More Remedies

Remedies - 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.

Remedies - 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.

Remedies - 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.

Remedies - 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.