COVID Care‚ the Ayurveda Way

If you or someone you know just recovered from COVID, kudos! The main threat is over, but you still have a huge hurdle to overcome – dealing with the aftereffects. The virus might have caused damage to both your physical and mental health without you even realising it.  Now that you have recovered, it is time to focus on healing. Your primary aim must be to bring back your lost immunity over anything else. Immunity is not in the decoctions or supplements you have. It is in the food you eat, the exercise you do, the sleep you get – the quantity and quality of it, the way you go about your whole day – your ROUTINE! Immunity is a cumulative effect of all these small healthy habits you do every single day of your life. Get back to eating healthy slowly and steadily. Start with fasting, let your digestive fire build slowly, and then increase the quantity of food progressively. Start by consuming light, warm cooked foods with good fats and continue until your digestion is back to normal. Get back to exercising regularly. Just because you feel weak or tired, do not skip exercise. Do some kind of movement or activity. Simple walking or Yoga would also do. It is a known fact that Vitamin C boosts immunity. But, do not overload with Vitamin C and citrus fruits to gain back the immunity while your digestion is still a question mark. Work on your mind. The virus affects your brain function and clearly, the mind. The best way to relax your mind is to have a good sleep and breathing exercises and meditation. Make this a triple-lined part of your schedule. Post-COVID hair fall Another aftereffect of COVID is hair fall. About 90% of post-COVID hair fall is due to a condition called Telogen Effluvium. This condition is a result of your body being subjected to a phase of physical and mental stress. The bright side is that this hair loss is reversible and the hair will grow back. But it may take some time to get back to its fullness. During this condition, if you are someone with good iron levels, it will compensate for hair loss. Else, the body will use the iron reserves to build red blood cells. Hence your iron levels are important for reversing Telogen Effluvium and getting your hair volume back to how it was. In Ayurveda, a low haemoglobin level is called Pandu. In Sanskrit, Pandu means ‚ a pale whitish discolouration.  Pandu is a disease caused by the vitiation of Rakta Dhatu (blood tissue) in the body. Caraka Samhita‚ the ancient Sanskrit text on Ayurveda, suggests a few natural tips that help improve haemoglobin levels in the body. Consume a teaspoon of Amla powder with ghee before lunch. Reduce consumption of salty and sour foods. Stay away from alcohol. Exercise regularly. Include red grapes and black raisins in your diet. Reduce consumption of Vidahi‚ foods, which combine pungent, sour, oily and heavy qualities and cause burning. Some examples are apple cider vinegar, coffee, tomatoes and potatoes. Include dry ginger in your diet. Have 15ml of the Ayurvedic formulation‚ Draksharishta post dinner.   If you find your iron levels are still not improving despite following the above-mentioned tips, consult an Ayurvedic doctor.   If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital. You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Medicine Fact -What’s Really Inside Commercial Drugs

Perfect  Medicine Competition   It is a market situation where brands compete with each other purely on price. Whichever medicine brand offers a slightly lower price than the others, consumers prefer to buy from that brand.   Most of the medicine manufacturing brands (Ayurvedic & Allopathic) face this situation. This also means that manufacturers have to ‘cut corners’ to meet the pricing advantage to stay ahead of competition.   Cutting corners can happen in many fronts – by adding lesser quantities of expensive ingredients, using cheaper, look-alike alternatives, producing in bulk to achieve economies of scale reducing the quality, etc.   Doctors use an expensive ayurvedic herb, such as ativisha, to treat digestive conditions (it costs up to $49 for 10g). Most often this is replaced by its less expensive alternative ‘Musta’ in formulations manufactured commercially.   Every Ayurvedic doctor is trained to make medicines for his patients from scratch, unlike other medical systems. The government also allows licensed Ayurvedic doctors to dispense medicines made by them to their patients.   So if your Ayurvedic doctor prescribes his/ her own medicines always choose that.   It may be a little expensive, or less fancy or may not be as readily available compared to commercial brands, but there will be an ‘elephant and ant’ difference in the effectiveness.     Medicine Rights     Every patient has the right to know what goes into the medicine. Hence exercise your rights to ask your Ayurvedic doctor on the ingredients.   My pro-tip:  Ask your doctor to prescribe herbal medicines over medicines with minerals as the latter needs many levels of purification to be safe.   Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing is a multibillion-dollar industry. I am not saying all manufacturing companies do the same, however it is important to exercise caution as a patient.   If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital.You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Treatment for Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Ayurvedic Treatment of PCOS   Ayurveda considers PCOS as “artava dushti” which translates to menstrual abnormality. This happens due to vitiation of Vata, Pitta & Kapha. However, the highs and lows of vitiation varies from patient to patient. There are various treatment in Ayurveda for PCOS.       Types  of   Treatment protocols     1 – Vihara (Lifestyle)   Sleep is the most important parameter to corrected as sleep irregularities are one of the main causes of PCOS as per Ayurveda Moderate exercise to half of one’s strength and capacity is ideal. No extreme, strenuous workouts are advised. Meditation, breathing exercises like Kapalbhati, daily Abhyanga (oil massages) are also helpful.    2 – Ahara (food)   A customized diet that balances the vitiated doshas is ideal. Eg. If the patient presents with PCOS due to excess Kapha imbalance, the diet should be light. Vata imbalance – the diet should be nourishing. Reducing inflammatory foods like black gram, yoghurt and night shades like capsicum, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants etc will also help. Overall, having light, easily digestible well cooked foods with good fats added is important.    3 – Internal medicines   In my practice, for most cases of PCOS that come to me, I do not usually prescribe medicines. I put them on a 3-month diet and routines protocol based on their imbalance and they get better. In cases where internal medicines are required, there is no one-size fits all in Ayurveda. The medicines vary from patient to patient depending on the imbalances.       Doctor Rekha is a 4th generation Ayurvedic Medicine Doctor (BAMS) living in between Dubai and India who has patients from around the globe who believes that the wisdom of Ayurveda can help everyone lead a happy, heathy and disease-free life.   If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital. You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                … Continue reading Treatment for Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Mind Magic – Can your mind multi-task ?

Though it may seem that the mind is capable of doing many things at a time, it cannot. Instead the mind can switch tasks quickly and that happens one after the other. Kudos to modern science for discovering this after the 1900s, but total respect to Ayurveda and India philosophy to have spoken the some 5000 years ago!   Ayurveda says that the mind has a quality know as “ekatwam” or oneness. The mind is only one. The mind can do only one job at a time.   Think of seeing food in front of you. You see, hear, smell and taste the food. You feel the mind is into all of these thoughts at the same time. It is not. Even if we feel the mind is invested in multiple things at a time it isn’t.   Ayurveda quotes an interesting maxim for this – ‘utpala satadala suchivedha nyayam‘ When a needle is pierced quickly through a hundred lotus petals arranged one over the other, it may seem the needle pieces all 100 petals simultaneously but in reality, it makes piercing one after the other. The mind is like the needle here. Impressions happen one after the other.   So stop believing that your mind can multitask. Instead of doing many different things at a time, like having a coffee while typing on laptop while talking on the phone to the boss, try to do one task at time so that all your attention goes into one task, which means increased productivity! —————————–—————————————————————————————   Doctor Rekha is a 4th generation Ayurvedic Medicine Doctor (BAMS) living in between Dubai and India who has patients from around the globe who believes that the wisdom of Ayurveda can help everyone lead a happy, heathy and disease-free life.   If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital. You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Do you have Hypothyroidism?

What    is   hypothyroidism ?     We say in Ayurveda that food is medicine. I’ll tell you about one such food, specifically, that can be used as medicine for hypothyroidism. This is a replacement for the medication you’re taking. However, this is one food that you should include in your diet on a daily basis.  Moringa, known as Shigro in Ayurveda, has long drumsticks and fresh leaves; moreover, people value it for its numerous health benefits. It has several benefits, including treating hypothyroidism.     All About Hypothyroidism:   Washed fresh drumstick leaves (3 bunches around 500 g) Ghee/coconut oil – 1 tablespoon Mustard seeds – 1/4 teaspoon Cumin seeds – 1/4 teaspoon Grated coconut – quarter to half cup Onion – 1 small Garlic – 3 one-inch piece Turmeric – 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder – 1/2 tablespoon Curry leaves – 5 Whole green chilly split – 2   Here’s what to do:     Wash and thoroughly squeeze fresh drumstick leaves. Finely chop them and place them over a clean cloth to absorb water; otherwise, the dish will become mushy if there is any water in it. Make a coarse paste with the grated coconut, garlic, cumin, turmeric, and red chilly powder in a blender. Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. Splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chopped onions into this, then add the leaves and sauté. When the leaves have softened, add the coconut paste you made earlier. Cook for 10-15 minutes on low heat, covered with a lid.   Have this as a side dish with rice.   Hypothyroidism is a treatable condition that can be improved, furthermore, with Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle changes.  You are not required to take hypothyroidism medicines for the rest of your life; however, it is important to monitor your condition regularly   If you are suffering from thyroid, you can take our Thyroid Reversal Program. You can also join our other Health Programs for mind and body detox. And If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or give us a message via WhatsApp at +91 79074 89839. If you have any queries, contact us. You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        … Continue reading Do you have Hypothyroidism?

Plum – The One Ayurvedic fruit you can have everyday

According to Ayurveda, eating too many fruit is bad for you. You must limit your fruit consumption. I’ve previously discussed Amla, grapes, and pomegranate, and how all of these fruits are extremely beneficial to us in a variety of ways. Today, I’d like to introduce you to a fruit that is not only healthy, but also does not increase any of the three Doshas. Ripe Plum is the name of that fruit.  It is remarkably easy to digest, and anyone can consume it without regard for how it affects digestion or whether it is hot or cold. The one that is very ripe and sweet, but not sour. It is a magical fruit that is suitable for everyone. In Ayurveda, plums have several health benefits depends on their properties, which were considered to cool, hydrate, and detoxify. Here’s a closer look at the Ayurvedic benefits of plums:    Balancing Doshas   Plums are good for balancing Vata dosha due to their cooling and hydrating nature. The cooling effectiveness of plum can balance Pitta dosha which is related with heat and inflammation. You can consume plums, due to their light and slightly acidic nature, to avoid the Kapha if you have excess mucus.       2.  Digestive Health   Plums are rich in dietary fiber; consequently, this helps in healthy digestion and regular bowel movement. Plums helps in promoting gut health. The natural laxative properties of plums helps in detoxifying the body  by flushing out toxins through digestive system        3.  Rich in Nutrients   Plums contain different kinds of antioxidants such as vitamin C and polyphenols, which fight off oxidative stress for overall health. They contain vital vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium and iron, all of which participate in numerous functions of the body.       4. Skin Health   Plums are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help in healthy skin; they help in hydration and reduce oxidative damage. They can be useful in fostering good, glowing skin.      5.   Immunity   The vitamin C content of plums strengthens the  immune system, thereby increasing its capacity to fight against infections and diseases     How to Eat   The fresh plum can be consumed as a snack, added in salads, or blended together in smoothies. The fresh juice of plum is refreshing and hydrating, but since it contains natural sugar, it should be consumed in moderation. The important thing is, you don’t overdo it.   If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital.  You can also follow me on Instagram.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    … Continue reading Plum – The One Ayurvedic fruit you can have everyday

My Hair Mask Secrets

For hair growth and shiny hair, this is my go-to hair mask with a secret Ayurvedic ingredient!     Here is how to make it:   Soak 3 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds overnight and make a paste with a little water. Add a whole egg (you can also use flaxseeds as replacement, but egg is egg) Add 1 table spoon yoghurt Add half tablespoon hair oil of your choice (optional, if your hair is very dry)   Then add the secret ingredient!   Part your hair into smaller sections, first apply along the roots, over the scalp and then on the length of the hair.   Wondering what’s my secret ingredient? It’s licorice powder, and only 10g will do. Licorice is extremely good for hair growth, hair shine and also works an amazing cleanser for the scalp! Try this hair mask and let me know.. If you want to improve your hair health, you can take our skin and hair care program. You can also join our other Health Programs for mind and body detox.  If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Fruits for breakfast is not a good idea, Why ?

You might have seen many sources in the internet suggesting fruits for breakfast as part of a healthy diet. But Ayurveda has a different opinion.     Fruits for breakfast is not a good idea, Why ?       #1  Mornings are cold, dewy, and moist   Fruits are cold, moist, and slimy as well. Similarly, what is cold, moist, and slimy in our body? Kapha!   #2   Fruits are sweet, heavy and cold.   What is sweet, heavy and cold in our body? Kapha!   #3   6am to 10am is Kapha Kala   This is the time Kapha is at its peak – think excessive mucous, blocked nose, runny nose, and all upper respiratory tract symptoms.   #4 The Sun has just risen   Our digestive fire mimics the Sun; however, we do not have sharp digestion in the mornings.  Hence we may not be able to digest cold, sweet, heavy foods at this time.   what is a good breakfast? Anything warm, light and freshly cooked. Example, oatmeal, porridges, rice or chickpea flour, pancakes, stewed apples, green gram pancakes etc. These are not only light but also easy to digest.   When is the best time to have fruits?   Between 10am to 4pm (Pitta Kala) before or after a meal, but not with a meal. Trust me, if you do this, your gut will thank you!       Doctor Rekha is a 4th generation Ayurvedic Medicine Doctor (BAMS) living in between Dubai and India who has patients from around the globe who believes that the wisdom of Ayurveda can help everyone lead a happy, heathy and disease-free life.   If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          … Continue reading Fruits for breakfast is not a good idea, Why ?

Why premature death happens to people?

Kala Mrityu, or premature death, is explained by Caraka. Causes of premature death are:   Excessive mental and physical strain:   Mental Strain: Mental Strain incorporate several conditions related to stress-anxiety, depression,                              chronic stress, and burnout. The modern pace of life, combined with high expectations and very little rest              time, is able to push individuals to the limit of mental exhaustion. Long-term exposure to these stressors              causes not only disturbances in the psychological arena but also physically, leading to a host of health                  problems.   Physical Stress: Conversely, physical stress involves overexertion via work, insufficient time for rest, and disregard for the needs of the human body. Human beings most often maintain their bodies beyond the normal limit, through intense physical work, lack of proper sleep, or starvation of the body from nutritional needs. Such unending physical duress diminishes the ability of the body to replenish strength, giving way to chronic diseases that impel death in man’s life.   Over-eating   Over eating generally is regarded as a harmless indulgence, a momentary pleasure in our fast-moving lives. However, such apparently innocuous behavior actually can have grave health consequences and even cause early deaths.            Linking Overeating to Premature Death.   Obesity: Heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers are directly contributed to by obesity and the intake of excess calories, resulting in additional weight gain.   Cardiovascular Diseases: Overeating in general–essentially highly saturated foods containing fats, sugars, and salt–increases blood pressure, high cholesterol, and raises heart disease.   Type 2 Diabetes: Overeating may cause insulin resistance, considered one of the precursors of Type 2 diabetes and a major cause of early death.          How Overeating Affects Your Body ?   Metabolic Stress: Loading a great amount of food, especially of the wrong type, on the body results in stress on the metabolism, which culminates into fat gain and often accumulation around the organs.   Inflammation: Chronic overeating can result in inflammatory processes playing a causative role in diseases such as cancer and heart disease.   Insulin Resistance : The body can develop insulin resistance by consistently taking in more calories than required. Therein lies a greater risk of developing diabetes and all its complications.            Irregular meals   Regular meals serve more than a biological function to eliminate the pangs of hunger but provide a temporal guide to cue an internal physiological process known as the circadian rhythm that regulates digestion, metabolism, and endocrine activities. This rhythm may be disrupted by irregular meals, resulting in an upward spiral effect on poor health.               Irregular Meals and Their Impact on the Body   Metabolic Imbalances: The disturbance in the normal pattern promotes extreme highs and lows of blood sugar, which can lead to insulin resistance-a precursor to type 2 diabetes. It increases the chances of cardiovascular diseases.   Weight Gain and Obesity:  It triggers overeating later in the day because of skipping one’s meal or eating at odd hours, which could involve food that is not healthy. These in turn can give rise to weight gain and obesity.   Digestive Issues: The digestive system works on routine, and it works at its best when meals come in just as regularly. Otherwise, acid reflux and indigestion may lead to chronic digestive disorders, which in some cases may develop into IBS.    Mental Health Impact: There is an association between poor eating habits and heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Poor mental health usually make one adopt lifestyle behaviors that enhance the chances of early mortality.     Bad posture     We have always been told that good posture is important-when we sit at a desk, when we wait in line, when we lie in bed. Bad posture, however, can encompass more than just back pain and discomfort. New research suggests that having poor posture may lead to more serious health consequences than previously thought, including premature death.   Posture is the way one holds their body while sitting, standing, or moving. Good posture aligns the spine, muscles, and ligaments correctly so that the human body performs optimally. On the other hand, bad postures can cause physical problems like musculoskeletal problems, reduced lung function, and heart health issues.    Bad posture is not only a cosmetic problem but also can pose many serious threats to health if not taken care of. Being cognizant of the risk and proactive at working out your posture may make a great leap toward minimizing the possibility of chronic health problems that may shorten a person’s span of life. Small changes in daily habits, remember, sometimes have profound effects on long-term health.   Exposure to germs, poison, fire, wind, and accidents     In our daily life, we are surrounded by so many hazards that are likely to cause early deaths, unless they are handled properly or avoided. These germs and accidents-both invisible and sudden-might be lying in wait in places where we mightn’t notice their presence.   The Germs     Germs, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, are everywhere and usually harmless. However, some types of pathogens can give very serious infections, and if untreated, the result will be untimely death. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has shown clearly how a viral infection can become a pandemic in global health.   The Poison     Poisonous exposures both accidental and deliberate, are among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world. Modes of poisoning involve ingestion, inhalation, and respiration of different kinds of toxic chemicals, common house products, and certain plants.   The Fire     Fire is an essential tool but can be a killer force. Accidental fire can result in extreme burns, inhalation of smoke, and even death… Continue reading Why premature death happens to people?

Skin Diseases – The 7 Reasons

Kushta( Skin Diseases) Skin diseases are called ‘Kushta’ in Sanskrit. Charaka mentions the main causes of Kushta in Caraka Samhita Nidona Sthana.     Reason for Skin Diseases     #1 Eating hot & cold foods together in 1 meal. #2 Overuse of honey, fish, radish, etc. when you have low digestion. #3 Eating incompatible foods. #4 Exerting excessively physically, more than your strength. #5 Exposure to extreme heat. #6 Taking cold showers after exertion. #7 Excessive intake of heating foods. These are some lesser known reasons why skin diseases happen in the first place. Doctor Rekha is a 4th generation Ayurvedic Medicine Doctor (BAMS) living in between Dubai and India who has patients from around the globe who believes that the wisdom of Ayurveda can help everyone lead a happy, heathy and disease-free life. If you are suffering from any of these, you can take our skin and hair care program. You can also join our other Health Programs for mind and body detox. If you are struggling with any health issues, you can either book a consultation with us or send us a message via WhatsApp to +91 79074 89839. We have the best Ayurvedic doctors in Trivandrum who are always glad to help you. If you have any queries, contact us.  You can also visit us at our hospital.  You can also follow me on Instagram.