Soaking up the Monsoon Spirit?

Soaking up the Monsoon Spirit?
Don’t let your health ruin all the fun.

The monsoon season is always a welcome relief after a hot, dry spell of summer. Almost every individual, irrespective of age, gender or geographical location, has fond memories associated with rains.

Some welcome them by cooking special food (in India, tea and pakoras are the hot favorites!), some get drenched in the showers, while many others celebrate at home with loved ones.

Why do diseases love monsoon?

While it is the time to enjoy the cool downpour, it is also the time to welcome a host of diseases – arthritis, asthma, sinusitis, diarrhea, indigestion, skin diseases, gastrointestinal infections like typhoid and cholera, etc. – that plague us during this season. As the rainy season progresses, long queues in front of hospitals and clinics become a common sight. Even though modern medicine offers effective treatment for most of these ailments, Ayurveda emphasizes on the need for preventive cure in order to keep the body healthy in monsoons.

In Ayurveda, the period between mid-June and mid-August is referred to as the Varsha Ritu or the Rainy Season. Varsha Ritu falls in the Uttarayan (northern solstice) and in this phase, the general body strength of most people gets weakened. Monsoons also reduce the immunity of our body and make us susceptible to diseases. In this season, the body’s digestive power or jatharagni gets impaired and, as a result, it is not able to properly digest the food that is consumed. This leads to formation of ama or toxins in the intestines, which happens to be the leading cause of disease in the body. If ama is not cleared, it will continue to build and can cause an imbalance of the doshas or the natural forces at work in the body. When the causative factors of the imbalance are not addressed, the ama can react with doshas and cause disease.

Maintaining Health in the Rainy Season

To maintain good health in this season, it is imperative that you eat the right kinds of food and lead an active lifestyle. This will ensure that your digestive system remains intact and the production of toxins is prevented.

Here are some excellent Ayurvedic tips to increase body immunity and prevent monsoon disorders:

• Eat light foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, cereals, etc. To kill germs, make sure you wash green leafy vegetables and fruits properly before eating.
• Reduce the consumption of fried or heavy foods as they impair the digestive power of the body. Especially avoid eating meat or fish.
• Reduce consumption of dairy products like yoghurt, buttermilk and cottage cheese as the body takes a lot of time to digest them.
• Avoid heavy and salty food items as they lead to water retention and bloating in the body.
• Eat foods that are drying in nature, such as corn (makka), chickpea (chana), gram flour (besan), oats (jow), etc.
• Avoid heavy oils like mustard oil, peanut oil, or sesame oil. They are known to increase Pitta (fire) and can lead to infection. Use corn oil or olive oil instead.
• Avoid sour food items like tamarind (imli), chutneys and pickles as they cause water retention.
• Consume bitter vegetables like bitter gourd (karela) and herbs like neem, fenugreek (methi) seeds, turmeric (haldi), etc. as they are known to prevent infection.
• Drink lots of warming herbal teas, especially those with antibacterial properties such as holy basil leaves.
• Massage your body with sesame oil twice a week as it helps in controlling the production of toxins in the body. And, to avoid skin infections and itching, add 1 or 2 spoons of Neem Oil to half a cup of Sesame Oil and use this for massage before bath at least once a week.
• Do not indulge in heavy exercises; brisk walking along with yoga or stretching is better.

Necessary Precautions during Monsoons

• Always keep your surroundings dry and clean. Do not allow water to get accumulated around you.
• Keep your body warm as viruses attack immediately when body temperature goes down.
• Do not enter an air-conditioned room if you have wet hair or are wearing damp clothes.
• Avoid eating uncooked foods and salads. Definitely avoid roadside vendors as very few people take precautions to handle the bacterial overload at such places.
• Drink plenty of water and keep your body well-hydrated.
• Walking in dirty water during rainy season can lead to fungal infections which mainly affect toes and nails. Diabetic patients should take special care to keep their feet dry and clean.
• Avoid walking in dirty water and keep your raincoats and shoes dry and clean. Drying clothes with fumes of dry Neem leaves is recommended as it helps kill bacteria.
• Make sure your drinking water is clean and pure. Drink boiled water at home and only mineral water when outside.
• In rains, puddles of water become breeding grounds for mosquitoes which spread diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Fumigate your house with smoke of dried Neem leaves in the evenings for 1-2 minutes. This is an excellent Ayurvedic method to keep mosquitoes away.
• If you are suffering from asthma or diabetes, avoid staying in a place that has wet walls. Wetness promotes the growth of fungus that can become the cause of infections.
• Rains affect our level of outdoor activities; so, you need to take special care to indulge in indoor physical activities so that laziness does not grow on you.
• If you are prone to joint pains, avoid sitting or lying down on the floor. The pain can get aggravated when the skin comes in contact with a wet or cold surface.
• Avoid sleeping soon after lunch as it worsens indigestion problems.

Taking preventive care with regard to eating healthy food and keeping the body and surroundings clean will help you keep diseases at bay in this rainy season. By doing so, you can ensure that the upcoming winter proves beneficial in enhancing your health and vitality. Keep the above-mentioned tips and precautions in mind and you will be able to enjoy monsoons thoroughly.

Have a healthy and safe monsoon!

Some Useful Tips

 HEALTH

Avoid consuming yogurt at night. Yogurt is acidic in nature, difficult to digest and blocks the body channels if taken in large quantities.

EDUCATION

Parents should ensure that their children get ample time to play. Play helps kids relax and makes them happy. It also helps them build physical, intellectual, and social skills that are critical for success in life.

SPIRITUAL

Ingratitude is a serious disease in this material world. A gentleman is one who is grateful. The intelligence of the conditioned souls is so covered that they are unaware of the person who supplies the necessities for their existence. This state of consciousness occurs because we disrespect God or disregard his existence.

Peace – The By Product of a Healthy Mind

The mind is considered to be the prime cause of bondage, as well as misery and liberation, enmity and friendship. Mind is our link to the world outside as well as a link to inner peace. By itself, mind is neither friend or foe, nor good or bad. It all depends on how we make use of it. A mind attached to sense pleasures is our greatest enemy. We do not need to fight an enemy outside in the world as we are carrying it with us, no matter where we go.

Sometimes, people think that they can find peace in a solitary place, in the forest, on top of a mountain, at some holy place, or in a monastery. But, this is a myth. If the mind is restrained, peace can be found even in our own living room.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna gives the formula for peace very succinctly. He says, “He who lives devoid of all attachment, giving up desires, egoism, and sense of I and mind attains peace.”

Peace is not an object outside of ourselves that we need to attain. It is already there within us. But, we have created disturbances by innumerable material desires. We work day and night only to give rise to anxiety, tension, and frustration because we are chasing the chimera of material desires. What we don’t understand is that material desires are endless, like a bottomless pit; they never come to an end. As soon as one of our desires is fulfilled, it gives birth to the next desire. Then, we begin chasing these new desires and this goes on for all of our existence. It is just like a mirage in the desert. As soon as you reach close to it, you find it has moved further up ahead. You can keep running after it until you drop dead from thirst. Trying to satisfy material desires is like trying to quench our thirst by seeking water from a mirage or by trying to put out a fire by pouring fuel into it.

Mind is considered as the king of all senses. Therefore, it should rule over the senses. But if it becomes attached to material desires, it becomes a slave to the senses. When this happens, the mind loses its potency. For example, if a master has some weakness and the servant knows it, then the servant will take advantage of the master by exploiting his weakness. The master also fears that if he does not submit to the will of the servant, the latter can expose his weakness. Therefore, the master always dreads his servant.

A mind attached to material desires and sense pleasures is in a similar position. Instead of controlling the senses, it gets pulled in different directions by them. This is the cause of disturbance. Disturbance is nothing other than the senses or material desires pulling the mind all around. Peace is realized when the mind is not agitated by such desires.

If a person is walking and says, “What do I have to do to be stationary,” the simple answer is that he should just stop walking. He does not have to do anything extra to become stationary. Rather, he has to give up the activity of walking. Similarly, nothing special has to be done to gain peace. The peace is already there; we have to merely stop creating disturbances. And this is possible only by renouncing all material desires. This will bring an immediate end to all agitation of the mind.

Lord Krishna advises us to forsake all material desires. Even if there is one desire, it will be disturbing and might give rise to other desires. So, desires must be renounced completely. The next thing he says that we should do is to give up our material ego. We should not identify with our ‘designation’ based upon these material bodies. This will bring peace in the whole world. There are wars between people, family members, religions, organizations, states and nations because of ego-based material identifications. Unless we give up the thought that we are a person of a certain caste, creed, gender, color, or nation, we will remain sectarian and thus have biased feelings for those who have a different designation.

The last requirement for peace, according to Krishna, is to renounce the feeling of possessiveness over the body, people, and things related to the body. This includes insentient things such as a house, car, etc., and sentient beings such as mate, children, etc. Does this mean that one should not possess anything? No! The problem is not with the body or possessions, but with our attachment to them. Attachment to anything will bring bondage, distress, and loss of peace and happiness.

Without peace there can be no happiness. Thus, if we want happiness, we should follow the principles of the Bhagavad Gita, which are universally applicable to people of all nations and religions.

Unlocking Each Learner’s Potential

This Teacher’s Day (celebrated in India every year on the 5th of September), I was reflecting on what it means to be a teacher, and wondered if I could distil the essence of the profession into a single expression. I sat for some time, combing through my 40-some-odd years in this world—half as learner, and half as educator/learner, in an attempt to identify an appropriate and succinct definition, when the word “locksmith” suddenly emerged. Within moments, my mind was inundated with similarities between teachers and key masters. Here’s what I discovered.

Students’ minds are like doors with locks, which when open, enable them to access the unlimited ocean of knowledge that exists in the world. However, years of exposure to factory-style education has caused many of those doors and locks to become stuck, making it difficult for teachers to get their students interested in what they are teaching. The challenge for teachers, therefore, is to figure out which key to use to open them. It’s not enough for a teacher to teach the same thing to all students in the same way, as her unique style of instruction will cater to certain types of students, just as a single key might fit certain keyholes and not others. She needs to know the unique qualities of each learner, and how to adapt her approach so that she can get each one of them to open up.

While most teachers have at least a few instructional techniques (or keys) that work with some students, they may struggle to unbolt the doors of others. In a sense, these children remain incarcerated, brimming with energy and capabilities, though unable to connect meaningfully with the curriculum. Unfortunately, teachers often abandon such learners, as they feel it requires too much time and effort to get through to them, and also because they believe their primary responsibility is to complete the syllabus. But more unfortunate than the ignored, are the ones who are forced to open up through excessive pressure, emotional abuse or physical punishment. Such methods may bring about short-term gains, but in the end, result in damaging students’ self-esteem and their love for learning. With locks broken, the doors eventually wind up getting shuttered.

So what does a teacher need to do in order to liberate learners of all types? She must first consider the critical elements that constitute a learner’s psychology, i.e., Multiple Intelligences and Multiple Natures, can be equated with the pins found in pin tumbler locks. Just as lock pins differ in length, a student’s MIs and MNs exist in differing degrees (e.g., some have strong Logical Intelligence or Adventurous Natures, while others are weak in those aspects). And in the same way that the ridges of the key align with the pins, the teacher must provide inputs and activities that match each learner’s MIs and MNs.

For instance, rather than deliver chalk-and-talk lectures, teachers can involve their students in cooperative learning activities that engage Interpersonal Intelligence; they can use mind-maps and graphic organizers to stimulate learners’ Visual Intelligence and Creative Natures; they can provide options for homework and projects that let students represent their understanding of a topic through creating their own songs (Linguistic and Musical Intelligence) or designing flowcharts (Logical Intelligence). They can even activate interest by delegating responsibilities that match students’ innate tendencies. For example, they can assign monitoring roles to those strong in Administrative Nature, create a hospitality team for those who possess a prodigious Providing Nature or even encourage those with strong Educative Natures to serve as in-class tutors.

It takes years of experience to develop the versatility required to tackle a wide range of students by using such methodologies. But when a teacher does so, it is as if she has forged herself a master key—the kind you find in hotels that can open hundreds of doors.

Still, there will always be those exceptionally difficult students who refuse to open up no matter what you do. Whether you use kindness, anger, jokes, sarcasm, or even call their parents, nothing seems to stimulate or engage them. In such cases, locksmiths have only one choice—to pick the lock. They must find a wire or hairpin, and through one jugaad or another, jiggle it around until it gets the pins to move and the plug to turn.

When I think of the ‘impenetrable ones’, I am reminded of a teenage girl I once taught in Japan who came to my English class every day and just sat in the back chewing gum with her mouth open. She was one of those tough types with numerous body piercings, tattoos, leather and chain outfits, and so on. Every attempt I made to get her interested in the subject ended in failure and my deep frustration. Finally, one day, I handed her a stack of blank pages on her desk and said, “I don’t care what you write on them, but you have to fill them up—and it has to be in English”.

A few days went by, and when she entered the class, she dropped the stack of papers on my desk and silently went to her seat and began chewing gum. I looked down, and to my surprise, found every page in the stack filled with colourful drawings, elaborate descriptions, and an array of photos cut and pasted from magazines. “I like tattoos,” began one page, which was passionately filled with examples of body art. Next was an exposition on motorcycles, followed by a tribute to her favourite brand of cigarettes, complete with an empty packet affixed to the sheet. Twenty pages, each bursting with vitality, scored the symphony of her life, revealed the kaleidoscope of her soul. My Lord. Click!

Since that day, I have looked at my students differently—perhaps the way locksmiths view each lock—as a unique puzzle to be solved. And I have come to understand that the main challenge of teaching does not lie in covering the syllabus (though that will always be a part of it), but more, in figuring out how to jimmy each student’s distinct internal mechanisms so every one of them gets turned on to learning.

But while it is meritorious for a teacher to acquire the skills to extricate multitudes of students, she performs a disservice if she sees students merely as “locks to be opened”. No doubt she has the duty of deciphering each student’s unique combinations and helping engage them in curricular content, however, she has the greater responsibility of getting learners to recognize their individual characteristics so they can control their own locks. In fact, I believe that is the ultimate goal of education. For, once learners know how to do so, the keys to release their potential rest in their hands.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Flu

The Ayurvedic treatment of any flu is aimed at controlling the virus and preventing complications by boosting the body’s immunity. It helps in cleansing the body by eliminating toxins and clearing blockage in channels. The following home remedies can be quite effective in flu:

• Take one tablespoonful of basil leaves juice and mix a pinch of black pepper powder in it and drink.  You can mix two tablespoonful of warm water in it if it is difficult to consume. Or mix a teaspoonful of honey.
• If you are bitten and fear you might’ve been affected by flu, it is a good idea to drink fresh juice made from basil leaves a few hours after the bite.
• The herb chirayata (Swertia Chirata) is effective in the treatment of intermittent type of viral fevers. It helps in lowering the temperature. An infusion of the herb, prepared by immersing 15 gm of chirayata in 250 ml of hot water with aromatics like cloves and cinnamon, should be given in doses of 15 to 30 ml.
• Use the decoction of Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) leaves twice daily. To make the decoction, use one stem of Giloy crushed with water, boiled with two cups of water which is finally reduced to one cup. Filter and consume.
• Neem has special air purifying qualities which help in alleviating airborne diseases, including all kinds of flu. Chew 3-5 fresh leaves of Neem daily to purify your blood.
• Take one-foot-long branch of Giloy and seven leaves of Basil, mix and collect the juice of this mixture. Now boil this juice and drink it. This herbal juice increases our body resistance to a great extent.

The best we, as citizens, can do is to keep ourselves informed about what’s happening around us and take timely steps to prevent the spread of the flu.

The Most Common Types of Flu

Malaria
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells. After a bite from an infected Anopheles mosquito, the parasite enters the person's bloodstream and quick multiplication of parasites results in destruction of red blood cells. The chief symptoms of Malaria are fever, shaking chills, headaches, tiredness, and nausea.

In Ayurveda, Malaria is termed as Visham Jwara or Bhutabhishang, which means, a viral flu that is caused by an external viral agent (such as a Mosquito). Malaria can be caused by the aggravation of all three doshas (Ayurvedic humors), with Pitta (Fire) being the prime dosha.

Dengue
Dengue fever, a very common disease in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, is caused when a mosquito carrying dengue fever virus bites a healthy human. The virus then travels in the blood stream and starts multiplying itself in the whole body, causing fever. Chief symptoms of Dengue include chills, headaches, rashes, nausea, and loss of appetite.

According to Ayurveda, in cases of dengue, virus infestation throws Pitta out of balance, leading to destruction of platelets. This reduction in platelet count in the blood can often lead to dangerous consequences if not checked in time.

Swine Flu
Swine influenza (also known as Swine Flu) is a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that usually infect the respiratory tract of pigs. These viruses have the capacity to mutate, and are therefore easily transmissible among humans. In humans, they cause symptoms such as cough, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, and body aches.

In Ayurvedic medicinal system, Swine Flu is referred to as Vata Kaphaj Jwara, which is caused by the aggravation of Vata (Air) and Kapha (Water). It attacks the respiratory system, blocking the air passage channels and leading to associated symptoms like cough, nausea, body aches, etc.

Prevention is Better than Cure in Flu

The epidemic flu continues to spread and cause concern throughout the world. Even though governments and medical institutions have been battling all kinds of diseases like Swine Flu and Dengue, among others, many of these epidemics have already been classified as global pandemics. Massive media campaigns have been launched all over to create public awareness on diseases, still they continue to spread and pose a threat to millions of people. Why is it so?

We are unable to find the right solution to these problems only because we have not yet addressed their root cause, which is, the lack of immunity and ojas (energy) in the body. Ayurveda, the 5000-year-old science of natural healing, possesses a wealth of knowledge that can aid us in fighting against the odds presented by these diseases.

Ayurvedic View of Flu
According to Ayurveda, flu is caused only when there is lack of immunity in the body. In this ancient science of healing, the concept of immunity is based on the beej-bhumi (seed-land) theory. When the land (body) is fertile (laden with toxins or ama which get accumulated due to improper digestion), all the seeds (viruses) are able to grow easily. In contrast, when the land is infertile, lesser number of seeds germinate. This means, when the human body contains ama, it becomes a fertile breeding ground for different kinds of viruses.

On the other hand, ojas is the product of a healthy digestive system, which helps the body in resisting infection. Low ojas is lack of immunity at the physical level and absence of mental strength at the mind level. Ayurveda says you can prevent the spread of flu by strengthening the ojas and enhancing your body immunity.

General Precautions to keep Flu at Bay
Here are a few essential tips that will help you keep away from the flu of different kinds:

• Make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of good sleep every night. This will boost your immune system and enhance the ojas in your body.
• Try Panchakarma therapies – specialised Ayurvedic massage techniques - that are extremely useful in cleansing the body and giving it renewed vitality.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to flush accumulated ama from your system.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet to keep your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection. Stick with whole grains, colourful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.
• Support your immune system by exercising moderately on a regular basis. It helps in increasing blood circulation and eliminating the blockage in body channels.
• Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions. Make sure you take the prescribed medicines at the right time and in advised quantities.

What is Fibroadenoma?

Fibroadenomas are solid breast lumps or masses that usually are round, easily moved, firm or rubbery, and painless. They seem to be influenced by estrogen; most fibroadenomas come and go during your menstrual cycle, when your hormone levels are changing. A fibroadenoma is usually diagnosed through clinical examination, ultrasound or mammography, and often a needle biopsy sample of the lump.

Jiva saves Fibroadenoma Patient from Surgery

Anu Jajodia, a 38-year-old patient of Fibroadenoma from Nasik, India, called the Jiva TeleMedicine Center after she had exhausted all possible options of treating her condition. For the last 6-7 years, she had multiple cyst formation in her breasts, and most doctors had suggested surgery to her. To make matters worse, she was also experiencing associated problems of leucorrhoea and hyperacidity. It was then that she decided to give it a last try and take help from Ayurveda.

“I am eternally grateful to Jiva Ayurveda for treating my condition of Fibroadenoma. Their medicines as well as diet and lifestyle advice worked wonders on my health. Thank you Jiva!”

Upon detailed analysis of her case, a Jiva Ayurveda doctor identified aggravation of Pitta dosha (Ayurvedic humour representing Fire) to be the main cause of her problem. She was given custom-made herbal formulations as well as a customised Diet and Lifestyle Plan in accordance with her body constitution.

In just two months, her lumps had reduced in size and she witnessed remarkable improvement in her condition. Within seven months of treatment, all her cysts had dissolved. Not just that, with the help of preventive medicines and a regulated lifestyle, she was able to control her hyper-acidic nature.

Today, Ms, Jajodia is a happy woman, looking forward to a life free of Fibroadenoma and the pain that goes with it.

LIVING BETTER WITH ARTHRITIS

Gurvinder Singh (name changed), a 49-year-old member of the Indian para-military forces, was diagnosed with Arthritis in the year 2002. In order to get relief from his incessant joint pains, he started taking strong chemical (allopathic) medicines on a regular basis and got better in due course. However, in 2006, his pains resurfaced, worse than before, and did not subside even after he took medicines for four years. The painful attacks continued off and on.

He contacted Jiva Ayurveda after reading about our Panchakarma treatment, a highly effective form of treatment for chronic pains. We invited him for a Panchakarma session at our clinic in Faridabad. One of our senior doctors analysed his medical history and present condition in detail, and customised a treatment package for him.

HOME REMEDIES:

• Mix powdered fenugreek, turmeric, and dried ginger root in equal quantities. Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of this mixture with lukewarm water twice a day.
• Dry fomentation (application of dry heat) using sand or salt is very helpful for reducing pain and swelling. Take a four-folded cloth, fill with hot sand or salt, and make a bundle of it. Massage the bundle on the painful joints.
• Take 2 tablespoons each of long pepper powder (pippali), piper root powder (pippalimool), Java long pepper powder (chavya), and dried ginger root powder (shunthi). Boil this in 1 gallon (or 4 liters) of water (or milk) until only half of the liquid remains. Strain and sip this liquid whenever you feel thirsty throughout the day.
• Swallow 1 peeled garlic bud in the morning with water.

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Arthritis is a chronic condition, alright. But then, there’s no reason for you to think that there’s nothing you can really do about it. Even though you might not be able to uproot the disease completely, you can, and should, at least work on making your life better.

The following tips will directly or indirectly improve your health and change your outlook towards the disease:

Watch your Digestion

Maintain normal bowel movements. Make sure there is no indigestion, bloating or gas formation.

Start early

Whenever you feel the slightest symptoms, make sure you consult a doctor in time. If diagnosed, start your treatment early; don’t wait for the condition to worsen.

Protect your joints

Avoid putting excess stress on your joints. Lubricate your joints and body with sesame oil at least twice a week. Use devices or products that can make it easier to carry out your routine tasks at home or work.

Move your body

Exercising gives relief from pain, reduces fatigue, strengthens the muscles, and enhances flexibility. Yoga and stretching exercises are very useful for Arthritic patients.

Laugh out Loud

Laughing can relax muscles, reduce stress, relieve pain, and even boost your immune system. It is a great way to pacify the aggravated Vata dosha.

Bedtime Bath

A warm bath before bed can relieve muscle tension, ease aching joints and help you get a good night’s sleep.

Work Smarter

Make your work life easier and more convenient by trying arrangements such as flexi hours, telecommuting, or working part-time. Take frequent breaks to stretch stiff joints and relieve sore muscles.

Don’t lose hope

Having Arthritis does not mean the end of the world. Be resolute, take good care of your body, and live a normal life.