Vidarikanda or Pueraria Tuberosa as explained in Bhavaprakasha

The ayurveda text Bhava prakaasha, explains the medicinal properties of vidaarikanda as follows:

Vidaarikanda madhuraa snigdha brimhani sthanya shukradaa |
Sheetaa swaryaa mootralaa cha jeevani bala varnadaa ||
Guruhu pittaasrapavanadaahaan hanthi rasaayanam |

Vidaari is sweet to taste , has cooling properties, heavy to digest and contains moisture and stickiness .

Brimhani : It helps in weight gain in persons who have lost weight due to diseases or malnourishment.

Sthanya : This herb is very helpful in increasing lactation in nursing mothers.

Shukrada: Owing to its, sweet, cool and sticky properties, this herb helps to increase quality and quantity of semen. This also helps to increase sperm count and sperm motility.

Swarya: Singers and teachers who abuse their vocal chords are benefited by this herb. It helps to restore the voice.

Mootrala :. It acts as a diuretic, hence used in ayurvedic diuretic preparations

Jeevani : It rejuvenates the whole body and increases vitality and energy.

Balavardhana:. Vidaari helps to increase strength of body

Varnya : It rejuvenates skin and increases fairness and glow. As it increases moisture level of skin it helps in dry skin condition.

Rasaayana : It nourishes whole body and increases rasadhatu. When rasadhatu is nourished the successive dhatus also get nourished.

Pavana hanthi : Viadaarikanda normalizes vata.

Vrishya: As it reduces vata, nourishes rasa dhatu and increases shukra, it acts as a very good aphrodisiac. Owing to these properties it helps in erectile dysfunction, low libido and premature ejaculation. Hence this herb is used in vajikarana Preparations

Ayurveda Medicinal properties of Vidarikanda or Pueraria tuberosa

Pueraria tuberosa or Vidarikanda (in Sanskrit ) belongs to the family of Fabaceae. It is a perennial woody climber and has huge tuberous roots. A fully grown plant measures 5-6 meters in height. This plant bears white flowers with pink shade. It is mainly found in India, Nepal and Pakistan. It is popularly known as Indian Kudzu.

In ayurveda system of medicine, its roots are used for medicinal purposes. The roots contain Steroids, Sugars, Amino acids and Sterols. Researchers have evaluated the antimicrobial properties of this plant.

According to texts of ayurveda Vidarikanda is heavy to digest and increases moisture level of tissues and stickiness of secretions. It is sweet to taste and this taste remains in all stages of digestion. It has tremendous cooling properties. Due to these properties it alleviates pitta and vata .

Medicinal properties of Vidarikanda

1. This tuber reduces dryness of body and eases bowel movement. It is very useful in relieving constipation.

2. It strengthens the body and boosts its immunity. This wonder herb acts as Rasayana and helps to slow down ageing process.

3. Vidaarikanda rejuvenates male reproductive system and increases quality and quantity of semen. This helps to increase sperm count and sperm motility.

4. This ayurvedic herb reduces vata and normalizes kapha. Due to these properties shukra dhatu increases. Shukra dhatu helps to increase hard erections, libido and sexual energy.

5. Vidaarikanda acts as an aphrodisiac and is known as vrishya. This is used in vajikarana preparations.

6. It acts as a galactogogue and is very useful for nursing mothers.

7. Due to its diuretic properties, it is used as an ingredient in ayurvedic diuretic preparations.

8. Consumption of this herb rejuvenates skin and increases fairness and glow. It is widely used in diseases of skin which cause discoloration.

9. This herb rejuvenates whole body and increases muscle bulk.

Top 6 Anti Aging Foods That Can Boost Your Health Today

Anti aging is the talk of town today. You can't go anywhere without hearing men or women talking about the latest anti aging discoveries or methods to stay young. We bring you the top 6 anti aging foods and what they can do for your body today.

Our number one on the anti aging food list is berries. So why are they our top anti aging food? It is simply because they contain high levels of antioxidants that prevent toxin build-up and cleanse the body from harmful substances that cause aging. It is recommended that you incorporate berries in your daily meals for best results.

Our number two on this food list is ginger. Ginger is one the best spices with potent health benefits. In addition to protecting people against common colds and flus, it alleviates rheumatic aches, boosts libido, improves digestion and blood circulation. The latter is the main reason why drinking ginger at winter makes us feel warm. Like berries, you should eat ginger on a daily basis.

Number three is garlic. Garlic is one of the top foods to protect against cancer, coronary diseases, and fatal flus. It also reduces blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Eating a clove of garlic once a week is the current recommended dosage to prevent cancers and other diseases.

Number four is nuts. Though high in calories, nuts are rich in essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and selenium. Such minerals are essential to enhance the function of the digestive and immune systems. It is recommended that you eat a handful of almonds, walnuts, of cashews daily to reduce aging.

Our number five food is avocado. Avocado like tomato is a fruit that is eaten as a vegetable. It contains high levels of Vitamin E, monounsaturated fat, and potassium needed to prevent skin aging. It also protects our body against water retention and high blood pressure. Since avocado is not as affordable as we'd like it to be, eating 2-3 avocados per week is a reasonable choice.

Our final item on the anti aging food list is soya. Natural soya beans have been recently discovered to protect against Alzheimer's disease. It also protects the body from osteoporosis, coronary diseases, and digestive cancers. Soya is especially beneficial for women in their late 30's as it alleviates menopausal hot flushes and mood swings. It is recommended that you eat at least 6 ounces of soya per week to reduce aging in your body.

Eating anti aging foods helps your body reduce inflammation, wrinkles, and cancer risks. While the benefits of such foods are ideal in theory, modern farming, harvesting, and storage methods drastically reduce their nutritional value. This is specially the case with Vitamin E rich foods responsible for skin rejuvenation and anti aging. Supplementing your anti aging diet with an affordable anti aging cream is a plausible solution for those serious about keeping both their body and skin young.

Reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, revitalize your skin and reduce signs of aging. Diminish darkening under the eyes, stimulate the growth of skin cells, enjoy powerful anti-oxidant support for your skin.

Read Complete article by Chimezirim Odimba at
http://www.ayurhelp.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=10936

Back Acne Natural Home Remedies

What is back acne?

Back acne is same condition as facial acne. The sebaceous glands on skin get stimulated by androgen and produce excess sebum. Sebum is an oily substance produced by oil glands of skin. Over produced sebum clog’s pores on skin and prevent the release of dead skin cells. Thus dead cells, sticky sebum attract bacteria which thrive in these pores to form acne. Back acne have to be treated very carefully as back skin is very thick and oil glands produce more sebum.
Back acnes leave ugly scars when healed. The texts of Ayurveda mention many wonder herbs which help in back acne and scars. Check below for these wonderful herbs.

What exaggerates Back acne?

Any thing which irritates skin exaggerates back acne. Few are mentioned here.

Back packs which rub the skin surface.
Rough back massages with unsuitable oils.
Tight fitting cloths.
Synthetic clothes which do not absorb sweat.
Rough back seats
Rubbing back vigorously with hard brush or loofahs

Home remedy for Back acne:

Wash your back with mild soap than harsh ones.
Do not use loofahs or long rough back brushes, as they irritate skin and increase break outs..
Mild skin cleansers are best to clean back skin.
Prefer baths than showers as soaking in warm water for 20 minutes help to release dead skin cells.
Avoid tight fitting clothes
Do not wear synthetic clothes as they do not absorb water and allow the moistness to accumulate on skin. This is a favorable condition for bacteria which thrive in skin pores.
Stay away from rough scratchy clothes as they irritate skin.
Wear lose fitting soft cotton clothes.
Do not get your back massaged with rough scrubs or irritant oils.
Put a hair band to avoid falling of hair on back. The sweat and dirt accumulated on hair may fall on back skin through hair strands

Vata and Kapha are two main doshas, which are involved in eruption of acne and pimples The oil produced by oil glands is called as meda (body fat). Kapha (one of the tridoshas) is dominant in meda. The presence of Kapha in meda makes it sticky. Vata is dominant in skin. When vata gets aggravated due to unhealthy diet and life styles, it activates the oil glands of skin to secrete more sticky oil or sebum. Thus the sticky oil or sebum oozes out to clog skin pores.

Ayurveda Diet and lifestyle as home remedy for back acne:

Avoid foods which are spicy, dry and oily. These may cause indigestion and lead to vitiation of vata.
Keep a habit of emptying bowels regularly this always normalizes vata.
Avoid fast foods and soft drinks.
Avoid exposure of skin to severe climatic conditions.
Drink plenty of water.
Consuming fresh vegetable salads and fresh fruits keeps the skin healthy and resistant to blemishes.
Do not consume foods, which lead to indigestion
Drink plenty of water (15 glasses a day)
Avoid excess usage of curds, fish , sour and salty foods, Bengal gram (urad), radish, sesame, horse gram and jaggery.
Practice a regular exercise regimen
Do not exert physically after heavy meals
Avoid exposure to extreme climates.
Control your emotions through YOGA and MEDITATION

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com .Read more about back acne natural home remdies at http://www.ayurhelp.com/back_acne.htm

Makeup Guide For Fair Skin

Beginning with the basics, you should have a great foundation as the base for your makeup. Face makeup for fair skinned women can be difficult to match, but once you find one that matches your skin, it instantly makes you look more polished. Most colors for lighter skin have pink (usually denoted by the word "porcelain") undertones. While many people with lighter skin do have pink undertones, others are neutral or warm (yellow undertones), so it can be a bit more difficult to find a foundation that matches. A good rule of thumb is to test the foundation on the jaw line-not the back of your hand! At the jaw line, you see the color of both your face and neck, and you want a foundation that matches your skin and blends seamlessly between the two areas. Once you've found the perfect face makeup for your fair skin, you can move on to colors.

A general guide for lighter skin would be to avoid anything that looks harsh, whether it is a dark slash of blush, very deep lips with no other makeup, or tons of bright eye makeup. Choose one area of your face on which to focus.

Fair skin tones can have all different eye colors, so choose eye shadow colors that complement your eye shape. Make sure that the colors are well blended. Taupe is universally flattering. Mascara can be brown or black, although those with fair skin and very light hair might prefer brown, as it looks more natural on blonde lashes.

Read Complete article by Janey Chua at http://www.ayurhelp.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10935

Vata- smoking-Erectile dysfunction

It has been explained in our earlier article how vata affects erection in men. (http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/ED_vata.htm) . We all know that erection occurs when blood rushes to penis. Every erection problem starts when this blood flow is affected. Vyana Vayu and samana vayu (types of vayu - http://www.ayurhelp.com/2009/11/types-of-vayu.html ) help in blood circulation. When smoke is inhaled through smoking the carbon monoxide fumes bind with hemoglobin in blood and reduce its capacity to carry oxygen . Thus carbon monoxide clogs the path of vayu in delivering the oxygen to cells. The carbon particles damage heart valves and reduce its capacity to pump blood. The vyana vayu which is situated in heart gets vitiated and blood circulation gets impaired. Smoking also leads to atherosclerosis or hardening of arteries. Hardening also occurs in arteries of penis. This blocks the blood flow and movement of vayu. This leads to erectile dysfunction. Vitiated vayu leads to premature ejaculation.

Reduced oxygen supply impairs production of sperms leading to low sperm count, increased number of dead sperms and loss of libido. The condition worsens when a smoker is diabetic or has heart problems.

Quit smoking to gain back normal health and vigor

Types of Vayu

According to the texts of ayurveda vata dosha even though located in intestines it moves through all organs and tissues of body . According to its functions and locations it is subdivided into 5 more types. They are

1. Pranavayu, - moves from external environment into body through sense organs and orifices present in upper part of body. It helps in inspiration, gulping food, hearing sounds and receiving external stimulus etc
2. Udana vayu – Does the opposite of praanavayu – expiration, reflex actions, speech etc. Both prana vayu and udana vayu are located in upper part of body (mainly throat).
3. Vyana vayu – It helps in movement of blood from heart to other parts of body through arteries and movement of food from stomach to intestines and absorption of it. It is located in center of body
4. Samana vayu – It is spread all over body and helps to bring back blood to heart through veins, It helps in digestion ..
5. Apana vayu – It is located in pelvic area (urinary bladder, groin, testicles,etc)and helps in discharge of urine, feces, flatus, semen, fetus, menstrual blood etc. It cleanses the body and keeps the vata in balance.
   

How vitiated vata causes erectile dysfunction in men

What is vata?

Acccording to ayurveda principles the activities of our body are governed by tridoshas . Tridoshas keep our body healthy when they are in balanced condition. Disease is the result of imbalance in these doshas. Tridoshas (three dosha)are vata, pitta and kapha. Five mahabhutas (pancha mahabhuta = akasha, vayu, prithvi, jala and agni) combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces called doshas. Vata is made of vayu (air) and aakasha (ether). Pitta is made up of jala and agni (water and agni), kapha is made up of jala and prithvi ( water and earth).
As vata dosha is made up of ether and air, it is light , dry and moves fast. It needs clear spaces to move. Any obstruction in its path causes vitiation and imbalance of doshas. Vata carries other two doshas with it and enables them to function normally. Hence when vata is in balanced condition it keeps body healthy.

Vata governs breathing, movement of muscles, tissues, movement of signals in nerves etc. All movements of body fluids, voluntary and involuntary movements, activities of brain, spinal cord and complete nervous system are controlled by vata. Vata is mainly located in large intestines, pelvic cavity, thighs and bones

How erection occurs

The two chambers of penis (corpora cavernosa,) which run throught the organ are filled with spongy tissue. The corpora cavernosa are surrounded by a membrane, called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. The urethra, which is the channel for urine and semen runs along underside of the corpora cavernosa..

Due to sensory or mental stimulation, or both, the erection begins. Due to impulses from brain and local nerves the muscles of corpora cavernosa relax and allow blood to flow in and fill the spaces of spongy tissue.

The flow of blood creates pressure in the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood in the chambers, thereby sustaining erection. When muscles in the penis contract to stop the inflow of blood and open outflow channels, erection recedes

In ayurveda physiology of erection and ejaculation is described as follows.

Vrishunow basthimedram cha naabhyuuru vankshnow gudam|
Apaanasthaanamantrasthaha shukra mootra shakrunti cha||

The “apaanavayu” one of the five types of vayu is located in the testicles, urinary bladder, phallus, umbilicus, thighs, groin, anus and colon. Its functions are ejaculation of semen, voiding of urine and stools”.

Shushruta explains the process of erection and ejaculation as “ When a man has desire (iccha) to have sex, his response to touch increases ( Vayu located in skin causes flow of signals from skin to brain, thus causing sensation of touch). This causes arousal or “harsha” . Arousal or Harsha intensifies actions of vayu and at this moment highly active vayu liberates the “teja “or heat of pitta. Thus tejas and vayu increase body temperature, heart beat and blood flow causing erection

How Erectile Dysfunction occurs

Erection requires a sequence of events. Erectile dysfunction can occur when any of the events is disturbed. Nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, around the penis and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and around the corpora cavernosa constitute this sequence of events. Injury to any of these parts which are part of this sequence ( nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, fibrous tissue ) can cause ED.

How vata affects erection

As vata governs nervous system , vitiation of vata can disturb flow of impulses from brain to genital organ leading to loss of erection.

Blood flow in arteries is controlled by vata. Any obstruction in arteries like plaques or deposits disturbs blood flow in these tissues thus causing erectile dysfunction.

Injury is a cause for vitiation of vata. Injury to genital organ viatiate vata leading to failure of erection.

Teja or pitta which gets liberated due to action of vata can be correlated to testosterone hormone. When vata gets vitiated it fails to produce testosterone hormone sufficient to maintain erections

How vata can be balanced to prevent erectile dysfunction

1. Maintain a regular routine. Eat at regular intervals, sleep at regular time and exercise regularly. This is very important to keep vata in balanced condition.
2. Massage your body with herbal oils to reduce vitiation of vata.
3. Avoid unnecessary popping of pills.
4. Sleep for sufficiently long hours in night and avoid sleeping in day time.
5. Say no to junk foods and aerated drinks.
6. Stop drugs, tobacco and alcohol. Addiction to these stuffs vitiates vata and can cause irreversible changes.
7. Reduce stress by practicing yoga and meditation. Reduced stress level balances vata and prevents erectile dysfunction.
8. Use foods such as: warm milk, cream, butter, warm soups, stews, hot cereals, fresh baked bread
9. Avoid cold foods like cooled drinks, ice creams etc. As cold foods and exposure to cold weather increases vata.
10. Deep fried foods like chips, spicy foods vitiate vata. Hence avoid these.
11. Over weight causes vitiation of vata as fat blocks the channels of vata. Weight reduction is very important to balance vata.

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com
Read more about How vitiated vata causes erectile dysfunction in men at http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/ED_vata.htm