Mind, Body, Spirit: Our Subtle Anatomy Part 2: Nadis, Kundalini and Chakras

About ten thousand years ago, the Hindus specialized in the study of the energy of the human body, giving rise to what we know today as Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Medicine. This denomination comes from the Vedas, the sacred Hindu scriptures, believed to be given by the Lord Brahma to the humankind with the purpose that we reached our state of enlightenment faster. Veda is the Sanskrit word for knowledge, which makes sense, as the Hindu people have always been very advanced in their studies of human energy.

The ancient manuals of yoga anatomy describe a framework of thousands of subtle energy channels or Nadis, through which the currents of our vital energy or Prana flow, energising and vitalising all parts of the body.  Among all of them, three are the most important: Ida (Chandra or Moon), that flows through the left nostril; Pingala (Surya or Sun), that flows through the right nostril; and Sushumna, that only flows when Ida and Pingala are clear, without any obstruction.

The physical body is built around the subtle network of the nadis and is sustained by the flow of pranic energy through this network. For most people, prana flows through Ida and Pingala, but not through Sushumna. For that reason, a huge part of the total energy of our prana, referred in the Yoga manuals as Kundalini, remains in a potential state and is symbolised as a sleeping serpent coiled in the root chakra at the base of the spine.

Every single junction where two or more nadis meet create a spinning centre or vortex of energy called Chakra (wheel). These spinning centres of energy make the chakras to have a cone shape, spinning and spreading energy outwards its centre to other parts of the body. There are seven main chakras in the body, and they are located where Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna nadis meet along the spinal column. These seven main chakras are connected to our seven main endocrine glands, and they distribute energy to them.

The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. So, the techniques of pranayama and other yoga practices are aimed to balance our seven main chakras, unblock Ida and Pingala and at the same time open up Sushumna, allowing the prana to flow through this middle channel. Then, having unblocked the Sushumna, the yogi rouses the sleeping serpent Kundalini at the root chakra and guides this tremendous energy upward along Sushumna, to the crown chakra at the top of the head. This is synonymous with the union of Shakti (cosmic potency) with Shiva (cosmic consciousness). It is said that such a union tends to neutralize ego-driven thoughts and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening. In other words, our cosmic vital energy meets the cosmic energy of the universe, creating a sense of unity with all there is.

Mind, Body, Spirit: Our Subtle Anatomy Part 1: The Concept of Energy and Holistic Therapy

The concept of Holistic Healing has been around for centuries and it’s becoming more popular in recent years, as people are looking for alternative ways to heal their bodies, with a natural approach instead of pills and other chemicals and drugs.

It’s important to remember, though, that holistic therapy does not replace or disregard Western medicine; it can work alongside conventional medicine in a complementary manner. That is why it is also known as Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

‘Holistic’ comes from the Greek word holos, which means whole. It refers to a type of therapy that addresses the whole person, integrating physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of a being, rather than individual symptoms. But how exactly do these therapies work? To answer to this question, we first need to know other aspects of our anatomy, as well as how they connect and interact.

“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want, and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” -Albert Einstein.

Everything that manifests in our universe is made of energy in a free or condensed state. What we can touch, such as crystals, trees, our physical body, or even the phone or computer you’re using to read this text, is grouped or condensed energy. And what we cannot see, but can feel, is loose, dispersed, and free energy, like the force of the wind, the sunlight touching our skin, or even a music, for example.

Our physical body is the densest layer of our whole being, whilst our mind, spirit, emotions, and many other aspects of us reside in the layers of our subtle anatomy. In other words, they are part of our subtle bodies, and the layers of this subtle bodies, form what we call our electromagnetic field. This electromagnetic field is often described as being an egg-shaped energy ball that merges and surrounds our whole being. It is also known as our Aura. The subtle anatomy refers then to all layers of our subtle bodies.

And since everything is made of energy, all beings and things in the universe vibrate at a certain frequency level. In other words, they all have their unique vibrational frequency, weather they are living beings or not. As humans our vibrational frequency is naturally joyful and expansive, but at the same time very unstable and easily influenced. It can change constantly according to the environment we are exposed to, as well as other people, experiences, our own memories, etc.

People with a higher vibration radiate love, joy, peace, and compassion, which can reflect in a healthier physical body. On the other hand, people with a lower vibration can be more stressed, anxious, or constantly unmotivated, which can result in poorer health and wellbeing. Our modern way of life can make us go “low-vibe”, but listening and observing our physical body symptoms and reactions can help us to get back into balance again.

Gabriela Carvalho

Panchakarma Detox

Ayurvedic treatment starts with the principle of cleaning your body from the inside out to get rid of harmful toxins (AMA) from the body which restrict the general functioning of the body. Making changes with your daily diet which suits your body type, correcting your daily routine and rejuvenating your body with herbal preparations is involved in a Panchakarma Detox.

Detox and Panchakarma

The basic principle of Panchakarma is to help the healthy person to become healthier and to treat the conditions of a diseased person. There are different types of detox plans which are tailored to suit the current concerns of the individual.

Pre-Detox Plan

Pre-detox includes therapies to prepare your body for Panchakarma and detoxification. It includes therapies which moisturizes your body inside out and makes your body relaxed and light.  Some changes within the diet are also recommended (like a light diet) to enhance your digestion and brings lightness to your body.

Panchakarma Detox Plan

Panchakarma Detox includes a bunch of therapies and treatments which helps to get rid of harmful toxins (AMA) from your body. It also works over balancing your doshas (body type). It kick starts the treatment for your prime concerns. After a detox the body makes its way towards a healthy path.

Post-Detox Plan

This is the most important part of the whole Detox plan, as it guides you towards a right path in order to healthier and disease free life.

After the Detox, start with a light diet and slowly bring it to a normal pace. The post-detox plan includes guidelines for a healthy diet according to your body type, rejuvenating herbs and a healthy daily routine.

Detox can do wonders with your body within a few days. It helps in boosting energy, improves digestion, flushes out toxins and helps to get rid of the extra fats in your body. It cleanses your body inside and out and maintains the proper functioning of every organ.

If you are interested in detoxification and Panchakarma please phone 08 8110 4300 or email enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au for more information on treatments.

Do You Know Your Body Type?

Ayurveda believes that each and everything on this planet constitutes of five elements, and so is our body. The five elements are space, air, fire, water and earth. These five elements combine together to form the three body types (dosha); Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The qualities of the dosha which are more predominant in the body are known as the body type of that person.

 Dosha’s are the three body energetics, made of qualities, which support right body function in right amount, and destroy body function in excess or deficiency.

 Body type can be single, dual or Tridoshic and is an inherited constitution that cannot be altered. All three doshas are responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the body. When all three dosha’s are in balance, they endow the person with unaffected sense organs, strength, complexion and happiness with a long life span, but if they are in abnormal state i.e. when not in balance, they give rise to severe abnormalities.

 Vata

Vata means a combination of air and space.  Vata is responsible for all the movements in the body. Vata people resemble the characteristics of space and air, such as light, loneliness, dry, cold, mobile, and rough. Vata is a combination of space and air elements.

  • Physical characteristic: Physically Vata people are very active. They usually have dry skin, thin hair and small eyes. They do things very quickly and try to finish their work in one day. They are thin, tall with narrow body structure and it is difficult for them to gain weight. On the other hand, they lose weight easily. Thin, dry hair and cold extremities (hand & feet) are some of the other characteristics of Vata body type. As far as their digestion is concerned, they have an average digestion. Sometimes, it is good and sometimes not. They eat small meals but can eat many times a day.
  • Mental characteristics: Vata people are usually confused with their decisions and they worry a lot. They are often fearful and anxious. A Vata mind is always in a rush and cannot stop thinking. They prove to be good leaders and very creative as well. They are quick learners but they forget things quickly as well. They also have irregular sleeping pattern.
  • Emotional characteristic: Emotionally, they are sensitive. They get affected by things very quickly. They tend to worry a lot when not in balance.

Vata is vitiated, pacified and accumulated in summers, rainy season and autumn.

  • Signs of imbalance: Vitiation of Vata produces many signs and symptoms in the body which are the alarming signals for a disease in the future. These signs and symptoms are, headache, stress, anxiety, constipation, disturbed sleep, poor appetite, air in the digestive tract, increasing weight around the abdomen, insomnia,  nervousness, lack of concentration, fear, talking without consciousness and many more. Vitiation of Vata can cause 80 diseases in the body, some of them include sciatica, tachycardia, migraine, IBS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s, arthritis, deafness, tremors, giddiness etc.
  • How to balance: Vata can be balanced by changing their diet and lifestyle. They need to eat a diet which is opposite to the characteristics of Vata. It can be balanced by eating a diet which is warm, heavy and unctuous. They should add foods that are sweet, salty and sour in taste. These people should always keep their skin moist, so oil massage (Abhyanga) is the best daily routine for them. Relaxing and taking proper rest is another tip for those with a vitiated Vata dosha.  Staying in warm places can give a lot of relaxation to them.

Pitta

Pitta is responsible for the digestion, assimilation, vision, and hunger in the body. Pitta signifies fire and water. So the pitta types of people are those who resemble the qualities of fire and water such as: hot, sharp, liquid, sour, mobile, slightly unctuous and pungent.

  • Physical characteristics: Physically they are strong and muscular. They have a medium frame and hot flushed skins. They have a strong digestion, so they have to eat every time to manage their energy. Hence, they cannot afford to skip meals, if they do so they can suffer from many Pitta imbalance disorders. They sweat a lot as they have hot body temperature. Pitta body type prefers cool weather.
  • Mental characteristics: Mentally, Pitta people are short tempered and aggressive in nature as well. They like to live a disciplined life and are very focused with work. They are well known for their fighting spirit. They also have a sharp mind and are intelligent. They are revealing, comprehensive and quick learners.
  • Emotional Characteristics: Emotionally, Pitta people are quite strong and they concentrate well. They do not believe in keeping things to themselves and are often outspoken.

Pitta is vitiated, pacified and accumulated in rainy season and autumn.

  • Signs of imbalance: if Pitta is balanced in the body it will perform its normal functions and will not harm the body. Once it is imbalanced it will lead to many signs and symptoms which hinder the normal functioning of the body.  Diarrhoea, gastritis, heart burn, mouth ulcers, inflammation, bitter taste in mouth, too much anger, frustration, early greying of hair, excessive thirst, and low immune system are some of the signs of vitiated Pitta in the body. If Pitta is aggravated the person can suffer from 40 types of diseases such as hyperacidity, pyrexia, pustules, jaundice, articular patches, burning in skin, herpes, and stomatitis. It can cause skin issues such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
  • How to balance: Pitta can be balanced by adapting diet and lifestyle opposite to the characteristics of Pitta. It can be balanced with sweet, bitter and astringent taste. Ghee is an excellent remedy for Pitta vitiated people. They need to avoid sour and salt taste. They should be advised to take food providing a cooling sensation to the body and should remain in cool places, away from the sun.

Kapha

Kapha is responsible for the overall build and strength of the body. The Kapha body type bears the characteristics of earth and water such as cold, stable, heavy, soft, immobile, and sweet. Kapha is a combination of the water and earth element.

  • Physical characteristics: They have big, heavy and broad builds. It is difficult for them to lose weight but they gain weight easily. Their digestion is slow, so they can easily skip meals. Usually the bowel movement is good. They have cooler body temperature, so they prefer warm & dry weather. They are also said to be opposite of Vata as they are slow in action and a bit lazy. They do things slowly and in a stable manner. Their sleep is good.
  • Mental characteristics: They are slow learners, but once they learn something they remember it for long.
  • Emotional characteristics: They are very calm, cheerful and happy most of the time. They are very patient and are never in a rush. They are helpful and kind. People love the company of a Kapha type person due to their extra caring nature.

Kapha is vitiated, accumulated and pacified in early winters, spring and summers.

  • Signs of imbalance:  Kapha vitiation can cause 20 different diseases in the body, some of them are drowsiness, heaviness in the body, hypothyroidism, diabetes, overweight, high cholesterol, and sinusitis. Anorexia, obesity, oedema, water retention, bronchitis, chronic rhinitis, asthma, cough, fatigue, and depression are some of the other concerns related to vitiated Kapha.
  • HOW TO BALANCE: Kapha can be balanced by adapting lifestyle and diet opposite to the qualities of Kapha. It is balanced by eating warm, light and dry food. Pungent, bitter, and astringent are the three best tastes to balance Kapha. Exercise, yoga and meditation are best to overcome the diseases related to Kapha imbalance. Kapha people should remain active and try to eat less.

If you want to know more about your body type (dosha) or if you are struggling with any of the imbalances, please contact Aspects of Healing on 08 8110 4300 or email enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au to arrange an appointment.

Boost your Immune System with Ayurveda

 

Whenever a foreign particle enters our body, the immune system recognizes it as foreign and tries to attack and destroy it. Once the body is attacked by a particular microbe, our immune system keeps a record of it and can disable it more easily if the same microbe enters the body again. Normally if we get a viral infection, our immune system works against it by producing antibodies and we get rid of it in a few days without taking any medication.  All of this happens only when we have a strong immune system. On the other hand, if our immune system is weak we are prone to more infections and it takes longer to recover.

Ayurvedic Theory on the Immune System

According to Ayurveda, there are many factors contributing to a strong immune system.

  1. Digestion:  our digestive fire (agni) plays a very important role in boosting our immune system. If the digestion is strong, the food we eat will be properly digested by our body and will be well absorbed, leading to a strong immunity (ojas). On the other hand, if the digestion is weak, the food will not be metabolized in the body and will create toxins (ama) in the body. These toxins suppress the immune system and start blocking different channels in our body.
  2. Mind: An unhealthy mind can lead to an unhealthy gut. If our mind is free of toxins and it is balanced, then we can have healthy digestion, which can further improve our immune system.
  3. Lifestyle: Ayurveda talks a lot about lifestyle, which can make a huge difference in one’s life and can help to prevent diseases. A healthy lifestyle includes eating according to your digestion, regular exercise, drinking enough water, including healthy foods, waking up early and sleeping early. These choices are all life enhancing.

Boosting Immunity with Ayurveda

Cleaning the body by removing toxins is a primary solution to boosting immunity. Correcting digestion is the next step, so that toxins are not accumulating in the body. Digestion can be improved if we start feeling and listening to our body and eat accordingly. Overeating will never improve your immune system. One should eat according to his/her digestion and body type (dosha). Ayurveda also advises using various rejuvenating herbs such as Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Turmeric, Amalaki, Shatavari and Tulsi to improve one’s immune system. It is advised to take these herbs only under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic doctor, as your dosha and present health condition need to be kept in mind.

 Below are some everyday tips to enhance your immune system and stay disease free:

  • Start your day with 1-2 glasses of warm water.
  • Include yoga and pranayama in your daily routine.
  • Sip lukewarm water throughout the day.
  • Include spices like ginger, cumin, fennel, garlic and turmeric in your food.
  • Take amla and aloe vera juice daily.
  • Have more cooked and warm meals and less of cold meals.
  • Do not skip meals.
  • Eat mindfully.
  • Make your dinner the lightest meal of the day.
  • Have 6-8 hours of sleep daily.

 If you wish to seek further information about the Ayurvedic principles or need support with immunity, we are just a call away at Aspects of Healing on 8110 4300. Enquiries can be emailed to enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au

Improve your Mental Health with Ayurveda

Ayurveda believes that the most common reason for ill health is indigestion, whether it is the indigestion of food in the gut or indigestion of thoughts in the mind. Both of these conditions create toxins in the system, and toxins are simply the remnants from indigestion. So, when these toxins accumulate in our body, they start moving through our circulatory channels and get deposited in parts of the body, which can cause disease in that specific area.

Ayurvedic Theory about Mental Health:  

According to Ayurveda, a healthy mind leads to a healthy gut, and the opposite is also true. So, in order to have a healthy physical body, we need to have a healthy mind first. Ayurveda believes that our mind and body are very much connected to each other and so are their diseases. To improve mental health, we must be very careful about what we are putting in our gut and mind.

Characteristics of an Unhealthy Mind:

The main characteristics of an unhealthy mind are:

  • Insomnia
  • Restless sleep
  • Over thinking
  • Sadness
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Anger
  • Frustration
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Inability to digest thoughts
  • Reduced ability to relax mentally and/or physically

These unhealthy conditions of the mind can lead to an unhealthy gut, characterised by:

  • Indigestion
  • Low immunity
  • Lack of energy
  • Poor metabolism

Ayurvedic Tips for a Healthy Mind:

Below are few tips to improve mental health naturally.

  • Avoid multi-tasking and instead focus on one activity at a time.
  • Start your day with meditation and breathing exercises.
  • Spend some time with yourself.
  • Drink enough water.
  • Eat at proper times.
  • Practice viparita karani yoga pose at night.
  •  Massage your head with a suitable oil at least once a week.

“Try to find solutions to your problems, rather than worrying and living with it.”

If you wish to seek further information about mental health and Ayurvedic treatments, we are just a phone call away at Aspects of Healing on 8110 4300. Enquiries can be emailed to enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au

Treat Your Skin with Ayurveda

Clear, glowing, and lustrous skin boosts the personality of an individual and healthy skin is an indication of a healthy body. According to Ayurveda, the root cause of all skin problems are unhealthy eating habits which lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. Healthy skin is known to reflect a healthy gut.  Skin diseases cannot be treated by concentrating only on the external signs and symptoms but can only be treated by identifying its actual cause. As Ayurveda works on the principles of working on the root cause of the problems, we get many good results, especially in skin conditions.

Root Cause of Skin Problems

Ayurveda believes that the actual cause of skin diseases are the unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle. Unhealthy eating habits include eating oily food, fried food, slimy food, not eating according to your digestion, overeating, improper time of eating, frequently fasting, consuming alcohol, and smoking. Unhealthy lifestyle can cause indigestion, constipation, and diarrhoea. These triggers can result in the development of skin conditions and the unhealthy routines lead to accumulation of toxins in the body. These toxins circulate in our body and attack the weaker parts, producing signs of skin problems. These toxins can also cause toxicity of the blood.

Stress and anxiety are also cause for unhealthy skin. Stress, anxiety, and insomnia creates toxicity and imbalance in the mind.

Treatment

Ayurveda has proven results in many skin problems such as:

  • Acne
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • Dermatitis
  • Rashes
  • Rosacea
  • Hives
  • Seborrheic Dermatitis

Balancing and detoxifying the mind and body can help to treat skin diseases. Eating a healthy diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle by including exercise, yoga, and meditation can help one to overcome the signs of skin disease. A consult with an Ayurvedic doctor can help you to know your imbalances and toxicity levels. An Ayurvedic doctor can help you, by designing a wellness plan according to your imbalance, which will include herbs to balance your Dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), a detoxification plan to aid the removal of toxins from the body and mind, diet plan according to your digestion and tips for a healthy lifestyle.

If you wish to seek further information about skin issues and treatments, we are just a phone call away at Aspects of Healing on 8110 4300. Enquiries can be emailed to enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au

Stress and Anxiety

Many people are under stress and anxiety, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are worried about their immunity, jobs, business and their future. Often when burdened with so many questions, they forget one very important thing: that stress and anxiety can create an adverse effect on their physical and mental health.

Characteristics of Stress and Anxiety

Anxiety and stress are two of the most common features of everyday life. With life becoming increasingly intense and hectic, more people are suffering from anxiety and stress. This uncomfortable state of being is characterised by:

  • Lack of energy
  • A constant feeling of  being rundown
  • Poor sleep quality (such as insomnia or waking up tired)
  • Inability to relax
  • Lack of motivation, or difficulty focusing, and a general feeling of apathy

The above symptoms can further lead to:

  • Mild to moderate depression
  • Poor memory function and brain fog
  • Uncontrollable anger and frustration

While these symptoms may develop gradually and impact mental and emotional wellbeing, they can eventually begin to dominate, leading to some physical ailments like:

  • Teeth grinding
  • Digestive problems
  • Headache or migraine
  • Weight gain/loss
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart diseases
  • Exhaustion

Ayurvedic View on Stress and Anxiety

According to Ayurveda, stress and anxiety can create an imbalance in your life by unbalancing the dosha. Once you start developing the signs of stress and anxiety, it does not only affect your mental health, but starts deteriorating your physical health as well. This can be explained with a simple example; whenever someone is under a lot of stress, they experience low appetite, or their digestion is too slow. In another case, people eat a lot during times of stress and anxiety, even if their stomach is not asking for it. In some cases, this is called emotional eating. In both cases, we accumulate too many toxins in our body due to improper digestion. These toxins further weaken our immune system and can cause many diseases.

Treating Stress with Ayurveda

It is very important to treat anxiety and stress holistically with an approach that considers both your physical and psychological wellbeing. This allows a treatment to be designed that works at identifying the root cause of your issues. An Ayurvedic line of treatment can help you to enhance your mental ability and can assist in building the mind-body connection. There are many well-known Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi, Shankpushpi, and Jatamamsi, which can help to overcome this condition. Along with the herbs, Ayurveda also talks about Pranayama (breathing technique), Yoga, and meditation. They contribute significantly to overcoming stress and anxiety. So, Ayurveda is not about treating a disease, but preventing yourself from experiencing disease. Ayurveda is a science of life that teaches an appropriate lifestyle for each individual to live healthily and happily.

If you wish to seek further information about the Ayurvedic principles or need support with stress and anxiety, we are just a call away at Aspects of Healing on 8110 4300. Enquiries can be emailed to enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au

Written by Doctor Rajneesh Kour

Avoiding Constipation

There is a deep relationship between gut health and overall health. In Ayurveda it is believed that, if your gut is healthy, you are less prone to diseases, but if you have an unhealthy gut, you can experience many signs and symptoms leading to disease. Accumulation of undigested food causes production of toxins in the human body and these toxins, if not cleansed in a timely fashion, can lead to chronic diseases. Some of the signs and symptoms related to an unhealthy gut are gastritis, bloating, pain and a decrease in appetite. Constipation is another digestive issue that we come across very often. It is the incomplete or absence of bowel movement, or decrease in frequency, size, consistency, and ease of movement. It is known by the term “Vibandha” in Ayurveda. If this condition is not treated it can lead to bloating, flatulence, indigestion, migraine, hemorrhoid’s, headache, liver disorder, feeling of fullness, and disturbed absorption of nutrients. This condition also impacts our mental health causing depression and stress.

Cause:

According to Ayurveda the cause of constipation is the imbalance of doshas. It is mainly due to the Vata dosha imbalance. The cooling and drying property of Vata Dosha obstructs the colon from clearing the bowels easily. A few common causes for constipation are:

  • Intake of dry, light and rough meals.
  • Intake of cold and refrigerated food.
  • Excess intake of pungent salty and astringent tastes.
  • Intake of cold water or inadequate water.
  • Sedentary lifestyle.
  • Stress.
  • Low fibre diet.
  • Suppressing your urges.

Treatment:

According to Ayurveda, treatment includes:

  • Internal Lubrication: This includes improving diet and lifestyle. Internal lubrication can be done by avoiding dry, cold meals and preferring meals cooked with ghee/sesame oil/olive oil.
  • External Lubrication: External Lubrication includes self-massage with sesame oil and treatments such as Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Basti etc.
  • Herbs Preferred: Haritaki, Triphala, Avipattikar Powder, Amla juice, Aloe vera juice etc.

Prevention:

A few helpful tips to prevent constipation are as follows:

  • Drink plenty of lukewarm water throughout the day.
  • Favour warm quality food instead of cold food.
  • Favour cooked meals instead of raw meals.
  • Use digestive spices such as cumin, turmeric, garlic, carom seeds, and asafoetida while cooking.
  • Favour warm herbal teas and take less of coffee.
  • Include decent quality organic oils for cooking. You can use ghee, olive oil, sesame oil for cooking as these oils help in balancing Vata Dosha.
  • Snack on Fruits (apples, fig, oranges, papaya etc.) and activated nuts (soaked nuts) instead of chips, crackers, biscuits, dry nuts etc.
  • Exercise: Include yoga postures such as Sukhasana, Paschimottanasana, Matsyendrasana,  Malsana, Balasana, Pawan mukta sana etc. in your everyday routine.
  • Practice pranayama (breathing exercise).
  • Do self-massage with lukewarm sesame oil every day.
  • Avoid junk food and fried food.
  • Avoid use of laxatives over prolonged periods of time.

If you wish to seek further information about the Ayurvedic principles or need support with gut health, we are just a call away at Aspects of Healing on 8110 4300. Enquiries can be emailed to enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au

Written by Doctor Rajneesh Kour

Mindful Eating for Nourishing the Mind, Body and Soul

Fast paced life, faulty eating habits and illness:

In our fast-paced life, knowingly or unknowingly, we indulge in faulty eating habits, like eating quicky, talking or working while eating, not eating when hungry, eating when we are not hungry, emotional eating, eating in incompatible combinations and overeating or undereating.

We cook food for the whole week and store it in the freezer if we are very busy. We prioritize taste over health. The food we love may not be necessarily good for us. But little do we realize that these faulty eating habits could be an invitation to a variety of illnesses.

How do they affect us?

Food consumed in this way is not digested properly, resulting in the formation of undigested toxins called ama. These toxins reduce digestive fire, cause imbalance of the Doshas, clog up the channels of absorption and affect the nourishment of tissues.

Headache, weakness, lethargy, loss of enthusiasm, anxiety, unable to concentrate, various food intolerances, variety of allergies, constipation, bloating and acidity are some of the symptoms produced due to poor digestion.

These toxins if unchecked over a period of time can cause severe illnesses.

How do we avoid this?

We are what we eat. As per Ayurveda, if one wishes to maintain good health or wants to get rid of a disease one should consume wholesome food following these dietary guidelines.

Some Ayurvedic food recommendations

RecommendationsRationale
Eat hot and freshly prepared foodTastes better, increases appetite and is easily digested
Eat unctuous foodIncreases digestive fire and provides strength and nourishment to the tissues
Eat correct quantity of foodBalanced or proper quantities helps in proper assimilation
Eat after the earlier food is digestedIf food is consumed before the earlier food is digested, it results in the formation of ama
Eat food which is not contradictory in potencyIncompatible food combinations are root causes of skin disorders and autoimmune disorders
Eat in a desired place with desired articlesHelps in making the mind calm and peaceful
Do not eat in a hurryFood can enter into the respiratory tract and cause choking
Do not eat very slowlyMore than required amounts of food can be consumed, it becomes cold and is not digested properly
Eat mindfully without talking and laughingHelps in focussing on what we are eating, feeling its taste, touch, etc.
Eat after analysing one’s ability to digest food, constitution and status of agniFood consumed in this manner can act as medicine.

Food consumed in this manner will help in proper digestion, absorption, assimilation and nourishment.

In summary, stimulating our parasympathetic nervous system before having food will help us to connect to our body’s intelligence and we won’t miss its silent signals, which will guide us to know what’s good for us, how much to eat and when to stop eating.

Finally, a moment of pausing, self-analysis, prayer and gratitude before having food helps to connect to our inner self, reminds us about the divinity of food and our oneness with existence.

Remember mindful eating can help us gain maximum benefits from the food we eat.

If you wish to seek further information about the Ayurvedic principles or need support with your digestion, we are just a call away at Aspects of Healing on 8110 4300. Enquiries can be emailed to enquiries@aspectsofhealing.com.au

Written by Doctor Shweta Rao.

Suppression of Natural Urges

In our busy daily routine, so many times we suppress our natural urges; whether or not we have time to go to the toilet or suppressing our urge of sleep during our night shifts. We may be hungry but cannot eat food until our lunch break or not realizing we are thirsty as we are engrossed in our work.

Suppressing our natural urges may not look very important to us, but do we realize if this is practiced regularly, we are going against our body’s own intelligence of keeping us healthy and becoming susceptible to diseases?

What are the Urges?

Urges also called Vegas in Ayurveda are the subtle signals or expressions of the intelligence of our body trying to get rid of toxins or trying to replenish energy. All of this aims to maintain the equilibrium and maintain good health.

Ayurveda recommends not to suppress these 13 natural urges:

  1. Urge to pass gas
  2. Urge to defaecate
  3. Urge to void urine
  4. Urge to sneeze
  5. Urge to cough
  6. Urge to have food/hunger
  7. Urge to have water/thirst
  8. Urge to sleep
  9. Urge for breathing on exertion
  10. Urge to cry
  11. Urge to vomit
  12. Urge to yawn
  13. Urge to ejaculate

What happens if we suppress these urges?

According to Ayurveda, suppression of these non-suppressible urges:

  1. Primarily leads to Vata imbalance which can further lead to the imbalance of other doshas.
  2. Reduces the digestive fire leading to the formation of undigested toxins called as ama.

Some of the very common symptoms like headaches, constipation, heaviness, fatigue, weakness, reduced clarity of our senses, loss of enthusiasm, insomnia and allergies could be due to the regular suppression of one or more of these urges.

In general, the following systems are affected due to the suppression of the urges:

Respiratory systemSuppressing the urges to defaecate,  vomit,  belch and  cough
Cardiovascular systemSuppressing the urges of ejaculation, defaecation, cough, breathing on exertion and thirst
Digestive systemSuppressing the urges of hunger, flatus, defaecation, cough etc.
Reproductive systemSuppression of urges of ejaculation, urination, and flatus
Urinary systemSuppressing the urges of urination, ejaculation, and flatus

Treatment of the diseases caused due to suppression of urges:

Ayurveda primarily focusses on the preventive aspect, hence recommends things to be done or avoided to stay healthy. If already suffering from imbalances, then it also recommends the treatment guidelines for it. In general, the treatment includes:

  1. Not to suppress the urges and attend to them as soon as possible
  2. Vata pacifying diet, lifestyle, and treatments
  3. Treatment to improve the digestive fire and digest the accumulated toxins
  4. Practising yoga, pranayama, meditation regularly to stimulate parasympathetic nervous system and help us to connect to our body’s intelligence.
  5. Have a proper daily routine to organise our day, make time to connect to our body and grasp its subtle signals.

Likewise, one should avoid even forceful stimulation of the non-manifested urges. This can also lead to various imbalances in the body.

Last but not the least let us honour, listen, respect, and thank our body’s intelligence for all that it is doing for us to keep us healthy. In turn it will make us feel happy, balanced, and connected.

Stay connected and stay healthy.

If you wish to seek further information about how suppression of natural urges can affect you or wish to know more about the treatments, we are just a call away at Aspects of Healing on 08 8110 4300.

Written by Doctor Shweta Rao

Spring Detox

Seasonal changes are one of the important aspects which impact our health as per Ayurveda. Every season is unique in its qualities and so is its effect on our health.

Have you noticed that the incidences of infections and diseases are much more during the transition of the season when one season ends, and the next season starts?

This is much more apparent when winter ends and spring starts.

What happens in our body?

1.The Kapha dosha which has been accumulated in winter starts melting and flowing into the different channels causing the Kapha related diseases in this season. This is not very different to the ice melting and flooding the nearby areas.

2. Low digestive fire.

Some of the diseases caused due to increased Kapha dosha include:

  1. Various digestive complaints like low appetite, bloating, diarrhoea etc
  2. Hay fever, allergies, sinusitis
  3. Upper respiratory tract infections
  4. Flu, asthma etc

If one is more conscious, one would notice that all the problems start with poor digestion. Making efforts to improve our digestion will help us reduce the chances of Kapha dosha related diseases.

Some tips to stay healthy this spring:

AvoidFavour
Food: Cold, heavy, fatty, fried, eating a large heavy breakfast.Excessive amounts of sweet and sour taste foods Cold or iced drinks  Food: Light and easy-to-digest food seasoned with spicesPrimarily bitter, pungent, and astringent foodsHoney can be used. However, do not heat honey.Warm herbal teas like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.  
Lifestyle: Sleeping during the dayExposure to dust, pollenAny extreme deviation in temperatureLifestyle: Exercise as per one’s capacity Yoga, meditation, and pranayamaKeep warm and dryFavour warm water for shower

Treatments recommended:

  • Kapha detox
  • Nasya
  • Udwarthanum

Spring brings with it a new life. If we take time to tune into the nature and try to adapt ourselves, we will enjoy every positivity which comes with it.

We wish you a healthy spring.

If you wish to seek further information on the spring detox or would like to know more about the above treatments, we are just a call away at Aspects of Healing on 08 8110 4300.