Herbs & practices that heal, rejuvenate and detox your body

I am 85-years-old. A few months ago I have developed itching all over the body. I have tried different types of lotions, creams, neem oil etc, but with no success. I am not getting peaceful sleep for a few nights due to uncomfortable “pins and needles” feeling all over my body. Please suggest a remedy.
—Vishwanath

Since the application of different oils and creams did not bring the slightest improvement in your condition and the feeling of “pins and needles” indicates that the trouble is not limited only to the skin or blood impurity, it has a deeper origin. We would like to know about your daily diet. It is best to include 4-5 teaspoons of homemade Ayurvedic ghee every day in the diet as it nourishes nerves and purifies the blood. Drinking a glass of milk with ananta kalpa every morning will be beneficial. Avoid wheat and oil in your daily diet for some days. It is necessary to consult an Ayurvedic physician to get a proper diagnosis of your constitution as well as of the disease. The severity of the symptoms indicate that the cause may be either vata dosha imbalance or decrease in strength of nerves. You can immediately start taking panchatikta ghruta, which helps to balance the vata and the pitta doshas.

I am a 29-year-old married woman. Muscles of my chest and ribs have become very stiff, their flexibility has reduced drastically and I am experiencing a continuous pulling pain. There is also a slight swelling. I am under medication for blood pressure. I have undergone all tests for heart, and the reports are normal. Please suggest a remedy.
—Nandini

To rejuvenate the flexibility of muscles and reduce swelling, apply Abhyanga oil regularly. It is an easy and effective remedy that pacifies vata dosha. After application of oil, one can foment the chest with leaves of the Rui-Calotropis plant. If not available, foment with a hot water bag instead. Take care not to rub the oil in; gently apply the oil so that it gets absorbed. Also, ensure the temperature of the hot water bottle is not too high. Taking Ayurvedic vata pacifying tablets like Yogiraj Guggul or Vaatabal tablets will be beneficial. You may also take Dashamularisthta, which will help reduce swelling and stiffness. Regular practice of anulom vilom pranayam will also definitely improve your condition.

I am a 31-year-old man. I am married for four-and-a-half years. I still don’t have any children. According to reports, the sperm motility is low. Kindly suggest a remedy.  
—Vijay Shah

This problem can be solved with proper medication after consulting an Ayurvedic doctor. All the seven dhatus especially the majja or bone marrow, need to be nourished to tackle this issue. It is necessary to include food items in your diet that have a high veerya or potency, like milk, traditional homemade ghee, panchamrut (the nectar-tonic made by mixing five veerya-increasing substances viz milk, sugar, honey, curd and ghee). Every morning, eat four to five almonds that have been soaked overnight in water. Avoid intake of raw onion and curd, especially at night. Gokshuradi churna increases veerya. It is made of medicines like Gokshur, Anantamul, Vidari and Shatavary which can be taken with ghee and sugar. Rasayan rejuvenating tonics made from gum acasia, musali, dry dates, godambi like marrosan that can increase the dhatus and veerya will help. Sometimes the problem is in the mechanism of converting the food into energy especially up to the seventh stage of transformation or veerya. This is also a stage associated with sperm. Please consult an Ayurvedic doctor to diagnose your constitution, undergo special therapies, and take the appropriate medications.

The author is founder of Atmasantulana Village, a world-renowned holistic healing centre. ayurveda@dnaindia.net