Author: Dr.Sandeep Krishna sandeep

Liver is one of the most important organs of human body responsible for purifying blood and removing all toxins from the body. A healthy liver is a pre requisite for body’s own detoxification processes, easy digestion and metabolism, but modern lifestyle predominated with junk food and stressful days have seriously affected this organ’s health.
Ayurveda and Liver
In Ayurveda, Liver is referred to as Yakrit. This vital organ is inter-related to agni or the digestive fire, pitta dosha and blood or raktha dhathu. Aggravation of pitta leads to various liver disorders that are grouped under 2 heads: liver shrinkage and enlarged liver. Modern science describes various types of liver diseases like jaundice, liver cirrhosis etc. Ayurveda recommends Virechana and Vamana to expel out toxins accumulated as a result of vitiated doshas for curing all types of liver diseases.
Also, it advices to avoid any food that aggravates pitta and recommends the intake of items that pacifies this dosha. Some of the Ayurvedic home remedies to detox liver and maintain good health are mentioned below:
1. Garlic
Garlic is a powerful agent that reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver and thereby contribute to liver cleansing. You may include 3-4 cloves of chopped garlic daily in your cooked food (to retain its freshness) for the strength of liver.
2. Papaya
Both the leaves and seeds of papaya have been widely acknowledged for their ability to cure different types of liver disorders such as liver cirrhosis, jaundice etc. Eat raw papaya seeds or mix crushed papaya seeds with lemon juice and consume the blend for about 30 days for an effective liver detox. Similarly, extract the juice from about 10 papaya leaves and drink it plainly or mix it with other regular juices. (NB: Pregnant women and breast feeding women shall not consume these).
3. Amla
Amla or Gooseberry is one of the biggest natural source of vitamin C and acts as an effective remedy for preventing fatty build-up and other liver diseases. You may eat 3-4 raw amla every day or drink a mix of one teaspoon of amla powder in a cup of warm water daily, every morning.
4. Chyavanprash
Chyavanprash is an Ayurvedic herbal jam, its major constituent being Gooseberry. Consume 1 or 2 spoonful Chyavanprash along with milk (preferably warm milk) before breakfast every day for maintaining liver cleaned and for an overall sense of health.

5. Aleovera Gel
Aloevera is an incredible plant which is sometimes referred to as the plant of immortality. It is composed of various enzymes, minerals, amino acids, vitamins and polysaccharides which help in increasing metabolism, removing toxins and regenerating tissues. Scrape the gel from aleovera leaves and juice it plainly or mix with coconut water, lemonade or any other fresh fruit/vegetable juices. Drink this mix daily for an effective liver detox.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it has been widely used to cure liver disorders and to maintain a healthy liver. Turmeric can be included in your daily diet or consume turmeric mixed with plain milk daily before bed.
7. Lemon
Lemon is a powerful means to help liver detox. Squeeze a lemon in to a cup of warm water, add honey to sweeten the drink, use it daily (first thing in the morning) as an effective remedy for liver health.
Apart from these, include ghee in your daily diet for it’s a substance that is very extensively used in Ayurveda for detoxification procedures.
Lifestyle
In addition to consuming food that help in cleansing of liver and its regeneration, develop a life style that keeps you healthy.
➢ Dincharya or daily routine is very important to maintain a healthy liver and a healthy body. One should ideally follow the biological clock, an outline which is as follows:
o Wake an hour up before sunrise
o Lunch between 12- 1 pm, when pitta is at its heights
o Dinner around 7 pm
o Sleep before10 pm
➢ Avoid exposure to the mid-day heat as Pitta is generally intolerant to prolonged sun exposure.
➢ Practice yoga practises like Suryanamaskar and do meditation to keep you calm. It contributes to a healthy liver for liver is considered as the seat of all fiery emotions like anger, envy etc.

Wheatgrass is the young grass of wheat plant and has been proven to be a super potent health food with a myriad of benefits. Highly rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants, elements like Magnesium and Calcium and many vitamins, it’s been recognized by both the traditional and modern medicine. Some of the very effective uses of Wheatgrass are discussed as follows:

1. Helps in Digestion
Wheat grass has amazing features that aids in digestion. It contains high amount of fibre, B complex vitamins and vitamin C which improves metabolism. Consumption of wheat grass regularly is a very effective means of detoxifying the body and treating all the existing stomach problems like IBS and ulcers. Drink a glass of Wheatgrass juice (20-30 ml) daily, in empty stomach for good digestion.

2. Cures Anemia
Wheatgrass is abundant in iron responsible for haemoglobin in our blood cells and chlorophyll which is both a blood cleanser and a blood builder. It also increases the supply of oxygen to the blood stream making you feel energetic and active. Regular intake of plain wheatgrass juice, about 2-3 teaspoons daily will help to treat Anemia. You may also add wheatgrass powder or juice to your delicious smoothies and consume daily to reduce fatigue.

3. Treats Arthritis
The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of the herb along with the presence of chlorophyll make wheatgrass an effective remedy for Arthritis. Drinking wheatgrass juice on a regular basis would surely help you manage Arthritis, along with that you may wrap the affected parts with a washcloth soaked in 5-6 ounce of wheatgrass juice to relieve the pain.

4. Diabetes
This wonder plant has also been proven to improve Pancreas’s function of producing insulin, thereby reducing the chances of Diabetes. Wheatgrass juice or mixing wheatgrass powder in water is beneficial for treating Diabetes, but it’s always advised that you consult with your doctor before the consumption.

5. Hypertension
Being a rich source of potassium and magnesium, wheatgrass serves as a good remedy for lowering blood pressure. It also improves the blood circulation and Wheatgrass juice remedy applies here too.

6. Heals wounds
Wheatgrass extract when applied on wounds helps in quick healing due the presence of chlorophyll which is known for its antibacterial properties along with many other benefits. Its external application also helps in faster regeneration of cells and when taken internally it boosts immunity.

7. Useful in treating Cancer
Presence of vitamin E and an element named Selenium make wheatgrass an effective measure to treat cancer. Both of these components of the plant are popular for their antioxidant capabilities preventing cell damage. Cancer cannot thrive in a well oxygenated environment and the ability of wheatgrass to increase the supply of oxygen has already been discussed in the article. Wheatgrass juice has also been found to reduce some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy on breast cancer patients.

8. Cleanses Liver
Yet another powerful ability of wheatgrass is its ability to regenerate liver, main organ of detoxification in the body. The nutritional components of wheatgrass prevent the deposition of fat in the organ, draws out excessive fat and also invigorate the organ smoothening is function.
Apart from the aforesaid benefits, Wheatgrass aids in boosting immunity, improving skin and hair health and in preventing tooth decay.

Tips and Precautions
• Including wheatgrass in your daily diet is a step-by-step process, start with an ounce on the first day and then increase in small amounts
• Drink it in empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before food.
• Freshly prepared juice is always the best, but you may use wheatgrass powder too.
• To avoid the discomforts associated with drinking wheatgrass alone, mix it with freshly prepared vegetable juices.

Mint is an Ayurvedic herb that is very often associated with freshness and taste. Apart from its qualities to give a treat to your palates, Pudina or mint leaves have effective utilities in digestive health as it pacifies all doshas especially pitta and treats respiratory disorders. The following are some of the very powerful health benefits of Pudina or mint.

1. Digestive health & IBS
Mint leaves soothes the digestive tract and cleanses the stomach. Mint has the ability to relax the muscles surrounding the intestine and thus act as an effective cure for several symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome like indigestion and dyspepsia. Mint tea, a mixture of fresh mint leaves with lemon and honey are two good home remedies for digestive health.

2. Hypertension
Mint is a powerful herb that lowers high blood pressure. Consume 3-4 tablespoons of fresh mint juice twice daily or include mint chutney without adding salt in your diet to effectively manage hypertension.

3. Stress
Mint has a refreshing smell that calms your body and mind and relieving you from stress. Add drop of mint oil into your bath water or use mint extract on a vaporizer. Drinking mint tea regularly would relax your muscles freeing you from stress and anxiety.

4. Immunity
Pudina is endowed with antibacterial and antioxidant properties that boosts the immune system to keep diseases at bay. It also has considerable amount of vitamin A, essential B-complex vitamins, vitamin B and other minerals like calcium and potassium, which improves body’s strength and vitality. Regular consumption of, mint tea is recommended for boosting immunity.

5. Pains
Mint has the ability to relieve chronic pains related to arthritis and migraine. Inhaling the mint using a vaporizer and drinking mint decoction are two effectual remedies for pain relief. Dilute 2-3 drops of mint oil in coconut oil and apply it on painful areas to alleviate pain.

6. Skin Health
Anti-inflammatory properties and the presence of salycyclic acid make mint an active ingredient in many skin care products that treat acne. Make a mint face pack with freshly grinded mint leaves mixed with rose water, apply it on affected parts and leave it overnight to get rid of acne. Similarly, a mixture of freshly made mint juice, fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and tomato juice treats pimples along with removing tan and other blemishes.

Management of Eczema in Ayurveda
Eczema is a group of skin diseases that result in itchiness, red patches and rashes on skin. The reasons attributed to the condition are numerous, from improper food habits and lifestyle to allergies.
Ayurvedic view of Eczema
In Ayurveda, Eczema is often referred to as Vicharchika and is caused by the imbalance of all the three doshas- vata, pitta and kapha. Improper lifestyle and eating habits adversely affect Agni leading to the accumulation of toxins in the body and the vitiation of the three doshas. The imbalance cause pathological changes on body tissues, namely, skin, blood and flesh.

Symptoms of Eczema
• Roughness of the skin
• Decreased sweating
• Itching
• Numbness
• Discolouration of the skin
• Elevated plaques of red & bumpy skin

Causes
Ayurveda mostly attribute Eczema to improper food combinations or Virudhahara and an improper lifestyle. Other factors that lead to the condition are age, genetics, allergies and some irritants like detergents.

Ayurvedic treatments
• Vamana: Vamana therapy is a medicated emesis therapy where in herbal medicines induce expulsion of vitiated doshas out of the body, through the oral cavity.
• Virechana: Virechana therapy is a medicated purification therapy in which the patient is given herbal medicines through the oral cavity, the medication acts to force the excretion of impurities from the body.
• Raktamokshana: Also called Leech Therapy, Raktamokshana is a bloodletting therapy to eliminate toxins from the blood stream and is used extensively to treat various skin problems.
Apart from these therapies Ayurveda recommends herbal formulations for external application and for internal administration to effectively manage Eczema.

Home remedies
• Bathe in water prepared with Karingali to reduce eczema symptoms
• Apply Neem- Turmeric paste on affected parts
• Wash off skin several times a day with Neem decoction ​
• Apply Aloe Vera gel on affected parts and wash it off after 20 minutes
• Vitamin E oil can be applied on the infected areas and leave it for about 15 minutes
• Clean the skin thoroughly and apply honey directly onto the affected areas of the skin, leave it there for 10 minutes and then wash it off with warm water
• To prevent dry skin Coconut oil can be applied anytime
• Keep the skin moisturized always
• Eat only Light and easily digestible food
• Avoid dairy products, sour & spicy foods, excessive salt intake and eggs