All posts by Dr Bill Dean

About Dr Bill Dean

Dr Bill Dean began practicing urology in 1979 and retired from practice in 2011 to begin a complementary medicine fellowship at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico He has chosen the use of social media to reach out to the many who are interested in exploring an effective systematic approach to IC that is different to what is presently offered by traditional urology practices This can lead to helping people implement the practical applications of this knowledge either with one on one interaction or with support groups New information that can be used to improve health requires changes in habits which are not supportive to change “When the current allopathic healing approach doesn’t have an answer Ayurveda can certainly shed light and help with difficult clinical problems This is because of how the 2 models do their healing” Early in his budding urology career as a resident he researched a condition called chronic urethritis in women Now in retrospect this was his beginning study of IC since it is labeled so many different ways Dr Bill became interested in the complementary medical discipline of Ayurveda with the Chopra organization in 1995 This introduction showed him the science behind the discipline that was grounded in modern physics In 2000 having his own medical problems he sought help at the Ayurvedic Institute and over the years has watched his health dramatically improve Chronic edema from varicose veins cleared, longstanding bowel issues gradually resolved with resultant improved decreased bone density, clearance of longstanding skin lesions, and an improved healthy understanding of relationships He realized tools and techniques that could be used to reverse the disease process But what was startling was that he began seeing healing in a more complete way This improvement in his health brought enthusiasm to use some simple therapies in his urology practice for IC since there were no consistently good results with standard therapies in urology In 2005 he wrote a paper on the results of a study showing the improvement of men women and children using an Ayurvedic nutrition and aloe The results are reported at icdiet.com [http://icdiet.com/] In 6 weeks 91% of the patients had a 50% reduction in symptoms This was indeed exciting and energized Dr Bill to continue expanding on this approach to healing In the ensuing years of practice he continued to help his patient’s pain with what he now calls an energy science of healing This led to the 2010 publication of Foods Heal: Why Certain Foods Help You Feel Your Best [http://bit.ly/cIk3nZ] which uses the nutritional model to show the differences between the current matter science medical discipline and the Ayurvedic or what he terms the energy science medical discipline Says Dr Bill “Many debilitating diseases in the West are not adequately managed since in the matter science medical model the origins of disease are not well understood The energy science medical model has room for how diseases in the body begin This is the key to helping with these debilitating conditions that we have today” So Dr Bill wants to show people who come to him how this energy science of Ayurveda can heal IC “That’s a tall order” he says, “but with my past experience and what I have learned during my fellowship it is definitely possible if IC sufferers want to take on the challenge” Dr Bill is married and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren

IC and Guidelines for Eating During the Holidays

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia
bigstock-Family-All-Together-At-Christm-4881220Food selection may become a big deal during the holidays with those with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystititis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) So what are some techniques that can help during the holidays?  Spreading out holiday-related events, and making get-togethers more active, and meditation are just a few ways to stay healthy this season.

Spread Out Your Events

Try to spread out the parties and get-togethers, instead of visiting several households on the same day If there is an event where the cooking is shared, start a Facebook group page to better organize the dinner and ensure there are plenty of healthy options  Each member can discuss what they are bringing to allow a wide variety of colors and choices rather than an overload of starches. You can also use this page to share recipes

Move at the Party

Holiday gatherings often consist of sitting, eating, talking, drinking, and more eating  We often find ourselves sitting for longer periods of time because we enjoy the conversation Your legs want to move, the food is on the counter, and off you go for food you’re are not even hungry for  This year, try some of these actions with the family to reduce the march to the kitchen  Take a walk or try some other physical activity

Don’t Go Overboard

Sticking to a healthy plan is important  However depriving yourself of certain foods can have negative results  Restrictive eating can lead to binge eating as well as disliking healthy foods by associating them with something you ‘have’ to do  When it’s time to pile food on your plate, eat what visually appeals to you, or you know you love without guilt clouding the mind  Try these final tips for holiday eating  If smaller plates are an option, use them. You’ll fill larger plates just because room is available. Second trips are better than overeating on the first round  If you’re trying something new, only take a bite-size portion

As you begin to incorporate more healthy practices into your life—whether during the holidays or during everyday life—your mindset will start to shift, and you’ll begin to not only choose more nutritious foods, but actually enjoy them, too

IC and Getting Out of the Way: 2 Techniques to Enhance Release

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, vulvodynia

feathersWe all know the amazing capability of the human mindbody to heal  One only needs to recall the experience of a skin cut and the changes that take place over days that leads to the sealing of the wound and typically without a scar  And we didn’t really do anything  We just watched and day by day it occurred  The mindbody did its magic

What we had to do is “get out of the way”  There are many things that we do to interfere with the healing process  We can give our mindbodies foods that produce imbalance or incompatible food combinations, not live in tune with Nature(going to bed when Nature is going to sleep, getting up with Nature, eating our biggest meals when Nature is taking her biggest meal)  These simple things support “getting out of the way” and is foundational to dealing with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)

Release and Getting Out of the Way

The mindbody knows how to heal we just need to give it the opportunity  A Kapha release can look like the common cold, with lots of mucous and cough with respiratory congestion(release of the heavy, slow/dull, slimy/smooth, liquid qualities) An attack of acid indigestion or diarrhea would be an example of a Pitta release due to excess of that energy pattern in the GI tract In both of these examples the mindbody is shedding qualities(hot, sharp, spreading, liquid, oily) that it doesn’t want  This shedding of qualities that happens is a very natural thing  It’s not like we have to think about this release It just naturally happens Typically once an acute release has occurred there is often a sense of lightness that overcomes the physiology due to the loss of qualitative burden

The reason for release is quite simple actually  The mindbody has innate intelligence to release these unwanted qualities  Like Nature it always moves in the direction of righting itself if imbalance occurs  Unfortunately we have grown impatient with this process due to our distrust of the mindbody, believing that this is not possible

Understanding the Process of Release

It’s important to understand this process of release  Release which is in reality a healing event but it can be marked by highs and lows, ups and downs, good days/weeks and bad days/weeks  This roller coaster ride leads to doubt in the mindbody that one is on the right path, that this indeed will be the right course to take  When doubt sets in, confusion can reverberate through the physiology and then impatience and loss of faith  Pretty soon the inevitable “what the use” begins to chime in

Journaling pays big dividends because it focuses our attention on where we have been and where we are now with respect to symptoms  By and by symptoms get better but because the process is subtle it’s sometimes difficult to remember  Journaling helps support the memory of the past

If we are paying attention to guidelines that foster balance, there will come a time guaranteed, where energy patterns that have been “hanging around” in the mindbody physiology will want to naturally release  With that release comes symptoms and we misinterpret these symptoms as getting worse or at least not making progress Rest assured that if you’re doing the foundational work as discussed release of qualities will be the result

Enhancing the Process of Release

So it’s either an acute release as in the common cold or a release of pentup energy as in the IC bladder pain syndrome  The latter is a release that has been chronically stored sometimes for years or decades The more chronic the longer the release that can take up to years based on the chronicity

Supporting and enhancing the release can be done with

1  Herbs which can help foster, smooth out or build up the mindbody during releases

2 Detoxification procedures such as panchakarma(PK)  These require physician directed guidance due to the complexity of decision making that goes beyond the health consumer’s capability  There are other energy science techniques that also facilitate these chronic releases that go beyond the scope of this short blog but suffice it to say there are many other tools in the bag

The message is that illnesses that seem to come out of “nowhere” can be explained on the basis of these releases  Of course if not simple one should check in with your friendly matter science doc and be sure that there isn’t something more serious particularly if symptoms continue and don’t resolve

 

 

IC Flares During the Winter: Using Subtle and Gross Qualities

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia,

Winter GirlFrom an energy science view the entire universe is composed of 10 pairs of vibrational frequencies of opposite qualities that are named and readily recognized by all of us  For example who hasn’t encountered hot and cold, liquid and dense, gross and subtle, soft and hard, heavy and light? And disease is understood by imbalances of these qualities. If there is too much hot in the physiology then the solution is to remove the hot quality balancing it with the cold quality by lifestyle, herbs, and foods

Have you ever wondered why riots don’t happen during the winter in cold climates? And even in climates where the temperatures don’t get near freezing riots are an unusal occurrence  And it is also for the same reason why IC flares either reduce their frequency and severity during the winter

As we recall the hot and mobile qualities are predominant in the formation of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)  The hot quality is significantly reduced during the winter time and hence so is the impact it has on the energy mindbody  The mobile quality is still active in the energy physiology so symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency may still be present but a reduced feeling of heat

The Qualities of Subtle and Gross

One of the foundational aspects of the energy science of Ayurveda is our relationship with Nature Herself  Nature is all of observable creation….the gross  And as individuals we represent the subtle aspect of Nature  Another way of expressing this is the macrocosm and microcosm  Nature is the macrocosm and we as individuals become the microcosm  But we as microcosms actually are 3D expressions of the greater macrocosm  Again the interplay of gross and subtle

Vata Pitta and Kapha(VPK) are expressions of the above opposing 10 pairs in various combinations  Vata is subtle while Pitta and Kapha are gross because they are more tangible and firmly expressed  There are other ways that the energy science talks about these gross and subtle qualities  PTO(prana, tejas, and ojas) are the cellular expressions of VPK….again the subtle expression of PTO is actually the microcosm of the macrocosm of VPK  As Pitta is gross in its expression of hot, the agni is the subtle expression of the same hot quality   Marma points like acupuncture points are subtle manifestations of the gross mindbody  They reflect not only internal organs but also are ways to influence the mind  The 7 primary chakra points are in reality marma points

This understanding of our interrelationship of ourselves with Nature is foundational to seeing how the philosophy of Ayurveda works in healing

The Hot Quality During Winter

As we began if Nature as a macrocosm is cold during the winter our microcosm takes on the cold quality and essentially helps treat the hot quality of IC flares

During the cold winter our external heat goes internally from gross to subtle and the central digestive fire becomes stronger so we’re able to more easily able to digest, absorb, and assimilate foods  Just as Nature withdraws and sleeps during the winter so does our metabolism externally

IC and the GAG Layer: 5 Ways to Protect and Rebuild It

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia, , ,

Biologically the mindbody simultaneously coexists as both an energy field or a matter(molecular) field  If I put on my energy field glasses I see the mindbody as an energy field and I speak about it in terms of Vata, Pitta, or Kapha  In so thinking about the mindbody as both energy and matter there obviously should be a transparency about what we are discussing  If I speak about the molecular aspects of the mindbody I should be able to find its equivalency  in the energy field model  This is true for the GAG(GlycosoAminoGlycan) layer molecular concept and the Kapha energy pattern  In IC research it’s thought that the GAG layer is in some way altered in this dis-ease and therefore maybe the underlying molecular reason why IC occurs in the first place

Kapha is energy of stability in the physiology  It keeps our mindbodies strong and well put together physically  It’s psychologically grounding for us and is also responsible for our immune system working properly since it is the immune system  You can think of Kapha as a protective energy that keeps the mindbody strong  Any large structural molecule such as chondroitin(joints), cholesterol, or immunoglobulins are molecular expressions of the Kapha energy pattern

In the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) one of the hypotheses in its molecular cause is that the protective GAG layer in some way becomes damaged and loses its integrity  This layer which is produced by the underlying epithelial cells is thought to be a protective mucous layer and so by what we have just said this would be a Kapha like protection from invasive bacteria but also from the acidic characteristics of the urine itself

Every tubular lining(aka mucosa) that has a connection to the outside world has a GAG layer  For example the lining of the respiratory system has its associated protective GAG layer which traps foreign materials so they don’t interfere with respiratory function  The GI tract and reproductive tracts has GAG layers as well  So GAG layers are not unique to the urinary tract but are part of the universal system of protection that is the Kapha energy pattern

GAG Layer Protection andaloe vera juice Repair

There are many reasons why GAG layers get damaged but one of them is inflammation  In energy science terminology that means that Pitta is being increased due to blocking by Kapha and in the matter science it means that acidity breaks down tissue  Knowing this there are energy science ways to help prevent the GAG layer from being broken down or getting repaired if broken down

Aloe vera  There’s a reason why aloe as a herb works wonders in the IC bladder pain syndrome  It molecularly provides mannose which is an often biologically unavailable essential glucosaccharide  This provides the building blocks for the mindbody to rebuild the protective Kapha GAG layer  Energetically aloe reduces Pitta heat and pacifies overactive mobile quality of Vata

Reducing Vata and Pitta in nutritional formats  It follows from our conversation that if having increased inflammatory Pitta molecules around then preventing them from entry into the mindbody would be good therapy  The same holds true for Vata molecules that produce movement in the physiology

Reducing Vata and Pitta in incompatible food combinations(IFC)  In general IFC’s are inflammatory and increase Pitta so avoiding these is Pitta pacifying

Herbs that reduce Pitta  Both acacia and psyllium absorb Pitta from the small intestine so in small volumes these herbs are valuable in the management of the IC bladder pain syndrome

Herbs that reduce Vata  Vata is composed of space and air as an energy pattern which are both composed of qualities  When you pass gas from the rectum you’re passing Vata energy  Since Vata is air if it’s increased in the mindbody physiology it can increase Pitta  Think about fanning a fire with pushing air across the fire that you’re trying to get going  Vata herbs like  ashwagandha, bala, and vidari are good at reducing Vata

IC and Salt: 5 Ways to Reduce Inflammation and Congestion

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia, ,

too much saltThe energy science categorizes food according to taste(rasa which has an effect on the energy patterns of VPK), virya(effect that food has on our small intestine and tissues), vipak(effect that food has on our colon and cells), and prabhav(effect that it has on the DNA of our cells)  This makes the interpretation of how foods affect us quite complex and explains why the nutritional formats at icdiet.com and foodsheal.com are useful because they simplify our understanding of foods and allow us to make healthy balancing food choices that help treat the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)

The syndrome is most commonly produced by the qualities of Vata(cold, light, mobile, dry, rough, subtle, clear) and Pitta(hot, light, spreading, sharp/penetrating, liquid, oily)  These qualities combine in various combinations to produce the diseases of the syndrome  But the primary qualities that play the role are hot and mobile

The key to understanding the energy science disease model is to begin to appreciate the imbalance in qualities that occur in the mindbody physiology and how you bring about the imbalance  As we have discussed in the past the primary way we go out of balance is through foods that in the IC syndrome bring too much of the hot and mobile qualities among others

The Unique Salty Taste

The energy science of Ayurveda recognizes that there are 6 tastes called rasas(sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent) that allow us to scientifically study foods and their intimate impact on the mindbody energy field  These tastes are typically in combination with one another in foods  For example, seafood(meat that has lived its life in saltwater) has a salty rasa or taste energtically even though it doesn’t taste salty  Due to protein of the meat it has a heating vipak, and the dense and heavy qualities of seafood produce the sweet taste as the vipak energetic influence

Aside from seafood, mineral salts such as sea salt or table salt and surprisingly cottage cheese are the only ways we encounter the salty taste in foods so the salty taste becomes our first encounter with the concept of a “culinary spice”salty cottage cheese

The qualities of the salty taste are hot, light, liquid, soft, smooth/slimy, and subtle  From the above qualities of Vata we can appreciate that the mobile quality will be reduced by the slimy/smooth quality of salt but Pitta will be increased due to the hot quality Because the salty taste carries the hot quality it will be aggravating to people with the IC bladder pain syndrome

Due to the hot quality salt produces inflammation and due to the liquid quality it produces its well known congestive effect with fluid retention

Since rasa(taste) has an influence on our mindbody through the qualities of the foods that we take in, if we get an excess of the salty taste it can produce with the hot and liquid qualities, impatience, irritability, and easy frustration

As advertised in potato chip commercials, “Bet you can’t each just one”, implies that the salty taste can be addictive  This addictive like characteristic of salt is why ALL fast food chains use a lot of the salty taste in their food preparation

Due to salt’s penetrating and hot qualities it can be very effective in massaging and warming muscles and so soaking in epsom salt baths becomes valuable  Another use of salt is with neti sinus wash that reduces Kapha mucous in the sinuses where it accumulates  This is the experience everyone has with the common cold  Neti uses a salt solution since tap water will burn the delicate mucous membranes  But salt also is important in mobilizing with its hot quality the cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, heavy, dense, slow/dull, and static qualities of Kapha which are those of mucous

5 Takeaways About the Salty Taste

When it comes to the IC bladder pain syndrome there are some basic things to remember when it comes to the salty taste

Avoid salt at the dinner table

Avoid all seafood  Eat fresh water fish

Avoid all fast food

Avoid salt in food preparation at home

Avoid cottage cheese

 

 

IC and Getting Up At Night: 10 Helpful Solutions

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia

Clock and awakeFrom an energy science perspective nutrition, rest, and exercise are the foundational pillars to a healthy life  In chronic disease like the IC bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) all pilllars get typically involved to produce disease progression  But rest can be an energy drain to the mindbody and since healing is already an energy drain there is a significant stress on the physiology that requires remedy

Rest

The pineal gland located in the third ventricle is a significant endocrine gland involved in the daily rest cycle and secretes two important neurotransmitters, serotonin and melatonin  The former is the energetic equivalent of groundedness and the latter is intimately involved in the diurnal variations of daylight and nighttime, signaling our mindbody when it is ready for rest

As usual in the energy science the amount of rest varies according to the constitutional energy makeup  Vata due to its delicacy requires the most rest, typically 7-8h per night and Kapha requires the least, 5-6h and Pitta somewhere in between  Most of us have 2 dominant patterns so PV would be around 6-7h and PK 6h  But commonly Kapha loves to sleep in and so even though Kapha “desires” more rest, in fact Kapha needs to “move it” and take advantage of its good stamina and endurance

When there are health challenges we can see that there are more energetic demands on the mindbody so that naps are naturally an acceptable way to “catch up”  So keeping the same rest schedule at night with PV in bed by no later than 103o and PK 1130 are reasonable guidelines  Appropriate rising times no later than 7 for PV and 6 for PK are reasonable  But if fatigue sets in during the afternoon a nap could be valuable

We are a culture guided by the alarm clock but the energy science of Ayurveda would suggest that such a tool is Vata provoking and physiologically disruptive  So if we set a good sleeping schedule there becomes less of a need to use an alarm because the mindbody gets set into a rhythm of rest, allowing the mindbody to go “au naturale”

Sleep disruption comes in all forms of shapes and sizes  Some have trouble getting to sleep, other wake up during Vata time(2-6a) and can’t get back to sleep,  and others wake up to urinate several times a night due to interstitial cystitis

Dreams of falling, being attacked, being pushed, or of always doing something in the dream as well as being frozen with fright, seeing the death of a loved one, or being locked up or flying are Vata dreams  Certain animals such as snakes, camels, and flying birds are related to Vata  Dreams about the autumn season are about vata  In vata dreams, the person is trying to fulfill a desire  These dreams are about a person falling or being attacked  In some cases, Kapha or Pitta may attack Vata

Helpful Solutions for Rest

There are tools that can help with setting the tone for getting into a “normal rest cycle  Of course this is not an all inclusive list but some of these have stood the test of time  Using one or a combination of these solutions may be helpful

Having a set time for bed every night is a good lifestyle habit to cultivate  The mindbody is subject to habit which sets the tone for rest

The bedroom should be just that….a place for the bed and for rest  Some turn their bedroom into a media suite or library and this creates confusion

Cherry juice is a source of melatonin and seratonin as mentioned above are important in rest  Amazingly cherry juice is a rich natural source of both and using glass of warm cherry juice with perhaps cinnamon before 30min before bed would be helpful for rest

Warm milk with ground almonds(without skins) and pinch of cardamom and pinch of nutmeg  Nutmeg is a culinary sleep aid and can be quite effective

Chamomile tea has been a longstanding herbal remedy for inducing rest, relaxation, and sleep

Cup tomato juice with 2t sugar and 2 pinches nutmeg

Herbal therapies such as tagar can be helpful in inducing sleep

Bhringaraj oil to feet and head after a warm tub bath for relaxation can also help for sleep inducement

Practicing So Hum mantra meditation can be a way to soothe the Vata aggravated mindbody and put it in relaxation mode  It’s a way of counting sheep but much more peaceful

The addition of a pharmacological such as Ambien or other sleep aids can be used as prescription and supported by the above

 

Three Helpful Tips for IC Management

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia

Various tools and techniques to help deal with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) can be very helpful especially when they come from readers such as yourself  As a community we’re all in this together and so suggestions to implement the energy science principles can be helpful for all of us working toward eliminating IC from our lives  Here are some suggestions about tools, herbs, and practical dietary solutions that can be helpful

CCF Tea Made Easier

Contigo travel mug with tea infuserThe Contigo travel mug with tea infuser makes it easier to carry CCF(cumin coriander fennel) tea on the road  CCF tea is important in the IC bladder pain syndrome because the primary energy patterns involved are Pitta(hot) and Vata(mobile)  Both imbalances are helped by CCF which has the qualities of cold and stable   It also builds agni which is always abnormally low in the syndrome  So sipping on CCF tea on a regular basis can be like the proverbial “drip on the forehead”  Using the travel mug is a nice way to keep the seeds in the hot water and let them steep into the tea as you travel

Adding a spearmint or basil(cold) leaf to your CCF tea basket can additionally augment the cooling effect of the tea

Acacia for IBS Symptoms

The acacia herb comes from the resin of the acacia tree of which there are many varieties growing in many hot parts of the world  Typically when herbs come from hot climates they carry the cold quality because Nature provides those living in those climates foods that help them maintain their health in such climates  Aloe is another example of such a plant

Acacia powder acts like psyllium husk in that it can help with diarrhea and constipation  In small dosing it can absorb the hot Pitta quality and stop diarrhea that occurs in IBS and inflammatory bowel disease  In larger doses both can help with constipation

Nutritional Help

Some of our readers have asked about diet assistance in order to implement the suggestions that I make on the blog  I’m a proponent of making the nutritional changes within your existing diet rather than creating new recipes  This can take some time but it’s worth it in the end  I’ll be putting together an energy science nutritional class in the near future  Let me know if you want to sign up at drbilldean@gmail.com

Castor oil and Tea Tree as Penetrating Lower Abdominal Therapy

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia,

Castor oil is cooling when applied externally on the skin and we have talked about this in previous posts as a means of helping deal with the hot quality in the pelvis causing the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromylagia)  When using castor with lower abdominal marmas over time this can prove effective in dealing with pelvic pain

Of course in energy science work it’s not just one thing that you do that helps with this chronic pain complex but a multiplicity of therapies(nutrition, day in balance, herbs etc) and the use of marma along with medicinal oils can be very helpful  Castor oil packs have been used for a long time in the symptomatic relief of the lower abdominal pain of IC  It makes sense that castor’s effect would be through the route of marma since the lower abdominal application of the castor would have little to do with its apparent internal effects of pain relief

Downward gati with pelvic marmaTherapeutic Application of Tea Tree and Castor

The energy science often uses an essential oil along with an oil like castor which can deliver positive effects to the involved tissues through the influence of marma points  Adding 12 drops of pure tea tree oil to 30cc(1 oz) of castor oil(use a 1 oz dropper bottle)makes a 2% solution that can have therapeutic effects when delivered through marma point of the lower abdomen

The arrows in the accompanying diagram point to specific marmas in the infraumbilical(below the belly button) area  A point midway between the belly button and pubic bone is not as well as a point just above the pubic bone  There are also paired points, two midway on a line between the belly button and the pelvic bone lateral to the pubic bone, and two lateral to the midline pubic bone point

The application of the above oil is done to these specific points, massaging two points at a time in any combination  The points can be massaged for 3minutes and then move onto another pair of points  All totaled should take about 9 minutes  You can also use castor on the rest of the abdomen  Many find application of heat helpful after the castor application

 Medicinal Effects of Tea Tree Oil and Castor

As has been discussed the medicinal effects of castor are well known in the energy science  It’s unique in that it has a physiologic cooling effect when applied externally but when taken internally it has the opposite heating effect producing increased gut motility  Of course this cooling effect can be beneficial for those who have IC which is caused by the hot and mobile qualities

The tea tree is indiginous to Australia and the leaves are rich in melaleuca oil which is composed of several different aromatic terpenes that cause a very penetrating effect of the oil into deep tissues  This then makes it an excellent choice for marma therapy where the penetrating effect of the oil can bring about therapeutic effects to the the organs that are represented on the skin  Tea tree oil is balancing to all 3 energy patterns and therefore can be very helpful in IC particularly the hot quality of Pitta

IC and the Biorhythms of Eating: 3 Ways to Get Out of the Rut

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia,

Graph of US eating timesBiorhythms of sleep have become well recognized patterns and research has shown that they are intimately associated with health and the prevention of disease For example, people who work night shifts are more prone to health problems  But the energy science of Ayurveda also gives us a biorhythm of eating which if adhered to improves the entire digestive process and supports this important concept of agni that I’ve talked about in the past

The biorhythm research has continually confirmed what the energy science gives us as guidance about eating and rest  As a matter of fact most contemporary research continues to support what the energy science talks about regarding prevention of progressive disease  If we are plagued with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) then we certainly don’t want to get worse

The Eating Biorhythm

Since we are part of Nature(if you don’t agree then show me how you remove yourself from Her) we will naturally flow with Her rhythms  I just alluded to the health problems that occur when we don’t go to bed with Nature and wake up with Her  So it is with our eating biorhythm cycle

If we don’t take our biggest meal when Nature is doing so then our digestion suffers  Our agni or digestive power is maximal at between 11a and 2p  Even if our agni is suboptimal the point is that it will be as good as it can be around the noon hour  This is completely compatible with what our ancestors knew before we became accustomed to “city life” where schedules for a healthy lifestyle are abandoned

The energy science says that eating our biggest meal of the day at noon time is optimal for health and encourages the best chance for us to digest well  What does “biggest” mean?  What you can comfortably hold in your 2 hands represents two-thirds of your stomach capacity and Ayurveda’s guideline is that more than 2 handfuls overdistends the stomach capacity and risks the chance to form ama or undigested unprocessed food  If ama is formed due to poor agni it can escape from the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) and will spread to peripheral tissues where it can interfere with function

Eating out can be a major problem  There are several reasons for this  Things are done by restaurants that aren’t conducive for good digestion  The most common infraction is ice water  Many of the entrees served in public eateries are popular but are not necessarily good for us(chocolate coffee ice cream)  Many restaurants nowadays are serving incompatible food combinations  The most common one is fruit with other foods

Eating Biorhythms:  3 Healthy Ways To Support

But probably the most damaging of all with our “restaurant fetish” is that it typically interferes with healthy biorhythms of eating  Typically eating our biggest meal of the day turns out to be done at 7p or beyond which in the end is ama promoting  Not only is it our biggest meal of the day but it’s associated with all of the other ama promoting eating habits foisted on us because we’re at the restaurant

So what can we d0?

1  Make a pact with yourself to eat your biggest meal at noon

2 Minimize eating out…will be healthier and enhance the pocketbook  If you have to eat out try to stay away from night time meals, avoid ice, eat according to your energy constitutional makeup(see foodsheal.com), and avoid incompatible food combinations

3 Breakfast is optional  If hungry try fruit  It should NOT be the biggest meal of the day