Urinary system comprises of kidneys, ureters, bladder, penis. If urinary flow is scant/suppressed, this disorder can be due to some stone, venereal diseases, dietary fads and indiscretions, cancerous growths, endocrine glands malfunctioning. Stones are the main culprits which cause various urinary problems. Here, it is not possible to spell out causes and symptoms of all urinary disorders. Stones owe their origin to presence, in excess of urates, oxalates, phosphates, uric acid and calcium. Intake of certain foods are etiological factors in formation of urinary stones. Organ meats, herrings, alcohol, sardines etc. can cause stones of uric acid formation. Oxalate stones are said to be formed by spinach, tomatoes, beet root, figs, dates, plums, strong tea and coffee, red meats, raspberries and strawberries, milk and its products. So, in order to get a near immunity, abstain from the above mentioned food items. In addition, also avoid high seasoned, fatty, starchy, fried and spicy food. Even use of musk melon and raw apples is also not conducive in such conditions. Always take, as far as feasible, diet low in calories, and fibre to minimise the possibility of gall stones. Following preventive measures may eliminate or, at least delay, possibility of Renal calculi.
- Barley water or lemon juice are useful measures for this malady. Ensure that the urine does not get high coloured, scanty or suppressed due to lack of water intake. Take at least 4 litres of water daily to keep uric acid crystals liquefied. Peel of musk melon, boiled in water, will remove obstruction in the urinary passage.
- Juice or Water of water melon (raw) is a useful diuretic. It flushes out toxins from the system, removes burning sensation, hesitancy and pain.
- Water of coconut is a useful and deep urinary purifier and diuretic. It is a boon in correcting disorders of liver, urinary system, including restoring and normalising free flow of urine.
- Juice of parsley helps to break renal stones, remove toxins and foreign body matters from the body. Strain juice of parsley and use it for at least for some weeks to cure stones in bladder and kidneys. One may use also, tea prepared from fresh parsley. Corn silk tea is equally useful for the said diseases,
- Asparagus juice also restores normal functioning of kidneys, crushes oxalic acid crystals to pulverised form.
- Urinary infections can be removed by fresh canberries ground and mixed with honey.
- Rice bran (20 gms or so per day) also prevents stones in kidney, due to its inherent quality of possessing acid phytic that does not let unwanted calcium to spill over to urine.
- Seeds of pumpkin restore and also preserve virility in the male and protect the prostate gland.
- It is also said that 50 gms of lady fingers, boiled in hot water, should be strained and taken twice daily for maintaining normal urinary flow, as also for health of urinary organs. I differ on this opinion, for the simple reason, that sticky element in the lady’s finger is not conducive for the urinary system, more so for stones which owe their formation to oxalic acid. Any food item that contains any sticky substance should be eliminated from the menu of prospective case of renal or urinary stone.
FOOD AND RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
Cough, Laryngitis, Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis, Pneumonia, Bronchopneumonia, Asthma, Catarrh, Coryza are major disorders of the respiratory system, A person can show reaction to certain sudden weather changes, air pollution, food items, hard drinks, smoking, some hard drinks chemicals, scents and fragrances, drugs, (to name a few causatives only). Reaction to any one or more of the above mentioned conditions and/or objects we properly know as allergic reactions. It is not easy to deduce and pin point a particular allergen which is capable of causing allergic reactions, for the simple reason that in a particular condition a person may show favourable response while, in the other he might show adverse reactions. Mental condition of a person also plays an important role in respiratory disorders. Medically, histamine is the cause of various respiratory problems but, let it be not forgotten that whatever we eat has direct bearing on our whole physical apparatus. Effort should always be directed to strengthen the immune system, to cause excretion of toxic and foreign matter from the body, keep movement of bowels to perfect normalcy, It is difficult to believe that a person, being ignorant or unaware of the causes which have triggered the disease, will often disclose to his doctor that, after taking such and such food item or after moving into changed, climatic changes, he got the infection.
It clearly points out to two admissions by the patient himself viz. (1) he ate an edible which did not suit him, or there was/were some items in food to which he normally was not accustomed and (2) secondly, he landed himself in an unfavourable weather condition. The doctor’s ability lies in detecting the causes which created odd or unknown symptoms. His effort should be to strike at the root cause, instead of clipping the branches of the disorder. If the doctor is able to deduce the cause (s), half of the battle he has won and rest untreated part will be taken care of by his medicine, advice and follow up action by the patient. If body’s resistance power is good, it can stand to most of changes in food items and weather conditions.
Outward impression and inward reactions occur only when a person’s immune strength has weakened. So, the first prerequisite is to adjust your food habits to meet the challenges posed by changes in new dietary pattern And climate. Once the body is in a position to acclamatise itself to new environs, it won’t fall a prey to such disorders. Balanced food not only provides nutrition to our body, it also builds up resistance, purges unwanted foreign matters from the body, dispels toxins and also fortifies our body to face boldly the challenges thrown by wrong diet.
Weather conditions
- In order to, protect himself, a person should try to use garlic clove (fresh and raw). Its quick penetration property helps to dissolve expel and liquefy mucus in the respiratory tract. A French herbal expert obtained success in 60% cases of asthma and in 30% cases a downward trend of the asthmatic symptoms was observed in bronchitis, 10% of the patients were cured whereas 80% showed improvement. He gave garlic by mouth, in addition to giving foot bath in the said respiratory disorders.
- A few patients develop allergic asthma or breathing problem due to pollens. Its bad effects can be removed by honey which also mitigates cough and inflammatory conditions. Honey, if given with a pinch of borax (suhaga) powder, will remove and expel even tenacious mucus from nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Suhagha should be heated on a hot iron plate (Tawa). To make it further stronger, 50 mg of licorice (Powder of Mulethi) powder may also be added to the said compound. Borax powder should not exceed a pinch per dose or else its excessive quantity is liable to cause loose motions.
- Vitamin C builds up natural resistance of the body to resist onset of many diseases. Its source, is Amla which, taken in any form, retains its natural quality of Vitamin C which should be obtained chiefly from natural foods.
- Asparagus should, before use, be cooked and 6-8 teaspoons should be taken daily to have respiratory symptoms subsided.
- Tea, prepared from thyme (Ajwayan), is very beneficial in the treatment and relief of asthma, stuck up phlegm in lungs and also in whooping cough (as also rise of bouts in the whooping cough). It should be mixed with sugar and lemon juice to derive more and quicker benefits. The tea prepared from chamomile, also expels tough and clammy phlegm from the air passages and thus facilitates breathing process, relaxes all the respiratory system, is anti-inflationary also.
- Prepare a decoction of barley, and mix honey and lemon in it. This compound decoction will relieve even awful bronchial, asthmatic and sore throat conditions.
- Boil spinach and strain its juice which should be used, with advantage, in all conditions of sore throat and tonsillitis.
- Mix juices of spinach and carrot or celery/radish for an all round improvement in breathing problems.
- Inhale combined essences of clove, pepper mint and eucalyptus oils to seek freedom nasal blockade, sore throat, sinusitis and congestion in the lungs.
- Juice of grape fruit may be tried for influenza.
- Vitamin C and E help to remove excess of mucus and help muscle walls of the small bronchi to relax.
- Saffron taken with hot milk and also if it is rubbed on and around chest after it has been put in hot ghee (clarified butter). In winter make sure that the massaged parts of the body do not remain exposed to cold winds.
FOOD FOR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Mouth is the main door-way through which all our food enters into our stomach. From the stomach, process of digestion takes place in full form. As soon as the food enters into our mouth, it should be masticated and reduced to a fine pulp with help of saliva. Such a well masticated food, when reaching the stomach, does not exert much strain on the stomach to overwork and exert much. Well digested food is the only source to energise, sustain and enliven various body functions. It is, therefore, well in order to eat only easily digestible food rich in all the essential vitamins minerals, green leafy vegetables, fats, carbohydrates, proteins etc. In a way one should always take a well balanced diet by which one’s system should never be vitiated by unnatural means. Spicy, fried, fat rich, dry, finely milled wheat flour and polished rice should always be avoided. Avoid all foods which are spice-rich and contain too much of saturated fats. As and when necessary, never miss an occasion for food substitutes lest your food becomes a cause for monotony. Use plenty of salads, fruit and vegetables juices, milk. Avoid condiments, fast foods etc. red meats, all liquors, Spices and condiments, fast foods etc.
Note : Suggestions on how, what and what not to eat, will be detailed in the following pages which should be studied as suggested guidelines for dealing with diet as a whole.
