Ayurvedic Concept of Ahaar Pachan or Digestion

Ayurveda is a holistic healing science. The main objective of human life according to Ayurveda is to attain the following four goals or Purushartha:

Pursuing one’s religion (Dharma)
Attaining economic and financial development (Artha)
Attaining regulated sense-gratification) (Kama) and
Accomplishing liberation (Moksha).

The basic objective for attaining all the four goals is health and that is Arogya.
Aahar in Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, the term food is referred as Aahar. It includes all the food items that we ingest, whether solids or liquids. Food is the only thing which we allow to enter in our bodies very easily and which show an impact sooner or later in our overall heath and body structure. In Ayurveda, aahar or food is very important. That which passes through the aaharan process is called aahar. Food needs to consumed very carefull as some food is injurious to health. Food has to be adequate in terms of quantity/amount. The food that we intake also need to balance in terms of calories and nutrients. Food has got psychological and socio-cultural values also and it is this factor for which Ayurveda scores over others.
Aahar Pachan in Ayurveda
The process of digestion is known as Aahar Pachan in Ayurveda. In Ayurveda, any food (ahar) passes through the following:

Taste (Rasa)
Uses (Guna)
Potency (Veerya)
Metabolism resultant (vipak), and
Impact (prabhav)

Rishi Ayurveda

Hospital & Research Centre

Neem: Curing Degenerative Diseases

Degenerative diseases refer to the diseases which tend to deteriorate a certain organ or tissues of the body progressively over a period of time. It may happen owing to the regular bodily wear or a particular kind of lifestyle like eating habits etc. Generally such diseases can only be controlled and not cured completely. Apart from the various antibiotic drugs and medication there has been a long sought effective treatment of such diseases i.e the wonder plant 'Neem'. Neem has been identified as a safe and highly effective cure of various degenerative diseases like Diabetes, Arthritis, Rheumatism etc since ancient times. If we go by the Ayurveda history then we can easily register the importance of Neem and its various products for many such degenerative diseases. Owing to its healing and remedial properties, today Neem is extensively used in various pharmaceutical companies for manufacturing different Neem based medicines

Rishi Ayurveda 

Hospital & Research Centre.

Importance of Neem Tree

Neem tree, also known as Azadirachta Indica has a plethora of benefits to offer. Right from its roots till its spawning crown, every single part of neem has one or the other medicinal benefit to offer. It so happens because the chemical constituents of this particular tree makes it a health booster. Owing to its varied soothing and effective uses, it is commonly used in the manufacturing of medicines, cosmetics and agriculture. The herbal, neem cosmetics and neem skin care products are a rage now-a-days as people are tilting more towards the mother nature and averring from the adverse chemicals. Such reasons and more of the likes makes Neem to be called as 'A Wonder Plant' .

Rishi Ayurveda 

Hospital & Research Centre 

Benefits of Neem Leaves – Cure Skin Problems

Neem is a magical tree and especially the neem leaves that are used for its medicinal properties. Neem oil that is extracted from neem seed cannot be consumed because of associated disadvantages but neem leaves can be taken internally. But do not consume these if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.

These are opposite and pinnate from medium to dark green in color. Color of young leaves is purplish to reddish. Petioles are short and leaves have asymmetric shape.

Neem leaves in the form of paste can be directly applied to skin. You can use the neem leaves for bathing in water. This cures the skin related problems.

Neem leaves are very good in treating chickenpox.

If you are diabetic and will consume neem leaves empty stomach in the morning then surely you can cure your diabetes.

An inflammation can be subsided with neem leaf paste.

These are great detoxifiers so given to purify blood.

Rishi Ayurveda 

Hospital & Research Centre 

How to Reduce Cholesterol?

 

 By now, almost everyone know that fatty food, stress and lack of exercise are the main causes of high cholesterol. This is also a known fact that not all fats are bad- the low density lipoproteins or LDL is the bad cholesterol whereas the high density lipoproteins or HDL is the good cholesterol. When we talk about lowering cholesterol, we mean to say that we must reduce the bad cholesterol. At the same time we should also take steps to increase the good cholesterol which is beneficial for overall health. Here are certain tips on how to strike a balance among the two types of blood cholesterol by bringing changes in one's diet and lifestyle?

Lose weight- obese people have higher risk of cholesterol imbalance. Losing as little as 2-4 kg of weight can also reduce considerable amount of cholesterol.
Avoid having saturated fats present in red meat and dairy products. They increase bad cholesterol. Maximum of only 10 percent of your daily calories should come from saturated fats.
Include healthier fats in your diet like leaner cuts of meat, low-fat dairy and monounsaturated fats that are present in olive, peanuts and canola oils.
Avoid intake of trans fats found in packed and fried foods such as cookies, crackers and cakes.
Eat whole grains- opt for grain breads, whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat flour and brown rice.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. They provide dietary fiber which lowers cholesterol.
Have food items that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids- they lower cholesterol. Fish like salmon, mackerel and herring are good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Vegetarians can find omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts, almonds and ground flaxseeds.
Exercise daily- even if for 30 minutes. There is no alternative to this.
Quit smoking.
Limit your alcohol intake.

Rishi Ayurveda 

Hospital & Research Centre 

Ayurvedic Remedies for Stretch Marks

There was a time when pregnant women used to think that stretch marks are forever - once they've made their presence felt, they simply do not go. But now, times have changed. Yummy Mommies are today's trendsetters. They bear children with elan and then go on to flaunt their spotless attractive bodies after child birth. So, doing away with stretch marks is not really a problem anymore for pregnant mothers. There are plenty of effective ayurvedic remedies. Try them during your pregnancy for a stretch mark-less toned tummy:

Basil, gotu kola, sandalwood, Indian margoza, Indan madder are some of the useful herbs for curing stretch marks. Make a paste of any of these herbs and apply on your tummy during pregnancy.
Apply cocoa butter twice a day on your tummy for an after-delivery scar-less abs.
Prepare a mixture by adding avocado oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil to a few drops of lavender and charmomile, and apply it on the affected areas. This is a very effective remedy for reducing stretch marks.

Rishi Ayurveda 

Hospital & Research Centre 

Home Remedies for Sleep Disorder

Don't go by the general theory of ' daily eight hours sleep'. Ayurveda advocates quality of sleep. The quantity of sleep is decided by individual body. It may range from anywhere between 5-8 and even 9 hours. Find for yourself, how much sleep you need to feel afresh!
Set your body clock by following nature's pattern. Rise when sun rises, even sometime before that, and go to bed no later than 10 pm. Don't let the routine disturbed on weekends too!
Exercise keeps us fit but do it in the morning. Exercising late in the day or in evenings raises our energy levels and makes us too active to go to sleep. If you can't find time in the morning, make sure you exercise at least 4 hours before your bedtime.
Avoid rich diets for dinner. Ayurvedic diets favor lighter meals at night which is taken at least 3 hours before going to bed.
Have a glass of warm milk before going to sleep. Add some nutmeg to milk for Vata body type, cardamom for Pitta body type and dried ginger for Kapha body type. Know your Ayurveda body type before using any of the spice with milk. Taking wrong one can even hamper your sleep.
Get your lower limbs massaged with some non-staining oil like sweet almond or jojoba oil. For more relaxed sleep, mix few drops of lavender oil. Massage your lower legs, from knees to toes, and your lower arms, from elbows to fingertips, with easy up-and-down strokes with small quantity of this mixed oil.
Make your bedroom relaxing with clutter free and quiet atmosphere. Wear comfortable clothes. Do not watch TV or read anything just before going to sleep. You may listen to soft relaxing music.
Avoid alcohol or caffeine beverages, especially before going to sleep. Nicotine also leads to sleep deprivation, so quit smoking.
Avoid sleeping during the day. If you can't, make it as short as possible. Twenty minutes daytime nap is rejuvenating enough to recharge you for the rest of the day.
Do meditation for helping you deal with day-to-day stresses and worries. Stress is the worst enemy of sleep.
Poppy seeds, jatamansi, Indian Valerian and the essential oils of rose, lavender and sandalwood are relaxing and calming. They are helpful in getting restful sleep. Use them in ways you can.
At bedtime, rinse your eyes with rosewater, add a drop of ghee (clarified butter). Shut your eyes and go to sleep.
Combing hair before retiring is also a good practice for good night's sleep.
If married, make love to your partner. Its relaxing and helps you in getting a good quality sleep.

Rishi Ayurveda

Hospital & Research Centre