 The power of holy durva grass
Durva is a sacred grass and has a special significance when it comes to Lord Ganesha. The word ‘durva’ is derived from the words ‘duhu’ and ‘avam’. ‘Duhu’ means, that which is far away and ‘avam’ means that which brings closer. Thus, in a way, we can say that the Durva grass brings the Ganesha devotees closer to him. It is especially an important offering when you perform Ganesh puja. The Durva grass consists of three blades which represent the three principles of primal Shiva, primal Shakti and primal Ganesha. Durva is said to have the highest ability to attract the Ganesha principle which explains why it is an important offering made to Lord Ganesha. Durva grass is a traditional herb used in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines since time immemorial. Durva is a perennial creeping grass which grows in any type of soil. The spreading nature of the grass could be the reason for Durva to be known as the Devil’s grass. Durva in Sanskrit means “which is cut or eaten by animals”. Durva grass is a storehouse of healthy nutrients like proteins, calcium, potassium, fibre, phosphorous, carotene, sitosterol. BENEFITS OF DURVA - Enhances immune function -Durva grass contains protein fractions which enhance the immune modulator activity that helps in optimizing the immune system. Cures skin problems-A paste of the Durva grass mixed with turmeric and applied on the affected area is a remedy for a host of skin related disorders. Improves digestion-To treat acidity, one should take juice of Cynodon dactylon (3-4 tsp) and water (1 glass) empty stomach in the morning. This mix is quite effective not only for acidity but also beneficial for stomach ulcer, colitis, and stomach infections. Controls blood sugar levels- Doob grass juice along with neem leaf juice is good in normalizing blood sugar level. Relieves stress -Consumption of Durva grass juice regularly relieves stress and strengthens the nervous system. Epitaxis -Cynodon dactylon is effective in stopping of nose bleeding . For this, one has to put 2 drops of doob grass juice on the bleeding nostril. Purifies blood-Juice of Durva taken every morning on an empty stomach is said to detoxify the body. Boosts heart health-Regular consumption of Durva grass juice helps in reducing weight and the cholesterol levels. Cure for conjunctivitis -A few drops of the juice is dropped in the eyes to treat conjunctivitis. Cares for Hb -Durva contains 65% of chlorophyll thus is a natural remedy for treating anemia as it increases the red blood cells Good for a woman’s overall health- A spoon of the Durva grass juice taken along with yoghurt is effective in treating Urinary tract infection and vaginal discharge in women. Durva strengthens the uterus and is highly beneficial for curing abortion. It is a natural remedy for PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) and boosts production of prolactin It is very effective in treating excessive blood loss during menstruation. Relieves oral problems-It is used to treat bleeding gums and bad breath. How to consume Durva grass- a few strands of Durva grass should be taken and washed properly with clean water. A fine paste should be made by adding a little water to it. One spoonful of this paste should be mixed in a glass of warm water or milk in order to avail health benefits from it.
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 Tackling Migraine with Ayurveda
With the increasingly busy lifestyle, stress, lack of sleep, and unhealthy eating habits, migraine is becoming a growing concern even in young adults. Ayurveda, the world’s oldest system of medicine, provides holistic healing in the severest cases of Migraine by offering root-cause based personalized treatment and medicines. Migraines are defined as a neurological condition that gives rise to headaches which can be mild, moderate or severe in intensity. It occurs due to abnormal brain activity affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain . It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, numbness, tingling, sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last from 4-72 hours and the pain can be severe. About three out of four people who have migraines are women. Migraine is known as Suryavartha soola in Ayurveda, where Surya means Sun and avartha means arise of affliction, thus the aggravation of pain with light and heat. However, the type of migraine headache may be different according to a person’s individual constitution. Symptoms Varies between Pulsating headache, often on one side,Nausea,Sensitivity to light, noise, and odours,Pulsating and recurrent pain,Blurred vision,Light headedness,Fatigue. Causes The exact cause of migraine is not well-known but genetic and environmental causes play an important role. We know in Ayurveda they can be caused by a Pitta-Vata imbalance. Physical Factors like low blood sugar, wrong posture, sleep deprivation, exhaustion, over exposure to intense lights, sounds, or smells, severe weather changes, frequent travelling .Emotional Factors Like Stress, excitement, depression, inability to handle emotions, overwhelm and anxiety .Dietary factors Like skipping meals, alcohol and caffeine consumption, soy products and artificial sweeteners are responsible create imbalance in the body.Hormonal causes Like Menstrual cycles, menopause, birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy that cause the hormonal levels to fluctuate can spark migraines. Ayurvedic approach to treat migraine headaches The goal of Ayurvedic treatment for migraine is to pacify the vitiated doshas and restore the digestive function of your body with a combination of therapies and treatment that enhance the ojas (vitality), relaxes the mind and strengthens the nervous system. Role of Panchakarma therapies in treating migraine Panchakarma therapies cleanse the body of toxic materials (ama), purifies the tissues at a very deep level, eliminates the harmful ama and balances the doshas.Special treatments like Sirodhara, Shiroabhyanga, Sirovasti etc. helps to nourish the nerve system and thereby the action of Vata is normalised. Nasya-Nasya (administering of herbal preparations through the nostrils) is one of the treatments which directly acts on the nerves and removes the toxins accumulated in the sinuses. Other Panchakarma treatments like Vasti (enema), and Virechana (purgation) also help to eliminate toxins from the body. Shirodhara: In Shirodhara, a continuous stream of warm oil is poured over the area where the nerves are highly concentrated i.e. the forehead. This way the pressure of the oil forms a vibration on the forehead which helps the nervous system and mind experience mental relaxation. Sirolepam - Shirolepa is the application of effective herbal pastes containing camphor, sandalwood, jatamansi, and many more on the affected area. Best Ayurvedic Herbs for Migraine include Bala, kumari, Mallika, Amalaki, sariva, yastimadhu, hareetaki and many more Dos and Don’ts for Migraine
 In Panchakarma treatment, five procedures are undertaken for eliminating the vitalized doshas from the body. The five procedures form the basic types of Vasti.Vasti has a great healing capability and is considered to be the half treatment for many diseases. The treatment is primarily used for flushing out loosened doshas from the body via the intestinal tract.Ayurvedic therapeutic enema is advised as the prime and the most important treatment to balance vata (the air factor) and to address all the three doshas (humors)Doshas.
It is rendered in two ways: The first is by channelizing warm medicated oils or decoctions on the affected areas of the body through a concentrated channel made from herbal pastes or leather; the second is through medicated enema. It is a highly effective treatment that helps treat multiple Dosha disorders, degenerative disorders, neurological ailments, rheumatic complaints etc. How are Ayurvedic therapeutic enemas performed? Before administration of the Ayurvedic therapeutic enema, body is prepared by massaging with herbalized oils and then applying steam. After that when you are lying down, herbal formulations are introduced using an enema bag by an expert. Once the administration is finished, abdomen, lower back, hands and feet are massaged vigorously to improve absorption. The herbs can remain in the bowel for a few minutes to many hours (according to the type of the formulation) before it is eliminated. Types of Ayurvedic therapeutic enema: According to the herbal formulations used and dose, enemas are classified mainly into 2. Oil Enema (Snehavasti): In Sneha Vasti, only medicated oils or ghrithams are used unlike in other vastis, where a combination of various ingredients with predominant decoctions are used. Oil enema helps to lubricate the colon, softens hard facal matter and stimulates bowel movements. Oil enema is the ideal treatment for vata imbalance. Generally oil enema is advised after food, Usually multiple sessions of oil enemas are advised for specific illnesses and long lasting results. Herbal Enema (Kashaya vasti): A combination of decoction, honey, oil, salt and other herbal medicines are used for this enema. It is the main treatment for all Vata disorders. There are thousands of formulations for herbal enema to address different imbalances and illnesses. It helps in pacifying the Vata Dosha and restores its equilibrium. It also helps to some extent in maintaining the balance between all the three Doshas namely Vata, Pitta & Kapha; thereby maintaining a state of health.By selecting appropriate herbs and formulations, herbal enemas can be used to correct any imbalance and disease (provided the imbalance is reversible and the individual is not contraindicated for herbal enema eg. pregnancy, children, elderly, physically too weak, etc). Herbal enema is highly recommended in case of
 Ayurveda factors in three pillars of health, Ahara (Nutrition), Vihar (Balanced lifestyle), and Nidra (Sleep). It’s no wonder that sleep and nutrition are accorded equal importance! According to the root text, Charaka Samhita, ‘happiness, nourishment, strength, virility, knowledge, and life itself depend on proper sleep’.
Sleep according to Ayurveda: “Yada Tu Manasi Klante Karmaatmanah Klamaanvitaha | Vishayebhyo Nivartante Tadaa Swapati Maanavaha” (Cha Su 21/ 35) According to the Ayurvedic clock, it’s best to wake up before sunrise and sleep before 10 p.m., when the kapha period has induced dullness in the body. It’s also important to have a gap of at least 2 hours between dinner and sleep time. An ideal time for dinner is 7 p.m. If you’re eating a late dinner, aim for something light and eat 2 hours before you go to sleep. Sleep can be physiological, induced by Tamas (lethargy), Kapha, mental or physical exertion, illnesses and stress, improper nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental factors can cause,
Insomnia is a very profound sleeping disorder, generally followed by day time sleepiness, low energy, lethargy, fatigue, irritability. The cases of insomnia are ever growing. Factors like stress, lifestyle habits and dietary choices have a severe impact on sleep and gradually develop into insomnia. Ayurvedic remedies for a good night’s sleep *Regular practice of yoga along with pranayama, or deep breathing exercise, in the morning also helps in improved sleep. Here's how Ayurveda could help for a better sleep *Some common Ayurvedic herbs for improved sleep quality include: Brahmi,(vallarai)Vacha(vasambu),Ashwagandha(amukkuram),Jatamansi(jatamaamsi),tagara(tagarai),Shankhapushpi(sankhapusphi),Jyotishmati(Valulurai) *Applying stimulating oils like Bhringaraja thailam,himasagara thailam ,chandanadi thailam,ksheerabala thailam , Tila Taila on the head and pressing down on the scalp in gentle, circular motions remarkably soothes the mind. *The juice extracts from sugarcane regulates mood, memory and sleep, hence ensuring uninterrupted rest at night. *Milk is a great sleep supporter. You can also add some crushed almonds(badaam), a pinch of nutmeg(jaathi kaai), and a pinch of cardamom, for a flavourful and healthy potion right before you tuck into your bed. *Add one teaspoon of Brahmi and Ashwagandha powder in two glasses of water. Boil them and then reduce it to one glass and drink it daily at least once for best results. * Have one teaspoon of licorice root powder(adi madhura podi) with a glass of cold milk every morning on an empty stomach, for instant and best results *The combination of milk and honey is the best to induce sleep and has been practiced for a long time *Chronic cases of insomnia may be treated with shirodhara, a procedure where oil is slowly poured on the forehead. *Internal medications like manasamitra vatakam ,aswagandharistam,saraswatha ristam ,kallyana ghritha can help |