FEATURED QUESTIONS

What is the best adjuvant drink for Chyawanprash?

Chyawanprash contains Amla as the main ingredient, which is a natural coolant. But most other ingredients of Chyawanprash are hot in nature, like honey, long pepper, Dashamoola group of herbs etc. This makes the Chyawanprash a hot product. It slightly increases heat in the body. Milk is a natural coolant. Hence it is ideal to take Chyawanprash with milk. For people with milk intolerance, water is the best adjuvant.

Is Ayurveda treatment totally safe?

It is like asking - Is water safe? Water is safe, if we drink in limited quantity and it is not, if we drown in it. Most of the medicines used in Ayurveda are herbal in nature. Ayurveda uses natural methods like lifestyle adjustment and diet advice as the mode of treatment. Ayurveda treatment is quite safe, under an able Ayurvedic physician.

Is heating of honey contra indicated as per Ayurveda?

Yes, heating of honey is contra indicated, though there is no strong scientific explanation to back this fact. That is why, even in making Chyawanprash and other herbal jams, honey is added only at the end of the procedure, when the jam is cooling down.

Taking hot water with honey is a very famous home remedy for weight loss. Even here, Ayurveda advises to use only lukewarm water. Very hot water should not be used in this remedy.

What is the best time to take Chyawanprash?

Chyawanprash benefits mainly the respiratory and immune systems. These two are related with Kapha Dosha. If you divide a day into three parts, morning one third is dominated by Kapha Dosha. Hence, morning, before food is the best time to take Chyawanprash.

Can Ayurvedic medicines be taken without Doctor's prescription?

There are some single herb remedies like Amla powder, pepper powder, turmeric, curry leaves, cardamom, cinnamon etc that we use daily. These herbs and spices can be used based on once need without doctor's advice.

But to use any Ayurvedic medicines other than simple herbs, it is always better to consult an Ayurveda doctor. Choosing an Ayurvedic medicine depends on lot of factors such as one's Dosha body type, area of living, extent of disease progress, his tolerance capacity towards strong medicines, age, sex, pregnancy, lactation, etc.

I am 32 years old and have always had issues with my menstrual cycle. For instance I have been off the pill for 5 or 6 months now and i started getting my period every 14 days now its been over 35. How can I heal that part of my body?

For the correction of your menstrual cycle, you can do yoga, pranayam and meditation regularly. It will help to correct hormonal imbalance.

Pill induced cycle means you need to take natural form of estrogen. You can add asparagus in your diet. Add antioxidants in your diet such as broccoli, avocado, greens.

Ayurvedic herbal supplements helps as they contain natural form of estrogen. Contact us over phone to get details of these supplements.

I'm 22 years old. I stay in Manhattan. I'm having dandruff and itchy scalp. How can I get rid of this problem?

Check if you have a fungal infection. If Yes, then you need medication.

Please try these simple home remedies (Any One) -

1. Mix tulasi powder and neem powder with curds and apply.
2. Apply warm coconut oil twice a week and wash off with mild shampoo. Apply curd on scalp after oiling the scalp once a week. Wash off after 20 minutes.

I am reading a lot about Ayurveda and I have question about mixed constitutions. How can I know which types of food are suitable for me? Or do I have to look which part of constitution needs to be more balanced and then focus on this?

The constitution has predominance of one of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha). Depending on this we can advice which diet suits u best. You do not balance the constitution but u have to balance the doshas. Depending on which dosha is predominant in your constitution you have to eat foods to balance that.

Send me your constitution and then I can help further with your doshas & diet...

Please tell me how to reduce blood pressure naturally or home remedies.

- A brisk walk every day for 30 to 45 mins will help you a lot to reduce high blood pressure. Early morning and post dinner walks are best.

- Practice of Pranayama regularly will help to ease.

- Cut down on smoking and alcohol if you have the habit.

- Reduce salt in your diet.

- Regular use of garlic, banana, celery, methi and lemon in your daily food helps a lot.

I'm 42 and have lost a lot af weight, getting anxiety, losing hair, dizzyness and so on. I think my Vata is over active. How can I get it in order?

For vata to balance you need to work on your lifestyle and thought process as well. This is also called the perimenopausal period which the body undergoes before menopause. Practice few relaxation yoga postures and Pranayama as well. Practice of alternate nostril breathing and brahmari will help a lot to balance vata.

Hi, I'm 20, I have an active lifestyle, I travel often, do not eat meat (but I do eat fish, eggs, and dairy). I eat lots of vegetables and fruit but I have digestion problems, heavy constipation, cramps, my stomach is bloated all the time. Why?

Good to know your lifestyle and diet is good, hope you are having good quantity of water as well as fibre too as they are also very important in your diet. Including greens in the diet and papaya or guava will help. Soak 10 raisins in water overnight and take it early in the morning. The bloating is due to constipation. Take 2 tabs of thriphala at bed time and 2 early in the morning with warm water.

What might an Ayurvedic treatment plan involve?

·         Diet: Recommendations are individualized to a person's dosha and the season. Foods can either balance or cause imbalance to each dosha. See a list of foods thought to balance each dosha.

·         Cleansing and detoxification: This may be done through fasting, enemas, diets, and body treatments.

·         Herbal medicine: Examples of Ayurvedic herbs are triphala, ashwaghanda, gotu kola, guggul, and boswellia.

·         Yoga

·         Meditation

·         Exercise: Individualized to a person's constitution

·         Massage: Medicated herbal oils are often used.

How are Ayurvedic practitioners trained?

In India, there are many undergraduate and postgraduate colleges for Ayurveda, where the training can involve up to five years of study.

Outside of India, some people who have been trained in another health profession (e.g. medical doctor, nurse, naturopathic doctor) study Ayurveda before or after their training. Other practitioners attend Ayurvedic college only.

Currently, there are no national standards for the certification training or licensing Ayurvedic practitioners in the United States or Canada.

Because of its growing popularity, Ayurvedic treatments, particularly at spas and salons, are increasingly being performed by people who have not received formal training in Ayurveda. That's why if you are interested in consulting with an Ayurvedic practitioner, it is important to seek a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner and learn about his training.

Are there any potential concerns with using Ayurvedic medicine?

·         According to NCAAM, in 2004, 14 out of 70 Ayurvedic herbal remedies tested were found to contain lead, mercury, and/or arsenic at potentially harmful levels. All products were manufactured in South Asia.

·         In the same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received 12 reports of lead poisoning linked to the use of Ayurvedic herbal products.

·         A lack of research exists on the effectiveness, safety, side effects, and potential drug interactions of Ayurvedic herbal products. Although some research has been done, there have generally been problems with the design of the studies.

·         In North America, the use of traditional Ayurvedic practices, such as emesis, enemas, and blood cleansing, is considered highly controversial and the safety of such practices is unknown.

What should people do if they are considering or using Ayurveda?

·         Talk with your doctor first if you are considering Ayurveda for a health condition.

·         Ayurveda should complement, not replace, conventional care. If you are experiencing any new symptoms, consult your doctor as a first step.

·         Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, rather than trying to treat yourself with Ayurvedic products.

·         Be sure the Ayurvedic practitioner knows your full health history and is aware of all medications you are taking.