The World of Supplements and the Matter Science
Many with people with chronic diseases are looking for some kind of advantage to help with symptoms from their dis-ease So it often comes to people looking for help with supplements offered from the molecular promised land of the matter science world The question that's left unanswered by the supplement salesman is that if you don't know the origin of the disease in the first place how can you offer a molecular solutionin the name of healing
Addiction and Supplements: Is It Real?
Presently the molecule rules so people believe that the promises by the supplement world must have some merit But there have been few if any studies that show major breakthrough results with supplements particularly with the IC bladder pain syndrome The interesting phenomenon that occurs when supplements become popular is that everyone gets on the bandwagon without questioning efficacy The result is that the supplement salesman makes profits
Beware of Matter Science Doctors Selling Supplements
A recent diet book published by a popular matter science doctor received rave reviews by the matter science healing community and of course book sales sky rocketed the book to the NY Times best seller list And of course there was good but repetitive molecular evidence as to why the obesity epidemic was on the rise Using what would appear to be good molecular logic to explain away the obesity problem is akin to biochemical micromanagement Eventually the solution became not nutritional but supplements What?
When you read the one star reviews on Amazon the concern about the book is quite concerning What was promised was nirvana in 10 days to get you off your sugar addiction which is dubious but what was the complaint about the book by readers They were concerned that they had to pay an excessive amount of money for recommended supplements yet didn't experience any improvement in wellbeing
This is just one example of what is becoming a common place theme in the matter science world Physicians using their credentials to soft sell molecular solutions that they hope will in some way solve the problem at hand
There Is No Free Lunch
Even as convincing is the molecular and metabolic information the point still stands that there is not good data to support the long term use of taking molecular supplements particularly with respect to specific disease conditions
The nutritional approach based on 1000's of years of experience shows that the energy science approach if maintained on a consistent basis will pay dividends of progressive improvement in symptoms And the cost? What you normally pay for groceries Probably 80% of the solution in the IC bladder pain syndrome is nutrition and lifestyle behavior patterns
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Energetically Protecting the Mindbody
Biologically the mindbody simultaneously coexists as both an energy field or a matter(molecular) field If I put on my energy field glasses I see the mindbody as an energy field and I speak about it in terms of Vata, Pitta, or Kapha In so thinking about the mindbody as both energy and matter there obviously should be a transparency about what we are discussing If I speak about the molecular aspects of the mindbody I should be able to find its equivalency in the energy field model This is true for the GAG(GlycosoAminoGlycan) layer molecular concept and the Kapha energy pattern
Kapha is energy of stability in the physiology It keeps our mindbodies strong and well put together physically It's psychologically grounding for us and is also responsible for our immune system working properly since it is the immune system You can think of Kapha as a protective energy that keeps the mindbody strong Any large structural molecule such as chondroitin(joints), cholesterol, or immunoglobulins are molecular expressions of the Kapha energy pattern
In inflammatory diseaes such as Alzheimer's, GERD, or coranary artery disease one of the hypotheses in its molecular cause is the protective GAG layer is in some way becomes damaged and loses its integrity This layer which is produced by the underlying epithelial cells is thought to be a protective mucous layer and so by what we have just said this would be a Kapha like protection from invasive bacteria but also from the acidic characteristics of the urine itself
Every tubular lining(aka mucosa) that has a connection to the outside world has a GAG layer For example the lining of the respiratory system has its associated protective GAG layer which traps foreign materials so they don't interfere with respiratory function The GI tract and reproductive tracts has GAG layers as well
GAG Layer Repair
There are many reasons why GAG layers get damaged but one of them is inflammation In energy science terminology that means that Pitta is being increased due to blocking by Kapha and in the matter science it means that acidity breaks down tissue Knowing this there are energy science ways to help prevent the GAG layer from being broken down or getting repaired if broken down
Aloe vera There's a reason why aloe as a herb works wonders in inflammatory conditions It molecularly provides mannose which is an often biologically unavailable essential glucosaccharide This provides the building blocks for the mindbody to rebuild the protective Kapha GAG layer Energetically aloe reduces Pitta heat and pacifies overactive mobile quality of Vata
Reducing Vata and Pitta in nutritional formats It follows from our conversation that if having increased inflammatory Pitta molecules around then preventing them from entry into the mindbody would be good therapy The same holds true for Vata molecules that produce movement in the physiology
Reducing Vata and Pitta in incompatible food combinations(IFC) In general IFC's are inflammatory and increase Pitta so avoiding these is Pitta pacifying
Herbs that reduce Pitta Both acacia and psyllium absorb Pitta from the small intestine so in small volumes these herbs are valuable in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome
Herbs that reduce Vata Vata is composed of space and air When you pass gas from the rectum you're passing Vata energy Since Vata is air if it's increased in the mindbody physiology it can increase Pitta Think about fanning a fire with pushing air across the fire that you're trying to get going Vata herbs like ashwagandha, bala, and vidari are good at reducing Vata
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Sleep and 10 Solutions for Help
From an energy science perspective nutrition, rest, and exercise are the foundational pillars to a healthy life In chronic disease all pilllars get typically involved to produce disease progression But rest can be an energy drain to the mindbody and since healing is already an energy drain there is a significant stress on the physiology that requires remedy
Proper Rest
The pineal gland located in the third ventricle is a significant endocrine gland involved in the daily rest cycle and secretes two important neurotransmitters, serotonin and melatonin The former is the energetic equivalent of groundedness and the latter is intimately involved in the diurnal variations of daylight and nighttime, signaling our mindbody when it is ready for rest
As usual in the energy science the amount of rest varies according to the constitutional energy makeup Vata due to its delicacy requires the most rest, typically 7-8h per night and Kapha requires the least, 5-6h and Pitta somewhere in between Most of us have 2 dominant patterns so PV would be around 6-7h and PK 6h But commonly Kapha loves to sleep in and so even though Kapha "desires" more rest, in fact Kapha needs to "move it" and take advantage of its good stamina and endurance
When there are health challenges we can see that there are more energetic demands on the mindbody so that naps are naturally an acceptable way to "catch up" So keeping the same rest schedule at night with PV in bed by no later than 103o and PK 1130 are reasonable guidelines Appropriate rising times no later than 7 for PV and 6 for PK are reasonable But if fatigue sets in during the afternoon a nap could be valuable
We are a culture guided by the alarm clock but the energy science of Ayurveda would suggest that such a tool is Vata provoking and physiologically disruptive So if we set a good sleeping schedule there becomes less of a need to use an alarm because the mindbody gets set into a rhythm of rest, allowing the mindbody to go "au naturale"
Sleep disruption comes in all forms of shapes and sizes Some have trouble getting to sleep, other wake up during Vata time(2-6a) and can't get back to sleep, and others wake up to urinate several times a night due to many different causes
Dreams of falling, being attacked, being pushed, or of always doing something in the dream as well as being frozen with fright, seeing the death of a loved one, or being locked up or flying are Vata dreams Certain animals such as snakes, camels, and flying birds are related to Vata Dreams about the autumn season are about vata In vata dreams, the person is trying to fulfill a desire These dreams are about a person falling or being attacked In some cases, Kapha or Pitta may attack Vata
Helpful Solutions for Rest
There are tools that can help with setting the tone for getting into a "normal rest cycle Of course this is not an all inclusive list but some of these have stood the test of time Using one or a combination of these solutions may be helpful
Having a set time for bed every night is a good lifestyle habit to cultivate The mindbody is subject to habit which sets the tone for rest
The bedroom should be just that....a place for the bed and for rest Some turn their bedroom into a media suite or library and this creates confusion
Cherry juice is a source of melatonin and seratonin as mentioned above are important in rest Amazingly cherry juice is a rich natural source of both and using glass of warm cherry juice with perhaps cinnamon before 30min before bed would be helpful for rest
Warm milk with ground almonds(without skins) and pinch of cardamom and pinch of nutmeg Nutmeg is a culinary sleep aid and can be quite effective
Chamomile tea has been a longstanding herbal remedy for inducing rest, relaxation, and sleep
Cup tomato juice with 2t sugar and 2 pinches nutmeg
Herbal therapies such as tagar can be helpful in inducing sleep
Bhringaraj oil to feet and head after a warm tub bath for relaxation can also help for sleep inducement
Practicing So Hum mantra meditation can be a way to soothe the Vata aggravated mindbody and put it in relaxation mode It's a way of counting sheep but much more peaceful
The addition of a pharmacological such as Ambien or other sleep aids can be used as prescription and supported by the above
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Pitta and Transformation
Pitta is the energy of transformation and its qualities are hot, sharp/penetrating, light, mobile, liquid, and oily
Of the three energy patterns discussed, Pitta is the only pattern with the hot quality Heat transforms The emotion of anger often gets a bad rap Anger can be transformational It can stimulate us to get moving and get things done
Sharp/penetrating helps with discrimination and seeing through problems and having healthy digestion
The light of Pitta is different than light of Vata(feather) because light here means illumination, shedding light on a subject; intensity here is a good word for Pitta Vata's light vibrational frequency is associated with playfulness and levity
The intensity of Pitta is not too intensive There is a great deal of warmth by hot vibrational frequency but not burning; it's not like a pit bull that won't let go There is an ease of the intensity Otherwise the intensity becomes rigidity
A fire is mobile as the flames of a fire dance Pitta in balance is flexible in the mindbody; able to entertain different alternatives But the mobility of Pitta is different than that of Vata as well
The mobility or movement of energy causes us to notice things in our environment So the stock market moves up and it attracts our attention It is this aspect of Pitta's vibrational frequency of mobility that promotes survival and evolutionary behavior when in balance
So hook up with Pitta if you want to see through problems, guidance, nourish the best choices, have great wisdom, incredible intensity, highly focused, determined, and thorough
Pitta is a great change artist for himself and others(if they so choose) It is able to give good intellectual guidance well thought out. keen, and brilliant(light)
Do you know anyone in your life or celebrities who expresses the characteristics of the balanced Pitta? How do they make you feel when you're around them? Can you think of any celebrities or leaders that carry this balanced energy?
To Health as a Skill DB
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Sleep Disturbance: 7 Energy Science Solutions
There is nothing like a good night's rest and when that doesn't happen it's a source of deteriorating health Chronic disease ) is often associated with sleep problems More than 25% of the US population have sleep disturbances and 10% have chronic insomnia Although not specifically studied with the IC syndrome, sleep disturbances occur in people with diabetes, depression, obesity, and those with cardiovascular disease
It's not too difficult to understand why sleep disturbances would occur with chronic disease Getting up at night in order to pacify a bladder that wants to urinate is understandable but other situations such as rectal spasm or bowel symptoms may also play a role in altering the sleep pattern And of course the ramifications of chronic fatigue from sleep deprivation begin to show when continued problems of interrupted sleep occur
So what can be done to help with sleep disturbance that can support pharmaceuticals that are prescribed?
Sleep Aids
There are many effective sleep pharmaceuticals to use but they have the potential of sleep hangover so there are some natural sleep aids that can help Try several of these suggestions as their effects will mount up
Eating cherries or drinking cherry juice This fruit is a natural source of melatonin and tryptophan so drinking cherry juice around bedtime makes complete sense Researchers at LSU used tart cherry juice and found an increase of 90minutes of sleep a night
Moderate exercise This helps tax the body so that it wants rest at night Nothing like making the body tired Pranayama can be a very effective way to exercise if you have difficulty with walking, running, or accessing equipment
Prepare for sleep If a sleep disturbance occurs one of the first things is to look at what time you're going to bed and what time you're waking up In general bedtime should be around 10pm and wakeup around 7am So if your planned bedtime is 10p begin getting ready for bed around 930p taking a warm calming tub bath and massaging the head and feet with bhringaraj oil that relaxes the nervous system Listening to calming music, pleasant reading and NOT watching TV are good things to do for sleep preparation
So Hum There may be times when you want to fall asleep but the mind is just too agitated for one reason or another to let the body relax Instead of counting sheep or listening to the mind's endless chatter you can use So Hum breathing So Hum is a mantra that mimics the sound of the breath So on inhalation and Hum on exhalation When you use this mantra you can calm the nervous system and bring on sleep much more easily
Interrupted sleep Some recommend that if you're having trouble waking up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep that you stay up if you have given yourself an adequate chance to go back to sleep When you stay up and begin the day at 3am and do that for three days in a row, it will be impossible for you not to have a good night's sleep This is especially if you avoid naps during the day The body requires sleep and deprivation for 17 days leads to death so forcing sleep deprivation can become a solution
Nutmeg and milk The herb nutmeg is an excellent sleep aid and coupled with a soothing cup of warm milk will help take the edge off and allow you to go into slumberlands Other herbal therapies There are a number of herbs that can act synergistically with one another in order to cumulatively give you better rest along with dealing with other physiologic problems Rasayans as well as tagar, valerian, brahmi, shankapushpi, jatamamsi, and vidari are excellent at calming the nervous system and promoting better sleep
Chamomile tea This herb also has a sedating effect to the nervous system and can be effective as a sleep aid
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Getting More Energy From Your Foods
All disease except for trauma begins in the GIT and so this underscores why nutritional habits are so important
But what nutritional habits? This is where the energy science can make its biggest contribution because the matter science molecular approach has no adequate model of disease So it becomes hit and miss recommendations So to heal any disease process one has to do this foundational work of nutrition which according to the energy science guidelines is very very important
Ten Ways to Feel Energized by Food
1 Eat Foods with High Prana
Prana is the vital energy present in fresh vegetables and fruits and pure air that we breathe From an energetic point of view one of the reasons for eating is to gain prana, so you want to choose foods that are high in prana
Incorporating more fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet will give you an immediate energy boost It's also important to cut the vegetables and cook them fresh at every meal Buying pre-cut vegetables means that you have already lost some of the prana For that reason, buy vegetables and fruits whole for maximum vitality
2 Eat Organic or Locally Grown Foods Whenever Possible
Organic foods have more prana than foods that have been polluted with chemical fertilizers and pesticides If your body has to work hard to detoxity the chemicals every time you eat with the liver, you'll feel fatigued and toxic
Locally grown foods are also higher in prana, because they don't have to be shipped or stored and can be bought tree-ripened There is another reason to eat locally grown foods--they contain the same ratio of the five fundamental levels as the climate in which you live
One ayurvedic principle says that equal proportions of the elements is always enhancing Locally grown herbs, fruits, vegetables and dairy products will have a more powerful and energizing biological impact Herbs and plants grown in the desert are more helpful for the people who live in that kind of dry, hot climate
This principle doesn't apply to grains or beans, which are grown in different regions And if you can't get locally grown veggies or fruits, it's better to eat imported produce The point here is that if you have a choice, buy or grow local produce for more vitality
3 Avoid Eating Dead or Unintelligent Food
Just as fresh produce has more prana, food that is old, dead, or heavily processed contains very little life force Frozen, canned, packaged, processed, bottled, fermented or leftover foods are either too old to be healthy, or even worse, have been altered with chemical preservatives and flavorings This kind of unintelligent, dead food is difficult to digest and creates ama, which clogs the body's channels and creates fatigue Choose food that is fresh, whole and unaltered by chemicals or harmful processing methods
4 Eat Energizing Foods
Besides fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, an energizing diet includes whole grains such as quinoa, barley and amaranth For protein, organic milk, lassi (a yogurt drink), paneer(fresh cheese) are energy-producing Almonds, cashews, or walnuts are an excellent source of protein if they are soaked first or cooked with the grains to make them more digestible Split-mung dhal and other small or split beans are an excellent source of protein Some delightful foods that are also excellent sources of protein are Milk-date Shake and Rice Pudding
Rice Pudding
Ingredients:
1 c. water
1/2 c. basmati rice
4 c. whole milk
1 tsp. chopped dates
2 tsp. cashews or pistachios
3 small pieces green cardamom, crushed
1 tsp. sugar (or to taste)
Directions:
Soak rice in water for 2 hours Boil milk Add rice and all other ingredients Boil slowly for 30 minutes or more until the mixture reaches a slightly thick consistency, but you can stir it easily It will thicken a little more when you let it cool
Fresh, easy-to-digest oils are another important part of the energizing diet Ghee is an excellent cooking oil or baking oil because it doesn't burn at high heat Extra virgin olive oil from the first press is healthy for baking or sautéing at low temperatures
5 Eat a Variety of Foods
Rather than getting in a rut and just making rice, dhal and the same vegetables every day, be sure to rotate your selection so you are always getting a wide variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins and flavors
Ayurveda recommends that you eat all six flavors--sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent and pungent--in every meal If you are getting bored with your food, or if you are having cravings for unhealthy foods, that's a clue that you are not getting all six tastes You can take the guess work out of food selection by going to foodsheal.com to see what foods are best for you
One way to add more flavor and fun is to use Peach Chutney and Mango Chutney to complement the food. Each contains all six tastes, adding zest and energizing spice to the meal
6 Cook with Energizing Spices
Cooking with spices makes the food more digestible and creates energy The ayurvedic way to cook with spices is to sauté them at low heat in olive oil and ghee, then stir them into steamed vegetables, cooked grains, or soupy dals An alternative method is to sauté the spices in Ghee or olive oil and then sauté the raw vegetables, grains or dal Add water and cook until tender
Choose spices that are recommended for your body type Spice mixtures called churnas can be made from recipes at foodsheal.com
7 Avoid Energy-Draining Combinations
Avoid foods that don't digest well when combined Combining the following foods create ama and low energy
8 Drink Energizing Water
Drinking lots of coffee, tea or caffeinated soft drinks may give you a false burst of energy, but caffeine taxes the liver, creating a toxic build-up and fatigue It's better to drink beverages that clear toxins from the channels of the body
9 Minimize Restaurant Eating
If you must eat out, choose your restaurant carefully Keep an eye on the ingredients and cooking methods. Are the ingredients fresh or frozen? Are leftovers served? Are there healthy oils? These are the questions you can ask
10 Eat in a Settled Atmosphere
Ayurveda recommends that you eat in a settled atmosphere to gain maximum vitality from food If you talk on the phone, watch TV or conduct a business meeting over lunch, your food is not going to digest properly It will probably create ama, which is the cause of dullness and fatigue. Eating while standing, walking or driving also creates ama rather than energy
Turn off the electronic devices and eat with someone you care about Leave your responsibilities at the door--and instead revel in the beautiful colors, tastes, smells and textures of the food All of this amounts to respecting your food and your digestion, and will help create the kind of light, clear, vital feeling that good food is meant to do
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