Category Archives: bladder

IC and Your Bowel Vacation: 5 Things to Do

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

FireFrom an energy point of view all disease begins in the GI tract  The energetics of the foods taken in can produce flares and the continuing chronic condition of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, and GERD)  This is why nutrition is so important in the management of any chronic disease and as you know particularly with IC  As we have talked about in recent blogs the importance of bowel health and specifically digestive power is a major step in improving not only your general overall health but also to help control the flare symptoms of IC syndrome

The Bowel Vacation

Wouldn’t you think it unusual for someone not to ever take some time off?  To maintain mental strength and creativity we all need breaks from work and a little R and R

So if it’s true for our lifestyle choices shouldn’t it be true for parts of us as well?  However the idea of giving the bowel some time off doesn’t seem to be part of the equation  Trigger words such as water or juice fasting come up for many and cause people to cringe at the thought of going without food

But a bowel vacation means that the heavy foods normally consumed(pizza, rich cream sauces, lots of meat, heavy dairy. ice cream as examples) are removed from the nutritional meals for 3 or 4 days and a more simple diet is taken

You see the enzyme systems(the chemical fire if you will) need to be replenished and if you’re continually asking our agni or digestive power to be used over and over again it becomes overtaxed  These above wet logs as I call then place a heavy strain on your campfire(agni) and at times it is not up to par leading to toxic accumulation  In essence increase of toxic load is what is behind the whole idea of detoxification

How To Go On a Bowel Vacation: 5  Things to Do

1  Make something simple to digest  Kitchari is a time honored energy science nutritional tool to give your bowel enzyme systems a break from their work  You can find it here at this link   Do this for 5 days and notice how your bowel symptoms begin melting away!

2 If hungry snack on a piece of fruit but not in the meal

3  Consider an occasional juice day

4 Use cooling spices(cumin coriander fennel vanila turmeric cardamom)  and avoid hot ones (eg garlic oregano sage rosemary thyme etc)

5 Use 2 handfuls as a guideline as to how much to eat at any one time

These simple things done based on your energy constitutional makeup will go a long ways toward improving your digestive power and enhancing your health

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Steps to Improve Your Digestion and IC

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

Fire the hot qualityAs discussed in recent previous blogs the energy science states that agni is fundamental to good health and that when disease such as the IC bladdder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, GERD and vulvodynia) part of the solution and management must include helping the debilitated agni

But improving agni does NOT cause inflammation  Increasing Pitta increases inflammation but improving agni balances and improves Pitta inflammation  Seems counterintuitive but this is the value of the energy science model

Agni and the Current Molecular Model of Healing

The concept of agni while central to health in the energy science model is completely missing in the matter or molecular science approach for managing disease

This major departure from the way the matter or molecular science approaches disease has a rippling effect in terms of understanding the disease process, the timeliness of recommendations about bowel symptoms, the approach to bowel symptoms(often Pharma related), and ignoring the importance of lifestyle behavior patterns around nutrition

This lack of understanding of agni also percolates into the molecular approach to nutrition There is much misinformation from the ADA(American Dietetic Association) because of this simple lack of understanding the concept of agni

5 Things Happen When You Improve Your Agni

The energy science of Ayurveda offers many suggestions to enhance agni  But what’s the value of improving agni?

If you have the IC bladder pain syndrome by taking care of your agni you essentially do 5 things  1 you improve your bowel symptoms that are invariably not healthy  2 you prevent your IC bladder pain symptoms from getting worse  3 by improving agni you have the possibility of reducing the severity of your IC and the flares of IC  4 you improve your overall health  5 you improve mental clarity

5 Steps to Improve Agni

When agni is improved it’s like turning up the digestive heat  Now of course we don’t want to turn up the heat of Pitta which is responsible for the hot qualities of the IC bladder pain syndrome  But these are methods to improve the agni yet not increase Pitta

1  Kitchari monodiet….for easy digestion along with simple veggies

2  Homemade yogurt to make lassi….for probiotic

3  Herbs to increase agni without heating the system….chitrak, CCF tea, fresh ginger(not dry)

4  Lifestyle behavior patterns ….biggest meal at noon,no ice, exercise, sleep patterns

5  Pranayama……..to balance agni…..by correcting disturbed agni one can make significant strides toward correcting the imbalances causing disease

These 5 simple methods can enhance agni and reduce the IC bladder pain syndrome symptoms but can go a long way toward improving health longterm   In the coming weeks I’ll take each one of these and discuss them in greater detail

Update on CCF Tea: 5 Things to Know About Reducing Inflammation

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

Stomach disorder conceptIn the past we’ve discussed CCF tea(cumin coriander and fennel seeds) to bring about cooling in the urinary tract in patients with IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, GERD, and chronic prostatitis)  Each of these herbs target specifically the urinary tract and have a cooling affect  So CCF reduces the severity of IC flares due to its reduction in inflammation

But as we’ve discussed in the several blog posts agni is an important aspect of health and healing IC  As a matter of fact agni or digestive power must be addressed in any chronic disease in order to have any chance of healing

Agni or Digestive Power

Agni is all the enzyme and bacterial systems for digestion, absorption, and assimilation from the mouth to the anus  So you can see how all encompassing this system is  But there’s more  The energy science states that the central system of agni indicates the strength of all metabolic systems in the body including cellular metabolism because agni is in essence the metabolic fire of the body

The matter science talks about agni but in a way that does not make the association between the GI tract(GIT) and the rest of the body  This primary difference in the disciplines allows the energy science to state the origin of disease is known while the matter science continues to struggle to find the molecules responsible for chronic illness

But there’s more  If you have strong agni you’ll have better mental clarity  You’ll make better choices for your health and healing chronic disease  Disease is often self perpetuating due to this “brain fog”  For most people they dont realize they’re fogged until they look back and compare with where they are now and where they were back then(whatever that timeline is) and realize that now they have more clarity  This is the benefit of rejuvenative herbs  They help us with mental clarity….eing able to see things with better understanding and awareness  Sometimes it’s hard to see this because we’re in a fog and the proverbial “Whatever” occurs

Whenever energy is low then agni is low  This may or may not be associated with a change in bowel habit(diarrhea, constipation, or both)  This is the first symptom of disturbed agni and needs to be corrected

CCF and Agni

So CCF tea is not only medicinal to the urinary tract and helpful in the IC bladder pain syndrome but is also very valuable in building agni  Ahh that’s a tremendous benefit  But it gets even better….CCF tea helps improve agni without heating the system up as well  Spices(using the terms spices and herbs interchangeably because spices ARE herbs) can heat the system and provoke IC flares such as garlic, oregano, sage, rosemary, and thyme

And some of the best rejuvenatives you have for improving mental clarity are in your kitchen  How so?  Spices are agni builders which as we discussed earlier enhance the mind, reduce “brain fog”, and create better decision making

You can make CCF tea by placing equal amounts of the seeds(not the powder) in a ziploc bag, toss them around so there is an even mixture of the seeds and then add a 1T of the mixture to 6oz of boiling water for 5minutes  If you want more volume, more tablespoons and boiling water

5 Things to Do to Improve Agni

So the first item on the agenda in healing IC is to improve digestion, absorption, and assimilation of the GIT

1 CCF tea  Cumin, coriander and fennel tea is elemental to improve digestion because it stokes agni  That’s why sipping on this tea all day, everyday is helpful for clearing AMA

2 Stop putting wet logs on your digestion  When I entertain foods that don’t resonate with my energy makeup(Pitta diet at icdiet or VP diet at foodsheal) or use IFC(incompatible food combinations at foodsheal) it’s like dampening my agni which is all the enzyme systems of the GIT from the mouth to lower rectum including the bacteria which are also part of agni  And avoid difficult to digest proteins like gluten(wheat rye barley), lactose, and fats found in nuts and dairy

3 Using other agni enhancers  Fresh ginger tea with a dash of cayenne(agni tea), cardamon, vanilla, cinnamon, turmeric are all excellent agni enhancers that you can use in my cooking or beverages to enhance agni

4  Breathing techniques(pranayama)  Interestingly the yoga tradition has many different ways to physically enhance agni  These breathing techniques can change the course of IC due to the power of clearing AMA

5  Yoga postures  The digestive system is represented in the space of the abdomen and when you do postures that engage this area you literally engage agni and improve it  From a molecular point of view this cannot be understood but energetically it makes perfect sense

So there you have it  A starter sequence that can get you on your way to healing IC   Oh, BTW, if you have poor agni chances are you have undigested and unprocessed food  And because you feel OK,  doesn’t mean you don’t have toxic load

IBS and the IC Bladder Pain Syndrome

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IBSFrom an energy science point of view irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a collection of bowel symptoms related to disturbed digestive fire or what Ayurveda terms agni  As I have written in the past most people’s agni is not up to par  The reason for this is quite simple The concept of agni is not even in our health vocabulary

How would you know about it and hence take care of it if you don’t know it exists?

This is a significant problem for the present day health consumer but unfortunately she is duped by the matter science model into believing it is complete  Suffice it to say the majority of the population suffers from symptoms of IBS

The Symptoms of IBS

The types of IBS fall into four categories: Vata Pitta Kapha and combination patterns  By far and away the latter makes up the majority of those affected by symptoms  The most common symptom of IBS is bloating after eating for short or extended periods of time

Many people don’t know that they bloat and some who have an exaggerated bloat know it very well  Abdominal distention occurs as a result of the gaseous bowel distention  Other symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, or a mixture of diarrhea and constipation  At times flatulence or excessive gas that may be malodorous may occur

When the Kapha energy pattern is manifested in large degree mucous will be present in the stools but the worst IBS of all is when the mucous becomes dried in the GI tract  This creates a marked problem for elimination  This latter group of IBS can become severely debilitated professionally, physically, and often emotionally drained due to  the chronicity of the disease This is the ultimate in the manifestation of IBS and the matter science has little to offer in such cases

IC and IBS

IBS and IC go together  The bowel dysfunction related to disturbed agni is fundamental to the unfolding causative process of interstitial cystitis

IBS as part of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, IBS, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and fibromyalgia) is the cause of the accumulation and migration of the vibrational frequencies of hot, mobile, dry, rough, heavy, static into the pelvic nerves leading to the symptoms of the pelvic syndrome itself

Treating IBS

So treating IC requires that IBS is treated as well  According to my last post there are essentially two levels of therapy for any energetic imbalance in the mindbody  The first level is to stop the condition from getting any worse  The second level is to remove the offending vibrational frequencies using specific therapeutic modalites that have already been discussed

But one of the integral therapies in IBS treatment is to deal with the cause of the problem…..disturbed agni  This is paramount to successful management and since the matter science doesn’t even have the concept all bets are off that IBS management will be successful

Many many of the blog posts done in the past have made suggestions about how to promote better agni  CCF tea, agni tea, ginger tea are all about promoting better balanced agni  Herbs can be very impactful in this regard and it’s beyond the scope of this dialogue today to address them

Using a nutritional format appropriate for your energy constitution and avoiding incompatible food combinations can be very helpful in not aggravating the condition In this regard the daily use of churans as talked about in the past is very advantageous

A specific pranayama(breathing exercises) flow sequence can really help impaired disturbed agni by balancing it  Dependent on the severity of the IBS other methods can be employed  And yoga asana practice has been successfully employed in the matter science literature

As in all energy work however it’s not just one thing that creates healing….healing requires a multifaceted approach to bring about real healing and the eradication of the IC bladder pain syndrome completely

IC and 2 Levels of Therapy

bladder, bladder pain, fibromyalgia, IBS, IC, Interstiial cystitis, Uncategorized, vulvodynia,

External pelvic painIn the energy science of Ayurveda there are basically two ways to deal with clinical problems such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstital cystitis, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome)  The first is palliative treatment

The second level of treatment to deal with clinical problems involves balancing procedures which correct the imbalances that produce the tissue disturbance leading to the symptoms in the first place  I’ve covered these methods in detail in previous blogs and will touch briefly on them again  But I think it’s useful for you to understand why and what methods are available in order to get an overview of the energy science methods of treatment

Palliative Methods for IC

These methods can be lumped into a broad category of doing lifestyle behavioral changes such as the use of  nutritional formats according to energy constitution  Many people who I have seen over the years who have mild IC flares on occasion can be helped by this change alone as many IC bladder pain syndrome patients have experienced  Having said that no matter how far along one chooses or needs to go with respect to treatment methods nutritional change is necessary as it becomes foundational to all other therapies  If one is not willing to change one’s nutritional choices it is best to not go farther or one will be wasting time and money

Herbs as I’ve talked about in other blogs are supportive and adjunctive to other therapies and at any point can be beneficial in supporting the process of healing at any level  The common antiinflammatory herbs that I’ve talked about in the past like aloe vera gel, tea(cumen, coriander, fennel or CCF). turmeric used in formula or in cooking are common herbs to reduce the heat  in the system causing IC flares

Marma therapies can be both diagnostic and therapeutic in terms of helping with symptoms during a flare used with essential oils such as sandalwood with castor oil  Acupuncture is most often palliative and is akin to the marma therapy that I’ve discussed in the past

When you pay attention to proper rest and sleep, reducing stress, eating habits(such as no snacking, eating at appropriate times of the day, avoiding ice, stimulating digestion), and exercise, it can be amazing how such simple things can make a big difference in the flare rate, length of flare, and severity of the flare

Relieving Imbalances in the Tissues

As I’ve discussed in the past therapies that deal with the imbalances of qualities in the pelvic nerves that are often associated with most of the symptoms that revolve around the interstitial cystitis syndrome such as IC, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis

These therapies deal with imbalances in the peripheral tissues(nerves primarily) that have disseminated from the GI tract and are lodged in these tissues  As I hope you can appreciate palliative methods address not aggravating the condition and further

But procedures directed at the causative agency leading to the symptoms are unique and not for the average health consumer to undertake but they do offer patients the opportunity to eliminate the IC bladder pain syndrome completely  These techniques and methods are not for everyone but represent a clear divergence from what is presently available for IC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IC and 5 Rejuvenatives for the Mind and Memory

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

Mind and body are intimately spliced  We cannot separate them physically  What happens in the mind happens in the body and vice versa   But we do separate them because the symptoms of mental stress seem different than physical stress  But anyone with a painful bladder flare will tell that it’s intimately associated with mental duress Chronic disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystistis, vulvodynia IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, and GERD) no matter how minor the symptoms takes a toll on mental function

Also as our population ages, declining mental faculties can take first place on the list of one’s health concerns. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of senile dementia affect some 25 percent of all people over 80.1 Research, though, is revealing Ayurvedic approaches in helping to support the natural strength of the mental faculties.

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Mental Rejuvenation with Ayurveda

Medhya is an Ayurvedic concept that implies intellect, or wisdom. Medhya remedies promote mental development and act as mental rejuvenatives, and they also suggest a mind that is mighty, vigorous and pure.

There are many ways to bring medhya into play in the mind. Anything that promotes the sattva guna can help in our quest, and the yamas and niyamas of Patanjali are aimed at this. Ayurvedic herbal medicines also play a role. They engender and summon intelligence, memory and mental perception. They make the mind worthy of sacrifice to higher consciousness.

Bitter taste is made from air and space energies, and these forces predominate in the mind. Bitter foods and herbs open the mind, increase sensitivity, awareness and mental functioning. Since bitter herbs are cooling and calming they combat mental dullness, allowing us to reach our full potential, becoming radiant and elevated.

Mind supplements include a large array of herbs and foods recommended to rebuild body tissues and restore lubricating juices.2 Five of these mind-nourishing herbs stand out as pillars of an Ayurvedic lifestyle.

 

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, sometimes named “winter cherry” or “Withania”, is a top mental rejuvenator.  Ayurvedic herbalists use the herb to reestablish long-term sleep rhythms. Ayurvedic herbalism also uses ashwagandha for general strength for support in times of occasional fatigue and exhaustion; and to support healthy memory and a strong nervous system.

This tonic herb, a relative of tomatoes and potatoes, is not stimulating, but rather relaxing. That allows one to use this in larger amounts on a regular basis without concern for overstimulation, so this root is a superb remedy for nervous system support.

Study after study continues to confirm the benefits of this herb on stress tolerance, performance and endurance.3,4,5 One study indicated that the herb supported the brain in times of stress.6 In another, ashwagandha was shown to support strength and physical working capacity.7,8

Ayurveda considers it a “grounding” herb, one that nourishes and regulates metabolic processes and supports a naturally balanced mood. Ashwagandha also supports memory, helping those such as students for whom learning and testing are priorities.9 One recent study looked at sleep and stress. Ashwagandha was effective in supporting naturally healthy sleep patterns.10

As well as being a slow-acting tonic herb, ashwagandha is a superb herb for balancing elevated vata, a common problem as age advances and in chronic disease. It takes about a week to work up to an appropriate amount, and about another week for the herb to reach maximum effectiveness. Since ashwagandha is a slow-acting herb, you may take your daily serving at any time during the day.

A typical serving of ashwagandha is about a gram per day, taken over long periods, up to many years, as a rejuvenator, but, since ashwaganda is very safe, larger quantities are often used short term. In India, Withania is given with pungent, heating herbs (ginger, pepper, etc.) to ensure that it gets sufficiently digested.

 

Calamus

Conscious communication is the essence of yoga. From your chakras to your nervous system to the words you speak, your very molecules are vibrating with the energy of your being, and transmitting that energy to all the other parts of our bodies and to people in your life.

Yoga exercises, pranayama and lifestyle practices all support conscious communication, and there is one special herb that yoga reveres above all others for clarifying and expanding that special spiritual voice we all share.

Calamus root is a major herb for the mind. Though it is not clearly allowed for internal consumption in the US, it can be used topically, either as a dry powder, paste, or as part of an herbalized oil. As a historical and international perspective, ancient yogis and seers used this herb, and it was said to stimulate the power of self-expression and to enhance intelligence.

This herb was often combined with gotu kola, which is cooling and mild. The complementary energetics made the combination suitable for a wide variety of people. To support attention and focus, it was combined with gotu kola, shankpushpi and licorice. Over the long term, calamus warms the body and pacifies the mind. Vacha was also combined with triphala as a general rejuvenative that bestows intelligence, longevity and good memory.11

Vacha has a long and very special history in Ayurveda.

 

Brahmi (Gotu Kola)

Thinking about thinking? Feel like you’re about to max out your personal hard drive? Gotu kola is an herb with a long history of brain support. Gotu kola, also called Mandukaparni, is a mainstay of herbal medicine in Ayurveda. Widely considered a superior herb for the nervous system, gotu kola has a host of benefits.12

Gotu kola supports healthy memory, concentration and intelligence, as well as the voice, physical strength and the complexion.

Gotu kola is a jungle creeper that grows in hot moist climates. After all, it’s the food of the elephants, and we all know about their memories! Fresh, it’s a delicious salad vegetable. The juice of the fresh leaves is available at some juice bars.

More recently, a study out of Korea shows that components in gotu kola show potential for supporting healthy memory, a very promising direction.13

Since gotu kola is basically a mild salad vegetable, the serving can be a larger quantity. Try one to four teaspoonfuls of fresh juice every morning. Many people use a modest amount of 1 gram per day in capsules or tablets for daily rejuvenation. Try a cup of gotu kola tea with honey.

 

Brahmi (Bacopa)

Water hyssop (Bacopa monniera), also refered to as brahmi in certain parts of India, is a steadfast mainstay of traditional Ayurvedic medicine. An indication of the respect for this herb is the name: “brahmi” means “god-like”. It’s used in Asia for support of the nervous system, mental energy, and healthy memory—it’s a powerful brain food. Use it to increase comprehension, concentration and recollection. Because it traditionally supports a person’s natural ability to solve problems effectively, it is often found in Ayurvedic formulas to cope with stress.

With nearly 300 studies in the scientific literature, it has built up a solid base of scientific support for its many functions.

In support of the traditional use for promoting healthy memory, Australian researchers recently gave Bacopa to seventy-six adults, aged 40 to 65 years, in a double-blind randomized, placebo control study in which various memory functions were tested. Numerous memory tests before and after taking the brahmi showed that the herb significantly supported the learning process.14

Brahmi has traditionally been used for children as well. Indian schoolchildren take it at home. In 1987, Indian scientists gave brahmi to 40 schoolchildren aged 6-8 in a single-blind trial. The study showed support of learning, memory and perception. The dose was 1 gram per day for three months, of the dried plant extracted into a syrup form, and no side effects were recorded.15

The traditional serving can be up to two grams of the whole herb, in capsules, tablets or tea, twice a day with warm water.

 

Shankhapushpi

When we need mental peace and sleep, we may call upon shankhapushi to help restore clear quality of the mind and relaxation. Its flowers resemble the shankha or conch shell, thus the name. It usually is a foot tall plant, with dome of flowers, in open fields in North India.

This herb is an outstanding rejuvenative tonic for the mind and nerve tissue. The plant is said to have profound mystical properties, with an affinity for the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras.

The herb is especially effective for mental peace and tranquility. Often taken with or prepared in ghee, it promotes serenity without dulling the mind. As it is balancing, its effect can be both uplifting and calming. Students traditionally use it to support a calm mind during exams. For support of focus and attention, it combines well with brahmi and licorice. For support of healthy sleep patterns, use shankpushpi at bedtime (traditional use allows for up to 6 grams). According to the Astanga Hridyam, ghee, cooked three times with shankpushpi juice and milk, makes even the dullest mind sharp.

Ayurveda places special attention on the health of the mind, and fundamentally teaches that, ultimately, all physical imbalances start in the mind, so a healthy mind is at the forefront of Ayurvedic practices. These five herbs form the core of a superb mental rejuvenative chest. They are waiting to help us stay calm, centered, intelligent and exalted, so now might just be the time to give this collection of herbs a try.

Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa

Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa is the lead instructor of the nutritional therapy and professional herbalist training programs at Portland Community College, where students pursue their credential online or in classrooms study, and on the founding faculty of Bastyr University Department of Ayurvedic Sciences. Khalsa is the President of the American Herbalists Guild and on the board of directors of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. He is the first person to be board certified in herbalism and Ayurveda.

http://www.pcc.edu/climb/health/
http://www.kpkhalsa.com/
http://www.internationalintegrative.com/

 

References

  1. Jill Stansbury, N.D., Sustain the Brain, Nutrition Science News, February, 2001, http://www.healthwellexchange.com/
  2. Sharma, Ram, and Dash, Bhagwan, Caraka Samhita, Chowkhamba, Varanasi, 1992
  3. Archana R, Namasivayam A. Antistressor effect of Withania somnifera. J Ethnopharmacol 1999 Jan;64(1):91-3
  4. Singh B, Saxena AK, Chandan BK, Gupta DK, Bhutani KK, Anand KK. Adaptogenic activity of a novel, withanolide-free aqueous fraction from the roots of Withania somnifera Dun. Phytother Res 2001 Jun;15(4):311-318
  5. Venkatraghavan S, et al, J Res Ayu Sid, 1, 1980:370. [from: Bone K, “Withania somnifera”, Clinical Applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs, (Queensland, Australia: Phytotherapy Press), 1996:137-41.]
  6. Jain S, Shukla SD, Sharma K, Bhatnagar M. Neuroprotective Effects of Withania somnifera Dunn. in Hippocampal Sub-regions of Female Albino Rat. Phytother Res 2001 Sep;15(6):544-548
  7. Dhuley JN. Adaptogenic and cardioprotective action of ashwagandha in rats and frogs. J Ethnopharmacol 2000 Apr;70(1):57-63
  8. Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Chakrabarti A. Adaptogenic activity of Siotone, a polyherbal formulation of Ayurvedic rasayanas. Indian J Exp Biol 2000 Feb;38(2):119-28
  9. Dhuley JN. Nootropic-like effect of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) in mice. Phytother Res 2001 Sep;15(6):524-528
  10. Kumar A, Kalonia H. Effect of Withania somnifera on Sleep-Wake Cycle in Sleep-Disturbed Rats: Possible GABAergic Mechanism. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008 Nov;70(6):806-10.
  11. Srikantha Murthy, K.R.  Vagbhata’s Astanga Hrdayam. vol. 3.  Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy. 1995. p. 387
  12. Vaidya, Ashok D.B. The Status And Scope Of Indian Medicinal Plants Acting On Central Nervous System. Indian J Pharmacol 1997; 29: S340-S343
  13. Mook-Jung I, Shin JE, Yun SH, Huh K, Koh JY, Park HK, Jew SS, Jung MW. Protective effects of asiaticoside derivatives against beta-amyloid neurotoxicity. J Neurosci Res 1999; Nov 1;58(3):417-25
  14. Roodenrys S1, Booth D, Bulzomi S, Phipps A, Micallef C, Smoker J . Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002 Aug;27(2):279-81
  15. Sharma R, Chaturvedi C, Tewari PV. Efficacy of Bacopa monniera in revitalizing intellectual functions in children. J Res Edu Indian Med. 1987;1:12

IC and the Tip of the Iceberg: Use of 5 Techniques

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

From an energy science view symptoms that occur in the physical body such as those with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, IBS, and GERD) are expressions of physiologic imbalance in the energy body  In the energy science world of healing it’s all about balance or harmony in the mindbody  When there is no disease or imbalance then there is no expression of qualities  Everything is good

These imbalances are expressed in a qualitative way, that is, too much hot or too much mobility or movement in the physiology  This imbalance of quality leads to expression either in the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) or peripherally  In IC the imbalances of these qualities lead to the symptoms of burning in the bladder vulvar area, prostate in men, and frequency of urination, most notable during flares

The Tip of the Iceberg

Tip of icebergBut the qualities expressed in the body as disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome are merely the tip of the iceberg because they represent the imbalance that is occurring throughout the mindbody…..but oh by the way they are showing up in the pelvic area specifically the pelvic plexus of nerves

So when you undergo techniques and methods to reduce the imbalance of these qualities you are actually reducing the imbalance of the qualities throughout the mindbody not just in the pelvis

The Result:  Real Healing Using 5 Techniques

A bandaid is something that covers up a problem  There are many drugs that serve as bandaids  Yes they take away symptoms but don’t get to the heart of the matter which is being caused from the qualities being expressed  At least that’s the way the energy science views the disease process

It’s important to understand that methods such as nutritional formats and supplements such as aloe are energy science bandaids  They like pharmaceuticals make life reasonably comfortable because they prevent further loading up of the qualities that brought about the disease in the first place

So when you engage in specific techniques in energy science healing you are participating in real healing….not a bandaid but healing that gets to the heart of the problem  This is because qualities are REMOVED rather than simply preventing more qualities to accumulate

These specific techniques fall into 5 broad categories  The first we heard about last week called oleation, either internal or external as in shirodhara  The second is basti which we have discussed in previous blogs  Thirdly nasal therapies remove excess qualities particularly in the central nervous system but is a great technique to help remove the excess qualities of Kapha the energy pattern of stability  The fourth technique is removing excess mucous from the stomach and lastly removing excess Pitta by blood donation(women do this on a monthly basis when menstruating)

So real healing requires very specific energy science techniques to clear the IC bladder pain syndrome  Or there’s always bandaids

To health as a Skill  DB

 

 

The Sour and Pungent Tastes: 3 Ways to Avoid Them

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

bigstock_Sour_Grimace_1671221When you subscribe to our site, you’re sent a short list of questions in order to get to know your interests  One of the questions specifically asks about whether the topic of sour and pungent tastes interests you  50% of you have responded that you wanted to hear more…so here goes

In the energy science foods play a predominant role in creating imbalances which in turn produce disease such as the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, and fibromyalgia)  Of course not all foods will produce imbalance but HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH FOODS are good and those that are not good for our disease state

The energy science provides the answer in the form of food lists that have foods that you should avoid(NO column), those that can be taken in moderation, and those that can be used all the time  See foodsheal.com or icdiet.com to review these formats

How the Food Lists Are Created Energetically

There are 6 energetic tastes that are recognized:  sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent  Each of these are composed of specific qualities but for our IC bladder pain syndrome interest the ones that stand out are sour, salty, and pungent  These are important because all  3 have the hot quality among others that will produce the imbalance that leads to the disease complex of the IC bladder pain syndrome

This is why the tastes of the sour and pungent can be provoking for those with IC  The sour taste is the acid taste in Nature(bitter being the alkaline taste) and the pungent taste is the sensation we have when we eat a hot chili or horseradish

The importance of the lists is that they have built within them what predominance of tastes are within the food being evaluated, that is what qualities are present that may be provoking  There are two benefits here  1 tells you which foods are imbalancing to you seeing your body as an energy field and 2 tells you which foods will produce disease for you   And included within this construct is whether the foods are heating, that is have the hot quality or the sour and pungent tastes

 3 Ways to Avoid the Sour and Pungent Tastes

1  As discussed we would want to follow the nutritional formats described at foodsheal.com(should take the questionnaire to determine your energy pattern constitution) or simply follow the icdiet format at icdiet.com  The advantage of the former is that it gives you a broader choice range  But both get the job done by cutting out the excessive hot quality

2 Avoid incompatible food combinations that are outlined at either of the above sites  One of the fundamental principles of this list is the avoidance of fresh fruits in combination with other foods  This is because the fruit with other foods can interfere with digestion and create as a byproduct toxic load called ama   Ama is part of most disease processes and has to be cleared as a part of the IC syndrome

3 The use of a churan will give you all 6 tastes necessary for having healthy digestion but not giving the excess hot quality that will produce imbalance

Until next week                                                     To Health as a Skill  Love DrBill

Healing IC Is Not For Everyone: 3 Requirements

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

bigstock_Decision_Making_3544162From my experience with the IC bladder pain syndrome over the last almost 40 years it appears that two thirds of patients will have intermittent symptoms that appear last for a period of like a year or so and then there is a long hiatus where they are free of symptoms  But one third of patients may have preceding symptoms but then come to a time when they have unrelenting symptoms and become debilitated by the symptoms  So for two thirds of the patients identified as IC many don’t suffer chronic debility

Chronic Debility and IC

Those with the chronic disease of the IC bladder pain syndrome(fibromyalgia, chronic prostatitis, vulvodynia, and irritable bowel syndrome) will suffer due to the unrelenting symptoms that are associated with not just interstitial cystitis but with its other attendant “sister disease labels” listed above  Usually it’s the IBS that becomes a major problem because as I’ve written in the past, from an energy science view all disease begins in the gastrointestinal tract(GIT) and this is the major driving force for the development and perpetuation of IC in the first place

So healing IC is not so hard for two thirds of IC patients if they are fortunate to fall into the remission category but for the one third of patients it’s frankly a difficult but not impossible job

The Brave Need Only Apply

There will be a few brave souls who will embark on a healing journey because they are so miserable or so incapacitated that life is not worth living if they have to be unemployed and lose their social network

But to do so requires courage, determination, and discipline to stay on task because as I’ve talked about in the past real healing using the energy science approach takes time  It requires a gentle correction of the quantitative imbalances that have occurred over time that gradually need to be resolved

3 Requirements for Healing Chronic IC

1  Belief   One of the sole purposes of this blog is to defeat the aphorism that is repeatedly stated in the IC community, “treatable but not curable”  So a patient embarking on taking on the healing of IC must at least in part overcome this negativity that nothing can be done  This mindset is probably the most difficult in healing any chronic disease  That realizing that life will be better and that there is hope is the best medicine   This belief then supports the next two requirements

2 Time/patience   The imbalance of Vata/Pitta creates an impatient mind…..I want the result yesterday  One can support the healing process but not rush it  Expecting more often sabotages the process since energy science healing requires persistent and consistent work  And it’s not like one doesn’t get positive reinforcement along the way  There will occur improved quality of life and lessening of symptoms as one does the work but there will be ups and downs  This is why journaling can be so valuable  One is able to see that there is improvement as one marks the way

3 Peeling an Onion  Even though no two imbalances are exactly alike the process of healing chronic IC requires that when one symptom seems to get better and resolve that there will be another that seemingly comes up for healing as one peels the onion  This is true of any chronic imbalance that is created in the body and is corrected  To realize this reduces the risk of discouragement as one goes forward in the healing process  Some long time readers may remember the graph depicting the wave form of creating and healing disease

To Health as a Skill   Dr Bill Dean

IC and the Invisible Nerve Irritant: Vata Qualities And 3 Things To Do

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

Those who have followed this blog on the IC/PBS(IC Bladder Pain Syndrome) are well aware of the fundamental energy science principle that mostly all disease in the body(except for trauma) originates in the GIT(gastrointestinal tract)  From this location energetic qualities or vibrational frequencies(they are one and the same) disseminate from the GIT to locations and/or organs in the body to produce Pelvic nerves and rectum with labelssymptoms of disease  This is true for chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia, IBS(irritable bowel syndrome), GERD(gastroesophageal reflux disease), and interstitial cystitis which are all part of the IC/PBS

Qualities(Vibrational Frequencies) Producing Disease

When excessive these qualities produce disease  They are grouped into the energy patterns of VPK(Vata Pitta and Kapha)and are associated with specific physical symptoms or manifestations 

Vata, the energy of movement, is associated with gas in the body  We most notably experience gas as flatus or belching
Due to its mobile vibrational frequency Vata qualities easily relate to the nervous system which is the most active mobile system in the body

Pitta, the energy of transformation, is associated with the hot sensation in the body  We experience this energy pattern as burning

Kapha, the energy of stability, is the most physically expressed and we experience this pattern as mucous

When the Vata group of vibrational frequencies become progressively excessive in the colon the qualities of cold, dry, light, mobile, and rough begin moving out of the colon and usually seeks out the nervous tissue that it is most like

Traveling Uninvited Guests in the Pelvis

The stage is now set for these vibrational frequencies to extend to peripheral adjacent tissues  Since these frequencies have an affinity to nervous tissue which has similar frequencies, they increase in amount in the pelvic plexus of nerves around the rectum, vagina bladder, and prostate

The increase in vibrational frequencies in the pelvic nervous system brings nerve irritability with “nerves that are screaming”  These irritated and hurting nerves send signals to the organs innervated such as the bladder, prostate, vagina, sciatic nerve, and even the pelvic floor  Literally the “nerves are killing her”!

This pelvic floor involvement can at times lead to pelvic floor spasm leading to discoordinated efforts of voiding or eliminating stool, pain in the perineum, and/or spasms

3 Things You Can Do

1  Stop taking in these unwanted vibrational freqeuncies  This is why the energy science nutrtional format is so important  It gives you guidance as to what foods are good to use and those foods that are not so good as choices

2 Basti  When herbally medicated fluid is placed in the lower rectum it eliminates excess vibrational frequencies from the lower rectum  This creates a negative pressure in the lower rectum and there is a return of these frequencies from the involved pelvic nerves to the lower rectum for elimination with subsequent basti

3 Use of herbal formula   Each of the imbalances created in us are unique because there are so many aspects to the imbalance  A formula specifically tailored to the individual’s imbalance is helpful in maintaining the flow of excess vibrational frequencies from the body

To Health as a Skill          Best DB