Vitamin D and the Sun
June 27th, 2008 in Alternative medicine, Diets
Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamin needed by the body but ironically it has also been one of the most overlooked or disregarded. Commonly known as the sunshine vitamin, just as the name suggests, aside from getting it from food sources like any other vitamin, it is also produced in the body through exposure to sunlight.
Action of Taste in Our Body
May 21st, 2008 in Diets
Sweet taste
- Mitigates pitta and vata
- Produces greater strength in the tissues
- Valuable for the aged, wounded, emaciated and children
- University liked, often adhered to the inside of the mouth, and comfort
- Good pleasure, contentment, and comfort
- Good for complexion, hair senses, ojas
- Increase breast milk
- Unties broken parts such as bones
- Prolongs life and helps life activities
- Excess use may produce diseases arising from fat and excess kapha, e.g. obesity, dyspepsia, unconsciousness, diabetes, enlargement of neck glands, or malignant tumors.
The Use of Oil
April 29th, 2008 in Aromatherapy, Massage
The use of oils in therapies can be of two kinds internal and external. Oil massage for the body is an essential part of the daily routine in most parts of India. The oils used for this purpose are generally mustard oil, sesame oil and coconut oil. Massage with mustard oil, particularly in winter, is characteristic of the north of India while sesame oil is used in the south. Coconut oil is generally used for massaging the scalp and for luxuriant hair growth.
Indian Pennywort
April 18th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Indian Pennywort is a common creeping herb, rooting at the nodes. The leaves are kidney-shaped, mildly-toothed and palmately nerved. The flowers are in clusters, each bearing three or four small flowers. It grows in gardens in gardens and damp uncultivated areas.
Safflower
April 15th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
Safflower is an annual shrub. It grows from 2 to 3 feet high, with its glabrous branching stem, bearing oblong, lanceolate leaves with small spiny teeth. The flowers are orange-yellow, in a flower head. The seeds are white, shining, in little shell-form. The seeds yield oil for culinary purposes.
Herbal use
Mexican Poppy
April 10th, 2008 in Herbal medicine
The Mexican poppy grows in waste lands and is a perennial herb which grows to a height of about 1 meter. The leaves have spines and are sessile or without petioles. The flowers are yellow. The fruit consists of a capsule bearing several small spines and seeds which resemble the mustard. It grows in tropical and sub-tropical countries.