Cough

Cough is known as kasa in Ayurveda. Depending upon the involvement of the doshas and other factors, kasa has been defined to be of five types - Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Kshataj (traumatic) and Kshyaj (tubercular).

The causational factors of all types are different. For example, excessive physical exercise gives rise to Vataja kasa. Hot and spicy food along with anger and heat exhaustion give rise to Pittaja kasa. Ingestion of excessive sweets, laziness and sleeping during the day induces Kaphaja kasa. Overweight and extreme indulgence in sexual habits would induce Kshayata kasa. Excess of sex, indigestible food and suppression of natural urges would result in Kshayaja kasa.

Ingredients:

Almonds
Beleric myrobalans
Black Pepper
Butter
Ginger
Holy Basil
Honey
Long pepper
Small cardamom
Sugar
Table salt

Common Recipes:

1. On a pastry board grind 4-6 black pepper seeds.  Add a teaspoon of honey and mix it thoroughly. Taking this paste several times a day relieves cough.
2. Almonds are a good remedy for cough.  Soak about 5-8 kernels in water overnight. After removing the brown skin grind the softened kernels into a fine paste. Add 20 grams of butter and sugar to this paste. Eating this paste in the morning and evening gets rid of cough. This remedy especially comes handy in case you are suffering from a dry cough.
3. Take 10 grams of dried rind of Beleric myrobalans and 1/2 teaspoonful of black pepper. Grind them to a fine powder. Add a pinch of salt and 2 teaspoonfuls honey to this blend. Mix them well to form a paste.  Administered twice daily, this paste relieves cough.
4.  Take about 10 grams of each of long pepper, dried ginger, holy basil leaves. Add 4-6 small cardamoms and grind to yield a fine powder. Consuming this powder with equal amount of honey relieves cough. 

ABDOMINAL PAIN

This is known as Shoola in Ayurveda. Eight types of shoola have been described, which include Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Vata-Pittaja, Vata-Kaphaja, Tridoshaja and Amaja. 

All these types have their own characteristics. Vataja is a sharp pain, Pittaja pain is associated with burning in the chest and Kaphaja is mild pain and heaviness of head. Amaja is associated with flatulence, nausea and excessive salivation.

Ingredients:

Ajwain (Carom) seeds
Clarified butter
Ginger
Mint leaves

Common Recipes:

1. Extract 1 teaspoonful juice of fresh ginger and mix it with 1/2 a teaspoonful of clarified butter. Consuming this juice helps relieve abdominal pain instantly. 
2. Boil about a teaspoonful of Ajwain seeds in 1 cup (about 125 ml) of water for 5 minutes. Strain it through the tea strainer and add a pinch of common salt. Taking this solution helps to get rid of the pain. 
3. Take fresh mint leaves and extract them to get about a teaspoonful of juice. Mix this juice in a cup of plain water and drink instantly. Though this mixture does not taste good, it gives instant relief.

BRONCHITIS

Difficulty in breathing is termed as Shwas Roga in Ayurveda.  Ayurveda classifies specific difficulties in breathing into 5 different types. One of these types relates to the commonly known bronchial asthma. In this condition, a vitiated Vata and Kapha, leading to acute breathlessness, cause an obliteration of the respiratory passage.

According to Ayurveda, intake of incompatible foods and internal generation or exposure to toxic substances cause the vitiation, leading to bronchial problems. 

Ingredients:

Spogel seeds
Fresh Ginger
Honey
Mustard oil
Camphor
Betel leaves

Common Recipes: 

1. Ayurveda considers that attacks of breathlessness are more actively precipitated by constipation. To prevent them or to control their intensity, make sure you have regular bowel movement. For this purpose, you may frequently use spogel seeds. This herb is also called Psyllium.
2. If your bronchial problem is a seasonal one, take 2 teaspoonfuls of fresh ginger juice mixed with an equal volume of honey. Taking this twice a day helps to check the frequency and the intensity of your problem.

When you have an acute attack of breathlessness, don't depend on a home remedy alone. Take your routine medication as advised by your physician.

One of the following measures may help you as additional support -

3. Take 2 tablespoonfuls (about 30 ml) of mustard oil or any other vegetable oil. Warm it well. Dissolve about 2 grams of camphor in the oil. Apply this oil gently all over the chest, neck and back. Do not massage. Allow the oil to work for a few minutes. Later, give a dry fomentation. This is a simple measure, generally good for all ages. Make sure that your skin is not allergic to camphor.
4. Take 3-4 fresh betel leaves and boil them in about 250 ml of water till the quantity of water is reduced to half. Strain the decoction and add 2 teaspoonfuls of honey while the liquid is still warm but not very hot. Ingesting this recipe as a supplement may ease your problem during an attack of breathlessness. 

BURNS

Ingredients: 

Turmeric
Sesame oil

Common Recipes:

1. A paste made of turmeric powder and water, applied locally, provides instant relief to a burn injury. 
2. Sesame oil, applied on the affected burnt skin, provides equally good relief. 

COMMON COLD

Ayurveda terms the common cold as Prathishyaya. Vitiation of Vata and Kapha individually or together, is generally involved in the ailment. A cold is probably the most commonly encountered ailment in the human body thereby being often to as the 'common cold'. 

Allergy to changes in weather or an infectious virus is considered important causative factors of the common cold. As a result, the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract get inflamed. This leads to cold symptoms including sneezing, running nose, headache, sore throat, body pain etc.

Ingredients:

Black Pepper 
Cinnamon bark 
Ginger 
Honey 
Lemon 
Milk
Sugar
Turmeric 

Common Recipes:

1. Boil about 5-10 grams of small slices of freshly cut ginger in a glass of water for 5 minutes. Add a teaspoonful of sugar to enhance the taste. Strain the decoction through a tea strainer. Drinking this tea 4-6 times a day ensures instant relief from the common cold.
2. Grind 4-6 seeds of black pepper. Add this powder together with a pinch of turmeric to a cup of milk and boil it for 2 minutes. Strain the milk through a tea strainer. Drinking this at bedtime helps you sleep better by preventing a stuffy nose and nocturnal dry cough caused by a common cold.
3. Coarsely powder the cinnamon bark. Boil about 20 grams in a glass of water, adding a pinch of black pepper powder and a teaspoonful of honey. Strain the decoction and drink it when hot. This would cure you of your cold.
4. Lemon is an important remedy for the obvious symptoms of a common cold. Dilute juice of one lemon in a glass of warm water. Add a teaspoonful of honey to it. Take this lemonade twice or thrice daily. This vitamin C rich lemonade increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of illness. 

CONSTIPATION

Constipation is known as Vibandha in Ayurveda. Leading causes of constipation are irregular food habits and irregular bowel habits besides psychological reasons. 

Vata is the dosha that is predominantly involved with Vibandha. It is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen, scanty feces or painful defecation, dry feces, headache and lower backache.

Ingredients:

Beleric myrobalan 
Black Pepper 
Castor oil 
Chebulic myrobalan 
Indian gooseberry 
Indian Senna 
Isapgula husk 
Purging cassia 
Rose petals 

Common Recipes:

1. A natural and simple diet is a significant factor in preventing constipation. Eat plenty of green vegetables, whole grains, cereals, bran, fresh and dry fruits, milk and milk products etc. One should carefully avoid faulty diets, intake of refined and rich foods lacking minerals and vitamins, overeating, excessive consumption of meat, regular use of purgatives and excess of strong tea or coffee. If you are prone to habitual constipation, taking warm water frequently during the daytime will help you. Food should be properly chewed and should be taken as per schedule, avoiding odd meal timings.
2. Mix the three myrobalans (Indian gooseberry, Chebulic myrobalan and Beleric myrobalan) in equal ratio and grind them in a mixer and sieve it. Consuming this powder with a glass of warm water twice or thrice a day 
   helps relieve constipation.
3. In a glass of cold water mix a teaspoonful of Isapgula husk. Take this solution followed by another glass of water. This remedy is highly useful for constipation.
4. Drink water from a copper vessel and leave it overnight. Drinking this water in the morning helps regulating the bowel movement. 
5. Mix one part of Indian Senna, 2 parts of Chebulic myrobalan, and one part of Indian gooseberry. Grind the mixture into a fine powder. Taking a teaspoonful of this powder is effective in chronic constipation. 

DIARRHEA

This condition is termed as Atisara in Ayurveda. Diarrhea could be caused by any of the following: intake of foods of any particular quality in excess; foods incompatible with your prakriti or with seasonal variations; intake of foods that are not well cooked; contaminated water or other beverages etc.

Further, in Ayurveda, diarrhea is also induced by mental causes and by toxins. Atisar is classified into 7 distinct types, namely Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja, Bhayaja (caused by fear), Tridoshaja, Shokaja (caused by grief) and Raktatisara (diarrhea associated with bleeding).

Ingredients:

Whey
Buttermilk 
Raw Banana
Poppy seeds
Pomegranate

Common Recipes:

During diarrhea, ensure that you are on a suitable diet to overcome dehydration, as advised by your physician. Home remedies are just supplementary approaches.

1. Whey and buttermilk are considered effective remedies for diarrhea. Whey is the liquid portion of curd while buttermilk is obtained by churning the curd after the fat has been removed. Take any one of them in small volumes at frequent intervals.
2. Raw banana is an effective astringent and is recommended widely as a diet for treating diarrhea. Cut one raw banana into three pieces and soften them in a pressure cooker using an adequate volume of water. Drain out the excess water. Separate the peel and mash the softened pulp well. In a skillet, roast a small volume of poppy seeds till they turn brown. Grind them to obtain a fine powder. Add this powder to banana mash together with a pinch of salt. This delicious and nutritious recipe checks diarrhea through its astringent properties.
3. The dried rind of a pomegranate is an invaluable remedy for diarrhea. A fine powder of this rind, 1 gram twice a day, taken with buttermilk helps check the frequency of loose motions.

INDIGESTION

This is known as Ajeerna in Ayurveda. It is a result of fasting or consumption of food before digestion of the earlier intake of food. Untimely food habits, heavy or dry food, psychological causes like fear, anger, jealousy etc., suppression of natural urges and excessive intake of water cause indigestion. A reduction in Pitta activity with an excessive Kapha characterizes the doshic profile of indigestion.

 

Ingredients:

Ajowan 
Asafetida 
Curry leaves 
Lemon 
Mentha 
Rock salt
Honey

Common Recipes:

1. Mix 5 grams of asafetida with a glass of hot water. Add a teaspoonful of sugar to improve the taste. Though it smells bad while swallowing, it rapidly relieves your system of flatulence and helps in relieving indigestion.
2. Add 2 drops of mint oil in a cup of warm water and drink immediately. It provides instant relief from gripping and flatulence.
3. Wash about 20-25 fresh curry leaves with cold water. Extract the juice from these leaves. In a cup of plain water, add about 1 teaspoonful of lemon juice and the juice of the curry leaves. Add 1 teaspoonful of honey to this blend and always drink this when it is fresh. It relieves nausea, vomiting and flatulence induced by indigestion.
4. Mix a teaspoon of Ajowan seeds with 1/2 spoon of rock salt. Consume the mixture with a glass of water. This will instantly get rid of flatulence and stomach disorder.

JOINT PAINS

Joint pains have broadly been classified under Sandhivata and Ama Vata. While Ama Vata correlates to rheumatoid 
arthritis in terms of pathology, the other type is close to arthritis from ageing. In both forms of joint pains, there is an involvement of Vata.

Ingredients:

Mustard oil
Dried ginger
Black pepper
Black salt

 

Common Recipes:

1. Massage of the affected joint has been the best remedy mentioned and observed by experience. The benefits of massage can be amplified if the massage is done using warm mustard oil. The oil may not offer a very pleasant odour, but a massage with this ensures relief.
2. Grind in your mortar and pestle equal parts of dried ginger, black pepper and a pinch of black salt. Take a teaspoonful of this mixture with water.

LOSS OF APPETITE

Loss of appetite and indigestion are closely linked entities of digestive disturbance in Ayurveda. Agnimandhya is the term used to denote loss of appetite while Ajeerna denotes indigestion. A harmonious balance of Vata and Pitta holds the essence of a normal appetite. A vitiation in their mutual balance could lead to a loss of appetite. Irregular dietary habits bring about an imbalance in Pitta while psychic problems like anxiety, fear or physical causes like suppression of impeding urges lead to an imbalance in Vata. Both these sequences lead to disturbances in normal levels of appetite.

Ingredients: 

Ajowan seeds	Honey
Asafetida	Indian gooseberry
Basil leaves	Long pepper
Black Pepper	Milk
Black salt	Mustard seeds
Buttermilk	Nutmeg
Cinnamon bark	Pomegranate
Cloves	Rock salt
Coriander	Small cardamom
Cumin seeds	Sugar
Fennel seeds	Tamarind pulp
Ginger

 

Common recipes:

1. Extract a cup of pomegranate seed juice. Add a pinch of rock salt and a spoonful of honey. Taking this solution slowly removes the bad taste from the mouth and increases your appetite!
2. Take equal parts of mustard seeds, asafetida, ginger, cumin seeds and black salt and grind the mixture to a fine powder. Add this mixture to a glass of buttermilk and drink it an hour before meals to enhance the appetite.
3. Mix well a spoonful each of Indian gooseberry powder, clarified butter and honey. Take this paste prior to meals to improve the appetite.
4. Ingredients: one part each of cloves, nutmeg and long peppers, 3 parts of Indian gooseberry and 8 parts of ginger. Grind the mixture to obtain a fine powder. Add sufficient sugar to make the taste palatable. Consuming a spoonful of this mixture twice or thrice a day helps in regaining lost appetite.
5. Mix in equal parts cinnamon bark, small cardamom, coriander seeds and fennel seeds. Soak the mixture in cold water overnight. Strain this blend with a tea strainer. Drinking this cold infusion early in the morning helps in building an appetite.
6. Soak about 10 grams of tamarind in a cup of warm water for 30 minutes. Squeeze the mass to obtain tamarind juice. Add a pinch of table salt to suit your taste. Add about 2 grams of powdered ajowan seeds. Taken before meals, this juice improves appetite. Alternatively, you can dilute 1/2 a teaspoonful of tamarind pulp in one cup of water for this purpose.
7. Basil tea is an efficacious drink to enhance appetite. Take about 20 grams of basil leaves and boil it in 250 ml of water until the quantity is reduced to half the original volume. Strain the liquid and mix an equal amount of milk, a pinch of cardamom powder and sufficient sugar to suit your taste. Consuming this tea twice a day helps to increase your appetite.

MUSCLE PAIN

Almost all pains including muscular pain in the body are described as Vataja in origin in Ayurveda. 

Ingredients:

Menthol
Cumin oil
Sesame oil

Common Recipes:

1. Heat about 50 ml of sesame oil gently and apply it when warm on the affected portion, after taking hot fomentation.
2. Dissolve 3 crystals of menthol and 2 drops of cumin oil in 3 teaspoons of sesame oil. For better results, you may use warm sesame oil. Apply this on the affected portion followed by a gentle massage for quick relief from muscular pain.

SORE THROAT

Sore throat has been mentioned as a primary symptom of common cold in Ayurveda. It has been described as a pinprick like pain in the throat. Vata-Kapha are usually involved in causation of sore throat.

Ingredients:

Ajowan seeds 
Black pepper
Cinnamon bark
Fenugreek seeds
Honey
Liquorice
Table salt

Common Recipes:

1. Soak two teaspoonfuls of ajowan seeds in cold water. Add a pinch of common salt. Using this infusion as a common gargle substantially eases the acute sore throat.
2. Coarsely powder the cinnamon bark. Boil a teaspoonful of this powder in water. Strain the extract and add a pinch of black pepper and a teaspoonful of honey. Consuming this decoction every three hours during the day cures a sore throat.
3. Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be added to a litre of cold water and simmered on a gentle flame. This should be allowed to cool to a temperature that could be tolerated by the buccal cavity. Strain this mixture and gargle with it several times a day. This cures a sore throat.
4. Liquorice is a well-recognised remedy for sore throat. Put a small piece of raw liquorice in the mouth and chew it regularly. It gives a soothing effect to the sore throat.
5. Decoction of common tea leaves with a pinch of table salt is used for gargling. This can be used twice or thrice a day to get rid of a sore throat.

WOUNDS

Wounds have been described in Ayurveda as Vrana. Almost all kinds of wounds have been described, including traumatic ones. The doshic involvement in Vrana is usually tridoshaja. However, the involvement of doshas varies with the stage of Vrana. For example, if pain is a characterizing symptom, involvement is of Vata. If the Vrana is in advanced stage, the involvement of Pitta is predominant. When the infection leads to pus formation, the involvement of Kapha is noted.

The recipes mentioned are for minor wounds. For serious wounds and if the healing is not proper consult your doctor immediately and take appropriate treatments. 

Ingredients:
Turmeric

Common Recipes:

1. Application of turmeric paste or even turmeric powder over the affected area provides help since turmeric is known to contain antibacterial principles.
2. A piece of raw turmeric (unpowdered) or alternatively, a teaspoonful of it boiled in a glass of milk taken internally offers relief from pain associated with wounds.

TOOTHACHE

Good and healthy teeth are an amazing balance of aesthetic beauty and engineering. The main cause of toothache is decay of teeth, which results from decomposition of food particles on them. It is basically a breakdown or destruction of the tooth structure by demineralization. The sugars and carbohydrates that are present in the mouth produce acids as a result of microbial attack. These acids erode the teeth causing teeth decay.

Ingredients:

Alum
Clove oil
Ginger
Margosa (Neem)
Mustard oil

Common Recipes:

1. Dip a swab of clean cotton in clove oil and place it under the aching tooth. It relieves pain instantly. This remedy helps to decrease infection due to its antiseptic properties.
2. A mixture of ginger and roasted alum when applied to the aching tooth twice or thrice a day eases the pain.
3. To one teaspoonful of ginger and roasted alum, add a few drops of mustard oil to make the paste fairly consistent to apply. This ensures a speedy recovery and application of this paste at regular intervals eases the pain considerably.
4. Take about 100 grams of Neem (Margosa tree) root and coarsely powder it. Boil this in about one litre of water over gentle heat till the quantity is reduced to half of the original volume. Strain the decoction and add a spoonful of a table salt. Keep this lukewarm decoction in the mouth and retain it for some time before gargling. Repeating this relieves pain.

ACNE

Acne is often associated with adolescence and is termed as Yuvanapidika in Ayurveda. Vitiation of Pitta and Kapha are generally involved in the outburst of pimples. Acne due to Pitta vitiation is generally red, soft, and small and tends to be aggravated in hot weather. On the other hand, in a Kapha type, the lesions are pale, hard, and fairly large, have an oily secretion and tend to aggravate in cold weather.

Ingredients:

Beleric myrobalan
Cucumber
Curd
Gram flour
Honey
Indian gooseberry
Indian pennywort
Lemon
Milk
Sandalwood oil
Turmeric

Additional Ingredients: 

Herbalised Bentonite clay                     6 parts
Indian lilac-powdered leaves                ½ parts 
Sandalwood powder                           ¼ parts
Camphor a pinch
Rose water                                          1 part
Sandalwood oil for fragrance.

Common Recipes:

1. Sticking to a proper eating schedule and avoiding excess intake of tea, coffee, pickles, fatty diets, aerated drinks, etc. prevent the appearance of acne. Chronic constipation should be taken care of well in advance. 
2. Wash the face properly with water and wipe it with a clean towel. Apply honey on the entire face with the help of cotton and leave it overnight. Wash off the honey in the morning with water and lemon juice. Practicing this for several days helps in curing pimples.
3. Slice a healthy and fresh cucumber and apply the slices over the face, eyes, neck etc. Leave them on for half an hour. It is a good tonic for the face and its regular use prevents pimples and black heads. 
4. Finely powder 20 grams each of Indian gooseberry and Beleric myrobalan. Add an equal amount of finely powdered gram flour and a spoonful of honey, a pinch of turmeric powder and a cup of milk. Mix this solution properly and apply on the face and let it dry well. Wash the face with cold water and try avoiding exposure to dust. Repeating this exercise for several days restricts the occurrence of pimples.
5. Make a fine paste of 100 grams of finely powdered gram flour, two spoons of curd, and a few drops of sandalwood oil. To this add 1/2 a teaspoonful of limejuice and mix well. Apply the paste on the face and wait for about an hour. Wash the face with cold water. Repeating this for several days will help you maintain a smooth skin. 
6. Decoction of the leaves of Indian pennywort is a recognised blood purifier. About 50 grams of leaves are boiled in water for 3-4 hours. Strain the decoction through a thin cloth. This decoction should be taken with lukewarm milk. Regular use of this remedy for several days acts as a good blood purifier, effectively controlling the acne problem.
7. The juice of Indian gooseberry is taken with clarified butter and honey to purify the blood. If fresh fruit is not available, mix 20 grams powder of the fruit with a teaspoonful of honey and clarified butter, and consume it. This paste is regarded as a potent blood purifier.

 

DRY SKIN

Dry skin is a predominant trait of a Vata constitution. Even in normal people, Vata causes dryness of the skin when it is vitiated due to seasonal influences. This dryness may even extend to the mucous membranes covering the lips and thus cause cracking. Dryness of the skin and the mucous membranes is also caused by certain illnesses like fever.

Ingredients:

Glycerine
Milk cream
Clarified butter
Vegetable oil 

Common Recipes:

1. An oil massage is a simple yet well-known remedy to treat dry skin. For better results, you may add a few drops of glycerine to the oil just before application.
2. Clarified butter or milk cream is good for cracked lips. Apply them for a couple of days just before going to bed.

FACE MASKS 

HERBAL BENTONITE CLAY

This clay is a common base for all facemasks.

Ingredients: 

Indian gooseberry powder    150 gms
Cherubic myrobalan              150 gms 
Beleric myrobalan                 150 gms
Bentonite Clay                      300 gms 
Water                                   600 ml

1. Take water in a wide mouthed vessel to which the powders of all the herbs have been added. Allow the mixture to boil till the initial volume of water is reduced to half.
2. Filter the contents through a double muslin cloth or cheesecloth to obtain a clear liquid.
3. Pour the decoction in a wide mouthed vessel. Soak the Bentonite clay in it and blend well. 
4. Transfer the contents into a tray and let it dry under the sun or in an oven. Pulverise any lumps that form. Store the powder.

DRY FACE

Ingredients: 

Hebraized Bentonite clay             6 parts
Aloe Vera gel                              ½ parts
Honey                                          1 part
Rose water                                   1 part
Water, to yield a consistent paste Jasmine oil for fragrance

Method of preparation

1. Mix the herbalised Bentonite clay; add honey and Aloe Vera gel well.
2. To this, add the rose water and mix well. Add water in small volumes, blending the contents well, to form a soft semi-solid paste.
3. Then add the perfumed oil and blend it well.

Usage

1. Use plain water to wash your face. Dry it with a soft towel.
2. Uniformly apply a little oil over your face. Don't massage it.
3. Evenly spread a little quantity of the paste over your face. Carefully avoid its contact with your eyes, lips and the inner parts of your nostrils.
4. Allow it to dry (approx. 5-15 minutes).
5. On drying it will act on your skin for 30 minutes. (The facemask has been in contact with your skin for 45 minutes in all.)
6. Gently peel off the mask rubbing it, with your fingers. If it is stuck to your face, apply a little oil to your fingers to make the peeling process more comfortable.

OILY FACE

Ingredients:

Herbalised bentonite clay                            6 parts
Orange peel (dried & finely powdered) ¼ parts
Honey                                                        1 part
Keora water                                               1 part
Luke warm water to yield a consistent paste. Orange peel oil or Keora water for fragrance.

Method of preparation

1. Blend all the solid ingredients.
2. Add honey and mix well.
3. Add small volumes of water while blending the contents into a soft, semi-solid paste. Add perfuming oil and blend well.

BLEMISHES

Ingredients:

Herbalised Bentonite clay                       6 parts
Turmeric - finely powdered                    ½ parts
Indian madder - finely powdered           ¼ parts
Sweet curd or yoghurt                            1 part
Sandalwood oil for fragrance.

Method of preparation

1. Blend all the solid ingredients.
2. Add yogurt/curd and mix well.
3. Add small volumes of water while blending the contents into a soft, semi-solid paste. Add perfuming oil and blend well.

ACNE

Ingredients: 

Herbalised Bentonite clay 6 parts
Indian lilac-powdered leaves ½ parts 
Sandalwood powder ¼ parts
Camphor a pinch
Rose water 1 part
Sandalwood oil for fragrance.

Method of preparation

1. Blend all the solid ingredients. 
2. Add rose water and mix well.
3. Add small volumes of water while blending the contents into a soft, semi-solid paste. Add perfuming oil and blend well.

MASSAGE OILS

DRY SKIN

Ingredients: 

Cherubic Myrobalan	20.00 g
Black lentil	10.00 g
Blue water lily	20.00 g
Costus roots	5.00 g
Liquorice	20.00 g
Water	600.00 ml
Sesame oil	500.00 ml
Wheat germ oil	5.00 ml
Milk	50.00 ml

One of the following 
perfuming oils: 0.75 ml
Jasmine oil
Rosemary oil
Geranium oil
Also needed - Olive oil

Preparation:

1. Soak black lentils in water for 3 hours till they swell. 
   Drain excess water and add fresh flowers and the tender stems of Blue water lilies. Grind them together.
2. Coarsely powder the Chebulic myrobalan, Costus root and 
   Liquorice and add some water to obtain an even paste.
3. Pour Sesame oil in a suitable vessel. To this, add the above-mentioned pastes, milk and water. Allow the contents to boil on a low flame. Stir them repeatedly 
   till all the water evaporates.
4. When only the oil remains, put off the flame. Let it become lukewarm. Strain the oil through a double-layered muslin or cheesecloth. On cooling, add wheat germ oil and one of the perfuming oils to it.
5. Blend well and transfer the oil into a narrow mouthed glass bottle. Secure the cap tightly.

Usage-

Dilute this oil with equal amounts of olive oil and gently massage the body. Avoid its contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas.

OILY SKIN

Ingredients: 

Nut grass	30.00 g
Cobra's saffron	30.00 g
Costus	20.00 g
Cedar wood	20.00 g
Water	600.00 ml
Mustard oil	400.00 ml

One of the following
perfuming oils: 0.50 ml
Orange peel oil
Juniper oil

Preparation: 

1. Powder Nut grass, Cedar wood and Costus roots and blend them well.
2. In a vessel pour the mustard oil. To this add the herbal mixture, Cobra's saffron and water. Over a low flame simmer this decoction till all the water evaporates.
3. On obtaining the oil turn off the flame. Let it become lukewarm. Strain the oil through a double-layered muslin or cheesecloth. Add the perfuming oil and blend it well.
4. Transfer the oil into a narrow mouthed glass bottle and secure the cap tightly. 

Usage - You could use this oil directly or diluted with a small amount of sunflower oil or olive oil. Gently massage the body, avoiding contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas!

NORMAL SKIN

Ingredients:

Sandalwood	5.00 g
Rosepetals	25.00 g
Lac	5.00 g
Vetiver	5.00 g
Greengram	20.00 g
Indian gooseberry	20.00 g
Indian madder	10.00 g
Rice bran oil (RBO)  or Sunflower oil	400.00 ml
Water	600.00 ml
One of the following perfuming oils: 0.50 ml Sandalwood Rose

Preparation:

1. Soak green grams in water for 3 hours till they swell. Grind the grams and rose petals to make a paste.
2. Powder sandalwood, gooseberry, vetiver and Indian madder and mix them. To this combination add Lac and some water. Blend them together.
3. In a suitable vessel blend the Sunflower oil or RBO with both the mixtures and water. Let it simmer till all the water evaporates. Keep stirring the contents repeatedly. 
4. When only the oil remains, put off the flame. Let it become lukewarm. Strain the oil through a double-layered muslin or cheesecloth. Add the perfuming oil and blend well.
5. Transfer the oil into a narrow mouthed glass bottle and secure the cap tightly. 

Usage - You could use this oil directly or diluted with a small amount of sunflower oil or olive oil. Gently massage the body avoiding its contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas.

BODY PACKS

Turmeric Pack

Ingredients:

Winter cherry	50.00 g
Gotu-Kola	25.00 g
Turmeric	10.00 g
Chickpea flour	250.00 g
Green gram flour	250.00 g
Milk	20.00 ml
Sesame oil / Mustard oil / Sunflower oil	10.00 ml
Water sufficient quantity

Preparation: 

1. Grind the first three ingredients in a blender. Sift them through a fine sieve. Thoroughly mix the herbal powder with the blended flours.
2. Mix 40 gm of this powder with milk and one of the oils with sufficient water to obtain an even paste.

Nutmeg Pack

Ingredients:

Nutmeg	5.00 g
Liquorice	20.00 g
Shankhpushpi	10.00 g
Rose petals	10.00 g
Chickpea flour	250.00 g
Green gram flour	250.00 g
Milk	20.00 ml
Sesame oil / Mustard oil / Sunflower oil	10.00 ml
Water sufficient quantity

 
Preparation:

1. Grind the first three ingredients in a blender. Sift them through a fine sieve. Thoroughly mix the herbal powder with the blended flours.
2. Mix 40 gm of this powder with milk and one of the oils with sufficient water to obtain an even paste.

HERBAL RINSES

The use of Herbal rinses is a part of the bathing ritual. A combination of selected herbs is added to hot water. Subsequently they are diluted with your bathing water. Herbal rinses often provide a feeling of freshness, improve microcirculation and maintain the natural texture of the skin. 

Preparation:

1.                      Powder all the herbs coarsely.

2.                      Take this powder in a container and add hot water. Cover it with a lid and allow it to cool. Strain the decoction through a double muslin cloth or cheesecloth.

3.                      Add this liquid to your bathing water and use it after rinsing the soap from your body completely.

Tangy rinse

Ingredients:

Flame of the forest	200.00 g
Orange peel	15.00 g
Fenugreek seeds powder	50.00 g
Liquorice	100.00 g
Hot Water	2.50 Lt.

Keora rinse 

Ingredients:

Dried Fragrant Screw Pine leaves	200.00 g
Indian madder	20.00 g
Cherubic Myrobalan fruit rind	100.00 g
Fenugreek	50.00 g
Water	2.50 Lt.

Lemony rinse

Ingredients:

Winter cherry	100.00 g
Blue water lily (dried petals)	200.00 g
Lemon peel-dried	15.00 g
Nutmeg	5.00 g
Fenugreek	15.00 g
Water	2.50 Lt.

Nourishing Hair Oil

This nourishing hair oil, also known as Brahmi - Amla Hair oil, strengthens the hair roots, prevents hair loss and also maintains the suppleness of the hair. The oil can be stored as long as 3 months.

Ingredients:

Thyme leafed Gratiola whole plant* 12.50 g 
Fresh fruit pulp of Indian 
Gooseberry (Spotless) 150.00-200.00 g 
(If using dried fruit powder 50 g) 
Sesame oil 100.00 ml
Water 400.00 ml
One of the following perfuming oils: 0.50 ml
Geranium - for dry hair
Rosemary - for normal hair
Orange peel - for oily hair

*You may replace Thyme leafed Gratiola (Brahmi) with Trailing Eclipta (Bhringaraj) whole plant to obtain Bhring-Amla hair oil.

Preparation:

1. Grind Brahmi into a coarse dry powder and keep aside. You can do this easily in a domestic blender.
2. Pulp the fresh gooseberries separating the seeds. Obtain 50gms of fresh pulp from 200 grams of the fruit. (If using the dried fruit, make a paste).
3. Take Sesame oil in a steel vessel. Add Brahmi powder, gooseberry paste and water. Boil on a low flame.
4. Stir the concoction repeatedly. When the water has evaporated completely and only the oil remains, put off the flame. Allow it to become tepid. Strain the oil through a double-layered muslin cloth. Add the perfuming 
   oil on cooling.
5. Transfer the decoction into a narrow mouthed bottle and secure the cap tightly.

Usage:

Take a small volume of Brahmi -Amla hair oil onto your palms. Gently apply it over the scalp and hair. Allow the oil to work for one hour before you wash it off.

Restorative Hair Oil

Japakusum Hair Oil

Japakusum or shoe flower hair oil arrests premature graying of hair. This oil can even maintain the natural pigment of your hair. This home made Japakusum hair oil can be stored as long as 3 months.

Ingredients:

Dried petals of Hibiscus 12.50 g
Dried Lawsonia alba leaves 12.50 g
Sesame oil 100.00 ml
Water 400.00 ml
One of the following 
perfuming oils: 00.50 ml
Lavender 
Rose

Preparation:

1. Crush the dried herbs in a blender. Add enough water to make a paste.
2. Pour 100 ml of Sesame oil in a stainless steel vessel.
3. Add the herbal pastes and the remaining water and boil on a low flame. Continue stirring till all the water evaporates and only the oil remains. Put off the flame.
4. When it becomes lukewarm, strain the oil through a double-layered muslin cloth.
5. On cooling, add the perfuming oil. Transfer the contents into a narrow mouthed bottle and secure the cap tightly.

Usage:

Take a small volume of Japakusum hair oil onto your palms. Gently apply it over the scalp and hair. Allow the oil to work for one hour before you wash it off .

Herbal Shampoos

Herbs as cleansing agents have been used since ancient times for hair washes. These herbs have very little lathering quality.

Make your own home made Herbal Shampoo with this recipe. This shampoo cleans gently. It eliminates all the dirt and oil from your hair and scalp, without depriving the scalp of its natural oil. It also restores the pH balance of the scalp. 

Ingredients:

Soap nut 15.00 g
Soap pod-Acacia 15.00 g
Hibiscus 10.00 g
Water 100.00 ml

Preparation:

1. Crack the soap nuts and discard its seeds.
2. Crack the soap pods and crush the seeds.
3. Make a coarse powder of the two herbs and put it in a mug. Boil the water and add the powdered mixture to it. Cover the mug with a lid and keep it for about 30 minutes. Squeeze the solids to recover all the detergent within the hot water.
4. Subsequently strain the liquid through a double-layered muslin or cheesecloth.

Usage:

Use the filtrate like a shampoo. For best results, shampoo your hair twice.

Precaution: 

Take adequate measures to prevent the shampoo from running into your eyes. It may cause eye irritation! Discard the remaining portion of this shampoo. Do not store it.

Dandruff

Ingredients:

Indian gooseberry
Lemon
Neem leaves
Soap nut acacia

Common Recipes:

1. Rubbing lemon juice over the scalp before taking a bath prevents dandruff.
2. Take about 100gms of leaves of Margosa (Neem) tree and boil them in a litre of water for 1-2 hours. Allow it to cool and strain through a thin cloth. This decoction is an excellent hair wash and prevents dandruff. Prepare a fresh decoction for every wash.
3. Finely powder the pods of soap nut acacia and apply it on the scalp with water. Leave for 15 minutes before taking a bath. Using it for several days cures dandruff.
4. Mix in equal parts of dried Indian gooseberry, Shikakai (pods of soap nut acacia) and Margosa leaves. Grind the mixture to a fine powder. Mix this powder in a litre of water and wash the hair with this solution to effectively get rid of dandruff.

Precaution: 

Take adequate measures to prevent the shampoo from running into your eyes. It may cause eye irritation! Discard the remaining portion of this shampoo. Do not store it.

                                                    
Baby care

Digestion Problems

Top feeding sometimes leads to digestive disturbances characterized by flatulence. Should this happen to your baby who is not yet 3 months old, try this simple remedy as an alternative to internal medication.

As a precautionary measure a small stock of few fresh Betel (Piper betel) leaves in the refrigerator will come handy. 

In case of flatulence, take two green betel leaves and apply a thin layer of sesame oil or mustard oil on their surfaces. Slightly warm the oiled surface, ensuring that the baby can tolerate the temperature.

Cover the infant's stomach with these warm leaves. This measure expels flatus, helps avoid internal medication and provides comfort to the baby. Summer Care

If your baby follows a milk diet, you could add other liquids and ensure a higher level of comfort during the hot summers.

1. To 15 grams of Barley seeds add about 200 ml of water. Soften the seeds by cooking them in a pressure cooker. Take the supernatant water by eliminating the softened seeds. If it is too thick add a little more water.
2. Let it cool. Sweeten this preparation with Glucose powder added to one or two drops of strained lemon juice and a pinch of salt.

This preparation is given to your infant in small volumes with the help of a small spoon during the afternoon. You can use this recipe in addition to the milk diet.

Weaning Diet

WHOLESOME CEREAL

Rice 1 measure
Green lentil-awned ¼ measure
A choice of vegetables 1 measure
(Opt for cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, club gourd, spinach, etc., or their combinations)
A well ripened small tomato 1 number Whey or Buttermilk sufficient quantity 

1. Cook the rice and lentils in a pressure cooker using adequate volume of water to soften the main ingredients. 
2. Soften the tomato and vegetables together with sufficient water in a pressure cooker. Do not drain the excess water, if any.
3. Allow it to cool.
4. Take softened rice, whey or buttermilk (ensure that they are not sour). Also add other ingredients. Run it in a blender to obtain a soft, even paste suitable for your baby's age.

Fruity Diet

During the weaning period, Ayurveda prescribes an intermediary phase between milk and cereal feeding. At this stage the baby should be fed with fruit juices and mashed fruits. This practice may be started when the child attains 4 months of age and enters into the 5th month. This procedure of giving fruits is termed as Phalaprashan.

The choice of fruits is unlimited. Ayurvedic physicians commonly prescribe juices of citrus fruits, mashed bananas, and papaya and mango pulp. Among dry fruits, raisins are considered to be the most nutritious. This helps particularly if the child is 
intolerant to hunger reflexes. 

With raisins, you could try this recipe:

1. Take about 20-30 dried, seedless raisins (small variety grapes). Soak them in a little volume of water for about an hour. Mash them into a fine paste in water.
2. Add a few drops of honey and clarified butter to this paste and blend well.

Nutritious Pudding

Rice or Wheat porridge 1 part
Whole milk/Standardiased milk 2 parts
Raisins 4 in number
Cashew or Almond 1 nut
Cardamom seeds 3 seeds
Clarified butter ¼ teaspoonful

1. Cook the rice or wheat porridge in milk (without adding water) in a pressure cooker.
2. Heat the clarified butter in a bowl. Fry the cashew pieces and raisins till brown.
3. Finely blend the cooked cereal, fried items and cardamom seeds into a paste.
4. This recipe may be fed to your baby once a day (during afternoons). As a measure of precaution avoid feeding this to your baby at night.

Summer Porridge

Rice 1 measure
Green lentil-awned ¼ measure
A choice of vegetables* (*Cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, club gourd, spinach, etc.)
Small well ripened tomato 1 in number
Salt a pinch
Bishop's weed/ Cumin seeds 2-3 in number
Clarified butter ¼ teaspoon

1. Cook the rice and lentil together in a pressure cooker.
2. Soften the vegetables using sufficient water. To this add salt, Bishop's weeds or Cumin seeds and clarified butter. Do not drain the excess water.
3. Blend the cooked cereal and softened vegetables in a blender to obtain a soft paste.
4. The paste should be of adequate consistency to suit the baby's age. Feed your baby using a small teaspoon.

Herbal Supplements

1. With Milk -For optimum all round health enrich milk with Liquorice or Winter cherry.
   
   Improve the milk using selected herbs. Crush the herb into a coarse powder first. Mix it with a small volume of water to obtain a uniform, thick paste. To this paste add milk and boil it. Stir the contents regularly. Then strain it to collect herbalized milk. You could also add sugar to enhance the taste. Ideally the ratio of milk to herb should be 2:1.

2. With Honey -Blend a pinch (about 100 mg) of powdered Gotu Kola or Indian Pennyworth with honey and clarified butter to obtain a fine paste. Administer this paste twice a day.
   
   Similarly you could choose to use powdered Asparagus to promote general strength.