Fasting is one of the important spiritual practices in Indian lifestyle. It is called ‘Nirjara’ meaning freedom from the effects of old deeds (Karmas) in Lord Mahavir’s way of spiritual practices. Fasting is as important as eating.

One should have full knowledge of diet i.e. what to eat, when to eat, how to eat and how much to eat.

Diet and fasting

Our physical as well as emotional health is affected by fasting. All our lower glands adrinal,gonads get stimulated when we eat normally. During fasting these glands get relaxed. An army that does not get food cannot move ahead. Similarly, our glands will not be active while fasting is done.

Spiritual basis of fasting

Fasting improves our tolerance power and increases determination. It reduces the stimulation of lower glands which results in reducing impulses, urges and sexual emotions.

Right way of fasting

First day take light meal, second day fasting should be done and third day again light meal should be taken. Following this routine will give the maximum benefit of fasting. In general, people start spiritual practice from yoga but Lord Mahavir started with fasting. If one can control hunger, other controls are easier.

Fasting – A Natural cure

Everyone knows that many diseases are caused due to overeating. One should fill half the stomach with food and one quarter with water. Last quarter should be left for the gas produced as a result of digestion. Fasting is a great medicine. Many diseases like asthma, hypertension, piles, axima, diabetes have been cured by fasting. Fasting is a good cure for diptheria, indigestion and other related diseases. Fasting delays aging. Immune system becomes stronger by fasting.The risk of cancer is reduced by fasting.

Duration of fasting

It can be done from 2-3 days to 2 months. Long duration fasting does not cause any harm if done properly.

Limitations of fasting

• It does not help in the following cases
• T.B. patients at second or third stage of disease
• Diabetic patients at the last stage
• Heart disease
• Kidney problems

Fasting of longer duration is like a shock treatment. So it should be done under the guidance of an experienced person.

Take a cup of water, add water to a heating pan and bring to boil. Add 5-6 cloves to boiling water and let it simmer till quantity is reduced to half. Add a tsp. of honey and drink. 

In respiratory problems because of blockage of passage due to dried phlegm, it helps to take 2 tsp. of Ajwain seeds (small sized variety), crush them, add to a glass of buttermilk and drink the mixture.

To 3 tsp. of honey, add 1 tsp. of crushed garlic. Consuming this twice a day can help in bronchitis, especially in children.

Take 2 tsp. of crushed liquorice and 2 tsp. of crushed linseeds. Boil these in 2 cups of water. When the water quantity has reduced to half, take the pan off the flame, filter and add 4 tsp. of honey. Now, take 1 tsp. of the resultant mix twice a day.

Tags: ayurvedic cure, ayurvedic remedy, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing

First and foremost, avoid as far as you can, taking laxatives. They will make your bowel dependent on them if you take them frequently. If you must, then go in for a natural laxative like Isabgol or Psyllium husks, which is bulk forming. You can add a spoon of it to a glass of water, mix it well and consume before going to be bed. Or add it to your yogurt or any vegetable at meal.

You can also add flaxseeds, which are fibre rich, to yogurt to act as a laxative.

Bananas also help in bowel movement and hence can be consumed. Interestingly, bananas are known to help in loose stomach too.

Drink 2 glasses of lukewarm water early in the morning. 

Exercise: Exercising helps improve metabolism and something like jogging or running shakes up the bowels and thus helps cure constipation.

To prevent getting constipated, you could make simple dietary changes and build some form of exercise into your daily routine. 

Incude high-fibre foods in your diet. That would mean including whole wheat grains, porridge, oatmeal, bran, whole pulses. Processed foods on the other hand are low in fibre. So you could reduce the intake of white bread, pasta, biscuits, noodles etc. 

Instead of fruit juices, have whole fruits as the pulp is fibre rich. Include whole fruits and raw vegeatbles, especially green leafy vegetables in your diet. Try and have a bowl of salad with your favorite dressing for those between the meal times.

Dry fruits like raisins, figs, dates and prunes also have high fibre content. 

Make these easy changes in your diet and enjoy good overall health. Keep constipation at bay, and you keep several diseases at bay!

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, healthy eating, home remedies, natural cure, natural health

• Slice open a ripe banana and insert 1/4 tsp. of asafoetida into it, spreading it along the slice. Take this once or twice a day depending on severity of the problem.
• Take 1 tsp. of crushed cardamom, 1 tsp. of ginger paste and 1 tsp. of fennel. Boil in a cup of water till the amount reduces to half. Now, take 1 tsp. of this decoction and along with a pinch of asafoetida, add to a cup of water. Drink the resulting mix for quick effects.
• Take a cup of water in a pan. Add 1 tsp. each of ground cumin, crushed black pepper and ginger. Boil till the water quantity reduces to half. Drink the decoction 2-3 times a day.
• Take a few garlic cloves and crush them. Take 1 tsp. of this garlic paste and boil in a cup of milk. Drink 1- 2 times a day.

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, home remedies, natural cure

Loose stomach, diarrhoea? Try these simple remedies at home:

• Take 15-20 curry leaves. Crush them finely. Add to a cup of water in a pan and boil till the water quantity reduces to have. Filter and cool. Add 1 tsp. of honey and drink the decoction.
• Mash a ripe banana. Add a tsp. of tamarind pulp and some salt. Take 2-3 times in a day.
• Mix one tsp. ground cinnamon with 1 tsp. each of cumin seeds, ginger paste and honey. Take 1 tsp. of the resulting mixture twice in a day.
• Take some fresh coriander leaves and grind to get a paste/juice. Add to a cup of water and boil. Add 1 tsp. of ground cumin seeds to the boiling mixture. Add salt to taste and have the decoction after meals.

Tags: ayurvedic remedy, home remedies, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health

Toothaches can be very painful. But while you brace yourself for an appointment with your dentist to find and treat the cause of the toothache, try these simple home remedies to ease the pain:

• Take 3 cloves and add to 1 tsp coconut oil. Heat the mixture for a few minutes. Let it cool to a lukewarm temperature and apply on the affected area.
• Take 2 tsp. lime juice. Add 1/2 tsp. of asafoetida powder. Warm and apply on the affected area.
• Apply nutmeg oil on the area that is paining.
• Add some finely powdered pepper to clove oil. Mix and apply on affected area to relieve toothache. 

Tags: ayurvedic cure for teeth, ayurvedic remedy, home remedies, natural cure

Chapped hands result when our hands lose moisture and the natural oils present, because of over-washing, living in dry weather conditions. Some simple home remedies can be tried successfully to treat this condition. These are:

• Avoid using harsh soaps to wash hands.
• If you work too much with water, wear rubber gloves as far as you can.
• Moisturise your hands everytime you wash them.
• Use a mix of lemon juice and glycerine to moisturise your hands everytime you wash them. You can use 4 parts glycerine and one part lemon juice and store and keep for use.
• If they are too dry and chapped, you can use apply vaseline on your hands at bedtime.
• While moisturising, first apply a thin layer and let it soak into the skin. Follow it up with another thin layer. This works better on the skin.
• Once a day, dip your hands in lukewarm water for 4-5 minutes. Pat dry and apply almond oil or coconut oil. This provides nutrients and helps seal in the moisture.
• Olive oil or mustard oil can also be used in the above step.

Tags: home remedies, natural cure

Corns can be very painful. While it is best to avoid the corn forming in the first place by wearing proper, comfortable shoes, when they do form, you can try one of these home remedies to treat corns.

Corns and calluses however, will take time to peel off with these remedies and you can try one of the following to alleviate the pain in the meantime…

• Make a mix of 4 tbsp. of epsom salt and half a bucket of luke warm water. Soak feet for 10 minutes. Pat dry and apply lemon juice or one of the other home remedies.
• Boil one bowl of finely powdered oatmeal with 3 bowls of water for 10 minutes. Let it cool till its lukewarm. Soak feet for 10 minutes. Pat dry and apply castor oil on corn or calluses. 

Tags: ayurvedic cure, ayurvedic remedy, home remedies, Natural Cures

Chanced upon some information on the web, which I think is of immense help to those of us suffering from frquent bouts of acidity. Apart from our lifestyle (read constant stress and meal skipping), the type of food we have has a significant effect on the levels of acid in our body. Certain foods are by nature acid forming while others have an alkalizing effect on the body. It is interesting to note that foods that taste acidic may not actually be acidic. So if you think orange juice has an acidic effect on your body, you couldn’t be further from truth. The reason these seemingly acidic foods have an alkalizing effect is that post-digestion, they leave certain minerals which help remove hydrogen ions and thus counter acidity.

Too much of acidity in the body (acidosis) can lead to an impairment of cell metabolism, weak bones and several other diseases. Therefore, one must have knowledge of acidity and alkalinity of various foods in our diet so one can make sensible food choices. It is important to know that no foods are bad. Our body needs both acid causing food and those that have an alkaline effect.

Foods like cheese, chocolates, cashewnuts, pistachio, barley, beans, eggs, chicken, butter, honey, wheat flour, peas, oats, mushrooms, sugar, wine and foods rich in animal protein are acidic.

Bananas, apples, apricots, oranges, lemons, broccoli, carrots, celery, coconut, onions, pineapple, raisins, walnuts are alkaline forming.

If you want to know more about acidic and alkaline foods and how they affect our bodies, I highly recommend this Acid and Alkaline Food List.

Tags: healthy eating, natural cure, natural health

Do you experience heartburn, have a bloated feeling? Belching, acidic burps? Feel like throwing up even after consuming small portions of food? You might be suffering from acidity. Acidity can be naturally cured and is easy to prevent. So before you start taking allopathic medicines, you may want to try one of these easy home remedies:

• Have a banana.
• Have a glass of cold milk. Be careful while trying this one. Some people find their acidity to get worse with milk. Works for most people I know though.
• Coconut water, coconut milk have a very soothing effect.
• Mix a tsp. of baking soda in water and have it while its still fizzing.
• Popping 2-3 walnuts or almonds helps (personal experience).
• Yogurt, fresh curd cool the linings and thus help counter acidity.
• Consume 2-3 dates.
• Orange juice or lemon juice help in acidity. 

To prevent acidity from occuring, keep in mind these preventive measures:

• Avoid stress. This is probably the most common reason for acidity.
• Avoid having meals at irregular timings.
• Do not go hungry for long periods of time. Keep a protein bar or some biscuits handy. Even if you don’t have time to have a sit down meal, be sure to pop in a biscuit anytime you begin to feel hungry.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks.

Remember to consult a doctor if acidity persists.

Tags: healthy eating, home remedies, home remedy, natural cure, Natural healing, natural health