Turmeric and Other Natural Aids for Blood Sugar Support

• Another simple and effective herbal way to control blood sugar is to use turmeric. Fill some 00-size capsules (available at a pharmacy or natural food store) with turmeric, and take 2 capsules 3 times a day, a few minutes before meals. You can continue this program for up to a month, and then reevalulate your condition. Clinical observation suggests that a person who is insulin dependent will experience a markedly diminished requirement for insulin; the diabetes can often be brought under control.

• To help regulate your blood sugar level, you can try taking ½ teaspoon of ground bay leaf and ½ teaspoon turmeric, mixed in 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel. Take the mixture twice a day before lunch and dinner. To reduce kapha, you should follow the kapha-pacifying diet (see chapter 8), especially DIET avoiding excess intake of sweets, carbohydrates, and dairy products. Take more fresh vegetables and bitter herbs.

Put one cup of water into a copper vessel at night, and drink the water in the COPPER WATER morning. Beneficial yoga postures for diabetic conditions include the Sun Salutation and YOGA POSTURES the Peacock pose, Locust pose, Leg Lift, and Chest-Knee pose. Alternate Nostril breathing is also helpful. (Please see illustrations for yoga postures in appendix 4, and the pranayama instructions in chapter 6.) Diarrhea See also “Diarrhea—Babies” Generally, diarrhea occurs when agni (the digestive fire) becomes weak.

As a result, absorption and assimilation become minimal, and the undigested foodstuff gets eliminated as a liquid, watery stool. To relieve diarrhea, Ayurveda aims to strengthen agni and to pacify whatever dosha—generally pitta—is aggravated. Indigestion, nervousness, or eating some wrong food or food combination can also create diarrhea. PACIFY PITTA The first line of defense against diarrhea is to immediately reduce pitta in your diet.

Follow the guidelines for the pitta-pacifying diet (see chapter 8), especially keeping away from spicy and fermented foods. TIME TO SEE THE DOCTOR If there is no serious illness, diarrhea is usually quite easy to control. However, this condition can also be a symptom of a more serious illness, so if these home remedies don’t work in 2 or 3 days, consult a doctor. FOUR FOOD CURES • Cook one or two apples until they are mushy, then add 1 teaspoon ghee, a pinch of cardamom, and a pinch of nutmeg.