The twentieth century has witnessed astonishing development of science and technology. The colossal magic tools and comfort, thus offered to the world, are truly beyond the imaginations of our earlier generations. The modern trends of civilization are attracting the masses towards consumerisgtration. More and more consumption and luxuries, fuel one’s cravings and greed in greater proportionss. Thus, in spite of this visible progress and prosperity, today’s man is living under great dissatisfaction. He is thirsty for a drop of peace and happiness, despite being in the pool of ever more cozy accessories, entertaining aids and sophisticated comforts.
According to ancient books of knowledge, health is considered as a pre-requisite for achieving the supreme ends of life. Therefore preventive and curative aspects of diseases are considered as important components of the concept of positive health. In the present situation, medical scientists are researching ayurveda remedies for lifestyle related disorders.

Ayurveda is not simply only a healthcare system but a form of lifestyle adopted to maintain perfect balance and harmony within human existence. The ayurvedic approach to life requires listening to and addressing the unique needs of your body, recognizing and balancing your mental and emotional states and deepening your connection with your spirituality. Ayurveda aims at striking at the very root of the disease. A real cure for any disease is only possible if we adopt a holistic approach, as the one advocated in Ayurveda and address the problem at its very root. Shunning the age-old principles of healing described in the Vedas- the great Indian heritage, as unscientific only just because they are old, is most unfortunate.

High Blood Pressure/Hyper Tension

Blood pressure is high when arterial blood pressure is elevated above the normal ranges. The normal blood pressure reading is systolic 120 over diastolic 80. Systolic high blood pressure above 140 can be dangerous. Monitoring the blood pressure is very important. Ayurveda doesn’t believe in temporary relief, it does not focus on treatment of symptoms but in eradication of causes of high blood pressure. Nature loves balance and the moment one realizes the mistake, nature helps extensively to bring balance in breath, body and mind. The symptoms of hypertension are dizziness, palpitations, heart pain, frequent urination, nervous tension, difficulty in breathing and sometimes pain experienced at the back of the head and neck on waking up. Stress, vitiation of vata, smoking and excessive intake of toxins, obesity, metabolic disorders and overloading of fast foods are the causes of hypertension according to ayurveda.
Our kitchen is stocked with ingredients, which can work as perfect cure for high blood pressure. Rasona or garlic is one important substance helpful in alleviating vata dosha controlling blood pressure. Garlic has been known to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and this in turn will bring down your blood pressure. Soaking one tsp fenugreek seed in water for a night and munching them early in the morning on empty stomach also reduces cholesterol and excess fat. Powder of Triphala should be taken regularly with warm water. For centuries, Sarpagandha, Arjuna, Gokshura, Bunarnava, Rose, Praval Bhasma, have been used to treat hypertension.
Regular Exercise is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure. Exercise has to be of right kind. A good exercise program, particularly endurance exercises such as jogging or athletics, will cause the peripheral resistance to decrease. Exercise helps to eliminate body fat, lower total cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol that prevents fatty – cholesterol deposits. According to Ayurveda exercise improves the body, depletes excess fats, brings lightness of the body. It is certain that stress can cause hypertension. Anxiety, secondary to acute stage can cause rise in your blood pressure. Relaxation and removal of stress will help to lower mildly elevated levels of blood pressure. Nurture love and affection. Love and affection and affectionate touch can significantly drop, your blood pressure.
Speak truth. Lying has been found to boost blood pressure, because it requires a lot of mental exercise. Laughter is as good as relaxation therapy, exercise or other methods used to overcome stress. Study shows that laughter decreases adrenaline and cortisol production. Laughter can help you if you are having high blood pressure.

Obesity

Obesity is an open invitation for six of the most terrible diseases known to man – diabetes, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular problems, paralysis and heart attacks. Hence, obesity may not itself be a disease, but it could definitely be a life-threatening condition. There are two main reasons for this abnormal deposition of fat, excessive fat intake through the diet and some metabolic problem, which does not allow the proper utilization of fat in the body. Ayurveda holds Agni, or the digestive fire, responsible for obesity. When the Agni is vitiated, then the ama (toxic substances) is built up in the body, leading to obesity.
There is a direct relation between the diet one eats and obesity. Controlling the diet is a sure method of controlling obesity. Foods that are excessively rich in carbohydrates must be avoided. These include rice and potatoes. Wheat must be used instead of rice. Barley and maize can also be used effectively. Fatty substances must be avoided. In obese people, the chances of cardiovascular problems such as arteriosclerosis are high. Hence, people who consume lots of hydrogenated fats have greater risk of cholesterol buildup in their arteries. Obesity increases the chances of diabetes mellitus. Hence, people who are overweight must reduce their intake of sugars and other sweet foods. Bitter and pungent foods are found to be effective in the control of weight and also preventing the dangers of diabetes in obese people. The bitter gourd and the bitter variety of drumstick are beneficial.
Guggulu, prescribed by most Ayurvedic physicians as the drug of choice in the control of obesity. It may be prescribed in its pure form (in the dosage of one gram four times a day), or it can be given in a mixture form as Navaka Guggulu or Triphala Guggulu. These are given in tablet form, followed by some hot drink. Mineral supplements such as Tapyaadi Lauha and Shilajitawadi Lauha are given in conjunction with the Guggulu tablets.
Having a tablespoonful of honey mixed in an equal amount of water, early in the morning really helps in reducing fat. Drinking hot water continuously throughout the day also helps to dissolve the excess fat in the body. Ginger is effective in dissolving fat. Have it twice or thrice a day in the form of tea. At least one day a week, a totally liquid diet is suggested. Fasting entirely can also be done, if it is physically tolerable. This helps to flush out the toxins and excess fats accumulated throughout the week. Regular exercise is one of the most important things. It helps to reduce the excess fats in the body and also keep the person fresh and active throughout the day.

Disorders of Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is situated in the front of the neck and produces a hormone thyroxin, which plays a very important role in regulating the general metabolism of the body. When it is defective, the conditions known as myxoedema (in adults) and cretinism (in children) result. An excess of its secretion is associated with a condition known as exophthalmic goiter or thyrotoxicosis or Grave’s disease. Hyperthyroidism; (in which the gland secretes excess of hormones). This condition is more common in women than in men whose age ranges from 30 to 50 years. Thyrotoxit individuals become tremulous, irritable, anxious and even hysterical. Because the metabolism is raised, they experience rapid heart rate and palpitation, rapid shallow respiration. Frequent bowel motions and diarrhea, Flushing, heat intolerance, sweating, menstrual disturbance and sometimes bulging of the eyes. Hypothyroidism; here the thyroid is under active, producing too little thyroid hormone. This condition is far more common than hyperthyroidism and can be caused by iodine deficiency or thyroid failure brought on by pituitary dysfunction, inflammation, and scarring. Yet these mild cases can be the cause of vague, but persistent, disorders such as fatigue, depression, loss of vitality, and overall hormonal imbalance.
According to Charaka, goitre does not strike those who take milk in adequate quantities. In addition, old rice, barley, moong dal, Bengal gram, cucumber, sugar juice, and milk products are recommended for a goiter patient. Sour and heavy substances are contraindicated.
Kanchanara – Bauhinia veriegata (purple mountain ebony) is specific for proper functioning of thyroid. Among the other herbs jatamansi and Brahmi guggulu and shilajita are also useful. Gokshura, punarnava are useful herbs.
A fine paste made of the vegetable jalakumbhi (Pistia straticies) applied over the affected part helps in reducing the swelling. The juice obtained from the jalakumbhi should be given in doses of, 2 to 22 gm a day. It increases the amount of iodine, the lack of which, according to Allopathy, is one of the factors responsible for the disease.
Coconut oil offers much promise today to sufferers of hypothyroidism and slow metabolism. It is a known fact that the fatty acid chains in coconut oil, known as medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), offer wonderful health benefits and are nowhere found more abundantly in nature outside coconut oil. For the hypothyroid sufferer the MCTs rev up the body’s sluggish metabolism

Diabetes

Diabetes is considered as metabolic disorder of the body. It is also considered as the mother of lot of diseases. The body utilizes the sugar in the body, as this being important for each and every cell and tissue. Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas and it regulates the utilization of sugar within the body.When there is less or bad production of insulin,the cell can’t consume glucose, which is present in blood stream. This raises the level of glucose in the blood, creating diabetes.
According to Ayurveda, diabetes is a metabolic Kapha type of disorder in which diminished functioning of Agni, leads to a tendency toward high blood sugar. The main causes of these diseases are fat, urine, and Kapha buildups due to foods, liquids, lifestyle and others.
Ayurvedic practitioners address diabetes using a multi-prong approach. First, they address diet modification, eliminating sugar and simple carbohydrates, and emphasizing complex carbohydrates. Protein is limited, since 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 auto antibodies, a cleansing program is instituted. Pancha Karma is typically used for this purpose. 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.
If you have been diagnosed with Diabetes, eliminate all objects that contain sugar from diet, like wheat, rice, potato, sugar, sugar cane and its juice, jaggery (gud), sweet fruits. Reduce fats, especially butter and ghee from diet. Take barley soaked in a triphala decoction overnight, then mixed with honey and eaten several times a day. Orange, and lemon, may be taken as and when needed. Take bitter melon, in any form, without any fear, and Jamun and powder of its seed. Take plenty of green vegetables, black gram, soya, fish etc. Stay away from alcohol. Take juice of bilva and parijataka leaves in identical parts for natural remedy of diabetes. Take two teaspoons ,two times a day.
Take two teaspoons of crushed Fenugreek seeds with milk. Daily Boil 15-20 Mango leaves (only fresh leaves) in 1 glass of water and leave it in the night. Filter this water and drink it first in the morning time. Avoid infections, burns and injuries as they develop ketosis in such worrying circumstances. Take abundance of potassium and vitamins C, E, and B-complex. Eat 10 fresh fully grown curry leaves each morning for three months. It avoids diabetes due to genetic factors. It also treats diabetes due to obesity.
The most important herbs for all doshas are shilajit, gudmar turmeric, neem, amalaki, guggul, and arjuna. Turmeric with aloe vera gel is best used during the early stages of diabetes for regulating pancreas and liver functions. Juice of bitter melon or bitter gourd or Rose apple or two tender leaves of Bilva and Neem may be taken on empty stomach daily. Juice of Jambu should be taken in an ounce quantity, twice daily, and that of Karela in 1-1/2 ounce dose daily. Shilajit is another useful medicine (250 mg as a single dose) should be taken, twice daily with juice of stone apple.

Heart Diseases

The heart is hridaya [hri-day-a] in ayurveda. This means everything. The main seat of a Atma [the soul] and all the bodily srotus [microchannels through which nutrition is supplied throughout the body is considered in the heart.
Heart Disease is caused by the obstruction to the coronary arteries. These are the blood vessels, which travel through the wall of the heart and nourish the heart muscle. If the blood flow is significantly diminished, then the heart signals its difficulties by registering pain or discomfort in the chest.

ARJUNA (terminalia arjuna) reduces the workload on the heart, lower blood pressure and improves cholesterol profile. Using Arjuna herb regularly will strengthen the heart to its optimum condition with no side effects.
GARLIC is most important substance helpful in alleviating Vata doshas controlling blood pressure. Drinking a glass of buttermilk mixed with the paste made of about 1gm of garlic, twice a day, will bring your blood pressure down. Garlic lowers cholesterol and triglycerides that have impact on heart disease.
If you take two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of CINNAMON Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, it will reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat.
Fried things, pulses and their preparations, and groundnut oil are prohibited. Ayurvedic physicians allow. Cow milk, butter or ghee, as they are useful for the patient and not buffalo ghee and milk or groundnut oil. Stimulants like tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks are very harmful for such patients. The patient’s bowels should move regularly. If there is constipation, he is advised to take a glass of water early morning and go for a walk every day.
Ayurveda considers the functions of heart and mind interlinked. Disturbance in one affects the other. Therefore, patients having heart disease are advised by the Ayurvedic physicians to refrain from anxiety, worry, excessive sexual intercourse and wrathful disposition. All efforts should be made for the patient to have good sleep at night. When we are perceiving a stressful challenge in life, then we activate the system by increasing the heart rate, increasing the blood pressure, increasing the breathing response, thus sending out stress hormones in the body. All of which, over time, lead to increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.