The Elixir of life : Rasayana

This article has published in Ayurveda Mantra/April-May 2016

The Elixir of life: RASAYANA

             It’s spring time. The grass looks greener today. Almost all the snow has melted. The days will be longer now. The flowers will bloom. The sun will shine brighter taking away with it the cold winter blues. Nature has so much to offer. Each day brings with it new avenues to be explored. Old will make way for new. Growing and ageing is part of life. To enjoy bountiful offerings made by the ever changing world, we need to be healthy and happy. We often wish to have control over degeneration and disease. There has to be something that can withhold ageing, increase life span, promote intelligence, improve strength and prevent disease. This has to be an ‘elixir’. Something used by alchemists to change metal into gold… A magical potion that has the ability to bestow health and prolong life!

An eleventh century Persian chemist and physician, Abu Rayhan Biruni wrote in his accounts about India, “They have a science similar to alchemy, quite distinctive to them. They call it Rasayana; an ability which incorporates certain procedures, medications and compounds which are derived from plants. The main principle is to restore the health of unhealthy and bestow youth to ageing.”

              He has aptly summarized the essence of Rasaynas. The Ayurveda texts do have detailed description of these ‘alchemy procedures’ under the name of ‘Rasayana’. The term Rasayana is a combination of two words: Rasa (essence or juice) and Ayana (path). Thus the literal meaning of this Sanskrit term is path of essence, which is mainly concerned with rejuvenation, conservation and revitalization of body as a whole. In classical texts, rasayanas have been defined as something that obliterates old age and disease (Yat jaravyadhi nashnam tat rasayanam)

           Rasayana therapy is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda. It enjoys a very special place in the Ayurveda texts. The importance can be understood from the fact that in the classical text Charka Samhita (chikitsa sthana), it has been clearly said: “As rasayanas provide longevity, prevent ageing and other diseases, they are more important. Thus, they will be described before the disease specific medicines can be discussed.”

Types of Rasayana

         Rasayanas can be classified in multifarious ways.

Ø  According to purpose :

- Naimittika Rasayana (promote specific vitality in specific disease)

-  Kamaya Rasayana    (promote normal health)

·         Prankamaya( promote vitality and longevity)

·         Medhakamaya(promote intelligence)

·         Srikamaya(Promote beauty and complexion)

Ø  According to place of therapy

- Kutipraveshik Rasayana (indoor regimen)

- Vatatapik Rasayana (outdoor regimen)

Ø  According to diet and lifestyle

-Aushada Rasayana (drug based regimen)

-Ahara Rasayana (diet based regimen)

-Achaar Rasayana (lifestyle based regimen)

 Benefits of Rasayana

              

         Rasayana chikitsa (treatment) is a specialized section of ayurveda. It mainly promotes good health by resurgence of metabolism and enhancement of immunity. It has the power to slow down the ageing process. It increases the life span of individual by improving the resistance to diseases. Rasayana procedures nourish the body, prevent degenerative changes and illnesses. It has been mentioned in ancient ayurveda texts that rasayanas enhance intelligence, memory, strength, youthfulness, sheen, vigor and vitality. They also ensure optimal physical stamina, de-stress and relax the mind. Several studies done on rasayana medications have confirmed their antioxidant, hepato-protective and immunomodulator effects.

Rasayana Examples

Plant sources: Embelica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Tinospora cordifolia etc.

Natural sources: Iron, gold, pearl copper etc.

Food sources: Honey, cow’s milk, clarified butter etc.

Ayurveda formulations: Chayavanprash avleh, Brahma rasayana etc.

             

    Today in our rapid paced, demanding life we have realized the need to shift our focus towards relaxation and rejuvenation. For an emerging generation of health conscious people with desire for calmer and healthier lifestyle; the rasayana therapy can restore and upgrade their health status. In times where natural health, happiness and wellbeing are veiled by the buildup of toxins because of too busy daily life, the need for a comprehensive discipline like ‘Rasayana chikitsa’ can be strongly felt. Rasayana therapy is a multifaceted approach of taking care of body mind and spirit. It has positive effect on the overall wellbeing of an individual by nourishing body, boosting immunity, building strength, enhancing resistance, restoring vitality and stamina; thereby inducing longevity and good health.

© Vaidya.Moninder kaur 2016

To read the complete magazine visit:           Ayurveda Mantra/April-May 2016

BE POSITIVE WITH LIFE QUOTES : #SMILE

BE POSITIVE WITH LIFE QUOTES: #SMILE  

I am always amazed by the strength of one simple action 'SMILE'. A genuine smile that comes from our heart and reaches the depths of our eyes has the power to heal. A smile has the ability to brighten the gloomiest days, comfort a painful heart and melt the hardest of individuals . I have seen it to inspire people enough to keep them going despite all odds. So friends , keep smiling. Who knows, you might brighten up someone's life :)

Real and genuine smiles comfort.

Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened

Success comes to those who persevere with a smile.

Smile. Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday 

http://bepositivewithlife.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/bpositivewithlife

© 2015 Dr.Moninder Kaur

HEMANT Ritu Charya: Ayurvedic Regimen for the winter

HEMANT Ritu Charya: Ayurvedic Regimen for the winter 

Sun has become a luxury in this festive month of December. I have heard that it has snowed somewhere in a nearby hill station. Thereby, the wind is too cold here in my city. I enjoy the tranquility of sleepy morn on a cold Sunday morning. It’s a little dark outside and the house is still asleep. The blissful silence enthuses in me the desire to write my next post. I am looking forward to healthy winter season as I intend to follow the regime mentioned in classical ayurvedic texts. I share the tips here with you.

The winter season or the ‘last ritu of the visarga kala’ lasts from mid November to mid January. During this period the human strength is relatively high. The digestive fire or ‘Agni’ is quiet strong. It’s necessary to feed this fire in order to maintain a balance and to prevent vitiation of the doshas, especially the vata dosha, during these months.

Hemant Ritu Charya

Diet

Lifestyle

Food should be madhur (sweet), guru (heavy) and Amla (Sour), Lavan ( salt) Freshly harvested Rice, wheat, corn, urad dal (black gram), yava (barley), honey, should be a part of diet. Ghrit (Clarified butter), butter, paneer (cottage cheese), cheese, milk and milk products are recommended. It’s positive to have jaggery, sugarcane and other types of sweets in this season. All types of meat, fish, chicken and poultry can be had. Even wine is recommended. Potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, apples, guava, dry fruits, dates, etc can be consumed. All kinds of tea, hot water etc is drink of choice in this season.

Ayurveda recommends Abhyanga or body massage with oils like sesame, mustard etc. followed by steam bath. Prefer to stay in warm cozy places. Use heavy curtains and thick warm blankets. Wear warm woolen clothes. Sitting in sun and in front of a fireplace is also recommended It’s a very good season for heavy exercises and vigorous indoor workouts are recommended. Dress warmly and avoid too many outdoor activities. Indulgence in sex as per the physical desire and strength is also recommended in this season.

Some more suggestions to stay healthy this winter

On taking a closer look at the above recommendations, one can clearly observe that Ayurveda texts mainly advice to stay warm, cozy and eat warm nutritious food during this season. One should avoid dry, cold and light foods in order to prevent the vitiation of doshas. Avoid fasting and sleeping during the day.

I sincerely hope by following the regimen mentioned above one can stay healthy during the season. I am looking forward to questions and suggestions related to the above topic.

STAY CALM, FOLLOW THE REGIMEN AND BE POSITIVE  J

Related posts

grishma ritucharya

sharad ritucharya

© Dr.Moninder kaur 2014

BE POSITIVE WITH LIFE QUOTES : #LIFE

                                                         

Unconditional love

The sun never says to the earth, you owe me. Look what happens with a love like that, it lights up the whole sky.

Positive Attitude

Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction.Break the habit.Talk about your joys.

Life

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee,the small child and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential and fight for your dreams.

© Dr.Moninder Kaur 2014

#Purpose Of #Ayurveda

 Some times the question arises in our mind that what is the purpose of Ayurveda. The answer has been provided in the Ancient Ayurvedic texts.

Acharya Vagabhatta in Asatanga Sangrah says that the only way to walk on  path of righteousness ( dharma) , to earn a honest living (artha) and to obtain eternal bliss (sukha ) is to have a life. Any individual who desires to have such life, should have utmost respect for Ayurveda . (AH.S.S. 1-5)

Similarly Acharya Sushruta says that Ayurveda        (Ayu means life and Veda means science) is a science of life. Ayurveda  has been aptly named as it explains about life, it discusses about life. One is able to live a long life with the help of Ayurveda. (Su.s.1-15)

Mahrishi Agnivesh has beautifully described the purpose of Ayurveda . He clearly says that the purpose of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of a healthy person and to treat the illness of the ill.

(C.su.39-23) 

 Based on above references we can say that the purpose of Ayurveda is not merely to treat the diseases but to prevent these diseases too. Ayurveda texts lay stress on disease prevention along with providing cures for various illness. In order to enjoy a content life with eternal bliss one needs to be healthy and good health can be achieved by following the principles of Ayurveda.
If any of the readers has a query or needs some advice about health and wellness you can reach me through my email or can leave a comment below and I will respond back to you.

( image courtesy : google images )

© Dr.Moninder kaur 2014

Be Positive With Life #Ayurveda Heals #FaceCleanser

Gentle Face Cleanser

Ingredients
1/4th cup olive oil
1/4th cup almond oil
10 drops lavender essential oil ( optional )

Method
Pace the above oils in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.Shake till the oils blend well. Store in a cool dark place. To use, saturate cotton ball with oil and wipe face with it to remove make up. Rinse off with warm water.

Benefits
Safe to use , gentle on skin, removes makeup, makes skin soft and supple.These oils have antioxidants and have regenerative effect on skin. They moisturize and have a healing effect .

Six Positive ways of #motivating the unmotivated child

Picture source : Google Images

In my day to day practice, I often hear from parents -‘Why doesn’t he put more effort in his school work? Why doesn’t he care? Why is he more interested in watching T.V. or playing online games when he knows that there is a submission tomorrow?’ As a parent and parenting skills guide I would like to address this issue keeping my focus on parents with children in 6-9 grades.

Do you feel that the child has some behavior problem; he does not care; he is lazy….? No, it is not so. He may be angry or discouraged. He may be frustrated or not so confident. He may be feeling that it’s not worth it…. The easiest approach for anyone to handle difficulty is to pretend ‘not to care’. Actually he cares. All children when not angry or discouraged generally want to perform well. They like being praised and are keen to seek approval of their elders. So where did the things go wrong?

While dealing with the issue and interacting with parents I have realized that there are some common mistakes that all parents make.

Blaming peers, media or television

Blaming teachers

Negative display of frustration and anger along with reprimanding child

Misconception that children are generally lazy

Undiagnosed attention and learning disorders

These mistakes often lead to demoralization or lack of motivation in children. Keep in mind that children may be frustrated, discouraged, and angry, stressed, anxious, disinterested etc . . . . but are not lazy. As a parent, relate lack of motivation to any of the above and try to find a solution by taking a more positive approach toward the problem.I have provided below some positive parenting tips that will surely help you in making your child a more enthusiastic learner and achiever.   

Six Positive Ways of motivating Your child

1.Channelize your child’s energy.

Every person around you is motivated , only difference is that each individual is motivated towards different things. Rather than calling the child unmotivated, we can say that the child is motivated towards not performing, resisting parents efforts etc. He is actually putting in a lot of effort to maintain that position. Children are energetic brainy people. But we as parents are more experienced at handling people and getting our tasks done. So why not use your experience to channelize them and to motivate them towards concrete achievements. Start thinking differently Handle them in a different , friendlier manner. Steer them towards a positive tomorrow that can only be achieved with sustained hard work.

2.Develop a genuine interest in their interest.

Let me give you an example here. Your child is interested in playing basketball but you are keen he learns tennis. You enroll him in tennis classes. Result: every day you need to push him to get ready for the class. Your conclusion , he is not interested in sports.

Now let us reverse the scene. You enroll him in a basketball coaching camp with the thought that the main aim is to play a sport to have a better outlook towards life and for good health. Choosing tennis or basketball is insignificant. Result: He is ready before time, remembers the scheduled days of the class, feels closer to you ,shares his experiences with you about the class and other day to day activities feeling that you as a parent are with him and understand him. This lays the foundation for a stronger bond between you and your child .

The choice is yours and,you as a parent, would like to choose the best for your child. In our desire to improve them we often miss the necessary aspect of connecting to them. Keep in mind that all children are basically positive people who like to be praised about their actions.

3. Do not reprimand or blame, talk to your child.

Talk to them. Accept that they too can be frustrated, discouraged, stressed, not so confident at times. Understand and accept their feelings. Preaching to them about hard work is not good enough and you already know that it doesn’t work. Connect to them. Understand their problems and if they need your help, help them. Find the cause, set approachable targets, discuss ways of achieving the targets in set duration and then trust them enough to leave them free to achieve those targets.

4. Use the magic wand, called: Encouragement

Set clear goals with specific deadlines and encourage them to achieve those goals. Make a note of all the effort the child puts in towards the achievement these goals. Praise them for their efforts and encourage them to wards improvement irrespective of the fact whether they achieve their goals or not. Keep reminding them of their positives and when they are in a mood to hear, discuss with them ways in which they can do better. But remember, life is beyond class rooms and disappointments. As a parent if you able to encourage your child towards positive growth, you can instill enough energy in them to make a sustained effort towards their goals.

5. Shift your focus

Every child has some strong points. Observe your child. Identify his strengths and then focus on developing those strengths. Shift your focus from pointing out his weaknesses to building up a foundation for future success. Work on building their inner pride as the world is beyond the classrooms. Help them create a positive image of themselves, where strengths form the strong central core of their personality and their difficulties, frustrations are sidelined to a corner. People who achieve have a strong positive belief in their ability to achieve.

6. Be like a good coach

Encourage your child to do better. Show him the way but stop doing your child’s tasks. Let them do their own daily chores. Appreciate the effort and progress. Guide them but never do their things for them. This surely makes them more confident.

And yes, remove the goodies like television,X-box etc. from their room. Install them in a common living space. Coaches have to be focused and entertainment has to be earned, right?

   In short motivation is a combination of having clear goals, feeling of confidence to achieve those goals along with recognition of the efforts put in to achieve those goals. Motivation comes from a positive feeling that ‘yes! I can do it.’ You as a parent have the power to create that feeling in your child.

Suggested Reading  positive-grandparenting

©Dr. Moninder Kaur 2014