Choosing a Healthy Habit and Making It Happen
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit
Aristotle
We all create habits that can make us sick or make us healthier It's clear as in any other chronic disease that poor choices have been made since we are all responsible for the diseases we create for ourselves
But what makes a healthy choice and what makes an unhealthy choice? That my dear reader is the essence of a health system based on a philosophy(energy science discipline) versus a system created by one that doesn't have one(matter science) If our choices are based on a system that bases its choices on a philosophical relationship with Nature Herself not only are the recommendations always rock solid and something that we can count on but there is a weaving of the recommendations such that all support one another in the pursuit of better health
So we create better habits when we are aligned with Nature Herself These will always be the correct choices And when we practice them they become stronger habits that over time will create physiologic movement toward better health Habits are lifestyle behavior patterns that either create health or move us away from it So let's assume that we have identified a habit like kevala(sesame oil swish aka oil pulling) that is worthwhile promoting in our lives
Formation of a Habit Like Kevala
For some swishing oil around the oral cavity is repulsive so there is resistance But we understand that doing it from an Ayurvedic point of view is energetically valuable since it pulls Kapha from the oral cavity So we decide to try it First of all we have to have the unrefined sesame oil near the sink because, and this is important, we want to put this habit in our morning routine We also have to find a receptacle for getting rid of it after we have done the swish Does it go down the sink?(not a good idea) Does it get flushed down the toilet?(acceptable as long as we're not on a septic system...if septic we should have a container under the sink to spit it into once done)
So as we can see there are some steps for us to do in order to set the stage for doing kevala to begin with Now we're ready to do kevala....but there's this resistance about the whole thing That's OK Let's just give the mindbody a chance to settle in and do it BUT every morning we're at the sink thinking about doing kevala Not yet, not today, maybe tomorrow But every morning there's a dialogue going on about whether to do kevala or not
We've got everything set up and then one day, the mindbody is ready to DO it We take a swig of oil run it around the mouth and spit it out WE DID IT Voila! the first step of a habit has been created We actually did it Now it's all down hill We repeat it over and over again and a habit has been born Notice what has happened There was a particular cue or situation that occurred to remind us that the kevala needed to be done...the morning routine But before we even did it we needed to have all the proper materials and thinking about beginning the habit that needed to be done We needed to prepare the mindbody
Refining Habits: The Journey to Better Health
The best thing about habits going forward is that there are made to be modified Oh maybe we'll do the kevala before brushing the teeth After trying it that way for a while we might try it after brushing the teeth Or maybe we'll try doing some gum massage with the fingers while we swish the oil around the mouth Hey this oil isn't as bad as we thought! Maybe we'll try using the tongue to massage the oil around on the gums while we have it in the mouth
We get the idea that once an identifiable healthy habit is formed that playing with it in a creative way can not only enhance it but also begin engaging ourselves in the health benefits of it We begin to notice that when we spit the oil into the toilet bowl that we notice that the longer we hold the oil orally we see that it's broken down into smaller and finer droplets until it's a fine well digested solution This my friend is a remarkable energy science observation that shows that the agni is strong and well supported in the oral cavity
This happens with all positive health promoting habits that we cultivate in our lives All we have to do is remain observant
And lastly if we want to replace a bad habit with a new healthy one....we follow the same kevala steps
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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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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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SIBO(Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): 5 Energy Science Solutions
The energy science model of dis-ease states that except for trauma every dis-ease or imbalance begins in the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) Since this is the case we can appreciate how important foods become in the evolution of dis-ease and conversely how important foods become in the management and healing of dis-ease Correct food selection appropriate for own's energy constitutional makeup along with incompatible food combinations become foundational in any dis-ease healing
Short term acute dis-ease processes can be readily corrected over brief(months) periods of time Obviously the longer the imbalance the more likely that other energy science techniques will be necessary to deal with advanced dis-ease conditions This term dis-ease emphasizes that the energy patterns are not at ease or that an imbalance of qualities is physiologically present
The matter science(allopathy, naturopathy) often look at infection as a cause of many diseases Every once in a while you'll see matter science research studies attempt to unsuccessfully or questionably successfully incriminate bacteria in the cause of specific disease Because bacteria are treatable by antibiotics which is a big tool in the matter science toolbox an attempt to incriminate bacteria can be a scientific "home run" These attempts have happened unsuccessfully with GERD(gastroesophageal reflux), rheumatoid arthritis, and obviously IBS
Symptoms of Poor Digestion
Many experience poor digestion but discount it as just the way they are.....but in reality these symptoms should not be ignored Any unphysiologic food craving is unhealthy and shoud be best avoided Overeating is abnormal(eating more than 2 handfuls at any one meal) as well as cravings for ice Post meal digestive problems such as heaviness, bloating, loss of energy after eating, need for naps after eating, diarrhea, and constipation are major warning signs that things are not healthy in the GIT
Matter Science and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth(SIBO)
Now the matter science is getting closer to what the energy science has been saying for 1000's of years....the GIT is responsible for all dis-ease But since the matter science model of disease can only hold space for offending insults such as internal(autoimmune) and external(bacteria, parasites, fungus, and viruses) it becomes limited as to seeing the origins of dis-ease Presently the matter science has a new approach to disease seeking an understanding through the alteration in bowel flora
This alteration or better yet described as disruption of normal bowel flora has become known as SIBO where "bad" bacteria overgrow the "good" bacteria is probably not only the small bowel but large bowel as well There are past models that lead to grounding in this kind of disease origin such as leaky gut syndrome and the candidal(fungus) overgrowth theories that have their proof in patient improvement by flora manipulations
Now the current rage for bowel disorder from IBS to systemic disease is to manipulate the small bowel flora with antibiotics(killing off the "bad" bacteria) or better yet "fecal bowel flora" transplants which have seen benefits
Energy Science Understanding of SIBO in Agni Terms
As we have discussed at length in past blogs the bacterial flora of the GIT which is 10x the cellular mass of our own individual body's cell mass is part of a greater concept called agni Called metabolism in matter science terms, agni is not only more user friendly, but as we have talked about in the past, a highly functional and malleable term that is freely manipulative by energy science techniques As a matter of fact one of the main tenets of the energy science that separates it from the matter science is this concept of agni
As we have alluded to earlier, qualities(vibrational frequencies) become disrupted in the GIT and this subsequently leads to an alteration in agni This disruption leads to SIBO but at times gut mucosal changes as well making this look like IBS in some respects
Then if the matter and enegy science models are talking about the same thing then what's the big fuss? Just use the matter science techniques that we have discussed above
Energy Science Solutions for SIBO
There is a general tenet in healing disciplines that the closer your treatment touches the origin of the disease the greater success the healer will have So what's better, to treat SIBO or the cause of the SIBO? If the energy science model tells us that the cause of SIBO is an energy imbalance leading to the SIBO, the best solution is to deal with the imbalance This is not rocket science folks!
1 So what is foundational in healing the bowel? Well from what we said already choosing foods appropriate for you energy makeup and observing incompatible food combinations are support any further manipulation
2 Probiotic It makes complete sense to support the "good bacteria" in the gut so as to improve agni But it's often too much of a good thing at times with probiotic use Find a good probiotic(not necessarily the most expensive)but supplement for 2-3 weeks and then do a break and perhaps another couple of rounds Then done
3 Yogurt as a probiotic As we've discussed in the past homemade yogurt is a great food to use to support the bowel flora Kefir has the potential of carrying yeast along with the probiotic so it's not recommended from an energy science point of view
4 Avoid antibiotics if possible All that antibiotics do is further disrupt the already compromised bowel flora If you have to use antibiotics then you should definitely supplement with probiotic or yogurt for a period of time
5 Reduce ama As we have talked about in the past when agni suffers ama forms in the gut and begins to leave the GIT This unprocessed undigested debris which is the result of poor digestion is the basis of all chronic dis-ease
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Aloe vera and Inflammatory Disease
The use of aloe for sunburn is the herb's biggest notoriety If you think about this from an energy science point of view it becomes clear that aloe's main use is to reduce the hot quality physiologically The hot quality is present in all inflammatory conditions from diarrhea to arthritis to infection to cancer Because of this aloe vera has had a growing popularity as a herb for inflammatory conditions And certainly aloe is cheaper than targeted antiinflammatory pharmaceuticals even with insurance
The Inflammatory Condition
The matter science theory of inflammatory conditions involves complex biological micromanagement with many different entry points in the cascade After you've listened or read a discussion regarding this cascade you walk away bewildered Due to the confusion the public literally gets hoodwinked into believing that the hocuspokus of the pharmaceutical industry science is valid stuff But like every other business they are in it to turn a profit and therein lies a bias
The energy science approach to inflammation is simple but elegant It sees the Pitta imbalance as the crux of the problem since Pitta is the only energy pattern of the three that carries the hot quality Due to the accumulation of the hot quality inflammation occurs Herbs such as aloe as we experience with sunburns reduce the hot quality
The liver and spleen are the functional sites of Pitta and the liver can become overheated with resultant slight elevations in liver function usually not considered as important by the clinician evaluating the labs unless they're markedly elevated Hence aloe as a herb becomes an excellent liver healing agent and liver protectant
Since the skin is another functional site of Pitta it comes as no surprise that aloe can be used in all forms of skin rashes, such as hives, urticaria, exzema, and psoriasis As the skin problems become more complex of course increased and different energy science interventions are necessary
Aloe has an impact on the health of the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) and can help cool down excessive heat that occurs with Pitta imbalance The affect aloe has on the mind can reduce impatience and irritability Of course all these energy science manipulations don't occur within a couple of days but rather in terms of months or years of use
Forms of Aloe
There are currently many forms of aloe vera gel or juice on the market and many have citric acid as a preservative If used in large volumes aloe may aggravate the Pitta condition due to the citric acid and not the aloe itself The most common side effect of too much is diarrhea
The advantage of the freeze dried aloe is that it doesn't have the need for preservatives such as citric acid which is appealing Some time ago Desert Harvest perhaps to avoid the citric acid preservative began using a freeze dried product in capsule form....and maybe the primary reason when they thought of it was to make it more user friendly for patients(everybody is used to taking a pill)
Since that time other companies have followed even having powders available Aloe Farms has such a pill form freeze dried product In general I have some misgivings about these products because the freeze drying process which may affect the the bioavailablity of the aloe vera herbal nutrient....the rasayana energetic effect of aloe may also be lost since it's not just about the molecules but also the subtle energetics of the plant which has significant medicinal value
The value of aloe vera gel is that when used as an anupan(serves as a taxicab to take the herbs to targeted tissues) with herbal formulas it can theoretically produce a slow release to the GIT mucosa Agni is invariably adversely affected so this technique assures that there will be good absorption and assimilation of the herbal mixture The amount of aloe when used as a anupan is small so citric acid is not a problem For use as an antiinflammatory using large volumes(6T three times per day) the citric acid could become an issue But the remedy is simple....cut back on the dosing
The two brands that don't have citric acid are George's and Aloe Farms Aloe Farms uses Vit C(ascorbic acid) and potassium sorbate as preservatives These two gels available don't have caraggeneen which has concerned the IC community due to studies suggesting the seaweed is carcinogenic in animal studies using large doses(I tend to discount such "unbiologic studies") Both available through Amazon or the ic-solutions.tv Amazon store under Health and Personal Care George's goes for 7.42 for 32oz and cheaper in the gallon size per oz
George's gel by their labeling has no preservatives making it a favorable product in the market
Remember that just like pharmaceuticals aloe can become a bandaid so we can go on eating foods that aggravate and produce IC However when used appropriately to help with symptoms as we make dietary changes makes the most sense
Aloe should not be thought of as THE tool in the tool chest to heal IC but rather as one of the many Remember that energetically it's not just one thing that causes IC but a multiplicity of things(foods, incompatible foods, season, lifestyle choices producing too much of the hot quality etc) and so it's just not one thing that deals with healing IC but a multimodality approach with herbs like aloe vera being one small part
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