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Month: June 2022

Constipation Ayurvedic Remedies

Today I am going to talk about constipation and ayurvedic remedies. Many of my patients ask me for explanations and solutions to avoid this regular inconvenience that is encountered more in women and even more in autumn / winter.

Constipation and causes

I will explain why you have to worry about it and treat it. if  not treated on time or if neglected, it may lead to a major problem.

You can easily get rid of constipation and integrate ayurvedic remedies into your lifestyle to treat and prevent it

I’m not going to review jathar Agni, the digestive fire again, you can find it in my podcast, but today I’m going to deal a little with this intestinal transit disorder of constipation.

What is constipation?

It is in fact the main disorder of the digestive system. In summary, for Ayurveda, if our elimination is correct, we are and remain healthy.

The colon contributes in major part to an adequate elimination. Either the elimination of waste from our food but also all the other wastes produced by the body to maintain its balance.

Proper functioning of the colon is distinguished by a tongue without persistent deposit (which does not return quickly after scratching it) and through easy and regular transit.

Your poop should be molded and floated.

Conventional medicine defines constipation as infrequent evacuation: less than 3 times per week.

Ayurveda states that we should have a bowel movement 1-2 times or even 3 times a day.

The real problem is, lack of bowel movements for a long period of time sends wrong signals to liver, brain, immune system etc, leading to migraine and such other complications (as explained below)

Causes of constipation

The main cause of constipation is your diet, especially foods having dry, light, rough qualities and also heavy to digest, although it can also be triggered by fever or infectious diseases.

Excessive consumption of pungent, astringent and salt foods can also be a cause

Other secondary factors are conducive to constipation:

  • late awakening,
  • hasty departure in the morning to work before which we “forget” to have a bowel movement,
  • morning sexual activity,
  • lack of physical exercise
  • Less intake of water
  • Working in strong sunlight, long walk, heavy travelling
  • Sitting at a same place for a very long time
  • Excessive use of antiacids
  • Depression
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • And of course our famous mind. Psychological factors also produce constipation: stress, insomnia and fears in particular.
  • Some medications, like diuretics, have side effects and cause constipation.

Complications :
If constipation is neglected for long, it can cause :

  • Hemorrhoids,
  • Fissure in ano,
  • Gaseous distention of abdomen,
  • bloating,
  • hard stone like feces
  • Headache,
  • liver disorders and various metabolic as well as intestinal diseases may be originated.
  • In few of the individuals back ache, reverse peristalsis can be also found

Constipation and ayurvedic remedies

Constipation and solutions

In case of temporary constipation, spices will be of great help (ginger for example) because they normalize the functioning of the digestive fire.

Laxatives that tone the colon such as triphala and psyllium are also recommended.

Mild oleation

Internal oleation with 5 – 10 grams of ghee

External oleation – oil massage with sesame oil or Maha Narayana oil

For more serious and long constipation, it is castor oil that can be recommended but be careful its use should be done as a last resort. It can be used alongside ginger infusions to normalize digestion at different levels. Before to use castor oil, ask advice to your practionner. It is strong and for some conditions it is not adviced at all!

In cases of acute or severe constipation with very heavy tongue, fever and severe bloating, more powerful purgatives such as senna or rhubarb root are used.

There is then the probable presence of important toxins (Ama) in the digestive system and we must accompany these plants with a fast or a light diet for a few days to let our system eliminate the accumulated waste which is of course toxic over time. for us if they stay too long in our system.

Be careful, in case of pain in the lower right part of the abdomen, there may be appendicitis and these powerful purgatives are dangerous in this case.

Different type of constipation

Ayurvedic Body Type

Ayurveda recognizes different types of constipation depending on the dosha involved. This results in different states of tonicity of the colon: soft, intermediate and hard.

People who have a soft colon tend to have loose stools. In case of constipation, Isagbol (psyllium) or hot milk is usually sufficient. This condition is due to an elevated Pitta which dries up the stool due to its heat. It rarely becomes chronic.

An intermediate type colon is characteristic of Kapha. Stronger laxatives are then needed. For example, we may need to associate Triphala and Trikatu (especially if Ama is present). This condition is due to high Kapha which produces congestion of mucus which clogs the colon.

A hard colon characterizes Vata. Constipation is or becomes in this case often chronic and it is difficult to correct. Stronger laxatives, such as castor oil or sene, are needed at the start of treatment and over a short period, followed by milder, toning laxatives like Triphala over the long term. A strictly anti-Vata diet, lightest at first, should also be followed.

Follow ayurveda wisdom, treat naturally when it still time befor complication. Treat constipation with ayurvedic remedies

Chronic constipation must be treated.

Because it means that you store the wastes from food and your cells inside. It can lead to a variety of ailments, from the mildest to the most serious over time. It is necessary to correct this state. If the measures taken are not sufficient, then it is necessary to consult.

Correct elimination leads to a healthy body. The regeneration of our cells and organs operate favorably which supports all the functions of our metabolism.

The mind is also affected by this constipation.

When we are constipated, we feel that the lower abdomen is crowded, swells and occupies our mind. Our belly is not free and neither is our mind.

One does not go without the other and it is also for this, and studies have proven it, that our intestines call the second brain. A whole bunch of neurons connect them both.

I remind you and as a precaution, that castor oil and senna must be taken with a therapist or a doctor. These herbs are very powerful and their actions are not trivial in the body. Do not self-medicate with these two herbs.

In short, there is still so much to say but to conclude, listen to your body, do good by practicing simple but effective things for your health and your well-being.

These tips are very useful and you can use them right now without side effects.

Check and change your food

More vegetables

Many constipation and ayurvedic remedies can be done. In the event of chronic constipation, we will ensure that the food contains enough non-digestible vegetable fibers which will ‘scratch’ and sweep your intestinal mucosa walls and therefore clean it. (legumes, corn (bran), cauliflower, raisins, cabbage, berries, green leafy vegetables, celery, beans, guava, figs, flax seed, spinach, orange, mushroom…). And also use good fats like ghee, sesame or olive oil.

If the digestive fire is powerful, raw fruits and vegetables can be useful but beware, it’s always the same, it all depends on your constitution and the constipation you experience.

Grape and plum juices are recommended, apples and cranberries should be avoided.

Consumption of sesame oil is very good for treating constipation, consumption of olive oil is also effective. Just like ghee, which will have a therapeutic effect on our microbiota and promote the proper elimination of our waste.

More water

Drink good amounts of water throughout the day. With no constipation symptom, Ayurveda recommends to drink water only when thirsty. But in a disease condition, such as constipation, one can have good amounts of water. Water along with fiber rich diet softens bowels and prevents constipation.

Milk and dairy products: reduce your consumption

More exercices

Exercise: Do not sit at a place for a long period of time. Consider walking / jogging for at least 15 minutes in a day

Other tips

Do not hold the urge: As per Ayurveda, a natural urge is a signal to the person to act. It needs to be attended immediately. Regular holding of urge eventually will lead to constipation.

Generally speaking, it is best to get up at dawn, colon time (vata time). Take a large glass of lukewarm water which will have been charged with copper for at least 6 hours in its copper bottle.

Then, a little later, a glass of hot water or herbal tea upon awakening peristalsis, which can also be stimulated by some gentle yoga postures and a light massage of the lower abdomen.

The sitting position on the toilet is not physiological, it is advisable to have your knees raised to have a bowel movement, as by squatting on the toilet bowl for example or like the Turkish toilet which is in fact the ideal position to eliminate stool.

Then, if the evacuation has not yet occurred, one can have oatmeal hydrated in hot milk and ghee for breakfast. This constitutes a light laxative (fibers + fats). Note that cold foods, such as cold milk and cold cereals, block the evacuation.

Do not consume any drink or cold food during the winter this worsens Vata and therefore the internal and external dryness of the body.

Treat constipation with useful ayurvedic remedies

Hareetaki -Chebulic myrobalan-Terminalia chebula

Castor oil, before to use cator oil, ask your therapist, everybody cannot take it internally.

Recipies for constipation and ayurvedic remedies:

  • Soak 10-15 raisins in water in the morning and consume it at night.
  • 1 teaspoon of cow’s ghee should be dissolved in one cup (150ml) of warm water. In non- diabetic patients, 1 spoon of sugar candy can also be added (in non diabetic patients) and taken during bed time. This is highly effective against mild constipation.
  • The fruit pulp of cassia fistula, known as golden shower or purging cassia, is taken (10grams) along with water or milk. This helps to relieve even chronic kind of constipation.
  • Regular use of aloe vera pulp in diet prevents hard bowels.

Yoga asanas for constipation

Yoga asanas for constipation
  • Uttana Padasana, (Raised Legs Pose)
  • Ardha matsyendrasana (Half Spinal Twist)
  • Pawanamuktasana (Wind Release Pose)
  • Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
  • Vajrasana (diamond pose)
  • Bujhangasana (cobra pose)

All asanas and exercises that put pressure on abdomen are very useful in the treatment.

If you want more info about yoga, i would love to see you in my 1:1 session to learn more about you and how to get a better health

Om Namah Shivaya

Julie

References:

Ayurvedic management of chronic constipation in Hirschsprung disease – A case study

AYURVEDIC UNDERSTANDING AND (CONSTIPATION)

An Ayurvedic approach of constipation

Role of yoga therapy in improving digestive health and quality of sleep in an elderly population: A randomized controlled trial

Management of Constipation through Yogic Therapy

Coriander Benefits and Home Remedies

Coriander seeds and leaves are used for therapeutic purposes and are part of asian culinary since ages. It has many useful health benefits, and you should know it for using it as home remedies.

Coriander, one of the exellent herbs to reduce burning sensation

Some people don’t like coriander at all and this hate can be explained by genetic influence.

Coriander seeds and leaves properties

Coriander rasa or taste, as defined by Ayurveda for each food, is astringent, bitter and light to digest, it is also unctuous and oily and after digestion the taste remain sweet

It has a hot potency and balances the 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha

Coriander is diuretic and so will increases the volume of urine

It improves strength of digestion and useful in case of fever.

Added to your meal will give a fresh perfume and useful in malabsorption syndrome and diarrhea.

Coriander seeds also a part of useful home remedies

We use also coriander in case of anorexia. It also helps to relieve bad odor (breath) and tone the cardiac muscle.

In case of excessive thirst, burning or vomiting sensation, it is very useful for you.

In Ayurveda it is also used to manage cough, cold, and asthma,  haemorrhoids or worm infestation.

Fresh coriander is used especially useful in treating Pitta aggravation.

The great advantage of coriander is you can use all part of this plant: seed and leaves.

You can use seed powder, boiling 3-6 grams and have a cold infusion of 10 ml to 30 ml per day, depends on what your doctor or therapist says.

Research

Modern researches have shown that coriander seeds are efficient to control blood sugar and cholesterol level.

Many studies have shown coriander seed’s benefits in controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It is also a very good anti oxidant and and helps resist the accumulation of free radicals in the body. (Look at the studies below at the end of the article)

Home Remedies with coriander

Before, check if you can take those consels according to your therapist or ayurvedic doctor. It all depends on your personal history and if you already have other medical prescriptions.

Coriander to reduce cholesterol,

3 to 5 grams of coriander seed powder can be taken along with half a cup of honey water, once or two times a day. Honey water is prepared by adding a teaspoon of honey to half a cup of water.

Coriander cold drink: natural cleanser and coolant drink

Coriander cold drink natural cleanser and coolant drink

This drink is a very easy to make and useful in case of fever, burning sensation, excessive thirst and other high Pitta conditions.

It also helps to reduce abdominal colic pain due to high Pitta and acidity, excessive sweating of palm and feet. And reduces bleeding during menstruation and hot flahes.

Coriander is one of the best and easy drink to make.

This drink is a natural coolant and detoxing because it cleans the thissue channels and energize the body

1. Take one part of crushed coriander seeds. (for 10 grams)

2. Add six parts of water (60 ml)

3. Keep it covered over one night

4. Next morning, filter it, and mix with a little quantity of natural sugar (coconut sugar, sugar cane…), and  drink it in empty stomach.

But avoid honey because it has a light hot potency.

It can be taken for a period of 6 / 8 weeks.

After taking this, it is better to avoid food for at least 30 minutes.

If you wish to drink your morning tea give a gap of at least 10 minutes.

Fever

The cold infusion of coriander mixed with sugar and taken in morning alleviates even severe burning sensation immediately.

Appetizer and expectorant:

Decoction of coriander and ridged gourd or angled Luffa gourd(Luffa acutangula) and smooth gourd ( Luffa cylindrica) acts as appetizer, expectorant, carminative (relieve flatulence) of Pitta and Vata,.

It is also antipyretic (to prevent or reduce fever), digestive and purgative.

To improve the digestive fire, and suffering from fever can take water processed with 2 parts of coriander and one part of dry ginger.

Decoction of coriander and dry ginger, added with lemon juice and natural sugar is useful for fever in autumn.

For diarrhea

Decoction of Coriander, Country mallow, dry ginger, and stone apple alleviates sudden pain occurring in the abdomen and constipation. This is digestive and an appetizer.

Ghee processed with 4 time of water and coriander paste can be given in diarrhea caused by Pitta and associated with pain. It is also a good appetizer and digestive.

Water processed with coriander and Country mallow should be given to those suffering from thirst burning sensation and diarrhea.

Indigestion

Water processed with coriander and dry ginger alleviates indigestion caused by toxins (ama) and it is diuretic also.

Thirst

Coriander with honey and sugar is useful.

Diabetes

A teaspoon of coriander seeds can be soaked in a cup of water, kept over night. Next day morning, that water can be drunk, before food.

Burning sensation of eyes

Coriander (Coriander sativum) seeds are soaked in water or rose water and instilled to the eyes.

All those counsels are general, in Ayurveda everyone is different and react differently, then check if you can apply all of this recipies for your own constitution with your practionner.

You can also learn ayurveda with me to become your healer and maintqin healthy life.

References

The cholesterol lowering property of coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum): mechanism of action

Hypolipidemic effect of coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum): mechanism of action

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antidiabetic Proprieties of LC-MS/MS Identified Polyphenols from Coriander Seeds

Neuroprotective effects of Coriandrum sativum and its constituent, linalool: A review

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and its bioactive constituents

Effect of walnut leaf, coriander and pomegranate on blood glucose and histopathology of pancreas of alloxan induced diabetic rats

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.): a potential source of high-value components for functional foods and nutraceuticals–a review

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): A promising functional food toward the well-being

Vata Dosha diet and lifestyle

Vata dosha body type

Vata body type

In Vata Dosha body type person, Vata Dosha is naturally dominant and it is called the Prakruti of this person .

People whose constitution is Vata can have many health benefits if she follows the rules of Ayurveda, rules of lifestyle, diet, mental health and sexual health.

Vayu (wind) is naturally dominant in a Vata Dosha person. If you are new for the concept of dosha, then learn about your Prakruti here.

Vata dosha body parts and its behavior

Vata people have cracked palm and feet if they don’t take care. They are lean, underweight, and have a thin body.

Oiling

They are mobile and most of the time have unstable joints, that’s why oil massage and steam therapy help them a lot to improve stability of all parts of the body. Oil strenghthen the tissue and stabilizes them. And oil feet massage will reduce and cure cracked feet.

Vata person is the most speed behavior of the 3 doshas.

They have hurried gait, speech and actions and they like that. So, the best counsel I can give you is learn to slow down if you want to go far…

So if your are Vata, do the opposite, learn to practice slowness, and pranayama to calm your mind, and reduce this electricity in your body. It will help you to think slowly, and you will have many benefits to don’t rush onto everything…Especially for your nervous system.

Due to roughness, dryness and lean body, you usually have hands and legs with prominent veins due to less body fat.

What is best for you is to add oils (ghee, sesame oil) in your daily life, have a complete meal with fats, protein, rich food, and it will help to gain weight and grow the muscles.

Take minimum 1 teaspoon of ghee per meal to help digestion, and strengthen your body.

Exercising

Pranayama and Yoga for Vata, the best practices for them.

For exercise, you should not practice heavy exercises because you have already a lean body and exercising further will increase your Vata Dosha.

Your skin is naturally rough; dry and body parts will be cold to touch because dryness and coldness are two natural qualities of Vata Dosha prakriti.

Having dry skin is not a disease for Vata. The skin is just dry, cold and rough, naturally. But if they you don’t care about your skin, it will lead to extreme dryness and roughness and with the time become a disease. So oil your body every day or as much as you need such the state of your skin.

To prevent your face skin from early wrinkles and to nourish it properly, you can use Kumkumadi oil (saffron) on face to enhance beauty and to keep facial skin well moistened with good glow.

To avoid this excessive coldness and dryness oil your body and steam just after if possible. If you do not have facility for steam therapy, you can do self-massage and after 30 minutes, take hot water bath. This will be sufficient. Because Vata persons usually have cold hands and legs, it is best for them to take hot water bath

Good and simple oil for massage is sesame.

Your hair and nails

Like skin they are rough, dry and less in quantity and with low quality of hair. Oiling is the best solution to strengthen them.

Vata dosha sexual health

Generally, Vata persons have weak sexual health and stamina. To boost this, you can use sexual supplements such as shilajit, ashwagandha Lehyam, etc., based on doctor’s advice.

Vata Mind

You are quick to get irritated and hungry and you can have bad temper. Also fast to like and dislike, means that you have oscillating knowledge, thoughts and decisions.

You are also quick to understand and to forget but suffering from wandering mind.

To calm your mind, which is challenging for Vata, you can perform head massage with Brahmi oil, practice yoga for 15 minutes and pranayama 2 to 5 minutes per day for starting. Another very good and efficient technic is shirodhara. The purpose is to pour a thin drizzle of warm oil in the forehead.

If Vata is unbalanced you can be jealous.

You tend to moan, complain, grieve over small things, incoherently, without reason. For that you can use brahmi ghee: half a teaspoon in the morning, before food with half a cup of lukewarm water for 2 months, in a year, is the general advice for a healthy adult with Vata body type.

Vata dosha and your skeleton

You suffer from constant crackling sound from joints and the best to counter this dryness is to practice regular oil massage. If you do not apply to the whole body, at least apply some oil to knees, 30 minutes before bath every day.

Vata feels cold or hot sensitivity

A Vata person has an intolerance for cold things; and feel often afflicted with cold and it is leading to shiver and stiffness.

So if you want to get rid of the multiples clothing layers…Eat hot and unctuous, drink warm all day, and take care of your body with sesame oil.

You understood: avoid excess coolant foods and ice creams and include a bit of mild spices in diet. Cook fresh food is also the beast to get the most nutriments possible.

Vata and its speech

You can suffer from dryness of throat, obstructed and hoarse voice and chewing a piece of licorice is a good solution.

It is happening because you speak a lot, then to regulate your Vata temper learn and enjoy more silence in your life. Contemplate, learn to meditate, even if it is difficult for Vata people. When we want we can slow down…More you take care of your daily life style regimen more your health will be sustainable or better.

One pranayama that can help you is Bhramari pranayama.

Wealth and life expectancy

Your skin is fragile and vata people can suffer from bone pain early so to avoid ageing, it is good to take Chyawanprash, half a teaspoon in the morning, 3 to 4 months in a year. 

What is not helping you is that your sleep is less and disturbed. You can have many technics in your daily routine for that. Light yoga for inducing sleep and massage the sole of your feet every day before going to bed. And daily, calm your nerves with head massages.

Vata dosha digestion

Sometimes less, sometime more…

To help your intestines and sustain your digestive fire, you can take ghee and spices like cumin, black pepper, ginger, olive or sesame oil, fats and protein in diet.

Take your meal at regular hours to regulate your body and your digestion. And drink water while taking your meals to avoid to much dryness and constipation.

You should avoid frequent fasting, it is not recommended for Vata dosha. Once in a month is ok.

Seasonal precautions for Vata 

Just after summer vata starts to increase so pay attention before this season and follow the measures I give you below.

Vata diet

Unctuous and complete meal is needed for Vata

As you know diet is the 1st medicine, we have to use to sustain our health.

Ayurveda explains that a person with Vata body type should consume specific foods that balance Vata.

Because Vata people tend to suffer more from Vata related disorders (degenerative, bones, muscle and joints, nervous system disorders).

So, to avoid such health conditions, it is advised to follow the diet and food mentioned below. It will help to sustain your health and so to balance your Vata dosha.

Why this specific food? Because they have the medicinal properties that you need.

For example, wheat is sweet, coolant, oily and aphrodisiac in nature. It strengthens the body and balances Vata.

Sesame seeds or oil  is oily and hot in nature.

Cinnamon balances kapha and vata and so on…

Diet counseling

  • Slightly oily and unctuous foods
  • Sweet, salt and sour tasting food
  • Food that are neither heavy nor light to digest,
  • Eat and drink hot or warm food.
  • Sweet and sour grapes – Both balance Vata dosha.
  • Horse gram, black gram, wholesome wheat, red coloured rice, Luffa, Rooster and Fish , , ghee, organic milk, garlic, ,chicken, eggs, carrots, beets, yellow moong bean, cardamom, onion, garlic, saffron.
  • Mango, orange, raisins, berries, almond, pomegranate, dates, natural sugar prepared from sugarcane, sugar cane, coconut sugar
  • Long pepper, ginger, Tamarind Poppy seeds, sesame seed and sesame oil, flax seed

Buttermilk, or ghee, learn how to make ghee according to Ayurveda

Avoid all dryness, cold, very light food to digest, it is not suitable for you because it is increasing Vata qualities and can lead to imbalances.

Foods to avoid

  • Red beans, peanut
  • Fox nut, hummingbird, red sandalwood, peas, green gram, honey, cold water
  • Food with astringent, bitter and pungent properties

Ideal daily routine for Vata

Vata persons are usually lean, fidgety and talkative. Their tissues are not well nourished and they tend to get aches, pains, bloating, hair loss, arthritis etc. early in their lives. They get tired easily.
The way to counter these symptoms is by having nutritious food, proper rest, oil and a fat rich diet.

Improve your sleep. Good sleep is regeneration and Vata lack of sleep that increase Vata dosha in your body).

You can improve with different methods: meditation, pranayama and slight yoga before sleeping to calm down.

The best useful advices for Vata dosha

  • Attending hunger, thirst and wash room urges as and when they appear
  • Regular oil massage with sesame oil or Maha Narayana oil
  • Nasal drops – 2 drops to each nostril on an empty stomach with Anu oil
  • Oil pulling with sesame oil or irimedadi oil
  • Lukewarm water bath
  • Inclusion of good amount of oils and fats
  • Apply hair oil – Sesame oil or coconut oil or Bhringamalakadi oil.
  • Limited exercise (avoid too much exercices). Yoga is better than gym.
  • Avoid fasting, avoid untimely intake of food, avoid less intake of food (have good amount of food)
  • Lukewarm water intake all day.
  • Avoid all foods that cause bloating (aerated drinks, junk foods etc…)
  • Have foods rich in sweet, sour and salt taste (these tastes decrease Vata Dosha)
  • Avoid stress at work, concentrating on planning and scheduling your work.
  • Avoid excess talking, excess thinking.
  • Learn a simple Pranayama technique
  • Avoid excess travel, roaming or excess walking
  • Avoid excess sexual activities.
  • Apply a few drops of sesame oil or coconut oil or your hair oil to your forehead, temple region and soles at night, before sleeping.  

Knowing yourself: body, soul and mind is to choose to have the best life path possible. More you prevent, more you ageing great and avoid imbalances … and diseases.

We forget too easily that we are our first priority in life…right?

Take care

Namaste

Julie

References

Effect of dietary, social, and lifestyle determinants of accelerated aging and its common clinical presentation: A survey study

Dosha brain-types: A neural model of individual differences

Clinical study on Sandhigata Vata w.s.r. to Osteoarthritis and its management by Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu

Prakriti (Ayurvedic concept of constitution) and variations in platelet aggregation

Prakriti and its associations with metabolism, chronic diseases, and genotypes: Possibilities of new born screening and a lifetime of personalized prevention

Pitta dosha and remedies

In this article I want to focus on Pitta dosha because Pitta has started to increase in our body due to the coming of summer. I will give you advices and remedies related to diet and body, mental and spiritual health. All of them can be very useful if you have a Pitta Dosha Body Type. 

If you don’t know your body type you can learn about Prakriti here.

Pitta dosha prakriti

Common observation on Pitta people

Pitta Skin and remedies

Pitta type have a warm body and you can feel when you touch them. They have excess facial marks, freckles, wrinkles and black moles.

Care for your skin: uou can use facial sandalwood paste, rose water, licorice creams.

Care for your body: practice massage of your body skin with coolant oil such as Coconut oil. Try to wear a cap or use an umbrella whenever going under hot sun.

Pitta hair, nails,  hair growth and joints and remedies

Hair is most of the time soft with less quantity on scalp, mustache and body and are grey early. You can also have loss of hairs and be bold.

Daily oil massage with Mahanarayana oil is beneficial for your loose and soft muscle.
If you do not have time for full body massage, at least apply a bit of oil to the knees and lower back, 30 minutes before bath, everyday.

Pitta Talk

You are smart and have sharp talk. People feel you like an expert with a sharp mind. Sometimes you can intimidate while you are talking and you try to control the discussion with your own words. Sometimes you can also monopolize conversations.

So it is better to be friendly, less argumentative and give others the chance to express their opinion. To resume: listen more.

Pitta sleep and remedies

As a pitta person you sleep less to moderate. If you feel that you miss sleep and you are little bit nervous do head massage with amla oil once a day and apply it to your feet before going to bed. It keeps the body and mind calm and induces deep sleep.

Pitta eyes

Eyes and remedies for Pitta

You often feel burning sensation in eyes so you can use rose water or cucumber slice to relief. Another preparation called triphala ghrita can be used.

About your sexual health

Pitta people have low quality semen and ova and a low sexual appetite and less off-springs.


To enhance semen and sexual desire, sweet, coolant aphrodisiacs are useful. Eat dry fruits such as dates, raisins and almond. You can also add cucumber, ash gourd, saffron, and organic milk in your diet. Herbal preparation are also used according to the conditions.

Pitta Mental aspects and remedies

It is difficult for Pitta people to face difficult situations, he is getting angry quickly  but calm down also quickly

Then it is necessary to counter this natural nature of Pitta by practicing Yoga, pranayama and meditation.

Cold or hot sensitivity

He has lot of difficulty to manage the heat from outside but also from food like spices.

It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight in the afternoon and the excess of spices.

Hunger and thirst of Pitta

If you are Pitta prakriti mainly, you have excessive hunger, thirst and a strong digestion power but you are prone to gastritis.

Then you should always carry a bottle of water with you and avoid fasting.

For your meal, don’t use too much spices and take food at regular intervals.

Don’t eat heavy foods such as non veg, oils and fats, ewd only in small portions.

Conversely, avoid light food to digest because as a Pitta person you will feel hungry very quickly.

You can eat large quantities of food but control over-eating. Be always aware in your diet plans. You can also include a few bitter vegetables such as gourd, bay leaves, turmeric etc…

Pitta and Exercise


Please, practice moderate amount of exercise otherwise Pitta will increase to high if you exercise hard every day or often in the week.

And sweating due to excess of exercices is not recommended for your skin and your overall health.

Diet for Pitta

Ayurveda principles follow the basics of Nature. Main remedy for Pitta is to avoid everything hot.

If you follow me, if not and interested, please subscribe to my ayurvedic and yoga tips for your health here, you know that ayurveda classifies body constitution based on three factors: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Now you know that people with Pitta predominance will have features such as feeling excessive heat most of the time, having frequent stomach and digestion related disorders, who see fire in their dreams, having  redness in eyes, face, palms and feet. These are only some key features.

Pitta food remedies

Below you have a list of food that should be a part of your pitta diet. All those food are calming pitta: 


Ghee – Click to know How to make ghee according to Ayurveda
Azuki bean is coolant and sweet in taste and useful for heavy periods.
Lotus seed
Sugarcane calms Pitta and clean kidney and bladder cleansing.

Pointed guard is good for liver.
Date used daily calm pitta.
Fennel seeds  also good natural mouth freshener herb.
Grapes

Neem leaves or powder: chew neem leaves if you find some or make an infusion. Neem improves the skin.
Turmeric – used it regularly in your cooking. Anti- cancer property and scientifically proven.
Rose water, rose petals. Also helpful to reduce acidity
Coriander is an excellent natural cleanser.

Cucumber, can be also use forface pack
Amla take it with jaggery.

Coconut and coconut oil

General rule is that all sweet tasting food are Pitta pacifying in nature.

Fruits: sweet apple, sweet grapes, apricots, sweet berries, guava, ripe sweet mangoes, water melon, papaya, sweet orange, pears, plums, prunes, ripe black currant fruit, water chestnut, sweet mango.

Vegetables: sweet, astringent and bitter vegetables like ssparagus, cooked beets, carrot, green beans, corn (fresh and organic), cucumber, dandelion, kale, lettuce,  parsley, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, wheatgrass, sprouts,

Grains: barley, granola, oats, pancakes, rice basmati and wild, spelt sprouted, wheat bread (no white wheat), tapioca, ghee, cheese, cottage cheese…

Legumes: black beans, kidney beans, mung beans, mung dal, pinto beans, soya beans,  soy cheese, soy milk, tofu, almonds soaked and peeled.

Foods to avoid for Pitta type

Sour mango, mustard, fenugreek, cinnamon, chillies, pepper, asafoetida, cumin seeds, black cumin, flaxseed oil, thyme, tulasi, basilic, fenugreek, pepper-grass…

All of these foods are basic example, of course you have other food which can increase your Pitta.

And if you are a high Pitta person, check here for the ideal dynacharya.

Dont’ forget food is the first key for healthy living.

Sat Nam

Julie

References

What to know about Ayurvedic medicine

Adapted yoga to improve physical function and health-related quality of life in physically-inactive older adults: a randomised controlled pilot trial

Effect of Ayurveda intervention, lifestyle modification and Yoga in prediabetic and type 2 diabetes

Efficacy of Integrated Yoga and Ayurveda Rasayana on cognitive functions in elderly

Ayurveda Rasayana as antivirals and immunomodulators: potential applications in COVID-19

Ayurveda and yoga in cardiovascular diseases

Benefits of Ayurveda and How it can enhance the quality of your life!

 

 

 

Stress, impacts and Ayurveda remedies?

Stress is draining you down

In our anxious society, where behaviors and attitudes around us are erratic, violent and sometimes inhuman…Therefore, the best way to protect ourselves from stress is, first, to get away from anything that is mentally, physically and emotionally toxic. How to relief your stress with Yoga and Ayurveda

Stress and context

If it is in the context of work, it is difficult to leave everything to get away from its anxiety-provoking environment, I grant you…But remind that everything is possible in your life, it is just a question of choice. If I have to choose, I choose my health and my happiness first…

So the solution is to learn to practice the yogic and Ayurveda methods which are proposed to you by competent teachers or by using my services.

There is nothing complicated and it is imperative to practice them to find your emotional and physical balance to prevent any diseases from stress.

You already know that chronic stress is devastating for our organism. And if you have not realized that you are THE priority of your life, I invite you to reconsider your life map….

The environment in which we live has become so hostile to our homeostasis (a state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly). Above all, Ayurveda and Yoga has beautiful and so efficient solutions scientifically proven for your stress.

Too much information, anxiety-provoking information, electromagnetic waves, junk food and industrial food, water and air pollution…Enough? …Sorry but this is how we live because we have accepted it for many years!!!

And I also invite you to discover this podcast, it will help you understand stress, find other solutions to fight it and also maintain your health.

What Ayurveda says about stress?

Healthy food and lifestyle

Ayurveda asks us to live as healthy as much as possible to prevent, maintain or health or cure disease if we didn’t prevent before. This also involves our feelings, emotions and attitudes but this requires of course a work on oneself.

Mental and emotional stress is a silent killer.

Numerous researches have proven the negative impact of stress on the body, especially on the autonomic nervous system. In other words, the autonomic nervous system is the body’s conductor, regulating, with the help of the hormonal system, the functioning of the body’s organs.

In short, stress can have a negative impact on your physical well-being, medium and long term. This is the case for people with high blood pressure or emotional tachycardia and so many other diseases created all over the years by your non-taking care of. This is why, when stress is underestimated, these symptoms tend to become chronic and strongly weaken immunity.

Ayurvedic and yogic tools to heal from your stress

Yoga and pranayama breath works: vedic science of life

So in order for the body to return to balance, the parasympathetic system must be activated (this is the nervous system that encourages rest, energy conservation, absorption of nutrients that promote good health, it contributes to the regularity of the cardiovascular system…).

It is therefore necessary to relax and regenerate 😉

Some Yoga and Ayurveda anti-stress tools:

Observe your breath! If your breath is short take deep, slow abdominal breaths with long exhalations.

Therefore, poor breathing leads to poor cell nourishment, so they function less well and our metabolism suffers (fatigue, poor digestion, bad attitudes towards what comes up in our life…). In the long term, this is very detrimental.

The environment in which our cells are immersed is a determining factor for their health. If they are immersed in an environment that is poor in oxygen and overloaded with waste so they will not be able to do their work properly. Our organism is nothing more than a cluster of cells whose objective is to make it work. If this is not the case, the whole body will not function properly. We will then say that it is sick)

Sit comfortably with your back straight, feet on the floor, palms on your thighs and eyes closed. Take a deep breath and place your intention on the parts of the body where you feel tension. Ask each part to relax. Repeat 3 times or as needed with CONCENTRATION and CONFIDENT;

In case of long days in front of the computer, regularly look up at the sky and practice the eye exercise. (Without moving my head, I direct my eyes up, then down, to the right and left. Then I make circles with my eyes starting from the right and then the left). Stretch your body and take a short walk every 2 hours. Body is not made to stay seated more than 2 hours in a row.

And lean forward for a few moments, then back. Twist to the right and left and stretch upward.

Then, stretch your neck, from right to left, making a circle with your head.

Change your lifestyle before stress kill you. You are a light in this Universe, don’t let it go out…

Conclusion

To sum up, do all this in consciousness, that is to say that you have to pay attention to what you are doing, do not let your mind think about what you are going to do or should do in 5 minutes. Be there in consciousness with your body and your mind for better results.

And learn to take even 5 minutes for YOU and release your stress… And what is 5 minutes?…

In addition, there is so many others powerful ayurvedic and yogic technics, but you need to learn them. If you want to learn, then you can meet me here.

As we say, anyone can show you the way but no one can take it for you 🙏

Knowing how to take a BREAK … is to regenerate, sustain your health and love yourself for years.

More tips here or here

References:

Common pathways and communication between the Brain and Heart: Connecting post-traumatic stress disorder and heart failure

The role of psychological stress in cancer initiation: clinical relevance and potential molecular mechanisms

Neurobiological Links between Stress, Brain Injury, and Disease

Multilevel Interactions of Stress and Circadian System: Implications for Traumatic Stress

The Effects of Acute Stress on Episodic Memory: A Meta-Analysis and Integrative Review

Repeated Stress Induces a Pro-inflammatory State, Increases Amygdala Neuronal and Microglial Activation, and Causes Anxiety in Adult Male Rats

Emotion regulation moderates the association between chronic stress and cardiovascular disease risk in humans: a cross-sectional study

Mental Stress and Its Effects on Vascular Health

Stress related disorders and risk of cardiovascular disease: population based, sibling controlled cohort study

Home Remedies : techniques for Cleansing and Purification

Now we have to consider still another level of self-healing by cleansing and purification. Learn home remedies to remove your toxins.

Cleansing and purification with Ayurveda

What if you haven’t taken the opportunity to develop awareness, to modify the cause, or to apply opposite qualities to restore balance, and you have begun to get sick? What to do now?

… Efficient ayurvedic home remedies…

The principle of opposites is almost universally valid and helpful at any stage of disease. This principle is to cure with opposites qualities.

But once disease has begun to develop, it will not be sufficient. At this stage it becomes necessary to use techniques for cleansing and purifying your body of excess doshas and accumulated toxins.

The creation of Ama: toxins

As we have seen, when the doshas are aggravated because of poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, negative emotions, or other factors, they first affect agni (the body’s biological fire, which governs digestion and assimilation).

When agni becomes weakened or disturbed, food is not properly digested. The undigested, unabsorbed food particles accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and turn into the toxic, sticky substance called ama. In the third (“spread”) stage of the disease process, ama clogs the intestines, overflows through other bodily channels such as the blood vessels, and infiltrates the bodily tissues, causing disease.

Ama is thus the root cause of disease. The presence of ama in the system can be felt as fatigue, or a feeling of heaviness. It may induce constipation, indigestion, gas, and diarrhea, or it may generate bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth, stiffness in the body, or mental confusion... Ama can most easily be detected as a thick coating on the tongue.

The roots of diseases : know the roots for healing and purification

According to Ayurveda, disease is actually a crisis of ama, in which the body seeks to eliminate the accumulated toxicity. Thus the key to prevention of disease, once ama has begun to build up, is to help the body eliminate the toxins.

To remove ama from the system, Ayurveda employs many internal cleansing programs.

One of these, most widely known in the West, is a five-procedure program known as panchakarma (“five actions”). The panchakarma programs used at Ayurvedic treatment centers include prepurification methods to prepare the body to let go of the toxins, followed by the purification methods themselves.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Panchakarma is a special, powerful procedure requiring guidance from a properly trained medical staff, not just someone with a modest amount of ayurvedic training. It is performed individually for each person, with his or her specific constitution and medical condition in mind, and it requires close observation and supervision at every stage, including post-panchakarma support.

Both for periodic prevention (to reverse any buildup of ama) and to deal with a specific health problem, panchakarma is a highly recommended art of cleansing and detoxification. If you are not near a center where panchakarma is available under the supervision of a trained Ayurvedic physician, you can do an effective purification program at home. An efficient home remedies by yourself.

Should You Use Ghee?

Use ghee for oleation and purification. A wonderful home remedy

The use of ghee for internal oleation is recommended for most people. It’s an excellent home remedies for many imbalances. However, individuals with high blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and sugar should not use it. So before you begin your home treatment, see a doctor and have your blood tested for these factors.

If they are within the normal range, there is no problem. If they are high, then instead of ghee use flaxseed oil, which provides effective oleation and also contains fatty acids, which help to reduce cholesterol levels.

Take 2 tablespoons of the flaxseed oil three times a day for three days, fifteen minutes before eating.

A Simple Home remedies for purification

Begin your home detoxification program with internal oleation with ghee. See here how to make ghee.

For three days in a row, take about 57g of warmed, liquefied ghee early in the morning.

If you are a vata person, take the ghee with a pinch of rock salt.

And for a pitta individual, take the 57 g of plain ghee.

Kapha individual should add a pinch of trikatu (a mixture of equal amounts of ginger, black pepper, and pippali, or Indian long pepper) to the ghee.

The ghee provides internal oleation and lubrication, which is necessary so that the ama or toxins begin to come back from the deep tissue to the gastrointestinal tract for elimination.

After your three days of internal oleation

Internal oleation for purification, another efficient home remedy

Another home remedies : It is time for external oleation.

For the next five to seven days, apply 200 to 230gr of warmed (not hot!) oil to your body from head to toe, rubbing it in well.

The best oil for vata types is sesame, which is heavy and warming; pittas should use sunflower oil, which is less heating; kaphas do best with corn oil. You can do this oil massage for fifteen to twenty minutes.

After the oil is well rubbed in and absorbed (wait minimum 20 minutes before shower), take a hot bath or shower. Then wash with some Ayurvedic herbal soap, such as neem. Let some of the oil remain on your skin.

The ancient Ayurvedic textbooks recommend rubbing some chickpea flour over the skin to absorb and help remove the oil. This works very well to remove the oil, but it is more suited to a culture in which individuals bathe outdoors.

Today, if you use chickpea flour, be aware that oil, flour, and hot water combine into a formidable mass that can easily clog your plumbing. Flushing the drain with extra hot water immediately following your bath can help.

Use of triphala

During your home purification, every night at least one hour after supper take ½ to 1 teaspoon of triphala. Add about half a cup of boiling water to the triphala powder, and let it steep ten minutes or until it has cooled down, then drink it.

Along with its many healing and nourishing properties, triphala is a mild but effective laxative. It will provide the benefits of a more potent virechana or purgative treatment, but more gently and over a longer span of time. Triphala is safe and can be effectively used for months at a time.

Basti: another best home remedy to clean and purify

This procedure was well-known by our past generations and useful if you want to complete your home panchakarma treatment. On the last three days perform this ayurvedic medicated enema, or basti, after your hot bath or shower.

Use dashamoola tea for the enema (or basti).

Boil 1 tablespoon of the herbal compound dashamoola in 1,8 L of water for five minutes to make a tea. Cool it, strain it, and use the liquid as an enema. (How to to it here).

Retain the liquid as long as you comfortably can. And don’t worry if little or no liquid comes out.

For certain individuals, particularly vata types, the colon may be so dry and dehydrated that the liquid may all be absorbed. This is not harmful in any way.

This snchana (oleation both internal and external with ghee and oil), swedana (sweating using a hot shower or hot bath), and virechana (purgation) using triphala, followed by basti using dashamoola tea, constitute an effective panchakarma that you can easily do on your own at home.

During this entire time it is important to get plenty of rest, and to observe a light diet.

From day four to day eight, eat only kitchari (equal amounts of basmati rice and mung dal cooked with cumin, mustard seed, and coriander, with about 2 teaspoons of ghee added to it). Kitchari is a wholesome, nourishing, balanced food that is an excellent protein combination. It is easy to digest and good for all three doshas, and it is also cleansing.

Be your own healer

Do this simple home remedies for purification and cleansing, preferably at the junction between seasons. Take responsibility for your own healing.

You will start to experience a great change in your thinking and in your feelings, and you will really fall in love with your life!

More tips for your health here.

References

Ayurveda and Panchakarma: Measuring the Effects of a Holistic Health Intervention – PMC (nih.gov)

Effect of Vasantic Vaman and other Panchakarma procedures on disorders of various systems – PubMed (nih.gov)

Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients With Skin Disorders Undergoing Ayurvedic Panchakarma (Biopurification) as Management – PubMed (nih.gov)

Utilization of Ayurveda in health care: an approach for prevention, health promotion, and treatment of disease. Part 1–Ayurveda, the science of life – PubMed (nih.gov)

Utilization of Ayurveda in health care: an approach for prevention, health promotion, and treatment of disease. Part 2–Ayurveda in primary health care – PubMed (nih.gov)

Ayurvedic management of female infertility due to tubal blockage – PubMed (nih.gov)