Ayurwell Health Tips

• Wake Up: One, who is desirous for a long, healthy life; should wake up at the time of Bramha muhurta. As Bramha means Knowledge, hence called “Bramha muhurta” Bramha muhurta means approximately 1 to ½ hour before sunrise, best time for gaining knowledge.
• Evacuate Bowel: Evacuate your Bowels in the morning itself. If your digestion is sluggish drink a glass of warm water. Do not avoid answering the nature’s call. Do not strain too, if you don’t have an urge.
• Danta dhawana: Danta dhawana (Brushing teeth) should be done in the morning as well as after food.
• Jivha Nirlekhana: Jivha Nirlekhana (Tongue scrapping) should be done with Danta dhawan to reduce bad breath, to decrease any chance of oral fungal, bacterial infections.
• Kaval and Gandush Vidhi: After danta dhawan, Kaval and Gandush Vidhi is performed which is to be done daily. Kaval is movement and rinsing the fluid in the mouth. While Gandush means fill the mouth with specific fluid without any movement of it and hold till the eyes start watering.
• Anjana: Anjana (Collyrium) should be applied in the morning and evening but never in the night for clear and bright eyes. After applying Anjana, one should close his eyes and rotate the eyeballs for spreading of anjana in the whole eye. Till burning sensation and lacrimation stops and eyes feel comfortable.
• Dhuma pan: Medicated smoke inhalation should be done in day to day life, to relieve obstruction of throat, cough, and heaviness of head which is caused by kapha dosha. It also relieves neck stiffness and rhinitis.
• Nasya Vidhi: Nasya Vidhi (nasal drops or nasal instillation) medicated oil/ghee should be administered in the nostrils every day. It has neurological, psychological and anti – aging effect.
• Vyayama: Vyayama (Exercise) daily to promote overall health and functioning of the body. It promotes strength, digestive power, body – mass and solidity to your body. It creates lightness by reducing body fat.
• Snehana Abhyanga: Abhyanga (Oleation of whole body) done by luke warm oil daily decreases anxiety, release stress, enhance relaxation, increases flexibility, enhance quality of sleep, deeper and eases breathing, reduce fatigue, strengthens immune system, etc.
• Padabhyanga: Padabhyanga (Foot massage) performing daily reduces stress and anxiety, assures good night sleep, improves blood circulation, digestion, eyesight, cure headache, and heals cracked feet.
• Shiroabhyanga: Shiroabhyanga (Head massage) should be done daily to have soothing and relaxing effects. It stimulates blood circulation and drains accumulated toxins. Induces sound sleep. Promotes hair growth. It is beneficial in insomnia, headache, hairfall and premature greying of hair.
• Udwartana: Udvartana (Herbal powder massage) should be done daily by going against the hairs on the body or in an upward direction. It reduces excess of fat in the body, increases stability of extremities. Promotes skin beutification, improves complexion. It leads to sense of lightness in the body. It also eliminates bad odours due to sweating.
• Snana: Snana (Bath) is sacred. Helps live a long life, increases Oja (vital energy), relaxes the body, and removes excess sweat, itching and foul body smell. It improves strength of the heart. Hot water should be used for cleaning the body and Cold water for the head as hot water is harmful for the eyes and hair.
• Prakruti of food: The nature of the food or its quality is known as Prakruti. Depending on whether the food is easily digestible or not, food can be classified as heavy or light in quality. Meat is heavy for digestion while rice and vegetables are light. This is the basic nature of the food. While eating we must take this into consideration.
• Karana of food: How food is prepared or processed is known as Karana. Generally, cooked food is better for nutrition. Some food substances like fruit or even salads are better taken as uncooked. Food cooked on natural wood or a coal fire tends to have better taste than food cooked with electricity or gas. Microwave cooking destroys Prana or life-energy in the food. Processing includes other methods like roasting, frying, baking, drying, churning etc. and depending on the method of the process can actually change the qualities of the food. Food becomes either more light or heavy for digestion.
• Samyoga of food: Food combination is known as Samyoga. While preparing food the ingredients must be compatible and properly mixed together. The combination of vegetables and ghee or butter are considered healthy food. The ghee nourishes and lubricates, assisting in the digestion of the vegetables. Sour fruits eaten with milk produces a curd and is difficult to digest. This is poor food combining and incompatible ingredients.
• Rashi of food: Rashi means quantity. While eating one has to consider the individual ingredient quantity as well as the total quantity of the food that is consumed. Here again we have to consider the heavy and light qualities of the substances that are taken. The quantity of food depends on your digestive fire. There are no fixed criteria for the amount of food according to age, sex, race, etc. However, parigraha takes into consideration the quantity of each item and sarvagraha means the total quantity to be consumed.
• Desha (where to eat food): Desha means place or environment. Ayurveda has divided place into three types: marshy, arid, and normal. Consider the environment in relation to temperature and cold climate conditions. Ultimately, food must be eaten in a place which is clean. If the surroundings where one eats are good and Satvik (pure), then the food is better absorbed and has good and beneficial effects upon the body and mind.
• Kala of food: Kala means time or period. Timing is everything. Only when the previous meal has been properly digested should you consider eating the next meal. Change the type of food as well as the quantity and quality of food in accordance to seasonal changes. Take the main meal between 10am and 2pm which is pitta time, the optimal time for digestion.
• Upayogasamstha (rules for eating): Upyoga Samastha –  rules for eating. Food ideally should be consumed while it is hot. This will naturally increase the digestive fire. Likewise, meals must be taken in a relaxed, calm and cheerful atmosphere. One should not eat when one is nervous, angry, anxious or in a disturbed state of mind. Similarly, eating too slowly or too rapidly along with eating while talking, laughing, thinking or watching television is not advisable. It is better if we concentrate on the food only with the thought that this food is going to benefit both the body and mind. Smoking or drinking too much water or any other liquid after eating is also not advisable.
• Upbhokta (one who eats food): Upbhokta means ‘person who takes the food’. Every person must take into consideration his own constitution, capacity of digestive power, the season, time of day, and whether the previously taken food has been digested or not.
• Ushnam Ashniyat: Prepared meal should be taken Ushna (Hot). If ones taking hot food feel of proper taste, stimulate the Agni (Digestive power), Vatanulomana and Reduction of Kapha are achieved. Ayurveda also recommends that you drink your water warm, as cold water can weaken your Agni (digestive fire). One should take warm water during and after meals.
• Snigdham Ashniyat: The meal made should be Snigdha (Unctous) i.e. it should be prepared in any medium of sneha (Ghee, oil, etc.). The Snigdha Ahara causes Agnidedpana, fascilitate early digestion.
• Matravat Ashniyat: It means eat in adequate amount. The symptoms by which a person can decide that is Matravat are, freedom from distress is in stomach, Gratification of the senses, absence of any cardiac discomfort, sense of ease in the standing, sitting, lying down, walking, inhaling, exhaling, talking.
• Jirne Ashniyat: It means eat after digestion of the previous meal. If one takes food before the digestion of the previous meal, the digestive product of the previous food i.e. undigested Ahara rasa of food taken afterwards it provokes all the Doshas.
• Virya Avirudha Ashniyat: Virya is the power of substance by which action takes place. Eat those food which are not antagonist in virya (potency).
• Ishta Deshe / Ishta Sarvopkaram Ashniyat: Eat in congenial place provided with all the necessary appurtenances. One eating at congenial place does not get depressed in the mind by the depressing emotions produced in unpleasant environment. Therefore should eat in congenial place and circumstances.
• Na Atidrutam Ashniyat: Do not eat hurriedly. If food is taken too hurriedly it enters into a wrong way and will not be properly placed. Food taken in hurry can obviously affect the power of digestion by increasing the vata.
• Na Ativilmabit Ashniyat: Do not eat too leisurely, that food would become cold and there will be irregularity in the digestion.
• Ajalpana, Ahasan, Tanmanabhunjitam: Don’t talk or laugh while eating, one who talks and laughs while eating is liable to suffer the same disorders as the one who eats too hastily. In this most important one is that the food should be eaten with concentration. Talking and laughing divert the attention from the meals and the food is eaten too slowly or too hastily.
• Aatmanam Abhisamikshya Bhujitam: Eat rightly, considering your constitution
• Deho hi Aahara Sambhava: Human body is said to be the bio-product of food. Healthy life starts with healthy food. Aahara plays vital role in healthy and diseased condition. The strength and complexion of a person will enhance only if he practices correct diet and regimen.
• Nidra: Sleep. It is one of the three sub pillars of health. A good sleep enjoyed at proper time and for proper period, tends to improve the growth, strength, vigor and complexion of the body. It increases the sense of well-being by freshening the body and mind and also restores the natural equilibrium among different body tissues.