Monday, September 29, 2008

Herbs for Weight Loss

Natural Weight Loss Herbs are the safer option to regaining control of your weight. Typically a male needs 2500 calories and the average female only 2000 calories per day, but the excess weight is the result of diverse factors, including excessive calorie intake that may be controlled with the consumption of certain herbs or products made with them.

Restricting your diet excessively is not a solution, because your body switches to emergency mode and converts most of your food into fat as a safeguard against starvation. This way your body uses its protein stores, for example in your muscles, and the smaller they get the lower your metabolic rate. Continue Reading >>

Monday, September 22, 2008

Ayurvedic Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is part of the Ayurvedic of holistic medicine. Basically, you gargle with oil three times a day. It’s called pulling because you need to pull it through your teeth. There are a few theories on the way that oil pulling works. Some say that the movement massages and stimulates the sublingual muscles to excrete toxins stored up in the body. Others say that the production of saliva is the catalyst for the body to excrete toxins.

The type of oil is also something to keep in mind. Sunflower and sesame seed are the recommended oils to use. Cold pressed oils are the highly desirable, refined oils are required.
Oil pulling has been purported to effectively treat gingivitis and whiten teeth. Also skin conditions such as eczema and acne have been reported to improve after sustained use. Reports of lowered blood pressure, cholesterol, and even diminished migraines have been attributed to the practice of oil pulling. Continue Reading >>

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Friday, September 19, 2008

Girls From Poorer Areas More Likely to Have Sex Earlier

(HealthDay News) -- Girls who live in poor neighborhoods are more likely to have sexual intercourse in early adolescence and to have their first sexual experiences with older boys, a Canadian study says.

The study included 2,596 Canadian teens who were followed from ages 12 to 15.

"Young girls who live in disadvantaged neighborhoods are more likely to initiate sex at an early age, especially those young women with conduct problems," lead author Veronique Dupere said in a University of Montreal news release. "The results suggest that neighborhoods shape peer groups, which in turn influence when girls become sexually active."

The researchers also found that teen girls from poor neighborhoods who have a history of conduct problems are more likely to associate with deviant peers and to have their first sexual experiences with males who are three or more years older.

"Deviant peers are thought to provide a pool of willing partners and cultivate a sense that early sexual activity is desirable," Dupere said.

About 13 percent of the adolescents in the study were considered to have conduct problems, defined as engaging in three at-risk behaviors -- such as bullying, fighting, vandalism, stealing, running away, and staying out all night -- over one year.

Among boys, living in a poor neighborhood wasn't directly associated with the start of sexual activity in early adolescence, the study found.

"Contrary to girls for whom peers were of primary importance, family and individual risk appeared more influential in boys' timing their first sexual experience," Dupere said.

The study was published in the journal Child Development.

From a public health perspective, it's important to identify when and why young girls become sexually active, Dupere said.

"Other studies show that early initiators are more likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases, undergo unwanted teen pregnancy and to report involuntary sexual experiences," she said.

"By identifying young adolescents who are particularly at risk, this study provides valuable insights for future intervention efforts. To maximize effectiveness, prevention programs need to take the larger social context into account and make special efforts to enroll vulnerable young adolescents."

More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about teen sexual health.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Ayurveda: India’s Ancient Medicine

The name Ayurveda was given to the ancient healing tradition of India. It is derived from the words ayus (life) and veda (kno… more »

Monday, September 15, 2008

Ashwagandha Power

By Miriam Hospodar

We know that yoga helps reduce stress and fatigue, yet how many times have we felt so washed out that even the thought of doing gentle stretches seems like too much effort? For this and similar energy-related predicaments, many people turn to ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb increasingly known as the "Indian ginseng." Ashwagandha, or "winter cherry," provides energy and a rejuvenating lift while at the same time offering a calming effect. The chemical components in ashwagandha are remarkably similar to those found in ginseng, and yet studies have demonstrated its superiority in stress-relieving abilities when compared to its Chinese cousin.

Ayurvedic healers have long prescribed the herb to treat exhaustion caused by both physical and mental strain, and scientific research has recently borne out this practice. A double-blind study found that ashwagandha prevented stress-related ulcers and vitamin C deficiency, and increased energy and endurance when under stress. Continue Reading >>

Sunday, September 07, 2008

High levels of toxic metals found in Ayurvedic medicines

Alternative medicine is in the news again with scientists in the U.S. saying they have found high levels of toxic metals in popular herbal medicines sold online.

The scientists at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) ordered Ayurvedic medicines from 25 web sites and tested them for metallic poisons.

The Ayurvedic medicines were manufactured in both the U.S. and India and the researchers found that one fifth of them contained lead, mercury or arsenic.

Ayurveda is an ancient form of medicine that originated in India more than 2,000 years ago and includes herbal medicines, meditation, exercise and dietary guidelines.

It is practiced by millions on the Indian subcontinent by an estimated 80 percent of the population and increasingly in the West.

Ayurvedic remedies are available from South Asian markets, health food stores, and on the Internet and are divided into two major types: herbal only and Rasa Shastra.

Rasa shastra is an ancient practice of deliberately combining herbs with metals, minerals and gems and Ayurvedic experts believe that if Rasa Shastra medicines made with metals such as lead and mercury are properly prepared and administered, they are safe and therapeutic.
An Internet search found 673 Ayurvedic medicines, and 193 products made by 37 different manufacturers, were randomly selected and purchased.

The researchers found that overall, more than 20% of Ayurvedic medicines contained detectable lead, mercury and/or arsenic and American and Indian manufactured products were equally likely to contain toxic metals.

Rasa shastra compared with non-rasa shastra medicines were more than twice as likely to contain metals and had higher concentrations of lead and mercury.

Among products containing metals, 95 percent were sold by U.S. web sites and 75 percent claimed Good Manufacturing Practices or testing for heavy metals but all the products containing metal, exceeded one or more standards for acceptable daily intake of toxic metals.
Lead author Dr. Robert Saper, says the study highlights the need for the way dietary supplements are regulated in the U.S.to be re-examined.

Research by Dr. Saper first revealed that some Ayurvedic medicines produced in South Asia contained potentially harmful levels of toxins in 2004 and he says that herbs and supplements with high levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic should not be available for sale on the Internet or elsewhere.

The researchers say all dietary supplements should undergo mandatory testing for daily dose limits for toxic metals and all manufacturers should demonstrate their compliance through independent third-party testing.

The researchers say medicines which are supposed to cure sickness should not promote another illness due to the presence of toxic materials such as lead.

The research appears in the August 27th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Fomentation Therapy

Fomentation, or sweating, necessarily follows oleation. Induced by heat from different sources it brings sweat on the skin through hair follicles by opening the pores of the skin. Due to fomentation the agni is increased and the fatty tissue gets mobilized. While throwing out waste as ama (toxins) through the skin it also helps liquefy aggravated doshas, dilating all body channels for the cleansing.

It is divided into two main types, Agni Sweda wherein heat is applied directly as steam and Anagni Sweda where no external heat source is necessary e.g exercises, fighting, walking, lifting heavy loads, exposure to sunlight, stay in centrally heated rooms, putting heavy blankets over the body etc.

Charaka has described about thirteen types of fomentation of which some are in practice now.
Upanaha Sweda - fomentation by poultice
Ushma Sweda - steam fomentation
Nadi Sweda - local steam fomentation (steam/vapour of medicated decoction of leaves)
Avagah Sweda - tub bath in warm decoction of medicated water.
Pizichili - pouring of oil on the body. Continue Reading >>

Kamaraja