health

World Health Day – Jivha Pariksha

“On the occasion of World Health Day, we must learn the importance of our health and work towards making it better. Happy World Health Day.” World Health Day is celebrated Every Year on 7 April.

This is an Initiative by WHO to spread awareness about the importance of Good Health, whether it be Physical or Mental. This Day is celebrated Every Year since 1950. Let us use this opportunity to make a promise to ourselves that we will put our health first in all circumstances. This can be started from Tongue or Jivha Pariksha as it’s a roadmap to your gut health.

Tongue - A Mirror of your gut health

Do you feel a bitter, metallic taste on your tongue?
Or
Have you experienced a white sticky coating on your tongue frequently?
These all observations related to the tongue are reflections of your metabolic health.
In Ayurveda, the appearance of the tongue is very important in the diagnosis of metabolic or gut health. The tongue is considered a reflection of gut health.

Ayurveda mentioned 8-fold diagnostic tools while taking a brief history for assessment of diseases. Jivha Pariksha is amongst them. Thorough observations of the tongue including its size, shape, color, and appearance are very important for knowing gut health.
According to Ayurveda, many diseases originate due to disturbances in gut health or metabolic health. The tongue always reflects these changes on its surface and its unique diagnostic tool.
A healthy tongue that is uniformly pink in color, neither too thick nor thin, and moist, without any coating reflects good gut health. It also shows differentiation according to individual-specific Prakruti. But slight variation in its appearance always shows underlying changes in metabolic health or gut health.

The following entities can be assessed by Tongue examination.

Agni / digestive fire – Coated white tongue always reflects poor gut health with low digestive fire. Poor appetite, constipation, and gases are associated complaints with this white coating. Coated tongue and recurrent mouth ulcers together explain poor digestion and constipation.

Samata / niramata – accumulated aam or dietary toxins produced by poor digestion get reflected on the tongue with a whitish/ yellowish coating. A foul smell is always associated with it. Poor appetite and lethargy are associated symptoms.
Vitiated dosha – discoloration or patches on the tongue are reflections of vitiated doshas. Black spots or patches are due to vitiated Vata, the reddish-brown color associated with mouth ulcers shows pitta vitiation.

Hence tongue examination is very important which gives a proper idea of gut health. By mere observation of the tongue, many times simple dietary changes can give the best results in today’s health complaints. Also, it is a way of assessment of risks or probable underlying health problems.
So, it is the easiest way to assess your gut health daily. So, keep your eyes on your tongue too for better health.

Happy World Health Day

Author:
Dr. Gayatri Kulkarni – Mulye (MD Ayurved),
Vaidya Tejaswini Bhale – Borse (Ayurveda Physician),
Shruti Kulkarni (Clinical Nutritionist)

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Value your life by saving water

World Water Day is celebrated on the 22nd of March every year to raise awareness about the importance of water and the need to conserve and manage it sustainably. The significance of World Water Day is to overcome the issues of the global water crisis and the measures that can be taken to address this issue.
Water is an essential resource for life, and it plays a crucial role in preserving the environment, agriculture, industry, and human health. However, despite its importance, the world is facing a severe water crisis.

According to studies an estimated 2.2 billion people have no access to safe drinking water and 4.2 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services. The situation is further aggravated by. climate change, pollution, and overuse of water resources, leading to water scarcity, drought, and water-related conflicts.
The theme for World Water Day 2023 is “Valuing Water,” which aims to emphasize the economic, social, and cultural value of water and the need to manage it in an unbiased and sustainable manner. The theme also seeks to highlight the role of individual communities and stakeholders in ensuring access to safe and affordable water for all.

Life on earth depends on water which makes earth unique from other planets. On earth 70% of water is present but only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater. Of that, only about 1.2 % can be used as drinking water; the rest is locked up in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost, or buried deep in the ground. Most of our drinking water comes from rivers and streams. The human body has a similar composition with 70 % water which plays a major role in carrying out all the physiological processes. Water is crucial to ingest and expel in the physiological process for any living being. Water has equal importance to other nutrients as it naturally contains lots of electrolytes.

Our ancient science also has depicted ways of water consumption according to the seasons and different time zones of the day.

  • In Varsha rutu (Rainy season) water has to be boiled and one should have it in lukewarm form.
  • In Shishir rutu (winter Season) one should keep water in copper vessels so that it remains warm and provides body heat which is needed in harsh winters.
  • In Grishma rutu (Summer Season) one should consume water preserved in mud pots. Additionally, one may add some herbal roots like Vala to this water to serve as a coolant and reduce the aggravated heat.

To address the global water crisis, several measures can be taken.

  • Firstly, there is a need to improve water governance and management by involving local communities and stakeholders in decision-making processes.
  • Secondly, there should be a focus on water conservation and efficiency measures, such as rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and water reuse.
  • Thirdly, there should be a concerted effort to address the root causes of the water crisis, including poverty, inequality, and climate change.

In conclusion, World Water Day is an important occasion to raise awareness about the global water crisis and the need to manage water resources sustainably. By valuing water and taking concrete measures to conserve and manage it, we can ensure access to safe and affordable water for all and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Do the earth a favor, be a water saver.

Author. Archana Amol Patil.
Nutrition wellness coach,
Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd.

Vaidya Shillpa Venkatesh Jamdarkhana
Certified Ayurveda Wellness Coach
Atreya Innovations Pvt Ltd.

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World Sleep Day: Take the “New Mantra” to Good Health!!

Awareness of Health & Sleep-related Issues

Happiness is waking up, looking at the clock & finding that you still have the last 10 more minutes to snooze off to sleep. Yes, I know that feeling. What would be the best day to talk about our favorite hobby ‘Sleeping to dream’ rather than World Sleep Day?

World Sleep Day is an annual event celebrated on Friday, yes, it is Friday as it comes close to a weekend, how better it could be? Jokes apart, it falls before the Spring Equinox each year. The motive of celebrating ‘World Sleep Day’ is to raise awareness of the importance of sleep and to promote better sleep habits and practices. The event was first organized in 2008 by the World Sleep Society, a non-profit organization that aims to advance sleep health worldwide. I think it could have been such a great thing to do. With so many people talking about wanting to sleep well but not being able to do so, this day has come out like a winner for all. Sleep issues have been a global problem now, earlier, it was an issue of old age and is now a problem for small children to even adolescent kids. Though all have reasons for not being able to fall asleep, still the problem needs to be assessed and emphasized to promote good sleep habits which can be sustainable & relatable. 

With this aim in mind just like each year, World Sleep Day has a different theme this year too which focuses on a specific aspect related to sleep health. The themes in previous years have included “Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet”, “Sleep Soundly, Nurture Life”, and “Sleep Well, Grow Healthy”. The theme for World Sleep Day 2023 is “Sleep is essential for good health”, which emphasizes how consistent sleep is essential for maintaining good & optimal health for all.  A global solution for a global problem.

So, World Sleep Day is celebrated around the world with events, seminars, and workshops conducted on sleep health and how it is the most important aspect of great health. Sleep experts and health professionals are emphasizing the benefits of sleep, the effects of sleep disorders, and tips for improving sleep quality. The goal of these events is to educate everyone about the importance of sleep and to provide the knowledge and tools to get better & harmonious sleep.

On World Sleep Day, let’s just relax and sleep like a baby if you want to have great health today, tomorrow, and forever. Sleeping well is the new mantra to good health, so just keep sleeping!!

Author -

Mrs. Shruti Prashant Kulkarni

Research & Product Domain Expert

(Atreya Innovations Pvt. Ltd.)

Chief Nutrition Counseller (Germany)

 

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Save your Vision !!

The sensory organs are needed to create more liveliness in humans and other animals’ lives. They provide information about the surrounding environment to behave accordingly and may make an alert. During and after the pandemic, vision has been affected more than any other sensory organ.

All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) studies and observes these changes. ‘Prevent Blindness’ is one of the organizations that declares March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month to provide Sight-Saving Resources to employees and their employers to improve Eye Wellness and Eye Health conditions at the Workplace.

During the pandemic, everyone adapted to the lockdown and shifted their daily routine of regular work and academics to online mode. This involved the use of laptops, desktops, and mobile phones, which increased screen time more than the pre-pandemic situation for all age groups.

These new norms give rise to stress and strain on the eyes leading to various eye issues like excess dryness, eye redness, and burning sensation of the eyes that may result in chronic eye disorders. 

To reduce the effect of more screen time on eyesight and also to prevent further damage, the Prevent Blindness organization has advised numerous ways to overcome this. They are Eye exercise, using eye safety gear, ergonomics, nutrition, nutritional supplements, etc.

How does visual perception occur?

The eyes are wonderful and special sensory organs. Eyes can visualize all sorts of things – big or small, near or far, smooth or textured, colors and dimensions. The eyes have many parts – all of which must function to see properly, such as the retina, optic nerve, eye muscles, eyelids, and cornea.

Vision perception occurs through the retina and travels from the eye to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain combines these two images it receives to get a complete picture.

What are the visual complications among children?

Children are more vulnerable as they are in the developmental stage. Eye muscles are not that strong enough to adjust to the rapidly changing, harsh, and intense light from the screen. 

To further add to this, their meals are not balanced. Thus eye tissues are not properly nourished, and it may lead to numerous eye disorders like night blindness, lazy eye, ptosis, farsightedness, etc.

What are the visual complications among adults and old age?

In adulthood, compared to old age, adults have fewer complications. On the other hand, in old age, people have weakened their eye muscles, and cellular integrity, thereby naturally they may have poor eyesight.

Food habits and lifestyle plays an important role in adults as exposure to screen is more. Continuous gazing causes excessive dryness, which invites many other visual complications. Nearsightedness and farsightedness are major complications during early adulthood. 

As age advances due to muscular degeneration and the presence of other comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension, there is a higher chance of getting affected eyesight.         

Glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy are major visual complications with advancing age.

Unfortunately, eyesight cannot be improved naturally and there is no way to change a refractive error, such as myopia, hyperopia, or presbyopia. These types of visual conditions can be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.

However, there can be other reasons for diminished eyesight. Macular degeneration causes diminished eyesight but can respond favorably to nutritional changes. In that instance, there are foods that may improve eyesight without glasses.

How can one take care of nourishment for healthy eyesight?

Aging is irreversible and no one can escape it. But eating the right foods can protect your vision and keep you healthy. Research says that foods rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids help to keep eyes healthy.

But what does this nutrient-rich diet look like? Let’s break it down:

Vitamin C: Foods with lots of vitamin c are oranges, grapefruit, kiwifruit, strawberries, tomatoes, red and green peppers, and broccoli.

Vitamin E: Healthy sources of vitamin E include almonds, sunflower seeds, olive oil, and avocados.

Zinc: Legumes (beans and lentils), seeds, meat/seafood, dairy, and eggs are all good sources of zinc.

Lutein and zeaxanthin: Both of these nutrients are found naturally in the retina—the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. This is why boosting your diet with lutein and zeaxanthin is a win for your eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin—often found. 

● Together with many foods like leafy green vegetables, kale, spinach, and swiss chard. Broccoli, asparagus, and colorful fruits like raspberries, papaya, peaches, and mangoes are also chock-full of eye-healthy carotenoids.

Vitamin A: egg yolk, fish, nuts, milk, and meat are sources of Retinol. Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, green leafy vegetables, beetroot, apricot, mango, and peach are sources of carotenoids.

Antioxidant-rich foods: A diet rich in foods with antioxidants is helpful for healthy eyesight. Foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E, carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and selenium (pasta, bread, and grains) are packed with antioxidants.

Omega 3 and Omega 6-rich foods: These foods help in the lubrication of the eyes. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish (like salmon, trout, and sardines). Nuts and oils like walnuts and sunflower oil are great natural sources of omega-6 fatty acids.

Ayurveda perspective on eye health:

According to Ayurveda, the eye has domination of fire element and pitta dosha. Thus, eye disorders are mainly caused by the aggravation of pitta dosha.

Ancient texts in Ayurveda have mentioned various causes of eye disorders such as getting exposed to the heat of the Sun for a longer duration, physical, mental, and eye strain, excess grief, excess anger, excess weeping, excessive smoking, eye injury, constant viewing of minute objects, etc.

Ayurveda common remedies for eye health:

1. Massage of the eyes with a wet palm immediately after having food will protect vision from harmful effects.

2. One should neither induce natural urges forcefully nor suppress them (suppression of tears, vomiting, etc.) as it may lead to eye diseases.

3. Pouring warm water over the body bestows strength, but the same overhead makes for the loss of strength of hairs and eyes.

4. It is good to apply Anjana (Collyrium) for eye health.

5. One should regularly consume Ghee, Barley, Wheat, Shastika shali (old rice), Saidhava Lavana, Draksha (black raisins), Dadima (pomegranate), use of Shatavari (Asparagus officinalis), Green Gram.  

6. Padabhyanga (oil massage of the foot), use of footwear, and application of medicated Lepa (paste) to the Pada (foot) are useful to protect vision.

Yoga for eyes:

There are many yoga postures and eye exercises to keep your eyes healthy and improve your vision. They are Trataka, Bhastrika pranayam, Kapalbhati pranayam, Bahya pranayam, Anulom-Vilom Paranayam and Shavasan. These poses should be done under expert advice.

Thus we can conclude –

The eye is the jewel of the body and it’s important to take care of eye health as Your eyes show off the strength of your soul.


Author –

Vaidya Shilpa Venkatesh Jamdarkhana

(Certified Ayurveda Wellness Coach)

Atreya Innovations Pvt. Ltd.


Archana Amol Patil

(Nutrition Wellness Coach)

Atreya Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

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A glimpse of Ayurveda from the Maratha Empire period

Shiv Jayanti is the celebration of the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.  Shivaji Maharaj is considered a valorous warrior for his innovative military tactics and a skillful administrator. The Maratha Empire dominated a large part of the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century.
We often feel curious about the diet of Maratha warriors, healthcare principles at that period and emergency management during wars because at that Era, modern medicine was at developing stage and not introduced in India.
The Maratha empire period was flooded with constant wars. War injuries, animal attacks, injuries and poisoning by animals during traveling was part of life.
But this Era was enrooted richly with the principles of traditional Ayurvedic systems.

Here are some references that reflect Ayurvedic principles embedded in day today practices.
  1. Ayurvedic principles of Dinacharya (daily routine care), Ritucharya (seasonal care), diet according to Prakruti, region and occupation were seen to be followed by every individual. Many medicinal plants were part of recipes. Eg – vegetables made up of Shevaga (moringa), Haladi (turmeric), Aaghada (Achyranthes aspera) etc.
  2. Tupachi Vihir (Well filled with ghee)- We often come to know that many forts have been seen with remnants of a well which was used as Tupachi vihir at that period.
    According to Ayur-Ved, Puran ghrita (stored old ghee) is very useful in wound healing. Hence that stored ghee was used for large scale wound management during wars.
  3. References also showed that turmeric, amba halad (mango ginger), turati (Aluminum Sulphate crystals) and guggul (gum resins) were used in active wound management.
  4. Rajvaidya was associated with every king. He was seen to be an expert in Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnostics), poison diagnosis and expert in using unique ayurvedic formulations.
  5. Ashtavidha Pariksha, especially Nadi Pariksha was one of the important tools seen to be used for diagnostic purposes.
    References also showed that Rani Sai bai was also diagnosed with postpartum osteoarthritis and fever at that period. She was treated for the same with principles of Ayurveda.
  6. Diagnosis based on Tridosha and processes like purgation, emesis were commonly used for vitiated Dosha. Ayurvedic formulations like churna (powdered form of drug), kadha (decoction), arishtha (fermented forms) were also part of medicinal systems.
  7. In extreme critical cases and poisoning, medicinal plants like kuchala (Nux-vomica), bhang (cannabis), and opium were seen to be used.
  8. Sutika paticharya (Postpartum care)

Shivneri Fort

Sutika Room

At Shivneri fort, the sutika room is exactly similar as per Ayurveda.
Period of the Maratha empire is altogether different with healthcare challenges, but it was enrooted with Ayurveda.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is synonymous with strength, courage, discipline and tactics.
This Shivajayanti, lets Introspect your health for better strength and good Quality of Life.

निश्चयाचा महामेरू
बहुत जनांसी आधारू
अखंड स्थितीचा निर्धारू
श्रीमंत योगी II 

Author:
Dr. Gayatri Kulkarni – Mulye

MD (Ayurved)
Blogger @ Turyaa Wellness

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