Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Turmeric-Special Herb Turmeric is a spice commonly used as an important ingredient in most commercial curry powders. Turmeric is an ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring. turmeric is one spice which will always be found in every Indian kitchen and is used to add flavor to curries and stir fries. But its skin benefits are more notable as turmeric is renowned for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Cultural Importance: For thousands of years it has been used in the Hindu religious ceremonies. It is the common belief among the Hindus that Turmeric improves fertility. The dry turmeric root is considered as the symbol of purity and prosperity. It is used in Indian rites and rituals. Turmeric mixed in water is poured on the God and Goddesses. The dried turmeric roots in betel leaves are given to the women during the ceremonies as they are considered as fertile and bring good luck. Turmeric power is applied on...

Benefits of Kasthuri Manjal (Wild Turmeric)    If you have even a small piece of Curcuma aromatica/ kasthuri manjal/ wild turmeric in the room, the whole room will smell very nice. Kasthuri Manjal/ Wild turmeric is very fragrant and you could have easily guessed that it is my favorite among all the turmeric varieties, as I have even named my blog wild turmeric. Each turmeric have their own uses and health benefits but when it comes to external applications, wild turmeric is the king. Wild turmeric treats a variety of skin diseases from acne, eczema to insect bites on the skin. The main difference between kasthuri manjal from other variety of turmerics is it does not stain the skin like the regular turmeric, and is very fragrant than the normal turmeric. But we don't use this variety for cooking, we only use it for external applications. I like to buy organic dried kasthuri manjal and make my own turmeric powder at home. If you don't get them in your place, try usi...

Benefits & Uses of sudakai Kantakari | Kandankathiri | Solanum Xanthocarpum   Kandankathiri is one of my late grandfathers favorite plant, he used to always insist that we include this plant in our cooking. Kandankathiri is called Yellow Fruit Night-Shade in English and it's botanical name is Solanum Xanthocarpum (old name) and new name is Solanum Surattense | Solanum Virginianum. It is called Kantakari in Sanskrit. The whole plant is covered in thorns and the fruit looks like small version of our egg plant but with thorns. Every single part of kandankathiri is used as a medicine and since this plant is easily available, we should try to make good use of it. Kandankathiri are mainly used for treating all respiratory diseases like cough, phlegm and cold related fevers. Extensive studies have been done on this plant and these are some of the significant scientific studies of kandankathiri plant that I got after researching: 1. Kandankathiri antioxidant ac...

Euthanasia in Hinduism – Ancient Hindus Had Practiced  Oxford dictionary gives the meaning of Euthanasia as the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. Ancient Hindus had practiced euthanasia and even today, many realized Hindus perform it without making a fuss about it. You will find Hindus who have retired to the Himalayas and dense forest for the purpose but they do not advertise it. Euthanasia in Hinduism should be interpreted on two levels. Four Stages of Life in Hinduism Brahmacharya Grihastha Vanaprastha Sanyasa Euthanasia in Hinduism – Ancient Hindus Had Practiced It When Does a Hindu Willingly Give Away Life In Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), when a healthy person feels that the person has done with the purpose of life in society, they walk into a forest or secluded area to let go of the body. This is known as Vanaprastha. Vanaprastha was practiced by the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, Kunti, Gandhari and ...

Why Do Indians pierce ears of a baby ? After a baby is born, it is a general practice by the Ancient Indians to pierce the baby’s ears ( for both boys & girls). Technically speaking, It is a part of acupuncture treatment. Why indians pierce ears of baby scientific reason behind it Acupuncture and Acupressure are not new to Indians. It is being said that these techniques originally originated in India and later they were conserved and modified by Chinese. Outer part of ears carry a lot of important acupuncture and acupressure points. The point where the ears of a baby are pierced is known for curing asthma. That is why even Ancient Indians both men and women used to wear ear-rings, but now a days most Indians especially Hindus are also not wearing ear-rings. They do not even pierce the ears after first piercing. The holes in their ears become invisible after as they grow up. Only Indian females wear ear-rings as a tradition.But there are men in some parts of ...

Why Do We Worship Kush Grass? ‘Dharmasaya Dharata’ which means religion is what we practice. Hence, whatever the wise thought was good for health and hygiene has been enforced in the garb of religion. Several religious practices are in reality linked with health and the use of kush grass is no exception.    Why do we worship Kush Grass?     No traditional Hindu Indian pooja ritual is complete without the use of Durva (Doob) and Kush grasses.   Durva grass is used for Ganesh pooja and signifies the removal of obstacles from life. The peculiarity of Durva grass is that if you plant it in one area it will proliferate by itself and spread out in a wide area. This implies that a human family should be like the Durva grass, having spontaneous, effortless and obstacle-less growth.   The second herb, which is used in pooja, is the kush grass which is known for its purity. In Ramayana, Valmiki named Sita’s two sons Luv andKush. At the time of...

Water in Ayurveda Water, one of the main elements of Panchabhuta is very useful in various Ayurvedic methods. Earth in Ayurveda  Water in AyurvedaWater represents soma that has cooling and nourishing properties and associated with lunar energy. Ayurveda, the ancient science encompasses the well being of mankind through a series of scientific system of diet, healing and health maintenance. Reckoned as a holistic treatment procedure Ayurveda is deeply spiritual and is just not a type of treatment, but a philosophy, which ideally combines science and celestial understanding to make life a lot better. According to Ayurveda, water is one of the important components of the five fundamental elements or Panchabhuta. Ayurvedic texts describe a number of water types. Each type of water has its own therapeutic value. Water represents soma that has cooling and nourishing properties and associated with lunar energy. It helps in digestion, cools and balances Pitta dosha, counteracts ...

Indian bath...(New mother bath,Marriage bath, Ritual bath,healing bath,Sacred Bath) Purity and hygiene is very important for a Hindu. From birth till to the death there are different type of bathing and bathing rituals are being done in our culture. Human body is the centre of electric currents and impulses. Maharishi Vaatsyaayana has described various powers centres in our human body. Energy is generated and emanated in all our deeds and activities throughout the day. Our body get lethargic and need to be refreshed. Thus, we need to freshen up ourselves mentally and physically.    Bathing or refreshing the whole body is the best option to rejuvenate oneself. Bathing in a flowing water and merge oneself in chest deep water as enumerated by our ancient scriptures enhances electro magnetic activity in our body. 1. Morning bath  காதார் குழையாடப் பைம்பூண் கலனாடக்  கோதை குழலாட வண்டின் குழாம் ஆடச்  சீதப் புனல்ஆடிச் சிற்றம் பலம்பாடி  வேதப் பொருள்பாடி....

Nimba which means 'bestower of good health'. The botanical name for neem is azadiracta indica. The Sanskrit name for the Neem tree is ‘Nimba’ meaning bestower of good health. Other Sanskrit names are ‘Arista’ which implies perfect, complete and imperishable and Pichumada which means destroyer of laprosy and healer of skin infections. Persian Scholar called Neem ‘Azad dirakht-i-Hind’ which means the noble or free tree of India. Unani scholars named it a ‘Shajar-e-Munarak’ or blessed tree. Neem in the Telugu language is known as Vepa or the purifier of air. The Tamil word for it is Veppam and the tree is Veppa Maram. It is said that on the first day of Chaitra, after Amavasya, it is very essential to worship the neem and eat its leaves. It is mixed with pepper and sugar, as a safeguard from fever. The neem tree, besides having various medicinal benefits, is a highly revered tree among the Hindus because it is a manifestation of Goddess Durga o...

Significance of Brahmamuhurta Brahmamuhurta is the morning period between 3.30 a.m. and 5.30 a.m. It is suitable for meditation. After a good night’s sleep, the mind is refreshed, calm and serene. There is the preponderance of sattva or purity in the mind at this time, as well as in the atmosphere. The mind is like a blank sheet of paper, free from worldly samskaras or impressions. Raga-dvesha currents have not yet deeply entered the mind. The mind can be moulded easily. You can infuse it with divine thoughts. Yogis, Paramahamsas, Sannyasins, aspirants and Rishis start their meditation during the Brahma muhurta; sending their vibrations throughout the world, benefiting all. Meditation will come by itself without any effort. In the winter it is not necessary that you should take a cold bath. A mental bath will suffice. Imagine and feel, “I am taking a bath now in the sacred Triveni at Prayag or Manikarnika at Benares.” Remember the pure Atman. Repeat the formula, “I am the ever pure Sou...

Significance of Neem Tree The Sanskrit name for the Neem tree is ‘Nimba’ meaning bestower of good health. Other Sanskrit names are ‘Arista’ which implies perfect, complete and imperishable and Pichumada which means destroyer of laprosy and healer of skin infections.   Neem in the Telugu language is known as Vepa or the purifier of air. The Tamil word for it is Veppam and the tree is Veppa Maram. It is said that on the first day of Chaitra, after Amavasya, it is very essential to worship the neem and eat its leaves. It is mixed with pepper and sugar, as a safeguard from fever. The neem tree, besides having various medicinal benefits, is a highly revered tree among the Hindus because it is a manifestation of Goddess Durga or Kali. Thus, Kali takes manifestation as Neemari Devi. That is why the tree is sometimes referred to as Neemari Devi. The Tree is worshiped very intensely. Tamil Ladies, while worshiping Maa kali dress in red, carry branches of the Neem tree, and da...

Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha, Why Together!  We have observed that Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha are depicted together. One may be curious about the relationship among them. According to one mythological legend, Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesha are the offspring of goddess Durga. That is why they are together. If it is so, then why Kartikeyan is not along with them? Kartikeyan is also son of goddess Durga. One legend says that Ganesha has two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi, and two sons Shubh and Labh. Hence, Ganesha is always shown with Riddhi and Siddhi in the form of Laxmi and Saraswati. One may wonder- why they are not with their sons in the depiction to make a complete family snap? One another legend suggests that Laxmi is consort of Vishnu and Saraswati is consort of Brahma, and Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Still we did not find the logic for them to be depicted together. One more legend says that Laxmi stays near the feet of Vishnu and Saraswati on his tongue. A...

Mariamman Māri originated as an ancient village goddess related to fertility and rain. In Tamil, māri means rain. This goddess was a local deity, connected to a specific location, close to a specific tree, a rock or a special spot, mostly in rural areas. Another theory regarding origin of the name arises from the fact that mari in Tamil also means change. Thus, the name Maria Amman would mean goddess who has changed. According to some sources, Mariamman is the same as Renuka or YellammaMāri is usually portrayed as a beautiful young woman with a red-hued face, wearing a red dress. Sometimes she is portrayed with many arms, representing her many powers, but in most representations she has only two or four. Her hands may display some mudra and her usual attributes are the trident or spear and the bowl, which are derived from stories told about her.Mariamman was the smallpox goddess before this disease was eradicated. Now she cures all so-called heat-based diseases like pox an...

Things Not To Say a Pregnant Woman The long journey of pregnancy is really amazing and this is the time when people advice lots of things and at times even well intentioned ones can scare or upset the pregnant mom. Since pregnancy always invites people for conversation, it is not always that you will engage in something without offending the person before you. While there are plenty of people who know how to remain polite, there are many who can make the pregnant lady cry. So, before you indulge yourself in a conversation and for greater awareness here are some tips on what not to say to the lady to avoid offending her. Things not to say to pregnant women Was your baby planned? Is it really important to know whether the baby is planned or an unplanned one. If your friend tells you about her pregnancy, it is simply because she is excited about it and does not want to be questioned regarding the pregnancy policy. Simply congratulate her. Are you sure you should eat and drink ...

Worry Creates many Problems.......A man having stomach pain went to his doctor. The doctor asked if he was having trouble in his personal life or at his job. The man explained that he was worried about some incidents that had happened at work with his boss and his co-workers. Was there something the man could do to change what had happened? ”No,” responded the man. ”But it continues to bother me.” The doctor said, ”There is nothing you can do about the past. Close the chapter and move on. You are upsetting yourself and your stomach over something you cannot change.” The doctor prescribed some medicine, and advised him to forget the past to help expedite the cure of his stomach aches. The next patient was a woman with migraine. She explained that she was afraid of making a wrong decision about her future. Sensing that this was causing her headaches, he told her, ”If you make a decision that turns out all right, there is nothing to worry about. If you make a decision that tur...