Benefits of Eating Basmati Rice

Since centuries rice forms an essential component of the Indian diet. It symbolizes fertility, wealth and good health according to Hindu customs. Ancient priests used it as a component of worship. Even today across cultures, rice is thrown at newlyweds as a blessing of healthy offspring and everlasting prosperity. It is in fact a staple food of India, with most Indian homes serving the same every day. It is said to be the very foundation of nourishment. The food that we eat daily directly affects our natural constitution. Our constitution in turn is based on our inherent doshas. This is why a balanced diet helps to balance the natural dosha presence. Depending on whether one is vata, pitta or kapha dominant, one must design a specific diet for regular nutrition. Ayurveda has a beautiful dietary plan suiting each kind of body type. Different foods are known to produce one of these three dosha aspects as well. Hence, we must have knowledge on the apt food for our inherent constitution.

There are several dozen varieties of rice such as Jasmine, Arboria, Japanese, Brown rice, Red rice, Black rice, Wild rice, Texmati (from Texas), Calmati (from California), and the original basmati rice from India. An exotic type of rice, basmati and its versions are thin and long stemmed. There are both brown basmati as well as white basmati versions of the rice. It has several wondrous properties. Rice is a contributor to the buildup of ojas and interestingly it is said to smell of burnt rice. Of all the rice varieties basmati is the most Sattvic and aromatic. It fulfills several functions in Ayurveda nutrition. Its rasa, or quality of taste, is sweet, that in turn offers a deep satisfaction. During the process of digestion, its virya or energetic impact on the inner digestive fires tends to be cooling. And finally, its vipaka or post-digestion effect is also sweet and provides a great sense of contentment and comfort.

Basmati rice can be cooked in an amazing variety of ways. Usually this kind of rice is used to cook special saffron infused pulao, biryani and sweet rice pudding with fruits, milk and speckled with a dash of ghee. It can also be combined with beans, nuts, cottage cheese, and vegetables for wholesome and nutritious dishes. Rice can also be spiced with a variety of herbs such as basil, cardamom, fennel, etc. Basmati rice is not one for everyday eating but for special occasions and generally families in India treat themselves with basmati every weekend.

What one doesn’t realize is the amazing properties of basmati rice in balancing doshas. It is specifically evident in the case of Kapha and Pitta dosha. Rice is the most nourishing and easy to digest. It offers more calories with less effort from the point of view of the digestive tracts. While in the West, brown rice is known for health reasons due to its bran and fiber content, Ayurveda advises long-grained and aromatic basmati rice. It is pure and nutritious while balancing physiology. Basmati rice builds body tissue and is very rich in prana or vital bio-energy. In fact plain rice is a good snack too and doesn’t really disturb the inner digestive fires. It is a valuable food for those recovering from an illness and a basis of Samsarjana Karma.

There are many benefits of including rice as a part of one’s diet. Ayurveda recommends the six fundamental tastes on the plate during meal times. This includes sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Rice is one of the major constituents of Ayurveda meals that add a flavor of sweetness. It is light, soft and nourishing when cooked. It also has a wonderful cooling nature and it thus plays an important role in balancing the Vata and Pitta doshas. To balance Vata dosha, one must consume well-cooked rice soaked and boiled in water. In Sattvic meals a dash of clarified butter (ghee) is added while cooking the rice. Desserts made with rice and milk are predominantly cooling and complementary for Pitta dosha. Basmati rice is great for such preparations. But such rice does in fact create a volume of mucus. Due to this reason it becomes important for those with Kapha dosha predominance to avoid eating rice too often. Dry-roasting it prior to eating is a good idea as it lessens heaviness.

One must be careful about how the rice is cooked. Rice that is cooked 'al dente', without enough water, can cause gas, bloating and constipation for Vata people. It must be cooked in water for a long while and finally strained from it. If rice gives one gas, then one must add extra water and cook it until it is soft and puffy. This is the right way to eat. Poorly digested food becomes poison or aama in the digestive tract. Rice has good medicinal value too and can counter aama. Ayurveda recommends white rice for issues like gas, bloating, or indigestion.

How to Cook Basmati Rice

How to cook the perfect basmati rice: In a medium pot combine one part rice and 2½ parts water and bring the same to a gentle boil. This must be cooked till rice settles below becoming puffy and a small amount of water remains in the pot. One must never stir the pot and let the water evaporate. Some people also put excess water and then strain it once the rice is fully cooked. One must finally remove the pot from the heat and then proceed to cover it. In an ideal situation its best to let the basmati rice stand for about 10 to 15 minutes prior to serving. To test if the rice is cooked well one can press a few grains between the fingers. Most people in India prefer distinct fluffy grains, not sticky or hard ones as they eat it with their bare hands.

The following are some of the well known varieties of basmati rice. Among indian varieties there are: basmati-370, basmati-385, ranbirsinghpura basmati, punjab basmati, Uttar Pradesh basmati, safidon basmati, haryana basmati, kasturi basmati, bihar basmati, mahi suganda basmati, super basmati and pusa basmati. Outside of India there are varieties called as texmati and pishori basmati.
Health Benefits of Brown Basmati Rice


Among all varieties of rice, brown basmati rice provides the most benefits for your health and nutrition. Brown basmati rice is basmati rice that has not had the outer bran layer removed. It is considered healthier as there are more vitamins and fiber present in the outer bran layer. Brown basmati rice contains about 20% more fiber than other types of brown rice. This fiber helps prevent the formation of cancerous cells in the body. Brown basmati rice is unprocessed (unpolished) and thus contains more nutrition and vitamins than other forms of polished rice. Brown basmati rice is perhaps the healthiest rice one can eat. The benefits of basmati rice are many, and they increase even more when you eat the rice in its natural unprocessed form as brown basmati rice.

According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, basmati rice has a "medium" glycemic index, which is lower than other varieties of rice, and thus better suited for those who suffer from diabetes.

Due to all these reasons and more, for centuries now, aromatic basmati rice has proved to be a great healing food. Ayurveda supports its properties and recommends it to every human being. It is not expensive and can be a part of your regular meals.

Diabetic Healing with Neem

Diabetes is a silent killer affecting around 346 million people across the world. The projections of the World Health Organization indicate that diabetes related deaths are doubling as we speak. This phenomenon was said to have started in 2005. These mindboggling numbers pose to be a huge threat for global health. Diabetes is also the fifth leading cause of death in the United States with over 17 million affected every year. So what is the long term solution to overcome this ordeal according to Ayurveda?

Even though the various causes are complex, to an extent the menace can be curbed with a monitored diet, maintaining a decent weight with regular physical activity and avoiding major vices like tobacco and alcohol. Individuals who are on the heavier side with less physical activity, especially those above the age of forty are easily susceptible to the disease. Those with a family diabetic history or health conditions like glucose intolerance, high blood pressure and cholesterol, can also succumb to diabetes. Unhealthy food habits and irregular meal timings can accelerate the same as well. Further, certain ethnic groups like Asian, Hispanic and African-American face greater diabetes risks.

Some of the common symptoms of diabetes include fatigue, excessive hunger and thirst, recurrent urination, blurred vision, lack of concentration, numbness and loss of sensation in hands and feet, sudden weight loss, frequent infections and slow healing of bruises. Getting tested is the first step of treatment. Any of the usual symptoms must propel a person to get an immediate diagnostic test. The prevention of this disease is well within our grasp and so any delay is not advisable. With proper medication, dietary checks and exercise routine, diabetes can be kept under control. For a more holistic and long term cure, the alternative therapy of Ayurveda has proved its strength over centuries. Its very premise is intrinsically holistic and preventive in intent. In fact there has been a lot of interest in bringing this effective treatment into the mainstream fold.

Diabetes primarily occurs when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or when the body is not compatible with the grade of insulin secreted. Modern medicine suggests daily insulin injections to beat this chronic metabolic disorder. Again certain bodies may portray some kind of insulin rejection. The truth is that for overcoming diabetes entirely one must rejuvenate the body completely. Only then should one up the insulin level according to the need. Diabetes and hypertension are due to metabolic imbalances and allopathic medication provides only a temporary respite.

The classical Ayurveda name for diabetes mellitus is prameha. During the vedic times it was commonly known as asrava. It is also called madhumeha. Madhu means honey whereas meha means flow or more specifically urine. The name is attributed to the fact that during prameha, the ojus or life essence is expunged through sweat or urine. Diabetes is taken very seriously under this ancient health system as is called a maharoga or major disease. It is considered to be a diseases caused by the aggravation of Vata dosha. Vata dosha underlies the body state based on wind and dryness. Deterioration in the body, which is the destruction of the dhatus or body tissues, depicts an impairment of the Vata state. This is why diabetes harms all vital organs.

A compromised digestive system can also bring forth a severe attack of diabetes. Impaired digestion results in the amassing of certain impurities know as ama. This can accumulate in the delicate pancreatic cells and damage the internal insulin production over time. In Ayurveda, diabetes is of 4 types as per its effects on body constitutions. These include Vata (10 types of diabetes), Pitta (6 types), (Vata 4 types) and juvenile diabetes for children which are often congenital (sahaj pramehi). The disease affects five sheaths of the body – food sheath (annamaya kosha), energy sheath (pranamaya kosha), mind sheath (manomaya kosha), intellectual sheath (vijnana maya kosha) and bliss sheath (anandamaya kosha). Just like IDDM and NIDDM classification, there is also krisha pramehi (lean diabetes) and sthula pramehi (obese diabetes). Over eating and food induced diabetes is known as apathaya nimmitaj.

The Ayurveda based treatment of diabetes is directed at rejuvenating the body not just for sugar level balance but also to foster a positive change in the patient’s life. The Chrakha Samhita has elaborate chapters on the origins and cures. The various herbal formulations work on the deep seated root causes of the disease. The medication bolsters the person’s immunity, enriches the digestion process and also helps a person to lead an overall healthy life. Along with dietary and life style alterations, the Ayurveda medication rejuvenates the body’s cells and tissues, allowing a proper production of insulin.

Since the days of yore secret ingredients have been used by sages to effectively treat diabetes and lower the blood sugar level. Today’s supplements are replete with these cures. The best part is that there are no side effects of these natural organic formulations. Based on Type I, Type II and gestational diabetes (along with micro classifications of Ayurveda), the wide range of formulations have been customized. These are aimed at restoring the balance of the doshas and the normal function of the dhatu tissues.

Some of the commonly used herbs and plants include fenugreek, turmeric, onion, ginger, wood apple, bitter gourd, neem (Azadirachha indica), sagar gota (Ceasalpinia crista), nayantatra (Vinca rosa), gurmar leaves (Gymnema sylvestrae) etc. The nutritional therapy includes diet charts based on viryas for each dosha. The rasa and gunas are also taken into consideration. Ayurveda food is of medicinal nature and is known as ausadam. These foods tackle the deviant doshas.

Ayurveda treats diabetes with a multi-pronged approach. Along with medicinal and nutritional therapy, specific exercises from the 5000 year sister science of Ayurveda, i.e. Yoga is also advised. Panchakarma (the five purification processes) is also very useful in restricting diabetes. In simplistic terms Ayurveda’s healing methodology uses four types of techniques – reduction, detoxification, balancing and nourishing. Thus, it is a miracle therapy for diabetes. 

Benefits and Natural Remedies According to Ayurveda from Arjuna Tree

The use of Arjuna reduces excess bile, cures acidity, and brings stability in blood circulation. It brings relief in blood bile, acidic bile and other related disorders. Due to its bitter taste, it treats cough, urine related disorders and is a good suppressor. It is astringent and febrifuge. It treats various toxins and strengthens the hearts functioning. 'Arjuna', 'Shirish' and palm tree are helpful in leprosy, gonorrhea, paleness and cough and are a fat suppressor. Arjuna tree, 'ashmbheda', 'apamarg' and 'gokhru', help in treating gastric disorders. 

The lithiasis sugar treats urinary disorders. Arjuna, syzygium cumin, licorice and berry, all are beneficial in abscess, inflammation and other diseases.

Family name: Combetaceae
Scientific name: Terminalia Arjuna (Roxb.) wight and arn
English: Arjuna
Sanskrit: Arjuna, Dhaval, Samba, Indradadu, Kakubh.
Hindi: Arjuna, Kahu
Gujarati: Gholo, Sadaro, Sajar
Marathi: Sadaru, Arjun, Sadara
Bengali: Arjun, Gach
Punjabi: Kau, Koh
Telugu: Charramachi
Dravidi: Vella, Bhatti
Kannada: Kammutte
Marwari: Arjuna

Introduction:

On dry mountain ranges, on the bank of rivers, lines of trees, growing up to 80 feet high, the green color bulbs appear as it's warriors, armed with an infinite number of weapons in their quivers. These warriors have gathered to eliminate the various disorders and diseases, as their enemy. Arjuna tree is found in the forests. The flowers grow in 'Baisakh' and 'Jyeshtha' months, and fruits develop in the winter season.

Its main trunk has a round shape with a height of 10-20 feet. Its outer layer (bark) is whitish in color, smooth, and around 1/3rd of an inch thick. The wood is red color on the inside. The bark shed its layer once in a year as the snake sheds its skin. Its leaves are 3 to 6 inches long, 1 to 2 inches broad, and on small branches are smooth and costate. On the back side of the leaves, it carries two green color glands. The flower is small, green-whitish color, and growsup in clusters. It is odorless. The fruits are long, oval shaped having 5 bulging curves with chambers. The fruits are seedless.

Gum of the Arjuna Tree:

The extract of arjuna is clean, golden or brownish in color and transparent.

Chemical Composition of Arjuna Tree:

The husk of arjuna has various chemical compositions. It has 34 percent of calcium carbonate and other alkalis include sodium, magnesium and aluminum. Due to excessive calcium and sodium, it helps in strengthening heart muscles at the minute levels.

Qualities of the Arjuna Tree:

Arjuna is cool, good for the heart, astringent, treats body toxins, blood disorders, gonorrhea, bile, cough, fat and 'pitta'. Arjuna bark in different composition gives strength to the heart muscles. It is good in supplying nutritious elements to the heart. When the muscles of the heart become powerful, the heart beats are strengthened with more regularity. The heart beats will reduce, with contraction in blood ducts, which regulates blood circulation. The heart gets strengthened and stimulated. The blood flow (pressure) within the blood ducts reduces, which treats hydro-related problems. Its use ensures proper contraction of the blood resources so that the heart uniformly distributes blood in the body and also pulls blood sent over different parts of the body back into the heart. Hence, its use is beneficial in heart disorders, passiveness in blood vessels, bodily inflammation, slowness in nerves, breath and cough problems, particularly chronic ones. The use of arjuna reduces increase in the 'pitta' and acidity and generates stability in the blood circulation. It is helpful in case of blood bile and acidic biles. Since it is astringent it treats cough and urine disorders. It also treats fever and strengthens heart functioning. It is anti-toxin. 'Arjuna', 'Shirish' and palm tree are good for leprosy, gonorrhea, paleness, cough and fat. Arjuna, syzygium cumini (Jamun), liquorice and berry, all are good for abscess, as well as sexual diseases.

Medicinal Use of Arjuna Tree According to Ayurveda:

Treatment of Recurrent Mouth Ulcer (Stomatitis) with Arjuna Tree:

'Mukhpak' - When the powder of its root is mixed with eating oil and gargled with hot water, it treats 'mukhpak'.

Treatment of Ear-ache with Arjuna Tree:

When 3-4 drops of juice from its leaves are put in the ears, it treats ear-ache.

Treatment of Melasma on the Face with Arjuna Tree:

When its bark is crushed finely and mixed with honey to put a paste of it on the face, it cures melasma.

Treatment of Tuberculosis Cough with Arjuna Tree:

When the powder of the bark of arjuna is mixed with seven pinches of 'vasa' leaves and taken with 2-3 grams of honey, sugar candy (misri) or cow 'ghee', it treats TB cough with blood.

Treatment of Rapid Heart Beat with Arjuna Tree:

1) When heart beats exceed from 72 to 150, take one glass of tomato juice, with one spoon of arjuna bark powder. Its regular use normalizes heart beats.

2) A spoonfull of fine powder of broad bark of arjuna tree, when taken with one cup of milk without cream, regularly in morning and evening, treats all heart ailments. It gives strength to the heart and treats weakness. The increasing heart beats too are reduced to normalcy.

3) Roast 20 grams of wheat flour in 30 grams of cow ghee. When it turns pink, put 3 grams of arjuna bark powder and 30 grams of sugar candy (misri) with 100 grams of water. After the mix is properly prepared, take it in morning. Its regular use treats heart pain, increased heart beats and anxiety.

4) Mix powder of bark of arjuna tree with flour and mix with honey and sugar candy (misri). These treats severe heart problems.

Treatment of Heart Troubles with Arjuna Tree:

1) The weakness of heart and inflammation generated due to it, could be treated with arjuna bark. Mix 6 to 10 grams of arjuna bark powder with 'gur' (jaggery) and milk and boil it. Filter it and drink. It stops water content of lymph filling in the blood vessels. This treats heart inflammation and hence, the weakness is treated.

2) Take 50 grams of arjuna bark (if wet is not available, take 50 grams of dry bark) and boil in 4 kg of water. When the mix is reduced to one fourth, filter the decoction. Take 50 grams of cow 'ghee' and mix 50 grams of arjuna bark and the other ingredients cooked earlier. Heat it on a slow fire. Later, cool it. Now mix 50 grams of honey and 75 grams of sugar candy (misri) and keep it in china clay pot or glass jar. Take around 6 grams with cow milk. This will strengthen the heart.

Weakness of the heart, excess heart beats, swelling or heart enlargement problems are best treated with this mix.

3) If a person has suffered heart attack earlier, take the above decoction 40 ml in morning and evening. It is a miraculous heart and cardiac tonic.

4) For complete benefit of the mix, prepare the decoction in milk. It helps in the treatment of angina pain, heart beats and anxiety.

5) The powder of arjuna bark, when filtered with cloth is more effective as compared to other medicines. Chew it, keeping it on the tongue. It was found equally beneficial as sorbitrate pill. When the pulse rates or heart beats are very low, keeping it on the tongue starts giving relief immediately. The medicine gives permanent relief and it does not have any adverse impact. It is more beneficial as compared to the allopathic medicine digitalis.

6) It is beneficial in cases of high blood pressure. If swelling or inflammation has developed due to the high blood pressure, it gives relief.

Treatment of Excessive Urine with Arjuna Tree:

To stop the problem, take 40 ml decoction regularly in morning and evening

Treatment of Blood Diarrhea with Arjuna Tree:

Take the finely grinded powder of arjuna bark, 5 grams, and warm it on a slow fire with 250 grams of cow milk and around 150 grams of water. When only milk is left and when its temperature is reduced, comfortable to drink, mix with 10 grams of sugar candy or sugar. Take the mix regularly in the morning, which treats all the heart ailments. It is especially beneficial in gastric troubles or heart ailments. This milk, mixed with arjuna bark powder is also helpful in chronic fever, blood diarrhea and blood bile.

Treatment of Blood Blennelytria with Arjuna Tree:

Take arjuna bark powder 1 spoon and boil with mix of 1 cup of milk. When the residue remains half, mix sugar candy and take three times a day.

Treatment of Gonorrhea with Arjuna Tree:

1) Take arjuna bark, neem bark, amliki bark, neelkamal and turmeric, all in equal proportions, around 20 grams and mix with 400 ml of water. Boil till residue remains 100 ml. Take the mix with honey in morning and evening, which treats gonorrhea.

2) Take leaves of arjuna, quince, syzygium cumini, 'mrinali', 'shriparni', 'mahendi', 'dhai' and mix them with 'ghee' and salt. It is much beneficial in the disease.

Treatment of Shukrameh with Arjuna Tree:

The patient should take the decoction of the arjuna bark or white sandal regularly in morning and evening, which treats the disease.

Treatment of Urine disorder with Arjuna Tree:

Take 40 ml decoction of arjuna bark, which treats urine disorders.

Treatment of Fracture with Arjuna Tree:

When the body part is plastered due to broken bone, take finely grinded powder of arjuna bark, one spoon with 1 cup of milk, which strengthens bones. On the broken bone, use paste of its bark mixed with 'ghee'. It also helps speed union of the fractured bone.

Treatment of Inflammation with Arjuna Tree:

It effects on the kidney and helps in proper urine formation. It helps in the treatment of excessive water content in the body parts besides heart ailments.

Treatment of Obesity with Arjuna Tree (for Weightloss):

Take powder of arjuna root bark and 'gangeran', two grams each regularly in morning and evening, which treats diseases related to obesity.

Treatment of Blood Bile with Arjuna Tree:

According to Charak, soak Arjuna bark for entire night and in the morning filter the water and prepare a decoction. Its use is helpful in blood bile.

Treatment of Leprosy with Arjuna Tree:

In blood disorders and leprosy, take one spoonfull of arjuna bark powder with water daily. Also, its bark, when rubbed with water to prepare a paste, is helpful.

Treatment of Fever with Arjuna Tree:

In fever, take around 40 ml of its decoction, which treats fever.

Treatment of Abscess with Arjuna Tree:

1) Finely grind arjuna bark and prepare a decoction. Wash injuries and abscess with it, which is beneficial.

2) Take powder of its root, one spoon with milk, which treats bluishness due to some injury.

Treatment of Chronic Fever with Arjuna Tree:

Take one spoon full of its bark with 'gur' (jaggery), which treats chronic fever.

Treatment After Heart Attack with Arjuna Tree:

Take fresh bark of arjuna tree, dry it in open and prepare a powder. Take 250 grams of milk and an equal amount of water and boil it. Put three grams of arjuna powder (partially filled tea spoon) in it. After boiling, when the milk remains half of the quantity, remove it from the flame. Filter it and drink, which treats all heart problems and stops heart attacks. It is very effective medicine after heart attacks.

Other Procedures:

Take 12 grams of arjuna bark and boil with 250 grams of cow milk and an equal amount of water. When it remains half, mix 10 grams of sugar candy, which treats all heart troubles. In fact, arjuna is a miraculous gift of the nature and we all should take advantage of it.