Ayurveda Archives - AYURVEDIC ANSWERS https://ayurvedicanswers.com/category/ayurveda/ Thu, 09 Mar 2023 12:20:05 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cropped-fav-32x32.png Ayurveda Archives - AYURVEDIC ANSWERS https://ayurvedicanswers.com/category/ayurveda/ 32 32 Fighting Fever, The Ayurvedic Way – What must be done during fever? https://ayurvedicanswers.com/fighting-fever-the-ayurvedic-way-what-must-be-done-during-fever/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fighting-fever-the-ayurvedic-way-what-must-be-done-during-fever https://ayurvedicanswers.com/fighting-fever-the-ayurvedic-way-what-must-be-done-during-fever/#respond Thu, 09 Mar 2023 12:20:05 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3843 An episode of fever is usually unprecedented and worrying. No matter which member of the family is down with illness, fevers make you feel weak and helpless. However, fever has a purpose to serve within the body. A fever signals a rescue effort from the body, and it is a sign that your body is […]

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An episode of fever is usually unprecedented and worrying. No matter which member of the family is down with illness, fevers make you feel weak and helpless. However, fever has a purpose to serve within the body.

A fever signals a rescue effort from the body, and it is a sign that your body is trying to fight an internal problem. According to Dr. Hiral Bhatt, fevers occur when there is too much accumulated waste inside the body, or when your body is trying to fight an infection.

What Should I Do If I Have a Fever?

  1. Don’t panic

It’s only natural to be confused about what to do when you’re in the throes of a fever, but it is important that you don’t panic. Panicking and stressing yourself out even more are some of the worst things you can do when you have a fever.

  1. Don’t Take Antipyretics Unnecessarily

Do not be in a hurry to reduce the fever immediately. If you have a fever below 101°F (38.3°C), then there is no need to take fever suppressing medicines. Doing so will rush your body’s natural processes. You might not recover enough, and your fever could recur.

  1. Fast For the First Few Days

Make sure you are fasting for the first few days of the fever. While your body is fighting against pathogens or waste, added processes like digestion will only slow down your body’s fever-fighting abilities. Your body will appreciate the time and space that you give it to fight the fever.

  1. Get As Much Rest as Possible

Make sure you get adequate rest. This, once again, ties in with the previous point- your body needs to make sure that all of its systems are focused on fighting the fever and getting the toxins out of your body. Rest will allow your body to return to normal balance much sooner.

  1. Sip Warm Water

Warm water will aid your body in flushing out the toxins which are causing the fever. Keep in mind that Dr. Hiral Bhatt recommends you do this only if you’re not in a hot climate. If you have a mouth ulcer, try sipping medicated water.

Infuse spices like sandalwood, khus, coriander and ginger to your drinking water, and keep taking sips. Maintaining hydration during a fever is important, since your body tends to lose water through sweat.

  1. Apply Heat

If you have body ache or a congested chest along with your fever, make sure to apply a warm compress to the area with pain and your chest. Simply heat up a towel under a hot iron and apply to the area.

You could also cover yourself with a heavy blanket and turn off any fans or air conditioners in the room. This will help you to sweat off the fever more easily.

What Should I Do When the Fever Starts Subsiding?

After the initial days of fasting, you can reintroduce some light and easy to digest meals. A simple rice gruel will help provide your body with the nourishment it needs. To make this, roast the rice grain and boil in water so that the resulting mixture is slightly soupy. You can add spices like ginger, cumin, salt and pepper.

If you’re in a cold climate, or if it’s winter, you can have moong soup. Simply substitute rice in the previous recipe with whole moong, and boil it to the consistency of thick soup.

After a few more days, you can start having meals like khichdi, or rice and dal. However, if you feel like the fever is starting to return, then you should immediately go back to fasting. As per the Ayurvedic Clinic in Navi Mumbai, your body has not completely recovered from the fever yet, and you should allow it more time to focus on fighting the toxins.

Conclusion

A fever does not always require chemical intervention. While it might seem like a good idea to simply pop an antipyretic and go about your day, this often leaves the root problem uncured, and makes way for the fever to recur over and over again.

Ayurveda focuses on treating your illnesses from the core instead of treating the symptoms as they come. Believe in the power of your body to fight for itself. Following this advice from the best Ayurvedic doctor in Navi Mumbai will help you to recover from your fever and get back to the peak of your health.

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Why is your child not eating well? What Ayurved says about low appetite in children? https://ayurvedicanswers.com/why-is-your-child-not-eating-well-what-ayurved-says-about-low-appetite-in-children/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-is-your-child-not-eating-well-what-ayurved-says-about-low-appetite-in-children https://ayurvedicanswers.com/why-is-your-child-not-eating-well-what-ayurved-says-about-low-appetite-in-children/#respond Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:00:32 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3840 As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your child’s health and well-being. One of the biggest concerns for many parents is when their child is not eating enough. Whether it’s due to picky eating habits, a loss of appetite, or a more serious underlying health condition, a lack of nutrition can have a significant […]

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As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your child’s health and well-being. One of the biggest concerns for many parents is when their child is not eating enough. Whether it’s due to picky eating habits, a loss of appetite, or a more serious underlying health condition, a lack of nutrition can have a significant impact on your child’s growth and development.

In this article, we’ll explore the common causes of a child not eating and provide practical tips and advice to help encourage your child to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, you’ll find valuable information that can help ease your worries and support your child’s healthy growth.

Possible factors for a child to avoid eating

No child ever wants to stay hungry. Fortunately, little children are still not aware of dieting, so they are not making a decision to stay hungry. So, what this implies is that there is no good appetite. A hungry child is not going to stay hungry. So, if he’s avoiding food, it simply means that he’s not hungry.

So, what are the factors responsible for killing the child’s appetite? Let’s explore

  1. Psychological factor

The first reason could be that the child is extremely pampered. If a child knows that if I refuse to eat what is prepared at home, I’m going to be getting all the junk food that I want.

  1. Frequent eating

A second reason could be that the child is eating too frequently, like every one or two hours. He continues to eat snacks.

  1. Drinking excess water

Another reason could be that he is in the habit of drinking too much water at a time. He’s having too much water, especially before meals or half an hour before meals.

  1. Heavy Foods

Sometimes parents try to give the child heavy foods, like lots of cheese or paneer. which they feel will help him gain weight, but they may be a bit too heavy for the child to digest, so this could be killing the appetite.

  1. Clearing the bowels

Another factor is: are the child’s motions regular? If he doesn’t clear his bowels regularly, he may not have a very good appetite.

  1. Sleep Timing

Is your child sleeping well, or is he sleeping at odd times? Children who sleep during the day for two or three hours tend to have a very low appetite. Loss of appetite can occur when a person does not get enough sleep, sleeps very late at night, and then gets up early in the morning for school.

  1. Choice of Food

Another reason is that sometimes children want a specific type of food, such as Dal-Rice or Khichadi, and if you force them to eat something like roti or another food, they may not like It. If you can see the type of food that he wants, the quality that he demands, then that needs to be adjusted all the time. The same kind of food will not make the child very good at eating.

  1. Environment

Another reason could be the eating environment. The place where the child is eating, the people he’s eating with—are they pleasant? Or are the people focusing too much on his plate, asking him to eat a bit too much?

Sometimes, he is not happy because there’s nobody around him when he’s eating. The food is served and he’s supposed to be eating alone.

  1. Pathological Reasons

Generally, a fever history or stomach issues like diarrhea and vomiting, frequent worms in the stomach are found among children not eating well. These need medications for a while to correct the digestion.

Conclusion

Once you have been through all the simple, logical factors, which can be taken care of at home. And if you still find that the child is not eating well, then you need to consult a doctor. And find out what has caused the problem. Consulting an Ayurvedic doctor can offer numerous benefits for child care. You can visit Dr Hiral Bhatt, who run an Ayurvedic clinic in Navi Mumbai, and can ensure that your child receives safe and effective care that focuses on improving their overall well-being.

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Ayurvedic key to good health: Everything You Need to Know About Ayurveda and Health https://ayurvedicanswers.com/ayurvedic-key-to-good-health-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ayurveda-and-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ayurvedic-key-to-good-health-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ayurveda-and-health https://ayurvedicanswers.com/ayurvedic-key-to-good-health-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ayurveda-and-health/#respond Sat, 21 Jan 2023 07:44:35 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3835 Ayurveda has been a science of life since the beginning of time. Ayurveda emphasizes maintenance, promotion of health, and disease prevention through dietary and lifestyle changes, in addition to offering a variety of medicinal approaches for treating disorders. According to Ayurveda, a tripod of mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of the body (Sharir), senses (Indriyas), […]

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Ayurveda has been a science of life since the beginning of time. Ayurveda emphasizes maintenance, promotion of health, and disease prevention through dietary and lifestyle changes, in addition to offering a variety of medicinal approaches for treating disorders. According to Ayurveda, a tripod of mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of the body (Sharir), senses (Indriyas), mind (Satwa), and spirit to sustain life (Atma).

The normal function of the Tridoshas is interrupted, and they worsen in the body, coming from a poor diet and lifestyle. Tridoshas vitiated cause the Dhatus and Malas to become vitiated, which in turn causes several ailments to emerge in the body. Therefore, a person’s health is dependent on the Doshas, Dhatus, and Malas being in balance. Dr Hiral Bhatt is an ayurvedic doctor who specializes in ayurveda. You can visit her to know more about the benefits of ayurveda for your health. She has been practicing ayurveda since almost 12 years.

Aspects of Health

Your health is dependent on various factors of your body, the food you eat, your mental health, and your sense organs. Some of the aspects are: proper nourishment to the body for proper strength; a desire for healthy food that builds appetite, proper digestion, proper sleep causing no nightmares, absence of body pains, etc.

How to Maintain Health According to Ayurveda?

The state of our physical and mental health significantly depends on our diet. A healthy diet can either prevent or treat several common health issues.

  • Eat healthy food: You should make it a habit to wash vegetables and fruits properly before consuming. Methods like boiling, steaming, and grilling are far more healthy than frying. One should consume food that has a high fiber content.
  • Nutrition intakes: A minimum intake of 50-100 fiber per day paired with lentils and pulses can benefit your health tremendously. Ayurveda says traditional cooking habits are the best to lead a healthy lifestyle.
  • Eating habits: Freshly prepared food benefits the body more than any pre-heated or refrigerated food. Do not eat something you made 2 days ago for breakfast or dinner. Avoiding lunch can be a huge problem for teens who are in constant need for nutrition. Taking that into consideration, overeating should also be avoided.
  • Water intake: Drinking irregular amounts of water can harm your body. Water must be drunk at regular intervals. Lukewarm water helps in digestion and minimizes the risks of various digestive disorders.
  • Liquid intake: Aerated drinks are the worst enemies of your health. Try switching to healthier drinks such as fresh juices, coconut water, green tea, and milk.

Ayurveda places a lot of emphasis on how the seasons affect the body and suggests we adjust our daily schedule to the seasons. Following Dinacharya (daily routine), Ritucharya (seasonal regimens), and Sadvritta (excellent behavior) will help you maintain your personal and social hygiene.

  • Maintaining a healthy body externally and internally requires good personal hygiene. Both physical and mental health depend on this rule.
  • People with poor personal hygiene give the body the perfect conditions for germs to flourish, making them more susceptible to sickness.
  • People with poor personal hygiene may experience social isolation and loneliness from people avoiding them.
  • The way a person takes care of themselves depends on their mental health which oftentimes is difficult for people to maintain. Personal hygiene is crucial when you suffer from certain conditions, such as mental disorders, severe depression, or a drug or alcohol use disorder.

Conclusion

Ayurveda says, perfect health is a balance between body, mind, soul, and social wellness. The twin ideas of balance and connectivity are prevalent in all Ayurvedic writings, philosophy, and practice. A person’s social life, physical health, and mental health improve by maintaining a clean physique. Therefore, excellent mental health and the absence of mental stress are essential. Visit the best Ayurvedic doctor in Navi Mumbai to gain a deep knowledge about Ayurveda.

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The power of sleep: Benefits of sleeping at the right time https://ayurvedicanswers.com/the-power-of-sleep-benefits-of-sleeping-at-the-right-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-power-of-sleep-benefits-of-sleeping-at-the-right-time https://ayurvedicanswers.com/the-power-of-sleep-benefits-of-sleeping-at-the-right-time/#respond Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:40:14 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3829 Before knowing the right time to sleep, let us first know the importance of sleep and why we need sleep. In the process of life, we all need rest and recovery. As Ayurveda says, ‘yada tu manasi klante‘ meaning when the body and mind get exhausted and tired due to day-long activity resulting in spontaneous […]

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Before knowing the right time to sleep, let us first know the importance of sleep and why we need sleep. In the process of life, we all need rest and recovery.

As Ayurveda says, ‘yada tu manasi klante‘ meaning when the body and mind get exhausted and tired due to day-long activity resulting in spontaneous detachment or dissociation of the senses or sense organs from their respective objects; it leads to a state known as “Sleep.”

The ideal time to go to sleep

As Dr. Hiral Bhatt describes, Sleep is an important part of life because it lets our body rest while using the energy we generate during the day. Good sleep is essential for a productive day. And the key to it is to have enough sleep. Thus, the ideal time to go to sleep should be somewhere between 10 pm to 11 pm. It gives you around 2 to 3 hours after your dinner and enough sleep to wake up early in the morning.

Effects of sleep

According to the studies and research done by the Ayurvedic clinic in Navi Mumbai, it is found that a good night’s sleep can reduce our stress levels and also increase our immune system and blood circulation. As far as our physical health is concerned, not getting enough sleep can lead to more health problems like weight gain, heart disease, Thyroid, and even Diabetes.

There are many connections between sleep, and the study showed that people who go through insomnia are likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Research also shows how bad sleeping habits can cause weight gain or obesity. Thus, sleeping well is necessary to controlling your weight as well as keeping your metabolism functioning efficiently throughout the day.

Can we compensate for sleeping later by waking up later

The period between 10 pm to 2 am is when the Pitt dosh in our body naturally rises and needs to be balanced by sleep. These are the most vital hours for our body and mind. So missing a schedule during this time can lead to imbalance, tiredness, and chronic exhaustion. The more we wake up later rather than earlier, the more it will leave us exhausted in an unbalanced way.

Sleep deprivation brings on many serious health issues. The truth is that our sleeping habit determines what time of day we wake up, be it early or late. A lack of proper sleep will increase brain fog, fatigue, and poor gut function.

Conclusion

Sleep is one of the important balancing forces that maintain this equilibrium, which is vital for a healthy body. Sleep is not just a state of unconsciousness but also involves memory consolidation and learning, rejuvenation of cells and tissues, and even growth and development.

So, now we know sleep affects us and helps our mental well-being, freshens us up for the day ahead, and makes us happy. Besides, proper sleep also works as a tool for managing stress and anxiety disorder. To solve your sleep related problems, get in touch with the Ayurvedic clinic in Navi Mumbai.

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What Is the Right Time to Wake Up in the Morning? https://ayurvedicanswers.com/what-is-the-right-time-to-wake-up-in-the-morning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-the-right-time-to-wake-up-in-the-morning https://ayurvedicanswers.com/what-is-the-right-time-to-wake-up-in-the-morning/#respond Fri, 25 Nov 2022 07:17:53 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3814 The alarm goes off, but is it the right time to get up? According to Ayurveda – an ancient Indian holistic healing system – there is a right and wrong time for everything, including when to wake up in the morning. How you start your day can dictate how the rest of your day goes. […]

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The alarm goes off, but is it the right time to get up? According to Ayurveda – an ancient Indian holistic healing system – there is a right and wrong time for everything, including when to wake up in the morning.

How you start your day can dictate how the rest of your day goes. Waking up at the wrong time can negatively affect your health and well-being, while waking up at the right time can have positive effects. This is why it’s important to find the best time to wake up in the morning.

So how do you find the sweet spot? Dr Hiral Bhatt, an Ayurvedic Doctor in Navi Mumbai, has valuable advice on picking the right time to wake up and start your morning routine. Keep reading for her tips.

Best Time to Wake Up in the Morning

Waking up on time is vital for several reasons. First, it can impact your health, productivity, and overall well-being. So what is the best time to wake up in the morning?

There is some debate on this topic, but many experts believe that the ideal time to wake up is 1.5 hours before sunrise. This gives you enough time to prepare and start your day on the right foot. Of course, not everyone can wake up that early. If you have young children or a demanding job, waking up between 5:00 am and 6:00 am can be more realistic.

Why Waking Up Early Is the Best Way to Start Your Day?

There are several reasons why waking up between 5.00 am and 6.00 am is the best time.

This is the time when your body is naturally at its most rested and relaxed state. Waking up is a lot easier as you have completed the necessary sleep. Staying in bed till late makes getting up all the more difficult.

Apart from this, waking up between 5.00 am and 6.00 am is the best time because it facilitates regular bowel movements. Our intestine is horizontal when we’re sleeping. Still, when we wake up, it’s in a vertical position, which allows our body to naturally facilitate bowel movements within the intestinal tract between 5.00 am to 6.00 am.

Bowel movements are a nervous reflex – they happen when our mind is in a calm and relaxed state, which is why waking up at this specific time helps facilitate them more easily.

Advantages of Waking Up Early Morning

Waking up early in the morning, between 5.00 am and 6.00 am, has many benefits.

  1. There are many advantages, but the chief among them is a clear bowel. This gives us a clear message about our bowel movements and passing motions – good or bad – which decides whether or not we should have our breakfast.

This process, known as “cleansing the gut,” starts around 5 am and peaks between 6 am and 7 am. During this time, our intestine or a digestive fire starts getting ignited. As a result, if you’re like many people, you probably don’t feel the sensation of hunger until around lunchtime, which means you don’t feel the sensation of hunger even if the body needs the food.

This is why it’s essential to wake up early morning and have a bowel movement which will help clear your system and give you clear, normal hunger sensation and not abnormal cravings throughout the day.

2. You get more time on your hands. Most of us are usually rushed during the day, leading to negative consequences like stress, anxiety, and a lack of focus. Waking up early allows you to relax and take stock of what’s essential in your life. This will enable you to make better decisions and be more productive overall.

3. Morning exercise is better than going to the gym in the evening. Exercise has been shown to have numerous benefits for our physical health, but it also affects our mental well-being positively. Going for a morning walk or stretching before starting work will help clear your head and give you energy throughout the day.

4. Time to meditate. Meditation helps improve concentration, focus, creativity, empathy, self-awareness, and stress management skills. It’s also an excellent way to de-stress before starting your day by reducing cortisol levels in your body.

5. Ability to think or visualize. This enables you to plan your day or visualize future scenarios more efficiently.

And if you’re like most people, you probably wake up late and dread getting out of bed. And if this becomes a habit, your bowels will start to lose their tone, and it’ll become much more challenging to get your bowel movement in the morning.

Conclusion

Getting up early for your health is more than just picking the winning lottery numbers—it’s about ensuring you have an effective routine that helps you be at your best throughout the day. For good health, a good state of mind, and a good life, it is essential to wake up early in the morning.

According to Dr Hiral Bhatt, the best time to wake up is between 5.00 am and 6.00 am. This will allow you to start your day with a sense of energy and peace. However, if you are having trouble waking up or having bowel movements at this time, consider visiting an Ayurvedic doctor in Navi Mumbai.

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So same…Yet so different https://ayurvedicanswers.com/so-same-yet-so-different/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=so-same-yet-so-different https://ayurvedicanswers.com/so-same-yet-so-different/#respond Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:20:56 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3645   Too many diya pics these days, I know! Yet, I do not want to miss sharing the big learnings that such small occurrences bring.   In this picture, I have two diyas. They are different in design, but serve the same purpose. I picked them up at different times simply because I liked them. […]

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Too many diya pics these days, I know!

Yet, I do not want to miss sharing the big learnings that such small occurrences bring.

 

In this picture, I have two diyas. They are different in design, but serve the same purpose. I picked them up at different times simply because I liked them. Do note that I liked them because they were different.

 

Yesterday evening, I put oil and a wick in each of them and lit them together. Both shone beautifully. But, since their size and shape is different, there was one difference in the way I had to use them. In the bigger one, I put oil only once and it lit for a good 3 hours. While in the smaller one, I had to refill oil thrice for it to go on that long.

Now, we don’t need too much knowledge to figure this out. Small size means less oil fits and thus needs refilling. Our bodies are also that simple if only we do not get stuck in information over load. All our bodies are made up of the same stuff, same organs in each, but depending on the structural changes, the functioning may vary. All of us eat, work, sleep, think. But we all do not do all of this in the same way and same degree. We have our individual body types, our own unique permutations and combinations – this is the variety and thus the beauty of nature.

To know in detail, read https://ayurvedicanswers.com/preventive-ayurved/body-constitution/

 

Trouble begins when for some reason we feel, all of us must eat the same amount in the same frequency. Children are the most common targets for this absolutely misplaced belief we carry. We even take it forward to expect that all must grow up to be tall and well built, to excel in the same subjects (that even means ALL subjects for some parents!!) and achieve the same accolades.

 

From the above example we must understand that a Vat prakruti person has a smaller stomach and digestive capacity as compared to a Kaf prakruti person. So he will need to eat frequently in smaller amounts while a K person needs to eat one big meal. Doing vice versa will harm both. The Vat person risks indigestion if he overeats and low energy, aches and pains if he skips a meal. The K person risks being overweight if he eats frequently and unsatisfied if he eats tiny meals.

Both of them will work to their best potential, albeit differently, if given what they need, instead of going by what some ‘standard’ suggests.

 

Hoping this Diwali, we celebrate our differences while rejoicing in our oneness.

Let’s put oil as our diya demands and enable it to shine the brightest it can.

 

 

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Navratri Vs Diwali https://ayurvedicanswers.com/navratri-vs-diwali/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=navratri-vs-diwali https://ayurvedicanswers.com/navratri-vs-diwali/#respond Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:46:54 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3642   What makes us fast during Navratri? What makes us over eat during Diwali?   It is not about will power. It is not about habits. It is a little about what is in the air and a lot about how we look at food. About our relationship with food.   If it was just […]

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What makes us fast during Navratri?

What makes us over eat during Diwali?

 

It is not about will power. It is not about habits.

It is a little about what is in the air and a lot about how we look at food. About our relationship with food.

 

If it was just not possible for us physically, to control eating, how do we fast without any compulsion for 9 days? It’s just that if we really want to do it, we do it. Relatives, friends, neighbors are also fasting…this helps.

Somehow many of us consider Navratri period as a period of strength. Some feel, the Devi makes us strong enough to do it. Some feel, we should do it and so manage to do it to keep up the tradition. Some also fear some harm coming to them if the days are spent eating as usual.

Whatever our reason, the fact remains that –

We are able to do that which we understand as important and essential.

 

2 weeks later, comes Diwali !!

 

I feel Diwali is no longer a festival of light. It is more like a festival of food.

Let me get the disclaimer in place first. I am not against enjoying or celebrating the festival. Nor am I against Diwali delicacies. But I wish to set the alarm against what it does to us on a mental level.

Diwali actually acts like a mirror. A clean one. It just reflects that which is there. That which has been there all through the year. It shows how we are just waiting for an excuse to let down the guard and eat all we what, as much as we want and even force others to eat like us saying “Are Diwali Hai”

It is like we have a valid reason to behave the way we are behaving. But whom are we giving the excuse and explanation to? Who is opposing in the first place?

 It is to that portion of our self that made the Navratri fasting possible. It is to our own sense of understanding that we are about to violate.

 

Year after year of celebrating Diwali like this, don’t you feel forced to ask WHY?

 

It is easy to understand if we look at it closely. It only shows a deep sense of dissatisfaction. How incomplete we feel. There is a strong inner hunger and we feel eating can satisfy that. But we fail to see that years of eating has still not satisfied us. So food is NOT the answer to feeling complete and good. Food is not the only answer to celebration.

What is the answer then? That is for each one of us to find on our own.

My job is to bring that question in focus and to point out – please leave the plate.

I feel the need to do that because I see on a daily basis what this unnecessary, abnormal eating is doing to your body. The harm it causes and the pain it gives. And all the while what you are really trying to do is just feel good.  Any food that goes in the body without there being a need for it and that which has no scope of being utilized by the body creates trouble. Worse is, the indigestion and toxins that block our subtle channels of intelligence only makes us crave more of the wrong things and we end up staying on the same track going round and round, only thickening the blockage.

 

Breaking out of this happens, when for once we stop to think-

“Why are we eating really?”

 

I hope we are able to remember our Navratri, when Diwali comes along…

I hope this Diwali really brings light to our lives.

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The ‘Kyarek Chale’ Episodes https://ayurvedicanswers.com/the-kyarek-chale-episodes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-kyarek-chale-episodes https://ayurvedicanswers.com/the-kyarek-chale-episodes/#respond Fri, 04 Jun 2021 08:54:39 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3638   Writing this post brings fond memories to me. During my college days of learning Ayurved, I would share all the new health knowledge I gathered with my family. Mom and dad would agree with a lot of it and share their own experiences while my brothers had a jolly time making fun of the […]

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Writing this post brings fond memories to me. During my college days of learning Ayurved, I would share all the new health knowledge I gathered with my family. Mom and dad would agree with a lot of it and share their own experiences while my brothers had a jolly time making fun of the new Sanskrit words I said and the food or other changes I suggested..

After all the ayurvedic dos and don’ts they had to listen to from me…invariably their concern would be ‘can we never eat this or do that?’

And how pleased would they be with my “Na. Na..kyarek chale” answer!

(kyarek chale is the Gujrati for ‘its alright sometime’)

 

Coming back to the topic of this post…It is Abhyaas.

Abhyaas means continuous, repeated practice.

 

Ayurved says that which is done daily or regularly is what creates an impact and a corresponding effective consequence.

 

Think about this.

Do we start to suffer from chronic ill health by consuming the wrong food once or twice or occasionally?

No, we do not.

Same way, we cannot get well having the right food or medicine once or twice, irregularly or occasionally.

 

Anything that is consistent bears results.

Good health is a consequence of forming right, healthy habits. Habit means making it a part of everyday life. 

Bad health is naturally a result of wrong habits.

Just as planting seeds and then watering it daily makes it develop roots and grow gradually, then forming stems, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits step by step, similarly the roots of any action performed repeatedly must grow strong and deep for it to have an effect.

Nothing happens overnight. Everything is eventual. It is just that we are rarely aware of all that which goes into the  making of the eventuality.

 

Occasional indulgences, relaxations of principles and out of routine behaviors are totally fine and must be done too…

 

It’s alright to have curd one night with your favorite dish. But it is not alright to make eating daily curd and at night a habit.

 

Tasty but junk hotel food is alright once in a while but it is not alright every weekend.

 

Who doesn’t enjoy an ice cream for dessert sometime? But having chilled drinks daily or frequent ice-creams is very different.

 

Staying up late or waking up late sometime is not a crime, but if done daily it has the potential to impact our complete life.

 

Laying on the sofa one rainy day is so ok, but not the lack of  physical activity on most days.

 

So, the bottom-line is, be consistent in the good, sensible practices… only then will they bring you wellness.

Stay occasional and rare in the unmindful indulgences, if you must…only then will they be stopped from causing you much harm.

 

Kyarek chale.

 

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UGH….WHAT IS THAT SMELL? https://ayurvedicanswers.com/ugh-what-is-that-smell/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ugh-what-is-that-smell https://ayurvedicanswers.com/ugh-what-is-that-smell/#respond Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:23:27 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3626 These days we frequently hear about people being too stressed and tensions rising high..many a times it is such a habit that we get stressed about the most insignificant of things. What we don’t realize is, that, the opposite is also equally true. We have simultaneously become unduly relaxed about important stuff. Things that should […]

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These days we frequently hear about people being too stressed and tensions rising high..many a times it is such a habit that we get stressed about the most insignificant of things.

What we don’t realize is, that, the opposite is also equally true. We have simultaneously become unduly relaxed about important stuff. Things that should draw attention have stopped ringing the bells!

One such thing is body odour that stays in spite of maintaining good hygienic practices. Foul smell from the body or mouth, from the nose or smelly socks. It can be a source of great nuisance for the person as well as those around him. 

 

What causes body odour?

Let us suppose you walk into your kitchen and notice a bad stink. Where is it that you will look for the source?

  1. A garbage bin that may been forgotten to be emptied
  2. Left over and now rotten food over the platform
  3. A blocked kitchen sink

These are the top few..so the answer is clear.

ACCUMULATED WASTE is the cause of a bad smell.

Simplistic as this may sound, it is the real fact.

 

How does this waste accumulate?

The food that we consume daily needs to be digested and then the nutrients are absorbed while the waste is to be discarded through the channels of stools, urine and sweat. When these wastes are not passed out regularly, they start accumulating in the intestines and soon show its effect on the blood as well through absorption of toxins.

  1. Digestion is impaired grossly, when the amount or quality of food does not match the digestive capacity and when the level of physical activity is too low.
  2. Wastes also fail to pass out well when the urge to pass motion or urine is ignored or delayed repeatedly due to other preoccupations.
  3. Constantly staying in air conditioned interiors greatly reduces sweating and thus the output of the waste that must pass through with it.

 

What is the solution to body odour?

Avoiding accumulation of waste is the only solution to body odour.

Ayurvedic principles as mentioned below must be bought into practice after proper understanding.

Treatment for processing and evacuation of already collected toxic load is necessary. This will lead to blood purification.

  1. Keeping digestion optimum
  2. Being conscious in the choice and quantity of food consumed. Light, easy to digest, nutritious food with fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid packaged, stale, deep fried, sugary,  bakery and fermented items strictly along with milk and milk products.
  3. Enough water intake
  4. Regular physical activity
  5. Timely passage of stools and urine
  6. Exposure to normal climatic conditions that favour natural sweating

 

Why should body odour not be taken lightly?

Maintaining good hygiene and use of mouth fresheners, deodorants, talcum powders and perfumes are the logical steps taken by most people facing the issue of body odour. In itself this is required, but it should not limit our effort to solve the root cause of the problem. 

When we understand what the body is trying to convey through this sign it is most likely that we will work to resolve the cause. If left untreated the accumulated wastes will only progress to create further damage to the body. Blocking of important channels in the body happens gradually and leads to serious issues like high blood pressure, heart troubles, deep seated skin diseases etc. 

It is only wise that we must take the teachings of Ayurved to understand not just this but all of our health issues and then take the necessary holistic steps to safeguard our health.

Understanding is the key!

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Mental health and Ayurved https://ayurvedicanswers.com/mental-health-and-ayurved/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mental-health-and-ayurved https://ayurvedicanswers.com/mental-health-and-ayurved/#respond Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:56:26 +0000 https://ayurvedicanswers.com/?p=3621   These days it is almost a norm to have at least one ‘stressed’ and thus aggressive person at home or knowing at least one ‘hyperactive’ kid. With increasing numbers in mental, emotional or behavior issues it is necessary to have a look at the cause of these problems. Our body is made up of […]

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These days it is almost a norm to have at least one ‘stressed’ and thus aggressive person at home or knowing at least one ‘hyperactive’ kid. With increasing numbers in mental, emotional or behavior issues it is necessary to have a look at the cause of these problems.

Our body is made up of the five basic elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. Its functioning too depends on the right balance between these. Imbalance among these elements is what causes diseases. While the body is well equipped to correct minor ups and downs by itself, in case of any strong and persistent causes of imbalance, it requires help. This stands true for the body and the mind. Lets talk about the mind today.

 

Common signs of imbalance affecting the mind –

  1. Inability to concentrate or focus on a particular task till completion
  2. Lack of attention
  3. Excessive thinking (unable to switch off even during sleep)
  4. Aggressive moods
  5. Hyperactive behavior
  6. Stubbornness
  7. Impatience  
  8. Being irritated by loud sounds or sometimes even by people talking

 

Other complaints like excessive thirst, tiredness even without exertion, dryness in the body, weight loss, palpitations etc many times appear simultaneously. Just as we are conscious of getting treatment for such complaints, we must give the mind or behavior symptoms a priority too in starting treatment.

 

The Cause

We are all aware of the causes of higher stress levels today as compared to a few decades ago. Many of us even try our best to take the necessary steps and keep stress under check with good lifestyle choices like a balanced diet and including yoga, pranayam, meditation in our routine. We also try to limit the use of gadgets. In Spite of these correct and informed choices that we make, we are not always able to solve the problem.

All the above mentioned measures are certainly helpful, but we have still not understood the cause that needs the actual correction. Many times, even though the symptom is appearing in behavior, the cause is physical.

Imbalance is there in the body as a whole and it is just expressing itself in mind function. It could be the result of past illness or medicines consumed in the past for any other issues, having had to travel to and reside or work in a place very different from the usual home conditions etc.. These factors bring about the imbalance and the body and mind struggle till balance is restored. These complaints are just signs the mind is giving to call for attention.

 

The wrong route

In the case of children, these complaints are noticed easily by parents as well as teachers as compared to in adults. Children are mostly only reprimanded for such behavior and labelled ‘hyperactive’ while adults put the blame on stress.

Taking dangerous medicines to suppress brain activity or induce sleep is surely only going to make things more difficult by creating dependency and delaying correction of the cause.

We must bear in mind now that these problems have causes in the body that need to be corrected by restoring balance between our fundamental building blocks…the five elements. Ayurved has the tools for making this diagnosis and correcting it by accurate treatments.

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