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Author Archive for monica

Cleanse Class Chicago

By monica · Comments (0)
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
Spring Cleanse Class!
In Ayurveda, detoxification is necessary at the junction of each season (spring is most important). In this four-week class, you will learn fundamental Ayurvedic concepts, as we deeply explore how they can improve your life.  This class is for anyone looking to improve their health and includes: on-line forum for sharing and questions, email correspondence between participant and facilitator, and all course materials.
In this series we will study:
  • Detox (raw, juicing, water fasts and more) from an Ayurvedic perspective
  • Ayurvedic practices that cleanse the blood, lymph, vital organs and mind.
  • Digestive health and its involvement with disease processes.
  • Ayurvedic nutrition, stress reduction & weight loss
Cleanse program is:
  • Individually tailored.  There will be different paths of intensity and duration based on doshic types and individual intentions.
  • Modeled after traditional panchakarma procedures modified for home use.
  • For anyone looking to improve health.
  • Supportive: includes on-line forum for sharing and questions, email correspondence between participant and facilitator, and all course materials.
Week 1- Liver, Blood, Small Intestine
  • Doshas-Individual mind/body types and cleanse construction.
  • Diet modifications begin.
  • Snehana- External and Internal Oleation Begins
Week 2-Lymph, Stomach & Lungs
  • Pranayama, Meditation & Mantra
  • Optional fasting program
  • Detoxs (raw, juicing, water, etc) from an Ayurvedic perspective
Week 3-Colon
  • Digestion & Disease Process
  • Optional Medicated Enema Therapy
  • Ayurvedic Nutrition
Week 4- Immunity & Essence
  • Ojas & building strong immunity through lifestyle.
  • Rasayana:  Rejuvenation Therapy
  • Sadhana practices that cultivate inner healing
Start Dates, Locations & Registration
Tuesdays 7:00-9:00,  Flourish Studio, starting March 15th
$175.00 Pre-Register or $225.00 at the door
OR
Thursdays 7:30-9:30,  Yoga Now, March 24th
$175.00 Pre-Register or $225.00 at the door

REGISTER Yoga Now

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Categories : Cleanse Class

Lunar Sadhana

By monica · Comments (0)
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Each month, a woman’s body has the ability to cleanse and rejuvenate itself through her menses. It use to be in traditional cultures, that women would menstruate together during the dark night of the new moon.  During this time they would gather to support one another in a journey of deep introspection.

It is natural that during the night of the dark moon a woman feels naturally inclined to look within the silence that exists inside her self.  Gradually each month a woman feels attuned to turn her attention inward.  This cyclical sway of emotion exists inside each woman to cause her to wax and wane between experiences of self-inquiry and interactions with the external world.

It is interwoven within a woman’s DNA to be an emotional being that fluctuates in emotional experience.  This emotion is what makes her so beautiful.  It births her psychic nature, attunement with the cosmos, intuition and empathy.

Modern times have demanded that many of us turn our backs on this beautiful process.  It is interesting that the very thing that makes a woman sacred, is culturally viewed as an inconvenience.  This has made many young women ashamed, and even disgusted by her own natural bodily processes.  It has also left a wake of confusion regarding the emotional rhythm a woman experiences every month.

In Ayurveda, the shakti prana of every woman exists in her womb.  Her strength is found here and affects her on every level of her health.  The cycles, the wax and wane, the natural emotional flow of the female is regarded as sacred.  During the new moon time, the natural period of menstruation, when a woman journeys inward is valued as such.  Each month a woman is invited to take advantage of her sacred time of natural purification by going inward, extending her meditation, refraining from intense activities, and allowing herself to rest.

When we do not take advantage of this time, we threaten the vital shakti prana that exists inside us.  We disturb our energy levels and we step out of sync with the natural harmony that attempts to guide us.  How often as women do we ignore the call to just rest?  How many of us as women ignore our menstrual cycles and pretend it is not happening, perceive it as an inconvenience, and tend to business as usual?

Do we allow ourselves to break, or do we keep up with our rigorous exercise programs, work and family obligations?  Do we honor menstrual cramps or pains or do we sneer at the inconvenience and reach for pain medications?  Most importantly, do we have support from the community around us?  Do the men in our lives honor us?  Do the sisters in our lives commune with us?

Every month, a woman has the natural ability to shed toxins, emotions, and physical blocks that no longer serve her.  Her body cleanses and rejuvenates itself during her menses, during the period of the dark moon.

The full moon also has its energetic advantages.  It calls us forth to activity, ceremony, new projects, overcoming obstacles, and using external energy.  It is during this period that I invite you to participate with me in some sadhanas that take advantage of this energy.

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Categories : Events, Lunar Sadhana

Combined Doshic Types

By monica · Comments (0)
Friday, March 11th, 2011

Mixed Types

Usually in a mixed type,one Dosha will be dominant, with a second Dosha being very prominent.  For example, a Vata-Pitta person will have more and stronger Vata tendencies than Pitta.  A Pitta-Vata person will be similar to a Vata-Pitta person but will have more Pitta qualities and finally, there is the type called balanced tri-dosha (V-P-K) where no one type is predominant.

Vata-Pittas are thin like a pure Vata-type, quick moving, friendly, talkative, but more enterprising and sharper intellect.  They don’t have the extremes of Vata and are not as high-strung or irregular.  They have stronger digestion and greater tolerance to cold.  They are more tolerant of noise and physical discomforts.  They have the strong drive of Pitta with the imagination of a Vata-type.  They can easily fall into patterns of addiction and they need stability.

Pitta-Vatas are more of medium build with more musculature than V-Ps.  They’re also quick in movement, good stamina, often assertive, with obvious intensity, but with Vata-types lightness.  They have stronger digestion than pure Vata types.  If they are under stress, they can react with fear or anger that can make them insecure, tense and hard driven.  They love to eat, have a good memory and are fluid speakers.

Vata-Kaphas are often hard types to identify due to the presence of opposites in many characteristics, and Vata’s indeciciveness.  They often have a thin Vata frame with a Kapha-like relaxed, easygoing manner.  They will be even tempered unless stressed.  Often quick and efficient they are aware of their Kapha tendency to procrastinate.  They desire to store up and save, and strongly dislike the cold.

Kapha-Vatas are similar to V-K but are more solidly build and slower moving.  They are even tempered and even more relaxed than V-Ks but with less enthusiasm.  The tend to be athletic with greater stamina.  They may also have digestive irregularities and complain of the cold.

Pitta-Kapha are types with Pitta intensity in a strong Kapha body.  They are more muscular than a K-type and may be a bit bulky.  Their personality exhibits a K-type stability with a Pitta force and tendency toward being overly critical.  They are good athletes, and have good endurance.  They never miss a meal; have Pitta digestion and Kapha resistance to disease.

Kapha-Pittas are people with Kapha-type structure, but more fat than a P-K type.  They are rounder in the face and body, move more slowly, and are more relaxed than P-Ks.  They have steady endurance, but less motivation.

Vata-Pitta-Kaphas are the hardest to describe because they have equal amounts of each Dosha.  They are the most balanced with a tendency to long life, good health and immunity.  Ayurvedic physicians say that these types are most difficult to treat when they do get out of balanced.

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Categories : Mixed Types

The Doshas

By monica · Comments (0)
Thursday, March 10th, 2011

The Doshas

In Ayurvedic philosophy, the five elements discussed above combine into pairs, to form three dynamic forces (interactions) called Doshas.  Dosha means, “that which changes,” because they are constantly moving in dynamic balance, one with the others.  Doshas are primary life forces which govern all biological activity, body shapes, mental attributes, drives, talents, weaknesses, and qualities.

Vata (va-ta) is a force conceptually made of the elements ether and air.

Pitta (pit-ta) is a force conceptually made of the elements water and fire.

Kapha (ka-fa) is a force conceptually made of the elements earth and water.

Every person is made up of all three Doshas in varying proportions influencing mind, digestive strength, preferences and repulsions.

The Doshas Further Explained

Vata (air & ether)

Temperament: Vatas are highly creative and can receive vast amounts of insight, and can be the visionary behind any business.  They usually come in two types:  one who is a chatterbox, and loves to talk (possibly interruptive or not quite there when it comes time to listen), or they can be the absent-minded professor, more of an introvert or seemingly with their heads in the clouds (in the space of air and ether).  Regardless of which type they are, they most definitely are dreamers and artists in their own right.  Naturally connected to spiritual affairs, they can bend toward the occult or mystical.  They are also usually quite impulsive and save money poorly spending it on trifles.

Vata Imbalance Symptoms: Vata is composed of the elements air and ether.  We often refer to vata as wind.  When wind is in excess in the body and mind it can cause unpredictable mental fluctuation, inability to make decisions.  Vata’s main seat is in the colon. This is where an excess of vata is often felt in the body, excess wind in the colon results in constipation and bloating.  Other symptoms of vata excess include: indigestion, lack of energy, emaciation or fluctuating weight, flatulence, fear, anxiety attacks, indecisiveness and aimless talking. A.D.D. symptoms.  Dry hair, nails, and skin.  Inability to sit still for long periods of time, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, poor follow-through.  Lack of appetite and blood sugar imbalances.  Speech problems such as stuttering, or difficulty recalling events, people or places.  Sleep problems such as insomnia caused by worry and fear, and difficulty staying asleep.  Spending money erratically on trifles.  If they become sick, pain and nervous disorders are likely.  They might also go into periods of anti-social behavior, or become the lone wolf.  In confrontations they will run scared.

Causes of Vata Imbalance: Excessive travel and lack of routine, excessive sugar, cold weather and wind, loud noise, and multi-tasking.  Dietary factors include cold drinks, dry fruits, raw vegetables, or food that is light, rough and dry such as chips and toasted flat breads.  Irregular eating habits will easily aggravate Vata.  Emotional stress such as worry or fear cause great anxiety for Vata, as will anything that threatens their day-to-day security (this includes fasting and excessive dieting will usually backfire).  

Physical Appearance: Vatas are often lanky and long, or shorter than average.  Typically they have difficulty maintaining an average weight, though another vata symptom is fluctuating weight.  They can be very short or very tall, seldom are they average in stature, and there is usually some irregularity to their proportions:  very long or short legs, a long torso, abnormal rib cage, long spine, short arms.  Vatas also tend to have bad teeth that are very crooked.  They are prone to have dry, coarse hair and brittle nails.  Their skin tends to be darker for their race.  They have small, thin features.

Pitta (water & fire)

Temperament: Typical pittas are ambitious go-getters.  They love to work, compete and acquire.  They are natural born leaders, and are extremely organized, detail oriented, business minded and politically inclined.  They love to learn and improve the quality of their lives. They have strong intellects, and retain information well.  If they are less self-aware, pittas can become quite critical of themselves and others.  They can fall into traps of arrogance believing that they know better than the rest.  At their worst, they can be quite tyrannical, controlling, and driven.  When imbalanced they will work excessively, often not allowing rest until they are sick or simply burnt out.

Symptoms of Imbalance: Pittas usually suffer heat related symptoms such as:  acne, boils, blisters, heat related eczema, rashes, eruptions, oily skin and hair, quick digestion, diarrhea, irritability, quick temper, desire to control, cravings for cold food and drinks, liver issues, alcoholism, caffeine addiction, workaholics, judgment, arrogance, migraine headache, sore throat.  In confrontations they will fight.

Causes of Imbalance: caffeine, alcohol, hot, spicy foods, excessive exercise, long exposure to the sun, working late until the night, inability to rest, excessive competition, conflicts, revenge and arguing.

Physical appearance: Pitta types are medium build and proportional throughout their physic.  They build muscle easily, can gain weight with excessive eating, and lose it with appropriate exercise.  They gain weight evenly over their whole bodies.  They have sharp, penetrating eyes, and fair skin and light hair in comparison to their race.  Pittas often get creases in their foreheads from crossing their eyebrows in concentration.

Kapha (water & earth)

Temperament: Kaphas can be the sweetest among us.  They can be loving, maternal, devoted friends and mates.  They are slow to go, seldom in a hurry, and love to lounge around.  They are mindful about money, generally like to save, acquire and collect things.  They are slower learners, but once they know something they will not forget it.  If they are less self-aware, they will not forget the misdoings of others and it can take them quite some time to forgive someone.  Holding on is one of their lesser attributes, this goes for experiences that have happened in the past, and material possessions that no longer serve.  The inability to let go of emotional hurts can manifest as excess weight.  If kapha is significantly out of balance, there can be deep-seated greed, and an infatuation with collectibles that surpasses emotional relationships with others.  In the face of confrontation, many kaphas will become self-protective by reacting indifferent.

Symptoms of Imbalance: lethargy, depression, weight gain, craving for sweets, laziness, water retention, excessive sleep, coach potato, cloudy thinking, greediness, resentment, strong attachments to the past, excessive mucous in the digestive tract, slow digestion, mucus in the lungs and sinuses, cold and clammy skin.

Causes of Imbalance: excessive eating sweet, cold items like ice cream, yogurt, and soft chesses, as well as fried foods.  Eating the standard American diet will provoke kapha. Not talking things out and avoiding confrontation.  Watching too much TV. and lack of exercise.

Physical appearance: Kaphas usually have large, beautiful eyes.  Thick, lustrous hair, strong nails, and round noses.  They were the epitome of beauty during the Vedic era.  Today, kapha types are regarded as being curvaceous or possibly overweight.  If they are not heavy, they will express the quality of earth and water somehow in their physic.  This could be in a stout stature:  short fingers and neck, broad shoulders, large head.  Kaphas can be quite strong, or voluptuous.  Think of a wrestlers build, this is very kapha

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Categories : Dosha's Explained

Dharma Artha Kama Moksha

By monica · Comments (0)
Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Ayurvedic theory states that health initially results from harmony within one’s self.  To be healthy, harmony must exist between your purpose for being in this life, your thoughts, your feelings, and your physical actions.  If your purpose is peaceful, yet your thoughts are selfish and emotions negative, your physical body might manifest some dis-ease symptom as a wake up call to change. In Ayurveda, disease can actually be thought of as a good sign, or opportunity to gain deeper insights of one’s self.

The ultimate goal of Ayurvedic medicine is uninterrupted physical, mental and spiritual happiness.  According to Ayurvedic philosophy, enjoyment is one of life’s purposes.  However, we can lose our ability to enjoy if we overindulge and become gluttonous.

The four main aspects of happiness from an Ayurvedic Perspective are:

Dharma: Purpose.  Each person has a unique purpose, or calling that is part of self-realization in this life.  Going against the grain of one’s dharma can lead to depression or an over all sense of unfulfillment, stress, anxiety and/or disease.

Artha: Wealth.  The accumulation of wealth should occur as a byproduct to living one’s Dharma.  Poverty is not indicative to over all health.  In fact, the stress of living in a fear state regarding material security can be detrimental to one’s overall being.  However, material wealth should not be accumulated for it’s own sake, rather to support Dharma and fulfill one’s duties and responsibilities.

Kama: Desire.  Satisfying legitimate desire, pleasure, or indulgence with respect and integrity.  Kama is often used to describe sexual desire.

Moksha: Liberation.  The realization and experience that there is even more to life than all these things, and a greater spiritual purpose or experience we are sharing.  Moksha can be experienced at any age, though there is usually a practice that will lead to the fruition of experiencing liberation (moksha) completely.

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Categories : Dharma Artha Kama Moksha

The Seasonal Influences in a Day

By monica · Comments (0)
Thursday, March 10th, 2011

As the seasonal influences move through out the course of a year, we can also energetically feel them shift through a single day. As we can witness, nature thrives on cycles based on its own internal rhythms. The more we connect with them the more we can understand them as being part of our own. Every creature within nature, including human beings, operates according to circadian rhythms (patterns of physiological function that repeat every 24 hours). Birds naturally sing in the morning. Some flowers open with the light of the sun and close with the light of the moon. In humans, our cortisol levels are highest in the morning. At night when we sleep, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature drop. Many of the inventions we have the luxury to use today such as electricity have disconnected us from this natural cycle. Ask anyone who camps or spends time outdoors regularly, and they will tell you how effortlessly they fall asleep at sun down and rise with the sun full of vigor.

Just as it is better for us to eat with the seasons through a year, we can also be more productive by abiding with the seasons that move through a day. Have you ever noticed that if you stay up past 10:00 you catch a second energetic wind, become more awake, and perhaps even feel hungry? Have you ever awoken at 6:00 in the morning, and fallen back asleep to find yourself feeling groggy for the rest of the day?

In a 24-hour period the seasons move through out the course of each day offering us the opportunity to fully utilize its energy. The best time to awaken and start our day is as close to 6:00 A.M. as possible. Actually, many practitioners and those who study the natural hormonal fluctuations in the body might say before 6:00 A.M. or with the rise of the sun according to what season we are in. So in the summer it may be earlier and the winter it may be later.

Exercising is most optimized if we do it during 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. This greatly helps to gear up our metabolism for the rest of the day, and support those looking to lose excess weight, and increase energy. If a person generally wakes up feeling groggy and has a hard time getting out of bed, the best antidote is physical exercise. Studies have demonstrated that those who exercise before work have a 75% higher likelihood of exercising consistently one year later, compared to those who exercise during lunch or after work.

The hottest part of the day, when the sun is climbing to its zenith, is clearly the summer time of day. Summer 10:00 AM to 2:00 P.M. Digestive fires are being kindled, and this is the time for the largest meal. All through out much of Europe and many countries in the world, lunch is regarded as siesta time where many people enjoy a large and leisurely lunch with friends and family. One has to wonder, if this plays into how the French have remained so thin even with a diet laden with heavy fats, butters, and creams while Americans have gained weight at obese levels with synthetic diets, low fat diets, and everything between. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this makes complete sense. Through out the progression of a day our metabolism begins to wane as we near bedtime. When we eat heavy meals late at night we have no use for their energy, and instead we take it to sleep with us where it converts to fat. I think it’s also important to mention, that even though countries such as France eat extraordinarily heavy meals and still remain thin could also be related to how they eat. During lunch siestas food is taken as a celebration, with friends and relatives. People are content and focused on their food. This is in deep contrast to many Americans who eat on the road regularly, eat standing up, or watching violence in front of the T.V. Eating in stressful situations or panicked minds sends unwanted messages to our bodies. One of them tells the body to store fat as though it were threatened with starvation.

We are strongest to work following lunch and rest between 2:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. Many of our schedules and financial obligations do not permit us to work this minimally each day. But if we can, we can place our most important meetings during this time, or are most intellectually challenging projects. In fact, the brain uses about 80% of the body’s glycogen levels, or energy levels, at this time.

We have a second opportunity for ideal exercise between 6:00 P.M-10:00 P.M. However, the body is not as amped to do as intense work out as the morning hours because digestion is beginning to slow down and cortisol levels are beginning to decrease. Dinner should be the smallest meal of the day. A large lunch should have been enough to satisfy. In fact if you feel a crash late afternoon, or are starving by dinner, it may mean you did not eat enough at lunch, or you ate in a stressed state of mind. Be introspective and reflect on these things. Dinner should be a supplemental meal. This does not mean you should avoid celebration with your friends and family over a wonderful evening meal! On those days eat lighter through the day and save your appetite for the good time to come.

Many people consider themselves night owls and have difficulty falling asleep. There have been many studies that show that human beings are not nocturnal animals, and this is probably the consequence of habits, diet and lifestyle. Ideally, the best time to be in bed is at least by 10:00 PM. Between 10:00 P.M and 2:00 A.M. the body is doing many amazing things. During this time the antioxidant glutathione peroxdase becomes active in the liver and begins to detoxify the liver and the blood. Imagine the interruption of this activity if we are awake, eating food, or being over stimulated. Doing this every once in a while is no big deal. But if we continually interrupt this process repeatedly for 10 to say even 20 years, we are asking for big problems.

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Categories : The Seasonal Influences In A Day

The Elements

By monica · Comments (0)
Thursday, March 10th, 2011

It begins with the elements

Ayurveda has an interesting and applicable way of understanding human nature.  The elements are used literally and metaphorically to describe processes in the body and the mind.  They pair together to form the Doshas (mind/body constitutions).

According to the Five Element Theory, the human being is a small model of the universe.  What happens in the human body exists in altered form in the universal body.  Ayurveda believes that everything is made up of five elements, or building blocks: earth, water, fire, air and ether.  Their properties are important in understanding balances and imbalances in the human body.

Earth- represents solid state of matter, (material) and manifests stability, fixity, and rigidity.  Rocks and soil are examples of the manifestation of earth.  Our body also manifests this earth/solid state structure: muscles, mass, bones and tissues are physical structures.  Earth is considered a stable substance.  Those of us who have more earth will have more mass, and give an air of groundedness.

Water- represents liquid state of matter.  In the outer world we see water moving through its cycles of evaporation/clouds/condensation/rain. Our blood, lymph and other fluids move between our cells and through our vessels, bringing energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, bringing disease fighters, and carrying hormonal information from one area to another.  Those of us who have more water will have more suppleness to the tissues, dampness and express inner tranquility.

Fire- is the transformation of things.  It is a power and immaterial. With in our body the energy of the sun is the expression of Fire. It is the power of our metabolism, the ability to transform nutrients into energy, or break down foods in our digestion.  It is our ability to direct our perception, and concentrate.  Those of us who have more fire will have intensity, which expresses the desire to direct the will.

Air-represents the gaseous form of matter.  It is the wind that blows the leaves.  In the body, it is that which directs.  It is circulation, the movement of digestion, and the recollection of the thoughts, the breath.  Those of us who have more air will be lighter physical build, and may seem otherworldly or unpredictable.

Ether- represents the space between two points.  It is the emptiness that exists between manifested objects.  It holds the space for all objects and functions.  Those of us who have more ether will demonstrate elongation in the limbs or various parts of the body, and seem intuitive and silent.

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Categories : It begins with the elements

Repairing The Gut

By monica
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Repairing the Gut

We carry approximately four pounds of healthy bacteria in our colons.  When diets are poor, trauma occurs, medications are taken, dysbiosis  (an overabundance of bad bacteria) occurs crowding out the beneficial bacteria and impede our health.

A healthy GI tract is a tightly woven mesh of tissue that does not allow the absorption of bacteria, harmful foods, or undigested food particles into the bloodstream.

In cases of leaky gut, the first step of repair begins with removing all possible offenders from the diet that are provoking an immune response until the gut is healed.  An elimination/provocation diet can help you sort through which are the offenders.  Ideally, your holistic health practitioner will help you identify the culprits.  Unfortunately, these foods are typically people’s favorites, such as cheese, bread, pasta, corn, eggs,  milk and gluten.

Samprapti

“Rogastu dosha vaishamya dosha samyamam arogata”

“Doshic imbalance is the foundation cause of the disease process in the body and balancing the doshas, according to the individuals constitution, will not allow this foundation to develop.” –Charaka

For students and practitioners of Ayurveda theses concepts are familiar news, and the theory of “leaky gut,” is quite exact in it’s comparison to the Ayurvedic theory called “Samprapti” which is the pathogensis of disease through six distinct stages.

Sanchaya (Accumulation of Dosha)

Prakopa (Vitiation of Dosha)

Prasara (Spreading of Dosha)

Sthansamshraya (Localization of Dosha)

Vyakta (Stage of clinical manifestation)

Bheda (stage of complications of diseases)

The first stage, Sanchaya occurs in the gut, with the ingestion of incompatible foods, or other irritants combined with ama (toxins) and weak agni (digestive fire).  The accumulations excites the dosha(s) from their natural state, irritating the gut lining intiating the second stage prakopa, which cause the third stage, prasara, spreading of the doshas out of their ‘homes,’ (as the case when toxins/food stuffs travel through the blood stream).   Sthansamshraya, begins to occur when the dosha relocates, for example in rheumatoid arthritis the toxin relocates to the joints, with psoriasis the toxin relocates to the skin, etc.  Vyakta, the disease is now seen and/or experienced.  Bheda is the final stage of complication.  Disease gets progressively more difficult through each stage.

The Elimination/Provocation Diet

For a minimum of two weeks, but ideally three weeks STRICTLY eliminate the following:

  • Gluten
  • Dairy
  • Eggs
  • Corn
  • Soy
  • Yeast

These are the most common foods that cause problems for people.  However, there may be additional offenders.  For example nuts and grains can be a problem for many people.  After two weeks, you will reintroduce each food into your diet, one at a time.  Wait at least 72 hours before reintroducing the next food.  Do not introduce more than one food at a time.  Keep a journal during this period to track symptoms.

Reactions vary from person to person, so keep a journal and pay close attention to  what is happening physically, psychologically, and emotionally.

Some typical reactions include but are not limited to:

  • Skin eruptions, exczema, acne
  • Fatigue
  • Joint Pain
  • Digestive complaints (indigestion, bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea)
  • Lung or nasal congestion
  • Anxiety
  • Moodiness or Irritability
  • Headaches
  • Cold Sores

In order to heal the gut or related imbalance(s) and/or disease, you will need to eliminate the problem foods from y our diet.  It is possible after some concerted gut repair that you may be able to reintroduce many of these foods into your diet.

While you remove the possible offender, you will also want to treat any yeast overgrowth.  In Ayurveda, we consider Candidas (yeast overgrowth) as a parasite, and any other harmful bacteria overgrowths.  Some herbs which may be helpful include asafetida, vidanga, neem, pippali, ginger, ajwan, guggul, pau d’arco, slippery elm, black walnut hull, garlic and oregano oil.  Please work with a qualified health practitioner to guide you on appropriate dosing and doshic concerns.

It is also important to use ample probiotics to introduce the gut with beneficial bacteria.  It is important to stage when you take the probiotic with when you take the herbs to help kill harmful bacteria so that you don’t kill the good probiotics.  Of course, there are many probiotic pills on the market.  It is also possible to buy quality yogurts, but I strongly encourage making probiotic drinks such as kefir or coconut water kefir.  In Ayurveda, we drink lassi and also take curd to help with gut flora.

Hydrochloric acid supplementation taken during meals can help the stomach’s own acid production to thoroughly digest proteins and ease the burden on GI system.  If vata, type hypoglycemia is an issue, it will be important to balance blood-sugar by eating several small protein rich meals.  This will help to support gallbladder clearance and liver detoxification.  In addition, herbs such as manjista, bhumyamamalaki, coriander, milk thistle, anatumal, dandelion, guduchi, and burdock roots can help clear the digestion and blood of any toxic excesses.  I also suggest supplementation with digestive enzymes to help the pancreas with any deficient digestion secretions.

Repairing the gut is often a long road, but the reward for returned quality of life is invaluable.  It is important to work with a qualified practitioner who can help guide you through the process.  Vata-types often have the most sensitivities and complicated digestion problems to heal.

Categories : Digestion

Digestion & Disease

By monica
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Digestion & Disease

One of the first things to go in a poor digestive environment is the balance of healthy gut flora in the intestines.  Poor digestive function depletes the body of nutrients that support health, particularly zinc, tyrosine, selenium and vitamins A, B12 and D.  Constipation from poor GI health makes it difficult for the body to eliminate unneeded hormones, so estrogen accumulates which can lead to estrogen dependent cancers or growths (uterine fibroids and especially breast cancer).  The depletion of Vitamin D can lead to depression and hormonal imbalance.   Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurological damage, dementia, alzheimers and anemia.

Stomach Acid

Hypochlorhydria, a condition in which the stomach produces to little stomach acid, can cause many problems. Having to little stomach acid may sound like a dream to someone with acid reflux, which is often the intention of certain medications used to treat that problem.  Yet when food is not digested by sufficient stomach acid, it putrefies, ferments and becomes rancid. This delays the stomach from emptying its contents into the small intestine and can cause heartburn symptoms (often acid reflux is not caused by an abundance of stomach acid, rather a deficiency).  As food makes it’s way through the digestive tract, due to the lack of acidity, it does not stimulate the gallbladder to secrete bile or emulsify fats.  It also does not stimulate the pancrease to secrete digestive enzymes for further digestion.  The continuous inflammation and irritation, causes further inflammation and “leaky gut syndrome,” or “intestinal permeability.”

Leaky Gut Syndrome

“Leaky Gut Syndrome,” or “Intestinal Permeability” is a process that is becoming more widely understood in Western medical circles.  The terms are used to describe what happens when our intestines become hyper-permeable, allowing food particles not intended to pass through the gut barrier to escape into our blood circulation.

Leaky gut syndrome begins with aggravation.  Trauma, medications that alter gut flora (especially antibiotics and birth control pills) poor food choices, and constant stress are just a few of the assailants that can weaken the digestion system.  As wear and tear ensues, pores enlarge on the intestinal tract allowing undigested food particles (enzymes, bacteria elaborated toxins, immuno-stimulating peptides, and other unwanted substances) to pass through the intestinal lining and into the bloodstream.

The constant onslaught of foreign bodies from the digestive system into the blood stream trick off the immune system.  The immune system goes into overdrive to fight off invaders.  The body becomes systemically inflamed.  This is where many auto-immune diseases can be born (more on this later).  Adult food allergies can develop, as well as nutritional mal-absorption, chronic fatigue, candidas, autism and child-hood allergies, as well as a host of other problems and deficiencies.

Adult Food Allergies

An allergy occurs when a person’s immune system identifies something as an invader and attacks it.  When digestion permeability is involved, an allergy develops because of weakened digestion.  Food particles able to cross through the intestinal wall provoke an immune response.  Eventually, whenever a person consumes the offender she experiences a reaction.

If she eats the offender frequently, she may not notice or even think of a correlation.  Symptoms can include chronic fatigue, skin problems (eczema, acne, dry skin) irritability, brain fog, unexplained weight gain/inability to lose/gain weight, anxiety, and other mental or emotional disturbances.

Autoimmune Diseases

Hippocrates said that all disease begins in the gut, and faulty digestion is believed to be the leading cause of autoimmune disease.  Gastrointestinal dysfunctions are the most overlooked and exceedingly common disorders today, affecting about 70 million Americans.  We spend billions in annual sales of over-the-counter digestive aids.   While these drugs can offer immediate relief, the underlying causes of the dysfunction go ignored, and often people end up with worse problems down the road.

Since most the immune system is situated in the digestive tract, a problematic gut leads to a problematic immune system. Because the lining of the digestive tract is an important immune barrier, poor gut health is a significant factor in triggering autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s natural defense system makes a mistake, and sees an enemy when there is none, or hyper-responds to a minor insult.  Normally, the immune system can distinguish between the body’s own cells and cellular debris and foreign invaders.  In autoimmune disease the ability to discern breaks down, and the person’s own body is attacked.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks and inflames the joints.  In psoriasis, the skin is attacked and causes redness and inflammation. In graves and hashimoto’s disease the thyroid is attacked.  Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s the digestive tract becomes the site of immune hyperactivity.

Repairing the Gut

We carry approximately four pounds of healthy bacteria in our colons.  When diets are poor, trauma occurs, medications are taken, dysbiosis  (an overabundance of bad bacteria) occurs crowding out the beneficial bacteria and impede our health.

A healthy GI tract is a tightly woven mesh of tissue that does not allow the absorption of bacteria, harmful foods, or undigested food particles into the bloodstream.

In cases of leaky gut, the first step of repair begins with removing all possible offenders from the diet that are provoking an immune response until the gut is healed.  An elimination/provocation diet can help you sort through which are the offenders.  Ideally, your holistic health practitioner will help you identify the culprits.  Unfortunately, these foods are typically people’s favorites, such as cheese, bread, pasta, corn, eggs,  milk and gluten.

Samprapti

“Rogastu dosha vaishamya dosha samyamam arogata”

“Doshic imbalance is the foundation cause of the disease process in the body and balancing the doshas, according to the individuals constitution, will not allow this foundation to develop.” –Charaka

For students and practitioners of Ayurveda theses concepts are familiar news, and the theory of “leaky gut,” is quite exact in it’s comparison to the Ayurvedic theory called “Samprapti” which is the pathogensis of disease through six distinct stages.

Sanchaya (Accumulation of Dosha)

Prakopa (Vitiation of Dosha)

Prasara (Spreading of Dosha)

Sthansamshraya (Localization of Dosha)

Vyakta (Stage of clinical manifestation)

Bheda (stage of complications of diseases)

The first stage, Sanchaya occurs in the gut, with the ingestion of incompatible foods, or other irritants combined with ama (toxins) and weak agni (digestive fire).  The accumulations excites the dosha(s) from their natural state, irritating the gut lining intiating the second stage prakopa, which cause the third stage, prasara, spreading of the doshas out of their ‘homes,’ (as the case when toxins/food stuffs travel through the blood stream).   Sthansamshraya, begins to occur when the dosha relocates, for example in rheumatoid arthritis the toxin relocates to the joints, with psoriasis the toxin relocates to the skin, etc.  Vyakta, the disease is now seen and/or experienced.  Bheda is the final stage of complication.  Disease gets progressively more difficult through each stage.

The Elimination/Provocation Diet

For a minimum of two weeks, but ideally three weeks STRICTLY eliminate the following:

  • Gluten
  • Dairy
  • Eggs
  • Corn
  • Soy
  • Yeast

These are the most common foods that cause problems for people.  However, there may be additional offenders.  For example nuts and grains can be a problem for many people.  After two weeks, you will reintroduce each food into your diet, one at a time.  Wait at least 72 hours before reintroducing the next food.  Do not introduce more than one food at a time.  Keep a journal during this period to track symptoms.

Reactions vary from person to person, so keep a journal and pay close attention to  what is happening physically, psychologically, and emotionally.

Some typical reactions include but are not limited to:

  • Skin eruptions, exczema, acne
  • Fatigue
  • Joint Pain
  • Digestive complaints (indigestion, bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea)
  • Lung or nasal congestion
  • Anxiety
  • Moodiness or Irritability
  • Headaches
  • Cold Sores

In order to heal the gut or related imbalance(s) and/or disease, you will need to eliminate the problem foods from y our diet.  It is possible after some concerted gut repair that you may be able to reintroduce many of these foods into your diet.

While you remove the possible offender, you will also want to treat any yeast overgrowth.  In Ayurveda, we consider Candidas (yeast overgrowth) as a parasite, and any other harmful bacteria overgrowths.  Some herbs which may be helpful include asafetida, vidanga, neem, pippali, ginger, ajwan, guggul, pau d’arco, slippery elm, black walnut hull, garlic and oregano oil.  Please work with a qualified health practitioner to guide you on appropriate dosing and doshic concerns.

It is also important to use ample probiotics to introduce the gut with beneficial bacteria.  It is important to stage when you take the probiotic with when you take the herbs to help kill harmful bacteria so that you don’t kill the good probiotics.  Of course, there are many probiotic pills on the market.  It is also possible to buy quality yogurts, but I strongly encourage making probiotic drinks such as kefir or coconut water kefir.  In Ayurveda, we drink lassi and also take curd to help with gut flora.

Hydrochloric acid supplementation taken during meals can help the stomach’s own acid production to thoroughly digest proteins and ease the burden on GI system.  If vata, type hypoglycemia is an issue, it will be important to balance blood-sugar by eating several small protein rich meals.  This will help to support gallbladder clearance and liver detoxification.  In addition, herbs such as manjista, bhumyamamalaki, coriander, milk thistle, anatumal, dandelion, guduchi, and burdock roots can help clear the digestion and blood of any toxic excesses.  I also suggest supplementation with digestive enzymes to help the pancreas with any deficient digestion secretions.

Repairing the gut is often a long road, but the reward for returned quality of life is invaluable.  It is important to work with a qualified practitioner who can help guide you through the process.  Vata-types often have the most sensitivities and complicated digestion problems to heal.

Categories : Digestion

Kati Basti

By monica
Monday, December 21st, 2009
One of the more interesting Kati Bastis Ive done

One of the more interesting Kati Bastis I've done

This client had surgery to replace missing bone around vertebrate in her lower back.  The took bone marrow from her illiac crest. I have treated this client with three different basti treatments and the results have been very interesting.  In the first treatment we used narayana oil in one basti over the vertebrate.  The client was pleased with the results stating that sensation had returned down her leg.  She asked that next time we widen the basti to include the illaic crest.

We repeated the treatment, widening the basti to include the vertebrate and illiac crest.  The results were not good.  The client reported feeling inflammation and pain in the area of the illac crest.  The narayana oil was to “heating” for the area of inflammation and provoked it.

During our last treatment we placed two bastis on the back and used two different oils.  In the lower back we used narayana oil, and over the illac crest we used a more cooling oil of brahmi oil.  The client reported good results.

I will be performing a series of treatments on this client in the spring and would like to use keesharbala oil for the area over the illiac crest.

Narayana oil in the large basti and brahmi in the smaller

Narayana oil in the large basti and brahmi in the smaller

Categories : Digestion
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