Filed under: ayurvedicmassage | Tags: Ayurveda, ayurvedic massage, Ayurvedic Massage Benefits, Ayurvedic massage techniques, bones, health, Health Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage, health care, joints, massage, massage techniques, massage therapy, muscles, Urban Beauty Massage
Ayurvedic massage techniques provide respite, circulation and elimination of toxins. If implemented as a daily practice, Ayurvedic massage techniques can even help to revitalize the body.
In ancient times, Ayurvedic clinics did not frequently offer massage, as everybody gave and received it. Only when patients needed a particular treatment, they were referred to massage specialists that used the suitable Ayurvedic massage techniques.
Today in India , massagers roam the public places in great number and give head and body a go for a few chunks of rupees. Although they often have little knowledge of Ayurveda but they do know how to work with muscles, joints and bones. Many have received training based on the massage developed by wrestlers and body builders.
Ayurvedic doctors who were also wrestlers developed a special system of their own that contained the knowledge of the Ayurvedic as well as Unani (Greek) systems of medicine. These conventional Indian massage techniques are based on the Ayurvedic humors (vata, pitta and kapha) and marmas (pressure points like in reflexology). They also comprise Muslim massage techniques with pressure points called Muqame Makhsoos.
Specific Ayurvedic massage techniques have also been developed for massage therapy, used in certain therapeutic treatments like in panchakarma (means five techniques). These massage techniques should only be practiced in a particular diseased condition under supervision of a well qualified Ayurvedic doctor or vaidya.
In rural areas, weekly massage is still a family scene. People in India love it – they know that like a best friend it brings joy and relaxation to the body. The popular image of Lord Vishnu reclining on a serpent (Sesh-naag) and receiving foot massage from his consort Goddess Lakshmi shows it as a preferred pastime even of the gods.
Massage techniques can also help to uphold a loving relationship between husband and wife. After this kind of calming relaxation, it is easier to share and give love. Before marriage it is one of the few ceremonial massages in the Hindu ritual that is compulsory even today. Urban Beauty Massage is also very popular.
It is also often used to help the aged and special techniques have been developed for young and nursing mothers as well as babies. Babies are usually massaged with a small dough ball dipped in vegetable oil.
Filed under: ayurvedicmassage | Tags: ayurvedic, ayurvedic massage, body, coldness, dampness, health, health care, human, human body, humidity, massage
Monsoon! Monsoon!
Please come quick
To water the plants
That looks like sticksWe need the rain
We need the rain
To trickle down
Our dried up drains …
This poem caught my eyes while browsing internet. Monsoon brings joy as plants wear a green look, rivers swell to brim and dry lands become wet. The grim side of this season is increased humidity which troubles humans.
What is humidity?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in air. It is usually described as “relative humidity” and expressed in percentage. 100% humidity means the water vapor in the air is at its maximum at that particular temperature.
When humidity is low (amount of water vapor is less in air), the evaporation from the surrounding areas is rapid. Hence the clothes dry quickly, soil dries up, sweat evaporates from skin etc.
When humidity is high (amount of water vapor is more in air), clothes dry slowly, sweat does not evaporate from skin and we feel sticky and uncomfortable.
We feel comfortable when humidity is 45-50% and temperature 20 to 22 degree Celsius. Any broad variation in these may cause health problems.
Effects of increased humidity on human body :
Human body maintains its temperature by transferring body heat to surrounding air through evaporation of perspiration (sweat). When humidity is high in air the evaporation of sweat decreases and maintenance of body temperature is altered. Along with high humidity if atmosphere temperature is high, the blood circulation increases on surface of skin and decreases in muscles and other organs. Hence we experience fatigue in climate which is high in temperature and humidity.
Molds, mildews, bacteria, virus, dust mites proliferate when humidity increases in surrounding air. They grow on air conditioners, shower heads, damp walls, toilets , wet carpets and on other moist substances. Their spores which are called bio-aerosols, are constantly released into air. Bio-aerosols cause infection and allergies. They trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory diseases.
Researchers have found that osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis flare up in high humid weather.
According to Ayurvedic texts the humidity increases during rainy season. The Agni (body fire or digestive power) which is reduced during summer decreases still further and gets vitiated by doshas. Doshas get vitiated due to changes in weather like increased humidity, coldness, dampness etc.
How to reduce humidity at home
- Repair the source which is causing dampness or wetness at home .Leaking roofs, taps and tanks should be repaired to prevent leaking.
- Keep the rain drain free from clogs and let the water from rain drain flow away from your basement.
- Switch on exhaust fans or vent fans after bathing and cooking.
- Do not dry clothes inside. This increases humidity inside home.
- Use a digital hygrometer to monitor humidity.
- Use a dehumidifier to bring down the humidity to 50% or less.
Ayurvedic tips to keep healthy in humid conditions:
- One has to undergo detoxification therapies like Vamana and Virechana.
- Asthapana basthi (An enema of herbal decoction) has to be administered to keep away humidity related health problems.
- The digestive system gets weakened due to dehydration in summer. This leads to low digestive power. This is further weakened by vitiation of doshas and dhatus due to increased humidity. Hence following diets which increase power of digestion and strengthen the digestive system would be beneficial.
a. Light foods prepared out of old barley, rice and wheat.
b. Sour and salted soups of vegetables.
c. Drinking boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey.
d. Consuming little quantity of wine prepared out of grapes.
e. Adding ginger and green gram in daily diet.
f. Eating warm food.
g. The taste of food must be preferably sour and salty.
- Do not walk in bare foot. Always wear dry foot wear to prevent growth of fungus on nails and between toes. Dry your feet and webs with soft dry cloth whenever they are wet.
- The clothes should be fumigated using fragrant herbs. Drying clothes with fumes of loban and dry neem leaves is recommended in ayurvedic texts.
- We should not sleep in basement as it will be damp and growth of moulds and fungus will be more.
- Fumigating the house with smoke of dried neem leaves in evenings for 1-2 minutes is an excellent ayurvedic method to check the growth of microbes,
- Always keep the surrounding dry and clean. Do not allow water to get accumulated around.
Ayurvedic Home remedies for Humidity related diseases
- Apply castor oil or sesame oil on cracked feet and skin.
- A freshly prepared paste of turmeric, neem and sesame seeds is recommended in ayurveda for fungal infection between toes.
- Drink a glass of warm water mixed with a tea spoon of honey in empty stomach. This flushes out accumulated toxins.
- Freshly prepared radish juice is the best remedy for cold.
- A pinch each of long pepper powder and rock salt mixed in warm water reduces cough
