The Three Doshas in Ayurveda: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

The Three Doshas in Ayurveda: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

In Ayurveda, doshas are the functional intelligences within the body mind complex. These dynamic energies manifest in the body through their qualities, specific sites, and the active roles they play in orchestrating the processes that create and sustain the body. In other words, they are the energies that make things happen in the organism. Ultimately, any aspect related to metabolic function and its relationship to health and disease boils down to the harmonious actions of the three doshas.

Ayurveda is a common sense science with a profound knowledge of all the systems and functions of the body (from the grossest to the most subtle aspects), but for practical purposes it is important to understand that any imbalance in the doshas is what really triggers the disease process. This is why Ayurveda encourages the prevention of imbalance and restoration of balance through the management of the doshas with a natural, down to earth Ayurvedic regime that includes proper diet and lifestyle, Ayurvedic herbs and herbal preparation, as well as dinacharya or daily healthy routines, yoga and meditation practices suited to your unique, individual constitution, Ayurvedic therapies for relaxation and rejuvenation, and Panchakarma for deep detoxification. These are the tools to your optimal health and long life with Ayurveda.

General Description of Ayurvedic Doshas and Their Manifestations in the Body

Most of us have a predominant dosha in our constitution, and some people have a dual doshic constitution, where two doshas are equally predominant. It is extremely rare to find someone with all doshas in equal proportions. In any case, is it important to remember that the body mind complex is a dynamic unity and all three doshas are constantly interacting with each other and with the environment. In Ayurveda, there are three dosha-predominant constitutions or Prakrutis(also prakritis): Vata predominant, Pitta predominant, and Kapha predominant; three dual dosha constitutions, where two doshas are equally or nearly equally predominant: Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha and Vata-Kapha; and one tridoshic Prakruti with all three doshas equally prominent: Vata-Pitta-Kapha. The following are general descriptions and attributes of each dosha.

VATA: The Energy of Movement in Ayurveda

Vata is the principle of mobility that regulates all activity in the body —from how many thoughts one might have during a given period to how efficiently food moves through our intestines. Vata is in charge of functions such as the pulsation of the heart, respiration, circulation and elimination. It is responsible for joy, happiness, creativity and speech. Vata is also in charge of the vital life essence, or prana. Thus when vata (prana) leaves the body, life ceases.

The colon is the most important seat of vata dosha. Vata is also present in the nervous system as motor neuron impulses; in the ears; in the pelvic cavity, lower back, sacrum and thighs; and in the joints and skin. When vata is increased, there may be signs and symptoms connected to these locations.

Vata has the qualities or attributes of dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile (erratic), and clear. These qualities translate into the makeup of the vata individual, as shown in the chart of vata attributes.

THE VATA INDIVIDUAL

Qualities	Manifestations in the Body
Dry	Dry skin, hair, lips and tongue; dry colon, tendency toward constipation; hoarse voice.
Light	Light muscles, bones, thin body frame; light, scanty sleep; tendency to be underweight.
Cold	Cold hands and feet; poor circulation; hates cold and loves hot; stiffness of muscles.
Rough	Rough cracked skin, nails, hair, teeth, hands and feet; cracking joints.
Subtle	Subtle fear, anxiety and insecurity; fine goose pimples; minute muscle twitchings, fine tremors; delicate body.
Mobile	Fast walking and talking; doing many things at once; restless eyes, eyebrows, hands and feet; unstable joints; many dreams; loves travelling but does not stay long at one place; swinging moods, shaky faith, scattered mind.
Clear	Clairvoyant; understands immediately and forgets immediately; clear, empty mind; experiences void and loneliness.
Astringent	Dry choking sensation in the throat; hiccough, burping; loves oily foods and mushy soups; craves sweet, sour and salty tastes; tendency toward constipation.

Physically, vata persons have light, flexible bodies and big, protruding teeth. They have small, recessed, dry eyes. With irregular appetite and thirst, they often experience digestive and malabsorption problems. Vata types tend to be delicate in health, so they may have few or no children.

In their behavior, vata individuals are easily excited. Indeed, they are alert and quick to act without much thinking. They may give a wrong answer but with great confidence. They have good imagination and enjoy daydreaming. Vata individuals are loving people but may love someone out of fear or loneliness. Fears of darkness, heights and enclosed spaces are not uncommon. Because of a tendency to change, vata people may often move furniture or residence to keep from feeling bored. They do not like sitting idle, and seek constant action. Due to their active nature, they make good money but spend it on trifles and have difficulty saving.

Any of the qualities of vata in excess can cause an imbalance. Frequent travel, especially by plane, loud noises, constant stimulation, drugs, sugar and alcohol derange vata, as does exposure to cold and cold liquids and foods. Vata people should go to bed by 10 p.m. since they need more rest than the other types. In general, people with excessive vata should dress warmly and eat warm, moist, slightly oily, heavy foods. Steam baths, humidifiers and moisture in general are beneficial. Daily oil massage before the shower or bath is also recommended.

General Guidelines for Balancing Vata Dosha:

• Keep warm
• Eat warm foods and spices
• Keep calm
• Keep a regular routine
• Get plenty of rest
• Avoid cold, frozen, or raw foods
• Avoid extreme cold

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PITTA: The Energy of Digestion and Metabolism in Ayurveda

Pitta represents the Fire principle in the body. Everything that enters the body must be “digested” and assimilated, from sensory perception to food for nourishment. In addition to the gastric fire, pitta also includes the enzymes and amino acids that play a major role in metabolism, and even the neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in thinking. Some of the responsibilities of pitta are to regulate the body heat through the chemical transformation of food and to give a person appetite, vitality, and the capacity to learn and understand.

Pitta is hot, sharp, light, oily, liquid, and spreading in nature. It is sour, bitter, pungent to the taste, and has a fleshy smell. These qualities are revealed in the body of the pitta person, as shown in the chart of pitta attributes.

THE PITTA INDIVIDUAL

Qualities	Manifestations in the Body
Hot	Good digestive fire; strong appetite; body temperature tends to be higher than average; hates heat; tendency toward grey hair with receding hairline or baldness; soft brown hair on the body and face.
Sharp	Sharp teeth, distinct eyes, pointed nose, tapering chin, heart-shaped face; good absorption and digestion; sharp memory and understanding; irritable; probing mind.
Light	Light/medium body frame; does not tolerate bright light; fair shiny skin, bright eyes.
Oily	Soft oily skin, hair and feces; sensitive to deep-fried food (which may cause headache).
Liquid	Loose liquid stools; soft delicate muscles; excess urine, sweat and thirst.
Spreading	Rashes, hives, acne, inflammation all over the body or on certain areas; wants to spread his name and fame all over the country.
Sour	Sour acid stomach, acidic pH; sensitive teeth; excess salivation.
Bitter	Bitter taste in the mouth; nausea; vomiting; repulsion toward bitter taste; cynical.
Pungent	Heartburn, burning sensations in general; strong feelings of anger and hate.
Red	Red flushed skin, eyes, cheeks and nose; red color aggravates.
Yellow	Yellow eyes, skin, urine and feces; jaundice; overproduction of bile; yellow color aggravates.

By virtue of these attributes, pitta people have a sensitive and reactive body with a medium frame and weight. They seldom gain or lose much weight. They may have sharp, yellowish teeth with soft and, at times, bleeding gums. Their eyes are bright but tend to be sensitive to light. Pitta people usually have strong appetite and thirst, and like cold drinks and sweets.

Pitta people have excellent abilities for learning, understanding and concentrating. They are highly disciplined, can be excellent leaders and are blessed with wisdom. Pitta individuals never yield an inch from their principles, which sometimes leads them to fanaticism. They can be judgmental, critical and perfectionistic, and tend to become angry easily. They love noble professions and often make large amounts of money to spend on luxurious items. They like perfume and jewelry. Overall, the pitta constitution is endowed with moderate strength, much material knowledge, wealth and a medium span of life.

Summer is the time when pitta gets easily aggravated. Sunburn, poison ivy, prickly heat and short tempers are common. These pitta disorders tend to calm down as the weather gets cooler. Diet and lifestyle should emphasize coolness: cooling foods, avoidance of chilies and hot spices, exercise during the coolest time of the day, and cool climates.

General guidelines for balancing Pitta Dosha:

• Avoid excessive heat
• Eat cooling, non-spicy foods
• Avoid excessive oil
• Exercise during the coolest part of the day
• Avoid excessive steam
• Limit salt intake

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KAPHA: The Energy of Lubrication and Structure in Ayurveda

Earth and Water give kapha its definitive qualities. Kapha comprises all our cells, tissues and organs. Kapha molecules tend to stick together to form dense masses and give the body a chubby shape. Lubrication of joints and organs, strong muscles and bones, cellular secretions, and memory retention, are all part of kapha’s function.

Kapha is heavy, slow, cool, oily, liquid, hard, smooth, dense, soft, static, viscous, and cloudy. It is white in color and has a sweet and salty taste. The manifestation of these qualities in the kapha constitution can be seen in the table of kapha attributes.

THE KAPHA INDIVIDUAL

Qualities	Manifestations in the Body
Heavy	Heavy bones and muscles; large body frame; tends to be overweight; grounded; deep heavy voice.
Slow	Walks and talks slowly; steady appetite and thirst with slow metabolism and digestion.
Cold	Cold clammy skin; repeated colds, congestion and cough; desire for sweets and cold drinks.
Oily	Oily skin, hair and feces; lubricated, unctuous joints and other organs.
Liquid	Congestive disorders; edema; excessive salivation; mucus.
Hard	Firmness and solidity of muscles; compact, condensed tissues.
Smooth	Smooth skin; gentle, calm nature; smoothness of organs; smooth, gentle mind.
Dense	Dense pads of fat; thick skin, hair, nails and feces.
Soft	Soft pleasing look; love, care, compassion, kindness and forgiveness.
Static	Loves sitting, sleeping and doing nothing.
Viscous	Viscous, sticky, cohesive quality causes compactness, firmness of joints, muscles, tissues and organs; loves to hug; is deeply attached in love and relationships.
Cloudy	Mind is cloudy and foggy in the morning; often desires coffee as a stimulant to start the day.
Slimy	Excess salivation; slow digestion; attachment.
Sweet	Anabolic action of sweet taste stimulates sperm formation increasing quantity of semen; craving for sweets.
Salty	Helps digestion and growth; gives energy; maintains osmotic condition; craving for salt; water retention.

The above qualities give a strong and large body frame, big eyes, strong teeth and thick, curly hair to people of kapha constitution. They have thick, smooth, oily and hairy skin. Kapha people have a steady appetite and thirst, but tend to have slow digestion and metabolism. These characteristics often result in weight gain, which kapha people have great difficulty in shedding. At times, cravings for sweet and salt lead to water retention.

Kapha people are blessed with a deep, stable faith, with love and compassion, and a calm, steady mind. They have good memory, a deep melodious voice and a monotonous pattern of speech. A kapha person makes and saves money. An unbalanced kapha suffers from greed, attachment, possessiveness, and laziness. All in all, the healthy kapha individual is endowed with excellent strength, knowledge, peace, love, and longevity, due to a strong constitution.

Kapha people tend to have diseases related to the water principle, such as the flu, sinus congestion, and other ailments involving excess mucus. Sluggishness, excess weight, diabetes, water retention, and headaches are also common. Kapha tends to get aggravated as the moon gets full and during the winter and early spring, when the weather is heavy, wet, cloudy, and cold.

General guidelines for balancing Kapha Dosha:

• Get plenty of exercise
• Vary your routine
• Avoid heavy foods
• Avoid fatty, oily foods
• Keep active
• Eat light meals
• Avoid excessive dairy
• Avoid daytime naps
• Avoid iced foods and drinks

6 Yoga For Eye Problems

Your eyes remain active throughout the day. They rest only when you sleep. During the day while you are driving, working on a computer, reading or watching TV etc. your eye muscles get strained and tired. As a resultyou suffer from various kinds of eye ailments.

Common eye problems are watery eyes, redness in eyes, puffy eyes and muscle strain. Regular practice ofyoga exercises for eyes and relaxation techniques can prevent and cure eye problems. They improve blood circulation and help to relax and strengthen eye muscles, reduce stress and improve vision. Eye exercises prevent wrinkles and aging lines around the eyes.

Yoga Asanas For Eye Problems

Sarvanga Asana (Shoulder Stand)

Sarvanga asana helps blood to flow upwards and it stimulates blood circulation in brain and optic nerves.

To Perform Sarvanga Asana

Lie down on your back with arms placed along the sides and legs stretched out. Take a deep breath, slowly lift your legs while exhaling, bring your legs up to 90 degree angle and lift your lower back and hips. Place your hands under waist for support. Your weight should rest on your shoulders. Fix your gaze on the toes and hold the pose for 3 minutes. Breathe normally while holding the pose.

To come out of the pose; first take your legs a little backwards, fold the legs and gently lower your back to the ground and come back to starting position. Relax in Shava Asana for 2-3 minutes.

Hala Asana (The Plough Pose)

Hala asana has the same benefits as Sarvanga Asana and you can extend Sarvanga Asana and move in to Hala Asana.

To Perform Hala Asana

Lie down on your back, inhale and slowly lift your legs while exhaling. Lift your legs, hips and back as for Sarvanga Asana and take your legs over the head and lower them to touch the floor behind you. If you cannot touch the floor then take the legs as far back as you comfortably can. Breathe normally and close your eyes. Hold the pose for 2-3 minutes.

When coming out of the pose; lift your legs one by one, fold the knees and slowly lower your back to the floor and lower the legs. Relax in Shava Asana for 2 minutes.

Yoga Breathing Exercises For Eye Problems

Yoga breathing exercises bring health and vitality to eyes. They stimulate blood circulation, reduce dark circles around the eyes and improve vision.

Bhramari Pranayama

Bhramari Pranayama is also called the Humming Bird exercise. It helps to improve focus and coordination between both eyes.

To Perform Bhramari Pranayama

Sit in a cross legged position. Close your eyes and close your ears by lightly pressing the thumbs on them. Place your index fingers on the forehead, middle fingers in between your eyebrows and ring and little fingers at the base of nostrils. Focus your attention in the centre of your eyebrows. Take a deep breath through the nose, hold the breath for 2-3 seconds then slowly exhale through the nose while producing a humming sound. Your mouth should remain closed. Repeat 5 times.

Yoga Eye Exercises

Eye Rotations

Rotate your eyes slowly in clockwise and anticlockwise direction 5-10 times on each side. Do not move your head.

Up Down Movement

Look up at the ceiling then shift your gaze to the floor and then look up again. Do it 10 times without blinking. Afterwards close your eyes and gently press them with your palms.

Exercise To Improve Focus

Light a candle and place it at an arm’s length distance at eye level. Focus on the candle without blinking for 5 seconds then close your eyes and try to visualize the flame. Repeat 5 times.

Preserve the precious gift of God by practicing the above mentioned Yoga Exercises for Eye Problems.

vertigo ear pressure

Vertigo is classified as a nervous disorder, or is a condition when a person loses control over his bodily movements, and feels a sensation of dizziness or light headedness, due to imbalance.

Although vertigo is not a chronic condition by itself, a person experiencing it needs support from others, as he gets a general feeling that all objects around him are moving in archic form, or that he would fall onto the ground if he attempts to move. Nausea is a forerunner in most cases of vertigo.

In Ayurveda, Vertigo is referred to as “Brahma”, wherein vitiated Pitta, combines with vitiated Vata, to cause a spinning like sensation.

Causes

Vertigo is thought to be caused due to disorders of digestion and gas formation, diseases of the ears due to fluid imbalance in the ear, impaired eye-sight, impaired functioning of nervous system, due to frequent and severe migraine attacks, poor blood circulation, sexual incompetence, repeated attacks of epilepsy, brain tumour and due to lack of sleep and utter fatigue. However, the most prominent cause of vertigo are, diseases that affect the inner ear.

Ayurvedic Treatment

The medications generally recommended in Ayurveda for vertigo are:

• ‘Duralabha Quath’ (50ml) taken with ghee twice daily.
• ‘Suvarna Sootashekhar Ras’ (50 to 60mg) to be taken twice a day with juice / decoction of Amla.
• Mix ‘Ashwagandharishta’ and ‘Saraswatarishta’ (10ml each), either alone, or with 20 ml of water, and consume twice daily.
• Mix powdered whole plant of ‘Sankhapushpi’ (1-2 gms) and mix with 100 to 250ml milk, and take twice a day.
• ‘Yogendra ras’ (120mg) twice daily with milk, is also an effective remedy.
• For vertigo caused due to insomnia, have only Ashwagandharishta (10ml) or its powder (1/2 tsp) with water, will serve the purpose.
• In case of constipation, take Amaltas (6gm) with decoction of Haritaki at night during bed time.
• ‘Shirodhara’, a part of Panchakarma treatment is said to be good.

Home remedies:

Steep 1 teaspoon each of dried amla powder and coriander seeds in water overnight. Strain and add sugar if required, and drink next morning. Repeat over the next few days.

Heat 2 tablespoon sesame oil (til ka tel), and mix in half teaspoon each of finely powdered cardamom and cinnamon. Apply this on head.

Mix about 8 almonds with 8 kernels of pumpkin seeds, 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds and 3 tablespoons wheat. Soak in water overnight.

Next morning, remove the outer skin of almonds and grind to a fine paste. Separately, heat 2 tsp ghee and fry half teaspoon cloves. Add the paste to it along with some milk and boil the whole mixture. Sweeten with sugar, if required, and have over the next few days.

Herbs:

The herbs generally used are Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Pitpapda (Fumaria Officinalis), Yavasa (Alhagi pseudalbagi), and Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus).

Precautions to be taken:

Whenever there is an attack of vertigo (whether inside/outside home), the patient should not be allowed to move alone, particularly, when taking the stairs.

Avoid use of tobacco, alcohol, and narcotic drugs. Ensure that the diet of the patient is simple, light, bland, and spice-free.
Avoid operating any machinery, and self-driving.

Diet and lifestyle measures:

Take plenty of green vegetables and seasonal fruits, avoid excess salt intake, and keep away from junk food. Include poppy seeds, raisins, dates, citrus fruits and vegetables. Plenty of rest is essential.

Practise relaxation techniques, and try to sleep without a pillow for better blood circulation to the brain.

Top 5 Reasons People Retain Water

Although the human body is mostly made of water, it is not normal for people to gain weight because of excess water. This condition, in fact, is the result of an imbalance not only in water but in the important electrolytes and minerals (sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, etc.) that our body needs. This can also be a wake-up call for you that you may be developing a serious medical problem. Best evaluated and addressed by a healthcare specialist, water retention can be caused by one of these five major reasons:

1. Dietary Habits
The consumption of excess sodium is the main culprit in water retention. Sodium can be found in large quantities in processed foods, restaurant dishes (especially fast food), and even in foods you may not suspect (salad dressing, cereals, and canned soup). When possible, cook at home using filtered water and low sodium recipes and read labels carefully before purchasing food products.

Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins B1, B6, and B5, and protein) can also trigger water retention. You should also be aware that a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet can put unnecessary strain on the kidneys, the organ responsible for controlling water in our bodies. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering a number of substances and can become strained if they have to detoxify and eliminate unusually high quantities of protein.

2. Lack of ExerciseWhether it is too much standing, sitting for long periods of time, lying down because of injury, sickness, pregnancy, or not having a very active lifestyle, lack of exercise is a major reason for water retention. When you exercise, you force the veins to carry back waste products and used-up blood to the heart, which, in turn, cleans that blood, with the aid of other organs. This aids in the secretion (much of it through the bladder) of excess fluids.

People who don’t exercise, on the other hand, often develop swollen limbs, over-burdened organs, and weight gain. Exercise is, in fact, one of your best defenses against water retention.

3. MedicationsPrescribed and OTC (over-the-counter) medications are often the reason people retain unnecessary fluids. These usually include steroids (corticosteroids, etc.), contraceptives containing estrogen, high blood pressure drugs (nifedipine, diltiazem, and verapamil), antidepressants (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and desipramine), hormones, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs may interfere with the natural processes of fluid removal from our bodies, such as by affecting electrolytes, interfering with hormonal levels, or putting unhealthy pressure on vital organs.

You should not stop taking a medication because of water retention without first consulting your doctor. However, you should make your doctor aware of any changes in your body as a result of taking any medication.

4. DiseaseMany medical conditions can pressure the body into retaining water. Some of the more common ones include high blood pressure (hypertension), chronic venous insufficiency, cirrhosis of the liver, malignant lymph edema, hypothyroidism, allergic reactions, hepatorenal disease, and congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF, for example, leads to compromised blood pressure, which, in turn, makes it more difficult for kidneys to drain the blood of excess fluids and waste by-products. One common remedy is to prescribe diuretics to help the body get rid of excess fluids.

Ironically, water retention can be an important symptom in diagnosing disease, which is why you should never assume that it is from “natural” causes. In most cases, water retention can be classified as abnormal and treated successfully.

5. Hormonal FluctuationMore common in women than in men, hormonal imbalance is a common source of water retention, especially for women experiencing pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and menopause. This is especially true for women receiving hormonal replacement therapy. Hormones affect how kidneys function, how much fluid the body retains, and how the body manipulates protein, electrolytes, and important enzymes. In pregnant women, for example, it tells the body to retain more fluids for the sake of the fetus. 

Home Remedies for Water Retention

Home Remedies for Water Retention

1. Drink Plenty of Water to Eliminate Water Retention

Logically it seems to contradict the idea. If you already have excessive water in your body, why should you drink more water? There are at least two reasons for this.

Why drink more water to counter water retention?

• When your body gets dehydrated due to lack of water, it starts reserving whatever water is available so that it can reuse it later. If you thought, cutting back on water will make you look slim, you were wrong. You will, instead, suffer from bloating and your body will swell due to water retention.
• Water aids your liver in converting fat into energy which you can use. But when you don’t drink enough water, your kidney cannot eliminate concentrated fluid and takes help from liver which becomes overworked. The liver doesn’t then do its primary work of converting your body fat into energy. It holds onto the extra fat that it would have burned off if enough water was supplied it and to kidney. Thus, water retention also makes you bloated and fat.

Tips for drinking more water for elimination of water retention

1. Drink water whenever you feel thirsty. Don’t postpone this for other works. Always keep water in your reach. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go.
2. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of filtered water every day whether you are thirsty or not. Sometimes, we do not recognize the thirst signal and mistake it for hunger.
3. Watch your urine. If it is yellow and thick or you do not urinate much during the day, your body is in need of water. Your urine should be clear.
4. If you feel weakness, dizziness, cramping, headaches and dry mouth without any explainable reason, it might be dehydration. Drink water.

However, if you have liver problems, you should talk to your doctor before increasing the intake of water. Consumption of large amounts of water to treat fluid retention may aggravate chronic liver problems.

2. Reduce Salt Intake to Treat Water Retention

Salt is a major cause for retention of water in your body. When you eat foods high in salt, you may feel puffy and bloated. Here is the reason why salt leads to bloating and water retention.

How salt retains water in body?

High salt intake leads to retention of sodium and thereby water in your body. This expands extra cellular volume in the body. Said simply, when you eat salt, your body tries to dilute it by holding water around your cells and in this process supplies more water to your bloodstream. This not only increases water weight in your body but also leads to other complications. As your heart has to deal with extra fluid in the blood vessels, it may increase your blood pressure which in turn may increase the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Also, when you eat more salt, your body flushes out more calcium through urine which may lead to osteoporosis and reduced bone density. So, it is wise to lower the intake of salt not only to cure water retention but also to keep other health complications at bay.

Tips to reduce salt intake for elimination of water retention

1. Cook food at home most of the time. Hotels and restaurants are loaded with sodium.
2. Use lesser amount of salt while cooking food at home.
3. Remove salt shaker from your dining table. Don’t add salt while eating food. Instead, you may use other herbs and spices for flavor.
4. Avoid canned foods including canned veggies, soups, sauces etc. as they use more salt as preservatives and also to make the foods flavorful.
5. Avoid having processed foods like potato chips, salted peanuts as well as junk foods.
6. Women should especially reduce taking salt prior to their menstrual cycle every month. Hormonal change during this period leads to greater water retention in the body of a woman.

In normal situation, the recommend level of salt in diet is a maximum of 2,300 mg of sodium per day. People with heart disease and high blood pressure should have less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day. However, when you need to eliminate water retention, you need to reduce your salt even less than these recommended levels.

Suggestion: Sugar too indirectly helps in water retention. It increases general insulin level in your body, which in turn decreases your body’s ability to flush off sodium or salt. Therefore, sugar intake should also be reduced along with salt consumption.

3. Eliminate Water Retention Naturally with Diuretic Foods

Diuretic foods help your body release more urine. When you urinate frequently, your body not only releases extra water but also flush off the toxins and lower your blood pressure by resuming water-sodium balance. While there are over-the-counter diuretic pills available in the market but they have short term effect. You start retaining water as soon as you stop taking them. On the other hand, natural foods with diuretic properties have lasting effect, may be because you don’t need to stop having them. You can always have one or the other diuretic foods on daily basis. However, if you are already on diuretic or anti-diuretic medication, consult your doctor before including diuretic food in your diet.

List of diuretic foods to help eliminate water retention

• Cranberries
• Grapes
• Watermelon
• Leafy greens
• Lemon
• Pineapple
• Juniper Berries
• Tomatoes
• Pumpkin
• Asparagus
• Artichokes
• Beets
• Onion
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Leeks
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Lettuce
• Watercress
• Celery
• Eggplant

However, urinating often means your body also releases potassium along with water and toxins. So, you need to have foods rich in potassium to maintain your potassium levels.

4. Potassium Rich Foods for Eliminating Water Retention

Lack of potassium is also one of the causes for water retention in body. It is an important mineral which is needed for proper functioning of body cells, tissues and organs. Potassium is an electrolyte which along with sodium maintains normal water balance in body. Potassium also helps stimulate the kidneys so that they may flush off waste along with excessive salt out of the body. Potassium deficiency may lead to water retention causing edema, swelling, and weight gain. So have foods rich in potassium too. Most of the fruits are rich in potassium as also certain vegetables.

List of potassium rich fruits and other foods for water retention

• Banana
• Raisins
• Apricot
• Blackberries
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Oranges
• Raspberries
• Spinach
• Fresh Mushrooms
• Bell Peppers
• Avocados
• Sunflower seeds
• Melons
• Watercress

5. Garlic Remedy for Water Retention

Garlic is one herb that we use extensively in our cooking and that’s good. Garlic along with all its medicinal values is also an excellent diuretic. It releases water as well as toxin out of your body. Not only this, garlic also beaks down body fat thus helping you lose weight. If you don’t use garlic in your dishes, start adding it as a cure for your water retention.

Images: Robert Banh & Emilian Robert Vicol

Ways to include garlic in your diet for water retention

1. Chew a couple of raw garlic cloves in the morning.
2. Use raw garlic paste in your bread spreads.
3. Use garlic in your soups, broths, gravies and stir fries.

6. Eat Yogurt to Eliminate Water Retention

Yogurt is an excellent source of protein. Lack of protein in your blood can lead to water retention. Protein aids in holding salt and water inside your blood vessels so that fluid does not leak out into your tissues. When the blood protein, albumin, becomes too low, fluid retention happens and you suffer from edema, particularly in your feet, ankles and lower legs. Most of the times, protein level goes down in blood due to malnutrition, kidney and liver disease. Yogurt gives you a healthy boost of protein. It is also high in potassium. While all types of yogurts are rich in protein, Greek yogurt has most of it to keep your albumin protein levels up. Greek yogurt is nothing but yogurt which is strained using cloth or paper bag and which attains a consistency between that of yogurt and cheese. Other foods high in protein include milk, cottage cheese, egg white, fish, tofu etc.

Warning: If you are on dialysis and take low protein diet for your kidneys, consult your doctor before adding yogurt or any other protein rich food in your meals.

7. Dandelion Leaves Tea for Eliminating Water Retention

Dandelion herb has been used traditionally for its medicinal values particularly for liver and kidney disorders as well as heartburn and other digestive problems. Dandelion herb also acts as a natural diuretic and facilitate the kidneys to increase the volume of urine which flushes out the extra salt out of your body. Dandelion is also high on calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese and potassium, making it further useful in treating fluid retention. Use fresh or dried dandelion leaves to make tea for eliminating water retention.

Make dandelion leaves tea for water retention

Get this:

• Dandelion leaves (fresh or dried)- 1 tsp
• Hot water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Place dandelion leaves in a pot.
• Pour hot water over them.
• Cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
• Strain and drink this herbal tea.
• Have dandelion tea twice or thrice a day.

Precaution: Dandelion herb is generally considered safe. However, some people may be allergic to the weed and sometimes the herb may lead to mild gastric trouble. As dandelion may interact with certain medications like diuretics, diabetes drugs and lithium, consult with your doctor before including dandelion tea as a remedy for water retention.

8. Parsley Remedies for Water Retention

The humble parsley is a scientifically proven diuretic apart from its traditional authority in folk medicine. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology has confirmed the diuretic effects of parsley way back in 2002. Parsley is high on antioxidants, calcium, iron, and B complex vitamins. It inhibits the re-absorption of sodium and potassium which causes more water to flow through osmosis. This increases the volume of urine. Due to its excellent diuretic properties, parsley has been used to treat kidney stones, urinary tract infection and edema or the swelling due to water retention.

1st way of using parsley for water retention: Fresh Parsley Tea

Get this:

• Fresh parsley leaves- a large handful of them
• Boiled water- 1 liter

Do this:

• Add fresh parsley to boiled water.
• Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes.
• Strain and have a cup of this tea.
• Have the remaining tea through out the day. You can have 4-5 cups of parsley tea in a day and even a cup of it every couple of hours.

2nd way of using parsley for water retention: Dried Parsley Tea

Get this:
• Dried parsley- 2 tsp (or 1 teabag)
• Boiling water- 1 cup

Do this:
• Pour boiling water over dried parsley or teabag.
• Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
• Strain and have it.
• Drink 4-5 cups of parsley tea everyday.

3rd way of using parsley for water retention: Ayurvedic Paste

This is an Ayurvedic remedy for water retention where a paste of parsley leaves is applied on the swollen body parts. If you have localized water retention and your joints, ankles, wrists, hands, or legs etc. have bloated, you may use this remedy.

Get this:

• Parsley leaves- enough to make paste for your swollen body part

Do this:

• Crush the parsley leaves to get a paste.
• Apply this paste to your bloated body parts.
• Leave for about half an hour.
• Wash off with water.
• Do this twice a day.

9. Mixed Herbs Tea to Eliminate Water Retention

There are many herbs that have excellent diuretic properties and that may help you out with your fluid retention. However, it is not possible to have all of them at once. Herbalist Jeanne Rose has thus given a very effective herbal tea recipe which uses small quantities of such herb that have diuretic and detoxifying properties. Make this tea for your bloating problem.

 

Get this:

• Parsley- 1 bunch
• Blackberry leaf (chopped)- 1
• Dandelion leaf (chopped)- 1
• Cherry stems- 10
• Celery tops- ½ tsp
• Couch grass- ½ tsp
• Corn silk- ½ tsp
• Fennel seeds- ½ tsp
• Boiling water- 1 liter

If using dried herbs, take 3 parts of parsley and 1 part each of the other herbs.

Do this:

• Place all the herbs in a large pot.
• Pour boiling water over the mixed herbs.
• Cover and steep for about 10 minutes.
• Strain and have the tea through out the day at least for one day.

10. Corn Silk Tea for Eliminating Water Retention

The threadlike strands protruding from the end of the ear of a corn called ‘corn silk’ has been used traditionally as a medicinal herb. It has been used by herbalists for kidney disorders, urinary infections, uric acid and for edema to eliminate fluid retention. Corn silk is an effective natural diuretic which reduces fluid accumulation in the body. It eliminates toxins and wastes to give relief not only from water retention but also from gout and arthritis. It is high on antioxidants flavonoids and polyphenols as well as Vitamin K which helps blood purification and cleansing.

Make corn silk tea for water retention

Get this:

• Fresh corn silk – ¼ cup OR Dried corn silk – 2tsp
• Boiling water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Place fresh or dried corn silk in a tea pot.
• Pour boiling water over it.
• Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
• Strain and drink this naturally lightly sweetened tea twice a day.

Precaution: Although the American Herbal Products Association has rated corn silk as a safe substance to consume, it may interact with certain prescription medications like blood thinners. Check with your physician before having corn silk tea for water retention problem.

11. Barley Remedies for Elimination of Water Retention

Barley water has been traditionally used in some countries of Europe for fluid retention. Ayurveda, the Indian medicine too recommends barley for edema. It is comparatively a healthy drink having mild diuretic properties. It is also safe for pregnant women who suffer from swollen legs due to hormonal and blood chemistry changes during pregnancy.

1st way to use barley for water retention: Barley Water

Get this:

• Wholegrain barley (with peel)- ¼ cup
• Water- 5-6 cups
• Lemon juice or orange juice (optional)- 2-4 tsp

Do this:

• Wash the barley properly and add it to the water.
• Boil this water for 15-20 minutes.
• Strain and add lemon or orange juice if using.
• Have

2nd way to use barley for water retention: Soaked Barley Water

Get this:

• Barley- 3 tbsp
• Water- 1 glass

Do this:

• Add barley to water.
• Leave it to soak overnight
• Strain and drink the water in morning.
• Again soak barley in water and have it in the evening.
• Drink 2 glasses of soaked barley water everyday.

12. Coriander Seeds Remedy for Water Retention

Coriander seeds are diuretic in nature and can help prevent as well as eliminate water retention. It is also rich in potassium further making it beneficial for fluid retention. The other components of coriander seeds include Vitamins-A, C, and K, thiamin, riboflavin, folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium and small quantities of niacin, vitamin-b6, phosphorous and zinc. Ayurveda recommends coriander for fast elimination of water retention.

Get this:

• Coriander seeds- 3 tbsp
• Water- 1 glass

Do this:

• Add coriander seeds to water.
• Boil it till the time it remains half of its original quantity.
• Strain and let it cool down before drinking
• Repeat it once more. Drink this coriander seeds water twice a day.

13. Fennel Tea for Eliminating Water Retention

Fennel herb with its spicy aroma is native to the Mediterranean region but is cultivated throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Fennel seeds have in them anethole, the compound which give it the anise flavor and is responsible for most of its medicinal values. Fennel tea had been used in traditional medicine as a cure for water retention due to its diuretic properties. A study published in the ‘Clinical and Experimental Hypertension’ in 2011 stated that fennel extract reduced systolic blood pressure which was the effect of an increased release of sodium and water from the kidneys. So, use fennel seeds to eliminate water retention in your body.

Make fennel tea for water retention

Get this:

• Fennel seeds- ½ tsp
• Boiling water- 1 cup

Do this:

• Place fennel seeds in a cup.
• Pour hot water over it.
• Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes.
• If you wish, you may drain otherwise drink the tea with seeds int it. Chew the seeds for better digestion.
• Have fennel tea 2-3 times a day.

14. Comfrey- Coltsfoot Poultice for Water Retention Swelling

Pregnant women suffering from swollen feet are in a very delicate condition. They cannot use many home remedies for water retention due to some or the other compounds in the ingredients that may affect them negatively. In such a situation, they may find comfort in a herbal poultice made with comfrey and coltsfoot herbs.

Get this:

• Comfrey- 2- ½ tsp
• Coltsfoot- 2- ½ tsp
• Water- 5 cups
• A thick and soft cloth

Do this:

• Bring water to a boil.
• Add comfrey and coltsfoot herbs to this hot water.
• Let it boil for another 5 minutes and then take it off heat.
• Let it stand for about 10 minutes.
• Strain the water using a sieve.
• Soak the thick soft cloth in this herbal water.
• Place the cloth on the swollen body part.
• Do this twice or thrice a day to get relief from swelling due to water retention.