Pomegranate

Believed to be the forbidden fruit of good and evil that Eve and Adam picked in the Garden of Eden, the Pomegranate appears truly tempting amid the round and shimmering red husk, encasing 600 sweet and sour crystalline aril seeds that taunt your palette and melt in your mouth, nearly driving you to madness or to sanity.

Derived from Latin pomum for apple and granatus for seeded, Pomegranate can be consumed in distinctive ways.  The aril seeds are normally consumed raw and can be added as a garnish to salads and desserts for a heightened flavor.  It can also be made into a juice, a soup, a salad dressing, a sauce for poultry and meat dishes, a meat marinade and as a dried acidic agent for chutneys and curries as Indians use it.

This high-fibrous fruit can sustain your health in several aspects. The seeds or juice can cure your heart, throat and fever, thus providing you with vitamin C, vitamin B₅ potassium and antioxidant polyphenols. It is also great for skin toning, for firming up sagging breasts and for hemorrhoids once blended with mustard oil.   The other parts of this fruit likewise aid in curing several diseases.  In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, the rind of the fruit and the bark of the tree is used to remedy nose and gum bleeds, diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites.

Most of all, it excites the senses, making you fall in love with your partner over again.

Honey: The Secret to Men’s Virility

In the ancient times, man did not have modern medicine to sustain their health and beauty; there were no chemically treated cosmetics to prolong their youth, nor was Viagra invented yet to heighten their virility.  Theirs was an existence founded solely on natural resources, just like bees energized by honey.

As written in the Qur’an [16:68-69], “And the lord inspired the bee, saying: Take your habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)’. There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying color that is healing for men. Verily in this is indeed a sign for people who think.”  If the idea in this verse is religiously cultivated, then life will always be as sweet as honey.

With flowing supply of raw honey that is rich in vitamins and minerals here in South Sinai, particularly from the farm of Dr. Ahmed Mansour in St. Katherine Protectorate, much can be employed to promote optimum health.  For example, if you feel your energy going low, eat a teaspoon of honey to boost you up, while in cases of hypertension, insomnia and nervous conditions, drink a mixture of a spoonful of honey, a cup of water and a teaspoon of lemon juice.

For men who have hormonal imbalances, this sweet medicine can actually work miracles to heighten your love life.  In Ayurvedic medicine, it is prescribed to take two tablespoons of honey daily before bedtime to strengthen potency, and in the daytime to eat finely chopped carrots, along with a half-boiled egg, dipped in a tablespoon of honey, once everyday to help increase sexual stamina.

So forget costly over-the-counter miracle pills and avoid the hassle of going to the doctor for prescriptions.  Licking honey off a tablespoon will do just right for you.

Botanical Beauty Secrets

Having been oriented with Ayurveda, I have become more interested on using natural beauty and health products made from garden plants.  I wasn’t really a shopper of beauty products to begin with because I feared that the chemicals contained in it would harm my sensitive skin, so I had only opted for washing my face with plain water and by drinking lots of water to moisturize my skin.  Yet when my Ayurvedic healer used Aloe Vera mixture on my face and Neem oil to cure my hair loss problem, I was relieved to find that I could take better care of my hair and skin with the same plants that are tucked in my garden.

I delved deep into my garden plants’ medicinal and cosmetic properties, and to my amazement I found lots of benefits by simple procedures that can be made overnight.  Not only did I find several cosmetic wonders from the Neem tree and Aloe Vera, but also from Moringa Oleiferi, a plant that my mother used to feed me with a chicken broth during my childhood.

In my research, I learned that the tree of Moringa Oleiferi, also known as Alim in Arabic and Ben or Drumstick Tree in English, is revered as a miracle tree in India, Africa and Southeast Asia due to its high contents of fatty acids and Vitamins A and C. The leaves are traditionally used as a scrub for treating headaches and fever, and as a tea to relieve gastric ulcers and diarrhea; the yellow flowers are taken as a tea when boiled with water to improve the milk flow of breastfeeding mothers, to cure urinary problems and colds, and is also thought to be an aphrodisiac; and the seeds, which are best made into oil, is a potent antioxidant that treats stomach problems and moisturizes skin and hair.

The Moringa oil is produced by collecting the seeds from its pods and crushing them with an electric grinder or mortar and pessel. Boil for 10 -15 minutes with enough water to cover the seeds and then strain through a cloth into a clean airtight container. Leave overnight to allow the oil to separate from the water and after apply it on your skin or store it inside the refrigerator.  You could also follow another method by putting clean Moringa leaves with heated sunflower or canola oil in a dry air-tight jar and storing it in the refrigerator for 24 hours before use.  This method is easier but produces slower benefits than the oil extracted from its seeds.  Its suggested treatments are:

• As a hair scalp cleanser and strand moisturizer, wash your hair and massage the oil into the scalp for a couple of minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.
• To keep the pores of your skin tight and glowing, gently massage the Moringa oil upwards into your face with the tip of your fingers for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly. Do this every night before going to bed. This is also great for curing skin acnes, wrinkles and cuts.
• As a nutrient-rich skin moisturizer and sun-tanning lotion, apply the oil on your body and re-apply once your skin has dried.
• As a massage oil for your baby, simply massage the oil all over your baby’s skin to improve circulation and to aid in his/her neurological development.

Another miracle tree that may just be hiding in your garden is Neem.  What is called Neeb by Arabs is a highly medicinal plant that is used as a main ingredient in Eastern medicine.  In Ayurvedic medicine, the leaves are made into a paste for healing wounds, ulcer and skin diseases, as well as a tea for detoxification; the bark is powdered or extracted for curing stomach diseases, fever and gum problems; and the oil extracted from the seeds are applied externally to treat fungal infections, mosquito bites and hair loss, among others.  You could follow the same methods for making Moringa oil to produce Neem oil, too. Here’s some beauty uses that experts have suggested:

• Apply Neem oil on areas affected by skin disorders, minor cuts, burns and wounds.
• For total skin protection, make a strong tea with the leaves and add to the bath along with a little rose water, which you can make by boiling the petals with water and leaving them covered for an hour.
• To remedy conjunctivitis and eye itching, boil 10 freshly cleaned leaves with a liter of water for 10 minutes.  Cool and use as an eyewash.
• For athletes’ foot and other foot problems, make a strong tea from a handful of leaves and soak feet.
• For dandruff and head lice, massage a mixture of Neem oil and olive oil into your hair and leave for one hour. Shampoo. Repeat once weekly for 3 weeks or as long as problem persists.
• For sore throats, make a liquid solution by boiling two to three leaves with 300 ml water.  Add honey and let it cool, then use it as gargle.
• For acne, pimples, skin infections, wash the leaves and dry them indoors.  Crush them into pieces with a mortar and pessel until powdery.  Mix the powder with water and apply it to the affected area.
• For sinusitis, use pure neem oil as nasal drops. Two drops morning and evening.

The last ornamental plant, being Aloe Vera is quite famous in folkloric healing for its nutritious contents.  In fact during the Ancient Egyptian times, this plant was known as “the plant of immortality” and was one of the precious things that they buried with the dead pharaohs.  Known as Sabbar in Arabic, this cacti plant excretes a transparent gel (without the yellow substance) that herbal healers use to cure baldness, arthritis, diabetes, indigestion, problems of the heart, skin, kidney, reproductive system, and so on. Its medicinal versatility spreads among 4 species, whereas 11 other species lead to devastating effects.  So if you want to make your own Aloe Vera beauty concoction, choose the most potent one, called Aloe Vera Barbadenis.  It works best for the following recipes:

• For weight loss, ageing and acne drink a glass of Aloe Vera juice made with a spoonful of the transparent gel and water.  Drink two glasses a day, 30 minutes before your meal to activate your metabolism and expel excess water from your cells.
• As a night cream, blend 50 grams gel, 50 grams cucumber (peel removed and roughly chopped) and 50 ml distilled water.  Smooth over you face at bedtime and sleep with it.  Rinse it off with warm water the next day, then store the leftovers in an airtight jar inside the refrigerator.  This will last for 7 days.
• As an after sun restorer, mix 2 tbsps. gel with 1 tsp. olive oil and apply on your skin right away.
• As a lip balm, simply damp the gel on your lips.

These wonderful recipes have been tried and tested already and are guaranteed safe by modern and herbal medicine experts.  If you don’t have these plants in your garden or if you don’t have a garden, you can get pots of these in botanical shops all around Sharm.  With these simple beauty secrets, you may just find yourself paying less money for the best.

“When nature is used in good faith, nature gives back the same way.”

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For more information, browse through www.Miracletrees.org, www.discoverneem.com,  www.mapi.com/en/newsletters/aloe_vera_ayurvedic.htm.

A Guinea Pig’s Delight: 3 Days of Ayurvedic Detox

Almost everybody want to quit smoking, to reduce their alcohol intake and to get fit and healthy. But without a definite plan of action, it will never be done. We must regularly fuel our mental, spiritual and physical senses with uplifting food, activities and treatments, if necessary, to sustain equilibrium.

So why not undergo detoxification through Om Sai Yoga and Ayurveda’s detoxification and rejuvenation program or Panchakarma.

Panchakarma, in sanskrit means five actions or treatments, which regulates the three principal components of the body (Doshas): air, fire, and water. This suggests nasal therapy, vomiting, purging and two types of therapeutic enema, by which one uses herbal decoction and the other one with herbal oils.

Om Sai Yoga & Ayurveda applies all treatments within three or seven days, depending on the lifestyle, type and health history of a person.

As a devoted guinea pig, I decided to undergo the Panchakarma treatment.  Yoga and Ayurvedic practitioner Praveen prescribed to me the three-day treatment based on my age and vices, which I was relieved to hear were considerably moderate.

On my first day, Praveen performed a natural toxin-release massage, known as Abhyanga, done with a traditional Ayurvedic oil extracted from an Indian medicinal plant, cooked thoroughly with herbs and spices; It synchronizes certain points of the body, thereby loosening deep-seated toxins in the joints and tissues. It cures muscular problems, overweight, blood circulation, tension, and stress.

In the middle of the massage, I felt discomfort in some areas of my body.  He said, that it is because of my over-exerted muscles and stress, which when compressed takes time to relax. Well, stress is an overused word, which I personally don’t believe exists in me, but then he explained that we all go through stress especially when we apply excessive mental and physical effort into a particular task at hand.  He later discovered that my doshas are imbalanced; I am predominantly of air, a little of water, yet no fire.

Praveen also found that I have a liver problem.  I was not surprised to hear that due to my history of Hepatitis A at the age of 14.  He further noted that my body was lacking of minerals (though I follow a healthy diet) because my excessive air composition is hindering the proper dispersement of minerals throughout my body.

As the Abhyanga treatment ended, Ayurvedic Specialist Manoj Nair, began pouring Ayurvedic medicated oil on my forehead through a punctured brass pot in a meticulous and precise motion.  This treatment, called Shirodhara, aids in removing toxins from the head to the nape, likewise aids in relaxing the body and opening the third eye (the point between your eyebrows) for yogic meditation.

True enough, the oil that was flowing on my forehead and down to my nape further relaxed my head even to the point of numbness.  And before the 45-minute treatment was completed, I woke up unaware that I had fallen asleep.

A short while later, Manoj performed an Ayurvedic facial massage, called Mugha Abhyanga.  He started by massaging the surrounding area of my face with red sandal wax to relieve facial muscles as well as to lift my face up.  He explained that this method is a non-surgical solution for face lifts and wrinkles removal when done within 7 days. He followed through with the treatment by deeply massaging my nose and third eye to relieve the clogness and to sharpen my concentration. He capped it up by rubbing my ears and massaging my ear lobes, to improve my hearing sensation.

Soon after, he wiped the wax off and replaced it with a mudpack mixed with a special Indian powder to tighten my skin.

As the mask was starting to peel on its own, Manoj, began the Nasyam treatment on my nose.  He gradually poured herbal essence drops into my nostrils to remove toxins from my sinuses and crane.  I stayed lying on the oil-resistant beech wood table with my head hanging for a minute so the herbal essence penetrates in.  Manoj advised me to spit out the toxins pushed by the essence. I left the Rock Hotel with some detoxifying herbal medicines in my pocket and clear liquid spits of toxins on my handkerchief.

After a good night’s sleep, I returned for my second session.  I went through the same Abhyanga treatment for 45 minutes, followed by Njavara Kizhi, a therapy, which uses a decoction of boiled Indian rice and milk, packed in a linen pouch.  The hot pouch was then punched into certain points of my body to keep the three Doshas balanced and to relax my bones and joints.

While my body temperature stabilized, they let me inhale the aromatic steam (Vaaspasveda) evaporating from a hot pot mixture of medicated oil, herbs and water to clear my sinus and relax my head.  Later, Manoj did another session of Nasyam to my nose.

On the my final detox day, I underwent Abhyanga, Njavara Kizhi, Mugha Abhyanga and Nasyam for 2 ½ hours.  I noticed my spit gradually transforming into sticky white phlegm.  Praveen commended me for that and advised that the phlegm will disappear.  He said that if my phlegm had been black, then my toxin level would have been high.

I came home that day, rejuvenated, deflated, and toned, with my face tightened and my nose clear.

Even now, five months after my Panchakarma, I still feel light and clean as I felt when I went through it.  I have not stopped my vices, but with regular exercise and a healthy diet, I can feel my body responding positively.

Namaste, Om Sai Yoga & Ayurveda.

Check them out at http://www.omsaischoolofyoga.com or look for Sharm-ayurveda Yoga Rajayoga on facebook for updates.

Om Sai Yoga and Ayurveda

In a town where traffic and pollution cease, and abundance of nature peaks, one easily attains optimum health, beauty and contentment in life.  Well, “life”, in the words of ancient Indian Ayurvedic physician Charaka Samhita, being a “combination of the body, sense organs, mind and soul, the factor responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth”, should therefore be self-contained regardless of external factors.

However, in tough moments like the current global crisis, we find ourselves vulnerable to all kinds of decay; to a slow spiralling down to depression, overlooking our precious dreams and disregarding our health.  We succumb to vices for the sake of our quick yet brief upliftment, but then we instantly return to our abusive habits and wait for another upliftment to arise.  But what if we were given the chance for eternal upliftment and permanently overcome frustrating obstacles?

Should you accept this chance with open eyes, a pure heart and a willing soul, then Om Sai Yoga and Ayurveda is here to help you achieve all that.

Coming from a long lineage of Ayurveda practitioners or Ashtavaidyas, Praveen Saathi, Munna Sadanandan, and Manoj Nair founded Om Sai Yoga and Ayurveda to enlighten people in their native country India and other parts of Asia with the philosophy and discipline of Yoga and the ancient holistic healing of Ayurveda that were taught to them by their ancestors.

From left to right, Ashtavaidyas Praveen, Munna and Manoj

Praveen had been the first one among them to move to Sharm El Sheikh.  He came here mid-last year to teach a full-course of Raja Yoga (Royal Yoga) or yoga path of meditation, based on his studies of the Bhramakumari Yoga System, a system that assures a balanced life in a holistic and non-aesthetic approach. Through his grandmother he learned the application of Yoga, Indian martial arts (Kalari) and herbal knowledge to Ayurveda.  At which point, he discovered that the components of nature provides stronger solutions than modern techniques.

Thus, after months of teaching and getting acquainted with the desert tinsel town, he felt the need to open an authentic Ayurvedic center where people from here and Cairo can undergo an all-organic and low cost solution for health and beauty rejuvenation, done only by qualified Ayurvedic practitioners from Kerala (the leading Indian state of Ayurvedic medical system).

Consequently, he went back to his hometown, Kerala to relearn his Ayurvedic knowledge and to bring with him fellow Ashtavaidyas, Munna and Manoj to Sharm.

Munna and Nair, both degree holders of Ayurvedic healing system in Kerala, did not waste time in preparing the organic Ayurvedic medicaments (true to the strict Dhanvantari principle) as soon as they arrived here.

Om Sai Yoga & Ayurveda delivers a holistic lifestyle with soul and body exercises, as well as awareness and respect to nature by maximizing her abundant gifts.  Their name, on the other hand, represents their integrated beliefs and practices. Om, being the root of all mantras for deeper concentration of the mind; Sai, inspired by Indian guru and saint, Sai Baba of Shirdi, who tried to harmonize Hinduism and Islam with his philosophy; Yoga, an ancient discipline that unites the mind, body and soul; and Ayurveda, from the compound word Ayus, meaning life, and Veda, knowledge or science, which together forms the “knowledge of life” or more appropriately, “the science of long life” through the ancient Indian holistic way of healing.

They offer a long line of preventive treatments for health and beauty such as: Abhyanga (full-body therapeutic massage), Shirodhara (medicated oil drops on the head), Shirovasti (medicated oil drops with a cap), Njavara Khizi (herbal linen pouch body treatment), Panchakarma (3 or 7 days detoxification), Marma (vigorous massage with the use of hands and feet), Kativasti (medicated oil retained on the body), Pizhichil (medicated oil bath), Nasyam (sinusitis treatment), Mugha Abhyanga (herbal facial treatment). These Ayurvedic treatments coincide with session prescribed treatments like: Face Lift, Neck Lift, Breast Lift, Wrinkles Treatment, Eye Bag Removal, Mudpack, Skin Toning, Stress Buster (3-5 days), Weight Loss (5-7 days) E.E.N.T. Care (3 days), and Herbal Haircare.

Yogi Praveen advises current and future yogis to learn how to conserve their energy so they could properly channel it into self-attunement.  He also stresses that to understand the full-benefits of yoga, particularly Raja Yoga, yogis should first master The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These are the 8 disciplinary limbs, which begin with Yama (social discipline), Niyama (individual discipline), Asana (posture), Pranayama (control of the life energy through breathing), Pratyahara (mind withrawal from the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (enlightenment); By disregarding one limb a yogi cannot fully achieve Yoga’s full benefits.  Hence when it comes to meditation, a yogi has to religiously practice it daily at the same time, either in the early morning or in the dark night, so he/she could adopt proper control of thoughts and be mindful of his/her daily actions.

At the end of the day, it is only up to us whether we choose to realize our true selves and achieve eternal contentment or be caught in the chaos produced by others.

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