Acne
Some of the most common causes of acne are emotional stress, chemical exposure, hormonal changes or even too much exposure to sunlight. In some cases, a mild bacterial infection may also be the cause for all your distress. The most common thins you’ve probably heard is, “Don’t eat spicy or fried food! Keep your diet bland. Eat oatmeal!” While a bland diet will help your acne, we all know that staying away from your favourite foods, easier said than done. Here are some other natural ways in which you can get rid of your acne and skin clean, fresh and glowing. Just like that wonderful smile on your face!
Herbal remedy
Mix equal proportions of the following herbs:
- Kutki
- Guduchi
- Shatavari
Consume ¼ tsp of this mixture 2-3 times a day along with warm water.
Liquids
Blue water:
Drinking ‘blue water’ that has been exposed to the sunlight for around 2 hours through some blue cellophane paper, will have a cooling effect on your body and help get rid of your pimples.
Aloe Vera Juice:
Drinking pure Aloe Vera juice is also extremely good for your skin.
Natural facewash
Chickpea facewash
Wash your face with a paste made from water and 1 tsp of chickpea flour.
Almond powder
After washing your face, apply a mixture of water and almond powder.
Leave it on for half an hour and then rinse.
Breathing exercises:
Breathe in and out through your left nostril while closing the other with your finger for 5-10 minutes.
Asthma and Wheezing
According to Ayurveda, the reason for asthma and wheezing is kapha in the stomach that moves up to the lungs. The ayurvedic remedies for this focus on bringing the kapha back into your stomach and then eliminating it.
For immediate relief
- Onion Juice ¼ cup
- Honey 1 tsp
- Black pepper 1/8 tsp
This mixture helps in eradicating breathlessness and reducing congestion.
For those prone to frequent attacks, this mixture can be prepared in advance and stored.
Prevention
Consume the following mixture 2-3 times a day:
- Bay leaf ½ tsp
- Pippali ¼ tsp
- Honey 1 tsp
- Mustard Oil
Eat 1 tsp of brown mustard oil along with 1 tsp organic sugar 2-3 times a day on an empty stomach.
Dairy Products
Avoid eating dairy products like cheeses and butter.
Back Pain
In today’s world, our hectic jobs and lifestyles leave little room for us to pay attention to our postures and regular exercise. Unfortunately, this becomes the cause for back pain in a large part of the working population. Obviously, one of the best ways to get rid of back aches is by rectifying your posture and getting plenty of exercise and eating healthy. But here are a few other things you could try to soothe your aching muscles and give you some comfort.
Herbal remedies
Painkiller
Mix ¼ – ½ tsp of the herb musta in some water and drink 2-3 times a day.
Muscle relaxant
Drink ½ tsp of the herb taggara in some warm water.
Oils and Pastes
Make a paste out of ginger powder and water and massage onto to your back. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes, wash it off and then eucalyptus oil in the affected areas.
Yoga
Here are some yoga postures that relieve backpain:
Camel Pose
Palm Tree Pose
Lotus Pose
Precautions:
Backache can intensify on exposure to cold weather/winds, so it is recommended that you avoid exposure to cold and harsh weather.
Cold and Flu
Ginger Remedies
Tea
Steep the following in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes:
- Ginger 1 part
- Cinnamon 1 part
- Lemongrass 2 parts
- Add honey to the strained mixture and drink several times a day.
- Steam
- Boil 1 tsp of ginger or a few eucalyptus leaves in a pint of water and inhale the steam.
Herbal Remedies
The following is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for curing colds.
- Sitopaladi 1 part
- Maha Sudarshan Churna 1 part
Consume ¼ tsp of the above mixture twice a day along with 1-2 tsp of honey after food.
Nasal decongestant
Add 3-5 drops of liquefied ghee to each nostril, a couple times a day. This will help in decongesting your nasal passage and let you breathe more freely.
Precautions:
As both ginger and aspirin are blood thinners, it is strongly advised that you leave enough gaps (at least 2-3 hours) while consuming the both.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a metabolic disorder. Some of the common causes are low liver functions or digestive thyroid activity. One of the easiest ways to lower your cholesterol is to include hearty amounts of garlic and onion in your cooking and to avoid overly fatty or fried foods.
Herbal Remedy
Consume ½ tsp of the following mixture with honey and hot water two times a day
- Kutki 3 parts
- Chitrak 3 parts
- Shilait ¼ part
Here’s something else you can try:
Drink hot water with honey and 1 teaspoon of lime juice or around 10 drops of apple cider vinegar early in the morning. Doing this on a regular basis is said to ‘scrape fat’ from your body thereby lowering cholesterol.
Constipation
We’ve all faced this problem at one time or another. Go a week without eating enough vegetables or adding enough fibre to your diet and you suddenly find yourself felling constipated. What many of you might not know is that not drinking enough water and lack of exercise are some key causes of constipation as well. Whatever the cause may be, we agree that it’s super uncomfortable and leaves you feeling extremely unsettled. So, here’s some things you can do to make yourself feel better and bring your bowel movements back to normal.
Herbal Remedy
According to Ayurveda, the best remedy for constipation is the herb Triphala. It is advised that you take Triphala early in the morning around 4 or 5 am for the best results.
For pregnant women suffering from constipation
1 tsp of the herb sat isabgol taken with warm milk is said to be the best cure for constipation in pregnant women. Although Triphala is the best cure for constipation in general, it is not advisable for consumption by pregnant women as it will make the child hyperactive.
Home Remedies
Milk and Ghee
- Take ½ tsp ghee in a cup of hot milk before going to bed.
- Flaxseed
- Boil 1 tsp of flaxseed in a cup of water for 2-3 minutes.
Drink the entire contents including the seeds.
Cough
The cause of cough according to Ayurvedic medicine is excess pitta or kapha in the bronchial tree. Follow the various ayurvedic and herbal remedies given below to give you some relief.
For Dry Cough
Take 1 tsp of Ajwan along with 1 tsp organic sugar to alleviate dry coughs.
Here’s something else that you can try that has been an age-old remedy for curing coughs and colds. It is often the most common remedy advice given to us by the elders while suffering from cold and cough.
Drinking warm milk with ½ tsp of turmeric and ¼ tsp ginger before bed is effective in getting rid of coughs and colds.
For Productive Cough
- Mix the following along with 1 tsp of honey and consume 2-3 times a day.
- Bay Leaf ½ tsp
- Pippali ¼ tsp
For Chronic Cough
An efficient herbal remedy for chronic coughs is as follows:
- Garlic powder 4 parts
- Trikatu 1 part
Mix the two with a little honey and eat twice a day.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea or ‘loose motion’ as it is sometimes colloquially called refers to unusually loose or watery stools. It is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Although it is short-lived and doesn’t normally last more than a few days, we all know from personal experience that those few days are torturous.
Home Remedies
- Ginger and yoghurt
- Blend equal parts of yoghurt and water (1/2 cup).
- Add ½ tsp of freshly grated ginger juice to the blend and drink it.
- Ghee and Spices
- Ghee 1 tsp
- Nutmeg ¼ tsp
- Ginger Powder ¼ tsp
- Natural Sugar 1 tsp
- Mix the above ingredients together and take it 2-3 times a day for around 2-3 days.
For babies with diarrhoea
- Honey 1 tsp
- Ghee 1 tsp
- A pinch of nutmeg and saffron
Diabetes
Herbal remedy
Mix the following herbal ingredients together.
- Guduchi 1 part
- Shardunika 1 part
- Kutki 1 part
- Punarnava 2 parts
Take ½ tsp of the above mixture 2-3 times a day along with warm water.
Copper Water
Another effective remedy is to drink ‘copper water’ or water that has been stored in a copper container overnight.
Fever
One of the most common remedies to a fever is to ‘starve it out’ For those who are strong enough to do so, not eating while having a fever is one of the most effective ways to get rid of it. For others who are unable to fast, the following remedies will help bring down the fever.
Herbal Remedies
Tea
Steep 1 tsp of the following mixture in 1 cup of water:
Lemongrass 1 part
Tulsi 1 part
Fennel 1 part
Strain the mixture once it’s been steeped and drink it.
Grape Juice
Mix the following ingredients into 1 cup of grape juice:
Cumin ½ tsp
Fennel ½ tsp
Sandalwood Powder ½ tsp
For Chronic Fever
Mix ½ tsp of Maha Sudarshan Churna with 1 tsp of Tikta Ghrita or (bitter ghee) and take it three times a day on an empty stomach
Heart
The seat of pranas, ojas and the mind, the heart is the most important organ in the body. A healthy heart is very important for the healthy functioning of all your other organs including your brain. Excessive amounts of stress, a bad diet and lack of exercise are potential causes for damage to your heart. Follow the following natural remedies to take care of your heart and strengthen it from within.
Herbal Remedy
Take ½ tsp of the herb Arjuna 3 times a day with honey and warm water. Arjuna is a coronary vasodilator that strengthens circulation.
Yoga
Regular practice of the Surya Namaskar is very healthy for the heart and the mind.
Diet
Adding hearty amounts of garlic to your diet will also go a long way in keeping your heart healthy
Hiccups
Hiccups can be especially annoying when you’re in the middle of saying something important. The best solution to immediately stop your hiccups is to hold breath. If that doesn’t work, then try the following:
Mix 1 tsp each of honey and castor oil.
Dip your finger in this mixture every 2-3 minutes and lick it.
Sore Throat
Herbal Tea
Steep 1 tsp of the following mixture in water for 5-10 minutes and drink up to 3 times a day.
Ginger 2 parts
Cinnamon 2 parts
Liquorice 3 parts
Breathing Exercise
The practice of ‘bhramari’ or humming breath can help reduce sore throats.
Sinus Problems
Herbal Decongestant
A mixture of fresh ginger juice (or freshly grated pulp) with 1 tablespoon of honey 2 -3 times a day.
Decongestant formula:
Sitopaladi 5 parts
Trikatu 1/8 part
Mahasudarshan churna 2 parts
Take ¼ teaspoon of this mixture 2 or 3 times a day with warm water after meals.
Herbal antibiotics
Helps prevent secondary infection.
Mix equal amounts of the following antibacterial herbs:
- Goldenseal
- Osha
- Turmeric
- Neem
Fill 00 size capsules with the herbal mixture and swallow 2 capsules twice a day.
Nose drops and nasal wash to drain the sinuses
Mild saline solution:
Dissolve ½ teaspoon salt into ½ cup lukewarm water.
Instil 5 drops of solution into each nostril using dropper.
Repeat as often as needed to keep sinuses clear.
For severe sinus congestion and pain:
Squeeze out some fresh garlic juice using a garlic press.
Use an eye dropper to insert some juice into each nostril.
Keep head tilted back for five minutes and then drain out into a tissue.
Do this once a day as needed.
For severe attacks, repeat up to three times – morning, afternoon and evening.
For sinus headaches:
Make a paste with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and water.
Apply locally.
For prevention
Avoid dairy products – especially cheese, yoghurt and ice cream
Avoid cold drinks.
Avoid exposure to cold weather.
Do not smoke cigarettes.
Instil a little warm ghee in each nostril and sniff once a day.
Regularly consume this herbal formula:
Sitopaladi 5 parts
Mahasudarshan churna 3 parts
Abrak bhasma 1/8 part
Take ¼ teaspoon of this mixture 3 times a day, after meals.
Wash down with warm water. To be taken for three months.
Sprains and Strains
For immediate relief of a strain or sprain, wrap the affected area in an elastic bandage.
Healing Paste
Sprains
½ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp salt with cold water.
Strains
½ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp salt with hot water.
Herbal Capsules
200mg Kaishore Guggulu twice a day.
Stomach-ache
From indigestion and over-eating to hunger and menstrual cramps, the cause of a stomach-ache can be ambiguous. Here, we have a few solutions to help alleviate your pain.
Herbal Remedies
Take 1/3 tsp cumin powder, a pinch of Ing and a pinch of Rock Salt. Chew the mixture well and wash it down with warm water.
Tea
Mix equal proportions of cumin, coriander and fennel.
Steep ½ tsp of this mixture in a cup of water and drink 2-3 times a day.
Pills
The ayurvedic herb Shankavati is very effective in relieving stomach aches. Take 1 pill twice a day.
For Chronic Indigestion
Take ¼ tsp of the following mixture before meals with a little honey and ginger juice.
Trikati 1 part
Chitrak 2 parts
Kutki 1 part
