Hast Mudra - Prithvi Mudra and Apaan Mudra

Prithvi Mudra - This mudra has been proven as most beneficial for improving digestion. Since, there is a big number of diseases related to digestion, it works as a wonder to reduce all of them. It is most effective in preventing diseases that are due to deficiency of vitamins and minerals as better digestion improves the capability of body to absorb these nutrients in the system. In addition of this, regular practicing of this mudra improves the body strength and balances the body mass index. It also helps in bringing back the lost glow in the skin and increases the activeness of body.

How to practise this Mudra - Join the tips of thumb and ring finger keeping all other fingers as straight as per the picture shown here. Practice this for at least 30- 40 minutes in one stretch continuously or in 5 - 10 minutes periodical stretches in a way that you are able to practice this for at least 30 - 40 minutes total in a day for better results.

Apaan Mudra - This mudra helps in curing diseases due to apaan vayu like constipation, retention of fecal matter in the rectum, piles, gulm etc. It helps in removing the toxins from the body through sweat. Apaan Mudra is seen to be helpful in curing heart diseases, kidney diseases specially retention of urine and dental problems.

How to practise this Mudra - Join the tip of the thumb with the tips of middle finger and ring finger keeping rest fingers as straight as per the photograph shown here. Practice this for at least 30- 40 minutes in one stretch continuously or in 5 - 10 minutes periodical stretches in a way that you are able to practice this for at least 30 - 40 minutes total in a day for better results.

Hast Mudra Series - For a disease free life

Often, we take lot of medicines for number of dieseases either for curing it or for preventing it and multiple times it is seen that these medicines backfire at older age when we start seeing their aftereffects in body. Yogasan came as a breather for all those who want an alernative for taking medicines and yet remain free of diseases. Hast mudras are the next generation of yogasan and have multiple benefits.

.

Our universe is made up of five tatvas viz. Aakash, Vayu, Agni, Jal and Prithvi. Likewise our body is also madeup of same five tatvas and whenever the proportion or the placement of these tatvas change in our body, it becomes prone to diseases. Right proporation of these tatvas in our body is called as Samsthiti and it becomes Vishamstithti whenever the proportion changes. These 5 tatvas controls the internal secretion of glands and hence proper functioning of internal organs. The five fingers in our hands also represent these 5 tatvas and we can alter the proporation of these tatvas to the right combination by exercising few mudras made with the helps of these fingers. Let us see which finger represent which tatva:

Thumb: Agni

Index Finger: Vayu

Middle Finger: Aakash

Ring Finger: Prithvi

Little Finger: Jal

.

Now, we will go through few Hast Mudras below:

• Vayu Mudra - This mudra is beneficial for all the 80 types of vatvyadhis like arthritis, paralysis, cervical, joint pains, gastric troubles etc. It strengthens the backbone and improves blood circulation. This mudra can be exercised by keeping the index finger at the root of thumb and pressing the thumb lightly on the index finger. All other fingers should be kept straight. Given picture shows the correct form of this mudra :

Medo - Vridhi / Sthaulya

Medo - Vridhi / Sthaulya, which is also called as motapa in Hindi and Obesity or Over weight in English is one of the most found disease in human beings.



It is caused by accumulation of extra fat in different parts of body. Hips, belly, thighs and breasts are more prone to it. Medo-Vridhi itself is a deisease and it causes many other diseases in the body like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, arthitis among main ones.



This is mainly due to bad eating habits and people are getting mor and more conciuous about this now a days. But in most cases, they do not follow the best practices but take the easier routes like going to gymnasiums, exercising a lot or dieting which leads to nutritional deficiencies in body. Wrinkles and dark circles start appearing on the skin due to improper diet intake. Moreover, they again gain weight after they stop dieting. Another myth in this is that start taking juices. We need to know that juices contain more sugar content and no roughage. Roughage is extremely important in digestion and prevents constipation. We all know that extra sugar leads to obesity. Taking frutis instead of juices is much better option as it fills the stomach and sugar consumed is also much less.



Yes, exercising is an effective way to reduce weight but we need to know that males amd females have diferent metabolism. While males can burn fat doing high intensity exercises, females burn more fat by doing low intensity long duration exercises.



I will not go into what to eat, when to eat and what exercises are more helpful in reduction of weight but will touch upon certain foods or home remedies that can help us reduce weight and get rid of obesity. Some of them are:

• Include oatmeal into daily food


• Take lemon juice + honey + lukewarm water empty stomach early morning


• Start consuming aloe vera (plant shown in picture) juice twice a day (15 ml per day) - This can be mixed with water also in 1 to 4 ratio


• Decoction of triphala (1/2 cup) early morning empty stomach


• Include yoga and pranayam as part of daily life for at least 20 minutes per day


• Brisk walking has also given very good results in curing obesity

Medicines

1. Guggulu - it plays an important role in reducing obesity


2. Take shudh guggulu with warm water


3. Triphala guggulu


4. Medohar guggulu


5. Arogyavardhani vati


6. Chandraprabha vati

All medicines are required to be taken under supervision of registered ayurvedic medical practitioner.

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.

Ayurveda - Experience it to believe it

The purpose of this blog is to help the world's population by providing information on ayurvedic remedies. The series will start shortly.