Fibromyalgia
In Ayurveda, fibromyalgia is understood as a condition resulting from the imbalance of doshas, particularly Vata and to some extent Pitta and Kapha. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal, pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tender points in specific areas of the body. The Ayurvedic approach to managing fibromyalgia involves a holistic treatment plan aimed at balancing the doshas and improving overall well-being. Here are the key components:
Understanding Fibromyalgia in Ayurvedic Terms
- Vata Imbalance: Vata dosha, responsible for movement and nervous for movement and nervous system function, is often considered the primary dosha involved, its aggravation can lead to pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
- Pitta and Kapha Imbalances: Secondary imbalances of pitta (causing inflammation, irritability) and Kapha (leading to sluggishness, depression) may also be present.
Diet
- Vata Pacifying Diet: Emphasize warm, nourishing and easy to digest foods. Include ghee warm milk soups, stews and cooked vegetables
- Avoid Vata Aggravating Foods: Cold, dry and raw food should be minimized. Limit caffeine, processed foods, and excessive use of stimulants
Single Herbal Remedies (discuss with an Ayurvedic professional before taking Ayurvedic formulas)
- Ashwagandha: an adaptogenic herb that helps reduce stress, improve sleep, and alleviate pain
- Turmeric: known for its anti-inflammatory properties
- Guggulu: helps in reducing pain and inflammation
- Bala: Strengthens muscles and alleviates pain
Ayurvedic Herbal Formulas (discuss with an Ayurvedic professional before taking Ayurvedic formulas)
- Dashamoola: A combination of ten roots that helps reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and balance Vata
- Ashwagandha Churna: reduces stress, improves sleep and strengthens muscles
- Yogaraj Guggulu: Contains herbs like guggulu, ashwangandha, ginger, and pippali
- Kaishore Guggulu: Contains guggulu, Triphala, Amla and other detoxifying herbs to reduce swelling, inflammation, detox the body and improved digestion.
- Rasnadi Kwath: Contains rasna, guduchi, eranda and many other herbs. Relieves musculoskeletal pain and inflammation, balances Vata and Kapha while boosting the immune system
- Bala Taila: Contains bala and many other herbs processed in a sesame oil to strengthen muscles, reduce pain, calm Vata dosha
- Chyawanprash: Contains many beneficial nourishing herbs including amla, ashwagandha and shatavari to boost immunity, improve energy levels and provide overall nourishment. It is a Rasayana so typically this is not taken initially as it does not host any detoxifying properties but rather is used to then support and nourish once in balance.
Lifestyle and Routine (regular routine) Dinacharya: establishing a consistent daily routine helps balancer Vata. Wake up early, eat meals at regular times, and go to bed early. When working with an Ayurvedic practitioner, a customized plan will be made to support your needs and schedule.
Adequate Rest: ensure sufficient rest and sleep. Practice like yoga nidra can be beneficial
Stress Management: Incorporate stress-reducing practices like yoga, pranayama breathing exercises and mediation
Exercise: Yoga, Tah Chi, walking, stretching, light weights help to improve flexibility, reduce stiffness and increase circulation which will reduce pain
Mental Health Counseling and Support: Providing mental and emotional support through counseling and supportive therapies
Positive Outlook: Encouraging a positive mindset and practicing mindfulness
Additional Therapies (performed by an Ayurvedic Practitioner or Ayurvedic Doctor)
- Panchakarma Therapy: Abhyanga: warm oil massage using medicated oils like Mahanarayan oil or Dhanwantharam oil to calm Vata and relieve muscle stiffness
- Svedana: herbal steam therapy to eliminate toxins and relax muscles
- Basti: medicated enema to balance Vata and cleanse the colon
Monitoring and Follow-Up
Regular follow-ups with an Ayurvedic Practitioner are essential to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. This personalized approach aims to provide long term relief and improve the quality of life for individuals with fibromyalgia
Auto-Immune diseases are more common than ever before. If you are suffering and would like a more holistic supportive approach that will be specific to all your needs then schedule a consultation today:
Got Stomach Issues?
According to Ayurveda - All Health Stems from our Digestive System.
The digestive tract is the seat of health and wellness according to the 5000-year-old health science, Ayurveda. Irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic abdominal pain, constantly feeling bloated or gassy are becoming more prevalent with today’s fast paced, fast-food lifestyle. The symptoms you may be feeling today are planting the seeds for a chronic digestive disorder.
When the body loses its ability to properly digest food, it simultaneously loses the ability to properly absorb nutrients overtime and the person becomes depleted from the lack of nutrients. The process of digestion and absorption of nutrients is called Agni. According to Ayurveda the strength of each person’s AGNI or GUT FIRE determines their lifelong health.
The breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients is the responsibility of your Gut Fire or AGNI. In Ayurveda, we don’t say you are what you eat, but rather, you are what you digest. Struggling with unresolved digestive disorders is planting the seeds to a slew of health concerns, conditions and symptoms because all health, according to Ayurveda stems from our digestive system. If we can’t digest, assimilate and eliminate our food properly then how can we feed our mind, blood, and tissues properly?
Causes:
Early Symptoms:
Progressed Symptoms:
Foods to Avoid
Healthy Foods for Digestive Issues
Ayurveda offers thousands of herbal formulas for many conditions and diseases. An equally important part of treatment is adding spices to your food because Ayurveda knows that these spices are medicine. Choosing warm cooked foods that are wholesome, in season and fresh will ignite the healing process. Below are a few examples of home remedies that anyone can make.
Digestive Issues (gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux)
Book a consultation for further support and prevention
Schedule a 90 minute one on one consultation
The digestive tract is the seat of health and wellness according to the 5000-year-old health science, Ayurveda. Irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic abdominal pain, constantly feeling bloated or gassy are becoming more prevalent with today’s fast paced, fast-food lifestyle. The symptoms you may be feeling today are planting the seeds for a chronic digestive disorder.
When the body loses its ability to properly digest food, it simultaneously loses the ability to properly absorb nutrients overtime and the person becomes depleted from the lack of nutrients. The process of digestion and absorption of nutrients is called Agni. According to Ayurveda the strength of each person’s AGNI or GUT FIRE determines their lifelong health.
The breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients is the responsibility of your Gut Fire or AGNI. In Ayurveda, we don’t say you are what you eat, but rather, you are what you digest. Struggling with unresolved digestive disorders is planting the seeds to a slew of health concerns, conditions and symptoms because all health, according to Ayurveda stems from our digestive system. If we can’t digest, assimilate and eliminate our food properly then how can we feed our mind, blood, and tissues properly?
Causes:
- Excessive fasting for your body type
- Eating the wrong foods for your body type
- Eating before the previous meal is digested
- Overeating or consuming foods too heavy to digest
- Incompatible foods like dairy and fruit
- Eating dry, old, processed food
- Improper sleep
- Excessive emotions, grief, anger, or fear
- Excessive moving or traveling
- Seasonal changes
Early Symptoms:
- Nauseous or excessive salvation after eating
- Tastelessness or altered taste on tongue
- Feeling a burning sensation before or after eating
- Delayed digestion or bloating or distention of the abdomen
- Feeling tired after you eat
- Gurgling sound in the stomach
Progressed Symptoms:
- Mucousy stools
- Infrequency of stools
- Heaviness in abdomen
- Diarrhea and constipation fluctuations
- Burning, belching and pain after eating
- Headaches
- Feelings of incomplete bowel evacuation
Foods to Avoid
- Yogurt
- Coffee, caffeine teas, soda
- Cold beverages
- Processed foods, leftovers, stale food
- Potatoes, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, and other gassy foods
Healthy Foods for Digestive Issues
Ayurveda offers thousands of herbal formulas for many conditions and diseases. An equally important part of treatment is adding spices to your food because Ayurveda knows that these spices are medicine. Choosing warm cooked foods that are wholesome, in season and fresh will ignite the healing process. Below are a few examples of home remedies that anyone can make.
Digestive Issues (gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux)
- Ayurvedic Buttermilk (blend ½ cup organic yogurt with ½ water for 3 minutes. Skim off the top fat. Add 1 tsp cumin. Blend and drink before or after meals. This is very soothing and aids in digestion and absorption
- Chew cumin seeds after meals 3. Drink fresh room temperature pomegranate juice
- Sip on warm to hot water through out the day and AVOID all cold beverages
- Eat light easy to digest foods like soups, smaller beans such as lentils and mung beans and avoid larger beans such as kidney beans, basmati rice, reduce red meat and chees and add spices like ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric
- Fiber-rich foods including plenty of fresh vegetables and healthy grains
Book a consultation for further support and prevention
Schedule a 90 minute one on one consultation
The Body, The Mind and The Digestive System
Did you know digestion is linked to every system in your body?
If you have skin issues, back issues, headaches, menstrual issues, pain issues, weight issues, depression and so on…It all comes back to your digestion. There are many reasons for poor digestion which ultimately leads to Ama/toxins (the sticky residue that is formed from undigested food that blocks channels in the body) that plant the seeds of disease. Ayurveda puts a lot of emphasis on digestion because it is the seat of health and wellness. In Ayurveda we don’t say you are what you eat but rather you are what you digest. Even healthy foods can contribute to disease if not digested properly.
Foundational Practices in Ayurveda that Support Healthy Digestion:
1. Snacking
Continually eating every hour even if it’s a healthy snack does not give your system enough time to digest the food in your system properly. The undigested food or Ama then turns into this sticky substance that begins to clog the channels within the body causes these symptoms. IF you are hungry between meals because some people do have a strong agni/digestive fire … then eating one snack, just one… between meals several hours after a meal and several hour before a meal is okay. IF you are unable to make it to the next meal perhaps evaluate your food choices and make the proper adjustments.
2. Fruit Interferes with Digestion in Combination with Food
- Digestion time: Fruits digest quickly while other foods, especially proteins and starches, take longer to digest. When fruits are combined with slower digesting foods, they can get held up in the digestive process, leading to fermentation and gas.
- Fermentation: When fruits which are high in natural sugars are eaten with other foods that take longer to digest, they can start to ferment in the stomach. This can lead to bloating, gas, and the formation of toxins (ama)
- Enzyme Activity: Different foods require different digestive enzymes. Fruit especially acidic ones, can interfere with the enzyme activity needed to digest other food, leading to indigestion and reduced nutrient absorption
- Digestive Fire (agni) Ayurveda emphasizes maintaining a strong digestive fire (agni). Mixing fruits with other foods can weaken this fire leading to poor digestion and toxin buildup. Eating fruits on an empty stomach or 30 minutes before or after a meal ensures the foods will be digested properly and won’t interfere with the digestion of other foods.
3.Poor Food Combinations/Incompatible Foods
- Milk and Fish
- Honey and Ghee (when used in equal portions)
- Yogurt and Fruit
- Milk and Salt (aggravates the doshas/tissues and causes skin irritations)
- Beans and Cheese
- Dairy and Fruit
4.Eating on the Go
Proper digestion relies on a strong and steady digestive fire to properly break down food. When driving in a car and eating, this aggravates the Vata Dosha (air element) creating undigested food, gas, and bloating. Multi-tasking according to Ayurveda creates a less-than-ideal environment for digestion, absorption and elimination
5.Eating While Watching TV, Surfing the Web, or Reading
Mindful practices enable the body to give 100% of its ability to do exactly what is needed. In this case, digestion, assimilation, absorption and elimination. If you are watching TV or hanging out on your phone while eating, you will eat more food and allow for undigested food to pass through which in turn creates Ama in the channels and tissues. Eating mindfully requires a back-to-basics approach.
6. Drinking Too Much Water/ Drinking Iced Water
The fire in the belly or Agni is your digestive fire. Proper digestion needs this fire to create usable nutrients. Over-saturation or cold beverages will burn out this fire and food will go undigested. The modern western culture drinks iced coffee and gallons of water both of which are becoming the top reasons for increased digestive issues leading to a copious other condition. Another way to look at this is when cleaning dishes, clothes or even your hands… if you want to remove dirt or grease, what temperature of water do you use? If you used cold… everything becomes stuck, stagnant and unchanged. Warm to hot temperatures of fluids allow for absorption, hydration and proper digestion.
7. Eating at the RIGHT Time of Day
Ayurveda understands that we are a part of nature and because of that, we too are linked to the Circadian Rhythms that align everything in nature, including when to eat, work and rest. Eating at a consist time every day will support a healthy digestive fire/Agni. Our digestive system is stronger at certain times of the day than others. When we create a routine, the body responds.
8. Eating till 75% Full is ENOUGH
Ideally sipping water while eating only until 75% full leaves plenty of space/air to churn the food and digest properly. Overeating is much like when the washing machine is overstuffed… it doesn’t work!
Book a consultation for further support and prevention
Schedule a 90 minute one on one consultation
ACNE
ACNE
In Ayurveda, acne is often seen as an imbalance in the doshas, particularly pitta and kapha. It can result from excess heat (pitta is the fire dosha). The excess heat that is created through too much aggravating pitta can be a result of many contributing factors such as diet, lifestyle, stress, age and toxins (ama) in the body, as well as imbalances in oil production and digestion (kapha)
How Does Ayurveda Deal with Acne
Herbs: several herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda to purify the blood which is a huge component to acne. These herbs support skin health and reduce inflammation. Commonly used herbs are neem, turmeric, manijistha, aloe vera, and triphala. Thes herbs can be taken internally or made into a topical application depending on each person’s individual needs.
Formulas: Ayurvedic formulas known as rasayanas or churnas may be prescribed to address acne and its underlying imbalances. Digestive disorders are often connected to acne so specific formulas that combat both or all issues are generally prescribed by the Ayurvedic Practitioner for a period of 6 weeks or more.
Diet: Diet plays a crucial role in Ayurveda for maintaining overall health, including skin health. Typically, a diet that is cooling, nourishing and easy to digest is generally recommended for people with acne. Fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, are suggested while reducing fried foods, spicy, and sour foods( anything fermented: yogurt, cheese, pickles and alcohol) is recommended. Sipping warm water throughout the day is a simple lymphatic cleanse that directly impacts the blood and skin.
Ayurvedic treatments and recommendations are personalized according to the individualized constitution and the imbalances.
Schedule a 90 minute one on one consultation