Ayurveda Remedies For Knees Pain


Knee pain is one of the most common problems affecting millions of people living across the United States. It is safe to say that most individuals have experienced knee pain at some point or the other, by the time they reach adulthood. The severity of the ache depends on aspects such as the cause of the pain as well as the affected person’s age and overall health status. There are numerous factors that could lead to knee pain in a person, some of which include injuries, medical diseases, age, obesity, structural abnormalities, lack of strength and limited muscle flexibility, to name a few. Knee pain could either be acute or chronic. Acute knee pain, usually caused by a fall or an injury, comes on rather suddenly and lasts for a shorter period of time. On the other hand, chronic knee pain, usually caused by medical problems or obesity, refers to the pain that takes longer to become evident and lasts for a much longer duration. Bouts of knee pain that come and go, such as recurrent knee pain, are also usually referred to as chronic knee pain. 
Contrary to what many people believe, knee pain is not only prevalent in the elderly, though it may be more common in them. This could be due to the fact that there are several knee pain causing diseases that mainly affect seniors, such as arthritis, gout, osteoporosis, patellar tendinitis and Osgood-Schlatter disease, to name a few. Nevertheless, many young men, women, teenagers and perhaps even children have been known to complain of mild to severe knee pain from time to time. 

Symptoms:

Knee pain on its own can be referred to as a symptom for other underlying health conditions. Based on the causes of the pain, the location and the severity of the knee pain are likely to change. At times, you may also notice accompanying symptoms along with the knee pain, which include:

• Inability to straighten the knee completely, which is usually referred to as “locking” of the knee

• Instability or weakness in the legs, especially the knee area 

• Stiffness and swelling around the knees 

• Crunching or popping noises that accompany knee movement 

• Redness around the knees, especially if the area feels warm to the touch 

These symptoms are fairly common in case of knee pain and while they should be treated appropriately, they are hardly a cause for concern. However, at times there may be more severe symptoms that accompany knee pain, which require immediate medical attention, as they are a sign of serious knee trouble. You need to visit your doctor right away, in case: 

• You suffer from high or moderate fever that is accompanied by severe pain, redness and tenderness in the knee 

• You cannot extend your knee completely or even flex it properly or as normal 

• You can’t bear to apply any pressure to the affected knee, which makes it difficult for you to walk 

• You fall while walking or even standing, because your knee just “gives out”

• You notice an obvious structural deformity in your leg or your knee 

• You see a significant amount of swelling in one or both knees.

Here are some of the common knee pain symptoms that are experienced by patients, and what these symptoms may mean about the cause of your knee pain.

Location of Pain:

Front of Knee: Pain over the front of the knee is most commonly related to the knee cap. Kneecap pain can be caused by several different problems.


Inside of Knee: Pain on the inside, or medial side, of the knee is commonly caused by medial meniscus tears, MCL injuries, and arthritis.


Outside of Knee: Pain on the outside of the knee, or lateral side, is commonly caused by lateral meniscus tears, LCL injuries, IT band tendonitis, and arthritis.


Back of Knee: Pain in the back of the knee can be due to the collection of fluid, called a Baker's Cyst.


Ayurveda’s recommendations for joint pain relief

The Ayurvedic name for arthritic joint pains is Sandhi Vata. As the name suggests, it is caused by vitiation of the vata dosha in the human body. The word sandhi means 'joint' in Sanskrit. Ayurveda believes that Sandhi Vata can be caused due to rheumatism, infections, gout, hemophilia, trauma and even due to digestive problems which result in a buildup of ama in the body.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Joint Pains

1. Alfalfa (Medicago satina)
The alfalfa herb is very effective in the reduction of joint pains. It must be had in the form of a tea four times a day.
2. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ashwagandha is the herb popularly known as Winter Cherry in the west. It has several positive properties for the human system. Treating joint pains are included in that list of properties.
3. Banyan (Ficus bengalensis)
The banyan tree produces a sap much like the latex from rubber. This is used as an external application over the joints. This application relieves the pains in the joints after a few regular applications and massages.
4. Bishop's Weed (Trachyspermum ammi)
Oil extracted from the bishop's weed is applied locally on the affected joints to relieve pains in them.
5. Celery (Apium graveolens)
Celery can be used as an effective treatment for rheumatism and gout, both of which can cause pain in the joints. Thus, celery provides more lasting treatment from the problem. The alkaline content of celery makes it effective in treating joint pains.
6. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion is rich in magnesium, an element that is needed for the proper mineralization of the bones. Use of dandelion makes the bones stronger and protects them from pains.
7. Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is a very effective remedy for the treatment of joint pains. About five to six cloves of garlic must be eaten every morning to seek relief.
8. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger is also one of the best methods in the treatment of joint pains. It must be included freely in the daily diet of the person. Tea made with ginger in it is also beneficial.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Joint Pains

Ginger and garlic are extremely good for controlling joint pains. Some people find the odor of ginger intolerable. In order to reduce the odor, the cloves of garlic could be slightly fried in butter. All bitter tastes are good for arthritis. Hence, people could consume bitter gourd and bitter drumsticks without any worry.
People with joint pains should totally steer away from all kinds of sour foods, since these can increase the vata. Constipation can aggravate the pains. Hence foods that are difficult to digest must be avoided. This also extends to protein-rich foods such as pulses. Foods must not be fried so as not to vitiate the vata further.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Joint Pains

Ayurveda prescribed different kinds of treatments for different kinds of joint pains. When a patient approaches an Ayurvedic doctor, the first thing to do is to ascertain the cause of the pain. Depending on that, the medicines are prescribed.

1. Rheumatic arthritis is known as Ama Vata in Ayurveda. It is caused due to a low digestive fire, due to which ama is retained in the body. For its treatment, first the ama is removed by fasting and purgation if needed. Then a mixture of punarnava, guggulu, galangala and garlic is administered in dosages of one gram per day. Dashamoolarishta is also prescribed in 15 milliliters quantity thrice a day for three weeks.

2. If the joint pain is due to trauma, then Vishagarbha taila is prescribed for external application over the region where the joint pain is felt. For internal administration, the patient is prescribed Rasnadi Guggulu and Guduchi tablets, which are to be taken in a quantity of 250 milligrams thrice or four times a day with water.

3. In people with age above fifty years, a type of arthritic joint pains known as osteoarthritis is observed. This is known as Ashtigata Vata in Sanskrit. For this condition, either Pravala Panchamrita or Lakshadi Guggulu is prescribed. The dosages are 125 milligrams twice a day for one month and 250 milligrams thrice a day for three months respectively

Natural Remedies:

A few natural remedies for relief from joint pain or Arthritis are discussed here.

Six drops each of Chamomile essential oil can be added to four ounces of Carrier oil such as Soyabean, Sesame, Avocado or Almond. These can be added to warm bath and the painful area can be soaked for a few minutes.
Drinking ginger tea at bed time is particularly recommended for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Studies reveal that a vegetarian diet is beneficial in eliminating joint pain and Arthritis to a great extent.
Drinking Black Cherry juice (diluted with water) atleast twice a day has been proven beneficial for relief from Arthritis. 
Gentle massage with oils help in pain relief. A little vegetable oil or massage oil can be massaged with finger tips on the affected joint (avoid directly massaging the joint, instead massage just below or above the area) for five minutes daily.
Turmeric, a member of ginger family, has great medicinal properties and heals inflammation and mild joint pain. Ayurvedic experts are of the opinion that turmeric reduces joint pain to a great extent.
Ayurveda recommends a high-carbohydrate diet while cutting down on animal foods, milk and milk products.
Increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids by consuming cold water fish, walnuts or ground flaxseeds are recommended. Even fish oil supplements help in maintaining low protein in the diet.
Consider eliminating certain food categories from diet for a month or two – for instance, avoid sugar intake except for fruits, or avoid citrus fruits, or soy, wheat and corn and observe the difference in symptoms.
Feverfew capsules taken once or twice a day helps due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
Turmeric and ginger being anti-inflammatory herbs are considered as effective in pain relief. 
Regular stretching exercises, yoga and meditation are also beneficial.
For joint pain that is not associated with Arthritis, stretching exercises, warmbath massages and rest are recommended.

Home Remedies for Knee Pain

Fortunately, there are many ways by which you can gain relief from knee pain. While there are quite a few over the counter and prescription painkillers easily available in the market, many individuals choose to opt for home remedies for knee pain, mainly because they want to avoid the adverse side effects associated with most medications. There are many home remedies too, through which knee pain can be alleviated for a while. Given below are some of the most common remedies for knee pain: 

• Ice: 

This is a common remedy used to alleviate pain and swelling in most instances. Ice can be very effective in relieving the pain, soothing the inflammation and bringing down the swelling in the knee. For best results, you need to place a huge ice pack on your knee in such a way that the entire knee is covered. This is probably why most people use a bag of frozen peas. Alternately, you could also wrap a couple of ice cubes in a towel and apply it on to your knee for around 15 minutes or so. However never apply ice to a particular spot for more than 20 minutes, as it could damage the skin and the nerves in that area 

• Steam: 

Heat therapy is as effective in dealing with pain, as cold therapy is. Therefore, you could sit in a steamy bathtub so that your knee soaks up the warmth from the water, which is excellent for alleviating the pain. Alternately, you could apply a hot water bag on your knee too. 


• Massage Therapy:

This technique is very effective in soothing aches and pains all over the body. Gently massage your knee area with some warm olive oil around two or three times a day. Make sure that the massage lasts for at least 5 to 10 minutes at each time. 

• Resting: 

When it comes to the treatment of many ailments and afflictions, this is one of the most important, yet commonly overlooked factors. However, it is absolutely essential that you refrain from putting too much pressure on your knees at all times. Giving your knee to heal from an injury or an inflammation will prevent a relapse. 


• Elevation:

 You could reduce the swelling in your knee by keeping it raised. Prop your affected leg on a couple of pillows, or sit on a recliner chair, which allows you to keep your legs elevated.


Ayurveda Tips For Vomiting...

Vomiting or vemesis is a biological defense mechanism. It is a reflex activity, which refers to the forceful oral expulsion of stomach contents. The actual function of vomiting is to remove toxic or harmful substances from the body after ingestion.

However, vomiting is multifactorial in origin and can be caused due to various reasons. Retching is the sustained contraction of the chest and abdominal muscles that accompanies before or during vomiting. 





Symptoms of Vomiting


The symptoms of vomiting are:
Involuntary expulsion of food from mouth and nose
Increased saliva
Dizziness
Light-headedness
Difficulty in swallowing food or liquid
Changes in skin temperature
Increase in heartbeat rate
Increased sensitivity to certain smells
Changes in the taste of some foods

Causes of Vomiting


The main causes of vomiting include:
Gastroenteritis problem
Headache
Inner ear disturbance
Certain medical treatments
High levels of toxins in the blood
Hormonal changes
Diabetes
Peptic ulcers
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gallstones
Overeating
Drinking excessive alcohol
Pregnancy
Migraine
Infections
Flu
Upset stomach
Stomach virus
Food poisoning
Intestinal obstructions
Chronic digestive conditions
Stomach cancer
Intestinal obstructions
Kidney failure
Cholera

Home remedies for Vomiting:


  • If you are feeling sick and think you might get vomiting, then have one cup of ginger tea by adding very little sugar in it.
  • In case you are drunk and want to prevent vomiting from happening, then eat plain bread. Bread will take care of your digestive tract and will absorb the alcohol.
  • Drinking one can of cola will also give relief from vomiting. But first bring the cola at room temperature
  • Drinking limejuice is also one of the very effective home remedies for vomiting.
  • After vomiting for next 12 hours avoid eating solid food but keep yourself well hydrated by taking lots of fruit juices and water.
  • After 12 hours you can start taking soups, rice, oatmeal and mashed potatoes. Don’t overstuff yourself but eat reasonably.
  • Roast some cardamom and make its powder. Add some honey to this mixture and eat it. This is very effective in stopping the vomiting.
  • Add limejuice and mint juice in equal amounts and add half this amount ginger juice. Mix some honey in this mixture of juices and have it. This juices mixture is very effective treatment for vomiting.
  • Add some honey in one glass of water and drink this glass of water. This simple remedy is also very beneficial in the treatment of vomiting.
  • Make some onion juice and have one teaspoon of this onion juice after regular interval of half an hour.
  • Avoid citrus fruits and also avoid dairy products after vomiting, as having these things will make you vomit more.

Ayurveda Tips

Vomiting: Ginger is used for treating nausea and vomiting caused by morning sickness, motion sickness, pregnancy, indigestion, food poisoning and after surgery sickness. You can add ginger to your tea and drink it daily.

Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infections



Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common reason people visit their doctors each year. Men get UTIs, but they are much more common in women -- more than eight million women head to their doctor for UTI treatment annually. And 20 percent of these women will get a second UTI.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an encroachment by the bacteria of the urinary tract which includes kidney, ureters, bladder or urethra. This bacterium enters the opening of the urethra and procreates in the urinary tract causing urinary tract infection. This can be very painful and a major cause of distress in your life. If it is not contained in the earlier stages it is likely to spread to your kidneys, which can become a serious health issue. The infection of the bladder can develop into cystitis- a very common problem faced by women. Urinary Tract Infection can infect anyone but women are more susceptible to this disease. Children too suffer from this disorder but the headcount is very low in comparison to adults.

If you've ever had a UTI, you'll probably never forget the symptoms. It usually starts with a sudden and frequent need to visit the potty. When you get there, you can squeeze out only a little bit of urine, and that's usually accompanied by a burning sensation in your bladder and/or urethra. In more extreme cases you may end up with fever, chills, back pain, and even blood in your urine.


Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection:

As soon as you feel one or see signs of UTI, you must start your home treatment for UTI. This is the list of symptoms of urinary tract infection.
• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Pain or a burning sensation during urination.
• Passing of milky cloudy urine due to pus present in the urine. Sometimes, urine might contain traces of blood.
• Men having urinary tract infection can feel pain or pressure in the rectum.
• Women having urinary tract infection can feel pain or pressure within the area of pubic bone.
• Weakness and tiredness.
• Sometimes pain in the back or below the ribs is there. Nausea and even vomiting can occur.
• Fever, only when the urinary tract infection has gone up to the kidneys and blood too.
• Bleeding, only when the kidney are also infected.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infection:


Bacteria in the Urethra

It is mainly caused when the bacteria from the digestive tract holds on to the opening of the urethra, this poses a problem.

Through Sexual Intercourse

Sexual intercourse is another reason for urinary tract infection. During a sexual intercourse the bacteria present in the vaginal tract is pushed inside the urethra by the movement of the penis.

Having Different Sexual Partner

Having different sexual partners can be another reason for urinary tract infection. Waiting too long to urinate may cause this infection.

Holding Back the Urge to Urinate

Prolonging urination causes stretches the bladder. This stretching weakens the bladder - disallowing it to completely empty itself. The urine which remains in the bladder increases your chances of the infection. The symptoms and signs of bladder infection in men and children are often rather mild and so they are sometimes ignored until the condition becomes severe. It is therefore important to detect the preliminary signs of bladder infection so that the individual can receive appropriate treatment.


Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection:

There are many natural remedies for bladder infection but the foremost UTI cure is the prevention of factors that might cause urinary tract infection. Drink lots of water to help flush out bacteria and other toxins from body, avoid unhygienic conditions like public toilets, keep your genitals clean, avoid having multiple sexual partners and exercise all cautions during sexual activities. Apart from taking these preventive measures for UTI, adopt the following home treatment for UTI in the form of easy and simple remedies if you catch the infection.

• Drink lots of water and other liquids to help flush out the waste substances from body.
• Add 1/2 tsp baking soda in a glass of water as soon as you see the first symptoms of urinary tract infection.
• Have cranberry juice that inhibits growth of bacteria and prevent them from clinging to the cells of urinary tract. You can even add apple juice to it.
• Take equal parts of sandalwood, bergamot, tea tree, frankincense and juniper. Mix them to make herbal oil and rub this over your bladder area. Do massage with this oil for 2-3 days till the symptoms of UTI begin subsiding.
• Increase intake of vitamin C. Amla (Emblica Officinalis or Gooseberry), lime juice, citrus fruits etc. are rich sources of Vitamin C.
• Avoid tea, coffee and other drinks with caffeine. Also avoid spicy food as well as processed food like cheese, chocolate, and dairy products. Avoid artificial sweeteners.
• Avoid alcohol and cigarettes, carbonated drinks like beer, soda or any other drink with fizz. All these foods and drinks promote growth of bacteria.
• Include antibacterial herbs in your daily food. Many Indian herbs, spices and condiments like garlic, clove, basil, turmeric etc. have effective antibacterial properties. Use them while cooking your food. Get the list of antibacterial herbs

Urinary Tract Infection Diet:

Increase the Intake of Vitamins C

Vitamin C prevents the bacterial growth due to the acidic environment created in the bladder and the urinary tract. It is very important to have a healthy diet which is rich in minerals and other supplements for your daily quota. You can maintain the alkaline content in urine by a rich diet of milk, fruits, and fresh vegetables.

Citrus fruits are an excellent source of Vitamin C and can be added to your diet in the form of a mixed fruit platter. You can also use a salad dressing made out of Olive oil and fresh lemon juice or orange juice.

Fresh Berry Juice

Women consuming fresh berry juice as part of the daily diet, turns out to be very useful in the long run.

You can make your own fresh berry juice every morning and night for quick results. Mixed berry juice is one of the best home remedies for bladder infection as this will help to provide you with a variety of antioxidants and vitamins.

Avoid Irritant Foods

A diet which consists of processed food like cheese, chocolate, dairy products should be avoided. You should also avoid spicy food, caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes which otherwise is also harmful. Avoid carbonated drinks like beer, soda or any other drink with fizz. You should also restrict your intake of processed flour products and bakery products must be avoided altogether as they have a high processed sugar, processed fats, and processed flour content.

Stay away from Artificial Sweetener

Aspartame is one of a kind of artificial sweetener. You will find many artificial sweeteners in the market which should be avoided. It is mainly consumed by diabetic patients and is used in many beverages and other foods.

Artificial sweeteners may aggravate a bladder infection and so it would be better to avoid such sweeteners for a couple of weeks or at least until your symptoms have subsided.




गर्मी में भी मुस्कुराएं...

दिन-ब-दिन मौसम की तपन में वृद्धि हो रही है|गर्मी में भी आप कैसे अपना और अपनी त्वचा का ख्याल रख सकते हैं,कैसे सुंदर दिखाई दे सकते हैं इन सब प्रश्नों के उतर आयुर्वेद में हैं|
आयुर्वेद  के अनुसार हमें अपनी जीवन शैली,भोजन और दिनचर्या मौसम के अनुसार रखनी चाहिए|ऐसा करने से वाट,पित्त और कफ सामन्य अवस्था में रहते हैं|और हमारे स्वास्थ्य रहने के लिए इनका संतुलित रहना भी जरूरी है|

गर्मियों  में सभी को निम्न समस्याओं में से गुजरना पड़ता है|इन सब का विस्तार पूर्वक विवरण इस प्रकार है|

पाचनतंत्र:

पित्त की अधिकता के कारण अजीर्ण,अम्लपित्त,पेटदर्द और पाचन संम्बन्धी समस्याएं आम हैं|

उपाय:

पका हुआ बेल खाएं या उसका शर्बत पियें|सोंफ,जीरा,साबुत धनिया,और सुखा पुदीना बराबर मात्र में मिलकर चूरन बनाएँ|दिन में दो बार खाने के बाद १ चम्मच तैयार चूर्ण पानी के साथ लें|कैरी,पुदीना.धनिये की ताज़ी चटनी भी फायदा देगी|इसके इलावा खाने के बाद १ चम्मच लवन भास्कर चूर्ण गुनगुने पानी से साथ में लेने से राहत मिलेगी|

त्वचा:

आयुर्वेद कहता है गर्मी के मौसम में शरीर में पित्त दोष की वृद्धि होती है|इसका असर त्वचा पर पड़ता है|इसलिए दाद,खाज,एग्जिमा,कील,मुहांसे इत्यादि परेशान करने लगते हैं|

उपाय:

सुबह खली पेट ५-६ नीम की ताज़ी पत्तियों का सेवन करें|सुबह-शाम १-१ चम्मच आवंले का चूर्ण भी ले सकते हैं|

डी-हाइड्रेशन:

शरीर में पानी की कमी के कारण बदनदर्द,सिरदर्द व् बुखार से भी दो-चार होना पड़ता है|थकान और कमजोरी का अहसास बरकरार रहता है और रक्तचाप कम होने की सम्भावना बढ़ जाती है|

उपाय:

खूब पानी पियें|समय समय पर नारियल पानी,निम्बू पानी,शरबत.तरबूज,खीरा,ककड़ी का सेवन करें|

बुखार:

इन दिनों भोजन में बेक्टीरिया आसानी से घर कर लेते हैं और उसे जल्द ही खराब क्र देते हैं|दूषित जल या भोजन का सेवन हैजा,टाईफाईड,पीलिया और आँतों में सूजन या संकमण आदि रोग देता है|

उपाय:

रोज सुबह खाली पेट एलोवीरा का ताज़ा गुदा या १ लहसुन की कली खाएं|दिन में दो बार भिजन के बाद पानी के साथ १/२चम्म्च निम् की पत्तियों के चूर्ण या १ चम्मच प्याज व पुदीने के रस का सेवन करें|

सर्द गर्म:

कभी कूलर कभी ए सी तो कभी धुप में बाहर निकलना आम स्थिति है|ठन्डे से एकदम गर्म वातावरण में निकलना सेहत की प्रभावित करता है|भुर ठंडा पानी पिने के कारण गला खराब हो जाना भी कोई नई बात नहीं|

उपाय:

गले के विकार दूर करने के लिए दिन में दो तीन बार शहद के साथ १/२ चम्मच मुलेठी के चूरन तुलसी के पत्ते या अदरक के रस का सेवन करें|मेथी उबालकर मेथी के पानी से गरारा करने से भी आराम मिलेगा|

लू:

अधिक देर तक धुप के संपर्क में रहना भी आपको नुक्सान पहुंचा सकता है|

उपाय:

लू  से बचने के लिए गुलाब,चन्दन व खस के शरबत सेवन करें|धुप में निकलने से पहले लू के कहर से बचने के लिए अपनी सुरक्षा का पुख्ता इंतजाम करें|चाय,कोफ़ी आदि गर्म तासीर की चीज़ों से बचें|मिर्च मसालेदार और तला हुआ भोजन न करें|