Wednesday 20 November 2013

Sneha- Fats, Oils

Ayurveda gives much importance to Fats both as food and as medicine. It is considered as the foremost medicine for ,  (Sesame Oil) and Pitta (Ghee). It can also be used in conditions where kapha is predominant in processed form with herbs which acts against Kapha.

According to Ayurveda: "Snehasaaro Ayam Purusha:"-meaning the human body is rich in fats.
No biochemical or any cell function would ever occur in the body in the absence of fats and hence, they are necessary for the very existence of life. In order to remove accumulated wastes also, fats are used-to dissolve the wastes and toxins in it and aided with the help of increased temperature of sudation, to melt and transport them to the nearest port of GI tract and thus in eliminating them. The ability to dissolve these wastes are specific to fats. Once the purification is over, all the procedures done like rejuvenative procedures or even palliative medicines will get many fold efficacy, as all the pathways are open.

As we all know rather should know that many vitamins are fat soluble, many of the biochemical reactions happen in our body with the help or mediated by fats; though for energy yield, our body resorts to carbohydrate metabolism. The functions of nervous system are primarily based on fats. recent research have shown light on the fact that herbal extracts acting on the nervous system can influence the brain, only if they are administered through a fat medium. Fats also convey medicinal action of some preparations to the cardiac muscle group. Hence fats are an excellent vehicle to drugs, which can otherwise have no access to some of the tissues of the body, if given without fats.

Fats can be given in therapeutic dosage, or as food. It can be used as it is or can be processed with suitable medicines. Besides these versatile uses, it acts as a preparatory base before all eliminatory procedures, in conjunction with sudation. It acts as a solvent to absorb the deranged dosha's with the toxins inherent in them, and to transport them to the GI tract, with the help of sudation, for elimination.

Oils and Fats-When used externally?

The physico-chemical properties of a drug in a topical dosage form affect that drug's trans-dermal delivery (per-cutaneous) absorption and topical bio-availability. The molecules of the formulation, after penetrating through the stratum corneum and thence, into viable epidermis and dermis, produces its characteristic pharmacological response through receptors even before the blood or lymph circulation removes it, in which case it may set in a cascade of systemic effects. 

Though the horny layer of the skin is impermeable to most chemicals contributing the rate limiting step in trans-dermal absorption because of its high diffusional resistance, providing a small fractional area of 0.1% only as permeable appendageal shunt route, it is not an efficient heat insulator- the penetration rate of material through human skin can change tenfold for a large temperature variation, as the diffusion coefficient varies according to temperature changes. Besides the appendageal shunt route, the drug molecule may penetrate through the hair follicles and sebaceous glands or through the sweat ducts also. Various physicochemical factors other than temperature also seem to be involved like skin hydration (water opens up the compact part of the horny layer), pH etc., not forgetting the roles of drug concentration, molecular size and shape, diffusion co-efficient etc. The methods of enhancing bio-availability of trans-dermal drug application recently followed, like ultrasound (phonophoresis) and electrical driving of charged molecules (iontophoresis) is replaced in Ayurveda by the increased temperature that induces sudation, hydration through enhanced sweating and by massage for effecting a manual type of iontophoresis. Even external use of Sneha alone slightly increase body temperature, which in turn favours production of sweat by sweat glands. Though this sweat is not excreted at the moment because of partial closure of sweat pores by the film of fat, subsequent application of heat releases the barricade of fat to effect full fledged sudation. This helps increase metabolism of the drug and of the local tissue. This is the importance of Sneha used in conjunction with Sweda in Ayurveda.

It provides both hydration and temperature increase. Application of a dry powder onto the skin in room temprature without massage would not effect any systemic changes, if the powder is not allergic to the patient. Thus Ayurveda has its own concept of a rich tradition of transdermal therapeutic system, it is convenient, effective, eliminates variables that influence gut absorption, it enters the systemic circulation directly, by passing the 'first-pass' effect of enzymes in the gut and the liver; it provides a controlled, constant drug administration, displaying a single pharmacological effect, it is patient compliant as it eliminatesthe effect of taste or gastric irritations. Little wonder that when the world still in experimental stages by introducing topically acting counterirritants, NSAIDS, Steroids and transdermal clinical patches of oestradiol, clonidine, nitroglycerine, testosterone etc. 

Ayurveda has addressed transdermal use of medicines in versatile conditions from neurological affections to rheumatological condtions and also skin ailments in various modes and methods, around more than 5000 years ago. Snehana done externally is only one example.

Types of Snehana: Abhyanga (Full body massage), Pizhichil (Local or Full body flow of the oil), Sirodhara, Elakizhi etc are some of the examples of external snehana.

Courtesy:
Commentary from 
Ashtanga Hrudaya
Prof. Dr. T Sreekumar BAMS MD. 
HoD, Dept of Kriya Sareera, Physiology

Disclaimer: This information is based on Ayurvedic scriptures. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, this should not be used for any self diagnosis or treatments. Please do contact your GP for any impending conditions



Monday 18 November 2013

Care for your face



Cleansing without removing dead skin cells and deeply embedded impurities makes the skin dull. It also results in clogged pores which is the root cause of acne.
Hence, deep cleansing your skin once a week is essential. A scrub sloghs off dead cells and unclogs pores by removing deeply embedded impurities like blackheads and whiteheads.

How Often do I use scrub?

It is recommended to use a scrub once a week. do not over scrub as it makes skin very sensitive.

How should I use Scrub?

Apply the scrub on cleansed skin , avoiding the area around your eyes, and massage gently in a circular motion. Do not be harsh while you scrub as it may lead to redness, irritation and even skin lesions. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry. Sprinkle water at room temprature over your eyes-always protect your eyes with something that imparts coolness

Apply ice to close the pores. Finish off with a light face moisturiser.

How should i choose my scrub?

Always use scrubs with fine granules as these are gentler on the skin. Scrubs with natural ingredients like Apricot, Neem and Walnut helps to gently remove dead skin cells, blackheads, whiteheads and grime. Neem's antibacterial property provides additional support by purifying the skin.


Compiled from Ayurvedic scriptures
Team Vedic Age

Sunday 17 November 2013

Success in Life


Life is not always smooth-sailing. It is full of struggle. It is unwise to expect the path to be always covered with roses. Even great people are not spared the difficulties of life. It is not by running away, but by facing them with a Lion's courage that one can overcome them.

Struggle of life is very severe, rigorous and relentless. Man fights for this struggle for life from three fronts. In one, he fights with nature, his second struggle is with his fellow beings and in the third he battles with himself. The strategies of these three fronts a different from each other. In order to fight with the first front, he takes the help of physical science, for the second, he seeks the help of social science and for the third he wants help from psychological science. In these fights sometimes he finds himself crowned with success and now and then fails to get desirable results.

When he fails to get desirable results he wants to get rid of these struggles. He thinks that this world is a place of conflicts  and confusions, and therefore he wants to stop his struggle and run away. Wrongly, he thinks that the change of the external situation may give him peace.

If a nail enters his foot and he wants to destroy all the nails in the world, he is completely mistaken. He must put on shoes to walk without hindrance. When he finds it difficult to walk in rains, he must use the umbrella and should not think of stopping the rains. Therefore in order to struggle for existence, he must change the set of his mind, he must change the angle of his outlook.

There are two fighters inside us. One is divine and the other devilish. There is continual fight between the two forces. One way is worldly pleasure, the attractions of sense pleasure, the life of excitement and the life of luxury and comforts. The other is the way eternal value, the way of mastering over sense pleasure, the way of renunciation and truth and the way of service to humanity to live for others

The way reminds us of the great sayings of Swami. Vivekananda, "He alone lives who lives for others and the rest is more dead than alive." 

Jesus Christ said, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." If you knock the door will open; yet it sometimes so happens that the door opens of itself, if you have that intense yearning. If you have longing, everything becomes favourable. A difficult obstacle  that you could not cross over suddenly vanishes. 

The impossible becomes possible. god holds your hand and takes you forward.

If you ask me whether you will succeed in life or not, I will ask you a question in return. Have you developed that impatient readiness to find the truth by study, enquiry, self-disciplineand service-the first step in creative power? If not, are you prepared to acquire it as speedily as possible?

If this readiness is quenched, you will cease to grow; decay of the spirit will set in, creative power will never be yours. And this applies not only to you, but to every one of us, old and young.


                                                                                                                


Compiled

Thursday 7 November 2013

Reflexology and Ayurveda

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One Session of Elakizhi (Poultice Bag massage), 30 Minutes
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One Session Reflexology, 30 Minutes


Valid November and December, 2013


Health Tourism, Nov 2013

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Starting from £1025.00 for 14 days per person

Please click on the links to learn more


Friday 1 November 2013

Autumn Winter Offer, 2013, Nov

A.      The Winter Treat: Only £70.00
One for you one for your partner/friend/Spouse
Includes two sessions:
1.       Full body Massage (Abhyanga) Duration: 45 minutes,
2.       Steam (Swedana), 10 Minutes
3.       Cleansing Facial (Mukhabhyanga) / Sports Injury Management Massage (Elakizhi), 30 minutes
      One time offer, Valid for three months from the date of purchase
B.      Mini care  £75.00 only
Includes 3 Full body Massage without Steam
Duration: 45 minutes
Validity:  3 months from the date of purchase
C.      The body detox, for £100.00 Only
Includes three different experience
1.       A Session of Full Body Massage (Abhyanga), 50 Minutes + Steam , 10 minutes
2.       A session of Elakizhi (Poultice bag  massage-Sports Injury management), 50 Minutes + Steam , 10 Minutes
3.       A session of Indian Head Massage (Siro-Abhyanga), 20 Minutes.
   Validity: 3 MOnths from the date of purchase
D.       Think healthy. Only £120.00
1.       Four Sessions of Full Body Massage (Abhyanga)
Duration: 60 Mins
Steam: 10- 15  Minutes, 
Validity: 4 months from the date of purchase
E.      A Healthy Family Offer, £160.00 only
6 Sessions of Abhyanga (Full body Massage)
Duration: 60 Minutes
Steam Inclusive (10-15 Minutes)
Could be shared with your family or friends
Redeem before Mar, 2013

Autumn- Winter, Nov 2013

Like all good things the long summer is bidding adieu with a note for us to be prepared for the beautiful Autumn and of course the Cold and Dark Winter. Come Autumn & Winter the qualities of the weather as per Ayurveda are Cold, Dry and Rough. These qualities manifests in our body as cold, dry skin, less sweat, chaffed lips, lethargy, dry hair, stiff, tight and unresponsive musculature, less or more sleep, drowsiness. As per the Ayurvedic scriptures these are the qualities of Vata aggravation, this hinting for us to take Vata pacifying diet, lifestyle and Ayurvedic management techniques     
Protect, Prepare, Refresh and Rejuvenate your body as the saying goes, There is no better wealth than Health
Do’s
·         Dried Ginger Water
·         Warm and freshly prepared Soups and beverages
·         Warm cooked foods and easily digestible proteins (chicken stew, soup etc) and green vegetables
·         Protect yourself with warm clothings, especially your ears and neck


·         Anoint your body with Vata pacifying oils for 30 minutes before taking a warm shower
  •       Practice Brisk walking 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening
  •       Pranayama or deep breathing exercises are also highly recommended