Vilvadi Lehyam: Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Stomach Ailments

Bilwa Tree with its fruits

Bilva or bael fruit also known as golden apple or wood apple is a fruit obtained from the bael tree, a species native to India.  The woody shelled fruit requires almost 10 to 11 months to ripen for consumption. The tree is called ‘vilva maram’ in Tamil and ‘bilva’ in Telugu, A sacred tree for Hindus, the bael tree can be found in all Siva temples, especially in Tamil Nadu.   All parts of the bael or bilwa tree, the root, the bark, leaves, fruit, flowers, twigs etc  have immense medicinal value.  There are a number of excellent medical concoctions Both Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicine make use of the

Bilva or Vilva tree is well known for its medicinal properties, especially its action on the digestive system and the stomach in particular.  The hard outer shell of the bael fruit or wood apple has to be broken open to relish the content with jaggery and cardamom.  This is a tasty treat that can arrest diarrhea and dysentery.  When taken with cumin seeds and ginger it is found to be effective in treating hemorrhoids.  The decoction of the root is an anti-emetic and a good remedy for bowel inflammation.  The decoction made of the bilwa leaves is used in treating peptic ulcer.

Vilva leaves have been successfully used to bring down excessive sugar levels in diabetic patients.  For this purpose some 5-10 vilva leaves are soaked in plain water overnight.  The next day morning the water soaked leaves are ground to a fine paste and then taken on empty stomach.  This is also effective in treating diabetic ulcers.  Tablets prepared from vilva leaves is an excellent remedy for hyperglycemia.

Vilwadi Lehyam/Bilwadi Leham is a well known product of the Kerala tradition that makes use of the Vilva fruit and other parts of the tree as its main ingredient  Other ingredients include coriander, cumin, caraway, pepper, long pepper, ginger, korai kizhangu (musta), nagkesar (nagappu in Tamil).  One of the effective ways of taking such preparations is to place them on betel leaf or banyan leaf,then lick and slowly munch them down.

Vilvadi lehyam is taken for ailments of the stomach like gastritis, vomiting, poor digestion, diarrhea and dysentry, and asthma.  A tablespoonful (5 gms) of this lehyam ( a jam like concoction) can be taken with milk three times a day after food.  This is a very effective remedy for those affected by the above said conditions under the guidance of an expert Ayurveda practitioner.  This preparation is also useful in treating irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, acid-reflux etc (IBD).  There is no known side effects on taking this medication.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Medicinal Uses of 'Touch Me Not' Plant - Part 2

Ayurveda regards the ‘touch me not’ plant to have tiktha kashaya properties. It has a light and ferocious guna and has seeta veerya (cooling). All seeta veerya herbs can be used to treat diseases involving excessive blood flow. It is very much used in treating wounds, boils. For example bleeding piles or haemorrhoids can be treated using this herb. The bloody condition can be pacified with juice of thottaavadi leaves along with juice of thumba leaves. This is applied externally on the haemorrhoids. Similarly, excessive menstrual flow can be treated with honey and juice of thottavadi leaves and taken internally. It is also well known and effective in treating painful menstruation.

Skin disorders can be treated with this herb. One of the difficult skin conditions to treat, psoriasis can be treated successfully with thottavaadi. Lajjalu keram is the way of treatment (oushadha yogam) for treating most of the skin disorders. Lajjalu keram is made with the surasam (paste of the whole plant) and the kalkam (bolus) of the leaves boiled in coconut oil. This is used in treating many skin disorders. Similarly dandruff can be effectively treated with this herb. For this eswara mooligai (Indian birthwort) is used along with thottavaadi.

Thottaavadi kashayam made after removing the flowers helps in relieving various difficulties of the hemorroids. Karappan (eczema) found in children can be treated by collecting the juice of this herb and heating it in coconut oil. This preparation is applied on affected areas.

Bedridden patients generally take very less water and this can lead to infection of the urinary tract. One prophylactic approach to prevent this kind of infection is to use the kashayam prepared of this herb. This kashayam is given to bedridden patients everyday. This will help to ward off urinary tract infection to a large extent. Taking care of this will help in preventing fevers and other complications.

In case of back pain due to excessive physical strain or work, especially of the upper back, thottavaadi comes in handy in treating such conditions. 15 ml of thottavaadi leaves can be taken daily for a few days. This will help in relieving back pain.

Diabetic patients will benefit immensely from consumption of thottaavadi leaf juice every morning. The combination of thottavaadi leaves, curry leaves, guava leaves and wheat conjee is very effective in bringing down excessive cholesterol.

This herb is also used to treat premature ejaculation. The natural remedy for premature ejaculation is prepared by taking mature thottavaadi root and making a paste of it using cow’s milk. A thick layer of this paste is placed on the soles of both feet and allowed to dry. Once the paste dries off the soles can be cleaned with a piece of cloth. This regimen is continued for a few days or weeks depending on the severity of the condition. This is found to be effective in treating premature ejaculation.

Similarly white discharge in women is treated with this herb. For this a small marble sized paste of the leaves is taken every day till the condition improves. Sneezing, difficult breathing, itching of eyes, throat etc and similar allergic conditions etc can be treated with tender thottaavadi leaves. A few of these leaves are plucked before sunrise and taken raw. Following this regimen for a few days will help in treating such conditions.

(Courtesy: Haritha sangeerthanam, Shalom TV)

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Medicinal Uses of 'Touch Me Not' Plant - Part 1

Medicinal Uses of 'Touch Me Not' Plant

The ‘Sensitive Plant’ (Touch-me-not) ‘thotta chinungi’ in Tamil and ‘thotta vaadi’ in Malayalam has been the subject of extensive studies over the recent years for its medicinal properties.

This plant is effective in treating a wide range of disease conditions ranging from allergy, asthma, menstrual problems, hemorrhoids, premature ejaculation, to hypertension, cholesterol, snake bite and more. Research has shown the plant to be effective in treating cancer, especially of the mouth and lungs. One of its compound mimocin is found to inhibit DNA replication in cancer cells.

The botanical name of ‘touch-me-not’ is Mimosa pudica. Though native to South and Central America, this plant is found in the tropical regions the world over. It is also called ‘humble plant’, ‘shameful plant’ because of the tendency of the leaves to fold inward when touched or shaken.

The thotta vaadi plant is an Ayurvedic home remedy for diabetes and hypertension. People suffering from diabetes can take 30 ml juice of thotaa vaadi plant in the mornings and evenings to bring down elevated glucose to normal levels. This remedy can also be used to keep diabetes at bay.

For those suffering from hypertension the remedy would be to take 15 ml of juice obtained from the leaves of this plant. This can be taken in the mornings and evenings to the keep blood pressure levels normal.

One Ayurvedic home remedy for arsas (hemorrhoids) is taking 8 gm of the dried and powdered root of thotta vaadi. This powder is added to warm milk and taken at nights for a period of two to three months. This is found to cure hemorrhoids or piles.

Some of the chemical compounds found in thotta vaadi are mimocin, galactose, mannose etc. These are more potent than the tricyclic anti-depressants and hence can be used in treating depression and other related disorders.

The plant has a tendency to bring down swellings and vata pain in the joints. The thick paste obtained from grinding the whole plant is taken in a piece of cloth and placed over the painful joint swellings and tied with a piece of cloth to hold it in place. This is done a couple of times. This relieves and pain and reduces the swelling. Similarly the paste can be used to treat delayed wound healing. The paste is applied over the wound to help in rapid healing.

The plant is a herbal natural remedy for asthma and asthmatic conditions. For this purpose 15 ml juice from thotta vaadi leaves is collected. Hot water is added to this juice and taken every two hours for quick relief from asthmatic troubles.

One of the problems of old age is insomnia. One excellent natural remedy for insomnia is the thotta vaadi plant. For this 5 gm of leaves is taken and boiled in a glass of water and taken at night before going to bed. Repeating this for a couple of days will help in curing insomnia.

Wheat congee made with thottavaadi juice, guava leaf, curry leaf and horse gram broth is a well known preparation for lowering elevated cholesterol levels.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: A Simple Hemorrhoid Remedy

Recently I came across a very simple and easy to follow cure for hemorrhoids. It is using garlic as a suppository. Dr John Douillard, of LifeSpa Ayurveda in Boulder, Colorado is a teacher of Ayurveda and natural medicine who swears by this treatment.

Roughly one third of Americans suffer from hemorrhoids and its complications. I think the figure would be the same more or less for other parts of the world too. Dr John Douillard lists the following as the cause for this condition. Poor diet, weakened digestive system and stress which result in chronic inflammation of gut.

Hemorrhoid is the result of this chronic inflammation of gut. Some of the initial symptoms like diarrhea or constipation, gas and bloating, indigestion, heart burn, food allergies etc can cause inflammation of the gut. When left untreated for an extended period of time, this can lead to hemorrhoids.

John suggests a two-pronged approach to cure this problem. One is using garlic as a suppository to de-inflame the rectal tissues and provide an antiseptic environment to aid healing of the tissues. To do this you need to take a clove of garlic and peel off the skin. Cut the ends to a smooth edge. Coat the garlic clove with olive oil and insert it into the rectum as a suppository before bed. Do this for seven days.

While there is an overwhelming evidence of relief with this process alone, John recommends treating the root cause to prevent recurrence. To take care of stress he suggests meditation. He also suggests taking Amlaki, which is a very potent Ayurvedic remedy for preventing infection and healing of ulcerated intestinal mucosa. Amlaki is a mild laxative too that helps relieve constipation. Neem is another remedy suggested in case of chronic condition.

John recommends taking food three times a day, instead of six. This will provide time for the digestive tract to rest and heal. He advises to keep away from erratic eating habits and eating throughout the day.

I would like to add a Siddha medicine called Karunai lehyam made from yam. ‘Naga parpam’ is yet another Siddha remedy for hemorrhoids. A pinch of ‘naga parpam’ mixed in a marble sized ‘karunai lehyam’ and taken in the mornings and nights before food is found to be very effective in treating piles.

One interesting thing to note, karunai lehyam is made from yam, the shape of yam resembles hemorrhoids.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Medicinal Uses of Oils

Oil massage once a week helps in relieving body pain, joint pains etc. Just a couple of decades back people in Tamil Nadu used to religiously follow this regimen to keep themselves free of joint pains and body pains. Now with the hectic lifestyle people are not able to set aside the time needed for a relaxing weekly oil massage. It has reached a stage where application of oil to the body or hair is viewed as a hassle and conveniently bypassed.

Oil prepared with herbs like nocchi, basil, cumin seeds, vadha narayana keerai, kuppaimeni etc is very effective in relieving body pain. Regular massage with this medicated oil strengthens the muscles and removes stagnant toxins. Kuppaimeni is a well known herb for its action on skin conditions like eczema, blackheads etc. For relief form body pain and joint pain, massage this oil on the affected area and then follow it with warm water fomentation.

Medicinal Benefits of Castor Oil

Castor oil is used for lighting up temple lamps in Tamil Nadu. It is also used as a medicine. Castor oil is given to pregnant women and children for easy elimination and to avoid constipation. There is a saying in Tamil which stresses the importance of oil. 'Vaithiyanukku koduppathai vaaniyanukku kodu'. If you spend money on oils, you can save money treating diseases and ailments. This stresses the role of oil in preventing various ailments.

Ayurvedic texts stress the importance of ‘Virechana’ a bowel cleansing process once in six months. Castor oil is used a purgative for this purpose. Castor oil is also used in treating stomach pain, abdomen pain, body heat etc. Castor oil is applied liberally in the naval area around the belly button for this purpose. This is said to bring down the body heat as well as relieve stomach pain etc.

In case of inflammation of the eye due to body heat, redness etc, castor oil is mixed with mother's milk and instilled into the eyes. This rapidly cures the redness of eyes. Castor oil is also used in treating dysentery due to 'body heat'. 'Sweet flag' is burnt in castor oil lamp and the ash obtained in mixed in honey and given to the person suffering from dysentery.

Constipation is considered to be the root cause of most of the diseases that afflict modern man. Fast food is one of the prime cause for constipation. Constipation leads to formation of hemorrhoids or piles.

Castor oil is used extensively in treating constipation. It expels accumulation of gas in stomach. It drives out intestinal worms and pacifies vata. It relieves mental tension and cools the body and mind.

My next entry will detail more on medicinal uses of castor oil.



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Medicinal Properties of Fenugreek

Fenugreek has been used as a home remedy to treat a number of ailments ranging from stomach ache, arresting hair fall, increase virility, general tonic etc.

Fenugreek of late has drawn the attention of the medical world for its anti-diabetic properties. It is available in capsule form in many health food stores.

It can

1. Pacify heat.
2. Stop diarrhea.
3. Soften skin
4. Cure cough.
5. Cure mouth ulcers.

The list goes on and on. My other blog on Siddha Home Remedies lists some of the home remedies that can be made using fenugreek to cure many ailments.

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Ayurvedic Tips for Constipation Part I

One reason for constipation is frequent intake of foods that do not have the necessary viscosity or laxity. Intake of such foods regularly for a few days leads to absence of viscosity in intestines, resulting in hardening of stools which ultimately ends up as constipation.

Suppressing the urge to defecate also leads to constipation in the long run. Similarly exerting oneself to defecte when there is no urge is also harmful.

Absence of exercise results in inaction of rib muscles and this can also lead to constipation.

The posture adopted to defecate can also result in improper defecation. Our forefathers adopted a squatting posture which helped to dilate the anus naturally and it resulted in better and fuller evacuation of the bowels. When using a western closet this does not happen as you have to sit on it like on a chair.

These are some of the reasons for constipation. From this it is quite obvious that changing your diet and adopting an active lifestyle which includes daily exercise can cure constipation to a large extent.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedy for Piles (Hemorhhoids)

The root cause of hemorrhoids or piles is constipation. Other causes are mental tension, obesity, hereditary factors. Hence lifestyle changes are recommended.

Here are some of the ayurvedic and siddha home remedies for piles.

Juice of bitter gourd leaves 625 mg, cow ghee 625 mg are mixed together. This is taken once a day for 7 days. Avoid salt and sour foods for 14 days from the first day. This can cure piles.

Onion fried (one onion) and then mixed with butter as necessary can be applied around the anal region. This will bring down the pain and irritation caused by the hemorrhoids.

White onion sauted in ghee and then taken with palm candy three times a day after food, can help cure piles.

Pepper powder 50 gm, fennel seeds 60 gm, honey 350 gm all are mixed together and made into a thick paste. One teaspoon of this preparation is taken internally 2 times a day. This will benefit old people who suffer from piles.

Cooked karunaikizhangu or yam is an excellent remedy for piles. Many tasty dishes can be prepared using yam. Some dishes can be found here.

Aloe Vera for piles: 20 gm of pepper, cumin seeds, and chukku (dry ginger) each are powdered together in 1 litre of aloe vera juice. ½ kg of sugar and 1 litre cow’s milk is added and boiled. Allow the mixture to reduce to a thick consistency (reduce to 50% of original). This is then cooled and stored in a bottle. Half a teaspoon of this preparation is then taken internally both morning and evening.

To control bleeding of piles, juice of plantain flower is mixed with 10 gm of cumin seed powder and taken internally.

Curry leaves ground to a fine paste and mixed with buttermilk and drunk both morning and evening brings down the pain.

Disclaimer: All information provided in this blog is for historical and educational purposes only; statements contained here are reported in an effort to preserve traditional cultural lore and information. Nothing here should be construed as an attempt to diagnose, prescribe, or recommend treatment for any disease or condition. Please consult your physician for medical advice regarding any medical condition and do not use any of the historical information on this site without your physician’s approval.


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