Five Ways to Improve Health
Agni or digestive power is an unknown concept in the West yet it is central to how disease occurs in Ayurveda How agni is described metaphorically is like a campfire It it's strong it burns wood to fine dust but if not the wood burns to charred debris The agni not being up to par will leave undigested unprocessed food that the energy science calls which Ama is the beginning of the disease process according to Ayurveda So we can see how agni is so important in the disease process...a fact that is completely unknown in the West
Agni becomes abnormal when it is either too hot or too cold It seems strange that agni can be too hot but it metaphorically is like a hot pot on the stove but the water or agni in the pot is ice cold....so the agni acts hot but functionally it is not effective
Clinically it looks like this....very strong appetite but once in the gut the digestion is not up to par and leaves charred undigested remains or ama So when our appetite is too strong it doesn't mean good things
How to Get Agni Healthy Again
1 Use Green Composite Protein Recipe....write if you would like to know how to do it
2 Snacking ruins digestive power....so dont do it
3 Avoid incompatible food combinations ...fruit with other food etc
4 Use homemade yogurt as a probiotic and pappadam as a prebiotic
5 Don't overeat....noon meal biggest meal of the day....should be 2 handfuls
Read More
Energy Science Cookbook
Can it be that the current dietary recommendations by our nutritional gurus are actually making us sicker? I believe this is the case.
If our current system of nutritional recommendations is so hot, why do we see people such as Oprah struggling with weight control along with millions of others?
Time to re-evaluate, eh? There is no question that our molecular prowess has given us important information but the molecular scheme is outmoded for our biological understanding in the 21st century.
Can inappropriate and indiscriminate supplements make us sick? You bet.
So what's a confused and bewildered consumer supposed to do? Try an energy science approach to not only nutrition but to healing. Now that's empowerment.
Here's a list that should be part of a nutritional system. Notice I said system, I didnt say molecules.
Get this Ayurvedic Cookbook....you won't be disappointed http://goo.gl/wiP0qO
In the book you'll find great guidance on how to begin eating healthy from an energy science perspective
Establish a balanced healthy digestive fire
Monitor bowel function and establish healthy patterns
Avoiding incompatible food combinations
Establish healthy rituals around nutrition
This is an energy science approach to nutrition. It requires a paradigm shift from our molecular matter science approach. As has been said, "How's it workin' for ya?", perhaps provides some impetus.
Read More
Dietary Monotony
How about a technique to reduce calories, feel good, feel calmer, and maybe keep in touch with your weight?
Sound too good to be true? Then read on
Personal Experience
Over the years I've experienced different forms of the same food day in and day Some people call it fasting, some would just label it a monodiet
It can be done with juices, fruit, or just a simple vegetable dish that we've written about in the past And it can be done over a few days or weeks or even longer
The point is that it's the same Maybe a different type of fruit or juice based on my mindbody makeup, but it's still fruit or juice maybe the same vegetable dish but a different types of vegetables
Now my personal observation that I've had with this type of fasting or monodiet is that it's not monotonous
Monotony is a Product of the Mind
From an energy science medical view the Vata energy pattern is that of movement Anything that has to do with movement in the physiology is Vata energy and primarily expressed in the nervous system So a turbulent mind is a Vata aggravated mind Too many thoughts to process, too many emotions to deal with, too little time to accomplish everything
To say that always having the same foods all the time is boring is simply an agitated mind
And one of the simplest ways to calm the Vata aggravated mind is monotony Samo samo
Think about it How hectic would life become if you had to look for your toothbrush, purse or wallet, and carkeys everyday? Life would become quickly frenetic and inefficient
Furthermore the mindbody loves habitual living It's comfortable, less stressful And in the end I believe we often eat this way anyway People have their favorite dishes and the routine of eating the same "comfort foods"
Research Supported Nutritional Monotony
Now in the August 2011 American Journal of Nutrition, matter science researchers report on a study where people subjected to the same diets over and over again were observed to consume less calories
And as a opposite to this was a study showing recently that with increased variety at buffets can lead to increased caloric intake!
A matter science observation (measurement of reduced caloric intake) has been made but from an energy science nutritional view the explanation is that this form of monodiet(loosely called fasting here) is Vata pacifying, that is, it creates more physiologic calming which in turns less food intake
Not because it's boring but because the monodiet is calming
Read More
3 Things to Heal Acid Indigestion
As part of many chronic disease processes acid indigestion can be manifested as hyperacidity syndrome(HAS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) This is because from an energy science point of view the hot quality(Pitta energy pattern) is a major contributor to the imbalance that creates many chronic diseases...the burning on urination, vaginal burning are related to this quality
The Spectrum of Disease
All physiologic disease shows up as an array of symptoms from not so bad to terrible Patients with occasional heartburn can then begin to have it all the time This makes it eligible for the disease label of HAS If it progresses to a sour taste in the mouth or a burning in the chest then it advances to GERD And if GERD progresses then it can become the disease label of Barrett's esophagitis
But notice that in all these advancing disease labels one thing remains constant The hot quality So in the end these disease labels are related to the increasing intensity of this quality But wait there's more from an energy science perspective The Pitta energy pattern displays the hot quality when out of balance in its functional seat, the liver So when Pitta and its qualities show up you can bet that is underlying liver toxicity even though the owner doesn't know it
So again from an energy science point of view the liver imbalances due to Pitta must be addressed if a patient is having problems with GERD
Reducing the Heat
There are a number of ways to go beyond Prelief which like all its molecular relatives( such as over the counter Prevacid and various other expensive pharmaceuticals) represent pharma bandaids
From an energy science treatment perspective the alternatives not only provide relief but done properly with other allied therapies become permanent solutions, not bandaids
Wouldn't you rather have something that is sustainable long term instead of relying on a pharmacological bandaid? Here are 3 basic energy science treatments that can bring about control of this Pitta energy pattern of transformation
1 Do a green composite diet on a regular basis People with acid indigestion not only have a hot liver but a very acidic GI tract This has to be the first step in healing the obvious Pitta imbalance
2 Begin doing a day in balance This is fundamental and fundamental to any success you want to have in employing an energy science healing approach to the problem
3 Herbs and therapies can be effective in dealing with the Pitta imbalance and the acid GI tract
Aloe vera gel or juice This herb is not only cooling to the small bowel therefore reduces the Pitta energy pattern but because it is effective for Pitta disorders in general it is a good liver protectant This makes it a valuable herb overall in treating Pitta disorders From an energy point of view aloe is special because it falls into a special group of herbs called rasayana This means it is a tissue rejuvenative and restorative of bodily tissues There are no Western pharma that can make that claim Using the gel is preferable but the juice is a good second choice Aloe Farms or George's are good brands because they don't have carrageenan to their products
Ghee In the Ayurvedic classics ghee assumes a significant therapeutic role in the management of high Pitta conditions such as HAS and GERD
Donate a unit of blood It is known that high Pitta conditons store a lot of that hot quality in the blood which is why removing a small amount of blood can be therapeutic
s
Read More
Food Allergies?
Chronic disease is often associated with other conditions such as food allergies or sensitivities and GERD which we have written about in the past This is difficult to understand from a molecular approach to dis-ease since the model looks at the problem within an organ system without taking into consideration the interrelationship of all organ systems
This is frustrating to physicians as well as patients seeking to understand the pain of chronic disease and how to treat it And it sometimes leads to a real difficulty for the health consumer in choosing foods thinking that perhaps their symptoms are related to their "food allergies" so they are fearful of eating anything Oftentimes elimination diets are used to try to sort it out but partially fail
The Dis-ease Origin Is the Same
With a different way of seeing the mindbody from an energy science viewpoint rather than the currently used matter science discipline it becomes clear that food allergies are interrelated with other diseases Why is this so?
Dis-ease or lack of harmony in the mindbody begins in the gastrointestinal tract(GIT) and when there is too much of the hot quality it leaves the GIT to be eliminated through the urinary tract The GIT is not healthy enough to deal with the excess hot quality
Food allergies that occur in the GIT leads to distress as well but the energy science explanation is due to lack of digestive strength The same lack of digestive strength leads to two seemingly different forms of dis-ease
Lack of Digestive Strength
Digestive strength from a matter or molecular science approach is not enough digestive enzymes to do the job Because of this toxic debris builds up much like a cold campfire has unprocessed charred remains Acute symptoms occur after eating such as:
Poor appetite Coated tongue Nausea Bloating Belching with smell of previously eaten food
Weakness and fatigue Foul gas or flatus; bad-smelling feces Unhappiness Constipation or diarrhea
Abdominal pain and/or distention Bad breath Bad taste in the mouth Restlessness Heaviness after food
Congestion Excessive sleep
These signs and symptoms represent poor digestive strength but as you can see could be interpreted as "food allergy"
Then chronic signs and symptoms may occur over years of poor digestion strength:
Tissue emaciation Malabsorption Emotional eating Food cravings Food allergies
Insomnia Poor visual perception Poor circulation Abnormal color and complexion Lack of luster(skin rashes)
Fear Grief, sadness, and depression Confusion Apathy, repulsion Shortened life span Aggressiveness
Indecisiveness and lack of discrimination Lack of intelligence(loss of clarity) Impatience
Improper direction and inappropriate goals
Isn't it interesting that fear, confusion, apathy, aggressiveness occur in this list of chronic symptoms? The reason for this is that there is a mindbody connection What happens in the mind happens in the body What happens in the body happens in the mind
From an energy science view mind and body are intimately spliced You cannot separate them Mind is in every cell of the body So we see that if the GIT is effected with dis-ease or disharmony then it will register in the mind and these psychological manifestations will be apparent
3 Things to Do to Improve Digestive Strength
As I have said in previous blogs eating according to your mindbody energy makeup is the most important thing along with avoiding poor food combinations But here are some other general things you can do as well
1 Use Coriander and Fennel tea to support agni
2 Use of GCPR(green composite protein recipe) Have blogged about this in the past If you need the recipe send me an email and I'll send you a copy
3 Use pre and probiotic in the form of a pappadam lassi If you need the recipe send me an email and I'll send you a copy
Read More
Nasya Therapy and Movement of Kapha
In the energy science of Ayurveda there are two principal ways to treat disease....palliative(shaman) and detoxification(shodan) When you change your nutrition to a energetically constitutionally appropriate nutritional format(ahara) and avoid incompatible food combinations you are doing shaman therapy When you follow guidelines such as the dinacharya(vihara) you're practicing shaman therapy These therapies in general do not deal with the guna(qualities) imbalance and the resultant accumulation of ama/amavisha(toxins) but rather palliate or pacify the existing imbalance and not make the physiology worse Shaman work stabilizes the existing imbalance with associated ama/amavsha
Shodan Work and Nasya and Movement of Kapha
In contrast shodan therapies remove excess guna(quality) and ama/amavisha There are 5 therapies(panchakarma) that produce physiologic detoxification....one of them is nasya or the placement of herbally loaded oil into the sinus area
Naysa is best done in association with neti and kapalabhati...both of these latter actions help dry the sinuses of excess Kapha energy(mucous) so that the herbal oils can effectively treat the predominantly Kapha anatomical area But the beauty of nasya therapy is that it moves all three doshas(energy patterns) and ama/amavisha from the area of the sinuses Since these therapies induce shifts in the sinuses and create negative pressure in the sinues, the systemic physiology is treated which makes nasya an incredible tool for daily cleansing
Nasya is quite simple As above you should have completed neti and kapalabhati The head is tilted back(lay on the bed with the head over the side of the bed) and 5 drops are placed according to the accompanying diagram(elements of space, air, fire, water, and earth are collections of guna(qualities)that make up the doshas of Vata, PItta, and Kapha When neti and nasya are done we are treating the elements as well as the doshas of VPK) Stay in the position for 5 minutes and then feel the effects of nasya
The herbs in the oil are delivered not only to the nasal passages and sinuses but also to the brainstem by way of the cribiform plate which holds the olfactory nerves(first cranial nerves from the brainstem) So this is profound therapy at a number of different levels because nasya in the end treats the brain and the way we think bringing balance to our thoughts, feelings, and emotions
Read More
