Publisher's Synopsis
The fundamental Ayurvedic healing remedies for primary health care originate from its kitchen where food is prepared with a variety of herbs and spices. The ingredients that make the gastronomic delights are also used in simple home remedies for healing minor ailments and nagging health problems. This wisdom remained with women and has continuity since eternity. In fact, it is after my study of the Ayurvedic scriptures that I realised that the grandmother's ways of healing are very scriptural and exact. This concise book of home remedies is meant to provide you simple solutions to your day-to-day problems and gives many answers to your questions on health. It is a self-help book for your minor irritants of daily life. It is not a high level Ayurvedic therapy book with complicated contents and formulations but simple grandmother's remedies for which you can buy the ingredients from an oriental grosser. I grew up with these simple remedies and have helped thousands of people across the globe through my books and teachings. Out of my 23 books on various themes of health, 21 have been translated in German language. These books have numerous recipes of home remedies. People thank me from all over the world about such common place and simple home remedies like hot cardamom water, curcuma milk, lemon Ajwain and four spice powder. This gave rise to the idea of writing this book of remedies which are exclusively from kitchen herbs, spices and other food products and are meant for primary health care at home. A concise book with simple remedies, their precise preparation and use, above all the right dose and frequency will help millions to manage their lives better and get a quick help at home. It is a family book where dose for children and special recipes for babies and children are also given. Being a scientist and trained in Europe and America, I feel that in most existing books, as well as through knowledge imparted by sect 'gurus' on Ayurvedic remedies, the precision about the dose and frequency is missing. People go to Internet for self-help and do some disastrous errors. For example: 'a teaspoon of cinnamon daily or honey in hot water will help you reduce weight'. Such a high dose of cinnamon is toxic and heated honey releases toxins that remain in your blood until the end of your life. I have seen many people get health problems by taking garlic in overdose. Kitchen herbs and spices have also side-effects when they are taken in excess. Therefore, we need a book of remedies with scientific precision as has been explained in the authentic tradition of Ayurveda. The contents and index will help you find a remedy for your specific problem. The last part of the book contains description of the herbs and spices used in this book to help you buy right products and know the nature of these plants. Precise reference to my other books are given for those who are interested in broadening their knowledge and wish to learn more about healing with yoga and Ayurveda. According to Charaka, the Ayurvedic sage from 600 B.C., it is our duty or svadharma to manage our life and make every effort to keep ourselves healthy and disease free. The purpose of this book is to present you this simple and self-help wisdom so that you can manage your minor problems at home. The book provides some simple ways for maintaining health and enhancing fundamental energy level called ojas in Ayurveda. Most people in the world think that if they are unwell or ill, it is the job of a physician to 'repair' them. However, this book and the wisdom of Ayurveda teach us to take the primary responsibility for our health and attain sensitivity about the state of being unwell and not let it convert into an illness. Primary health care also means that we enhance our energy level for preventing ailments and are able to intervene at the onset or at the appearance of primary symptoms of an ailment and bring ourselves back to health.
