Agnimukh Churna: Ayurvedic Home Remedies

“Agni” (fire) in Ayurvedic parlance is the force that drives digestion, metabolism in an individual.  The stomach is called “pachak” or cook that makes use of this fire to digest and absorb the food we eat.  When all the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha are in harmony in an individual his/her degree of digestion of food and absorption of nutrients is optimal.  This individual will be healthy and possess a strong immune system. The digestive fire in this person is called samanagni or samagni.

When there is an imbalance in the three doshas and there is a dominance of Vata, then it can result in conditions of diarrhea, wind in the intestines, rumbling, etc alternating with normal digestion.  The vitiated fire is then called vishamagni.

If there is a domination of pitha in an individual then there is rapid digestion irrespective of the type of food consumed.  This can result in sour eructations, hyperacidity, painful urination, etc and the body grows weak and emaciated.  This individual experiences a constant feeling of hunger.  The digestive fire here has turned into tikshagni or teekshagni.

When kapha dominates an individual due to the imbalance of the three doshas, it can result in protracted and prolonged digestion of even a small quantity of food.  This causes heaviness in abdomen, asthma, respiratory illnesses, fatigue, nausea etc.  Here the fire is called mandagni.

Agnimuka choornam or aknimukh choorna is an excellent remedy for all the above mentioned conditions.  With the intake of this remedy the vitiated doshas are pacified resulting in re-establishing the lost harmony.  Samagni is the result which helps in regaining lost health.  Hence this preparation is useful in treating all types of digestive problems.

Ingredients of Agnimukh choorna are asafoetida, sweetflag (acorus calamus), piper longum (thippili), chebulic myrobalan (kadukkai), oregano (ajwain, omam), dried cleansed ginger (chukku), white leadwort root (koduveli), Indian costus root (koshtam).

Sweetflag

Asafoetida is used in treating indigestion and constipation.  Sweetflag is well known remedy for bloated stomach, flatulence, diarrhea in infants.  It aids digestion.  Piper longum is useful in treating polydipsia (excessive thirst).   Chebulic myrobalan cleanses toxins from liver.  Oregano is an antibacterial agent.  Dried ginger is an excellent appetizer.  White leadwort root is regarded as a kayakalpa herb.  This is a good general tonic for the whole body.  The decoction of Indian costus root is used in treating poisonous bites.  All these herbs combine together in agnimukh chooran to reinstate the lost samanagni.

How to prepare Agnimukh churna at home?

The ingredients of agnimuga chooranam are all available at the local herbal stores in India as well as online worldwide.  The ingredients are taken starting with the first, asafoetida 10 gm and and increment of 10 gm each for other ingredients in the order mentioned earlier.  So sweetflag 20 gm, piper longum 30 gm, chebulic myrobalan 40 mg, oregano 50 mg, dried ginger 60 mg, white leadwort root 70 gm and Indian costus root 80 gm are collected.  Each herb is powdered to a very fine consistency and then mixed together.  This is stored in a cool dry place.

Take half a teaspoon of this powder, mix it in a glass of cold water, and drink it before food both in the morning and at night.  This is repeated three to four days.  This is a quick and safe way to bring back the digestive system to normalcy.

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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 Curry Leaves

The curry tree (Murraya Koenigii) is native to India. The curry leaves are used extensively in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, especially in curries. Although thrown out later, the curry leaves are essential in providing the rich aroma to the curries. Recent studies have shown these leaves to possess anti-diabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective properties. They are also good for hair.

Curry leaves have plenty of Vitamin A and calcium. It also contains good amounts of amino acids. The leaves tend to excite the taste buds. They also help in quick digestion. Curry leaves take care of indigestion, stomach ulcers due to excessive acid secretion in stomach, diarrhea and other similar problems. It also prevents deposition of fat in various parts of the body.

One way to control blood sugar levels in a diabetic patient is to chew and eat a couple of curry leaves along with a few pepper corns first thing in the morning on empty stomach. The effectiveness of this remedy has led to studies on anti-diabetic property of curry leaves.

Take a handful of curry leaves, a dry red chilli and sauté them in ghee. Add a pinch of salt and pinch of tamarind to this and grind all of these to a fine paste adding water as necessary. This paste is mixed in hot rice and taken as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, diarrhea, bloated stomach etc.

Boils and similar eruptions appear on skin during summer. Most of the boils tend to subside over time, but some may persist and remain painful. Curry leaves come handy in treating such conditions. A paste made of curry leaves is applied on these persistent boils for quick relief.

Curry leaves are known to be effective in treating premature graying. Eating the leaves helps in strengthening hair roots. Add a handful of curry leaves to a litre of coconut oil and boil it for a few minutes. This hair oil is applied to the scalp. This is found to prevent premature graying as well as curing the condition.

Along with mint leaves and coriander leaves, curry leaves can be used in treating excessive pitta conditions. Some of the symptoms of excessive pitta include nausea and vomiting in the mornings. There may be even vomiting of bile. To treat this condition, make a paste of curry leaves with ginger, fried black gram, and salt. This paste is taken with food for a couple of days. This is very effective in treating nausea and vomiting due to excessive pitta.

The calcium content in curry leaves help in strengthening the bones. This can be had as a complementary treatment for people with osteoporosis and other similar conditions of the bone.

Thus curry leaves should be taken regularly for good health. Instead of throwing the leaves away from the curry, it would do a lot of good if we eat them. Thus curry leaves taken internally can strengthen the bones, improve digestion, and strengthen hair roots. External application helps hair growth. One of my earlier posts on Ayurvedic hair care details ways to make hair oil using curry leaves for premature grey hair.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Medicinal Uses of Coriander Leaves and Seeds

Coriander seeds and leaves have been used as home remedies to cure various ailments from time immemorial. Known as cilantro in America and Europe, coriander leaves are also called Chinese parsley. These leaves find their place in South Asian, Chinese, European, American, Russian and Mexican dishes as well. The roots are also used in Asian, Thai dishes.

Coriander leaves when digested turn sweet and alleviate irritations in the intestines. They stimulate appetite and help in easy digestion too. They have magnesium, potassium and fiber in plenty. So regular consumption boosts immunity and purifies blood. They stimulate insulin production and hence help prevent diabetes.

Just as mint leaves, coriander leaves too help in dealing with headaches. A paste made of coriander leaves is smeared on the forehead and temples for a quick relief from headaches. This should be followed by thorough rest. Coriander leaves also cure mouth ulcers. For this a handful of coriander leaves are ground to a not so fine paste and then masticated thoroughly for a few minutes. This is done two to three times a day for a few days. This is a time tested home remedy for mouth ulcers.

People suffering from pitta aggravation due to excessive consumption of tea or coffee have an excellent remedy in coriander to pacify the aggravated pitta. It also helps in breaking the addiction to coffee and tea. It is an excellent alternative to tea and coffee. A handful of coriander seeds are fried and then powdered to a nice consistency. A spoonful of this powder is then added to a glass of milk with sugar and then taken instead of tea or coffee. Regular consumption can help break addiction to tea and coffee.

Half a teaspoon of coriander seed powder (prepared as mentioned above), a pinch of sandalwood powder, and four or five dried gooseberry pieces are added to a glass of water, boiled and reduced to half a glass. This is then taken at lukewarm temperature. This kashayam is a time tested home remedy for aggravated pitta due to excessive consumption of tea and coffee.

For relief from menstrual pain, women can take around twenty five thoroughly cleaned coriander seeds and boil them in a glass of water. This is reduced to half and allowed to cool to a lukewarm temperature. Sugar can be added as needed. This kashayam helps in relieving menstrual pain.

For painful urination in summer, coriander seeds offer an excellent cure. A teaspoon full of coriander seeds is added to four glasses of water, boiled and then allowed to cool to room temperature. Taking this water throughout the summer often will help in combating the summer heat as well as painful urination. This also keeps one fresh all through the day.

Coriander leaves are found to be effective in alleviating digestive problems. The leaves are washed thoroughly, ground to a paste and then pressed to obtain a tablespoon of juice. One teaspoon of cumin seeds are powdered thoroughly. Both are added to a glass of water along with a pinch of salt. This is an excellent home remedy for indigestion. This is found to cure indigestion as well as induce appetite within minutes.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Medicinal Uses of Mint Leaves

Mint has been used as an herbal remedy for ages all over the world for treating various ailments ranging from halitosis (bad breath), headache, indigestion, to toothache and more. It induces appetite and cures bloated stomach. It contains menthol and is used in aromatherapy for its essential oils. According to Wikipedia there are 13 to 18 varieties of mentha or mint found all over the world. This is an invasive herb that can grow and spread very rapidly. It grows to a height of 30 to 100 cm. Both fresh and dried mints are used in preparing herbal remedies.

People suffering from phlegm in chest, bronchial infections etc can turn to mint leaves for strengthening their lungs. Once cured of these problems, they should strengthen the lungs to prevent recurrence of infections. This can be done by taking a spoonful of juice obtained from mint leaves along with carrot juice and honey of same quantity. For best results this mixture should be taken in the mornings on empty stomach. This is found to strengthen the lungs.

Mint is an excellent remedy for pitta aggravation. Some of the symptoms of excessive pitha are nausea in the mornings, headache, vomiting of bile etc. For those suffering from excess pitha one time tested remedy is to take a spoon of mint juice, one half lemon juice, and one spoon of honey and mix them together. This mixture is then taken for a few days to pacify the aggravated pitta.

Mint is also useful in treating halitosis. For this dried mint leaves are used. Thoroughly dried mint leaves are ground to a fine powder and this powder is used in cleaning the teeth. Regular application is found to be effective in curing halitosis. This also strengthens the gums and roots of the teeth.

Some are prone to nausea while travelling on a bus or car etc. This is a very embarrassing social problem which can cause undue stress in these individuals. Mint is a handy remedy for this annoying condition. You need to take a handful of fresh mint leaves and curry leaves and sauté them in sesame oil. Add a little bit of tamarind and fried Black gram to these leaves and grind them to fine paste adding water as needed. This paste known as thuvaiyal in Tamil is taken before travel. This is a general remedy for nausea and vomiting.

Mint is rich in protein, vitamin A and C etc. Water content in this herb makes it an excellent remedy for urinary retention. It is used to treat urinary tract problems. Mint is also a time-tested remedy for headaches due to stress and heat. A paste made from fresh mint leaves is smeared on the forehead and temples for a quick relief from these types of headaches. This paste is also very effective in removing dark circles under the eyes. For this purpose the paste can be applied as a thin layer in the affected area before going to bed. This is then cleaned with cold water the next day morning. Regular application for a week or two will help get back the lost complexion in these areas.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Home Remedies for Women - 4

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea gravidarum or morning sickness affects most pregnant women. Vomiting and nausea can be the first symptoms of pregnancy. Most of the time, the nausea is present in the morning and wanes off as the day progresses. In most cases this stops by the 12th week. In some rare cases, this progresses to excessive vomiting, necessitating immediate medical intervention.

Taking small gooseberries (ari nellikkai in Tamil) during this time can help deal with nausea and vomiting. Also taking lemon juice with sugar and a pinch of salt is found to be effective in treating nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. Care should be taken not to leave the stomach empty. Ginger tea is yet another effective cure.

Pain and Childbirth

Pregnant women should be healthy enough to endure the process of childbirth. Mild exercises after the fourth month up to the time of delivery help women to tone up their muscles as well as not to put on excessive weight. Walking in the evenings, small household chores etc are necessary. Childbirth occurs within couple of hours of onset of pain. Acupressure, hypnotism, anesthesia are some methods resorted to reduce pain.

Postpartum Care

Taking tender neem leaves with turmeric will heal the internal organs of any wounds that might result due to childbirth. Application of paste made from maasikkai (Aleppo Oak) seeds on vagina will help in rapid healing of wounds.

The herb manathakkali keerai (Black Nightshade) is ground to a fine paste using goat milk. This is taken in the mornings and evenings to help cure ‘body heat’ as well as internal wounds.

Women become extremely weak after childbirth due to the labor pain and extreme exhaustion. There are some time-tested home remedies that help women recuperate and gain back their strength.

Root of kurunthotti herb, cumin seeds, pepper, mustard, garlic of equal quantity is ground to a fine paste and added to Cornish hen curry and taken once a week will help in regaining health. This will help in healing joint pain and hip. Mutton curry made using cumin seeds, garlic and pepper is another excellent remedy that help women in getting back to normalcy. Kurunthotti palkashayam serves the same purpose for women who prefer vegetarian stuff.

Lactation

Breast milk is the ideal food for the newborn. It is food as well as medicine for the child. Women with poor nutrition find it difficult to lactate. Frequent usage of birth control pills too can lead to this condition. Inadequate availability of breast milk will affect the newborn’s health and growth.

Adding drumstick leaves and tender papaya to the diet will help in increasing lactation. Fried and powdered sesame seeds can be taken with rice to improve lactation.

Garlic is sautéed in sesame oil and added to palm candy and pepper powder and made into small marble sized balls. One or two of these balls are taken before food to help in lactation.

Amukkura (aswagandha) root and sada kuppai ground to a paste and taken with jaggery or sugar is yet another remedy to help lactation.

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