Cura Ayurveda -Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counseling

The concern over various toxins contaminating the vegetable produce and the water that we consume is growing day by day. Not only toxins but certain naturally occurring substances in plants when present in excess can also act like toxins and one of them is nitrates. Well water in certain areas can also contain high levels of nitrates. Nitrate containing plant foods (carrots, spinach, beets, green beans, courgette, collard greens etc) and food prepared with water containing high levels of nitrates are particularly be dangerous when given to infants below three months of age. It can lead to a condition called ‘the blue baby syndrome' or Methemoglobinemia in which babies develop a blue-grey skin color and become irritable or lethargic.1 Nitrates and nitrites are hemoglobin oxidizing agents. Infants below three months of age have lower levels of an enzyme called NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, which converts methemoglobin back to hemoglobin thus are at risk of developing methemoglobinem...

Introduction: One of the most ancient systems of medicine- Ayurveda, developed thousands of years ago. But it still continues to stun the scientific faculties all over the world by its highly evolved concepts of health and medicine. Depending on the nature of the diseased and that of the disease, variety of drug dosage forms, modes of administrations, diet and lifestyle modifications are available in Ayurveda. The drug dosages are in the form of decoctions, powders, pills, oils, clarified butter or ghrita etc. Amongst these, Ghrita or Ghee which is clarified butter is a dosage form which has been used widely in Ayurveda. This dosage form is particularly used in the treatment of Psychological disorders (Manas Vikara) and also in several disorders which affect nervous system. Use of Ghee in Ayurveda: As we take a review of the treatment of Manas Vikara in Ayurveda, we notice that most of the important Medhya aushadhi (Psychotropic an...

The vegetables and fruits which you can safely feed to your baby once you have started weaning are- Green beans, peas, butternut squash, acorn squash, potato, sweet potato, parsnip, sweet peppers,asparagus tips,avocado. Vegetables should be well cooked minced,mashed and pureed before giving your baby. Once the baby is happy eating these, you can introduce other veggies like cabbage and broccoli etc. Which vegetables to avoid? Beets, turnips, carrots, collard greens and spinach as these might conatin high levels of nitrates when grown in certain parts of the country. It is safe to use the commercially prepared forms of these foods. Which fruits to give? Banana, apple, pear, mango, peach, papaya,blueberries, plums . Till your baby is eight months old, hard fruits like apple, pear should be pealed and cooked till soft using minimum liquid. Cooking these fruits makes them easier for digestion. Giving ripe fruits raw and pureed though does not cause any major health problem, but can cause...

Vajikarana: The science of healthy procreation. The sole aim of procreation in every living being is survival of their race. And this holds true for humans as well .The unsaid rule is, that it responsibility of each individual to try and pass on the best of their qualities to their off-springs. It is a sperm in male and an ovum in female that transmit the genetic material of parents to the next generation. And the quality of these two gametes reflects directly on the health of the progeny. Various research studies have brought to notice, a rise in adverse trends in male reproductive health like, increased incidence of testicular cancer, decline in semen qualities and an increase in abnormal sperms.1 Sperm damage results from a broad spectrum of causative factors like chronic disease conditions, exposure to chemicals, pesticides etc. Weak or defective sperm are giving evidence of having an increased risk for problems with pregnancy and the offspring. 2 It is the need of time that we fin...