Sterility is the condition in which the person is totally biologically incapable to produce children. It is also known as infertility. Sterility is always spoken of as the problem of a couple rather than of an individual. The problem can be of either the male or the female partner, so in general, we say that the couple suffers from sterility. One of the preliminary steps in treating infertility is to determine whether the problem lies with the male or the female partner.

There are two types of sterility or infertility seen in people. The first type is known as primary sterility. This is when the couple has never conceived a child. The second type, known as secondary sterility occurs when the couple has conceived a child, but has had a miscarriage. Primary sterility can be due to the male or the female partner; but secondary sterility is only due to problems with the woman’s reproductive system.

Dietary Guidelines for the Treatment of Sterility

Sometimes the problem is with the food habits of the person. The following dietary guidelines must be obeyed by men and women who are unable to bear children.

- All milk products are found to be very good for bearing children. Drinking on glass of pure milk before the sexual activity always helps. This is found to be more effective in the male. This explains the Indian tradition of the bride giving the groom a glassful of milk on the first wedding night.

- Males suffering from sterility must not consume more of saline, sour, pungent and bitter foods. Foods that are sweet and astringent in taste are good. Sweet dishes prepared in milk are the best.

- Females suffering from sterility must avoid alkaline and pungent foods. Instead, they must take sweet foods and fruits in large quantities.

- Eggs are very good for promoting conception in both men and women.

- Rice is better than wheat for sterile couples. Women who are not able to conceive must be given an all-rice diet.

- Ghee is the only acceptable fat for sterile couples.

- Honey is considered to be good. It is also effective in several problems of the reproductive system in both men and women.

- Nuts are very good for men who have a low sperm count. Groundnuts and almonds top the list.

- People who have sterility problems must never keep their stomachs empty for a long period of time.

Ayurvedic Treatments for Sterility

For Sterile Women

Bala is the herb which is mostly prescribed for sterile women. Externally, it is used as a douche. For this purpose, its root is boiled in oil and milk and then used with lukewarm water. Internally, it is used in the form of medicated oil taken along with milk.

Phala ghrita is also very commonly prescribed. This is given in doses of two teaspoons twice daily when the stomach is empty. Milk is the vehicle used for phala ghrita. Other medicines used are Vanga bhasma and Shilajit. Shilajit is very well-known for its aphrodisiacal properties in both men and women. The dosage of Shilajit is also one teaspoon twice a day.

For Sterile Men

The root of the Ashwagandha plant is most important for the treatment of sterility in men. Its root is dried to kill its smell of horse urine, then powdered and taken in a cup of milk. The ratio is one teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder in one cup of milk. It is to be taken twice every day. Sugar can be mixed in it. Some Ayurvedic doctors also use Ashwagandharishta, which is a preparation of Ashwagandha in alcohol.

Makardhwaja is another important medicine. Makardhwaja is prepared by mixing gold, mercury and sulfur in a careful proportion. It is given in quantities of 125 milligrams twice daily on an empty stomach. The vehicle used is butter and sugar can be added for flavoring it.

Home Remedies for Sterility

- Grind the aerial root of a banyan tree to a fine powder. Collect about 10 grams of this powder. Put this powder in half a liter of milk and boil it. When about 200 milliliters are left, remove it from the flame and strain it. Mix sugar and honey in it. The woman must have this everyday from the fifth or seventh day of the commencement of the periods. Continue having this milk daily for ten days hence. This is considered to be the most effective remedy to make infertile women conceive.

- For women who are keeping normal health, but are still unable to conceive, the following remedy is found to work. Mix Shatavari choorna in ghee or milk and drink it on a daily basis before retiring for the day. This solves all the problems of the reproductive system and also makes it possible for the women to conceive.

- After every meal, the woman must take an areca nut (supari). This is effective in increasing fertility.

- Sterile couples must not overindulge in sexual activity. Restraint must be had, as it will improve the quality of the male sperm.

- Obesity is one of the leading causes of sterility. Hence, enrolling yourself in a weight-loss program will also help to bear children.



By: Dr.Anna Hardy

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Ringworm is a very contagious skin disease which is transmitted through a family of fungi known as dermatophytes. This disease can affect the skin of the scalp, hands, feet, chest and the nails. The ringworm inflammation is seen like a darkened ring on the skin (hence the name; it has nothing to do with worms) covered with a silvery border. Ringworm spreads in a circular manner, and the skin inside keeps getting recovered. Hence there will be a dark ring with tender skin in the center. This is an indication of ringworm.

In Ayurveda, ringworm is known as dadru. Like almost all other skin diseases, it is also caused when the vata dosha is vitiated.



(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Ringworm

1. Butea (Butea monosperma)

The seeds of butea are effective in treating several skin problems including ringworm and eczema. A poultice of the leaves is prepared and applied on the affected regions.

2. Cassia (Cassia fistula)

The leaves of the cassia are beneficial in the treatment of ringworm. They are ground into a paste and applied directly over the affected parts.

3. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

The juice of the coriander leaves mixed with some turmeric is generally given to a patient who suffers from ringworm. It is also helpful if the skin becomes excessively dry and develops ringworm, especially in the winter months.

4. Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

The juice of the holy basil leaves are applied locally on the affected regions. The ringworm subsides after continuous application for a few days.

5. Leadwort (Plumbago zeylanica)

A mixture of the leaves of leadwort is made into a paste with salt and water. This is applied directly on the inflamed skin. This herb is beneficial even for the extremely obstinate ringworm marks.

6. Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus)

A paste of the leaves of the lemon grass is mixed with buttermilk. Applying this on the affected skin helps treat ringworm.

7. Margosa (Azadiractha indica)

Known popularly as the neem tree in India, the margosa is one of the best treatments for ringworm and is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine. It is used in a variety of ways for both internal and external administration.

8. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric is used since very ancient times in the treatment of ringworm. A solution of the turmeric powder is made and applied directly on the affected skin. Turmeric is also given mixed with honey to the patient in oral form.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Ringworm

Sour foods must be completely avoided in cases of ringworm. This includes curds, cheese and sour vegetables and fruits. Oily foods also aggravate the ringworm lesions. The same can be said about hot and spicy foods. Hence, all these kinds of foods must be avoided. Do not consume any preserved foods and beverages like tea and coffee. Chocolates are also prohibited.

Instead, bitter foods such as the bitter gourd, bitter drumstick and neem must be consumed. The diet must be kept natural and simple (i.e. with the minimal use of spices and artificial additives) as long as the ringworm persists. More greens must be consumed in the food in the form of salads, soups and vegetable dishes.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Ringworm

The Ayurvedic treatment for ringworm makes extensive use of the neem. It is used in the following two ways:-

- The patient is made to bathe daily in water which was boiled earlier with neem leaves in it.

- The neem leaves are made into a paste and applied over the affected parts.

If the ringworm is chronic (i.e. it recurs repeatedly even after treated completely once), then the Paradadi or the Dadrughna balms are applied over the affected skin.

For internal administration, Shuddha Gandhaka is prescribed for ringworm patients. This is given in small doses of 200 milligrams twice a day with honey.

In ringworm, it is necessary to continue the medication for a few days even after the lesions seem to be apparently healed. This is important, or there could be chances of a recurrence. Ideally, the medication should be continued for one week more.

(4) Home Remedies for Ringworm

1. Slice open a raw papaya. Apply its juice on the affected parts of the skin. Alternatively you can also apply the peel of the papaya onto the skin and keep it tied like a bandage. This will provide a cooling effect, which will reduce the itching and help in quick healing.

2. Drink lots of vegetable soups with carrots, radish and spinach in them as important ingredients. These soups will keep the skin moist and help it to fight against the fungal infection that causes ringworm.

3. Prepare a paste of mustard seeds and apply it directly on the affected skin. You will get a slight tingling sensation, but that indicates the healing process has begun. The tingling sensation will subside in a while.

4. Ringworm can become aggravated due to itching. If the skin is dry, then itching can cause eruptions and bleeding of the skin. This can be avoided by keeping the skin supple by the application of coconut oil.



By: Tom alter

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Allergic rhinitis is used to describe an inflammation of the lining of the nose caused by an allergy. The symptoms include a ‘runny’ nose and sneezing, nose, roof of the mouth, and the ears, may be itchy.

Ayurveda believes in three doshas, which are vata, pitta, and kapha, an imbalance in which results in a disease. Ayurveda has the faith that allergy or Sheetpitta is variety of unwholesome condition of pitta. In this condition the pitta loses its natural warmth.

It can occur when you eat spices or hot food, drink caffeine, or are exposed to irritant chemicals, such as tobacco smoke or perfume. It also occurs due to airborne allergens, such as pollen of all types, house-dust mites and their faeces, mould spores, animal dander and feather and household sprays.

Allergic rhinitis can best be taken care of by taking certain dietary and lifestyle precautions. Some of them are:

Certain foods are more mucous producing and Ayurvedic medicine recognizes those foods as Kapha foods thus aggravating allergies like dairy, wheat, sugar, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, bananas, oranges, and grapefruits. Food additives like artificial dyes and different preservatives also play major factors

Home environment such as forced air, gas heat, pets and carpet which harbors dust mites, molds, bacteria along with many chemicals are certainly aggravating factors.

Dry grains like chickpeas, kala channa, corn, fish like salmon, trout, cod are better choices. Tea with cardamom, pepper and ginger, lemon juice and honey work effectively. Diet rich in lots of fruits and vegetable of different colors are recommended.

Carpets are one of the major contributors to allergies as they breed dust mites. The best choice is to remove the carpet, which eliminates the area for the dust mites to breed also use pillows with micro fiber.

Yoga -The Sheetpitta of respiratory system like Rhinitis can be cured by the regular practice of certain type of Pranayamas like Bhastrika, ujjai.

Panchakarma-Vaman (the emesis therapy) and Virechan therapy (the laxatives therapy) are very effective to detoxify the body.

Allergic Rhinitis from an Ayurvedic perspective is due to the toxins present in the body (ama) and due to the low immunity. Ama aggravates the levels of Pitta and Kapha in the body, giving rise to different symptoms of allergies. Ayurveda considers this as a Kapha-Pitta disorder.

Ayurveda believes in balancing the three doshas present in the human body thus treating the disease on the whole. Therefore it suggests the following approaches to get rid of allergic rhinitis:

1. A slice of ginger, pepper and cardamom can be added while preparing tea. Dried ginger can be also added to coffee without milk and taken.

2. Mix honey with half the amount of lemon juice and take the mixture early in the morning for few weeks.

3. Take two spoons of Apple cider vinegar and a bit of honey to a glass of cooled boiled water and take it early in the morning.

4. Have a diet rich in vitamin C and vitamin B.

5. Take chamomile tea twice a day.

6. Take one cup of Indian gooseberry and mix with two tsp of honey. Have it twice a day.

7. Pouring two to three drops of coconut oil into the nostrils at bedtime could provide relief.

8. Ayurvedic treatment procedure involves inducing therapeutic vomiting which helps in balancing Kapha.

9. Herbs like santalum, cardamom and licorice can be boiled in water (ratio 1:4) and reduced to quarter of the quantity. Drinking this often will help in preventing the aggravation of Pitta dosha.

10. Taking two tablets of guduchi thrice a day or consuming tea made of camphor, cloves and basil for about two weeks will help prevent the aggravation of Kapha.

11. Consuming herbs like Evening Primrose, nettle and Butterbur are also useful in treating allergic rhinitis.

12. Amrutharishta, Sudarsanasava, Dasamoola kaduthryam qwath, Indukantham qwath, Amruthotharam qwath, Septilin tablet and syrup, Step syrup and tablet etc are the commonly used medicines.

By: Rajesh Nair

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In the general sense, constipation is defined as the difficulty in performing the right kinds of bowel movements, which are essential in voiding the toxic waste materials of digestion. When constipation occurs, the person is not able to pass stools properly and in the right kind of frequency. This means, the toxins are getting retained within the body, which can lead to a host of complications within a short time.

Constipation - Causes from an Ayurvedic Point of View

Ayurveda treats constipation as a problem arising due to the predominance of the vata dosha . In fact, all people with the vata constitution have this problem to some extent or the other. From an Ayurvedic point of view, dietary bad habits are the main cause of constipation. The following are some of the dietary factors that lead to constipation:-

1. Eating at different times each day

2. Eating too late than the normal time

3. Eating food that is difficult to digest

4. Eating food without roughage (or foods that contain fiber content)

5. Eating mostly dry foods

6. Drinking too many beverages like tea and coffee

7. Drinking too many cold drinks

8. Not drinking enough water

Apart from these, Ayurveda has also pinpointed various environmental and behavioral factors that can lead to constipation. The following are these environmental and behavioral factors:-

1. Vices like smoking

2. Staying awake till late at night

3. Sleeplessness or insomnia

4. Mental worries and tensions

5. Feelings of guilt and fear

6. Age

Constipation - Symptoms from an Ayurvedic Point of View

Depending on the constitution of the person, there are different observed symptoms of constipation. The following are some of the symptoms:-

1. Vata dosha symptoms - The first symptom is a browning of the tongue, which cannot be cleaned easily. These people also have occasional feelings of uneasiness in their stomachs with flatulence. Stools are hard to eliminate, and food takes a long time to get digested properly.

2. Pitta dosha symptoms - The person will observe slightly yellowish stools and there will be a burning sensation in the anus as they are eliminated.

3. Kapha dosha symptoms - The colon feels heavy and there is low digestive fire. The person will feel lethargic most of the time. The person will also eliminate faint colored stools which are almost white in color. There is a strong feeling of gas and flatulence. Bad breath (halitosis) is also a common problem in this type.

Constipation - Ayurvedic Treatment Methods

Triphala is the best herbal mixture for the permanent treatment of constipation. This mixture of amala , behera and harada in the proportion of 2:1:1 has excellent laxative properties. The mixture must be given in doses of about one teaspoonful at night, preferably taken with water that has been slightly warmed. Triphala has many benefits in all types of constipation and for people of all dosha types, but it is found that triphala also acts amazingly in case of obstinate constipation, such as in people with old age that develop this condition.

An alternative for triphala is abhayarisha, which is supposed to be taken in quantities of 30 ml twice a day, for a period of one month.

By: Peter Rodrick

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