4 Essentials for Weight Loss

Do you feel irritated by that nagging pain which gets worsened on monsoons?

Blame it on your sedentary lifestyle, posture problems and stress.

Ayurvedic experts feel that pain mainly occurs due to poor or unhealthy diet and bad posture. This in turn results in the lack of flexibility of the muscles and may cause further degenerative changes of the joints. These symptoms may progress twofold during monsoon, worsening the condition.

Here are ways to ease your pain and care your joints.

• DIET

Diet of warm, moist, mildly spiced, nourishing foods makes marked differences in the intensity of pain. The sweet, salty, and sour tastes are all vata pacifying—just make sure you find natural, healthy sources of sweets (like ripe plums, pears, or dates) and don’t overdo. Overeating can again be harmful.

• MASSAGE

In the ayurvedic tradition, regular oil massage, is revered as a highly effective form of therapy for all sorts of ailments. Massage helps reduce pain because it allays joint and muscle stiffness, increases circulation and relaxes the body.

• FOMENTATION

Fomentation helps in drawing blood into the target tissues. Increased blood flow delivers needed oxygen and nutrients, and removes cell wastes. The warmth decreases muscle spasm, relaxes tense muscles, relieves pain, and can increase range of motion. Superficial heat is available in many forms, including hot compresses, dry or moist heating pads, localised sudation with tub baths etc.

• YOGA

A 10 minutes systematic relaxation in corpse pose(shavasana) will help you from inclining towards popping-in analgesic pills. This practice can reduce muscle spasms, relieve tension, and calm the mind naturally. Pain can discourage us from stretching and moving the way we normally do, but restricting your movement will only compound the problem. Certain yogic asanas and stretching exercises and postures can help you out with pain.

• ANTI-OXIDANTS

Turmeric and ginger help reduce inflammatory pain, while valerian, kava kava, chamomile, skullcap, passionflower, hops, and jatamansi (the “Indian valerian”) help combat tension-related pain. And since chronic pain is often a combination of inflammation and tension, these herbs are often sold in combination formulas. Ginger root is an effective herb to treat Back Pain. You can sip ginger essence  in warm water. You even have a choice of directly applying the paste of it on your back or use ginger tea as a useful ingredient in herbal tea. Consuming 2-3 cloves of garlic every morning reduce your Back Pain. Eat the cloves on an empty stomach. Mustard Oil has natural healing powers. By applying mustard oil on the affected area, the flow of blood is naturally directed towards the surface of the skin (of the affected portion). Turmeric is specifically effective for the sharp pain in the lower back. Mix turmeric in Milk or apply it directly on the back for relief from the pain.

These are a few remedies that anyone with chronic pain can try. Since everyone is different, in the meantime, it’s best to plan Ayurveda seasonal detox which takes care of removing toxins and reducing pain .

11 Leading Reasons Behind Rapid Weight Gain

Losing weight is usually difficult for many reasons. There are various reasons for an individual to gain weight. So finding out the actual reason will help you to find a proper plan to lose weight.

 

1. Calorie intake

Weight of the body is a balancing act. If you eat more calories than you burn, you eventually gain weight. A lack of energy balance often results in overweight and obesity.

To maintain a healthy weight, your calorie IN and OUT don’t have to balance exactly every day. It’s the balance over a period of time that helps you maintain a healthy weight.

 

2. Unhealthy eating habits

Having a diet that is high in calories, lack of fruits and vegetables, more of fast foods, skipping breakfast, food laden with high-calorie beverages and oversized portions of foods contribute to weight gain.

 

3. Genetic

Overweight and obesity tend to run in families. Chances of being overweight are greater if there is a history of the same in family. Your genes may also affect the amount of fat you store in your body and part of the body on which you carry the extra fat.

 

4. Lack of physical activity

We tend to put physical activity as last priority in the present lifestyle, for e.g. sitting at the  desk for a longer time . Even though some of them work out for an hour in gym, due to sedentary lifestyle chances of gaining weight is higher.

 

5. Metabolism

In the simplest terms, metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories (“fuel”). Very few people have a fast metabolism. A faster metabolism will enable you to lose more weight than a person with the same activity level, diet and weight. There are some factors that you can control and change, and some factors that you can’t, like:

• Age – Metabolic rate decreases 5% each decade, after the age of 40, partly because of decreased muscle mass.
• Gender – Men generally burn calories more quickly than women because they have more muscle tissue.
• Heredity – You can inherit your metabolic rate from previous generations.
• Thyroid disorder – Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)

 

6. Medical conditions

Obesity can sometimes be traced to a medical cause such as PCOD, hormonal imbalance, Fatty liver, Cushing’s syndrome, arthritis, etc. which results in weight gain.

 

7. Medication

Some medications can lead to weight gain if you don’t compensate through diet or activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications, antipsychotic medications, corticosteroids and beta blockers.

 

8. Lacking essential fats

Not all fats are bad.  Foods such as fish, ghee, virgin coconut oil,  olive oil contain essential fats that our bodies require .People do not realize that some amount fat is also required for proper metabolism. Lack of beneficial fats can end up in having cravings for fatty foods which results in weight gain.

 

9. Lack of Sleep

You might be gaining weight because of lack of sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body experiences physiological stress and biochemically you store fat more efficiently. Research shows that lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity. Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of the hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin). When you don’t get enough sleep, your level of ghrelin goes up and your level of leptin goes down. This makes you feel more hungry than when you’re well-rested.

 

10. Hormonal variations

Some hormone problems may cause overweight and obesity, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), Cushing’s syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and menopause. Ayurvedic Treatment for Weight loss helps to shed Fat naturally and balance the hormones. Even in pregnancy women gain weight and undergo various hormonal changes.

 

11. Emotional Factors

Some people eat more than usual when they’re bored, angry or stressed. Over time, overeating will lead to weight gain and may cause overweight or obesity.

There are several more reasons which directly or indirectly cause weight gain and related complications.

Stress can take a major toll on our weight issues. Cortisol is the stress hormone which directly affects fat storage and weight gain in stressed individuals. Cortisol is associated with overeating, craving high caloric fatty, and sugary foods, and relocating fat from the circulation and storage depots to the abdominal area.

Stress can take a major toll on our weight issues. Cortisol is the stress hormone which directly affects fat storage and weight gain in stressed individuals. Cortisol is associated with overeating, craving high caloric fatty, and sugary foods, and relocating fat from the circulation and storage depots to the abdominal area.

This type of stress-induced obesity is linked to developing cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and hypertension.

An effective stress and weight management program at Shathayu Ayurveda like Detoxification, Shirodhara, and Massages along with regular exercises and a healthy diet may be a key to reducing and preventing stress-induced Obesity. As the Detox improves metabolism it also reduces the cortisol hormones and helps to overcome the irregular eating cravings.

Detoxification is a concept that has become important when talking about general health and Wellness. A proper detoxification regimen helps to boost that healing process. The environment we are living in with fast food & stressful life, we invariably end up in many minor and major lifestyle diseases. To prevent these lifestyle diseases Ayurveda always propagated preventive aspects of diseases with the help of classical panchakarma – the 5 bio purification processes.

Detoxification or Panchakarma helps in improving the functioning of digestive fire. Panchakarma is rapid acting therapy which works at the cellular level. These five intense internal purification’s allow biological system to return to homeostasis & rejuvenate the body. Panchakarma eliminates these metabolic toxins from the body & allows  healing of tissues.

For the ancient Panchakarma detox regimen, you should consult with a healthcare professional who can help set up a program that is right for you. This may include using a combination of External as well as internal treatments that work by stimulating the natural processes of elimination to cleanse it off these toxins that build up over time

Panchakarma is a highly individualized process. Treatment is carefully chosen according to a patient’s condition, strength, appetite, age, constitution, season and time of day. The complete procedure in done with utmost care and monitored and observed by physician with diet plan as per the detox chosen. Panchakarma is done in three stages.

• Poorva Karma – Preparatory Stage

Unlike most methods of detoxification with juices etc, Ayurveda Panchakarma involves a preparatory phase called Poorva karma which prepares the body for intense cleanse. This includes regularizing the digestion, light diet, exclusive massage therapies like Udvartana ,Takradhara, snehana , swedana etc

• Pradana Karma – Five Cleansing Methods

Main treatment which is designed as per the needs of individual by the expert physician. There are five therapies which can be used as per season or need.

• • 1. Vamana:

Therapeutic vomiting or emesis.Vaman treatment is particularly suggested basically for Kapha dominated conditions, such as weight gain, asthma and hyperacidity, skin conditions etc . Ideally Vasantha Rutu is good for seasonal cleanse

• • 2. Virechan:

Therapuetic purgation and most popular of the 5 procedures.Virechana  for normal person can be taken in sharadrutu for optimal benefits. Virechana treatment is prescribed fundamentally for Pitta dominated conditions, such as colitis, infertility, Chronic Fever, Diabetes, Asthma, Joint disorders, Digestive disorders, Hyper acidity, Headaches, Gynaecological disorders etc.

• • 3. Basti:

Excellent cleansing and medicated enema for all neuromuscular diseases and pains. Ideal time to take is rainy season to get rejuvenated.  It is highly recommended in hemiplegia, Facial paralysis, Arthritis, nervous disorder, Amenorrhea, infertility Constipation, Sexual debility ,Skin disease, obesity and many more

• • 4. Nasya:

Elimination of toxins through the nose, cleanses, purifies and strengthens the nasal passages. Nasya is a recommended remedy for nasal congestion, allergies, sinusitis, headaches, migraine, cervical spondylosis, hair fall, premature greying of hair, rhinitis.

• • 5. Rakta Moksha:

Detoxification of the blood. Raktamokshana can be used in the treatment of following diseases of Skin Psoriasis, liken planes, leukoderma, Hyperlipidemia, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Gout.

• Paschat Karma-Post Detox Phase

Finally, and most importantly stage 3 after detoxification procedure one should incorporate an individual meal program that includes Easily digestable food with antioxidants, and low-glycemic foods that assist in the body’s healing processes.The diet plan after the detox is key element in detox plan and it varies as per the intensity of the procedures.

With proper Detox we can help our body become more efficient in allowing the detoxification pathways to function more proficiently. After this the physician can decide further treatment protocol like rasayanachikitsa (Rejuvination and antiageing therapy) samanacikitsa (Alliviating therapy).

The liver is the largest internal organ in the body, so it’s needless to say we ought to take good care of it. The liver has many responsibilities and functions in the body.

• Metabolism- The liver plays a part in the metabolic process of breaking down proteins and fats for storage.
• Storage- The point of this storage is to eventually convert it into the energy we need to get through our day-to-day tasks.
• Detoxification- Another large role the liver plays in the body is detoxification.

Everyone today is exposed to influences that create toxins beyond what the body can naturally handle, such as chemicals and preservatives in foods, synthetic drugs, and emotional and mental stress. From drugs and alcohol to unknown foreign substances, the liver helps filter and detoxify the materials not meant to be in our bodies. Ensuring toxins are safely removed from your blood is one of the liver’s most critical jobs.  Follow these simple yet effective steps to keep a healthy liver.

 

1. Make water your best friend

Flush it out! Water helps maintain the fluid content of the blood. When you become dehydrated, the blood becomes thicker – your liver is responsible for filtering blood and the thickness can impact its ability to detoxify. So keeping the system hydrated is the first key to a healthy liver.

2. Lemon water to start your day

Drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning kindles and protects agni and helps to clear the digestive tract of ama (toxins) that may have accumulated overnight. Further, lemon water is a robust source of anti-oxidants, is considered a liver stimulant, and helps to encourage liver detox while supporting bile output. Flushing your liver is like giving your body a good pre-wash so your blood stays at optimal pH level.3.

3. Eating healthy carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

The liver is so directly involved in the digestive process and because one of its primary jobs is to filter and eliminate any toxins that we ingest, our diets inevitably have a profound effect on the health of the liver. Because pitta is so closely tied to the liver, a pitta-pacifying diet is generally going to support liver health and cleansing—particularly during the hotter months of the year.

4. Regularise your sleep cycle

The human body has an amazing biological clock and various functions occur in our body when we are sleeping. The most important of it is, liver detoxification which happens during our sleep hours especially between 11pm to 3am.

5. Yoga & Pranayama as a routine

Regular exercising helps your body burn triglycerides for fuel, which can help reduce liver fat. A practice to cool and quiet the mind can be instrumental in promoting health throughout the mind-body organism, and can be especially supportive of an emotional hot-seat like the liver. Even a ten to fifteen minute daily practice can be transformative. 

6. Self-massage with oil daily

The practice of abhyanga (self-massage with oil) is deeply detoxifying to both superficial and deep tissues. It settles the nervous system, calms and nourishes the skin, promotes healthy circulation, helps to lubricate and rejuvenate all of the tissue, and supports cleansing and detoxification throughout the system, thereby supporting the liver. 

7. Maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight can take you a long way in keeping the liver healthy and free from fat deposits. Alcohol is not the only thing that can cause fatty liver disease – obesity (or even just being overweight) puts you at risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

8. Periodic detoxification

Detoxification does wonders for your system, by offloading the stress of the liver and thereby enhancing its functionality. Ayurveda & Naturopathy, both emphasize the preventive aspect as much as it has detailed the curative aspect of diseases. Periodic seasonal detoxification through panchakarma therapies plays a vital role in the prevention of and also in enhancing the vitality of the organs.

Any movement that we make relies on the controlling system of the human body- the Brain- be it writing, reading, walking, or talking. But a serious brain disorder like Parkinson’s disease can rob a person of the ability to do everyday tasks that many of us take for granted. There’s no cure, but Ayurvedic treatments for Parkinson’s Disease can help to arrest the degeneration of brain cells enhancing fine and gross motor movements.

Parkinson’s disease sets in gradually over time. The early signs may be barely noticeable. A person’s movements may change slightly. You might notice slowness, rigidity, or difficulty in balancing or walking. Also, their face may lack expression, or their handwriting may become small and cramped. There is profound postural instability, rigidity, and gait abnormalities occurring later, making their daily life tough and dependent. It might become harder to sleep, think, eat, speak, smell, and make decisions. As the disease worsens, symptoms may become difficult to control.

Parkinson’s disease usually arises after age 50, but can also appear earlier in life. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, which means that brain cells gradually malfunction and die. The disease damages brain cells that make a chemical called dopamine. The resulting dopamine shortage causes movement problems that mark Parkinson’s disease.

Shathayu Medical Management for Parkinson’s Disease

1. Shodhana Chikitsa:  Bio-cleansing therapies followed by Palliative therapy should be advocated. (Depends on the strength of the patient and prognosis of the disease)

2. Based on the conditions of the patient, massage/Kayaseka  with medicated oils like Maha Narayana taila, Kshirabala Taila, Sahacharadi taila, Dhanvantara taila, Mahamasha taila for 3-7 days

PANCHAKARMA – (based on the condition)

• Matra Basti -daily for 8- 14 days

• Yapana basti for 8/16/30 days

• Nasya karma for 7 days

3. Shirodhara/Shiro Basti with medicated oils daily for 7/14/21 days

4. Shiro Pichu for 7/14/21 days

5.  Herbal medicines which exclusively work on tremors, use of herbal nerve tonics to relieve rigidity and nourish the nervous system.

6. Dietary advice to improve digestion as it directly contributes to the efficacy of the medicines and treatments given.

7.  Practice yoga or meditation to focus on overcoming symptoms, managing internal energies, and for relaxation and reducing stress or anxiety.

All the Panchakarma procedures (Detoxification Process) will be customized by Physician only after detailed consultation. Treatments may be altered as per the individual strength.