Acid Indigestion: 8 Ways to Deal With It
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 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 some basic energy science treatments that can bring about control of this Pitta energy pattern of transformation
Avipattikar This herb combination is an excellent way to get control of raging hot Pitta in the stomach reducing the hot quality
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
Psyllium husk Using this herb may sound strange as it is used as a laxative but 1t at bedtime mixed with fresh yogurt or with warm water will absorb Pitta in the small intestine and stop the colonic wall irritation
Nutritional format and incompatible food combinations We can take all the herbs in the world but if we continue to take into our bodies the same imbalancing qualities then no gains will be made It's like 2steps forward and 3 steps back If there is HAS or GERD then no doubt the person is a strong Pitta and these conditions would be the ways that they might go out of balance One should follow a Pitta pacifying diet At the very least one should follow the PK or PV formats at foodsheal.com Coconut is an excellent cooling food and using unsweetened flakes is excellent to introduce into cooking
Kefir milk When Pitta is out of control and the hot quality is raging, the microbiome or the gut flora becomes affected Since the gut flora is an important aspect of agni it's important to replenish and support this vital aspect to our health Kefir does this by providing new healthy bacteria to our gut microbiome population You can get it in the stores or make it yourself by finding some Kefir granules from someone willing to share
Shatavari is a wonderful herb to reduce Pitta and like aloe vera it has far reaching physiologic consequences due to its rasayana effect Rasayanas are a special group of herbs that have strengthening physiologic effects over other herbs and are used particularly after cleansing therapies used in panchakarma
Kama dudha moti bhasma and abhrak bhasma are basically calcium salts that act as coenzymes in metabolic processes and can be effective when Pitta is high
Like all energy work it is subtle and the healing shifts occur slowly over months but the good thing is that they are sustainable long lasting effects
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Probiotics and Homemade Yogurt
Yogurt is an amazing food and many ethinic cultures on the planet use fresh yogurt and kefir as health promoting foods in their nutrition And there are very good reasons for doing so but due to the Pitta aggravating nature of yogurt, freshly made is the only way to go in moderation
Helping Restore Imbalanced Agni
The value of yogurt is that it serves when freshly made a rich source of probiotic which is a population of "good bacteria" that reside in the bowel "Bad" bacteria at times overgrow the gut flora leading to poor digestion, absorption, and assimilation so it's important that the good flora flourishes and the bad are kept in check As I've alluded to in the past, bacterial growth is a major part of our digestive strength that needs to be nourished
This is particularly important if you have GERD, IBS, and fibromyalgia associated with IC since the digestive fire is significantly compromised in these dual conditions
Regular use of freshly made yogurt insures that the "good" bacteria are consistently replenished Agni is always compromised in these conditions and since the bacterial flora is part of agni it's important to supplement with probiotic foods such as yogurt SIBO(small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is commonly thought of as the root cause of many bowel diseases but from an energy science perspective it's just saying that agni is disturbed
You may have heard of yeast overgrowth and this is yet another factor that can lead to poor digestive fire(eliminating yeast laden bread products is a good idea in that it gives us more than we need so flatbreads are best or at least toasting yeasted products) This candidal imbalance in bowel flora much like SIBO is a result of poor agni So building up agni is one of the central therapeutic themes in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome
Bowel flora is important in the concept of digestive fire and aids in bowel digestive function as well as providing important nutrients for our nutrition
Pasteurized yogurts should be avoided as pasteurization kills off the beneficial probiotic component of yogurt
Making Digestion Easy By Predigestion-Optimizing Digestive Strength
The value of yogurt comes in the predigestion of lactose and casein which we talked about a couple of days ago Hence the bacteria during the incubation phase of creating yogurt use the sugar lactose and break down the protein casein The lactose then doesn't bother the lactose intolerant and the casomorphin derivative from casein digestion can be less, hence affecting us less
Why freshly made? From an energy science view the build up of acidity occurs with aging yogurt even if refrigerated becomes inflammatory and thus Pitta provoking You also get the maximal amount of probiotic in the yogurt(some bacteria die off after 4-5 days)
Even though fresh yogurt is not very acidic(sour taste) it still can be Pitta provoking if used daily Hence home made yogurt has its consumption limitations
So Some Guidelines
1 Based on the foodsheal.com food combining list, don't use fruit with yogurt
2 To really inhibit the negative sour effects of even freshly made yogurt, the use of Sucanat or Turbinado(crystallized cane sugars) can be important because the sweet taste helps balance the aggravating sour taste
3 Always use yogurt in moderation, that is, 2-3x per week
4 Store bought and therefore processed yogurt is too acidic and will provoke IC
5 Diluting the yogurt with water reduces its acidity
6 Keeping in the fridge after it comes from the incubation phase will help get the yogurt firmer
7 For best results use whole milk
How to get started
Buy a yogurt maker(Donvier is a French brand or other various manufacturers can be found on Amazon) Using fresh starter each time ensures that the bacterial count of the yogurt will be rich The small amount of starter is not enough to aggravate Pitta
And yes, it does take some time to make your own yogurt but after doing it, in a short time you can do a batch in about 15 minutes(total time; heating the milk and cooling it can be done while doing other things)
If the yogurt is curdly and clearly not smooth in texture it means that there's probably too much cooking going on and that the incubation times are too long So try 10 hours instead of 12 hours with the Donvier
YouTube has several videos on how to make your own yogurt
It's best not to use dry milk powder as the milk product as it is provoking to Vata Pitta
There are links for directions on making your own for trouble shooting
The greatest value is making your own yogurt is that you participate in your own health and this is a small but significant step in assuming responsibility for our health
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Disease and Genetic Destiny: Healing in the 21st Century
It's long been held that genes are fixed and if we have genetic predisposition to specific diseases in our family gene pool that there is a strong likelihood that we'll experience the same Common examples come to mind Alcoholism, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, and even the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) or components of the syndrome are inheritable
But the matter science model of disease is coming to the realization that all disease is genetic at some level And that's because even our behaviors which lead to diseases are genetically driven So when we are addicted to cigarettes, the genetically driven addiction leads to in some cases lung cancer Or our genetically driven choices regarding the foods we eat lead to the IC bladder pain syndrome
Are We Victimized By Our Genes?
But we need not fee victimized by our genes Only 5% of the time do our genes become the responsible agent for disease The other 95% of the time genes play an influential role in the disease process but don't actually cause the disease In other words biology doesn't spell our destiny
It turns out that genes are highly active to influences around us and, yes, within us The whole mindbody through its genes are always listening to what's going on in the environment which causes our gene expression to change on a moment to moment basis Cold or hot weather affects gene expression, life events such as work stress and parking tickets, the foods that we eat, the entertainment choices that we make all impact our gene expression for the better or worse leading eventually to disease
We are constantly tallking to our genes with every thought, word, and action
Deciding On Our Genetic Input
From the energy science point of view mind is in every cell of the mindbody and resides in our DNA or our genetic pool
So the question becomes "What's favorable genetic input and unfavorable genetic input" There are specific guidelines that the energy science helps us
1 When we settle the mind we settle our genes Meditation produces a calm, peaceful, clear mind that reduces anxiety, fear, loneliness, insecurity, anger, impatience, lethargy, and indecision A peaceful mind creates a stable genetic structure established in groundedness when exposed to chaos As we remember the more activity that is going on in the mindbody the more there is genetic activity The more genetic activity the more room for genetic mistakes This exposes us to the risk of creating genetic disease out of frenzied lifestyle behaviors
2 So we can do disease prevention and treatment by managing our genes(mind) which influences our body and its physical expression But we can influence our mind by doing physical things to our mindbody Since the mind and body are intimately spliced(mind is body and body is mind) there is a to and fro movement between the physical and mind(genes) So foundational work as prescribed by the energy science can produce behavioral changes that impact how we think In other words changing what we eat impacts our mind and its clarity Doing pranayama and yoga asana influences mental clarity and reduces the previously described negative emotions This is due to marma influence which is another topic for another day
3 Consistent persistent disciplined actions add up to important genetic structural changes that are longlasting since they constantly remind the genes to align in a particular way This is the heart of healing disease and doing disease prevention as seen in the 21st century If our genes align in such a way as to predispose us to a disease process, then having them align in a way that causes the genes to influence health or the opposite of disease seems to be the way to genetically manage disease
Genes are in the present moment They don't regret the past, worry about the future, but literally are focused on the present The moment that we have right now is the gift...that's why we call it a present The state of our awareness will achieve happiness mediated through our genes Our entire lifestyle behavior pattern can either create our misery or happiness We get to choose our genetic expression What will you choose?
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Amalgamation of Qualities with Tissue: Chronic Disease
The energy science of Ayurveda differs from the current conventional medicine model which emphasizes a matter science or molecular approach to disease management In the energy science approach to healing the model sees imbalance of vibrational frequencies or qualities as the reason for physiologic dis-ease
Progression of Disease
In the energy science the most common reason for the accumulation of qualities occurs through nutrition which is why nutritional management is the cornerstone of any chronic disease treatment The energy science management of the various disease expressions with respect to nutrition is far more complex than the currently practiced dietary recommendations used by the contemporary dietician This is because one of the major tenets of the energy science approach is to help improve agni, the digestive power or strength
Agni is central to disease management in the energy science yet is completely not recognized in conventional medical circles including the nutritional This is due to the model of healing which is molecular approach
The Energy Science and Origin of Disease
As disease progresses qualities leave the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) and spread to tissues based on whether specific agnis in the mindbody are not up to par Hence the qualities become dominant BUT not as we would expect in any specific disease
Actually the qualities can accumulate anywhere The molecular model of disease postulates that the molecule causes the disease and while this is eventual the case from an energy science perspective the origin is far more subtle and unobservable As a matter of fact the research animal model will defy molecular proof unfortunately Hence it will probably be impossible for the matter science ever get to the origin of disease in chronic disease and it will continue to be in the dark regarding the origin of any problem The matter science model will never be able to solve this problem so don't waste your time waiting because it will not happen
Amalgamation of Qualities With Tissues
Just as when fingers interlace with one another the qualities of the tissues interlace with the qualities that are circulating leading to the damage and imbalance of the tissue qualities This leads the alteration of function of the tissues themselves In the case of Alzheimer's the nervous tissue function becomes altered leading to the reporting predominantly dementia When this merging occurs a chronic condition is set up
When these qualities become dominant in the nervous tissue they begin to amalgamate with the tissue itself In other words the qualities BECOME one with the tissue This type of interrelationship begins the real stage of disease where we become aware of the significant signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's
This amalgamation cannot be managed by simple nutritional intervention, by physical therapy techniques, it is beyond acupuncture which are patently bandaids The quality invasion into tissues with toxic load has no other therapy but detoxification measures that we have discussed in the past in the form of panchakarma(PK) which if to be effective needs to be done frequently over a period of time Along with this we have to improve agni, burn toxins, along with potentized medicines that are catalytic in nature, and a specialized herbal formula
Those with chronic IC bladder pain syndrome will have no choice if they want to get better but to deal with an energy science detoxification technique and be in it for the long haul
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Getting Angry at Disease
The energy science of Ayurveda tells us that all of Nature including ourselves are composed of vibrational frequencies or qualities These qualities are arranged into energy patterns of Vata Pitta and Kapha The Pitta energy pattern is one of transformation Anything that happens in the mindbody that requires transformation is under the guise of this energy pattern of Pitta For example, enzymes that transform a piece of broccoli into heart, brain, and lung cells are expressions of the Pitta energy pattern As you're reading this your Pitta is transforming this information and changing you in a subtle way, hopefully for the better
It's a common clinical observation that when hospitalized patients start becoming ornery that they are ready to be discharged from the hospital because they have enough energy to carry on their healing at home When people get angry, upset, irritated, or impatient they're experiencing the Pitta energy pattern Often the reason why these emotions come up is because there is too much of the vibrational frequencies of Pitta in the physiology, usually the hot quality
But we can use this energy pattern of Pitta to energize us to get off point zero and take action for healing problems in our physiologies Adding this heat to our mental framework can push us in the direction of transformation Here are 9 suggestions that we can think of...and perhaps more....to help us move to transforming our problem of the IC bladder pain syndrome into health
9 Steps to Transforming Mental Lethargy
1 Decide for yourself that a new way of doing things(energy science approach) is worth a try
2 Get angry "Im fed up with this and can't take any more of this nonsense in my life" Engage your Pitta energy to get transformative about doing something about your imbalance
3 Be ready to do the work over time to make a difference Realize that there's no quick fix Nutrition is a piece of the healing puzzle Watching out for incompatible food combinations is part of the healing puzzle It's not just one thing that produces the results you're looking for in energy science work...it's a culmination of a multiplicity of things that brings about healing of IC because all the self directed work that you is synergistic in producing a result
4 Use breath techniques to energize the physiology and improve motivation The Kapha energy pattern keeps us stuck in ruts so using breath techniques to reduce this energy pattern can be beneficial
5 Use the neti pot technique to reduce the Kapha energy pattern as in the above
6 Use nasya oil to help shift mental patterns of behavior
7 Get support to help you move along in this direction The hardest thing that people undertake in their lives is changing lifestyle behaviors that don't help them in their quest to better health Having someone to support you in making these changes can be helpful It is best not to use a friend but someone who is more at a distance so that they can be rigorous in helping change patterns of behavior
8 Avoiding distractions which often take our attention away from the healing task at hand There are so many things in our lives vying for our attention Sales at department stores, the new entries on Facebook, responding to emails The more we can reduce these distractions the more we can pay attention to the work at hand
9 Use your imagination and creativity as to how to do transformative work For example, asking yourself what you can do to motivate yourself to do healing work can lead you into areas you hadn't thought of before
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Chronic Pain Syndrome Solutions
Mast cells are part of the immune system and are found throughout the body particularly in areas of inflammatory reaction It has been found that those with chronic pain syndromes may have a common pathway through excess mast cell production The reason that this becomes important is that the mast cell produces many irritating molecules that may mediate the pain complex that is present
Why Do Mast Cells Concentrate in the Bladder Wall?
There is a functional relationship between mast cell production and the autonomic nervous system which is the part of the nervous system that causes the bladder to function If the nervous system becomes hyperexcitable or extra nervous then this will in and of stimulate mast cell arousal This begins the cascade of molecular events that leads to the release of NGF, TNF, histamines, endokrines, and other modulating molecules that cause irritability
So the next question is "Why does the nervous system become irritable in the first place?" This becomes a problem from the matter science point of view because the model cannot hold the space to allow an answer But the energy science model can explain the origin of the nervous system behavior based on the qualities that emanate from the colon and come to reside in the nerves, both somatic and autonomic
This becomes a big deal as it gets to the heart of the origin of pain in general
3 Ways to Influence Mast Cell Production by Affecting the Pelvic Nerve Complex
In the energy science of Ayurveda there is a dictum that there is no pain without the Vata energy pattern So it's not surprising that all pain syndromes have Vata involvement energetically mediated molecularly through the nervous system
1 Basti downregulates mast cell production by changing nerve plexus irritation This is a time honored way to deal with Vata imbalance which disturbs nervous tissue There are many forms of basti both internal and external Internal basti is done by placing herbal decoctions with oil, usually sesame, into the lower rectum by enema bag Many people with pain have been poked and jabbed by instruments or tubes going into different places Why would a comfortable placement of a tube into the lower rectum through the anus be such a big deal? So self applied enemas can be a major step toward controlling the imbalance in an aggravated nervous system and in so doing influence mast cell production and the symptoms of fatigue, cognitive disruption, sleep disorders, mood disorders, and general malaise
2 PeaPure or palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is actually a glial cell modulator(nervous system immune cells) that impacts mast cell formation through its interaction with NGF Its mode of action is more than likely by affecting the nervous system which induces the mast cells to begin with Due to the work of Nobel Price Laureate Rita Levi Montalcini who was the first to identify PEA as a mast cell inhibitor in 1993 Based on her work PEA has been extensively used as a analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound since the last decade, especially in the countries were PEA is available, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands It's available as a nutraceutical in 400mg tablets
3 LDN(Low Dose Naltrexone) has been shown to be effective in forms of chronic pain syndrome It is a novel anti-inflammatory agent in the central nervous system, via action on microglial cells and may represent one of the first glial cell modulators to be used for the management of chronic pain disorders As a daily oral therapy, LDN is inexpensive and well-tolerated
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