Dr Partap Chauhan shares how Ayurveda can cure common ailments for which people pop pills 

Times are changing and people all around the world are turning to Ayurveda for more than just treatment for their ailments. Human body is prone to several infections and ailments anytime as we live in a world which has polluted atmosphere and increased bacterial spread levels. It is quite common that each one of us periodically or frequently gets infected with one or other bacteria or virus; thus falling sick.

Here are a few common ailments that can be cured with the help of Ayurveda.

For Cough and Cold

Garlic to the rescue: It has antimicrobial properties that make it a valuable ally to fight cold and cough. Gently crush five  cloves of peeled garlic and fry lightly in a teaspoon of ghee. Eat this while still warm for relief from a cough and cold.

Turmeric remedies: A traditional solution is to drink lukewarm milk with turmeric. For a dry cough, mixing a teaspoon of honey with a teaspoon of turmeric for about three to four times a day can prove to be effective.

Sleep with your head elevated: When mucus drips from the back of the nose into the throat, it results in a cough, which gets worse at night when the body posture is favorable for such dripping. Sleeping with the head at a higher position helps reduce such drainage and helps reduce coughing at night and improves sleep.

Gargle regularly: Gargling with salt water can help drain excess fluids from the inflamed areas and reduce the pain associated with cough. Gargling also removes irritants and mucus from the throat.

For Sinusitis

Known as Pinas in Ayurveda, sinusitis is a condition in which the sinuses are blocked with mucus and become inflamed. Ayurvedic treatment of sinusitis involves liquefying and expelling aggravated body energies with the use of certain Ayurvedic herbs and diet as well as nasal therapies and applications. The Panchakarma treatment of Nasya is quite effective in dealing with sinusitis.

Boil one to two liters of water and add a few drops of clove oil (or a large spoonful of cloves), ten-12 crushed mint leaves, and a few drops of eucalyptus oil (or 1/3 cup of eucalyptus leaves). Inhale the steam for ten-15 minutes.

Crush four-five peeled garlic buds and inhale the fragrance. This will reduce nasal congestion.

Have one  teaspoon of fresh ginger juice with 1 teaspoon of honey in it twice a day.

For Cholesterol

From an Ayurvedic point of view, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) indicates weak digestive fire at the tissue level. Impaired digestion at the tissue level produces excess waste products or toxins (ama) which then block the channels in the body.

Mix one teaspoon of Indian gooseberry powder (amla) in a glass of warm water. Drink it daily in the morning on an empty stomach.

Take three parts ground turmeric, six parts ground cumin, six parts ground coriander, six parts ground fennel, two parts ground fenugreek, one part dried ginger powder and one part ground black pepper. Combine the spices and store in a sealed container.

When preparing your meal, sauté a teaspoon of spices in a small amount of ghee or olive oil. Combine with vegetables.

Boil few leaves of mint with water. Add some honey and pepper powder. Drink lukewarm two-three times a day.

Maintaining regular food timings and taking dinner early in the evening is also useful.

For Hyperacidity

According to Ayurveda, hyperacidity is caused due to an aggravation of pitta dosha (heat element) in the body. Ayurveda recommends that you change your diet accordingly.

Mix together equal parts of powdered fennel (saunf), licorice root (mulethi), basil (tulsi) leaves, and coriander (dhania) seeds. Have ½ teaspoon of this mixture with ½ teaspoon of powdered rock candy (mishri) 15 minutes before lunch and dinner.

Add one teaspoon of cumin (jeera) seeds in two liters of water and boil them for three-five minutes. Strain the solution and drink it. Take this treatment several days consecutively.

Drink 100-500 ml of tender coconut water twice a day for relief from hyperacidity.

For Allergies

Allergies are an overreaction of the body’s immune system to specific substances that it misidentifies as harmful. This overreaction of the body’s immune system is known as an allergic reaction and the substances that cause it are called allergens.

Take 200 ml carrot juice, or a combination of carrot juice with beet and cucumber juices. In the case of mixed juices, 50 ml each of beet and cucumber juices should be mixed with 100 ml of carrot juice to prepare 200 ml of mixed juice.

Squeeze half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and sweeten it with a teaspoon of honey. Take it once daily first thing in the morning for several months. It not only flushes the system of toxins but also acts as an anti-allergic agent.

Take five drops of castor oil in half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice, or plain water on an empty stomach in the morning.

For Migraine

Migraine is a headache disease that causes severe pain in half part of your head. This problem is threetimes higher in women compared to men.

Ginger and Jaggery Powder: Mix hundred grams of jaggery in 200 gm of ginger powder and make small pills. You should take these pills every day. Take three-four pills every morning and evening.

Basil: Take ten fresh leaves of Holy basil and mash them well on a clean surface. With clean hands, squeeze the mashed leaves and take 4 drops in each nostril. This will provide good relief in migraine pain.

Coriander Tea: Boil one teaspoon coriander seeds for 10 minutes and add one teaspoon sugar and drink it. It is beneficial in both migraine and normal headache.

The writer is Director of Jiva Ayurveda and  Ayurvedacharya.