Keraliya Ayurvedic Abhyanga: Contemporary methods……

 

Kerala is a popular state in southern India, where panchakarma abhyanga has been preserved. However, unlike panchakarma, it is more used more for rejuvenation purposes than for cleansing. Various contemporary forms of abhyanga are used in Kerala and are very effective. Some modern authorities note that some of these practices are especially useful in healing serious mental disorders. However, other modern authorities believe they aggravate the conditions. Practitioners have noted that procedures such as Shirodhara have evoked troubling past emotions in some persons. Therefore, persons who have very deep emotional problems may be advised by some practitioners to heal through herbs, aromas, and professional counseling first. The experts say that the keraliya therapy of panchakarma has very effective results though it differs from ancient rules as follows-

1.  As per ancient rules, panch karma must be done only during certain seasons but in Kerala rules, it can be done in all seasons

2.  In ancient rules doing panchakarma oil and sweat are preliminary therapies whereas in Kerala oil and sweat are taken as principle therapies.

3.  Ancient panchakarma treats the constitution but in Kerala rules it treats illness.

4.  The panchakarma is purification oriented in ancient rules but as per Kerala rules, panchakarma is toning oriented.

5.  Only five therapies have been recommended for panchakarma as per ancient rules but in Kerala, more than five therapies are in practice.

6.  As per ancient rules, panchakarma can not be performed in too hot or cold; or when cloudy (or rainy) but in Kerala, it is done effectively in rainy seasons. 

Keraliya panchakarma and their categories: Even though there are numerous treatments in keraliya panchakarma, they all fit into five major categories-

1.  Dhara karma (Shiro-Dhara Or Avgahan Parisheka): It includes disease of the mind, Prana Vayu, CNS, ears, eyes, nose, and throat; facial palsy, insomnia, nervous disorders, memory, psychosis, fainting, confusion, excess perspiration, alcoholism, coma, etc.

2.  Kaya Seka (Pizhichil): It promotes tissue strength, biological fire, luster, complexion, Ojas, clear senses, Vayu disorders, muscle spasms, degenerative muscle disorders, etc.

3.  Pinda Sweda: It heals neuromuscular (facial paralysis, MS, muscular atrophy) and some systematic diseases.

4.  Anna lepa (Medicated grains): This therapy is used as an alternative method and applied when the Pinda Sweda does not work.

5.  Shiro lepa: It is used to treat mental and brain disorders.

Both dhara and lepa are palliative measures that eliminate excessed doshas. They remove stagnant, sticky toxins from the body’s channel (srotas) without applying traditional reducing methods (shodhana). Both can be given at all times and in all seasons.    

Research says- black tea, coffee or dark chocolate hobbies are genetic….

If you love black coffee, black tea, and dark chocolate, then according to new research your hobbies are genetic. Caffeine researcher Marilyn Cornelis says that while some people consume black coffee daily, some people do not like it at all. 

People who are fond of bitter tea, coffee, and chocolate have a kind of gene, due to which they are drawn towards these things again and again. According to research published in Nature Scientific Reports, the choice of bitter food items does not depend on the preferences of people, but on one of their genes. People born with this gene have their brains alerted to bitter tastes. Due to this, they repeatedly consumes black tea, black coffee, and dark chocolate. 

Most people associate bitterness with caffeine, so they drink more black coffee than milk coffee. Since chocolate does contain a little caffeine, the same concept applies to dark chocolate. However, experts say that dark chocolate contains more than caffeine, a chemical called theobromine, which if consumed in high amounts increases the heartbeat and also spoils the mood. According to the research, further research may also reveal that people who are genetically more likely to consume coffee are more healthy than others. 

It is better to drink milk and sugar than to add milk and sugar to coffee or tea. Since these things are plant-based, they should be consumed in their natural form. This reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and many types of cancer. 

Although dark chocolate contains a lot of calories, taking one bite of it daily keeps your heart healthy. This is because dark chocolate is made from cocoa, which contains antioxidants. These antioxidants keep the blood flow well in the body.

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Marma abhyanga or Marma point therapy or Therapeutic body massage…

Marma points therapy is a traditional Ayurvedic massage technique that's believed to help sustain the flow of energy throughout your body. There are 107 marma points located around our body. Stimulation of these points is said to affect everything from the health of your organs to the production of hormones. Marma has been discussed in Vedas and also detailed in the classical Ayurvedic text, Shushrut Samhita. The marma points are similar to Chinese acupuncture, with only no invasive use of needles involved. Marma points are the position on the body where flesh, veins, arteries, tendons, bones, and joints meet. They may be seen as the junctions’ where Vayu, Pitta, and Kapha meet; or where sattva, rajas, and tamas meet; or where eternity and relativity meet. Some of the experts say that they are the points where the three aspects of self–realization meet, I,e. inner self, outer world, and between the two (knower, known, and process of knowing). They may be the junction between the physical, astral, and causal bodies. In short, they are the points that have great importance to a person’s body, mind, and spirit.

                    (Marmas  points in human) 

Although, the marmas are the junctions of all the five principles (i.e. flesh, veins, arteries, tendons, bones, and joints), at each point, a predominance of one principle exists. It is at these points where abhyanga can most effectively restructure or rebalance the system to function most healthily. Further, Abhyanga helps to develop the preventive health and longevity of the body and mind by ensuring the proper balance and flow of hormones, fluids, immune, factors, etc. 

Marma points are known in Ayurveda as major (Maha) and minor (laghu); however, in the human body, there are one hundred and seven marma points that exist. The major points are responsible to make functional chakras (secret energy points) on the body, while the minor points are found around the torso and limbs, thus, healing through marma abhyanga affects the chakras. Physical health and doshas. 

The purpose of marma abhyanga is to stimulate the various bodily organs and systems. Like acupuncture, these points are measured by finger units to detect their correct locations. In ancient India, it was cautioned that this marma was to be guarded against harm. If these points were pierced by an arrow or hit forcibly, it could result in disease, trauma, or even death. Obviously, places like the heart, forehead, and throat are vulnerable areas whereas sites on both arms and legs are less vulnerable to severe injury. It is seen whenever imbalances exist in the body, these same spots become sore. Through marma abhyanga, health is restored.

Marma points are grouped according to the region of the body (arms -22 points, legs -22 points (11 in each), abdomen, 3 points, chest, 9 points, back, 14 points, and head and neck 37 points. They are also grouped according to muscles (10 points), ligaments and tendons (23 points), arteries (9 points), veins (37 points), joints (20 points), and bones (87 points). 

Traditionally, marma points are grouped into three categories; those on the legs and feet (Shankha marma), those on the trunk (Madhayamanga marma), and those on the neck and head (Jatrudhva marma). I hope, this article surely helps medical students, certified message centers, physiotherapists, and other traditional medicine practitioners. 

Stay healthy, stay safe…      

Corona is itself the enemy of Corona – A research report…

The coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 is behind the Covid-19 epidemic that the whole world is battling for the last two years. However, apart from this, there are many types of coronavirus present in the environment, which are not fatal for us.  According to scientists from Imperial College London, the common cold caused by these viruses increases immunity against Covid-19 in our body by means of common-cold coronavirus present in nature increases immunity against Covid-19. 

Common Cold Coronavirus makes T-cells in the body:  In this research published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists have found that the Common Cold Coronavirus is effective in producing antibodies to fight SARS-CoV-2 inside us.  They increase the number of T-cells in our body. T-cells are cells that fight and kill viruses. 

How T-cells work: T cells cannot stop you from getting infected, but after infection, they kill the virus as soon as it reaches inside the body. Along with this, they also help in making antibodies in the body by working with other cells. The government of South Africa has defeated Omicron by speeding up vaccinations to strengthen people's T-cells. 

Similar research has been done before:  In earlier research, scientists had found that T-cells formed in the body due to another coronavirus recognize SARS-CoV-2. Now this research shows that after being identified, these T-cells also increase our immunity against SARS-CoV-2. 

The universal vaccine can be made: Scientists believe that this research can open the door to making a universal vaccine against the coronavirus. This vaccine will not only fight SARS-CoV-2 but will also protect us from other coronaviruses present in nature. Also, deadly corona variants like Omicron and Delta will also not be able to survive by vaccinating with universal vaccines.

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Importance of the labeling rule on food items and confusion made to consumers…

According to Food Regulation 2011, Non-vegetarian or non-vegetarian food is food in which a part or whole of an animal is used. These include birds, freshwater or marine animals or eggs, or products derived from any animal, but do not include milk or milk products. All non-vegetarian or non-vegetarian food should be labeled a circle filled with a brown color inside a square with a brown outline. 

At the same time, an egg is the only non-vegetarian material that can be told about this apart from the brown symbol. Vegetarian or vegetarian food should be labeled with a green circle inside the square with a green outline. The manufacturer is also required to display a list of the quantity and weight of the ingredients as well. The manufacturer has to specify what type of edible vegetable oil, vegetable fat, animal fat or oil, fish, poultry, meat, cheese, etc. has been used in the product. If an ingredient itself is made up of two or more ingredients and the "compound ingredient" consisting of it constitutes less than 5% of food, then a list of ingredients included in compound ingredients other than food additives No need to declare. 

Why did the question arise regarding food labeling, what did the court say? Now the question arises that when the rules regarding labeling of vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods are clear, then why are questions being raised about it? The High Court said that the law very clearly states that the manufacturers should specify which food is vegetarian and which is non-vegetarian. The Court observed that however, it appears that some food business operators are taking unfair advantage of the rule of regulation that, with certain exceptions, the source of ingredients (plant or animal) used for the manufacture or production of food articles There is no obligation to tell. 

How is non-veg mixed in vegetarian food? Even though many products are sold as vegetarian food and have a green circle on them to designate them as vegetarian, they also use ingredients that are made from animals. The Delhi High Court cited the example of disodium inosinate (E 631), a food additive found in instant noodles and potato chips, which are commercially prepared from meat or fish. The court said, "A little search on Google reveals that E 631 is nonvegetarian and It is commercially prepared from meat or fish. Although it can also have a plant origin when it is made from the Tapioca starch, otherwise mostly the origin is from meat. Those suffering from gout and asthma should steer clear of such products. Since, the disodium inosinate (E 631), can be obtained from plant sources this is why the rule was not forcibly adhered to the manufacturer to paste the level for the Non-veg category but what was the moral duty of the manufacturer? 

They should clearly indicate their products based on the source of the ingredients used for production. But, When such ingredients or ingredients are also used in a vegetarian product, only the code for that ingredient is disclosed. Without disclosing on the packaging what the source of the material is, that is, whether it is made from plants or animals or chemically prepared in a lab. The court said, "Many food items which contain ingredients from animals pass as vegetarian only by applying green dot." 

The court issued instructions to the food operators: The court said in its judgment that any vegetarian food that contains non-vegetarian ingredients in a "modest percentage" would "make that food non-vegetarian, and the religious and cultural sensitivities and feelings of vegetarians" hurt, and interfere with their rights. The Court held that the failure of the authorities to investigate such lapses is in violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Court directed the Food Business Operators to strictly adhere to Regulation 2.2.2(4), which mandates "Declaration in respect of vegetarian or non-vegetarian food". 

The court warned these food operators that failing to comply with this rule would be considered a violation of the fundamental rights of the public consuming their products. If this happens, strict legal action will be taken against the food operators. Also, the court has directed FSSAI to implement this order.  

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