Arthritis in two words is joint inflammation. However, the word arthritis is widely used to describe diseases that cause stiffness, swelling, and pain in joints. In its severe form, arthritis is perhaps the most debilitating disease and cause of disability for people 65 and older. The most common form of arthritis is the degenerative joint disease, which is also known as osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is basically deterioration of joint cartilage with age, more severe in Vata body type. The cartilage surface wears, deteriorates, inflames, and eventually may get completely worn out. It leaves joints without cushion in between the bones. The bone on bone friction causes pain and limited joint mobility. The disease progresses as you age.

For 55 years and older, it is the beginning of “Vata age” which means increase in Vata energy. As Vata increases, particularly in Vata body type, a person has difficulty retaining fluids in the tissues. The loss of “juices” in the body creates more dryness. The dryness leads to lack of lubrication in joints. It further adds to stiffness and pain. To make matters worse, increase in Vata initiates other Vata issues like loss of restful sleep. Without restful sleep, the arthritis pain feels even worse.

To date there is no cure for arthritis. However, the progression of the disease can be halted or even reversed somewhat. Ayurvedic treatment offers natural means to manage and improve on this condition, so you enjoy the quality of your life without the side effects of drugs. Ayurvedic treatment starts with Vata pacifying diet; avoid cold, dry and light processed foods; in general eat warm cooked foods with healthy fats and oils; eat juicy nourishing foods; and include turmeric in your recipes. Turmeric has incredible anti-inflammatory properties. In addition add Tulsi (holy basil), grape juice, and green tea. All have distinct properties to inhibit inflammation and thus inhibit pain.

A study¹ was conducted with some people taking Ayurvedic herbal formula which included Ashwagandha, Boswellia, zinc, and turmeric and others taking placebo. People taking the formula showed significant reduction in severity of pain and significant improvement in joint mobility. You can purchase a similar formula, Osteo Relief in our online store. You can also purchase individual herbs in our online store. Ashwagandha is one of the main proven herbs for pacifying Vata energy. It supports the body to build, grow, and restore tissues at the age when body is losing tissues. Therefore, Ashwagandha is a godsend herb for osteoarthritis, during which tissues are deteriorating. Work with your practitioner to determine what is right for you.

Besides diet and herbal supplements, add a regular Ayurvedic massage to your lifestyle. Ayurvedic massage plays an all important role in slowing down osteoarthritis. Massage oil, especially with Ashwagandha, replenishes the lost juices and strength. The oil supplies moisture to tissues and lubrication to joints. In fact a gentle Ayurvedic massage has dual benefits. Besides addressing the lubrication issue, massage also addresses the sleep by promoting sound sleep. Restful sleep nourishes the body and increases its threshold to deal with pain.

If you strictly stay with the recommended diet, lifestyle, and herbal supplements, you can slow down the progression of the disease or may even reverse the disease. Think about it, all with the natural means for the disease that has no other cure.

¹ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1943180

Treatment of osteoarthritis with a herbomineral formulation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.  Kulkarni RR, Patki PS, Jog VP, Gandage SG, Patwardhan B.

Why do I get allergies? According to Ayurvedic medicine, not everyone is susceptible to getting the same allergies. Why, because everyone has different and unique mind-body constitution (find yours below). Plus allergies tend to flare up even more at certain time of the year, because increase of certain energies in the nature impacts your nature.

Allergies are body’s immune system overreacting to the foreign substances. Mental or physical imbalances both weaken the immune system. A weakened immune system loses its ability to identify the foreign substances if they are harmful or not and overreacts. Two most common allergic reactions are:

1.  Skin Irritation and Inflammation Allergic Reaction

If the imbalance is in Pitta energy, typically the fire element “heat” in the body increases. This would more likely happen in the Pitta body type especially during summer. Increase in heat results in accumulation of toxins in plasma and blood.  The integrity of blood and plasma is compromised and thus of the immune system. The body tries to release the excessive heat through the skin. This causes the skin irritation and inflammation like redness, rashes, blisters, or other skin allergic reactions.

 2.  Excessive Mucus, Congested Lungs, and Sinuses Allergic Reaction

If the imbalance is in Kapha energy, the coldness and heaviness in the body increases. This typically accumulates toxins in respiratory system. As a result the body produces excessive mucus blocking nasal passages, congesting lungs, and basically clogging all upper respiratory channels. This reaction is worse in Kapha body type (find your body type below) and even more during springtime which is Kapha period of the year.

Herbal Remedies to Manage Allergies

You have two Choices. You can either work on eliminating the symptoms or you can take a different approach. Eliminate the root of the problem by creating fewer toxins, detoxifying, and boosting your immune system. For the latter choice, take the following steps:

1. For strengthening and energizing your immune system, you can take rejuvenating Ayurvedic formulas like Amrit that include herbs, such as Ashwagandha, Shatavari, and Amla.
2. For the rejuvenating formulas to work effectively you must also detoxify your body and balance your digestive fire:

a)      In the case of Skin allergic reactions, which is Pitta imbalance. Strictly observe fire (Pitta) pacifying diet by avoiding hot chili peppers, salty products and highly sour products. Instead include in your recipes coconut oil, saffron, cilantro, and mint. Plus take Amla and Aloe in your regimen.

b)      In the case of respiratory allergies, which are Kapha imbalance. Strictly observe light and hot (temperature and pepper) Kapha pacifying diet by avoiding dairy products, heavy fried products, and cold and uncooked products during this time. Plus take ginger, garlic, and black pepper in your regimen.

c)      In both cases, take Triphala to keep your digestive system clean and free of toxins.

Your goal is to address the root of the problem and eliminate the symptoms altogether or at the very least minimize them. Be well!

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Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cinnamon is sweet, spicy and astringent and it has drying and heating affect on the body. Cinnamon is a mild herb so almost anyone can take it in small amounts with exceptions listed below. Benefits of cinnamon are in multiple areas, pain reducer, digestion, congestion, muscle relaxer, antibacterial, regulating blood-sugar, and sexual performance.

Benefits of Cinnamon:

1. Promote Good Digestion:  Cinnamon can be used in many recipes, especially in heavy difficult to digest recipes. It promotes digestion, helps you digest heavier foods, and digestion in general.
2. Relieve Congestion:  Cinnamon’s heating affect break down the heavy sluggish mucus into light and flowing. So you can expel it easily.
3. Relieve Menstrual Cramps: Cinnamon is analgesic, muscle relaxant, and promotes blood flow. During menstruation, Cinnamon enhances blood flow to the uterus. As a result, your muscles relax and warm relaxing blood flow relieves the menstrual cramps.
4. Prevent rheumatoid arthritis:  Its anti-rheumatic action prevents rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Remove Bacteria:  Cinnamon is has been known for its property for killing bacteria. Not sure about the food and bacteria in the food, safeguard your food against E. coli bacteria. Use cinnamon on your food to kill bacteria and avoid food poisoning, especially if you’re traveling to suspect places of having bacteria.
6. Maintain Healthy Blood-Sugar Level:  The most interesting study of cinnamon today is to control blood sugar levels in diabetics. US Department of Agriculture discovered that cinnamon actually is an insulin booster. The increased insulin helps metabolize sugar.  A small dose of 500 milligram of ground cinnamon with every meal may help to regulate blood sugar levels.
7. Enhance Male Sexual Performance:  The aroma of cinnamon has also known to cause sexual stimulation, especially for men, both smelling and taking internally.  Cinnamon enhances peripheral blood flow and that enhances the penile blood flow, which gives a stronger erection.

How Much to Take It?

The idea here is to include cinnamon as a supplement in your diet along with other herbs to promote health and prevent diseases. Use it in your recipes or take it in capsule form. You can take daily 200mg to 1000mg of ground cinnamon.

Caution:  Do not take, if pregnant. If your body constitution is primarily ‘Pitta’, stick with the little amount.  Most people however, particularly with Kapha and Vata body constitutions, can enjoy benefits of cinnamon without any side effects, if taken in proper amount. If you are not aware about Ayurvedic constitutions, please download free mini-course below to determine your body constitution.

Reduce or avoid the use of cinnamon in the summer season, especially if your body constitution is Pitta. Fall, winter, and spring are the best times to include Cinnamon in your diet. If you are dealing with some condition, you should see your physician and Ayurvedic practitioner.

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Next time when you reach for a candy bar or some other processed snack, reach for the world’s most incredible fruit. Not only you will get immediate boost in energy, but you will also prevent or help many conditions. This fruit perhaps is the least expensive and most widely available fruit. After you read this article, the phrase going bananas may have altogether different meaning. Do you have this fruit in your regimen?

Look at bananas astonishing benefits:

Stress Reducing:

When you are stressed, your breathing becomes shallow and metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing your oxygen and potassium levels. These can be rejuvenated with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. Potassium, a vital mineral in banana that helps normalize your heartbeat and breathing, sends oxygen to your brain, and thereby reduces your stress.

Gastritis/Heartburn/Ulcers:

Bananas produce anti-acid effect in the body. If you suffer from gastritis or heartburn, try eating a banana to feel soothing relief naturally. It neutralizes excess acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. In fact because of its soft texture and smoothness, a banana is the only raw fruit you can consume as the dietary food during chronic intestinal disorders.

Blood Pressure Reducing:

Banana is extremely high in potassium but low in salt, adding it your diet is an excellent way to reduce blood pressure. Read another article reducing blood pressure naturally.

Mood Balancing:

Why take pills when you can eat a banana? In a recent survey people suffering from anxiety/depression felt much better after eating a banana. This is due to compound tryptophan found in banana, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to relax you, improve your mood and generally makes you feel happier. It works great during PMS.

Hangover Recovering:

One of the fastest ways you can recover from hangover is to drink a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach, the honey rejuvenates depleted blood sugar levels, and the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Perfect Comfort Food Substitute:

Studies have shown pressure at work or at home lead you to binge on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Why, because pressure swings your blood-sugar levels that leads to panic-induced food cravings. This results in weight gain. Simply substitute banana as comfort food to control your panic-induced cravings.

Excellent Energy Source:

Before you reach for that expensive energy drink out of a can, try eating a banana. A banana provides an immediate, sustained and significant boost of energy. Unlike processed energy food, bananas are full of natural sugars along with fiber. Research shows that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

Add banana a day in your regimen. Aren’t you an athlete in your game of life? Be Well!