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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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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Healing and Synergy
"Ok give me the one thing that's going to clear this problem that I have" typically goes the refrain going through our minds as we try to figure it what to do
Heart synergy
And while we have been programmed to believe that it's that one pill, the one operation, the one piece of advice that's going to turn the corner, it's really not that way It may be that in an acute situation such as appendicitis that the immediate action of removing the appendix fixes the problem But even in that clinical scenario there is the need for doing things after the operation to fully recover In the management of chronic diseases this process of needing to do more than one thing in order to evoke a healing response becomes even more apparent Energetically the heart serves as the unifying field that brings all these various activities together
The Energy Science Approach to Healing
In order to evoke a change toward real healing the mindbody needs to know that we're serious about wanting to turn things around for us and move in a different direction Toward balance in this situation This means that there needs to be not only consistency in our actions but also a willingness to pile on the energetic effects produced by our actions
For example we might feel a tad bit better by introducing nutritional changes that bring about more physiologic balance Bringing about more balance to the physiology occurs when we stop adding to our imbalances For example, if we happen to have a Pitta Kapha energy constitutional make up then nuts are not a good choice for us because they carry the vibrational frequencies of heavy, slow, oily, static, and cloudy When we stop introducing these qualities of nuts into our physiology then the mindbody begins to shed those qualities that we were consistently putting into our mindbody
So we stop adding to the imbalance that is creating our ill health That's a good thing...changing our nutrition so we don't continue to keep ourselves sick A step toward healing has been made But there's another layer What about incompatible food combinations? Well, by avoiding them we begin improving our agni That's a good thing Another step has been taken
But then we can add another layer What about restructuring our day to a favorable time for the mindbody to do certain things...like getting up early to exercise, eating our biggest meal of the day at around noon, going to bed early to take advantage of the night time detoxification duties that the mindbody naturally does if we don't interfere with them So another layer has been added to the complex process of energy healing And we should point out that this healing has not cost anything....only just changing the way we do things
Synergistic Healing
So from an energy science point of view, real healing requires our participation and this layering effect There are a multiplicity of things to be done to bring physiologic balance and release excess vibrational frequencies that don't serve us well
This layering phenomenon is actually promoting synergy It's not just one thing but the multiplicity of things that are done that bring about the desired effect Each lifestyle behavior pattern that we add supports and makes stronger the previous pattern that we just put into place That is, these changes that we make feed on one another creating a grand foundation on which to support the healing of the condition that doesn't serve us anymore
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5 Ways to Use Biologic Energy for Healing
From present day physics the body can be viewed as an energy field or molecular/matter field Modern day medicine follows an molecular approach to its study of disease whereas the energy sciences of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine(acupuncture) have developed sophisticated systems of healing to deal with man's diseases The areas where the energy sciences have their most impact is in chronic disease and prevention since as we have discussed in the past the origin of disease is well worked out in the Ayurvedic energy science discipline
Because the energy science understands the origin of disease it can be effective in chronic diseases From an energy science perspective disease is brought about due to an imbalance of vibrational frequencies called gunas or qualities So in chronic disease the qualities become out of balance These qualities become overly abundant in affected tissues producing the symptoms of disease
Srotas: The Energy Channels
Although the energy science views the body's anatomy in a similar way as the matter science discipline the channels through which energy flows are arranged conceptually in a different way The energy channels are called srotas and have specific characteristics that are unique to the energy body It is through these channels that the qualities move The most common way we alter the qualities of the body is through our nutrition which is why what we eat becomes so important in the management of the IC BPS
But there is a second channel system in the energy body called the nadi system which overlays the srotal system and is more subtle in its expression
The Nadi System
This channel system only carries vibrational energy called prana and is more ephemeral than the above srotal system Unexplained spontaneous remissions of all forms of disease occur at this level of the energy body Our nadi system(microcosm) is responsible for the maintenance of our energetic aura(see diagram) and is our connection with the greater energy field(macrocosm)
The common concept shared by these two energy channel systems is agni, the digestive fire, or the ability to take an experience and completely comprehend its meaning And there are two bridges that connect the two systems such as the autonomic nervous system(fight or flight system) and the endocrine(hormones and thyroid gland) system The nadi channels are connected to the 5 senses so we can see that doing things to enhance the senses and clear them helps improve flow through them
In yogic classes where asana(posture) is performed the anatomy that is most common discussed and used is the nadi system Energy nadis such as the ida, pingula, and sushumna are terms often used There can be healing using the nadi system and the energy science of Ayurveda uses these concepts in therapies
5 Ways To Access the Nadi System
Pranayama particularly kapalabhati because breath use and breath exercises are powerful ways to influence the fight or flight response which is managed by the above autonomic system From what we have just said not surprisingly this group of exercises can influence agni which is extremely therapeutic in management of disease Done routinely it can change the course of a disease Since the breath influences the subtle vibrational energy channels it can help clear the srotas and our aura
Kevala As part of the day in balance(dinacharya) oil pulling has been recognized by Western observers of health that it can bring about dramatic benefits Kevala influences the nadi channel system and hence has profound energetic consequences to the body
Nasya This is the application of herbs that are in an oil solution and has direct impact to both the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems Because this therapy influences both bridges to the nadi system it can have an impact on our subtle energy body, aura, and healing
Karna purna This is application of oil to the ears which have a connection to the nadi channels and can influence them
Marma and abhyanga The application of oils to the external surface of the body stimulates acupuncture points that Ayurveda calls marma These are subtle energy points that connect to the nadi system and improves pranic flow through the channels
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The Quick Medical Fix
What we wish from any healing tradition is a quick way out of our problem whatever it is The magic pill, the magic operation, the magic whatever So it is with any formidable chronic disease And intuitively we know there is no such thing but we can still hope that there is something that is going to deal with it But as a recent visit with a patient who is a gastroenterologist said, "I would have thought you were a crank if you would have promised me a quick solution"
The Quick Fix
So even though we yearn for the quick fix we know it realistically doesn't exist We know this intuitively So if this is the case then what are we actually looking for?
I believe any sufferer of the IC bladder pain syndrome is waiting for "a trusted way" that will get them to where they want to go...that is, feeling better And they feel that the "system" has not been that trusted way anymore
But as we have already said there is no quick fix but there is a fix....maybe not a fix but nonetheless a fix It's just that this trusted way, this path requires TIME When time is put into the equation, impatience can become a problem While we rationalize with the mind, it still wants whatever that's supposed to happen, to happen quickly
Three Solutions for the Impatient Mind
Journal Probably from a practical point of view the best way to show the impatient mind that progress is being achieved is to review our journal entries and see for ourselves that things are better Even the mind's memory is distrustful of itself but if we can see for ourselves in black and white what has been going on in the past and compare it to what's happening now the impatient mind will shut up
Realize the ups and downs of healing As an energy field the mindbody expresses itself as waves and so do the diseases that it experiences So any disease has its good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, flare periods and no flare periods of the disease process Name any disease process and it will express itself in waves The point here is "no discouragement" because of a particularly "bad period" Keep up the good pursuit toward our goal of ever improving health Real healing takes time...the correction of an energetic imbalance requires repetitive perseverative effort
Get reliable help in achieving our goal If we are in a forest and hear the sound of waves crashing on the beach we know we are near But we have no path to follow We search but no one has gone there We can forge our own path and cut our way through the forest, guided by the sounds of the ocean But we can search for a path that other people have taken and use their experience to show us the way This is the value of Ayurvedic consultations They give us a path to follow rather than trying to make our own path
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