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Ayurveda
Keeping Well
When Monsoon
Dwells
First showers
of monsoon are heartily welcomed by everyone after experiencing the
scorching heat of summer. But monsoons reduce the immunity of our body and
make us susceptible to many diseases which are commonly associated with
this season. It is time for us to keep our body resistant against diseases
by boosting our immunity and taking precautions against these diseases.
The diseases associated with monsoon are malaria, jaundice, gastro
intestinal infections like typhoid and cholera. Apart from these, viral
infections like cold and cough also make their presence felt.
Puddles of water formed due to rain become breeding grounds for mosquitoes
which spread diseases like malaria and dengue fever. As a precautionary
measure against mosquito bite born diseases one can use mosquito net
around the bed which is better choice to mosquito repellants like mats and
coils. A mosquito repellant cream is the best choice when you are away
from home. Fumigating the house with smoke of dried Neem leaves in
evenings for 1-2 minutes is an excellent Ayurvedic method to keep
mosquitoes away.
Pollution of drinking water during monsoon is very common. It is very
necessary to drink clean and pure water when water borne monsoon diseases
like diarrhea and gastro intestinal infections threaten us. Drinking
boiled water at home is strongly recommended to tap water. Prefer mineral
water of government certified companies when you are away from home.
Walking in dirty water during rainy season leads to numerous fungal
infections which affect toes and nails. Diabetic patients have to take a
special care about their feet. Always keep your feet dry and clean. Avoid
walking in dirty water. Keep your shoes, socks and raincoats dry and
clean. Drying clothes with fumes of Loban and dry Neem leaves is
recommended in Ayurvedic texts.
Precautions have to be taken to prevent dampness and growth of fungus
(mold) on and around the house where asthmatic patients live. Avoid
fumigation in case of asthmatic patients.
Ayurvedic Tips to increase body
immunity and preventing diseases of monsoon.
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 monsoon. Hence following diets which increase
power of digestion and strengthen the digestive system would be beneficial
in rainy season.
-
Light foods
prepared out of old barley, rice and wheat.
-
Sour and salted
soups of vegetables.
-
Drinking boiled
and cooled water mixed with little honey.
-
Consuming
little quantity of wine prepared out of grapes.
-
Adding ginger
and green gram in daily diet.
-
Eating warm
food.
Avoid the following
-
Sleeping in
daytime.
-
Over physical
exertion.
-
Over exposure
to sun.
Additional Precautions
-
Always keep the
surrounding dry and clean.
-
Do not allow
water to get accumulated around.
-
Keep your body
warm as viruses attack immediately when body temperature goes down.
-
Do not enter
air conditioned room with wet hair and damp cloths.
-
Dry your feet
and webs with soft dry cloth whenever they are wet.
-
Wash vegetables
with clean water and steam them well to kill germs.
-
Avoid eating
uncooked foods and salads.
-
Drink plenty of
water and keep your body well hydrated.
-
Do not allow
kids to play in stagnant polluted water filled puddles.
Ayurvedic Home remedies for
Monsoon diseases
Apply castor oil or sesame oil for 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. The following home
recipes can be used as home remedies for digestive disorders of monsoon
In Indigestion
Ingredients:
Rice-1/2 cup
Water -4 cups
Long pepper- 2or 3
Ginger -1’’
Method of preparation
Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with crushed ginger and salt.
Powder long pepper and fry it in a spoon of cow’s ghee and add it to
gruel. Consume this when it hot. This is very light to digest and relieves
colic pain.
In Diarrhea
Ingredients:
Rice -1/2 cup
Water – 4 cups
Ginger paste – 1/2 spoon
Salt to taste
Pomegranate juice: ½ cup
Method of preparation
Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with ginger paste and salt
Add pomegranate juice when the gruel is warm. This gruel rehydrates body
and supply energy . This soothes inflamed walls of intestine and controls
bowel movements.
In flatulence
Ingredients:
½ cup of rice
4 cups of water
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) - powder-1/2 spoon
Roots of pippali or long pepper
Ginger paste -1/2 spoon salt to taste
Method of preparation
Cook Rice, haritaki powder , roots of pippali and water together. Add salt
to it.Consume this when it is warm. This relieves flatulence and
regularizes the bowel movement
Thus
precautions coupled with care really help you to enjoy monsoon. Have a
healthy and safe monsoon.
– Dr. Savitha Suri
June 26, 2005
Disclaimer: The above article
is educational in nature, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your
physician.
Dr.SavithaSuri , ; B.A.M.S is
Chief Consultant physician at Chaitanya Integrated Medical Center,
Udayagiri, Mysore, Karnataka, India. She is practicing Indian Systems of
Medicines since 12 years. By arrangement with
http://www.ayurhelp.com
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