Archives for September 2021

Apple Apricot Chutney

Sep 22, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

This recipe has a contrasting combination of cooling apple and spicy heat of chili powder with the tartness of apricots. This chutney can balance any meal with its sweet, sour, salty, astringent, and pungent taste. It can be used as a side dish, dip, or can even be added to your charcuterie board.

Good for Kapha.
Vata, Pitta constitutions should consume it in very small amounts.

Prep Time: 3 Minutes
Total Time: 3 Minutes
Serves: 2 Person

Ingredients

1 cup of diced crisp apple (red or green. Adjust the quantity of maple syrup of you use green apples)
½ cup of diced dried apricots
1 T maple syrup
½ t paprika powder
1 t salt (preferably Himalayan salt)
1 t fresh lemon juice
¼ t cinnamon powder

Method

Add apple, apricots, maple syrup, salt and spices in a blender and blend into a rough paste
Add lemon juice and mix well.
Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Notes

Maple Syrup can be replaced by Jaggery. It is considered a good medium for delivering Vata-balancing botanicals.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Ceylon Cinnamon | Black Salt

Swelling (Edema) During Pregnancy

Sep 22, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What is Swelling (Edema) During Pregnancy?

Swelling (Edema) during pregnancy is a condition that occurs when the excess fluid in the body accumulates. It may also be caused by the pressure from the expanding uterus. In most cases, the swelling may affect the ankle and feet. The swelling may worsen when a woman’s due date approaches, especially during the end of the day or in hot weather conditions.

What are the Symptoms of Swelling (Edema) During Pregnancy?

The symptoms of swelling during pregnancy are very straightforward. You know when you have swelling on any part of your body. You experience puffiness under the skin, your abdomen size increases, and you have stretched skin.
However, there are some severe cases when you suffer from some serious health issues, such as chest ache, shortness of breath, trouble in breathing, etc. In that case, you need to see a doctor immediately as it may be the symptoms of pulmonary edema.

What are the Causes of Swelling (Edema) During Pregnancy?

The Swelling during pregnancy is triggered by your body carrying extra fluid than normal while you’re pregnant. During the day the additional fluid is likely to accumulate in the lowest parts of the body, particularly if the weather condition is warm or you have been standing for a longer time. The weight of your increasing womb can also impact the blood flow in your legs. This type of swelling is called Physiological edema.
However, apart from Physiological edema, some less common health conditions may trigger swelling during pregnancy. Disorders such as deep vein thrombosis, preeclampsia, Peripartum cardiomyopathy, cellulite, etc.

When to see a Doctor?

In most cases, swelling in your ankle and feet is normal and doesn’t need any medical intervention.
However, there may be circumstances when you need to rush to the nearest clinic. For instance, if you are suffering from any symptoms of preeclampsia or a heart disorder.

Lifestyle Prevention of Swelling (Edema) During Pregnancy

Preventing swelling during pregnancy is possible by following some measures. Avoiding any situation where you have to stand for a long time is crucial as this worsens swelling.

As we know, hot weather conditions can cause swelling, keeping away from any activity where you need to go out when it is hot is very crucial.
In case you have swelling, try to rest your feet in the elevated position for some time.
Drinking plenty of water is important. It helps you to flush out the extra fluid and reduce the swelling.
Try to reduce sodium and caffeine intake and increase potassium intake. Eating clean and green is very useful during pregnancy.
Try to wear loose and comfortable clothes.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Swelling (Edema) During Pregnancy

There are some great Ayurvedic remedies that can treat swelling during pregnancy. However,please consult with your doctor before trying any remedies or medicines for edema. There are some herbs and spices like Dandelion leaves, Chamomile, Ginger.

Dandelion Leaves: Dandelion leaves are very effective on any kind of swelling and inflammation due to its high antioxidants.. Drinking dandelion tea during pregnancy is very useful in treating any kinds of swelling. To make this tea, take 2 tsp of dried dandelion leaves and add 1 cup of hot water. Then steep it for about 10 to 12 minutes and drink it twice a day.
Chamomile Tea: Chamomile is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile tea is a great remedy to reduce swelling during pregnancy. Made from 3 g dried flowers in 1 cup of water,and take twice or thrice a day.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Punarnava | Ginger | Chamomile | Dandelion leaves

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known

Stress

Sep 22, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

What is Stress?

Stress is a psychological condition that occurs when your body reacts to mental pressure. It is a feeling of being exhausted or incapable of managing mental and emotional difficulties. Due to stress, you may suffer from numerous health conditions such as elevated blood sugar and blood pressure, high heart rate, etc. This happens because your body experiences some chemical changes due to stress and triggers these health issues.

What are the Symptoms of Stress?

Mostly stress is unidentified as you get used to it. However, that doesn’t really mean that it is not affecting you. After a certain point of time, you start developing some symptoms which are unknowingly caused by stress. So, identifying the early signs of disorders caused by stress is very important.

The symptoms of stress can be multidimensional. You may suffer from Cognitive problems, such as loss of memory, difficulty in concentrating, anxiety, constantly feeling negative, etc.
You may also experience emotional problems. For instance, if you are stressed, you may experience irritability, depression, grumpiness, remoteness, etc. There are some physical symptoms of stress which are easier to be discovered than mental or emotional signs. Often you may suffer from nausea or dizziness. You may develop body aches or headaches quite frequently. Rapid heart rate and chest pain are also very common in people with stress. Lack of sex drive may be another physical disorder you may experience. Other than these, some behavioral changes can be noticed in a person who is stressed.
Eating more or eating less and sleeping more and sleeping less are the most common behavioral changes one can observe in a stressed person. Additionally, they also have habits like nail-biting or pacing.
Consumption of alcohol or other addictive substances may be another symptom of stress. A person with this disorder tends to run away from responsibilities.

What are the Causes of Stress?

The causes of stress can be categorised by internal and external. Some of the common internal causes are pressure in your work, pressure in studies, relationship problems, financial difficulties, being very busy, problems in the family, and/or major life changes.
Whereas internal causes can be negativity in every approach, unable to accept ambiguity, inflexible thinking process, Unworkable expectation, etc.

When to see a Doctor?

Stress is more of an emotional disorder than a physical one in most cases. You may need to seek counseling for emotional help. However, if you are suffering from various physical issues due to stress, you may need to seek medical help. In case your health issues are making it difficult to perform daily tasks, then seeing your doctor is important.

Lifestyle Prevention of Stress

Preventing stress is possible. If you follow some healthy measures, you may avoid being stressed out.
Most important is a healthy diet. Being healthy is very important and eating clean is the key to being healthy. Working out daily is also one of the most important stress busters. Getting enough sleep is also important. Drinking at least 2 to 3 ltr of water is a very healthy practice to manage stress. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Do breathing exercises like pranayama. Reframe complications – wait, reorganize and look at the condition from a positive perspective. For instance, if you are caught in road traffic, take pleasure in the alone time

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Stress

Ayurveda has been a great healer for stress. There are some great Ayurvedic remedies that can help you calm your mind. Herbs and spices like Brahmi, Bhringraj, Jatamamsi, shanka pushpin are very effective in stress reduction.

Brahmi Tea: Brahmi tea is a great remedy to relax your mind. Add half a tsp of Brahmi to one cup of hot water and steep it for 5 to 7 minutes. Drink this tea twice a day.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Brahmi | Bhringraj | Jatamansi | Shankhpushpi

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known

Sleep Apnea

Sep 21, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that occurs when your breathing is interrupted several times during sleep. This is common in young children, but it may also affect some adults. Loud snoring and abnormal breathing are the two main symptoms of sleep apnea. If you are suffering from this condition, you may feel drowsy and irritated the whole wakeful state due to the lack of proper sleep.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Typical: The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have.

Might Experience: Sleep apnea has some typical symptoms. Some of the common symptoms are loud snoring and unusual breathing patterns during sleep. You may have incidents when you stop inhaling while sleeping for few seconds and then gasping a larger amount of air for breathing. You may also suffer from headaches due to a lack of rest. Extreme daytime tiredness and sleepiness (hypersomnia) are very common symptoms of sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea often becomes irritated.

What are the Causes of Sleep Apnea?

There are some typical causes of sleep apnea. One of the main causes which trigger this condition is the blockage of the airway in the soft tissue of your mouth and throat.
This is mostly seen in people who are overweight. Obesity significantly boosts the possibility of sleep apnea. Excess fat may cause the blockage of the airway and trigger this condition.
Another major cause may be neck conditions. People who have thicker necks often have narrowed airways and might develop this condition.
Smoking may also cause sleep apnea.
It is seen that older people tend to develop sleep apnea more than younger people. However, you may also suffer from this condition if you have a family history of sleep apnea.
The use of alcohol is also found to be one of the causes of sleep apnea.

When to see a Doctor?

Sleep apnea may lead to some serious health conditions and hence it is important to be taken care of. If ignored it may cause stroke and other health conditions such as heart attack, heart failure and irregular heartbeat. You may also suffer from depression, headaches or even diabetes. So in case you notice any signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, please see your doctor.

Lifestyle Prevention of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be prevented just by following some measures. Let us understand how it can be done.

Regular walking or jogging will help an obese person to breathe better. Heavy breathing caused by exercise will help you clear the blockages.
However, in case you are heavy, do not jog or do any other exercise. Initially stick to walking only.
Shifting your sleeping position is also a very effective measure to prevent sleep apnea. You can try different sleeping positions to see which is working better and helping you to ease the condition.
Humidifying your house may sometimes help in preventing this condition. There may be instances when you may suffer from a feeling of choking in the nose due to dry or hot air in the room. So, using a humidifier will help in that case.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Sleep Apnea

Some Ayurvedic remedies are very effective on Sleep Apnea. Herbs like Ashwagandha, Shankapushpi, Sarpagandha, Jatamansi, Nirgundi, Chamomile tea, etc are very useful to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is a great adaptogen that soothes the nerves. Ashwagandha is infused with phytonutrient triethylene glycol, which stimulates uninterrupted sleep at night, to effectively prevent sleep apnea and enhance the quality of sleep. 300 mg twice daily after food for 60 days.
Jatamansi: Jatamanshi is a very efficient herb for stimulating deep sleep at night. So for obvious reasons, it is very effective on sleep apnea as well. Mix ¼ – ½ teaspoon of powdered Jatamansi and drink it before sleep.
Chamomile Tea: Chamomile is also a very effective flowering herb for improving the quality of sleep. To make the Chamomile tea, take 3 g dried flowers in 1 cup of hot water and steep it for 3 to 5 minutes. Drink twice or thrice a day.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known

Stomach ache

Sep 21, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What is Stomach ache?

Stomachache is a medical condition that occurs when you feel pain and uneasiness in your upper or lower abdominal area. There can be numerous causes that trigger a stomachache, such as acidity, diarrhea, constipation, toxic liver, etc. There can be some other severe health conditions that may lead to a stomach ache as well.

What are the Symptoms of Stomach ache?

The typical symptoms of a stomach ache can be abdominal discomfort, pain, and cramping. In some cases, you may experience abdominal swelling or bloating. You may also suffer from frequent belching.

What are the Causes of Stomach ache?

There are several causes of Stomach aches. Some of the typical factors that may trigger this condition are discussed below:

Trapped wind is one of the major causes of stomach aches. If there is an accumulation of gas due to indigestion it may cause the wind to trap inside the stomach and can cause stomach ache.
Constipation and diarrhea are the two major causes of stomach aches. In case you have severe food poisoning, you may suffer from stomachache.
There are a number of medical conditions that trigger stomach aches, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, Kidney stones, Gallstones, stomach flu, appendicitis, pancreatitis, etc.

When to see a Doctor?

In most cases, seeing a doctor is not necessary if caused by general events. Some of the great home remedies and over-the-counter medicines can heal the condition. However, there can be some severe medical conditions that cause stomach aches and need immediate medical attention.
In case you are suffering from acute pain in your stomach which is unbearable, you need to visit a doctor. If you notice blood in your stool and you have a stomach ache, never delay.
In case your pain is accompanied by vomiting, it may be more serious and need a doctor’s intervention.
In case, your pain persists and spreads into other parts of your body, then it is important to get it checked by a physician.

Lifestyle Prevention of Stomach ache

The most important lifestyle change to prevent any disease is to have a proper diet plan. Eating high-fiber healthy food and drinking a lot of fluid could be the best preventive measures to prevent stomach ache. Some important other factors may help you to prevent stomach aches are stated below:

You should always avoid overeating.
Add fruits and vegetables to your diet as much as possible.
Never take your dinner right before bedtime.
Cleaning your hands properly before eating is important to avoid food poisoning and other stomach infections.
Sleep at least for 7 to 8 hours.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Stomach ache

Some Ayurvedic home remedies may help you in treating stomach ache effectively. Using herbs like Cumin, Ginger, Fennel, Black Pepper, Ajwan etc. is very helpful to cure stomachache.

Cumin: Cumin is very good in treating digestive disorders. Take one-third tsp of powdered cumin and a pinch of asafetida and little roc salt and chew gently. This is a great home remedy to help you digest your food properly.
Ajwain: This is a great herb to cure stomachache. Mix half tsp of Ajwain with a quarter tsp of baking soda and chew this mixture gently and drink it down with warm water.
Black Pepper: Black pepper can give you instant relief from indigestion. Take half a tsp of black pepper and mix it with a quarter cup of onion juice and a half tsp of honey and drink this juice. It will be a great healer for indigestion.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Cumin | Ginger | Fennel | Black Pepper | Ajwain

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known

Sprains and Strains

Sep 21, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What are Sprains and Strains?

Sprain and strain are the conditions that occur when you injure your joints due to sudden twisting. In most cases, these may affect your ankle, wrist, knees, or hip joints. These conditions are painful and caused by extreme stretching or even ripping of ligaments. You may also experience symptoms like swelling and blackish discoloration of the affected area. The basic difference between sprain and strain is just that the sprain affects ligaments and strain affects muscle.

What are the Symptoms of Sprains and Strains?

The symptoms of sprains are different from the symptoms of strains. Let us understand separately.
Sprain symptoms consist of pain, inflammation, bruising, and stiff joints that are unable to move.
Strain symptoms predominantly included muscle spasms, swelling, cramping, and difficulty moving.

What are the Causes of Sprains and Strains?

The typical cause of these conditions is an injury to your ligaments and muscles. You may hurt your ligaments while performing a sport, or walking on an uneven surface, or maybe running fast, etc. Any circumstances that may put a lot of strain in your ligament or muscle can trigger sprain and strain.

When to see a Doctor?

If the Sprain and strain are not severe, it can be treated with home remedies and over-the-counter medicines. It generally heals within a week.
However, in case you suffer from the condition for more than a week even after trying several home remedies and over-the-counter medicines, you need to visit a doctor. In case you have excessive swelling in the injured joint, you need to seek medical help. If your affected area is tender to touch and you find it really hard to put any stress in the wounded area, you need to book an appointment with your physician.

Lifestyle Prevention of Sprains and Strains

Preventing sprain and strain is not that easy. Limiting your physical pursuits and being prudent is something that may be an option but not always possible. But one should always avoid unnecessary physical activities or playing any sports if exhausted. Also, eating healthy food and including multi nutrients which reinforce muscles and joints is crucial.

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Sprains and Strains

Some extremely effective ayurvedic home remedies can help you treat sprain and strain.

Most importantly, whenever you get a sprain or strain, wrap up the area in an elastic bandage as quickly as possible.

Drink Juice: drinking pineapple or pomegranate juice is very important and effective. These two fruits have anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties which help to cure the sprain and strain quickly.
Mustard Seed Tea Bag: For ankle sprain, soaking your foot in a pot of hot water with a mustard seed tea bag is very useful. To make this tea bag, put 2 tsp of mustard seed in a cheesecloth or other similar cloth and tie it up. Then plunge the knotted cloth with mustard seed in the hot water.
Healing Paste: This herbal paste made of Turmeric and salt is a great remedy to reduce your swelling. Just add about half tsp of turmeric and half tsp of salt and then mix it with water to make a paste. Apply on the injured area.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Mustard Seeds | Turmeric | Guggulu | Ceylon Cinnamon

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not Known