Spring 2008 Newsletter - Herbs and Treatments

Begin this Spring season by giving yourself a five-level detoxification process called Pancha Karma. One of the beneficial ways to enhance good health, increase digestive fire, regain vitality, prevent disease, achieve balance, lose weight, revitalize and rejuvenate your life. A complete spring cleansing program. Pancha Karma, reserve your treatment by the end of February and receive 10% off.

Vol. 1 Issue 3 By Dr. Light Miller

Pollen allergies are also common during the spring season. One of the most effective remedies is large does of Vitamin C. Such as Amalaki, Ascorbate for Pitta, Vitamin C ascorbic acid for Vata, about 3000 mg of C, 2500mg. Of B5 and B6. A diet high in antioxidants. Make sure you get plenty of zinc as well.

Avoid common allergens such as wheat, corn, beef and dairy. Do a liquid diet of juices and herbal teas. I believe that a toxic body is the main cause of allergies. The more ama (or toxic) the better chance to have an allergic reaction. The stronger you make your digestion the lesser the allergens.

Adrenal and kidney compresses can help tremendously. Regular pulse readings are a good way to keep track of food sensitivity, your pulse increases 10 beats per minute when there is an allergic substance. Keep records of your pulse. A food diary can also be an excellent way to deep track of your allergies. Take care of yourself, re-new your health this spring.

How the Indian philosophy of life, oils and herbs can improve your health this new spring season………………..

PANCHA KARMA

Many health problems today are due to poor digestion and poor assimilation of nutrients. Proper and complete digestion is an essential part of nutrients assimilation. The process by which food turns from a solid into an energy source within the blood provides our life source.

Scientifically speaking, digestion is a chemical process which breaks down large molecules of food into smaller molecules for immediate absorption. At the physical level, digestion is initiated in the mouth when chewing begins, passes through the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines and is then completed in the large intestines where refuse is eliminated through the rectum. The total digestive system extends 27 feet from the mouth to the point of evacuation.

The first stage of digestion is a mechanical process which stimulates the salivary glands in response to the smell, taste and sight of food. Chewing of the good is vital to good digestive assimilation and continues the mechanical process. The second state of digestion chemically transforms good through numerous types of enzymes and acids produced not only by the stomach, but also by the accessory organs such as the liver, gall bladder and pancreas. (Check out the liver flush)

These enzymes contain the digestive secretions which convert complex food substances into simpler materials suitable for the body’s assimilation. Both the mechanical and chemical processes are affected by level of stress upon the nervous system during the anticipatory phase prior to mealtime. To best prepare for good digestion we should eat in a quiet space, not discuss stressful subjects at mealtime and make sure that food is not eaten nor prepared when angry or upset.

Ayurveda

Ayurvedic means “the science of life” and is the oldest recorded medicine of the East. Ayurveda teaches that all living things are created of the same elemental forces of the universe and that each of us embodies the elements of a micro-universe. The Ayurvedic philosophy states that health is the result of a good relationship between our spirit, our ego and our physical body. Ultimate health is the absence of disease in all systems, wherein all those systems are functioning in perfect harmony. This article focuses on the forces of digestion which are called “agni” in Sanskrit. Without these forces we are unable to properly break down our food.

In the Ayurvedic philosophy there are five elements which combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces or interactions called doshas. Dosha means “that which changes,” and they are constantly moving in dynamic balance, one with the other. Doshas are primary life forces or biological humors. They are only found in life forms (similar to the concepts of organic chemistry), and their dynamic interaction is what makes life happen. The five elements are ether, air, fire, water and earth. These 5 elements combine to create the following three doshas-or forces: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Each body contains either a predominance of Vata, Pitta or Kapha. However, all doshas are definitely present within each body.

Vata

Vata is a force conceptually made up of the elements ether and air. The proportions of ether and air determine how active vata is. The amount of ether (space) affects the ability of air to gain momentum, as expressed in vata. In the body, vata is movement and manifests itself in living things as the movement of nerve impulses, air, blood, food, waste and thoughts. Too much vata force can cause nerve irritation, high blood pressure, gas and confusion. Too little vata, can cause nerve loss, congestion, constipation and thoughtlessness. Vata’s excitability and nervous nature carries over into digestion and they can suffer gas, bloating, cramps and pain.

Pitta

Pitta is a force created by the dynamic interplay of water and fire. These two seemingly opposed forces represent transformation. They cannot change into each other, but they moderate each other and are necessary to each other in the life processes. In our bodies Pitta is manifested by the quality of transformation. Pitta is the enzymes which digest our food and the hormones which regulate our metabolism. In our mind, the Pitta force is the transformation of chemical/electrical impulses into understood thoughts. Too much Pitta can cause ulcers, hormonal imbalance, irritated skin (acne), and consuming emotions (anger). Too little Pitta and we have indigestion, inability to understand and sluggish metabolism.

Kapha

Kapha is the equilibrium of water and earth. Kapha is structure and lubrication. It draws on the conceptual characteristics of the elements of earth and water. At one level, Kapha is the cells which make up our organs and the fluids which nourish and protect them.

Too much Kapha causes mucous buildup in the sinus and nasal passages, the lungs and colon. In the mind it creates rigidity, a fixation of thought and inflexibility. Not enough Kapha force causes the body to experience a dry respiratory tract, burning stomach (due to lack of mucous, which gives protection from excess stomach acids), and the inability to concentrate.

Kapha’s gentle, watery character sometimes shows up as slow digestion, mucous accumulation, loss of taste and weight gain. When these forces are out of balance, disease enters the body.

Locations

An individuals’ constitution is most easily revealed by attributes within the physical body. This includes frame, weight, complexion, the general state of metabolism, digestion and lifelong habits. The site of vata is in the large intestine, pitta in the small intestine, and kapha in the stomach and lungs.

When these forces go out of balance and we do not pay attention for long periods of time, the dosha which is out of balance will increase, leaving its site and will then relocate in a weaker part of the body. This brings about disease. Many of our common illnesses like colds, fever, cough, headaches and hay fever can be prevented by good digestive fire.

When there exists an excessive buildup in the body from poor digestion, poor elimination, cold foods, wrong foods, and too much food, this buildup becomes toxic within the body. You then experience turbid urine, a coated tongue, low energy, lethargy and constipation. Ayurveda calls these waste products ama. These residues of human metabolism, exit the body via the lungs, skin, liver, colon and the kidneys.

Signs of Indigestion

1. Physical discomfort after eating.

2. After eating you burp gas which has the same odor and taste as the food you ate.

3. Your stomach feels full for a long time after your meal.

4. Discomfort in your upper and lower intestines.

5. No regularity to bowel movements. It is either too hard or too soft and has an unpleasant odor.

6. You are either hungry very soon or bloated and not hungry for an unusually long time.

Very often our lifestyles do not promote the natural elimination of all these residues. Modern eating practices of late meals, midnight snacks and early breakfasts cut down on this time of elimination.

Tips for Healthy Digestion

Massage the stomach area with carminative (reduces gaseousness) oils and always dilute essential oils before massaging. Mix 50 drops of essential oils to one ounce of vegetable oil nightly. For each dosha different oils are recommended.

Vata: angelica, anise, bay, cardamom, chamomile, fennel, ginger, tarragon, valerian and other carminatives.

Pitta: chamomile, clary sage, coriander, cumin fennel, dill, lemon balm, lime, mint, saffron and yarrow.

Kapha: all carminatives, but especially heating and stimulation essential oils, will remedy the imbalance including: clove, bay, cardamom, ginger, juniper, oregano, parsley and thyme.

Herbs can be used for better digestion. Ancient cultures used herbs not only for flavoring, but to assist in the maintenance of a healthy body.

Chamomile: (chamaemellium nobile) Roman, (matricarimrecutita) German, calming,soothing, relaxing. Assists elimination and removes blockages. Good for all doshas.

Cardamom: (elettaria cardamomum) excellent for stimulating digestion and circulation. Good for Vata and Kapha.

Milk Thistle: (siliubum mariamum) helps with the liver and the production of bile. Good for all doshas.

Papaya Leaves: excellent for promoting enzyme production. Good for all doshas.

Barberry: (Berberis spp) excellent for gall bladder cleanse. Good for all doshas.

Anise: (pimpinnella anisium) for flatulence, colic. Vata and kapha.

Fennel: (forniculum offcinale) excellent for waste removal and flatulence. Calming, good for all doshas.

Mints: (menth spp, including m.xpiperita (peppermint) m. spicattcata mbi ri dis spearment) cooling, refreshing, good for heartburn. Best for pitta and kapha.

Yellow Dock: (rumex crispus) excellent for an alkaline condition in the stomach; helps produce hydrochloric acid. Excellent for vegetarians. Vata and kapha.

Ginger: (cingiber officianale) excellent for flatulence, nausea, vomiting, morning sickness. Good for circulation. Warming. Vata and kapha.

Licorice: (glycimhiza glabra) moisturizes digestive tract, assists product of pancreatic enzymes. Good for vata and pitta.

Musta: (cyperus rotumdus) helps enzyme production; the liver. Good for heartburn and all doshas.

Angelica: (angelica spp.) a stomach tonic. Good for vata and kapha.

Gentian: (gentianna spp.) tonic for the stomach, loss of appetite, slow peristalsis, painful digestion. Cooling, best for pitta.

Caraway: (carurm carvi) excellent for digestion of starches, vata and kapha doshas.

When working with herbal medicines it is best to use the fresh organic whole dried herb, not tea bags. Due to the fact that the herbs need to be pulverized in order to make tea bags, it loses a lot of the components which constitute each herb.

Individual formulas of these herbs can be made according to your condition and your constitution. Mix together in equal amounts, steep and drink as a tea using one teaspoon per cup. Find specific herbal teas available on our website.

Last but not least, purification is a most important aspect of good health and is an extremely beneficial method of strengthening the digestive fire. I recommend Pancha Karma treatments which cleanse, detoxify, balance and revitalize the organs and body functions.

Until next time, Namaste’, Light