Keeping Well When Monsoon Dwells

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First showers of monsoon are heartily welcomed by everyone after

experiencing the scorching heat of summer. But monsoons reduce the

immunity of our body and make us susceptible to many diseases which

are commonly associated with this season. It is time for us to keep

our body resistant against diseases by boosting our immunity and

taking precautions against these diseases.

The diseases associated with monsoon are malaria,

jaundice, gastro intestinal infections like typhoid and cholera.

Apart from these, viral infections like cold and cough also make

their presence felt.

Puddles of water formed due to rain become

breeding grounds for mosquitoes which spread diseases like malaria

and dengue fever. As a precautionary measure against mosquito bite

born diseases one can use mosquito net around the bed which is

better choice to mosquito repellants like mats and coils. A mosquito

repellant cream is the best choice when you are away from home.

Fumigating the house with smoke of dried neem leaves in evenings for

1-2 minutes is an excellent ayurvedic method to keep mosquitoes away.

 

Pollution of drinking water during monsoon is very

common. It is very necessary to drink clean and pure water when

water borne monsoon diseases like diarrhea and gastro intestinal

infections threaten us. Drinking boiled water at home is strongly

recommended to tap water. Prefer mineral water of government

certified companies when you are away from home.

 

Walking in dirty water during rainy season leads to

numerous fungal infections which affect toes and nails. Diabetic

patients have to take a special care about their feet. Always keep

your feet dry and clean. Avoid walking in dirty water. Keep your

shoes, socks and raincoats dry and clean. Drying clothes with fumes

of loban and dry neem leaves is recommended in ayurvedic texts.

 

Precautions have to be taken to prevent dampness and

growth of fungus (mold) on and around the house where asthmatic

patients live. Avoid fumigation in case of asthmatic patients.

 

Ayurvedic Tips to increase body immunity and preventing diseases of

monsoon.

 

1. The digestive system gets weakened due to dehydration in

summer. This leads to low digestive power. This is further weakened

by vitiation of doshas and dhatus due to monsoon. Hence following

diets which increase power of digestion and strengthen the digestive

system would be beneficial in rainy season.

 

• Light foods prepared out of old barley, rice and wheat.

 

• Sour and salted soups of vegetables.

 

• Drinking boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey.

 

• Consuming little quantity of wine prepared out of grapes.

 

• Adding ginger and green gram in daily diet.

 

• Eating warm food.

 

2. Avoid the following

Sleeping in daytime.

Over physical exertion.

Over exposure to sun.

3. Always keep the surrounding dry and clean. Do not allow

water to get accumulated around.

4. Keep your body warm as viruses attack immediately when body

temperature goes down.

5. Do not enter air conditioned room with wet hair and damp

cloths.

6. Dry your feet and webs with soft dry cloth whenever they are

wet.

7. Wash vegetables with clean water and steam them well to kill

germs.

8. Avoid eating uncooked foods and salads.

9. Drink plenty of water and keep your body well hydrated.

10. Do not allow kids to play in stagnant polluted water filled

puddles.

 

Ayurvedic Home remedies for Monsoon diseases

 

1. Apply castor oil or sesame oil for cracked feet and skin.

 

2. A freshly prepared paste of turmeric, neem and sesame seeds

is recommended in ayurveda for fungal infection between toes.

 

3. Drink a glass of warm water mixed with a tea spoon of honey

in empty stomach. This flushes out accumulated toxins.

 

4. Freshly prepared radish juice is the best remedy for cold.

 

5. A pinch each of long pepper powder and rock salt mixed in

warm water reduces cough

 

6. The following home recipes can be used as home remedies for

digestive disorders of monsoon

 

 

In Indigestion

Ingredients:

Rice-1/2 cup

Water -4 cups

Long pepper- 2or 3

Ginger -1''

Method of preparation:

Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with crushed ginger and

salt. Powder long pepper and fry it in a spoon of cow's ghee and add

it to gruel. Consume this when it hot. This is very light to digest

and relieves colic pain.

 

In Diarrhea

Ingredients:

Rice -1/2 cup

Water – 4 cups

Ginger paste – 1/2 spoon

Salt to taste

Pomegranate juice: ½ cup

Method of preparation

1. Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with ginger

paste and salt

2. Add pomegranate juice when the gruel is warm. This gruel

rehydrates body and supply energy . This soothes inflamed walls of

intestine and controls bowel movements.

 

 

In flatulence

Ingredients:

½ cup of rice

4 cups of water

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) - powder-1/2 spoon

Roots of pippali or long pepper

Ginger paste -1/2 spoon salt to taste

Method of preparation

Cook Rice, haritaki powder , roots of pippali and water together.

Add salt to it.Consume this when it is warm. This relieves

flatulence and regularizes the bowel movement

 

Thus precautions coupled with care really help you to enjoy monsoon.

Have a healthy and safe monsoon.

 

This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an

Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com