Arthritis and ovarian Cancer..Medicine in Kitchen?

[Guest guest]

Ayurveda appears to conquer new peaks with time.

Arthritis and Ovarian Cancer. These two appear quite different

diseases. But common points between them are, both catch women as

victims and both have common herbs for treatment. Turmeric is already

discussed a lot. God has given us many herbs to keep the body in best

shape and health. Where there is disease, solution is not far away.

Even our daily food has many medicines in it. Our kitchen is full of

such medicines, whether we realize it or not. Take spices such as

ginger, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, mustard, fenugreek,

asfoetida, every Indian kitchen has them. Most of us think that by

adding these, our food becomes more tasty. But the food becomes a

medicine too. The ayurvedic philosophy is " food is medicine itself " .

Today we take just ginger for discussion. The ginger is best medicine

for arthritis. The person who keeps eating giner will have to face

arthritis only as an exception. Ginger prevents initiation of Vatic

and Kapha diseases. Those who cant get fresh ginger, can take dry

ginger powder. One of the most prevalent Vatic disorder is

encountered after childbirth. Ginger is an elixir for mother after

childbirth. Since ginger is not available plenty in all seasons, it

is better to use dry ginger and powder it as and when needed. The

mother who takes ginger or its decoction immediately after

childbirth, the ginger will appear in her breast milk also. It means

baby too gets benefit in Kapha and Vata disorders, even later in

life. No milk allergies in such cases will develop later.

Tea is the most favoured drink in India. Irrespective of age, time of

the day, tea is offered to every visitor. Gujarati's in India, U.S.,

Canada are very fond of adding a masala, meaning a powdered mixture

to make tea very tasty and healthy too. Most arthritis patients are

told to avoid tea and coffee. But addiction is not easy to get rid

off. Ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, take all

in equal proportion by weight and pound together. Do not strain. When

making tea, you can add about a ¼ tsp of this masala per cup of tea

decoction just after it starts boiling. Add sugar and milk later.

This is ayurvedic tea, will not cause Kapha and a good remedy for

strepped throat. Voice opens up in volume and increases vigour in the

body. This tea will not cause obesity. This is due to spices added,

milk looses its Kapha causing property and also those suffering from

milk allergy can take this milk (without tea powder if you wish to

avoid tea) without any fear of allergy. Frequently, while treating

obesity, weight gain may occur rather than weight-loss. This tea will

not add layer of fat and will make body both healthy and well

proportioned. The very process of making tea offers flavinoids in tea

and milk softens caffeine, will not cause addiction.

Ginger ranks high amongst the herbs used to treat liver disorders in

ayurveda. Ginger is needed to give energy and vigor to the body as a

result of proper metabolism. As ginger does not allow Meda (obesity)

to increase, It has been used in Trifla Guggulu, one of the most well

known formulations aimed at reducing obesity. Further, along with

black pepper and peeper longum, it finds place in Medohar Guggulu,

another formulation for same purpose. But use both of these under

supervision of a vaidya, as the proportions need to be changed

dynamically, else dizziness, vertigo will be additional problems.

Only Trifla Guggulu is harmless, but watch if it causes constipation

in over enthusiasm. Despite Trifla being laxative, Trifla Guggulu is

not, and in fact some can get constipated if used in a wrong manner.

Despite these difficulties, no complaint from any patient that

obesity increases while taking Trifla Guggulu.

If one takes a tsp of cow ghee and jaggery about 20 gramms in a

small vessel, warms them a little so that jaggery melts and then adds

½ tsp ginger powder, a little mixing will give a paste. This warm

paste, if taken on empty stomach, it is an excellent remedy for

frequent cough, cold, swellings. It increases hunger and causes

better digestion too. Gas, acidity are the complaints of old age.

Today, many senior citizens who know ayurvedic remedies too well,

take ginger, licorice and Peepramul powder together everyday to guard

the mobility of the body.

Ginger is a very versatile herb and even a small book (say 40-50

pages) will be inadequate to describe its reach in health science. In

allergic skin diseases such as Psoriasis, eczema, ginger is both

preventive and pacifier.

For Indians in villages, having some medical plants in court yard,

author describes a healthy juice aimed at all allergic diseases.

Ardusi, ginger, tulsi, pudina (mint), mix ½ tsp fresh juice of each

and add a pinch or two of saindhav or black salt, a tsp of honey and

drink after mixing well, the first thing in the morning, on empty

stomach. Take tea/coffee after 30-40 minutes only, if used to. It

will give you clear voice, all old chronic coughs, panting, breathing

difficulties and cardiac asthma cases will get slow cure this way.

Now author describes a home remedy for both arthritis and sciatica.

Many Mother-in-laws know this and pass on to daughter-in-laws. Take

200 ml water, add 1 tsp ginger powder (3-5 grams), slow boil till

only 25% water remains and drink after starining and adding 5-25 ml

castor oil. Start with 5 ml castor oil only, and go on increasing

upto 25 ml, as per your constitution. This is very effective remedy

for arthritis (both osteo and rheumatic), disorders of apan vata

(which also include nocturnal emission of semen), gulma, bloating

etc. It increases blood circulation to extremeties, taking care of

varicose veins, heel pain etc. 3-6 months, every morning, and

patience pays gradually in the end. Do not get disappointed if for

first one month no benifit is seen at all.

While many correlate ginger powder with Pitta and acidity, it is not

correct. Ayurveda has many exceptions, which one comes to know only

after familiarity of experience. The combination of Ginger, black

pepper and Pepper Longum is termed `Trikatu " in ayurveda. Take a

pinch of black pepper powder in hand and inhale for clearing nose

block or take steam after boiling it in water for same benefit.

Trikatu is used in many formulations of ayurveda, Medohar guggulu was

discussed in this post earlier. Many formulations aimed at increasing

hunger, digestion, tackling gas, bloating use trikatu. Acidity is

also tackled by some formulations using trikatu. Here digestive agni

does not mean only hunger, but creating all dhatus from the food.

This gives vigor, energy and weight gain by increased muscle density,

not obesity.

One most common use of ginger is in Gujarati meals. Ginger is added

in Tadka Dhal, and ginger is also served as appetizer as few pieces

sprinkled with little salt and lemon juice. Heavy meals also will get

quickly digested this way. Thus ginger does not allow indigestion and

but imparts health and balance. Some make a pickle from ginger root

pieces and lemon juice, no other preservative is needed. Slightly

less known use of ginger is for blood purification along with other

herbs.

After so many uses of ginger, author wishes to bring out a special

property of ginger. It has been found to effectively treat a number

ailments including stomach ache, diarrhea, and nausea.[1] When it

comes to women's health, ginger root has proven beneficial in helping

treat morning sickness with dosages ranging from 125 to 350 mg of

ginger root extract per day[2-4]

Now a new study[5] has found that ginger root extract may provide

another benefit for women by helping protect against ovarian cancer,

the eighth most common cancer in women and fifth most common cause of

cancer death in women.

In the study, researchers dissolved ginger powder in a solution and

applied it to ovarian cancer cells in a laboratory. Not only did

ginger cause the cancer cells to spontaneously die (called

apoptosis), ginger extract also caused the cancer cells to digest or

attack each other (called autophagy).

For the researchers, the importance of this study is that most

ovarian cancer patients develop recurrent disease that eventually

becomes resistant to standard chemotherapy. If ginger can cause…cell

death…it may circumvent resistance to conventional chemotherapy. "

.. That is the scientific mindset. They want to use ginger to

circumvent the resistance to chemo. Cant chemo be avoided altogether?

That is ayurvedic mindset. The study cleared a question in this

author's mind, while western women are so much vulnerable to ovarian

cancer, while Indian women have negligible risk? The answer appears

to be ginger. You will not find an Indian kitchen without fresh

ginger and coriander present.

Dr Bhate

Reference:

1 Afzal M, Al-Hadidi D, Menon M, Pesek J, Dhami MS. Ginger: an

ethnomedical, chemical and pharmacological review. Drug Metabol Drug

Interact 2001;18:159–90

2 Borrelli, F., R. Capasso, et al. (2005). " Effectiveness and safety

of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. "

Obstet Gynecol 105(4): 849-56

3 Sripramote M, Lekhyananda N. A randomized comparison of ginger and

vitamin B6 in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. J

Med Assoc Thai 2003;86:846–53

4 Fischer-Rasmussen W, Kjaer SK, Dahl C, Asping U. Ginger treatment

of hyperemesis gravidarum. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol

1991;38:19–24

5 " Ginger: An Ovarian Cancer Killer " posted on the American

Association for Cancer Research website www.