Castor oil is cooling when applied externally on the skin and we have talked about this in previous posts as a means of helping deal with the hot quality in the pelvis causing the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromylagia) When using castor with lower abdominal marmas over time this can prove effective in dealing with pelvic pain
Of course in energy science work it’s not just one thing that you do that helps with this chronic pain complex but a multiplicity of therapies(nutrition, day in balance, herbs etc) and the use of marma along with medicinal oils can be very helpful Castor oil packs have been used for a long time in the symptomatic relief of the lower abdominal pain of IC It makes sense that castor’s effect would be through the route of marma since the lower abdominal application of the castor would have little to do with its apparent internal effects of pain relief
Therapeutic Application of Tea Tree and CastorThe energy science often uses an essential oil along with an oil like castor which can deliver positive effects to the involved tissues through the influence of marma points Adding 12 drops of pure tea tree oil to 30cc(1 oz) of castor oil(use a 1 oz dropper bottle)makes a 2% solution that can have therapeutic effects when delivered through marma point of the lower abdomen
The arrows in the accompanying diagram point to specific marmas in the infraumbilical(below the belly button) area A point midway between the belly button and pubic bone is not as well as a point just above the pubic bone There are also paired points, two midway on a line between the belly button and the pelvic bone lateral to the pubic bone, and two lateral to the midline pubic bone point
The application of the above oil is done to these specific points, massaging two points at a time in any combination The points can be massaged for 3minutes and then move onto another pair of points All totaled should take about 9 minutes You can also use castor on the rest of the abdomen Many find application of heat helpful after the castor application
As has been discussed the medicinal effects of castor are well known in the energy science It’s unique in that it has a physiologic cooling effect when applied externally but when taken internally it has the opposite heating effect producing increased gut motility Of course this cooling effect can be beneficial for those who have IC which is caused by the hot and mobile qualities
The tea tree is indiginous to Australia and the leaves are rich in melaleuca oil which is composed of several different aromatic terpenes that cause a very penetrating effect of the oil into deep tissues This then makes it an excellent choice for marma therapy where the penetrating effect of the oil can bring about therapeutic effects to the the organs that are represented on the skin Tea tree oil is balancing to all 3 energy patterns and therefore can be very helpful in IC particularly the hot quality of Pitta
The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs in the energy science model of nutrition and health The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs A spice is considered a herb but not all herbs are spices The spice cabinet in your kitchen if viewed energetically can become a medicine cabinet full of energetic remedies But just as medicines can help us, some can cause us dis-ease so we need to learn how to use spices properly for our benefit This is particularly true in the case of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial...
read moreNo one with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) would argue that having this chronic problem is not stressful As a matter of fact chronic disease of any form is stressful and wears on the physiology This is because living with energetic imbalances that don’t allow for the free flow of physiologic energy produces dis-ease When one is in a state of ease everything including bodily functions becomes easy and unconscious Urinary and rectal elimination is...
read moreLast week I discussed why pranayama or breathing exercises can be helpful as part of the energy science solution in helping with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) As I have explained in the past, in contrast to the matter science approach to disease, the energy science approach uses a multimodality approach in treating the qualitative imbalances of mobile, dull, rough, hot, and often times heavy Pranayama as I explained last week burns ama which is a result of...
read moreThe energy science of Ayurveda views disease as imbalance of qualities or vibrational frequencies that produce symptoms in specific tissues As in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)the qualities from the gut lodge into the pelvic nerves These then begin producing the symptoms of burning(hot quality) in the urethra and vagina, urinary frequency(mobile quality) and urgency, and aching(dull and rough qualities) suprapubic pain This often occurs in an episodic way,...
read moreAs part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) fibromyalgia seems to be the most unrelated of all the diseases listed in the syndrome That is, if you understand that from an energy science point of view all disease begins in the GI tract and so IBS and GERD make a whole lot of sense But fibromyalgia(FM) which at one time was labeled as muscular arthritis seems remotely associated with the pelvic diseases that make up the syndrome However as I have written about in the past the...
read moreAs most people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) inflammation is the triggering issue around the syndrome And a number of foods energetically will cause inflammation such as tomatoes, hot chiles, salsa, carbonated drinks, and coffee But what about animal foods? Where do they fall in the mix and why? Animal Foods To Avoid With IC and Why In the energy science world of nutrition a fatty acid is inflammatory End of story So any fatty meat such as...
read moreAs you know the nutrition is foundational in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) In the energy science tradition of Ayurveda nutrition is specific to one’s energy constitutional makeup(PV, PK, and VK) This is because certain foods produce energetic imbalances which over time will affect the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome So a person with the syndrome who is PK would not choose foods that a PV would choose 9 Veggies That Can Be...
read moreOur local Yoga news is doing an Ayurvedic series and this is an introduction to the discipline that I did for the News Lifestyle behaviors can produce genetic harmony in our lives or interfere with that harmony and the Ayurvedic discipline outlines for us guidelines that can produce genetic harmony Another word for genetic harmony is balance but one of the keys to helping shapeshift our DNA is through healthy lifestyle patterns of behavior These kinds of behavior patterns are foundational to the management of any disease including the IC...
read moreIn essence if we want to direct our lives, we should take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but what we do consistently. Anonymous author As I have written in a past blog the origin of IC from an energy science point of view is the pelvic quality expression of hot, sharp, mobile, light, dry, rough, spreading, soft, cloudy, and sticky In the past I have simplified these qualities to hot and mobile because they are so dominantly expressed but you...
read moreChronic prostatitis is a nonbacterial inflammatory condition of the male pelvis and can be considered male intersitial cystitis It is a member of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because the cause is the same as its other members Imbalances of qualities in the bowel caused by primarily the foods consumed and lifestyle choices that provoke the energy physiology lead to dissemination to the peripheral tissues Like IC itself invariably the pelvic nerves become...
read more
Biorhythms of sleep have become well recognized patterns and research has shown that they are intimately associated with health and the prevention of disease For example, people who work night shifts are more prone to health problems But the energy science of Ayurveda also gives us a biorhythm of eating which if adhered to improves the entire digestive process and supports this important concept of agni that I’ve talked about in the past
The biorhythm research has continually confirmed what the energy science gives us as guidance about eating and rest As a matter of fact most contemporary research continues to support what the energy science talks about regarding prevention of progressive disease If we are plagued with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) then we certainly don’t want to get worse
Since we are part of Nature(if you don’t agree then show me how you remove yourself from Her) we will naturally flow with Her rhythms I just alluded to the health problems that occur when we don’t go to bed with Nature and wake up with Her So it is with our eating biorhythm cycle
If we don’t take our biggest meal when Nature is doing so then our digestion suffers Our agni or digestive power is maximal at between 11a and 2p Even if our agni is suboptimal the point is that it will be as good as it can be around the noon hour This is completely compatible with what our ancestors knew before we became accustomed to “city life” where schedules for a healthy lifestyle are abandoned
The energy science says that eating our biggest meal of the day at noon time is optimal for health and encourages the best chance for us to digest well What does “biggest” mean? What you can comfortably hold in your 2 hands represents two-thirds of your stomach capacity and Ayurveda’s guideline is that more than 2 handfuls overdistends the stomach capacity and risks the chance to form ama or undigested unprocessed food If ama is formed due to poor agni it can escape from the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) and will spread to peripheral tissues where it can interfere with function
Eating out can be a major problem There are several reasons for this Things are done by restaurants that aren’t conducive for good digestion The most common infraction is ice water Many of the entrees served in public eateries are popular but are not necessarily good for us(chocolate coffee ice cream) Many restaurants nowadays are serving incompatible food combinations The most common one is fruit with other foods
But probably the most damaging of all with our “restaurant fetish” is that it typically interferes with healthy biorhythms of eating Typically eating our biggest meal of the day turns out to be done at 7p or beyond which in the end is ama promoting Not only is it our biggest meal of the day but it’s associated with all of the other ama promoting eating habits foisted on us because we’re at the restaurant
So what can we d0?
1 Make a pact with yourself to eat your biggest meal at noon
2 Minimize eating out…will be healthier and enhance the pocketbook If you have to eat out try to stay away from night time meals, avoid ice, eat according to your energy constitutional makeup(see foodsheal.com), and avoid incompatible food combinations
3 Breakfast is optional If hungry try fruit It should NOT be the biggest meal of the day
The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs in the energy science model of nutrition and health The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs A spice is considered a herb but not all herbs are spices The spice cabinet in your kitchen if viewed energetically can become a medicine cabinet full of energetic remedies But just as medicines can help us, some can cause us dis-ease so we need to learn how to use spices properly for our benefit This is particularly true in the case of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial...
read moreNo one with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) would argue that having this chronic problem is not stressful As a matter of fact chronic disease of any form is stressful and wears on the physiology This is because living with energetic imbalances that don’t allow for the free flow of physiologic energy produces dis-ease When one is in a state of ease everything including bodily functions becomes easy and unconscious Urinary and rectal elimination is...
read moreLast week I discussed why pranayama or breathing exercises can be helpful as part of the energy science solution in helping with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) As I have explained in the past, in contrast to the matter science approach to disease, the energy science approach uses a multimodality approach in treating the qualitative imbalances of mobile, dull, rough, hot, and often times heavy Pranayama as I explained last week burns ama which is a result of...
read moreThe energy science of Ayurveda views disease as imbalance of qualities or vibrational frequencies that produce symptoms in specific tissues As in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)the qualities from the gut lodge into the pelvic nerves These then begin producing the symptoms of burning(hot quality) in the urethra and vagina, urinary frequency(mobile quality) and urgency, and aching(dull and rough qualities) suprapubic pain This often occurs in an episodic way,...
read moreAs part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) fibromyalgia seems to be the most unrelated of all the diseases listed in the syndrome That is, if you understand that from an energy science point of view all disease begins in the GI tract and so IBS and GERD make a whole lot of sense But fibromyalgia(FM) which at one time was labeled as muscular arthritis seems remotely associated with the pelvic diseases that make up the syndrome However as I have written about in the past the...
read moreAs most people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) inflammation is the triggering issue around the syndrome And a number of foods energetically will cause inflammation such as tomatoes, hot chiles, salsa, carbonated drinks, and coffee But what about animal foods? Where do they fall in the mix and why? Animal Foods To Avoid With IC and Why In the energy science world of nutrition a fatty acid is inflammatory End of story So any fatty meat such as...
read moreAs you know the nutrition is foundational in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) In the energy science tradition of Ayurveda nutrition is specific to one’s energy constitutional makeup(PV, PK, and VK) This is because certain foods produce energetic imbalances which over time will affect the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome So a person with the syndrome who is PK would not choose foods that a PV would choose 9 Veggies That Can Be...
read moreOur local Yoga news is doing an Ayurvedic series and this is an introduction to the discipline that I did for the News Lifestyle behaviors can produce genetic harmony in our lives or interfere with that harmony and the Ayurvedic discipline outlines for us guidelines that can produce genetic harmony Another word for genetic harmony is balance but one of the keys to helping shapeshift our DNA is through healthy lifestyle patterns of behavior These kinds of behavior patterns are foundational to the management of any disease including the IC...
read moreIn essence if we want to direct our lives, we should take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but what we do consistently. Anonymous author As I have written in a past blog the origin of IC from an energy science point of view is the pelvic quality expression of hot, sharp, mobile, light, dry, rough, spreading, soft, cloudy, and sticky In the past I have simplified these qualities to hot and mobile because they are so dominantly expressed but you...
read moreChronic prostatitis is a nonbacterial inflammatory condition of the male pelvis and can be considered male intersitial cystitis It is a member of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because the cause is the same as its other members Imbalances of qualities in the bowel caused by primarily the foods consumed and lifestyle choices that provoke the energy physiology lead to dissemination to the peripheral tissues Like IC itself invariably the pelvic nerves become...
read more
Numbing out is the inability to focus on the sensory experience that is bothering us Sure we notice the pain and inconveniences that “crimp our plans” but that’s as far as it goes
Whether we know it or not numbing out is in our life experience The reason I can say this with such assurance is that we all do it to some degree or another Now one might claim that it’s impossible to numb out when pain is in your face day after day and that is indeed true so we should define numbing out
Reasons for numb out are several 1 Often we don’t have the tools to be more present with whatever is bothering us 2 At times it’s inconvenient to bother or it’s the same thing day after day so why bother 3 It’s quick and easy to numb out 4 We get rewarded because of the pleasure that comes from numbing out
When we become students of whatever is bothering us we bring our full attention and in so doing intention to the issue at hand This is the crux of not numbing out By stopping the numbing out process we bring intention into the equation and voila healing occurs
Common examples of numbing out
Addictions of any kind…food(aka “comfort foods”), alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs
Not managing stress and anxiety so we numb out unconsciously
Stress and anxiety produce flightiness which is a form or “run away” which is the heart of the numbing out process
Circles not together…essentially denial of the problems at hand
Social media….great way to avoid dealing with a problem
1 Journal
Be aware of insights that come about the issue and solutions that will help the problem
2 Meditate on the problem at hand
Be willing to sit, think, and talk about the issue that you want to correct
Spiritual practices sometimes help uncover the unconscious processes such as fear,stress, and anxiety
Grounded minds produce composure to sit
3 The above process allows us to observe something that comes up and not be overwhelmed by it
The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs in the energy science model of nutrition and health The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs A spice is considered a herb but not all herbs are spices The spice cabinet in your kitchen if viewed energetically can become a medicine cabinet full of energetic remedies But just as medicines can help us, some can cause us dis-ease so we need to learn how to use spices properly for our benefit This is particularly true in the case of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial...
read moreNo one with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) would argue that having this chronic problem is not stressful As a matter of fact chronic disease of any form is stressful and wears on the physiology This is because living with energetic imbalances that don’t allow for the free flow of physiologic energy produces dis-ease When one is in a state of ease everything including bodily functions becomes easy and unconscious Urinary and rectal elimination is...
read moreLast week I discussed why pranayama or breathing exercises can be helpful as part of the energy science solution in helping with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) As I have explained in the past, in contrast to the matter science approach to disease, the energy science approach uses a multimodality approach in treating the qualitative imbalances of mobile, dull, rough, hot, and often times heavy Pranayama as I explained last week burns ama which is a result of...
read moreThe energy science of Ayurveda views disease as imbalance of qualities or vibrational frequencies that produce symptoms in specific tissues As in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)the qualities from the gut lodge into the pelvic nerves These then begin producing the symptoms of burning(hot quality) in the urethra and vagina, urinary frequency(mobile quality) and urgency, and aching(dull and rough qualities) suprapubic pain This often occurs in an episodic way,...
read moreAs part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) fibromyalgia seems to be the most unrelated of all the diseases listed in the syndrome That is, if you understand that from an energy science point of view all disease begins in the GI tract and so IBS and GERD make a whole lot of sense But fibromyalgia(FM) which at one time was labeled as muscular arthritis seems remotely associated with the pelvic diseases that make up the syndrome However as I have written about in the past the...
read moreAs most people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) inflammation is the triggering issue around the syndrome And a number of foods energetically will cause inflammation such as tomatoes, hot chiles, salsa, carbonated drinks, and coffee But what about animal foods? Where do they fall in the mix and why? Animal Foods To Avoid With IC and Why In the energy science world of nutrition a fatty acid is inflammatory End of story So any fatty meat such as...
read moreAs you know the nutrition is foundational in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) In the energy science tradition of Ayurveda nutrition is specific to one’s energy constitutional makeup(PV, PK, and VK) This is because certain foods produce energetic imbalances which over time will affect the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome So a person with the syndrome who is PK would not choose foods that a PV would choose 9 Veggies That Can Be...
read moreOur local Yoga news is doing an Ayurvedic series and this is an introduction to the discipline that I did for the News Lifestyle behaviors can produce genetic harmony in our lives or interfere with that harmony and the Ayurvedic discipline outlines for us guidelines that can produce genetic harmony Another word for genetic harmony is balance but one of the keys to helping shapeshift our DNA is through healthy lifestyle patterns of behavior These kinds of behavior patterns are foundational to the management of any disease including the IC...
read moreIn essence if we want to direct our lives, we should take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but what we do consistently. Anonymous author As I have written in a past blog the origin of IC from an energy science point of view is the pelvic quality expression of hot, sharp, mobile, light, dry, rough, spreading, soft, cloudy, and sticky In the past I have simplified these qualities to hot and mobile because they are so dominantly expressed but you...
read moreChronic prostatitis is a nonbacterial inflammatory condition of the male pelvis and can be considered male intersitial cystitis It is a member of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because the cause is the same as its other members Imbalances of qualities in the bowel caused by primarily the foods consumed and lifestyle choices that provoke the energy physiology lead to dissemination to the peripheral tissues Like IC itself invariably the pelvic nerves become...
read moreThere is nothing like a good night’s rest and when that doesn’t happen it’s a source of deteriorating health 
Chronic disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystititis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) is often associated with sleep problems More than 25% of the US population have sleep disturbances and 10% have chronic insomnia Although not specifically studied with the IC syndrome, sleep disturbances occur in people with diabetes, depression, obesity, and those with cardiovascular disease
It’s not too difficult to understand why sleep disturbances would occur with the syndrome of IC Getting up at night in order to pacify a bladder that wants to urinate is understandable but other situations such as rectal spasm or vaginal symptoms may also play a role in altering the sleep pattern And of course the ramifications of chronic fatigue from sleep deprivation begin to show when continued problems of interrupted sleep occur
So what can be done to help with sleep disturbance that can support pharmaceuticals that are prescribed?
There are many effective sleep pharmaceuticals to use but they have the potential of sleep hangover so there are some natural sleep aids that can help As ususal with energy science work it’s not just one thing that is done to help with a problem so use many of the below suggestions to help solve the problem
Moderate exercise This helps tax the body so that it wants rest at night Nothing like making the body tired Pranayama can be a very effective way to exercise if you have difficulty with walking, running, or accessing equipment
Eating cherries or drinking cherry juice This fruit is a natural source of melatonin and tryptophan so drinking cherry juice around bedtime makes complete sense Researchers at LSU used tart cherry juice and found an increase of 90minutes of sleep a night
Prepare for sleep If a sleep disturbance occurs one of the first things is to look at what time you’re going to bed and what time you’re waking up In general bedtime should be around 10pm and wakeup around 7am So if your planned bedtime is 10p begin getting ready for bed around 930p taking a warm calming tub bath and massaging the head and feet with bhringaraj oil that relaxes the nervous system Listening to calming music, pleasant reading and NOT watching TV are good things to do for sleep preparation
Interrupted sleep Some recommend that if you’re having trouble waking up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep that you stay up if you have given yourself an adequate chance to go back to sleep When you stay up and begin the day at 3am and do that for three days in a row, it will be impossible for you not to have a good night’s sleep This is especially if you avoid naps during the day The body requires sleep and deprivation for 17 days leads to death so forcing sleep deprivation can become a solution
Nutmeg and milk The herb nutmeg is an excellent sleep aid and coupled with a soothing cup of warm milk will help take the edge off and allow you to go into slumberlands Other herbal therapies There are a number of herbs that can act synergistically with one another in order to cumulatively give you better rest along with dealing with other physiologic problems Rasayans as well as tagar, valerian, brahmi, shankapushpi, jatamamsi, and vidari are excellent at calming the nervous system and promoting better sleep
Chamomile tea This herb also has a sedating effect to the nervous system and can be effective as a sleep aid
So Hum There may be times when you want to fall asleep but the mind is just too agitated for one reason or another to let the body relax Instead of counting sheep or listening to the mind’s endless chatter you can use So Hum breathing So Hum is a mantra that mimics the sound of the breath So on inhalation and Hum on exhalation When you use this mantra you can calm the nervous system and bring on sleep much more easily
The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs in the energy science model of nutrition and health The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs A spice is considered a herb but not all herbs are spices The spice cabinet in your kitchen if viewed energetically can become a medicine cabinet full of energetic remedies But just as medicines can help us, some can cause us dis-ease so we need to learn how to use spices properly for our benefit This is particularly true in the case of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial...
read moreNo one with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) would argue that having this chronic problem is not stressful As a matter of fact chronic disease of any form is stressful and wears on the physiology This is because living with energetic imbalances that don’t allow for the free flow of physiologic energy produces dis-ease When one is in a state of ease everything including bodily functions becomes easy and unconscious Urinary and rectal elimination is...
read moreLast week I discussed why pranayama or breathing exercises can be helpful as part of the energy science solution in helping with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) As I have explained in the past, in contrast to the matter science approach to disease, the energy science approach uses a multimodality approach in treating the qualitative imbalances of mobile, dull, rough, hot, and often times heavy Pranayama as I explained last week burns ama which is a result of...
read moreThe energy science of Ayurveda views disease as imbalance of qualities or vibrational frequencies that produce symptoms in specific tissues As in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)the qualities from the gut lodge into the pelvic nerves These then begin producing the symptoms of burning(hot quality) in the urethra and vagina, urinary frequency(mobile quality) and urgency, and aching(dull and rough qualities) suprapubic pain This often occurs in an episodic way,...
read moreAs part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) fibromyalgia seems to be the most unrelated of all the diseases listed in the syndrome That is, if you understand that from an energy science point of view all disease begins in the GI tract and so IBS and GERD make a whole lot of sense But fibromyalgia(FM) which at one time was labeled as muscular arthritis seems remotely associated with the pelvic diseases that make up the syndrome However as I have written about in the past the...
read moreAs most people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) inflammation is the triggering issue around the syndrome And a number of foods energetically will cause inflammation such as tomatoes, hot chiles, salsa, carbonated drinks, and coffee But what about animal foods? Where do they fall in the mix and why? Animal Foods To Avoid With IC and Why In the energy science world of nutrition a fatty acid is inflammatory End of story So any fatty meat such as...
read moreAs you know the nutrition is foundational in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) In the energy science tradition of Ayurveda nutrition is specific to one’s energy constitutional makeup(PV, PK, and VK) This is because certain foods produce energetic imbalances which over time will affect the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome So a person with the syndrome who is PK would not choose foods that a PV would choose 9 Veggies That Can Be...
read moreOur local Yoga news is doing an Ayurvedic series and this is an introduction to the discipline that I did for the News Lifestyle behaviors can produce genetic harmony in our lives or interfere with that harmony and the Ayurvedic discipline outlines for us guidelines that can produce genetic harmony Another word for genetic harmony is balance but one of the keys to helping shapeshift our DNA is through healthy lifestyle patterns of behavior These kinds of behavior patterns are foundational to the management of any disease including the IC...
read moreIn essence if we want to direct our lives, we should take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but what we do consistently. Anonymous author As I have written in a past blog the origin of IC from an energy science point of view is the pelvic quality expression of hot, sharp, mobile, light, dry, rough, spreading, soft, cloudy, and sticky In the past I have simplified these qualities to hot and mobile because they are so dominantly expressed but you...
read moreChronic prostatitis is a nonbacterial inflammatory condition of the male pelvis and can be considered male intersitial cystitis It is a member of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because the cause is the same as its other members Imbalances of qualities in the bowel caused by primarily the foods consumed and lifestyle choices that provoke the energy physiology lead to dissemination to the peripheral tissues Like IC itself invariably the pelvic nerves become...
read more
In energy science work it’s not just one thing that you do to heal the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) but a multiplicity of “things” And most of the time(80%) it’s lifestyle behavior patterns not herbs and supplements that are the “things” that will make a difference This particularly plays out in digestive issues where attention to details pays big dividends
This approach to disease brings clarity both emotionally and mentally so that better decision making is done as you move along in the process So let’s take a look at some important choices that the energy science recommends to improve digestion
1 Biggest meal of the day at noon The digestive system is most ready for the experience between 11a and 2p Conversely at the same time at night between 11p and 2a one should be in bed or there is a great chance that you’ll be “raiding the fridge” particularly if Pitta is high and the digestion is too hot
2 No snacking Snacking confuses the GI tract So eating the main meals at predetermined times every 4 hours is very important If you snack you will never know true hunger Due to its simple sugars that can be digested quickly fruit makes a perfect snack food
3 Only eat if real hunger exists The way to tell if there is true hunger is to drink some water and see if you’re still hungry If your hunger goes away then it’s false hunger However the best way to lock into true hunger is to eat at specific times of the day, eat the biggest meal of the day at noon, and don’t snack
4 Ice is not nice Ice cools the GI tract down and agni The enzyme systems work best at 98.6F and so when ice is used during meals it affects your digestion and creates ama which is undigested, unprocessed food Ama is root of all disease so you can see that simply avoiding is a major step to improving your digestion
5 Pay attention to what you’re doing and chew food thoroughly There is good experimental evidence to show that when you pay attention to the eating process you digest better There are estimates as to how many “chews” should be used for each mouthful of food and I think that a reasonable number is 20 This guideline is also useful for food prepartation paying attention to the food being prepared
6 Take your time eating Setting down your fork and chewing food, appreciating the taste, textures, and the completeness of chewing the food
7 Make a deal to sit while eating Sitting in your car while driving doesn’t count here! Even if it’s a grape make a deal with yourself that you’ll sit down to eat the grape to create a habit
8 Don’t eat when emotional upset Having mental and emotional turbulence prevents you from being able to focus on the process of eating at hand
9 Moderate exercise Make a point to do some form of exercise every day This improves agni and supports quality digestion and prevents ama formation The use of pranayama and in particular kapalabhati(KB) is an excellent way to improve agni and get exercise It may not seem like much but doing 5 minutes of KB is like running a half a mile
10 Use churans with meals At foodsheal.com under nutritional tools there is a listing of churans which are collections of spices that can be used during cooking or sprinkling on food before eating In the energy science each meal should have all 6 tastes Churans can be instrumental in providing these tastes in order to help improve digestion
The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs in the energy science model of nutrition and health The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs A spice is considered a herb but not all herbs are spices The spice cabinet in your kitchen if viewed energetically can become a medicine cabinet full of energetic remedies But just as medicines can help us, some can cause us dis-ease so we need to learn how to use spices properly for our benefit This is particularly true in the case of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial...
read moreNo one with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) would argue that having this chronic problem is not stressful As a matter of fact chronic disease of any form is stressful and wears on the physiology This is because living with energetic imbalances that don’t allow for the free flow of physiologic energy produces dis-ease When one is in a state of ease everything including bodily functions becomes easy and unconscious Urinary and rectal elimination is...
read moreLast week I discussed why pranayama or breathing exercises can be helpful as part of the energy science solution in helping with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) As I have explained in the past, in contrast to the matter science approach to disease, the energy science approach uses a multimodality approach in treating the qualitative imbalances of mobile, dull, rough, hot, and often times heavy Pranayama as I explained last week burns ama which is a result of...
read moreThe energy science of Ayurveda views disease as imbalance of qualities or vibrational frequencies that produce symptoms in specific tissues As in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)the qualities from the gut lodge into the pelvic nerves These then begin producing the symptoms of burning(hot quality) in the urethra and vagina, urinary frequency(mobile quality) and urgency, and aching(dull and rough qualities) suprapubic pain This often occurs in an episodic way,...
read moreAs part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) fibromyalgia seems to be the most unrelated of all the diseases listed in the syndrome That is, if you understand that from an energy science point of view all disease begins in the GI tract and so IBS and GERD make a whole lot of sense But fibromyalgia(FM) which at one time was labeled as muscular arthritis seems remotely associated with the pelvic diseases that make up the syndrome However as I have written about in the past the...
read moreAs most people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) inflammation is the triggering issue around the syndrome And a number of foods energetically will cause inflammation such as tomatoes, hot chiles, salsa, carbonated drinks, and coffee But what about animal foods? Where do they fall in the mix and why? Animal Foods To Avoid With IC and Why In the energy science world of nutrition a fatty acid is inflammatory End of story So any fatty meat such as...
read moreAs you know the nutrition is foundational in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) In the energy science tradition of Ayurveda nutrition is specific to one’s energy constitutional makeup(PV, PK, and VK) This is because certain foods produce energetic imbalances which over time will affect the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome So a person with the syndrome who is PK would not choose foods that a PV would choose 9 Veggies That Can Be...
read moreOur local Yoga news is doing an Ayurvedic series and this is an introduction to the discipline that I did for the News Lifestyle behaviors can produce genetic harmony in our lives or interfere with that harmony and the Ayurvedic discipline outlines for us guidelines that can produce genetic harmony Another word for genetic harmony is balance but one of the keys to helping shapeshift our DNA is through healthy lifestyle patterns of behavior These kinds of behavior patterns are foundational to the management of any disease including the IC...
read moreIn essence if we want to direct our lives, we should take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but what we do consistently. Anonymous author As I have written in a past blog the origin of IC from an energy science point of view is the pelvic quality expression of hot, sharp, mobile, light, dry, rough, spreading, soft, cloudy, and sticky In the past I have simplified these qualities to hot and mobile because they are so dominantly expressed but you...
read moreChronic prostatitis is a nonbacterial inflammatory condition of the male pelvis and can be considered male intersitial cystitis It is a member of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because the cause is the same as its other members Imbalances of qualities in the bowel caused by primarily the foods consumed and lifestyle choices that provoke the energy physiology lead to dissemination to the peripheral tissues Like IC itself invariably the pelvic nerves become...
read moreAll 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 the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromylagia) the foundational work of nutrition according to the energy science guidelines is very very important
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:
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
The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs in the energy science model of nutrition and health The use of spices is the same as the use of herbs A spice is considered a herb but not all herbs are spices The spice cabinet in your kitchen if viewed energetically can become a medicine cabinet full of energetic remedies But just as medicines can help us, some can cause us dis-ease so we need to learn how to use spices properly for our benefit This is particularly true in the case of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial...
read moreNo one with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) would argue that having this chronic problem is not stressful As a matter of fact chronic disease of any form is stressful and wears on the physiology This is because living with energetic imbalances that don’t allow for the free flow of physiologic energy produces dis-ease When one is in a state of ease everything including bodily functions becomes easy and unconscious Urinary and rectal elimination is...
read moreLast week I discussed why pranayama or breathing exercises can be helpful as part of the energy science solution in helping with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) As I have explained in the past, in contrast to the matter science approach to disease, the energy science approach uses a multimodality approach in treating the qualitative imbalances of mobile, dull, rough, hot, and often times heavy Pranayama as I explained last week burns ama which is a result of...
read moreThe energy science of Ayurveda views disease as imbalance of qualities or vibrational frequencies that produce symptoms in specific tissues As in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)the qualities from the gut lodge into the pelvic nerves These then begin producing the symptoms of burning(hot quality) in the urethra and vagina, urinary frequency(mobile quality) and urgency, and aching(dull and rough qualities) suprapubic pain This often occurs in an episodic way,...
read moreAs part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) fibromyalgia seems to be the most unrelated of all the diseases listed in the syndrome That is, if you understand that from an energy science point of view all disease begins in the GI tract and so IBS and GERD make a whole lot of sense But fibromyalgia(FM) which at one time was labeled as muscular arthritis seems remotely associated with the pelvic diseases that make up the syndrome However as I have written about in the past the...
read moreAs most people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) inflammation is the triggering issue around the syndrome And a number of foods energetically will cause inflammation such as tomatoes, hot chiles, salsa, carbonated drinks, and coffee But what about animal foods? Where do they fall in the mix and why? Animal Foods To Avoid With IC and Why In the energy science world of nutrition a fatty acid is inflammatory End of story So any fatty meat such as...
read moreAs you know the nutrition is foundational in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) In the energy science tradition of Ayurveda nutrition is specific to one’s energy constitutional makeup(PV, PK, and VK) This is because certain foods produce energetic imbalances which over time will affect the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome So a person with the syndrome who is PK would not choose foods that a PV would choose 9 Veggies That Can Be...
read moreOur local Yoga news is doing an Ayurvedic series and this is an introduction to the discipline that I did for the News Lifestyle behaviors can produce genetic harmony in our lives or interfere with that harmony and the Ayurvedic discipline outlines for us guidelines that can produce genetic harmony Another word for genetic harmony is balance but one of the keys to helping shapeshift our DNA is through healthy lifestyle patterns of behavior These kinds of behavior patterns are foundational to the management of any disease including the IC...
read moreIn essence if we want to direct our lives, we should take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives but what we do consistently. Anonymous author As I have written in a past blog the origin of IC from an energy science point of view is the pelvic quality expression of hot, sharp, mobile, light, dry, rough, spreading, soft, cloudy, and sticky In the past I have simplified these qualities to hot and mobile because they are so dominantly expressed but you...
read moreChronic prostatitis is a nonbacterial inflammatory condition of the male pelvis and can be considered male intersitial cystitis It is a member of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because the cause is the same as its other members Imbalances of qualities in the bowel caused by primarily the foods consumed and lifestyle choices that provoke the energy physiology lead to dissemination to the peripheral tissues Like IC itself invariably the pelvic nerves become...
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