Mind and body are intimately spliced We cannot separate them physically What happens in the mind happens in the body and vice versa But we do separate them because the symptoms of mental stress seem different than physical stress But anyone with a painful bladder flare will tell that it’s intimately associated with mental duress Chronic disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystistis, vulvodynia IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, and GERD) no matter how minor the symptoms takes a toll on mental function
Also as our population ages, declining mental faculties can take first place on the list of one’s health concerns. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of senile dementia affect some 25 percent of all people over 80.1 Research, though, is revealing Ayurvedic approaches in helping to support the natural strength of the mental faculties.
Medhya is an Ayurvedic concept that implies intellect, or wisdom. Medhya remedies promote mental development and act as mental rejuvenatives, and they also suggest a mind that is mighty, vigorous and pure.
There are many ways to bring medhya into play in the mind. Anything that promotes the sattva guna can help in our quest, and the yamas and niyamas of Patanjali are aimed at this. Ayurvedic herbal medicines also play a role. They engender and summon intelligence, memory and mental perception. They make the mind worthy of sacrifice to higher consciousness.
Bitter taste is made from air and space energies, and these forces predominate in the mind. Bitter foods and herbs open the mind, increase sensitivity, awareness and mental functioning. Since bitter herbs are cooling and calming they combat mental dullness, allowing us to reach our full potential, becoming radiant and elevated.
Mind supplements include a large array of herbs and foods recommended to rebuild body tissues and restore lubricating juices.2 Five of these mind-nourishing herbs stand out as pillars of an Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Ashwagandha, sometimes named “winter cherry” or “Withania”, is a top mental rejuvenator. Ayurvedic herbalists use the herb to reestablish long-term sleep rhythms. Ayurvedic herbalism also uses ashwagandha for general strength for support in times of occasional fatigue and exhaustion; and to support healthy memory and a strong nervous system.
This tonic herb, a relative of tomatoes and potatoes, is not stimulating, but rather relaxing. That allows one to use this in larger amounts on a regular basis without concern for overstimulation, so this root is a superb remedy for nervous system support.
Study after study continues to confirm the benefits of this herb on stress tolerance, performance and endurance.3,4,5 One study indicated that the herb supported the brain in times of stress.6 In another, ashwagandha was shown to support strength and physical working capacity.7,8
Ayurveda considers it a “grounding” herb, one that nourishes and regulates metabolic processes and supports a naturally balanced mood. Ashwagandha also supports memory, helping those such as students for whom learning and testing are priorities.9 One recent study looked at sleep and stress. Ashwagandha was effective in supporting naturally healthy sleep patterns.10
As well as being a slow-acting tonic herb, ashwagandha is a superb herb for balancing elevated vata, a common problem as age advances and in chronic disease. It takes about a week to work up to an appropriate amount, and about another week for the herb to reach maximum effectiveness. Since ashwagandha is a slow-acting herb, you may take your daily serving at any time during the day.
A typical serving of ashwagandha is about a gram per day, taken over long periods, up to many years, as a rejuvenator, but, since ashwaganda is very safe, larger quantities are often used short term. In India, Withania is given with pungent, heating herbs (ginger, pepper, etc.) to ensure that it gets sufficiently digested.
Conscious communication is the essence of yoga. From your chakras to your nervous system to the words you speak, your very molecules are vibrating with the energy of your being, and transmitting that energy to all the other parts of our bodies and to people in your life.
Yoga exercises, pranayama and lifestyle practices all support conscious communication, and there is one special herb that yoga reveres above all others for clarifying and expanding that special spiritual voice we all share.
Calamus root is a major herb for the mind. Though it is not clearly allowed for internal consumption in the US, it can be used topically, either as a dry powder, paste, or as part of an herbalized oil. As a historical and international perspective, ancient yogis and seers used this herb, and it was said to stimulate the power of self-expression and to enhance intelligence.
This herb was often combined with gotu kola, which is cooling and mild. The complementary energetics made the combination suitable for a wide variety of people. To support attention and focus, it was combined with gotu kola, shankpushpi and licorice. Over the long term, calamus warms the body and pacifies the mind. Vacha was also combined with triphala as a general rejuvenative that bestows intelligence, longevity and good memory.11
Vacha has a long and very special history in Ayurveda.
Thinking about thinking? Feel like you’re about to max out your personal hard drive? Gotu kola is an herb with a long history of brain support. Gotu kola, also called Mandukaparni, is a mainstay of herbal medicine in Ayurveda. Widely considered a superior herb for the nervous system, gotu kola has a host of benefits.12
Gotu kola supports healthy memory, concentration and intelligence, as well as the voice, physical strength and the complexion.
Gotu kola is a jungle creeper that grows in hot moist climates. After all, it’s the food of the elephants, and we all know about their memories! Fresh, it’s a delicious salad vegetable. The juice of the fresh leaves is available at some juice bars.
More recently, a study out of Korea shows that components in gotu kola show potential for supporting healthy memory, a very promising direction.13
Since gotu kola is basically a mild salad vegetable, the serving can be a larger quantity. Try one to four teaspoonfuls of fresh juice every morning. Many people use a modest amount of 1 gram per day in capsules or tablets for daily rejuvenation. Try a cup of gotu kola tea with honey.
Water hyssop (Bacopa monniera), also refered to as brahmi in certain parts of India, is a steadfast mainstay of traditional Ayurvedic medicine. An indication of the respect for this herb is the name: “brahmi” means “god-like”. It’s used in Asia for support of the nervous system, mental energy, and healthy memory—it’s a powerful brain food. Use it to increase comprehension, concentration and recollection. Because it traditionally supports a person’s natural ability to solve problems effectively, it is often found in Ayurvedic formulas to cope with stress.
With nearly 300 studies in the scientific literature, it has built up a solid base of scientific support for its many functions.
In support of the traditional use for promoting healthy memory, Australian researchers recently gave Bacopa to seventy-six adults, aged 40 to 65 years, in a double-blind randomized, placebo control study in which various memory functions were tested. Numerous memory tests before and after taking the brahmi showed that the herb significantly supported the learning process.14
Brahmi has traditionally been used for children as well. Indian schoolchildren take it at home. In 1987, Indian scientists gave brahmi to 40 schoolchildren aged 6-8 in a single-blind trial. The study showed support of learning, memory and perception. The dose was 1 gram per day for three months, of the dried plant extracted into a syrup form, and no side effects were recorded.15
The traditional serving can be up to two grams of the whole herb, in capsules, tablets or tea, twice a day with warm water.
When we need mental peace and sleep, we may call upon shankhapushi to help restore clear quality of the mind and relaxation. Its flowers resemble the shankha or conch shell, thus the name. It usually is a foot tall plant, with dome of flowers, in open fields in North India.
This herb is an outstanding rejuvenative tonic for the mind and nerve tissue. The plant is said to have profound mystical properties, with an affinity for the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras.
The herb is especially effective for mental peace and tranquility. Often taken with or prepared in ghee, it promotes serenity without dulling the mind. As it is balancing, its effect can be both uplifting and calming. Students traditionally use it to support a calm mind during exams. For support of focus and attention, it combines well with brahmi and licorice. For support of healthy sleep patterns, use shankpushpi at bedtime (traditional use allows for up to 6 grams). According to the Astanga Hridyam, ghee, cooked three times with shankpushpi juice and milk, makes even the dullest mind sharp.
Ayurveda places special attention on the health of the mind, and fundamentally teaches that, ultimately, all physical imbalances start in the mind, so a healthy mind is at the forefront of Ayurvedic practices. These five herbs form the core of a superb mental rejuvenative chest. They are waiting to help us stay calm, centered, intelligent and exalted, so now might just be the time to give this collection of herbs a try.
Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa is the lead instructor of the nutritional therapy and professional herbalist training programs at Portland Community College, where students pursue their credential online or in classrooms study, and on the founding faculty of Bastyr University Department of Ayurvedic Sciences. Khalsa is the President of the American Herbalists Guild and on the board of directors of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. He is the first person to be board certified in herbalism and Ayurveda.
http://www.pcc.edu/climb/health/
http://www.kpkhalsa.com/
http://www.internationalintegrative.com/
In a recent article the Washington Post(https://wapo.st/30TtyIT) reviewed the reasons people are reluctant to take the COVID vaccine. One significantly addressed reason in the article is that many antivaxxers are followers of alternative health social media platforms that sow misinformation about the current vaccines which mislead their loyal followers who have grown to trust the messaging as reliable and trustworthy. In the past while heavy metal adjuvants such as mercury and aluminum may have had significant effects in...
read moreLast time we talked about a long list of Ayurvedic lifestyles that will enhance immunity Here’s a shortlist of trace metals that are important in immunity which is the only way we individually will improve our immunologic response when infected by a viral load such as COVID 19 Nasal breathing Many of us breathe through the mouth The simple transition to nasal breathing can enhance nitric oxide which improves immunologic response among other things Neti use can improve immunity directly and indirectly Because it clears ...
read moreIt’s now surprising that as we have been discussing the microbiome and how healing it can lead to healing ICPBS that treating the microbiome can be instrumental in protecting yourself and loved ones during this COVID 19 pandemic now going on in the US Here’s a video link for more information: And below is the supporting information referred to in the video THE RELEVANCE OF AGNI AND GUT MICROBIOME TO HEALTH From an Ayurvedic perspective our digestive strength and function (agni) is central to the disease process....
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreBacteria populate the gut in increasing numbers from the upper smalll bowel to the densest population residing in the colon which are “good and bad guys” From previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, anf vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. From an AY...
read moreIn the world of Ayurveda the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia) arises from a disturbance in the ability to digest food. This impaired digestion leads to toxic buildup that then leads to toxins collecting in areas outside the bowel. One of the areas where this buildup occurs in the pelvic nerves surrounding the large bowel. This leads to all the bladder symptoms that occur in IC such as urinary frequency, urgency, and episodic burning on urination but also the...
read moreThrough the Ayurvedic lens of seeing disease in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, IBS, fibromyalgia) the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) is inflammed with acidic blood pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 Alkalinizing the GIT using diet is fundamental to healing the disease This also helps heal over time the microbiome that is universally affected in these conditions A unique combination of alkalinizing greens and protein can make a complete meal or as side dish for other foods on the table(can...
read moreIt’s not just one thing that you do energetically to heal a problem but a multiplicity of things because it takes a multipliticity of things to cause IC in the first place Neti is one on those things Kapha is the energy pattern of stability in the physiology It is composed of the qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, soft, hard, static, and sticky Think of the mucous from the common cold and you will have a good understanding of the qualities of Kapha which supports bodily structures When Kapha becomes...
read moreWishing you all the best of health in your journey to eliminate the energy imbalance of interstitial cystitis from your life And the best of holiday cheer in sharing this season with your loved...
read moreFrom an energy science view symptoms that occur in the physical body such as those with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, IBS, and GERD) are expressions of physiologic imbalance in the energy body In the energy science world of healing it’s all about balance or harmony in the mindbody When there is no disease or imbalance then there is no expression of qualities Everything is good
These imbalances are expressed in a qualitative way, that is, too much hot or too much mobility or movement in the physiology This imbalance of quality leads to expression either in the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) or peripherally In IC the imbalances of these qualities lead to the symptoms of burning in the bladder vulvar area, prostate in men, and frequency of urination, most notable during flares
But the qualities expressed in the body as disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome are merely the tip of the iceberg because they represent the imbalance that is occurring throughout the mindbody…..but oh by the way they are showing up in the pelvic area specifically the pelvic plexus of nerves
So when you undergo techniques and methods to reduce the imbalance of these qualities you are actually reducing the imbalance of the qualities throughout the mindbody not just in the pelvis
A bandaid is something that covers up a problem There are many drugs that serve as bandaids Yes they take away symptoms but don’t get to the heart of the matter which is being caused from the qualities being expressed At least that’s the way the energy science views the disease process
It’s important to understand that methods such as nutritional formats and supplements such as aloe are energy science bandaids They like pharmaceuticals make life reasonably comfortable because they prevent further loading up of the qualities that brought about the disease in the first place
So when you engage in specific techniques in energy science healing you are participating in real healing….not a bandaid but healing that gets to the heart of the problem This is because qualities are REMOVED rather than simply preventing more qualities to accumulate
These specific techniques fall into 5 broad categories The first we heard about last week called oleation, either internal or external as in shirodhara The second is basti which we have discussed in previous blogs Thirdly nasal therapies remove excess qualities particularly in the central nervous system but is a great technique to help remove the excess qualities of Kapha the energy pattern of stability The fourth technique is removing excess mucous from the stomach and lastly removing excess Pitta by blood donation(women do this on a monthly basis when menstruating)
So real healing requires very specific energy science techniques to clear the IC bladder pain syndrome Or there’s always bandaids
To health as a Skill DB
In a recent article the Washington Post(https://wapo.st/30TtyIT) reviewed the reasons people are reluctant to take the COVID vaccine. One significantly addressed reason in the article is that many antivaxxers are followers of alternative health social media platforms that sow misinformation about the current vaccines which mislead their loyal followers who have grown to trust the messaging as reliable and trustworthy. In the past while heavy metal adjuvants such as mercury and aluminum may have had significant effects in...
read moreLast time we talked about a long list of Ayurvedic lifestyles that will enhance immunity Here’s a shortlist of trace metals that are important in immunity which is the only way we individually will improve our immunologic response when infected by a viral load such as COVID 19 Nasal breathing Many of us breathe through the mouth The simple transition to nasal breathing can enhance nitric oxide which improves immunologic response among other things Neti use can improve immunity directly and indirectly Because it clears ...
read moreIt’s now surprising that as we have been discussing the microbiome and how healing it can lead to healing ICPBS that treating the microbiome can be instrumental in protecting yourself and loved ones during this COVID 19 pandemic now going on in the US Here’s a video link for more information: And below is the supporting information referred to in the video THE RELEVANCE OF AGNI AND GUT MICROBIOME TO HEALTH From an Ayurvedic perspective our digestive strength and function (agni) is central to the disease process....
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreBacteria populate the gut in increasing numbers from the upper smalll bowel to the densest population residing in the colon which are “good and bad guys” From previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, anf vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. From an AY...
read moreIn the world of Ayurveda the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia) arises from a disturbance in the ability to digest food. This impaired digestion leads to toxic buildup that then leads to toxins collecting in areas outside the bowel. One of the areas where this buildup occurs in the pelvic nerves surrounding the large bowel. This leads to all the bladder symptoms that occur in IC such as urinary frequency, urgency, and episodic burning on urination but also the...
read moreThrough the Ayurvedic lens of seeing disease in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, IBS, fibromyalgia) the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) is inflammed with acidic blood pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 Alkalinizing the GIT using diet is fundamental to healing the disease This also helps heal over time the microbiome that is universally affected in these conditions A unique combination of alkalinizing greens and protein can make a complete meal or as side dish for other foods on the table(can...
read moreIt’s not just one thing that you do energetically to heal a problem but a multiplicity of things because it takes a multipliticity of things to cause IC in the first place Neti is one on those things Kapha is the energy pattern of stability in the physiology It is composed of the qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, soft, hard, static, and sticky Think of the mucous from the common cold and you will have a good understanding of the qualities of Kapha which supports bodily structures When Kapha becomes...
read moreWishing you all the best of health in your journey to eliminate the energy imbalance of interstitial cystitis from your life And the best of holiday cheer in sharing this season with your loved...
read more
When I first heard about how shirodhara can induce maximum relaxation when I was just a budding Ayurvedic student, I skeptically thought to myself, “Who wouldn’t find warm oil slowly being poured onto their forehead relaxing?” But what seemed to me at the time as simply a luxurious pampering has amazed me both in its broadness in application as well as the beauty behind the mechanism of how it works.
What It Is
For those who are not so familiar with shirodhara, it is a therapy wherein a liquid substance, usually a warm oil or herbal oil, is slowly and steadily poured onto the third eye and then allowed to percolate through the hair. The name itself comes from the Sanskrit words shiro (head) and dhara (flow).
Shirodhara falls into the category of snehana of the shodhana (purifying) therapies in Ayurveda. While snehana means the application of oil, sneha means love and compassion. As such, oil has been glorified in the scriptures for providing the qualities of nurturing and nourishment.1 When the skin absorbs the oil, it also takes in these qualities into the body.
One of the great beauties of shirodhara lies in the fact that the forehead and scalp, of all parts of the body, has greater absorption than any other part of the body, aside from the pubic areas. 2 The skin absorbs many substances, including oil, as well as any herb that may be infused into the oil, such that they directly pass through the epidermis and dermis, into the blood stream and tissues that lie beneath. Since the brain and the main sense organs are in such close proximity to the scalp, shirodhara has its greatest and most direct effects there. For this reason, great care is taken to ensure that the highest type and quality of herbs and oils are used in the therapy.
Why It Works
Marmani. A marma is a “vital energy point on the surface of the body.” 3 The oil first pours directly onto ajna marma. Synonymous with the third eye, this marma is central to all brain function, hormone glands, and above all, consciousness. The oil then spreads over a number of other marmani. By doing so, we are powering these energetic hot spots with vata and pitta calming qualities through the qualities of the oil and therapy, itself. The qualities access the mano vaha srotas, the channel for the mind and senses, directly through the marmas, sending the same soothing and nurturing qualities throughout the channels. 3
Sensory Nerves. Not only is the head and face one of the greatest areas of absorption, but they also have the greatest number of sensory nerves. In fact, over half of the sensory cortex in the brain is dedicated to just the face and the head! There are a variety of sensory nerves- some that sense position, some sense temperature and pain, some sense pressure. The interesting connection here is that the pain and temperature nerves, specifically, course through the brain not only to the cortex, but also to the limbic portions of the brain, which are centers for processing emotions and managing conflict, motivation, learning, and attention, amongst other important functions. 4 Thus, by stimulating these nerves with anti-vata and anti-pitta qualities, we are bringing those same qualities to the limbic centers of the brain, unfolding a sense of ease and peace to an often disturbed part of our consciousness.
Further, through the somato-autonomic reflex, simply the soft and spreading touch of shirodhara and the subtle vibration throughout the cranial cavity sends an inhibitory signal to the sympathetic nervous system. 5 This results in a decrease in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and induces an overall sense of calmness and rest. 6,7,8 It is no wonder, then, that many clients fall into deep sleep during shirodhara.
A small randomized-controlled study done in Japan studied the above mechanisms amongst others, and proposed the mechanism shown in Figure 1. As demonstrated, numerous pathways have been found, all centering around calming the sympathetic nervous system and balancing the neurochemistry in the brain. 6 In plain Ayurvedic language, the therapy calms vata and pitta rooted in mano and majja vaha srotas, thereby affecting the same doshic imbalances in other srotamsi.
Figure 1. Kazuo U, et al. Psychoneuroimmunologic Effects of Ayurvedic Oil-Dripping Treatment. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Shirodhara is the king of Ayurvedic therapies for the mind and is a wonderful complement to herbs for achieving optimum mental balance and peace. Watch for our next newsletter with herbal recommendations for supporting the mind.
As an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Vrinda Devani, M.D. has a passion for women’s health and empowering women towards vibrant health and living. She is a believer in unfolding the human body’s potential through a blend of complementary and allopathic medicine. She has studied Ayurveda extensively under Dr. Vasant Lad and furthered her studies in Ayurvedic women’s health with travels in Nepal with Dr. Sarita Shrestha. In addition to being a physician and certified Ayurvedic practitioner, she also has a love for yoga and is a certified AyurYoga teacher.
In a recent article the Washington Post(https://wapo.st/30TtyIT) reviewed the reasons people are reluctant to take the COVID vaccine. One significantly addressed reason in the article is that many antivaxxers are followers of alternative health social media platforms that sow misinformation about the current vaccines which mislead their loyal followers who have grown to trust the messaging as reliable and trustworthy. In the past while heavy metal adjuvants such as mercury and aluminum may have had significant effects in...
read moreLast time we talked about a long list of Ayurvedic lifestyles that will enhance immunity Here’s a shortlist of trace metals that are important in immunity which is the only way we individually will improve our immunologic response when infected by a viral load such as COVID 19 Nasal breathing Many of us breathe through the mouth The simple transition to nasal breathing can enhance nitric oxide which improves immunologic response among other things Neti use can improve immunity directly and indirectly Because it clears ...
read moreIt’s now surprising that as we have been discussing the microbiome and how healing it can lead to healing ICPBS that treating the microbiome can be instrumental in protecting yourself and loved ones during this COVID 19 pandemic now going on in the US Here’s a video link for more information: And below is the supporting information referred to in the video THE RELEVANCE OF AGNI AND GUT MICROBIOME TO HEALTH From an Ayurvedic perspective our digestive strength and function (agni) is central to the disease process....
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreBacteria populate the gut in increasing numbers from the upper smalll bowel to the densest population residing in the colon which are “good and bad guys” From previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, anf vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. From an AY...
read moreIn the world of Ayurveda the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia) arises from a disturbance in the ability to digest food. This impaired digestion leads to toxic buildup that then leads to toxins collecting in areas outside the bowel. One of the areas where this buildup occurs in the pelvic nerves surrounding the large bowel. This leads to all the bladder symptoms that occur in IC such as urinary frequency, urgency, and episodic burning on urination but also the...
read moreThrough the Ayurvedic lens of seeing disease in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, IBS, fibromyalgia) the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) is inflammed with acidic blood pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 Alkalinizing the GIT using diet is fundamental to healing the disease This also helps heal over time the microbiome that is universally affected in these conditions A unique combination of alkalinizing greens and protein can make a complete meal or as side dish for other foods on the table(can...
read moreIt’s not just one thing that you do energetically to heal a problem but a multiplicity of things because it takes a multipliticity of things to cause IC in the first place Neti is one on those things Kapha is the energy pattern of stability in the physiology It is composed of the qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, soft, hard, static, and sticky Think of the mucous from the common cold and you will have a good understanding of the qualities of Kapha which supports bodily structures When Kapha becomes...
read moreWishing you all the best of health in your journey to eliminate the energy imbalance of interstitial cystitis from your life And the best of holiday cheer in sharing this season with your loved...
read more
When you subscribe to our site, you’re sent a short list of questions in order to get to know your interests One of the questions specifically asks about whether the topic of sour and pungent tastes interests you 50% of you have responded that you wanted to hear more…so here goes
In the energy science foods play a predominant role in creating imbalances which in turn produce disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, and fibromyalgia) Of course not all foods will produce imbalance but HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH FOODS are good and those that are not good for our disease state
The energy science provides the answer in the form of food lists that have foods that you should avoid(NO column), those that can be taken in moderation, and those that can be used all the time See foodsheal.com or icdiet.com to review these formats
There are 6 energetic tastes that are recognized: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent Each of these are composed of specific qualities but for our IC bladder pain syndrome interest the ones that stand out are sour, salty, and pungent These are important because all 3 have the hot quality among others that will produce the imbalance that leads to the disease complex of the IC bladder pain syndrome
This is why the tastes of the sour and pungent can be provoking for those with IC The sour taste is the acid taste in Nature(bitter being the alkaline taste) and the pungent taste is the sensation we have when we eat a hot chili or horseradish
The importance of the lists is that they have built within them what predominance of tastes are within the food being evaluated, that is what qualities are present that may be provoking There are two benefits here 1 tells you which foods are imbalancing to you seeing your body as an energy field and 2 tells you which foods will produce disease for you And included within this construct is whether the foods are heating, that is have the hot quality or the sour and pungent tastes
1 As discussed we would want to follow the nutritional formats described at foodsheal.com(should take the questionnaire to determine your energy pattern constitution) or simply follow the icdiet format at icdiet.com The advantage of the former is that it gives you a broader choice range But both get the job done by cutting out the excessive hot quality
2 Avoid incompatible food combinations that are outlined at either of the above sites One of the fundamental principles of this list is the avoidance of fresh fruits in combination with other foods This is because the fruit with other foods can interfere with digestion and create as a byproduct toxic load called ama Ama is part of most disease processes and has to be cleared as a part of the IC syndrome
3 The use of a churan will give you all 6 tastes necessary for having healthy digestion but not giving the excess hot quality that will produce imbalance
Until next week To Health as a Skill Love DrBill
In a recent article the Washington Post(https://wapo.st/30TtyIT) reviewed the reasons people are reluctant to take the COVID vaccine. One significantly addressed reason in the article is that many antivaxxers are followers of alternative health social media platforms that sow misinformation about the current vaccines which mislead their loyal followers who have grown to trust the messaging as reliable and trustworthy. In the past while heavy metal adjuvants such as mercury and aluminum may have had significant effects in...
read moreLast time we talked about a long list of Ayurvedic lifestyles that will enhance immunity Here’s a shortlist of trace metals that are important in immunity which is the only way we individually will improve our immunologic response when infected by a viral load such as COVID 19 Nasal breathing Many of us breathe through the mouth The simple transition to nasal breathing can enhance nitric oxide which improves immunologic response among other things Neti use can improve immunity directly and indirectly Because it clears ...
read moreIt’s now surprising that as we have been discussing the microbiome and how healing it can lead to healing ICPBS that treating the microbiome can be instrumental in protecting yourself and loved ones during this COVID 19 pandemic now going on in the US Here’s a video link for more information: And below is the supporting information referred to in the video THE RELEVANCE OF AGNI AND GUT MICROBIOME TO HEALTH From an Ayurvedic perspective our digestive strength and function (agni) is central to the disease process....
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreFrom previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. In the last blog we discussed the role of the common probiotics in today’s marketplace by way of the handout offered to subscribers on request These common probiotics are...
read moreBacteria populate the gut in increasing numbers from the upper smalll bowel to the densest population residing in the colon which are “good and bad guys” From previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, anf vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves. From an AY...
read moreIn the world of Ayurveda the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia) arises from a disturbance in the ability to digest food. This impaired digestion leads to toxic buildup that then leads to toxins collecting in areas outside the bowel. One of the areas where this buildup occurs in the pelvic nerves surrounding the large bowel. This leads to all the bladder symptoms that occur in IC such as urinary frequency, urgency, and episodic burning on urination but also the...
read moreThrough the Ayurvedic lens of seeing disease in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, IBS, fibromyalgia) the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) is inflammed with acidic blood pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 Alkalinizing the GIT using diet is fundamental to healing the disease This also helps heal over time the microbiome that is universally affected in these conditions A unique combination of alkalinizing greens and protein can make a complete meal or as side dish for other foods on the table(can...
read moreIt’s not just one thing that you do energetically to heal a problem but a multiplicity of things because it takes a multipliticity of things to cause IC in the first place Neti is one on those things Kapha is the energy pattern of stability in the physiology It is composed of the qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, soft, hard, static, and sticky Think of the mucous from the common cold and you will have a good understanding of the qualities of Kapha which supports bodily structures When Kapha becomes...
read moreWishing you all the best of health in your journey to eliminate the energy imbalance of interstitial cystitis from your life And the best of holiday cheer in sharing this season with your loved...
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