Amaranth gets its name from a Greek word meaning "unfading." This plant has bright red flowers that stay colorful all summer, making it look beautiful. But the best part of amaranth isn't its flowers – it's the tiny seeds. Once harvested, these seeds are used much like other grains such as rice and oats.

Amaranth originally comes from Mexico and C.entral America. It was a main food for the Aztecs, and it's still eaten there today. In the U.S., amaranth has become very popular as more people learn about how good it is for you. It's easy to see why, with its nutty, slightly sweet taste and how easily it can be used in many recipes.

Amaranth's Health Benefits

The nutrients packed into amaranth can offer significant health advantages when included in a balanced diet. It's a good source of Vitamin C, which is vital for healing, helping your body process iron, form blood vessels, repair muscle tissue, and maintain collagen.

Naturally Gluten-Free

Amaranth is an excellent choice for people with Celiac disease, a condition where eating wheat gluten can harm the small intestine.

High in Protein

Amaranth is one of the best plant-based sources of protein available. Its protein is easily absorbed by the body and contains all the essential amino acids, including lysine, which is often missing in other grains. Studies show that amaranth proteins are very similar to animal proteins.

Rich in Antioxidants

Amaranth is full of antioxidants like gallic acid and vanillic acid. These help fight free radicals, which are harmful byproducts of normal cell activity. Antioxidants can help reduce everything from signs of aging to the risk of heart disease.

Eases Inflammation

Some allergic reactions cause uncomfortable swelling due to a substance called immunoglobulin E. Early studies suggest that amaranth might help slow down the body's production of this substance.

Lowers Cholesterol

Two animal studies have shown that amaranth and its oil can significantly lower "bad" LDL cholesterol without affecting "good" HDL cholesterol. More research is needed to see how amaranth affects cholesterol in humans.

Amaranth for Your Skin

Amaranth oil is becoming more common in beauty and skin care products. This oil, made from processing the seeds, has several things that can soothe and protect your skin. These include:

Squalene

Amaranth seeds are especially rich in squalene. Your body naturally makes squalene, and it's also found in plants and animals. As you get older, your body makes less of it, which can lead to dry skin and signs of aging. When squalene comes from plants, it's processed to be more stable, turning into squalane. Squalane can moisturize your skin without blocking pores and has properties that might help with acne and eczema.

Amaranth for Hair

The squalane in amaranth oil also benefits your hair. It can moisturize your hair, making it smoother and adding a glossy shine. You can try massaging a few drops into your scalp, then rinsing it out.

The tocopherols in amaranth oil are also good for your hair, as they protect it from the damaging effects of sunlight. Additionally, amaranth oil strengthens your hair and can help reduce greasiness.

Have you ever left the doctor's clinic with another script in hand, wondering is there more to curing than symptom management? Perhaps it was your third appointment for those chronic migraines, or yet another cycle of medication for joint pain, allergies, or stomach issues. You do as you're told, take the pills, and still nothing gets better for good.

Increasing numbers are beginning to wonder the same thing: "Is this truly the only method to feel better?" That's when interest tends to lead to action—and many begin investigating alternative medicine.

From homeopathy and Ayurveda to acupuncture and naturopathy, there's a subdued revolution going on in the way we approach chronic illness. Individuals aren't just searching for relief anymore—they're searching for explanations. They want methods that examine the larger picture, that don't just suppress the pain but actually facilitate the healing of the body.

Chronic diseases are on the increase worldwide, affecting millions with ongoing conditions such as arthritis, asthma, migraine, hormonal disorders, allergic reactions, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Chronic diseases, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), are responsible for almost 71% of the total deaths in the world each year. Even with decades of progress in mainstream medicine, patients continue to languish in cycles of pill popping, treating symptoms instead of finding lasting relief. This frustration has caused an increasing number of patients to look for alternatives—and homeopathy, a 200-year-old holistic system of medicine, is proving to be one hot choice for managing chronic illness.

Traditional medicine has advanced greatly in diagnosis and emergency intervention, yet to deal with chronic conditions, it tends to draw upon suppressive therapies—painkillers, steroids, and extended medications, to name a few. Effective in the short run, these treatments often bring along side effects like gastrointestinal distress, hormonal disruption, or addiction, which put patients in a vicious cycle of fleeting remedy and perpetual ailment.

Homeopathy, however, has a very different strategy. As Dr. Manju Singh, a noted homeopathy practitioner, explains, the objective is not only to relieve the pain but to trigger the body's own healing process by treating the cause of the ailment rather than the symptom alone. "Patients are fed up with Band-Aid solutions. They desire long-term well-being. That's where homeopathy comes into play," she illustrates.

Homeopathy is based on the law of similia similibus curentur or "like cures like." It is a concept that a substance that provokes symptoms in a healthy individual may, when highly diluted, cure similar symptoms in an ill person. Remedies, which are naturally sourced from plants and minerals, are crafted in tiny doses to stimulate self-regulation and the immune response of the body.

“With more patients becoming conscious about what they put in their bodies, they are questioning the necessity of long-term drug use for every ailment,” says Dr. Singh. “Homeopathy offers a sustainable and side-effect-free pathway to health.”

The growth of telehealth and online wellness platforms has also served to popularize alternative medicine. Homeopaths who are certified can now be consulted remotely, and prescription drugs can be shipped to a patient's doorstep. This democratization of medical services is broadening access to holistic therapies, particularly to patients in remote or underserved regions.

"With digital tools, we have revolutionized the way we access patients. From follow-ups to diet counseling to prescribing remedies, all can be done online without a reduction in quality," asserts Dr. Singh.

For example, in such conditions as eczema or arthritic pain when inflammation runs amok, homeopathic treatments seek to bring the body's immune system into balance instead of suppressing it with powerful steroids. This is a long-term approach, with emphasis on inner balance instead of superficial relief.

Numerous individuals are also re-exploring Ayurveda—India's 5,000-year-old system of medicine that doesn't merely silence symptoms, but rebalances. Ayurveda assumes that each individual has a distinct mind-body type, or dosha, and that disease arises from imbalances in this constitution. Therapies usually include customized herbal preparations, seasonal menus, yoga, detox regimens (panchakarma), and lifestyle rituals—all calculated to coax the body very gently back toward its natural state of balance.

Its rise in popularity, especially among patients with chronic issues like IBS, PCOS, migraines, or autoimmune flare-ups, is not surprising. Ayurveda offers what many patients are searching for today- a system that listens, adapts, and heals from the root. It’s slow, yes—but that’s the point. Healing, after all, is not a race.

Similar to Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is also gaining popularity with individuals suffering from chronic health conditions who feel marginalized by mainstream care. Based on millennia of Eastern philosophy, TCM considers health a dynamic condition of equilibrium between the body's internal forces (qi) and the external environment.

When that balance gets disrupted—by stress, lack of sleep, emotional tension, or imperfect digestion—persistent symptoms can ensue. That's when TCM's holistic array of treatments kicks in: acupuncture to energize the flow of life, herbal formulas to assist in the functioning of organs, cupping to relax pain, or tai chi to balance movement and breath.

Patients who've had difficulty with conditions such as joint pain, insomnia, irregular periods, or anxiety find relief in this method—not because it's magical, but because it's systematic. Every treatment plan is tailored, addressing the specific pattern of imbalance at the root of the illness.

Another reason alternative medicine resonates with patients today is its focus on prevention. Instead of waiting for disease to occur, the homeopathic model promotes early intervention, stress reduction, lifestyle optimization, and emotional balance—all of which are necessary to long-term health.

This increased interest in alternative medicine is not an abandonment of mainstream healthcare but a cry for more holistic, empathetic, and individualized healing alternatives. While the worldwide population struggles with chronic disease, the need for therapies that cure the body, the soul, and the spirit is only becoming more fervent.

All of these ancient yet ageless practices have something in common- they don't just cure diseases by themselves; they cure people. Whether it's through a homeopathic remedy that is calibrated to your emotional rhythms, an Ayurvedic regimen specifically for your dosha, or a TCM acupuncture treatment readjusting your energy currents, each approach bids patients to become active participants in the healing process.

Dr. Manju Singh is a Senior Homeopathic Medical Officer at SBL Global in India

Hair is an important part of beauty and self-care for people. While people who sport short hairstyles may not spend a lot on their haircare routine, people who have long hair go through many products and treatments for their hair. However, these products and treatments do not have to be expensive or exclusive. Many ayurvedic treatments happen to be with inexpensive products, many of which you can find easily available around you.

Our elders have always cherished health and lustrous hair. These were backed by the tradition of pampering their children with warm, herbal head massages. These soothing rituals are often followed by a cleanse with frothy reetha (soapnuts) and a final rinse with fragrant water. This cherished care and attention is widely believed to contribute to the development of thick, lustrous, and healthy hair.

Ayurvedic Remedies For Healthy Hair?

These age-old practices can be traced back to Hindu myths and religious texts, known as the Vedas. In these ancient scriptures, angry deities were often depicted with unruly hair, while patient and serene ones boasted thick, curly locks or smooth, elegant braids.

These myths, along with the Ayurvedic practices they inspire, form the foundation of traditional hair care in India. You can easily apply these same time-tested remedies at home to encourage robust hair growth and achieve shiny, bouncy tresses.

Tailoring Hair Care to Your Ayurvedic Hair Type

Ayurveda emphasizes working with your individual hair type, which is determined by your dominant dosha:

Vata Hair Qualities

Individuals with a dominant vata dosha have a higher proportion of air and ether elements. If balanced, they typically have naturally wavy hair and a somewhat dry scalp. Vata hair is often porous, meaning it readily absorbs products and dyes. However, this also makes it prone to absorbing dust, smoke, and environmental toxins, increasing its susceptibility to breakage and damage. An overall vata imbalance can lead to an oily scalp with itchy dandruff, hair fall, or sluggish hair growth.

Pitta Hair Qualities

Pitta types possess a greater proportion of fire and water, or fire and air. A balanced pitta dosha usually results in naturally straight, silky hair. Their hair tends to be moderately resistant to dyes and colors due to its typically dense hair follicles. This density also makes it more resistant to both topically applied nutrients and air pollution. An imbalanced pitta dosha can cause either dryness or oiliness on the scalp, depending on the specific proportions of air and water elements. Imbalanced pitta may also contribute to hair fall and slow hair growth.

Kapha Hair Qualities

Kapha types have a higher proportion of earth and water elements. A person with a balanced kapha dosha will likely have naturally curly hair with a coarse texture and an oily scalp. The hair follicle in kapha types is often very dense, making it less receptive to nutrients or dyes. When this dosha becomes unbalanced, hair may become fine and brittle, breaking easily. Interestingly, kapha types are generally the least likely to experience significant hair loss, though their hair growth might be slower.

Unlike modern medicine or other medicinal products, ayurvedic herbs and fruits are found all around us. Drawing from our nature and surroundings, Ayurveda provides us with ingredients as well as remedies, from readily available products. One such ingredient is the Indian gooseberry.

Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, is a very popular ayurvedic fruit in southeast Asia. This tree is famous for its small, green fruits, which have a unique taste that is often described as sour, bitter, and sharp. The great thing about Amla is that it is available in many different forms. Whether it is candied, pickled, or raw so that you can make different dishes or add them to your food. You may also find amla available in powered form or as juice in certain products. However, if you are buying packaged amla, it is best to look at the ingredients that are taken to make it.

Ayurvedic Benefits of Amla Juice

Amla juice is not just tasty and easy to use; it's also very healthy and offers many benefits.

Boosts Your Immune System

Amla juice is packed with vitamin C, a strong helper for your body's defenses. This vitamin protects cells from damage and helps your immune system work better. Getting enough vitamin C may help prevent infections and even shorten colds. While animal studies show protection against cell damage, more human research is needed to fully understand amla juice's effect on immunity.

Supports Liver Health

Promising animal studies suggest amla juice can improve liver function. For instance, it helped prevent fatty liver disease in rats on high-sugar or high-fat diets. Amla juice is rich in antioxidants and has strong anti-inflammatory qualities, both beneficial for liver health. However, more human research is needed to confirm these liver benefits.

Aids Digestion

Amla juice may help your digestion. A study on people with acid reflux found amla extract significantly reduced heartburn. Older animal studies suggest amla fruit can help with diarrhea, stomach cramps, and may even heal stomach ulcers due to its antioxidants. Further studies are needed to see how drinking amla juice specifically affects human digestion.

Promotes Heart Health

Studies suggest amla extract can improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation. It also helps lower blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart disease. These studies used concentrated extract, so more research is needed to confirm if drinking amla juice offers the same heart benefits, especially for cholesterol management and blood pressure.

May Encourage Hair Growth

Amla is often used to boost hair growth and prevent hair loss. Studies show applying amla-based serums can improve hair growth. Amla may block an enzyme linked to hair loss and stimulate hair follicle cells. While amla juice contains helpful nutrients like antioxidants and vitamin C, more research is needed to understand if drinking it directly affects hair health.

Boosts Kidney Health

Amla juice appears to support kidney health, likely due to its antioxidants. Animal studies show amla extract protects against kidney damage and helps maintain kidney function, even in cases of age-related issues or toxin exposure. It also helps increase beneficial antioxidant levels in the kidneys. More research is necessary to see how normal amounts of amla juice affect human kidney function.