Ayurvedic Cure for Heart Disease

The heart is the most important organ of the body which pumps blood to all the other organs in order to keep them functioning. The heart has to work tirelessly for every living second of our life. It is no wonder then, that the heart is the organ that undergoes the highest degree of wear and tear in the human body.

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.

Take care of your heart.

Ayurveda can cure Swine Flu

Whenever there is a change in the environment due to spurt in growth of any kind of virus, human beings are the first one to be affected by it. These days, there is a panic all around due to swine flu. On the basis of symptoms like cough, cold, sore throat and fever, one cannot be considered as a patient of swine flu but still people do not want to take chances and getting them checked at special centres and taking preventive medicines. The problem is that the most popular medical science i.e. Allopathy, does not yet offer a preventive medicine or a vaccine for Swine flu. Though, it has the cure but few people know that Ayurveda can cure swine flu like anything and most of all, the medicines have far less side effects. Dr Bhagwan Singh, principal and superintendent of State Ayurvedic College, Lucknow, says, "The disease (swine flu) and its treatment is already mentioned in our old books of medicines by sages. On the basis of the symptoms of swine flu, it has been given the name `vatashlesmic' fever in the ayurvedic medicine books."

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For treating a patient infected with H1N1 virus, ayurvedic medicines like Sanjawini Vati and Tribhuvan Kriti Ras can be given. These medicines are prepared by mixing 12-14 ayurvedic ingredients selected on the basis of the symptoms of the viral disease. Ayurveda claims to have preventive medicine for H1N1 infection also. As I said earlier, on the basis of symptoms like cough, cold, sore throat and fever, one cannot be considered as a patient of swine flu. So to be on the safer side, one could take a medicine named as Gurahi for the sake of prevention. Apart from this, one can also have tea or hot water adding black tulsi leaves to it and following other hygienic practices like using mask etc."

Shwasa Rog or Damaa or Asthama

Shwasa Rog is also known as Damaa or more popularly as Asthama. As name suggests, it is a type of breathing problem. It is a disease of respiratory system in which bronchial tubes (which carry air to lungs) get inflammed. In this condition, the patient needs to exert more effort during expiration. In other words, we can say that expiration is forceful.

Shwasa Rog is mainly of two types viz. Kshudra shwasa and Tamak shwasa. Kshudra Shwasa or dyspnoea (difficult breathing) on exertion is a mild type of shwasa rog whereas the symptoms of Tamak Shwasa are paroxyms of dyspnoea, cough, flushed face, increased respiratory rate, darkness in front of eyes and relieved feeling when phlegm (cough slime) is coughed out.

Line of treatment:

1. Raise patient's head and shoulder by backrest or by putting pillows
2. Keep the patient away from allergens (dust, pollens, animal fur, smoke etc.) and irritants (ciggarete, chemicals etc.)
3. Stop kaph-vardhak aahaar like curd and take lukewarm water for drinking
4. Massage chest with til ka tel (sesame oil) mixed with sendhav lavan (salt)
5. Perform prastar sweda by using hot stone wrapped in a cloth after the massage or in case the stone is not available then it can be done by using an utkarita (roti) of black til powder kneaded with milk (add urad atta or wheat atta) and tying the utkarita on the chest of the patient

You will observe that by doing the above, thick mucous starts melting and patients starts getting some relief.

Important Home Remedies:

• Use powdered dried ginger or pippali with honey twice a day
• Swarasa (fresh juice) of vasa mixed with honey
• Decoction of yashtimadhu, saunf, choti ilayachi and mishri - this mixture can also be used in tea
• Apamarg kshar with honey or with warm water

Popular Medicines:

1. Ras: Shwasa kuthar ras and Shwasa kas chintamani ras
2. Asava & Arishta: Kanakasava, Vasarishta, Vasa-asava
3. Avleha: Chitrak haritaki avaleh, Chyawanprash avleha, Vasa-avleha
4. Churan: Talesadi churan, Sitopladi churan, Eladi churan
5. Vati: Khadiradi vati, Lavanagadi vati

In addition of above, there is a plant that we all can grow in our houses or kitchen gradens, which has been proved as one of the best medicines for curing even acute asthama. I am giving the photograph also here for quick reference. This plant do not need any special care and once grown, it will take it's own nutrients from earth and it needs only normal care as in for other plants. The usage of this plant is also very simple. The leaves of this plant should be chewed in the morning without eating or drinking anything for continuous 7 days and then leave it for another 7 days. Make sure that you swallow the chewed leave with warm water. Start chewing the leaves (one leave everyday) again after 7 days and do it for 7 days again. Repeat the process 3 times and even the acute asthamtic patients will see the results. Some patients get much better results if they chew the leave with one balck pepper grain and then swallow both with warm water.

The use of this plant has some side effects and after effects also and they range from ulcers on the tongue to increased blood pressure so it is recommended that an ayurvedic physician is consulted before starting to use it.

Caveat: Patients need to make sure that the medicines are taken under the supervision of registered ayurvedic medical practioner.