Turmeric Compositions - AYURVEDA
The aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit. This is believed to help prevent illness and promote wellness.
- Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of products and techniques to cleanse the body and restore balance. Some of these products may be harmful if used improperly or without the direction of a trained practitioner. For example, some herbs can cause side effects or interact with conventional medicines.
- Ayurvedic medicine, also called Ayurveda, originated in India several thousand years ago. The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda means “the science of life.”
- In the United States, Ayurvedic medicine is considered a type of CAM and a whole medical system. As with other such systems, it is based on theories of health and illness and on ways to prevent, manage, or treat health problems.
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Ayurvedic medicine aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit; thus, some view it as “holistic.” This balance is believed to lead to happiness and health, and to help prevent illness. Ayurvedic medicine also treats specific physical and mental health problems. A chief aim of Ayurvedic practices is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease, thus helping to reestablish harmony and balance.
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Ayurvedic medicine has several key foundations that pertain to health and disease. These concepts have to do with universal interconnectedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas).
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Interconnectedness. Ideas about the relationships among people, their health, and the universe form the basis for how Ayurvedic practitioners think about problems that affect health. Ayurvedic medicine holds that:
- All things in the universe (both living and nonliving) are joined together.
- Every human being contains elements that can be found in the universe.
- Health will be good if one’s mind and body are in harmony, and one’s interaction with the universe is natural and wholesome.
- Disease arises when a person is out of harmony with the universe. Disruptions can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or a combination of these.
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Constitution (prakriti). Ayurvedic medicine also has specific beliefs about the body’s constitution. Constitution refers to a person’s general health, the likelihood of becoming out of balance, and the ability to resist and recover from disease or other health problems.
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The constitution is called the prakriti. The prakriti is a person’s unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics and the way the body functions to maintain health. It is influenced by such factors as digestion and how the body deals with waste products. The prakriti is believed to be unchanged over a person’s lifetime.
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Life forces (doshas). Important characteristics of the prakriti are the three life forces or energies called doshas, which control the activities of the body. A person’s chances of developing certain types of diseases are thought to be related to the way doshas are balanced, the state of the physical body, and mental or lifestyle factors.
Ayurvedic medicine holds the following beliefs about the three doshas:
- Each dosha is made up of two of five basic elements: ether (the upper regions of space), air, fire, water, and earth.
- Each dosha has a particular relationship to bodily functions and can be upset for different reasons.
- Each person has a unique combination of the three doshas, although one dosha is usually prominent. Doshas are constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity, and bodily processes.
- Each dosha has its own physical and psychological characteristics.
- An imbalance of a dosha will produce symptoms that are unique to that dosha. Imbalances may be caused by a person’s age, unhealthy lifestyle, or diet; too much or too little mental and physical exertion; the seasons; or inadequate protection from the weather, chemicals, or germs.
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The doshas are known by their original Sanskrit names: vata, pitta, and kapha.
The vata dosha combines the elements ether and air. It is considered the most powerful dosha because it controls very basic body processes such as cell division, the heart, breathing, discharge of waste, and the mind. Vata can be aggravated by, for example, fear, grief, staying up late at night, eating dry fruit, or eating before the previous meal is digested. People with vata as their main dosha are thought to be especially susceptible to skin and neurological conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, and insomnia.
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The pitta dosha represents the elements fire and water. Pitta controls hormones and the digestive system. A person with a pitta imbalance may experience negative emotions such as anger and may have physical symptoms such as heartburn within 2 or 3 hours of eating. Pitta is upset by, for example, eating spicy or sour food, fatigue, or spending too much time in the sun. People with a predominantly pitta constitution are thought to be susceptible to hypertension, heart disease, infectious diseases, and digestive conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
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The kapha dosha combines the elements water and earth. Kapha helps to maintain strength and immunity and to control growth. An imbalance of the kapha dosha may cause nausea immediately after eating. Kapha is aggravated by, for example, greed, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet foods, eating after one is full, and eating and drinking foods and beverages with too much salt and water (especially in the springtime). Those with a predominant kapha dosha are thought to be vulnerable to diabetes, cancer, obesity, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
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Treatment: Ayurvedic treatment is tailored to each person’s constitution. Practitioners expect patients to be active participants because many Ayurvedic treatments require changes in diet, lifestyle, and habits.
The patient’s dosha balance. Ayurvedic practitioners first determine the patient’s primary dosha and the balance among the three doshas by:
- Asking about diet, behavior, lifestyle practices, recent illnesses (including reasons and symptoms), and resilience (ability to recover quickly from illness or setbacks) ? Observing such physical characteristics as teeth and tongue, skin, eyes, weight, and overall appearance ? Checking the patient’s urine, stool, speech and voice, and pulse (each dosha is thought to make a particular kind of pulse).
- Treatment practices. Ayurvedic treatment goals include eliminating impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, and reducing worry and increasing harmony in the patient’s life. The practitioner uses a variety of methods to achieve these goals:
- Eliminating impurities. A process called panchakarma is intended to cleanse the body by eliminating ama. Ama is described as an undigested food that sticks to tissues, interferes with normal functioning of the body, and leads to disease. Panchakarma focuses on eliminating ama through the digestive tract and the respiratory system. Enemas, massage, medical oils administered in a nasal spray, and other methods may be used.
- Reducing symptoms. The practitioner may suggest various options, including physical exercises, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, massage, lying in the sun, and changing the diet. The patient may take certain herbs—often with honey, to make them easier to digest. Sometimes diets are restricted to certain foods. Very small amounts of metal and mineral preparations, such as gold or iron, also may be given.
- Increasing resistance to disease. The practitioner may combine several herbs, proteins,
minerals, and vitamins in tonics to improve digestion and increase appetite and immunity.
These tonics are based on formulas from ancient texts.
- Reducing worry and increasing harmony. Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes mental
nurturing and spiritual healing. Practitioners may recommend avoiding situations that
cause worry and using techniques that promote release of negative emotions.
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In Ayurvedic cooking, turmeric is everywhere, this multifaceted wonder spice helps Detoxify the liver; Balance cholesterol levels; Fight allergies, Stimulate digestion; Boost immunity; Enhance the complexion
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Turmeric and Ayurvedic Doshas: If you want to understand how to use turmeric in Ayurveda, you must first understand the three doshas, which are physical or personality types. In Ayurveda, doshas are often used to diagnose and treat disease. Those with a Vata dosha are usually very thin and energetic. People with a Pitta dosha tend to be very warm, both in their personalities and in their bodies. People with a Kapha dosha tend to be large, heavy-set and slow. According to Ayurveda, when the doshas get out of balance, illness can occur. The herb turmeric is most effective at correcting a Kapha imbalance, which can cause the patient to gain weight and experience fatigue. Turmeric is believed to be a stimulating, warming herb which can help to reduce Kapha and bring Vata and Pitta back up to healthy levels.
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Turmeric is an important herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is a carminative, which means that it can help to prevent and relieve gas in the digestive system.
- Applying a paste of turmeric and chickpea flour directly to the skin can improve the complexion.
- It can also be used to combat dental infections, to help balance blood sugar in diabetics, to relieve pain, to clear the sinuses and improve digestion.
- You're better off buying turmeric in bulk from your local health food store than in capsules. The herb will be cheaper and will also be free of many of the chemicals which are often added to nutritional supplements.
- Turmeric is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. The herb has many health benefits. It is high in antioxidants and has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, to use turmeric properly, it's important to understand how doshas work in Ayurveda.
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Turmeric has a very important part in our daily life as well as it is an useful herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. There are many compositions prepaired using Turmeric which are very much useful for our body disorders such as jaundice, chronic fever, skin disease, piles etc.
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Some very popular Turmeric compositions are mentioned below.....
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- Brahmi Ghritam: A ghee based preparation of the juice of Bramhi (Bacopa monnieri), along with sweet flag, Turmeric and few other drugs. It is highly indicated for recovery of epilepsy, insanity, nervous weakness, and loss of memory.
- Chandraprabha Vati: A preparation for the suppositories form meant for various eye diseases. This composition includes the Turmeric, long piper, licorice, seed of bahada, goat milk and more.
- Dhatri louha: It is a preparation of Turmeric, powder of iron, dry ginger, black piper, long piper and amla which is made into powder form and been preserved. It is taken with honey and ghee. It is indicated in case of Jaundice.
- Kasisadi ghritam: The compositions includes Kasisa, Turmeric, berberis, yellow arsenic sulphur, vidanga, Guggulu, bee-wax, Piper, Neem leaves, sweet flag, Licorice, Harda, and ghee. It is effective against skin diseases, ring worm, scabies, psoriasis, venereal disease, erysipelas, gout, Syphilis, sinus, edema etc.
- Lakshadi taila: An oil preparation that includes Turmeric, Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), fermented rice water and processed in sesame oil. It is used in case of chronic fever.
- Manjisthadi kwatha: An decoctioning preparation of Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) along with other drugs like Guruchi, sweet flag, bark of Neem, dry ginger, Turmeric, berberis, triphala, asparagus and many more. It is used in the infectious skin disease, erysipelas, gout, bleeding disorders, and numbness of skin and eye diseases.
- Nagarjuna yoga: This is the outcome of a great no of medicine that includes triphala, five types of salts, fruit of Neem, Turmeric, and many more. It can be taken with so many formulations like cold water, butter-milk, sesame oil or some other formulations according to the diseases. It is very effective in case of heart disease, fever, dysuria, skin diseases, dyspepsia etc.
- Panchatiktaghrita guggulu: It is a ghee based preparation consisting of guggulu and five bitter drugs described in Ayurvedic text. Those five drugs includes the Neem bark, guruchi and three more. This formulation also consist of some other drugs like piper, sweet flag, dry ginger and Turmeric, triphala and many more.
- Pippalyasava: An alcoholic preparation that consists of long piper, piper, amla, elaichi, cinnamon, sandalwood, clove, Turmeric etc. It is used to combat the diseases like gastro-intestinal disorders, anemia, piles etc.
- Sivamodakam: This preparation includes harda, amla, Turmeric, seed of cowhage, clove, asparagus, dry ginger, long piper, cinnamon, elaichi, Indian bay-leaf, winter cherry, Gokshuru, and honey. Intake of it along with lukewarm enhances the memory, body growth, and digestive powder. It is best for children.
- Sudarsana Churnam: This is an preparation which consists triphala, Turmeric, berberis, Trikatu, root long piper, guruchi, bark of Neem, licorice, alum, sweet flag, cinnamon, clove etc. It is indicated in case of Fever (of all types including, intermittent and toxic variety), cough, asthma, joint pain, anemia and jaundice.
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