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" “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and moderna instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans tast sans everything.” "

In the treatment of MS that we make custom made oils depending upon the constitution and symptomatology. Most of the herbal oils which are used for MS are custom made and are potentiated several times.

Method

The numerous ingredients are used for preparing the Herbal oil for Shirovasthi. Fresh herbal extracts are abundantly used in preparing these oils.

Ingredients: Sesame oil as the base oil. Water: added 4 – 8 times the oil. Herbal paste: ¼ the quantity of oil. Herbal decoction: 2 times that of oil.

Fresh Herbal extracts: 2 to 8 times the quantity of oil. These ingredients are heated on mild fire in a traditional vessel made up of 5 metal alloy (Varp). The contents are slowly stirred continuously during the entire process to ensure the uniform absorption of heat. When the herbal paste has reached a stage, which is called as “mrudu paka” (soft consistency – where there is percolated water molecules), the oil is filtered. This stage stays only for a few minutes in the entire process, so oil needs to be filtered carefully within this short span of time. The whole process of preparing the oil takes around 12-15 days, during which the temperature of the oil is always kept at 75-80 degree Celsius.

The medicated oils are highly seasoned and concentrated herbal oils. The repeated addition of herbal extract and herbal decoctions (11 times) makes the oil 11 times potentiated than the normal oil.

While treating MS or other complex disorder that we as Ayurveda physicians face multitude of difficulties. Right from propagating a methodology of treatment, making own medicines and to have a strict control on making the medicine and the routine follow up of patients during and after treatment is required. During which time we used to collect data like the MRI and other lab reports for diagnostic, prognostic and for a future research purpose. Separate interviews in the form of testimonials from the patient at different stages of treatment to evaluate improvement. Moreover we did not have a criteria and standards for any of the above mentioned practical things.

But should we wallow in despondence during old age?

Definitely not, for there are ways to live out a more or less comfortable life in the declining years. Food habit and exercise are keys to maintaining good health during the autumn of one’s life.

There is nothing like senility if one can entertain good humor, balanced food and a dose of essential exercise.

Regarding intake of food, one should acknowledge the fact that at the age of 39 onwards, old age has set in, even though we consider ourselves as senior citizens only at the age of 60, when shashtiabdapoorthy (attainment of sixty) is observed.

Food provides physical and mental energy and good nourishment is essential during the advanced years. By providing good nourishment one is enabled to keep up youth even by the elderly.

The dictum should be: good, nourishing food keeps the doctor away.

At the same time there is an overwhelming need for exercise to offset the excess energy absorbed by the body. The reality is that with the setting in of old age, there is an increasing lethargy for undertaking physical exercise. Wake up from this lethargy and walk off to vibrancy.

At least from the age of 50, one should have a morning walk for at least half an hour. Those who do not do exercise should see to it that they consume food with low calorie value. Otherwise the excess calorie consumed by the person would unsettle health condition considerably.

The excess energy is converted into fat by the body and this condition leads to obesity. Some people complain that body girth increases even as there is small quantity of intake of food. The truth is, it is not the quantity of food that is consumed that is important, but the quality of it. The small quantity of food that is eaten has high calorie value, which if not exercised out, converts itself into fat.

One vada gives a calorie value of 270, but a dosa provides only a calorie value of 85. Which means eating one vada is equivalent to eating three dosas as far as calorie value is concerned. Without imbibing this fact, we consume three dosas along with one vada.

What happens when we eat a lot of food having high calorie value? We invite in grave diseased conditions with diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

But we don’t have to be scared of these diseases provided we resort to a good, balanced protocol of food intake. Grains, grams and beans, leafy varieties and other vegetables having good fibre content should be relished.

This pattern of eating would reduce cholesterol and solve the problem of constipation.

Good quantity of calcium is essential for the old-aged, otherwise there is the problem of weakening of the bones.

It is proved that milk contains good quantity of calcium and so it is better to have a glass of mildly- hot milk before going to bed.This would give the person good sleep and solve the problem of calcium deficiency.

Drinking water profusely before and after food would be fine for the kidneys. Curd-milk, juice of fruits and vegetables would be salubrious.

The role of anti-oxidants in the food array is very important. Food items with anti-oxidants even keep off cancer.

Mangoes, orange, cherry, papaya, strawberry, grapes, onions, carrot, leafy items, mushroom, germinated pulses, and ocean fish are good sources for anti-oxidants.

The anti-oxidants through various sources supply vitamins and minerals enabling the old -aged to glow with good skin and buoyant with vibrancy like a youth.

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