Ayurveda for Dandruff

Ayurveda texts mention that our human skin has a thin waxy covering on it. This is to protect the surface of the skin from drying up. Ayurveda recommends application of a thin coat of oil to skin to preserve this waxy layer. When the skin gets dried it results in breaking of the skin. This leads to complications like chapped skin, dandruff etc.

Always ensure that there is oil on hair and skin. Never allow the skin to get dry. Avoid frequent usage of shampoo. Shampoos have a tendency to remove the oil from skin and hair leaving them dry.

Natural substances like shikakai (soap nut) powder too should be used in moderation to prevent drying up of scalp and skin. To help retain the oil, rice porridge water (conjee) can be added to make a consistent paste before application.

When the hair roots dry up, the outer layer of the scalp breaks up and come off as flakes leading to dandruff and hair loss.

Neelibringadhi oil, triphaladhi oil, kayyunyathi oil are all excellent preparations for the scalp. After bath apply a thin layer of any one of these oils.

Henna leaves, linseed, athimathuram (Indian liquorice), nellimulli (small caltrops) of equal quantity are ground together to make a fine paste and this paste is applied on scalp 10-15 minutes before bath. Similarly karisalankkani leaves, nellimulli and athimathuram can be used in the same manner.

If there is itching of hair root, dandruff etc nalpamarathi thailam, dinesavalyathi thailam, dhurvathi thailam, etc can be used. Anyone of these can be applied to the scalp 10-15 minutes before bath.



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Ayurvedic solution to Menstrual Problems

Ayurveda offers very effective home remedies to cure menstrual problems. Menstrual problems afflict most of the women a major portion of their life.

Couple of my earlier posts suggested some ayurvedic herbal remedies for menstrual problems.

Black gram strengthens the womb. For girls with delayed menarche, scanty menstruation, inability to conceive, painful menstruation, etc dishes made of black gram and linseed (black gram laddu, make a judicious choice of less spicy ones from this selection, etc) are prescribed to mitigate the intensity of pain and eventually cure them.

To cure irregular menstruation, delayed menarche, painful menstruation, difficulty to lactate, etc linseed and black gram were considered the ideal remedies. Drinking linseed soaked water is one easy way to benefit. Intake of kashayam made of linseed and black cumin seeds (nigella sativa) also helps. As a result of regular and judicious consumption of dishes made of black gram and linseed females can benefit from timely and regular menstruation, and get rid ഓഫ് other general debilities related to menstruation.

Sugar candy, poppy seeds, vaal milagu (java pepper), badam (almond) of equal quantities are pounded together to make a fine powder. Honey and ghee are added as required. This formulation is prescribed for women with painful menstruation. This is mixed in milk and taken twice a day, one week before the onset of the menstrual cycle. Fenugreek kashayam complements this very well.

Kungumapoo mixed in milk and taken regularly helps scanty menstruation.

In case of excessive flow, one effective remedy is found to be taking of a soup of dill seeds and fennel seeds.

To help with body pain during those days, dhanvanthiram kashayam 3 spoonful mixed in 60 ml of warm water along with dhanvanthiram tablet is prescribed. This should be taken on empty stomach morning and evening.

To help with menstrual cramps, heat dhanvanthiram oil in an iron ladle to a bearable level and apply it on the lower abdomen, pelvic, thigh areas. A few gentle strokes downward will do the trick. Also soak a small ball of cotton in the oil and place it on top of head. Allow the oil to soak for 5 - 10 minutes. Bathe after 30 minutes in warm water. Following this regimen on Tuesdays and Fridays is found to be very beneficial.


There are some more standard ayurvedic preparations that are very effective in curing menstrual problems and my subsequent posts will deal with them.

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Ayurveda for Tonsillitis

Galatundi is the name given to tonsils and tundikeri is a condition of inflammation of galatundi. Tundikeri or tonsillitis has been described as a localised swelling adjacent the base of the tongue having its resemblance to cotton seed fruit. When swollen it is covered with mucus, painful and hard to touch. There is oedema, increased size, pricking pain, burning sensation and suppuration.

Tonsillitis is one of the commonest diseases of the upper respiratory tract which affects all age groups particularly the growing children. The commonest cause of infection is streptococcal haemolyticus. The disease spreads quickly by way of dust particles. Poorly ventilated and overcrowded spots are the breeding grounds of these pathogens.

Chronic tonsillitis might lead to rheumatic fever, nephritis and many other systemic complications.

Symptoms include high fever of 103-104 range, with considerable pain on swallowing, painful enlargement of tonsillar glands in the neck, referred pain in the ear on the affected side, sore throat and exudation of pus.

Sphatika’s use in treating tonsillitis has been referred in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Ayurveda describes sphatika as an astringent, haemostatic, antiseptic. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and antibiotic properties.

A study was conducted in Jammu, India to test the efficacy of sphatika on both acute and chronic tonsillitis cases. [See: JRAS Vol XVII No. 3-4 (1996) pages 149-156].

Fine powder of purified sphatika was used for local application over tonsils and fauces thrice daily before meals. Similarly 1 gm of sphatika dissolved in half cup lukewarm water was taken internally.

It was found that the disease is more frequent among the male children (11 – 20 years). Sphatika had a marked effect on treatment of tonsillitis. The various symptoms started regressing just after a day or two of commencement of therapy.

Sphatika being kasaya, katu, tikta, usna and jwara-hara in action, reduces the inflammation of the tonsils thereby regulating the increased body temperature. Its antibiotic activity inhibits further spread of the pathogens. This was confirmed by throat swab tests done before and after treatment.




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