kidney stones.

What are the Causes of Kidney Stones?

  • Kidney stones often have no obvious, particular cause, even though various considerations may boost your probability of getting kidney stones.
  • Kidney stones develop when your urine carries more crystal-forming materials — such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute. Simultaneously, your urine may lack chemistry that stop crystals from clumping together, making a perfect setting for kidney stones to take shape

When to see a Doctor?

  • Kidney stones are a severe condition and need to be treated. The following symptoms are important to help detect a kidney stone. So please consult your doctor immediately if you experience any following symptoms.
  • Severe pain in the sides, back, and below the ribs, which is making you uncomfortable. Additionally, you are experiencing nausea and vomit with the pain. If your pain is very severe and you have fever and chills. In case you notice blood in your urine or If you have trouble passing urine.

Lifestyle Prevention of Kidney Stones

  • Preventing kidney stones is very much possible as the causes of kidney stones are well known and can be avoided. So, making the following changes in your lifestyle can help you prevent kidney stones.
  • Drinking plenty of water is one of the most important things to prevent kidney stones. This will help you urinate at least 2.5L/day which is a very healthy practice to produce less concentrated urine.
  • Try to limit eating foods like spinach, wheat bran, nuts, tea, some berries, chocolate, etc. which have elevated oxalate substance.
  • Calcium stone formation can be prevented by taking dietary calcium. Try to add calcium to your meals.
  • Limiting your protein intake is also very crucial. When you take a high protein diet, it triggers the kidney to produce more calcium and therefore it may lead to stone formation.
  • Additionally, high sodium intake can be one of the reasons for kidney stones. It raises calcium in the urine which may lead to stone formation.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Kidney Stones

  • Preventing and curing kidney stones is possible by Ayurvedic remedies. There are some ayurvedic herbs and spices that help de-crystalised the renal pelvis. Taking one tablet each of Punarnava, Guggulu and Gokuradi. Guggulu after lunch and dinner is advised to cure such conditions.
  • In case you have already started to pass on the kidney stones to the ureters, and experience a severe pain, the following herbal formula will surely help.
  • Take 1 part of punarnava, 1 part of partumutral and 1 part of coriander. Mix it well and take a teaspoon of this mixture 2 times daily. This will help your kidney stones to pass with less pain. And also help in de-crystalizing the stones. It is advised to take this mixture with beer but in case you don’t drink beer you can take this mixture with soup instead.
Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Punarnava | Gokshura | Mutral | Shilajit
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not Known

Jet Lag

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What is Jet Lag?

Jet lag or jet lag disorder is a condition that occurs when someone rapidly journeys around various time zones. This is also considered to be a momentary sleep disorder. Jet lag happens when your body’s biological clock or everyday rhythm is disturbed by traveling around different time zones. This momentary sleep disorder impacts your vitality and state of awareness. Your body follows this biological clock to implement certain natural tasks. Such as, circulating hormones that assist you to sleep, or wake you up in the morning.

What are the Symptoms of Jet Lag?

Tiredness and fatigue are very common symptoms if you have a sleeping disorder. This happens as your body doesn’t get enough sleep and rest to perform with full energy. Drowsiness is also one of the main signs of jet lag. Since your biological clock changes, your brain sometimes gets wrong signals which may cause disorientation and confusion. Excessive sleepiness and insomnia are also very much part of the symptoms. Your body will wake you up during the time you are supposed to sleep and make you feel sleepy during your working hours. Since your body doesn’t get enough rest, it may upset your stomach and you can experience diarrhea.

What are the Causes of Jet Lag?

  • Jet lag can happen anytime you cross two or more time zones. Jet lag happens since crossing various time zones puts your biological clock out of synchronizing with the time in your new location.
  • However, other causes may worsen the symptoms, such as the effect of sunlight, dehydration, consuming coffee or alcohol, the timing of your sleep, etc.

When to see a Doctor?

Jet lag is not a serious illness, and it is temporary. But if someone travels frequently and suffers from jet lag continually, then seeing a sleep specialist may help. There might be instances when you suffer from more severe symptoms, such as cold sweating, fever with vomiting, etc. then immediately book an appointment with a doctor.

Lifestyle Prevention of Jet Lag

  • Jet lag can be prevented and cured by making some lifestyle changes. Following tips might help you to reduce the symptoms of jet lag.
  • Sleeping during your flight may help you adjust to the new time zone. However, in case your time of arrival is at night, then try to be awake for a few hours before the landing.
  • While booking your flight, try to select flight timing strategically. Try to reach the destination in the morning time. This will surely help.
  • Also do not start boozing as soon as you land. You need to give your digestive system some more time to adjust to your new biological clock.
  • Following a jet lag diet is very important. Having light food is helpful. So avoid heavy meals initially.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Jet Lag

Some Ayurvedic remedies can do wonders in preventing and treating jet lag faster. Herbs and spices like ginger, triphala, cinnamon, nutmeg are really helpful to treat any sleeping disorders including jet lag
  • Ginger: Ginger is considered to be a natural sedative . Sipping ginger tea will help you deal with your digestion and sleepiness. Also you can take ginger capsules.
  • Nutmeg and Cardamom blend: Nutmeg is a great herb for insomnia. Using nutmeg and cardamom blend in coffee, tea or milk will help you have a better sleep.
  • Triphala: Triphala is a phenomenal herb for regulating bowel movements, and it is also helpful in preventing constipation. Add half a teaspoon of the powder to one cup of hot water and soak for around 10 minutes, till it is cool enough to drink. Put the herbs at the bottom side of the cup while you drink for an improved impact.
Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Ginger | Sesame oil | Nutmeg | Chamomile | Mint | Jatamansi | Triphala | Cardamom
Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:
Not Known.

Spicy Cilantro Garlic Oil Seasoning

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This Oil seasoning is perfect to add a twist to your plain khichdi or dal. Especially during convalescence, when taste buds are affected, a few drops of this seasoning brings palatability to the food and increases intake.

Good for Vata and Kapha.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time:  10 Minutes
Serves: 1 cup

Ingredients

  • ½ cup sunflower oil
  • 1 T black mustard seeds
  • ½ T cumin seeds
  • 1 T of grated garlic
  • ½ T of paprika powder (Kashmiri red chilli powder)
  • 1 T of chopped cilantro leaves
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a medium pan and add a few mustard seeds.
  2. When they start popping, remove the pan from heat, add remaining mustard seeds, and cover.
  3. When they begin to pop add cumin seeds, garlic and give the pan a swirl to mix everything.
  4. Move the pan back to medium heat.
  5. When the oil starts to sizzle add paprika and immediately cover and move it off the heat.
  6. Stir the mixture and move it back on the heat
  7. Add chopped cilantro and cover. Turn off the flame.
  8. Let it sit aside and watch the cilantro turn crispy.
  9. Add salt, mix and serve.

Serving suggestions

Exercise caution as the ingredients continue to sputter in the hot oil.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Mustard seeds | Cumin | Garlic | Cilantro

Pradhaman: A lentil Pudding

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Pradhaman is a type of payasam (kheer/rice pudding) and is one of the traditional south Indian desserts. This is typically prepared for festivals like Onam and Vishu. It is made from easily digestible green gram and coconut.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time:  30 Minutes
Serves: 4 Person

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of dehusked green gram dal
  • ½ cup of thick coconut milk
  • 1 cup of thin coconut milk
  • ½ T chopped pieces of coconut
  • ¼ t dry ginger powder
  • ½ t cardamom powder
  • ¼ cup of chopped unsalted nuts (cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds etc)
  • 1 t raisins (sultana)
  • 3 T ghee
  • 4 cups of water
  • 2 cups of grated jaggery (you can use sugar, but jaggery is preferred)

Method

  1. Wash moong dal thoroughly then move it to a cotton cloth and let it dry.
  2. Boil 1 cup of water with jaggery in a pan over medium flame. Stir occasionally until it turns into syrup.
  3. Turn off the stove and strain to remove any particles.
  4. Melt the ghee in a large pan and roast coconut pieces and nuts until golden brown.
  5. Add raisins and roast them as well for 30 seconds.
  6. Move the coconut, cashews, and raisins to a bowl and keep them aside.
  7. Add moong dal to the used pan and roast until it turns slightly brown.
  8. Add 3 cups of water, cover the pan and let the dal cook over medium heat.
  9. When the dal is cooked, mash and add the jaggery syrup and let it cook for 5 minutes over medium heat.
  10. Add medium thick coconut milk to the mixture and let it cook for 10 more minutes until it has a thick consistency. Stir occasionally.
  11. Add dry ginger powder, and cardamom powder and mix.
  12. Add thick coconut milk, stir and cook for 2 minutes on low heat.
  13. Remove from the stove and add roasted nuts and raisins.
  14. Mix and serve hot or cold.
  15. Add a dollop of ghee while serving (optional)

Serving suggestions

Can be served hot or cold

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Cardamom I Ginger I Ghee I Sultana