EDITORIAL



WALK TO STAY HEALTHY

Walking helps in losing fat, maintaining a healthy weight, and improving fitness.It reduces the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and many more.

Physical activity does not have to be vigorous or done for long periods in order to improve the health.On that cuase,walking is a suitable physical activity for most people .Regular walking can help in losing body fat,maintain a healthy weight,and to improve fitness.It reduces the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease,type 2 diabetes,ostioporosis and some cancers.

Benefits of walking

Increased heart and lung fitness. Reduced risk of heart disease and storke. Improved management of conditions such as hypertension {high blood pressure},high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness,and diabetes. Stronger bones and improved balance. Increased muscle strength and endurance.

Walk for 30 minutes a day

If it is difficult to walk for 30 minutes at one go,you can start with a 10 minutes walk and gradually build up to longer sessions.But for weight loss;physical activity is needed for more than 30 minutes each day walk fast burns more kilojoules per hour than walking slowly.

Physical activity built into a daily lifestyle plan is also one of the most effective ways to assist with weight loss.

Try taking the stairs instead of the lift. Get off public transport one stop earlier and walk to work or home. Do house work like vacuming. Walk to the local shops.

WARMING UP AND COOLING DOWN

The best way to warm up is to walk slowly.start off each walk at a liesurely pace to give the muscles time to warm up,and then pick up the speed.

Afterwards,gently strech the leg muscles,particularly calves and front and back thighs.Stretches should be held for about 20 seconds.

Make walking at pleasure

Wear loose, comfortable clothes.

Get protected from the sun with clothes,sunglasses and sun block.

Drinkplenty of fluids before and after the walk.

Check with the doctor before starting any type of physical activity if you have any health concerns.



COVERSTORY



The Heat is on

Summer workouts are a great way to get rid of the extra flab gained during the long months of winter. But before you step out, remember that the sun can take a toll on you body. So, it’s better to indulge in indoor exercises to avoid getting a heat stroke or getting a heat dehydrated. Summer is also the best time to become a water baby and swim around in the pool for as long as you desire.

We asked a Unani,fitness expert on an ideal workout regime for the summer and this is what she had to say,”Indoor workouts like gymming, aerobics and yoga are the best options to avoid the scorching heat this summer. Swimming and water aerobics can do wonders for the body as they not only protect you from the heat, but are also great to work out the cardiovascular system,”she informs. Water exercises are the perfect way to get some exercise without being bothered about the scorching sun.

Stick to a light diet. Stay away from fried foods and heavy meals. Include vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and different sorts of salads in your diet. Apart from assisting weight loss, water also helps you stay hydrated, say experts. Opt for cool drinks like iced tea instead of aerated drinks.

Eat a mango a day, include carbohydrates for dinner and shell out some money on a good massage from a therapist.

Going easy on the workout schedule is advisable in the summer as one is already tired and drained out after a hard day’s work. So, workout schedules should be reduced to three times a week. There’s no restriction on water exerciseslike swimming ; a dip a day isn’t harmful.

Sports science and nutrition expert says, “Trekking is the best workout ever and helps in burning fat easily. The mountains are a great summer workout location because it’s usually cooler in the hilly terrains. As you’ll be gaining attitude, a temperature drop may also be noticed. Group exercises could also be a fun summer workout session to look at”.

Workouts could get tedious for models during summers as they’re constantly on the move. “My workout during the summers is generally light. I restrict my cardio and weight training to three - four times, which I otherwise do every day. Swimming is a good option, but I prefer a dip in the early morning or late evening, as being under the hot sun may not be good for the skin.

Outdoor exercises on the beach, like a game of volleyball or just a long walk, can by themselves prove to be great workouts (sand provides you the extra resistance that a treadmill fails.. to). Walking barefoot on the sand is also beneficial for the calves. Finish your beach workout with deep breathing, meditation and stretching. So, go ahead and say bye to the mundane gym routine and try something new this summer!

Summer Radiance

Summer is a lovely season with flowering trees at their flamboyant best, birds in your bird bath and the summer breeze. But the rising mercurry can be harsh on one’s skin and even on health.

You need to understand the nature of your skin and work accordingly to keep it beautiful and glowing.

The first and most essential mantra, Unaniexperts say, is ‘moisturise’. This is the most important part of daily skin care. Your skin, which looked radiant through winter, suddenly looks dull, blemished and oily.

“This is because, in winter, your skin’s natural oils solidify, whereas in summer they flow freely,” “Hence, most people need a lighter moisturiser in hot weather.”

Although oil-free and water-based moisturisers are preferable, you need to understand your skin’s needs. Just plain water may work for you. Well known expert says that flower based lotions like rose water or cucumber water (made by diluting cucumber juice with water) can be sprayed on the face to tone and refresh it. Cool them in the fridge before use.

Fight sun tan

Too much exposure to the sun causes the skin to burn and darken causing sun tan. To avoid excessive tanning, apply sunscreen before stepping out, say experts. This creates a protective layer, preventing the harmful ultraviolet rays from damaging the skin.

Cure for sunburn : Apply yogurt or buttermilk on the face and wash off after 20 minutes.

Or crush sesame seeds (till) coarsely and soak in water overnight. Next morning strain the water and use the white liquid to wash the face. Soothes sunburn and sun-damaged skin in summer.

The cleansing routine

Cleansing is essential. Forest Essentials offer delicate facial cleansers like Saffron and Neem, Mashobra Wild Honey and Rose water that are balancing, nutritious, healing and totally free of toxic ingredients.

Cleansing Papaya Mask : For all skin types. Just apply papaya pulp on the skin like a mask and wash off after 20 minutes. Papaya contains enzymes that help soften and remove dead skin cells.

Fight acne and pimples

Excessive sweating and exposure to heat expands pores on the skin resulting in accumulation of Wipe the face with cold rose water to avoid pimples and keep the skin clean.

Visit a parlour to clear out dead skin regularly. Or try various exfoliating scrubs available.

Home-made scrub : Mix together Multani Mitti, Chana Ka Atta and Sandalwood powder in equal quantities. Store in an air tight container. Use a teaspoon of this scrub mixed to a paste with water. This rids the skin of flakes and dirt.

Keep skin cool

The skin needs to be kept cool otherwise it may break into rashes or pimples. Choose from various cooling packs comprising agents such as cucumber, rosewater, sandalwood, Fuller’s Earth, camphor powder, neem leaves etc.

Aloe Vera conditions and hydrates dry, rough and suh exposed skin putting back into it what the sun takes out. So there’s no reason to be afraid of the sun.







Work it off Unani Way



Even if you are doing your best to exercise and watch what you eat, it’s still possible to reach a point where weight loss slows down, or even stops altogether. Increase the amount of calories you consume as your body weight decreases.

Online calculators allow you to estimate the appropriate number of calories needed for your goals, how many you are eating, and how many you are burning with exercise.

Another mistake people make when trying to lose weight is cutting calories too drastically in an attempt to slim down quickly. Skipping meals or consuming too few calories for good health can have significant negative consequences, along with slowing down the metabolism and making it harder to keep the weight off.

In a nutshell, if you train your body to consistently survive with less food than it needs to function, it will eventually adapt, and anything above this amount will be more likely stored as body fat rather than burned.

Proper amounts of carbs, protein and fats are needed for continuing energy and cell regeneration. Eating too little compromises the body’s ability to build and maintain muscle and bone tissue, as well as its ability to recover and repair itself as it should.

If your calorie intake is right, but you are still frustrated with progress, opt for burning extra calories through increased activity rather than deprive your body of essential nutrients.

If you have repeatedly tried and failed to lose weight, you might be like many, focussing primiarily on reaching a certain number on the scale. If you are exercising, particularly strength (resistance) training, remember that you are building lean muscle tissue, so be sure to keep this “weight” in mind when you step on the scale.

Muscle uses hundreds of calories each day that might otherwise be stored as body fat, so the more of it you have, the better. In addition to helping you to become leaner, resistance training increases bone density, gives you greater overall strength, better posture and aids in supporting the joints.

Instead of measuring your success by scale weight, measure it by your ability to exercise and consume healthy foods each day. It is safe to lose one to two pounds a week.

It is not necessary to cut out all of your favourite foods in order to lose weight. The more restrictive the diet, the greater the chances of good intentions backfiring!

The bulk of your diet should always come from healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats, but having a low-calorie treat every now and then can help you from feeling deprived.

Some 100 calorie treats include :

Half an apple with two teaspoons peanut butter.

Two fruit juice bars. One fat-free, single serve pudding cup.

15 jelly beans.

One cup unsweetended applesauce. One half-cup sherbet.

Five low fat digestive biscuits.

Suggestions :

Don’t wait till the last minute to decide if and when you want to exercise. If possible, team up with a friend, co-worker or family member whose schedule, interests and goals are similar to yours. This makes exercising more fun, and also provides motivation, support and accountability.





Breathe Easy

With changes in climate and increase in pollution, many people routinely suffer from the common cold. A blocked nose is the most common symptom. When you have a cold, many chemicals are released, which act on the tiny blood vessels in the lining of the nose. This causes the lining to swell and makes breathing difficult. If this happens during sleep, it is far more distressing. If neglected, a blocked nose leads to chronic ailments.

The feeling of stuffiness in the nose, during a cold, makes breathing difficult, and also leads to headaches, body pain and watery eyes. This makes it very difficult to concentrate on work. Moreover the constant headache makes your irritable and frustrated.

A blocked nose also affects sleep patterns. With loss of sleep, a feeling of lethargy creeps in and it becomes almost impossible to keep pace with the daily routine.

Treatment options

There are two ways to treat a blocked nose: Systemic and Topical therapy.

Systemic therapy involves treating a disease via the blood circulation. Most people use oral tablets to treat this condition. When you ingest a tablet, it is broken up and absorbed in the blood. The medicine reaches all parts of the body along with the diseased part and cures it. Obvisouly when you take a tablet to treat your blocked nose, it takes a while to reach the nose and cure it. Decongestant tablets may also have certain other side effects like drowsiness. This is not necessary as the medicine only needs to reach the nasal mucosa and sinuses.

A better option in such cases would be topical therapy. Topical therapy involves application of the drug directly to the diseased area; in this case, a nasal spray applied directly in the nose is a better and more effective option compared to decongestant tablets. A nasal spray provides instant relief since it does away with the time consuming process of the stomach having to absorb the drug.

Also, unlike tablets, it is not absorbed and does not enter the blood circulation to cause unwanted side effects. The inherent advantage of nasal sprays is that they act locally ensuring better decongestion, fast relief and are easy to use.





Watch your Unani Diet

this summer



Anatomy of Ailments

Summer is the time when the body is susceptible to a number of diseases. But with a little care and precaution these ailments can be easily avoided.

1. Hair

Heat boils are a summer occurrence. You need to wash hair on alternate days with a medicated shampoo. Children need to have regular hair cuts and you can treat the boils with an antiseptic.

2. Head

Heat stroke, and dehydration can result in headache and changes in sensorium. When the temperature goes up, the sweating mechanism comes into play. But when the temperature continues to rise, sweeting fails, the core body temperature rises, and this causes a heat stroke. Immediate rehydration, and ice packs on the femoral arteries and armpits will help. Also sponge the person under a fan.

3. Eye

Allergic conjunctivitis or spring catarrh is caused by an increase in temperature and dust. Problems like dryness in the eye, itching, discharge and redness are usually side-effects of the excessive heat. Keep washing your eyes at regular intervals.

4. Nose

Nasal secretions can dry up sooner. Avoid picking your nose as it can lead to trauma and bleeding. Steam inhalation and saline nose drops can help in hydrating the area.

5. Heart

As a result of dehydration, you can experience palpitations. Also patients with hypertension who are advised not to take salt need to be more cautions in summer as they are more prone to dehydration, especially if they are on diuretics.

6. Abdomen

Doctors report seeing more cases of diarrhoea, typhoid, and jaundice during summer. Hepatitis A and typhoid can be prevented with immunisation. Check your immunisation status with your physician. Avoid eating out as much as possible.

7. Urinary bladder

Urinary tract discomfort gets more common in summer, especially among children, because they do not drink enough water. Symptoms are difficulty and pain while passing urine. You need to make sure you are always well hydrated. Also see your doctor if the symptoms persists for a long time to rule out infections.

8. Skin

Prickly heat and superficial fungal infections in sweaty areas such as the armpit, between toes and in the groin area are common. Talcum powder tends to clog sweat pores. Bathe twice a day, using a medicated soap and wash rag/loofah. Wear light clothing and try to work in the shade.





What causes stress?



In technically advanced societies, stress is the biggest nemesis of human productivity, health and happiness. Stress is responsible for almost 70% of all physical illness and high rates of anxiety and depression among the general population. India can assume its place as a world leader without meeting the same calamitous fate.

Stress arises anytime there is an unacceptable disparity between your expectations and your experience. When this happens, fear rises, and the stress response is activated. When people think of stress, they often think of traumatic events like a natural disaster. However, in technical societies, the most common and deadly stress factor is “fear of failure”. Here, stress is a problem of opportunity, competition is king, and the social expectation is that people will make gains in wealth, power and prestige. When we fail to meet this expectation, or even if we think we will fall, we get stress. It is an established scientific fact that you will succumb to stress if you expect things to get worse, even if conditions do not deteriorate. Western nations have unbridled stress due to runaway hopes and greed, unmitigated by any larger purpose. For most people, the purpose of life is to find happiness. If we think material success will make us happy, and if we expect it will be hard or impossible to get it, we will be maximally stressed. If instead, we focus on achieving harmony within ourselves and with God as the ultimate source of happiness, our experience is very different. As expectations go up or down in relation to current conditions, we do not succumb to stress because we are not attached to our expectations - we take our lead from God.

Our connection to spirit provides us with the power we need to pursue our goals for worldly success with greater ease and efficienty, and actively assists us with the realization of our own noble dreams. In the end, we discover that communion with God brings the death of stress, and more happiness than we dared dream of.









The Unani Health benefits of

Eating coconut ? . . .



Although the oil from the coconut is high in saturated fat, it’s rich in a certain type of fat known as medium chain triglycerides. Studies have shown that supplementing the diet with medium chain triglycerides such as those found in coconut oil, reduces appetite and helps to eliminate abdominal obesity. It appears that medium chain triglycerides are more likely to be burned off as fuel rather than being stored as fat. Plus, they may boost the metabolism making it easier to lose those excess kilos but at the same time provides nutrition.

While there was concern that the saturated fat found in coconut oil might raise levels of LDL cholesterol, this does not appear to be the case. Studies in the 1980’s showed that coconut oil increased cholesterol since these studies used hydrogenated coconut oil which contained trans fats, fats that are known to cause heart disease. But animal studies suggest that coconut oil actually helps to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, possible because of its high concentration of an amino acid known as L-arginine. More recent studies suggest that coconut oil may be protective against heart disease and may favorably affect cholesterol profiles, although the verdict is still not out on this. Nevertheless, many experts believe that coconut oil is a healthy alternative to other cooking oils.

It may also protect against bacterial and viral infections. Two components of the coconut, lauric acid and monolaurin have the ability to kill bacterial and viruses. Monolaurin has even been shown to stop the growth of the HIV virus. Interestingly, lauric acid is also found in mother’s milk and helps to stimulate the newborn’s immune system to fight off infection. Therefore in most of the Indian homes the new mother during the post delivery period is given prepartions using coconut milk, coconut water and fresh tender coconut. It helps to produce more and better quality of breast milk. It is thought that it may also help to promote better immune function in adults.

Coconut water has benefits too!

Not only is it almost fat-free, it is also a good source of important electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. Coconut water is considered to be isotonic which means it has a similar electrolyte composition as fluids naturally found in the blood stream, making it a good way to rehydrate after exercise, in case of fluid loss, and debilitated conditions. It also acts as a natural diuretic.

So, the next time you crack open a fresh coconut, enjoy the taste, but also remember the health benefits you’re getting. And also enjoy the nutritious and healthy savories, snacks and mouth watering dishes cooked.



Islam and Yoga



Years ago when young I began doing hatha yoga. Although several years passed without practicing yoga, the complete yoga breathing learned from it was a constant presence in my life. There was also my Islamic life, including praying salat five times every day. A couple years ago I returned to yoga while keeping up my Islamic practice. How are these two developments related? How do they interact?

When I returned to the practice of yoga, I found that it is easily integrated with the Islamic life; in fact the two assist one another. Not only is there no conflict, but Islam and yoga together make a mutually beneficial synergy. Both are agreed that, while the body is important as a vehicle on the way to spiritual realization and salvation, the human being’s primary identity is not with the body but with the eternal Spirit.

This is not a case of syncretism between two religions (which be spiritually invalid). Yoga is not a religion. Rather, it is a set of techniques and skills that enhance the practice of any religion. A French author named Jean Dechanet discovered this in regard to his Catholic faith and wrote the book Christian Yoga (New York : Harper, 1960). In my case, I have found that Islamic yoga is a reality. It is possible to employe the skills of yoga to worship Allah better and to be a better Muslim.

Yoga arose from the matrix of the Hindu world, although according to Mircea Eliade it is of pre-Hindu origin and can be traced back to prehistoric shamanism. Like India’s other gifts to world civilization, for example the system of place notation on which all mathematics depends, yoga is not tied to the Hindu religion but has a universal applicability. It helps one to follow one’s own religion better whatever that may be. It has certain specific affinities with Islam that make for an interesting study.

1. Metaphysical doctrine

Since the metaphysic of Advaita Vedanta is in agreement with the tawhid (doctrine of oneness) of Islam, there is perfect compatibility between Islam and yoga on the highest level. All traditional esoterisms agree that everything in manifestation has its origin in the Supernal. The manifestations on the material plane are derived from the ideational realm of archetypes (known as al-a’yan al-thabitah in the metaphysics of Ibn al-’Arabi). This world, limited as it is, is just an expression of the ultimate Reality, and will ultimately be reabsorbed in its supernal Origin. Advaita Vedanta and Islamic esoteric metaphysics are agreed that God is the only absolutely real, eternal Reality; all else is contingent and therefore transitory. The unitary view of reality in Advaita Vedanta accords well with the tawhid (divine oneness) of Islam, and the Oneness of Being in the Sufi doctrine of Ibn al-’Arabi.

It is interesting to compare the symbolism of Prophet Muhammad’s night time ascent to Heaven, al-Mi’raj, with the corresponding symbolism in yoga. The Prophet ascended on al-Buraq, a riding beast with the head of a woman, through the seven heavens to the Throne of God. In yoga, the kuNDalini is a feminine power (sakti) that dwells at the base of the spine and ascends through seven levels (represented by the seven cakras) to the summit of liberation (brahmarandhra).

2. Salat and asanas

One of the most obvious correspondences between Islam and hatha yoga is the resemblance of salat to the physical exercises of yoga asanas. An Indian Muslim author, Ashraf F. Nizami, noted this in his book Namaz, the Yoga of Islam (Bombay : D.B. Taraporevala, 1977). The root meaning of the word salat is ‘to bend the lower back’, as in hatha yoga; the Persians translated this concept with the word namaz, from a verbal root meaning ‘to bow’, etymologically related to the Sanskrit word namaste. The thousands of postures and variations known to hatha yoga can be classified into a few basic types, including standing postures, spinal stretches, inverted postures, seated postures, and spinal twists. The genius of Islamic salat is to incorporate all of these in rudimentary form into a compact, flowing sequence, ensuring a thorough, all round course of exercises for good health that is easy for everyone to practice.

a) Standing : The Mountain Pose (TaDasana) is the foundation for all standing asanas. One always begins from this and returns to it at the completion of the standing sequence. In this it very closely resembles not only the standing posture of qiyam in salat, but also the “Return to Mountain” of T’ai Chi Ch’uan. Standing in Mountain Pose or qiyam is a quiescent exercise for the whole body: feet, legs, and spine working together. With one’s feet planted squarely on Earth and one’s head reaching toward Heaven, this post is of the finest metaphysical significance to the sacredness of the human state, for vertically is the essence of religion.

b) Spinal stretching : As the yogis say, one is as young as one’s spine. Hatha yoga concentrates much careful attention on deep, thorough stretches of the spine, bringing the head forward to rest on the knees. Since all the nerves of the body are channeled from the spinal cord out between the vertebrae, a healthy spine is of central importance for the well-being of the whole human body and mind. It takes much patient, persistent practice to make and keep the spine ideally flexible, and only the most dedicated yogis succeed in this. Since Islam is a path for everyone, the Islamic spinal stretch is kept easy and within everyone’s reach: the bowing position called ruku only requires that you bend forward enough to place your hands on your knees. Nonetheless, even this minimal stretch helps keep the spine in good condition. When I returned to yoga after praying salat for several years, I found that making ruku seventeen times a day had beautifully prepared my spine for deeper forward stretches.

c) Inverted poses : The heart does its best to circulate blood all through the veins and arteries, but it’s a demanding job, and exercise is needed to help the circulation go to maximum efficiency. In particular, raising fresh blood to the brain through the carotid artery, and lifting it from the feet back up to the heart, is always going against the pull of gravity. This is why two of the most important and beneficial asanas are the Shoulderstand (saravangasana, the ‘whole body pose’) and the Headstand (sirSasana). Islamic prayer has taken the most essential aspect of these inverted poses: lowering the head below the heart. The position called sujud is easy for everyone to accomplish and helps to bathe the brain in fresh oxygenated blood to keep it health and alert. Ashraf F. Nizami writes: “This may be termed similar to ...Half Sirshasana, It helps full fledged pumping of blood into the brain and upper half of the body including eyes, ears, nose and lungs.”

d) Seated postures : The word asana means ‘seat’ and the basic postures for meditation are seated ones, especially the Lotus. The Diamond Pose (vajrasana) is practically identical with the seated position of salat called jalsah. This has, of course, not escaped the notice of both yogis and Muslims in India. Nizami writes : “This is a Hardy Pose or is like Vajrasana.” Swami Sivananda in his book Yoga Asanas writes: “This Asana resembles more or less the Nimaz pose in which the Muslims sit for prayer.” Furthermore, both vajrasana and jalsah are the same as the zazen posture of Japan. Having practiced a little yoga when young, it became easier for me to sit on the floor in mosques for long stretches of time. In turn, accustomed to this in Islam over the years, it was then much easier to learn seated yoga postures like the Lotus, since my leg and hip joints were accustomed to the floor.

When sitting in the Lotus, a yoga mudra that accompanies meditation is made by forming the index finger and thumb into a circle. The Islamic mudra, made while sitting in jalsah, is to extend the index finger in a straight line (to attest to the Oneness of God), while forming the thumb and middle finger into a circle. The figure 1 and the figure 0 can convey a Tantric symbolism, and also are curiously similar to the binary 1 and 0 of computer science.

e) Spinal twists : A session of yoga practice normally concludes, just before final relaxation, with a thorough twist of the whole spine (ardha matsyendrasana) to the right and to the left. It helps to even out the spine from the other poses it has done and keep everything balanced. In much the same way, salat concludes with the prayer of peace (salam) said while turning the head to the right and then to the left. This works only the cervical and may be a few of the rhoracic vertebrae, but it is useful for keeping the neck flexible and is consistent with the pattern in salat of presenting reduced versions of the yoga asanas.

3. Breathing

In yoga, the science and art of breathing is paramount. The relaxation and exertion of all the members of the body, the stilling and concentration of the mind, the energizing of the whole being, and the access to the spiritual dimension all depend on breathing. In most languages of the world, the words for ‘breathing’ and ‘spirit’ are the same or closely related. The Arabic word for ‘spirit’ is ruh, coming from a root with several interconnected meanings: ‘to relax’, ‘to breathe’, and ‘to set out moving’. The full range of these meanings, taken together, summarizes all the functions of the breathe in Yoga. The Sanskrit word corresponding to ruh is atman, which also comes from an Indo-European root meaning ‘breath’ (compare the High German word Atem, ‘breathe’).

The spiritual importance of breath is a part of Islam’s teachings. Hazrat Inayat Khan writes on the subject of Islamic purification: “Man’s health and inspiration both depend on purity of breath, and to presrve this purity th hostrils and all the tubes of the breath must be kept clear. They can be kept clear by proper breathing and proper ablutions. If one cleanses the nostrils twice or oftener it is not too much, for a Moslem is taught to make this ablution five times, before each prayer.” According to Hakim G.M. Chishti in The Book of Sufi Healing, “Life, from its beginning to end, is one continuous set of breathing practices. The Holy Qur’an, in addition to all else it may be, is a set of breathing practices.”

4. Meditation and worship

In part 23 of the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali teaches the attainment of supreme spiritual realization through devotion to God (isvara pranidhana). The sutra is a very succinct, condensed type of literature, so a single brief mention suffices. Because Patanjali did not elaborate upon it, some commentators have assumed that his God is a mere figurehead or abstraction and therefore not so important in yoga practice. Nothing could be further from the truth; in fact, the one feature that distinguishes the metaphysic of the Yoga darsana from that of the Sankhya darsana of Kapila (a non-theistic analysis of the elements in the cosmos and consciousness) is the presence of God in Yoga. This makes all the difference, and allows the consonance of Yoga with religion.

Patanjali wisely chose to refer to God as isvara, which in Sanskrit simply means ‘God, the Supreme Being’ and does not name and deity of any particular religion. This universality frees Yoga from conflict with any religious doctrine, so that its techniques can be applied by a believer of any faith. In India, Yoga has been applied to a vast variety of different religious perspectives, and it works just as well for other religions including Islam. There is nothing specifically Hindu or Islamic about its techniques, but it will assist the devotee in any kind of worship. Yoga means to concentrate and still the mind; when this concentration is directed upon God, the yogis is reaching toward the heart of his religion.

As for meditation, traTaka is a yogic technique to focus the attention and attain one-pointedness. It consists of fixing the gaze on a single point. (It assists balance, too). While standing in Islamic prayer, we practice traTaka by fixing the gaze on a spot on the ground where the forehead rests in sujud. During ruku’. the traTaka is directed at the point between the big toes. The purpose is to focus the attention on the prayer and keep it from wandering. In this way it helps lead to a meditative state.

An important part of Sufi spiritual practice is to invoke the Divine Name Allah and meditate upon it. Once I had learned through yoga how to still the mind and focus the attention, I discovered that the same technique greatly sharpened and clarified my meditation on the Divine Name. It was like a nearsighted person putting on glasses and suddenly seeing clearly and sharply.

Some Sufi orders practice meditation and invocation focused within certain centers (lata’if) in the subtle body; this is the same technique as the yogic meditation upon the cakras.

5. Purification

It goes without saying that both Islam and yoga require basic physical and moral cleanliness and purity (taharah, sauca) before performing their practices. The two differ in several respects, but one feature that is common to both is using water into one nostril so that it flows through the sinuss and out the other nostril. The Muslim when making wudu’ takes water up the nose and blows it out; this is called istinsha’. Again, the Islamic version does not go as deep, being simplified to make it easily accesible to everyone.

6. Food

The Ayurvedic principles of yogic diet and the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are agreed that milk and ghee are beneficial, and that beef is detrimental to health. Likewise, both discourage eating onions and garlic. Ginger (Arabic zanjabil, from Sanskrit srngivera, from Proto-Dravidian cinciver) is mentioned in the Qur’an (76:17) as a spice of Paradise. Ayurveda regards ginger as sattvika, a quality helpful to spiritual life. Both Ayurveda and the Qur’an tell of the spiritual qualities of the basil plant, the sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum) called tulasi in Sanskrit and the sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) called rayhan in the Qur’an (while the Italians value it only for its culinary qualities!). Tulasi basil is used to uplife, clear, and invigorate the mind, assisting the consciousness to focus on spiritual thoughts; rayhan is mentioned in the Qur’an (55:12) as a plant of Paradise, and the Prophet recommended it to his Companions for its refreshing aromatherapy. The Arabic word rayhan is derived from the same root as ruh ‘spirit’.

Historical interaction

In historical time, Muslims did consciously borrow from yoga and acknowledged the source. The traveling scholar Abu Rayhan al-Biruni (11th century) translated the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali into Arabic. Shah Muhammad Ghaus of Gwalior (16 the century), leader of the Shattariyah order of Sufis, incorporated yoga practices into his teaching, based on the yogic text AmrtakuNDa. Yoga even reached as far as North Africa, where al-Sanusi (19th century) wrote of the yoga asanas (jalsah); he referred to yoga in Arabic as “al-Jujiyah”. However, the congruences between yoga and Islam that I noted above are not historical borrowings, but derive from the primordial beginnings of the traditions.

A large international yoga organization, 3HO, has adopted, the sujud from Islamic prayer, calling it “Easy Yoga.”

Conclusion

It can be valid and beneficial for Muslims to learn yoga, not as their spiritual path of Islam. Islam is a complete, integral spiritual path, so yoga is no substitute for any Islamic requirement. The Prophet said that wisdom is the believer’s stray camel: wherever he finds it he will recognize it (and claim his right to it).

How to explain the many points of correspondence between yoga and Islam? Did these ancient teachings travel from India to Arabia? No there is not need to assume such a horizontal transfer; the sacred truths are revealed vertically from Heavan to all peoples. There are close similarities between Islam and yoga not because of borrowing or cultural diffusion, but because of both originating in the Primordial Tradition, sanatana dharma, al-din al-hanif, which all the prophets of Allah have brought and reaffirmed througout the ages, among all nations, revealed directly from the Creater.





Cancer at Bay



Cancer need not be a ‘dreaded’ word. Given the right education, right measures and sufficient resources, almost 50 per cent of cancer cases can be prevented.

A significant advancement in oncology is the better understanding of the evolution and natural history of cancer resulting in the concept of cancer prevention. Over 75 per cent of cancers are related to the environment in the widest sense, to the food we eat, the atmosphere in which we breathe, the habits we indulge in and the hygine we observe. Lifestyle factors are those over which the individual has a definite control tobacco use, alcohol, sexual behavioural pattern and diet.

The most prevalent types of cancer in women are uterine cervical cancer and breast cancer, constituting 47 per cent of all cancers. 49 per cent of cancers in men are tobacco related. The role of tobacco chewed or smoked in the causation of mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), oesophagus (food pipe) and lung cancer is beyond doubt. Our own studies at the institute have shown that the risk of oral cancer is 84 times as great in the tobacco user as in the non-tobacco user. The heavy cigarette smoker is at 75 times greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Cancer of the uterine cervix, which constitutes nearly 30 per cent of all cancers in women, is indubitably associated with poor genital hygiene and sexual promiscuity. It is common in the lower socio-economic and uneducated group of women and in the developing countries. The incidence of cervical cancer is significantly lower in affluent countries. Uterine cervical cancer can be effectively screened and prevented. Genital hygiene plays a vital role in the cause of genital cancers both in men and women. Today “human papilloma virus” (HPV) is accepted as a major factor in cervical carcinogenesis. The genetic factor in carcinogenesis is real and well-documented in female breast cancer, ovary, endometrium and colo rectum. These inherited cancers tend to occur at an earlier age and are more aggressive. The genes causing breast cancers BRCA 1&2 have been identified.

Preventive measures

An important aspect of lifestyle that is increasingly being implicated as a factor in enhancing the risk of cancer is diet. Diet, especially meat and animal fat consumption, is important in increased risk for breast cancer, colorectum and a few others. Low fat intake and control of obesity can help in reducing the morbidity due to breast cancer. A high intake of dietary fibre is associated with a lower risk of colon cancer. Increased dietary nutrients like Vitamin C,E, and carotinoids are linked to cancer prevention.

Primary prevention of cancer is the elimination of the causative agents and can be most effective. Demographic registries have documented that 48 per cent of all cancers in men and 13 per cent of cancers in women are tobacco related and there is an increasing trend in tobacco-related cancers (TRC).

Secondary prevention in cancer means detection of pre-cancer and early cancer. Population screening has been successful in reducing mortality and morbidity in cancer sites like uterine cervix, breast and colo rectum.

Concept of health screening

Health screening is the obvious corollary in preventive action. It can be a positive step towards health insurance against certain types of cancer, namely uterine, cervical and oral cancer and to a limited extent, breast cancer. Screening is an annual examination of a healthy population for detection of asymptomatic disease. It can detect three to four times as many cases in the pre-cancer stage and also help in earlier detection of disease.





Pomegranate

One fruit that cures hundred Ailments - A Unani Study



‘Amruth Home Garden’ programme is a unique concept initiated by Frlht, Bangalore that involves setting up of home herbal gardens with a carefully selected mosaic of medicinal herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees for use as a first response to the family’s primary healthy care needs.

Punica granatum (Botanical name) Pomegranate (English) Anar (Hindi); Dadima (Sanskrit); Daalimbe (Kannada); Maadhulai (Tamil); Matalam (Malayalam)

“Ek Anar, Sau Bimar”, is a well known saying in Hindi, which means that a single pomegranate can take care of hundred ailments. This medicinally imporant plant is highly recommended as a plant to be grown in the herbal home gardens. It is a small thorny deciduous tree with narrow elliptic leaves. The tree bears large, scarlet red tubular flowers and round fruits with woody rind and seeds wrapped in rose-coloured, juicy, edible aril. The fruit at times is referred to as the many-seeded, juicy fruit, rich in its medicinal properties. It is found wild in subtropical Himalayan tract and is also cultivated throuhgout India.

How to Grow in your Garden : The plant should be raised in the home herbal garden for its flower buds being very important from primary health care point of view. One plant, grown in the ground, is adequate for the purpose. A fully-grown tree may require a space of about 4 square metres. It also makes a good and attractive pot plant but then from medicinal use point of view, it may serve only a limited purpose.

Care regime : The plant needs only occasional watering.

Part used : Flower buds (in diarrhoea), fruits (in diarrhoea, eye problems and pregnancy care) and fruit rind (in acidity, diarrhoea, eye problems, vomiting and worms).

Collection of Flower Buds and Fruits : Flower buds can be plucked with hand when required. Similarly, fruits can be plucked when ripe. Fruit rind of the used fruits should be dried in shade and kept in stock for use.

For Acidity : Make a decoctation of 20 grams of the rind of fresh fruits. Take half cup of this decotation mixed with 1-2 teaspoon of honey thrice a day for 7 days.

For Diarrhoea :

q Flower buds : Take a fistful of pomegranate flower buds. Wash these thoroughly and grind to make a fine paste. Mix it with honey and take 2 teaspoon of it for arresting diarrhoea immediately.

q Fruit rind : Boil 3 long piece of fruit rind in 4 cups of water till the quantity reduces to 1 cup. Strain the decoction and take ½ cup twice daily in the morning and evening until cured.

q Fruit : Extract juice from an average sized pomegranate fruit. Take this juice daily, especially when there is blood in the stool, till bleeding stops.

q Fruit rind and Thungihullu : Prepare decoction with equal quantity of pomegranate fruit rind and ‘thungihullu’ tubers. Take 1 cup of this decoction twice daily on empty stomach to arrest loose watery stools.

For Vomiting : Take 1 teaspoon of rind powder with a teaspoon of curd 4-5 times daily for 2 days. For Children, use ½ teaspoon of the powder with 2 teaspoons of curd of 4-5 times a day.

For Worms : Pound the dried pieces of fruit rind to make a fine powder. Take 1 teaspoon of this powder with water in the morning and evening for 3 days.

For Morning sickness : Extract juice of fresh pomegranate fruits. Take 1 cup of juice on empty stomach in the morning.

For Anaemia : Extract juice of fresh pomegranate fruits. Boil 1 cup of juice with 2 cups of sugar to make syrup. Take 2 teaspoon of syrup in the morning and evening until cured.





NONI – THE DIAMOND FRUIT WITH DIAMOND VALUES



INTRODUCTION

Noni (Morinda citrifolia), a small evergreen tree belongs to Rubiaceae family (coffee family), which is rich in Vitamins, nutrients and has a wide range of medicinal value. Noni has over 2,000 years of historical use, decades of ground breaking scientific research and reams of medical documentation. Noni has been researched by 30 Universities all over the world. What else Noni products are consumed by Millions daily worldwide. Noni has many local names that are also widely used in their respective countries.

Country name Common name

India Indian Mulberry

Samoa Nonu

Tahiti & Cook Islands Nono

Tonga Nonu

Africa Bumbo

Guam Lada

Malaysia Mengkudo

Caribbean Islands Painkiller Tree

Australia Cheese fruit

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom : Plantae

Order : Gentianales

Family : Rubiaceae

Genus : Morinda

Species : M. citrifolia

Growing habitats:

Noni grows in shady forests as well as on open rocky or sandy shores.

Height:

It can grow up to 9 m (30 ft) and maturity in about 18 months.

Fruit:

Multiple fruit, Oval shaped and reaches 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) in size.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

Natural Vitamins:

Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D2 and Vitamin E

Natural Complex Minerals:

Zinc, Selenium, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Iodine (from kelp), Calcium (as calcium carbonate), Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) and Copper (as copper gluconate)

Phytochemicals:

Lignans, Oligo and Polysaccharides, Flavonoids, Iridoids, Trisaccharide fatty acid esters, Free fatty acids, Scopoletin, Catechin, Epicatechin, B-sitosterol, Damnacanthal (a potentially toxic anthraquinone, putatively an inhibitor of HIV viral proteins), Alkaloids.

MEDICINAL USES (TRADITIONAL)

MAIN USES

s Jaundice (decoctions of stem bark)

s Hypertension (extract of leaves/ fruit/bark)

s Stomach ulcers (fruit oil)

s Scalp insecticide (seed oil)

s Sore throat (gargling a mash of the ripe fruit)

s Intestinal worms (whole fresh fruits)

s Fever (leaf poultice)

s Mouth and gum infections, toothaches (fruit)

s Sties (flowers or vapor from broken leaves)

s Laxative (all parts of the plant)

OTHER USES

Noni fruit extracts are used in the treatment of Malaria, Diabetes, Tuberculosis, Hernias, Allergies, Asthma, Cancer, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Cuts, Wounds, Abscesses, Rheumatism, Sprains, Fractures, Arthritis, Gout, Sinus, Polio and Urinary tract ailments. Noni fruits are also relieves pain, inflammation, stress and stimulates Immune System. Noni improves digestion, maintains healthy skin, hair and Scalp. Protects from Toxins and pollutants, lowers cholesterol, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Noni fruits are rich in Anti-Oxidants. The chemicals present in Noni fruits are brain stimulants.

CONCLUSION

By this we can conclude that Morinda citrifolia (noni) is really a Good natural fruit which can be exclusively used as health drink to treat all alarming ailments.



‘DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

A UNANI TREATMENT

It is popular today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, bodyache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, Gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4x160ml glasses of water.... interesting 2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes.

2. After 45 mintues you may eat and drink as normal.

3. After 15 mintues of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours.

4. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking litle water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

5. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days

2. Gastric - 10 days

3. Diabetes - 30 days

4. Constipation - 10 days

5. Cancer - 180 days

6. TB - 90 days

7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.

Drink Water and stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense. The Chinese and Japenese drink hot tea with their meals.... not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating !!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain.....

For those who like to drink cold water. this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this ‘sludge’ reacts with the acid, it will breakdown and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack....

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.

60 % of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wakeup.

Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let’s be careful and be aware.

The move we know the better chance we could survive.........

A cardiologist says if everyone know this and propogates it to everyone they know, you can save a persons, life !!!





Vision Perfect

Eyes are nature’s best gift to the body. They help us recognise and appreciate the world around us. Even the saying, “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder,” points towards their high value quotient. The importance of eyes is not realised as long as the vision is normal. It is only after the eyesight begins to fail that the actual value of the eyes comes to the fore.

Normal eye

The eye resembles a “camera”. Just as we take a photograph with the camera, similarly, the eye takes a photograph of an object seen by it. In the camera, an object is focused onto the film of the camera by a lens. This image is an inverted image and it is developed in the studio and made into an erect one. In the same way, an object is focused by the lens of the eye on to the film of the eye called “retina”. This image is also inverted and is made erect by the brain.

What are refractive errors?

The eye is a sense organ and functions like any other sense organ. Just as we smell and hear, so also do we see. No efforts are made to hear and smell, similarly, the eye does not make an effort to see when it functions normally. Some people however, are not able to see clearly and have to use spectacles.

The inability to see properly without spectacles is called a refractive error. Patients suffering from refractive errors see clearly only with the help of spectacles. Short sightedness means inability to see at a distance. Long sightedness means inability to see near objects. These persons can see distant (long) objects clearly. They have eyes shorter than normal or the cornea being too flat. If one axis of the object is focused well onto the retina the vertical axis and th eother axis, for example, the horizontal axis is not focused onto the retina, the condition is called astigmatism. To treat this, one has to use spectacles with cylindrical lenses only for the axis that is defective.

Prevention of defective vision

The most important thing in preventing defective vision is to develop the habit of seeing without straining or without making any effort.

Eyelids : When the upper eyelids remain down, the eye is at rest and the vision is better, but when the lids are raised, the vision deteriorates. Don’t squeeze the eyes and strain them while reading.

Blinking : It is a quick method of resting the eyes. In normal blinking, the upper eyelid comes a little down and is raised again. Blink once or twice while reading each line. The scientific reason why this is good is that whenever we blink, the tear film of the eye flows past our cornea clearing it.

Reading : While reading, keep the book at a lower than the chin so that the lids are not raised. Moved the head a little from side to side. Blink once or twice while reading each line. The distance of the books from the eyes should be where the print is seen at its best. It varies from individual to individual. Avoid reading in insufficiently illuminated places and in a lying posture. Keep the illumination of the light on the book.

Writing : While writing keep the sight on the point of the pen and move the sight with its movements. Blink frequently. A common mistake is to write forward and at the same time to look at the letters behind, which have already been written.

TV and the eyes

Television has become firmly entrenched in our way of life especially with children. There are lots of questions one thinks about when one watchers or thinks about TV.

Can TV harm the eyes?

No. You cannot wear out your eyes by watching TV. It does not cause eye defects. If your child is watching TV sitting very close to it, consult an eye doctor as the child might have a refractive error.

How far should the TV be from us?

The size of your room and the TV determine how far you should sit from it. The general rule is stay as far away from the TV screen as visual comfort permits.

In what position should we view the picture?

Sit comfortably by resting your back on the back of the chair. Keep the chin a little raised.

How should the room lighting be?

There should be additional light in the viewing area or room. The contrast between the bright screen and surrounding darkness causes undue eye fatigue. Use soft, indirect lighting, making sure that no light source is reflected by the screen towards your eyes.

Relaxation is one of the treatments of defective vision. Correct the position of the eyelids and eyeball. Exercises are also helpful.





Balanced Eating



Nothing in this world is more precious than your health. Yet it is a gift that most of us take for granted. How can you protect this priceless possession? You can start by taking a personal inventory. For instance, modify the daily choices that impact your health and improve the environment in which you live. Creating optimal health requires both a physical and a mental approach. This balanced strategy involves four critical areas of your life. They are nutrition, exercise, rest and positive attitude Together, these four elements lay the foundation for promoting optimal well being which is the key to reaching you full potential and enjoying everything that life has to offer.

Unani Exercise

Throughout every stage of life, regular exercise can help you look and feel your best. Exercise supports cardiovascular health, promotes restful sleep and has even been linked to disease prevention and longer life spans. Establishing a regular, sensible exercise regimen is the best way to maintain a healthy balance between lean muscle tissue and body fat. This is known as balanced body composition.

A well-designed exercise programme should include three types of activities. First, anaerobic or resistance activities such as weight lifting, which will strengthen and tone the muscles. Second, aerobic or cardiovascular activities like jogging cycling and even fast walking, to strengthen the heart, lungs and blood vessels. And third, daily stretching of muscles and tendons to increase flexibility, improve range of movement and reduce the chances of injury.

Rest

While sleeping patterns change throughout our lives, most adults require an average of seven to nine hours of sleep for optimal health. Sleep plays an important role both mentally and emotionally. Adequate sleep improves memory, increases attention span, promotes mental clarity and even elevates mood. It is important to remember that maintaining a regular sleep schedule and controlling caffeine consumption can alleviate many of the problems associated with erratic sleep patterns.

Unani Nutrition

While regular exercise keeps your body fit, balanced nutrition provides the fuel for a variety of functions. For example, physical and mental performance, tissue repair, health maintenance and growth would be impossible without the nutrients provided by a healthy diet.

A balanced diet includes regular servings from a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables and protein sources such as dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dry beans. In addition to these foods, at least eight 240ml glasses of water should be consumed each day. It is important to remember that a daily balance of vitamins, minerals protein and phytochemicals is an essential component for optimal health.

The food pyramid

To visualise a balanced diet, imagine foods you consume forming the shape of a pyramid. The largest portion of your diet bread, cereal, rice and pasta will form the base. The second largest group fruits and vegetables constitutes the next level. The upper middle level is comprised of milk, yogurt and cheese group as well as meat, poultry, fish, beans and nuts group. Finally, the top is comprised of foods we use sparingly like fats, sweets and oils.

How protected are you?

While a balanced diet provides the nutrients to help you look and feel your best, today’s lifestyles and environmental factors can create specific nutritional requirements. For example, alcohol consumption, exposure to sun, pollution, stress and even exercise can increase the need for antioxidants.

Antioxidants offer protection from free radicals that can damage human cells. The plant foods group, which includes fruits and vegetables, contains antioxidants. Another good source can be found in supplements containing vitamin E, vitamin C, carotenoids, coenzyme Q-10 and herbal antioxidants.

Positive attitude

Mental well being is just as important as physical fitness for creating optimal health. So how can you improve your mental attitude? The first step is to spend a few moments each day to reflect on the positive aspects of your life. When stress begins to take its toll, find a comfortable chair, close eyes and let 10 minutes of deep breathing exercise clear your mind. Remember, your mind is your most important tool.

Why supplements?

Modern life has brought many positive changes. But it has also brought with it stress, junk food and pollution. These and countless other negative factors can be detrimental and erode your health and steal energy. The solution is nutritional supplements. The supplements can bring in a nutritional balance. These can help you meet the day-to-day nutritional requirements by providing extra nutrients the body needs.

Food choices

The importance of the foods chosen can easily be underscored by current health statistics. According to the American Cancer Society, 35 per cent to 70 per cent of all cancers can be traced to diet. Blood cholesterol levels a predictor of heart disease offer another barometer for measuring the quality of diet.

Lifestyle

Every day we make countless choices that impact our health. Many of these choices can be described as risk factors factors that promote disease or accelerate the ageing process. Experts estimate that nearly 50 per cent of all early deaths may be attributed to lifestyle. The common risk factors include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, excessive sun exposure and a sedentary lifestyle.

Lifestages

Our nutritional needs change as we move through life. To ensure optimal health along the way, we need to understand the specific needs associated with each lifestate. For example, during childhood and adolescence, physical growth rquires extra protein, calcium and iron. During these years, poor eating habits can incease the need for nutritional supplements.

Highlights

Optimal health : Optimal health is about giving your body what it needs, in order to avoid problems. With a sensible plan that includes moderate exercise and balanced nutrition, almost everyone can enjoy the benefits of optimal health.

Modern problems : Lifestyle changes have brought health problems in its wake. Two of the primary culprits are unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. While our way of life has undergone a lot of changes, our bodies still require daily exercise and fresh food.

Degenerative diseases : Minimising the risk of cancer and heart diseases requires a long-term strategy that incorporates all four elements of optimal health.

Risk factors : Identifying your own risk factors and modifying your lifestyle habits can minimise the chances of developing disease.

Free radicals : These are highly reactive compounds that can damage human cells. They reach the body through pollution, tobacco smoke, alcohol consumption and sunlight. Antioxidants offer protection against these harmful compounds by providing a balance of the key nutrients that attract free radicals an activity referred to as free radical scavenging.

Fitness : As we get older, we become less active. This leads to loss of muscle, which in turn makes us even less active. As the heart is made of muscle, it also begins to shrink, putting us at risk for cardiovascular disease. An active lifestyle can help prevent this destruction cycle.

Components of a healthy diet

* A healthy diet should contain plenty of whole grains.

* Fatty foods and sweets in the diet must be kept in balance.

* Diets high in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of degenerative disease.

* Food must have supplements that provide phytonutrients from fresh and whole plant sources like broccoli and soya.



Unani Treatment

for common Disorders

Unani Treatment

for common Disorders

Bars (Vitiligo)

Bars (vitiligo) is defined as white colouration of skin due to altered Quwwat-e-Jazeba (pwer of absoption), Quwwat-e-Masika (Power of retention), Quwwate-e-Mughaiyarah (power of transformation) and Quwwat-e-Dafia (power of explusion) causing imperfect tissue metabolism.

Fasadud Dam (impairment of blood) and Burudatud Dam (coldness of blood) are the main causes of Bars. If the digestive faculty weakens and the food is not digested properly, the blood becomes impure. When this impurity occurs due to Balgham (phlegm) or coldness, appears the Bars.

The Council’s Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hyderabae conducted extensive clinical trial on 60,000 cases of Bars (Vitiligo) and developed eight effective Unani formulations for the treatment of this disorder.

Treatment

Single Drugs Compound Drugs

Babchi Psoralea corylifolia Linn Safoof Bars

Geru Red earth Itrifal shahtra

Zanjabeel Zingiber officinale Roscoe Sharbat-e-Musaffi

Shahtara Fumaria Indica Pugsley Sharbat sandal

Karafs Apium graveolens Linn

Gandhak Amlasar Sulphur

Gulnar Farsi Punica granatum Linn

Sarphoka Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers.

Atrilal Ammi Majus Linn.

Satyanasi Argemone mexicana Linn.

Kalonji Nigella sativa Linn

Chiraita Swertia chiayita Buch. Ham.

Bhangra Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) Linn.

Gul-e-Surkh Rosa damascena Mill.

Parsioshan Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn.

Restricted Food Items

English Name Common Name

Banana Kela

Beef Buffalo’s meat

Bottlegourd Lauki

Brinjal Bengan

Butter milk Chhachh

Cashew Kaju

Curd Dahi

Custard apple Shareefa

Egg Anda

Emblic myrobalan Amla