Muscle and fatty tissues make a woman’s breasts. The breasts are the channel of milk production after childbirth. While breasts are a symbol of femininity, they sag with age as with time, breasts lose their suppleness and elasticity. Ayurveda can prevent and delay saggy breasts and keep them toned.

What causes breasts to sag?

While breasts sag with age, there are other key factors that influence sagging breasts. Some of these causes include menopause, mental stress, and estrogen deficiency. Collagen deficiency, too much weight, multiple pregnancies, smoking, and genetic factors also contribute to sagging breasts. Exercising or too much physical activity without breast support and not wearing the correct size bra can also lead to sagging breasts.

According to Ayurveda, there are four causes for saggy breasts

In an obese woman, too much fatty and muscle tissues in the breast lead to sagging breasts.

Underweight leads to dryness and emaciation of the body. This causes shrunken breasts.

As a woman age, the skin loses its tone and elasticity causing saggy breasts.

Breastfeeding a child is also another cause of saggy breasts.

Ayurvedic and herbal remedies

Ayurvedic tips and herbal remedies can bring the right shape to the breasts. Herbs are known for nourishing the breasts and uplifting them. They can delay the effect of aging and add firmness to the breasts.

Some of these herbs are:

Shatavari ( Indian asparagus, Asparagus recemosus)

Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng, Withania somnifera)

Vidari (Indian sarsaparilla, Hemidesmus indicus)

Lodhra (symplocos tree, Symplocos racemose)

Amla (Indian gooseberry, Emblica officinalis)

Khus khus grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides, vetiver)

Guduchi (Indian tinospora, Tinospora cordifolia)

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica, mandukparni)

Punarnava (spreading hogweed, Boerhavia diffusa)

Rasna (pluchea lanceolata, Indian camphorweed)

Harad (chebulic myrobalan, Terminalia chebula)

Mudgaparni (vigna trilobata, Phaseolus trilobus)

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

A study has shown that fennel and anise seeds contain photo-anethole and anethole that stimulate estrogen production and help breast growth. Fenugreek seeds also have estrogenic properties which enhances breast size.

Aloe vera is known to improve wrinkles and elasticity in our skin, with an increase in collagen production in the skin. Due to these properties, it brings in firmness to breasts.

Red clover has estrogen boosting nutrients, which help to stimulate breast growth. Damiana leaves are known to contain phytoestrogens, which also stimulate the tissue of the breasts. It also balances hormonal levels and helps to build firmness in breasts.

Diet rich in antioxidants

Take a diet that is rich in antioxidants and phytoestrogens. It helps to support breast health. Vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C, A, B, E, and K, iron, and calcium help in scavenging free radicals and prevent damage to the body. Pomegranate is a phytoestrogen-rich and nutraceutical fruit that helps to make the breasts firm.

Lentil soups or dals, organic vegetables prepared with fresh spices and whole grains promote healthy skin. Consume at least 6-8 glasses of water, green tea or a glass of juice a day to keep the breast tissues and skin healthy. This helps to slow down breast sagging.

Massage the marma points

Gently massaging the breasts or deep tissue massage on marma points help to balance Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Massaging the breasts help to balance the hormones in a woman’s body and makes the breasts firm. The breasts have several vital marma points, so massage should be done gently using preferably the thumb, as it contains the main pranic power of the hand. Massage should be done in a clockwise motion, which helps in strengthening the breast tissues.

Oil massage

Massaging the breasts with oils help to maintain its firmness. You can use coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, almond or argan oil, as they have proved to be effective in bringing firmness to saggy breasts.

Yoga for breast firmness

Since stress play an important role in influencing breast health, doing yoga helps. Studies have shown that yoga postures, breath control techniques, and meditation have proved beneficial for physical and mental health. As a result, it helps to manage stress effectively.

There are also specific yoga asanas for breast health. These are:

Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)

Camel pose (Ustrasana)

Warrior pose (Virabhadrasana)

Triangle pose (Trikonasana)

Bow pose (Dhanurasana)

Wheel pose (Chakrasana)

While fine lines are inevitable with aging, they can be delayed. Aging and its related issues should be accepted gracefully. However, Ayurveda claims that fine lines can be prevented. They first start showing up around the eyes and mouth in your late thirties or early forties.

When we age, the collagen and elastin in the skin starts breaking naturally, causing fine lines. If you are careless and have exposed yourself too much to the harmful UV rays of the sun, you may start getting fines lines faster than your age. Fine lines are also caused by the movement of facial muscles, for example, when we smile or frown. Even before you see the first signs of these fine lines, start taking precautions! Otherwise, fine lines can appear before age and will develop into wrinkles.

AYURVEDIC TIPS TO PREVENT FINE LINES

According to Ayurveda, when we do not follow the Ayurvedic rules of eating a proper diet that is deficient in balanced nutrients, or our lifestyle is defective, it creates imbalance in our doshas. Also, when we follow unhealthy lifestyle, some pathological changes take place such as the muscles lose compactness, the joints get loosened, blood vitiates, and excessive fatty tissues are produced. These pathological changes lead to fine lines. Ayurveda suggests a chain of solutions.

Ayurvedic diet as per your skin type

First find out what is your skin type. Vata skin is usually dry, thin, small-pored, and delicate. As a result, Vata skin tends to age faster when out of balance. You may, therefore eat warm, unctuous foods to counteract the cool and dry skin. Include all six tastes in your meals. Also eat lots of cooked, leafy green vegetables spiced with cumin, coriander and turmeric. A little more of the sweet, sour and salty tastes will balance the dry, rough Vata dosha.

If you have a Pitta skin, it is usually sensitive, soft, warm, and of medium thickness. When out of balance, Pitta skin manifests in rashes, acne, or sun spots. If you have Pitta skin, you should include sweet, bitter and astringent tastes, for example, sweet, juicy fruits. Also have cooked greens and more of cooling spices like cumin, coriander, and fennel. Avoid hot, spicy foods.

Kapha skin, on the other hand, ages slowly and form less fine lines compared to Vata and Pitta skins. Kapha skin, however, suffer from enlarged pores, excessive oil, blackheads, pimples, etc. Your diet should include warmer, lighter, and less oily food. Also eat more of bitter, astringent and pungent foods to stimulate digestion and balance Kapha. Ginger, black pepper, turmeric, cumin and coriander are suitable for you.

For all types of skin, ensure that you get enough vitamins through your diet because they directly affect the health of the skin. Proteins and minerals are also essential to prevent the skin from losing its elasticity and developing fine lines. Water is also essential to flush out undigested food from the body and lead to healthy skin.

Protect the skin from stress

We all know stress affects our skin and leads to fine lines that take shape of wrinkles. Mental stress has a chain of reactions on the skin. It starts drying the skin out of Shleshaka Kapha, the subdosha of Kapha, which keeps our skin moist. When Shleshaka Kapha starts drying it makes the skin thin that starts aging early. If we do not control stress, the micro-channels that carry nutritive fluid to the skin starts shrinking, leading to fine lines and then to wrinkles, which are also called stress lines.

Emotional stress, on the other hand, makes us angry, which has a connection between Sadhaka Pitta, the subdosha of Pitta that governs the emotions, and Bhrajaka Pitta, which governs the skin. When emotional stress becomes chronic, it starts manifesting in acne, sun sensitivity, and other Pitta-based problems.

To save your skin from mental stress, give yourself aroma oil massage and have Vata-pacifying diet. To bring emotional stress into balance, take a Pitta-pacifying diet.

Cleanse the pores

Every skin type needs cleansing, but Kapha skin needs a little more. Kapha skin has low agni, which leads to ama collecting in the body, which in turn clogs the channels of the skin. You, therefore, need to clean the pores and open up the channels so that the skin’s own balance is maintained. For all skin type, you should taking warm baths with mild herbal soap to keep the pores and channels open. Avoid products that would make your skin too dry.

Rehydrate the skin

It’s important to moisturize your skin from the inside so that your skin gets the necessary nutrients. This also keeps the inner layers of the skin moist and soft. Drink lots of water. Add some spices to the water so that the water gets absorbed and transported to the skin. You can use thin slices of fresh ginger root, or basil leaves, or spices like cloves, cumin seeds, etc in the water.

A natural glowing look is the first sign of healthy skin. This sparkling look is possible when you are healthy from within. Usually factors like stress, lack of sleep, wrong diet and unhealthy lifestyle rob the radiance from your look. As a result, your skin starts looking dull and tired. Ayurveda suggests some tips which will make you glow inside out. 

According to Ayurveda, sparking beauty is quite easy to acquire. It comes from three vital elements:

• A nourished and healthy body
• A balanced mind
• A calm and peaceful spirit

Let’s find out the simple ways to achieve radiant beauty

Disciplined lifestyle

A disciplined life solves many problems. Ayurveda asks you to create certain good habits like waking up early, going to bed early, and eating your meals at fixed times. These are powerful beauty ingredients. Also, don’t overeat, keep at least one-quarter of your stomach empty. Before taking bath, pamper your skin with a massage for 15 minutes. Closely examine your teeth and tongue and clean them with care.

Stretches and yoga

Doing stretching exercises are essential. When you do stretching exercises, every muscle of your body should stretch. This will keep you physically fit. Every morning after half-hour of walk, take out some time to exercise. Yoga makes you fit in and out. It nourishes the body, strengthens the mind, and nurtures the spirit. This will also boost blood circulation, loosen accumulated toxins, and will help to push out towards exit points.

Proper breathing

Breathe in and breathe out works wonder and gives you the desired radiant look. Observe your rhythm of inhaling and exhaling. Maybe you breathe too shallow, just in and out from your upper chest. Ayurveda suggests breathing deep and slow. Inhale and feel the air reach into your abdomen. Also don’t breathe too fast—the air circulating channels need to be clear so that oxygen is distributed equally in your body. Therefore, your breathing pace should be easy and steady.

Find some silence

Don’t make your lifestyle too hectic. Get away from too much of noise and get some silence into your life. For a few hours every day, say nothing and hear nothing. Shut off your phones, TV, and don’t look at the computer or books. Just tune in to your inner self. You can also do meditation for some time every day to be with your inner self.

Eat for radiant beauty

Ayurveda recommends choosing fresh and local ingredients to cook your food. While your daily food should be simple, it should have the aroma and the essential spices. Basically, you should be happy while eating. The act of eating should be pleasant. Take small morsels and savour well. While eating sit with your spine straight, and there should be a relaxed stillness to the body. Add ghee (clarified butter), whole grains, lightly-cooked fruit, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, legumes and herbal tea to your diet. These nourish your skin, hair, and give you a radiant glow to your look.

Beauty bath

Make your daily bath pleasurable. Give yourself 15 minutes massage with warm sesame oil. This self-massage nourishes all the seven layers of the skin, and the seven different types of body tissues. This will help increase firmness of the skin. It will also reduce physical and mental fatigue and calm you down. This massage will purify the skin and give a radiant glow.

HOME CLEANSING RECIPES

Cleansing scrubs

For dry skin

• 2 teaspoons oats
• ¼ teaspoon almond powder
• ¼ teaspoon orange peel powder
• ¼ teaspoon lavender flower powder
• 2 tablespoons yogurt

Mix well and apply gently on face. Let it dry, then take it off and wash your face. Apply a good moisturizer.

Oatmeal is excellent for exfoliating the skin. It fights sun damage and replenish the skin with vitamins B & E. Orange peel balances the pH level of the skin and softens it. Almond powder is a protein-pack, and yogurt contains good lactobacilli that pacify Pitta.

For oily skin

• 1 teaspoon toasted wheat bran
• ¼ teaspoon almond powder
• ½ teaspoon orange-peel powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Wheat bran is an efficient scrub. When mixed with cooling yogurt, it helps to exfoliate the skin. Lemon juice has vitamin C, which promotes scrubbing activity.

Common cold may be harmless, but it is an irritating feeling when one feels weak and fatigue. A viral infection of your nose and throat, it can occur at any time throughout the year but the most common are in winter and during season change. It is also quite common in children but healthy adults can also expect to get twice or thrice a year.

Symptoms of common cold

Symptoms of a common cold usually surface at least one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Some of the common symptoms are:

• Running or blocked nose
• Sore/Scratchy throat
• Congestion
• Sneezing
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Cough
• Headache
• Mild fever

Ayurvedic remedies for preventing common cold

Besides eating a balanced seasonal diet, Ayurveda suggests certain remedies that can help you stay healthy, particularly throughout the winter season, when common cold is prevalent.

Turmeric: Turmeric is an immune-boosting spice. Make a paste of organic turmeric powder and pure honey. At the first hint of a cold, start taking 1 teaspoon of the paste every two hours until you feel better. To make it even more powerful, to this paste add black pepper and ghee.

Amla, tulsi and ashwagandha: Strengthen your immune system by having amla and tulsi. Also take ashwagandha, which is an adaptogenic herb that has immune-boosting properties. Ashwagandha powder or in other forms are available over the counter. You can have it thrice a day after meals.

Put oil in your ear: If you put a few drops of warm oil—sesame oil, mustard seed oil, or any ear oil—in each ear at night, it will lubricate the upper Eustachian tube and the cervical lymph nodes in the neck. Our lymphatic system carries our immune system, and when the cervical lymph nodes get dry, they get swollen glands. This happens when the immune system is down. When the nodes are lubricated, the glands can effectively get rid of any bad bacteria that might have accumulated.

Neti and nasya: Do Neti and nasya every day. Take saltwater in a neti pot. Stand in front of your sink and place the tip of the pot’s spout in one nostril. Tilt your head and pour the saltwater into one nostril. Keep your head tilted till the solution enter the nasal passage and flow out from the other nostril. This cleans out the sinuses. But the saltwater may make the skin dry, which reacts by producing mucus. Mucus is a breeding ground for bad bacteria. So you have to do nasya, which is a nasal-lubricating technique. You have to sniff herbalized oils in the nose to moisturize the sinuses and prevent dryness.

Oil pulling: Start oil pulling every day. It is an ancient practice that involves swishing oil in your mouth. Oil pulling with herbalized oils removes bad bacteria from the mouth and boosts good immune-boosting bacteria in your mouth.

Ayurvedic remedies to cure common cold

Inhale steam: Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil in hot water and inhale the steam. While inhaling, cover your head and the bowl with a towel. This will relieve a stuffed nose.

Sip tea made with tulsi leaves with an equal quantity of dried ginger powder. It is an excellent drink for common cold. You can also add milk and sugar to it.

Mix the juice of ginger and tulsi one teaspoon each to one teaspoon honey and take two-three times a day. You can also take a small piece of ginger fried in ghee, two times a day.

Mix half teaspoon of black pepper powder to jaggery and have it twice a day.

Add one teaspoon of powder or paste of turmeric to a cup of warm milk and take it thrice a day. This gives immediate relief in cold.

Ayurveda believes that anything that leads to building up of ama (toxins), which usually happens when food is not digested properly, makes us vulnerable to fever. These toxins make a perfect environment for viruses to thrive in our body, while it weakens our immune system.

Mahasudarshan Kadha is a perfect solution for any type of fever. It is an Ayurvedic antipyretic medicine used in all types of diseases which leads to fever. According to Ayurveda, this kadha can be taken when our doshas get imbalanced and balance Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. It also helps to digest the toxin particles developed from undigested food, and unblock the microchannels in the body, which induces sweating and lowers the fever. Besides taking care of fevers, the kadha improves appetite and helps to gain strength to fight the fever.

This Ayurvedic formulation is used for the treatment of chronic fevers including malaria and chikungunya. It is a complex mixture prepared by blending several medicinal herbs like musta, nimba, parpat, shunthi, chirayta, kutki, guduchi, etc. These ingredients make it a beneficial medicinal formulation that cools and cleanses the system.

The kadha can be taken twice or thrice a day after meals or as suggested by your Ayurvedic doctor.

BENEFITS OF MAHASUDARSHAN KADHA

All types of fevers: Mahasudarshan Kadha is an effective and safer alternative to manage fever. It reduces ama in the body and eliminates the toxins, which usually causes fever. It provides good results in lowering fever. Even in acute fever, the kadha works well and reduces fever. Along with managing fever it also cures body aches resulting from fever. Some people suffer from low fever and experience unusual fatigue and body ache. Even after the fever is cured, the patient suffers from lethargy, loss of appetite, physical debility, irritability, and pain in the legs. In such a case, Mahasudarshan Kadha works wonders.

Malaria, typhoid and jaundice: This amazing concoction that is rich in antipyretic properties is extensively used for treating malaria, typhoid and jaundice. A potent anti-malarial extract, Mahasudarshan Kadha is an incredible medicine in treating malaria. It eliminates the toxins from the body and unblocks the microchannels. As a result, high fever gets controlled. It also works well to cure headaches, respiratory infections, debility, cough and breathing difficulties, body ache that come with a fever. It also works well along with other medicines and increases their efficacy.

Loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, headache, and weakness: Fever is usually associated with loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, headache, and weakness. Mahasudarshan Kadha is known to work wonders on fever-related problems. It not only improves appetite but also helps to regain the strength of the body.

Protection against bacteria and microorganisms: Mahasudarshan Kadha is rich in antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties that help to protect against infectious bacteria and harmful microorganisms. As a result, it boosts immunity and protects the body against bacterial infections. It is, therefore, beneficial in fighting intestinal infection, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infection caused by various bacterial pathogens. It is also effective in fighting against S. typhi, S. epidermidis, E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris, and P. aeruginosa.

Fights infection: As the kadha is so beneficial in treating all kinds of fever, it definitely protects the body from harmful viruses and bacteria, enhancing immunity and strengthening the body’s natural defense power. This Ayurvedic kadha is also recommended for breathlessness, anemia, cough, and palpitation.

Improved immunity: The kadha has antipyretic and antioxidant properties that help the body to fight against infections, strengthening and increasing the body’s immunity through detoxification. It also helps to eliminate toxins from our body.

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Boosts digestion: It stimulates secretion of digestive enzymes and gastric juices, thereby improving appetite and boosting digestion.

Detoxification: Mahasudarshan Kadha is an excellent tonic that detoxifies the body by cleansing inflammatory toxins from the body through the skin or urine by promoting perspiration and excretion of urine. It releases heat from the system and unblocks the channels of circulation.

Supports functionality of vital organs: The kadha works as a blood purifier, thus enhances the functions of the liver, lymphatic system and spleen. It stimulates the liver to release bile and help treat hypochondriac pain, gallstones, and liver toxicity.

We always want our children to be in the pink of health. Ayurveda has the right wisdom that can be easily applied to children to support their health. Since Ayurveda fundamentally takes a preventative approach to health and wellbeing, it aims to correct the imbalances that crop up in kids.

Every child’s body is made up of three doshas—Vata, Pitta and Kapha. According to Ayurveda, understanding a child’s constitution provides insight into how to support his or her strength, health, and wellbeing, while protecting him/her against predictable vulnerabilities.

Vata type of children is usually lighter, leaner build with an irregular appetite. Pitta children have moderate physical build, and have sharp appetite. These children should eat regularly because they cannot tolerate skipping meals. Kapha, on the other hand, manifests in children as a solid and sturdy physique. These children have mild appetite and slower digestion.

Ayurvedic approach to a kid’s lunch

Ayurveda says that the digestive agni in children is maximum during lunch time. Their body gets influenced by the movement of the sun and the digestive agni is, therefore, high when the sun is the strongest. As the sun goes down, our food intake should be reduced. Hence, a kid’s lunch should be heavy and dinner light.

Let’s find out how Ayurveda can inspire us to pack nutritious and tasty lunch boxes for kids as they go to school. Children will only finish off their lunch boxes when they get tasty food of their choice. So it’s a challenge to prepare lunch boxes with tasty as well as nutritious food.

Studies have proved that fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products should comprise children’s school meals, which would effectively promote healthy eating behaviours in children as well as meet their growth and developmental requirements.

Always prepare lunch for your kids fresh without leftovers. As it should be the largest meal of the day, it should be filling. Preparing lunch for your kid according to his/her Prakriti (Ayurvedic constitution, dosha or body type) can help the child attain proper immunity and will also help him/her to prevent from diseases. Also, ensure that the food stays warm, so give your child a thermo-insulated lunch box. Warm food provides proper nourishment and balance to the body.

Ayurvedic lunch for kids doesn’t mean it has to be Indian food or ethnic food only. Ayurveda is all about balancing the doshas and bringing relief through the balance. So it can be any food as far as it balances the doshas in the kid. For example, if you have a hyperactive child, you may give him/her food that calms her down. Root vegetables that grow underneath the ground have earthiness in them. They will provide calming, or sattvic effect to the mind of the kid.

Healthy lunch ideas

Lemon rice: Rice is filling and healthy for kids. It contains carbohydrate, which gives energy to the kid. To make rice tasty to the liking of the kid, you can make lemon rice, which contains ghee (clarified butter), urad dal (black gram), chana dal (chickpea), cashews, ginger, turmeric, lemons and coriander leaves. All these ingredients are healthy and filling. With rice you can give a side dish of roasted mixed vegetables like carrots, capsicum, or any other green vegetables.

Sandwiches with green vegetables are another healthy and filling option. Try to use brown breads, if possible. You can use chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, feta and fresh lettuce for the sandwich.

Ayurvedic pizza: You can also include Ayurvedic pizza, baked french fries, veggie burgers in your weekly lunch box menu. For Ayurvedic pizza, you can be creative and make the pizza base with tortillas or chapatis. For toppings, use broccoli, zucchini, tofu, fresh organic mozzarella cheese, and olives.

An Ayurvedic recipe is never complete without spices, so use turmeric, which helps to stimulate digestion and boosts immunity. Ginger helps in digestion and maintains healthy respiratory system. It also balances Vata and Kapha doshas. Coriander spice balances all the three doshas.

Baked vegetables: Baked sweet potato with plenty of ghee or olive oil, a little fresh lemon juice, good mineral-rich salt tastes delicious. It also provides the warmth, energy, and nerve nutrition. It is not only tasty but also full of nutrients like vitamins A and C and magnesium.

Baked tofu balances Vata, decreases Pitta, and increases Kapha. Organic tofu baked with coconut oil is delicious and healthy. You can also wrap the tofu with a chapatti to make it more filling.

The Ayurvedic concept of fire, which is known as agni, is important for our overall health. Agni is found in each cell, each tissue, and every functional system within our body. It determines which substance enters each cell and tissue, and which substance should get removed as waste. In fact, impaired agni is the root cause of all imbalances and diseases.

While the food we eat nourishes and strengthens this agni, and boosts our digestive system, an impaired or imbalanced agni can lead to digestive problems. According to Ayurveda, harmful foods like processed foods, fried foods, cold foods, very spicy foods, etc. can create undigested residue in the form of toxins, which in Ayurveda is called ama. Ama is the root cause of diseases.

Ayurveda, therefore, suggests that we should eat only when we are hungry. Keeping a gap of at least three hours between meals is essential, so that the previous meal gets digested properly.

Signs of an unhealthy gut

Many aspects of modern life like high stress level, insufficient sleep, eating processed foods, and taking antibiotics can damage our gut health. This, in turn, leads to many different health problems like heart diseases, weak immune system, and even cancer. An unhealthy gut can manifest in several ways.

Upset stomach: Stomach problems like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrheal, and heartburn are signs of an unhealthy gut.

Wrong diet: If we eat too much of processed foods and added sugars, it can decrease the amount of good bacteria in our gut, leading to imbalances and damaging our gut further.

Gaining or losing weight without any reason like changes in your diet or exercise may be a sign of an unhealthy gut as an imbalanced gut impairs our body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

Disturbed sleep: If you have less sleep or disturbed sleep without any obvious reason, it can be a sign of gut problem. Unhealthy gut contributes to sleep disturbances like insomnia or poor sleep.

Food intolerance: Food allergy takes place when you feel difficulty in digesting certain foods, which is due to immune system’s reaction to certain foods. Food intolerances are caused due to poor quality of bacteria in the gut.

Ayurvedic solutions

Ayurveda suggests a few simple lifestyle changes to rebalance our gut health.

Lemon water: Ayurveda recommends starting your day with a glass of lukewarm lemon water. Mix a spoonful of pure honey and fresh lemon juice to a glass of lukewarm water and drink it on an empty stomach. It helps to cleanse the digestive tract. Moreover, lemon juice is a source of vitamin C, and honey helps to intensify the agni. It basically detoxifies the system.

Light diet: When you want to repair the gut health, you need a rest and repair diet, which means a diet with fewer intakes of wheat, sugar, and dairy for several weeks. This will do wonders to your system.

Light up the fire before meals: The digestive fire, or agni is like a proper fire. A wrong diet consisting of rich, heavy, or sugary foods will lead to piling up like logs in the fire. As a result, the digestive fire may get a little diminished. So you need to rekindle the digestive fire before you start your meals. Eating a slice of ginger with freshly-squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of salt will light up the digestive fire.

Drink lassi with meals:  Take a glass of lassi to get healthy gut bacteria. Curd is rich in lactobacilli, the bacteria our intestines need to function well. Lassi will help to reduce gas and bloating when you drink it with meals.

Detoxifying tea: Sip organic detox tea, which helps to stimulate the lymphatic system and improve the gut’s nutrient absorption power. It will also help to flush out toxins through the urinary tract. Detox tea contains organic cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds, which help to rebalance gut health.

Outdoor walks: Studies have shown that morning and evening walks outdoors help to calm the mind and improve mental health. As our mind and the gut are interlinked, this therapeutic solution helps to improve gut health.

Herbs and spices for gut health

• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Cinnamon
• Basil
• Bay leaves
• Chamomile
• Cardamom

Ayurveda values ghee (clarified butter) as a treasured food as it has a number of healing properties. Ghee consists of fat soluble vitamins, which help in weight loss. It also helps in balancing hormones. Since ghee has a smoke point, it prevents from producing free radicals that damage cell functions in our body. Ghee also contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin A. However, it is a common belief that while ghee may be good for our body when consumed in moderate quantities, too much of it can increase our cholesterol levels. But Ayurveda believes that ghee maintains healthy cholesterol.

Ghee is very significant in Ayurveda. It is considered as one of the four main types of fat substances described in Ayurveda. Ghee has been utilised for thousands of years in Ayurveda as a therapeutic agent. It is considered as the best among all fats because it can assimilate the properties of the ingredients it is added to, and the best part is that its properties never get compromised.

Does ghee increase cholesterol?

There is a common debate that ghee that is high in saturated fat, increases cholesterol and, hence, it is bad for our heart health. In the last several decades, ghee has been seen as a source that increases the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as it contains saturated fatty acids and cholesterol and, when heated it contains cholesterol oxidation products.

However, Ayurveda rubbishes this belief. In one of Ayurveda’s classical text Charaka Samhita, the qualities of ghee (known as ghrita in Ayurveda) are described. According to Ayurveda, ghee balances Pitta and Vata, and promotes Kapha. While it is conducive to rasa dhatu, shukra dhatu and ojas, ghee relieves burning sensation.

It is documented in Charaka Samhita that consumption of ghee is good for health as it boosts memory and intelligence, promotes agni, increases semen in males, and is good for ojas.

While it is considered as the best among all fats, it is cool, has a madhura rasa (sweet taste), and even after digestion it is sweet in taste in our stomach (madhura vipaka). Ayurveda says if ghee is consumed according to prescribed methods, it exerts 1000 types of actions. Ghee has aphrodisiac properties and nourishes Kapha. It destroys germs and toxins in our bodies by increasing immunity.

Sushruta also stated that ghee is sweet, mild in action, soft, cold in potency, and does not increase moisture in the tissues. It does not cause blockages in the vessels. Thus, it is safe to say that ghee does not cause any blockage or deposits in the blood vessels. Hence, ghee does not raise cholesterol.

Good for heart

There are two types of cholesterols—low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which are called bad cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) that are known as good cholesterol. It is the bad cholesterol that leads to health problems since it accumulates in the arteries. Therefore, it is important to maintain a balance between LDL and HDL for healthy cholesterol levels.

The popular belief that ghee raises cholesterol levels is a myth. It is, in fact, a safer bet to use ghee for heart health as compared to refined oil. The fats present in ghee are not associated with heart disease in the way other fatty acids do. It is directly used as energy by the body and not stored as fats.

According to Ayurveda, which our modern dieticians also believe, that ghee can be consumed daily in small quantities. Children can have a larger quantity every day. Studies have proven that ghee can be good for lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol.

However, while it is good to include ghee in our diet, it should always be consumed in small quantities. Large quantities of ghee may be difficult to digest leading to ama (toxin) formation.

Today, the thinking on fat has shifted. Many forms of dietary fat are now considered good for health. While experts disagree about saturated fat, some do not consider it to be a health risk. Studies have proved that ghee does not seem to be linked to heart disease.

In an effort to understand the heart-health risks of ghee, several studies have been conducted on rats. These studies found that diet with up to 10% ghee does not lead to elevated levels of harmful cholesterol, hence it is not harmful to heart health. More than 10%, however, increases blood’s level of unhealthy cholesterol and triglycerides.

Studies prove Ashwagandha to be a natural compound with sleep-inducing potential

Insomnia or sleeplessness is a disorder that can impact a person’s physical health and mental wellbeing. In insomnia, the body cannot increase or decrease sleep regulating chemicals at the right time and in the right amounts.

There are several factors that disrupt sleep. Any imbalance in the body systems can adversely impact our sleep cycle. Stress is a major factor that disrupts our normal sleep cycle. Stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels in our body and makes the body to respond to stress. When the cortisol levels are high, it can force the body to stay active disrupting natural sleep cycle. It is found that people who suffer from insomnia have high levels of cortisol, particularly at night.

The drugs for insomnia that are currently available in the market have adverse effects. People, therefore, look for safe alternatives like herbal therapies that have no side effects. Ashwagandha has been proved to be an Ayurvedic rasayana and has the potential to treat insomnia safely and effectively.

Extract from Ashwagandha is a natural compound with sleep-inducing properties without any side effects. It is known to improve sleep quality and sleep onset latency in patients with insomnia. To determine the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha extract on people with insomnia, a study was conducted at Prakruti Hospital, Kalwa, Maharashtra, India.

Study by Prakruti Hospital

In the study conducted by Prakruti Hospital, Kalwa, 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups in a randomization ratio of 2:1. A capsule containing highest concentration of ashwagandha root extract of 300 mg was given to group A and group B was given identical capsule containing starch. Both the groups were given the medicine twice daily with milk or water for 10 weeks. Sleep actigraphy was used to assess sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and wake after sleep onset.

The result was quite encouraging. The sleep onset latency was improved in both the groups. However, the sleep onset latency was significantly shorter after 10 weeks with group A compared to Group B. Also, significant improvement in sleep efficiency was seen with the group given ashwagandha. Significant improvement in sleep quality was also observed with this group. So it was proved that all sleep parameters were improved with ashwagandha root extract treatment for 10 weeks.

Study by University of Tsukuba, Japan

A study by University of Tsukuba, Japan found that a component of ashwagandha leaves can significantly induce sleep. The research group led by Mahesh K. Kaushik and Yoshihiro Urade of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, studied the effect of various components of ashwagandha on sleep in mice by recording electroencephalogram and electromyography.

The study found that the water extract of ashwagandha leaf contains triethylene glycol (TEG) that induce non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and also changed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep slightly. Commercially available TEG was also found to increase the amount of NREM sleep. The researchers concluded that TEG is the active component that induces sound sleep.

Getting sound sleep is important for health as our body undergoes repairing while we sleep. Insomnia is caused because of the disruption in the body’s circadian rhythms (our body clock) or sleep-wake homeostasis, which is aligned with the day and night cycle.

Benefits of Ashwagandha

Many studies have proved that adaptogens help inspire a sound sleep. Adaptogens are herbs and plants that have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. One such powerful adaptogen with therapeutic benefits is ashwagandha. Studies have shown that ashwagandha has positive benefits on the endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems, with powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, and antioxidant effects.

How ashwagandha treats insomnia

Ashwagandha corrects various systems in the body, including the immune system, neurological system, reproductive system, endocrinal system, and reproductive system.

According to Ayurveda, ashwagandha improves overall health and strength and helps to fight lethargy and fatigue. While, the herb improves functioning of thyroid and boosts metabolism, it also helps in warding off infections and helps in faster recovery due to its antibacterial and immune-modulating properties.

The herb also helps in dealing with stress by reducing stress hormone levels called cortisol in the body. Ashwagandha also has properties that can help in reducing and repairing damage to brain cells.

Due to these properties, ashwagandha is considered as an effective herb to cure insomnia

Introducing, AyurvedaOne Ayush Health Promotion Kit in a box! This government-approved Ayush Health Promotion Kit contains three Ayurvedic medicines. 1. Ayush Kwath Churna 2. Sudarshana Ghana Vati 3. Samshamani Vati.

Prepared with organic medicinal herbs, these Ayurvedic formulations enrich the body’s defence mechanism. Ayush Kwath Churna defends the body against bacteria and viruses. Sudarshana Ghana Vati fights contagious viral infections and Samshamani Vati protects the body against all forms of fevers.

Ayush Kwath churna is a combination of medicinal herbs commonly used in every Indian kitchen – basil leaves (tulsi), cinnamon bark (dalchini), Zingiber officinale (shunthi), and Krishna Maricha (Piper nigrum).

Sudarshana Ghana Vati is an antipyretic medicine that consists of 54 herbs. Samshamani Vati is an antipyretic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory medicine that contains Guduchi.

Take all the three medicines together to boost your immunity. Since these medicines are composed of various herbal ingredients, they offer several health benefits to the body.

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