Meditation and Healing
Healing is a process that is poorly understood in our Western culture From an energy science point of view it requires time because it's a release of accumulated toxicity which takes time The major interfering stumbling block in the process of healing is the mind
Seemingly time isn't a commodity that much of us have in this Vata whacked...ie excessive movement... society in which we live but if real healing is going to happen it will require that a person decides on the part of herself to spend time to do the work
Whether it's reading a blog or doing a healing activity for oneself, it's consistency that counts One may find that there doesn't seem to be anything there for them one day but when they keep coming back they continue to find value in their activity
How the Mind Interferes in Our Healing
The most influence in healing is the mind because it prevents us from trusting the process and moving ahead with treatment plans
Change Nor do we understand often what is required of us taking on energy science healing Change in nutrition, change in lifestyle behavior patterns, doing unusual therapies that are foreign to us...these make the mind unsettled and want to run away, distrusting the process being suggested
Unknown journey Healing is in and of itself an unknown This can be very unsettling for the mind and most of us because as we drop our toxicity and imbalances, new states present themselves The once comfortable steady state of disease is not so steady which can be a good thing New experiences will occur and because they are out of the realm of our day to day experiences it freaks us out At times we yearn for no change Having said this, this change is slow and not herky-jerky and once we settle into this new way of doing things it's exciting seeing our old disease state dissolve into new areas of comfort
Pain Another reason that the mind interferes is because of pain particularly if an accentuation of the pain occurs with treatment This is obviously a real problem that causes the person to freak out about the therapy but it's nothing but a release(below) This will immediately send a signal to the mind of distrust and anxiety It will make the mind run and distrust But if the practitioner is able make adjustments things will get better and healing can occur
Release Who hasn't done a yoga session without experiencing some element of discomfort in the stretch? But this experience is simply a release of old patterns of holding the body in space When we get used to this experience we are not so fearful of it
Real healing takes time Energy science healing is not like modern medicine healing(matter science healing) The latter gets us out of tight jams such as cancer, car wrecks, and suicidal tendencies But it doesn't answer the major problem of chronic disease The word chronic disease has a specific meaning here It relates to a significant amount of time that it has taken to develop and express itself If someone has vein distention seen on the legs(varicosities) it implies that the microscopic veins have been distended for a long period of time It also implies that it will take a long time of treatment to deal with the problem Most people realize this time relationship but the mind interferes
Meditation as a Resource
The mind is the fastest moving vehicle in the body If it is always moving fast, it makes us impatient, undecided, and upset If treatment is not progressing fast enough or things seem to get worse, the mind will stop us on our healing journey
The use of meditation is a way to quiet the mind It stabilizes the mind energy field and allows us to witness the mind as it really is...an petulant, impatient, and confused child Meditation quiets the mind so we can have better clarity and see what we are doing for the long haul
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Commitment and Healing
Commitment creates a new space within you in which you can live unencumbered by your past That is tremendously liberating Amrit Desai
Yesterday I saw a diligent patient interested in doing the energetic nutritional work to improve her health. She had found since I last saw her that her abdominal pain had resolved and was feeling well when......she went on vacation. While on vacation her efforts gradually succumbed to her old habits and her pain returned. When she came to see me she was happy to report that she was getting back on track with her energy nutrition and again her pain was gone.
This clinical scenario is not uncommon and it shows how energetic healing time to change our habitual tendencies. And it's totally OK to do this because energetic healing is a learning process. It requires the process of trial and error. It requires us revisiting old habits and seeing the effects of them on our physiology. It is to recognize that we are human after all.
Energy healing is not rapid as it is when we take a pharmaceutical or have that operation that changes the body's anatomy. Energy healing is subtle and slow like a tortoise but it is long lasting and forever if we want it to be because it's up to us.
Yet when we shed those old habits and take on new ones that are more supportive, we need to begin with commitment that we are in this for the long haul not the short term. This is a little onerous at first because it requires an element of faith. Fortunately the process builds trust which gives us some more trust as we move along in our journey
As we grow in this blogging experience together I hope to share other personal and patient stories that will help underscore the real nature of healing.
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The Mind and Body: An Energy Science Concept
The mind is energy Regulate it by paying attention to what the bodily sensations tell you
The energy medical sciences tell us that both the body and mind are energy fields. Hence there is room for mind in the energy physiologic model of healing. And in the energy model, mind and body are not separate; they are intimately spliced. Mind and body are one. What happens in the body, happens in the mind. And what happens in the mind, happens in the body.
The mindbody concept is impossible to understand from a matter field medical perspective. Although talked about in matter field circles of healing, by the very nature of the way the body is perceived, the matter field model cannot include mind easily. This is because the molecular way of conceiving of the body cannot address the mind.
From an energy medical disciplinary approach, mind and body are intimately spliced. Mind is in every cell of the body's matter field because it is all energy to begin with. You see, if mind is an energy field, that is, a subtle energy field of matter that is not matter ( I can't wet a thought with water), then mind cannot exist in the matter field model. Mind is not molecular; it is an energy field!
Any energy that comes in contact with our own personal energy field has the potential to influence it either positively or negatively. Herbs are fundamentally energy medicines and affect both the mind and the body simultaneously. They have stood the test of time in their actions and have the unique capability of causing the mind to have insights as to what is next best thing to do with respect to the healing that needs to be done.
Foods are also essentially mindbody medicines. Although we don't consider hot pungent spices as anger provoking, nonetheless they do, when associated with other cumulative nutritional effects. Bitter causes mind to become introverted and averse to desire but in excess can make a person cynical and boring. And the astringent taste is supportive and grounding but when in excess causes the mindbody to be anxious and scattered
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Antiinflammatory Foods
Any disease with an inflammatory component such as mulitiple sclerosis can get ramped up during the summer months due to the hot quality that gets even more expressed We’ve chosen eleven ingredients we like that cool Pitta dosha particularly during the hot summer months If we’ve missed one of your favorites, please let us know in the comment section below
river cooling
11 Ways to Cool Off
1. Coconut
There are so many ways to use coconut and so many coconut products to enjoy – coconut water, coconut non-dairy milk and the traditional coconut flakes. Be aware that the oil, while it is certainly cooling, is not recommended for Vata and Kapha
2. Cilantro
Use as a garnish, stir chopped cilantro into a soup or toss with your salad greens.
3. Mint
Mint makes an amazing tea, loved by many. Toss fresh mint into your salad, on fruit or dessert.
4. Fennel
Fennel is wonderfully aromatic with its anise or licorice scent. Saute the seeds in oil to add to your favorite soups or stews. Add the powder to your chai or favorite hot beverage, or sprinkle onto your salad or dinner entree.
5. Rose Water
Add a dash to smoothies, rice puddings or a bowl of fruit. Substitute rose water for vanilla extract in recipes.
6. Pomegranate Molasses
The sugar that condenses when pomegranate juice is cooked forms pomegranate molasses and is quite heavenly. Add to salad dressings, dips and spreads, and use in marinades.
7. Sunflower Oil
This oil is traditionally used externally in Ayurveda as a cooling oil for Pitta. Enjoy sunflower oil as a substitute for vegetable oil. It is mild and light.
8. Maple Syrup
Use this cooling sweetener as you would any sugar. Would also be delicious in salad dressings and marinades.
9. Ghee
Ghee is clarified butter. It is beneficial for all three doshas (kaphas should use in moderation). It is delicious and easy to make. Use as you would butter or oil.
10. Turmeric
Turmeric has certainly seen a lot of press the past few years for it’s amazing health benefits. And fortunately it’s not difficult to add to your diet. Rice dishes, or potato or egg salads all taste delicious with some added turmeric. And of course there is curry!
11 Chyawanprash is a tasty Ayurvedic jam usually taken with warm water, milk, milk substitute whose prinicipal ingredient is amla derived from a berry that has very high Vitamin C but is not acidic It's very valuable in high Pitta conditions and therefore antiinflammatory Here's a link http://goo.gl/NMly6a
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Ayurveda and TCM
There are basically three energy healing sciences that are currently well articulated. Two of them date back thousands of years and include Ayurveda that is from the yoga tradition and the Traditional Chinese Medical(TCM) science. The third is more recently practiced as homeopathy which in the eyes of Ayurveda is an expression one of the ways to do energy healing within the discipline of Ayurveda.
I have now seen a couple of compendiums trying to merge these two ancient energy science traditions of Ayurveda and TCM and people have asked, "Why not?".
My simple answer is, "Don't do it!".
The reason for this caveat is that these systems are very complex and deep. It will take a practitioner a lifetime to study and assimilate the information in order to apply the material for healing. Even though there are similarities in the two ancient traditions, the differences are too great to be able to combine them and for this reason alone it becomes confusing and frustrating. Furthermore how can we expect ourselves as casual observers who want to apply these principles to our health and healing to be able to know enough?
For the above reasons, I think it's best to stick to one, study it and know its energy language well. Both ancient systems use different energy language systems in order to build the energetic healing medical discipline. They both work exceptionally well but they each require an understanding of the language in order to negotiate the path of healing.
Personally I have chosen the Ayurvedic medical discipline for a variety of reasons, the most prominent of which is that the nutritional scheme seems to be better articulated. But this is not to say that the TCM system might not work for you.
In the end choose one system, know it well and it will bring great health, wisdom and healing. DrBill
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5 Ways to Deal With Chronic Pain
In the energy science of Ayurveda imbalance of qualities such as hot, cold, heavy, light affect the metabolic fire called agni When this happens the end result is a toxic morbid substance called ama This is essence is how disease occurs in the energy model discipline
In chronic diseases the qualities lead to early symptoms of the disease complex but as progression occurs more qualities become involved and deeper tissues become affected due to the mounting amount of ama
Clogging of Energy Channels
When energy channels become obstructed with ama then there is no free flow of energy in the mindbody This leads to a buildup of the Vata energy pattern which is freely circulating in the channels(common channels we know from a Western perspective are the GI tract, large vessels like the aorta or vena cava, neural pathways, and the respiratory system)
Vata, when obstructed in the channels, causes pain In Ayurveda there is no pain without Vata So in the chronic disease pain is related to clogged channels from ama accumulation and the blockage of the free flow of Vata Often this is neurologic like pain and follows what I have written about in earlier blogs about the origin of any syndrome associated with pain
As you can see, keeping the channels open is essential for keeping vatagenic pain in check It is also important for immunity, and overall health To keep the channels open, it is important to eat fresh food with spices that help digestion so that ama is not formed When ama (partially digested food) is formed, its sticky nature blocks the channels and aggravates vata Also spices in your food, give a general warming effect to the whole body which helps to keep the channels open, and vata flowing
5 Ways to Prevent and Clear Pain
Staying warm The Vata energy pattern has the qualities of cold, light mobile, dry, rough, subtle, and clear so when we don't stay warm this can increase the Vata guna of cold and increase our pain Think about it....if you get cold the mindbody contracts Don't let your feet get cold Don't eat cold food and drink You might think ice cream is vata-pacifying because it's dairy but it's not It is actually vata-aggravating Anything cold you put in your system closes the channels and blocks the flow of vata That's why you get a headache if you eat cold things quickly
Transdermal creams can be used for pain control with reasonably good effect One has to be consistent, persistent, and disciplined in their use but if applied properly they can be very effective
Nutrition that causes pain Large beans, bananas, winter squashes and extra heavy foods are all known in Ayurveda as visthambi, (clogging to the srotas or channels) Avoid these items in your diet and you will find your channels are more open, and your vatagenic pain is less Also, avoid the nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant) because these toxic plants block the vibrational channels (nadis), which can subsequently cause the physical channels (srotas or channels) to shrink
Avoiding leftover foods or pre-packaged foods is important too These foods are not easily digested by the body and result in ama right away This promotes clogging of the channels and lessen the free flow of Vata
Daily schedules Regular routine is Vata pacifying so daily schedules are irregular and hectic(Vata provoking) there will be a tendency to increase the Vata energy pattern
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