High cholesterol  Management

Cholesterol is basically a combination of steroid and alcohol which is lipid in nature. Two third of cholesterol is produced by liver in our body. The primary aim of cholesterol is to aid in production of sex hormones, adrenaline and vitamin D. It also helps in synthesis of bile acids.

Cholesterol in permissible quantities is beneficial in day to day functioning of the human organs but if it rises above the normal levels, it could cause various cardiac diseases and if ignored could turn fatal in the long run.
High cholesterol level is proven to be one of the most common cause for heart attacks all over the world.

Causes for high cholesterol levels :

The following are some of the main causes which increase the cholesterol levels.

· Consuming lots of saturated and trans fats.

· The diseases like Diabetes, where there is constant rise in blood sugar levels and obesity, liver diseases, and some of the thyroid gland conditions.

· some times the disease comes in family, that is Genetics

· Lack of physical activity/exercise is the most common cause.

· Gender -Males are most commonly prone to develop it than females because of estrogen present in them which reduces the LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increases the HDL (good cholesterol).

One should know the main causative factor and treat accordingly.

Causes according to Ayurveda:

         When a person is in stress, mentally (anger, worries, sorrow and greed).physically, if one eats too much , too little in quantity or eats faulty food ,and not maintaining the time gap between the meals,and if the person eats before the digestion of previous food .if one has Indigestion or constipation .All these cause distuebances(imbalance)in 13 types of agnis(digestive fires) mentioned in ayurveda.Which causes accumulation of amavisha, i e toxins in the body, which if not flushed from the system ,it continues to circulate in the body.and at same if the person is having faulty lifestyle such as day sleep, lack of exercise , indulging in fatty foods, and also taking exess of alcohol,will cause the blood vessels to become stiff and clogged.(atherosclerotic changes) resulting in lack proper blood supply to the area.and the organ likely to affect is heart.

diagnosis of high cholesterol:

     it is done by mainly examining the morning blood sample. and it consists following.

• Total cholesterol –  It is the combination of the following lipoproteins. and should be  200mg/dl
• HDLcholesterol - is  High density lipoprotein.  And is Good cholesterol. it makes about   20-30% of total cholesterol. it moves the excess of cholesterol from arteries to liver for metabolism, there by reducing serum cholesterol levels. 30-60mg/dl is its normal.
• LDL cholesterol -  it is low density lipoprotein. And called Bad cholesterol. it is 60-70% of total cholesterol. It builds up plaque inside the arterial walls, 100-190mg/dl is border line.>190 mg/dl is high risk.
• VLDL   -very low density lipoprotein .which makes 10-15% of total cholesterol. with LDL .it is the main bad cholesterol.
• Serum triglycerides – should be <180mg/l.
• Ratio of total cholesterol and HDL  : 
• <4  - Normal
• >5 – mild risk of heart disease.
• >7 – at high risk heart / coronary disorders.

Symptoms:

Most of the times, the elevation of cholesterol will not show any symptoms. Many people come to know about it during there routine blood examinations. the higher levels of LDL cause  plaquing in the arteries i.e. is called Atherosclerosis. Which in turn causes Angina (heart attack), and also stroke makes the person hemi/paraplegic.

Treatment measures:

   

Low fat diet - The patients should stop taking saturated and trans-fats as they are heavy for digestion and disturb the metabolism of fats.

Saturated fats- these are mainly animal fats as butter, hard cheeses, cream, poultry with skin, pork, beef, coconut oil, palm oil.

Trans fats – these are hydrogenated liquid fats, the packaged foods, restaurant fried, backed foods such as pies, pizza, cookies, doughnuts, and pastries, they contain it in the form of hydrogenated / hydrolyzed vegetable oil.

Recommended oils/ fats

“Ghee” – According to Ayurveda, ghee is recommended for all. Even in obesity and high cholesterol. Because it strengthens the agni and regularizes the metabolism. it provides  essential fatty acids to body. and is an antioxidant.

Olive oil – it reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels .in which Extra virgin olive oil is good because it is more natural without processing.

Recommended diet

• Include whole grains, fresh fruits and fibers. And also butter milk drink by adding natural salt, ginger powder, black pepper, and asafetida.
• Eat barley and oat meal every day.
• Eat apples (cooked/raw) in between meals, or at the end of the meals.
• Eat a handful of almonds and walnuts daily.
• Eat lots of green leafy vegetables,
• Have enough  of water i.e. 3litres / day
• Take onion juice once a day. it reduces LDL .
• Alcohol and smoking are contraindicated as disturb in metabolism of fat.

 

Home remedies:

• Take 2tsp of coriander seeds and boil them in a cup of water. After cooling have it 3times a day.
• Take 2 garlic cloves everyday empty stomach.
• Grind curry leaves and have its powder with buttermilk.
• Boil few cinnamon sticks in water, and have it with honey..
• Eat few leaves of tulsi (holy basil) everyday; it dissolves the cholesterol deposits in the body.

Herbal decoctions:

Take equal quantities of below herbs and make powder, and have twice a day.

Jambol.

Amalaki(Indian gooseberry)

Turmeric

Phyllanthus niruri(bhumiamla)

Guduchi(tinospora cordifolia)

The Ayurvedic medicines like  ,

Guggulu-(commiphora mukul)is proved to reduce the cholesterol levels  remarkably. without causing any side effects. one can go tripha guggulu.

Arjuna  -(terminalia arjuna) is very good medicine for cholesterol and heart diseases. it can be taken in forms of, Arjunarista, grita, orArjunksheerpaka,which is very good formulation for heart diseases.

Hridayarva ras ,

Prabhakar vati.

Lastly, its very important for the patient to keep colons clean and without constipation where in the Pathology lies. So should use some triphala churna  for easy evacuation of  impurities.

                                              

                        Sciatica

          Sciatica which is known as  Gradhrasi in Ayurveda literature's, is a group of symptoms occurring as a

result of few medical conditions such as ,slipped disk,piriformis syndrome, pelvic injury, tumours.

          sciatica nerve is longest nerve of body and supplies sensations to the back of the lower extremities

(limbs).If there is any irritation or inflammation of this nerve,and its supporting tissues causes pain ,weakness

numbness in all over the back of affected limb.starting from lumbar region(lower back). to buttocks,back of knee,leg and sole of the foot.

causes:

• consuming excessive vatakara ahara i e the foods which increase vata dosha in body .such as less quantity,dry ,cold,and foods which are bitter, pungent ,astringent in tastes.
• excess of toxins in body.
• over exercising.
• it can also develop due to faulty postures as ,slumping on chair,sleeping in curved position,and lack of exercise.
• dhatukshaya - its the weakness/ malformation of muscles ,nerves.

symptoms:

• mild /severe pain starting from back of thighs ,knees,and calf muscles to the sole of the foot.The pain may be associated with tingling sensation and numbness.
• abnormal sensations or change in sensation in back of buttock ,calf ,and leg.
• difficulty in walking, and standing.
• In severe cases,there is inability to walk or stand for longer distances and immobility of leg.

Treatment

             sometimes the pain of sciatica nerve reduces by its own as time passes.but if not, then one should

follow the below measures.

1. Diet:  one should follow vatahara ahara.ie hot light, easily digestable food.like" mung khichdi".and avoid extra spicy, heavy items cold drinks junk foods . and include fibres  and fruits in your diet.
2. Exercise- -practice the asanas like,Makarasana, Markatasana,Bhujangasana,Shalabhasana,oustrasana,ekapadautthanasana, and Ardhpavanuktasana.avoid bending forward till the symptoms reduce.
3. Medicines-take maha yogaraj guggulu -2tab 2times a day with Maharasnadi kashaya.   tab Mahavatavidhvansa Ras 1tab 3times a day with warm water.for at least a month.
4. take 50gm of leaves of Nirgundi add 2cups of water to it.and reduce it to half glass.have it 2times a day . it will help i reducing pain.
5. fenugreek seeds are powdered.and taken 3gms  2times with hot water.
6. Ajawayan powder(wild celery seeds) -1tsf   ginger powder -1tsf    and  methi powder 1/4 tsf  mixed with 1 -1 tsf of ghee and jaggery.and taken 2times pr day.

 Panchakarma:

Snehan(oleation)

massage with  mahanarayan tail  or the sesame oil boiled with  garlic cloves will be  beneficial.

Swedana(sudation)

Patra pinda sweda-  fomentation of affected part with the medicated dry and wet herbs in a cloth made as bolus. helps in improving circulation .

Pizhichil -(kayaseka)- is squeezing of medicated warm oil on body by  piece of cloth.helps in increasing circulation and  nourishes the underlying tissues.

Katibasti -therapy where the  black gram dough ring is made and placed on the site of pain or discomfort,and medicated oils made warm and poured into it periodically.it eases the tension and stiffness of the tissues.

Basti

That is infusing /instilling of medicated oil /kashaya into the colons with the specialised instrument called bastiyantra.anuvasana and matra basti are useful in treating the pain,by eliminating toxins of body and healing the lower part of body by reducing vata dosha.

siravyadhana

Draining of impure/vitiated blood from affected area by venous puncture.

Agnikarma or dahana karma

The heated rods of gold ,silver, copper ,iron  are applied over the affected site.can also help reducing pain.

                                                                                                                                                        

 

 

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar faciitis is basically a Vata Vyadhi according to ayurveda, and is called as VATAKANTAK - the pain is

as if "pricked by thorns".

It is the condition in which the Plantar Fascia of foot gets inflamed, causing pain mainly in medial aspect of foot and heel region. Generally it occurs due to very strenuous activities like running or walking for very long distances or walking on uneven surfaces or even standing in one place for longer durations causing trauma to the tissue and fascia in the foot.

At initial stage the pain will be only in the heel region on long standing or during walking but if neglected, the pain spreads in achilles tendon and all along the lining of the foot.

Treatment Measures

• Stop doing heavy activities which exert a lot of pressure on the foot and rest your feet every now and then.
• Try some stretching exercises of calf muscles, achilles tendon and foot.
• Follow "Vatahara Ahara" i.e. light food such as mung soup with mild spices, rice and dal. Avoid fermented food and sour items such as curd, tamarind etc which actually increases the Vata.
• Sthinika Abhyanga(local massage) by  eranda taila (Castor oil), tila taila (Sesame oil) or any other Vatahara Oil. This should be followed by diping the foot in hot water mixed with salt or Nirgundi Kashaya.
• Dipping your feet or heel in Tila Taila boiled with garlic also gives much relief if followed for a period of at least ten days. This may be repeated if required.
• Taking Rasnaerandadi Kashaya and Yogaraj Guggulu is also known to be beneficial.
• Istika Sweda-where the brick is heated until  it becomes red hot and then pouring kanji(rice water) over it. It's fomentation is given to affected areas. This is proven to be very effective treatment of Vatakantak.
• Agni Karma (cauterisation) with Panchakola Shalaka can also be followed.
• Raktavasechan(blood letting) has also been used to treat this.