Ayurveda Medicine: The Science of Life

Alternative medicine has become increasingly popular over the last decade or two, ranging from Chinese herbal treatments to massage and yoga. Among the terms bandied about is “ayurveda”. Unfortunately, those who mention it don’t always explain what exactly it is they are talking about. For those of you who are curious, this article will give you a whirlwind tour of ayurvedic natural remedies.

What Is “Ayurveda”?

Ayurveda, loosely translated from Sanskrit, means “science of life”. It is an ancient form traditional medicine native to India and popular throughout South Asia. In the western world, it considered to be a form of complimentary or alternative treatment for various ailments.

Although Ayurveda does include elements surgery and internal medicine, for the most part it focuses on different forms of natural remedies and treatments. Ayurvedic treatments includes (among many other things) herbal treatments, exercise, meditation, massage, and yoga.

How Does Ayurveda Work?

Ayurveda practices a holistic approach to medical treatment. It believes in balance of body, mind, and spirit to cure ailments. Medicine in the western world, on the other hand, focuses on a specific problem with the body and addresses only that problem.

A good example of the difference between western medicine and ayurveda is how to treat high blood pressure. A western doctor would prescribe medication, perhaps a blood thinner. An ayurvedic doctor would prescribe an herbal natural remedy, exercise to strengthen your cardiovascular system, and meditation techniques to reduce stress.

How Does Ayurveda Define Bodily “Balance”?

According to ayurvedic beliefs, the all of the universe (including the human body) is comprised of five great elements: earth, air, fire, water, and space. These elements must be kept in balance within the body to maintain good health.

Ayurveda considers there to be seven primary materials of which the human body is comprised: blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, semen, and chyle. Proper health is achieved by maintaining a balance of three elements within the body: air (or wind or spirit), phlegm, and bile, each of which represents divine forces. Ayurveda believes that each person has a unique combination of these three elements within their bodies. That combination must be determined in order to maintain the proper balance of elements. The natural remedy to maintaining good health revolves around maintaining your metabolic system: consuming the proper elements, maintaining good digestion to absorb these elements, and good excretion to flush the excess or harmful elements out of the body.

Within ayurveda, the practice of “panchakarma” is believed to eliminate unhealthy, toxic elements from the body. Panchakarma can be broken down in eight types of treatments, or “ashtanga”:

• Shalya-chikitsa, or surgery
• Kaaya-chikitsa, or internal medicine
• Rasayanam, disease prevention by building/maintaining a good immune system
• Agadatantram, or toxicology
• Vajikaranam, or aphrodisiacs
• Kaumarabhrtyam, or pediatrics
• Salakyam, the treatment of head and neck illnesses
• Bhuta Vidya, countering the negative interference of demonic possession. Bhuta Vidya is considered by some to be a form of psychiatry.

This article includes just the briefest of overviews of ayurveda, a rich and complex medical philosophy that has developed over millennia in one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Entire books have been written about ayurveda and its holistic natural remedies. If the ayurvedic approach to medicine intrigues you, you might consider reading one of those books for a more detailed explanation of this ancient art and science of life.

Disclaimer: The information in this article has been taken from secondary sources. Please consult with a physician prior to trying any remedies mentioned in the article.

Yours Organically – Five Compelling Reasons to Buy Organic

These days many people are making smarter decisions when buying the foods they and their families consume. As people choose healthier lifestyles, organic food products are growing in popularity. All over the world, organic farmers are preserving our ecosystem by growing food the way naturally. Free of toxins, organically grown food has a natural, healthy, and great tasting food. Conventionally farming uses a fairly heavy load of pesticides and herbicides than organically grown food.

Here are five reasons why you should choose to buy organically grown foods.

Organic foods, free of preservatives, chemicals, and additives, taste better.

Buying organic foods helps in reducing dependence on all non-renewable resources.

The purchase of organic foods helps to support of healthy farmland and the family owned organic farms.

The production of organic foods helps to keep harmful chemicals out of our water tables and helps to protect everyone from having contact with them.

Parents can be comfortable knowing that organic food is safe for their children because it is free from harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, growth hormones, and herbicides.

The next time you are grocery shopping, give a lot of thought to how beneficial organically grown food can be for your whole family. Choose foods that were grown in the manner that nature intended as opposed to foods that have had a lot of harmful chemicals introduced to them. Why buy foods that have been covered with and grown in soil that has harmful chemicals? In today’s age of information, it is easier to increase your awareness about what you are putting in your body. Finding out how food crops are grown is so easy now allows people to make informed choices.

Spinach, apples, nectarines, grapes, pears, red raspberries, peaches, strawberries, potatoes, celery, and bell peppers are all terrific organic foods to buy. More organic food choices are being introduced to the market all the time. Currently there is a wide selection of organic foods that include cheese, yogurt, eggs, milk, ice cream, juice, soup, bread, meat, pasta, baby foods, and nuts.

Organic foods refer to the manner that the food is grown and produced. Crops grown organically rely on nutrient rich soil that will produce strong plants capable of withstanding pests and diseases. There are standards throughout the world that organic farmers must meet in order to have their products certified as organic. For those raising livestock, the use of growth hormones and antibiotics are not allowed so natural preventative measures must be taken to ensure healthy livestock. It is also forbidden to use genetically modified organisms in the production of organic foods.

When it comes to the labeling of food, the USDA allows for only three categories:

100% Organic – Food that is pure and only has 100% organic ingredients.

Organic Made – Food that has a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and the other 5% may contain no genetically modified organisms and adhere to other stringent restrictions.

Made With Organic Ingredients – Food that has a minimum of 70% organic ingredients and the other 30% may contain no genetically modified organisms and adhere to other stringent restrictions.

The USDA has strict regulations pertaining to organic food labeling. For organic food to be labeled “organic”, the food must be made from no less than 95% organic ingredients. No food with less than 70% organic ingredients is not allowed to make the claim that it is in any way organic on the package front although it can, on the side panel, list organically grown ingredients.

Cost of purchasing organic foods is the major barrier for a lot of consumers. Growing and producing food without chemicals is more costly than using toxins to prevent disease and pests. As more and more varieties of organic food finds its way into supermarkets, the prices are becoming more competitive. The burning question that you must ask yourself is “What is your health, and the health of the environment, worth?”

Flax and Its Natural Healing Properties

From the beginning of recorded history, flax plants have been a source of food and fiber for clothing. Larger than a sesame seed, a flax seed has a smooth, shiny hard shell. The color of the shell ranges from a reddish brown to amber. When ground, the seeds are crunchy but not hard and easily absorbed by the body. Made into oil, flaxseed’s nutty flavor is enhanced. An omega-3 fatty acid contained in flaxseed oil also is being researched to determine if it reduces the risks of many conditions including stroke, hypertension, and some cancers. In addition, it may also help some skin ailments, inflammatory disorders and immune disorders. Flaxseed oil is a heart healthy oil.

Flaxseed contains lignin, which is a fiber. Lignin is a natural chemical that is similar to human estrogen. In the digestive tract, bacteria convert lignin into an estrogen-like substance that is considered to have anti-tumor properties. This substance may also assist in reducing free radical activity.

Research has shown that three tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily slowed the progression of prostate cancer in men. Similar research showed that one flaxseed muffin a day slowed tumor growth among women with breast cancer. Although it is too early to say that flaxseed is a cure for cancer, indications are that it may help to prevent tumors. It should be noted that too much flaxseed can increase the spread of cancer cells so maintaining a balance and not overdoing is key. Eating an ounce of ground flaxseed daily is beneficial for postmenopausal women because ingesting the flaxseed causes the body to handle estrogen differently. Although it helps protect against breast cancer, it doesn’t affect normal bone maintenance. Preliminary research findings are that flaxseed reduces, by about six percent, the total cholesterol of women not taking a hormone replacement therapy.

Flax’s benefits can extend to women struggling to get pregnant. Promotion of ovulation and extending the progesterone that is dominant during the second half of the cycle are attributable to flax’s properties. The chance of conception improves when there is consistency in ovulation.

Pre-menopausal symptoms like sleep difficulties, headaches, breast cysts, heavy bleeding, fluid retention, and anxiety are lessened by the use of flaxseed. Flaxseed helps the hormonal balance to normal.

Health heart? Flax is credited to be healthy for your heart. Flaxseed contains essential fatty acids that are important for the membrane of cells, blood pressure regulation and several other functions. Omega-3 acid may lower total blood cholesterol and reduce blood clotting diminishing the risk of heart attack. Flaxseed is attributed to lower the bad cholesterol known as LDL.

Flaxseed has a pleasant taste and; sprinkled on cooked vegetables, cereals or salads; adds flavor. Flaxseed oil tends to be pricey but tastes great!

Some hints on how to add flaxseed to your diet are:

The body merely eliminates whole seeds so they need to be cracked or ground before eating them. The seeds do not store well and tend to lose their nutritional value and taste so grind them right before you intend to use them. There are two colors of flaxseed, however they both have the same nutritional value.

When baking bread or pancakes, mix wheat flour with flaxseed flour. Bread made with flaxseed is advertised as being lower in carbohydrates.

Many bakeries, including those is grocery stores, usually have a decent selection of muffins, breads, cereals, and breakfast bars.

The oil tends to go rancid fairly quickly so it is packaged in dark colored glass bottles to give it a bit longer shelf life. Pay attention to the expiration date and keep it refrigerated. It will keep well for just a few months. Cold-pressed flaxseed oil more expensive but has no more benefit that regular flaxseed oil.

Do not use flaxseed oil for frying. It is not suitable for that purpose.

If you are pregnant or are breast feeding, avoid eating much flax.

Some people may experience an allergic reaction to flaxseed.

Eat foods that have flaxseed in them to get the full benefits.

Aloe Vera – Nature’s Healing Agent

A popular succulent houseplant, Aloe Vera is a member of the onion and lily family. References to it have been traced back as far as the Roman, Greek and Egyptian ages; as well as being found in early Chinese and Indian cultures.

When I was a child, my mother used to break off a piece of the large Aloe Vera plant in our living room and rub the oozing gel onto our various scrapes and burns. It was her cure-all for minor wounds.

The Aloe’s gel comes from the center of the leaves. When the plant is being used as a laxative, the juice is drained from just beneath the outer layer of the leaves. Yellow and bitter, it is dried to form dark brown aloe granules.

For centuries, the Aloe’s gel has been applied topically to soothe and heal minor skin irritations, burns and wounds. As a drink for internal use, Aloe is used to treat a multitude of conditions. Ulcers, constipation, diabetes, arthritis, coughs, and headaches are just a few of the reasons that people add Aloe Vera drink to their diet. Taken internally, Aloe Vera can have some side effects, such as electrolyte imbalances, diarrhea, and pain.

There has been a great deal of research into whether Aloe Vera gel influences healing when ingested. Although there is not enough data to substantiate that it does, there is data supporting its healing powers when applied topically to the skin irritants. One of the other things that there is evidence that it helps is minor vaginal irritations.

A few things about Aloe Vera that are good to keep in mind are:

Ingestion of Aloe Vera gel has not been proven effective in any treatment.

The FDA has approved the use of Aloe latex in laxatives sold over the counter.

Despite the claims of many beauty companies, Skin care products that contain Aloe Vera have not been proven effective.

Many names have been applied to the Aloe Vera. These names include Medicine Plant, Burn Plant, Wand of Heaven and Plant of Life. It is said that Cleopatra’s used Aloe Vera in her daily beauty regime. Alexander the Great is reputed to have used Aloe Vera on the wounds of his soldiers.

For the best results, Aloe Vera should be used fresh from the plant. Although it doesn’t store well, it can be purchased as a preserved product. Used topically, Aloe Vera has been found to effective in treating mouth sores or cold sores.

Patients suffering from a variety of severe skin diseases have had beneficial results from the use of Aloe Vera. It hydrates and rejuvenates the skin. Aloe Vera is absorbed by the skin and stimulating the cells called fibroblasts which results in cell regeneration. Collagen and elastic fibers so necessary to smoother younger looking skin are produced by fibroblasts.

In Britain, it is estimated that over 12 million people suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The symptoms include:

Heartburn

A swollen abdomen

Alternating between diarrhea and constipation

Unpleasant tastes in your mouth

A suppressed appetite

Gas and belching, accompanied with rumbling in the bowel region

Stomach pains occurring frequently and in the lower abdomen

A general feeling of lethargy and depression

Aloe Vera works gently and naturally within the intestinal tract and helps to break down impacted food residues, as well as assisting to flush the bowels out. Once the bowels are flushed, the discomfort from bloating diminishes easing stress. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is exacerbated by stress so the alleviation of stress dramatically impacts on the patient. Diet is a key part of keeping Irritable Bowel Syndrome in check since some foods trigger attacks. Seeking out professional help at the earliest symptoms is the wisest course of action.