Ashwagandha gets its name because its roots have the odor of horse. (Ashwa = horse , gandha = odor). It is called by another name Varaha karni because its leaves resemble pig’s ear.

Ashwagandha has light (laghu) and sticky (snigdha) properties, bitter and sweet taste. On digestion the sweet taste dominates. The main part used is root of this herb.

Medicinal properties of Ashwagandha

The various medicinal properties of ashwagandha is attributed to compounds known as withanolides which are present in it.

Ashwagandha is used as an adaptogen (as it enhances endurance), rejuvenating tonic and sedative. Hence many herbalists refer this herb as Indian ginseng.

Effects on mind: As it balances vata and kapha, it improves memory, counteracts the effects of stress and calms mind. It has an ability to relieve stress. It acts as sedative. Stressed patients with insomnia are benefited by this herb.

This herb can be used in Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss and insomnia.

Effects on general health : It acts as balya and strengthens the body. Generally, ashwagandha stimulates the immune system and strengthens it. It increases body energy level.

Convalescent patients’ gain more energy and can spring back to normal routine quicker when this herb’s preparations are used after illness.
The immediate relapse of disease is prevented on use of Ashwagandha. This supports HIV patients by strengthening their immune system.

Anti-inflammatory properties: It has anti-inflammatory properties and has been successfully used in adjuvant therapy for arthritis. It reduces inflammation of joints and eases movements.

Effects on digestive system: Ashwagandha increases appetite . It normalizes digestion and bowel movements.

Effects on reproductive system:  This magic herb increases shukra dhatu, sperm count and sperm motility. It increases libido and known as best Vajikara dravya (aphrodisiac)

It is also used as uterine tonic and to enhance female libido.

Ashwagandha retards ageing process when used as rasayana (rejuvenating preparation).

It reduces hypertension and also acts as diuretic.

Effects on pregnant woman: Ashwagandha is very effective in conditions like habitual abortion, threatened abortion. It stabilizes pregnancy and balances harmones which stabilize pregnancy.

Usefull preparations of Ashwagandha:

1.    A paste of ashwagandha leaves when applied on a local inflammation acts as anti inflammatory.

2.    The herbal massage oil which includes this herb is useful in many conditions like paralysis, epilepsy, sleeplessness etc.

3.    The preparation of Ashwagandha which is processed with ghee, sugar and honey is a very good aphrodisiac and increases semen quantity, sperm count and motility. It is effectively used in Erectile dysfunction, low libido and premature ejaculation.

4    Ashwagandha roots when used regularly helps to improve the conditions like emaciation of children, senile debility, rheumatism, in all cases of general debility, nervous exhaustion, brain-fag, low of memory, loss of muscular energy and spermatorrhoea.  It increases body energy  and vigor . It helps to rebuild the body system which is worn out due to chronic diseases like syphilis, rheumatism etc. It also replenishes the lowered energy of body due to over-work, mental exertion thus preventing early ageing.

5    Ashwagandha when used regularly , is very useful in emaciated children. It increases body weight and body energy.

6    Regular use of ashwagandha helps to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

7    Fine powder of ashwagandha well mixed with oil is very use full in many skin conditions.

8    Ashwagandha also acts as galactogogue and thickens the milk when given to nursing mothers.

According to Dr. Hayes Wilson, chief rheumatologist at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta and national medical adviser to the Arthritis Foundation, says that acupuncture can work for anybody. However, he said that,“…it’s going to work for the people who believe in it.” Many pain relief treatments are effective because of the patient’s belief in them. People who don’t believe that they’re going to get better are less likely to get through.
Since the procedure involves risks inherent in needle use, however, there are some conditions where acupuncture is not recommended, such as those with bleeding disorders as well as people who are taking blood-thinning medications. There is also a high risk of spreading infectious disease, accidental piercing of organs, minor bleeding and broken or forgotten needles.

According to Dennis Turk, professor of anesthesiology and pain research at the University of Washington School of Medicine, people make sense out of noxious sensations and determine how bothersome they really are with the help of the brain. Several factors can affect how people perceive sensations, what they decide to do about them, and how they interact with respect to their environment.
One psychological factor that can intensify pain perception is stress. Muscles tend to become tense and may affect tissues that are already tender. Emotionally, the pressure may amplify pain perception. People who are distressed may interpret situations to be more difficult and may lead them to avoid certain types of activities because they are afraid that it will make their pain become worse.

A change in the source of stress can help alleviate the pressure. In the case of a frequent nagging from your spouse, try to find a way to sit down and discuss the problem with open communication. If changing the source of tension is not possible, consider wholesome and positive distraction such as watching a movie, listening to music, or spending time with friends. Pleasurable activities can shift the focus away from the pain temporarily.
Relaxation is another pain relief treatment. Meditation, yoga, deep breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, massage, Tai Chi, and visualization have been proven to be effective pain relief treatment.

Joining support groups or getting individual counseling also help in coping with stress or ailment. However, while there is enough evidence to prove that people who join support groups experience dramatic improvements in their physical and emotional well-being, nevertheless, people who are not open in discussing about their problems may not benefit from this type of stress-management strategy. Different techniques apply for different people.

This is how the health profession goes on nowadays – a cycle of diagnosis and prescription.

If anyone were to give you herbs for medicine, you would probably say that that person was a quack.

But nowadays, studies are being conducted to see if there are really is any merit to what is called natural medicine.

Natural medicine is the use of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal ailments. Every culture has a form of natural medicine. In ancient cultures, village medicine men served as the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge to the apprentices that followed them.

Many categories of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine.

Usually, natural medicine refers to medical practices that were in place before the advent of modern medicine.

This includes herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, which is prevalent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine.

Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the use of herbs in favor of man-made medicine. The fact that these treatments are based on the healing properties of some herbs was forgotten.

For example, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin all have their roots in traditional medicine.

Natural medicine can be considered as a lost art. This does not mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to seriously consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine

Before we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural remedies are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which have been thoroughly studied and are relatively risk free.

Take herbal medicine for example. There are many well-documented and studied herbal remedies available. However, only those that deal with minor ailments such as cough, colds, fever, skin rashes, and its ilk are likely to be recommended by health professionals. These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less likely to cause negative side effects.

Currently there are numerous organizations that study the effects and advocacy of natural medicine – among which is herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the use of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free.

As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted medicines. However, many herbs and treatments have been proven to be bogus medicine. This represents a challenge for both the user and the agencies because they have to ascertain that the treatments they either use or advocate are legitimate.

There exist today many alternative medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not all of them have been proven to be effective. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts as to the legitimacy of these treatments.

Natural medicine should also be thought of as an accompanying medicine. Right now, the current collective medical thought suggests that natural medicine be used only to supplement accepted modern medical practices. In that case of minor ailments your expert we actually advise you to take natural therapies instead.

The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for such. Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be not necessarily given only when sick. Natural medicine strives to make each patient practice good health habits. These habits include good diet, healthy living, and the regular natural treatment.

It is this same line of thought that leads our parents to tell us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and will do no harm to our well-being. And this is the foundation of natural medicine – may it be massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or others.

It is funny but true that science, in its quest for excellence, is studying the knowledge of sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us back to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to everyday illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging. So staying tuned to studying these remedies is worthwhile until we can verify that these therapies are truly helpful to our health and our society.

Suction is the basic concept of cupping traditionally; small cups or jars (usually made from glass or bamboo) are heated from the inside with fire to create a vacuum and then placed on the body. The cups are heated and placed to the skin to begin suction and are left on the body for at least fifteen minutes, however, the treatment can be much longer. Today, this technique can be done with a suctioning pump as well. This allows more regulation of the suction created. In either case, the placement of the suctioning device is crucial. There are acupuncture sports that the professional will place a cup on each to help relieve your pain or you can be placed around a specific problem region.. It was thought in ancient China that by stimulating these areas, you could rid the body of negative energies like diseases and pain. Some people believe that cupping will open up the lungs and you’ll be able to let out all the toxins through your breathing and through your skin pores. You will find that it can make breathing easier for you. It is also believed to draw the cold and dampness out of your system, creating a healthier body overall.

There have been researches done to show and prove that there are a lot of real benefits from cupping and it’s not just an old tale. Cupping helps stimulate the blood vessels in an affected area, drawing out old blood that settles in a bruise or otherwise pained area and making room for new blood, with a fresh supply of oxygen, to make its way to the area. Since it is creating a better environment, you will find that the tissues will begin to repair themselves.

You will want to keep in mind that cupping is not right for everyone. You will find that if you are pregnant you should be very careful with cupping and it shouldn’t be done where there are open sores or wounds. You will find that there should not be cupping where there is excess hair or on body parts that have different angles and surfaces. When you begin cupping you will begin to see large bruises from the cupping and it just goes and shows that this is proof that it is working, but you will notice that these bruises will disappear within a week. Ask your doctor if cupping is right for you, if you are willing to turn to alternative medications.

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Most of the time Chinese ideas of the elements sound something of mythology or mystical to the Western Society, but these elements will bring you to the same conclusion of Western Medicine, except it has a different way of relating life to medicine. The five elements relate closely with the idea of “qi,” or energy in the body. Acupuncture seeks to resolve imbalances in the five elements, which result in the disruption of the flow of qi in the body.

As you may know, the Chinese look at everything in the aspect of yin and yang; everything has a positive, everything as a negative. The Chinese also look at everything with a view of yin and yang. You can think of yin and yang as opposites in the terms of spring and winter. Yin is associated with all of that is positive. You will find that the rebirth, warmth of life, spring, and all of the light in the world is Yin. Yin is the beauty of the world. It is the beauty of nature. When it comes to Yang, you will find that it is everything dark in the world. Things like winter, downward actions, hibernation, and dying of summer is what Yang is referred to. Each element can be associated with either yin or yang, and each of these pairings in turn represents a part of the body.

When it comes to the spleen and stomach, you will find dampness or yang. You will find that coldness is linked to the kidneys and bladder. Then the heart and the small intestine is paired with fire, while metal is associated to the large intestine, lungs, and dryness. As for the wood, you will find it to be associated with the liver and the gallbladder is the wind. When you study these elements and the body, you will begin to know how you can treat your ailments and you will be able to use acupuncture to help your body get back in line. In fact, many studies will support all of these associations. You will need to remember that you need to be open to new ideas and then you can find ways to live in a healthy way.

First, it is important to note there are five main types of qi energy: Qi, Jing, Xue, Jin Ye, and Shen. Qi can be roughly translated to “matter-energy.” It causes the movements in the universe, but it is a vital part of your own good health. Some equate the Qi to the soul. Jing can be most closely translated to “essence” in the English language, but there are no exact words in Western terms that mean Jing. When it come to Jing, it is something that is inherited like DNA and then we are able to create out own by eating certain foods and through the air that we breathe.  Jing, then can be somewhat called “health,” since we genetically receive some health predisposition, but also effect our own health and the health of our children with our lifestyle choices.

Literally meaning blood, Xue is the liquid that flows in the blood and through the Qi or energy of the body. The health of the two is dependent on one another. Jin Ye is also a tangible idea – bodily fluids. These include saliva, milk, tears, genital secretions, sweat, stomach fluids, and other liquids of the body. Finally, Shen is simply just the spirit of the body. Traditionally, your spirit is located in your heart.

Acupuncture is a way that you can treat the energies and to help create a healthy body. The energies are important since that help us develop body heat, defend illness, grow and develop, control the body’s blood and organs, transform, and break down the body’s metabolism. If you get acupuncture done on a regular basis, then you will be able to turn all of your negativity in your Qi to be released.