Triphala - The Wonder Herb

What would be your reaction if someone told you that there exists a magic potion which is effective in treating multiple health problems, available at cheaper price than most of the drugs, non habit forming and can be taken for a long time with any side effects?

Either you would refuse to believe this or jump for joy. Believe me such a thing exists. It is Triphala (Tri - Three, Phala - Fruits) which is made from dried powder of three fruits. These three fruits are amlaki, haritaki and bibhitaki which are found in India and other Asian countries.

Here are few medicinal properties of Triphala.
1. Improves Digestion and removes Constipation.
2. Colon Cleanser.
3. Anti Cancer action.
4. Reduces Obesity.
5. Good for Hair and Eyes.
6. Cleans the blood.
7. Reduces Stress and Lowers Blood Pressure.
8. Cures viral infections.

In case you want to know more about Triphla, here are few resources.
Triphala - Wiki
TRIPHALA A Super Rejuvinator
Triphala
The Benefits of Triphala

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Simple Remedy to Eliminate Bad Breath

Do you know someone who has bad smelling mouth? Bad smelling mouth can cause various problems like:
-You find it difficult to talk to that person when he/she is quite near to you.
-Every time you talk to that person you concentrate more on avoiding the bad smell rather than talking.
-If you have intimate with that person you dread that you may soon have to kiss again ;)

Many people people face the problem of bad smell and are almost helpless. Even worse, many of them are not aware that their mouth has foul smell. If you or any of your know acquaintances face this problem I may have a solution for you.

Major reason for foul smell in the mouth is gingivitis or infections in the gum. Due to this there is swelling in the gum and you may find it painful to brush that area in the mouth. When that happens, the infection persists and in fact keeps increasing.

So what to do? Simple answer is a using a mixture of Turmeric and Triphala.
Mix equal quantities of Triphala and Turmeric powder and keep it in a container. Every time you brush, take a pinch of this mixture and massage the gum with your finger applying the mixture slowly. Do it for 3 to 4 minutes. You will observe that it is little bitter in taste and also little sweet when you drink water afterwords.

After massaging for 3 to 4 minutes brush you tooth.

How it works?
Triphala is astringent. An astringent is a substance which causes biological tissue to contract or draw together thus helps in reducing the swelling. Both Triphala and Turmeric have germ killing abilities and healing capacity. Therefore this mixture works in two ways. Reducing the swelling and at the same time healing the infection.

Apart from the gum other diseases of the mouth is also cured and overall mouth health will increase. Practice this for a week and see the difference it makes. Your will feel fresh and foul smell will vanish. You will also not require any other mouth wash.

Both the powders are very cheap though they are available as separate products. Triphala can be procured from any Ayurvedic shop in India or available online. Turmeric as most of you would be aware is a commonly available ingredient in Indian kitchens.

I am a fan of natural remedies and feel that it is better to go for these solutions as they are good for your body and do not have side effects. You can try this and see the results for yourself. If you suggest this solution to someone suffering from bad breath problem, he/she will be grateful to you.

So go ahead, use this simple mixture and get ready for the next great kiss.

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Cinnamon and Honey - Great Health Combination

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vibrantspirit/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Combination of Cinnamon and Honey has been used for centuries as a remedy for various diseases. Honey is known to all of us and it is a component in many traditional medicines all over the world. Cinnamon is one of the spices traditionally used in Asian homes and now a days used all over the world. Cinnamon is heat generating, aromatic, helps in digestion, pain killer and antibacterial.
Cinnamon has been found useful in stomach infections, influenza, typhoid, tuberculosis and cancer.



Honey is created by the bees from flowers. It is full of various sugars like glucose, fructose and sucrose. It also contain various amino acids and lipids.

Honey is tasty, increase hunger, useful in skin problems, eliminates worms, and useful in cough, breathing problems, dysentery, infection of blood and increases sperm count. Best part of honey is it increases the effectiveness of the medicine with which it is mixed. Honey is one of the important ingredients of Ayurveda medicine system.

When Honey is mixed with Cinnamon this combination is extremely useful in treatment of many diseases.

Following are the condition where mixture of honey and cinnamon can be useful:

Joint Pain : For joint pain in two portions of lukewarm water mix one teaspoon of cinnamon powder to create a paste and apply on the affected part. It will start reducing the pain in 2 to 3 minutes. Taking two teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder taken with one cup of warm water in the morning and evenings help Arthritic patients.

Stomach Problems : The above combination is also useful in stomach problems like loose motion or ulcers. In problems of acidity take one teaspoon of honey with a pinch of cinnamon powder before taking meal.

Sinuses and Common Cold : This combination is also a potent solution for cold related problems. In one teaspoon of honey mix one fourth teaspoon of cinnamon powder and take it. Within three to four days, old cough will be eliminated from the body and the sinuses will also be cleared. According to some research it has been found that natural compounds in honey can kill the influenza germs.

Cholesterol Problem : Taking two table spoon of honey with three teaspoon of cinnamon powder taken with 16 ounces of water reduces the cholesterol levels in the blood by 10 percent with in few hours.

Obesity Problem : If honey is taken with cinnamon boiled water in the morning and in the night it reduces the fat in the body. Taken for a long time, it will melt down the fat from your body.

Energizer : As per some research, combination of half teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder taken with a glass of water in the morning and afternoon helps maintain energy levels in elderly people.

Skin Problems : Applying a pasted of equal quantities of honey and cinnamon powder on area affected by eczema, ringworm or other skin diseases helps heal the skin.

Cancer : Some research in Japan has shown that this combination is very useful in cancer of stomach and bones.

Tooth Ache : Apply one tea spoon of cinnamon mixed with five teaspoon of honey on the affected tooth three times a day. This will provide relief from pain.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoosvanrobin/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Treating Eczema with Yoga and Ayurveda

Eczema is a type of skin disease in which skin becomes dry and itchy, and cracks can appear. In severe cases skin can come out. It is known as Dermatitis and there is inflammation on the upper part of the skin. As per modern medical science (Allopathy) there is no known cure for Eczema. Usually steroids are given to suppress the symptoms which have various side effects. If the below mentioned treatment is followed with belief Eczema can be cure. You can see the effects in two to three days itself. Continue the treatment till you get completely cured.

Treatment Process
Following are the steps which can be followed for treating Eczema.

Stress and toxins are the major reason for eczema and it spread. Therefore I would like to suggest a combination of Yoga, Ayurveda and Water Therapy and Vaman Dhouti.

• Yoga
  I started doing Kapalbhati and Nadi Shodhan Pranayama for 15 minutes each. Kapalbhati pranayama removes toxins from the respiratory system and Nadi Shodhan pranayama increases the oxygen levels in the lungs tremendously which helps in cleaning the nerves. Both these pranayamas also reduce stress. Stress is one of the main reasons for spreading of skin diseases. I also included certain poses in my practice more regularly like Sarvanga asana and Halasana. They work on all the internal organs and flush out the toxins. Meditation also helps as it reduces the stress.



• Ayurveda
  From the perspective of Ayurveda (Ancient Indian medicine system) major reason for skin diseases are the disturbance of Pitta. In Indian medicine system of Ayurveda there is a concept of three Doshas. They are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Eczema is caused by disturbance of Pitta. Therefore effort to be there to restore the Pitta balance. For more information in Doshas please visit Concept of TriDoshas. You can also visit http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/AyurvedicZone.asp?article_ID=1005
  
  Neem Leaves : Use of Neem(Azadirachta indica) leaves can be used as both oral medicine and as a lotion. For this plucked few neem leaves from the tree and wash them. First thing in the morning chew and eat 10 to 12 leaves with water. Although these are very bitter but extremely beneficial. It is quite difficult thing to eat but an easier way is to take some water in the mouth and put the neem leaves in the mouth and start chewing them. Gulp the portion which you chewed with the water and then again take some more water. If taken first thing in the morning before taking any food they are more useful. Taking the leaves for 10-15 days will reduce the infection rapidly and continue taking this till you are cured. Those who do not have access to neem leaves can take it in capsule form and also used neem soap or oil.
  
  You can create paste of the neem leaves with water and add a pinch of turmeric and apply the paste on the skin. Keep the paste in a small plastic container and took them to the office and applied it after every hour or so. When you first apply the paste there will be a feeling similar to what you will feel if you applied an ointment to a wound but it will be very feeble. From the first day onwards you will feel that the itching urge is reduced to almost to zero level. Usually before this this treatment you will have the itching urge every few minutes, but after starting this you will see the improvement from the second day onwards. Itching urge will be still there, but it will be very less.
  
  Traditionally Bengalis (Linguistic Community to which I belong) eat fried Neem leaves with rice and ghee(clarified butter) in months of February and March and I think major reason behind this could be removing the toxins from the system and making the body ready for the harsh summer to follow. Now this is not followed by the new generation, but I think this tradition needs to be revived.
  
  Another excellent way to cleanse the system is by drinking one glass of water with one teaspoon of Amla or Triphala powder before going to bed.


• Vaman Dhouti
  Vaman Dhouti is one of the six yogic methodologies to cleanse the body. Vaman Dhouti balances the Pitta. For more information on please visit previous article on Vaman Dhouti. Vaman Dhouti can be done every second day during the treatment for first 20 days and then you can reduce it gradually to third day then every fourth day and so on.



• Water Therapy
  Water therapy is a method in which water is used for flushing out the toxins from the body. This should be done everyday while treating Eczema. Please see my earlier post on Water therapy for more information. In case you are also doing Vaman Dhouti, then perform Vaman Dhouti before water therapy.

Precautions for Eczema
There are certain precautions which can stop its growth and help you to heal.

First and foremost is retaining the moisture in the affected area. Try to avoid applying soap in that region as soap will dry up the skin. Dryness leads to more itching sensation and in turn increases the problem and the infection spreads to adjoining areas. Apply some good moisturizer to maintain the moisture level, especially after the bath and also apply moisturizer before going to bed.
Also avoid wearing synthetic clothing.
Avoid Sweet.
Avoid food to which you may be allergic. Usually these may include eggs, milk, wheat products. Observe if the irritation increases after consuming a particular food and then avoid that food. Avoiding egg plant or Brinjal.
Avoid Garlic as it produces heats and disturbs Pitta.

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Turmeric for Healthy Gums

Turmeric is a herb as well as widely prevalent food in India. Turmeric has many medicinal properties documented in Ayurveda. It is widely known for it antiseptic and healing properties. In case of cough and cold and even internal injury including the bone injury, in India, patient is prescribed one glass of Milk with Turmeric powder mixed in it. Regular consumption of milk with turmeric cures the problems of cough, and heals injury. In case of any cuts and wounds also turmeric is applied on the would which helps in clotting of blood as well as healing the wound faster by killing the bacteria. Turmeric is also used for skin beautification by applying it is as skin pack along with other herbs.

One of the uses of turmeric is in preventing gums decay therefore keeping the teeth healthy. If you suffer from bad breath due to infection in gums, or bleeding in gums turmeric treatment is the answer. This treatment is very easy and will not take more then 2-3 minutes of your time. Turmeric is very cheap alternative to all the mouth washes we have in market and easily available in any Indian Grocery store.



How to treat the gums with Turmeric?

In the morning or night before brushing your teeth, take a pinch of Turmeric powder and massage your gums with index or middle finger with turmeric applied on them. Make sure you apply the turmeric on the entire area of the gums. While massaging make strokes from the inner side of the mouth, that is from the base of the gums towards the teeth. After applying wait for a minute and then brush your teeth as you normally would. If you have any gum infection you will find that within 2 days gums will start improving and you don't have to worry about infection.

This is the cheapest maintenance package you will find for our teeth :) and applying it regularly will ensure healthy teeth and pain free gums for a long time to come.

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Amla (Indian Gooseberry)- God's Gift To Man Kind

Amla the Indian Goose Berry(Latin : Emblica officinalis) is one of the most famous herbs in ayurveda. It is also one of the most useful herbs found in mother nature. Infact Amla is so useful that the Amla tree is worshiped in India. Amla is a major constituent of Chavanprash and Triphala which are other famous Ayurvedic herbal tonics. Amla contains around 20 times more vitamin as compared to an Orange and it is able to retain its medicinal properties for a very long time. If Amla is dried in shade it retains most of it medicinal properties.

Usually it is best to consume one fruit a day during the winter. It is also possible to consume it in powdered form, as juice or tablets, Murraba (Sort of sweetened pickle) which are readily availabe in the Ayurvedic Medicine stores and also available on the internet on various sites.

Benefits of Amla

1. Benefits of Amla starts right from the top, that is the hair and brain. Amla powder when used with Shikakai and Rita and soaked in an iron vessel overnight is then used for washing hair is a very good hair conditioner. This nourishes the hair & prevents premature greying and hair fall.


2. Amla juice taken 1 teapoon with water taken twice a day in the morning and evening cures diseases of the eyes. To prepare eyedrop, take one teaspoon of Amla powder, and mix in one glass of water in the night. In the night filter the water and use a eye pot to rinse the eyes. Open and close your eyes for 2 minutes and then change the water. Repeat this for 3-4 times twice a day. Eye diseases like eye pain, redness and conjunctivitis will get cured.


3. People suffering from hyperacidity and problems of stomach including gastric, constipation also benefit from Amla by taking one teaspoon of Amla juice in a glass of water.


4. Cholesterol is used by the liver to dissolve the fatty acids from the blood and when the metabolism (Rate at which fat is burned) is not strong, extra cholesterol starts getting deposited in the blood vessels. Amla enhances the Liver functionality and metabolism thereby reduces the cholesterol which gets deposited in the blood vessels. Therefore it reduces risk of heart diseases high blood pressure.


5. Amla also reduces body heat and benefits people who get excited easily or short tempered.


6. It contains iron which increases the hemoglobin and RBC count.

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Wonders of Garlic

Garlic is an underground herb belonging to the onion family. Garlic is very commonly used as a spice in many Asian recipes. Garlic enhances the taste of the food as well as it helps in making them digestible. Most of the ancient civilizations like Greeks, Romans and Indians knew about its healing properties since long time and used it for treating various ailments.

Medicinal properties of garlic has been well known and documented for hundreds of years. Vagbhatta says "Whoever consumes garlic regularly and religiously in every winter will stay free from diseases, healthy and live for 100 years".

Usually raw and crushed garlic, consumed immediately is most beneficial, but most people find the smell repelling. The cloves can also me taken with water without crushing. Usually two to three cloves taken in the morning with water or milk is the recommended practice.

Garlic contains allyl propyl disulphide, diallyl disulphide and few sulphur compounds which evaporate when they come in contact with air. These have very powerful anti bacterial and anti virus properties. Infections of the intestine can be cured by using garlic. Garlic is also effective in treating worms of intestine and Tuberculosis. When Tuberculosis patients are given a massage with Garlic boiled oil it destroys the germs from the body and heals the patient faster. Massaging the body with oil boiled with Garlic relieves problems of cough and cold.

As per Ayurveda, the food which we eat also creates toxins, which starts getting accumulated in the body and especially the joints. When joints are accumulated with toxins, it creates various painful diseases in the joints. To release the toxins from the joints usually massage therapy is used, which increases the blood flow and removes the accumulated toxins. Garlic also behaves in similar way by increasing the blood flow and is useful in treating diseases like Rheumatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sciatica etc.

Garlic reduces the cholesterol in the blood and arteries, reduces blood pressure and dissolves blood clots and it is therefore good for preventing heart diseases. Garlic is also considered to be aphrodisiac.

You can read an article on simple technique about how to cure ear infection which was posted earlier titled Home remedy for curing infection of the ears.

Care to be Taken

1. If excessive consumption causes heat then stop its consumption for few days and consume milk, butter and clarified butter in more quantity.


2. People who get angry easily should not consume more quantity of Garlic.


3. Pregnant ladies, leprosy patients, weak persons and inflammation of urinary tract should not consume Garlic.


4. Sour food like Tamarind, Pickle and Lemon should be avoided while taking treatment of Garlic.


5. Avoid excessive exercise and going out in the hot sun.

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