“Arthritis” is not just a term that doctors use when they talk about painful, stiff joints. The term arthritis is derived from the Greek words – ‘arthron’ meaning joint and ‘itis’ meaning inflammation. In fact, it is an ailment that grips atleast one in every 10 people. Arthritis is of different types, and each has its own symptoms and treatments. Most types are chronic. Arthritis is one of the most common ailments for which an increasing number of people now turn to Ayurveda for help.

Arthritis is referred to in Ayurveda as ‘Amavata’ - Ama meaning toxin & vata meaning air. According to Ayurveda, when both toxin and air accumulate in the joints, it causes inflammation of the joints, which in turn leads to severe pain and stiffness.

Types of Arthritis:

The most commonly seen forms of arthritis are :

Rheumatoid Arthritis  -         A chronic long term disease that is characterized by inflammation of the joints and its surrounding tissues.

Osteoarthritis              -          It is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a cushion between the bones of the joints.

Gout                             -         Gout is a painful condition caused by the build up of uric acid crystals in the tissues, especially in the large toe.

Juvenile Arthritis        -         Juvenile arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the whole body and may cause joint or connective tissue damage through out the body.

Psoriatic Arthritis       -         It is a form of arthritis in which joint inflammation develops in some people with psoriasis.

Symptoms:
A person suffering from this ailment feels pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, heat & loss of function in one or more joints. Apart from these physical symptoms the person’s mental state is also affected. The person is usually nervous, moody, depressed & tensed.

Treatment:

Aromatherapy
            Aromatherapy massage is one of the healing procedures of    Ayurveda for treating arthritis. The use of essential oils, during  massage, is believed to help the body excrete accumulated toxins. 

- Sufficient bed rest, suitable medicines, correction in food habits & lifestyle are also essential as part of the treatment.              
  
Medicines:

Some herbs that are known to have a positive impact on arthritis pain and swelling are ginger, boswellia, and ashwagandha (or Indian ginseng).

Arthritis & Yoga:

If stress can cause disease, then peace and calm can help in gaining one’s health and this can be achieved through Yoga.

Yoga would be the last thing on the mind of an individual suffering from painful joints and inflammation, but it may turn out to be a very beneficial therapy to ease arthritis symptoms. Arthritis patients often gain greater mobility of the joints, relief from pain and a reduction in inflammation by practising yoga.

Patients who suffer from this ailment suffer from a lack of moisture in the connective tissues, and yoga helps to increase the fluid in the joints and muscles. There is a yoga pose you can do for any kind of pain and the idea is that, by bringing attention to the painful area, you’re bringing movement and fluid to it also.

More recently, a study published in the journal, ‘Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America’, found that yoga helps with the pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Asavam and Arishtam
Either decoction/ aqueous extract or fresh juice is made from the crude herb to which nutrients/ sweetners such as sugars like jaggery, honey or sugar, singly or wholly are added. To the resulting solution certain fermenting aids like Dhataki pusha etc and prakshepa choorna are mixed and kept it in a fermentation vat for 30- 60 days. In this condition alcohol is self generated and alcoholic extracts from prakshepa choorna is obtained. It is then filtered and kept for settling. Such preparations are called Arishtam.
In the case of Asavas, the intial step of the preparation of the aqueous extract from the medicines are taking place as from the second step of preparation of Arishtam.
The asava- arishta has therapeutically higher potency, clear liquid with pleasant odour. As these preparations mature over a period of time the efficacy also increase.
Normal dosage is 15 ml to 25 ml preferably after food.
Medicated oil/ thailam/ coconut oil/ kuzhambu
Medicated thailam/ Coconut oil:
The base of these preparations is either sesame oil or coconut oil. The process consists of addition of water extracts( kashayam), swarasa ( juice), kalka ( paste) subjectiing the mixture prepared in a regulated temperature. The oils are prepared under the basis of references texts. So the medicated oils having the property and efficacy almost in the same manner since it contains the potent ingredients. It is used generally for inunctions and massage.
Kuzhambu is a speciality preparation of Kerala. In this preparation the base is a special combination of sesame oil, castor oil and ghee in a uniquely blended manner. This is proven more effective than the same medicated thailam. The continuous use of Kuzhambu is more effective in the diseases which affect the bones.
Leham/ Rasyan
The new herbs are collected, identified properly, then cleaned and dried. Each of the ingredients for powdering is pulverised separately and homogenously mided together as per formula. Prepare the kashayam( decoction) or swarasam ( juice) or with warm water, mix it with jaggery/ sugar or sugar candy and concentrate to required consistency. The powdered raw herb is added as prakshepa choornam, well mixed and laced with ghee, honey as pe text.
Normal dosage is 10gms to 30 gms.
Kashayam ( Kwath/ Qwath)
As per the formula the herbs are collected, identified properly, then cleaned and the raw herbs for drying are to be dried. Weighed quantity of ingredients as per formula is made in to coarse powder, mixed with sufficent quantity of water well boiled and reduced to attain the proper specifications. This is properly preserved, tested and packed.

The dosage can be fixed according to the condition of the patint and disease. Normal dosgae is 15ml mixed with 2 times boiled and cooled water.
Choornam
The ingredients are collected, identified properly then cleaned and dried. Each of the ingredients is pulverised separately and homogenously mixed together as per the formula. These powders are used directly or with additives or used for making decoction according to the condition of patients and diseases.
Gulika/ Vati/ Vattu/ Tablets
The medicines from palnt orgin, animal orgin and mineral orgin are collected, identified properly amd cleaned. The ingredients for making powders are to be dried and pulverized separately and then homogenously mixed together and ground into the base as per the formula up to the proper consistency for making gulika. The medicines which require purification, are identified and purified as per the textual references and the purity analytically checked to ensure the medicine is devoid of side effects.
Ghritam/ Medicated ghee
The process consists of addition of water extracts, Juice, Paste subjecting the mixture prepared in a regulated temperature. The medicated ghees are prepared according to refernce texts, so medicated ghee has the property of the active and potent ingredients. It is also generally used for inunctions, tarpanam and massage.

The ingredients are collected, identified properly then cleaned and dried. Each of the ingredients is pulverised separately and homogenously mixed together as per the formula. These powders are used directly or with additives or used for making decoction according to the condition of patients and diseases.

Either decoction/ aqueous extract or fresh juice is made from the crude herb to which nutrients/ sweetners such as sugars like jaggery, honey or sugar, singly or wholly are added. To the resulting solution certain fermenting aids like Dhataki pusha etc and prakshepa choorna are mixed and kept it in a fermentation vat for 30- 60 days. In this condition alcohol is self generated and alcoholic extracts from prakshepa choorna is obtained. It is then filtered and kept for settling. Such preparations are called Arishtam.

In the case of Asavas, the intial step of the preparation of the aqueous extract from the medicines are taking place as from the second step of preparation of Arishtam.

The asava- arishta has therapeutically higher potency, clear liquid with pleasant odour. As these preparations mature over a period of time the efficacy also increase.

Normal dosage is 15 ml to 25 ml preferably after food.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, in which skin is covered with dark red scaly patches. It is not contagious or infectious but a life style induced disease. Ayurveda treatment of psoriasis takes into account the ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle) and aushada (medicines). Psoriasis can be considered as the imbalance of Vata and Kapha. (Two basic energies, maintaining our body equilibrium)  Irregular food habits, eating of foodstuffs that cannot be taken together (E.g.: diary products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, salt, alcohol and tobacco may activate the disease.
Few points to be kept in mind regarding Diet and Lifestyle in Psoriasis are: -
1) Diet rich in green vegetables like cucumber, carrot, and grapes is very good.
2) Balanced diet, avoiding the following; cheese, caffeine, milk products, egg, spices, oil, chocolates, sugar is very effective.
3) Taking bath in sea water, Epsom salt or oatmeal containing water is good without using chemical based soaps.
4) Gentle massage over infected area using avocado/cashew nut oil is recommended; also can use green leafy cabbage for covering infected area.
5) Give body enough sunlight, vitamen D and E. Drinking buttermilk, Karela (bitter gourd) juice; taking lethicin, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seed are very helpful.
6) Neem is one of the best blood purifier and detoxifier ,it enhances immune system, oil is an antiseptic, and neem leaf extracts are used in antiseptics for psoriasis. Guggulu is a resin from a small tree; it has anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering actions, an effective Kapha- and Vata-pacifying supplement.
7) Ayurveda does emphasize on effect of stress in Psoriasis, Having psoriasis is, stressful for the patient, as lesions are visible, people may stare and not want to come near. Yoga especially pranayama greatly relieves stress and speeds the process of healing. 

To buy Ayurvedic medicines for Psoriasis treatment click here.

Ayurveda does not see things in isolation. It takes a holistic view of the situation for diagnosis and treatment. Panchkarma is an integral part of  this holistic treatment  in many cases. In the treatment of premature ejaculation also Panchakarma is practiced as a primer, to give a fillip to the treatment that ensues.

Panchakarma means five types of therapeutic measures. The panchakarmas are Vamana, Virechana, Snehavasti, Kashayavasti and Nasya. Vamana is the reflex act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth, Virechana is purging, Vasti is enema. Vasti can be classified in to two forms. One is done with medicated oils(Snehavasti) and the other with medicated decoctions(kashayavasti). Nasya is inhalation of medicines through the nose. Susrutha, the father of surgery, stresses on  Rakthamoksha (blood-letting) as one of the panchakarma procedures . Panchakarma should not be administered to those below seven years and those above 80 years. Panchakarma cleanses the body and improves the digestion and metabolism. In Ayurvedic parlance it cleanses the body of Dosha (toxic materials).

Before the actual panchakarma, Purvakarma, has to be done for a period of 7 days. Snehan and Swedan are the  two procedures. They prepare Tridoshas to be receptive to the treatment. After all the five or selected therapies of panchakarma,  Paschatkarma has to be practiced which helps the body to re-establish its normal metabolism and immunity. Then follows rejuvenation therapy where specific Rasayana preparations are administered to bring back vitality. To quote one example Dr Charak of Charak Pharmaceuticals recommend Vasti for premature ejaculation along with their proprietary capsules Neo.

Ensure that the treatment is done under the supervision of a well qualified Ayurvedic physician. You will go back with a sense of renewed energy and well being.

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Obesity, which was once viewed as the result of lack of will power, or a lifestyle “choice” - the choice to overeat and under exercise, is now being considered more appropriately by the modern world as a chronic disease, which requires effective strategies for its management.
In Ayurveda obesity is referred to as Sthaulya, in fact obesity is recorded as a disease in Charaka Samhita which is dated back as 1500 BC.  Charaka has classified obesity as medho roga.  Medas (fat) is considered to be one of the seven dhaatus (basic tissue elements that govern the body). 
Obese patients have been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality relative to those with ideal body weight.  Even modest weight reduction in the range of 5-10% of the initial body weight is associated with significant improvements in a wide range of co-morbid conditions. 

Definition of Obesity
WHO used Body mass index, which is body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared to define obesity.

Where BMI 18.5 – 24.9 is considered as normal
24.9 – 29.9 is considered as overweight
29.9 – 39.9 is considered as obese and
More than 40 are considered as morbidly obese.

In Ayurveda the functions of Medas is described as “Medaha sneha swedaudhrudatwam pushtim asthyancha”
The function of medas is to keep body moisturised, promote sweating, to store energy, and to nourish the bones.
Typical characteristics of an obese person is described as “Medo mamsativriddhatvaachalasphigudarastanaha”
There will be increase of medha and mamsa, hips, belly and breasts of obese person sag and they flap as the person move.Other symptoms mentioned in Ayurveda are the person gets tired easily, with associated wheezing, palpitation, sweating, and state of lethargy or sluggishness. 

Causes of Obesity
Modern medicine attributes a person’s eating habits, level of physical activity, psychological disturbances, binge eating disorders, and some medications as cause of obesity apart from genetic predisposition.
According to Ayurveda causes of obesity are Avyayama: ie lack of physical activity or exertion, Divaswapna: day time sleeping, Shleshmala Ahara Vihara – Food and life style which increases kapha, and Madhura Ahara: over consumption of sweets.With similar diet and exercise pattern some become obese whilst others comparably don’t according to Ayurveda this can be attributed to their prakrithis, which is their doshic nature; there are 3 basic types of doshic nature vata, pitta and kapha.  Though all 3 are susceptible to develop obesity, they develop obesity in different ways.  Vata people are generally nervous, anxious and overactive by nature.  They tend to eat more when they are stressed, this inevitably leads to obesity.  One of the distinctive marker in these people are fluctuating body weight.  Pitta people very rarely become obese as they have high metabolic rate and they have good Agni ie digestive fire.  But they may develop ravening appetite leading to obesity.  The people with kapha are most vulnerable to become obese due to their nature, low metabolic rate, and tendancy to retain water. 

Complications of obesity
According to Ayurveda obese people are prone to diabetes, kidney related problems, low libido, skin disease, liver ailments, hepatitis, and low energy levels.

Ayurvedic Treatments
The treatments in Ayurveda depend on the prakrithi (nature) of the person and the vikrithi ( pathology) of the disease.
Some herbs used in Obesity
Ginger (Adraka), bitter gourd (Karela), Gooseberry (Amlaki), Nut grass (Musta), false pepper(vidanga) , Belleric Myroblan (Bibhitaki), Tinospora Gulancha(Guluchi), Chebulic Myroblan (Haritaki) to name a few.

Certain Ayurvedic preparations like Trikatu, Guggulu, Shilajit, Thriphala Guggulu, Amrutaday Guggulu, Arogya Vardhini, Chandraprabha Vati, Varadi Kashayam, Ayaskriti, Lohabhasmam, Vilangadi Choornam can be used with good efficacy.
Fasting in considered beneficial but care must be taken to avoid fruit juices while fasting; replacing this with vegetable juice will be advantageous.

Taking honey with equal quantity of hot water is also advisable.

Udvartana: This is a specialized Ayurvedic herbal massage treatment for effective weight reduction.  An herbal powder prescribed by the physician is applied all over the body and deeply massaged with specific movements. Apart from weight reduction this also helps to remove cellulite and toxins from the body, and tones the skin & muscles.
It is prudent to lead a hard life, strain oneself, do exercise, avoid rich food, and get regular bowel movements.
Though these are all treatment aspects the most important thing to remember is to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.
To buy ayurvedic medicines for obesity click here

Ayurvedic science a way of life, has its method of treating any type of bodily disorders by  advising one to have simple changes in his  lifestyle/diet and by  taking ayurvedic herbal formulations along with a regular yogic practice. In the same manner, it manages   Diabetic neuropathy too, which is a severe complication of diabetes affecting the nerves, where the  symptoms are being manifested in the form of loss of sensation/balance etc.,

Ayurveda approaches it in a wholistic manner, in helping the patient to control it at all levels physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and intellectual. A regular yogic practice, which  has three components in it viz asanas (postures), dhyana (meditation) and pranayama (breathing techniques)  helps a lot in fighting the disease.

While doing yogic postures like Amarantha Kokkuasana (sitting crane), Nindra Kokkuasana (Standing crane) and Vil asana (Bow pose, rocking) and breathing exercises the pancreatic cells are rejunevated and its secretion  is greatly influenced a lot by the abdominal contractions and relaxations.

Especially, if you practice udiyana bandam, it leads to abdominal squeeze which is very much useful in fighting the disease.

Also it is found that when we do some asanas related to muscular movements  blood sugar is reduced. It helps in increasing the blood supply to various part of the body thereby improving insulin administration in the body.

 Practising yoga asanas like Ardha-matsyendrasana (Spinal twist), Halasana (Plough pose, Kalapoy asana), Yoga mudrasana (Yogic Symbol pose), Bhujangasana (Serpent pose, Paambuasana), Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand), Supta Vajrasana (Sitting pose of Firmness), Chakrasana (Wheel pose), Shalabhasana (Grasshopper pose, Vittelasana) too help a lot in controlling diabetic neuropathy.

It develops a mental relaxation and a balance in life and changes one’s attitude towards the treatment that one has to undergo if afflicted with diabetes neuropathy.

Last but not least Ayurveda also recommends one to do a creative visualizing that pancreas are functioning properly and during meditation one has to concentrate on it, so that there is a desired positive effect on sugar levels.
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Ayurveda, an age old holistic way of scientific living, manages Diabetic neuropathy, a chronic complication of diabetes which damages the nerves, by advising a  modified life style, diet and yogic practice along with its oral medicines.

Ayurvedic oral medicinal formulations are being prepared from the extracts of medicinal herbs, leaves and spices. They try to work on restoring the balances of the vitiated doshas of vata and kapha, which are the main reason for diabetes neuropathy.

Generally Kashayam and Arishtam which are the herbal decoctions and fermentations or Lehyams which are semi solid formulations are recommended,Herbal formulations are used to control the sugar levels and needless to say that no chemicals are being added to it and they have no side effects.

** Gurmaar (Gymnema sylvestrae) – they will blend with the glucose molecules that are in intestines and prevent their entry into the blood.
** Karela (Momordica charantia) – it has such a good anti-diabetic property that prevents the diabetic complications.
** Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – very useful to fight weakness, fatigue and weightloss that occurs due to diabetes.
** Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) – The leaves when used regularly controls the blood sugar level.
** Gourdin is a all-natural herbal supplement that has been prepared from the seeds of BitterGourd, that regulates the blood sugar level and prevents the complications like diabetic neuropathy.
** Turmeric with aloe vera gel  can be used to treat the initial stages of diabetes that helps in regulating the pancreas and liver functions.
** Decoctions of triphala, fenugreek, musta, arjuna, sandalwood, lodhra, ajwan, gokshura, vidanga, guduchi, haritaki, and chitrak when taken  with little ghee is highly beneficial for diabetic neuropathy.
** Saptrangi (Salacia oblonga) –  effective in controlling the diabetes.
** Ayurvedic medicines  like hyponidd, Diabecon, DB tone powder keeps the blood sugar  normal.
To buy ayurvedic medicines for diabetic neuropathy click here

Ayurveda, an age old system of Indian medicine, firmly states that every person who is exposed to the same environment is not affected by viral diseases, hence it is the  immune system that plays an important role in attracting the virus towards him. It suggests a modified diet, lifestyle and herbal formulations along with the panchakarma treatment.

Ayurveda aims at getting rid of the indigestible toxins that attract the virus towards him.
As we are all aware, the immune system is weakened due to accumulation of ama, the toxins in our body and panchakarma therapy which involves the entire body massaging steam saunas with herbs which helps to clear out the blockages and get rid of the foreign invaders like virus out of the body.

Pizhichil, one of the preparatory method for panchakarma is used to fight the chronic fatigue syndrome which a person feels when he has just recovered from the viral diseases. In this process, the medicated oil or milk is being continuously poured on the whole body and simultaneously four therapists give a gentle massage all over the body.. This leads to rejunevation.

Panchakarma can be said to be a  scientific theory which helps in detoxifying and rejunevating the whole body. It includes Vaman (vomiting), Virechan (medicated purgation) Basti (cleaning the bowels with medicated enemas), Nasya (medication through nasal route), Rakta mokshan (blood-letting).One of these therapies may be used to treat according to the disease one has been diagonised with.

For example :

a) Vamana is a therapeutic vomiting which is administed on the  patients who has been affected with viral diseases like Herpeszoster, related to kapha imbalance. 

b)  Common cold which is too contributed by a virus,can be treated with  Basti karma, a powerful one out of five therapies of panchakarma. It  involves introducing the herbal concoctions in to the rectum is done, by which the vata dosha is being flushed out of rectum.
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