Month: September 2011

Categories
Ayurveda and Modern Ayurvedic history Research topics in Ayurveda

AYURVEDA VIEW ON A PERSONS LIFE

AYURVEDA VIEW ON A PERSONS LIFE

BODY-TYPE TENDENCIES

The Ayurvedic system of classifying one’s psycho-physiological constitution according to the predominance of elements gives an interesting insight into our unique sexual behaviour. Our body-type can be determined by completing an Ayurvedic questionnaire or through consultation with an Ayurvedic physician. The three main body-types and their sexual characteristics are as follows.

Vata (air & ether)

A Vata lover tends to be erratic and romantic. Mental foreplay such as flowery poetry or stimulating discussion is the best aphrodisiac for Vata. Touch and sensuality is very soothing and relaxing for highly-strung Vata types. An oil massage combined with soothing music is the ultimate therapy to set the mood. Since Vata people suffer from dramatically fluctuating energy levels they are only interesting in making love when they have the energy, more often in the morning rather than the evening.
Vata types should avoid sexual excess as it depletes their energy and strains their nervous system. Since their body’s are drier than the other constitutions Vata types are advised to take regular reproductive tonics and rejuvenative drinks after fluid loss.
The best partner for a Vata Body -Type : Kapha Pitta or Pitta Kapha

Pitta (fire & water)

Pitta can personify the archetypical hot Latin lovers. They have a natural passion and gusto for making love. Their ego- centred desire for strong gratification and stimulation can result in a lack of sensitivity and tenderness with their partner. Sex can turn into a competitive display of prowess for Pitta as well as a vent for suppressed hostility. Pitta have to consciously tune into the needs of their partner and avoid dominating or rushing them. Pitta types always appreciate visual stimulation hence gentle lighting, nice garments and flowers will heighten their arousal. Pitta are the body-type most prone to impotence due to over-excess. They can avoid burn- out by channelling sexual energy into creative pursuits and taking cooling rejuvenatives and a cool shower after sex. Pitta needs to learn to redirect their emotions through their heart rather than through their genitals.
The ideal partner for a Pitta Body-Type: Kapha, Kapha- Pitta or Pitta- Kapha

Kapha (water & earth)

Ancient figures of the fertility goddess exemplify the qualities of a Kapha lover. These body-types are made for love. Embodying the ideal qualities of endurance, affection, sensuality and sensitivity, Kaphas can be both mother and lover to spouse. They have abundant fertility, making them “good breeders.” This explains why in India the chubbier body build of a kapha is a desirable feature in a partner. Calm, gentle and romantic lovers they can become boring and lazy if unmotivated. Kaphas are also the most likely type to become co-dependant and clingy. They need constant encouragement to develop their own interests, exploring new avenues of self-development.
The preferable partner for a Kapha Body- Type: Anyone with enthusiasm, passion and motivation

PHASES OF SEX THROUGH LIFE

Ayurveda divides life into four main phases during which the role of sex changes. The purpose of these phases is to bring an individual fulfilment and satiation of their material desires so they may then transcend material attachments and ultimately attain spiritual enlightenment.
The typical phases of life are as follows:

1) Youth Brahmacharyam > Birth up to 25 years, > celibate student phase
2) Prime Gaarhasthyam > 25 years to 50 years, > family life
3) Maturity Vaanaprastham > 50 years to 65 years, > retire from worldly duties
4) Sunset years Sanyasam > 65 years until death, > renunciation

BRAHMACHARYAM Birth – 25 yrs

Brahma means the knowledge leading to self-realisation and charya means regimen. This is the stage of life where one learns to control one’s senses in order to focus on study and attain a ripened understanding about life. Brahmacharya is also the third rule of social conduct (Yama) advised in the eight-limbed path of yoga.
Control of sexual energy is of special significance in teenage years when the libido hormone testosterone is at its peak. Sexual stimulation at this time will promote testosterone which is linked with hostility and agitation. Reducing sexual stimulus will help to stabilise testosterone and re-direct sexual energy to develop the mind and body. Physical, mental and spiritual maturity is developing during this time. It is the time to build one’s character, establish positive habits and develop insight into one’s role in society. This is a period of concentrated learning in order to gain wisdom that will enable one to navigate through life’s stormy weather.
Ayurveda advises complete sexual abstinence during this period so that one can channel sexual energy into pursuits of mental and physical development. Emotionally one is deemed too immature to deal with the psychological implications and responsibilities entailed by a sexual relationship.

GAARHASTHYAM 25 – 50 yrs

" Love doesn’t consist of gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction." – St. Francis of Xupery
When one feels emotionally and physically mature enough for the responsibilities of marriage it’s the right time to seek out a partner. Traditionally this is the only context for sexual relations. Through the sanctity of marriage one obtains blessings from divine forces, family and friends. Indian Saint, Swami Sivananda warns that anyone we wilfully have sex with will one day be our spouse, either in this life or future lives. He says we will have to continue this relationship until a harmonious relationship is established. This may be one of the reasons that divorce rates are very low in India, there is a feeling that unresolved problems with one’s spouse will simply come in another form.
There are many different ways of meeting a suitable partner described in Vatsayana’s "Kama Sutra ". The conclusion is that the marriage based on love called the gandharva marriage brings the most happiness to a couple.
Indian society was very coy when dealing with matters of the heart. There are many sweet details given concerning the means to attract a prospective partner and entice them into marriage. This usually involved the cunning involvement of the desired partner’s family or friends as go-betweens. Once a prospective spouse was found compatibility was scrutinised from all aspects including astrological, familial, physical, mental and spiritual. Often the couple would not have formally met but are attracted to each other by hearing about or seeing each other. If the couple are deemed incompatible by any of these calculations, the union is rarely formed. This is quite different from the basis of many Western unions which are often based on subjective passion and attraction. The Veda has a saying which warns against this: “Relationships commencing in passion’s raging fire often end in the coolest ashes”
The svayamvara marriage of the past was practiced by warrior princesses. When a princess desired to get married her parents would invite all interested suitors to come and apply for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Many qualified and attractive suitors would assemble from various regions. They would compete in different tests of physical and mental strength so as to display their qualities to the onlooking princess. When the competitions were over the princess would place a flower garland over the neck of the man she chose as her husband.
The ideal marriage according to Ayurveda is when a woman loves and revers her husband as a guru and in turn he loves and revers her as a goddess. Neither are considered spiritually superior, but that the act of loving is the means to transformation and t
he purpose of marriage is to help one another to become greater than they could alone. The saintly Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashrama describes marriage :
" To unite your physical existences and your material interests, to associate yourselves so as to face together the difficulties and successes, the defeats and victories of life – this is the very basis of marriage – but you know already that it does not suffice. To be one in aspiration and ascension, to advance to the same step on the spiritual path- such is the secret of a durable union".

VAANAPRASTHAM 50 – 65 yrs.

Retiring from worldly duties and living in a secluded peaceful place, concentrating on spiritual practices is known as Vaanaprastham. Traditionally this is the phase of life when a married couple begin to gradually strip away all their material entanglements, turning to spiritual practices with increased dedication. The Vedic concept of the goal of life is to transcend material suffering and attain a blissful state of self-realisation. In order accept a new spiritual reality in life one must purify the heart of selfish desires such as anger, hate, greed and lust.
Vaanaprastham is the period during which work and family obligations are slowly reduced in preparation for the period of total renunciation or sanyasam. Ideally at this time one’s children are mature and independant and one is financially secure. The body is starting to show signs of aging, a reminder that death is inevitable and preparation to face it must begin. The ancient epic "The Mahabharata" illustrates human’s unwillingness to face the reality of death when the epic’s hero Yuddhistirsa is questioned in order to save his brothers life. The Yaksha asked Yuddhisthira "What is the greatest wonder in the world?" to which Yuddhisthira replies "Day after day and hour after hour, people die and corpses are carried along, yet the onlookers never realise that they are to die one day, but think they will live forever. This is the greatest wonder of the world." Vaanaprastham is the phase of life when one starts to seriously prepare for this reality, a time when one may retire from employment and dedicate one’s time to philanthropic pursuits leaving plenty of time for contemplation and meditation.
Any superfluous material possessions may be given away at this time and a couple may choose to move to a simple, peaceful dwelling, keeping possessions to a minimum. During this time interest in sexual activity naturally declines as one has come to a state of sexual satiation and developed a greater attachment for less sensually oriented pursuits. Plato once quoted an old man on this subject who said "In old age you become quite free of passions of this sort and they leave you in peace; and when your desires lose their intensity and relax, you get a release from slavery to your many passions."
Society today is highly suspicious and even panicked at the hint of any weakening of the sexual drive but the opposite is true in Vedic culture. People who have naturally raised their energy and interests above that of sexual pleasure and developed a higher consciousness are revered as the highest models of wisdom. With age, interest in sex naturally declines, despite many deluded people’s attempts to retain their sexual drive with the use of endangered animal’s parts such as tiger’s penis’ and rinosaurus’ horns as aphrodisiacs. A constant preoccupation with sex is not healthy; nor is it in humanity’s highest interest. Sexuality should never be suppressed or a source of guilt yet as one’s passion to enjoy another’s body subdues with age one naturally turns to more enduring and enriching ways to relate to one’s partner. The lasting union is marked by a shared passion for life, not just for sex. This is the process of Vaanaprastham.

SANYASAM 65 to death

"As advancing age cools his passions he turns to think of his creator, to study religious subjects and to acquire divine knowledge.”- Ananga Ranga by Kalyana Malla
Sanyasam means "selecting the most appropriate path." This is when the inward journey really begins. At this time the husband and wife see each other purely as partners in the journey to self- realisation. They will have minimal contact in physical matters and aim to spend their time whole heartedly propagating and investigating the highest spiritual truths of life. Sometimes they may choose to live separately as they fully absorb themselves in spiritual practices and pilgrimages to holy places. This is the time for burning up one’s vasanas or innate material desires.
Not everyone is expected to enter the sanyasa phase of life as it requires a strong dedication and desire to devote oneself fully to spiritual life. Traditionally this path is only taken up by true spiritual warriors, those driven to experience the rare nectar of complete spiritual surrender

All the above articles / blog posts are not the original contribution from author, please consider a opinion of qualified doctor, if you considering this. If you need a advice please contact Dr. Anil Joy email: [email protected]

Thank You,

Categories
Ayurveda and Modern Ayurvedic history Research topics in Ayurveda

Adhyatma Guna in Ayurveda Darsana

Adhyatma Guna in Ayurveda Darsana

Adhyatma gunas are named so because they can be felt only by the body that has atma in it i.e. in a living body. These are known as the gunas of atma which are of following types:
1.Buddhi (intellect)
All the conducts of the living beings are by the means of buddhi (intellect). It is a daily needed guna required for various conducts, reactions and behavior. This guna is of two types:

* Smruti
* Anubhava

Smruti
This type of buddhi develops from sanskar (activity to improve something).

Anubhava
The part of buddhi (intellect) other than smruti is known as anubhava (expereince). This type of buddhi that all-living beings acquire by there experiences wrong and right. It is of two types:

* Yathartha (real or truth)
* Ayathartha (false)

Yathartha
It refers to the actual and not the virtual things, feelings or sense that give right knowledge and information. For example to recognize gold as gold, wood as wood.

Ayathartha
It refers to the wrong deed, things, feelings etc that give a wrong, false information. Example if someone considers aluminum as silver. The saying that every thing that glitters is not gold, holds true for ayathartha.

2) Iksha (desire)
it refers to the wish of the any living being to achieve, get, do something that doesn’t already exist with him. There are many types of desires (ishka) that living beings can have, namely:

* Kaam (lust)
* Abhilasha (desire)
* Raja (love)
* Sankalpa (vow)
* Karunya (mercy)
* Vyanga (Criticism)
* Updha
* Bhava

The list of desires is endless.

Shloka- Svartpratha

3) Dwesha (jealous)
It refers to anything that irritates mind and body. It can also be explained as the feeling of inferiority of anyone respective of anything that remained an unfulfilled desire. It is of following types:

* Krodha (anger)
* Droha (rebel)
* Manyu
* Akshama

Shloka- prajab

4.Prayatna (efforts)
The efforts or prayatna refers tot he strive of someone or the activity performed by someone to gain or achieve the desired or needed thing. It is of two types:

Jeevan purvak (livelihood)
These are the efforts done for surviving i.e. to fulfill the necessities of livelihood. for example: the food we eat, water to drink, shelter etc.

Iksha Dwesha purvak (desire- jealousy)
These are the efforts made to fulfill ones’ dreams and desires. When the desires are not fulfilled then jealousy arises

Sukha (happiness)
It refers to the pleasant happenings that are soothing for mind and body. According to dharma it is called sukha.

7.Dukkha (sorrow)
Sorrow refers to any happening, moment, feeling that is unpleasant, hurting to mind and body.

All the above articles / blog posts are not the original contribution from author, please consider a opinion of qualified doctor, if you considering this. If you need a advice please contact Dr. Anil Joy email: [email protected]

Thank You,

Categories
Ayurveda and Modern Ayurvedic history Research topics in Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Remedies for Obesity

Ayurvedic Remedies for Obesity

In Ayurveda underweight and overweight are signs that the vata, pitta, and kapha systems are out of balance. This can happen irrespective of how much or how little food you eat. Weight control problems happen when your food intake is not balanced by a proper digestion or metabolism.

Overweight or obesity is mostly found in people with predominantly kapha-type constitutions. This dosha is composed of water and earth. When it is imbalanced, the heavy characteristics of these elements become exaggerated.

However, obesity can be found in people with the other two doshas also. For example, people with pitta dosha are generally of medium build. But they can suffer from poor digestion if their digestive fire is too low because they have burned themselves out. As a result, food isn’t processed properly, and that, in turn, can result in weight gain or obesity.
For people with vata dosha the problem generally is that of underweight rather than overweight. They cannot properly absorb nutrients. However, they can become overweight when imbalanced if they attempt to eat sweet, oily foods in an attempt to calm their vata imbalance.

The Ayurvedic approach to achieving your ideal weight is based on taking a realistic look at your body type and what it can be, and then nourishing it back to natural health. It is about getting to know your body and becoming in tune with its rhythms.

In Ayurveda, you will permanently reset your mind-body’s ability to regulate itself by calming the nervous system, enhancing your digestive fires, and regulating the storage of energy and fat.

In Ayurveda, there is no universal approach to solving problems. Strategies are designed for each person after a careful analysis of the condition of the person – mind, body, and the soul. The specific approach depends on the dosha of the person.

In general, the doctor will advise you to:

1. Follow a Daily Lifestyle Regimen and diet for your constitution.

2. Increase your intake of foods that enhance your digestive fire.

The foods that are especially beneficial are:
Ginger
Papaya
Mango
Pineapple
Bitter melons
Dark, bitter greens

Other Strategies to increase your digestion include:

Sip hot water throughout the day.
Fast one day a week on liquids. You may have fruit or vegetable juices, warm skim milk, light soups, teas, etc.
Drink ginger tea 2-3 times per day.
Chew a thin slice of fresh ginger root a few minutes before meals. Or grate a little ginger, mix with some lemon juice and salt, and eat a pinch or two.
Use herbs and spices that are primarily pungent (spicy), bitter, or astringent. Common useful spices include: cumin, ginger, mustard seed, cayenne, and black pepper. Use them generously in your cooking.
Use Ayurvedic herbs such as gotu kola, amalaki, and shilajit in powder or capsule form.
Exercise regularly according to your body type.
3. Reconnect with your inner self and your present life.

How do I feel?
What weight do I want to be?
Am I hungry for something other than food?
Am I using food to fill a void that is created by being unsatisfied emotionally or psychologically?
Am I nourishing all my senses?

4. Eliminate ama

All the above measures for stimulating the digestive process are also effective for reducing ama, which by definition is a byproduct of inefficient or incomplete digestion. Ama tends to clog up the circulatory, lymph, and other channels of the body. People who are overweight almost always have an excess of ama in their bodies. Getting rid of the body of its ama is a primary strategy of Ayurvedic treatment.

According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., "It is highly impractical to treat any imbalance of the physiology when ama is present-and it is extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, to lose weight. This is why so many people who have limited their diets to the point of virtual starvation still have failed to accomplish their goals. Therefore it’s essential to take practical steps to eliminate ama in order to lose weight and keep it off permanently. Ama is, quite simply, a key in the pathogenesis of obesity. After all, one of the principal qualities of ama is heaviness."

The following herbs and compounds are effective in reducing ama:

Turmeric
Barberry
Ayurvedic herbal compounds trikatu (a combination of equal parts of black pepper, ginger, and pippali or Indian long pepper)
Tripbala (a combination of amalaki, bibbitaki, and haritaki)
Guggulu – Take this in combination with triphala.

5. Relaxation and oxygen

Relaxation and oxygen are two nutrients essential to achieving balance in your life. Practice yoga, meditation, and pranayama (breathing exercises) daily. (For more recommendations on relaxation, please visit holisticonline.com Stress Management Infocenter.

6. Exercise

Exercise is very important. Use a form that is most beneficial for your dosha.

For example,

Vata types need movement with a gentle pace, such as tai chi, many forms of yoga, and perhaps a light amount of dance aerobics and resistance training (weights).
Pitta types do best with challenging and vigorous hikes surrounded by green nature and blue skies, and competitive sports.
Kapha types require very vigorous activity, such as running, dancing, hiking, swimming, and triathlons.
Ayurvedic Herbal Remedy

To stimulate weight loss, Ayurvedic physicians generally prescribe a light diet, fasting, spicy herbs to stimulate digestion, mild laxatives, and tonic herbs such as guggul.

Take a teaspoon of guggul two or three times a day mixed with ginger and honey.

Combine 1 part each chitrak (Plumbago zeylonica), kukti, and trikatu. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this herbal blend with a mouthful of warm water. Swish around your mouth, and swallow.

Take this herbal remedy once a day if you are less than 20 pounds overweight. Take twice a day if you are more than 20 pounds overweight.

This herbal remedy is recommended for everyone irrespective of their dosha. Supplement it with dosha-specific remedies given below.

Vata Therapies for Overweight

o Taste: Choose bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes, such as those found in the spring churna. Add sweet taste in the form of rice and dates. Add a little oil to your foods.

o Smell. Essential oils with sweet, warm aromas help calm vata and your nervous system, so choose jasmine, clove, rose, cinnamon, and orange scents for your aromatherapy.

o Sight. The color yellow-green is recommended.

o Hearing. Listen to the late-afternoon raga or music between 4 PM and 7 P.M.

o Touch: Get daily full-body oil massage (abhyanga).
Combine 3 drops of rose essential oil with 2 teaspoons sesame or almond oil. Apply this to your wrist and to the back of the head where the skull meets the neck bones (occipital ridge).

Pitta Therapies for Overweight

o Taste: Emphasize bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes, such as those found in the spring churna. Eat plenty of bitter foods such as bitter melon, dark green leafy vegetables, bitter lettuces such as arugula, and tart apples.

o Smell. Use essential oils with sweet, cool aromas such as honeysuckle, mint, and jasmine scents for your aromatherapy.

o Sight. The color indigo blue is recommended.

o Hearing. Listen to the midmorning raga or music between the hours of 10 A.M. and 1 PM.

o Touch: Give yourself a 10- minute garshana (dry) massage every morning using a silk glove.

Kapha Therapies for Overweight

o Taste: Bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes are recommended. Ginger and spring-chur
na are especially recommended.

Recommended Drink: Mix the juice of 5 large slices of fresh pineapple with the juice of 2 slices of hot peppers, pimentos, or paprika.

Herbal remedy: Mix 1 part each turmeric, triphala, and trikatu with 2 parts honey; take 1/8 teaspoon once a day with 1/2 cup of warm water.

oSmell. Warm, spicy aromas help stimulate kapha to burn fat. Recommended essential oils: eucalyptus, pine, musk, and sage.

o Sight.- The color red is recommended to stimulate sluggish kapha.

o Hearing. Listen to the sunset raga or music between the hours of 7PM and 10 P.M.

o Touch: Get a daily dry massage (garshana) using a silk glove. It is very stimulating. Make an herbal paste of 1 part millet and 1/2 part each dashmoola and bala (Sida cordifolia) mixed with a little spring water. Rub this vigorously onto your skin wherever you have fatty deposits, then rinse.

Herbs for Reducing Obesity

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Aloe vera juice improves digestion and cleanses the digestive tract.

Astragalus (Astragalus gummifer)

Astragalus increases energy and improves nutrient absorption.
Caution: Do not use this herb in the presence of a fever.

Bee pollen

Bee pollen stimulates the metabolism and helps to curb appetite. Take up to 1 teaspoon daily.

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)

Bladderwrack contain iodine, which helps to enhance thyroid function. Dosage: Take 150 milligrams at breakfast and another 150 milligrams lunch for two months.
Caution: Check with your doctor before taking this herb if you have a thyroid disorder, high blood pressure, or heart problems. If you are allergic to shellfish and/ or sensitive to iodine, do not take this herb. Also do not take kelp and bladderwrack at the same time.

Brewer’s yeast

Brewer’s yeast will help to reduce various cravings for food and drink.

Chickweed (Stellaria media)

This herb a great folk reputation for shedding weight.

You can eat it raw in salads. Alternately, you can steam it and eat it like a vegetable. For a great weight loss salad, mix chickweed, dandelion, evening primrose, stinging nettle (cooked and cooled), plantain and purslane. Add this to your regular salad.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil, extracted from coconuts, is a rich source for medium chain triglycerides. Medium chain triglycerides (MCTS) are special types of saturated fats separated out from coconut oil that range in length from six to twelve carbon chains. Unlike regular fats, MCTs do not appear to cause weight gain; they actually promote weight loss.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion may flush out the kidneys, boost metabolism, and off- set a craving for sweets. Eat the leaves raw in a salad or make a tea by boiling 2 to 3 tsp of the root in a cup of water for I 0 to 15 minutes. Drink three times a day.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis).

This herb is a good source for tryptophan which is believed to help in weight loss. Take a half-teaspoon of evening primrose oil three times a day.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel removes mucus and fat from the intestinal tract, and is a natural appetite suppressant.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Fenugreek is useful for dissolving fat within the liver.

Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)

Green tea enhances the ability of the body to burn fat. Choose a standardized extract containing 50 percent catechin and 90 percent total polyphenols and take 300 milligrams thirty minutes before breakfast and another thirty minutes before lunch. Do not take more.

Guggul (Commiphora mukul)

This is a popular herb used in Ayurveda. Guggul is frequently recommended by Ayurveda practitioners for weight control in addition to use in lowering cholesterol. In clinical trials, intake of guggul derivatives regularly for three months results in four times the weight loss compared to placebo.
Dosage: 2.25 grams twice a day

Kelp (Fucus spp.)

Kelp is a type of seaweed that’s rich in antioxidant vitamins and iodine. It is believed to stimulate a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that’s responsible for boosting metabolism, so you’ll burn more calories by the hour. You can also get other kinds of seaweed in your diet by adding them to soups and salads. Kelp is very useful for thyroid-related obesity.

Dosage: Take 300-1,500 mg daily as directed on the label.

Caution: Check with your doctor before taking kelp if you have a thyroid disorder, high blood pressure, or heart problems.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Licorice root strengthens the adrenal glands, thus helping to sustain a regulated blood-sugar level and reduce cravings for sweets. Licorice tastes sweet.
Dose: Take a cup of licorice daily, one week out of every month for up to three months. Licorice can also be added to other teas to sweeten them.

Caution: Do not take licorice by itself on a daily basis for more than five days at a time, as it can elevate blood pressure. Do not take it at all if you have high blood pressure. This herb should be used with caution. Check the herbal database for other important safety information.

Malabar tamarind (Gareinia cantbogia)

The Malabar tamarind is a yellowish fruit that is about the size of an orange, with a thin skin and deep furrows similar to an acorn squash. It is native to southern India, where it is dried and used extensively in curries (especially fish). It looks black when dried.

The dried fruit of Malabar Tamarind contains about thirty percent hydroxycitric acid. It is a powerful lipogenic inhibitor. (Lipogenic inhibitor is a substance which helps prevent the production of fat.)

In animal studies, hydroxycitrate has been shown to be a powerful inhibitor of fat formation. One study showed that hydroxycitrate produced a "significant reduction in food intake, and body weight gain" in rats. The results in humans are not yet proven.

In addition to inhibiting the production of fat, hydroxycitrate may also suppress appetite.
Note that hydroxycitrate only inhibits the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. It will have no effect if a high-fat diet is consumed.

Recommended Dosage: 500 mg three times per day. Take it along with a supplement of Chromium for best results.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps digest both proteins and fats.

Herbalist Dr. Duke reported that one person in Costa Rica lost 100 pounds by eating one whole fresh pineapple per day. Pineapple is loaded with nutrition, and is also great for your digestion.

Plantain or psyllium (Plantago)

Psyllium is the seed of Plantain. Metamucil is a commercial product that contain psyllium.

Herbalists say that the weight-loss effect of plantain and psyllium is related to the spongy fiber (mucilage) in the seeds and to specific chemicals (polyphenols) in the leaves.
In one Italian study, scientists gave women who were seriously obese (over 60 percent over their recommended weight) three grams of plantain in water 30 minutes before meals. The plantain group lost more weight than a similar group of women who simply cut back on their diet.

Dose: Take a teaspoonful of psyllium mixed well with a glass of juice or water. Take it before each meal.

Caution: If you are allergic to this herb, stop its use immediately.

Red pepper (Capsicum), Hit Mustard, and other hot spices

Scientists have found that people who took hot spicy foods (adding a teaspoon of red-pepper sauce and a teaspoon of mustard to meal) raised their metabolic rates by as much as 25 percent. The hot spice also stimulates thirst, so you
drink more liquids that also helps in gaining less weight.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus Senticosus)

Siberian ginseng helps to stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings for sweets. It is also a natural energizer.
Dose: Choose a standardized extract containing 0.5 percent eleutheroside E and take 100 milligrams daily, two weeks out of every month, for up to three months.
Caution: Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

Walnut (Juglans)

A study of more than 25,000 Seventh-Day Adventists showed that those who ate the most nuts were the least obese. Walnuts are rich in serotonin. Serotonin is shown to make us feel full; so we eat less as a result.

The following herbs are helpful for those with signs of coldness:

Cumin
Ginger
Cloves
Spearmint
Fennel
Cayenne

The following herbs are helpful for those with signs of heat:

Peppermint
Chamomile
Kohlrabi
Turnip
White pepper

Diet Therapy for Obesity

Nutritional and diet therapy are the first line of defense against weight gain used by many people.

In general, the treatment involves eating differently, not eating less. There are many dieting approaches that use different ways to manipulate our intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Here are some sensible guidelines.

Eat the proper foods. Rotate your foods. Eat a variety of foods. Eat meals that consist of a balance of proteins, complex carbohydrates, and some fat. Proteins can increase your metabolic rate by as much as 30 percent, and help to balance the release of insulin by prompting secretion of the pancreatic hormone glucagon. Protein-induced glucagon mobilizes fats from the tissues in which it is stored, thus aiding in weight loss. By eating balanced meals you get more steady blood sugar levels and the ability to burn stored body fat for long-term weight loss.

Food Guidelines

Incorporate high-fiber and unrefined complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains because the body is less successful digesting these and feels full sooner than with refined carbohydrates, such as sugar and white flour.
Eat raw or lightly cooked vegetables
Consume protein with low amounts of saturated fat, including dry peas and beans.
Eat your main meal in the middle of the day, when you will burn off more of the calories you take in. A large meal eaten at night, when you are more sedentary, is less easily digested and absorbed.
Replace daily consumption of soft drinks, fruit juices, and milk with six to eight glasses of water.
Avoid diets that count calories. They increase your risk for developing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Other Recommendations

Limit sugar intake.
Drink plenty of purified water each day.
Altering eating habits
Exercising daily.
Using nutritional supplements such as zinc, B vitamins, chromium etc.

A typical first step in devising a treatment program for obesity is start a food diary where you record the following information:

What foods do you eat each day, including all snacks and portion sizes?
When and where do you eat?
Are you alone or with other people when you eat?
What is your mood or stress level while eating?
When are your bowel movements?

This information can help a nutritional therapist assess the best treatment for you.

Recommended Foods To Take

Complex carbohydrates with protein

Lentils
Tofu
Plain baked potatoes (no toppings, except for vegetables)
Sesame seeds
Beans
Brown rice
Whole grains

Low fat meat and fish

Skinless turkey
Chicken breast
White- fish

Low-calorie vegetables

Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Green beans
Kale
Lettuce
Onions
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

Low- calorie, low-carbohydrate fruits

Cantaloupe
Grapefruit
Strawberries
Watermelon

Herbal Teas

Sea vegetables are rich in minerals and amino acids. They regulate metabolism and help to control weight.

Cold-pressed flax oil provides hormonal balance for those who have eaten excess animal products. Two teaspoons of flax oil can be poured over food each day; or eat three tablespoons of soaked or crushed flaxseed. Eat soaked seeds alone to make digestion easier.

Spirulina

White fish

Goat’s milk normalizes the weight of the body. Take it raw.

Foods to Take in Moderation

Vegetables/Fruits with High Calories

Bananas
Cherries
Corn
Figs
Grapes
Green peas
Hominy
Pears
Pineapple
Sweet potatoes
White rice
Yams

Products with Essential Fatty Acids
Limit the consumption of these to no more than twice a week.

Avocados
Olives
Olive oil
Raw nuts and seeds
Corn germ
Wheat germ

Foods containing small amounts of essential fatty acids

Apples
Brown rice
Buckwheat
Chestnuts
Grapes
Oatmeal
White potatoes
Yellow vegetables

Foods to Avoid

Shellfish
Fried or greasy foods
Alcohol

Never consume

Sources of Animal Fat
Cream
Gravies
Ice cream
Mayonnaise
Meat
Rich dressings
Whole milk
Fried foods
White flour products
Salt
Processed foods
Fast food restaurants and all junk foods
Sweets
Soda
Pastries
Pies
Cakes
Doughnuts
Candy
All products containing refined sugar
(including white sugar, brown sugar, and corn sweetener)

Recommended Snacks to Take Occasionally

Celery and carrot sticks.
Low-fat cottage cheese topped with fresh applesauce and walnuts.
Unsweetened gelatin made with fruit juice in place of sugar and water.
Natural sugar-free whole-grain muffins.
Freshly made unsalted popcorn.
Rice cakes topped with nut butter (but not peanut butter).
Watermelon, fresh fruit, or frozen fruit popsicles.
Unsweetened low-fat yogurt topped with granola or nuts and fresh fruit.

Notes:

Poultry and fish should be broiled or baked, never fried.

Eat fresh fruits and an abundance of raw vegetables. Have one meal each day that consists entirely of vegetables and fruits.

Eat foods raw, if possible. If foods are heated, they should be baked, broiled, steamed, or boiled. Never consume fried or greasy foods.

Drink six to eight glasses of liquids daily. Herbal teas and steam-distilled water with trace minerals added are good. They are nonfattening fillers that also help to dilute toxins and flush them out of the body. Herbal teas mixed with unsweetened fruit juice are very satisfying low-calorie drinks and are also very filling. Use these between meals and when a desire for sweets hits you. Drink sparkling water mixed with fruit juice in place of sodas.

Pay particular attention to the fat in your diet. Some fat is necessary, but it must be the right kind.

Eliminate saturated fats from the diet completely.

Sugar triggers the release of insulin, which then activates enzymes that promote the passage of fat from the bloodstream into the fat cells.

Follow a fasting program once monthly.

For a quick energy boost, try taking a spirulina tablet. Use wheatgrass to calm the appetite. This is a very nutritious fuel from whole food that assists metabolic functions. Kelp is also beneficial.

Do not consume alcohol in any form, including beer and wine. Alcohol not only adds calories, but it inhibits the burning of fat from fat deposits. It can also interfere with your judgment, so you may find yourself eating things you o
rdinarily would not.

Use powdered barley malt sweetener instead of sugar. This is highly concentrated but not dangerous. It contains only 3 calories per gram (approximately 2 teaspoons). This sweetener is also beneficial for people with diabetes or hypoglycemia.

Use extra fiber daily. Guar gum and psyllium husks are good sources. Take fiber with a large glass of liquid one-half hour before meals.

Note: Always take supplemental fiber separately from other supplements and medications.

CLASSICAL MEDICINES FOR OBESITY

1TRIPHALA CHHORNA
2AMRUTHA GUGGULLU
3VYOSHADI GUGGULU
4NAVASAM GULIKA
5TRIPHALADI KASHAYAM
6LOHASAVAM
7GUGGULU TIKTAKAM KASHAYAM

Ayurveda Natural Weight loss Therapy

Udvartana (Herbal Weight loss & Obesity Massage)

This is a specialized ayurveda herbal massage treatment for effective weight reduction. An herbal paste / powder is applied all over the body and deeply massaged with specific movements by two therapists for one hour everyday.
This therapy is very effective in naturally reducing weight. It also helps remove cellulite, revitalizes the sense of touch , gives a good complexion to the skin, removes toxins from the body, and tones the skin & muscles after child birth.

All the above articles / blog posts are not the original contribution from author, please consider a opinion of qualified doctor, if you considering this. If you need a advice please contact Dr. Anil Joy email: [email protected]

Thank You,