Joint Pain

Joint pain is term that sends  a chill down many a spine Hence it is extremely important to check our posture while standing sitting or lying down failing which we are bound to go down with joint pain If this joint pain remains neglected it can cripple the body for a life time Though this condition is common in old age it can strike at any age The bones lend support and give a definite shape to our body several bones join together in a specific pattern to from the skeleton Movements occur at the points where two bones meet called the joint The joint are protected   by a thick capsule which holds the bones together The opposing bony surfaces at the joint are covered by a  layer of spongy substance  called cartilage There is a joint space between the opposing bones which is filled by lubricating substance  called synovial fluid that prevents  friction between bones during joint movement. There are several types of joints in our body depending on the type of movement carried out The various causes of joint pain are listed below.

• Over -exertion at any joint leads to extreme wear and tear of the lubricating substances and the cartilage and makes the joint extremely painful and immobile.
• Certain professions like those of traffic policemen bus conductors etc demand long hour of standing in an erect posture The joint yields to intense stress leading to pain in the knee and the calf.
• Infections may spread to the joint from the surrounding areas and cause sickening joint -pain 
• Direct trauma to the joint many lead to a tear in the capsule and cartilage leading to intense pain
• Direct  trauma to the joint may lead to a tear in the capsule and cartilage leading to intense pain.
• sedentary lifestyle either induced  by lethargy or a chronic illness is deleterious to joint health and invariably ends in painful joints 

PAIN IN NECK

Neck pain invariably affects some professionals like journalists bank employees computer professionals accountants clerks and the like who work long hours with the neck bent down In addition the pain even travels down  In  addition the pain even travels   down to affect the shoulder and upper arm. neck pain.

The home remedies that provide relief are

• sufficient quantity of gingiley  oil is massaged gently round the neck A little   later a handful of whole black gram is taken and dry-heated in a frying pan over a strong flame These heated seeds are bound in a clean piece of cloth and hot fomentation is   is applied to  the massaged  area
• The leaves of ruta   plant are thoroughly cleaned under  running water and crushed well A handful of these crushed leaves are added to a pan holding a cup measure of gingiley oil and the mixture is fried over a low flame This is well decanted The oil thus obtained is the upper arm This increases the local blood circulation and relieves pain.
• Apiece of ginger a whole garlic and kulinjan (Rashme) are crushed together Three cups of water are added and the mixture is brought to boil over a low flame with vapourisation the solution  is reduced to half of its previous volume and decanted Half a cup of this solution consumed three time a day relieves the musclespasm and cures neck pain. spoon of this juice consumed three time a day relieves long standing neck pain

BACK PAIN /ACHE

back pain invariably affect a majority of the middle-aged and elderly population.

prolonged assumption of faulty postures lack of exercise and obesity are the prime causes of backache If people working long hour seated do not assume an erect posture they can be sure of excruciating backache due to the concenteationof the whole body weight on the lower spine This in turn lays great stress on the nerves of the spine This in turn lays great stress  on the nerves of the spinal cord causing additional pain in the legs Also the lack of exercise weakens the muscle of the back causing backache In case of obesity those extra pounds of fat decorating the expanding waistline press upon the spinal nerves causing pain.

In addition back pain is also experienced by people who are very anaemic (pale)  and also by women during their monthly menstrual  periods

The most effective and time -tested home remedies for back pain are;

• Wheat grains are slowly pre -heated over a low flame in an iron pan These grains are then powdered and one teaspoon of this powder is consumed two time a day with honey making a perfect medicine for backache and lethargy.
•  A spoon of dill (sabbasige) seeds are powdered well and to this are added two spoons of gingiley oil This mixture is ground well to obtain a paste which when applied and massaged locally relives backache.
• A whole garlic (with its outer skin peeled off) is crushed and ground well. To this is added an equal quantity of cumin seeds ginger and powdered and added to the above mixture in equal quantities Asmall Quantity of asfoetida is heated over a pan powdered and added to the mixture All the above ingredients are thoroughly mixed to a dough-like consistency It is then made into pills about the size of pepper One pill each in the morning and night consumed with a cup of hot water drives a way even the toughest of backaches.
• KNEEPAIN

our knees bear the brunt of the whole body weight when we assume an erect posture A pain in the knee can be due to several reasons prime among these is being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle.

In addition an infection in knee joint may cause septic arthritis.

An auto-immune (destructive to self) disease process in the knee leads to rheumatoid arthritis This is termed Amavata in Ayurveda

when the knee joint is over-used as in case of manual labourers athletes etc it leads to wear and tear A similar process occurs in the elderly leading to a change in the structural architecture of joints and friction between opposing bony surfaces during movement This goes by the name of osteoarthritis

 This goes by the name of osteoarthritis referred to as sandhi vata in Ayurveda.

The pain in the knee due to any of the above causes responds remarkably to the following home remedies but only in the inital stages long standing pain always needs expert care

• A handful of mustard  seeds are ground well in water and later heated over a good flame The medicine thus prepared is applied to the knee joint twice daily This increases the blood flow in and swelling Likewise the medicine made by crushing sesbania leaves or drum stick leaves when applied to the knee provides similar results 
• Application of local heat is indispensable in the treatment of any type of pain A requisite amount of cleans  sand is heated over a high flame in an iron pan . A requisite amout of clean sand is heated over a high flame in an iron pan This is then tied in a piece of cloth and local heat is applied over and around the kneeing local heat This wards off both pain and swelling.
• Kulinjan ginger black cumin seeds are taken in equal quantities and powdered well To one spoon of this powder are added three cups of water and the mixture is original volume it is decanted and consumed three time a day 
• Three spoons of ghee two spoons of castore oil and one spoon of gingiley oil are mixed and brought to boil over a pan This mixture when massaged around the knee alleviates the  pain This has proven efficacy especially in the the case of osteoarthritis.

DRAGGING PAIN IN THE LEGS

certain people experience an excruciating pain rediating from the lower back, down the thigh right up to the corresponding foot.This pain is termed as ''sciatica''. This is due to the irritation and pressure effect upon the sciatic nerve which travels from the spinal cord in the lower back, down the thigh, branching right upto the foot.This is termed Gridhrasiva.

Gridhra means vulture in Sanskrit.Akeen observation of vulture walking on the ground reveals that the bird involuntarilly drags one of its legs held straight, acrooss the ground.

A patient suffering from ''sciatica'' also keeps the affected leg straight and draws it across the ground while walking.Isn't it an excellent  simile? This disorder can be right by the assumption of erect posture while standing and sitting and by controlled exercise.

A piece of dry bark of the drumstick tree is crushed well and to a spoon of this is added quarter

spoon of cumin seeds In addition three cups of water are added and the mixture is brought to boil till it vapourises to half its volume The solution is decanted and a pinch of asafoetida and rocksalt are added to and consumed three time  a day.

Coconut pulp is scraped out and squeezed well to extract its milk To this is added an equal quantity of lime juice extract its milk To this is added an  equal quantity of lime juice extract and mixture is gently of lime juice extract and the mixture is gently massaged over the affected joint parts The coconut extract replenished the nerve energy and the lime -extract improves local blood circulation This causes dramatic reversal of symptoms 

• The leaves of the Dhatura plant (a stray plant are washed well crushed and the  juice is extracted The juice is gently massaged over the affected areas.
• An increase in the stretch forces in the outer part of the elbow due to frequent outward swing like action of the hand and upper arm in tennis players leads to a condition called tennis elbow This may also manifest itself in those who write voraciously Care should be taken not to lift heavy weights or to sleep with the arm under the  heada as these can only make matters worse
• The most effective home remedies for tennis elbow are.

1. A pinch of powdered camphour is added to a small quantity of eucalyptus oil which is gently massaged over the elbow And the very next moment the pain is gone! 
2. Basil leaves and  pepper   are pepper are mixed  and ground in equal quantities Quarter spoon of this mixture with a little ghee added is consumed twice dsaily to obtain lasting relief.

HOME REMEDIES FOR CHILDREN

Today children are tomorrow's citizens Hence the health of children in the long run determines a nation's health.  There is a media hype trying to make the public aware of the need for efficient child care. In addition vaccinations modern diagnostic procedures and instruments special paediatric medicines and surgical techniques have strnegthened paediatric care. Ayurveda had ladia stress on child health as early as two thousand years ago kaumara bhrithya dealing with paediatrics is one of the eight major branches in Ayurveda The great sage Kashyapa  Samhitha the preventive health care of children from infancy to maturity   the various diseases affecting them and cures for the same.  As a child feeds mainly on milk from infancy to one year of age this period was suitably termed as Ksheerada (Ksheera in Sanskrit means milk) likewise a child feeds on milk  semi- solid and certain solid food from one to four years of age and hence this period was termed ksheerannada (Ksheera+Anna =Milk+cooked rice )As described in Ayurveda the mode of treatment differs in each of the a bove age groups. mother,s milk contains several immunity -boosting factors and nutritive proteins that are easily digestible by the neonate. On the contrary , cow's milk has proteins which the infant cannot digest and hence cause milk intolerance. Hence , mother's milk is compulsory for the first one year. If in case the mother fails to produce enough milk , saunf leaves and bottle gourd must be added to her diet. Also , asparagus roots should be powdered well, one spoon of powder dissolved in a cup of hot milk and consumed three times a day.

In addition , the time  tested home remedies for specific diseases in children are as follows:

MILK INTOLERANCE

• One whole elaichi is pricked with a sterilised needle and held against a flame till it is burnt.

When charred it is converted into powder . The infant should be made to lick a pinch of this powder mixed with a little honey. If need be, this should be fed on an hourly basis.

• Similarly,  a peacock feather is burnt, charred and powdered and used in a manner as described above.

• . Saunf (''Somp'') is powdered and a spoon of this is dissolved in half a cup of hot water . The solution is allowed to stand till the particles settle at the bottom. The clear  fluid on top of the sediment should be fed to the infant at the rate of one spoon per hour. After feeding the infant it should be made to sit erect and its back gently massaged in a downward direction which prevents regurgitation and vomiting of the milk consumed . Water mixed with a pinch of the salt and sugar is very effective in controlling vomiting in children of any age. In addition, the advice of a qualified paediatrician is essential. 

LOOSE MOTION

Loose motion and consequent dehydration are common causes of infant mortality in case of an ill-developed immune system. The useful home remedies are:

.Breast feeding should be immediately withheld and freshly prepared curd that has been fermented for four hours should be churned well and fed to the infant or child.

• . Nutmeg should be ground in water and the paste thus obtained fed to the infant thrice daily. In case of severe loose motion with impending dehydration , this medicine should be given on an hourly basis.

• . The skin of a pomegranate fruit is peeled off and crushed well. One spoon measure of this crushed skin is added to a cup of water and the mixture brought to boil.The medicinal solution or decoction thus obtained is decanted and fed to the infant at the rate of one spoon every hour.
• . Nutgrass tubers are ground in honey to obtain a paste that is fed to the infant three times a day. A solution of water and a pinch of salt and sugar is also effective against loose motion. But the advice of a qualified paediatrician is a must.

CONSTIPATION

It is common practice to feed an infant suffering from constipation with caster oil. This is very deleterious to the health of the child and at times even fatal. Caster oil irritates the colon of the infant and may cause severe diarrhoea. Hence ,the folllowing home remedies are indispensible:

• Chebulic myloboron nut is  ground well in water and the paste thus obtained is fed in quantities of a quarter spoon three times  a day. This relieves constipation and abdominal distension and

         increases the child,s appetite

• Apart of a betel leaf is dipped in betel-leaf is dipped in castor oil for a while and is then gently applied applied to the anal region of the child This softens the anal region and restores bowel movements .
• Castor oil is applied to a betel-leaf which is mildly warmed over a low flame .The warmed leaf when applied over the childs abdomen distension and restores  bowel movements.
• Dry fig is squeezed in half a cup of water This water is spoon fed very frequently Similarly sweet-lime juice is very effective in case of constipation in children.

ORAL ULCERS

If a lacating mother does not cleanse her nipples and the surrounding region of areola of her breast  prior to feeding there is every possibility of the infant developing oral ulcers Hence hygiene of the breast is of utmost importance in lactating mothers

The simple home remedies that cure oral ulcers are:

• pure honey when smeared frequently upon the ulcerated areas cures oral   ulcers.
• The pulp in the core of a mango seed is extracted and ground well in pure honey The paste thus obtained is fed to the infant three times a day.
• Coriander seed are powdered and filtered over a clean piece of cloth A pinch of this powder when sprinkled over the ulcerated areas cures them completely.
• The  bark of the peepal tree is ground in pure honey and is obtained A quarter spoon of paste is three time  a day to cure oral ulcers 

COUGH AND COLD 

Cough and cold are the commonest enemies of healthy child .They can strike at any moment and are prevalent throughout the year .The vulnerability of the infant,s immune system and the varieties of common cold viruses are the main causes behind the recurrence of common cold The  useful home remedies are:

• Acorus plant is ground in water and the paste thus obtained is warmed over a low flame The warm paste whe applied as a pack over the forehead relieves the headache and nasal block associated with a bout of severe cold.
• A whole garlic is crushed well to extract the juice A quarter spoon of juice mixed with equal  quantity of pure honey is fed to the infant.
• Acorus is ground in water and a quarter spoon of the paste thus obtained is fed on an empty stomach followed by a cup of milk This induces vomiting which immediately relieves symptoms of cold and cough.
• A few leaves of tulasi, leaved levender and ruta are warmed (pre-heated ) in an iron-pan over a low flame The warmed leaves are then crushed to extract the juice Quarter spoon of juice is fed thrice daily to cure common cold and cough.
• The flower of vasaka plant which grows abundantly  in rural areas and is easily available for domestic use is easily available for domestic use is crushed well  to extract juice When this juice mixed with equal  quantity of  honey is to the infant frequently the cough is immediately cured In addition the juice obtained by crushing the leaves of vasaka plant is very effective against cough in older children  one spoon of that juice should be taken three time a day.

 NOCTURNAL ENEURESIS (BEDWETTING)

Some children suffer from  bedwetting at night Fear lack of confidence and other psychological factors contribute a great deal to this disease proper counselling to ward off fear of any object is very

essential to boost psychological health and prevent bedwetting.

The child must not go to bed until three hours  have elapsed affter dinner Hence an eariy dinner is preferable Drinks that increase urine production such as fruit juice and milk must not be given at night

some helpful home remedies are

• The roots of the little gourd creeper are crushed and the juice thus  extracted is fed to the child just before going to bed.
• One spoon of  finely powdered chebulic myloboron is added to half a cup of cold water early in the morning.The water floating on top of the sediment is given as a bed time drink to the child.
• Emblic myloboron is powdered well and filtered over a clean piece of cloth to separate the fine powder. Half a spoon of this powder mixed with honey is given to the child at bed time continuously for one whole week.This destroys the intestinal worms, increases appetite and relieves constipation as well as bedwetting.
• Only some of the paediatric disrases responding to home remedies have been illustrated above. But a stitch in time saves nine. Hence, no disease should be neglected and allowed to take a violent course. A medicine once prescribed by a doctor must not be taken without medical consultation the next time similar symptoms are experienced.Nutritious food and hygiene are the building blocks of a childs health.
• SPARSE HAIR AND DULL INTELLIGENCE IN CHILDREN;
• Hair growth in children is completely determined by heredity and hence medicated oils should not be applied. A great deal of attention must be given to the child's health and nutrition.Care must be taken not to use very hot water when giving baths to children. Carrots are  rich in Vitamin A and hence, one cup of carrot juice everyday makes a very healthy drink. 
• As the child grows, his bodily organs and the brain develop correspondingly.The I.Q.of a child increases with age. 
• Acorus is charred over a flame, ground well and honey added to it. A little quantity of this substance is mixed with pure ghee and given to the child early in the morning on an empty stomach say, on Wednesday and on the Sunday that comes immediately next. 

The Leana and the Obese

Well built implies being well fed and it means being well off too !This notion seems to have made  a deep impact on the minds of many especially parents These day parents are a worried lot They are at their wite end trying to figure out the best nutrition  regime for their children Their children either eat too less or too much and striking a perfect balance is a herculean much and striking a perfect balance is a  herculean take indeed  In many cases it is the former complaint that rules.In addition peer pressure cut -throat competition and obvious comparisons between friends  have very serious effect on the child psychosocial and  physical health

The physical appearance of a person is to a large extent determined by heredity lifestyle food intake and physical exertion Ahandful of cases might be due to hormonal disturbances diseases of the digestive system psychological disorders and the like.

In recent years over-cautious parents desirous of seeing their child look healthy It is for this reason that pharmacies are flooded d with attractive nutritional supplement and the multinationals are laughing all the way  to bank This is fact a bane for children who are otherwise perfectlty healthy but are lean due to their genetic make -up

A march against nature always ends in disaster Hence an otherwise perfectly healthy but lean  person an otherwise perfectly healthy but lean person does not need a health tonic A saying in ayurveda states karshyameva  varam sthoulyath  which means It is a boon to be lean rather than obese because the obese are more prone to disease than the lean.

GUIDELINES ON PUTTING  ON WEIGHT

According to Ayurveda only an individual who has lost weight due to physical or psychological diseases and increased physical exertion as in the case of manual labourers farmers athletes and the like is eligible to consume  medicines that increase body weight The same is indicated for pregnant women post- partum women young children and the elderly only in case they are anaemic (pale) Due to increased expenditure of energy during summer moths these formulations are indicated for normal healthy people in summer only

Ayurveda advises the following regimen for those  Who desire to gain weight

• Consumption of plenty of milk and meat (if non-vegetarian)
• Foods rich in daily diet
• sweets oil baths
• Frequent oil baths
• Increased hours of sleep

All these activities make one gain  weight The ollowing home remedies bring added results

• Fresh frothing buffalo milk when applied and gently massaged over the face,not only gives a glowing complexion but also prevents sunken cheeks.It nourishes the facial muscels and helps them grow.
• A cup of wheat flour is mixed with an equal quantity of powdered bark of bastard teak tree. To this are added requisite quantities of water, ghee and finely powdered sugar. The whole mixture is heated over a low flame and a thick paste followed by a cup of hot milk, consumed twice daily, increases body weight.
• It is well-known that black gram has all properties of meat. Whole black gram is warmed over a low flame and powdered.One spoon of this powder is added to a cup of hot milk. Raisins with sugar are added to it. the mixture is heated to a thick consistency. When this is consumed twice daily, the body adds weight.
• Though ash gourd is a vegetable rich in water content,it also has weight increasing properties.This vegetable is peeled and grated The final product is squeezed out of its water content and dry heated in a pan with a little ghee added. An equal quantity of sugar is added to this and mixed well in to the paste.One spoon of this jam followed by a cup of hot milk is consumed twice daily to add on body weight. Asparagus roots or withania roots, when used in place of ash gourd,have a similar effect on the body. 

OBESITY

The mentioned disorder is just one face of the coin. The other face is truly nightmarish as it has a deleterious effect on one's health. The fact remains that obesity is the root cause of some of the worst ailments of man like diabetes,heart disease, arteriosclerosis[narrowing of blood vessels] etc.

Statistical evidence show that women are more prone to obesity than men. Psychological disorder ending in alcoholism is an indisputable cause of obesity in men.Unscrupulous consumption of high calorie food and hereditary factors also determine obesity. A weight that is ten percent over and above that corresponding to one's age and height is the prime  indication to start losing weight.

Abalanced diet and an exercise regimen to suit one's age is a perfect recipe for a trim  figure.In fact, weight loss is prescribed not only for healthy obese individuals but also for patients with Chronic diseases like diabetes,psoriasis etc.

As experience suggests, one's eppetite increases in winter. Lack of exercise and a full stomach adds several kilos and a vissible paunch.Hence, indoor exercises are recommended in winter.

The following measures are suggested in Ayurveda to reduce weight.loss is prescribed not only for patients with chronic diseases,like diabetes, psoriasis etc

• The following measures are suggested in Ayurveda to reduce weight;
• The part of the body with excess fat deposition is rinsed in lukewarm water several time in a day This melts down that extra fat.

• A meal is skipped twice anytime during a week and hot water is consumed  frequently.

• Exercise suitable for age sex is a must for all age groups.One should exercise till he/she sweats adequately.Exposure to the early rays of the sun and practising deep breathing exercises in open lush green environment help in weight reduction.Consumption of horse gram, jowar,corn, green gram, the water floating on curds allowed to stand for long,and honey in the routine diet helps one shed a few kilos.
• In addition, the following home remedies give the final touches to a shapely figure;
• The seeds of chebulic myloboron, beleric myloboron and gooseberry are extracted and powdered well.This powder mixture is mixed with a little water to make a paste which is applied to those parts of the body with excess fat deposition.After a while a warm water bath is taken. This melts down excess fat deposits.
• The stem of tinospora creeper is crushed to extract the juice.Three spoons of this juice is mixed with equal quantity of pure honey and consumed early in the morning on an empty stomach.
• A herb called nut grass grows abundantly in agricultural fields.This herb is washed thoroughly in running water and dried in sunlight.It is then powdered well. The processed form of this herb is also available at the local Pansari-shop.One teaspoon of the above powder is dissolved in acup of hot water and consumed thrice daily after food.In addition to reducing obesity,it also relieves the joint pain associated with excessive weight.
• The seeds of emblic myloboron plant are powdered well and filtered over a clean piece of cloth to obtain  a very fine powder. One spoon of fine powder mixed with honey is consumed three times a day to get beneficial results.
• Chebulic myloboron nut is crushed to remove the seed and is later powdered.

The part of the body with excess fat deposition is rinsed in lukewarm water several times. a day In addition to shedding excess this also reduces breathlessness and constipation that are the  common complaint of obese people   Finally there  are no alternatives to a strict diet and regular exercise  ir order to sculpt an enviable figure.