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.

The success story

The Success Story

Hello friends,

I'm writing this post for many reasons, one of them is also because I got so many experiences to share about this burning problem, which affects many young generation AND older people too around us: its Acne.

Offcourse Yes, Acne is not a problem only of young generation but some times it really doesn't leaves you and doesn't go away. And depending on the type and etiology it may give you a company for longer-term despite your wish to get rid of that problem which makes you ugly.

Fortunately I never had bad acne. Thanks to almigty for bestowing me with flawless and healthy skin. And I enjoyed my youth without that pain and stigma of having "face-full" acne.

But how can god be so merciful always? And once I had that Acne problem. That too when I was supposed to give my first speech on Ayurveda in public.

It was 15 years back when I got a chance to express my thoughts on my subject Ayurveda. The topic was "Skin care through ayurveda for young generation".

Just a week prior to my presentation I could see those red colored induration on my face on my chicks, chin and nose. I was shocked when I saw those tiny red spots on my face. They were 5 to 7in number. They were growing in to full blown acne..

"Oh no!" I mumbled "what wrong with me? How can this happen to me? Is this because of stress or fear of public speaking? Or some hormonal changes or "apathya"? "

I was worried for my presentation. How can I talk on skin care when I myself is having faceful acne? How could I get rid of them within a week? So many questions....I tried hard.

First of all I tried some antibacterial cream and oral anti-biotics for 2 days in faith that it will act faster and i will get rid of them. But it was in vein...

"Oh these are becoming worst. There is no much time left for the presentation. I must take some drastic action" I thought.

And then I decided to turn to my own science i.e. Ayurveda.

I took powerful medicine to clean my system which is called virechan. That day was bad for me. But I was happy because just a day after this treatment I could see the receding borders of swelling on my face. I Started applying paste of "pittashamak ayurvedic herbal powder" with "Neem oil, aloe vera and coriander extract. Started popping up pills and powders which hate the most.

AND IT WORKED. AND I KNOW AYURVEDA WORKS..

My efforts strarted showing results after 4 days of treatment. The pain, irritation, redness reduced significantly.  The  boils on the skin (acne) almost disappeared. Again my skin became flawless.

AND THEN I COULD SPEAK CONFIDENTLY ON "SKIN CARE AND AYURVEDA" IN PUBLIC MEETING..
THAT'S THE SUCCESS STORY...

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Not beyond us : World Cancer Day

4th FEBRUARY : THE WORLD CANCER DAY

May you have the courage to fight it out and the will to never give up!!

Cancer is the disease which knows no boundaries. It doesn't discriminate and affects all of us either directly or indirectly.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, causing 8.2 million deaths per year.  Out of which, four million people die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years). The numbers worry us more when the statistics predicts the increase in deaths due to cancer to 19.3 million cases per year in 2025, compared to 14.1million in 2012.

However, we know that more than one third of these deaths are preventable, and if detected early enough, many cancers are curable. One more fact is that the economic cost of cancer far out weighs the cost of investing in preventing measures.

Taking these two facts in account, urgent action needs to be taken,  to fight with the disease on all fronts.

World cancer Day gives us an ideal opportunity to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in people's minds and in the world's media. It gives us opportunity to clear up negative perceptions and misconceptions about this disease in minds of people.   This is the occasion which compel us to retrospect, to study, to plan and to develop our strategies to address the cancer burden.

In order  to check the spread of this huge epidemic, emphasis should be given to raise awareness about the disease among the general population, media and  health professionals as well.

World cancer day campaign this year will explore how we can implement what we already know in the areas of prevention, early detection, treatment and care, and in turn, open up to the exciting prospect that we can impact the global cancer burden for the better.

Despite of constant efforts has been put in to achieve above mentioned goals, disparities between people from different settings are growing, particularly in access to prevention, treatment and palliative care especially in developing countries like India. For a developing country like India the fact is that, the economic cost of cancer treatment is unaffordable. Hence awareness should be raised  about cancer prevention, adopting healthy lifestyles & behaviors and on early detection.

Let's review how Ayurveda can help to achieve this goal of prevention and treatment care

1. Choosing healthy lifestyle-

The aim of the world cancer organization is to Reduce the social and environmental risk factors for cancer and empowering people to make healthy choices, in order to achieve the global overarching goal of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by 25% by 2025 and reaching the aspirational targets of the World Cancer Declaration.

At least one third of occurrence of most cancers can be prevented through adopting healthy life style, non smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, healthier diet and improved physical activity.

• Don't smoke
• Be moderate in drinking alcohol
• Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains Avoid high-fat foods, especially from animal sources
• Do regular exercise

Besides above mentioned guidelines, adopting simple and effective prevention approach based on Ayurvedic principles of swasthvritta would definitely be top up on it. It can be summarized as follows-

Diet and digestion:

• Eat a Wholesome (satvik) diet that is rich in natural cancer-fighting chemicals


• Eat on regular intervals and when you feel hungry 


• Add beneficial spices and food to your diet to fight cancer


• Avoid junk food, oily spicy food etc., that makes the body susceptible to cancer. Avoid the toxic load on your digestive system 


• Keep digestion working properly to enhance immunity, build up beneficial chemicals, and reduce toxin accumulation. 

• Reduce sugar intake


• One of major cause of cancer is disruption in immune surveillance mechanism. By adopting dinacharya and Ritu charya ( daily & seasonal regimes described in swastha vritta )and by adopting simple lifestyle changes such as regular abhyanga(oil massage), sleeping at the right time, reducing stress, emphasizing positive emotions etc., immune system can be revitalized


• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and environmental pollutants strictly. Due to the harmful effects of the various internal and external toxins we encounter every day, it is crucial that we detoxify our physiology.


• So Detoxify your system following procedures of pachakarma regularly (seasonal pachakarma)


• Add herbal formulations when necessary, to aid digestion, improve sleep, enhance immunity, etc.


• Meditation and yoga reduces stress levels and improve Function of enzymes responsible for living longer (telomerase). Meditation bring harmony and peace into your life and brings homeostasis.


• Be positive and kind to every one & in all circumstances which will make your surrounding positive. The condition in which people live and work influence their capacity to chose healthy lives

Thus by adoption of healthy behaviors (swasthya vritta) early in life, reduces the risk of cancer and other non communicable diseases (NCD).

Delivering early detection -

Emphasis should be given on early detection programs

Early detection strategies include strategies to improve knowledge of cancer among communities, health professionals and policy makers and increase awareness around the options for early detection.

By ensuring availability of and access to early detection program for cancer can significantly reduce the burden of cancer in many countries

Achieving Treatment For All -

All people have the right to access quality, effective cancer treatment and services without suffering economic hardship equal terms, regardless of geography.

To achieve this goal other systems of medicine should be evaluated on the basis of scientific criteria in accordance with conventional medicine and new compounds and drugs should be invented.

An integrated approach is needed to manage cancer using the growing knowledge gained through scientific developments.

Thousands of herbal and traditional compounds are being screened worldwide to validate their use as anti-cancer drugs.  Indian medicinal plants which have curative aspects and  re-described to have Rasayana properties can be effectively used in such conditions as they can have check on our immune surveillance system. Medicinal plants with Rasayana properties help in slowing down aging process and provides protection against diseases.

Rasayanas provide long life, ability to remain young and good intellect by enhancing proper uptake of nutrition by body cells thus imparting proper growth and improvement in seven vital tissues. This can be achieved by multifaceted actions of Rasayana drugs. With their antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic , immune modulator properties these medicinal plants can activate immune responsiveness of an individual ( organism).

Maximizing Quality Of Life

Cancer can have a serious impact on a person's emotional, physical and mental state and cancer survivors are at risk of diminished quality of life for several years after diagnosis. Understanding this, the special support system should be built.

Efforts should be taken for maintaining QOL of cancer patients. Maintaining social support networks and talking about cancer is important for both the person living with cancer and their close relatives.

There is much that can be done at an individual, community and governmental level, to harness and mobilize these solutions and to bring in positive change.

Every Action Counts. Whether you do something on large scale or a small donation from you to a cancer institute or wearing a ribbon to spread the message  or forwarding a text or a template or a quote on a social networking site 

YES, EVERY ACTION COUNTS....

Every action has an impact; Show the world that fighting cancer is not beyond us ...

based on:  fact sheet: word cancer day 2015 

तू चालता चल .......

तू चलता चल.....

I love walking. And enjoy it in all moods of life. May life present me happyness or sadness, joy or pain.

In a fit of nerve I walk spontaneously.  Or one can say it is a reflex action of mine to a tough situation. Walking brings me feelings of pleasure, tranquility, and well-being and help relieve the pain of depression.

Scientists have proved that walking encourage the production of the body's natural opiates, called endorphins. These endorphins are chemicals; related to morphine family  and are responsible for the feeling of euphoria called "runner's high."

So walking is a kind of meditation for me. "When no one responds to your call, then you go on your way alone" Ekla chalo 're.... Recalling Rabindranatha Tagor's line; I can walk miles and miles.

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It's the best time to converse with your inner soul . Otherwise where do we get time to introspect in this sppedy, mechanical life?Many times I get solutions to unsolved problems while walking. Really walking keeps me going. That's the reason why I walk regularly.

Besides this there are "N" number of physical benefits of regular brisk walking. Ayurveda also mentions walking (chankramanam) as the best exercise among all.

And about benefits of walking ...  To list them down -

1. Brisk walking maintains a healthy weight

2. It prevent or manages various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

3.Walking Strengthens your bones

4. As already discussed it lifts your mood

5.Walking Improves your balance and coordination

6. It the simplest physical activity which on regular practice helps you live a healthier life

7.The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits

8.The greatest benefit of brisk walking is that you don't have to spend anything for it! It comes absolutely free ...  Isn't it great?

Then what are you waiting for???

"The now" is the time to take good decisions. So start walking.

Better late than never...

Makarsankranti & Rathsaptami

As new year bingins we celebrate numerous occasions and celebrations like Makar sankranti, Vasant panchmi and Rathsaptami.

Makarsankranti is a holi transition of the Sun in the zodiac Makar (caprocorn). It is celebrated on 14 th or 15th january.

Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. The six months of northern movement of the sun is followed by six months of southern movement.

In Maharashtra the Makara Sankranti celebrations starts from this auspicious day and celebrated till Rathsaptami which is the 7 th day of Magh. It is celebrated as birthday of the god Sun.

On the day of Makarsankranti People exchange Til-Gul Laadoo (sweet balls made from sesame seeds and jaggery and ghee) and multicoloured Halwa (sasame coated in sugar syrup). While exchanging til-gul as a token of good will; good wishes are exchanged.  People greet each other with the words " til-gul ghyaa, aani goad-goad bolaa" meaning ‘Accept this til-gul (sweet) and speak sweet / soft words’.

This custom has spiritual, social and health related importance.

This festival is celebrated when winter is in all it's glory. According to Ayurveda Makarsankranti falls in Shishir ritu (winter). During winter the people are strong, their digestive fire becomes powerful, because it gets obstructed from flowing outward due to external cold. Like fuel consumes the things that it comes into contact, digestive fire may digest body tissues cause emaciation of tissues if proper fuel (food) is not provided.

At the same time there is severe cold (sheetatva) and extreme dryness (rukshatva) in the atmosphere. Hence Vata dosha which has similar properties starts accumulating in the body during this season.

Hence food which are of opposite qualities should be consumed regularly in extreme cold season. One should consume heavy (guru), snigdha (unctous), ushna (hot) and nutritious(balya) food in nature which pacifies vata dosha and increases strength of the body.

Laddus made of " til = sesame" ( which have snigdha, ushna and guru properties) and "guda = jaggery" ( madhur, snigdha and ushna properties) is perfect a combination to pacify vata dosha. They should be consumed not only on the day of Makar sankranti but regularly through out the Shishir ritu ( extreme colds).

Every one should resort to Abhaynga with til tel (oil massage) which have Vata balancing properties through out the winter season.
The importance of sesame seeds is it keeps body warm and also provide good quantity of oil, which is needed as winter dried up the moist from body.

One more underlying thought in the exchange of til-gud is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friendly. These warm greetings help  to alleviates dryness in relations & society and enhances warmth in relationship.

The significance of wearing black on Makarsankranti is that Sankranti comes at the peak of the winter season and black colour retains and absorbs heat, helping keep warm.

In Maharashtra this festival ends with worship of lord Surya on the day of Rathsaptami.

Rathasapthami begins with a tirthsnan (purification bathing in a river or sea) by holding several Arka(Calotropis Gigantea) leaves on head while bathing and chanting a verse to obtain blessing from the lord Surya ( the Sun) for rest of the year. Argyam (water held in the palms) is offered to the Sun God on this day while chanting hymns are performed to the Sun God. Doesn't it help devoties to spend more time in sunlight?

In ayurveda Arka patra or calotropis leaves are commonly used to treat vata disorders, to alleviate pain which is the main symptom of vata disorder.

According to Ayurveda asthi dhatu
(bone) is the one of the major seat of vata dosha. Do I need to explain the importance of "sun light" & "vitamin D" and it's role in formation of bone and in depotsition of calcium in bones??