Ayurveda Ireland

Spring.  This is the time of year that life starts to show and birth appears.  Our bodies start to warm up and we notice that we want to eat lighter, fresh foods.  Did you know that this is also the time of year when you are most inclined to get sick either with a cold or flu?  Ayurveda teaches that there are certain times of the year when the body becomes unstable and more sensitive.  There are, in fact, two times of the year when this occurs and that is Spring and Autumn.  Ayurveda teaches that it is because of the unstableness of the elements that our bodies are more susceptible due to the change in temperature and the accumulation of heavy substances over Winter.  I know from being aware of my own body the early signs of getting sick and how to prevent a full blown cold or flu from happening.  Here are my tips for avoiding the cold/flu.

First of all, learn your bodies early signs.  My early warning signs include a little more mucous in the nose and a different taste in the mouth.  I also feel my energy drop which means I’m more tired than usual.  When I feel these three signs I start paying attention to my mind and what I am eating.  Foods to avoid when you have these early signs include:

• Caffeine- drinking tea, coffee or soft drinks will surely bring on the cold/flu.  Try to replace with warm water.  Cold water does not do the same. Make sure the water is warm and you will aid the body in flushing out and built up congestion.
• Pastry, bread or sweet baked goods.  Mostly this includes those sweet pastries you buy in the store/shop.  When your immune system is being challenged these sticky, pasty substances are that much harder to digest and add to the congestion.
• Sugar.  Anything with sugar in it will bring on the cold especially if it is the white common sugar.  Natural sweeteners don’t have the same effect as common sugar.
• Alcohol will decrease immune system and aid the body in getting sick.
• Ice cream or cold dairy.  These food items take more energy to digest because your body must first warm them up in order to fully digest them.  That precious energy wasted on warming up and digesting the sweet dairy will only suppress the immune system.

Also, but just as important is my state of mind.  When it comes to my mind I want to adjust how I’m thinking and/or feeling to aid the bodies immune system, but there are also situations to make sure you avoid.  These include:

• Avoid anger when immune system is challenged.  Anger will deplete the body further.
• Worry.  Worrying doesn’t help anyone or anything and only depresses the immune system exposing you to sickness.  Stop worrying and know that everything is actually ok.
• Give yourself a break.  Many people get sick because it gives them an excuse to relax and take a break.  If this is you then try to listen to your body and take breaks where you aren’t doing anything.  Enjoy reading a book or playing with the children.  Do those things you put off cause it’s those things that will keep you healthy.

If you are in tuned with your body you will notice these subtle changes in your physical being.  These changes occur before you actually get sick and if you listen you can avoid it all together.  We are all essentially programmed the same and tuning in and knowing your body is the key to keeping yourself healthy.  Just because you are exposed to other people who are sick or just because you are feeling a little under the weather doesn’t mean you need to get sick.  So watch yourself, pay attention and you will get through the change of season with no sickness.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the immune system and how you can boost it at this time of the year.  I have included this question at the bottom of this section for those interested in what I had to say, but I wanted to talk about your immune system and how to keep it healthy ALL the time.

The most powerful way to keep your body healthy and immune system functioning at top efficiency is to be following your dharma or life’s purpose.  This doesn’t have to be something grand or over the top, but it’s what your heart and inner drive has been driving you to do all along.  Some people don’t know what that is, but most of us do.  And what stops you from connecting to your dharma is your drive for money.  Did you know that if you followed your dharma that you would be completely supported?  Not only that but your health would improve and life becomes sweet again.

But on a more grounded practical level the immune system is responding to the impulses of your mind.  When you eat something and you tell yourself that it’s bad for you and you feel guilty because you ate it, your body will treat the food as if it was bad for you and you will feel awful.  On the other hand, if you ate something that wasn’t necessarily “good for you” but you enjoyed every last, tasty morsel and you sent the message from the mind to the body that it was fantastic and was just what you needed then that food is able to assimilate with your body and create health.

The most perfect example of the mind impulses guiding the body is with the placebo effect.  If you truly and utterly believe you will see the results in your physical body then you will.  To me this is one of the most important aspects to our health, the use of the mind to tell the body that it is healthy, but there has to be complete belief in that or you will not get perfect health.

Stay focused, positive and look at things as having purpose and meaning and you are sending a strong message that all is well in your body and so your immune system is strong and healthy.

Is there anything quick and easy one can do at this time of year to kick-start a jaded immune system?

A: The immune system is our bodies defense against disease and at this time of the year we are all more susceptible to low immune systems.  To boost yourself you can do the following:

1. Make sure all of your food is fresh and seasonal.  Fresh, seasonal foods keep us balanced no matter the time of year.  Nature provides you the right food at the right time in the same country so honor that and eat fresh and seasonally.
2. Avoid ice cold anything.  The temperature outside is cold and we need to make sure we are eating foods that are opposite to what nature is giving us.  Ice cold foods will lower your immune system and make you more sluggish, tired and cold and will hinder the digestive system.
3. Eat warm, moist, cooked meals.  Warm, moist, cooked meals are the best body boosters right now.  These are the easiest foods to digest so keep it simple and make sure your foods are cooked (at least in the Winter months).
4. Eat foods you know you can digest.  If you get gas/wind, acid reflux, indigestion, constipation, burping or anything that isn’t perfect digestion then make sure you are aware of those foods and eat simply.  Whole grains, 1 protein and cooked vegetables with a little oil will keep your immune system happy.
5. Do what inspires you.  Nothing boosts your immune system more than doing what makes you feel connected and inspired.  No matter what it is, do it!!  Your passion to do whatever inspires you is one of the reasons you are here on this earth and when we are doing our life purpose we not only boost our own immune systems, but we inspire those around us.

I have been on this spiritual path for as long as I can remember and I’m just now understanding things that I had questions for so long ago.  I suppose the time had not been right until now.  One of my main questions while journeying on this path of remembering was how did I know the difference between God’s will and my will (ego will).

I brought this question to a priest of a church I was once a member of and he answered, “You will just know”.  I brought this question to the Swami at the ashram I was living at and she said, “Ask your question and wait for the answer.  In that way you will know it is God’s will and not your own. God’s will take’s time while your will wants the answer now.” I remember having this question for a very long time and everyone I brought it to did not give me an answer that satisfied or “felt” right.  Yet, I continued to ask as I believed that someone other than myself must be able to answer this question.

The answer to this question came to me once I realized I was on my own and had nobody else to ask.  It came to me as an epiphany.  I was going through, once again, a life drama and wanting to know if I was making the right decision.  Now, to me the “right” decision is about what my divine guidance would want, not what my will would want.  And just that easily I had a “feeling” that gave me the answer.  This feeling was not an emotion but was more of a deep, intuitive, gut feeling.  I was without a doubt of what I was supposed to do.  And with that, I was also without a doubt how I know the difference between God’s will and my ego will.  That “gut feeling” came from the center of my being and told me what I should do.  What had been missing all along is awareness of that’s where I should have been looking in the first place.

Now I want to help others find that area of intuition.  I want to help them connect so they know in what direction their soul or God’s will wants them to go in.  We should all be checking into that area every single day with every question we have until it just becomes second nature to tune into that area for everything.  I will always begin by guiding people to what foods are best for them because if you are not eating healthy foods that are balancing for your body it is very difficult to tune into that area and to “feel” or sense the answer.  And secondly, I will look at lifestyle habits that are creating blockages that are keeping you from tuning in.

We all have this innate ability and it is God given.  We need to connect with it again to guide us in making the choices and decision for our health, well-being and spiritual growth.

Using Ayurveda to cure Migraines Part 1

It is estimated that between 16-17% of the world’s population experience migraines at least once in their life.  This means over 1 billion people worldwide experience migraines with the majority being women.  There are various reasons for migraines, but the one that I have experienced as the major contributor is having an excess of the element air in the body.  This air element dries out the tissue allowing the element of fire to build and go out of control.  The combination of fire and air create a situation like a wildfire in the head with pain, sensitivity and sometimes nausea playing dominate roles.  Migraines and especially reoccurring migraines are a sure sign that your body is out of balance, and has been for awhile.

Here are my tips for avoiding migraines.

1. Make your health priority.  We, especially women, take care of everyone else in the house except for ourselves.  We avoid the early signs of imbalances in our bodies by taking care of others.  In order to reverse the continuing headaches and/or migraines we need to stop and pay attention to what our bodies are telling us.  You cannot fully take care of someone else if you are disconnected from your health and taking care of yourself.
2. Get rest.  If your sleep patterns are off and you tend to stay awake into the night and sleep in into the morning then you are keeping yourself out of balance.  Get on a healthy sleep routine and go to bed before 11pm and wake with the sun or just after it has risen.  This will set you up for health success.
3. Avoid dry foods.  Dry foods will only dry your body out more increasing that air quality in your body.  Dry foods would include: oat cakes, rice cakes, ryvita, dry fruits, crackers and potato chips.  Anything that doesn’t have moisture in considered dry.  Have a check in with yourself to see how many dried foods you are consuming and put them aside for at least 1 week to see if anything improves.
4. Receive or give yourself an oil massage.  Sunflower oil is a safe oil to put on your body for most people.  Yes, this means the same oil you would buy for cooking.  If you feel very heated and think the migraines could improve by cooling down then try coconut oil.  It is the most cooling oil and will help you gain moisture in your tissue.  In the very least try oiling your feet and the very top of your head right before bed.  This will help calm down the heat and excessive air quality in the body.
5. Stay hydrated.  Dehydration is often a big contributor to migraines.  Check in with yourself to see if you are drinking enough water.  If you are drinking coffee or black tea then you are most likely dehydrating yourself.  As a general rule, for every cup of coffee or tea you drink you should drink 2 cups of water.  This will help you from becoming dehydrated.
6. Aloe vera is a great all around balancer for cooling down the body and to help regulate hormones in the body.  There is a word of caution here in that some of the aloe vera gels and juices you buy in health food stores have additives to help preserve it.  These additives make the Aloe not good for you.  You want to buy an aloe gel or juice that is organic and/or by looking at the label you can see that it doesn’t have a large amount of additives.
7. Enemas (known as basti’s in Ayurveda) are great for balancing the body and getting rid of migraines forever.  The health of your colon is directly related to the health of your body and specifically your nervous system.  An oil enema is recommended to build your bodies strength.  Use ½ cup warm water with ½ cup sesame oil and retain it for at least 10 minutes for best results.  You can repeat the enema for best results.
8. Stay out of the sun especially if you are of the fiery nature already.  The heat of the sun will increase the fire element in you and will also increase the air element by drying you out.  Again, you can dehydrate yourself by being out in the sun for too long.  If you can’t avoid being outdoors in the heat then make sure you wear a hat and cover yourself up.
9. Cut out or greatly limit salty, sour and pungent foods.  Salt, sour and pungent are tastes that increase the fire element in the body and pungent also dries up the body increasing the element of air.  Pungent foods include chilies, dry ginger, black pepper and cayenne pepper.  Salty foods include seafood, seaweed, soy sauce and salt.  Sour foods include lemons, limes, yogurt and hard cheese.

There are so many more ways of balancing the body to get rid of your migraines forever.  My next article on migraines will feature home remedies.  Always remember, your body is always telling you what your body needs, you now need to learn how to listen to it.  Empower yourself with your own knowledge and wisdom by listening.

Since the beginning of time people have been cleansing and detoxing the body.  And, for the most part, their bodies weren’t bombarded by poor quality food items, additives or preservatives, yet people of ancient days still felt the need to cleanse.

In todays world there is an even greater need to keep your physical body cleaned due to all of the toxins you put into it.  Just think, anything that has a preservative, additive or that wasn’t freshly made has the ability to create congestion and toxins in the system.  Yes, our bodies were built to flush things through our urine and feces, but what about those food items that your body didn’t know how to digest?  Where did they go?  The answer, they are still in your body hanging out as undigested food and creating congestion, weight gain, disease and making you feel heavy and sluggish.  Would you like to get rid of this slug once and for all?  The best time to cleanse is during the change of season between hot to cold and cold to hot.  So now is the time to think about it!

Here are some tips to get your body cleaned and clear of congestion.

1) If you have never cleansed then I suggest you take 1 day off of eating to fast.  Fasting will help your body to take a break.  During this break it allows the body to digest some of the slug that is congesting the body and ultimately the mind.

2) If you just can’t stay away from food then, if the temperature is still warm out, go on a juice fast.  This is also a great way of helping the body to digest the undigested food that is making you feel heavy and sluggish.  Be warned, once the temperature starts cooling down then you want to put the juicing aside as it will make you cold and doesn’t give you all that you need to keep your reserves.  If you continue juicing without giving your body all the nutrients (protein, grains) it needs then you will start seeing your health depreciate.  Our bodies need different food items depending on our unique constitution and going into a drastic diet such as juicing only can put you way out of balance.

3) Sweat.  Sweating is a natural way to help the body eliminate the extra slug from the body.  Sweating also boosts the metabolism, aids circulation and decreases water weight.  In Ayurveda sweating is called Swedhana and is traditionally used as part of ayurveda’s way of cleansing called panchakarma.

If you are already very thin and feel sluggish, like you want to cleanse, but you don’t have extra weight to lose then I suggest:

1) Make sure you are eating

• vegetable
• protein
• whole grain (quinoa, basmati rice, barley, oats)
• little added oil (this must be of good quality and one that’s right for your body type)

• In addition, I suggest you eat at regular times.  Setting regular times to eat will remind you to eat and making sure you are getting all your body needs for strength.

There is one more way of cleansing that I want to mention here and that is called Panchakarma.  Panchakarma is Ayurveda’s way of cleaning the body.  Panchakarma doesn’t require you to fast or to be away from food, but to eat a mono-diet that is easy to digest so your body get’s the break from digesting difficult food.  In addition, there are cleansing therapies that are administered to the body to aid it in detoxing.

Panchakarma has been used for thousands of years to keep the body young, supple and healthy.  If you would like anymore information on panchakarma then you can go to my website by clicking here and then clicking on the 3,6, 12 day panchakarma packages I offer.

We as human beings are influenced by the moon, but do you know how?  Do a quick search on google about how the moon influences the body and you will get a huge amount of suggestions, over 2 million to be exact.  While both men and women experience changes throughout the month in response to what phase the moon is in, women have the most dramatic response to the moon.

First of all, lets think about the moon and what we know it influences on earth.  The most obvious is the moon’s influence on the ocean.  When the moon is full the ocean experiences high tides and when the moon is dark (new moon) the ocean experiences low tides.  Well, the same can be said in the physical body.  When the tide is high (full moon) the water content in our body is full and this is when women naturally ovulate.  When the tide is out or the moon is dark we have the least amount of water content in our bodies and this is when women will naturally menstruate. Just as the moon pulls the tide out of the ocean, the moon also pulls the fluid out of the body.

How does this affect my health?
Have you ever noticed that you have certain times of the month when you “feel” better than at other times?  This is normal and natural.  Those of us who have less water content in our bodies feel more balanced when the moon is full then when the moon is dark.  Those of us who have extra fat or water in our bodies feel better during the new moon phase as the pull of the moon draws the water content from the body.  Because women are more tuned in to their emotions they are more likely to feel and respond to these changes even if they are unaware of them.  The phase of the moon also affects our cravings.  If you are a dry person and the moon is full you will feel most balanced and so your cravings will be minimal at this time.  But, during the new moon you will be craving heavy foods such as sweets and comfort foods because the water content has been taken from your body. The sweet taste is the most nourishing of all tastes and “fills” us up again.

Most women, if not on a contraception pill or devise, will start to ovulate with the full moon and cleanse the body through menstruating during the new moon.  And, as women, our emotions are heightened either at ovulation or menstruation.  The more balanced you are the less dramatic this time of the month will be for you.  The more “out of balance” you are the more you will experience mood swings, cravings and/or tiredness, not to mention a whole host of other discomforts we experience.

What I want you to get from this article is that it is natural to have certain times of the month when you “feel” better, have more energy and when you crave foods.  What I want you to check in with yourself about is if the low energy and cravings occur all the time.  If they do then adjusting your food will not only clear up the energy and food cravings, but will also clear up the discomfort around your monthly cycle.

Here are a few things to try during the two pivotal changes of the moon to increase energy and stop craving foods:

During the Full Moon

1. Implement a new routine such as healthy eating or exercise.  This is the best time as most of us “feel” better when the moon is full.
2. Drink less liquids
3. Avoid heavy dairy or oily foods

During the New Moon

1. Eat foods that are moist, nourishing and tasty
2. Allow full flavours in your “healthy” food items at this time because if you don’t you will be eating the non-healthy foods
3. Don’t forget to add some oil to your food as this will help keep the cravings down

Always listen to your body.  If you are craving a sweet food or a comfort food then ask yourself if it’s something you need or something you want.  If it’s something you want purely because it tastes good then try to substitute the item with a “healthy” choice.  Also, if you are giving your body all it needs in terms of nutrition then cravings will be minimal or non-existent so pay attention to your meals and make sure you are giving your body 4 components:

1. Vegetable
2. Protein
3. Whole grain
4. Little oil

When all 4 of these components are included in your mid-day meal you will reduce cravings and feel an increase in energy.

In conclusion, pay attention to your body and notice if you feel a change during the phases of the moon. Allow your body the changes it needs during the month without putting judgment on yourself or what you feel you need to do.  If cravings are strong and regular then pay attention to your meals and make sure you are giving your body all the nutrition it needs, especially at the mid-day meal or lunch.  And last but not least, love the body you were given and treat it as something special because it is.  It is what you were given to use and to understand it will give you an insight to your health.

Fertility, according to Ayurveda, is not just about the health of the egg and sperm but also the woman’s reproductive tissue (shukra) and her ojas (constitutional strength).  Envision a woman’s womb like a nest.  If the nest is too dry, undernourished, or out of balance an egg cannot grow. In order for conditions to be “just right” she needs to have her body strong and ready to carry a life.  A nest or womb that is ready to receive an egg to grow needs to be moist, fertile, warm and nourished.  The monthly cycle of a woman is a good indicator to the quality of the womb and its ability to carry a life.

Indicators that show the womb is ready to receive and grow a baby are:

• Monthly cycle is regular with adequate amount of blood flow
• Ovulation discharge is present and is moist and sticky
• There is little to no mood swings or discomfort before or during monthly cycle
• The woman’s body has an adequate amount of fat (not too much, but not under weight)

Remember that once you conceive your body will take from you in order to nourish and grow the body of the baby.  If you don’t have enough to supply yourself and the baby then you will find depletion in your own tissue while the baby will receive all it needs.  This depletion can lead to depression after birth and possible health issues in the mother.

Ayurveda teaches that the food you give your body feeds 7 different layers of tissue (dhatus*).  Once food has been consumed the first layer of tissue (rasa dhatu*) is fed and if the quality and quantity is there and digestion is good then the second layer (rakta dhatu*) is fed and so on until the 7^th and final tissue is fed which is the reproductive tissue (shukra dhatu*).  Also, when the body is under a lot of stress the first tissue that gets depleted is the 7^th tissue (shukra dhatu*) or the reproductive tissue and then the 6^th tissue (majja dhatu) and so on.  That is why it is very important that the mother, in preparation to conceiving, eat foods that are best for her body type so all of the 7 tissues (dhatus*) get fed.

7 ways you can increase your chances of conceiving:

1. Avoid stressful situations: When women put themselves in stressful situations or conditions they are depleting the reproductive tissue.  Our bodies are very wise.  Women can only carry a baby if the situation and circumstances around them make them feel comfortable and safe.  Stress is an indicator that things are not safe.  When things are not safe the blood stops flowing to the reproductive tissue and feeds only those vital organs to maintain life.  On the other hand, when the body is in a time of growth and prosperity, comfort and the feeling of being safe prevail and the reproductive tissue has adequate blood flow and so is able to carry and maintain a life.
2. Eat foods that are nourishing for you: If you know your bodies constitution, according to Ayurvedic principles, then the foods you are eating will be most balancing for you and will nourish and support the growth of a fetus.  If you don’t know your individual constitution and are not good about listening to your bodies needs then you could be giving your body foods that are depleting.  Not all “health foods” are healthy for everyone.
3. Avoid black tea and coffee:  Black tea and coffee are dieretics and deplete the body through dehydration.  This can be a big issue if your dominate constitution is Vata.  Replace black tea and coffee with warm water or herbal teas.  Herbal teas that are nourishing for the reproductive tissue are red raspberry and strawberry leaves, chamomile, nettles, rose and licorice.
4. Make sure you get adequate amounts of healthy oil in your diet:  Healthy oil such as extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed or linseed oil, ghee, sesame and sunflower oils keep the hormones balanced and the tissue nourished.  An inadequate amount of oil can show up as insomnia, constipation, dry skin, over active mind, twitches and tremours.
5. Learn to let go without feeling you have to be in control of everything:  Letting go can literally help you to feel lighter.  The more you try to hold on or make something happen that is showing you resistance the more stress you are putting on your body.  When you let go you start to go with the flow of life and everything starts to happen without effort.
6. Stop smoking: Smoking not only is bad for your health, but it dries out the body and leaves toxins in the system.  Remember that your baby will receive all that it needs and what you have available, good or bad.  Those toxins that you inhale through smoking will also go into the growth of your baby.  Make sure that if you do smoke or if you find yourself pregnant then please stop during the pregnancy.
7. Get outside and walk daily:  Walking is a great way to get your exercise and safe to do through out the pregnancy.  Walking keeps your muscles loose and gets the metabolism moving.  If you can get out for a walk daily you will see your energy stay up and you feel good through your whole day.  In addition, connecting with fresh air and getting outside does wonders on your outlook and state of mind.  All for the positive.

*Dhatu is the Sanskrit term for tissue.  There are 7 dhatus that make up the physical bodies health.  The 7 dhatus are:

1. Rasa Dhatu- plasma
2. Rakta Dhatu- blood
3. Mamsa Dhatu- muscle
4. Meda Dhatu- fat
5. Asthi Dhatu- bone
6. Majja Dhatu- bone marrow or nervous system
7. Shukra Dhatu- reproductive tissue