Cholesterol buildup in the coronary arteries leads to the condition known as Hridaya roga in Ayurveda, which literally means heart disease. This is similar to atherosclerosis. When the cholesterol collects in the arteries leading to the heart, their lumen becomes narrow and the amount of blood entering the heart is insufficient. Due to this the heart needs to pump harder, causing several kinds of cardiovascular diseases, the worst of which is the fatal angina pectoris.

Cholesterol is present in fatty acids. Some cholesterol is needed for the proper utilization of foods in the body, formation of the hormones and the bile, etc. This is known as the high-density cholesterol, or simply, the useful cholesterol. The rest of the cholesterol simply builds up in the arteries without any apparent function. This is the low-density cholesterol, or the bad cholesterol.

The buildup of cholesterol can be reduced by several Ayurvedic treatments. Cholesterol reduction means safety from the various cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading causes of deaths in the world today.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Cholesterol

- Alfalfa (Medicago satina) Alfalfa is effective in treating problems of the arteries. It helps in clearing arteries congested with cholesterol.

- Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) Arjuna has been used since centuries in the treatment of heart related problems such as heart attacks. The bark of the arjuna when taken in powder form has beneficial properties. This can dissolve the cholesterol that accumulates in the coronary artery and reduce the possibility of heart attacks.

- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Coriander is a very good diuretic. It makes the kidneys perform their functions of excretion better. Therefore the kidneys flush out the excess unneeded cholesterols from the body.

- Garlic (Allium cepa) Garlic is very beneficial to people with cholesterol problems that affect the heart. Eating two to three cloves of garlic a day helps to reduce or even completely eliminate the harmful cholesterol in the blood. Garlic can disintegrate the blood cholesterol and hence free up the arteries.

- Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) This is a traditional Indian herb which has become very popular in the Ayurvedic treatment of cholesterol-related heart problems. It contains guggulsterones which have been proven to reduce the levels of cholesterol on regular use. 25 mg of these guggulsterones are prescribed for intake thrice a day.

- Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Holy basil has the capacity to dissolve the accumulated cholesterol from the arteries into the person’s bloodstream. From here they are eliminated by the kidneys.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Cholesterol

The various dietary regimes which will help you to reduce the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries are as follows:-

- Keep a careful watch on the amount of calories you are consuming. Say no to chocolates, ice creams, red meats and all such foods that can increase the calorie count.

- Sources of fats such as fried foods are to be avoided. Groundnut oil must be strictly prohibited. But fat sources such as cow’s milk, cow’s ghee and cow’s butter are recommended. Buffalo dairy products are to be avoided.

- Consume more fresh vegetables and fruits. Green leafy vegetables are needed since they would provide roughage for the elimination of the waste materials.

- Soy and soy products are very beneficial for the proper utilization of cholesterol.

- Drink lots of water. Water will help to remove the toxic buildup in the arteries.

- Smoking and alcoholism must be avoided as they interfere with the proper utilization of cholesterol in the body.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatment for Cholesterol

Ayurvedic treatment for high level of cholesterol is to prescribe the various herbs that have properties to reduce the buildup.

One popular herb in Ayurvedic medicine is arjuna. It is prescribed in several forms such as Arjunarishta and Arjuna Ghritam. Other popular medicines are Hridayarnava Rasa and Prabhakara Vati. If the cholesterol amount is very profuse, then Mrigamadasava is prescribed.

Yoga is also very beneficial in proper circulation and elimination of the cholesterol buildup in the body. Some of the useful asanas are:- a) Ardhamatsyendrasana b) Shalabhasana c) Padmasana d) Vajrasana

(4) Home Medications

- Drinking coriander in water everyday helps in the reduction of cholesterol in the body. This regime must be continued for about a month. Then the cholesterol levels must be checked again.

- Boil a glassful of milk with a piece of garlic in it. This will reduce the cholesterol and take care of cardiac pains. It has to be continued for a few days before the method begins to show its effects.

- Have cold hipbaths twice daily. These have been shown to have positive effects in the reduction of cholesterol when taken on a regular basis.

- A simple remedy is to have a single piece of garlic every morning. This takes time to show results, but the results are positive.

- Consume some almonds and walnuts on a daily basis.

By: Dr.Anna Hardy

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Backache is medically known as lumbago. It is the disease which afflicts any region of the vertebral column or the associated muscles. Each of the 32 vertebrae can develop sudden pains which could become a chronic condition. Though we use the term backache in general, actually it is a collection of various types of pains of the vertebral column.

People find these kinds of pains to be more common as they grow older. Though there are no gender specifics, lumbago may be a bit more in men than in women.

In Ayurveda, backache is called as Nithamba Shoola. Ayurveda treats this pain as a vata disorder, which causes both the types of weaknesses, i.e. the bone weakness and the muscle weakness. Hence when deciding on a proper treatment pattern for backache, one needs to consider the vitiation of the vata dosha.

Let us see some of the common treatment patterns used in Ayurveda for the treatment of lumbago.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Backache

® Betel (Areca catechu)

Betel is one of the traditionally used herbs in the treatment of backache. The juice of the betel leaves is mixed with refined coconut oil. When this juice is applied on the loins, it provides relief from the sudden pains.

® Garlic (Allium sativum)

Among the many benefits that garlic has, an important one is relieving pains of lumbago. An extract of garlic provided to the patients provides relief from the pains without having any undesirable side effects.

® Indian Aloe (Aloe barbadensis)

The pulp of a single leaf of aloe consumed on a daily basis provides relief from backache problems.

® Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates)

Lemon grass is mixed with twice its bulk of coconut oil and applied externally on the affected regions. This eases the pains.

(2) Dietary Treatment for Backache

Since backache is a condition caused due to vata vitiation, any food that can aggravate the vata further must not be taken. Sour and fried foods must be totally avoided. Even pulses must be eliminated from the diet. Rice must be reduced; rather food grains such as wheat, millet and sorghum are better.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Backache

® The Ayurvedic preparation, Prasarani, is the drug that is most commonly used for the treatment of backache. Prasarani is Paederia foetida, which is a plant species. The method of use can be either external or internal. For better effects the oil of the plant is used. Massaging with this oil about two or three times a day provides immense relief from backache problems. Even if the pain subsides, the treatment must be continued for a month so that the pain does not recur.

® Other oils available for massaging the affected parts are the Narayana and the Mahanarayana oils. These oils must be used for fomentation or mixed in warm water to give a hot tub bath.

(4) Home Medications

® Mix equal proportions of limestone and honey. Apply this paste on the region where the pain is the severest.

® Grind some sesame seeds in water. Warm this solution and apply it repeatedly on the part where it pains the most.

® Put two teaspoonfuls of cumin seed powder in a glass of water and warm the solution. Soak a towel in this water and then use it to foment the affected parts. Relief should be obtained within a couple of hours.

® Roast about 100 grams of fenugreek seeds. Then grind them roughly and mix in them a quarter portion of rock salt. Put two teaspoonfuls of these in hot water every morning and evening and let the fumes come in contact with the region where the pain is persistent. This treatment provides relief in fifteen days.

® Take 1 gram of pure asafetida and mix it with egg yolk. Apply this paste on the affected spinal region. This is a quick method of getting relief from the pains, but it is a temporary method.

® Mix two or three pieces of cardamom in warm milk. Introduce about a pinch of turmeric in it. This is to be drunk every night before going to sleep. Immense relief will be obtained in the morning.

(5) Preventive Methods

® Instead of sleeping on a soft mattress at night, use a hard mattress. If you can, sleep on the ground with the back straight; that is, with the spine touching the ground as much as possible.

® Use ergonomic chairs in your workplace. See that the chair makes contact with the spine fully when you sit on it.

® Do not cramp yourself in one position. Shuffle your position often. When traveling, try to get up and move about whenever you can.

® Exercise often, but do not stretch your back. Perform gliding motions when exercising.

® Yogic asanas that can be used to prevent lumbago pains are:-

a) Bhujangasana

b) Halasana

c) Shalabhasana

d) Shavasana

e) Uttarapadasana

By: Tom alter

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