Obesity – A Jiva Case Study

The Jiva TeleMedicine Center has successfully treated hundreds of Obesity cases, offering long-term solutions to several patients. One such interesting case is that of Mr. Kishan Chawla (name changed), a 35-year-old Obesity patient from Jodhpur, India.

At a height of 5 foot 5 inches, Mr. Chawla weighed 92 kilos – a Body Mass Index that indicated he was overweight. He had been obese for 10 years, but had not found success with any of the treatments he had tried. He had also enrolled into one of the crash dieting programs, but the result lasted only for about six months and he started acquiring weight again. He also had off and on problems of constipation, gas formation, a feeling of lethargy, and memory loss. And, to top it all, he was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism three years back.

Mr. Chawla’s weight had become a constant source of embarrassment for him and when he called the Jiva TMC, he was all set to go under the knife for a liposuction surgery.

Jiva’s Analysis
One of Jiva’s doctors analyzed his case in detail after taking his complete medical history and symptomatic information. The doctor also helped him understand the difference between losing weight naturally and the unhealthy techniques of crash dieting, etc.

Mr. Chawla’s analysis indicated that his problem was caused by the aggravation of Kapha Dosha (Ayurvedic humor representing Water). The aggravated Kapha had led to the production of ama (toxins), which was heavy and dense in nature. Accumulation of these heavy toxins in the fat carrying channels had resulted in excessive production of fat tissues, which was the primary cause of weight gain in his case. Additionally, his digestive power was also weak, and this was the reason for constipation and gas formation in his body.

The Treatment
Ayurveda works on the root cause of disease by personalizing treatment according to the patient’s body type. In Mr. Chawla’s case, the root cause was aggravated Kapha. So, the treatment focused on pacification of Kapha through customized herbal medicines, dietary guidelines and lifestyle recommendations. Secondly, the treatment worked on cleansing the fat carrying channels by eliminating accumulated toxins. Because the patient had a weak digestion, he was also administered Deepan and Pachan treatment aimed at enhancing his digestive fire. In addition to this, he was given nervine tonics for relaxation of mind.

The Result
Within two months of treatment, Mr. Chawla lost eight kilos of weight. His problem of constipation and gas formation was cured completely. He also started feeling active and confident about himself. He is continuing with the medication to lower his weight further and keep it under control.

“I was ready for a liposuction surgery to cut down my excess fat when someone recommended Jiva to me. The best part about my Ayurvedic treatment was that it was personalized to my specific needs. The medicines, diet and lifestyle recommended to me helped in losing eight kilos in just two months. Today, I can confidently recommend Ayurveda to all Obesity patients.”

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!

Desi Dawa -- Local Home Remedies

Here are 35 Indian Home Remedies for everything imaginable and have been used for hundreds of years, before the advent of modern medicine.

This is good especially for minor aliments and aches and pains. Print it out and keep it in a place where you can find it easily, when needed. This may avoid a trip to the doctors and/or make you feel healthy (and even look beautiful) in the process. Take Care!

1) Home Remedies for Asthma:
Take 1 tsp honey and 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder and mix them well before consuming. For people who are in their early stages of asthma, a perfect home remedy is to boil 8-10 cloves of garlic in 1/2 cup of milk and consume it during night time. Take very hot water and add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it just before sleeping and take small sips


2) Home Remedies for Body Odour:
Use antibacterial soap or deodorant soap while bathing. To combat the unpleasant armpit odour apply cider vinegar. It serves as the best body odour home remedy treatment. In the bathing water, add a few cups of tomato juice and soak yourself in water for about 15 minutes.


3) Home Remedies for Backache:
Lime juice serves as an excellent home remedy for backache. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon and add common salt in it. Drink it two times in a day. It will act as a great back pain reliever.

As a part of back pain home remedy treatment, raw potato in the form of poultice is to be applied on the pain affected area.

Usually Vitamin C that is mainly found in citrus fruits is considered valuable for getting rid of backaches. Consume about 2000 mg of this vitamin everyday.

Applying garlic oil on the back gives immense relief from back pain. Take about 10 small garlic pieces and fry them in oil on a low flame. You can either use sesame oil, coconut oil or mustard oil. Fry till the garlic cloves turn light brown. Let the oil prepared from garlic cool completely.

Thereafter apply it on the back and keep it for about three hours. In a couple of days, you'll feel its magical effects


4)Home Remedies for Cough:
Grapes help a great deal in treating cold in a few days. Consume 1 cup grape juice and also add 1-teaspoon honey to it.

Almonds are excellent for dry coughs. Soak about seven almonds in water and keep them overnight. Next morning peel off the brown skin.

Now grind them to form a powder and add twenty grams each of butter and sugar and form a paste. Consume it twice a day , once in the morning and the second time in the evening.


5) Home Remedies for Common Cold:
Lemon can be used effectively to treat common cold, as it increases the body resistance. Take one glass of warm water and pour some lime juice and a tsp of honey in it and consume it once or twice on a daily basis.

Take 1 tbsp of Pepper powder and boil it in a cup of milk. Also add on a pinch of turmeric to it. Put some sugar for taste. Drink it once in a day for about three days.

Take 3-4 tsp Onion juice and 3-4 tsp Honey and mix well before consuming.


6) Home Remedies for Common Fever:
The juice of grapefruit is valuable in all fevers. Helpful in quenching thirst, it also removes the burning sensation produced by the fever. Half a glass of grapefruit juice should be taken with half a glass of water.

Another ideal food in all types of fever is orange. It provides energy, increases urinary output, and promotes body resistance against infections. It is especially effective when the digestive power of the body is seriously hampered.


7)Home Remedies for Defective Vision:
Consume foods rich in vitamin A (like raw spinach, turnip tops, milk cream, cheese, butter, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, Soya beans, green peas, fresh milk), as vitamin A helps in improving the eyesight.


8) Home Remedies for Diabetes:
Take 15 fresh mango leaves and boil them in 1 glass of water. Keep them overnight. Filter and drink the next morning.

As a part of diabetes home remedy treatment, grapefruit is considered most beneficial. Eat three grape fruits three times in a day.

Indian gooseberry (Amla), a rich source of vitamin C serves as the best home remedy for diabetes. Take 1 tbsp of gooseberry juice and mix it with a cup of bitter gourd (Karela) juice. Consume the mixture daily for about 2 months.


9) Home Remedies for Dry Chapped Lips:
Drink plenty of water every day. Cut fine slices of cucumber and rub on lips. Take a saline bath. Apply neem leaves extract on your lips.


10) Home Remedies for Diarrhoea:
Take a ripe banana and mash it properly. Add 1 tsp of tamarind pulp and a pinch of salt to it. Consume this mixture two times in a day.

A simple effective home remedy for diarrhea is to drink a cup of strong tea or coffee.

A popular diarrhea home remedy treatment is to consume a paste made of 15-20 fresh curry leaves mixed with 1 tsp honey.

Take a ripe banana, add 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder to it and eat it on a daily basis.

Take a tsp of date paste and mix with 1 tsp honey. This mixture is to be consumed 4-5 times a day.


11) Home Remedies for Ear Ache:
Boil 3-4 cloves of Garlic in some water. Mash them and add a pinch of salt. Wrap this 0poultice in a flannel or woolen cloth and place on the aching ear.

Pour some garlic juice in the paining ear. Its antibiotic qualities help to relieve the pain.

Take Vitamin C to boost=2 0your immune system. It is a natural antibiotic and antihistamine that helps to reduce inflammation and fever. Include zinc in your diet because it reduces ear infection. Certain foods, more commonly dairy products like milk, butter, cheese etc tend to aggravate ear infections, so it is better to avoid them during an ear infection


12)Home Remedies for Genital Warts:
Extract juice from onion slices and add salt to it. Apply this juice on the wart-affected area and see the magical effects.

Another great idea is to apply the milky juice of figs on the warts 2-3 times in a day, till the warts disappear.

Put few drops of apple cider vinegar on the warts using cotton ball.

Consume foods rich in folic acid and beta-carotene. Eat plenty of green leafy veggies


13) Home Remedies for Gingivitis:
Take some clove oil and rub it on your gums. Or else, keep a clove in your mouth and chew slowly.

Brush your teeth with toothpaste that contains sage oil, peppermint oil etc..

In 1 glass of lukewarm water, add a pinch of salt and prepare a homemade saline solution. Using this solution, gargle two times in a day. It will help a great deal in reducing the swelling in your mouth.

To heal the gum swelling, use an anti bacterial mouth wash.

Patients suffering from Gingivitis should consume foods containing low saturated fats.


14) Home Remedies for Hair Loss:
One of the best home remedies for treating hair loss is to massage your scalp with fingers gently. It will also aid in increasing blood circulation and lend glow to your hair.

Amla oil serves as an excellent tonic for hair conditioning. Apply this oil on the scalp and see the wonderful results.. OR for nourishing your hair, apply coconut milk all over your scalp and massage it into the hair roots.


15) Home Remedies for Hangover:
Drink plenty of water before going to bed as well as when you wake up in the morning.

Eating some foodstuff while and after you are drinking will slow down the rate at which alcohol enters the blood, thereby reducing the hangover.

Consume vitamin C tablets, as they lead to the breakdown of alcohol content in the body.


16) Home Remedies for Headache:
Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects.

When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead


17) Home Remedies for Heartburn:
Ginger serves as an effective home remedy for heartburn. Grind fresh ginger and prepare ginger tea.. You can even add ginger to foods.

Increase your fiber intake, as it aids in the absorption of excess acid and gas. It helps in flushing out the toxins from your body.

Dr ink plenty of water at least 8 glasses everyday.

Green tea is also effective in treating heartburn.

Prepare herbal tea containing equal small amounts of peppermint, chamomile, ginger, licorice root and catnip. Preferably, it should be taken after dinner


18) Home Remedies for Herpes:
Take a few ice cubes and rub them on the cold sore affected area for a few minutes.

Take a warm tea bag and apply it on the fever blisters for about half an hour.

Lemon balm extract is considered valuable in healing Herpes infection.

Consume foods rich in vitamins. Zinc and iron are also vital. Eat plenty of fruits and green veggies


19) Home Remedies for High Blood Cholesterol:
In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander seeds and bring to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink this mixture two times in a day.

Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries. You just need to modify your cooking style a bit and substitute sunflower seeds for solid fats such as butter and cream.

Incorporate loads of fiber in your meals, as fiber helps a great=2 0deal in lowering the cholesterol pressure in blood.


20) Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure:
A real effective home remedy for high blood pressure is to take 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp ginger juice and 1 tsp cumin powder and mix them well. Have this mixture at least two times in a day. As a part of high bp home remedy treatment, it's good to try out the idea of consuming coriander or fenu greek leaves mixed in 1 cup of water.

Take about 25-30 curry leaves and make a juice, using 1-cup water. You can even add on lime juice to it for making it tastier. Strain and drink it in the morning.


21) Home Remedies for Menopausal Disorder:
When a woman experiences menopause, she should take a daily supplement consisting of 500 mg magnesium and 2 gm of calcium.

Carrot seeds are of great value in case of menopause. In 1 glass of cow's milk, put a tsp of carrot seeds and boil for about 10 minutes or so. Consume it everyday as a medicine.

Liquorice serves as an effective remedy for menopause, as it contains the natural female hormone, estrogen. Thus, it helps in making up for the lost hormones.


22) Home Remedies for Obesity:
On an empty stomach in the morning, drink 1 glass of warm water mixed with juice of half a lime and 1 tsp honey.

In 1 cup of water, add 3 tsp of lime juice, 1/2 tsp pepper powder and some honey. Drink this everyday for=2 0about 3-4 months.

As a substitute of breakfast, consume 2 ripe tomatoes in the morning. This remedy will aid in reducing your weight at a faster rate.


24) Home Remedies for Prostate Disorders:
Pumpkin seeds are extremely useful in treating prostate disorders. The seeds of pumpkin act as a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids that are vital to the health of the prostate.. Men suffering from prostate trouble must take about 60-90 gm of pumpkin seeds daily. Pumpkin can be consumed in the form of powder spread over the cooked food. You can also mix them with white flour for making chapattis.

Zinc has been found beneficial in the treatment of prostate disorders. Take about 30 milligrams of this mineral everyday.

Vitamin E is beneficial for prostate health. The patient should be given foods rich in vitamin E like wholegrain products, green leafy vegetables, milk and sprouted seeds.

In 200 ml spinach juice, add 300 ml of carrot juice. You can even have carrot juice separately. Vegetable juices are excellent in curing prostate disorders.


25) Home Remedies for Ringworm:
Take a raw fresh papaya and cut out slices. Rub the slice on the ringworm patch. It serves as an excellent home remedy for ring worms.

Take a few mustard seeds and powder them. Thereafter, make a paste using water.. Apply the paste on the ringworm-affected area and see its wonderful effects.


26) Home=2 0Remedies for Sexual Impotence:
Garlic is considered valuable in treating the problem of sexual impotence. It acts like a tonic for loss of sexual power Chew 2-3 cloves of raw garlic daily.

Another aphrodisiac food next to garlic is onion. It aids in strengthening the reproductive organs. Prefer going in for white onions.

Carrots have proved beneficial in creating the desire for sex. Take about 150 gm of finely chopped carrots and eat them with a half boiled egg, dipped in 1 tbsp of honey. Consume it once a day for about a month or two.


27) Home Remedies for Sinusitis:
Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and garlic, as a part of your daily meals.

Fenugreek leaves are considered valuable in curing sinusitis. In 250 ml water, boil 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds and reduce it to half. This will help you to perspire, dispel toxicity and reduce the fever period.

Tie a tsp of black cumin seeds in a thin cotton cloth and inhale..


28) Home Remedies for Sore Throat:
Take 1-2 cloves of garlic and 2-3 cloves and make a paste. Mix with 1 cup of honey. Drink 1 tsp about 3 times in a day. In 1 cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder.. Drink the milk before going to bed.

Take 1 whole onion and boil it with some water. Thereafter, mash it and add some butter, salt and pepper to it. Now eat this mixture.


29) Home Remedies for Stomach Ache:
Drink plenty of water , as it helps in ensuring smooth bowel movements.

Drink lemon tea with some honey added in it for taste. It will keep away stomach ache.

Mix 1 tsp each of mint juice and lime juice. Add some ginger juice and black salt in it. Drink this mixture.


30) Home Remedies for Tonsillitis :
Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it in a glass of water. Add 4 tsp of honey and ¼ tsp of common salt in it. Drink it slowly sip by sip.

Milk has proved beneficial in treating tonsillitis. In 1 glass of pure boiled milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink it every night for about 3 days.


31) Home Remedies for Toothache:
Dip 1 clove of garlic in rock salt and place it on the affected tooth.

Keep a piece of raw onion inside the mouth on the affected tooth.

Clove serves as an excellent home remedy for toothache. Keep a clove in your mouth and suck it. You can even apply clove oil on the affected tooth.

Lime is considered valuable in maintaining the health of teeth.