Monday, September 29, 2014

Ayurvedic Herbs for Diabetes - A Purely Natural Way to Control Sugar Levels



Globally, as of 2010, an estimated 285 million people had diabetes, with type 2 making up about 90% of the cases. In 2013, according to International Diabetes Federation; an estimated  381 million people had diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use and store glucose. Glucose backs up in the bloodstream causing one’s blood glucose (sometimes  referred to as blood sugar) to rise too high. Insulin won’t be produced in persons with no beta cells or in whom if they are destroyed due to immunological problems. This will result into reduce uptake of blood sugar by cells causing high blood sugar. This is known as Type I diabetes (formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent). People with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to survive. This form of diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but can occur at any age. 

Diabetes can occur in anyone irrespective to race, religion, sex, economic or financial condition. However, people who have close relatives with the disease are somewhat more likely to develop it. Other risk factors include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity. The risk of developing diabetes also increases as people grow older. People who are over 40 and overweight are more likely to develop diabetes, although the incidence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents is growing. Diabetes is more common among Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. Also, people who develop diabetes while pregnant (a condition called gestational diabetes) are more likely to develop full-blown diabetes later in life.

People with diabetes frequently experience certain symptoms. These include:
frequent urination

weight loss
being very thirsty
increased hunger
blurry vision
irritability
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
frequent skin, bladder or gum infections
wounds that don't heal
extreme unexplained fatigue

In ayurveda, the diease is included in Ashtau mahagada i.e. eight disease which can kill ordisable the person.
In ayurveda, It is known as Prameha. The prameha in Sanskrit means frequent and large quantity of micturition. Pra means excess of urine in both frequency and volume. Prameha, thus, becomes self-explanatory and holds the twin meanings of "Prabhutha-mutratha" or excessive urination and "Avil-mutratha" or turbid urine. As per ayurveda it is related with faulty lipid metabolism.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Arthritis - Herbs and Ayurvedic Remedies



Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -it is, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or  age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and related autoimmune diseases. Regardless of the type of arthritis, the common symptoms for all arthritis include varied levels of pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness of and around joint and a constant ache around the joint(s). In case of Osteoarthritis (OA) the material that cushions the joints, called cartilage, breaks down. This causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of joint movement. It is the most common form of arthritis. Unlike osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a systemic disease characterized by the inflammation of the synovial membranes lining the joint, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, swelling and sometimes severe joint damage.
As per ayurvedic  perspective bones are made up two mahabhutas air and earth. Air resembles mobility and earth represents the solid nature of the bone. Therefore diet rich in these two mahabhutas help in nourishment of bones. Tikta rasa i.e. bitter taste is also made of these two mahabhutas. Therefore all food items which are bitter are mostly useful in treating or managing bone disorders. In case of joint there are several other parts such as muscle, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels are involved. For healthy joint movement, good cartilage and synovial fluid is required.

Therefore any good bone and joint supplement should

• Strengthen the bone mass
• Reduce the inflammation
• Repair and restore cartilage damage
• Nourish the synovial fluid.
Further subjects:
1. Prevention of arthritis:-food
2. Prevention of arthritis: - yoga and exercise
3. Herbs used in arthritis
4. Management of pain in arthritis