Meditation can reduce High Blood Pressure

Researches have now indicated that those who are spiritually inclined have lower Blood Pressure than those who are not. Meditation (even simple prayers) can be allotted a few minutes time in one’s busy schedule and lower blood pressure can be added as one among the reasons to say prayers or to meditate.
A recent study conducted on 5300 Americans-Africans by the American Society of Hypertension, in New York City reveal that meditation and prayers can help in lowering blood pressure, and integration of spirituality, religion and meditation when brought into regular life, helps in delaying the harmful effects of hypertension. The study was conducted on 5,302 Africans between the age group of 35 to 85. The participants who had a blood pressure reading of 140/90 and above, and those who were already under medication were questioned regarding their involvement in meditation, spirituality and religious activities. They were also questioned whether they turned towards meditation and spirituality in times of stress. The findings revealed that meditation and spirituality weighs heavily on the positive results of the group with high blood pressure.
Another interesting finding in the study conducted was that individuals who were engaged in meditation and spirituality had lower levels of Cortisol (the stress hormone) in comparison to those who were not. This also revealed a new pathway which indicates lower stress, lower blood pressure and meditation and spirituality are definitely interlinked.

Diabetes and Yoga

Practicing Yoga has been found helpful in dealing with diabetes. When practiced along with meditation and breathing exercises, yoga enhances digestion, normalizes the functioning of liver and pancreas, tones abdominal parts, stimulates circulation and regulates blood sugar levels.
Recent researches indicate that high levels of Cortisol (a hormone produced in the body as a response to stress) could lead to problems in blood sugar levels, diabetes and insulin resistance. Meditation and yoga are now considered to be the best practices that alleviate stress, as regular practice of yoga has been proven to lower Cortisol levels.
Exercise pays an important role in treating diabetes due to its ability in increasing insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels. Studies have confirmed that regular practice of certain yoga postures stimulates the cells that produce insulin in the Pancreas, while controlling body weight and has helped in lowering the dosages of diabetic medicines.
The following exercises could prove beneficial for individuals with diabetes.
Stand with feet kept apart in line with the shoulders. Bend forward by placing hands on the knees and exhaling through the mouth. Immediately after exhalation, close the mouth and inhale by expanding the chest and tightening the abdominal muscles firmly. Relax the muscles of all other parts of the body, and stay in this position as long as the need to breathe is felt and then relax.
The next step is abdominal pumping. Inhale and exhale, while simultaneously releasing and sucking the abdominal muscles, and continue this process until the need to breathe is felt. This exercise can be repeated three or four times.  These exercises are however not recommended for pregnant women, individuals with hypertension or cardiac ailments or after surgeries.
Certain other postures that are recommended for diabetes control are Bow, Sun salutation, Peackock Pose, Locust Pose, Chest-knee pose, Leg lift pose, Seated Forward Fold, Half Seated twist, Belly Down poses, and Plow. Also, forward bending pose, knee down twist, supine bound angle, Nadi Sodhana (alternate nostril breathing) and Pranayama have calming effect on the body and alleviates stress.
However, diabetic patients, while practicing yoga, should eat atleast one to two hours prior to practice to prevent sudden drop in blood sugar level and sugar levels can be checked after practice of yoga. Yoga practice should be accompanied with diet restrictions meant for diabetic patients.

Yoga for Depression

Yoga practitioners are of the belief that yoga is the separation of one’s self from source. The postures, meditation and breathing exercises that are involved in Yoga, helps in building positive mental health. Through regular practice of yoga, the barriers that separate one’s self from source will be stripped off. Patanjali, in his Yoga sutras, state that the inner obstacles in the mind, lead to mental distraction, which further leads to depression. These can be removed through Pranayama, Asanas and meditation.
Meditation and yoga postures, help in finding the root cause of depression, increasing blood circulation and eliminating lethargy which is often associated with depression. However, individuals suffering severe depression and other mental disorders should be treated by medical professionals, and yoga practice can be used as a supplementary therapy.  
The following relaxation exercises helps in relieving symptoms of depression. They can be tried lying in the Corpse Pose. Tighten the muscles of the knees, ankles, feet, calves and toes while simultaneously inhaling through nose, hold on and exhale and relax. Then tighten abdomen, thighs, hips and pelvis, while inhaling simultaneously and relax and exhale. Next tighten the muscles of neck, arms, shoulders, waist, elbows, chest, hands and fingers and then relax and exhale. Finally, beginning with the scalp, head and face, tighten all the muscles of the body, while simultaneously inhaling, hold on and then relax and exhale with a feeling that all the tension has evaporated away from the body.  
Pranayama (In particular Ujjayi Pranayama) is also a recommended therapy for depression. Certain other Yoga Asanas like The Bow pose, Corpse Pose, Sun Salutation, Shoulder Stand, Plow Pose, Vajrasana are also recommended for alleviating depression.

Chronic Lower Back Pain Relief

Yoga could be more effective than standard treatment in reducing chronic low back pain in minority population, reveals a new study.
People suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP) can try to gain some relief from complementary therapies such as yoga, confirm researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center.
For their study, the researchers involved adults with CLBP from two community health centers that serve racially diverse, low-income neighbourhoods of Boston.
They were randomly assigned to a standardized 12 week series of Hatha Yoga classes, and 75-minute classes with postures, breathing techniques and meditation, or standard treatment including doctor’s visits and medications. Even home practice was recommended for 30 minutes daily for the yoga group.
The participants had to report average pain intensity for the previous week as part of the trial, and about the limitations of their day to day activities due to back pain, and the amount of medication taken.
Pain scores for the yoga participants decreased by one-third, while the use of pain medicines decreased by 80 percent, compared to the control group, which decreased by only 5 percent. However, the use of pain medication in control group did not change. The improvement in function was also greater for yoga participants.
Low back pain is a common condition and has resulted in considerable disability and cost to society. People from low-income and minority backgrounds who are suffering from CLBP could be more affected due to lack of access to treatment.
“Yoga is well-received in these communities and could be effective in reducing pain and use of pain medication,” concluded Lead Author of the study, Robert B. Saper, MD MPH, Assistant Professor of family medicine at BUSM and Director of integrative medicine at Boston Medical Center.

Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara) Yoga Steps

DESCRIPTION – The brief version of Surya Namaskara is described herein:

STEP 1 – PRANAMASANA (PRAYER POSE)
Standing erect with feet kept together, join the palms in front of the chest (regular Indian prayer position) and inhale. Exhale and bring the hands back to their respective positions, straightening the lower arms in such a way that the elbows touch either sides of the body.
STEP 2 – HASTA UTTANASANA , RAISED ARMS POSE OR CRESCENT MOON POSE)
Inhale deeply and bring the arms above the head, bending the spine in backward direction so as to form an arch at the back from the waist while simultaneously moving the hips forward. The eyes can focus on the hands and the neck should be left relaxed. The hands should not appear bent from the elbows.
STEP 3 – PADAHASTASANA (HAND TO FOOT POSE)
Exhale and bending forward from the waist, place hands on either sides of the feet. Care should be taken not to bend the knees while doing this posture. The head and neck should appear relaxed in a bending posture. Exhale completely and even if the hands are unable to reach the floor, they should be stretched as far as possible.
STEP 4 – ASHWA SANCHALASANA (EQUESTARIAN POSE)
Inhale and exert weight on the hands, stretching the right leg behind, allowing it to rest on the toes. Bend the right leg at the knee and place it on the floor, and exert weight on the left foot, arching the spine backwards. The head and neck should be lifted up first and then should be bent in backward direction. The eyes can move in upward direction. The hands should be placed in between the left foot.
STEP 5 – PARVATASANA (THE MOUNTAIN POSE)
Exhale and gently bring the left foot in the backward direction, inline with the right foot. The hips can be lifted up high in the form of a mountain. The heels can now be brought down to the floor. Bend the head in downward direction and focus on the toes by keeping head down in between the arms.
STEP 6 – ASHTANGA NAMASKARA  (THE EIGHT LIMB POSE)
Bring the knees down first and then the chest. Ensure that eight parts of the body (the feet, knees, hands, chest, forehead and the chin) touches the floor.  “Ashta” refers to “eight” and “namaskara” refers to “Salutation” by touching the floor. Ensure that the hips are raised slightly high above the ground. Breathe normally and deeply while in this position, keeping feet together.
STEP 7 – BHUJANGASANA  (THE COBRA POSE)
Bring the abdomen and pelvis down to the floor. Inhale and keep the toes stretched on the floor. Gently lift the head up and make an arch with the spine and neck while simultaneously looking up. The legs should be kept together, with elbows besides the body slightly bent and the shoulders to be kept down.
STEP 8 – PARVATASANA  (THE MOUNTAIN POSE)
Exhale and bring the toes forward in such a way that the feet rests on the soles, with hips in slightly raised position, just as mentioned in Step 5.
STEP 9 – ASHWA SANCHALANASANA  (EQUESTRIAN POSE)
Inhale deeply while simultaneously bringing the left foot forward bending at the knee, and assume the position as in Step 4 just that the positions of the legs are reversed.
STEP 10 – PADAHASTASANA  (HAND TO FOOT  POSE)
Exhale and bring the right foot forward, and repeat the position mentioned in Step 3.
STEP 11 – HASTA UTTANASANA  (RAISED ARMS  POSE)
Inhale and stretch in upward direction in a standing posture with arms up and bending backwards, forming an arch at the spine, repeating the posture of Step 2.
STEP 12 – PRANAMASANA  (PRAYER  POSE)
Exhale and bring back the hands to the front of the chest, joining palms and standing erect as in the position mentioned in Step 1.
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Vigorous exercises can reduce cancer risk

Men who regularly practice heart-pounding exercises are less likely to develop Cancer, reveals a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The main reason behind this was the higher rate of oxygen consumption among people who exercised.
Researchers in the Universities of Oulu and Kuopio in Finland studied the leisure-time physical activity, over a one-year period on 2560 men in the age group 42 and 61, with no history of cancer.
Following a period of 16 years, 181 of the subjects died from cancer, mainly pertaining to stomach, intestine, lungs, brain and prostate.
The scientists measured the metabolic units of oxygen consumption using an intensity scale or exercise, and found that men who exercised for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, were half as likely to get cancer, when compared to those who did not.
Maximum reduction was found in gastrointestinal and lung cancers, and was true even when other factors such as alcohol consumption, age, weight, smoking, were all taken into account.
The researchers concluded that the intensity of leisure-time and physical activity should be moderate, so that, beneficial effects for reducing overall cancer mortality can be achieved.
Longer and more intense physical activity can also help in maintaining cognitive skills among people as they age, the researchers pointed out.

New study suggests yoga as potential therapy for mental disorders

According to researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), yoga may be superior to other forms of exercise, with regard to its positive effect on mood and anxiety.
The findings are the first to indicate a link between yoga postures with increased Brain Gamma-Amniobutyric (GABA) levels and decreased anxiety.
The researchers compared the GABA levels of yoga disciples, with those of other participants who adopted walking as the only means of exercise. They followed the two randomized groups of healthy individuals over a 12-week period. While one of the groups practiced yoga thrice a week for an hour, the remaining subjects walked for the same duration of time.
The brains of the participants’ were scanned using a magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) imaging, before and after the study. At the end of 12 weeks, the researchers found that those who practiced yoga reported considerable decline in anxiety and greater improvements in mood than those who only walked.
The positive changes in these reports are associated with rising GABA levels, said Lead Author Chris Streeter, MD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at BUSM. Low GABA levels are associated with depression and other widespread anxiety disorders.
Streeter said that the positive aspect of yoga found in this research, indicates that practice of yoga can be considered as a potential therapy for certain mental disorders.
The study report appeared in the online journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine.

Ayurvedic treatment for baldness

Is that a broad forehead or a receding hairline?’ Is that a now familiar line to you? Worried about impending baldness? According to Ayurveda avoiding the causative factors is treatment. Below are some of the factors leading to baldness. Baldness is caused due to:

• Exposure to fumes

• Exposure to sun and dew

• Sleeping too much or too less

• Mental stress

• Crying or preventing tears

• Drinking lot of water or alcohol

• Talking too much.

• Very spicy, salty food also may cause baldness, along with graying of hair

• It may be a hereditary problem too 

It follows that baldness can be prevented by:

• Not exposing oneself to extremes of climate.

• Sleeping during the day should be avoided unless one is working through the night.

• Mental stress should be controlled preferably through yoga.

• One should also control his / her emotions.

• Alcohol and tobacco should be avoided.

• Food should not be very spicy, salty or heavy.

• Dinner should be taken before 8 pm so that by the time he / she goes to sleep, there is a feeling of lightness in the body. Proper hair-care should be taken:

• Hair should never be washed with hot water, but always with water at room temperature.

• Simple coconut oil should be used for the scalp. It should not be applied very vigorously. 

Pinda Thailam – cooling massage oil

Pinda Thailam (also known as Pinda oil) is a cooling massage oil, and mostly used by Pitta individuals, who particularly suffer from skin problems like rashes and eruptions.

It is prepared from the Indian plants Manjishta and Shariba, and is highly therapeutic, as it contains pitta reducing herbs. While Manjistha is known to possess anti-rheumatic properties, Shariba is a perfect body relaxant.

Manjistha renders the red colour to the oil. Pinda Thailam is particularly useful for rheumatoid arthritis, as it helps deal with bone degeneration and associated pain. When used during pitta-vitiated conditions, including skin problems, it helps prevent excessive skin exfoliation, heals foot blisters and burning sensation, thereby protecting against skin lesions. When massaged, the oil enters into the body through the pores, softening the skin and lubricating the joints.

Pinda Thailam can also be used as general massage oil. This oil also constitutes 18percent water content, so that the skin can breathe even when the oil is allowed to remain in the body for some time. Apart from rheumatic treatments, Pinda Thailam is also used for autoimmune diseases, gout, inflammation, problems due to excess heat and pitta doshas.

For optimum benefit, gently warm the oil before application.

The major ingredients of this oil are Rubia cordifolia, sesame oil, bee wax, Hemidesmus indicus, and Rhododendron lepidotum.

Home Remedies for Dark circles under the eyes

Dark circles under the eyes are one of the common problems faced by people of all age groups, particularly women and teens. It is a bothersome indication of several factors like having worked too hard, deprived of sleep, tiredness, smoking, long-term computer use, or other health issues. For majority of us, dark circles may be only a temporary issue, if we find out the root cause and get it treated.

But, beware of cosmetic fillers and surgical procedures, as although they produce instant results, it should be carried out with extreme caution, and these surgical procedures are often irreversible. It is better to try home remedies before taking up such drastic measures. Also, a visit to a dermatologist or skin expert may help in finding the root cause of discoloration under the eyes.

Here are few remedies for under-eye dark circles that could be safely tried at home.

Causes

As for digging into the causes of this problem, it is often due to reasons such as consistent lack of sleep, smoking, allergies, nasal congestion, aging skin, bad lifestyle habits including excessive use of cigarettes and alcohol and high levels of caffeine, heredity, stress and pollution.

Home remedies

Apart from taking care of any of the said underlying causes for dark circles, following these natural home remedies will definitely help in removing dark circles to a large extent.

Cucumber: “The Cucumber Therapy” has been used since ages to restore the youthful look around the eyes. Although this may not seem to be a permanent solution to the problem of dark circles, it does help in the overall health and appearance of the skin. With the presence of vitamin A, Calcium, and Magnesium, cucumber re-vitalizes the skin. Just apply a slice of cucumber over closed eye, and rest for 10-15 minutes every day.

Tea bags: Placing cool tea bags on the eyes once or twice a day for 15 minutes, is also an effective solution, as the tannin present in tea bags can help reduce discoloration and swelling.

Tomato-lime juice: Take a teaspoon of tomato juice, and add half a teaspoon of lime juice, a pinch of turmeric powder and gramflour. Make a paste and apply on the affected areas and leave it for 10 minutes, before washing off.

Almond oil: Massaging the area under the eyes with almond oil prior to bed time is a very good remedy. Almond oil, being a natural moisturizer, helps in soothing and moisturizing the skin, with the presence of vitamin E, known to reduce appearance of dark rings and fine lines.

Another way is to mix 2 teaspoons of sweet almond oil to two teaspoons of all-natural honey and massage the under-eye area gently, or just dab using ring finger. Rinse it off in the morning.

Make an almond oil paste, by combining sweet almond oil and all-natural milk powder in equal proportion. Mix well to form a paste, and apply it under the eye. Wait for 10 minutes and wash off. Ensure that it doesn’t come into contact with eyes.

Adding grated potatoe to almond paste also helps in reducing puffiness, apart from reducing dark circles.

Neti pot: A Neti pot helps relieve congestion in the nose and sinuses, and flushes out pollutants, as sinus too can result in itchy eyes causing under-eye dark circles.

Sugarcane-turmeric paste: Make a paste of 1-2 tablespoons of sugarcane juice with 2-3 spoons of turmeric powder, and set it aside for 5 minutes. Apply in the under-eye area and wash off with clean water after 10 to 15 minutes.

Coconut oil: Rub coconut oil on the fine lines every night. The massaging will help improve fine lines in the area and will relax the skin under the eyes.

Castor oil/egg white: Applying castor oil or egg white under the eye, keeps the skin around the eyes soft, nourishes it and reduces wrinkles around the eyes.

Olive Oil: A gentle massage with olive oil can help in tackling dark circles caused due to tiredness.

Cold compress/ice bags: Using ice bags under the eyes for ten minutes every day can help banish dark circles caused due to strain and fatigue.

Cold Milk: Dipping cotton in cold milk and applying on closed eyes helps remove dark circles to a certain extent.

Mint juice: Applying mint juice under the eye is another option.

Yoga: Regular yoga practice helps in keeping fine lines at bay, and is one of the best and natural under-eye treatments, it is said.

Aloe-Vera: Apply aloe-vera gel under the eye after cleansing face. Being a rich source of active ingredients such as vitamin A, C and E, it is a good product to banish under-eye dark circles and wrinkles.

Other Tips

Other simple tips or preventive measures that could be followed are:

    * Tapping the area around the eye gently few times a day to increase healthy circulation
    * Drinking cranberry juice daily as it helps reduce under-eye discoloration.
    * Following a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
    * Using butcher’s broom, a herb that facilitate healthy circulation
    * Try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep daily.
    * Eating plenty of vegetables and fruits and drinking enough water to avoid dehydration, and leading a stress-free life, are few more aspects to be taken into consideration.

PS: When massaging the under-eye area, take care to gently massage the area using your ring finger or little finger, and not to rub or massage vigorously, as this could result in more wrinkles and fine line under the eye.

Herbal tips for hair care

Exposure to excess cosmetics or chemicals, hormonal imbalances, poor diet, stress, anxiety and illness are few common reasons for hair loss.

    * Massage scalp with warm almond oil or coconut oil regularly for ten minutes.
      Neem leaves can be boiled in water, and the strained solution can be used to rinse hair.
    * A high-protein diet with green leafy vegetables, fruits, salads, sprouts, soya beans, whole grains, nuts, yeast etc are recommended.
    * hair treatmentCleansing hair should be done with herbal shampoo or natural shampoo preferably.
    * For washing hair use Shikakai or amla.
    * Massaging the scalp regularly with luke warm oil promotes hair growth
    * An Ayurvedic preparation made of Amla, Corals, Bhringraj and sesame seeds helps in preventing pre-mature greying, apart from increasing hair growth.
    * Drinking a mixture of spinach juice and lettuce helps in hair growth.
    * Application of coconut oil with lime juice helps in hair growth.
    * Washing hair with a paste of fenugreek and Urad dhal thrice a week is considered beneficial.
    * Saw Palmetto oil is a good treatment for individuals with benign prostate hyperplasia.
    * Three drops each of Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender and Cedarwood essential oils can be mixed with 1/8th cup each of Jojoba oil and Grapeseed oil. Mix the ingredients together and message into the scalp gently. This has been effective in promoting hair growth.
    * Ayurvedic herbs Amla and Ashwagandha are also effective in promoting hair growth.

Treatment of Thyroid disease

Thyroid gland is situated in the neck and produces a hormone called thyroxine, which helps in regulating body metabolism. While deficiency of thyroxine hormone causes Myxoedema in adults and cretinism in children, excess of thyroxine levels could lead to exophthalmic goitre, Grave’s disease or Thyrotoxicosis.

thyroidgland Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis is a condition which is more common in women of age group 30 to 50 years. Such individuals show symptoms of irritation, over-anxiety, rapid heart rate, deep shallow respiration, diarrhea, heat intolerance, flushing, menstrual disturbance, fatigue and bulging of eyes. Though all of the said [tag]thyroid symptoms[/tag] may not be present a few of such symptoms could be due to hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is a condition caused due to inactivity of thyroxine. This condition can be caused due to deficiency of iodine or thyroid failure or pituitary dysfunction. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of vitality and overall hormonal imbalance. When hypothyroidism is left untreated for a long time it could result in myxodema which is distinguished by swollen skin and tissues.

According to Ayurveda, taking adequate quantities of milk can help in preventing goitre. Also rice, barley, Bengal gram, moong dal and cucumber are recommended for patients suffering from goitre. They should of course avoid heavy and sour foods. Herbs that are found useful in treatment of thyroid disorders include Kanchanara, Jatamansi, Shilajita, Brahmi guggulu, gokshura, and punarnava.

As a home remedy, a fine paste of vegetable jalakumbhi can be applied over the affected area and the juice of jalakumbi can be given a few times in a day. This has a high content of iodine, the deficiency of which causes goitre.

Coconut oil which contains medium chain fatty acids which help in improving body metabolism,   is good for those suffering from thyroid disorders. The medicines used in Ayurveda for treating thyroid disorders include Kanchanar Guggulu, Ashwagandharishta, Amritadhaya taila and Mahayogaraj guggulu.

Apart from all this, yogic asanas like Sarvangasana, Halasana, Suryanamaskara, Suptavajrasana are found helpful, though Pranayama is the most effective for curing thyroid problems.

Asthma treatment in Ayurveda

Asthma remedies in ayurvedaDue to today’s modern urbanized lifestyles, excessive pollution and rapid industrialization the number of patients suffering from [tag]Asthma[/tag] is fast increasing. Reports suggest that at least 15% of Indian population and 10% of U.S. population suffer from Bronchial Asthma every year. These days more and more of such patients are turning towards [tag]Ayurveda remedies[/tag], due to the holistic approach followed by [tag]Ayurveda[/tag] wherein apart from treating the disease without any side effects, measures are taken to find the root cause of the disease and prevent it.

Asthma is referred to as “Swas Roga” in Ayurveda. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the kapha dosha combines with ‘pranavayu’ leading to obstruction in the respiratory passage (called ‘pranavaha srotasa’ in Ayurveda) causing a condition called as ‘Swas Roga’ or “Asthma”.

There are various non-allergic and allergic factors that cause Asthma like diet, excessive exposure to smoke and dust, working in excessive cold or hot temperatures, over-exercising, emotional tensions, other disorders in lungs or throat or hereditary factors.

A few Ayurvedic remedies and home preventive tips are mentioned here:

   1. A few common medicines as suggested in Ayurveda are [tag]Sitopaladi choorna[/tag], Vasavleha, Swaskuthar ras etc. During Asthma attacks, “[tag]Rasayana Chikitsa[/tag]” is given to the patient. It is also advised that Asthmatic patients can go in for a [tag]Panchakarma[/tag], especially vaman chikitsa before the onset of monsoon.
   2. Honey is one of the most effective remedies used for [tag]treatment of Asthma[/tag]. During bouts of Astma, just holding a jug of honey beneath the nose and inhaling the air in contact with honey helps in easier breathing and provides temporary relief from Asthma. When consumed internally with equal parts of dates, black resins and pippali, it acts as a good lung tonic by thinning out the accumulated mucus and eliminating it from the respiratory system.
   3. When five grams of Indian gooseberry or Amla is mixed with one table spoon of honey and consumed, it acts as an expectorant, and is an effective medicine for Asthma.
   4. During Asthmatic attacks, [tag]massaging[/tag] mustard oil with camphor over the chest will loosen the mucus and help easy breathing. Simultaneously, inhaling steam with a few caraway seeds added to boiling water will help in dilation of bronchial passage.

Ayurvedic Acupressure Therapy

Acupressure is one of China’s best gifts to the world. It is an ancient technique that combines principles of acupuncture and studied pressure application to cure illnesses and help in overall well-being of a person. It is an ancient medicine practice using the fingers, knuckle or other objects to create pressure on particular points in the body called meridians. It is similar to acupuncture, but the pressure replaces the needles. Acupressure has been practiced since ages to improve the flow of prana or life force through the body. Pressure is applied to certain specific areas of the body for about 30 seconds.
Although, simple reflexology is all that is required to bring about an immediate cure, in chronic cases Chinese acupuncture may be required. But, in the recent past, Ayurvedic Acupressure has been found to be extremely good in treating several ailments including thalasemia, platelet count, RBC count etc.
Ayurvedic Acupressure is a particular kind of massage or an alternative medical treatment, blending two ancient forms of medicine – Ayurveda and Acupressure. Both the approaches to health and wellness have been used by Asians and Indians for ages now. By utilizing both these methods, one can experience considerable relief from pain, improve blood circulation and even relieve stress and anxiety in some cases.
In Ayurveda the pressure points or the meridians are called Marma points. These are considered as energy points, just as Chinese refer them as pressure points, and they help in stimulating not only circulation, but also improve mental and emotional outlook. The Marma points are located throughout the body.
Depending on the location of the Marma, Ayurvedic Acupressure helps relieve pain and stiffness, improving oxygenated blood flow into the area serviced by the pressure point. For instance, the two paired points at the upper level of the shoulder near the neck, called Urdhva Skandha, when pressed simultaneously, can help relieve a pinched nerve, or can treat rotator cuff tendonitis. As for the emotional aspects, applying this sort of pressure at these points can relieve headaches, while also promoting calmness.
According to the ancient Indian ayurvedic text Charak Sanhita, Ayurvedic Acupressure is mainly based on study of ten basic elements. Each finger represents a different element – space, darkness, fire, water, air, time, earth, mind, direction and soul, and they all have a corresponding colour. Acupressure, when combined with colour therapy, can melt anger, relieve stress, induce happiness, and maintain weight. Every emotion is linked to a particular organ, so treating that particular organ is vital.
Research has revealed that acupressure treatment can control several illnesses to a certain extent, including AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis, kidney failure, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteophytes, disc prolapse, Pott Spine, paralysis, cerebral atrophy, changes in various spinal segments, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, mania, mental retardedness, depression, mania, anemia deficiency, RBC, haemoglobin deficiency and even trigeminal neuralgia.
There are several acupressure exercises that could be done from home. But, it should be taught only by a trained and skilled practitioner. When executed as instructed, these exercises are sure to have a great impact on one’s lifestyle.

Mahanarayana oil for pain relief

Ayurvedic treatment makes use of massage techniques with selective medicinal oils as treatment mode for various pains, particularly for joint pain. There are different types of ayurvedic massage oils used for healing various pains related to sprains, stress injury, bone dislocation, and arthritis.
Mahanarayana oil is a popular Ayurvedic vata massage oil, particularly beneficial for pain pertaining to bones and muscles. It offers flexibility to joints, and is used in treating arthritis pain, sprains and backaches. According to Ayurveda, the root cause of arthritis is poor digestion in the individual. A person with less digestion, will have excess ama (body waste), which in-turn gets accumulated in the joints, resulting in joint pain.
Apart from arthritic conditions, Mahanarayana oil is also used to treat other painful conditions. For instance, it is an excellent oil for athletes, as it improves flexibility and rejuvenates joints and muscles.
Mahanarayana oil is well-known for its analgesic qualities, apart from its anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory effects. Its muscle and nerve nourishing properties makes it effective for paralysis, facial palsy, wasting of muscles and spondylosis.
Mahanarayana oil is used in treating diabetes-related vata diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and is generally effective for all vata disorders. In Ayurveda, it is used in Panchakarma and Rejuvenation treatment sessions, and renders considerable healing when applied to specific joints by trained therapist during a massage session.
The oil is gently heated and used as external application on entire body or on the affected body part.
Major ingredients in Mahanarayana oil are: Cow milk, Black sesame oil, Wild asparagus, Giant potato, Brahmin ginseng, Vigna, Saffron crocus, Camphor, Indian ironwood, Bitumen, Rock salt, Cardamom, Licorice, Nutgrass, False daisy, Sweet flag, Flame of the forest, Ironwood, Elecampane, Indian cassia, Coleus and Turmeric.