Alternative health tips

Alternative health tips

Naturopathy is Swasha Vritha or the prophylactic or preventive aspect. Ayurveda is the Athura Vritha or therapy. Both are related sciences.

Daily routines or Dinacharya according to Ayurveda

The ideal time to get up is 4:30 a.m. This is known as Brahma Muhurtha or the time of Brahman, the Absolute. After getting up, you should know the condition of your body. Then you should brush your teeth and go to the toilet to have a bowel movement. You should brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Then you should take an oil bath. Oil, preferably coconut oil, should be used. This oil should be applied all over the body and one should wait for at least 30 minutes and then take a bath. Cold bath is ideal, but for those who suffer from diseases, hot water bath is good.

Oil bath gives you good sleep. The weakness of the body will disappear. Your body will increase in strength. Your eyes will sparkle. “Abhyangam Achareth Nithyam,” says Ayurveda (you should take an oil bath every day). But those who suffer from indigestion and excessive kapha should not go for oil bath.

Pathya – Diet Control

When taking Ayurvedic medicines, Pathya or Diet Control should be followed.

The six tastes of Ayurveda are – sweet, bitter, astringent, sour, spicy and salty. People suffering from hyperacidity or ulcers should not eat acidic or spicy foods. This is known as Pathya. For every illness there are foods that should not be consumed. For people with heart problems, eggs, meat, beef, etc. containing cholesterol should not be taken. This is Pathya.

Now in Ayurveda there is a saying that for observation of Pathya there is no need for medicine as negative foods will drain out and spontaneous healing will take place. Even for one who does not observe pathya as taking medicine becomes useless and negative foods destroy his disease. Pathya means the path to health. Apathya means ingesting the negative food that promotes disease.

Banana – nature’s tonic

The banana is full of vitamins and minerals. It contains iron, phosphorus and vitamins such as niacin and riboflavin. A large banana can add more than 200 calories.

The fructose contained in bananas is converted into energy after consumption. In addition to protein and starch, it contains minerals such as sulfur, iron, magnesium, copper and calcium. Bananas contain less fat. Bananas reduce acidity in the blood. It contains vitamins C, A, B, D and E.

Warm milk should be taken along with bananas. This is the ideal food for growing children. But then overweight people should not take milk with bananas. Since bananas have rasayana properties, using them will keep you young. They can live on bananas alone for months. Bananas can be used as medicine for patients with liver problems and digestive disorders. It can also be taken by people suffering from malnutrition and scurvy. Also for patients with eye and dental diseases. (since it contains Vitamin A & Cacium).

Continence or Brahmacharya

By continence or brahmacharya we mean the control of libidinal life. Both Ojas (light) and Veerya (masculinity) are based on the seventh tissue element, seed. Avoid misuse of this big dhathu, says Ayurveda. If you have too much sex, you lose this seventh tissue element and this leads to weakness in the body. Body aches, headaches, etc. are the result. Conversely, seed loss has a detrimental effect on the other six tissue elements.

When you observe brahmacharya (practicing continence), improved memory, grip strength, physical strength, discriminating intellect, mental happiness, increase in ojas or facial radiance, etc. are the result. To be healthy, you have to control sex. But since pure brahmacharya is impossible for married men, controlled brahmacharya or celibacy is advocated.

insomnia

Lack of sleep is due to many factors - anxiety, mental tension, overstrain, emotional suffering, etc. When anger and hostility are suppressed, insomnia results. Constipation, indigestion, coffee, tea, etc. destroy sleep. Thoughts about insomnia will only make the problem worse. Using sleeping pills is not ideal. You may have to rely on such pills. And increasing the amount requires trouble. When alcohol is taken with pills, it has effects.

Avoid drinks such as cola, tea and coffee. And eat less fatty foods. Avoid fried foods. Only take a small amount of food at night. If you have warm milk before bed and keep your mind calm, you will doze off in slumberland. You should eat something 3 hours before bedtime. It is better if you can listen to peaceful music. Reading is also a good habit that will take you to slumberland. You should go at least half an hour before bedtime. It will help digest the food eaten. Meditation gives you good sleep.

constipation

Modern fast food culture is responsible for constipation. Anxiety, fear, mental tension - all of these lead to constipation. Alternative practitioners claim that constipation is the main cause of all diseases. Some antacids also cause constipation. Under certain conditions, water is absorbed in the colon and feces can solidify. Such hard stools are difficult to remove. Poor timing of food, anxiety, psychological problems, etc. cause constipation. Constipation causes back pain, weight in the stomach, headache, loss of appetite, etc.

Consumption of organically grown fruits and vegetables, 12 glasses of water daily ensures mental peace, correct bowel movements - all of these cure constipation

Gas problems or hyperacidity

This is a very common disease. In India there are very few houses without antacid tablets! On the one hand we take a lot of antacids and on the other hand we take acidic foods! Among the six tastes, what is sour, spicy and salty promotes acidity.

Fried foods, foods with masala, very cold drinks, potatoes, plantains – all these promote gas problems. Lack of exercise is one of the causal factors. Also work sitting for long periods of time. Mental tension also promotes this disease. It's not what you eat, but it's what eats you that is the cause of this common illness.

Mental pain, thoughts of revenge, fear - all these pave the way for this disease. There is an emotional center in the brain. When we have mental disorders, this emotional center stimulates the oxintic cells in our stomach to secrete hydrochloric acid. A lot of gas flows from the rectal tract, indigestion - all these are the symptoms of gas problems. Alternative practitioners claim that constipation is the cause of this disease, no, of all diseases!

Haste, worry and curry are the main causes of this disease. Eat fast, eat too much, eat with masala, sour, spicy, salty, cucumbers, chillies, potatoes, soda, cola, chilled beer, nictoine, alcohol, very hot foods, chewing gum - all these cause acidity. Prevention is better than cure. Avoid the Apathya foods and be healthy!

Conflicting foods

Conflicting foods are known as “Samyoga Viruddha” in Ayurveda. When conflicting foods are consumed, it increases doshic imbalance and becomes the cause of many diseases. Shrimp and milk, fish and butter, sour fruits and milk – are some examples of conflicting foods. They should be avoided at all costs.

Chicken and butter should not be taken at the same time. Honey and ghee in equal quantities are also forbidden in Ayurveda

Colon hydrotherapy

Naturopathy says that illnesses are caused by the accumulation of pathogenic substances. Natural hygiene says that the cause is toxemia or the infusion of toxins into the blood.

One of the methods for cleansing the colon is enema or colon hydrotherapy. I have been practicing enemas for 18 years. While I was attending an exhibition stall in Trichur in 1989 (a 41 day affair), the next stall was a naturopathy stall and the head naturopath told me that the best way to get rid of gas problems was to take 15 light enemas.

I bought an enema box and have done this when I have a rectal block. This therapy is effective because we can see rotting feces coming out 10 minutes after the enema is administered. This is Jalopasana or water therapy or hydrotherapy. All ancient cultures advocated hydrotherapy because water has tremendous medicinal properties. Not only feces, but also gas, mucus and toxins pass from the rectal tract.

Fasting therapy

Fasting therapy is one of the best therapies. The digestive system rests when fasting. “Lankhanam Paramoushadam” – Fasting is the best medicine. Water fasting, fruit fasting, juice fasting – there are many types of fasting. Juice fasting is superior to water fasting because it provides nutritional support to the body.

The basic principle of naturopathy is that nature has healing power and that the five doctors are the elemental five - earth, water, fire, air and ether. (Annam Brahma). Annam does not mean food, but the five doctors, the five elements. “The five doctors are the best, as are the five elements above all,” declare the Upanishads. (Annam hi bhoothanam jyeshtyam, thasmad Sarvoushadam Uchyathe)

Ghee – The True Rasayana

Rasayana therapy is a rejuvenation therapy. What rejuvenates the body is Rasayana. Ghee is considered to be the true Rasayana. All Ayurvedic preparations are based on ghee, I mean almost all rasayanas. Ghee contains vitamins AE, KD etc. Vitamin E and Vitamin A are antioxidants. Diseases are caused by the excessive production of free radicals and these two are free radical antidotes. The famous Chyavan Prash is based on ghee. The Rasayanas are said to bestow beauty, longevity, intelligence, youthfulness, health etc. Ghee, taken in moderate amounts, will impart this.