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 Numbing Out: 3 Ways to Avoid

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

Circles not togetherWe all numb out on various things in life and when we do it allows us to not fully pay attention to what is ailing us  This would be normally expected in chronic disease wanting to make the pain and hassles to go away  There is clearly pain and inconvenience for people with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromylagia) and so it’s understandable that an unconscious effort for numbing would occur

Examples of Numbing Out

Numbing out is the inability to focus on the sensory experience that is bothering us  Sure we notice the pain and inconveniences that “crimp our plans” but that’s as far as it goes

Whether we know it or not numbing out is in our life experience  The reason I can say this with such assurance is that we all do it to some degree or another  Now one might claim that it’s impossible to numb out when pain is in your face day after day and that is indeed true so we should define numbing out

Reasons for numb out are several  1 Often we don’t have the tools to be more present with whatever is bothering us  2 At times it’s inconvenient to bother or it’s the same thing day after day so why bother  3  It’s quick and easy to numb out  4 We get rewarded because of the pleasure that comes from numbing out

When we become students of whatever is bothering us we bring our full attention and in so doing intention to the issue at hand  This is the crux of not numbing out  By stopping the numbing out process we bring intention into the equation and voila healing occurs

Common examples of numbing out

Addictions of any kind…food(aka “comfort foods”), alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs

Not managing stress and anxiety so we numb out unconsciously

Stress and anxiety produce flightiness which is a form or “run away” which is the heart of the numbing out process

Circles not together…essentially denial of the problems at hand

Social media….great way to avoid dealing with a problem

 Ways to Avoid Numbing Out

1 Journal

Be aware of insights that come about the issue and solutions that will help the problem

2 Meditate on the problem at hand

Be willing to sit, think, and talk about the issue that you want to correct

                Spiritual practices sometimes help uncover the unconscious processes such as fear,stress, and anxiety

Grounded minds produce composure to sit

3 The above process allows us to observe something that comes up and not be overwhelmed by it

 

IC and Insomnia: 7 Simple Energy Science Remedies

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

There is nothing like a good night’s rest and when that doesn’t happen it’s a source of deteriorating health  cherriesChronic disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystititis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) is often associated with sleep problems  More than 25% of the US population have sleep disturbances and 10% have chronic insomnia  Although not specifically studied with the IC syndrome, sleep disturbances occur in people with diabetes, depression, obesity, and those with cardiovascular disease

It’s not too difficult to understand why sleep disturbances would occur with the syndrome of IC  Getting up at night in order to pacify a bladder that wants to urinate is understandable but other situations such as rectal spasm or vaginal symptoms may also play a role in altering the sleep pattern  And of course the ramifications of chronic fatigue from sleep deprivation begin to show when continued problems of interrupted sleep occur

So what can be done to help with sleep disturbance that can support pharmaceuticals that are prescribed?

Sleep Aids

There are many effective sleep pharmaceuticals to use but they have the potential of sleep hangover so there are some natural sleep aids that can help  As ususal with energy science work it’s not just one thing that is done to help with a problem so use many of the below suggestions to help solve the problem

Moderate exercise  This helps tax the body so that it wants rest at night  Nothing like making the body tired  Pranayama can be a very effective way to exercise if you have difficulty with walking, running, or accessing equipment

Eating cherries or drinking cherry juice  This fruit is a natural source of melatonin and tryptophan so drinking cherry juice around bedtime makes complete sense  Researchers at LSU used tart cherry juice and found an increase of 90minutes of sleep a night

Prepare for sleep  If a sleep disturbance occurs one of the first things is to look at what time you’re going to bed and what time you’re waking up  In general bedtime should be around 10pm and wakeup around 7am  So if your planned bedtime is 10p begin getting ready for bed around 930p taking a warm calming tub bath and massaging the head and feet with bhringaraj oil that relaxes the nervous system Listening to calming music, pleasant reading and NOT watching TV are good things to do for sleep preparation

Interrupted sleep  Some recommend that if you’re having trouble waking up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep that you stay up if you have given yourself an adequate chance to go back to sleep  When you stay up and begin the day at 3am and do that for three days in a row, it will be impossible for you not to have a good night’s sleep  This is especially if you avoid naps during the day  The body requires sleep and deprivation for 17 days leads to death so forcing sleep deprivation can become a solution

Nutmeg and milk  The herb nutmeg is an excellent sleep aid and coupled with a soothing cup of warm milk will help take the edge off and allow you to go into slumberlands  Other herbal therapies  There are a number of herbs that can act synergistically with one another in order to cumulatively give you better rest along with dealing with other physiologic problems  Rasayans as well as tagar, valerian, brahmi, shankapushpi, jatamamsi, and vidari are excellent at calming the nervous system and promoting better sleep

Chamomile tea  This herb also has a sedating effect to the nervous system and can be effective as a sleep aid

So Hum  There may be times when you want to fall asleep but the mind is just too agitated for one reason or another to let the body relax  Instead of counting sheep or listening to the mind’s endless chatter you can use So Hum breathing  So Hum is a mantra that mimics the sound of the breath  So on inhalation and Hum on exhalation  When you use this mantra you can calm the nervous system and bring on sleep much more easily

 

 

 

IC and Improving Digestion: 10 Energy Science Remedies

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

Hot campfireIn energy science work it’s not just one thing that you do to heal the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) but a multiplicity of “things”  And most of the time(80%) it’s lifestyle behavior patterns not herbs and supplements that are the “things” that will make a difference  This particularly plays out in digestive issues where attention to details pays big dividends

This approach to disease brings clarity both emotionally and mentally so that better decision making is done as you move along in the process  So let’s take a look at some important choices that the energy science recommends to improve digestion

10 Energy Science Remedies for Poor Digestion

1  Biggest meal of the day at noon  The digestive system is most ready for the experience between 11a and 2p  Conversely at the same time at night between 11p and 2a one should be in bed or there is a great chance that you’ll be “raiding the fridge” particularly if Pitta is high and the digestion is too hot

2 No snacking   Snacking confuses the GI tract So eating the main meals at predetermined times every 4 hours is very important  If you snack you will never know true hunger  Due to its simple sugars that can be digested quickly fruit makes a perfect snack food

3 Only eat if real hunger exists  The way to tell if there is true hunger is to drink some water and see if you’re still hungry  If your hunger goes away then it’s false hunger  However the best way to lock into true hunger is to eat at specific times of the day, eat the biggest meal of the day at noon, and don’t snack

4 Ice is not nice   Ice cools the GI tract down and agni The enzyme systems work best at 98.6F and so when ice is used during meals it affects your digestion and creates ama which is undigested, unprocessed food  Ama is root of all disease so you can see that simply avoiding is a major step to improving your digestion

5 Pay attention to what you’re doing and chew food thoroughly  There is good experimental evidence to show that when you pay attention to the eating process you digest better  There are estimates as to how many “chews” should be used for each mouthful of food and I think that a reasonable number is 20  This guideline is also useful for food prepartation paying attention to the food being prepared

6 Take your time eating  Setting down your fork and chewing food, appreciating the taste, textures, and the completeness of chewing the food

7 Make a deal to sit while eating  Sitting in your car while driving doesn’t count here! Even if it’s a grape make a deal with yourself that you’ll sit down to eat the grape to create a habit

8 Don’t eat when emotional upset  Having mental and emotional turbulence prevents you from being able to focus on the process of eating at hand

9 Moderate exercise  Make a point to do some form of exercise every day  This improves agni and supports quality digestion and prevents ama formation  The use of pranayama and in particular kapalabhati(KB) is an excellent way to improve agni and get exercise  It may not seem like much but doing 5 minutes of KB is like running a half a mile

10 Use churans with meals  At foodsheal.com under nutritional tools there is a listing of churans which are collections of spices that can be used during cooking or sprinkling on food before eating  In the energy science each meal should have all 6 tastes  Churans can be instrumental in providing these tastes in order to help improve digestion

IC and 10 Guidelines to Get More Energy

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

All disease except for trauma begins in the GIT andmental energy so this underscores why nutritional habits are so important

But what nutritional habits? This is where the energy science can make its biggest contribution because the matter science molecular approach has no adequate model of disease  So it becomes hit and miss recommendations  So to heal the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromylagia) the foundational work of nutrition according to the energy science guidelines is very very important

Ten Ways to Feel Energized by Food

1 Eat Foods with High Prana
Prana is the vital energy present in fresh vegetables and fruits and pure air that we breathe  From an energetic point of view one of the reasons for eating is to gain prana, so you want to choose foods that are high in prana

Incorporating more fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet will give you an immediate energy boost  It’s also important to cut the vegetables and cook them fresh at every meal  Buying pre-cut vegetables means that you have already lost some of the prana  For that reason, buy vegetables and fruits whole for maximum vitality

2 Eat Organic or Locally Grown Foods Whenever Possible

Organic foods have more prana than foods that have been polluted with chemical fertilizers and pesticides  If your body has to work hard to detoxity the chemicals every time you eat with the liver, you’ll feel fatigued and toxic

Locally grown foods are also higher in prana, because they don’t have to be shipped or stored and can be bought tree-ripened  There is another reason to eat locally grown foods–they contain the same ratio of the five fundamental levels as the climate in which you live

One ayurvedic principle says that equal proportions of the elements is always enhancing  Locally grown herbs, fruits, vegetables and dairy products will have a more powerful and energizing biological impact  Herbs and plants grown in the desert are more helpful for the people who live in that kind of dry, hot climate

This principle doesn’t apply to grains or beans, which are grown in different regions  And if you can’t get locally grown veggies or fruits, it’s better to eat imported produce  The point here is that if you have a choice, buy or grow local produce for more vitality

3 Avoid Eating Dead or Unintelligent Food
Just as fresh produce has more prana, food that is old, dead, or heavily processed contains very little life force  Frozen, canned, packaged, processed, bottled, fermented or leftover foods are either too old to be healthy, or even worse, have been altered with chemical preservatives and flavorings  This kind of unintelligent, dead food is difficult to digest and creates ama, which clogs the body’s channels and creates fatigue  Choose food that is fresh, whole and unaltered by chemicals or harmful processing methods

4  Eat Energizing Foods
Besides fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, an energizing diet includes whole grains such as quinoa, barley and amaranth  For protein, organic milk, lassi (a yogurt drink), paneer(fresh cheese) are energy-producing  Almonds, cashews, or walnuts are an excellent source of protein if they are soaked first or cooked with the grains to make them more digestible  Split-mung dhal and other small or split beans are an excellent source of protein  Some delightful foods that are also excellent sources of protein are Milk-date Shake and Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding
Ingredients:

  • 1 c. water
  • 1/2 c. basmati rice
  • 4 c. whole milk
  • 1 tsp. chopped dates
  • 2 tsp. cashews or pistachios
  • 3 small pieces green cardamom, crushed
  • 1 tsp. sugar (or to taste)

Directions:
Soak rice in water for 2 hours  Boil milk  Add rice and all other ingredients  Boil slowly for 30 minutes or more until the mixture reaches a slightly thick consistency, but you can stir it easily  It will thicken a little more when you let it cool

Fresh, easy-to-digest oils are another important part of the energizing diet  Ghee is an excellent cooking oil or baking oil because it doesn’t burn at high heat  Extra virgin olive oil from the first press is healthy for baking or sautéing at low temperatures

5  Eat a Variety of Foods
Rather than getting in a rut and just making rice, dhal and the same vegetables every day, be sure to rotate your selection so you are always getting a wide variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins and flavors

Ayurveda recommends that you eat all six flavors–sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent and pungent–in every meal  If you are getting bored with your food, or if you are having cravings for unhealthy foods, that’s a clue that you are not getting all six tastes  You can take the guess work out of food selection by going to foodsheal.com to see what foods are best for you

One way to add more flavor and fun is to use Peach Chutney and Mango Chutney to complement the food. Each contains all six tastes, adding zest and energizing spice to the meal

6  Cook with Energizing Spices
Cooking with spices makes the food more digestible and creates energy  The ayurvedic way to cook with spices is to sauté them at low heat in olive oil and ghee, then stir them into steamed vegetables, cooked grains, or soupy dals  An alternative method is to sauté the spices in Ghee or olive oil and then sauté the raw vegetables, grains or dal  Add water and cook until tender

Choose spices that are recommended for your body type  Spice mixtures called churnas can be made from recipes at foodsheal.com

7  Avoid Energy-Draining Combinations
Avoid foods that don’t digest well when combined  Combining the following foods create ama and low energy

8  Drink Energizing Water
Drinking lots of coffee, tea or caffeinated soft drinks may give you a false burst of energy, but caffeine taxes the liver, creating a toxic build-up and fatigue  It’s better to drink beverages that clear toxins from the channels of the body

9  Minimize Restaurant Eating
If you must eat out, choose your restaurant carefully  Keep an eye on the ingredients and cooking methods. Are the ingredients fresh or frozen? Are leftovers served? Are there healthy oils? These are the questions you can ask

10  Eat in a Settled Atmosphere
Ayurveda recommends that you eat in a settled atmosphere to gain maximum vitality from food  If you talk on the phone, watch TV or conduct a business meeting over lunch, your food is not going to digest properly  It will probably create ama, which is the cause of dullness and fatigue. Eating while standing, walking or driving also creates ama rather than energy

Turn off the electronic devices and eat with someone you care about  Leave your responsibilities at the door–and instead revel in the beautiful colors, tastes, smells and textures of the food  All of this amounts to respecting your food and your digestion, and will help create the kind of light, clear, vital feeling that good food is meant to do

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows of Observation: IC and Stories from the Energy Body

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

What Are You Looking For question asking your mission, goal, queIn the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) the qualites of hot and mobile amongst others become apparent  It is the awareness of these qualities that tell us that something is “not right in river city”  The sensation of hot leads to the burning sensation on urination or a feeling of burning in the vagina, prostate, or perineum  This quality also leads to irritability, impatience, anger, resentments about the disease that’s being experienced

The mobile quality leads to frequency of urination, getting up at night, urgency to urinate, and anxiety of not knowing what’s going on or if the problem will ever go away

Sensations Are More Than You Think

Have you had the experience of equanimity? That is, the sense that the body is peaceful and restful  There are no abnormal sensations being reported to you  Yes, I think we can all relate to that sense of peace in the mindbody

So when we have sensations in our body they are messengers from inner space from our energy field  And rather than be stressed out about them we can welcome them for what they truly are…messages from the mindbody of dis-ease  Nothing more and nothing less  It’s the mindbody’s way of getting in touch with us and letting us know that something is not quite right

Hence sensations become our windows of observation of the inner workings of our energy field and so we should never ever discount sensations  Rather than be fearful of the abnormal sensations we can simply observe and be grateful that the mindbody is letting us know that something has caused us to leave our state of equanimity

For example, if you go on a hike with your kids and you find that your back muscles are getting tired due to the steep grade of the hill your kids are running up, you take a rest because the mindbody is telling you that your muscles are not conditioned enough to keep on doing the task  You give the muscles some rest and they’re ready to begin to do some more work  This process is called conditioning and the messages from your mindbody are not to stop but to simply rest

What about emotions? Do they lack sensations?  Of course not  The sense of compassion, kindness, gratitude, and love all carry sensations of oily, liquid, soft, warm, light, subtle, and clear 

Using Sensations in Dis-eases of the Energy Mindbody

So it’s important as much as we can to observe our energy field by noticing our sensations  When we begin becoming a better observer we become a better healer  How could this be?

The subtle noticing of how the sensation of hot or mobile is changing for the better gives us a clue that what we are doing is making a difference….that we’re on the right track toward dealing with our dis-ease whatever that might be

I’ve mentioned journaling in past blogs and this is where jotting down your observations can be very helpful because at times the changes in sensation can be so subtle that we may not be able to remember how that sensation was yesterday or last month or even last year  Being able to go back over your notes can reassuringly help remind you of how much progress you have made

Healing is not made in a straightline  It occurs in waves exactly how the energy field expresses itself  So there are good days and bad days and by journaling we get to see this wave like effect in action

 

IC and Imagination: 7 Aspects of Healing

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

bigstock-Scream-For-Joy-2459837Imagination is necessary for healing the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) because it’s part of the creative process   The creative process is not just in the realm of the arts but is part of the fabric of all human endeavor including the one that is closest to home called healing  Healing is in reality an art form and we are the artists  Such a perspective requires the recognition that we are the creator

When we assume an artistic touch to our healing we have to become responsible since we are the architect of our project of healing  It demands taking charge so that victimhood is not acceptable  We no longer look to the white coat to heal us because we are on to something much more profound, our own creative project

These words may sound philosophical as if they have nothing to do with dealing with the daily trials and tribulations of the IC bladder pain syndrome but unless you hear them you will continue to suffer with your dis-ease  So what are the characteristics of a creative or  healing event? Although this verbal list can be longer it should be noted that the healing act transcends the verbal because it comes from the level of the soul

7 Characteristics of Healing

Imagination  Simply believing that you can get through this turbulent time of your life and imagining your life as different is a significant first step  Einstein said that more important than knowledge, imagination was at the heart of the creative or healing process

Innovation  Doing new things and thinking outside the box, outside conventional knowledge, exercises creativity and healing

Faith that what you are doing will bring the outcome you’re looking for

Motivation  Pain IS the great motivator that moves people to get off point zero and toward solution  The internet and social communication is a great tool to utilize to help along the way, getting fresh ideas

Discovery is always part of the creative process because there are always new things uncovered going forward through the healing process

Never Give Up  An attitude that fosters a “can do” mentality no matter how you’re feeling or doing in the process

Hard Work requires courage, fortitude, resilience, and daily affirmation

The Mind:  Roadblock to Healing

Of course there will be mental or psychological roadblocks  I don’t have enough money, not enough time, or my job or family prevent me from doing the work necessary to bring about healing  But that’s all a form of procrastination to get to work  The mind will always support the status quo and prevent us from exercising our creativity

But for some of us there will come this Eureka moment when it all fits into place and you’re willing to tell the mind to shut up  And you will get on with your creative act of healing

Miles Davis has been credited with this phrase “Don’t end nothin”  It implies that creativity is never ending as is healing  We can always be healthier than we were yesterday, that there are always things that we can work on to heal the imbalances that we have

IC and Sleep: 9 Ways to Improve Rest with Chronic Dis-ease

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

Poor rest with alarm clockHealthy rest with chronic dis-ease is essential in healing because it takes more energy to heal  The IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) is such a chronic dis-ease complex of labels that can often be associated with sleep disruption

Proper and sufficient sleep is essential for optimal health and without it, body and mind can suffer, particularly if chronic dis-ease is present  But what actually is proper rest has a lot to do with who you are energetically

The Ayurvedic Perspective of Sleep

People with a Vata energy makeup require the most sleep(7-8h) and Kapha even though they like to sleep require the least(6-7h) Pitta’s requirements are somewhere in between

Since most dis-eases have a Vata component it’s not surprising that sleep disorders are common in particular with chronic dis-ease which are primarily vata disorders  Vata sleep disturbances include restlessness and light, easily disturbed sleep that may be precipitated by worry and anxiety  There may be tossing and turning and/or frequent kicking of the legs

Disturbed pitta can be a factor also, in the form of excess focus on problem solving/planning and attempting to sleep in hot weather  Kapha sleep disturbance usually takes on the appearance of sleeping too much  This can lead to slowing an already slow metabolism which then leads to weight gain

How to Get Good Sleep: An Energy Science Approach

In the energy science of Ayurveda, healthy lifestyle is paramount  Ayurveda provides lots of suggestions for healthy routines to begin each day, which supports optimal health and peace of mind  And by creating healthy routines at bedtime, you are helping ensure a nice, peaceful night’s sleep  Importantly going to bed at a proper time sets the stage for waking up early and beginning the day away from the energetically lethargic time of the morning(6-10a)  Following are suggestions for creating healthy bedtime routines and optimizing sleep.

Consider that about one hour before actually going to bed is when to start winding down to prepare for sleep If your mind and body are active all the way until your head hits the pillow, it often will take awhile to calm down and settle into a state that will allow you to sleep  Instead, begin this process about an hour before you climb into the sheets  Avoid stimulating activities during this time, such as heated discussions, violent television shows, unsettling news, computer work, resolving financial issues, etc

Strive for not using an alarm clock so as to arise naturally and well rested

If you are having problems getting to sleep or staying asleep consider doing some soothing rituals

  • Warm bath
  • Soothing music
  • Deep relaxation exercises….sleep is the best meditation
  • Warm oil massage… foot or scalp massage before bed with bhringaraj oil
  • Light or spiritual reading
  • Turn down lights and use candles instead

One of the most important ways to ensure a good night’s sleep is simply to maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends  The best sleep schedule to maintain is to go to bed by 10:00 pm and rise at about 6:00 am This is the time that is most conducive to sleep  If you are used to going to bed later and getting up later, this may be difficult at first  But your body will soon adjust, and over time you will likely find this schedule allows for a more restful night’s sleep

Try not to have the head under pillows  This habit reduces good oxygenation during sleep and inhibits good sound sleep

Regular mealtimes (and do not eat anything heavy after 7:00 pm); a cup of warm milk before bed, perhaps with a little fresh nutmeg grated into it

Gentle yoga practice

Aromatherapy, such as lavender and/or jatamansi

Outdoor work in the garden or spending time in nature can be beneficial, as this brings the influence of the earth element and its heavy, slow qualities into the bodymind

Patterns of Energy Disruption for Sleep

Vata Insomnia:
Vata insomnia tends to involve awakening during the early hours of the morning (2-4am) accompanied with fatigue and drowsiness. This is usually due to:
·        Cold weather
·        Excessive exercise
·        Over consumption of raw foods, beans and light cold foods such as salads
·        Excess sexual activity
·        Excess travel and noise
·        Constipation, bloating
·        Rheumatism and arthritis

Pitta Insomnia:
Pitta insomnia involves difficulty falling asleep and staying up past midnight. It is commonly associated with:
·        Hot weather
·        Over consumption of sour, citrus and spicy foods
·        Hyperacidity
·        Caffeine and alcohol consumption
·        Staying up too late

Kapha Insomnia:
Kapha insomnia is usually early morning arising which is related to;
·        Overeating heavy foods such as meats, dairy, sweets
·        Snoring
·        Sleep apnea
·        Restless leg syndrome
·        Depression
·        Breathlessness

 

IC and SIBO: Role of Probiotic and 4 Other Manipulations

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

Morph featuresThe energy science model of dis-ease states that except for trauma every dis-ease or imbalance begins in the GIT(gastrointestinal tract)  Since this is the case we can appreciate how important foods become in the evolution of dis-ease and conversely how important foods become in the management and healing of dis-ease  Correct food selection appropriate for own energy constitutional makeup  along with incompatible food combinations become foundational in any dis-ease healing

“I can’t believe that foods caused these symptoms”, was a common refrain that I heard from patients in my urologic practice when managing patients with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)  Obviously the longer the imbalance the more likely that other energy science techniques will be necessary to deal with advanced IC dis-ease conditions  This dis-ease emphasizes that the energy patterns are not at ease or that an imbalance of qualities is physiologically present

The matter science(allopathy, naturopathy) often look at infection as a cause of many diseases  Every once in a while you’ll see matter science research studies attempt to unsuccessfully or questionably successfully incriminate bacteria in the cause of specific disease  Because bacteria are treatable by antibiotics which is a big tool in the matter science toolbox an attempt to incriminate bacteria can be a scientific “home run”  It has happened with GERD(gastroesophageal reflux), rheumatoid arthritis, and obviously interstitial cystitis

Symptoms of Poor Digestion

Many experience poor digestion but discount it as just the way they are…..but in reality these symptoms should not be ignored  Any unphysiologic food craving is unhealthy and shoud be best avoided  Overeating is abnormal(eating more than 2 handfuls at any one meal) as well as cravings for ice  Post meal digestive problems such as heaviness, bloating, loss of energy after eating, need for naps after eating, diarrhea, and constipation are major warning signs that things are not healthy in the GIT

Matter Science and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth(SIBO)

Now the matter science is getting closer to what the energy science has been saying for 1000’s of years….the GIT is responsible for all dis-ease  But since the matter science model of disease can only hold space for offending insults internal(autoimmune) and external(bacteria, parasites, fungus, and viruses) it becomes limited as to seeing the origins of dis-ease  Presently the matter science has a new approach to disease seeking an understanding through the alteration in bowel flora

This alteration or better yet described as disruption of normal small bowel flora has become known as SIBO where “bad” bacteria overgrow the “good” bacteria in probably not only the small bowel but large bowel as well  There are past models that lead to grounding in this kind of disease origin such as leaky gut syndrome and the candidal(fungus) overgrowth theories that have their proof in patient improvement by flora manipulations

Now the current rage for bowel disorder from IBS to systemic disease is to manipulate the small bowel flora with antibiotics(killing off the “bad” bacteria) or better yet “fecal bowel flora” transplants which have seen benefits

Energy Science Understanding of SIBO in Agni Terms

As we have discussed at length in past blogs the bacterial flora of the GIT which is 10x the cellular mass of our own individual bodies is part of a greater concept called agni   Called metabolism in matter science terms, agni is not only more user friendly, but as we have talked about in the past, a highly functional and malleable term that is freely manipulative by energy science techniques  As a matter of fact one of the main tenets of the energy science that separates it from the matter science is this concept of agni

As we have alluded to earlier, qualities(vibrational frequencies) become disrupted in the GIT and this subsequently leads to an alteration in agni  This disruption leads to SIBO but at times gut mucosal changes as well making this look like IBS in some respects

Then if the matter and enegy science models are talking about the same thing then what’s the big fuss?  Just use the matter science techniques that we have discussed above

Energy Science Solutions for SIBO

There is a general tenet in healing disciplines that the closer your treatment touches the origin of the disease the greater success the healer will have  So what’s better, to treat SIBO or the cause of the SIBO?  If the energy science model tells us that the cause of SIBO is an energy imbalance leading to the SIBO, the best solution is to deal with the imbalance  This is not rocket science folks!

1  So what is foundational in healing the bowel?  Well from what we said already choosing foods appropriate for you energy makeup and observing incompatible food combinations are support any further manipulation

2  Probiotic  It makes complete sense to support the “good bacteria” in the gut so as to improve agni  But it’s often too much of a good thing at times with probiotic use  Find a good probiotic(not necessarily the most expensive)but supplement for 2-3 weeks and then do a break and perhaps another couple of rounds  Then done

3 Yogurt as a probiotic  As we’ve discussed in the past homemade yogurt is a great food to use to support the bowel flora  Kefir has the potential of carrying yeast along with the probiotic so it’s not recommended from an energy science point of view

4  Avoid antibiotics if possible  All that antibiotics do is further disrupt the already compromised bowel flora  If you have to use antibiotics then you should definitely supplement with probiotic or yogurt for a period of time

5  Reduce ama  As we have talked about in the past when agni suffers ama forms in the gut and begins to leave the GIT  This unprocessed undigested debris which is the result of poor digestion is the basis of all chronic dis-ease

 

 

 

 

Elmiron and Aloe Vera Update

bladder, bladder pain, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, GERD, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia, , , ,
aloe vera leavesElmiron has become a very commonly used pharmaceutical in the management of interstitial cystitis which is part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)  For any herbal or pharmaceutical intervention there is always a question overall effectiveness because of other interventions associated with use  Nonetheless it has been shown to be effective in the management of interstitial cystitis
Aloe vera has had a growing popularity in the IC community because of its effectiveness(90% of patients have a 50% reduction of symptoms in 6 weeks) and lack of side effects(Elmiron has an incidence of hair loss that seems higher than its reported 4%)  Certainly aloe is cheaper than Elmiron even with insurance

GAG Layer Disruption and Mannose

 The most well accepted matter science theory as to the cause of interstitial cystitis is that the bladder’s protective glycoprotein layer(aka GAG layer) becomes affected such that the underlying mucosal surface and submucosa are exposed to the urine’s acidity  This acidic submucosal exposure  then produces the bladder wall irritability causing urinary frequency and urgency
From a matter science point of view the reason the GAG layer is damaged is unknown while the energy science understands the process as the hot and mobile qualities affecting the functioning of the bladder  There is as we would expect molecular and energetic transparency since energy and molecules are interchangeable  That is, molecular acidity is represented by the energetic hot quality that leads to IC
Like proteins there are some simple sugars that are not easily made by the body so if these sugars are not readily available in the diet then tissue repair becomes impaired  This is the case with the disrupted GAG layer in which mannose is not available for repair of the damage
The stage is set for repair and that’s where elmiron and aloe which are both able to supply mannose that is deficient in the diet  Aloe molecularly is composed of long chains of mannose molecules   Aloe also does not have the pharmaceutical side effects, improve GI tract function which is usually affected adversely in all diseases of the IC bladder pain syndrome, and has what’s called rasaynana effects  A rasayana has rejuvenative physiologic effects when taken over time which means that reduces the impact of aging, improves decision making, and strengthens and revitalizes the physiology

Forms of Aloe

Elmiron molecule
Elmiron molecule

Perhaps many IC patients will have some flare reaction using aloe vera gel or juice with citric acid as a preservative

The advantage of the freeze dried aloe is that it doesn’t have the need for preservatives such as citric acid which is appealing to those with IC  Some time ago Desert Harvest perhaps to avoid the citric acid preservative began using a freeze dried product in capsule form for IC patients….and maybe the primary reason when they thought of it was to make it more user friendly for patients(everybody is used to taking a pill)Since that time other companies have followed even having powders available  Aloe Farms has such a pill form freeze dried product  In general I have some misgivings about these products because the freeze drying process which may affect the the bioavailablity of the aloe vera herbal nutrient….the rasayana energetic effect of aloe may also be lost since it’s not just about the molecules but also the subtle energetics of the plant which has significant medicinal value
The value of aloe vera gel is that when used as an anupan(serves as a taxicab to take the herbs to targeted tissues) with herbal formulas it can theoretically produce a slow release to the GIT mucosa  Agni is invariably adversely affected so this technique assures that there will be good absorption and assimilation of the herbal mixture  The amount of aloe when used as a anupan is small so citric acid is not a problem  For IC patients using large volumes(6T three times per day) the citric acid could be more of an issue But the remedy is simple….cut back on the dosing
The two brands that don’t have citric acid are George’s and Aloe Farms  Aloe Farms uses Vit C(ascorbic acid)  and potassium sorbate as preservatives  These two gels available don’t have caraggeneen which has concerned the IC community due to studies suggesting the seaweed is carcinogenic in animal studies using large doses(I tend to discount such “unbiologic studies”)  Both available through Amazon or the ic-solutions.tv Amazon store under Health and Personal Care   George’s goes for 7.42 for 32oz and cheaper in the gallon size per oz

George’s gel by their labeling has no preservatives making it a favorable product in the market

Remember that just like pharmaceuticals aloe can become a bandaid so we can go on eating foods that aggravate and produce IC  However when used appropriately to help with symptoms as we make dietary changes makes the most sense

Aloe should not be thought of as THE tool in the tool chest to heal IC but rather as one of the many  Remember that energetically it’s not just one thing that causes IC but a multiplicity of things(foods, incompatible foods, season, lifestyle choices producing too much of the hot quality etc) and so it’s just not one thing that deals with healing IC but a multimodality approach with herbs like aloe vera being one small part

IC and Yeast: 6 Energy Science Suggestions

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

bigstockphoto_Rising_Dough_In_Bowl_3888661While naturally occurring yeast in our nutrition is healthy, in the West we have become excessive users of yeasted products primarily in the form of bread products and pastry  This adversely affects the bowel flora or the microbiome of the gut because yeast overgrowth is a definite complication  This is why yeasted bread products are listed in the No column in the energy science nutritional formats

Energetically the sweet taste soothes the nervous system  Even though we grow up with the sweet smell of oven baked bread and yearn for the sweet taste in its many different forms unfortunately the yeast in bread products can do a number on our gut flora  This is why if we look at the planetary nutritional habits we’ll see that 80% of the population uses flatbreads as a way of taking their grains which have naturally occurring yeast, not yeast that has been artificially added to produce the puffiness of the dough

IC and Yeast

What does yeast have to do with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)?

Think about what yeast does to dough as it rises  The excess yeast in the dough produces the hot quality during the rising process  We can feel that hot quality on the sides of the bowl as the process is occurring  This hot quality is delivered to the GIT and produces an additive effect to the already present hot quality in the gut  As you may remember it’s the hot quality that produces many of the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome

But what else are we observing?  The dough begins to “rise”  This rising is an effect of the CO2 gas being produced by the yeasties as a byproduct of their metabolizing of sugars in the flour  The result energetically is the qualities of cold, light, mobile, dry, rough, subtle, and clear are being added to the GIT when we consume yeasted products  These qualities of gas lead to a build up of the Vata energy pattern in the GIT

Vata is a primary player in the creation of the IC syndrome so we can see how problematic yeasted products can be in supporting the disease process

What To Do About Dietary Yeast?

So there are a number of different lifestyle behaviors that you can take on that will make your gut a happier place

Use flatbreads such as sprouted wheat tortillas, pancakes, or corn tortillas(corn should not be used for PV energy makeups)

Consume naturally occurring yeast found in all grain flours  We don’t have to go looking for this because it’s naturally there for us

Avoid the bakery section in grocery stores  As Vata pacifying as it may be this section of the store should be off limits

Don’t supplement with yeast  This seems obvious but in many matter science health communities we find recommendations for yeast supplementation  While this may be a good idea from a molecular point of view it makes little sense from an energy science perspective

Toast the bread if you have to have it so that the residual yeast and the Vata qualities are not consumed