Oct 172018
 
control blood pressure

Ayurveda and Yoga can help in lowering your blood pressure naturally and quickly, according to latest study.

According to experts, some tweaks in diet, lifestyle and exercise can go a long way in managing blood pressure levels.

In case you are a hypertension patient, with symptoms of high blood pressure, you should take measures to bring it down. The latest figures by the National Family Health Survey states that at least one in eight Indian suffers from high blood pressure in Indian. This lifestyle disease, also referred to as a ‘silent killer’ is rightly named so, as its symptoms can go unnoticed until it gets too late.

Just as is the case with other lifestyle diseases, you need to make a few changes to your lifestyle to protect yourself from this disease. Experts suggest that it is possible to reduce high blood pressure naturally at home. Ayurveda has effective treatments for high blood pressure and its management.

Ayurvedic Medicines

The Senior Director at Birla Ayurveda, Dr. Priyanka Sampat, suggests that Ayurvedic medicines like Sarpagandha, Jatamanasi and Amalaki can be helpful in high blood pressure regulation.

Dry ginger would be a good option if the shoot up in blood pressure is due to untimely food or eating refrigerated food. Herbs such as Malabar Nut (vasa), green potato (Parol) and Silk Cotton Tree (Katankari) can help in combating high blood pressure if it is caused due to poor diet.

In case of associated anxiety or stress, or acidic food intake, Shatavari, lotus and Sandalwood can help immensely.

According to Dr. Sampat, Panchakarma (the five therapies) that helps in clearing body off toxins, can be of great help.

Several psychological and somatic factors need to be taken into consideration when arriving at a treatment method for hypertension, said experts. Milk together with garlic, moringa (drumstick leaves) with honey is advised, similarly, a combination of gokshura, amla, arjuna bark powder decoction or milk preparation, Brahmi, Sarpagandha preparations and Giloy Shankapushpi are said to control blood pressure.

Diet

Along with medications, diet is essential to reduce hypertension. Ayurvedic doctors advise patients to avoid excess spicy, sour and salty foods as it can elevate high body temperature, Similarly, ready-to-eat preparations, breads made of refined flour and pickles should be avoided. Untimely food habits, excessive eating after sunset, and eating refrigerated food items should be avoided.

Include whole wheat, moong, fruits, ghee, garlic and milk into your diet. Consume only warm and fresh food and avoid over eating. Have an early dinner, and try and include sweet, bitter and astringent foods as they help in clearing pitta and reducing pitta impurities.

It is best to adhere to fat and oil-free diet, as it may aggravate vata and kapha in the body. Drink sufficient water at specified intervals, include more greens in your diet, consume plenty of drumsticks, tomatoes, flaxseeds, carrots, watermelon, red cabbage, beetroot, apple and water melon.

Yoga

Some specific yoga postures can help you greatly in maintaining normal blood pressure levels. These include Pranayama, Anuloma Viloma, Shavasana, Veerabhadrasana, Vajrasana, and Bhujangasaa. Among these, Pranayama and Meditation play a major role in managing hypertension.

Meditation

Simple meditation techniques such as Kevala Kumbhaka, or breath awareness helps in reducing high BP.

Make some lifestyle modifications for a healthy life and avoid hypertension. Among these are avoid staying up in the night, sleeping just after meals, bingeing, having late night meals, consumption of tobacco and alcohol, getting angry easily, and excessively exerting yourself.

Finally, an inevitable part of ayurvedic treatments for any skin condition is daily and seasonal routines of managing hypertension, waking up before sunrise, drinking 4 glasses of water at room temperature, gargling with sesame oil, doing exercises and yoga in the morning and continuing with meditation.

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Nov 162017
 

New blood pressure guidelines have recently been published.  The new standard is 130/80, a significant decrease from the old standard of 140/90.  The good news is that medical professionals are recommending lifestyle modifications in an effort to reduce and control blood pressure before trying medications.  Healthy lifestyle habits include stress reduction, a healthy diet with less sodium and increased potassium (essentially more fruits/vegetables and less salt/processed foods), exercising regularly and getting enough sleep.

Where does acupuncture fit in?  Acupuncture is great for stress reduction and for improving sleep quality (reducing frequency/severity of insomnia and restless sleep).  There are also certain acupuncture points which can help directly with reducing blood pressure.  A weekly acupuncture treatment is a great way to reduce and maintain healthier blood pressure levels.

Here are several articles about the new blood pressure guidelines:
ABC
CNN
MASS LIVE
NPR

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Oct 022017
 
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Leukopenia is a term used when there are less than adequate white blood cells in the bloodstream. This condition may make those suffering from it susceptible to infections. Leukopenia is often seen in diseases such as AIDS, cancer and lupus, as well as in common occurrences like the flu or a cold. Leukopenia can also be medically induced, as is often the case for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. While there are several prescription medications available to battle this condition, most of them also have multiple adverse side effects. But there are alternative natural methods that can increase white blood cell count without the side effects. One of these is Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a medical system that has been around for thousands of years and incorporates multiple modalities to treat the body holistically. Acupuncture is one of the modalities utilized by TCM practitioners that can help increase white blood cell count. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends and endorses acupuncture for treating leukopenia. Research has demonstrated acupuncture can increase immunity, while improving both red and white blood cell counts.

Traditional Chinese Medicine considers the spleen to be a very important component of immune function in the body. In TCM, the spleen is responsible for removing nutrients from food and then using those nutrients to build up blood. Patients with low blood cell count tend to suffer from fatigue. This can be countered by receiving regular acupuncture treatments that not only increase immunity, but also boost the production of blood cells.

One very important modality of TCM is herbs and herbal formulas. Specific herbs and formulas can actually increase white blood cell count and improve immune function in the body. The peony root, for example, is used in at least three different forms to boost or tonify the blood. In single herb form, peony root is known as Bai Shao, Chi Shao and Shao Yao. All of these forms are known to tonify blood, which ultimately increases immunity.

Tai chi and qi gong are not technically part of TCM, but they are ingrained in Asian history and used by millions of people worldwide. Studies have shown these forms of low-impact exercise can be very beneficial to those suffering from leukopenia. In fact, the studies confirm blood cell count can be increased by practicing tai chi or qi gong on a regular basis. There have even been cases where tumors have completely disappeared after the patient began practicing these ancient martial arts.

Diet and nutrition are other important areas when battling leukopenia. In TCM, nutrition is vital for overall health. One of the superfoods in TCM is Shiitake mushrooms. These mushrooms are recommended because they are known to enhance immunity. Shiitake mushrooms contain lentinan, which is an antiviral substance that has strong immune-stimulating properties. This mushroom is used as a meat substitute in TCM nutrition. And when combined with other immune-boosting foods, this in itself can make for a very healthy meal.

Lastly, a practice known as meditation should be considered when low white blood cell count is present. While meditation is not specific to TCM, it is frequently prescribed and used by TCM practitioners. Mediation is a practice that helps calm the mind and the nervous system. When the nervous system is overstimulated, it creates metabolic stress within the body. Metabolic stress causes the immune system to become weakened, thus decreasing the number of white blood cells in the body. Meditation can help reverse this problem.

While Western medicine may be the current line of defense in fighting leukopenia, it is very feasible that alternative medicine may offer more without harmful side effects. The two forms of medicine can be used in conjunction, allowing the patient to have more options and more control over their treatment regimen.

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