Ayurveda, A Holistic Treatment for Diabetes
Sweet Treatment For Diabetes From Ayurveda
June 12, 2009
By Dr. Rajesh Nair
According to Ayurveda, a holistic alternative medical science, the main cause of diabetes are fat, urine, and Kapha buildups due to foods, liquids, lifestyle, stress and others. It generally believes that any disease caused is due to doshic imbalance. The doshas are the three humors that govern the human body, they are vata, pitta and kapha. It includes diabetes in the prameha category, which are a list of urinary disorders especially characterized by profuse urination with several abnormal qualities. Classical Ayurvedic therapy for madhumeha (diabetes) begins with an assessment of the dosha imbalance. In all types of pramehas , kapha is vitiated, but in madhumeha, vata is often aggravated as well. Therefore, therapies will be directed at both vata and kapha simultaneously to restore the balance of the doshas. By determining the causal imbalances at the basis of a disorder, an Ayurveda evaluation strikes the root causes of diabetes which are Overeating and consequent obesity, Excessive intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, Overloading of proteins and fats which get converted into sugar if taken in excess, Excessive tension, worry, anxiety & grief, Hereditary factors. Common ayurveda remedies include : a) Diet restrictions -Avoid foods that increase kapha dosha like potatoes, rice, sugar, fatty foods and avoiding alcohol. b) Exercise – Regular physical exercise is a must for diabetics. Practising yogic asanas like ‘Halasan’, ‘Paschimottanasan” are found effective. c) Panchakarma Therapy – The greatest benefit of Panchakarma is that it reduces the insulin resistance in the tissues in diabetics which is the primary goal in treating the diabetes. i.e., Ayurveda also addresses the diet modification by eliminating sugar and simple carbohydrates, and emphasizing complex carbohydrates. Protein is limited, as excessive intake can damage the kidneys. Fat is also limited because there is often a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes, making fat digestion difficult. Since many diabetics have autoantibodies, Panchakarma is typically used for this cleansing the same. This begins with herbal massages and an herbal steam sauna, followed by fasting to cleanse the body. This is followed by an herbal purge for the liver, pancreas, and spleen. Colon therapy is next, first to cleanse the digestive tract and then to reconstitute the system. Ayurvedic management of Diabetes depends on the strength of patient and type of diabetes he/she has. But some generalized management are mentioned below. If the patient has sufficient strength panchakarma treatment can be started with snehana followed by vamana and virechana. Virechana can be repeated frequently. Dhanwantharam Gritham is apt for snehanam. Pizhichil is good for a week. Takradhara can also yield good results. Internal medicines that can be used are katakakhadiradi kashayam, aragvadhadi kashayam, nisadi kashayam, mehari dravakam and Nisha katakadi qwath. Apart from these ayaskriti and lodhrasavam are good. Mehasamhari gulika, brihantmehantaka gulika, niruryadi gulika, svetagaunjadi gulika, haldi (turmeric), amalaki (gooseberry) choorna, nyagrodadhi churna,Brihat triphala churna, Madhumegha karpagm, nisosiradi tailam,or eladi tailam can be added to the kashayams as the case may be. Shilajit, vasntakusumakara rasa, nag bhasma, vanga bhasma, and chandraprabha vati can be used favorably. Hyponidd tablets, Diabecon tablets, Mehanil tablets, Glucova, Nishakatakadi qwath tablet can be used on regular basis. Sugar in any form like rice, especially from fresh grains, potato, banana, and other such cereals and fruits are to be avoided. Fat intake should also be avoided. Tamarid and salt intake should be minimal. All bitter things are of help in general. Vegetables like bitter gourd, drumstick, patola(sponge gourd), okra (ladies finger) are good. So is neem (Azadirachta indica) and bilva (Aegle marmelos). It is also advised to decrease all food intakes by three quarters of normal. Wheat, barely and all millets are good. Some cases recover fully just with exclusively meat diet. Don’t use polished grains as bryan is good for diabetes. Shadangapaniyam or water boiled with ekanayakam (Salacia reticulate) is excellent to quench thirst in diabetics. Exercise within limits is advisable, yogic exercise, particularly matsyendra asanam is useful. Sleep during daytime, sex, not resting after food intake and excessive labour is to be avoided.
Dr Rajesh Nair is the consultant of world’s largest online ayurvedic store http://www.ayurvedaforall.com.
Source: Dr. Rajesh Nair
Self-Care for Individuals With Diabetes
Posted June 9, 2009
By Brenda Williams
A proactive attitude towards your diabetes treatment is crucial in preventing complications. Diabetics can’t just delegate their care to their health care provider. They have to be constantly involved. While everyone should have an annual physical, eye exam, and dental exam, this is especially important for diabetics. You also need to inform the dentist and eye doctor that you are diabetic so they can be alert to the special problems that accompany diabetes.
Since high blood sugar levels weaken your immune system, you are more vulnerable to infections, flu and pneumonia. It is there important to do as much as possible to prevent these. Make sure your vaccinations for flu, tetanus, and pneumonia are current.
Diabetics need to take particularly good care of their feet. Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet as well as reduce the flow of blood to your feet. That means you can injure a foot and not even be aware of it. It also means that the injuries will be more difficult to heal. So you need to check your feet daily for blisters, cuts, bruises, cracking, redness, and swelling. You also need to keep your feet clean and dry. Wash your feet daily using gentle motions, a soft washcloth and a mild soap. Gently dry your feet giving careful attention to your toes.
If your skin is dry, apply a moisturizer. Change socks daily and avoid bulky socks or sock with tight elastic bands. Buy comfortable, safe shoes. They should have soft leather tops and flexible soles. Shoes with low heels and closed toes are safer and provide more comfort. Diabetics need to be very particular about shoe fit. It is recommended that you shop for shoes late in the afternoon or evening. Then you will be trying them on at the time of day when your feet are most likely to swell. Your shoes should be large enough to accommodate normal swelling.
Diabetics should positively not smoke. People who have diabetes and smoke are increasing their risk of heart attack, stroke, nerve damage and kidney infections. In spite of that, it is estimated that 25% of Americans who are diabetic do smoke.
Diabetics also need to monitor their blood pressure. They are more vulnerable to developing high blood pressure than people who do not have diabetes. This is especially true of Blacks and Hispanics. High blood pressure causes from 35% to 75% of all complications that can accompany diabetes.
Individuals with diabetes also need to learn to manage stress. When we’re under stress we tend not to eat properly or get the right amount of sleep. The lifestyle practices that accompany stress are very detrimental to diabetics. Also, if the stress is excessive or lasts for a long time, our bodies produce hormones that block the effect of insulin. The result is a rise in blood sugar. So it is important to employ stress-reduction techniques such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. Also look for ways to lighten the stress. This could mean evaluating your daily commitments to see what could be eliminated or reduced; avoiding or limiting time with people who cause you stress, and if work is the problem, seeking out ways to lighten your load. There are also stress-busting practices such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing and relaxation that you can learn to do and apply in stressful situations.
Source: Brenda Williams
Diabetes, Yoga and Halle Berry
Diabetes, Yoga and Halle Berry
May 29, 2009
By Subodh Gupta
Diabetes mellitus, often referred to as Diabetes, is a long-term health condition, develops due to the disordered metabolism and results into abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia). Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, amputations, kidney failure, blindness etc and it can remain undetected for years.
There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes develops due to a diminished production of insulin. Type 2 diabetes develops due to resistance to insulin effects and is mostly associated with obesity. However the good news is that Type 2 diabetes which is associated with obesity and makes up around 90% of all diabetes can be controlled.
When Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes she went through dramatic diet change. She started to eat fresh vegetables, fresh fish, pasta and cut out red meat. Halle also tries to lead a stress-free lifestyle and became a regular yoga practitioner. She practices yoga daily which helps her to release stress and brings the feeling of tranquility.
By taking up yoga the quality of life can remarkably improve. Daily practice of yoga can help to reduce the stress hormones, bring feeling of relaxation and at the same time can also help in case of diabetes, especially type 2. Research has shown that regular yoga practice can result in significant changes in most of the parameters of the metabolic syndrome including; waist circumference reduction, lowering in systolic blood pressure, reduction in fasting blood glucose level and HDL ‘good’ cholesterol increased.
The major reasons for the lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer etc in the western world is the unhealthy food such as the non-vegetarian fast food and sedentary life style. Britain’s diabetes population has reached almost 2.5 million. Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said the figures were ‘truly alarming’. Human beings are designed to stay healthy and not to die by lifestyle disease such as cancer, heart attack and diabetes.
Diabetes is certainly one of the biggest health challenges facing the world today. Surprisingly the whole medical system is focussed on curing the diseases rather than in the prevention. Though we need the medicines for cure in case the diseases go out of control but if we focus our attention on prevention at the first place then we can certainly stay healthy during our life time with least dependence on medicine.
Maintaining a healthy body is not a rocket science. Our body is made up of food and if we eat healthy vegetarian food and do exercise regularly to keep our stress level under control, we can certainly stay healthy forever. Halle Berry announced in October 2007 that she was no longer insulin dependent.
Healthy lifestyle which includes vegetarian diet and regular yoga practice can go a long way in preventing and controlling the lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta a holistic health consultant and also the author of the book “7 food habits for weight loss forever”. Subodh Gupta is a celebrity yoga trainer based in London and conducts Yoga, Nutrition, Stress Management and Weight loss sessions.
For Detail Information Subodh Gupta, Yoga Books, Diabetes, Yoga and Halle Berry
Source: Subodh Gupta
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