
Fungi grow easily in warm, damp areas of your body like the groin, armpits, vagina, and colon. They also tend to lodge in areas with poor circulation, including the toes and joints. Often a fungal infection in the foot is a sign of a deeper fungal...
Many of the below herbs will be used topically. Bloodroot and Mayapple are dangerous, caustic agents that should be used under expert guidance only.
The herpes virus may lie dormant in nerves. Stress is the most common trigger of herpes outbreaks. The following herbal actions can help: Adaptogen - To mediate stress (licorice root) Vulnerary - To heal lesions Demulcent - To...
Cold sores erupt from herpes Simplex I virus, which becomes activated during episodes of stress. A good routine and restorative rest can help with this condition.
Chapped lips is a sign of inadequate circulation to the lips, dehydration, or overexposure to cold. Chronic candida and toxicity can also dry out the lips.
A chronic infection is a persistent infection of months or years that is difficult to get rid of. It may also lie dormant and then reappear. Chronic infections may be a sign of
A fever is a condition where internal body temperature rises above 100.4F. A fever usually indicates a bacterial or viral infection is present. In Ayurveda, the root cause of fever is metabolic waste, or digestive toxins known as
Swollen lymph nodes are a sign of infection. In Ayurveda, tissues are most vulnerable to infection when the blood is too sweet and thick (an excess condition), and when there is toxic buildup. Traditional remedies include a light and mildly spicey diet...
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck are a sign of chronic sinus, ear or upper respiratory infection. Swollen lymph nodes are a sign of blood stagnation andmay indicate sweet, thick, Kapha blood.
Swollen lymph nodes indicate infection and blood stagnation. In the hip and shoulder joints, it may indicate a fungal infection. Sweet, thick Kapha blood or Vata toxicity that becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.
Swollen lymph nodes indicate infection. When lymph nodes are swollen around the hips, it is usually a sign of a fungal infection, parasites, or dysbiosis of organs and tissues of the pelvic floor.A heavy, rich, diet of Kapha provoking foods can...
A sore throat may due to acid reflux, dryness, or 'sweet blood'. Sweet blood encourages proliferation of bacteria that irritate the throat.
The winter chill in the air and the smell of cedar logs crackling and burning in a far off chimney refreshes the senses. Yet after several minutes of walking, my nasal passages have swollen shut. An unsightly drop of clear mucus prompts me to reach for...
Pneumonia is a lung infection causing inflammation of the deepest lung tissue (lower bronchial tubes and airsacs). Common respiratory infections typically affect the upper branches of the lung only and does not descend into the air sacs (alveoli) of...
Skin infections may cause the following signs and symptoms Itching or burning sensation Redness or rosy discoloration of the skin Bumps or
Itchy skin may be secondary to dryness (Vata pushing Pitta). Skin may be itchy due to cyst formation (Pitta/Kapha type). Skin may feel itchy when sweating, or when heat (Pitta) is trapped in the body. When wounds are healing, the skin is...
A chronic staph infection could be serious. Bacterial infections generally spread under the following conditions: poor circulation, sweet blood, heat and moisture buildup, and toxicity. A Kapha and Pitta pacifying diet low in carbohydrates may help...
Sweet, thick Kapha blood is very attractive to microbes. Soon after brushing the teeth, these microbes proliferate in the mouth once again. Indigestion creates toxicity that is especially attractive to infectious diseases.
Causes of frequent cavities Articles about tooth decay prevention advise regular brushing and flossing of teeth along with avoiding sugary foods like candy and sodas as main ways to stay cavity free. While these are a good...
Disinfect and clean out wounds before attempting to use vulneraries. Otherwise, the tissue may heal with the dirt inside the wound, or with an active subcutaneous infection.
Bacteria naturally proliferate when the blood is sweet or rich after sweet or rich foods. This is especially true for the gums, which are exposed to the outside air. Toxicity in the blood further irritates tissues, making them vulnerable to infectious...
Gum inflammation is often secondary to either toxicity (Vata or Pitta type), or sweet blood (Kapha Type). Sweet blood, or blood high in sugar, is attractive to the organisms that cause tooth decay.
If you have ever wished for a quick natural remedy for sunburn after lingering too long at the beach you’re in luck. Ayurveda, India’s 5,000+ years-old natural health system, can help. The other good news is these remedies are just as...
Herpes are aggravated by stress and other immune depressants.
A person with a strong abdominal pulse can feel a throbbing, pulsing heart beat in the just above or around the belly button, more noticeable when resting. In many healthy people, especially those who are thin or lie flat on their back, it's normal...
Blastocystis hominis is a protozoan bacteria. Billions of people have Blastocystis hominis have no symptoms. Blasto was not even considered a 'bad bacteria' by most doctors until the 2000s. Even if you have Blasto, look for other potential root causes...
H pylori is a highly contagious bacteria that causes a burning sensation in the upper gut for some individuals. Since many imbalances cause a burning sensation in the upper GI, a positive diagnosis is needed. Do You Have the #1 Gut Infection in...
Should You Get Tested for a Parasite?A parasite can wreak havoc on your body. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms caused by parasites are common to individuals who don't have parasites as well. That leaves everyone wondering -...
Malabsorption is the inability to absorb nutrients from food. The problem may be general, or specific to a certain nutrient. Some common types include fat, carbohydrate, protein, fructose, bile, iron, vitamin A, D, B12 or vitamin K...
Bladder infection arises from stagnant urine in the bladder, blood that is too sweet, or auto-immune disorders like interstitial cystitis. Infections are generally a sign of 'sweet, toxicity, heat, and stagnation.' Sweetness of the blood feeds the...
Candida treatment changes radically for each constitution or dosha in Ayurveda. Candida is a fungus present in everyone's body. Usually the presence of candida is beneficial. They are a part of your normal flora and assist you in digesting glucose,...
Chronic vaginal discharge may be due to bacterial vaginosis (BV). Root causes include 1) sweet, rich stagnant blood (Kapha), 2) Thinning of mucosal membranes in menopause, 3) UTI, or other ama from the GI tract, 4) Sexual intercourse, or 5) Spermicidal...
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginitis. The development of bacterial vaginosis, jock itch in men, and chronic fungal infections is similar.
Fungi grow easily in warm, damp areas of your body like the groin, armpits, vagina, and colon. They also tend to lodge in areas with poor circulation, including the toes and joints. Often a fungal infection in the foot is a sign of a deeper fungal...
There are hundreds of different kinds of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) affecting different areas of the body. Treatment ranges from Antivirals Ablation - Use of caustic agents to burn away the wart. Lasers, electrodes, freezing...
Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrollable division of abnormal cells. This division can start in almost any part of the body, and may spread to surrounding areas via the blood (rakta vaha srotas) and lymph (rasa vaha srotas)....
Chemotherapy causes cellular division to cease, leading to hair loss, and often severe indigestion.
Topical aloe vera and castor oil compresses may limit damage to fragile lymphatic tissues.
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’