Heart
Disease or Hridyaroga is a global phenomenon. Already a big health
problem in the developed countries, it is now becoming a major health
problem even in the developing countries. Depending on their dosha, the
heart diseases could be Vataka Hridyaroga, Paittika Hridyaroga and
Kaphaja Hridyaroga. These three have slightly differing symptoms as
follows:
- Vataka Hridaya Roga is characterized by acute pains which are not localized at a particular point. This is the heart disease caused due to the vitiation of the vata dosha
- Pittika Hridaya Roga is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest cavity. This is the heart disease caused due to the vitiation of the pitta dosha
- Kaphaja Hridaya Roga is characterized by mild pain in the chest, accompanied by heaviness, nausea and coughing. This is the heart disease caused due to the vitiation of the kapha dosha.
The
predisposing factors of this disease are heredity, high blood pressure,
diabetes, high serum cholesterol and smoking. The way of living and the
way of feeling appear to be quite an important factor in its increasing
incidence. Cardiovascular problems have been dealt with at length in
Ayurveda, which describes 'Hridya' (heart) as a body organ governing
emotions and circulating blood to keep a person alive and healthy.
Cardiac
problems arise mainly due to improper diet and stressful life styles.
These lead to thickening of arteries (dhamani praticaya) or hardening of
arteries (dhamani kathinaya) resulting in angio-obstruction (vata dosa)
and angina (ruja).
High
blood pressure that hammers the arterial walls roughens them and causes
the arterial wall to thicken. Fatty cholesterol particles get deposited
under the inner lining of the arteries (i.e. atherosclerosis). The
higher the pressure more the deposits will occur. Subsequently these
deposits become calcified due to fibrous growth and involved arteries
lose their elasticity. It prevents blood from flowing easily and may
lead to clotting. The clot formation can suddenly choke off the blood
supply and lead to a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure.
Treatment for Heart Disease:
Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Heart Diseases:
1. Alfalfa (Medicago satina):
The congestion of the arteries can be reduced with help of juice of
Alfalfa. The juice has better effects if it is taken along with the
juice of a fresh carrot.
2. Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna): Arjuna has properties in increasing the stimulation to the heart. Its bark is used in Ayurveda for this purpose.
3. Digitalis (Digitalis purpurea):
The digitalis herb is renowned all over the world for its benefits in
heart care. The herb can stimulate the activity of all muscle tissues,
including those of the heart. It improves the nourishment of the heart
and rejuvenates the heart from its basic wear and tear. The digitalis
herb also helps in correcting problems that may occur in blood
circulation to the heart.
4. Ephedra (Ephedra gerardiana):
The ephedra has fantastic heart stimulating properties. It is
especially beneficial in strengthening hearts that are damaged due to
infections of pneumonia and diphtheria.
5. Garlic (Allium sativum):
Rasona or garlic is most important substance helpful in alleviating
vata dosha controlling blood pressure. It can break down the cholesterol
accumulated in the coronary arteries. Having a few cloves of raw garlic
every morning can also reduce the possibility of a heart attack.
Alternatively,
a paste made of about 1gm of garlic should be mixed with a glass of
buttermilk. Drink this buttermilk twice a day. It will bring your blood
pressure down. Garlic lowers cholesterol and triglyceride that have
impact on heart disease
6. Onion (Allium cepa):
Scientists have proved the properties of the onion in allaying heart
attacks. It also reduced thrombosis of the heart and reduces the
accumulation of blood cholesterol.
Additional
Ayurvedic treatments for specific heart diseases: The preferred drug
for people with heart problems is the arjuna. The modes of giving this
drug depends on the dosha of the ailment.
1. If the person has a vata dosha related heart disease, then the powdered bark of the arjuna is given mixed with pure ghee.
2. If the person has a pitta dosha related heart disease, then the powdered bark of the arjuna is given mixed with milk.
3. If the person has a kapha dosha related heart disease, then the powdered bark of the arjuna is given mixed with pippali powder or with honey.
Medicines prepared using arjuna as the main ingredient, such as Arjunarishta and Arjuna ghritam can also be given in some cases.
In
addition, there are other medicines for heart care such as Hridayarnava
rasa and Prabhakara vati, which are given in the form of tablets. If
the person has suffered an acute heart attack, then Mrigamadasava is
found to be quite effective.
Other medications as per Ayurveda:
Soak
1tsp fenugreek seed in water for a night and munch them early in the
morning on empty stomach. It will reduce your cholesterol and excess
fats.
Jaharmorha
is another Ayurvedic drug used in the treatment of cardio-vascular
diseases. It is a yellowish-green soft stone found in the Himalayas. Its
powder is processed with rose water and administered to heart patients.
Triphala Guggul is yet another Ayurvedic preparation found useful in reducing cholesterol levels
Diet for Heart Care
Some
sources of fats are actually good for the heart contrary to popular
belief, and they must be included in the diet. The fats that are harmful
for the heart are the trans-saturated fats, which are also labeled as
hydrogenated vegetable oil, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil or
shortening. These fats can remove all the proteins, fibers, minerals and
vitamins from the body, leaving behind only toxins.
But
fats that are polyunsaturated or monounsaturated are good for the
heart. These fats are contained in olive oil, flaxseed oil, sesame oil,
mustard oil, groundnut oil and ghee. Such fats should make up for about
15% of the food requirement.
At
the same time, remember that fat-free diets are extremely harmful for
the body. These diets do not contain any fats, which prohibit the
absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. This can only bring death faster.
All stimulating foods such as tea, coffee, alcohol and chocolates must be avoided by heart patients.
Some more Home Remedies to keep Heart healthy
1.
A glass of lemon juice must be drunk daily. Lemon juice contains
vitamin C, which helps to dissolve the cholesterol. Amalaki can also be
used for this purpose.
2.
Have a cup of parsley tea daily. Parsley must be also included in the
salad along with beet roots. This helps the proper functioning of the
heart.
We discussed about role of Bitter Gourd, Gooseberry and Blackberry in treating Diabetes, in the last post,
there is another remedy for diabetes that is worth mentioning here,
which is the mixture of all three. Let me start this post with a popular
home remedy for diabetes that is quite effective too.
Mix
an equal amount of amla (gooseberry) powder, jamun (blackberry) powder,
and karela (bitter gourd) powder and give a teaspoon of this mixture
once or twice a day to the diabetic patient. It would be highly efficient in checking the progress of the disease.
Other herbal remedies that are helpful in treating Diabetes are:
Cumin Seeds:
Take Wild jeera (cumin seeds) black colored 60 gm and mix in 1 litre of
water everyday. Boil and reduce it to 1/4th litre and take half part.
Divide it into two equal parts and drink one part in the morning and one
in the evening 2 times daily.
.
.
Bengal Gram:
Water extract or soup of kala chana (Bengal Gram) enhances the use of
glucose and the insulin requirement goes down in the body considerably.
Diabetes patients who are on a set diet which does not severely limit
the intake of carbohydrates, but includes liberal amounts of Bengal gram
extract, have shown significant improvement in their fasting blood
sugar levels, glucose tolerance, urinary excretion of sugar, and general
condition. Pulses from the same family like black gram are also quite
useful in Diabetes treatment. In fact, two tablespoons of germinated
black gram, taken with half a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice and a
teaspoon of honey, is quite effective if taken everyday once for at
least 100 days. Only thing that needs to be taken care of, in this case
is that the intake of carbohydrates should be controlled.
.
.
Mango Leaves:
The tender leaves of the mango tree are measured useful in diabetes. An
infusion is prepared by soaking 15 gm of fresh leaves in 250 ml of
water overnight, and squeezing them fine in the water in the morning.
This filtrate should be taken every morning to manage early diabetes. As
an option, the leaves should be dried in the shade, powdered and
preserved for use when necessary. Half a teaspoon of this powder should
be taken two times in a day everyday.
.
As Ayurveda healing principles are based on three main methods of treatment that are Ahaar (Food), Vihar (Exercise) and Aushadh (Medicine), there are other prescribed treatments of this disease in Ayurveda. We will discuss these treatments now:
.
.
In
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus {Vathaja prameha} Patients are advised to have
Bhrimhana medication & diet which increases dhathus in the body.
.
In
Type 2 Diabetes, obese diabetic patient with optimal body strength
having intense increase of doshas, Purification of the body is advocated
whcich is dependent on dosha predominance (Kaphaja are advised to have
emetics, Pittaja are advised to have purgation.)
- Snehanam (prescription of oils internally & externally)
- Sodhana (Purification therapy under category three) – The treatment activities that are part of Sodhna are a) Vamanam (Induced Vomiting), b) Virechanam (Induced lose motions) and c) Vasthi (This process is the application of medicine through the anal route. This is indicated only in specific condition
- Shamanam (Suppression of symptoms)
- Pathya – Apathyas (Prescribed Diet)
- Vyayamam (exercises)
The most common problem in diabetic patient is a general body weakness & a fast deterioration of the major organs affecting all physiological systems including the mind.
Mild
forms of snehana, shodhana & Shamana treatments accompanied with
drugs formulated for this protocol has been very effective in
controlling Kaphapitta type of prameha. The rugs or herbs that can be
taken as treatment for diabetes are
- Arogyavardhini
- Vasanta Kusumakar Ras
- Chandraprabhavati
- Triphala with Amalaki juice
- Gudmar
- Shilajit
Last but not the least, the role of yogasana
in controlling diabetes is enormous and one of the asana that is seen
to be giving best results, paschimottana–asana. If this asana is
practiced daily without fail, it generates related energy that reduces
the insulin requirement in the body and hence helpful in reducing the
need of insulin injections. Other helpful asanas are halasana, pranayam
and meditation.
I
have not mentioned some of the herbal and other treatments that I
discussed earlier in one of my previous posts so will request the
readers to go through all posts on diabetes to take most benefit from my
research on this topic.
No comments:
Post a Comment