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Ayurvedic Remedies for the Cold and Flu Season

Ayurvedic Remedies for the Cold and Flu Season by Shanti Gowans

With the cold and flu season upon us, there are quite a few things in the Ayurvedic medicine toolkit that help, such as:

Tribhuvan kirti – the traditional and effective Ayurvedic formulation that provides immediate relief from coughs, body aches, colds and fevers. It is traditionally administered with honey, fresh ginger and tulsi juice. It addresses the problem at its root and fortifies the system from viruses. Buy it here.

Vasosin cough syrup –  an effective herbal expectorant helpful in treating bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, and productive coughs. Buy it here.

Shwas Kuthar (shwaskuthar) – is used in the treatment of coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis, anorexia, indigestion. Comes in three sizes: 60 tablets, 80 tablets, 100 tablets.

Sitopaladi churna (or choorna) – is helpful in conditions such as fever related to flu, colds, chest congestion, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses. Comes in 50g and 100g sizes.

Sukshma Trifala (Sookshma Triphala)-  is useful in the treatment of follicular tonsillitis, septic tonsillitis, uvulitis, stomatitis, painful caries, toothache, conjuctavitis. This herbal preparation may help control respiratory infections due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.and then to help build immunity.

Praval Pishti – is used in the Ayurvedic treatment of coughs, colds, excessive burning sensations. It is useful in decreasing nausea and dizziness associated with migraines arising from heightened Pitta and Vata doshas in the system. It is also prescribed to help alleviate the side effects (gastritis, excess burning sensations etc) of heating medicines.

Chavyanprash (or Chyawanprash or Chyavanaprasam)  – holds high significance in bolstering immunity, enhancing heart functioning, treating loss of libido, improves fertility, promotes hair growth and is helpful in various skin conditions. Chyawanprash helps with better absorption of calcium and protein synthesis, thereby strengthening bones and teeth, and improving muscle tone.

Trikatu Churna (Trikatu Choorna) – helps manage coughs and asthma. It is thermogenic, restores cellular metabolism, detoxifies deep tissues, and body composition reconditioning. Helpful in managing sinusitis and chronic rhinitis. In Ayurveda, it is suggested that Trikatu may help manage agni (digestive fire) and may help in the digestion and removal of aama (toxins) from the body. It may help in weight loss and management of obesity. Buy it here.

This information is provided for the use of Ayurvedic practitioners only. These are all currently in stock. Both face-to-face as well as teleconsultations are available. Some of these remedies are very powerful, and self medication and over dosage may prove dangerous. They should only be taken under strict medical supervision, in precise dosage for a limited period of time, as advised. Please consult with your Ayurvedic practitioner before using any Ayurvedic or herbal products, for dosage, appropriateness for your body type, contraindications with current medications, pregnancy, lactation, and children, side effects, and take good care of yourself.

We sincerely wish you the best of health and happiness. Shanti Gowans

Ayurveda – Wellness Naturally

Ayurveda – Wellness Naturally
by Shanti Gowans

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda, literally the ‘science or knowledge of life’, is a 5000 year old Indian medical practice that encompasses a range of treatments, including Herbal Medicine, appropriate diet and lifestyle changes, meditation, massage and Yoga, tailored towards one’s specific unique constitution, or body type, to maintain or restore health.

This system of natural healing that originated in India, has a rich history of oral and written traditions which have been passed down for thousands of years. It is the oldest documented system of medicine in the world.

The word Ayurveda is derived from the words Ayus meaning life and longevity and Veda meaning science or knowledge. Originating in India, founded by ancient ‘seers’ or rishis, it then spread to Egypt, Greece, Rome, Tibet, China, Russia, Japan, and is the cornerstone of many other traditional systems of medicine. But more than just a system of medicine, it is a way to promote longevity and the harmonious integration of body, mind, senses and spirit. Ayurveda is the most senior, continuously practised, complete healing and health care system on the planet.

Ayurveda is wellness naturally.

Ayurvedic principles are based upon the unchanging laws of Nature. As we are part of nature, so the treatments that correct our weaknesses will be found in nature. We are all part of a greater whole. Everything in nature is reflected in each organism and is reflected in ourselves. For instance, according to Ayurveda every person contains a combination of the universe’s five building blocks, the basic elements of space, air, fire, water and earth, which in each individual functions as three biological and metabolic types, or doshas. Ayurveda uses the terms Vata (air/space), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth/water) to describe unique psycho-biological make-up which are the components of your body type. Illness arises by an imbalance in one or more of the doshas, which disturbs the tissues and wastes in the body, resulting in toxicity in the body and mind.

Ayurveda itself is a complete, holistic science, encompassing preventative health, health maintenance, health improvement and the treatment of disease. It not only addresses specific health concerns, but also offers explanations as to why one person responds differently to another, both physically and psychologically, in similar circumstances. It can be applied to every activity in life, and for some, becomes a complete way of life. Research has shown that individuals who practice Ayurvedic health are at decreased risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and all factors for heart disease, and stress. Herbal remedies within the treatment are considered to help allergies, arthritis, chronic fatigue, menstrual cramps, Parkinson’s disease and digestive disorders, including constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

Ayurvedic principles are natural. Amongst its basic principles, Ayurveda proposes:

• The microcosm and macrocosm reflect each other
• Every cause has an effect…and every effect has a cause
• For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
• Like increases like
• A quality is decreased by its opposite quality.
• There is no pain in the body without vata, no inflammation in the body without pitta and no oedema in the body without kapha.
• Balance and health for each individual is unique – one size/treatment/medicine/regime etc. does not fit all.

By applying these and other Ayuredic principles to everyday life, Ayurveda helps you create harmony in the body, mind and spirit, thereby prolonging life and eliminating the causes of disease and dysfunction.

Ayurvedic medicines and treatments

Ayurveda is the medicine of nature and the medicine of life. The treatments of Ayurveda are found in the natural world, and most are simply diet and lifestyle. Plant-based herbs help the body get balanced and then the body heals itself. Eating foods that are most beneficial for your body type will keep you healthy. Regular regime is important.

This magnificent system of holistic medicine and living reveals knowledge about life and health after careful observation of hundreds of thousands of individuals, animals, plants, trees and nature in general, over thousands of years. Ayurvedic sages recorded in encyclopaedic writings the strategies that worked and those that didn’t for every aspect of health and way of living. Being over 5,000 years old and having stood the test of time, this science proven true from the time that the early India sages shared their wisdom and knowledge of this science to today.

Ayurveda recommends specific lifestyle routines, foods and diet, medicines and procedures based upon your unique psycho-biological make-up (your body-type, prakruti, which was determined at birth). Ayurvedic diets and treatments are body type specific.

Does Ayurveda complement conventional medicine?

Ayurveda is a safe system of medicine, with an extensive history of traditional use and depending upon the ailment, can be used as a complete alternative to conventional medicine or alongside it as a complementary or integrated medicine for good health and well-being.

The World Health Organisation recognises Ayurveda as a holistic system of healthcare. Ayurveda can be used whilst undergoing conventional medicine treatments. Ayurveda can help restore balance to your body, and may reduce the need for many conventional medicines. Your Ayurvedic practitioner and doctor can work together to maximise your treatment result. Its speciality and strength lie in its individualised approach to your unique requirements.

While orthodox medicine helps to manage the symptoms through prescribed medications, often the cause of the condition is left untreated, and the patient remains dependent upon the medication. On the contrary, Ayurvedic remedies, while managing the presenting symptom, will also aim at treating the root cause of the illness.

What can Ayurveda treat?

Ayurveda is often referred to as Ashtanga Ayurveda, because it has 8 branches.

The eight brances are:

Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, kayachikitsa.
The word ‘kaya’ represents the digestive fire in the body, agni, which is responsible for the metabolism in the body. Imbalance to ‘agni’ is the cause for many diseases. Kaya chikitsa deals with the treatment of general ailments, such as fever, diarrhea and cough, by treating your agni.

Gynaecology, Pediatrics and Treatment of Children, kaumara bhritya or baala chikitsa.
There are three aspects that must be remembered while treating children:Children cannot explain their complaintsThe dosage of medicine is different for childrenThe medicines given to children must be palatable to them.Because of these conditions, treating children is addressed in a different manner. Hence a separate study is devoted for them.

Psychology and psychosomatic diseases, graha chikitsa or bhuta vidya.
This branch of Ayurveda provides treatment for diseases of psychosomatic disorders, including insanity, and also epilepsy and diseases caused by affliction of external factors.

Treatment of disease of the organs above the clavicle, urdhvanga chikitsa, or shalakya tantra.
This branch of Ayurveda addresses the head, opthalmology, oro-dental, E,N.T., and thus includes the treatment of eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth, teeth and head.

Surgery, shalya chikitsa.
This branch of Ayurveda deals with treatment of diseases caused by foreign bodies and diseases that need surgical therapies. It is carried out only for diseases, which cannot be cured by medicines.

Toxicology, damstra chikitsa or visha chikitsa or agada tantra.
This form of treatment specialises with the treatment of poisoning from animals, such as snakes, insects, spiders, scorpions and also of plants, metals and minerals.

Geriatrics, rejuvenation and anti-aging, jara chikitsa or rasayana chikitsa.
Treatment for rejuvenation and restoring the youthfulness of an individual, and prescribes various therapies and herbs that have to be taken to restore your youth and vitality.

Aphrodisiac therapy, vrsha chikitsa or vajikarana chikitsa.
This branch of Ayurveda deals with treatment of reproduction that helps to get good progeny and provides various medicines and therapies to improve the virility and the sexual prowess of a person to help towards this end.

Thus we can see that Ayurveda is effective in treating a wide range of health conditions relating to physical, mental and emotional states. It can be effectively employed in treatment of both acute and chronic diseases. Ayurveda treats the individual by addressing the imbalance in the vitality of a sick person. Thus Ayurveda can help people suffering with any named or unnamed (undiagnosed) illness. Most common, acute and chronic disorders respond well to Ayurveda.

Trikatu

Trikatu
tri means three.
katu means hot and pungent.

Trikatu is a classic mixture of three Indian spices, namely Black pepper, Piper nigrum, Long pepper fruit, Piper longum and Ginger, Zingiber officinalis, in equal proportions, widely used in Ayurvedic treatments and in Indian households. These herbs work in synergy to stimulate the digestive fire, or agni, allowing for more efficient digestion in the stomach while promoting proper bile flow, healthy detoxification and fat metabolism. It falls under both medicinal and dietary herbs. It is hot in potency, stimulative in nature, good for liver, spleen and pancreas. It stimulates the stomach to produce enzymes, and hence helps in digestion. It is a rejuvenative for kapha and also beneficial for the respiratory system, supporting healthy lungs and clear breathing.

This unique herbal combination when used along with other herbs, enhances the bio-availability of active constituents of the co-herbs in the target area of disease. Trikatu is used as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines, for instance in tablets such as Kanchnar Guggul, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Yograj Guggulu; in herbal jams,  herbal ghees, and other medicines, such as Dashamoolakatutraya kashaya, Ashwagandharishta, and so on.

Trikatu Churna

Churna is a Sanskrit term meaning powder.  The fine, powdered mix of three pungent spice is known as Trikatu Churna.

Trikatu churna is also known as trayushana. Ushana means hot and pungent.  It has the following benefits:

• Deepana – it improves digestive strength.
• Shleshmaghna – it balances kahpa dosha.
• Medoghna – it burns fat. Reduces cholesterol levels.
• Kushta – useful in skin diseases.
• Peenasa – useful in running nose, allergic rhinitis
• Jayet Arochakam – relieves anorexia.
• Ama – useful to relieve ama (a state of indigestion).
• Meha – useful in diabetes
• Gulma – useful in abdominal tumour, bloating
• Galamaya – useful in throat infection and diseases.

Trikatu and Digestion

Digestion is one of the first body functions to suffer in the case of stress and tumultuous emotions, as well as improper self-care, eating on the run, a lack of exercise, and inappropriate or imbalanced diet. Compromised digestion is not a rare case in the modern world. In fact, according to Ayurveda, most imbalances in the body begin with boggy, sluggish, or otherwise inefficient digestion.

The stomach produces an acid called hydrochloric acid (HCL) that is responsible for breaking down many of the hard-to-digest proteins we consume such as wheat, dairy, corn, soy, certain nuts and meats. While excess stomach acid seems to be an increasingly prevalent issue these days, sometimes it is necessary to boost the production of the stomach fire (acid). Trikatu is a wonderful tool for getting the digestion back on track, can play an instrumental role in stoking the digestive fire that is so needed for optimal health. For weak digestion/absorption Trikatu can be taken before lunch. However, before you do, it is important to rule out two possible scenarios that could undermine your success:

Possible Dehydration

The stomach is lined and buffered with a bicarbonate layer of cells that is 80% water and often becomes dehydrated. To remedy this, drink 8-12 oz of water 15-30 minutes before the meal. (Do not drink this water with the meal, as this will dilute the stomach acid.)

Possible Bile Flow Issues

Bile is a buffer for the stomach acid. If the bile is not flowing adequately, then the stomach can either hold onto the acid, which is associated with occasional heartburn, or eventually turn down the production of stomach acid. If the stomach acid has been turned down because of the lack of bile, then resetting the digestive agni will not work. If you have any issues when you challenge your digestion with hard-to-digest fatty or greasy foods, then this may be a bile flow issue. And you may need to cleanse, hydrate and repair your liver before you start taking trikatu.

When your digestive furnace is weakened because of stress or other digestive imbalances, the three heating spices in Trikatu work in synergy to stimulate the digestive fire, helping your stomach increase production of hydrochloric acid (HCL), allowing for more efficient digestion in the stomach while promoting proper bile flow, healthy detoxification and fat metabolism. It primes the digestive tract to digest food, absorb nutrients and efficiently remove wastes. However, with incorrect diagnosis, the treatment of HCL acid production could irritate the stomach and intestinal wall, causing discomfort, reactive mucus production, and malabsorption.

Trikatu and the Liver:

Trikatu is experimentally proven for liver protection activity against liver damage. Its carminative and digestive effect (deepana, pachana) can be understood as it stimulates the liver to produce enzymes. Trikatu increases Pitta. Pitta = digestion capacity = digestive enzymes.  One of its ingredients, namely pippali (long pepper) is especially used in treating hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Another, black pepper, is an excellent antiviral and antibacterial spice, and hence useful in liver infection. For these reasons, Trikatu is an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines targeted for liver disorders. For example:

• Parpatakarishtam – used in anemia, chronic liver disorders, hepatomegaly
• Sarva Jvarahara Lauha – used in hepatomegaly
• Gudapippali – used in infectious liver conditions
• Other such examples (including, but not limited to) are – Patoladi Churna, Navayasa churna.

Trikatu for ascites:

Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity, causing abdominal swelling. The most common cause of ascites is cirrhosis of the liver. Treatment of ascites depends on its underlying cause.

Reference: Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 13th chapter.

For the patient suffering from Kapha type ascites (udara roga with kapha doshadominance), fat-free buttermilk added with Yavani, Rock salt, cumin seeds and Trikatu is administered.

In ascites due to Pitta (pittaja udara), buttermilk prepared of well formed curd along with the powder of Trikatu.

The patient is suffering from ascites with all three dosha imbalance (sannipatika udara), should take buttermilk along with Tryusana, Yavakshara and rock salt.

Trikatu for skin diseases

Intake of Trikatu together with Harad (Haritaki), Jaggery and sesame oil for 1 month cures skin diseases. (reference: Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 7/61).

For pitta issues, such as itching skin, ingest Trikatu just a minute before food, with ghee is best. If you feel any burning sensation, drink a quarter a cup of milk, after taking Trikatu with ghee. Then eat your food.

Trikatu and Respiratory Conditions

Trikatu is useful for asthma, breathing problems as well allergies from dust and pollution. Because of Trikatu’s hot nature, it balances Kapha and Vata doshas,  both of which are imbalanced in asthma. Hence, it is very useful. It is also very useful for dust allergy. But care should be taken in its usage, as it may cause gastric irritation.

Trikatu with honey, taken after a meal can be used to treat hay fever. But in some, it may cause gastric irritation.

Trikatu in Cardiac Conditions

Trikatu helps to improve metabolism, stomach and intestine enzyme levels and to reduce cholesterol levels as well. If a cardiac patient can tolerate the hotness of Trikatu, then they can surely have it.

Trikatu works to lower cholesterol. It helps to improve fat utilisation by the body, hence helping in fat burning.

Trikatu for treating Weightloss and Obesity

Trikatu can be administered along with green tea and guggulu. But the dose of trikatu churna should be very low: only 2 grams per day, either in a single or divided dose.

Trikatu can help with weightloss. Take a very small dose (quarter teaspoon) along with a teaspoon of honey, in the morning, after food, for a period of two months. But care should be taken not to go beyond this dose, or else, it may increase your appetite and may eventually cause weight gain. However, people with a sensitive stomach should exercise precaution.

For overweight people, just mix a pinch (1 gram) of turmeric powder with water, or milk if you like it, and drink. Or you can have weight loss herbal tea, such as Tulsi green tea to substitute a healthier drink instead of coffee on an empty stomach.

Dose:

The decision to take trikatu depends on your health and your needs. As we are all genetically different, with different constitutions and patterns, we respond to treatments in many different ways. Hence Standard Ayurvedic Treatments are always individually formulated. The doses of Ayurvedic medicines are not fixed. Exact dose depends on the age, strength, digestive power of the patient, the nature of the illness, the state of the viscera and humours, and the properties of individual drugs.

For children, the dose of Trikatu churna should be very minimal: just 2 pinches (one pinch is the amount that you can hold with thumb and index finger), mixed with a teaspoon of honey, in the morning after breakfast, for 7 days can be administered for recurring courg and cold. However, you should consult a doctor before giving this or any other medicine to children.

If you have a sensitive stomach, it may cause a burning sensation. Generally, do not exceed 500 mg to 3 grams in divided doses in a day, preferably after food. Trikatu Churna can be taken along with honey or water. If it is too spicy to taste as such, it can also be added to food and taken along with the food.

In the case of gastritis patients, where Trikatu needs to be administered, it is administered along with Shankha Bhasma.

Trikatu Side Effects:

Because of its hot potency, Trikatu may worsen gastritis. It may cause a burning sensation in higher doses.

Cautions

• Exercise caution for high pitta
• – Not to be used by pregnant women.
• – Trikatu churna should not be taken for acidity. It could worsen it.

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