All disease except for trauma begins in the GIT and so this underscores why nutritional habits are so important
But what nutritional habits? This is where the energy science can make its biggest contribution because the matter science molecular approach has no adequate model of disease So it becomes hit and miss recommendations So to heal 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
When we discuss the energetic management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia), a different world of healing is entered We leave behind our thinking about the body as a collection of molecules that can be manipulated by surgery and Pharma and begin seeing our mindbodies as energy fields This has great value since all disease begins in the energy field way before it becomes manifest in the world of molecules The energy science of Ayurveda not...
read moreWhat is matter is energy and what is energy is matter A molecule is both a particle(matter) and a wave(energy) And so biologically we simultaneously coexist as both a matter/molecular field and an energy field We know this from E=mc2 and the energy science of Ayurveda gives us a vocabulary by which we can talk about our mindbody as an energy field Quite simply whenever we become sick there is an improper flow of energy to parts of the body caused by qualities that interfere with the flow of energy through those tissues This is what...
read morePeople with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) are used to being probed and prodded “down there” since that’s where the pain and symptoms are Cystoscopies are done, cultures are done to rule out infection, medication installations are given with the use of a catheter, intermittent catheterization is used when patients cannot urinate, and at times under anesthesia when burning of bladder lesions is needed to be done All of...
read moreIt’s no secret that inflammation plays a major role in all disease and specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia) is a great example where inflammation is a central theme to the disease process This manifests itself as burning on urination or in the tissues since from an energy science point of view the hot quality causes the inflammatory process So it comes as no surprise that reducing acidity would be appropriate in management in all...
read moreAnything that we want to achieve in life….getting in better physical condition, losing weight, improving people’s lives by working in a business or profession, changing a lifestyle pattern of behavior like smoking etc….requires that some form of structure be put into place so that a pattern of behavior is done over a period of time Hopefully the change is the pattern of behavior causes the desired change So for example in the case of chronic disease, specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis,...
read moreFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your...
read moreAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the...
read moreIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis) Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC As a...
read moreFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists? This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model...
read moreIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) The first is palliative treatment The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch...
read moreIn the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) the qualites of hot and mobile amongst others become apparent It is the awareness of these qualities that tell us that something is “not right in river city” The sensation of hot leads to the burning sensation on urination or a feeling of burning in the vagina, prostate, or perineum This quality also leads to irritability, impatience, anger, resentments about the disease that’s being experienced
The mobile quality leads to frequency of urination, getting up at night, urgency to urinate, and anxiety of not knowing what’s going on or if the problem will ever go away
Have you had the experience of equanimity? That is, the sense that the body is peaceful and restful There are no abnormal sensations being reported to you Yes, I think we can all relate to that sense of peace in the mindbody
So when we have sensations in our body they are messengers from inner space from our energy field And rather than be stressed out about them we can welcome them for what they truly are…messages from the mindbody of dis-ease Nothing more and nothing less It’s the mindbody’s way of getting in touch with us and letting us know that something is not quite right
Hence sensations become our windows of observation of the inner workings of our energy field and so we should never ever discount sensations Rather than be fearful of the abnormal sensations we can simply observe and be grateful that the mindbody is letting us know that something has caused us to leave our state of equanimity
For example, if you go on a hike with your kids and you find that your back muscles are getting tired due to the steep grade of the hill your kids are running up, you take a rest because the mindbody is telling you that your muscles are not conditioned enough to keep on doing the task You give the muscles some rest and they’re ready to begin to do some more work This process is called conditioning and the messages from your mindbody are not to stop but to simply rest
What about emotions? Do they lack sensations? Of course not The sense of compassion, kindness, gratitude, and love all carry sensations of oily, liquid, soft, warm, light, subtle, and clear
So it’s important as much as we can to observe our energy field by noticing our sensations When we begin becoming a better observer we become a better healer How could this be?
The subtle noticing of how the sensation of hot or mobile is changing for the better gives us a clue that what we are doing is making a difference….that we’re on the right track toward dealing with our dis-ease whatever that might be
I’ve mentioned journaling in past blogs and this is where jotting down your observations can be very helpful because at times the changes in sensation can be so subtle that we may not be able to remember how that sensation was yesterday or last month or even last year Being able to go back over your notes can reassuringly help remind you of how much progress you have made
Healing is not made in a straightline It occurs in waves exactly how the energy field expresses itself So there are good days and bad days and by journaling we get to see this wave like effect in action
When we discuss the energetic management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia), a different world of healing is entered We leave behind our thinking about the body as a collection of molecules that can be manipulated by surgery and Pharma and begin seeing our mindbodies as energy fields This has great value since all disease begins in the energy field way before it becomes manifest in the world of molecules The energy science of Ayurveda not...
read moreWhat is matter is energy and what is energy is matter A molecule is both a particle(matter) and a wave(energy) And so biologically we simultaneously coexist as both a matter/molecular field and an energy field We know this from E=mc2 and the energy science of Ayurveda gives us a vocabulary by which we can talk about our mindbody as an energy field Quite simply whenever we become sick there is an improper flow of energy to parts of the body caused by qualities that interfere with the flow of energy through those tissues This is what...
read morePeople with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) are used to being probed and prodded “down there” since that’s where the pain and symptoms are Cystoscopies are done, cultures are done to rule out infection, medication installations are given with the use of a catheter, intermittent catheterization is used when patients cannot urinate, and at times under anesthesia when burning of bladder lesions is needed to be done All of...
read moreIt’s no secret that inflammation plays a major role in all disease and specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia) is a great example where inflammation is a central theme to the disease process This manifests itself as burning on urination or in the tissues since from an energy science point of view the hot quality causes the inflammatory process So it comes as no surprise that reducing acidity would be appropriate in management in all...
read moreAnything that we want to achieve in life….getting in better physical condition, losing weight, improving people’s lives by working in a business or profession, changing a lifestyle pattern of behavior like smoking etc….requires that some form of structure be put into place so that a pattern of behavior is done over a period of time Hopefully the change is the pattern of behavior causes the desired change So for example in the case of chronic disease, specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis,...
read moreFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your...
read moreAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the...
read moreIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis) Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC As a...
read moreFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists? This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model...
read moreIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) The first is palliative treatment The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch...
read moreImagination is necessary for healing the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because it’s part of the creative process The creative process is not just in the realm of the arts but is part of the fabric of all human endeavor including the one that is closest to home called healing Healing is in reality an art form and we are the artists Such a perspective requires the recognition that we are the creator
When we assume an artistic touch to our healing we have to become responsible since we are the architect of our project of healing It demands taking charge so that victimhood is not acceptable We no longer look to the white coat to heal us because we are on to something much more profound, our own creative project
These words may sound philosophical as if they have nothing to do with dealing with the daily trials and tribulations of the IC bladder pain syndrome but unless you hear them you will continue to suffer with your dis-ease So what are the characteristics of a creative or healing event? Although this verbal list can be longer it should be noted that the healing act transcends the verbal because it comes from the level of the soul
Imagination Simply believing that you can get through this turbulent time of your life and imagining your life as different is a significant first step Einstein said that more important than knowledge, imagination was at the heart of the creative or healing process
Innovation Doing new things and thinking outside the box, outside conventional knowledge, exercises creativity and healing
Faith that what you are doing will bring the outcome you’re looking for
Motivation Pain IS the great motivator that moves people to get off point zero and toward solution The internet and social communication is a great tool to utilize to help along the way, getting fresh ideas
Discovery is always part of the creative process because there are always new things uncovered going forward through the healing process
Never Give Up An attitude that fosters a “can do” mentality no matter how you’re feeling or doing in the process
Hard Work requires courage, fortitude, resilience, and daily affirmation
Of course there will be mental or psychological roadblocks I don’t have enough money, not enough time, or my job or family prevent me from doing the work necessary to bring about healing But that’s all a form of procrastination to get to work The mind will always support the status quo and prevent us from exercising our creativity
But for some of us there will come this Eureka moment when it all fits into place and you’re willing to tell the mind to shut up And you will get on with your creative act of healing
Miles Davis has been credited with this phrase “Don’t end nothin” It implies that creativity is never ending as is healing We can always be healthier than we were yesterday, that there are always things that we can work on to heal the imbalances that we have
When we discuss the energetic management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia), a different world of healing is entered We leave behind our thinking about the body as a collection of molecules that can be manipulated by surgery and Pharma and begin seeing our mindbodies as energy fields This has great value since all disease begins in the energy field way before it becomes manifest in the world of molecules The energy science of Ayurveda not...
read moreWhat is matter is energy and what is energy is matter A molecule is both a particle(matter) and a wave(energy) And so biologically we simultaneously coexist as both a matter/molecular field and an energy field We know this from E=mc2 and the energy science of Ayurveda gives us a vocabulary by which we can talk about our mindbody as an energy field Quite simply whenever we become sick there is an improper flow of energy to parts of the body caused by qualities that interfere with the flow of energy through those tissues This is what...
read morePeople with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) are used to being probed and prodded “down there” since that’s where the pain and symptoms are Cystoscopies are done, cultures are done to rule out infection, medication installations are given with the use of a catheter, intermittent catheterization is used when patients cannot urinate, and at times under anesthesia when burning of bladder lesions is needed to be done All of...
read moreIt’s no secret that inflammation plays a major role in all disease and specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia) is a great example where inflammation is a central theme to the disease process This manifests itself as burning on urination or in the tissues since from an energy science point of view the hot quality causes the inflammatory process So it comes as no surprise that reducing acidity would be appropriate in management in all...
read moreAnything that we want to achieve in life….getting in better physical condition, losing weight, improving people’s lives by working in a business or profession, changing a lifestyle pattern of behavior like smoking etc….requires that some form of structure be put into place so that a pattern of behavior is done over a period of time Hopefully the change is the pattern of behavior causes the desired change So for example in the case of chronic disease, specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis,...
read moreFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your...
read moreAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the...
read moreIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis) Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC As a...
read moreFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists? This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model...
read moreIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) The first is palliative treatment The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch...
read moreHealthy rest with chronic dis-ease is essential in healing because it takes more energy to heal The IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) is such a chronic dis-ease complex of labels that can often be associated with sleep disruption
Proper and sufficient sleep is essential for optimal health and without it, body and mind can suffer, particularly if chronic dis-ease is present But what actually is proper rest has a lot to do with who you are energetically
People with a Vata energy makeup require the most sleep(7-8h) and Kapha even though they like to sleep require the least(6-7h) Pitta’s requirements are somewhere in between
Since most dis-eases have a Vata component it’s not surprising that sleep disorders are common in particular with chronic dis-ease which are primarily vata disorders Vata sleep disturbances include restlessness and light, easily disturbed sleep that may be precipitated by worry and anxiety There may be tossing and turning and/or frequent kicking of the legs
Disturbed pitta can be a factor also, in the form of excess focus on problem solving/planning and attempting to sleep in hot weather Kapha sleep disturbance usually takes on the appearance of sleeping too much This can lead to slowing an already slow metabolism which then leads to weight gain
In the energy science of Ayurveda, healthy lifestyle is paramount Ayurveda provides lots of suggestions for healthy routines to begin each day, which supports optimal health and peace of mind And by creating healthy routines at bedtime, you are helping ensure a nice, peaceful night’s sleep Importantly going to bed at a proper time sets the stage for waking up early and beginning the day away from the energetically lethargic time of the morning(6-10a) Following are suggestions for creating healthy bedtime routines and optimizing sleep.
Consider that about one hour before actually going to bed is when to start winding down to prepare for sleep If your mind and body are active all the way until your head hits the pillow, it often will take awhile to calm down and settle into a state that will allow you to sleep Instead, begin this process about an hour before you climb into the sheets Avoid stimulating activities during this time, such as heated discussions, violent television shows, unsettling news, computer work, resolving financial issues, etc
Strive for not using an alarm clock so as to arise naturally and well rested
If you are having problems getting to sleep or staying asleep consider doing some soothing rituals
One of the most important ways to ensure a good night’s sleep is simply to maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends The best sleep schedule to maintain is to go to bed by 10:00 pm and rise at about 6:00 am This is the time that is most conducive to sleep If you are used to going to bed later and getting up later, this may be difficult at first But your body will soon adjust, and over time you will likely find this schedule allows for a more restful night’s sleep
Try not to have the head under pillows This habit reduces good oxygenation during sleep and inhibits good sound sleep
Regular mealtimes (and do not eat anything heavy after 7:00 pm); a cup of warm milk before bed, perhaps with a little fresh nutmeg grated into it
Gentle yoga practice
Aromatherapy, such as lavender and/or jatamansi
Outdoor work in the garden or spending time in nature can be beneficial, as this brings the influence of the earth element and its heavy, slow qualities into the bodymind
Vata Insomnia:
Vata insomnia tends to involve awakening during the early hours of the morning (2-4am) accompanied with fatigue and drowsiness. This is usually due to:
· Cold weather
· Excessive exercise
· Over consumption of raw foods, beans and light cold foods such as salads
· Excess sexual activity
· Excess travel and noise
· Constipation, bloating
· Rheumatism and arthritis
Pitta Insomnia:
Pitta insomnia involves difficulty falling asleep and staying up past midnight. It is commonly associated with:
· Hot weather
· Over consumption of sour, citrus and spicy foods
· Hyperacidity
· Caffeine and alcohol consumption
· Staying up too late
Kapha Insomnia:
Kapha insomnia is usually early morning arising which is related to;
· Overeating heavy foods such as meats, dairy, sweets
· Snoring
· Sleep apnea
· Restless leg syndrome
· Depression
· Breathlessness
When we discuss the energetic management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia), a different world of healing is entered We leave behind our thinking about the body as a collection of molecules that can be manipulated by surgery and Pharma and begin seeing our mindbodies as energy fields This has great value since all disease begins in the energy field way before it becomes manifest in the world of molecules The energy science of Ayurveda not...
read moreWhat is matter is energy and what is energy is matter A molecule is both a particle(matter) and a wave(energy) And so biologically we simultaneously coexist as both a matter/molecular field and an energy field We know this from E=mc2 and the energy science of Ayurveda gives us a vocabulary by which we can talk about our mindbody as an energy field Quite simply whenever we become sick there is an improper flow of energy to parts of the body caused by qualities that interfere with the flow of energy through those tissues This is what...
read morePeople with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) are used to being probed and prodded “down there” since that’s where the pain and symptoms are Cystoscopies are done, cultures are done to rule out infection, medication installations are given with the use of a catheter, intermittent catheterization is used when patients cannot urinate, and at times under anesthesia when burning of bladder lesions is needed to be done All of...
read moreIt’s no secret that inflammation plays a major role in all disease and specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia) is a great example where inflammation is a central theme to the disease process This manifests itself as burning on urination or in the tissues since from an energy science point of view the hot quality causes the inflammatory process So it comes as no surprise that reducing acidity would be appropriate in management in all...
read moreAnything that we want to achieve in life….getting in better physical condition, losing weight, improving people’s lives by working in a business or profession, changing a lifestyle pattern of behavior like smoking etc….requires that some form of structure be put into place so that a pattern of behavior is done over a period of time Hopefully the change is the pattern of behavior causes the desired change So for example in the case of chronic disease, specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis,...
read moreFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your...
read moreAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the...
read moreIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis) Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC As a...
read moreFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists? This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model...
read moreIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) The first is palliative treatment The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch...
read moreThe energy science model of dis-ease states that except for trauma every dis-ease or imbalance begins in the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) Since this is the case we can appreciate how important foods become in the evolution of dis-ease and conversely how important foods become in the management and healing of dis-ease Correct food selection appropriate for own energy constitutional makeup along with incompatible food combinations become foundational in any dis-ease healing
“I can’t believe that foods caused these symptoms”, was a common refrain that I heard from patients in my urologic practice when managing patients with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) Obviously the longer the imbalance the more likely that other energy science techniques will be necessary to deal with advanced IC dis-ease conditions This dis-ease emphasizes that the energy patterns are not at ease or that an imbalance of qualities is physiologically present
The matter science(allopathy, naturopathy) often look at infection as a cause of many diseases Every once in a while you’ll see matter science research studies attempt to unsuccessfully or questionably successfully incriminate bacteria in the cause of specific disease Because bacteria are treatable by antibiotics which is a big tool in the matter science toolbox an attempt to incriminate bacteria can be a scientific “home run” It has happened with GERD(gastroesophageal reflux), rheumatoid arthritis, and obviously interstitial cystitis
Many experience poor digestion but discount it as just the way they are…..but in reality these symptoms should not be ignored Any unphysiologic food craving is unhealthy and shoud be best avoided Overeating is abnormal(eating more than 2 handfuls at any one meal) as well as cravings for ice Post meal digestive problems such as heaviness, bloating, loss of energy after eating, need for naps after eating, diarrhea, and constipation are major warning signs that things are not healthy in the GIT
Now the matter science is getting closer to what the energy science has been saying for 1000’s of years….the GIT is responsible for all dis-ease But since the matter science model of disease can only hold space for offending insults internal(autoimmune) and external(bacteria, parasites, fungus, and viruses) it becomes limited as to seeing the origins of dis-ease Presently the matter science has a new approach to disease seeking an understanding through the alteration in bowel flora
This alteration or better yet described as disruption of normal small bowel flora has become known as SIBO where “bad” bacteria overgrow the “good” bacteria in probably not only the small bowel but large bowel as well There are past models that lead to grounding in this kind of disease origin such as leaky gut syndrome and the candidal(fungus) overgrowth theories that have their proof in patient improvement by flora manipulations
Now the current rage for bowel disorder from IBS to systemic disease is to manipulate the small bowel flora with antibiotics(killing off the “bad” bacteria) or better yet “fecal bowel flora” transplants which have seen benefits
As we have discussed at length in past blogs the bacterial flora of the GIT which is 10x the cellular mass of our own individual bodies is part of a greater concept called agni Called metabolism in matter science terms, agni is not only more user friendly, but as we have talked about in the past, a highly functional and malleable term that is freely manipulative by energy science techniques As a matter of fact one of the main tenets of the energy science that separates it from the matter science is this concept of agni
As we have alluded to earlier, qualities(vibrational frequencies) become disrupted in the GIT and this subsequently leads to an alteration in agni This disruption leads to SIBO but at times gut mucosal changes as well making this look like IBS in some respects
Then if the matter and enegy science models are talking about the same thing then what’s the big fuss? Just use the matter science techniques that we have discussed above
There is a general tenet in healing disciplines that the closer your treatment touches the origin of the disease the greater success the healer will have So what’s better, to treat SIBO or the cause of the SIBO? If the energy science model tells us that the cause of SIBO is an energy imbalance leading to the SIBO, the best solution is to deal with the imbalance This is not rocket science folks!
1 So what is foundational in healing the bowel? Well from what we said already choosing foods appropriate for you energy makeup and observing incompatible food combinations are support any further manipulation
2 Probiotic It makes complete sense to support the “good bacteria” in the gut so as to improve agni But it’s often too much of a good thing at times with probiotic use Find a good probiotic(not necessarily the most expensive)but supplement for 2-3 weeks and then do a break and perhaps another couple of rounds Then done
3 Yogurt as a probiotic As we’ve discussed in the past homemade yogurt is a great food to use to support the bowel flora Kefir has the potential of carrying yeast along with the probiotic so it’s not recommended from an energy science point of view
4 Avoid antibiotics if possible All that antibiotics do is further disrupt the already compromised bowel flora If you have to use antibiotics then you should definitely supplement with probiotic or yogurt for a period of time
5 Reduce ama As we have talked about in the past when agni suffers ama forms in the gut and begins to leave the GIT This unprocessed undigested debris which is the result of poor digestion is the basis of all chronic dis-ease
When we discuss the energetic management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia), a different world of healing is entered We leave behind our thinking about the body as a collection of molecules that can be manipulated by surgery and Pharma and begin seeing our mindbodies as energy fields This has great value since all disease begins in the energy field way before it becomes manifest in the world of molecules The energy science of Ayurveda not...
read moreWhat is matter is energy and what is energy is matter A molecule is both a particle(matter) and a wave(energy) And so biologically we simultaneously coexist as both a matter/molecular field and an energy field We know this from E=mc2 and the energy science of Ayurveda gives us a vocabulary by which we can talk about our mindbody as an energy field Quite simply whenever we become sick there is an improper flow of energy to parts of the body caused by qualities that interfere with the flow of energy through those tissues This is what...
read morePeople with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) are used to being probed and prodded “down there” since that’s where the pain and symptoms are Cystoscopies are done, cultures are done to rule out infection, medication installations are given with the use of a catheter, intermittent catheterization is used when patients cannot urinate, and at times under anesthesia when burning of bladder lesions is needed to be done All of...
read moreIt’s no secret that inflammation plays a major role in all disease and specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia) is a great example where inflammation is a central theme to the disease process This manifests itself as burning on urination or in the tissues since from an energy science point of view the hot quality causes the inflammatory process So it comes as no surprise that reducing acidity would be appropriate in management in all...
read moreAnything that we want to achieve in life….getting in better physical condition, losing weight, improving people’s lives by working in a business or profession, changing a lifestyle pattern of behavior like smoking etc….requires that some form of structure be put into place so that a pattern of behavior is done over a period of time Hopefully the change is the pattern of behavior causes the desired change So for example in the case of chronic disease, specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis,...
read moreFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your...
read moreAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the...
read moreIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis) Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC As a...
read moreFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists? This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model...
read moreIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) The first is palliative treatment The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch...
read morePerhaps many IC patients will have some flare reaction using aloe vera gel or juice with citric acid as a preservative
George’s gel by their labeling has no preservatives making it a favorable product in the market
Remember that just like pharmaceuticals aloe can become a bandaid so we can go on eating foods that aggravate and produce IC However when used appropriately to help with symptoms as we make dietary changes makes the most sense
When we discuss the energetic management of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia), a different world of healing is entered We leave behind our thinking about the body as a collection of molecules that can be manipulated by surgery and Pharma and begin seeing our mindbodies as energy fields This has great value since all disease begins in the energy field way before it becomes manifest in the world of molecules The energy science of Ayurveda not...
read moreWhat is matter is energy and what is energy is matter A molecule is both a particle(matter) and a wave(energy) And so biologically we simultaneously coexist as both a matter/molecular field and an energy field We know this from E=mc2 and the energy science of Ayurveda gives us a vocabulary by which we can talk about our mindbody as an energy field Quite simply whenever we become sick there is an improper flow of energy to parts of the body caused by qualities that interfere with the flow of energy through those tissues This is what...
read morePeople with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and fibromyalgia) are used to being probed and prodded “down there” since that’s where the pain and symptoms are Cystoscopies are done, cultures are done to rule out infection, medication installations are given with the use of a catheter, intermittent catheterization is used when patients cannot urinate, and at times under anesthesia when burning of bladder lesions is needed to be done All of...
read moreIt’s no secret that inflammation plays a major role in all disease and specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia) is a great example where inflammation is a central theme to the disease process This manifests itself as burning on urination or in the tissues since from an energy science point of view the hot quality causes the inflammatory process So it comes as no surprise that reducing acidity would be appropriate in management in all...
read moreAnything that we want to achieve in life….getting in better physical condition, losing weight, improving people’s lives by working in a business or profession, changing a lifestyle pattern of behavior like smoking etc….requires that some form of structure be put into place so that a pattern of behavior is done over a period of time Hopefully the change is the pattern of behavior causes the desired change So for example in the case of chronic disease, specifically the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis,...
read moreFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD) This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your...
read moreAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the...
read moreIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis) Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC As a...
read moreFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists? This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model...
read moreIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) The first is palliative treatment The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch...
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