Are you on a journey towards mind and body wellness? Are you looking for simple, effective, quick and self-help remedies? Then you have hit the right post! I am going to share with you ancient remedies for healing your body and mind.
The pH of your body plays a key role in maintaining a healthy mind and body. The pH scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of something and serves as an important tool in our self-care endeavours. The total pH scale ranges from 1 -14, with one being most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline and 7 is considered to be neutral. 7.30 to 7.45 is the ideal pH for the human body. As you can see it is slightly alkaline. If the number goes down it makes your body acidic. You can measure your body pH level using purchasable litmus strips.
There is a dearth of studies showing that it’s possible to influence the body’s ph for better health and well-being. But, there are some traditional practices, that consider acidity and alkalinity as a measure of well-being.
When the acid levels in your blood are high also called acidosis, it triggers early ageing, cancer and disturbs the endocrine glands, which in turn compromises all the body functions. In Ayurveda, the pitta dosha is based on fire and water and the heat energy is invisible. When Pitta becomes out of balance your pH levels in the body turns acidic.
Causes of acidosis are –
- Chronic alcohol use
- Cancer
- Excess conumption of white flour and sugar
- High temperature
- Heart failure
- Liver failure
- Seizures
- Prolonged lack of oxygen
- Low blood sugar
Signs of metabolic and respiratory acidosis are:
- Shortness of breath.
- Sleepiness.
- Fatigue or drowsiness.
- Confusion.
- Becoming tired easily.
- Headache.
- lack of appetite.
- Increased heart rate.
- rapid and shallow breathing.
And things that make your mind acidic are – stress, impatience, anger. These are also known as Pitta afflictions in Ayurveda and are manifested as –
- Acid reflux, heartburn, and hair loss.
- Excess generation of heat in the body.
- Inflammation of the joints.
- Anger & irritability.
- Bad breath.
- Nausea, diarrhea or constipation.
- Body odor.
- Excessive sweating.
Without proper treatment, the long-term consequences are chronic indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and other serious medical conditions.
How to keep your pH levels in balance or your mind and body alkaline?
There are simple ayurvedic remedies to keep your Pitta in balance and heal your mind and body.
Here’re 6 ancient remedies that can heal your mind and body:
1. Go for an alkaline diet.
Whatever we eat affects the pH of the body and if your body becomes too acidic it results in skin problems, weight gain, and inflammation-induced illnesses. So, Ayurveda suggests an alkaline diet.
An alkaline diet mainly comprises fresh vegetables and fruits, seeds, legumes, tofu, green tea, olives, wild rice. It is low in fat, calories and eliminates red and processed meats, alcohol and dairy. This diet balances the pH of the body.
Health benefits of alkaline diet:
- Promote weight loss
- Increases the level of growth hormone
- Improve kidney health
- Prevents cancer
- Improves heart health and muscle health
- Helps with symptoms of back pain
- Improve bone health
Please note that most of the studies claiming the health benefits of an alkaline diet are small and the results are inconclusive. The alkaline diet is ranking 29th on the 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Diets and has an overall score of 2.5/5.
Also read 8 Questions To Ask Before Going On A Diet
2. Oil pulling.
This timeless Ayurvedic practice in India involves swishing oil in your mouth, which is the first thing you should do in the morning. This is a cheap and quick method to remove bacteria and improve your oral hygiene. Oil pulling moisturizes the gums and increases saliva production that can reduce bacteria. The enzyme in this raw fat pulls out toxins and excess acidity.
Ritual:
You just need to take one tablespoon of cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil and swiss around your mouth for 15-20 minutes and then spit.
Health benefits of oil pulling:
- Prevents tooth decay and gum diseases like Gingivitis
- Helps get rid of bad breath
- Balances pitta and lower acidity
- Free up immune system
- Curtail inflammation
- Helps your body reach optimal pH
- Gives whiter teeth and clearer skin
3. Tweak your coffee.
Most of us can’t start off the day without morning coffee. There are numerous studies claiming that coffee is good for the brain, concentration and staying fresh. But, it’s an undeniable fact that coffee is very acidic.
Those already suffering from acidity and any other gastrointestinal problems, consuming excess coffee can do more damage to health. Yet, who on Earth would quit coffee? At least I won’t?
Ritual:
Mix coffee grounds with cardamom powder and brew it together. You can add half a teaspoon of cardamom for every 12-ounce cup of coffee. Cardamom is the saviour here! It neutralizes acid and mucus-forming properties in milk. Also, removes excess kapha from the stomach and lungs. Thus, it is called a natural tranquillizer.
What if you don’t like cardamom? Is there any other alternative?
Yes, you can drink 12 ounces of warm water on an empty stomach every morning. This will help you negate coffee’s acidity on your stomach as well as minimize the desire for that second cup.
Also read 3 Helpful Healthy Coffee Recipes That Boost Your Run
4. Consume more turmeric.
Popular as “spice of life” turmeric is used in Ayurveda as anti-Pitta herbs. This miraculous herb can balance all doshas because it has blood- and liver-cleansing properties.
You can consume turmeric in various ways-
- Add it to coconut-oil-sautéed vegetables
- Add to warm grass-fed milk and raw honey
- Use it in soups
- Add it to scrambles and frittatas
Health benefits of turmeric:
- Reduce inflammation
- Treat acne-prone skin
- Help fight viral infections
- Relief from menstrual cramps
- Lowers bad cholesterol
- Ease joint pain and stiffness
Also read 6 Yoga Mudras To Heal Common Ailments
5. Try self-massage.
Abhyanga is an ancient self-massage technique and is quite famous in Ayurveda. This technique involves massaging your whole body, from the scalp to the soles of your feet using warm oil. Oil pulls toxins from the skin and balances acid-alkaline levels in the body. This self-massage lowers stress hormones released by endocrine glands, which soothes your nervous system and leaves you cool-headed. Low-stress levels mean low acidity and associated healthproblems.
Ritual:
- Take warm organic coconut oil and gently massage your entire body using both hands.
- Use circular motions on your joints and long strokes on your limbs.
- Do self-massage your body every morning, it will keep your nervous system calm.
- Massage your scalp with coconut oil in circular motions. Do this twice a week, to pacify Pitta and reduce stress-induced hair loss.
Health benefits of self-massage
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce stress
- Improves skin health
- Reduce muscle stiffness
- Promotes lymphatic drainage
- Improves vision, energy, and alertness
- Delay age-related changes
Also read The 3 Most Popular Sleeping Positions And Their Health Impacts
6. Develop positive mindset.
When you harbour grudges, negative thoughts or constantly ruminate about your setbacks in life, it leads to stress and acidity. Negative thinking, self-criticism, comparison and competitiveness aggravates pitta in our body. So, if you want to improve physical health you must first work on your mind. Fix your mindset to neutralise acidity
Ritual:
- Daily practise meditation
- Alternate-nostril breathing or Nadi Shodhana
- Yoga breathing techniques or Pranayama
These three Ayurvedic practices are known to have profound alkalizing effects. They can well-balance our body chemistry and help us cope up with pangs of stress and anxiety. This, in turn, lowers acidity and other manifestations of mental stress. Meditation and breathing techniques promote mind, body and spirit connection. You will notice the increase in your ability to navigate thoughts, think about positives and tackle life’s challenges.
These are six evergreen remedies that will always help you improve your physical and mental health no matter how advanced the medicine and technology are. Not only cost-effective, but these remedies are also quick and need no help of professionals. Even though they are backed by scientific evidence, they are highly underestimated. Maybe because these remedies doesn’t appear as cool as body spa in expensive salons.
Try these ancient remedies once and I bet you will see the remarkable difference in your physical and mental health.
Please share this article with anyone who you may think will find it valuable and helpful. Also, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. I am happy to hear from you.
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