:: July/August 2004 Volume 3/Number 4

Ayurvedic First Aid to the Rescue

By Felicia M. Tomasko

For a broken arm, knocked-out tooth, car accident, or other crisis, the emergency room or doctor’s office is generally the best place to visit. But, Ayurveda can also be at home in an emergency and can be effective in treating chronic conditions and everyday maladies, as well. Consider these simple herbal Ayurvedic practices and herbal preparations.

• Dehydration can be caused by overexertion, too much sun, or fluid loss. Rather than reaching for drinks loaded with high fructose corn syrup and artificial colorings, choose a natural electrolyte replacement drink or make your own. One Ayurvedic recipe is: one quart pure water, juice from two fresh limes, lemons, or one orange, 1 teaspoon of unrefined sugar and 1 teaspoon of sea or rock salt.

• Summer picnics, a day at the beach or travel can lead to indigestion or an upset stomach. These can then be soothed by sipping ginger or peppermint tea.  For a vata person or imbalance, make fresh ginger tea and add honey; for pitta, use peppermint or fresh ginger; and for kapha, use dry ginger with honey. 

• People and bees—or other insects—can cross paths in the long summer days. To ease a bee sting’s swelling (if life-threatening allergies are not an issue), apply a paste of turmeric and ghee. Be careful! Turmeric can stain not only clothing and but also plastic or wooden utensils.

• Instead of aspirin, jatamansi or spikenard essential oil on the forehead can ease the pain of a headache. Cool peppermint tea bags, peppermint leaves soaked in water, or peppermint or sandalwood essential oil can chase away a headache caused by excessive heat.

• Although butter or honey are common folk remedies for burns, and are sometimes mentioned in Ayurveda, the best solution is to initially flush the burn with cool water before applying lavender essential oil to ease the pain and hasten the skin’s healing.

• For skin that is dry or cracked, apply castor oil. Although it may seem sticky and initially unappealing, castor oil, according to Ayurveda, penetrates more deeply than other oils; it can also be used to break up cysts, scars, and deposits under the skin. Add some of your favorite essential oil to increase its palatability.

• To staunch bleeding, a paste of arrowroot and water can be applied to cuts, scrapes or the area of the wound.

• To stave off a cold or flu, or drive away a lingering malaise, the traditional Ayurvedic formulation chavynprash contains not only amla fruit, with easily absorbed vitamin C, but also immune-enhancing herbs. 

• Even in life-threatening emergencies, one of the most critical interventions taken from the teachings of both Yoga and Ayurveda is to calm the mind by taking a slow deep breath (or, more appropriately, several deep breaths) to create a state of calm in the midst of the chaotic and fearful emotions associated with an emergency. When the mind is calm, the crisis does not disappear, rather, we are better equipped to respond. Breathing slowly and deeply creates this sense of calm by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s relaxation response.