Monday, April 23, 2012
Ayurvedic Remedies for "Skin Care"
5:16 AM | 
Posted by
Vasu Healthcare Pvt Ltd |
Skin is the largest organ of our body and performs many vital functions. This sensory organ or tactile organ starts functioning as birth takes places and is the largest eliminative organ which removes toxins / waste from body. Thousands of tiny sweat glands act as a regulator of body temperature. Skin insulates body from outside and protects from microbes and insects etc. The skin is capable of understanding many types of touch qualities, like pleasurable sensation or pain, cold, heat roughness, dryness, smoothness, hardness and softness.
Ayurveda describes seven layers of the skin i.e. avabhasini, lohitadhara, sweda, tamra, vedini, lohita & mamsadhara. Different type of skin diseases occurs in different skin layers. Here we are going to discuss about general skin care and important tips to maintain its health.
Important Habits to Get Glowing Skin
Some of the important habits that one need to include in daily life to get a smooth and glowing healthy skin.
• Cleanse the skin at least twice a day with normal water or a mild cleanser.
• Drink loads to water, i.e. 10-12 glasses a day. It helps eliminates body toxins to expel out and maintains critical moisture of skin.
• Take sufficient quantity of fruits and green vegetables which provide essential nutrients for healthy skin.
• Avoid direct and prolong exposure of strong sunlight and polluted atmosphere.
• Regular body exercise brings healthy glow on face. Hence, work out in gym or daily yoga is good for beautiful skin.
• Have a good sleep at night for at least seven hours.
• Don’t let anxiety and stress take over your emotions.
Top 5 Skincare tips for Summer:
i. Drink water & Stay hydrated: In summer, skin care loses a lot of water/moisture in form of perspiration, therefore it is very important to keep restoring body’s water level. Drinking good quantity of water and liquids will keep your skin soft and moisturized all day long.
ii. Go for water based moisturizer: Don’t make a mistake of using oil base moisturizer. In summer, oil glands of skin are over activated hence it might clog you skin spores. Water based moisturizer is always a better option.
iii. Sun Protection: If you can, try and stay indoors between 11 am and 3 pm. That’s when the sun’s rays are the strongest and can have an adverse effect on your skin. Anyhow you wish to go out, don’t forget to use sunscreen that suites your skin.
iv. Cleanse your face frequently: At least 2 to 3 times a day. This is important to do even if you’ve been home all day and feel like your skin is clean. Cleansing and moisturizing your skin before sleeping is an absolute must.
v. Cool your skin: Blending half a cucumber and 1 tbsp of yogurt in mixer is simple yet effective homemade face pack. Apply this to your face for 15 minutes and feel completely pampered.
Labels:
“Tuberculosis & Ayurveda”
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacillus which most commonly affects the lungs.
What are the symptoms of TB?
The symptoms of tuberculosis aggravate with time. It begins with cough, which later develops into chest pain, prolonged coughing and cough associated with blood. Other symptoms then set in such as fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight loss
How does TB Spread? Does it spread from person to person?
The principal risk method of being infected with TB is by inhaling contaminated air containing microbes that cause this disease and yes it does spread from person to person. If you inhale the contaminated air you are prone to get TB.
What is the causal organism of TB / or which bacteria causes TB?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative organism of TB. It was discovered by the scientist Robert Koch and hence also known as the Koch’s bacillus.
How common is Tuberculosis?
TB infection and disease are very common worldwide. About 8 million new cases of TB disease occur each year in the world, and approximately 22,000 cases are reported each year in the United States. Also, 10 million to 15 million people in the United States are infected with TB.
What is the Relationship between TB and HIV Infection?
In many parts of the world, TB is a leading cause of death in persons with HIV infection. HIV infection weakens the immune system and makes it harder to keep the TB infection in check. Therefore, people with both TB infection and HIV infection are at very high risk of developing TB disease.
Is TB Curable?
If the disease is diagnosed in the preliminary stage and if the course of the treatment is completed as per the doctor’s advice then YES, TB can be cured.
How can one prevent from being infected with TB?
As said, TB spreads from person to person, when an infected person sneezes or coughs in a public place and when a healthy person inhales the same infected air, the bacteria enters his body via the respiratory route and causes the infection.
· Hence it is very necessary for a person infected to cover his face while sneezing or coughing.
· The person should take enough care not to spit in open areas.
Do the symptoms show up immediately?
In weakly immune person the disease symptoms may show up immediately but there are also cases of the infection showing up after a certain period of time which is known as a latent infection. It directly or indirectly depends upon the immune system of the person.
What is the treatment for TB?
Based on the severity of the disease, the course will range from a minimum of 6 months to more.
The course must be completed even if the results might be seen in the mid course. If the treatment is discontinued in between then the chances of treating TB in the same patient may become very difficult when re-infected, hence it is very necessary to complete the entire course of medicine.
*This may be applicable in treating or curing any disease. The course of the medicine (especially antibiotics) should be completed as per the advice of a medical practioner
How do I confirm if I am really suffering from TB or if I am having just cough?
If dry cough persists for a longer period than expected it is better to consult a medical practioner and get it checked for TB. The test that they do is to check sputum which will confirm the presence of the tubercle bacilli if positive for TB. This is however a preliminary test.
What is the cure for TB?
WHO approved standardized and effective cure for TB, called DOTS (directly observed treatment short-course) has to be followed strictly without breaking the course duration.
What is the allopathy drugs used to cure TB?
The most common and effective tuberculosis drug regimen used to treat tuberculosis is as listed below:
· Isoniazid (INH)
· Rifampicin
· Pyrazinamide
· Ethambutol and
· Streptomycin
However according to the present situation the bacteria are becoming resistant to the following drugs and thus a lot of research and investment is been done and focused on new line of treatments.
Can Ayurvedic Drugs cure or help in the treatment of TB?
Many of the plants have been reported that tend to possess anti mycobacterial activity. A lot of research is being done and many of them have been found with promising results till date. These herbs in combination with the allopathy drugs also found enhancing efficacy and reducing adverse effect of allpathy drugs.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
“YOGA” - TO STAY YOUNG AND HEALTHY
The ancient Indian tradition of yoga involves a wide
variety of mind – body exercises, ranging from postural and breathing exercises
to deep relaxation and meditation. Yoga exercise may be tailored to the needs
of individuals with health problems. Besides helping particular disorders,
regular yoga practice also boosts energy level and improves all round
well-beings.
Yoga has many styles, forms and intensities. Hatha
yoga, in particular, may be a good choice for stress management. Hatha is one
of the most common styles of yoga, and some beginners find it easier to
practice because of its slower pace and easier movements. But most people can
benefit from any style of yoga — it's all about your personal preferences. Yoga
can treat many of other common conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease,
high blood pressure, migraine, obesity and premenstrual syndrome.
The core components of Hatha yoga and most general yoga classes are:
Poses: Yoga poses, also
called postures, are a series of movements designed to increase strength and
flexibility. Poses range from lying on the floor while completely relaxed to
difficult postures that may have you stretching your physical limits.
Breathing:
Controlling your breathing is an important part of yoga. In yoga, breath
signifies your vital energy. Yoga teaches that controlling your breathing can
help you control your body and quiet your mind.
Health Benefits of Yoga:
The
potential health benefits of yoga are numerous and may include:
ü Stress reduction
ü Increased fitness
ü Management of chronic health conditions such as
depression, anxiety and insomnia etc
ü Weight loss
While
you shouldn't expect yoga to cure you or offer 100 percent relief, it can help
some health conditions when combined with standard treatment. And if you
already enjoy good health, yoga can be an enjoyable supplement to your regular
fitness routine.
Yoga
Compared to Conventional Exercise:
|
Yoga
|
Exercise
|
|
Parasympathetic
nervous system dominates
|
Sympathetic
nervous system dominates
|
|
Subcortical
regions of brain dominate
|
Cortical
regions of brain dominate
|
|
Slow dynamic
and static movements
|
Rapid forceful
movements
|
|
Normalization
of muscle tone
|
Increased
muscle tension
|
|
Low risk of
injuring muscles and
ligaments
|
High risk of
injury
|
|
Low caloric
consumption
|
Moderate to
high caloric consumption
|
|
Effort is
minimized, relaxed
|
Effort is
maximized
|
|
Energizing
(breathing is natural or controlled)
|
Fatiguing
(breathing is taxed)
|
|
Balanced
activity of opposing muscle groups
|
Imbalanced
activity of opposing groups
|
|
Noncompetitive,
process-oriented
|
Competitive,
goal-oriented
|
|
Awareness is
internal (focus is on breath and the infinite)
|
Awareness is
external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
|
|
Limitless
possibilities for growth in self- awareness
|
Boredom factor
|
Precaution:
Yoga
is generally considered safe for people of all abilities, even if you use a
wheelchair or you're severely overweight. But there are some situations in which
yoga might pose a risk. You may need to find an alternative to yoga or scale
back your yoga poses.
See
your health care provider before you begin yoga if you have any of the
following conditions or situations, since complications can arise:
·
Balance problems
·
Uncontrolled
high blood pressure
·
Certain eye
conditions, including glaucoma
·
Severe
osteoporosis
·
Pregnancy
·
Artificial
joints
You
may be able to practice yoga in these situations if you take certain
precautions, such as avoiding certain poses or stretches. Regardless of your
health status, start slowly and gently. If you develop symptoms or concerns,
see your doctor to make sure you're getting benefit and not harm from yoga.
PSORIASIS & HERBAL TREATMENT
Psoriasis is a common
chronic inflammatory dermatosis. Person of all ages may develop the disease.
Psoriasis is sometime associated with arthritis, myopathy, enteropathy,
spondylitic heart disease or the AIDS. Psoriatic arthritis may be mild or may
produce severe deformities resembling the joint changes seen in rheumatoid
arthritis.1 Clinically, psoriasis most frequently affects the skin
of the elbow, knees, scalp, lumbosacral areas, intergluteal cleft and glans
penis. The most typical lesion is a well demarcated, pink to salmon colored
plaque covered by loosely adherent scales that are characteristically silver
white in color.
Psoriasis affects both sexes
equally and can occur at any age, although it most commonly appears for the
first time between the ages of 15 and 25 years.
The prevalence of psoriasis in
Western populations is estimated to be around 2-3%. The prevalence of psoriasis
among 7.5 million patients who were registered with a general practitioner in
the United Kingdom was 1.5%. A survey conducted by the National Psoriasis
Foundation (a US based psoriasis education and advocacy group) found a
prevalence of 2.1% among adult Americans. The study found that 35% of people
with psoriasis could be classified as having moderate to severe psoriasis.
Classification
of Psoriasis:
In Ayurveda, skin diseases are known as
Kustha. There are 2 main type of Kustha i.e. Maha kustha & Kshudra kustha.
Seven are Maha kustha and eleven Kshudra kustha.
There are three types of Psoriasis called
i) Kitibha,
is characterized with rough papulosquamous dermatosis in which the scaling
papules are light blue or red in colour.
ii)
Ekakustha,
is identified with silver gray scaling papules, which can spread in big
patches.
iii)
Charmakhya,
is characterized with thick scaling papules, which finally turns just like the
skin of the elephant
We cannot exactly correlate ayurvedic types of
psoriasis with modern terminology / types but on the basis of disease symptoms
we can conclude as follow,
Kitibha = Non-pustular
psoriasis
Ekakustha = Pustular
psoriasis
Causes of Psoriasis:
The effect of slow poison or the poison, which is
partly counteracted with anti-poisonous drugs or antidote, is the fundamental
cause of psoriasis. As per modern medical science there is a no specific cause
for psoriasis. In charak Samhita (Classical text book of Ayurveda) some
specific causes was mentioned for kustha roga as follow,
- Consuming opposite
foods like curd – onion,
milk-onion etc
- Controlling natural
urges.
- Exposure to severe
climatic conditions.
- Consuming food that
is too salty, too sour and/or too heavy for digestion.
- Sleeping during the
afternoon with sedative lifestyle.
- Taking a bath in
cold water immediately after physical exertion.
- Mental stress.
- Psoriasis is caused
by vitiation of vata and kapha dosha. The vitiated doshas
affect the skin and blood tissues. They also influence the water element
of the affected region on the skin. Thus the skin which is influenced by
the affected doshas becomes discolored (white or copper coloured), scaly
and thin.
Preventive
steps you should take:
There
is no way to prevent psoriasis. But the following tips may improve
symptoms or help reduce the number of psoriasis flare-ups.
·
Avoid intake of opposite food like
curd – onion, milk-onion, etc
·
Use moisturizing lotions, do not
keep your skin dry
·
Take proper care of your skin and
scalp
·
Use humidifier during dry season
·
Try to avoid dry and cold weather
·
Avoid scrapes, cuts, bumps and
infections
·
Get some sun bath, but not too much
·
Decrease stress
·
Reduce alcohol intake
·
Do exercise, Eat right and
maintain a healthy weight
Product profile:
CUTISORA OIL & TABLET
Cutisora is a combination of potent herbs which are renowned for
reducing scaling, erythema and thickening of skin, antiproliferative &
anti-inflammatory properties. They are also known to posses tremendous skin
rejuvenating properties.
ü
Provides
prompt symptomatic Relief
ü
Corrects
liver function by balancing pitta & kapha the root cause of psoriasis
ü
Reduces
scaling and thickening of skin
ü
Controls
itching and redness of scalp
ü Non steroidal and safe for long term use
 |
Cutisora Tablet [60 Tab] |
 |
Cutisora Oil |
Application & Dosage:
Cutisora Oil: To be applied 2 to 3 times a day after cleaning the affected part or as directed by the Physician.
Cutisota
Tablet: 1 to 2 tablets 2 times a day or as directed by the
Physician
Presentation: Cutisora
Oil: Pet Bottle 100 ml; Cutisora Tablet: HDPE Bottle 1X60 Tablets
References:
1. Rakesh K. Sindhu et. al., Psoriasis and Herbal Care: A Brief Review.
International Journal of Pharma Research & Development, Vol.1, Issue 9,
Nov. 2009.
2. Andrew IB, Richard AB, Jeffery WJ and Mark PL Emerging therapeutic
targets in psoriasis. Current opinions in pharmacology.2004; 4:306-310.
3. Lo KK, Ho
LY. Psoriasis; Handbook of Dermatology and Venereology (Social Hygiene
Handbook) 2nd edition.
4. Prof.
Priyavrat Sharma; Charaka Samhita, chikisasthan to siddhisthan, Vol.IV, Edition
2010
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