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Fasting Therapy: Langhana Chikitsa

Fasting Therapy: Langhana Chikitsa

by | Sep 8, 2019 | Yoga

Overview Fasting/Langhana Therapy

Our body is an engine which is designed to work for a definite period of time. Like we make sure that our bike engines make a proper rest and reuse it for the better efficiency of it, our body also requires the rest. Rest is one of the positive factors for well-functioning of the Gastro-Intestinal tract. The diseases caused by Amadoshas (metabolic toxins) are described by the Apatarpana chikitsa (fasting therapy)in Ayurveda. Vagbhata-one of the major scholar of Ayurveda- classified the state of metabolic toxin due to incomplete digestion which results from poor digestive fire strength into three types and Indicated separate treatments.

Langhana-Upavasa (Fasting therapy) treatment is indicated in alpa (mild) state of aman Langhana and Pachana (Digestive) drugs are indicated in where ama is in madhyama (moderate) state and sodhana kriya (Body cleansing) is indicated in prabhuta (excessive) state of ama. Panchakarma can be done looking at the state of doshas.

According to Chakrapani, in a condition of ama dosha, an asana Roopa langhana has been advised. The abstinence from ahara, give a sort of relief from agni by not putting an additional load on it. By that agni rejuvenates its capacity and slowly it tries to digest the ama which is held before it. The langhana karma causes lightness in the body and removes the firmess, heaviness, laziness caused by Ama. The ama dosha is also disease, which is to be treated by langhanam. Apart from this, the langhana karma is specific in the conditions where ama entered in the circulation.

According to the experiments conducted on fasting therapy on rats at the centre for cellular and Molecular Biology, India, the belief is scientifically true. Intestinal cells absorb more from the reserve food available in the body during starvation (upvasa).

Reserved food is stored in the body either as glycogen or fats. Glycogen, a polymer of glucose is stored in the liver and during non-availability of food certain enzymes break it down into glucose, which provides energy to the body. The membrane cholesterol level goes well, and a dedicated sense of purpose. Evidence is also presented to explain an unexpected bonus from fasting- the increased production of growth hormone (HGH) by the pituitary gland which helps to retard the ageing process.

For most people, fasting therapy can be a revitalizing experience, restoring energy and clear mind, as well as helping to remove a host of minor symptoms, while encouraging the self-healing mechanisms of the body to regenerate and rebuild a level of wellbeing you have probably all but forgotten.

Know The Benefits

The benefits of fasting in the treatment of diabetes were first revealed in research conducted by Dr.G.Guelpa in 1910, and in 1915 Dr.F.Allen showed that fasting therapy could normalize the blood sugar levels of a diabetic, as well as improve associated gangrene. Since then studies into this particular therapeutic potential of fasting have continued.

Clinical trials showing now patients with epilepsy can be helped by fasting controlled fasting was found to reduce the length, severity, and a number of seizures. A great deal of research has verified the value of fasting in the treatment of heart disease and high blood pressure. In the 1960s and 1970s, a host of reports appeared in the medical press on how fasting had been shown to reduce the undesirable fats in the bloodstream, to lower high blood pressure, to reduce cholesterol levels, to bring about improvement in cases of atheroma and to alleviate congestive heart failure.

Chemical toxicity has been successfully treated using fasting therapy. For example, when toxic cooking oil containing the rice oil contaminant PCB was consumed, patients were reported to have relief from their symptoms, sometimes dramatically so, after between seven and ten days of fasting. Patients with those conditions known as auto-immune diseases, which include lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis (kidney disease) amongst others, have shown marked benefits when fasting has been used in their treatment.

Thus, Langhana or fasting therapy of Ayurveda is considered to be very beneficial when done under the guidelines of Ayurveda Physicians. Proper consultation of diet, period along with Dos and Don’ts should be taken care which can be available at Nepal Ayurveda Home.

Shatavari: Queen of Herbs

Shatavari: Queen of Herbs

by | Jul 11, 2019 | Yoga, Ayurveda, Health

Shatavari literally means a woman with 100 husbands. This indicates towards the strong hormonal and reproductive system of the woman making her able, fit and full of vitality. The plant is also called Shatamuli representing multiple roots in a bunch. Shatavari, Latin named Asparagus racemosus is called Asparagus in English. Various species of Asparagus has been used as a general tonic and as an aphrodisiac especially by women since long. Here, we will be discussing the health benefits of Asparagus from Ayurveda viewpoint.

Health Benefits Of Shatavari(Asparagus)

Plant Description

Asparagus racemosus, belonging to the Liliaceae family, is a thorny climber with smooth triangular branches. Tiny long, straight or curved thorns are seen and the leaves are a clade. The inflorescence of this plant is 1 to 2 inches long, white, single or bunched and with creamy white flowers. Tiny globose fruits become red after they ripe. The roots are creamy or whitish in color, many in number and are fleshy. These are distributed in up to 4000 feet altitude and are widely cultivated in Nepal and India.

Energetics of Shatavari

  • Rasa (Taste): Sweet, bitter
  • Guna (Quality): Heaviness, unctuous
  • Virya (Potency): Cold
  • Vipaka (Rasa essence): Sweet
  • Dosha: Pacifies Vata and Pitta
  • Chemical Constitution: steroidal saponins- sarsaponin, protodioscin, diosgenin
  • Vitamins A, B, C, E, folic acid, amino acid asparagine, arginine

Actions And Therapeutic Uses Of Shatavari

  • When applied externally, it has dosha pacifying and tissues strengthening effects. The oil-cooked with Shatavari, when applied locally, helps in headaches, Vata disorders, neurological problems, weaknesses and skin diseases.
  • It is also a tonic to our brain, strengthens the nervous system and also has pain relieving effects.
  • Due to its pitta pacifying property and its nature to stimulate biliary flow, it is used in hyperacidity, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, and ulcers in the mucosa of GIT.
  • Shatavari is good for the heart and helps reduce blood pressure, thus used in heart diseases, hypertension, and epistaxis.
  • Woman’s support at its best – It can be the best tonic for pregnant women, those undergoing problems with their menstruation and specially before, during as well as after menopause, as it helps to balance the hormonal changes and deficiency, females go through in those stages of life. It helps nourish the fetus inside the womb and also promotes the formation of milk in the mother’s breast. This is why powder of Shatavari roots has been distributed for free by the government Ayurveda hospitals of Nepal in each district to the pregnant for the better health of mother and child.
  • It also has diuretic properties, thus used in oliguria and difficulty in micturition.
  • Rasayana – Shatavari promotes good health, vigor, vitality, and longevity. It has anti-oxidants in it, thus renders anti-aging effects keeping us younger.

The roots of this species of Asparagus are used, 10-20 ml if the extracted juice is taken, 3-6 grams of powder and 50-100ml if the decoction is to be taken.

In a nutshell, despite all the health benefits of Shatavari, it is used as a general tonic by both sexes and specially females. Like Withania serves as a rejuvenating tonic in male, Shatavari is specialized in improving female health in all ages. It is, therefore, woman’s support at its best and ultimately the Queen of Herbs.

Healthy Eating Habits

Healthy Eating Habits

by | Jul 10, 2019 | Yoga, Food, Health

We are what we eat. Food is one of the three basic needs of human. In Ayurveda, it is the prime among the three Upasthambha, which holds us. The food we take is responsible for our growth and development, health and sustainability. Food gives us the energy to perform physical activities on a daily basis, the energy for us to respire and for our hearts to contract. Not only the physical activities, food has an impact on our thinking, consciousness, and alertness. In addition, there are foods described in Ayurveda that would increase the Sattva, Rajas or Tamas qualities of mind.

While in today’s world, newer ideas of nutrition sciences, dietetics, and food hygiene are emerging, Ayurveda illustrates various rules regarding food habits that gives a gross idea of them all. In this article, we will discuss the basics that we shall keep in mind before taking food.

Learn 7 Rules Of Healthy Eating Habits

1. Sadras Food – Ayurveda suggests us to include all the six tastes: sweet, sour, salt, pungent, bitter and astringent in our everyday diet so as to establish a balance between the doshas in our body.

  • Vata pacifying tastes- sweet, sour, salt
  • Vata aggravating tastes- pungent, bitter, astringent
  • Pitta pacifying tastes- sweet, bitter, astringent
  • Pitta aggravating tastes- sour, salt, pungent
  • Kapha pacifying tastes- pungent, bitter, astringent
  • Kapha aggravating tastes- sweet, sour, salt

You can also know more about Dietary recommendation as per Prakriti, here.

2. Food Amount – While Acharya Charaka, father of Ayurveda medicine suggests to take food that would make up 1/3rd of our stomach, take 1/3rd amount of liquid diet and leave 1/3rd of the stomach capacity vacant to allow the proper digestion of food; Another scholar of Ayurveda, Acharya Vagbhata allows to fill half of the stomach space with food, a quarter with liquid leaving a quarter space vacant. The idea is not to fill up the entire capacity and leave some space for better digestion.

The food we take shall be in such quantity so that it does not aggravate any of the doshas, helps in the smooth operation of body mechanisms and gets properly digested in time.

Disregarding this rule and taking full-stomach food can lead to laziness, sleepiness, difficulty in moving, lack of energy in short term and inadequate digestive fire that can be a root cause of many diseases in long run.

3. Combination of foods – The combination of several foods can render harmful to toxic effects on our body and are called incompatible foods.

Example Of Combination Of Food

  • Ghee and honey in an equal amount can be toxic
  • Fish and milk taken together may cause skin problems and even psoriasis
  • Tomato or eggplant with milk or yogurt
  • Milk and yogurt, sour fruits

4. Eat only when you feel hungry so that your digestive fire will properly act on your food and you won’t suffer from indigestion and the problems it can lead to.

5. Never speak or laugh while eating. Always concentrate on and only on the food you are taking. Food takes care of you. You shall respect it too.

6. Do not eat too fast or too slow, but eat calmly, at time and by properly chewing food. If you eat too fast, you already take a lot of calories before you have eaten enough. In contrary, if you eat too slow, your brain sends signals of fullness in a certain time, but your calories and nutritive needs won’t have met; also, your food gets cold and it’s laborious for the body to digest.

7. Always take clean, fresh food you are habituated with. And keep in mind the place, climate and seasons and properties of food and your own nature, age and health condition before taking food.

Conclusion,

Food is medicine. It purifies your mana, gives the energy to perform activities, makes up your body tissues and body resistance. Therefore, we shall always be thankful for the food in our plate and take it with respect, dedication, and love.

Adharaniya Vega

Adharaniya Vega

by | Jul 8, 2019 | Yoga, Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an art of how we live. It is a lifestyle, truly a way of living. It explains every do’s and don’ts in our day to day life, in the form of Dinacharya, Ritucharya, Dharaniya vega, and Adharaniya vega and even more. Human beings have of the body with a machine-like pattern, where different mechanisms are being conducted every time. As a by-product of such mechanisms, various urges come to existence, which if suppressed can cause harmful effects on our body and may even lead to diseases.

Adharaniya derives from Sanskrit word ‘dharana’ which means to hold and the prefix ‘a’ means not to. ‘Vega’ translates to urges. Therefore, the urges of our body which we shan’t hold are simply known as Adharaniya vega.

13 Urges (Adharaniya Vega) Of Acharya Charaka

  • Urge for urination
  • Urge for defecation
  • Urge for seminal discharge
  • Urge for flatus
  • Urge for vomiting
  • Urge for sternutation or sneezing
  • Urge for eructation
  • Urge for pandiculation or yawning
  • Urge for hunger
  • Urge for thirst
  • Urge for lacrimation
  • Urge for sleep
  • Urge for deep breathing after exercise

Now, let us discuss the probable effect of suppression of a few urges that we often suppress as well as their management.

Types Of Adharaniya Vega And Its Management

1. Urge of Urination:

Suppression of this urge leads to pain in the pelvic region, the urethra and difficulty in urination. It might also lead to headache and pain in groins. We can manage this by oleation, massage and steaming, intake of ghee before meal and sleep and Vasti therapies.

2. Urge of Defecation:

Most of us might have this habit of suppressing our urge of defecation when we are at work or outside. If yes, we must have experienced pain in our lower abdomen, the fullness of abdomen, pain, and heaviness in upper thighs. Some might also have experienced faeces and flatus arrested inside following the suppression. To get rid of these, suppository, massage and steaming, Vata pacifying food and herbs are advised.

3. Urge For Seminal Discharge:

The reproductive juices are considered the most vital of all 7 tissues and its urge is not meant to be suppressed as per the Ayurveda classics. If suppressed, it leads to scrotal and penile pain, tiredness of body, pain in cardiac region, obstruction of urine and seminal vesical calculi. Massaging the local area, immersing the area into medicated decoction or oil, intake of alcohol, chicken meat, milk, Niruha vasti, and sexual intercourse are measures to manage the problems.

4. Urge For Flatus:

Due to hesitation or shame, people often suppress flatus, especially when in the crowd. But this can lead to obstruction of the same, urine and faeces, gaseous distension and pain in the abdomen. These problems can be managed by applying oil, steam and suppositories, Vata pacifying food, medicines, and vasti therapy.

5. Urge For Vomiting:

Controlling the vomiting urge can lead to itching in the skin, eruptions and other skin problems, loss of appetite, fever, anemia, and swelling like problems. Though each of these problems may need to be addressed separately, emesis after food intake, medicated smoke, fasting or light foods intake, bloodletting, exercise, and virechana are said to manage them in general.

6. Urge For Sleep:

Suppression of urge for sleep may lead to yawning, fatigue, body pain, headache, heaviness in eyes. These can be managed by a good oil massage to head and sleep.

7. Urge For Hunger:

Not eating when hungry can result in emaciated body, weakness, uneven skin tone, and complexion, pain in body parts, anorexia and dizziness which can be possibly managed by taking warm, light and unctuous food.

Easiest Yoga Poses That Beginners Can Do

Easiest Yoga Poses That Beginners Can Do

by | Jul 7, 2019 | Yoga

Practicing yoga has multiple benefits for the mind, spirit, and body. Yoga Asanas can control aging, lift our disposition and help in curing disease. Moreover, yoga is a practice that anyone can get into no matter what background. This article will look at the basic Yoga Asanas for beginners, and how each of them can benefit your health.

bitilasana yoga pose

1. Bitilasana

Bitilasana means the cow pose. It’s an easy, gentle technique to warm up the spine. You start on your hands and knees with the Bharmanasana (table top) pose. Ensure that your wrists, elbows, and shoulders are aligned and perpendicular to the floor. Also, keep your knees directly below your hips. As you inhale lift your head and chest towards the ceiling while allowing your belly to sink to the floor. As you do the pose, remember to protect your neck by drawing your shoulders down and away from your ears. When you exhale, come back to the Bharmanasana. This pose helps in stretching the neck and front torso. It also provides a gentle massage to the spine and organs in the belly region. You can pair this with the Marjaryasana (cat pose).

adho mukha svanasana

2. Adho Mukha Svanasana

This is more commonly known as downward-facing dog. It’s arguably the most popular yoga pose, also because of its all-over rejuvenating stretch. To do the pose, start with Bharmanasana. Remember to plant your hands and spread your palms. Then, exhale deeply while you lift your knees away from the floor. Lengthen your tailbone away from your pelvis. Push your thighs back and plant your heels onto the floor. Straighten your knees but be mindful not to lock them. Take a few breaths here. This asana has many benefits: it energizes the body, improves digestion and calms down the brain. It also prevents osteoporosis and relieves headaches and insomnia.

sukhasana yoga pose

3. Sukhasana

Sukhasana is a leg fold that’s also called the easy pose. Start in a seated position on the floor with your legs outstretched. Then, bend your knees and fold your legs in towards your torso. Slip each foot beneath the opposite knee. Remember to relax your feet so that the outer edges rest easy on the floor. You can either place your hands on your lap or knees. This pose helps in calming the brain. It also supports the strengthening of the back, while stretching the knees and ankles.

savasana yoga pose

4. Savasana

Also called the corpse pose, this asana involves total relaxation and neutrality. It involves lying down on the floor with your hands and feet stretched outward. You shouldn’t be feeling any tension during this asana. Savasana helps in quieting the mind and body. It calms the brain as well, relieving it of stress and fatigue. It also aids in lowering blood pressure.

Why You Should Take Up Yoga

The benefits of taking up yoga increase as you continually practice it. A good example of this is how professional sports stars use yoga as a way to keep their career going for longer. Times of India looked at how Canadian Olympic football player Kara Lang used yoga to help prevent injuries and improve her breathing. This allowed her to become one of the youngest members of the women’s national team.

At the other end of the age scale, Roger Federer revealed that he also uses yoga for back pain and recovery. His training has led him to be the most successful tennis player in the sport’s history. Federer is also the highest paid athlete in tennis and is one of the sport’s longest playing stars. This is due to him staying almost injury free through supportive practices like yoga. Indeed, yoga is a practice that benefits both beginners and elite athletes. It doesn’t matter if you’re in your early years or later years, now is the time to start, and these poses will help you on your journey.

The article was written for nepalyogahome.com
By: Clara Kaye

Do Yoga and Ayurveda Have Healing Effects?

Do Yoga and Ayurveda Have Healing Effects?

by | Feb 8, 2019 | Ayurveda, Yoga

The meaning of yoga is to unify the body, mind, and soul to discover a balanced, harmonious and happy life where there is no sickness and bondage. So yoga fundamentally concentrates for a healthy body. Ayurveda is a sister science of yoga as both of them has the same origin i.e. Vedas.

Yoga and Ayurveda have healing effects on the body, which is their primary function. Unless the body is healthy, one cannot enjoy the real happiness and real meaning of life. First of all Yoga and Ayurveda makes your body healthy and then they lead towards a higher goal.

Healing Effects of Yoga

The limbs of yoga like Asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, detoxification etc. all are directly connected to healing the body. Regular practice of Asana improves flexibility, balance, and strength as well as cures many ailments. The pranayama or breathing techniques gives positive effects on depression, asthma, pain, memory power, etc.

Yoga, with the proper connection of aerobic exercise, meditation, and ayurvedic diet help cardiovascular disease, blood pressure and overall systems of human beings. Yoga helps to cope in a better way with daily demands and sound sleep.

There are various researches that yoga acts as anti-aging effects promotes immunity and has healing effects for various physical and mental diseases. Some of them are as follows:

·         Blood Sugar

·         Blood Pressure

·         Heart Diseases

·         Stress

·         Depression

·         Cancer

·         Menopause

“Psychology Today” gives the report,-“Yoga has the antagonistic consequence to suffering or pain on the brain than chronic pain.” Yoga Therapy slackens nervous system tension, chronic pain, headaches and migraines, chronic fatigue, disc problems, carpal tunnel, neck pain, glandular disorder, and many others.

There are many Western Medical institutes that have done researches and studies on health effects of yoga and Ayurveda. Timothy McCall, MD has prepared a summary of various professional medical studies named “38 Ways Yoga Keeps You Fit” which proves Yoga is the best way to cure multiple diseases like cholesterol, back pain, depression, blood pressure and circulation, abdominal diseases and much, much more.   

National Geography by Ohio State University reported on a study that “Cancer patients who practiced yoga for treatment were comparatively better than those who didn’t. The rate of Inflammation controlled was much better due to the effects of yoga.

Yoga is not merely physical but has a direct relation with mind creating balance in emotions and thoughts and uplifting consciousness. In fact, more than 90% of the diseases start in the mind and affect the physical body. Yoga practice eliminates the root of suffering and leaves no place to remain diseases.

Healing Effects of Ayurveda

Yoga applies yogic techniques to heal the diseases and provide the best health while Ayurveda uses different types of plants and herbs for healing the diseases and giving the ultimate natural health since they both have the same origin and similar goal.

One of the verses from the Yoga Sutra, “yogas chitta vritti nirodhaha”, betells yoga as the harmoniously settled state of the mind and thoughts which is the perfect state of mental health. There is a verse in ayurvedic texts, svasmin dishati iti svasthah, which means that one who perennially abides coalesced with the Self is a healthy person. These verses reveal that both yoga and Ayurveda focus on the perfect health- physically, mentally and spiritually.

We can understand that Ayurveda and health have healing effects in many ways. There are other many verses in the ayurvedic texts which focus to this self-mentioned state of the mind as the essence of health. A verse from the Sushruta Samhita states, “A person is said to be a healthy person whose doshas are in balance, whose appetite is fine, whose dhatus are working properly, whose malas are harmonized and whose Self, mind and senses remain full of bliss.

Unity of Mind, Body, and Consciousness

Yoga, a Sanskrit word, means “unification” or “to connect together”.  It is the yoking together to unite body, mind, and soul. Yoga makes the mind stronger by joining the mind with the Self, the Atma. The mind cannot be properly connected with the self if there are diseases or defilements in the body and mind. So, primarily yoga must have healing effects in the body.

The aim of Maharishi Ayurveda is also to experience this unity making the body healthy. The word ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which is derived from “ayu” which means “life” or “lifespan.”  Therefore Ayurveda is “the science and process of life and longevity.” Another meaning of ‘ayu’ is described in Charaka Samhita (an ancient ayurvedic text)

— sharirendriya sattvatma sanyogo. . . ayu. The verse states ayu as the integrated state of body, mind, sense, and soul. Thus both yoga and Ayurveda have common goal i.e. complete unification body, mind, and consciousness. To get the unity, the fundamental element is perfect health. Thus, basically, yoga and Ayurveda works for healing.

Yoga is the complement of Ayurveda for healing

Yoga is an inseparable part of Ayurveda. It is mentioned in ayurvedic texts like the Charaka Samhita. Since Ayurveda has healing effects, nowadays many ayurvedic hospitals are opened. Yoga is always in Ayurvedic hospitals for better healing effects. Yoga asana is important for dissolving physical stress, healing the body and calming the mind before meditation and focus at healthy lifestyle (dinacharya) the ayurvedic routine.

Yoga is the ideal ayurvedic exercise, because it enhances immunity power, rejuvenates the body, improves circulation and digestion, removes stress and in this way it heals the body.

Yoga has healing effects which balance all three doshas of an individual. Different yoga poses have different healing effects. For instance, forward bending poses cool Pitta Dosha. Twisting yoga asanas are good for Kapha because they promote digestion. Backward bending poses are warming and heating which balances Vata Dosha.

Yoga is always referred to as long as an individual has the strength to practice it. Yoga asanas tone all the parts of the body and purify the internal organs of toxins, which is one of the aims of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is the complement of Yoga for healing

Yoga practitioners can get benefits from the ayurvedic activities along with yoga. For example, abhyanga (ayurvedic massage) removes toxins from the body, reenergizes the body and relaxes the muscles for yoga practice. Maharishi Ayurveda gives wide support for the better practice of yoga.

There must be a strong foundation of ayurvedic knowledge or hatha yoga runs the risk of becoming mere physical exercise. Yoga aims to purify the nadis (channels) with different postures. But for the cleansing process, only yoga is not sufficient. Ayurvedic principles have vital importance for removing ama (digestive impurities). So it is always recommended ayurvedic principles with yoga asanas by traditional yoga schools as they are too much interdependent to each other.

Along with this, the yoga practitioner needs to understand the way of detoxifying through lifestyle and dietary which will stop the accumulation of toxin in the body rather it keeps cleansing. With this purification, yoga, and Ayurveda give healing effects together.