Showing posts with label Vata. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vata. Show all posts
Monday, February 02, 2009
How are people different from each other and how does Ayurveda view people?
In Ayurveda there are three main organizing principles of nature that are found in every person, in nature, and in all other beings. These principles operate throughout nature and can be seen in the changes of the time of day and the change of seasons. These three governing principles are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Read more
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
What is your Dosha?
Taking the dosha quiz is free, and fun! It helps you to determine your dosha, or Ayurveda mind & body type. There are three doshas, or Ayurveda mind & body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Your score on the dosha quiz will give you an idea about what proportion those doshas show up in your physiology, and usually one or two of the doshas will be more dominant, and that is your dosha, baby!The dosha quiz is easy, all the scores are automatically added up for you. Once you have determined your dosha, or Ayurveda mind & body type, you’ll know so much more about yourself, and how to live a healthier and happier life!
This is the same dosha quiz that is in Lissa Coffey’s book “What’s Your Dosha, Baby? Discover the Vedic Way for Compatibility in Life and Love” but it is in an electronic format, so your dosha is automatically calculated. You’ll get a score for Vata, Pitta and Kappha, so you can see your unique balance, and how you score dosha-wise in mind and body. Continue Reading >>
Monday, March 03, 2008
Ayurvedic Diet and Diet Consultations
We offer also per email a diet consultation, feel free to contact us for more details. Thank you.
Ghee
Ginger
Food combining
Food guidelines
General Principles
Eat to about 3/4 your capacity. Do not leave the table very hungry or very full.
Avoid taking a meal until the previous meal has been digested. Allow approximately 3 - 6 hours between meals.
Eat in a settled and quiet atmosphere. Do NOT do work, read or watch TV during meal times.
In general, the diet should be balanced so as to include all six tastes. Specific recommendations may be found according to your constitutional type (see accompanying sheet).
Yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and buttermilk should be avoided at night.
Milk is generally not recommended to be taken along with a meal involving mixed tastes (i.e., vegetables, meats, fish, etc.). It may be taken with toast, cereals, or sweet tasting foods, or separated from the meal by about 20 minutes.
It is best not to cook with honey.
Take a few minutes to sit quietly after a meal before returning to your activity.
Ghee (Ghee Flyer)
Ghee is one of the most valuable foods and medicines known. Ghee may be used in place of butter (it does not cause cholesterol unless there is already a history of high cholesterol).
It is an ideal cooking oil as it does not burn unless heated excessively. I makes a wonderful oil for massage and can serve as a base for herbal ointments (for burns, skin rashes, etc.). Ghee is good for all doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and is a specific for Pitta. Ghee can even be used for lamps (make wicks from a cotton ball).
Vata
Pitta
Kapha
Ghee keeps indefinitely without refrigeration, as the elements which cause butter to spoil have been removed. Just remember to keep it covered and free from water or other contaminants.
Ghee is mad by cooking butter. It is important to use unsalted butter, available at most supermarkets. Raw unsalted butter (made from unpasteurized cream) is best, but this is difficult to obtain. Ghee is often called clarified butter, but this may be a misnomer.
Ghee requires a longer cooking time and the foam which rises to the surface during the cooking process is not skimmed off as may be done when clarifying butter.
It is convenient to make two pounds at one time, but in the beginning, you may wish to start with just one pound. Place the butter in a heavy saucepan, preferably one of stainless steel or glass. Melt the butter and continue cooking over moderate heat so that the butter just boils gently. Foam will rise to the surface, but this should not be skimmed off.
After fifteen or twenty minutes, the foam will have settled to the bottom where it will begin to form a sticky "cake". At this point, the Ghee must be watched carefully to avoid burning. It may be stirred occasionally with a clean, dry spoon, preferably of stainless steel.
When the Ghee begins to boil silently, with only a trace of air bubbles on the surface, it is done. Allow it to cool and then pour it carefully into clean containers (making sure that the sediment remains on the bottom of the saucepan).
Commercial Ghee is available at most Indian grocery stores, but the cost is greater than making your own and the quality may be uncertain. Many consider Ghee making to be a nice ritual, and while making it, pay careful attention to the process. Whether you add a "mantra" to your Ghee, making it mindfully will enhance its value for you.
Ghee
Ginger
Food combining
Food guidelines
General Principles
Eat to about 3/4 your capacity. Do not leave the table very hungry or very full.
Avoid taking a meal until the previous meal has been digested. Allow approximately 3 - 6 hours between meals.
Eat in a settled and quiet atmosphere. Do NOT do work, read or watch TV during meal times.
In general, the diet should be balanced so as to include all six tastes. Specific recommendations may be found according to your constitutional type (see accompanying sheet).
Yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese and buttermilk should be avoided at night.
Milk is generally not recommended to be taken along with a meal involving mixed tastes (i.e., vegetables, meats, fish, etc.). It may be taken with toast, cereals, or sweet tasting foods, or separated from the meal by about 20 minutes.
It is best not to cook with honey.
Take a few minutes to sit quietly after a meal before returning to your activity.
Ghee (Ghee Flyer)
Ghee is one of the most valuable foods and medicines known. Ghee may be used in place of butter (it does not cause cholesterol unless there is already a history of high cholesterol).
It is an ideal cooking oil as it does not burn unless heated excessively. I makes a wonderful oil for massage and can serve as a base for herbal ointments (for burns, skin rashes, etc.). Ghee is good for all doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and is a specific for Pitta. Ghee can even be used for lamps (make wicks from a cotton ball).
Vata
Pitta
Kapha
Ghee keeps indefinitely without refrigeration, as the elements which cause butter to spoil have been removed. Just remember to keep it covered and free from water or other contaminants.
Ghee is mad by cooking butter. It is important to use unsalted butter, available at most supermarkets. Raw unsalted butter (made from unpasteurized cream) is best, but this is difficult to obtain. Ghee is often called clarified butter, but this may be a misnomer.
Ghee requires a longer cooking time and the foam which rises to the surface during the cooking process is not skimmed off as may be done when clarifying butter.
It is convenient to make two pounds at one time, but in the beginning, you may wish to start with just one pound. Place the butter in a heavy saucepan, preferably one of stainless steel or glass. Melt the butter and continue cooking over moderate heat so that the butter just boils gently. Foam will rise to the surface, but this should not be skimmed off.
After fifteen or twenty minutes, the foam will have settled to the bottom where it will begin to form a sticky "cake". At this point, the Ghee must be watched carefully to avoid burning. It may be stirred occasionally with a clean, dry spoon, preferably of stainless steel.
When the Ghee begins to boil silently, with only a trace of air bubbles on the surface, it is done. Allow it to cool and then pour it carefully into clean containers (making sure that the sediment remains on the bottom of the saucepan).
Commercial Ghee is available at most Indian grocery stores, but the cost is greater than making your own and the quality may be uncertain. Many consider Ghee making to be a nice ritual, and while making it, pay careful attention to the process. Whether you add a "mantra" to your Ghee, making it mindfully will enhance its value for you.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Start the Day Stress-Free
"The Maharishi Ayurveda approach to stress is unique because it is a total approach, and includes mental, physical and emotional aspects," says Vaidya Agrawal. Many of these approaches are included in the ayurvedic daily routine, called Dinacharya. When you begin the day with a routine, it sets you up for a stress-free day by helping to keep Vata in balance.
Vaidya Agrawal suggests creating a schedule to make it easier to plan your time. If you have to leave for work by 8:30 a.m., for instance, it's easy to fit these steps in if you wake up by 6:00 a.m.
Schedule for the Ayurvedic Morning Routine
Wake up in the morning before 6:00 a.m.
Empty bowel and urine
Wash your face, giving special attention to the eyes.
Brush your teeth, scrape your tongue and rinse your mouth. This is also a good time to drink a cup of water.
Perform abhyanga (ayurvedic oil massage).
Because it's best to wait an additional 10-15 minutes for the oil to soak in between your massage and bath, to save time you might want to spend this time shaving, flossing your teeth, or starting your Surya Namaskara or Yoga Asanas.
Bathe or shower. Use warm rather than hot water.
Perform Yoga Asanas and Surya Namaskara (Salutation to the Sun Exercise).
Practice deep breathing or Pranayama.
Practice Transcendental Meditation® for twenty minutes
Have breakfast -- a stewed apple or pear and warm cereal is ideal.
Take herbal food supplements and Rasayanas
School or work.
Vaidya Agrawal suggests creating a schedule to make it easier to plan your time. If you have to leave for work by 8:30 a.m., for instance, it's easy to fit these steps in if you wake up by 6:00 a.m.
Schedule for the Ayurvedic Morning Routine
Wake up in the morning before 6:00 a.m.
Empty bowel and urine
Wash your face, giving special attention to the eyes.
Brush your teeth, scrape your tongue and rinse your mouth. This is also a good time to drink a cup of water.
Perform abhyanga (ayurvedic oil massage).
Because it's best to wait an additional 10-15 minutes for the oil to soak in between your massage and bath, to save time you might want to spend this time shaving, flossing your teeth, or starting your Surya Namaskara or Yoga Asanas.
Bathe or shower. Use warm rather than hot water.
Perform Yoga Asanas and Surya Namaskara (Salutation to the Sun Exercise).
Practice deep breathing or Pranayama.
Practice Transcendental Meditation® for twenty minutes
Have breakfast -- a stewed apple or pear and warm cereal is ideal.
Take herbal food supplements and Rasayanas
School or work.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Reduces Cortisol and Other Markers of Stress
One of the measurements used in the UCSD study was the salivary cortisol level. Cortisol is a hormone related to stress, and high cortisol levels show high stress. In the patients who took Worry Free for three months, the mean salivary cortisol levels went down 2.77 nmol/l.
Again, The Council provides an explanation from Maharishi Ayurveda. There are three subdoshas that govern the mind, he says. Prana Vata is the subdosha of Vata that governs the brain, sensory perception and the mind. Tarpaka Kapha is the subdosha of Kapha that governs the cerebral-spinal fluid. And because acquisition, retention and recall originate in the heart, Sadhaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs the emotions and their effect on the heart) is also involved.
"When people overuse or misuse their minds, the subdoshas governing the mind counteract that overuse by producing more fluid," says The Council. "It's similar to the extra saliva that is produced by the taste buds when you're about to eat chilies or other hot foods. The extra saliva protects the whole digestive system, and prevents the chilies from creating an abrasive effect."
When your mind is strained by engaging in excessive mental work, the subdoshas go out of balance. Sadhaka Pitta begins to create a burning effect and Prana Vata creates a drying effect. Then Tarpaka Kapha generates extra fluid to counteract this effect and protect the brain.
But if you overuse your mind over and over and over again, the lubricating value of Tarpaka Kapha becomes excessive, and begins to diminish the metabolizing fire (medhya agni) in the gaps between dhi, dhriti and smriti. t's similar to the effect of too much moisture in the digestion -- it can put out the digestive fire (agni).
When this happens, ama (toxins) start to be created. Ama accumulates in the gaps and channels of the brain, and mixes with the fluids created by Tarpaka Kapha, creating a harmful type of cortisol, the indicator of stress.
"Cortisol in itself is not bad, in fact it's created by the body to protect the brain," says an ayurvedic expert from The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians. "But when Tarpaka Kapha becomes excessive and there is ama in the physiology, it does more harm than good. That's when anxiety attacks and other signs of too much stress take over."
The reason that the subjects' cortisol levels when down after using Worry Free is because the Muskroot and Greater Galangal enhance the medhya agni, says The Council. "Medhya agni began to burn brightly again, ama was no longer produced and no ama was no longer mixing with Tarpaka Kapha. Thus only a good quality of cortisol was released, which actually protected the brain from stress. That's why the salivary cortisol levels went down."
As mentioned earlier, Muskroot and Greater Galangal also help clear the channels of ama, as does Winter Cherry. "Winter Cherry is such a sharp, cleansing herb that it in itself self-sufficient, but when combined with Muskroot and Greater Galangal, it becomes an extremely effective agent for clearing the channels, enhancing medhya agni and reducing ama," says The Council.
Again, The Council provides an explanation from Maharishi Ayurveda. There are three subdoshas that govern the mind, he says. Prana Vata is the subdosha of Vata that governs the brain, sensory perception and the mind. Tarpaka Kapha is the subdosha of Kapha that governs the cerebral-spinal fluid. And because acquisition, retention and recall originate in the heart, Sadhaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs the emotions and their effect on the heart) is also involved.
"When people overuse or misuse their minds, the subdoshas governing the mind counteract that overuse by producing more fluid," says The Council. "It's similar to the extra saliva that is produced by the taste buds when you're about to eat chilies or other hot foods. The extra saliva protects the whole digestive system, and prevents the chilies from creating an abrasive effect."
When your mind is strained by engaging in excessive mental work, the subdoshas go out of balance. Sadhaka Pitta begins to create a burning effect and Prana Vata creates a drying effect. Then Tarpaka Kapha generates extra fluid to counteract this effect and protect the brain.
But if you overuse your mind over and over and over again, the lubricating value of Tarpaka Kapha becomes excessive, and begins to diminish the metabolizing fire (medhya agni) in the gaps between dhi, dhriti and smriti. t's similar to the effect of too much moisture in the digestion -- it can put out the digestive fire (agni).
When this happens, ama (toxins) start to be created. Ama accumulates in the gaps and channels of the brain, and mixes with the fluids created by Tarpaka Kapha, creating a harmful type of cortisol, the indicator of stress.
"Cortisol in itself is not bad, in fact it's created by the body to protect the brain," says an ayurvedic expert from The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians. "But when Tarpaka Kapha becomes excessive and there is ama in the physiology, it does more harm than good. That's when anxiety attacks and other signs of too much stress take over."
The reason that the subjects' cortisol levels when down after using Worry Free is because the Muskroot and Greater Galangal enhance the medhya agni, says The Council. "Medhya agni began to burn brightly again, ama was no longer produced and no ama was no longer mixing with Tarpaka Kapha. Thus only a good quality of cortisol was released, which actually protected the brain from stress. That's why the salivary cortisol levels went down."
As mentioned earlier, Muskroot and Greater Galangal also help clear the channels of ama, as does Winter Cherry. "Winter Cherry is such a sharp, cleansing herb that it in itself self-sufficient, but when combined with Muskroot and Greater Galangal, it becomes an extremely effective agent for clearing the channels, enhancing medhya agni and reducing ama," says The Council.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Modern technology does make life seem simpler-but the increasing evidence is-it can also make life shorter, by reducing the need to interact with othe
Modern technology does make life seem simpler-but the increasing evidence is-it can also make life shorter, by reducing the need to interact with other human beings. Recent research studies prove that people who have a lot of human contact can live twice as long as those who are isolated.
A groundbreaking study of some 7,000 people in Alameda County, CA, showed that those with the fewest friends, family, community, and religious institutions were three times more likely to die over the 9 years in which the study was conducted.
Further, researchers who monitored 276 people between the ages of 18 and 55 found that those who had six or more connections with people were four times better than others at fighting off viruses that cause colds.
Ayurveda has never needed laboratory research studies like these to understand this truth its healers have observed and understood it quite literally for ages now. Here is the A-to-Z ayurveda guide on how to reconnect with your spouse, significant other or a special family member or friend so you both live long and joyful lives.
Apply the brakes. Don't be a time-struggler. The human body is not well suited to time struggle. Research strongly suggests that impatient clock watching is linked to hostility, resentment and relationship-breakdowns. Remember Lord Chesterfield's immortal words: "Take care of the minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves. That's exactly what ayurveda advocates. Some tools to help you slow down: Maharishi Ayurveda's wide range of relaxing massage oils, all-natural Aroma candles and time-tested herbal supplements like Blissful Joy.
Balance is a keyword in Ayurveda, be it in physical health or emotional issues. Ayurveda believes that inner disharmony and imbalance cause stress, a leading cause of failed relationships. What causes this imbalance in the first place? Overuse or misuse of the mind and/or body.
Stress vitiates Prana Vata, which governs the activity and energy of the brain. Once the pivot point is weakened, your ability to cope with stress is badly compromised. Restore your emotional balance with herbal healers like Blissful Joy and Worry Free.
Cook together. It's therapeutic. Besides nutrition, there's affection in cooking for another. In his e-magazine The Bridge, journalist Angshuman Dasgupta writes of herbs and spices thus: "They (herbs and spices) are hoary heritage from times long past, places afar. They waft through the breeze across continents, transcend barriers, borne on the backs of wayfarers. Let the spices you have grown up on be your new adventure. They can become flavorful blends in innovative hands. Give them a chance. New to the world of spices?
Kick-start your quest with the help of Maharishi Ayurveda's gourmet Churnas, precisely blended to balance the three doshas."
Drive thoughts of jealousy from your mind. These are toxic, and pile up negative "ama" inside you, leading to not only mental but also physical ailments.
Empty your kitchen cupboards of all milled, processed, preserved and fermented foods. Food in ayurvedic healing has a direct relationship with your consciousness. You are what you eat" is a maxim very dear to the ayurvedic healer's heart. To be a loving, caring person, you ought to eat foods that have been prepared with love and care-not instant and indifferent pre-packaged foods. When the urge to binge on "junk" foods strikes, give your body-and mind-a treat with drinks like Maharishi Ayurveda's Almond Energy drink. The Winter Cherry in this drink aids resistance to stress. Brahmi nourishes the mind. Poppy Seeds are a natural sleep aid and help relaxation. Almonds provide energy. What more can you ask for?
Follow your heart. Basically, we all want to be happy. And happiness comes when your heart, mind and body are all doing the same things. Picture this: your body is tired, but your mind says you have to finish your work by morning so you stay up all night. This fills the heart with resentment, and at the end of the night, you're anything but happy.
Gift your partner some good health. Maharishi Ayurveda products include personal care, foods and beverages and nutritional supplements. Choose your gift with care, and present it with flair. Our recommendations: well, they are too many to list, but you can choose from among scores of creams, lotions, oils, aromas and herbal supplements.
Halt your tongue as soon as you begin to feel your temper rise. Ayurveda recommends everything in moderation: be it love or anger.
Increase the quota of time you spend on yourself. Start your day with a warm all-body massage before your shower, and you will emerge feeling relaxed and vitally alive. A good self-image always makes you feel generous and loving towards others, and that helps build strong relationships. Massage is only one of the many ways in which you can look after yourself. Try a little bit of all of these: yoga, deep breathing, drinking plenty of water, taking frequent breaks from work. All of these will make you feel special and happy.
Joy is not in things-it is in us, said a wise man. Healers who followed ayurveda have expressed this sentiment in a variety of ways. To them, this thought mattered a great deal because they knew relationships can become victims of object-referral living. A vaidya, therefore, would whole-heartedly agree that "the real things in life aren't things at all.
Know the difference between loving and clinging. Laugh together as often as you can. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Meditate: Transcendental Meditation® is a wonderful way to connect with yourself, and subsequently with other people. The basic principle is this: when you make contact with your deepest needs, your inner self, you release the knotted-up tension from your heart. Through regular meditation, you can shed these pressures on a daily basis-which will make you feel more energetic, more positive and more loving.
Nature knows best. Follow this simple mantra, and your harried life will begin to flow smoothly. Be it hunger or sleep, listen to the rhythm of nature: appetite peaks at noon and the mind requests rest in the evening-that's the way nature has designed us, and going against its laws causes disturbances in our daily lives, and affects our relationships with others too.
Omit meat from your diet if you can. Ayurveda believes that the vegetarian diet is complete in itself, and foods that are not derived from animal slaughter are rich in "chetna" or consciousness. Such foods give rise to positive thoughts, build "satoguna", the highest-quality dosha of the mind.
Prevent disorders from taking root in the physiology with the greatest rasayana of all. Amrit is truly the golden cup of longevity, as its name means. It is a wonderfully effective formulation of 40 rare herbs and fruits. Not only does this incredible anti-oxidant rejuvenate the body, but also brings calm and peace to the person as a whole.
Quell your desire to eat a late-night meal or stay in bed till late in the morning. An old saying, "eat half as much in twice the time" makes a lot of sense to ayurvedic physicians. Similarly, sleep early and rise before 6 a.m.-this way, you will balance all your doshas. When the doshas are in harmony, one feels joyous, filled with bliss. When you are humming inside, you'll make others want to sing, too.
Resolve to pay more attention to the little things in a relationship: a kind gesture, a thank-you note, or even just a smile.
Sniff sesame oil (nasya) to lubricate and protect your nose and sinuses, which are the ventilation system for your brain. The oil helps clear mucus out of the sinuses. Just dip your little finger in the sesame oil you use for your massage and rub the oil inside of each nostril. Then pinch and release your nostrils rapidly while inhaling sharply. This not only clears the nasal passages but also your brain, making you think clearer and make the right choices with regard to yourself and others.
"Tend to the needs of your digestive system. Now good digestion wait on appetite-and health on both," Shakespeare's Macbeth is said to have exclaimed. Not for no reason. Ayurveda considers the health of the digestive system to be the key to overall well-being. Can you imagine being relaxed, friendly, and creative when last night's heavy dinner is still groaning in your stomach?
Understand the importance of touch. Ayurveda's prime diagnostic tool is nadi pariksha or pulse diagnosis, which connects the physician to the patient -anyone who has had a pulse diagnosis done knows how soothing and healing that touch feels. Not only that, the pulse can tell a physician what complex laboratory tests can sometimes fail to reveal. Similarly, people around us need to be healed with touch: a baby needs hugging, a friend needs a gentle squeeze of the hand.
Value the need of your body to rejuvenate and detoxify with each change of season. Ayurveda offers the pleasurable and highly beneficial Panchakarma therapy that can, every time the season changes, restore you in body and mind.
Work hard, but don't let your work overshadow other areas of your life that are equally important. Short breaks during periods of intense activity, planning and not allowing deadlines to rule your entire life can make work pleasurable and productive.
"Youth is unhappy because it is faced with this terrible choice: love without peace, or peace without love," wrote Beaumarchais. True, isn't it-that youth and peace often seem to be in conflict? It needn't be that way, if you listen to some simple ayurvedic advice. Youth, according to ayurveda, is the season ruled by dynamic Pitta. Keeping your Pitta balanced by eating calming foods, dressing according to the weather, and staying away from violent books and movies are small but effective steps toward a happy, peaceful and loving youth.
Zoom away together to a place where natural beauty abounds. Getting close to nature every now and then heals and restores the whole being.
A groundbreaking study of some 7,000 people in Alameda County, CA, showed that those with the fewest friends, family, community, and religious institutions were three times more likely to die over the 9 years in which the study was conducted.
Further, researchers who monitored 276 people between the ages of 18 and 55 found that those who had six or more connections with people were four times better than others at fighting off viruses that cause colds.
Ayurveda has never needed laboratory research studies like these to understand this truth its healers have observed and understood it quite literally for ages now. Here is the A-to-Z ayurveda guide on how to reconnect with your spouse, significant other or a special family member or friend so you both live long and joyful lives.
Apply the brakes. Don't be a time-struggler. The human body is not well suited to time struggle. Research strongly suggests that impatient clock watching is linked to hostility, resentment and relationship-breakdowns. Remember Lord Chesterfield's immortal words: "Take care of the minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves. That's exactly what ayurveda advocates. Some tools to help you slow down: Maharishi Ayurveda's wide range of relaxing massage oils, all-natural Aroma candles and time-tested herbal supplements like Blissful Joy.
Balance is a keyword in Ayurveda, be it in physical health or emotional issues. Ayurveda believes that inner disharmony and imbalance cause stress, a leading cause of failed relationships. What causes this imbalance in the first place? Overuse or misuse of the mind and/or body.
Stress vitiates Prana Vata, which governs the activity and energy of the brain. Once the pivot point is weakened, your ability to cope with stress is badly compromised. Restore your emotional balance with herbal healers like Blissful Joy and Worry Free.
Cook together. It's therapeutic. Besides nutrition, there's affection in cooking for another. In his e-magazine The Bridge, journalist Angshuman Dasgupta writes of herbs and spices thus: "They (herbs and spices) are hoary heritage from times long past, places afar. They waft through the breeze across continents, transcend barriers, borne on the backs of wayfarers. Let the spices you have grown up on be your new adventure. They can become flavorful blends in innovative hands. Give them a chance. New to the world of spices?
Kick-start your quest with the help of Maharishi Ayurveda's gourmet Churnas, precisely blended to balance the three doshas."
Drive thoughts of jealousy from your mind. These are toxic, and pile up negative "ama" inside you, leading to not only mental but also physical ailments.
Empty your kitchen cupboards of all milled, processed, preserved and fermented foods. Food in ayurvedic healing has a direct relationship with your consciousness. You are what you eat" is a maxim very dear to the ayurvedic healer's heart. To be a loving, caring person, you ought to eat foods that have been prepared with love and care-not instant and indifferent pre-packaged foods. When the urge to binge on "junk" foods strikes, give your body-and mind-a treat with drinks like Maharishi Ayurveda's Almond Energy drink. The Winter Cherry in this drink aids resistance to stress. Brahmi nourishes the mind. Poppy Seeds are a natural sleep aid and help relaxation. Almonds provide energy. What more can you ask for?
Follow your heart. Basically, we all want to be happy. And happiness comes when your heart, mind and body are all doing the same things. Picture this: your body is tired, but your mind says you have to finish your work by morning so you stay up all night. This fills the heart with resentment, and at the end of the night, you're anything but happy.
Gift your partner some good health. Maharishi Ayurveda products include personal care, foods and beverages and nutritional supplements. Choose your gift with care, and present it with flair. Our recommendations: well, they are too many to list, but you can choose from among scores of creams, lotions, oils, aromas and herbal supplements.
Halt your tongue as soon as you begin to feel your temper rise. Ayurveda recommends everything in moderation: be it love or anger.
Increase the quota of time you spend on yourself. Start your day with a warm all-body massage before your shower, and you will emerge feeling relaxed and vitally alive. A good self-image always makes you feel generous and loving towards others, and that helps build strong relationships. Massage is only one of the many ways in which you can look after yourself. Try a little bit of all of these: yoga, deep breathing, drinking plenty of water, taking frequent breaks from work. All of these will make you feel special and happy.
Joy is not in things-it is in us, said a wise man. Healers who followed ayurveda have expressed this sentiment in a variety of ways. To them, this thought mattered a great deal because they knew relationships can become victims of object-referral living. A vaidya, therefore, would whole-heartedly agree that "the real things in life aren't things at all.
Know the difference between loving and clinging. Laugh together as often as you can. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Meditate: Transcendental Meditation® is a wonderful way to connect with yourself, and subsequently with other people. The basic principle is this: when you make contact with your deepest needs, your inner self, you release the knotted-up tension from your heart. Through regular meditation, you can shed these pressures on a daily basis-which will make you feel more energetic, more positive and more loving.
Nature knows best. Follow this simple mantra, and your harried life will begin to flow smoothly. Be it hunger or sleep, listen to the rhythm of nature: appetite peaks at noon and the mind requests rest in the evening-that's the way nature has designed us, and going against its laws causes disturbances in our daily lives, and affects our relationships with others too.
Omit meat from your diet if you can. Ayurveda believes that the vegetarian diet is complete in itself, and foods that are not derived from animal slaughter are rich in "chetna" or consciousness. Such foods give rise to positive thoughts, build "satoguna", the highest-quality dosha of the mind.
Prevent disorders from taking root in the physiology with the greatest rasayana of all. Amrit is truly the golden cup of longevity, as its name means. It is a wonderfully effective formulation of 40 rare herbs and fruits. Not only does this incredible anti-oxidant rejuvenate the body, but also brings calm and peace to the person as a whole.
Quell your desire to eat a late-night meal or stay in bed till late in the morning. An old saying, "eat half as much in twice the time" makes a lot of sense to ayurvedic physicians. Similarly, sleep early and rise before 6 a.m.-this way, you will balance all your doshas. When the doshas are in harmony, one feels joyous, filled with bliss. When you are humming inside, you'll make others want to sing, too.
Resolve to pay more attention to the little things in a relationship: a kind gesture, a thank-you note, or even just a smile.
Sniff sesame oil (nasya) to lubricate and protect your nose and sinuses, which are the ventilation system for your brain. The oil helps clear mucus out of the sinuses. Just dip your little finger in the sesame oil you use for your massage and rub the oil inside of each nostril. Then pinch and release your nostrils rapidly while inhaling sharply. This not only clears the nasal passages but also your brain, making you think clearer and make the right choices with regard to yourself and others.
"Tend to the needs of your digestive system. Now good digestion wait on appetite-and health on both," Shakespeare's Macbeth is said to have exclaimed. Not for no reason. Ayurveda considers the health of the digestive system to be the key to overall well-being. Can you imagine being relaxed, friendly, and creative when last night's heavy dinner is still groaning in your stomach?
Understand the importance of touch. Ayurveda's prime diagnostic tool is nadi pariksha or pulse diagnosis, which connects the physician to the patient -anyone who has had a pulse diagnosis done knows how soothing and healing that touch feels. Not only that, the pulse can tell a physician what complex laboratory tests can sometimes fail to reveal. Similarly, people around us need to be healed with touch: a baby needs hugging, a friend needs a gentle squeeze of the hand.
Value the need of your body to rejuvenate and detoxify with each change of season. Ayurveda offers the pleasurable and highly beneficial Panchakarma therapy that can, every time the season changes, restore you in body and mind.
Work hard, but don't let your work overshadow other areas of your life that are equally important. Short breaks during periods of intense activity, planning and not allowing deadlines to rule your entire life can make work pleasurable and productive.
"Youth is unhappy because it is faced with this terrible choice: love without peace, or peace without love," wrote Beaumarchais. True, isn't it-that youth and peace often seem to be in conflict? It needn't be that way, if you listen to some simple ayurvedic advice. Youth, according to ayurveda, is the season ruled by dynamic Pitta. Keeping your Pitta balanced by eating calming foods, dressing according to the weather, and staying away from violent books and movies are small but effective steps toward a happy, peaceful and loving youth.
Zoom away together to a place where natural beauty abounds. Getting close to nature every now and then heals and restores the whole being.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Triphala
Q: Triphala, contained in MAPI's Digest Tone and a major ingredient in Cholesterol Protection, is one of the most famous herbal compounds in ayurvedic medicine. Can you tell us what it's made of?
A: Certainly. literally means "three fruits," "tri" meaning "three" and "phala" meaning "fruit. The three fruits contained in Triphala are Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki.
A: There is a saying in India that if a vaidya knows how to use Triphala properly, he can heal any disease. It is highly revered in Maharishi Ayurveda.
When these three fruits I mentioned are combined as Triphala, they form a very powerful rasayana. A rasayana is the most highly refined and powerful herbal and fruit combination in ayurveda, and is known to promote long life and rejuvenation. A rasayana promotes ojas, the material equivalent of bliss. Ojas is the finest product of digestion, and prevents disease, creates luster in the skin and rejuvenates the whole body.
Besides nourishing the mind and body and promoting longevity, Triphala has many specific effects. It is particularly rejuvenating for the digestive tract, and is a rasayana for the eyes and the skin.
Triphala balances Apana Vata, the subdosha of Vata that governs the colon, lower abdomen, menstrual flow and elimination. For most people Triphala is a mild laxative, and for that reason it is excellent for clearing toxins from the digestive system. In very rare cases it has a stronger laxative effect, but usually it is an ideal bowel cleanser precisely because of its mildness. In moderate doses it is gentle, and detoxifies the body slowly.
But because it is slow, you can take it for longer periods of time, and then it has a deeply purifying effect. It goes deeper into the physiology and releases the toxins at a much deeper level.
Q: What do you mean by "going deeper" into the physiology?
A: There are seven tissues (dhatus) in the body, and they form in a sequence. Starting with Rasa (the nutrient fluid derived from food), the tissue chain progresses from to Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (bone marrow) and Shukra (reproductive fluid) in a chain of reactions that is sequential and orderly.
Digest Tone cleanses toxins up to and including the fat tissue. You can see that this is a much deeper effect than just cleansing the bowel. It cleanses toxins from the nutrient fluid, the blood, the muscle and the fat tissues if used for a long enough time.
Because it detoxifies the blood, muscle and fat tissues, it is excellent for preventing skin disease. And because it removes ama from the fat tissue, Triphala also helps balance cholesterol.
Triphala can also repair any damage that has occurred in the intelligence of nature that governs the transformation from one tissue to the next. It is in the gap between the tissues that the intelligence of nature operates, and if there is any damage, Triphala can repair and reset the chain to enable proper transformation of one tissue to the next. That's what makes it a very great rasayana. Also, it has two of the three major herbs contained in Maharishi Amrit Kalash, which is the most highly refined and rejuvenating rasayana of all.
Q: What are the other benefits one can expect from taking Triphala?
A: Triphala also purifies the urine and prevents urinary tract disease (prameha). It enhances all thirteen agnis (digestive fires), especially the pachagni, the main digestive fire in the stomach. It pacifies Kapha and Pitta, and if taken regularly, is a powerful anti-aging rasayana.
Q: That's quite a list of benefits that are reported in the classical ayurvedic texts. Does modern research support these benefits?
A: Yes, it certainly does. One study (Food Chemistry Toxicology, 2002) showed that Triphala had an antimutagenic effect in vitro. This is interesting, because as I mentioned earlier, Triphala can repair damage to the sequence of nature's intelligence in the "gaps" in the tissues, in the mechanics of transformation from one tissue to another. In other words, if a type of tissue forgets its connection to nature's intelligence, or is in some way damaged, Triphala can repair that damage before it manifests as a disease. This could have implications for fighting the growth of cancer or other aberrant cells.
Another study (Phytomedicine 2002) showed that Triphala had a radioprotective effect in mice exposed to gamma-radiation. It delayed the onset of mortality and reduced the symptoms of radiation sickness in one group significantly more than the control group, which did not take Triphala. This demonstrates the ability of Triphala to act as a radiation-protective agent when administered in the proper doses.
A third study tested the effect of the three fruits used in Triphala on cholesterol-induced hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis. Although all three fruits used in the Triphala formula were found to reduce serum cholesterol and cholesterol of both the liver and aorta, Haritaki had the greatest effect.Of course, these studies are limited in their ability to show the true effects of Triphala because they focus on the isolated ingredients. It may take years before modern science understands the importance of testing whole herbs and fruits that are combined in the right proportions according to traditional ayurvedic herbal methods--rather than the raw isolated ingredients or the so-called "active" components. The effects are much more balanced and holistic when the whole herb or fruit is processed properly and combined with other herbs in the traditional manner.
There is a verse in Charaka that explains this principle: "The understanding of the total nature of the subject does not arise from a fragmentary knowledge of it. (Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 4.5).
But in any case, these studies do point in the right direction.
Q: Yes, that is quite an impressive list of studies. What makes Triphala, contained in MAPI's Digest Tone, this powerful?
A: The ingredients that make up Triphala are powerful individually. When combined correctly, synergy enhances the healing quotient exponentially. The first ingredient is Haritaki--that is the Sanskrit name, pronounced har-ee'-tuck-ee. It's called Terminalia chebula or Chebulic Myrobalans in Latin. This fruit is mentioned in almost all ayurvedic textbooks. Charaka goes so far as to say that Haritaki is as nourishing and useful for everyone as mother's milk. He mentions that it's a rasayana for the eyes (netra ruja apaharini), and helps prevent eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts.
Haritaki is also a rasayana for the skin. It's known as a Twagamayagni, which means that it destroys skin disease. Sushruta Samhita, a classical ayurvedic text on surgery, says that Haritaki and Triphala are useful in cleansing wounds and promoting healing and regeneration from the inside. The famous ayurvedic surgeon Sushruta calls it branya, which means having the ability to heal an ulcer or wound.
Charaka also says that Haritaki is good for the digestive system. It helps enhance the absorption of nutrients in food. It is also a cardio-preventive, helping to promote heart health.
Another excellent quality of this fruit is that it cleanses the macro and micro circulatory channels, known as shrotas in Maharishi Ayurveda. In one verse of Charaka Samhita, it says Haritaki is "shrotovishodhini," which means that it can clear the channels, both big and small. The Bhavprakash Nigantu, an ayurvedic text on herbal science that is part of my own family tradition, mentions that Haritaki is a yogavahini, which means that it cleanses the channels and is absorbed quickly by the body.
Because of the yogavahini effect, Haritaki also enhances mental clarity and memory. Haritaki is a Medhya fruit, which means that it enhances coordination among the mental functions of dhi (acquisition of knowledge), dhriti (retention of knowledge) and smriti (recall of knowledge or memory). It enhances mental clarity and memory, and the stamina of the mind and senses. The Bavprakash Nigantu also mentions that it is good for the health of the spleen and liver, and is a famous preventive for any liver problems.
In addition, the Charaka Samhita says that Haritaki is sarvah dosha prasamani (all-dosha pacifying). Very few fruits and herbs have this designation. It also supports the body's immune system. On top of everything, Haritaki has an anti-aging value. Charaka Samhita calls it vayasthapani (anti-aging).
Q: You have detailed an extremely impressive list of qualities. Is there research to support these traditional claims?
A: Yes, there is quite an extensive body of research on Haritaki by scientists in universities throughout the world. In support of its bactricidal quality, research shows that Haritaki has anti-bacterial effect (International Journal of Cardiology, 1988). In this study the researchers tested the effect of extracts of Haritaki on a bacteria called Helicobactor Pylori.
The results indicated that water extracts of Haritaki contain a heat stable agent with inhibiting effects and possible therapeutic potential for fighting Helicobactor Pylori and other bacterial species.
As for the reduction of liver disease, one study examined the effect of an herbal formula that contained Haritaki as the main ingredient along with four other herbs.
The results showed that this formula enhanced the rate of recovery from hepatic amoebiasis by 73%, reducing the average degree of liver infection substantially (Journal of Ethno Pharmacology, 1996). The extract of this formula also was found to enhance cell-mediated immune response in golden hamsters with amoebic liver abscess.
So you can see that these benefits, which were known by the ayurvedic seers such as Charaka and Sushruta thousands of years ago, are now being recognized by modern science.
Q: That's amazing. Can you tell us about the second ingredient, Amalaki?
A: Yes. This fruit is called Amalaki in Sanskrit and in Latin it's called Emblica Officinalis Gaertn, Phyllanthus Emblica or Terminalia Emblica. Indian Gooseberry is the English name and Amla is what it's called in Hindi. But no matter by what name you call it, Amalaki has many remarkable qualities.
First of all, Amalaki is known as a divine plant in the ayurvedic materia medica. Amalaki is also a rasayana, which means that it has longevity-enhancing and disease-defying qualities. Usually rasayanas, which are the cream of ayurvedic herbal compounds, are made of more than one ingredient. It is extraordinary that this fruit all by itself is revered as one of the most powerful rasayanas. The Charaka Samhita says, "Amalaki is the best among rejuvenative herbs.
Amalaki fruit contains the sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent tastes.
The only taste missing is salty. Because it contains five out of the six tastes, it is balancing to all three doshas.
Amalaki has a sour taste initially, but when it mixes with the saliva, its aftertaste (vipaka) is sweet. Both sweet and sour tastes pacify Vata dosha. Amalaki's virya or potency is cool, so along with the sweet aftertaste, this coolness pacifies the hot Pitta. The bitter, astringent and pungent tastes of Amalaki balance Kapha. So that's how this one fruit pacifies all three doshas.
Q: Can you tell us some of the benefits of Amalaki mentioned in the ayurvedic texts?
A: There are so many excellent qualities in Amalaki that it's hard to know where to begin. Let's start first by saying that Amalaki helps purify toxins from the body. One way Amalaki does this is by enhancing food absorption. When your digestion becomes stronger, the food you eat is converted to nutrition rather than staying undigested and producing impurities.
The unique thing about Amalaki is that it heightens digestion yet is not heating. That's why it's traditionally considered one of the best herbs for balancing stomach acid. By enhancing digestion, it helps eliminate toxins from the body.Another way that Amalaki helps purify toxins is by strengthening and stimulating the liver. If someone has accumulated toxins due to eating junk foods, leading an unhealthy lifestyle or being exposed to chemicals, Amalaki helps flush out toxins.
It also helps elimination. Amalaki strengthens and purifies Apana Vata, and thus supports the evacuation of the bowel, urine, and menstrual flow. Amalaki helps relieve constipation, so you can see why Triphala also has that quality.
The urinary system in particular is supported by Amalaki. This fruit is helpful in treating symptoms such as a mild burning sensation while urinating. It also acts as a mild diuretic, helping the body eliminate excess water in a natural way that is not disruptive or harmful to the body. These actions are helpful in purifying the urine of toxins.
Q: Amazing. What are some other benefits of Amalaki?
A: In addition to the overall flushing of toxins I just mentioned, Amalaki cleanses the tissues throughout the body, and also strengthens specific organs.
Amalaki is a powerful tonic for the lungs, which are a seat of Kapha dosha in the body. The Amalaki fruit balances Shleshaka Kapha, which regulates moisture and mucus in the lungs, and helps the body fight respiratory infections. It nurtures and strengthens the lungs overall.
It also enhances fertility in both men and women by balancing Apana Vata.
Regular and healthy menstruation, nurturing of the sperm and ovaries, strengthening of the uterus, and overall support for reproductive health are some of the ways Amalaki supports healthy conception, especially for women.It nourishes the brain and mental functioning, and is a Medhya herb, enhancing the coordination between acquisition, retention, and recall. This supports the development of a sharper intellect, stronger mind and heightened sensory awareness.
Amalaki also strengthens the cardiovascular system. It nurtures the heart, blood and circulation. Amalaki improves assimilation of iron, which is one way that it purifies and nourishes the blood.
This fruit is also excellent for the skin. Because it detoxifies the liver, and because it also cleanses the tissues of the skin and protects it from bacterial infection, it is very good for your complexion. It also moisturizes the skin, and is known to improve glow and luster.Muscle tone is also improved by Amalaki. Because it enhances protein synthesis, promotes a positive nitrogen balance and strengthens the muscles, it contributes to lean muscle mass.
The hair, nails, teeth, and bones also benefit from Amalaki, because it helps improve absorption of calcium and other nutrients. It also helps prevent graying and thinning of the hair.
The eyes are another organ that benefit from Amalaki. In fact, Amalaki is called chakshusya, which means "a rasayana for strengthening the eyes. This is because Amalaki enhances both Ranjaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs liver function and the blood plasma) and Alochaka Pitta (the subdosha that governs the eyes and vision). The fact that it enhances all three doshas also helps nourish the eyes and protect them from disease.Amalaki is an excellent source of Vitamin C, and is the most concentrated and absorbable source of the vitamin in the plant kingdom. It also contains other absorbable minerals that nourish the skin, the blood and the whole body.
Because of its high content of Vitamin C, Amalaki is a powerful antioxidant. Scientific research shows that Amalaki is an extremely potent antioxidant, excellent at removing excess free radicals, which are at the basis of much degenerative disease and aging.All of these qualities make Amalaki a powerful immunity-enhancer.
Q: That sounds like a plant having an unsurpassed range of benefits! Is there modern research to support these claims?
A: Yes. There are many research studies on Amalaki. One dramatic study reported its detoxifying effect, showing that Amalaki restored cells of rats who had arsenic poisoning almost to their normal level of toxicity. (Phytotherapy Research 1999).
Other studies have shown that it reduces cholesterol (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1988; British Journal of Experimental Pathology 1981; and Journal of Ethnopharmocology 1996). Findings show that it helps protect the liver (Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2000). Research on its antioxidant activity has been most impressive (Phytomedicine 2000; Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 1999; and Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2000).
Q: What about the third ingredient, Bibhitaki?
A: This also is a famous fruit in Maharishi Ayurveda. Bibhitaki (pronounced Bib hee' tuck ee) is its Sanskrit name, Terminalia Bellirica is the Latin name, and Bahira is the Hindi name. There is not as much scientific research on this fruit, but it is famous in the classical ayurvedic texts for its many good qualities.
Both Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita mention Bibhitaki as a homeostatic, meaning that it helps create balance and pure blood in the body. Sushruta Samhita, a text on surgery, mentions that it is useful to staunch internal hemorrhaging.
Charaka also reports that it is ideal for pacifying both Pitta and Kapha. It is cool to the touch (pacifying Pitta) but is hot when you eat it (and thus pacifies Kapha). Charaka Samhita also says that Bibhitaki cleanses the Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa and Meda dhatus, which means the nutritive fluid, the blood, the muscle and the fat tissue. In addition, the Charaka Samhita says Bibhitaki is excellent for balancing and nurturing the vocal chords, is antibacterial, and is chakshushya (a rasayana for the eyes).
Sushruta Samhita also mentions that Bhibitaki is dry and hot. It's excellent for nourishing the voice and the eyes, and is antibacterial. Sushruta also points out the bhedana effect of this fruit, which means that because of its heating quality it clears the clogged channels almost as if drilling them clear.The Bhavprakash Nigantu also mentions that Bibhitaki is nourishing for the eyes, and says it is netra hitam, meaning that it is beneficial for the eyes. Bibhitaki also nourishes the hair, and strengthens the hair root, color, and stability (and thus prevents thinning).
So now you can see why Digest Tone is so powerful: it's because the three fruits that make up the formula have remarkable abilities to cleanse impurities, nurture the body and restore health.
Q: Truly, these ingredients appear remarkable, and because the whole is more than the sum of the parts, when these three fruits are combined the effect is even more pronounced. Can you tell us how Maharishi Ayurveda Digest Tone is different from other varieties on the market-and there are so many companies that offer Triphala!
A: I'm glad you asked this question, because at Maharishi Ayurveda Products International, we are committed to only using the highest quality ingredients, and to upholding the authenticity of the ayurvedic tradition no matter what the cost. This is the only way the full range of results indicated in the Vedic texts can be realized.
Let me give you one example of this. The Haritaki fruit comes in seven different varieties. While all are beneficial, most of them help with only one of the many benefits that the texts mention for Haritaki. One variety is good for the eyes, for instance, and another variety is good for clearing the bowels.
However, most buyers of Triphala don't realize that there is one variety, called Vijaya, that gives all of the results that we mentioned earlier. Vijaya is mentioned by all the great ayurvedic seers as best variety to use, which in itself is rare, as not many fruits and herbs are universally acclaimed by all the seers.
Vijaya is the only variety that is used in Maharishi Ayurveda's Triphala, because it is, quite simply, the best. But while it is the best, Vijaya is also the most rare. This scarcity makes it more expensive; in fact it is ten times the price of other varieties of Haritaki.
It's not often that people in the U.S. know about the dramatic differences in the quality of various varieties of Haritaki. So you may not realize that the Triphala that is available from various companies for a very low price can also be of a much lower quality. Low-cost Triphala does not contain the Vijaya variety of Haritaki, which is the only variety that brings the wide ranges of benefits mentioned in the ayurvedic texts. Therefore if you take low-quality products, you cannot expect to get the full range of effects as described in this article.
Q: What are some other ways that Maharishi Ayurveda maintains high standards of quality control?
A: Let's talk about the quality of the fruits. First of all, to replicate the classical formulas, the fruits must be gathered from unpolluted areas. If there are environmental toxins in the soil, air or water, or if pesticides and chemical fertilizers were used in the culture, this would destroy the natural intelligence of the fruits and make them unsuitable for medicinal formulas.
For this reason, at Maharishi Ayurveda we only harvest fruits from unpolluted, pristine areas. We guarantee that the fruits are grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers or exposure to environmental pollutants.
Secondly, it's important to harvest the fruits only at their peak, when they are ripe on the tree. If they are picked green, they won't have the beneficial properties mentioned in the classical texts. And of course they must not be overripe, fallen on the ground or rancid. At Maharishi Ayurveda we educate the gatherers to collect only the tree-ripened fruits.
Further, once the fruits are collected, at the processing factory they are sorted and tested to make sure the batch is of the right degree of ripeness and the proper quality.
Third, supply is an issue. Haritaki and Bibhitaki take many years to grow and produce fruit. In order to keep an adequate supply of tree-ripened fruit, Maharishi Ayurveda has developed wide resources, so there is always enough ripe fruit to produce our products.
Fourth, once the fruits are ripened, sanitation is an important issue. At Maharishi Ayurveda we hire trained workers, and the standards of cleanliness are extremely high. The sophisticated gathering, sorting, preparation and processing systems that we have developed ensure that no foreign material is included in the formula. The fruits are washed and cleansed of traces of jute (jute bags are used to collect the fruit), dirt and dust. They are tested for foreign material, heavy metals and for bacteria before, during and after processing.
Fifth, the processing method must not destroy the natural properties of the fruits. Most automatic grinding machines create heat, for example, and high heat destroys the medicinal properties of the fruits. At Maharishi Ayurveda we have taken care to use only grinders that do not produce heat during processing.
In conclusion, I want to put out an alert: not every brand of Triphala tablets is of good quality. If you are going to purchase Triphala tablets, it would be wise to ask the manufacturer what their arrangement is with their supplier in India. You should ask them about their gathering, sorting and processing methods. If the gatherers are unskilled, if they are collecting immature fruits or fruit that has already fallen to the ground, then the poor quality of the fruit will reflect on your health. If the company cannot guarantee that the fruits are carefully sorted and the bad fruits thrown out, that the fruits are cleansed of bacteria, dirt, and grime, then obviously you don't want to buy that product. You also want to make sure that they are ISO certified. ISO is an international organization that sets standards for product quality. I recommend Triphala as it is contained in MAPI's Digest Tone,
Q: Are there any lifestyle or dietary tips to help support detoxification and the other benefits of Triphala while you're taking it?
A: Yes, certainly that is a good point. First of all, it's important to avoid building up toxins in your body in the first place. Avoid foods that include chemical preservatives, emulsifiers and additives of any kind. Also try to avoid foods that are grown with pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as these toxins enter your body and get stuck there, forming the basis for disease. Eat fresh, organic, well-cooked foods whenever possible.
Avoid eating packaged, frozen, canned, "fast" or leftover foods, as these dead foods are hard to digest and create toxins when the body can't digest them properly. Then your body just has to work harder to remove them from the body.
There are other dietary changes you can make to improve your digestion and to avoid building up digestive toxins such as ama and amavisha (toxic matter). Avoid ice-cold drinks, as they reduce the digestive fire. Drink plenty of warm water throughout the day to help flush out toxins. Eat sweet, juicy fruits daily if possible, as these help cleanse the rasa (nutrient fluid) and the bowels.
Avoid exposure to environmental toxins as much as possible, including air pollution, chemicals in your household cleansers, and chemicals in your drinking water. Buy chemical-free detergents, use an indoor air purifier if you live in a smoggy area, and purchase a water filter to remove toxins from your drinking and bathing water. Avoid imbibing toxic substances such as cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.
Besides eating pure foods, there are many things you can do each day to reduce digestive toxins. For instance, go to bed by 10 p.m. so your body can rest during its natural purification period from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. That will go a long way in purifying your body of toxins.
Eat your main meal at midday, when your digestive fire is high. Eat lighter at breakfast and supper, when your digestion is not as strong. Save the harder-to-digest foods such as yogurt, meats (if you're not vegetarian), and potatoes for the noon meal.
Keeping a regular time for eating meals is best, because your body can prepare itself when the meals are eaten at the same time each day. Eat only when you're hungry, and wait a full 3 hours after a main meal before snacking. This will allow the food to digest properly. Take your time when you eat, and be sure to chew your food. Don't try to watch TV, read or work while you're eating, as that will only be a recipe for indigestion. Savor the flavors, enjoy the colors, aromas and textures of your food. Light, pleasant conversation with people you love is best for digestion. Avoid intense conversations or emotional topics while eating.
Eat only until you are 3/4 full. Usually it takes a few minutes for the brain to register that you're full, so if you eat until you're stuffed, you're probably going to feel uncomfortable a while later. Also, the digestive system needs some space to operate in, so stuffing yourself to the maximum will actually inhibit digestion. Allow five minutes to sit after the meal is finished to get your digestion off to the right start.
When you drink milk, boil it first with fresh ginger or cardamom pod, or add a pinch each of the ground ginger and cardamom spices. Let the milk cool to the temperature you like and then drink it. This is the ayurvedic way to make milk more digestible and to avoid the build-up of mucus. Avoid combining milk with salty foods, fish, and foods of mixed taste. It digests well when you drink it alone between meals, or with other sweet tastes such as cereal, desserts, or toast.
Q: Thank you. I think that this in-depth understanding of the benefits ofTriphala, contained in MAPI's Digest Tone, could help almost everyone.
A: Yes, Digest Tone can help almost anyone in his or her effort to prevent disease and enjoy a better quality of life. The only people who should not take Triphala are those who are allergic to any of these three fruits.
Research
Kaur S; The in vitro antimutagenic activity of Triphala--an Indian herbal drug; Food Chem Toxicol; 2002 Apr; 40(4): 527-34.
Jagetia GC, et al; The evaluation of the radioprotective effect of Triphala (an ayurvedic rejuvenating drug) in mice exposed togamma-radiation; Phytomedicine; 2002 Mar; 9(2): 99-108.
Thakur CP, et al; The Ayurvedic medicines Haritaki, Amala and Bahira reduce cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits; J Ethnopharmacol; 1996 Nov; 54 (2-3): 119-24.
Malekzadeh F, et al; Antibacterial activity of black myrobalan (Terminalia chebula Retz) against Helicobacter pylori; Int J Cardiol; 1988 Nov; 21 (2):167-75.
Sohni, YR and Bhatt, RM; Activity of crude extract formulation in experimental hepatic amoebiasis and in immunomodulation studies; Journal of Ethno Pharmacol; Nov. 1996.
Biswas S, et al; Phytother Res; 1999 Sept; 13 (6): 513-6.
Jacob, A, et al; Eur J Clin Nutr; 1988 Nov; 42 (11): 939-44.
Mishra, M. et al; British Journal of Experimental Pathology; 1981 Oct; 62 (5): 526-8.
Mathur R, et al; Journ Ethno Pharmacol; 1996 Feb; 50 (2): 61-
Jose JK, et al; Journ Ethno Pharmacol; 2000 Sept; 72 (1-2): 134-40.
Bhattacharya A, et al; Phytomedicine; 2000 April; 7 (2): 172-175.
Bhattacharya A, et al; Indian Journal of Experimental Biology; 1999 July; 37 (7): 676-80.
Scartezzinini P, et al; Journ Ethno Pharmacol; 2000 July; 71 (1-2): 23-43.
A: Certainly. literally means "three fruits," "tri" meaning "three" and "phala" meaning "fruit. The three fruits contained in Triphala are Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki.
A: There is a saying in India that if a vaidya knows how to use Triphala properly, he can heal any disease. It is highly revered in Maharishi Ayurveda.
When these three fruits I mentioned are combined as Triphala, they form a very powerful rasayana. A rasayana is the most highly refined and powerful herbal and fruit combination in ayurveda, and is known to promote long life and rejuvenation. A rasayana promotes ojas, the material equivalent of bliss. Ojas is the finest product of digestion, and prevents disease, creates luster in the skin and rejuvenates the whole body.
Besides nourishing the mind and body and promoting longevity, Triphala has many specific effects. It is particularly rejuvenating for the digestive tract, and is a rasayana for the eyes and the skin.
Triphala balances Apana Vata, the subdosha of Vata that governs the colon, lower abdomen, menstrual flow and elimination. For most people Triphala is a mild laxative, and for that reason it is excellent for clearing toxins from the digestive system. In very rare cases it has a stronger laxative effect, but usually it is an ideal bowel cleanser precisely because of its mildness. In moderate doses it is gentle, and detoxifies the body slowly.
But because it is slow, you can take it for longer periods of time, and then it has a deeply purifying effect. It goes deeper into the physiology and releases the toxins at a much deeper level.
Q: What do you mean by "going deeper" into the physiology?
A: There are seven tissues (dhatus) in the body, and they form in a sequence. Starting with Rasa (the nutrient fluid derived from food), the tissue chain progresses from to Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (bone marrow) and Shukra (reproductive fluid) in a chain of reactions that is sequential and orderly.
Digest Tone cleanses toxins up to and including the fat tissue. You can see that this is a much deeper effect than just cleansing the bowel. It cleanses toxins from the nutrient fluid, the blood, the muscle and the fat tissues if used for a long enough time.
Because it detoxifies the blood, muscle and fat tissues, it is excellent for preventing skin disease. And because it removes ama from the fat tissue, Triphala also helps balance cholesterol.
Triphala can also repair any damage that has occurred in the intelligence of nature that governs the transformation from one tissue to the next. It is in the gap between the tissues that the intelligence of nature operates, and if there is any damage, Triphala can repair and reset the chain to enable proper transformation of one tissue to the next. That's what makes it a very great rasayana. Also, it has two of the three major herbs contained in Maharishi Amrit Kalash, which is the most highly refined and rejuvenating rasayana of all.
Q: What are the other benefits one can expect from taking Triphala?
A: Triphala also purifies the urine and prevents urinary tract disease (prameha). It enhances all thirteen agnis (digestive fires), especially the pachagni, the main digestive fire in the stomach. It pacifies Kapha and Pitta, and if taken regularly, is a powerful anti-aging rasayana.
Q: That's quite a list of benefits that are reported in the classical ayurvedic texts. Does modern research support these benefits?
A: Yes, it certainly does. One study (Food Chemistry Toxicology, 2002) showed that Triphala had an antimutagenic effect in vitro. This is interesting, because as I mentioned earlier, Triphala can repair damage to the sequence of nature's intelligence in the "gaps" in the tissues, in the mechanics of transformation from one tissue to another. In other words, if a type of tissue forgets its connection to nature's intelligence, or is in some way damaged, Triphala can repair that damage before it manifests as a disease. This could have implications for fighting the growth of cancer or other aberrant cells.
Another study (Phytomedicine 2002) showed that Triphala had a radioprotective effect in mice exposed to gamma-radiation. It delayed the onset of mortality and reduced the symptoms of radiation sickness in one group significantly more than the control group, which did not take Triphala. This demonstrates the ability of Triphala to act as a radiation-protective agent when administered in the proper doses.
A third study tested the effect of the three fruits used in Triphala on cholesterol-induced hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis. Although all three fruits used in the Triphala formula were found to reduce serum cholesterol and cholesterol of both the liver and aorta, Haritaki had the greatest effect.Of course, these studies are limited in their ability to show the true effects of Triphala because they focus on the isolated ingredients. It may take years before modern science understands the importance of testing whole herbs and fruits that are combined in the right proportions according to traditional ayurvedic herbal methods--rather than the raw isolated ingredients or the so-called "active" components. The effects are much more balanced and holistic when the whole herb or fruit is processed properly and combined with other herbs in the traditional manner.
There is a verse in Charaka that explains this principle: "The understanding of the total nature of the subject does not arise from a fragmentary knowledge of it. (Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 4.5).
But in any case, these studies do point in the right direction.
Q: Yes, that is quite an impressive list of studies. What makes Triphala, contained in MAPI's Digest Tone, this powerful?
A: The ingredients that make up Triphala are powerful individually. When combined correctly, synergy enhances the healing quotient exponentially. The first ingredient is Haritaki--that is the Sanskrit name, pronounced har-ee'-tuck-ee. It's called Terminalia chebula or Chebulic Myrobalans in Latin. This fruit is mentioned in almost all ayurvedic textbooks. Charaka goes so far as to say that Haritaki is as nourishing and useful for everyone as mother's milk. He mentions that it's a rasayana for the eyes (netra ruja apaharini), and helps prevent eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts.
Haritaki is also a rasayana for the skin. It's known as a Twagamayagni, which means that it destroys skin disease. Sushruta Samhita, a classical ayurvedic text on surgery, says that Haritaki and Triphala are useful in cleansing wounds and promoting healing and regeneration from the inside. The famous ayurvedic surgeon Sushruta calls it branya, which means having the ability to heal an ulcer or wound.
Charaka also says that Haritaki is good for the digestive system. It helps enhance the absorption of nutrients in food. It is also a cardio-preventive, helping to promote heart health.
Another excellent quality of this fruit is that it cleanses the macro and micro circulatory channels, known as shrotas in Maharishi Ayurveda. In one verse of Charaka Samhita, it says Haritaki is "shrotovishodhini," which means that it can clear the channels, both big and small. The Bhavprakash Nigantu, an ayurvedic text on herbal science that is part of my own family tradition, mentions that Haritaki is a yogavahini, which means that it cleanses the channels and is absorbed quickly by the body.
Because of the yogavahini effect, Haritaki also enhances mental clarity and memory. Haritaki is a Medhya fruit, which means that it enhances coordination among the mental functions of dhi (acquisition of knowledge), dhriti (retention of knowledge) and smriti (recall of knowledge or memory). It enhances mental clarity and memory, and the stamina of the mind and senses. The Bavprakash Nigantu also mentions that it is good for the health of the spleen and liver, and is a famous preventive for any liver problems.
In addition, the Charaka Samhita says that Haritaki is sarvah dosha prasamani (all-dosha pacifying). Very few fruits and herbs have this designation. It also supports the body's immune system. On top of everything, Haritaki has an anti-aging value. Charaka Samhita calls it vayasthapani (anti-aging).
Q: You have detailed an extremely impressive list of qualities. Is there research to support these traditional claims?
A: Yes, there is quite an extensive body of research on Haritaki by scientists in universities throughout the world. In support of its bactricidal quality, research shows that Haritaki has anti-bacterial effect (International Journal of Cardiology, 1988). In this study the researchers tested the effect of extracts of Haritaki on a bacteria called Helicobactor Pylori.
The results indicated that water extracts of Haritaki contain a heat stable agent with inhibiting effects and possible therapeutic potential for fighting Helicobactor Pylori and other bacterial species.
As for the reduction of liver disease, one study examined the effect of an herbal formula that contained Haritaki as the main ingredient along with four other herbs.
The results showed that this formula enhanced the rate of recovery from hepatic amoebiasis by 73%, reducing the average degree of liver infection substantially (Journal of Ethno Pharmacology, 1996). The extract of this formula also was found to enhance cell-mediated immune response in golden hamsters with amoebic liver abscess.
So you can see that these benefits, which were known by the ayurvedic seers such as Charaka and Sushruta thousands of years ago, are now being recognized by modern science.
Q: That's amazing. Can you tell us about the second ingredient, Amalaki?
A: Yes. This fruit is called Amalaki in Sanskrit and in Latin it's called Emblica Officinalis Gaertn, Phyllanthus Emblica or Terminalia Emblica. Indian Gooseberry is the English name and Amla is what it's called in Hindi. But no matter by what name you call it, Amalaki has many remarkable qualities.
First of all, Amalaki is known as a divine plant in the ayurvedic materia medica. Amalaki is also a rasayana, which means that it has longevity-enhancing and disease-defying qualities. Usually rasayanas, which are the cream of ayurvedic herbal compounds, are made of more than one ingredient. It is extraordinary that this fruit all by itself is revered as one of the most powerful rasayanas. The Charaka Samhita says, "Amalaki is the best among rejuvenative herbs.
Amalaki fruit contains the sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent tastes.
The only taste missing is salty. Because it contains five out of the six tastes, it is balancing to all three doshas.
Amalaki has a sour taste initially, but when it mixes with the saliva, its aftertaste (vipaka) is sweet. Both sweet and sour tastes pacify Vata dosha. Amalaki's virya or potency is cool, so along with the sweet aftertaste, this coolness pacifies the hot Pitta. The bitter, astringent and pungent tastes of Amalaki balance Kapha. So that's how this one fruit pacifies all three doshas.
Q: Can you tell us some of the benefits of Amalaki mentioned in the ayurvedic texts?
A: There are so many excellent qualities in Amalaki that it's hard to know where to begin. Let's start first by saying that Amalaki helps purify toxins from the body. One way Amalaki does this is by enhancing food absorption. When your digestion becomes stronger, the food you eat is converted to nutrition rather than staying undigested and producing impurities.
The unique thing about Amalaki is that it heightens digestion yet is not heating. That's why it's traditionally considered one of the best herbs for balancing stomach acid. By enhancing digestion, it helps eliminate toxins from the body.Another way that Amalaki helps purify toxins is by strengthening and stimulating the liver. If someone has accumulated toxins due to eating junk foods, leading an unhealthy lifestyle or being exposed to chemicals, Amalaki helps flush out toxins.
It also helps elimination. Amalaki strengthens and purifies Apana Vata, and thus supports the evacuation of the bowel, urine, and menstrual flow. Amalaki helps relieve constipation, so you can see why Triphala also has that quality.
The urinary system in particular is supported by Amalaki. This fruit is helpful in treating symptoms such as a mild burning sensation while urinating. It also acts as a mild diuretic, helping the body eliminate excess water in a natural way that is not disruptive or harmful to the body. These actions are helpful in purifying the urine of toxins.
Q: Amazing. What are some other benefits of Amalaki?
A: In addition to the overall flushing of toxins I just mentioned, Amalaki cleanses the tissues throughout the body, and also strengthens specific organs.
Amalaki is a powerful tonic for the lungs, which are a seat of Kapha dosha in the body. The Amalaki fruit balances Shleshaka Kapha, which regulates moisture and mucus in the lungs, and helps the body fight respiratory infections. It nurtures and strengthens the lungs overall.
It also enhances fertility in both men and women by balancing Apana Vata.
Regular and healthy menstruation, nurturing of the sperm and ovaries, strengthening of the uterus, and overall support for reproductive health are some of the ways Amalaki supports healthy conception, especially for women.It nourishes the brain and mental functioning, and is a Medhya herb, enhancing the coordination between acquisition, retention, and recall. This supports the development of a sharper intellect, stronger mind and heightened sensory awareness.
Amalaki also strengthens the cardiovascular system. It nurtures the heart, blood and circulation. Amalaki improves assimilation of iron, which is one way that it purifies and nourishes the blood.
This fruit is also excellent for the skin. Because it detoxifies the liver, and because it also cleanses the tissues of the skin and protects it from bacterial infection, it is very good for your complexion. It also moisturizes the skin, and is known to improve glow and luster.Muscle tone is also improved by Amalaki. Because it enhances protein synthesis, promotes a positive nitrogen balance and strengthens the muscles, it contributes to lean muscle mass.
The hair, nails, teeth, and bones also benefit from Amalaki, because it helps improve absorption of calcium and other nutrients. It also helps prevent graying and thinning of the hair.
The eyes are another organ that benefit from Amalaki. In fact, Amalaki is called chakshusya, which means "a rasayana for strengthening the eyes. This is because Amalaki enhances both Ranjaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs liver function and the blood plasma) and Alochaka Pitta (the subdosha that governs the eyes and vision). The fact that it enhances all three doshas also helps nourish the eyes and protect them from disease.Amalaki is an excellent source of Vitamin C, and is the most concentrated and absorbable source of the vitamin in the plant kingdom. It also contains other absorbable minerals that nourish the skin, the blood and the whole body.
Because of its high content of Vitamin C, Amalaki is a powerful antioxidant. Scientific research shows that Amalaki is an extremely potent antioxidant, excellent at removing excess free radicals, which are at the basis of much degenerative disease and aging.All of these qualities make Amalaki a powerful immunity-enhancer.
Q: That sounds like a plant having an unsurpassed range of benefits! Is there modern research to support these claims?
A: Yes. There are many research studies on Amalaki. One dramatic study reported its detoxifying effect, showing that Amalaki restored cells of rats who had arsenic poisoning almost to their normal level of toxicity. (Phytotherapy Research 1999).
Other studies have shown that it reduces cholesterol (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1988; British Journal of Experimental Pathology 1981; and Journal of Ethnopharmocology 1996). Findings show that it helps protect the liver (Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2000). Research on its antioxidant activity has been most impressive (Phytomedicine 2000; Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 1999; and Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2000).
Q: What about the third ingredient, Bibhitaki?
A: This also is a famous fruit in Maharishi Ayurveda. Bibhitaki (pronounced Bib hee' tuck ee) is its Sanskrit name, Terminalia Bellirica is the Latin name, and Bahira is the Hindi name. There is not as much scientific research on this fruit, but it is famous in the classical ayurvedic texts for its many good qualities.
Both Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita mention Bibhitaki as a homeostatic, meaning that it helps create balance and pure blood in the body. Sushruta Samhita, a text on surgery, mentions that it is useful to staunch internal hemorrhaging.
Charaka also reports that it is ideal for pacifying both Pitta and Kapha. It is cool to the touch (pacifying Pitta) but is hot when you eat it (and thus pacifies Kapha). Charaka Samhita also says that Bibhitaki cleanses the Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa and Meda dhatus, which means the nutritive fluid, the blood, the muscle and the fat tissue. In addition, the Charaka Samhita says Bibhitaki is excellent for balancing and nurturing the vocal chords, is antibacterial, and is chakshushya (a rasayana for the eyes).
Sushruta Samhita also mentions that Bhibitaki is dry and hot. It's excellent for nourishing the voice and the eyes, and is antibacterial. Sushruta also points out the bhedana effect of this fruit, which means that because of its heating quality it clears the clogged channels almost as if drilling them clear.The Bhavprakash Nigantu also mentions that Bibhitaki is nourishing for the eyes, and says it is netra hitam, meaning that it is beneficial for the eyes. Bibhitaki also nourishes the hair, and strengthens the hair root, color, and stability (and thus prevents thinning).
So now you can see why Digest Tone is so powerful: it's because the three fruits that make up the formula have remarkable abilities to cleanse impurities, nurture the body and restore health.
Q: Truly, these ingredients appear remarkable, and because the whole is more than the sum of the parts, when these three fruits are combined the effect is even more pronounced. Can you tell us how Maharishi Ayurveda Digest Tone is different from other varieties on the market-and there are so many companies that offer Triphala!
A: I'm glad you asked this question, because at Maharishi Ayurveda Products International, we are committed to only using the highest quality ingredients, and to upholding the authenticity of the ayurvedic tradition no matter what the cost. This is the only way the full range of results indicated in the Vedic texts can be realized.
Let me give you one example of this. The Haritaki fruit comes in seven different varieties. While all are beneficial, most of them help with only one of the many benefits that the texts mention for Haritaki. One variety is good for the eyes, for instance, and another variety is good for clearing the bowels.
However, most buyers of Triphala don't realize that there is one variety, called Vijaya, that gives all of the results that we mentioned earlier. Vijaya is mentioned by all the great ayurvedic seers as best variety to use, which in itself is rare, as not many fruits and herbs are universally acclaimed by all the seers.
Vijaya is the only variety that is used in Maharishi Ayurveda's Triphala, because it is, quite simply, the best. But while it is the best, Vijaya is also the most rare. This scarcity makes it more expensive; in fact it is ten times the price of other varieties of Haritaki.
It's not often that people in the U.S. know about the dramatic differences in the quality of various varieties of Haritaki. So you may not realize that the Triphala that is available from various companies for a very low price can also be of a much lower quality. Low-cost Triphala does not contain the Vijaya variety of Haritaki, which is the only variety that brings the wide ranges of benefits mentioned in the ayurvedic texts. Therefore if you take low-quality products, you cannot expect to get the full range of effects as described in this article.
Q: What are some other ways that Maharishi Ayurveda maintains high standards of quality control?
A: Let's talk about the quality of the fruits. First of all, to replicate the classical formulas, the fruits must be gathered from unpolluted areas. If there are environmental toxins in the soil, air or water, or if pesticides and chemical fertilizers were used in the culture, this would destroy the natural intelligence of the fruits and make them unsuitable for medicinal formulas.
For this reason, at Maharishi Ayurveda we only harvest fruits from unpolluted, pristine areas. We guarantee that the fruits are grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers or exposure to environmental pollutants.
Secondly, it's important to harvest the fruits only at their peak, when they are ripe on the tree. If they are picked green, they won't have the beneficial properties mentioned in the classical texts. And of course they must not be overripe, fallen on the ground or rancid. At Maharishi Ayurveda we educate the gatherers to collect only the tree-ripened fruits.
Further, once the fruits are collected, at the processing factory they are sorted and tested to make sure the batch is of the right degree of ripeness and the proper quality.
Third, supply is an issue. Haritaki and Bibhitaki take many years to grow and produce fruit. In order to keep an adequate supply of tree-ripened fruit, Maharishi Ayurveda has developed wide resources, so there is always enough ripe fruit to produce our products.
Fourth, once the fruits are ripened, sanitation is an important issue. At Maharishi Ayurveda we hire trained workers, and the standards of cleanliness are extremely high. The sophisticated gathering, sorting, preparation and processing systems that we have developed ensure that no foreign material is included in the formula. The fruits are washed and cleansed of traces of jute (jute bags are used to collect the fruit), dirt and dust. They are tested for foreign material, heavy metals and for bacteria before, during and after processing.
Fifth, the processing method must not destroy the natural properties of the fruits. Most automatic grinding machines create heat, for example, and high heat destroys the medicinal properties of the fruits. At Maharishi Ayurveda we have taken care to use only grinders that do not produce heat during processing.
In conclusion, I want to put out an alert: not every brand of Triphala tablets is of good quality. If you are going to purchase Triphala tablets, it would be wise to ask the manufacturer what their arrangement is with their supplier in India. You should ask them about their gathering, sorting and processing methods. If the gatherers are unskilled, if they are collecting immature fruits or fruit that has already fallen to the ground, then the poor quality of the fruit will reflect on your health. If the company cannot guarantee that the fruits are carefully sorted and the bad fruits thrown out, that the fruits are cleansed of bacteria, dirt, and grime, then obviously you don't want to buy that product. You also want to make sure that they are ISO certified. ISO is an international organization that sets standards for product quality. I recommend Triphala as it is contained in MAPI's Digest Tone,
Q: Are there any lifestyle or dietary tips to help support detoxification and the other benefits of Triphala while you're taking it?
A: Yes, certainly that is a good point. First of all, it's important to avoid building up toxins in your body in the first place. Avoid foods that include chemical preservatives, emulsifiers and additives of any kind. Also try to avoid foods that are grown with pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as these toxins enter your body and get stuck there, forming the basis for disease. Eat fresh, organic, well-cooked foods whenever possible.
Avoid eating packaged, frozen, canned, "fast" or leftover foods, as these dead foods are hard to digest and create toxins when the body can't digest them properly. Then your body just has to work harder to remove them from the body.
There are other dietary changes you can make to improve your digestion and to avoid building up digestive toxins such as ama and amavisha (toxic matter). Avoid ice-cold drinks, as they reduce the digestive fire. Drink plenty of warm water throughout the day to help flush out toxins. Eat sweet, juicy fruits daily if possible, as these help cleanse the rasa (nutrient fluid) and the bowels.
Avoid exposure to environmental toxins as much as possible, including air pollution, chemicals in your household cleansers, and chemicals in your drinking water. Buy chemical-free detergents, use an indoor air purifier if you live in a smoggy area, and purchase a water filter to remove toxins from your drinking and bathing water. Avoid imbibing toxic substances such as cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.
Besides eating pure foods, there are many things you can do each day to reduce digestive toxins. For instance, go to bed by 10 p.m. so your body can rest during its natural purification period from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. That will go a long way in purifying your body of toxins.
Eat your main meal at midday, when your digestive fire is high. Eat lighter at breakfast and supper, when your digestion is not as strong. Save the harder-to-digest foods such as yogurt, meats (if you're not vegetarian), and potatoes for the noon meal.
Keeping a regular time for eating meals is best, because your body can prepare itself when the meals are eaten at the same time each day. Eat only when you're hungry, and wait a full 3 hours after a main meal before snacking. This will allow the food to digest properly. Take your time when you eat, and be sure to chew your food. Don't try to watch TV, read or work while you're eating, as that will only be a recipe for indigestion. Savor the flavors, enjoy the colors, aromas and textures of your food. Light, pleasant conversation with people you love is best for digestion. Avoid intense conversations or emotional topics while eating.
Eat only until you are 3/4 full. Usually it takes a few minutes for the brain to register that you're full, so if you eat until you're stuffed, you're probably going to feel uncomfortable a while later. Also, the digestive system needs some space to operate in, so stuffing yourself to the maximum will actually inhibit digestion. Allow five minutes to sit after the meal is finished to get your digestion off to the right start.
When you drink milk, boil it first with fresh ginger or cardamom pod, or add a pinch each of the ground ginger and cardamom spices. Let the milk cool to the temperature you like and then drink it. This is the ayurvedic way to make milk more digestible and to avoid the build-up of mucus. Avoid combining milk with salty foods, fish, and foods of mixed taste. It digests well when you drink it alone between meals, or with other sweet tastes such as cereal, desserts, or toast.
Q: Thank you. I think that this in-depth understanding of the benefits ofTriphala, contained in MAPI's Digest Tone, could help almost everyone.
A: Yes, Digest Tone can help almost anyone in his or her effort to prevent disease and enjoy a better quality of life. The only people who should not take Triphala are those who are allergic to any of these three fruits.
Research
Kaur S; The in vitro antimutagenic activity of Triphala--an Indian herbal drug; Food Chem Toxicol; 2002 Apr; 40(4): 527-34.
Jagetia GC, et al; The evaluation of the radioprotective effect of Triphala (an ayurvedic rejuvenating drug) in mice exposed togamma-radiation; Phytomedicine; 2002 Mar; 9(2): 99-108.
Thakur CP, et al; The Ayurvedic medicines Haritaki, Amala and Bahira reduce cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits; J Ethnopharmacol; 1996 Nov; 54 (2-3): 119-24.
Malekzadeh F, et al; Antibacterial activity of black myrobalan (Terminalia chebula Retz) against Helicobacter pylori; Int J Cardiol; 1988 Nov; 21 (2):167-75.
Sohni, YR and Bhatt, RM; Activity of crude extract formulation in experimental hepatic amoebiasis and in immunomodulation studies; Journal of Ethno Pharmacol; Nov. 1996.
Biswas S, et al; Phytother Res; 1999 Sept; 13 (6): 513-6.
Jacob, A, et al; Eur J Clin Nutr; 1988 Nov; 42 (11): 939-44.
Mishra, M. et al; British Journal of Experimental Pathology; 1981 Oct; 62 (5): 526-8.
Mathur R, et al; Journ Ethno Pharmacol; 1996 Feb; 50 (2): 61-
Jose JK, et al; Journ Ethno Pharmacol; 2000 Sept; 72 (1-2): 134-40.
Bhattacharya A, et al; Phytomedicine; 2000 April; 7 (2): 172-175.
Bhattacharya A, et al; Indian Journal of Experimental Biology; 1999 July; 37 (7): 676-80.
Scartezzinini P, et al; Journ Ethno Pharmacol; 2000 July; 71 (1-2): 23-43.
Monday, October 09, 2006
An Ayurvedic View On Pregnancy and Early Motherhood
Dr. Kumuda Reddy has been practicing medicine for over twenty-five years. Originally trained as an anesthesiologist, she is currently the Medical Director of the Maharishi Vedic Center in Bethesda, Maryland.Dr. Reddy is the author of several books, including Forever Healthy and For a Blissful Baby: Happy and Healthy Pregnancy through Maharishi Vedic Medicine. We asked her to speak about the role of Maharishi Vedic Medicine in helping mothers have a comfortable, healthy pregnancy.
Q: How does Maharishi Vedic Medicine differ from the conventional approach to pregnancy?
A: In conventional medicine, the mother is given a pregnancy test and also the blood pressure, pulse rate, and weight are checked. Then she is advised to eat a generally healthy diet and to take prenatal vitamins. However, this prenatal diet doesn't give any specific recommendations for maintaining a happy and healthy pregnancy.
In Maharishi Vedic Medicine, it is understood that pregnancy is a time when everything the pregnant mother tastes, sees, touches, hears, and smells should be nourishing to the mother and child. There are very specific recommendations to bring about a state of balance in the consciousness, mind, body, behavior, and environment of the pregnant woman.
Q: What does Maharishi Vedic Medicine recommend for the pregnant woman's diet?
A: The Vedic texts recommend sattvic foods, which means pure, easily digested foods that nourish the dhatus (tissues) of mother and the unborn child. These include foods such as milk, rice, wheat, and ghee (clarified butter), fresh vegetables, fruits and grains. Sattvic foods do not cause constipation or indigestion, and they create a more settled state of mind. These foods help the mother enjoy ideal health and vitality, and also help with the growth of the baby. Maharishi Ayurveda Vata Churna is a convenient way to add Vata-balancing spices to your diet, and the Apple, Mango and Peach Chutneys can help balance cravings. Vata Tea or Worry Free Tea can be sipped through the day to help balance the mind and emotions.
Q: What other techniques bring balance to the mother and unborn child?
A: Techniques such as abhyanga, the Ayurvedic oil massage are recommended for the mother. Mothers who do this once a day, on arising, find that they feel more evenness, more balance, more energy throughout the day. The massage and other techniques balance Vata dosha (the mind-body operator that governs movement and many mental functions), so the mother feels more steady, more even, less anxious. There is more happiness, even in the body itself, and more balance in the entire nervous system. Feelings of agitation, depression, or sorrow dissolve. I recommend the Rejuvenation Massage Oil for Women, cut 50% with a base oil such as Almond Oil, or the Moisturizing Massage Oil. In the summer, replace Moisturizing Massage Oil with the Soothing Massage Oil.
In Maharishi Vedic Medicine it has been recognized for thousands of years that the mother must be very happy and feel harmony with nature during pregnancy. For this, various strategies have been recognized. One is the social environment, which means that the family tries to keep her happy, especially the husband. The ayurvedic tradition says, "Let her hear good news, let her hear harmonious music, let her eat sweet foods, let her attend monthly celebrations to always keep her uplifted and nourished. Aromatherapy with an uplifting aroma blend such asBlissful Heart aroma can be helpful.
Q: What happens if the mother isn't happy?
A: Modern research shows that if there is grief, sorrow, or depression, those negative emotions definitely affect the growth of the baby. The baby could be born with lower birth-weight, the baby could be less happy. If the mother is very stressed, this can also contribute to low-birth-weight baby.
When the mother is not as happy or settled during pregnancy, the newborn child experiences more colic, more crying, more sleep problems. In extreme Vata imbalance, the child might develop dry skin, hyperactivity, or musculo-skeletal problems while growing. The time to nip imbalances in the bud is during pregnancy, as it is much easier to correct it then. And most importantly, it is imperative to prevent so much suffering.
Q: What other techniques are recommended for bringing balance in pregnancy?
A: The Transcendental Meditation technique is a profound way for pregnant mothers to reduce stress, experience deep rest, and bring balance to all the doshas. When there is balance in the nervous system of the mother, the baby spontaneously grows in a very happy and healthy way.
If the mother is not calm and rested, there could be discomfort as the baby grows, or the child could be overly active in the womb. Or other complications could develop, such as fluid retention, high blood pressure, or spotting during pregnancy.
The idea of Maharishi Vedic Medicine is to prevent these problems and to bring the holistic value to life to the mother and child.
Q: It sounds as though Maharishi Vedic Medicine considers pregnancy to be a serious responsibility.
A: Yes, the newborn is such a important divine creature, such a precious individual. You don't want to compromise his capacity for growth, his capacity for perfection, or his capacity to contribute to the world. The ideal of Maharishi Vedic Medicine is to develop perfect individuals, and thus to create a perfect and ideal society. The ideal is to make every baby a cosmic baby who is in tune with nature, who will bring perfection and happiness to the world. In Maharishi Vedic Medicine the health of the unborn child should never be compromised. The mother must take care of herself, and in taking care of herself, she takes care of the child.
Q: What is the unique contribution of Maharishi Vedic Medicine to the postpartum mother?
A: In Western medicine, the typical mother gives birth, stays in the hospital between 24 and 48 hours, and then is on her own. In modern medicine we do recognize that it takes six weeks for tissues to recover from childbirth, and consequently the mother usually returns to the hospital for a six-week check-up. But otherwise, there is literally no support for the healthy mother who does not have a medical condition.
In contrast, Maharishi Vedic Medicine focuses on the revitalization of every mother through specific diet, rejuvenation techniques, and rest.
There is a recognition in Maharishi Vedic Medicine that even the healthiest of mothers can experience enormous postpartum fatigue and stress. A first-time mother, especially, is facing the transition into motherhood with all of its tremendous responsibilities and joys just when she feels most exhausted and depleted. The principle of Maharishi Vedic Medicine is that if you help the mother rejuvenate, if you "mother the mother," then she can care for her newborn with joy and ease instead of feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. She can be a better mother.
Q: What are some of the problems that can crop up if a mother doesn't receive the rest and care she needs?
A: Postpartum depression and fatigue are well known in modern life, and the traditional treatments of Maharishi Vedic Medicine are designed to avoid this.
If the recovery is not complete, if the mother is left feeling fatigued and exhausted, then this unfortunate state becomes the ground of future disease and discomfort. When the body is not recovered properly, it can manifest as chronic fatigue, stress, hemorrhoids, irritability, depression, digestive problems, and other chronic disorders.
Many intelligent women are able to trace their chronic health problems to the time they gave birth. Often women tell me, "This whole condition -- feeling unhappy and tired all the time, never feeling well--started with the birth ofmy child.
Maharishi Vedic Medicine prevents this kind of crack from developing in the physiology. And, in fact, many mothers who follow these simple procedures say that they feel even better than before they were pregnant.
Q: Can you describe some of the treatments?
A: First of all there is the diet. The mother's digestion is usually very weak after giving birth. Foods must be easily digestible, yet very nourishing. Rice, warm vegetable soups, milk and Ghee (clarified butter) are all part of the postpartum diet. Yet it is very specific, because certain Vata-producing vegetables will cause gas, and will show up in the baby as colic. So those foods must be avoided.
Then there is the environment. The mother needs lots of rest, so ideally other family members or neighbors should cook her meals and clean her home for the first six weeks. The mother and baby need a quiet, unstimulating, protected environment during the first few weeks after the birth of the baby.
Q: What else do you recommend?
A: A daily ayurvedic oil massage (abhyanga) is also a powerful way to rejuvenate the mother. There are trained technicians who will come to the home, massage the mother, give her some herbal tea to drink, and draw her a warm bath. After even a week of ayurvedic massage therapy, the mothers feel remarkably revitalized. The aches, pains, and imbalances start to subside. Instead, a feeling of relaxation and wholeness takes over.
Q: What does Maharishi Vedic Medicine offer the modern working mother?
A: In my own patients I see that many women have to return to work after six weeks, so it's very important for the woman to be on her feet to take care of the child and family as needed before she returns to work. Maharishi Vedic Medicine is the only thing I know of to do this.
Q: How does this program of nurturing the mother affect the baby?
A: The connection between mother and baby is very strong. Therefore, the mother's diet, mood, and emotions affect the baby. If the mother is feeling well, the baby feels well. It's so important that the mother be happy and healthy, for then the baby will be happy and healthy, and will have the, best possible start in life.
Maharishi Ayurveda Products International, Inc.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Menopause Relief
Ayurveda offers a new line of products for menopausal symptoms that are not only effective but safe. When research on hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) was suddenly discontinued by a federally-funded research program this summer, it made headlines.A combination of artificial estrogen and progestin, HRT has been used by millions of women as a solution to a wide range of menopausal problems from hot flashes to wrinkle-free skin.
The reason for discontinuing HRT research: despite the fact that HRT has been promoted by doctors and researchers as a way to protect women against heart disease for the past thirty years, the study proved that the opposite is true.
Long-term use of HRT actually increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and clotting, and thus the 16,000 subjects involved in HRT research were at too high a risk to continue. In addition, the study definitively proved what was already indicated in 30 previous studies--that HRT also increases the risk of breast cancer.
The HRT study was conducted by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), one of the largest research programs ever undertaken, involving over 160,000 women subjects. The WHI was begun in 1991 by the National Institutes of Health and is considered the definitive word on women's health by most doctors due to its rigorous design.
So what is a woman to do? Millions of women now feel abandoned, adrift in a sea of symptoms without relief. Many are turning to Maharishi Ayurveda for help.
Maharishi Ayurveda Products has recently developed a complete line of products to treat specific menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, memory loss, mood swings, urinary tract infections, and reduced sexual desire. These products effectively treat these symptoms without harmful side effects. Even more importantly, the wisdom of Maharishi Ayurveda offers practical and effective ways to prevent these disorders from happening at all.
What is Soma?
Soma has to do with the finest relative or celestial value that exists in all of nature including the human physiology.
Soma has a cooling, nourishing influence on the physiology, and is associated with lunar energy. In fact, soma is another word for "essence of the moon. Soma, or lunar energy, must be balanced with agni, or the solar energy that is associated with the sun in nature and with the digestive fire in the human body.
Here's one example of how these two forces work together in the body. When you eat an apple, the apple gets crushed by agni in the digestive process, and becomes the liquid nutritive fluid (rasa dhatu). As the nutritive fluid is further metabolized by the body, it becomes more and more refined. At some point, in the gaps between the dhatus (tissues), it becomes soma.
Ideal health means maintaining a balance between the cooling, nurturing, lunar energy of soma and the warm, metabolic and cleansing energy of agni. Women naturally have more soma in their physiology than men, and thus it is very important to maintain a good quantity of soma in the female physiology in order to maintain women's health.
Q: In the West menopause is likened to a disease, with women often under a physician's care for treatment. Is the ayurvedic approach similar or does a planned program of self-care help you go through menopause relatively without discomfort?
A: In the ayurvedic tradition, menopause is viewed not as a disease but as a transitional imbalance. Just as imbalances in the body arise due to the change of seasons, changes in weather, and the changing influence of the sun, moon and planets, menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life.
And just as Maharishi Ayurveda explains how to avoid imbalances in other transitional periods of life, it explains how to avoid imbalances during menopause.These transitions from one stage of life to the next are natural, and menopause itself is manageable through Maharishi Ayurveda. To use an analogy, there may be bumps in the road due to changing from one sort of pavement to another, but if you know the bumps are coming, you can take precautions to slow down so you don't blow out your tires.
In the same way, in daily life change is unavoidable. Maharishi Ayurveda offers concrete lifestyle and dietary guidelines to make those transitions smooth. This is the value of the seasonal routine (ritucharya), and this is the value of the special ayurvedic guidelines for the other changes in a woman's life: puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. They make the transitions happen smoothly, without discomfort or disease.
So the answer to your question is yes, the knowledge of Maharishi Ayurveda offers a complete self-care program for avoiding menopausal discomfort.
Q: Why do so many women in the West experience menopause-related symptoms such as hot flashes, loss of memory, emotional imbalance, and loss of sexual drive?
A: That is a good question. The main thing to understand is that menopause takes place during the transition between the Pitta stage of life and the Vata stage of life. Maharishi Ayurveda outlines three stages of life (called Kala in Sanskrit) for both men and women: Kapha Kala forms the first trimester, when Kapha dosha predominates and the body's structure is developed to maturity. Next is Pitta Kala or the adulthood trimester, when Pitta dosha is predominant and most people achieve their peak in terms of productivity and creativity. Vata Kala, the third trimester, occurs at the end of life, and is predominated by Vata dosha.
Because menopause occurs towards the end of Pitta Kala and the beginning of Vata Kala (the exact age a woman experiences these transitions varies), it is common for a menopausal woman to experience both Vata and Pitta related imbalances. For instance, menopausal complaints such as insomnia, memory lapses, anxiety, vaginal dryness, and aging skin are all related to an imbalance in Vata dosha. Pitta-related imbalances are experienced in menopause as hot flashes, urinary tract infections, anger, irritability, hyperacidity, and skin breakouts and rashes.
If a woman already has a significant Pitta or Vata imbalance in the years before menopause, her symptoms are likely to be much, much worse.
Another factor leading to menopausal imbalances is the accumulation of the digestive impurities called ama in the physiology, often caused by eating a diet of fast foods, foods with chemicals and preservatives, and packaged, canned, frozen or left-over foods. Ama blocks the channels that transport nutrition to the cells and remove waste from the body, and thus ama contributes to disease and aging, including menopausal problems.
Basically if a woman has had problems in the years before menopause with accumulation of ama then the symptoms of menopause are likely to be worse. A third factor is the misuse and overuse of the mind, body, emotions, or senses. Basically, this happens when a woman strains her mind too much, is under too much ongoing stress or pressure, or is doing work that is too "heavy" for her body, or is under tremendous emotional stress.
So if a woman enters menopause with a Vata or Pitta imbalance, or with the accumulation of ama, or having strained her emotions, mental faculties, physical body or senses through misuse or excessive use--then these pre-existing imbalances will combine with the natural fluctuations in hormones that take place during menopause. The result will be the symptoms that we recognize as hot flashes, loss of memory, emotional imbalance, weight gain, urinary infections, vaginal dryness, loss of sexual desire, and sleep problems.
Unfortunately, these causal factors are found more often in the West, or in women who are living a fast-paced lifestyle as in the West. When I was practicing in India, the women in the villages did not have the same problems of menopause that I am seeing in my practice in the West. There is an interesting story that illustrates this difference. In the village where I lived in India, there were two identical twin sisters.
One stayed in the village all her life, and the other moved to New Delhi, the Indian capital, with her husband. When these women reached menopausal age, the sister who stayed in the village had a smooth transition with no symptoms. The sister who had moved to New Delhi eventually consulted my father because she was suffering many complications of menopause, due mainly to her faster-paced, more stressful lifestyle and lesser attention to a proper diet and daily routine.
Q: This is fascinating, that menopausal symptoms are a symptom of the imbalances of our culture as well as the time of life itself. What's the best way to prepare for menopause and prevent these imbalances from happening?
A: The most important thing is to prevent Pitta and Vata imbalances and to keep the body free of ama before menopause begins. First of all, it's important to understand that not all women will get the same symptoms. Some will have more hot flashes, some more mood swings, others a memory problem, and others a loss of libido. Very few will have all the symptoms. And some women will have no symptoms at all.
The reason for this variation, even though all women experience the same reduction in estrogen at the time of menopause, is that there are other factors in play, as we have already mentioned. If someone is of Pitta constitution, or if they are eating foods that cause a Pitta imbalance or living a lifestyle that creates those imbalances, they are going to experience more Pitta-related symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings. On the other hand, if the person has a Vata imbalance due to having more Vata in their constitution or eating more Vata foods and living a Vata-aggravating lifestyle, then they will experience more Vata-related symptoms, such as memory loss and vaginal dryness.
So it's important to identify the etiological (causal) factors behind the symptoms. You could say that the main cause is the drop in hormones due to menopause, and certainly this is a major transition in a woman's life. But if the cause is only a drop in hormones, why isn't every woman getting the same symptoms? An intelligent woman can see that there also has to be some imbalance there in order for specific symptoms to manifest. And that is what you need to identify, whether it's a Vata or Pitta imbalance, and you need to stop doing those things that are causing the imbalance.So if you start to have any of the Pitta-based problems of menopause, be sure to follow a Pitta-pacifying diet. Avoid foods that are spicy, such as chilies, cayenne and black mustard seed. Salty foods and foods that are sour, such as yogurt (unless it is diluted and sweetened in a drink called lassi) and sour fruits such as ketchup, mustard, and other salad dressings and condiments made with vinegar should also be avoided.
Favor foods that are bitter, astringent and sweet, as these are cooling to Pitta dosha. Bitter and astringent foods include most vegetables. Sweet foods include rice, milk and cream, sweet lassi, wheat products, pasta. Sweet, juicy fruits such as pears and plums also pacify Pitta dosha. Cook with Pitta-reducing spices, such as cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, fennel and small amounts of cumin seed.
If you start to have some Vata-related symptoms of menopause such as memory loss or vaginal dryness, you'll want to work at bringing Vata dosha back into balance. For this, you'll want to eat foods that are cooked, warm, and unctuous (meaning that they have a small amount of good fats such as ghee and olive oil). Eat foods that are sweet, sour and salty, as this balances Vata dosha.
Apana Vata, which governs the genito-urinary tract, elimination, and menstruation, is a key area to attend to when preparing for menopause. Drink plenty of warm water throughout the day. Eat plenty of cooked, leafy greens, as this helps elimination and is also a good source of calcium. For both Pitta and Vata imbalances, a breakfast of cooked apples and prunes and figs is a good way to start the day, as it balances the doshas and cleanses the digestion.
In addition to balancing Pitta and Vata dosha, it's important to keep your digestion strong and free of ama. All of the above suggestions will help with this, In addition, avoid eating foods that are packaged, processed, frozen, canned or left over. Eat organic foods that are cooked fresh each day. The bulk of your diet should consist of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and legumes and light dairy products such as milk, lassi or panir for protein. This type of light but nourishing diet will aid your digestion and avoid the build-up of ama. Avoid heavy foods such as meat, cheese, yogurt and frozen desserts like ice cream, especially at night.
Q: And are there any lifestyle tips for preparing for menopause?
A: Yes. Sleep is an important area of concern for the woman entering menopause, because both Vata and Pitta imbalances can cause sleep problems that will only make menopausal imbalances worse. To keep both doshas in balance and to sleep more deeply at night, be sure you're in bed before 10:00 p.m. and that you arise before 6:00 a.m. This is the time of night when sleep comes easier and is more restful. If you stay awake past 10:00, it will be harder to fall asleep, and you'll also increase any Pitta imbalance, because 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. is the Pitta time of night, when the body needs to be at rest in order to cleanse and purify itself.
The morning abhyanga or ayurvedic oil massage is extremely important for preventing menopausal problems. Use the Youthful Skin Oil for Women. This oil is designed to increase circulation, calm Vata dosha, and prov ide needed moisture to the skin. For both Pitta and Vata dosha, it's important not to skip meals, and to eat your main meal at noon, when digestion is the strongest. Try to eat at the same time every day, and go to bed and wake up at the same time. And be sure to get lots of rest during your menstrual cycle as you approach menopause, because this will keep Apana Vata in balance and avoid more serious complications of menopause. Daily exercise (gentle for Vata and not too overheating for Pitta) is also important for keeping all doshas in balance. F inally, practice of the Transcendental Meditation® program is an effective way to keep the doshas in balance, to keep the mind clear and focused, and to calm the emotions and dissolve stress.
Q: You've given us a clear picture of what to do to prevent menopausal problems. What should a woman do during menopause?
A: All of these dietary and lifestyle suggestions that I just described to help prevent menopausal problems will also help keep Pitta and Vata dosha in balance once menopause begins.
Q: I understand that you have developed a completely new line of products for menopause called the Graceful Transition line of nutritional supplements. Can you tell us about this targeted line of products for menopause?
A: The Graceful Transition line as a whole is designed to prevent and address the imbalances related to menopause. It provides both general support and targets specific imbalances that women experience before, during and after menopause. The Graceful Transition line includes these products: Hot Flash Relief, Midlife for Women 1, and Midlife for Women2. In addition, the program includes dietary and lifestyle recommendations to correct specific imbalances during menopause.
The entire program is targeted especially for women of the West: who have the Western physiology, live in that environment, or work in that culture. It addresses the dietary needs, lifestyle and stress levels of women who live a fast-paced life. This program is designed to promote the overall emotional, physical and mental health of women. It helps keep the body free of ama and maintains the balance between soma (lunar energy) and agni (solar energy).
Q: That sounds like an amazingly comprehensive program. Can you tell us first of all what causes each type of imbalance and how each formula from the Graceful Transition line can help?
A: Certainly. Let's start with hot flashes. Hot flashes are caused when too much Pitta dosha accumulates in the body and at the same time ama blocks the channels (srotas). This causes the circulation of heat to become uneven, which women experience as hot flashes. Hot flashes, you could say, are the body's attempt to release heat that has accumulated due to blocked channels.
There is another factor that is highly important here, and that is the influence of soma on a woman's physiology. Soma is the cooling, nourishing substance related to lunar energy that is more predominant in a woman's physiology (see box for more detailed explanation). When, due to Vata and Pitta imbalances, the cooling soma decreases, this contributes to chronic hot flashes. Hot Pitta burns soma and high Vata dries it. When the channels are clogged and the release of heat in the body gets obstructed, then heat builds up and eventually gets released through uncomfortable hot flashes or night sweats.
Once there is this level of Pitta imbalance, and the damage has been done, so to speak, then what is needed is an herbal product to reduce Pitta in the deeper tissues of the body, such as the muscle and fat tissues. In addition, the microcirculatory channels of all the tissues (dhatus) and the waste products (malas) need to be cleansed. It's necessary to regulate the heat throughout the body and the brain as well. Most importantly, the connection between the the mind and body and the mind and the heart need to be re-established. In ayurvedic terms, this relationship between mind and heart is governed by Sadhaka Pitta, the subdosha that regulates the emotions and their effect on the heart, and Prana Vata, the subdosha that regulates the mind and senses. Finally, in chronic situations, soma must be increased, because the burning effect of hot flashes has reduced it to critical lows.
Hot Flash Relief is designed to repair all of these imbalances in order to cool the body and reduce hot flashes during menopause.
Q: That's remarkable, that Hot Flash Relief has been designed to take into account all these different causes of hot flashes. Can you tell us something about the herbs in the formula and how they achieve these effects?
A: Let's look at the first benefit this formula imparts: to reduce Pitta in the deeper tissues of the body. To reduce Pitta imbalance in the deeper tissues, the fat (medha) and muscle (mamsa) tissues, we added the ayurvedic herbs Shatavari, Indian Asparagus, Indian Sarsaparilla, Khus Khus Grass, Water Lily, Sandalwood, Indian Tinospora, Cabbage Rose, and Mica Bhasma. These herbs, when combined, perform an important task. They go deep into the fat and muscle tissues and remove the heat that has been stored there.
There's a very interesting story related to one of these ingredients, Water Lily, which to me illustrates how this wisdom of Maharishi Ayurveda is so profound. In ancient times, the great seers were aware that there were many herbs to increase soma and reduce heat in the deep tissues of the body. But they also knew that there was only one herb that is ideal to increase soma production in women, and that herb is the Water Lily.
Now, every herb has its own intelligence, its own purpose. Some plants are receptors for solar energy (agni), and thus have a heating effect on the human physiology. Other plants are receptors for lunar energy (soma), and thus have a cooling, nourishing effect. To understand how this works, think of a chili pepper. Nature has given it a receptor, you could say, that allows it to store solar energy. If you allow a green chili to mature until it is red in color, it will store more solar energy and we experience this as a hotter taste.
I learned a valuable lesson about the intelligence of herbs when I was interning with my father. We lived near a pond in which the Water Lily and the Red Lotus grew. The Red Lotus is large and red, and its petals are open during the day and closed at night. The Water Lily, on the other hand, opens its petals at night and closes them during the day.
My father pointed out that both lilies are cool by nature because they live in the water and derive their nourishment from the water. So both are good for pacifying Pitta on the deeper tissues, as is needed in the Hot Flash Relief formula. But if you also need an herb that increases soma, then the best choice is the Water Lily, because its petals are open during the night and closed during the day. The fact that it is open to the moon and closed to the sun makes it a receptor of lunar energy, and the best herb to increase soma in the feminine physiology.
You can see from this illustration that if you follow the traditional, proven guidelines of Maharishi Ayurveda, the formulation ends up being unique and highly effective.
Q: That's a fascinating story. What other herbs are used in this formula?
A: Other herbs such as Long Pepper, Indian Sarsaparilla, Turbinella rapa Bhasma and Cumin seed cleanse ama from the microchannels. Indian Tinospora, Shatavari, Coral (Corallium Rubrum) and Licorice nourish the connection between mind and body and mind and heart. Khus Khus Grass (Vetiver), Sandalwood and Mica Bhasma maintain proper heat regulation.
As far as dietary tips for reducing hot flashes, follow a Pitta pacifying diet. Don't eat anything that aggravates Pitta. Favor more sweet, juicy fruits, Rose Petal Preserve, and start the day with a stewed apple.
Keep your home environment cool, pleasant and loving. Fill your garden and home with roses. For daily abhyanga (ayurvedic oil massage), use 50% Youthful Skin Oil and 50% Cool Sensation Oil. This will calm and balance the emotions and support coordination of body, mind and heart.
Q: Can you tell us what causes other Pitta-related imbalances, such as mood swings?
A: Changing hormones can contribute to emotional ups and downs during menopause, and this physiological change can be magnified by special problems such as work pressures, children leaving the home, the burden of caring for ailing parents, and financial and marital problems. When emotional stress becomes chronic, even the brain chemicals can be affected, leading to feelings of depression.
Sadhaka Pitta, which governs the emotions and their effect on the heart, is often thrown out of balance when Pitta dosha becomes aggravated, creating sudden mood swings and a critical attitude towards loved ones.
To counteract mood swings, I'd recommend taking Stress Free Emotions along with a Pitta pacifying diet. If you feel critical or upset, try eating a sweet, juicy pear or take a teaspoon of Rose Petal Preserve. It's very important to take care of emotional imbalances when they first appear, because if left untreated they can cause major problems and even lead to early menopause. So it's very important to keep Sadhaka Pitta in balance at all times.
The various herbs in Stress Free Emotions combine to do three things: enhance coordination between mind and emotions, cleanse the channels between heart and mind, and nourish the heart and mind.
Q: What is the best way to approach multiple symptoms? Can a woman take all of these formulas at one time?
A: If a woman has multiple symptoms, she should try to find out which symptom occurred first. Then she should try to address that problem first, and make the recommended lifestyle and dietary changes along with taking the formulation.
What often happens is that one imbalance creates additional imbalances, with the root imbalance causing other symptoms to manifest. So as a general rule in Maharishi Ayurveda, we address the symptom and underlying imbalance that occurred first, since it is often the cause of later problems. For instance, if someone is hungry and then gets a headache, it would be wise to eat a meal first, instead of just popping a pain-relieving pill. The secondary symptom is often related to the first symptom, in the same way that the headache is related to hunger.
In general, take only two of the Graceful Transition formulas at one time, and in special cases up to three. But if you feel you have three or more symptoms, it's best to consult a physician trained in Maharishi Ayurveda, who can determine the primary cause through nadi vigyan (pulse diagnosis). This is also a good idea if you are taking other herbal formulas or medications.
An important part of this program is knowledge, and I'd highly recommend the newly released book, A Woman's Best Medicine for Menopause: Your Personal Guide to Radiant Good Health Using Maharishi Ayurveda, by Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D. This book gives a deep understanding of menopause, its imbalances, and the causes of specific symptoms. It also outlines a complete self-care program for taking care of those symptoms and removing the imbalances at their source.
Q: How do Midlife for Women I and II fit in with these Graceful Transition targeted menopause formulas? And what about taking Maharishi Amrit Kalash with these products?
A: I'm glad you asked because this is important to clarify. Midlife for Women I and II should be taken along with the new targeted formulas from the Graceful Transition lines. Midlife for Women I (for preparing for menopause) and Midlife for Women II (for during menopause) provide overall support. A woman needs both types of nourishment and support--general and specific.
Many women won't have any symptoms, and will be able to stay in balance by just taking Midlife for Women I or II. For women who have specific imbalances, such as hot flashes, mood swings, urinary tract disorders, vaginal dryness or memory loss, they should take both the Midlife for Women I or II plus up to two of the specific formulas.
Maharishi Amrit Kalash is the supreme rasayana, or herbal compound, for overall balance and youthfulness, so it can be taken in addition to two other herbal formulas.
Q: Osteoporosis is, of course, another problem often associated with menopause. Can you tell us something about the Calcium Support formula?
A: The Calcium Support formula is a vegetarian source of calcium that is easily absorbable and safe. Since one of the problems with calcium supplements is that they are often not absorbed by the body, this formula focuses on absorption, and contains herbs that enhance absorption of calcium. It also enhances the metabolic mechanisms between fat and bone tissue, so the bone tissue can actually utilize the calcium and other nutrients supportive to the bone. This high absorbability makes Calcium Support a unique product on the market today. Many commercial varieties are digested but not absorbed by the body, which creates a strain on the kidneys to remove the excess calcium through the urinary tract.
Another important feature of Calcium Support is that it is lead-free. Many commercial calcium supplements today contain lead, which is harmful to the body. Calcium Support contains Pearl Bhasma, which is one of the richest sources of calcium mentioned in the traditional ayurvedic texts. It and the other natural sources of calcium are easily absorbable and natural.
Q: Should you take the Calcium Support along with the Graceful Transition supplements?
A: Women of any age can take Calcium Support on an ongoing basis as you would a food, one tablet twice a day, without counting it as one of the Graceful Transition formulas that you take.
Because Herbal Calcium Absorb contains herbs to enhance utilization, and because the herbs also increase the absorption of calcium from the food you eat, it is much more effective in supplying needed calcium to menopausal women than the large quantities normally recommended for other types of calcium supplements.
Q: Menopausal women sometimes complain about skin and hair problems such as acne. What are the reasons for these symptoms?
A: One reason is that the decrease in estrogen and the onset of Vata time of life associated with menopause causes the glands to produce less oil and the deeper fat layers to become thinner.
This drying effect of Vata dosha causes the skin to wrinkle and lose its softness.
The surface layer of the skin also thins, and thus many women find that their skin is more sensitive to sunburn, windy and dry conditions, and allergens. That's why women in their fifties are sometimes dismayed to find that they have a case of acne, something they haven't faced since adolescence.
Aging also causes a decrease in circulation and blood flow, so the skin is no longer nourished on deeper levels. This, along with the drying of natural emollients, can cause the skin to look pale and pasty. Fluctuations in hormones also cause collagen to decrease, making the skin less firm and youthful looking.
Q: Do women just have to accept these changes, or is there something that they can do to increase the natural vitality and beauty of their skin?
A: Maharishi Ayurveda offers a wide range of remedies to keep a woman's skin healthy and youthful as she ages. The most important thing is to identify your skin type. Vata skin is delicate, thin, fine-pored and cool when you touch it. When out of balance, it is more prone to dryness, roughness, a gray or wan color, wrinkles and early aging. Pitta skin is usually fair and sensitive, with a tendency to freckles, moles, pinkish or reddish color. When out of balance it can develop sunspots, rashes, and breakouts. Kapha skin is usually soft, oily, thick, and darker in color. When out of balance, it can develop enlarged pores, blackheads and pimples, moist types of eczema and water retention.
For Vata skin, you'll want to moisturize your skin from the inside and out. Drink several glasses of pure water a day. Eat plenty of sweet, juicy fruits. Follow a Vata pacifying diet. Because Vata skin is delicate, you'll want to avoid harsh cleansers or products with chemical ingredients. The Youthful Skin Massage Oil is especially soothing to Vata, and helps nourish and soothe the skin.
For Pitta skin, which tends to be extremely sensitive, you'll also want to avoid harsh chemical ingredients. Cooling foods and tastes are best for your diet. Include Ghee and Rose Petal Preserve in your diet.
The Youthful Skin products are ideal for rejuvenating dry and aging skin and making it youthful again, and are completely free of harmful additives and preservatives. In fact, the Youthful Skin Cream is comprised of 9.5% herbal extract, which is truly an unheard of percentage. Most skin creams that are labeled "herbal" or "natural" contain only .025-1% herbal extracts.
Youthful Skin Cream has been tested in an independent laboratory with impressive results.
After two months, skin thickness increased by an average of 14.59%, which is a remarkable result from an all-natural cream. Wrinkles were reduced an average of 33% in the first month, and by 40% in just three months. Firmness, clarity and radiance, and moisturizing of the skin all were also substantially improved.
One reason that Youthful Skin Cream is so effective in moisturizing the skin is that the herbs open the channels and allow moisture to be conveyed to the deepest layers of the skin. Youthful Skin Cream, even though applied from the outside, actually improves the metabolism of the skin and opens the channels so it can show the results of being moisturized from the inside (by drinking water) and from the outside with the application of the cream.
The Youthful Skin Herbal Tablets are also a big help for menopause-related skin problems, because they promote contentment and serenity even in the face of stressful challenges. This formula also nourishes the deepest layer of the skin, the rohini layer, which means that it helps replenish and rebuild the tissues and fluids necessary for healthy skin.
Maharishi Ayurveda Products International, Inc.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
A Powerful Approach to Prostate Health
Most men hardly know they have a prostate until they reach middle age, when prostate health becomes a serious issue. Prostate enlargement is found in 50 percent of American men in their sixties, and up to 90 percent of men in their seventies and eighties.Worse, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer in men, with about 80 percent of all cases of prostate cancer occurring in men over sixty-five.
Even though the prostate seems to be an older man's health problem, these imbalances begin much earlier in life. The good news is that most prostate problems can be prevented by making simple lifestyle and dietary changes to restore balance. In this interview, our ayurvedic expert provides an in-depth analysis of prostate health from the perspective of Ayurveda, and gives practical and effective advice for keeping the prostate healthy throughout life.
Q: Let's start at the beginning. What exactly is the prostate gland, and what does it do?
A: The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. The interesting thing is that even though it is called a gland, it is actually an organ made up of 70 percent glandular and thirty percent fibro-muscular tissue. About the size and shape of a walnut, it is located directly beneath the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that drains the bladder. The prostate secretes a thin, milky substance contained in semen that protects and nourishes the sperm and lubricates the urethra. In ayurvedic terms, the prostate's secretion supports the flow of Shukra Dhatu, the reproductive tissue.
Q: How would you know if you had a prostate problem?
A: One major symptom is prostate enlargement, which is caused by imbalances that accumulate over time but become manifest with age. The initial symptoms include excessive urination at night, a weak urine stream, stopping and starting while urinating, a feeling that the bladder is never empty, difficulty in starting to urinate, and dribbling at the end of urination.
If a man has these symptoms, he should consult his doctor immediately. Often, when the symptoms are mild, the physician will say, "Wait and watch. This is the ideal time to get help from Ayurveda, when the problem is mild to moderate. At this point, there is still an opportunity to correct the imbalance that has caused the problem. Of course aging is the main etiological factor, or cause of the problem, but Ayurveda also identifies the lifestyle or dietary factors that act as a trigger, and if unchecked, can turn a mild problem into a serious one.
Q: Every man would naturally want to keep the problem from becoming serious. What are some of the causes, or triggers, of prostate problems?
A: There are several. One is overuse of Shukra Dhatu, or overuse of the sexual organs. Another is lack of adequate fluids in the body, due to not drinking enough water during the day.
Habitually suppressing the natural urge to urinate also can, over time, cause the urine to become more concentrated and, in turn, irritates the prostate.
Drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated beverages can also cause an imbalance. Alcohol, for instance, creates an abnormal increase in urine production, which aggravates Pitta and Vata doshas.
Another cause is taking too many over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants. These can cause the muscle that controls urine flow to tighten, making urination difficult.
Even your job can be a source of imbalance. If you have to sit for long periods of time without taking a break or stretching, this can create an imbalance in the reproductive area of the body. Not getting daily exercise, or eating a diet that creates impurities (ama) in the body, are other causes of prostate problem. If your diet does not contain spices that purify the urine daily (such as turmeric, cumin and fennel) that can also cause toxins to build up that lead to imbalances or infection.
Finally, if you don't have a healthy daily routine, for instance if you watch TV late at night or for other reasons don't sleep enough, or if you don't eat meals on time or your routine is very irregular, that can also cause ama to build up and disturb the immune system.
Q: It sounds like a wide number of factors can cause prostate problems.
A: Yes, they do sound like they are widely disparate on the surface, but actually there is an underlying principle that ties them all together.
One main factor is ama. Ama refers to the sticky impurities that are created when digestion is weak and food is not digested completely. Now, aging itself can create some weakening of the digestion, but most ama is created by poor dietary and lifestyle habits already mentioned -- eating foods that are old and heavy or eating meals at irregular times of the day.
If this kind of diet becomes a habit, then ama eventually mixes with the nutrient fluid (Rasa Dhatu) and even the blood (Rakta Dhatu). The urine, which is part of the body's purification system, also becomes overloaded with ama and thus more prone to infection. It becomes a fertile ground for bacteria, and can create additional problems of urinary tract infections, and that impacts the prostate. Weakened immunity also creates a problem for the prostate.
If the ama problem is not corrected, and ama reaches the muscle and fat tissue, then it creates an additional factor -- imbalance in cell production. This, compounded with testosterone levels declining due to age (or due to overuse of the sexual organs), is a major factor in prostate enlargement.
If the person also has an imbalance in Shleshaka Kapha (the subdosha of Kapha that governs lubrication of the joints, body fluids, and moisture balance in the skin), and ama is accumulating in the body fluids due to dietary mistakes, then Shleshaka Kapha and ama gets mixed with urine, creating a more irritated situation and further weakening the immune system.
Also, when Shleshaka Kapha is mixed with ama, it creates shleshma (a sticky, toxic mixture of Shleshaka Kapha and ama ). This condition is a common factor in imbalanced cell production. When combined with the problems of ama spreading to the tissues mentioned earlier, then the cell production becomes abnormal, and the prostate grows abnormally large.
Ayurveda tries to support health on all fronts: by balancing Apana Vata, the subdosha of Vata related to the downward flow of energy such as occurs with urination, stopping ama from being produced, strengthening the immune system, and cleansing the urine and nutrient fluid, and cleansing the blood, muscle and fat tissues of ama, and cleansing Shleshaka Kapha of amavisha.
Q: It certainly sounds like Ayurveda takes a holistic approach to prostate health and functioning. Can you tell us why age is such a critical factor in prostate health?
A: Again, this comes back to the doshas. Vata dosha increases as we age. The later part of life is actually known as the Vata Kala (or Vata time of life) in Ayurveda. Because Vata dosha is irregular, dry, and moving by nature, it can cause the digestion to become more irregular. This contributes to more ama being produced and spreading to the tissues.
Also, you have to consider that the prostate is located in the area of the body that is governed by Apana Vata, which includes the colon, lower abdomen, elimination and reproductive areas. Because the prostate is governed by Apana Vata, anything that aggravates Apana Vata creates pressure on the prostate.
Not everyone has to have problems with Apana Vata, of course, and some people will maintain balanced Vata even in old age. But if the person has been keeping an irregular routine, eating foods that are difficult to digest, and sitting for long periods of time at their job, the stage is already set. With the added factor of aging then the downward flow of energy in the body will become obstructed, affecting the organs in the reproductive system, including the prostate.
As the flow of energy and nutrients to the area gets blocked by ama, and the flow of impurities out of the area gets obstructed (as found in more concentrated urine), the prostate gets weaker and more and more imbalanced.
Q: So far we've only been talking about enlarged prostate. But is there a connection here to even more serious problems?
A: Yes. You see, initially, the imbalance in Shleshaka Kapha, called amavisha, causes enlargement of the prostate. But if the imbalance becomes more serious, and the person never adopts an ama -reducing diet or makes lifestyle changes to create more balance, then the common kind of amavisha becomes an even more toxic type of ama called amavisha.
Then the imbalance has become very serious. In other words, what if ama continues to be created, and mixes with Shleshaka Kapha, blood, muscle and fat tissue, and that occurs conjointly for a long period of time? If the person is not taking corrective measures to dissolve the ama, pacify Apana Vata, and restore balance to the entire area, then amavisha, the most toxic stage ama, spreads and really takes hold. Amavisha breeds free radicals and obstructs the natural flow of intelligence between cells, breaking down the connection between nature's intelligence and that area. This is how cancer tends to begin -- when the cell forgets its own nature and starts to grow uncontrollably.
Q: That is certainly a scenario we all want to avoid. So then an enlarged prostate or prostate imbalance could lead to cancer if the situation is not checked?
A: Yes, and that is why the doctor recommends that you keep checking, and keep testing on a yearly basis once you have an enlarged prostate. It's also why you should see a doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms that we mentioned earlier. But as you wait and watch, you can be using the Ayurveda approach, which is preventive and holistic in nature.
The role of Ayurveda is really prevention -- ideally to prevent a problem from starting in the first place, or to prevent a mild problem from becoming worse.
Q: What about stress, does stress play a role?
A: Stress can also create some problems. Because Vata dosha governs the nervous system, stress has a greater impact on Vata dosha, and therefore on anyone who is entering the Vata time of life. For instance, if you have a job that requires overuse of the mind, or jars the senses, this can aggravate Prana Vata, the subdosha of Vata that governs the brain, head, chest, respiration, sensory perception and the mind. When Prana Vata is out of balance, it easily brings the other aspects of Vata out of balance, including Apana Vata, creating disturbances in the prostate as well as other parts of the body.
Q: What are some dietary and behavioral recommendations to correct these problems?
A: First of all, it's important to understand that the right diet is very necessary to improve the health of the prostate.In choosing the right diet, there are several factors to consider. First of all, it's a good idea to eat Pitta pacifying foods, because the problem involves an imbalance in the blood tissue, which is governed by Pitta dosha. But at the same time, Kapha dosha must also be pacified, because Shleshaka Kapha is involved. And Vata dosha must also be brought into balance because this disease occurs during the Vata stage of life, and the prostate is located in the area governed by Apana Vata.
So prostate problems involve the combination of Pitta, Kapha, and Vata -- as without the Kapha imbalance there would be no abnormal growth, without the Pitta imbalance there would be no inflammation, and without the Vata imbalance there would be no discomfort. So all three doshas are involved, and therefore all the dietary and behavioral recommendations have to take all three doshas into account.
Q: What sort of diet would pacify all three doshas?
A: In balancing the three doshas simultaneously it's important to avoid any extremes. You don't want to eat anything that is too cold, too spicy, too dry, too bitter, too sweet, or too salty, as any taste taken in excess can create an imbalance in one of the doshas. You'll want to eat a diet that is moderate in every way.
To keep from aggravating Vata dosha, don't eat foods that are too dry and lack nourishment, such as too many crackers or dry cereals. Avoid long, leafy greens such as chard or spinach when they are cooked whole, as they are hard to digest and obstruct the natural movement of the intestine. If you chop the chard and spinach into small pieces and cook them well with spices, then they are easy to digest, help elimination and immunity, and do not aggravate Vata dosha. Avoid eating ice-cold drinks or cold foods such as cold salads, as these aggravate Vata dosha.
for Pitta, avoid extremely spicy foods that heat the blood tissue (such as hot chili peppers and cayenne found in some Mexican and Indian foods). Too much horseradish, garlic, onions and mustard seeds are other examples. Vinegar is another food that pollutes the blood tissue, and it is found in mustard, ketchup, salad dressings, and pickles.
To keep from aggravating Kapha dosha, avoid cold and heavy foods such as fried foods, ice cream, and other rich desserts. Aged cheeses and yogurt should also be avoided, as they are heavy and difficult to digest.
Q: That covers the extremes to be avoided. What are some foods to improve prostate health?
A: For prostate health, a diet of warm, cooked, easily digestible, light yet nourishing foods are best. Organic vegetables cooked in mild spices, whole grains, light proteins such as mung dhal soups, and sweet, juicy fruits will nourish the body and pacify all three doshas.
It's important to cook with mild spices that improve digestion, burn away ama, and pacify Vata dosha, but don't create heat in the blood tissue. Include a mixture of fennel, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and small amounts of turmeric (see recipe in box). Small amounts of black pepper and small amounts of fresh ginger also are healthy for maintaining prostate health and balance.
You may think that just adding these spices to your diet may not be that significant, but they are very powerful. Let me just explain a small amount of research on these common spices.
Turmeric is strongly anti-inflammatory, and intensifies the anti-cancer activity of other phyto-nutrients. Ginger and turmeric both have been found to have cancer-preventing qualities.
Turmeric is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, has more DNA protective qualities than Vitamin E and betacarotene. It helps clear away amavisha, the breeding ground of free radicals, thus supporting the liver in its effort to clear itself of free radicals. By stopping the production of ama and amavisha, it balances Ranjaka Pitta, thus purifying the blood and urine.
Black pepper is another common spice whose effects in the diet have been well documented.
Research published in Cancer Letter in the August 16, 1993 issue reported that 20 days after adding black pepper to the diet, the subjects' liver detoxification systems were strengthened, aiding in purification of the blood tissue and enhancing the overall immune system.
The mixture of black pepper, long pepper and ginger (trikatu) is famous in ayurveda, because it is the most effective combination of spices to prevent ama and amavisha, and to clear them away. You can add small amounts of black pepper and ginger to your foods to help clear the channels and micro-channels of the body, which carry away waste and supply oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
Q: That's fascinating, how helpful the right spices are for prostate health. What kinds of vegetables do you recommend?
A: Squashes cooked with these mild spices are excellent for prostate health. The best squashes for prostate health are the types that are white inside, such as zucchini or loki (for more information on buying and cooking loki, visit the recipe section of our web site). Avoid the dark yellow ones such as pumpkin; however, squashes with a mildly yellow color are fine.
Asparagus is another vegetable that is recommended, because it helps support balanced hormones. Daikon is a mild type of white radish root that purifies the urine. Because it is spicy, it should be cooked with other vegetables more as a seasoning than as the main vegetable. You could combine it with squashes such as zucchini or shred it and add it to mung dhal soup.
Light dairy products such as milk, lassi (a drink made with one part freshly-made yogurt and three parts water), and occasional fresh cheeses such as panir or cottage cheese should be included in the diet, but avoid the hard-to-digest aged cheeses, such as Monterey Jack, mozzarella, cheddar, brie, blue cheese, and Gruyere.As for grains, quinoa is best because it is rich in zinc. Zinc supports seminal health, and because seminal health and prostate health are connected, zinc also supports prostate health.
Recipes for mung dhal soup, lassi and many vegetables are available in the recipe section of our web site.
Q: That doesn't seem so complicated after all. It seems like the whole idea is to avoid extremes that can aggravate the doshas.
A: Yes, and to eat wholesome, fresh foods that won't create ama. It's important to avoid the foods that create ama or impurities in the body because they are lifeless and hard to digest.
These include canned, frozen, packaged and processed foods, as well as leftovers. Buy your fruits and vegetables fresh, and if possible, buy organic foods. Non-organic foods contain pesticide and chemical residues that can irritate the blood tissue and pollute the body with toxins. This, in turn, overloads the elimination systems such as the urine and irritates the prostate. Warm, cooked, light, and mildly spiced foods, on the other hand, are easy to digest and thus help cleanse the body of ama.
Q: What about lifestyle, doesn't that affect the doshas as well?
A: Absolutely. Here, it's the same principle: avoid extremes in lifestyle and routine. Moderate habits and daily routine help remove ama and pacify all three doshas.
Lifestyle habits that aggravate Vata dosha include eating at different times of the day from one day to the next. You'll want to eat your meals at the same time every day, and eat your largest meal at noon, when the sun is at its zenith, as that is when your digestive powers are also the strongest. Take time to eat nourishing, appetizing meals.
Avoid staying up late (past ten o'clock), as night wakefulness aggravates all the doshas, but especially Vata. Go to bed at the same time every night, before ten o'clock, and rise before six o'clock in the morning.
Sleep is necessary to pacify Apana Vata and all aspects of Vata. It is also important in enhancing the immune hormones, eliminates ama and creates more ojas, the product of good digestion that promotes lightness, bliss, immunity, health, and longevity.
Be sure to exercise regularly, and be sure that the exercise you choose is suitable for your age and body type. Daily ayurvedic massage, called abhyanga, is another important part of the daily routine. You can do it in the morning to help improve circulation and digestion, remove ama from the body, tone the muscles, and increase energy.
Avoid too much mental pressure, such as a job that requires you to work long hours. Take time to enjoy life, and to maintain healthy relationships with your family and friends. Practice a technique to reduce stress, such as the Transcendental Meditation® technique. Dozens of research studies show that it reduces stress, increases inner happiness and creates more balance in the mind, body, and emotions. It is an important part of the daily routine to eliminate mental and physical ama and to balance all three doshas.
Q: This is certainly a holistic plan for improving the health of the prostate. The beautiful thing about such a prevention program is that your overall health and vitality will improve, and you'll start feeling younger. Are there any specific recommendations for men who are already feeling some mild symptoms of prostate problems.
A: Yes, here are some tips, which also summarizes what we just talked about:
Drink lots of water throughout the day, in between meals. This will keep the urine from becoming too concentrated. If you add some herbs to the water, it will flush out toxins, dissolve ama in the blood tissue and help purify the urine. Here's a recipe: Boil two quarts of water and put the water in a thermos flask. Add three leaves of holy basil, 1/3 t. fennel seed, 1/4 t.
coriander seed, and six white pumpkin seeds or six fresh cucumber seeds. Keep drinking this water throughout the day, but stop drinking it after 7:00 p.m. Stay away from fluids at night if you have a prostate problem, as a full bladder at night can cause pressure on the prostate and disturb your sleep with the need to get up frequently to urinate.
Each time you urinate, take the necessary time to empty your bladder completely. Because the urethra (the passageway through which the urine drains from the body) is already narrow, when there is some enlargement of the prostate, the urinary channel becomes even narrower. If you are in too much of a hurry, all of the urine might not be drained from the bladder. This is not a good thing, because the urine becomes more concentrated if it is not drained from the bladder each time you urinate. So take the time to empty the bladder completely.
Avoid drinking alcohol, because it creates imbalances in the blood tissue, as does caffeine. Both of these create abnormal urine production and irritate the bladder as well.
If you have to sit all day at your job, take short breaks frequently and try to stretch or take a short walk. This will restore the normal flow of energy, blood, and nutrient fluid to the prostate area.
When the weather is cold, take care to keep your head, neck, and body warm. If your body temperature drops, it leads to urine retention, which aggravates the prostate. So keep your body temperature in a moderate range.
Make sure that your bowel movements are regular. Constipation creates an obstruction in Apana Vata, in turn creating pressure on the prostate, increasing ama in the blood tissues, and creating excessive dryness in the whole area. To help with regular elimination, try having a stewed apple in the morning for breakfast with stewed figs, raisins, or prunes. You can also add more fiber and cooked vegetables to your diet, and have 2–4 teaspoons of psyllium seed husk with warm milk or water at night before going to bed. If these measures don't work, take 2–4 Herbal Cleanse tablets before bed with water.
Daily abhyanga or oil massage pacifies Apana Vata, and that is always good. Massage the hands and feet, in particular, as an effective preventative. Use Rejuvenation Oil for Men, which contains herbs and oils to rejuvenate the male physiology.
If you are having trouble sleeping at night, be sure to correct the underlying imbalance. If you are not able to fall asleep, take Blissful Sleep for Vata imbalance that causes this problem. If you wake up between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m. with lots of energy, this is a Pitta imbalance, and Deep Rest can help.
Eat foods that are tri-doshic, which means that they pacify all three doshas. These include soaked walnuts and soaked almonds. Avoid foods that aggravate any one of the doshas: food that is too dry, too oily, too greasy, too cold or too hot, too spicy or not spicy enough. Avoid extremes.
Include lots of sweet, juicy fruits in your diet, as these help nourish the Rasa Dhatu (the nutrient fluid), purify the urine and help maintain a healthy flow of urine. They also create ojas, improving immunity and enhancing cellular intelligence. If stewed or cooked until they are soft, they are not only pacifying to Apana Vata, but also to Pitta dosha. They make an ideal breakfast when combined with prunes, figs, and raisins. If you have a Kapha imbalance, you can eat sweet, juicy fruits raw, but even then you should avoid eating raw fruit after sunset, as the digestion is not as strong after the sun goes down.
Q: That's quite a list. The man who adoptss these recommendations will be taking a giant step for his overall health, not just for his prostate. You had mentioned earlier that Ayurveda is really for prevention of disease. What would a man do if he didn't have any symptoms of prostate irregularity, but just wanted to avoid having any problems?
A: He should follow the same recommendations. In fact, this list of tips is really is more for prevention of prostate problems, but it can also help if the man is noticing some mild symptoms of prostate imbalance. But even if there are no symptoms there, I think that any man from 40 on up, especially if he has a body type that is Vata predominant, could benefit from this plan, as it is holistic and will create more good health, vitality, and balance when entering the Vata stage of life.
If a man has noticed some imbalance and tries this regimen, he should not expect a change overnight. He should give himself some time to make these dietary and lifestyle changes, and then give his body a chance to respond. It will take some time. That's why it's better to start out with a healthy diet and habits and in that way avoid the problem from starting in the first place.
Q: Ayurveda has formulated an herbal compound called Prostate Protection, based on the ayurvedic texts, to enhance prostate health. Can you tell us about its ingredients and benefits?
A: There are two main herbal ingredients in the Prostate Protection formula. These are Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata) and Guggul (Indian Bedellium). Kachnar is a famous herb for maintaining prostate health and function in Ayurveda. Both have a specific effect in clearing ama from the blood, muscle, and fat tissue, and help maintain the normal size of the prostate gland by supporting balanced cell production.
Other herbs enhance the flow of urine, and ease irritation and burning. White Sandalwood, Small Caltrops, Heart-leaved Moonseed (Guduchi), and Spreading Hogweed (Punarnava) are the herbs that support and balance the healthy flow of urine and reduce irritation.To enhance immunity in the prostate area is the role of Heart-leaved Moonseed, Turmeric, and Zinc Bhasma. The combination of Guggul and Zinc Bhasma is a traditional ayurvedic remedy for balancing the size and health of the prostate. Turmeric and Guggul are both effective anti-inflammatory herbs.
Mineral Pitch (Shilajit) and Barley Ash also help in maintaining the purity of the urine. Guduchi, Zinc Bhasma and Turmeric enhance immunity in the genito-urinary tract.
Another group of herbs supports the Shukra Dhatu and maintains testosterone production, including Small Caltrops, Country Mallow (Bala), and Shilajit. Bala, and Zinc Bhasma help balance the amount of testosterone and improve sexual desire. Research has shown that Small Caltrops has the overall effect of supporting the man's testosterone level.
The overall impact of this nutritional supplement is to prevent imbalances in the prostate, and to support the body's natural intelligence in maintaining prostate health and enhance overall functioning in that area. It helps break the cycle of pathogenesis for prostate imbalance.
Q: That is an amazingly well-rounded formula, with all aspects of prostate health being supported. It seems like this holistic, balanced herbal compound provides a lot more healing power than if you took one single herb. Could you tell us how Prostate Protection compares with a single herb such as Saw-toothed Palmetto in restoring prostate health?
A: That is a good question, and it is important to understand the distinction. Prescribing just one isolated herb to treat the prostate is a fragmented rather than holistic approach, and reflects a limited vision of the body and nature's intelligence. Saw-toothed palmetto is prescribed to enhance or modulate testosterone production, but as we've seen, that is only one small element in a rather complex physiological structure and function. It does not take into account the underlying imbalances of the doshas, tissues, and ama, and does not remove the underlying cause of the problem by recommending changes in diet, lifestyle, and stress management. You could say that such an approach does not take the whole picture into account.
Prostate Protection includes a sophisticated combination of herbs to not only balance testosterone production, but also to maintain the size and health of the prostate purify the urine, reduce inflammation and irritation, enhance immunity, and normalize cell production.
Prostate Protection also contains zinc, which is an important mineral for prostate health. The prostate needs ten times more zinc than any other organ. In fact, one of the reasons that American men suffer from prostate enlargement in such great numbers is because the food they eat is over-processed and lacking in essential minerals such as zinc. That is why Ayurveda recommends organic vegetables, and also why I mentioned quinoa in the dietary recommendations. A half-cup of cooked quinoa, for instance, contains three milligrams of zinc.
Yet important as zinc is, the recommendation is not that you take high doses of zinc, as that would be a simplistic, isolated approach that would only create further imbalance. Zinc is included in Prostate Protection, but it is combined with other herbs to help support the body's normal healing response.
As in every Ayurveda formula, Prostate Protection also includes secondary herbs to balance the primary herbs that are targeted for the prostate. Thus, there is no possibility that the formula targets one problem but creates an imbalance elsewhere. Everything is carefully balanced to create only a positive effect.Also, the entire herb is contained in every formula, not just the active ingredient. This is because nature packaged all the necessary elements to create balance, whereas if you extract the active ingredient, you can create an imbalance elsewhere in the body.
Q: The Ayurveda approach appears to be quite unique, in a time when most herbal formulas contain the active ingredient of one plant, which can create harmful side effects. Are there any other safe but effective herbal formulas that might be useful to men who wish to improve their prostate health?
A: If a man feels that he needs extra help in maintaining Shukra Dhatu and enhancing semen production, he could take Rejuvenation for Men, one tablet twice a day after eating. If you need extra help for the flow and purity of the urine, you could take Genitrac in addition to Prostate Protection. Take one tablet morning and evening. If you need an additional antioxidant to fight free radicals, take one tablet of ReGen Vitality with each tablet of Genitrac.
As mentioned earlier, ongoing stress can be an important factor in prostate health, and especially mental stress -- in the form of overuse or misuse of the mind -- can disturb the immune system and aggravate Apana Vata. For this, you could take Worry Free tablets and Tea along with Prostate Protection.
But if you feel that you need more than three of these products, you should consult a physician trained in Ayurveda, to make sure that you need that many products. The ayurvedic physician will also guide you in a personal dietary and lifestyle program to restore balance to the prostate and your mind, body and emotions.
© Maharishi Ayurveda Products International, Inc.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Kamaraja
