EFFECT OF MEDITATION ON AGEING

Effect of Meditation on Ageing   

Living healthy for 400 years: 

Fantasy or Reality??   

It is said that Sage Chyavan (Chyavan Rishi) lived for 400 years!! It sounds more like a fantasy but was it a reality? 

Well, can't vouch for the numbers but I would definitely claim that you will live longer and healthier life if you follow guidelines of yoga and meditate regularly. 

According to a one study conducted at University of California-Davis, people showed higher levels of an enzyme associated with longevity after a three-month stay at a meditation retreat. 

Of course it was a preliminary clinical trial and it didn’t show that meditation actually extends life, but the findings suggest a possible means by which it could. 

Researcher Tonya Jacobs and her team made a comparative study between 30 participants practicing meditation with another group (Controls) not practicing meditation at a meditation retreat held at the retreat Center in Colorado. 

Participants meditated six hours per day for three months. Their meditation centered on mindfulness — for instance, focusing solely on breathing, in the moment — and on loving kindness and enhancing compassion towards others.  

After the three-month intervention, researchers found amazing things; 

One, that the Meditators had on an average about 30% more activity of the enzyme telomerase than the controls did. 

Telomerase?? What is it? 

Telomerase is responsible for repairing telomeres, the structures located on the ends chromosomes. Telomeres work as a locking system and prevent the chromosome from separating or unscrewed. Every time the cell reproduces, its telomeres become shorter and less effective at protecting the chromosome. According to researchers, shortening of the telomere is a cause of Aging. Cell copying eventually stops when the telomere disintegrate completely.   

Second, there was a significant change in people’s (meditator group) Psychological well-being and outlook. People with higher levels of telomerase showed more increase in psychological improvement. In retreat participants who showed no psychological change, telomerase levels were not any higher than in controls. (Researchers were unable to compare telomerase levels in the groups both before and after the retreat for logistical reasons.)   

However the study did not show that meditation actually extends life, only that it may increase the activity of an enzyme that is associated with longevity.   

So how does Meditation affect the machinery of cellular reproduction? Probably by reducing stress, research suggests.    Severe psychological stress — particularly early in life and in the absence of social support — has been linked with poorer health, increasing risk for heart disease, stroke and some cancers. This is likely due to the negative effects of high levels of stress hormones on the brain and body. 

So, how do we go about reducing the stress hormones? Meditation here could perhaps play a bigger role. Meditation could perhaps contribute to healthier telomeres thereby reducing the stress hormones and in turn lead to mental well being.   

The mind has a big influence on the body. Ayurveda has defined “Health” as physical and mental wellbeing. Modern science has also accepted the role of mental health in physical wellness. Meditation is "THE MASTER KEY TO CONTROL THE MIND" .  

So why not start it NOW?   Because NOW is the time best time to start with good things .

drsandhyakadam1509@gmail.com
Based on a research article

|| EXCELLENCE IS YOGA ॥ योग: कर्मसु कौशल्यम् ॥

Tomorrow, on 21^st June we are going to celebrate international yoga day. Celebrating various days and occasions is in vogue. In India we have haphazardly started sharing messages, pictures and videos of yoga postures (asana) performed by so called yoga followers without knowing the fundamentals of yoga.

 

These asanas or postures aimed at toning up the body, are indeed one of the eightfold stages of Ashtanga Yoga as enunciated by Sage Patanjali. Frankly, performing these asana under guidance of self-styled yoga gurus does not constitute complete yoga. When performed in isolation these asanas are reduced just to a physical exercise.
There is no doubt that these asana can improve your looks and your internal systems with a better figure and physical efficiency but it will be incorrect to think that performance of these asana can turn you into a better human being.

Then what should be the ideal path of yoga which will lead the way to physical mental and spiritual happiness?  

The meaning of yoga is to connect or to join. Yoga means connecting ourselves to supreme soul.

The Bhagavad Gita describes yoga as a state of equanimity, achieved by cultivating a detached but unified outlook, serenity of mind, skill in action and the ability to stay attuned to the glory of the Self or atman and the Supreme lord. 

As stated by lord Krishna, the root cause of all sufferings and conflicts  is nothing but selfish desire which disturbs and agitates the mind. The only way to extinguish the flame of this burning desire is by bringing in the deep silence in the mind and stillness, through self-discipline and engaging in a higher form of activity.

 

 

According Panini who wrote a commentary on Patanjali Yogasutra “yoga is Samadhi” which is the eighth stage of ashtanga yoga.

The eight stages of ashtanga yoga are yam, niyam, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Samadhi is state of enlightenment wherein you are in tune with the nature, with perfect physical and mental balance. It is the state wherein you are directly connected to the supreme soul. Achieving this stage is very difficult; and one has to rich there by mastering all preceding seven stages of yoga. With mastering each and every step we reach akin to endmost goal of the ashtanga yoga i.e. SAMADHI

 

 

Let me explain you all these eight stages of yoga in brief-

1. Yama- Yama & Niyamas are ethical rules for “Right living” and are the foundation of positive personality on which edifice of the enlightenment is built.

The five Yamas are non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy and non-covetousness.

2. Niyama -The five Niyamas are cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study or knowledge of self and surrender to God.

3. Asana- Literally means "seat" or “posture” and in Patanjali's Sutras refers to the seated position used for meditation which defined as “sthira sukham asanam”.  But in present times mostly asanas are considered as various postures perfumed for physical fitness and wellbeing.  

Sage Patanjali expected seekers to embrace yam and niyam before coming to the third stage, asana. The eightfold path is to take the practitioner towards moral, physical and spiritual uplift. The ultimate aim of yoga is spiritual realization or samadhi via mind and body.  Obtaining physical fitness is one step ahead towards reaching the ultimate goal of Samadhi.

4. Pranayama- Pranayam means control of breath; it purifies and removes distractions, facilitating concentration and meditation.

5. Pratyahara - Means is detachment sensory organs from senses or withdrawal of the senses during meditation that enables you to focus on the Supreme Power and establish a cosmic link.

6. Dharana - Dharana is to concentrate on one point for a considerable length of time.  The aim is to still the mind by gently pushing away superfluous thoughts. 

7. Dhyana -Dhyana is uninterrupted meditation without an object. 

8. Samadhi- Samadhi is to attain enlightenment.

The first five steps — yama, niyama asana, pranayama, and pratyahara — are the preliminaries of yoga and they build the foundation for spiritual life with body and brain. The last three, which would not be possible without the previous steps, are concerned with reconditioning the mind. They help the yogi to attain enlightenment.

That’s why the journey on the path of yoga is not that easy since it demands lot of restraint, discipline and devotion. But presently we directly jump over the third step and begin with asanas. There is nothing wrong in it but it can't be named yoga and we ought to be aware of its limitation when it comes to making a person spiritual. You cannot traverse through the path of yoga by skipping first two steps, in order to begin with asanas.

So not only performing asanas but all the stages of yoga are mandatory for spiritual development of a person.  Spiritual personalities are admired by society. When more and more members in society walk on the path of spirituality the whole nation becomes spiritual. That is the need of an hour and will help to build the nation.  Just exhibiting asana on big streets of cities and demonstrating skill of performing yougik postures (asanas)  is not yoga.
 

॥ योग: कर्मसु कौशल्यम् ॥ 

SHATAVARI: THE DIVINE FEMALE HEALTH FORMULA

SHATAVARI: THE DIVINE FEMALE HEALTH FORMULA

Have you ever recited following mantra-

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।

शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

 

Which means, Welcome to you O Narayani; Who is the positiveness in all the auspicious, one who is so auspicious herself and has all auspicious qualities, The provider of protection, the one with 3 eyes and a beautiful face; We salute you, O Narayani.

It is not merely a mantra but it's a secret formula for female health. Let's try to decipher true meaning and take cognizance of this hidden secret.

You won’t believe, but a divine and auspicious herb is hidden in this mantra. Can you guess?

This divine auspicious herb is “NARAYANI” which holds synonym as “SHATAVARI”.

 SHATAVARI

Shatavari is one of the best health tonic for female and considered as female health formula because it modulates female hormones and normalizes female reproductive system. As narrated in above mantra it really does auspicious (mangal) for females and useful in hundreds of their diseases for e.g.

• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Irregularities in ovulation
• PMS symptoms such as those cramps, pain, bloating
• Dysmenorrhea (Painful menstruation)
• Excessive bleeding
• Infertility
• Reduced breast milk secretion in the nursing women
• Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Leucorrhea and pelvic inflammatory diseases
• Decrease in the libido
• Menopausal and other post-menopausal symptoms
• Shatavari relieves the menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. By producing estrogens, it overly makes up for low estrogen levels in women, who are in menopausal or have had hysterectomies or oophorectomies
• Shatavari increases the white blood cell count and almost stimulates macrophages which helps to combat candida
• Shatavari also relives stress

Blossomed SHATAVARI

 FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE  E.MAIL TO: drsandhyakadam1509@gmail.com

Cough on the cusp..

Cough on the cusp..

Cusps ( संधीकाल) is the  point of transition between two different states. This transition time period is always considered bad.

On the cusp of two seasons most of the diseases errupt abruptly. 

Just two days back we experienced the lovely showers of rain and today again we are facing hot sultry climate. 

Theses type of extremes are experienced mostly during the junction between two seasons. It becomes most essential to take care of our health during this time as our body cannot cope up with abrupt climatic changes. Our Immune system goes haywire and there are chances that you may get attacked by various viral, bacterial infections. Other auto immune disorders, skin problems crouching in the body try to raise their head once again.

Cough is one of such symptom. Though apparently it looks simple but sometimes it can be really troublesome. Many times bombardments of medicines and higher antibiotics fail to cotrol it though all your laboratory reports show normal values and there is no serious pathology in the body.

Then you move forward in a search of "magical dadi ma ka nuska" which can control this troublesome symptom. So now I am giving you that magic wand which will switch of your lingering cough immediately. 

Magic nuska is gharelu ( home made) and you don't have to spend much for it.

So here comes a panacea for the troublesome cough

Ingredients-

1. 1 teaspoon flax seeds
2. 1 teaspoon dried coriander  seeds 
3. 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
4. 8-10 tulasi leaves
5. 5-6 mint leaves
6. 10-15 black resins 
7. 1 cardamom
8. 1 bal harada
9. 1 small piece of cinnamon
10. 1 small size stick of jeshtimadh
11. Khadishakkar a small piece

Procedure

1.First roast flaxseeds in a closed vessel till they crackle properly

2. Add two cups of water to flaxseeds

3.Add all other ingredients one by one except khadishakkar 

4. Let the mixture boil till it remains 1/4 (1/2 cup)

5. Srain it in a bowl and add khadishakkar to it

6. Take this deccoction twice a day till your nasty cough goes away

You can take this mixture two times a day. You can re-use raw material twice. This deccoction can be taken in productive as well as in dry cough, and also in bronchitis.

It is safe. 

Try it and then believe in it. 

Welcome Rain...

Finally they have touched the skies of Mumbai. Yes the dark black rainy clouds are ready to shower rains on us. Thank god this year it has come on time as a great relief in excessive, scorching heat.

I am pretty excited about the rains as I am every year, and planning to enjoy the first showers. Today no one can stop me from my intentions of going out in the rain. I want to inhale the electric scent of the earth deep within so I could recall it whenever I feel like.

So what about you, don’t you want to enjoy the rains?? So enjoy this beautiful season to the fullest…

But beware, take care of your health as well, because slightest carelessness can lead to serious health problems.

Rainy season (Varsha ritu) from the perspective of Ayurveda  –

According to Ayurveda , Varsha ritu (Rainy season)  falls in the Utarayan (northern solstice). Indian calendar marks this season in Shravan – Bhadrapada.

The season is beautiful.  The sky is filled with clouds. Western winds blow. Air is damp and chilled. Rivers are flooded with water. The Land is muddy and wet and there is vegetation all over the earth due to enough supply of water.

Despite, such a cheerful atmosphere in rainy season, the agni (digestive activity) is weak. In summer agni is already weakened by extreme heat. In rainy season agni or digestive activity gets further decreased by the effect of thick clouds full of water, cold winds, dirty water, heavy rains, warmth of the earth and sourness.
The poor strength of digestive activity provoke doshas & thus they start vitiating one another and cause many diseases.

Hence all general measures to mitigate imbalanced doshas and to improve digestive activity should be adopted in rainy season to avoid health problems.  None other but the cleansing processes –“Detox procedures” is the perfect solution for diseases that are caused by imbalance in doshas.

1. Undergo detox or panchkarma therapy to correct the imbalanced dosha

2. Diet in Rainy season –

• Consume fresh, light and easily digestible food items
• Consume yusha (soups and kanji) made up of old grains (kept for a year) like rice, wheat, barley and green gram. Theses should be processed in oils or ghee
• Add ginger in your daily diet
• Eat warm food and avoid eating uncooked foods and salads
• You can take honey in moderate quantity if you are not diabetic. As per Ayurved it helps to reduce dampness in the body  
• Often we like to eat tasty, sumptuous and fried food items in rainy season. But such food can disturb you digestion process and cause gastro intestinal diseases. Hence try to avoid such food
• But the good news is that you can add food items that are sour in taste and contain enough of salt. (watch your blood pressure). Having homemade “Panipuri when it’s raining cats is not a bad idea as it helps to pacify vata dosha.
• But please don’t eat outside food, heavy junk food like pizza, burger, stale food
• Avoid leafy vegetables during monsoon.
• Avoid curds, red meat and any foodstuff, which takes longer time to digest. One may have buttermilk instead of curds.
• Drink boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey
• Avoid drinking excess of fluids at this further slows down the metabolism.
• Bhavaprakash states that consuming ‘haritaki (terminalia chebula) with rock salt in monsoon season is beneficial to health.

3. Along with healthy diet one should adopt      healthy lifestyle. The important changes that  one should make in one’s lifestyle in rainy  season are:

• Avoid Sleeping during daytime as it lower basal metabolic rate by decreasing function of agni (digestive activity)
• On a clear day in rainy season avoid over exertion and over exposure to sun
• Always keep the surrounding dry and clean. Do not allow water to get accumulated around.
• Keep body warm as viruses attack immediately when body temperature goes down
• Avoid walking in dirty water during rainy season. keep your feet dry.
• Fumigation of dried clothes with fumes of guggulu and dry neem leaves is also recommended in Ayurvedic texts
• Dusting powders or udwartana containing sandal powder, agaru can be used

By adopting above-mentioned diet and lifestyle slowly and gradually, over a period of couple of weeks, try to adjust yourself with the coming season. It will help you to cope up with the changes brought about in your body physiology because of change in season.

Trust me if you adopt these few changes in your lifestyle and diet I am sure you will enjoy this coming rainy season and maintain your health.