CHAPTER
23

Ayurvedic Home Remedies

In This Chapter

You’ve learned so much up to this point, and I hope you’ve been practicing some Ayurvedic self-care. Now let’s look at how you can help heal your friends and family with tried-and-true methods from Ayurvedic wisdom.

Ayurveda was the first system ever to see plants as medicine, and modern Herbology actually derives from Ayurveda. When Ayurveda went underground during the British rule of India, it became a “kitchen medicine,” meaning people used the herbs and spices in their kitchens to heal. For this reason, Ayurveda contains lots of home remedies, teas, and tonics to treat everything from everyday colds to constipation.

Keep in mind these remedies do not replace going to your doctor, and you should always consult your physician before beginning any health-care regimen changes.

Digestive Disorders

A healthy gut is the key to a healthy life. People in the Western world often experience digestive disorders due to processed foods; eating on the go; and consuming too much salt, sugar, and fat (and not the good kind). The remedies in this chapter help heal a number of digestive disorders so you can eat without pain.

Remember, prevention is key. The best way to treat a digestive disorder is to prevent it from coming along in the first place. Look out for foods that give you an upset stomach by keeping a food log or journal.

Wisdom of the Ages

You might be sensitive to certain ingredients and have no idea. The most common culprits are corn, peanuts, soy, dairy, eggs, gluten, wheat, nuts, shellfish, sugar, and artificial sweeteners. Remove all these from your diet, and see if your symptoms get better. If not, look at other specific ingredients you may be eating that cause problems. For example, I had no idea I was sensitive to pineapple and was eating it regularly. I didn’t have an immediate reaction, but it caused digestive discomfort. Not all food sensitivities are immediate. Some can manifest hours or even days later.

Until you figure out the cause of your digestive discomfort, here are some home remedies you can use in the meantime to heal your body with natural ingredients. Some of these ingredients you may already have, some are for sale in your local market, and others you’ll have to order from an Ayurvedic herb company. (I listed some sources for herbs in Appendix B.)

Stomachache

Stomachaches are quite common. However, not all stomachaches are the same. They can be the result of a host of different causes, from improper digestion to constipation and even appendicitis.

To treat a stomachache, you must first know its cause. If it’s a sharp pain, see your physician.

If it’s a normal stomachache caused by something you ate, try the following remedies:

  • Boil 4 cups water. Add 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, and 1⁄2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger. Steep for at least 20 minutes. Drink warm.
  • Combine 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, 2 tablespoons ginger juice or grated ginger, and 1 cup water. Drink as needed.
  • Chew on fennel seeds after your meals.

Constipation

Constipation can be caused by numerous imbalances. Primarily, it’s caused by excess Vata, which leads to colon dryness. Secondarily, it can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, which is actually Kapha related. Thirdly, it can be caused by too much meat and acidic foods in the diet, which is Pitta related.

Constipation also can occur when you’re dehydrated or don’t consume enough fibrous foods, such as vegetables and fruit. Mentally, constipation can occur when you place too much mental strain on yourself, which actually can cause physical strain on your body. It can result from your inability to let go and can actually stem from childhood traumas. Take a look at your lifestyle, see what could be the cause of your constipation, and treat accordingly.

Here are some remedies for treating constipation:

  • For a quick fix to constipation, boil 1 cup water and add 1 tablespoon flaxseeds and 1 teaspoon cumin. Steep for 10 minutes, and drink the contents of the cup, including the seeds. You should have a bowel movement by the morning.
  • Psyllium husk is very effective at treating constipation. Add 1 tablespoon to a glass of water and drink, or add it to meals for extra fiber intake.
  • Triphala is my favorite herb for preventing constipation. Unlike laxatives, it does not force your muscles to loosen up to create a bowel movement and is safe for everyday use. Triphala heals digestion and naturally helps clean out the colon. I recommend taking take a capsule at morning and at night, especially for dry Vata types.
  • If your constipation is caused by mental strain, practice meditation. Allow your mind to come into stillness, and let go of lingering negative thoughts, tensions, and insecurities. Come to peace with yourself and the present moment. Focus on surrender and letting go.

Wisdom of the Ages

Keep a journal, and note when you feel constipated and what’s going on in your life at that moment. You may notice it’s when you have a stressful day at work or you get into a fight with your spouse. When you’re aware of the cause, you can take preventative measures to avoid the problem.

Gas and Bloating

It’s normal to experience gas. In fact, it’s estimated that the average person passes gas 14 times a day. Ayurveda doesn’t recommend holding in gas because that can cause the air to circulate in your system. So find a private place and discretely pass your gas.

Gas is caused by excess air in your system, which is attributed to the Vata Dosha. When you eat dry, cold, or rough foods, such as raw foods, fibrous vegetables, and popcorn, gas accumulates in your system. If you don’t have a strong digestive fire, the food will build up, undigested, and cause fermentation. The odorous gas is a result of this putrification.

Similarly, bloating is caused by excess air in your stomach that distends your belly. It’s also caused by a weak digestive fire, leaving your food to sit in your stomach undigested. This can lead to excess bad bacteria growing in your colon, leading to candida, a yeast that attributes to sugar cravings, yeast infections, and digestive disorders.

If you are experiencing gas or bloating, try these remedies:

  • Boil 4 cups water, and add 2 tablespoon cumin seeds. Steep for at least 10 minutes. Drink warm throughout the day. (This is both preventative and acute.)
  • In 1 cup room temperature water, combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda. Drink before and after meals to alkalize your body and neutralize gas.
  • Chew on fennel seeds after meals. Adding fennel seeds to your meals also promotes digestion. Fennel tea is effective as well.
  • Chew on fresh gingerroot with salt after meals. Simply peel ginger and sprinkle on a small amount of sea salt, then chew it and swallow it’s juices. Ginger tea is effective, too.
  • Avoid raw foods, salads, and carbonated drinks. Favor warm, cooked, easily digestible meals like blended vegetable soup and mung beans.
  • Avoid cold water and drinks, such as iced tea, smoothies, iced coffee, and ice water. Drink only warm or hot beverages.

Heartburn

Heartburn is caused by a Pitta imbalance, attributing to excess acid in the stomach. Pitta is fire energy in charge of all transformation in the body, so when your system contains excess fire, you become overly acidic. This acidity actually leaves your stomach and trickles up your esophagus, which is why you experience heartburn. Many heartburn sufferers actually have low stomach acid because the acid has all moved up. It’s important to neutralize your pH and remove all acidic, Pitta-aggravating foods from your diet.

Here are some ideas for combatting heartburn:

  • Don’t eat meat. Meat is very acid forming and can cause hyperacidity in your body, which begins with heartburn but can lead to many diseases.
  • Eliminate Pitta-aggravating foods such as garlic, onions, pickles, fermented foods, citrus fruits, and coffee.
  • Drink 1 cup aloe vera juice in the morning on an empty stomach. Drink more after your meals to sooth your body. You can take aloe capsules if you prefer.
  • On an empty stomach or at least one hour before meals, in 1 cup room temperature water, combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda. Drink 1 to 3 times a day. Not only does this help gas and bloating, but it also neutralizes acidity.
  • Eat mindfully and slowly. Oftentimes heartburn is the result of indigestion brought on by eating too quickly. Be present during your meals, chew each bite until it dissolves from your mouth, and wait 20 minutes before taking second portions. (It takes 20 minutes for your body to know that it’s full.)

Indigestion

Indigestion is very common today, thanks to our habit of eating on the go and choosing processed foods, among other digestively unhealthy reasons. Indigestion manifests as pain or cramps after meals. It results from your digestive fire not being able to break down your food.

Heavy, dense foods, such as fried and oily foods, meat, cheese, and bread, tend to cause indigestion. However, if your digestive fire is weak, just about anything can trigger it. It’s important to eliminate all heavy foods from your diet to allow your digestive fire to rebuild.

The way you eat can result in indigestion, too. If you emotionally eat, stuffing your body without any consideration of how much food you’re actually ingesting, your digestive system will have to work harder, causing indigestion. Improper food combining is another huge cause of indigestion (more on that in Chapter 17).

If you suffer from indigestion, try the following remedies:

Diarrhea

It’s normal to experience diarrhea at some point in your life. Diarrhea happens when your body rejects something you ate. It might have contained a bacteria or other pathogen your body is protecting you from. It also happens when the Pitta Dosha is aggravated and your digestive system goes into overdrive to evacuate everything.

Diarrhea means your digestive system is too weak to break down the food, resulting in loose stools. It’s often triggered by Pitta foods, such as spicy meals or fermented foods. To rebuild your digestive fire, eat a simpler, sattvic diet.

Try these remedies, too:

  • Take shatavari, an Ayurvedic herb, to combat chronic loose stools.
  • When your bowels are loose, drink 1⁄2 cup room temperature water mixed with 1⁄2 cup plain unsweetened yogurt and 1 pinch sea salt.
  • Eat a very simple diet of rice and cooked vegetables until the diarrhea has subsided. Avoid any spiced foods, meat, garlic, onions, tomatoes, or anything else that will imbalance Pitta. Oatmeal is also fine.
  • Drink raw coconut water to battle dehydration and replenish potassium levels.
  • Eat ripe bananas to help bind the stool and replenish potassium levels.
  • Boil 2 cups hot water, and add 1 teaspoon fennel seeds. Steep for at least 10 minutes, and drink.

Ayurvedic Alert

Diarrhea is the body’s defense mechanism against a potentially harmful virus or bacteria. Diarrhea also results from inflammation in the colon, related to the Pitta Dosha. If you are having diarrhea for more than 2 or 3 days, please consult a doctor because you could be losing vital fluids.

Intestinal Parasites

Parasites are actually more common than you’d believe and can come from the foods you eat. The most common parasites found in the human intestines are roundworms, pinworms, whipworms, threadworms, diardia, hookworms, and tapeworms.

If you experience an increased, insatiable appetite; digestive discomfort; bloating; illness; or other symptoms, get checked for parasites. If you have traveled to a tropical country, you are more at risk of having parasites. The best way to know for sure is to get a stool test conducted by a medical professional.

If you are positive for parasites, try the following treatments:

Ayurvedic Alert

Pregnant woman should not follow any of these suggestions. Consult your doctor instead.

  • Take neem, also known as Indian lilac. This herb not only kills parasites but also aids the removal of the toxicity they leave behind. Take a neem supplement, or buy dried leaves to make tea.
  • Ayurvedic herbs amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki, pippali, kutaja bark, and vidanga all combat parasites. Tablets that combine these ingredients to combat intestinal worms are available.
  • Consume more bitter and pungent foods, like leafy greens—spinach, kale, collards, mustard, and dandelion greens—and garlic. These have properties to kill the parasites.
  • Add coconut oil, which is antiparasitic and helps expel parasites, to your diet while killing parasites to promote their evacuation.
  • Pumpkin seeds can be effective at getting rid of intestinal worms and are actually recommended by the University of Maryland Medical Center. They contain a compound called cucurbitacin that paralyzes parasites and prevents them from latching on to the intestinal walls. The best way to get the benefits is to boil them in water, steep for 30 minutes, and drink the “tea” throughout the day.
  • Make hot tea of cloves to destroy parasitic eggs and kill worms within the body. Boil 1 cup water and add 1 ground clove. Steep for 5 minutes, and drink throughout the day.
  • Add turmeric to everything. Not only is it great for digestion, it also kills parasites. Turmeric is heat-activated and best in cooked foods and warm beverages, especially with black pepper.

Candida Overgrowth

Candida albicans is a naturally occurring intestinal inhabitant we all have in our guts. However, when our digestive fire is not hot enough, the candida yeast overgrows and spreads throughout our intestines, overrunning our good gut bacteria. It then enters our blood stream, causing candida overgrowth. Yeast infections, thrush, digestive issues, sugar cravings, cystic acne, and lethargy are all signs of candida overgrowth. If you notice that you crave sugar daily, regularly suffer from yeast infections, experience oral thrush, or have chronic infections throughout your body, you likely suffer from candida overgrowth. You can test for candida overgrowth with a saliva or blood test.

It’s estimated up to 80 percent of the population has an overgrowth of this candida due to our sugar-centric diet.

If you experience the earlier symptoms and tested positive for Candida, try the following suggestions:

  • Remove all sugar from your diet, including bread; pasta; rice; honey; maple syrup; processed foods; and even all fruits except berries, coconut, and avocados. Any type of sugar can feed candida, including fructose. Switch to natural sugar alternatives, such as monk fruit sweetener, organic liquid stevia, or birchwood xylitol.
  • Add more bitter and pungent foods to your diet, particularly garlic, asparagus, dandelion greens, collard greens, kale, and spinach.
  • Increase the cruciferous vegetables in your diet. Broccoli, cauliflower, and kale help scrape out yeast overgrowth in your gut.
  • Take neem. This bitter herb helps kill excess bad bacteria to rebalance a healthy gut flora.
  • Take amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki, pippali, kutaja bark, and vidanga, available in tablets from Ayurvedic herbal supplement companies.
  • Incorporate coconut oil, which is antifungal and helps expel bad bacteria from your system, to your diet while cleansing from candida.
  • Add psyllium husk powder to your diet to aid the removal of candida.

Skin Problems

Ayurveda is very effective at treating skin blemishes. External beauty begins within, and Ayurveda has both internal and external remedies for healing the skin so you can radiate with vibrant health.

Acne

Acne is one of the most embarrassing kinds of blemishes, especially if you suffer from it as an adult. Ayurveda states that acne comes from excess Pitta. Heat rises, so if you have too much fire in your system, it has nowhere to escape and comes through your pores, turning into pimples. Pittas naturally have oily faces and are most sensitive to toxicity, making them high risk for breakouts. The more toxic their diet, the worse their acne. Acne also can be caused by stress, hormonal imbalance, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), air pollution, improper digestion, and candida overgrowth.

To heal acne, follow these guidelines:

Dry Skin

Opposite of oily skin, dry skin is still a problem. No matter what you do, your skin feels parched and tight. Although you might be grateful you don’t have breakouts caused by oily skin, you might run into another problem. Because overly dry skin can cause wrinkles and fine lines, your skin lacks hydration. Dry skin is caused by excess Vata. Vata is a cold, dry energy that leaves your skin parched.

Moisturizers, lotions, and creams are not the answer because they don’t address the root cause of the dryness: internal dehydration. Follow a Vata-pacifying diet so your skin regains its suppleness.

Oils also are used in Ayurvedic tradition because they don’t exhaust the sebaceous glands like moisturizers do, which can cause more dryness. Oils penetrate the pores more deeply than creams and don’t contain the chemicals store-bought lotions do. You never should put something on your skin you wouldn’t eat because both enter your blood stream.

If you have dry skin, try the following remedies:

  • Avoid dry, rough foods, including raw vegetables, crackers, granola, and popcorn. Favor soft, oil-rich foods like vegetables cooked in coconut oil, soups, mashed sweet potatoes, and curries.
  • Do not use soaps on your skin. These only further dry it out. Instead, use oils to cleanse your skin and remove your makeup.
  • Use oils to moisturize as well. Sesame oil is most recommended for Vatas and can be applied to your entire body daily.
  • Apply a facemask of 1⁄2 mashed avocado and 1 teaspoon raw honey. Leave it on your face for 15 minutes, and wash off with warm water. These ingredients will leave your skin feeling hydrated and replenished, so repeat as needed.

Damaged Skin

Skin damage has many culprits, including the sun, stress, pollution, and age, all of which can leave your skin looking dull, flaky, hyperpigmented, swollen, wrinkly, and red.

If your skin is damaged from the natural wear and tear of life, try the following remedies:

  • Consume more antioxidant-rich foods like berries, pomegranates, and amla (Indian gooseberries).
  • Avoid coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, and secondhand smoke.
  • Drink warm water throughout the day to hydrate your skin.
  • Consume more leafy greens and citrus fruits, both of which are high in vitamin C.
  • Make rejuvenating hydrating mask by combining 1⁄2 mashed banana, 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal, and 1 tablespoon milk. Place on your skin for 15 minutes, and wash off with warm water.
  • Smash tomatoes and place them on your face for 15 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

Wisdom of the Ages

Bananas are considered nature’s Botox because they contain potassium, which heals blemishes, as well as antioxidants that help eradicate the free radicals that cause aging. Tomatoes are very high in vitamin A, which regenerates damaged skin. They also are high in vitamin B, which promotes cell renewal, and vitamin C, which stimulates cellular metabolism.

Dark Undereye Circles

Dark circles make you look haggard and exhausted, no matter how much you slept. They can be caused by two reasons: dark pigmentation under the eyes, which many Indian women have, and thin skin around the eyes, which many Caucasian women have. Dark circles are caused by lack of sleep, dehydration, alcohol, smoking, an unhealthy diet, stress, dryness, and aging, too. However, there is a fix.

To heal dark undereye circles, try the following:

  • Crush 1 tomato in a small bowl, and add 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric. Apply to your dark circles, being careful not to get the mixture in your eyes because it may burn. After 15 minutes, wash off with warm water.
  • Juice 1 cucumber and 1 potato. Dip cotton pads in the juice, and place them on your eyes. Relax for 15 minutes with the pads on your eyes and then wash your face with warm water.

Common Illnesses

Ayurvedic remedies can be used to cure almost any everyday ailment! The following sections offer remedies for some common illnesses.

Headaches

Sometimes, headaches can be just awful to deal with. Ayurveda classifies headaches into the three Dosha types: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata headaches typically occur at the back of your head or on the left side and are caused by anxiety or overthinking. Pitta headaches are in the temple area and caused by anger or too much heat. Kapha headaches are in the frontal and nasal areas and are caused by sinus congestion and poor circulation.

Here are some remedies to help combat headaches:

  • To reduce Vata headaches, make a paste of sesame oil and nutmeg and rub it into your forehead. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes and then take a hot shower. Follow a warming, grounding diet, and try an enema.
  • To reduce Pitta headaches, make a paste of sandalwood powder and water and rub it into your forehead. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes. Stay away from bright lights and the hot sun. Take 2 tablespoons aloe vera several times a day, and eat something naturally sweet.
  • To reduce Kapha headaches, make a paste of ginger powder and water and apply it to your forehead. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes. Rinse your nostrils with salt water, and practice yoga.

Wisdom of the Ages

If you have a headache, put sliced lime on your forehead. It may sound crazy, but the nutrients in limes fight inflammation and are directly absorbed into your skin, over the tense nerves causing your headache, reducing the pressure.

Migraines

Migraines are more severe than headaches and are often caused by a Pitta imbalance. Excess Pitta can constrict the blood vessels around your brain, causing pressure on your nerves.

If you’re battling a migraine, these things might help:

  • Avoid bright light and sunlight.
  • Follow a cooling, Pitta-pacifying diet.
  • Take the Ayurvedic herbs shatavari and brahmi.
  • Take slow, deep breaths, focusing on the exhale to remove heat from the body.

Colds and Flus

We all get sick sometimes, but as we become more balanced, the occurrences will be less often and severe. What used to be several days home sick can turn into a few measly sniffles, thanks to these Ayurvedic remedies:

  • Boil 1 cup water. Add 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon cardamom. Steep for 10 minutes, and drink.
  • Eliminate Kapha-unbalancing foods from your diet.
  • Put 3 to 5 drops of ghee in your nostrils in the morning and at night.
  • Take the Ayurvedic herb amlakai, which is very high in vitamin C.

Fevers

Fevers occur when there’s too much toxicity, ama, in your system, making your body unable to fight off an infection. To heal a fever, it’s important to cool your body from within.

Ayurveda recommends not consuming much if you have a fever to give your digestive system a time to rest so your body can heal itself.

Try these teas, too. I recommend sipping them throughout the day, every 30 minutes to stay hydrated.

  • To relieve feeling hot, drink mint tea made with hot water and several mint leaves.
  • To kill infection, drink holy basil and tulsi tea.
  • To rebuild digestive strength, drink an herbal remedy of hot water with 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds. Drink as needed.

Women’s Health

Ladies, Ayurvedic remedies can help keep your flows in sync and your bodies healthy!

PMS and Cramping

If you have any type of pain around your period, something is out of balance. Ayurveda classifies three Doshic types of menstrual difficulties and suggests specific treatment for each:

  • For Vatas, pain occurs before the onset of your period, often with cramps, bloating, lower stomach and back pain, insomnia, and scanty blood. To treat, take ashwaghanda and rub castor oil on your belly.
  • For Pittas, congestion, inflammation, tender breasts, hot flashes, irritability, and heavy flow can be problems. To treat, take shatavari and rub coconut oil on your belly.
  • For Kaphas, pain occurs in the latter part of the cycle, often with water retention, heaviness, exhaustion, cravings, and lethargy. To treat, take trikatu and rub mustard and castor oil on your belly.
  • All Doshas should chew on 1 teaspoon cumin seeds followed by a drink of 1 tablespoon aloe vera juice, drink hot water with cinnamon, and consume fresh raspberries with raspberry leaf tea.

Irregular or Missed Menstrual Cycles

Irregular or missed periods can be caused by a Vata imbalance, leading to low hormonal levels. When a woman is underweight, on a low-fat diet, overexercising, or under stress, she may skip her period. It’s important to restabilize and ground your body so it can get back into the flow of things.