WORLD DIABETES DAY-NOVEMBER 14

            WORLD DIABETES DAY-NOVEMBER 14

                   346 million people worldwide have diabetes..In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high blood sugar..More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries..WHO projects that diabetes deaths will double between 2005 and 2030.

                  Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes

Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

       Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke).      Combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy in the feet increases the chance of foot ulcers and eventual limb amputation.         Diabetic retinopathy is an important cause of blindness, and occurs as a result of long-term accumulated damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. After 15 years of diabetes, approximately 2% of people become blind, and about 10% develop severe visual impairment.

          Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure. 10-20% of people with diabetes die of kidney failure.Diabetic neuropathy is damage to the nerves as a result of diabetes, and affects up to 50% of people with diabetes. Although many different problems can occur as a result of diabetic neuropathy, common symptoms are tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the feet and hands.

The overall risk of dying among people with diabetes is at least double the risk of their peers without diabetes.achieve and maintain healthy body weight;be physically active – at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. More activity is required for weight control;

eat a healthy diet of between three and five servings of fruit and vegetables a day and reduce sugar and saturated fats intake;avoid tobacco use – smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Siddha system of medicines are more effective to control the type-2 diabetes. Yoga ,traditional food and siddha medicines to control and prevent diabetes . Some of the siddha medicines like vallarai, nellikai, manjal and naval are to prevent the diabetes complications.

NEERADI MUTHU

Botanical name : Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst.) Sleumer
Synonmous name : Hydnocarpus wightiana Blume
Family name : Flacourtiaceae
Genus : A genus including trees and shrubs, which are native of tropical parts of Asia. The species are having alternate, entire or serrated leaves, Dioecious flowers and Globose berries with seeds embedded in the pulp. Some species belonging to this genus are useful as source of timber while some species are useful for the oil extraction from the seeds, which is medicinally important.

Species : This is a medium sized, evergreen tree having rough, brown bark, spreading branches, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, leaves, white flowers and globose berries containing many seeds in embedded in the fruit pulp. The species comes into flowering during summer season. The oil extracted from the seed called ‘Hydnocarpus Oil’ is medicinal against several diseases and the species also can be planted along roadsides as a good avenue plant.

Depression

 Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of loss, anger, sadness, or frustration interfere with everyday life .

                  Causes of Depression : Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with one another. It also seems to be genetic (to run in families). It is caused by Sleep disturbances, Amount of exposure to light, Heredity, Nutritional deficiencies or Serious medical conditions, such as heart attack or cancer.

Depression Symptoms : Sadness, Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, Difficulty in Concentrating, Difficulty in making decisions, Crying easily or Crying for no reason, Aches and pains (such as recurrent headaches), Sexual problems (for example, decreased sex drive), A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain, Thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression Prevention : Using mind/body techniques, such as biofeedback, and meditation are effective ways to prevent or reduce symptoms associated with depression, Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced healthy diet may help prevent depression and diminish symptoms of this mood disorder.

Diet and Lifestyle : Avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol, dairy products: Depression has been associated with a high intake of caffeine. If you drink four or more cups of caffeine in a given day, try substituting decaffeinated coffee and soft drinks. Avoid any processed food, artificial colors, stimulant food, canned foods, smoking, dairy products, meats, eggs, and fish. Limit your total daily fat intake to 30 percent of your total calories. Try not to consume more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day, Vitamin B1 is necessary for the brain to metabolize carbohydrates. A deficiency of B1 can result in fatigue, irritability, memory lapses, insomnia, loss of appetite, and stomach upset. Don't believe all of your negative thinking. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Both make depression worse. Avoid making big life decisions when you're depressed.                                                                   ”siddhars way of yoga and meditation certainy help to reduce depression’’.

- Dr. S. Senthil Karunakaran

Treatment : Vata, Pitta and Kapha type Kiriyai

                  Mental disorders, including schizophrenia treatments are similar that neurosis type and  Pancha karma treatment is recommended as a stronger method.

                  Vata kiriyai: Nourishing and Sedating herbs are recommended. especially Amukkara and its various preparations. Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentine), is an important  herb for mental disorders. Other good herbs include Valerian, Guggul, Sadaamanjil and Calamus. Other therapies recommended are oil and ghee therapies, including oil   enemas. To regulate Abanan, Oil and ghee therapy is advised and In addition laxatives are added to remove Abanan blockage.

Pitta kiriyai:  Purgation is recommended, even strong purgatives are often helpful. The more violent type, the more purgation is required. Good herbs for this include Senna and Aloe. Gotu kola is generally the best herb others are Karisalai, Sandalwood and Lemon. Shatavari is good for promoting a sense of love and compassion and is better for weaker types of Pitha Kiriyai. Oil bath (Vilvadhi and Sandanathi Thylam) and fomentation therapies are recommended followed by purgatives and emetics. Medicated enemas with Indhuppu  and Tharanam with Sadamanjil and Agathi are also advised.

Kapha kiriyai:  Spicy brain-stimulating herbs are recommended . The treatment is mainly with expectorant, to clear phlegm from blocking the channels and obstructing mental functioning. Important herbs are Calamus, Thulasi, Adhimathuram, Aadathodai, and Guggul. Other formulas include Trikadugu with ghee or Calams ghee. Peranda Parpam is advised for all types of Kiriyai.

     

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)

                  Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) has been in use since ancient times as a potent nerve tonic for rejuvenating mental health and promoting intellect and memory.  Preclinical Neuropharmacological studies demonstrate that both the standardized extract and bacosides improve short-term and intermediate memories thus improving the long-term memory. The bacosides also significantly enhance protein synthesis in those regions of the brain, which are implicated in the memory formation, a possible explanation for its memory improving effect. Double blind cross over clinical studies have been carried out in children, elderly persons and normal healthy volunteers. Studies carried out in normal healthy volunteers, elderly subjects with age associated memory impairment and children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have shown that the drug was safe, well tolerated and efficacious. Study on children with ADHD has shown that the preparation significantly improves sentence repetition, logical memory and paired associate learning.

Five ways To Sort Out the Stresses

Five ways To Sort Out the Stresses & Improve Mental Health :

1.A balanceddiet, exercise and rest can help you to reduce stress and enjoy life.Challenge yourself with a jigsaw puzzle, solve riddles or read a good book. Even better, involve others with these activities.

2.Make plans with family members, loved ones and or a tour group to visit a place you’ve always wanted to go.

3.Join a club, start a new hobby or learn a new skill such as gardening, bird watching or dancing.

4.Invite family &  friends to join you once a week for dinner &  take turns preparing meals.

5.World Mental Health Day Quotes.“Mental illness is no myth, as some have claimed. It is a disturbance in our sense of possession of a stable inner self that survives its personae.” “MARUPATHU ULANOI  MARUNTHENA SALUM’’- THIRUMOOLAR

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK: OCTOBER 9-15

                  Mental Health Week in 2011 will run from the 9 October – 15 October.The theme for Mental Health Week 2011 is – “Keeping the Balance: Investing in Your Mind and Body”                     05 Facts About Mental Health

1. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

2. 33% of countries have no mental health budget.

3. 80% of the global burden of disease due to mental disorders is found in low- and middle-income countries.

4. On average about 8,00,000 people commit suicide every year, 86% of them in low- and middle-income countries. More than half of the people who kill themselves are aged between 15 and 44. 

5. War and other major disaster have a large impact on the mental health and psychosocial well being.