Ayurveda: Ginger Compositions ...
|
The aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit. This is believed to help prevent illness and promote wellness.
- Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and techniques to cleanse the body and restore balance. Some of these products may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner. For example, some herbs can cause side effects or interact with conventional medicines.
- Ayurvedic medicine, also called Ayurveda, originated in India several thousand years ago. The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda means “the science of life.”
- In the United States, Ayurvedic medicine is considered a type of CAM and a whole medical system. As with other such systems, it is based on theories of health and illness and on ways to prevent, manage, or treat health problems.
-
Ayurvedic medicine aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit; thus, some view it as “holistic.” This balance is believed to lead to happiness and health, and to help prevent illness. Ayurvedic medicine also treats specific physical and mental health problems. A chief aim of Ayurvedic practices is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease, thus helping to reestablish harmony and balance.
-
Ayurvedic medicine has several key foundations that pertain to health and disease. These concepts have to do with universal interconnectedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas).
-
Interconnectedness. Ideas about the relationships among people, their health, and the universe form the basis for how Ayurvedic practitioners think about problems that affect health. Ayurvedic medicine holds that:
- All things in the universe (both living and nonliving) are joined together.
- Every human being contains elements that can be found in the universe.
- Health will be good if one’s mind and body are in harmony, and one’s interaction with the universe is natural and wholesome.
- Disease arises when a person is out of harmony with the universe. Disruptions can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or a combination of these.
-
Constitution (prakriti). Ayurvedic medicine also has specific beliefs about the body’s constitution. Constitution refers to a person’s general health, the likelihood of becoming out of balance, and the ability to resist and recover from disease or other health problems.
-
The constitution is called the prakriti. The prakriti is a person’s unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics and the way the body functions to maintain health. It is influenced by such factors as digestion and how the body deals with waste products. The prakriti is believed to be unchanged over a person’s lifetime.
-
Life forces (doshas). Important characteristics of the prakriti are the three life forces or energies called doshas, which control the activities of the body. A person’s chances of developing certain types of diseases are thought to be related to the way doshas are balanced, the state of the physical body, and mental or lifestyle factors.
Ayurvedic medicine holds the following beliefs about the three doshas:
- Each dosha is made up of two of five basic elements: ether (the upper regions of space), air, fire, water, and earth.
- Each dosha has a particular relationship to bodily functions and can be upset for different reasons.
- Each person has a unique combination of the three doshas, although one dosha is usually prominent. Doshas are constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity, and bodily processes.
- Each dosha has its own physical and psychological characteristics.
- An imbalance of a dosha will produce symptoms that are unique to that dosha. Imbalances may be caused by a person’s age, unhealthy lifestyle, or diet; too much or too little mental and physical exertion; the seasons; or inadequate protection from the weather, chemicals, or germs.
-
The doshas are known by their original Sanskrit names: vata, pitta, and kapha.
The vata dosha combines the elements ether and air. It is considered the most powerful dosha because it controls very basic body processes such as cell division, the heart, breathing, discharge of waste, and the mind. Vata can be aggravated by, for example, fear, grief, staying up late at night, eating dry fruit, or eating before the previous meal is digested. People with vata as their main dosha are thought to be especially susceptible to skin and neurological conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, and insomnia.
-
The pitta dosha represents the elements fire and water. Pitta controls hormones and the digestive system. A person with a pitta imbalance may experience negative emotions such as anger and may have physical symptoms such as heartburn within 2 or 3 hours of eating. Pitta is upset by, for example, eating spicy or sour food, fatigue, or spending too much time in the sun. People with a predominantly pitta constitution are thought to be susceptible to hypertension, heart disease, infectious diseases, and digestive conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
-
The kapha dosha combines the elements water and earth. Kapha helps to maintain strength and immunity and to control growth. An imbalance of the kapha dosha may cause nausea immediately after eating. Kapha is aggravated by, for example, greed, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet foods, eating after one is full, and eating and drinking foods and beverages with too much salt and water (especially in the springtime). Those with a predominant kapha dosha are thought to be vulnerable to diabetes, cancer, obesity, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
-
Treatment: Ayurvedic treatment is tailored to each person’s constitution. Practitioners expect patients to be active participants because many Ayurvedic treatments require changes in diet, lifestyle, and habits.
The patient’s dosha balance. Ayurvedic practitioners first determine the patient’s primary dosha and the balance among the three doshas by:
- Asking about diet, behavior, lifestyle practices, recent illnesses (including reasons and symptoms), and resilience (ability to recover quickly from illness or setbacks) ? Observing such physical characteristics as teeth and tongue, skin, eyes, weight, and overall appearance ? Checking the patient’s urine, stool, speech and voice, and pulse (each dosha is thought to make a particular kind of pulse).
- Treatment practices. Ayurvedic treatment goals include eliminating impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, and reducing worry and increasing harmony in the patient’s life. The practitioner uses a variety of methods to achieve these goals:
- Eliminating impurities. A process called panchakarma is intended to cleanse the body by eliminating ama. Ama is described as an undigested food that sticks to tissues, interferes with normal functioning of the body, and leads to disease. Panchakarma focuses on eliminating ama through the digestive tract and the respiratory system. Enemas, massage, medical oils administered in a nasal spray, and other methods may be used.
- Reducing symptoms. The practitioner may suggest various options, including physical exercises, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, massage, lying in the sun, and changing the diet. The patient may take certain herbs—often with honey, to make them easier to digest. Sometimes diets are restricted to certain foods. Very small amounts of metal and mineral preparations, such as gold or iron, also may be given.
- Increasing resistance to disease. The practitioner may combine several herbs, proteins,
minerals, and vitamins in tonics to improve digestion and increase appetite and immunity.
These tonics are based on formulas from ancient texts.
- Reducing worry and increasing harmony. Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes mental
nurturing and spiritual healing. Practitioners may recommend avoiding situations that
cause worry and using techniques that promote release of negative emotions.
|
Ginger is used so widely in ayurveda that it is an entire medicine chest in itself. There is an ayurvedic sutra (verse) that says that everyone should eat fresh ginger just before lunch and dinner to enhance digestion. Not only does ginger stoke the digestive fire, it whets the appetite, improves assimilation and transportation of nutrients to targeted body tissues, and clears the microcirculatory channels of the body. The few situations in which ginger is contraindicated are in cases of hyperacidity, during any form of hemorrhage (including menstruation), vertigo and chronic skin disease.
Other than in these situations, ginger is an excellent spice that can be used daily.
Traditional ayurvedic texts recommend ginger for therapeutic use for joint pain, motion or airsickness and clearing the microcirculatory channels to facilitate better absorption of nutrients and better elimination of wastes. Modern science, by way of worldwide research, ratifies its effectiveness in preventing motion or airsickness, improving digestion and its pro-analgesic effect on the joints, particularly in early stages of rheumatoid arthritis.
Indian Ginger is a wonderful spice that appeals to all senses. Ginger (Adrak) has been used in India and in all over the world for thousands of years. It is one of the most important herbs that can be found in Ayurvedic Formulation. There are nearly 100 formulations of Ginger. These formulations are used very widely in many types of disorder like Nausea - Flu, motion and morning sickness, indigestion, diarrhea, abdominal chills, vomiting and dizziness, arthritis, bronchitis, spondylitis etc. Ginger is also found to be effective in case of inhibited sexual desire in women, spondylitis, muscular aches and pains, Constipation, Headaches and High Blood Pressure. Currently, the most common medicinal use of ginger is as an anti-emetic and an anti-inflammatory agent.
|
| Some Ginger compositions are mentioned below:- |
- Bhaaskaralavana Churnam: This is the most popular digestive and appetizer in India which also have the role as carminative. The composition includes 4 types of salts along with Coriander, Long Peeper, and root of Long Peeper, Black Peeper, Cumin, Dry Ginger and Pomegranate. It is indicated in case of spleen enlargement, weakness, piles, sprue, skin disease, constipation, colic pain, dyspnoea, cough, and rheumatism.
- Bhunimbadi Kwatha: This is the decoction of Chireyta, bark of Neem, long piper, dry Ginger, Asparagus, Guruchi etc. It is taken in case of fever.
- Changeri Ghrita: A ghee preparation in India which includes the herbal drugs along with dry ginger. Used for diseases like gastro intestinal disorders, sprue, piles, prolapse of rectum, and difficulty in micturation.
- Dadimaashtaka Churnam: The powder form of eight herbal drugs like seeds of pomegranate, sugar, root of long piper, Peeper, Coriander, Cumin including Dry Ginger. It is found to effective in case of diarrhoea, weakness, throat pain, dyspepsia, rhinitis, cough.
- Dasamularista: An alcoholic preparation that includes Dasamula (root of ten different specified herbs), also includes Guruchi, Amla. Harda, Bahada, Licorice, Long piper, turmeric, Dry Ginger etc. This is found to be beneficial against sprue, anorexia, dyspnoea, cough, vomiting, anemia, jaundice, skin diseases, dyspepsia, urinary problems, etc.
- Dhatri Louha: Amla along with powdered form of iron, Dry Ginger, Black Peeper, Long Peeper and Turmeric make it preserved and is used for the preparation of this medicine. It is taken with honey and ghee. It is very effective against jaundice.
- Kumara Kalyanaka Ghritam: This is a ghee based preparation of "Yellow-berried night shade" processed in the milk, Sankhapuspi, Sweet flag, Bramhi, Dry Ginger, Triphala, Basil, Elaichi etc. It is used in case of children for increasing memory, intellect, strength, immunity.
- Lavangadi Churana: This is the Powder form of different herbs like purified Camphor, Elaichi, Cinnamom, Nutmeg, Dry Ginger, Black Piper, Long Peeper etc. This is being effective against cough, hiccough, rhinitis, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, chest injury, anorexia and sprue.
- Pushyanuga Churnam: A formulation in Ayurvedic text that includes herbal drugs like licorice, piper, dry ginger, red sandal wood, bark of Arjuna. It is advised that to take it by honey or rice water. It is indicated in case of disorders, related to female genital tract including menorrhagia, blood in stool, and any kind of vaginal discharge.
- Saraswata Rista: An alcoholic preparation of Bramhi along with Asparagus, Harda, Ginger, Honey, Sugar, Peeper, Clove, Sweet flag, Winter-cherry, Bahada, Guruchi, Elaichi, Cinnamon etc. It is used in case of increasing memory, intellect, strength, life-span and body growth. It is recommended for all ages of people.
- Taalisaadi Churnam: It is the powder form of Talisa, Peeper, Dry Ginger, Long Peeper, Bamsalochana, (5:4:3:2:1), Elaichi and Cinnamom (1/2 each), and equal to the total amount is Sugar. It is indicated in case of cough, dyspnoea, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, anemia etc. It also acts as a digestive and appetizer.
- Yogaraj Guggulu: A Guggul based preparation with a great no of drugs that also includes Triphala, Long Peeper, Elaichi, Dry Ginger etc. It's very effective against bone and joint disorders like arthritis, gout etc. It is also found to be having beneficial effect on the gastro-intestinal system.
|
| For best quality Organic Ginger Products from from India in USA, contact us at buy@naturenatural.com |
|
|
|
