|
|
|
||||||||||||
Agni ---- Being the biological fire that governs metabolism, agni encompasses all the changes in the body and mind from the dense to the more subtle. Such changes include the digestion and absorption of food, cellular transformations, assimilation of sensory perceptions and mental and emotional experiences. Agni therefore covers whole sequences of chemical interactions and changes in the body and mind. Digestive abilities being related to the strength of agni. Agni and pitta are closely connected. While both are hot and light, agni is subtle and dry. The heat energy to help digestion contained by pitta is agni. Pitta is therefore the container and agni the content. Agni is acidic in nature and stimulates digestion. It is subtly related to the movement of vata. In every tissue and cell agni is present and is necessary for maintaining the nutrition and auto-immune mechanism. By destroying micro-organisms, foreign bacteria and toxins in the stomach and the intestines. A balanced agni therefore is vital for health. The strength of the body to resist disease and also its physical strength are directly related to its heat energy determining the metabolic processes of the body. Disturbances to Agni are usually the chief causes of disease. As per Ayurveda there are thirteen types of Agni in the body and mind according to the conversion and the transformation made. The most important of them is the Jatharagni, the gastric fire, responsible for digesting food eaten by correlating hydrochloric acid in the stomach and the digestive enzymes and juices secreted into the stomach, duodenum and the small intestines. If digestive agni is low and the capacity is impaired, one may experience pain, discomfort, feeling of heaviness or gases gurgling, constipation or loose stools. -------------------- The Dhatus ---------- The Sapta (seven) Dhatus (tissues) elements form the pillars of the body that form the means of nourishment and growth while providing support to the body as well as the mind. Rasa (fluid) Dhatu -Derived from the digested food, it nourishes each and every tissue and cell of the body and is analogous to the plasma. Rakta (blood) Dhatu - Regarded as the basic of life, it is analogous to the circulating blood cells. It not only nourishes the body tissues, but provides physical strength and colour to the body. Masma Dhatu - The muscle tissue, its main function is to provide physical strength and support for the meda dhatu. Meda (fat) Dhatu - Consists of adipose tissue providing support to ashti dhatu. It also lubricates the body. Ashti Dhatu - Comprising of bone tissues, including cartilages, its main function is to give support to the majja dhatu and provide support to the masma dhatu. Majja Dhatu - Denoting the yellow and red bone marrow tissue, its main function is to fill up the ashti and tooleate the body. Shukra Dhatu - The main aim of this reproductive tissue is to help reproduction and strengthen the body. Since the dhatus support and derive energy from each other, affecting one can influence others. For instance, interference in the manufacture of the plasma affects the quality of the blood, which in turn effects the muscle. Each tissue type has its own agni, which determines metabolic changes in the tissues. And forms by-products, which are either used in the body or excreted. Menstural periods for example are a by-product of rasa. The tissues are also governed by the three doshas, and any imbalance in them also causes imbalances in dhatus. Heavy periods therefore can also be caused by the effects of the excess of Kapha on plasma. ------------------- The Malas --------- Malas are the various waste products of the dhatus produced during the normal metabolical process. The three primary malas being Purisa (faeces), Mutra (urine) and Sweda (sweat). Ayurveda clearly states that only a balanced condition of doshas, dhatus and malas is arogya (good health or disease free condition) and their imbalance is the cause of ill health or disease. Purisa is the waste left back after nutrients of digested food have been absorbed in the small intestine. While water and salt absorbed in the large intestine, the residue now converted into solid faeces, leaves the body. The consistency of the faeces depending both on gastrointestinal mobility and nature of diet. The tridoshas must be in balance to ensure normal evacuation. Pitta and kapha help digestion and vata governs the mobility throughout the process. Any discrepancy or imbalance between these can lead to various symptoms of abdominal heaviness or pain, flatulance, constipation or diarrohea. It may also give rise to diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, asthama, bronchitis as well as stomach ulcers and irritable bowels. Mutra is derived during the course of biological processes within the human body. The first stage of urine formation begins in the large intestine where fluids are absorbed into the system. The entire urinary system (kidneys, uterus, bladder and urethra) takes part in the formation and elimination of urine, regulating the fluid balance in our body and also maintaining blood pressure. Any imbalance of increased or decreased urine, may result in disorders as kidney stones urinary infections, cystitis, abdominal pain and bladder disorders. Sweda is the third primary mala, and it occurs as a waste product during the synthesis of meda dhatu (fatty tissue). Eliminated through skin pores, it controls body temperature and helps to regulate the electrolytic balance. The channels responsible for bringing the sweat to skin surface are known as sweda vaha srotas. It is essential that normal formation and flow of sweat takes place as otherwise it may lead to skin infections, itching/burning sensation over the body, loss of fluid balance and reduced body temperature. Balanced Doshas (humours), healthy Agni, a good state of tissues and their metabolic end-products lead to a balanced state of the senses, mind and spirit, all of which lead to health. ----------------------------------------------------- Ayurveda in Daily Life ---------------------- ---------------------- Dinacharya ---------- In order to keep the tridoshas in a state of healthy equlibrium and digestion & metabolism (agni) in proper order, Ayurveda prescribes for each individual a specific daily routine ( dina - day & acharya - behaviour). The various stages to this daily routine, influenced by the specifics of your prakriti, that will enable you to make the most out of your life, are : Arising Since our biological clocks are attuned to the rising and setting of the sun, it is obviously better to awake at sunrise in perfect synchronisation to the natural clock. An ideal time to let the body cells soak in the strength of a tempered sun to be charged for the day. Drinking a glass of luke-warm water helps flush out all toxins accumulated overnight in the body. Natural Urges The last portion of the night being ruled by vata - involved in the process of elimination - dawn is the best time to eliminate the body's physical waste. Proper elimination also helping remove the kapha that naturally accumulates overnight. Defecation once or twice daily is the best. Preferably not immediately after a meal. But urination then is wise. Examine your eliminations each morning and if you notice any disturbance indicating poor digestion, go on a fast. It will allow the body rest to correct the system before disease sets in. Never suppress the natural physical urges as elimination, hunger, thirst, sleep, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, flatus and ejaculation, for it will lead to discomfort and even disease. Cleanliness Thorough washing of the limbs, face, mouth, eyes & nose purifies the bodies sense organs. Best done with a bath in clean water, it should accompany brushing of the teeth (should be repeated after every meal), scraping off a toxicated coating of ama from the tongue, occasional gargling of salt water with a pinch of turmeric to keep gums, mouth & throat healthy, proper cleaning of the nose and the ears and washing the eyes with warm water held in mouth for moments (saliva being very good for the eyes). Keep your hair trimmed, nails filed and wear clean clothes. Feel free to use perfumes in moderation and feel good. Exercise Either passive like massage or active like aerobics or both as in yoga postures, regular exercise increases the body's stamina and resistance to disease by facilitating the immune system, clearing all channels, promoting circulation & waste disposal, and destroying fat. Done regularly, it can reduce anxiety but become addictive. Depending on age & body type, kaphas can go for heavy exercises, pittas should do it in moderation and vatas should perform yoga and not aerobics. Never exert more than half your capacity, during illness, just after a meal and without rhythmic breathing. Swimming, walking and even laughing are excellent options. Massage Necessary for every person, a regular self-massage with herbal oils is usually adequate but needs to be supplemented with professional attention occasionally. It makes the skin supple, controls vata by reducing its cold, dry, light, rough & erratic qualities, enhances blood circulation, encourages quicker removal of metabolic wastes and relaxes the body. Follow the normal direction of hair growth, use a little extra oil over the body's vital parts, massage the scalp and head at least weekly and just the soles of your feet if short of time. ---------------- Ritucharya ---------- Given that the term prakriti denotes both body constitution and nature, it is only expected that with the changing seasons of nature there will be corresponding effects on the bhutas and thereby the doshas of the constitution. Cold, dry weather for instance enhances vata, hot humid climate increases pitta, while cold, wet weather aggravates kapha. To avoid such continued aggravation leading to imbalance of the doshas, Ayurveda prescribes a seasonal routine to preserve the doshic balance as the seasons change. For each season therefore, there is a unique diet (ahar), a distinct mode of living (vihara) and routine living (karya). These keep your doshas in a state of equilibrium and help you cope with the stresses and strains of changing seasons. In Ayurvedic literature the year is divided into six ritus (seasons) - varsha (monsoon), sharada (autumn), hemanta (winter), shishira (late winter), girshma (summer) and vasanta (spring). The effects of these ritus on the three doshas and the suggested lifestyle for each is as indicated below : Click here to see the figure of the Biological Clock Monsoon : Diet Conduct Digestive power weakens and Go for oil massages and regular baths. bodily vata is aggravated. Do not indulge in daytime sleeping. It is advisable therefore to be Avoid moving in the sun, and excessive moderate in your diet. physical exercise Come rains, tuck into astringent, Do not indulgence in excessive sex. bitter and pungent food along with wheat & rice. Never forget to boil & cool your water. And if possible, add a little honey. Spring : Diet Conduct Kapha that has already Go for vigorous exercises, accumulated is liquidified and oil massages. by the heat and disturbs Cut down your your digestive system. smoking habit. Avoid heavy, oily, sour Avoid day-time naps. & sweet food & drinks that may aggravate kapha. Take in barley, wheat, rice, scrup, & bitter vegetables. Summer : Diet Conduct Take in plenty of fluids. Avoid dehydration. Avoid sunlight and harmful UV rays. Avoid food with pungent, acid & salt tastes. Enjoy the cool breeze of your garden Tuck into sweet, cold & oily foods. & fragrance of flowers. Meat of birds & animals are good for you. Avoid excessive physical exercises & excessive sex. bitter or sweet tastes are for you to enjoy. Try to take a short nap. Have lots of rice, barley, wheat, along with curd, cabbage, cheese, milk. Avoid meat, yoghurt. Winter : Diet Conduct Dig into piping hot, oily, sour & Don't expose yourself to cold. salty food along with rice. Go for an invigorating oil massage Also plenty of cow's milk & cane juice. followed by tepid water bath. Drink warm water and it will improve Cover your body with sufficient warm your life span. wraps Indulge in intense sexual Avoid light food to pacify vata. pleasure. Spring : Diet Conduct Kapha that has already accumulated is Go for vigorous exercises, and oil liquidified by the heat and disturbs massages. your digestive system. Cut down your smoking habit. Avoid heavy, oily, sour & sweet food & drinks that may aggravate kapha. Take in barley, wheat, rice, scrup, & bitter vegetables. Avoid day-time naps. Summer : Diet Conduct Take in plenty of fluids. Avoid dehydration. Avoid excessive physical exercises & excessive sex. Avoid food with pungent, acid & salt tastes. Avoid sunlight and harmful UV rays. Tuck into sweet, cold & oily foods. Enjoy the cool breeze of your garden & Meat of birds & animals are good for you. fragrance of flowers. Try to take a short nap. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ailments & Remedies ------------------- ------------------- As has been repeatedly mentioned, any imbalance in the three doshas leads to ailments - at least 80 specific types in case of imbalanced vata, 40 for an imbalanced pitta and another 20 in case of kapha being out of balance. The following chart will give you some indications of the problems that you are likely to face in each case : Vata Ailments Pitta Ailments Kapha Ailments Pain in the feet Burning Anorexia nervosa Stiffness of the Acid excreation Drowsiness ankle Genital herpes Mucus in the throat Cramps in the calf Burning sensation in the chest Lack of sleep Sciatica Burning sensation Excess mucus production in the body Heaviness of the body Paraplegia Foul odour of the body Rectal prolapse Urticaria Indigestion Stiffness of the back Chest pain Jaundice Atheroscleroses or narrowing Excessive Thirst of the arteries Gripping abnormal pain Goiter Stiff neck Pharyngitis Obesity Toothache Conjunctivitis Cataract Inflammation of the penis Headache Skin warts Dandruff Facial paralysis Monoplegia Violent muscular convulsion Giddiness Hiccup Weakness Mental instability ---------------------------------------- Some of the diseases have been hereafter looked into in detail. Anaemia Insomnia Acne Jaundice/Hepatitis Bronchitis & Asthma Obesity Constipation Oedema Diabetes Mellitus Piles Epilepsy Premenstrual Tension Flatulence Rheumatism High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stress Management Indigestion ------------------------------------------ Anaemia ------- Termed `pandu' in Ayurveda, this is a very common ailment, wherein the haemoglobin and RBC (red blood corpuscles) counts fall from their normal levels of 15 gm of haemoglobin per 100 ml. of blood and approximately five million red cells per cubic millimetre of blood. Symptoms Weakness, dizziness and quick exhaustion. A haggard look, lined with premature wrinkles. Eyes stripped off its shine, mirroring fatigue. Failing memory. Shortness of breath and palpitation on exertion. Occasional disturbing headache. Slow healing of wounds Pale looking skin and mucus membranes. Root Causes Loss of blood from the body i.e. haemorrhaging by injury, bleeding piles, bleeding from nose, mouth, lungs, anus, genital tracts or excessive menstruation in case of women. Inadequate supply of blood-forming ingredients in food taken. Destruction of red blood corpuscles inside the body after they are formed. Deficiency in the production of blood because of defective functioning of liver and / or bone marrow. Lack of hydrochloric acid in stomach, needed for digestion of iron and proteins. Presence of hookworms, pinworms, round worms and tapeworms that feed on the supply of blood as well as on vitamins. Healing Options Herbs Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa) Ghritkumari (Aloe vera) Ayurvedic Suppliments Lauh Bhasma Lohasava Dhatri Lauh Navayas Lauh Diet Go for a well-balanced diet rich in iron, sesame seeds, almonds, dairy products, animal protein, vegetables as beet, lettuce, spinach, soyabean, radish, carrots, tomatoes and fresh fruits as banana, black berries, strawberries, apple, amla, plum. Lifestyle Enjoy sun-bathing as the sunlight stimulates the production of red blood cells. Yoga Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana) Posterior Stretch (Paschimotthanasana) Corpse Pose (Shavasana) ------------------------- Acne ---- It is an inflammatory condition of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles which primarily targets teenagers. Symptoms Blackheads, pimples, small superficial sebaceous cysts and scars affect your forehead, temples, cheeks, chin, chest, back and in rare cases the whole body. Root Causes Irregular hours of eating, excessive consumption of starch, sugar, fried & fatty foods. Toxins (ama), formed due improper movement of bowels, finding their way into the blood stream. Unhygienic living habits. Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco. Healing Options Herbs Cinnamom, Sandalwood, Turmeric for local application Neem (Azadirachta indica) Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) Ayurvedic Suppliments Neem Guard capsule Surakta syrup & tablets Mahamanjisthadyarishta Haridra Khand Diet Avoid excess meat, sugar, tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, soft drinks, candies, ice cream, refined and processed foods. Have lots of lemon juice, corriander soup, mint juice & water. Go for a fat-less diet with plenty of green salads and fruits. Lifestyle Apply crushed orange peel or paste of fenugreek or a mixed paste of sandalwood & turmeric on affected area. Wash your face with lukewarm water, with a neem based soap thrice a day. Yoga Lion (Sinhasan) ------------------- Return to Earth Medicine - Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine
|
sunfyre@cherokeenation.zzn.com |
 Elders@divinelivinglight.org |
|
. |
| Visitors: 01497 |