Ayurvedic home remedies are a blend of commonly used herbs and spices to cure common symptoms and diseases.

To cure or prevent any ailment natural herbs are taken in ayurveda as juices, paste, powder, infusion and decoctions etc. ayurveda also prescribes some exercises, massaging techniques, colors, aromas, gems and cleansing therapies as home remedies. According to Ayurveda all the home remedies comprise of mostly the things that have their usage in homes and have multifarious medicinal usage also. Few such substances are clove, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, fennel, rock salt, turmeric, coriander, ginger, honey, licorice, garlic, onion, basil and mint. Arthritis Cold and Cough Constipation Diarrhea Fever Indigestion Headache Reduce Weight Naturally Arthritis Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

Severe pain in the affected joints. Muscles, ligaments and cartilage become inflamed. Movement of the joint becomes extremely painful, especially in cold, windy and damp weather.

It is notable that if this disease is not taken care of properly at the initial stages the joint becomes immobile and may also become permanently deformed. Causes: This ailment is caused due to the aggravation of Vata (air) dosha and accumulation of Ama (toxins). Ama gets deposited in the weak areas of the body, joints with a simultaneous aggravation of Vata that is known as Ama Vata (arthritis). Weak digestion, constipation, overeating and very little physical activity are the symptoms that can develop in a patient of arthritis. Remedies

Ama must be digested and Vata reduced in the body. Digestion should be improved & fasting for one day is beneficial for digesting Ama.

Two tsp of lemon juice & a tsp of honey mixed in a cup of warm water is good for curing arthritis. Dosage: Taken twice a day proves. Bake one or 02-egg- plants. Mash and fry in about 2 tsp of castor oil. Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic and salt can be added while frying. Dosage: Take once daily for 2-3 months for relief. Half a tsp of turmeric powder with warm water helps cure arthritis. Dosage: Taken twice a day One raw clove of garlic every day is very beneficial. This clove can be fried in ghee (clarified butter) or castor oil. Dosage: Once daily for 2-3 months. Guggulu (a herb) is very helpful in curing arthritis. If available, eat half a tsp twice a day after meals with warm water. Paste of 1 teaspoon red chilies and fresh ginger mixed in half a cup of sesame oil and strain. Gently rub this oil on the affected joints. Camphor, wintergreen and cinnamon oils are also beneficial for external application.

Dos and don'ts Following is the diet suggested for the patients suffering form arthritis:

Vegetable juices & soups // Coconut water // Coconut milk. Carrot juice // Beet root juice // Cucumber juice. Cooked vegetables like squash, zucchini and pumpkin. Spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, asafetida, garlic, fennel & turmeric Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt Khichadi (recipe made by cooking rice and mung dal ) Regular physical exercise & massage with oil should form an important part of the routine.

The patient of arthritis must avoid the following:

Eating hot, spicy and fried foods, sweets, wind forming foods like cabbage, Cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, okra and potatoes. Too much tea, coffee, alcohol, white sugar, yogurt, chocolate, cocoa. Antibiotics, painkillers, steroids and nicotine Sleeping during the day // Staying up late at night Mental tensions like worry, anxiety, fear, stress and grief. Cold and Cough

Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

Running or blocked nose Sneezing

Sore throat Congestion Headache Low fever with body pain Loss of appetite Lethargy Insomnia

Causes The aggravation of kapha due to the intake of cold food, drinks and fried stuff etc causes cough. Seasonal changes is also one of the reasons for cough Improper digestion of food transforms into a mucus toxin (Ama) and this circulates through the body and reaches the respiratory system, where it causes colds and coughs. Remedies

The body should be kept warm - especially the feet, chest, throat and head. Sweating is very helpful. Take half a teaspoon of ginger juice with half a teaspoon of honey, three times a day (morning, noon and night). In winter, warm the mixture by mixing a teaspoon of warm water in it. Mix half a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey. Dosage: Take several times a day. In cases of dry cough (especially during the night), peel a small piece of fresh ginger. Sprinkle some salt on it and chew. Take equal amounts of cardamom, ginger powder, black pepper and cinnamon (1 tsp each). Add sugar equal to the total amount of mixture and grind to make a fine powder. Dosage: Take half a teaspoon twice daily, with honey or warm water after meals. In cases of sore throat, a clove or two cardamoms or a few raisins can be chewed.Gargling with warm salty water two to three times a day is also beneficial.

Dos and don'ts The food and activities that are to be avoided are as follows:

Cold foods and drinks Ice cream, sweets Fried foods Milk products (cheese, creams, yogurt) Sweet fruit juices Breads Meats Nuts Pastries Sleeping during the day Taking a cold shower Exposure to cold wind, fans, air conditioners

Following are the substances and activities that should be taken in cough:

Boiled or steamed vegetables Vegetable soup Spice teas Herbal teas Hot milk with a piece of crushed ginger Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder mixed in milk provides relief.

Constipation
Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

No bowel movements at least once a day Pain in the abdomen Heaviness in the stomach Wind formation Mucus coated tongue Headache Loss of appetite Pain in the lower legs Hypertension, fever Nausea Vertigo Palpitation Drowsiness

Causes: The aggravation of vata causes constipation. Improper eating habits including eating a lot of food, eating food which is difficult to digest (such as meat) and not eating enough vegetables and salads also lead to constipation. Irregular sleeping habits or emotional disturbances (stress, grief, fear or worry) are other causes for the obstruction of the passage of stool, accumulation of toxins in the colon or excessive stimulation of the nervous system. Smoking, consuming too much tea and coffee, or intake of prescription or illicit drugs can also cause constipation. Remedies

Drinking a glass of warm milk before going to bed helps in easy evacuation in the morning. In case of severe constipation, mix two tsp of castor oil in the milk. Drink one liter of warm water and walk around for a few minutes immediately after waking up early in the morning.

Drinking lemon juice mixed with warm water two to three times a day eases constipation. One or two teaspoons of aloe gel can be taken twice a day. A common Ayurvedic medicine for constipation is Triphala Churna. It is a powder made by grinding three kinds of herbs. A teaspoon of this powder taken with warm water or milk at the time going to bed is beneficial.

Dos and don'ts

The diet taken during constipation must be easily digestible. Plenty of fruits, vegetables and salads Freshly cooked food, and chew food thoroughly. Eat only when hungry and maintain at least 4 hours between meals. Use spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric powder, fennel and asafetida as they make the food easy to digest. Whole grain bread and cereals Regular physical exercise is also important for maintaining proper bowel movements. Sleeping hours should be regulated and efforts should be made to have a sound sleep. Fried foods, beans, gas forming vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, nuts and dried fruits should be avoided. Do not mix too many kinds of foods in one meal.

Diarrhea

Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

Cramps Dehydration Wind and distention in the abdomen Weakness Mild fever

Causes The augmentation of pitta in the body or weak digestive power causes diarrhea. Improper eating habits, fried food in oil or ghee (clarified butter), meats, vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, beans, nuts and sweets, milk and citrus fruits simultaneously and impure food or water causes diarrhea. Remedies

Water boiled with coriander seeds should be given (after straining). Pomegranate juice in small quantities can be also given frequently.

Decoction prepared from pomegranate skin is very useful in stopping diarrhea. To prepare the decoction, take 50 grams of fresh pomegranate skin. Soak it in 800 ml. of water for one hour. Boil until a quarter of the volume remains (200 ml). Store this mixture in a clean, dry bottle. A couple of tablespoons can be taken several times a day. If there is blood in the stools, add half a teaspoon of honey to the decoction. Sugar and salt solution. Mix one teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of common salt in a cup of water. Small doses of this mixture (around a quarter cup) can be given whenever the patient wants to drink. A paste made of sesame seeds (1 teaspoon) and a few tablespoons of goats milk is also beneficial.

Dos and don'ts

Yogurt Rice Banana Apple Pomegranate Boiled vegetables Boiled rice Khichadi Fruits Spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, turmeric and cardamom should be used for cooking. Liquids should be given in small quantities (3 or 4 sips) at one time Fruit juices can also be taken in small quantities.

The mind should be relaxed and free from all kinds of tension. A gentle oil massage on the head is also helpful. Physical exertion of any kind like exercise, sexual activity, sports, singing, dancing etc. should be strictly avoided.

Fever

Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

High temperature Headache Muscle ache Burning eyes Loss of appetite Coated tongue Excessive production of saliva Feeling of heaviness and nausea

Causes Fever is caused due to the aggravation of any one or all the doshas of the body. Fever can occur as a result of infection, because of external injury, insect bite or poisoning. It must be kept in mind that fever can also be a symptom of many conditions, like bronchitis, pleurisy, tuberculosis, jaundice, malaria, measles or influenza. Remedies Some general remedies that are beneficial in fever are:

Mild sweating: this helps to digest the toxins. Lie on a bed covered with a blanket, for 15 to 20 minutes. Drinking a hot liquid also helps. Take 10 grams (one-tablespoon) raisins and 10 grams (one tablespoon) fresh ginger. Crush and put in 200-ml. water for one hour. Boil this decoction till the water reduces to 50 ml. Strain and drink while warm. Dosage: This preparation can be taken twice a day.

Dos and don'ts

Easily digestible diet is advised for the patient Boiled or steamed vegetables vegetable soup fruit and fruit juices small quantities of cow milk can be taken two to three times a day Khichadi is very good with spices like cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, ginger and salt can be also be added to it. Egg plant, bitter gourd and cooked radish and barley water is good. Small amounts of whole grain bread or biscuits can be taken with milk. Heavy foods that are difficult to digest like fried foods, fast foods, meat, chicken, fish, and raw foods should be completely avoided. The patient should take ample rest.

Exposure to extreme cold or heat, exertion, exercise, mental stress, sexual activity and any other type of physical activity should be avoided until the patient regains strength. Indigestion

Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

Feeling of heaviness or uneasiness in the stomach Stomach ache Coated tongue Loss of appetite

Nausea Constipation Diarrhea Vomiting Acidity Wind Distention in the stomach Laziness Weakness Headache Pain in the lower legs

Causes Indigestion can be caused due to the aggravation of any of the following doshas or all three of them and by the following eating or physical habits carried on by individuals:

Improper eating habits Eating a lot of fried foods, meat, sweets, heavy foods and overeating Eating incompatible food items Eating at irregular times Eating before the last meal is fully digested Eating very quickly or mixing too many foods in one meal Consuming too much tea, coffee and alcohol Smoking Staying up late Emotional disturbances (stress, grief, anxiety) Taking drugs like antibiotics, painkillers and steroids.

Remedies

Fasting completely for one day is an efficient method to digest Ama. Taking fruits, fruit juices and boiled vegetables for one week is also a very beneficial way of fasting. Lemon juice mixed in warm water taken three times a day improves digestion. Chewing a small piece of fresh ginger with salt, five to ten minutes before meals, stimulates digestion. Take equal amounts of ginger powder, black pepper, dried mint leaves, asafetida (hing), anise seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, fennel and common salt. Grind together to make a fine powder. Dosage: Take about 1 teaspoon of this powder with water, twice a day after meals. Drinking buttermilk after a meal improves digestion. Roasted cumin seeds and a little salt in the buttermilk enhances its effectiveness. Drinking water gives immediate relief to symptoms like wind, distended stomach and acidity. Eat half a teaspoon of aniseed to improve digestion.

A teaspoon of ginger juice mixed in a quarter cup of warm water can be taken two or three times a day. A teaspoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt can also be added to make it more effective.

Dos and don'ts

Eat boiled seasonal vegetables, fruits, fruit juices and lemon juice. Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, fresh ginger, black pepper and asafetida. Physical exercise, according to the strength and energy of the patient, is beneficial. Do not eat while moving or traveling in a car, watching television or reading. Do not eat fast food or food that has been cooked in a microwave oven. Eating should not be too fast or too slow and the food should be properly chewed. Sleeping during the day, especially after lunch is not recommended, as it produces indigestion.

The patient should not stay awake late at night and should be free from mental stress, anxiety, fear and grief. Headache

Symptoms Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:

Headache can be mild, moderate or severe pain that affects the whole head, a part of the head, forehead or the eyes. Nausea Difficulty in sleeping Loss of appetite Feeling of uneasiness

Causes According to Ayurveda, there are eleven types of headaches caused due to aggravation of three different doshas. Headaches are also caused by:

sinusitis Hypertension Constipation Over work Mental stress Indigestion Acidity Sleeplessness

Fever It may also be present as a symptom of some disease Excessive consumption of tea, coffee, aspirin or nicotine is also known to contribute to headache Nervous weakness Anemia Deficiency of oxygen in the blood Sitting too close to the television Reading with insufficient light Reading in a moving train or car

Remedies

Take clove, cinnamon and almond in equal quantities (around 1 teaspoon each) and grind together with a little water to make a paste. Apply paste on the forehead. A paste made of sandalwood powder can also be applied on the forehead. Mix a quarter teaspoon of clove powder in one teaspoon of cinnamon oil. Apply mixture to the location of pain. Take a few drops of ghee (clarified butter) on your palm. Mix 3 or 4 pieces of saffron in it, and rub it for two minutes. The saffron does not dissolve in the ghee, but its qualities are absorbed. Remove saffron and put two drops of this ghee in each nostril. Dosage: Follow procedure twice a day. Mix 1 tablespoon of milk and half teaspoon of ginger powder and put one or Dosage; two drops in each nostril twice a day. Wrap a wet cloth around the neck. Oil massage on the scalp also relieves tension and headache. Sesame oil, almond oil, mustard oil or ghee (clarified butter) can be used for massage. Heat 1 teaspoon of almond oil. When it cools down, put two drops in each nostril.

Dos and don'ts

Simple cooked vegetables without oil, vegetable juices and soup, fruits like apple, mango, grapes and fruit juices should be taken in ample quantities. Rice, salad and buttermilk are also good. Some sweets and milk products can be taken moderately with small quantities of nuts. Hot cow milk is very good to drink. Avoid fried foods, meat, sour and spicy foods and foods Yogurt should be avoided, especially at night. Adequate rest should be taken and exposure to cold, heat and rain should be avoided. The natural urges (sneezing, passing stool and urine, hunger, thirst, sleep, breathing and yawning etc.) should not be suppressed. The patient should also try to keep the mind free from anxiety, anger, mental tension and worry.

Reduce Weight Naturally

In ayurveda, Charak Samhita describes eight different types of bodies that are disease prone. Out of these, the obese body is described as the one afflicted with the most diseases and troubles. Obesity is the condition or physical state of the body when excessive deposition of fat takes place in the adipose tissue. Extra fat puts a strain on the heart, kidneys, liver and the joints such as the hips, knees & ankles and thus, overweight people are susceptible to several diseases like coronary thrombosis, high B.P, diabetes, arthritis, gout, liver & gall bladder disorders. Chief cause of obesity is overeating, irregular eating habits and not following the rules of eating or mixing noncompatible food items in one meal. To decrease weight and get rid of obesity three things must be kept in mind:

Controlling eating habits. // Regular exercise. Avoiding the causes of weight gain.

Diet recommended losing weight

Early morning: Juice of half a lemon mixed in a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of honey. Breakfast: Wheat or Mung bean sprouts and a cup of skimmed milk. Midmorning: A glass of orange, pineapple or carrot juice. Lunch o Salad of raw vegetables such as carrot, beet, cucumber, cabbage, tomatoes. Steamed or boiled vegetables o Whole grain bread or whole wheat chapatis (Indian bread) and a glass of buttermilk. o Roasted cumin seeds, green coriander leaves, a little salt and some grated ginger mixed in the buttermilk. Mid-afternoon o Coconut water o Dry fruits o Lemon tea o Fresh vegetable soup Dinner o Whole grain bread or chapatis o Steamed vegetables o Seasonal fruits except banana and apple.

Home Remedies for Losing Weight

Increase the quantity of fruits & vegetables and low calorie foods.

Avoid intake of too much salt as it may be a factor for increasing body weight. Milk products like cheese, butter etc. and non-vegetarian foods should be avoided as they are rich in fat. Mint is very beneficial in losing weight. Chutney of green mint with some simple spices can be taken with meals. Mint tea also helps. Spices like dry ginger, cinnamon, black pepper etc. are good for loosing weight and can be used in a number of ways. Regular intake of carrot juice. Avoid rice and potato, which contain a lot of carbohydrates. Among cereals wheat is good. Vegetables like bitter gourd (Karela) and bitter variety of drumstick are useful in loosing weight. Honey is an excellent home remedy for obesity. It mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions. Dosage: One should start with small quantity of about 10 grams or a tsp, taken with hot water early in the morning. A tsp of fresh lemon juice may also be added. Fasting on honey and lime- juice is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity without the loss of energy and appetite. For this, mix one teaspoon of fresh honey with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water. Dosage: Take several times a day at regular intervals. Raw or cooked cabbage inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction. Exercise is an important part of any weight reduction plan. It helps to use up calories stored in body as fat. Walking is the best exercise to begin with and may be followed by running, swimming or rowing. The gum of Commiphora Mukul called 'guggulu' is the drug of choice for the treatment of obesity.

Preparation of Home Remedies. According to ayurveda home remedies are prepared in the same way and with the same purpose as other ayurvedic medicines. The main aim is to obtain the maximum therapeutic benefit while making it palatable. Some common methods of preparing home remedies are:

Juice: The juice may be taken from the fresh leaves, flowers or stems of the herb. The part of the herb used should be crushed or ground in a mortar and pestle, to make a paste. This paste should be put in a piece of cloth and squeezed to take out the juice. Dosage: One to two tsp twice a day. Powder: Dried herbs are used for powders. The herbs are usually dried in a cool, shady and well-ventilated place, although some herbs are dried in direct sunlight. The herbs are then ground into a fine powder and stored in

a dry, airtight bottle. The powder may be taken with water, or if specified, with milk or honey. Dosage: Half to one teaspoon twice a day

Decoction: A decoction is prepared by boiling the herb in water (ratio: 1 part herb to 16 parts water). The herbs are broken into pieces and soaked in water overnight. This mixture is then boiled until it reduces to one quarter of the original volume. It is then filtered and stored in a glass bottle. Dosage: One to two tablespoons twice a day. Infusion: Herbs are soaked in water to make an infusion (ratio: 1 part herb to 8 parts water). Hot infusions result from adding herbs to hot water, or gently heating but not boiling the mixture. This is strained and taken internally. Herbal teas are forms of hot infusions. Cold infusions are made from soaking the herb overnight. Honey can be added. Dosage: half to one cup once or twice day. Paste: A paste can be made from either fresh or dried herbs. The flowers, roots, stems, leaves or bark are ground and mixed with water. Pastes are mainly used for external application, in cases of cuts, burns and swellings. The paste should be thick enough to be applied in a layer to the skin. Tablets: The herbs should be first dried separately and then mixed together in a powder form, in fixed proportions. Water or herbal juice can be added to this powder to make a paste, from which tablets of a specific size or weight are made. Tablets remain potent longer than juices, powders, pastes or decoctions. Dosage: 1 or 2 tablets twice a day. Medicated ghee and oil: Ghee is cooked with herbal juices, decoctions or pastes. The ghee should be heated with the herbal mixture at a moderate, controlled temperature. High temperatures can easily burn the ghee or oil, destroying its effectiveness. Medicated ghee and oils are either used internally or massaged externally. Dosage: Half to one tablespoon.