Energy Science Detoxification
When we enter a new way of doing healing it's good for us to educate ourselves about how the new discipline does its healing I have emphasized in this blog that we can't bring our matter science preconceived notions along with us when we begin looking at the energy science way of healing It just doesn't work So we need to be prepared to leave behind out old baggage and be prepared to enter a new way of healing
The Ayurvedic detoxification procedure is called panchakarma(PK) which means the 5 actions The five actions are nasya, rakta moksha(blood donation), vamana, virechana, and basti These actions can be done outside the context of a panchakarma event especially if there are complicating clinical circumstances but they are most effective when done in the context of PK
Detoxification has a very specific meaning in the energy science It means that during the process the Vata Pitta and Kapha energy patterns are brought back to the GIT for elimination AS WELL AS ama which has been peripherally spread from the GIT to the tissues and energy channels of the mindbody along with VPK
The PK Event
The event of PK is just that It is an event that occurs that brings about healing Like all the healing modalities used in the energy science it's not just one thing but a multiplicity of things done to the energy body's field that brings about healing changes So it is with the PK It's not just one thing in the PK event that brings about healing but it's how all of the modalities during the event come together to bring about a successful outcome
There are 3 components to the PK event The first is the preparatory phase in which the primary purpose is to prepare the energy field for detoxification There are several components to this phase but by far and away the most important is internal oleation which is done by taking increasing amounts of ghee orally in order to saturate the tissues so that the energy mindbody will release VPK and ama from the peripheral tissues
The second phase is the application of the five actions during a period of time During this time three other things should be done to encourage the movement of VPK and ama back to the GIT for elimination Oil massage, sweating, and oil to the forehead in a continuous stream helps support the process Other therapies can also be applied as per individual patient
The followup or third phase is to do things to support the elimination of the VPK and ama from the GIT An important aspect here is to rekindle agni that has been slowed down by the first two phases This is a very important aspect of this third and last phase of PK This phase can last as long as three months in which there is gradual release of VPK/ama
Some Clarifications about PK
One PK event in a person's incarnation is not enough for detoxification Rather it should be seen as a repetitive process that is like dipping a shirt into soapy water One dip doesn't clean the shirt It takes multiple dips to clear the accumulated toxic load As with any process the more you do the better you get at it
The PK event is special in how things get done If you take pieces out of context and use it regularly they don’t have the same effect For example, the use of basti which is the best way to eliminate Vata and ama from the energy mindbody doesn’t have the same effectiveness when done alone out of the context of the PK event as when it’s done in it
The more one oleates in the first phase the better the end result There are several tricks that can be used to make this important stage successful
It is possible to do the PK event over one week and by yourself with or without guidance But this week time frame doesn't include the first and third phases outlined above
Lastly even though it may seem foreign to you it is a way to ensure that real healing can take place if you deposited peripheral VPK/ama
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Low Back Pain: 5 Management Strategies
As the incidence of low back pain(LBP) is trending higher in the general population numerous anatomical or matter science methods are suggested Now there are new anatomical observations about the mechanical carriage of the spine that suggests that there has become too much thoracic curvature and that the back in more primitive cultures was more J shaped than the gentle S curve that is shown in spinal diagrams The reason given for this is our sedentary culture and the incorrect use of furniture
Let's look at how the energy science anatomy looks at LBP
The Anatomical Home of the Vata Energy Pattern
Vata, the energy pattern of movement, has the qualities of cold, light, mobile, dry, rough, subtle, and clear
As we have discussed before the role that Vata plays in disease labels begins in the GIT and then spreads from the colon and/or lower rectum to the pelvic nerves or to other parts of the mindbody to produce the varied presentation of Vata imblance
The anatomical home for Vata is the colon, pelvic girdle, thighs and lumbosacral(LSS) spine It is this latter involvement that leads to Vata when increased to produce symptoms of pain in the lower back
How does Vata increase its qualities? First, lifestyle choices such as lack of proper rest, lack of regimen, and foods that produce Vata aggravation This is particularly important for those with a PV type of energy constitutional makeup Secondly, when agni or digestive power is affected it can lead to a progressive buildup of Vata in the rectum that then leads to symptoms in the LSS
There is no pain without Vata This is because Vata primary functional area of the mindbody is the nervous system So when Vata accumulates and then aggravates the tissues Vata is the first to produce complaints of pain
5 Management Strategies for LBP
The qualitative reasons for LBP are cold, light, mobile, dry, rough, subtle, and clear due to the localization of the Vata energy pattern in the LLS area Another important observation already discussed is the close relationship between the pelvic and pectoral(shoulder) girdles
Pranayama(PY) Since the breath ties together the pelvis(apana vayu) and the shoulders(udana vayu) together it is no surprise that breath exercises can facilitate over time back rehabilitation This strategy improves the flexibility of the musculofascial planes surrounding the LSS and the strength of the supporting muscles of the entire back PY is the best way over time to make this happen Loss of flexibility is related to the cold, dry, and rough qualities The loss of strength is related to the light, dry, rough and subtle changes
Mahanaryan oil This is an excellent penetrating oil that quiets the Vata qualities of dry, rough, and subtle There are energy science methods of oil application that are ingenious and highly effective in improving ability to loosen the tissue rigidity occurring due to cold quality
Heat The cold quality is always present in any pain complex so the liberal use of the hot quality, preferably moist heat
Become a floor dweller This may seem rather radical but even laying on the floor for brief periods of time can be very therapeutic for LBP This is because when the back's foundation(LSS) becomes impaired all aspects of the back become involved Using the floor helps provide support to the upper thoracic back which becomes problematic due to the LSS Vata effect
Become conscious of your posture As we started in this discussion being aware of our posture becomes an important part of rehabilitation of the lower back by targeting how we carry the upper back particularly the thoracic curve This is done by paying attention to the shoulders keeping them drawn back and down This action improves the lordotic J hook of the LSS and reduces the prominence of the thoracic spine PY helps improve the overall strength of the back so that this action on the thoracic spine can be held for long periods of time
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A perfect snack should be nutritious and digest easily even in those with poor digestive strength(agni) This can be really important for those with poor agni which is almost always the case
Fresh fruit fits this category and is the primo snack food, hands down It beats anything in the middle of the grocery store
The Universal Fruits
Energetically we are not created equally Some are PV others PK while others VK(unusual) so we don't resonate the same to foods and fruits are no exception Perhaps some of you already know that a granny Smith apple due to its sourness can provoke your IC
But there are some fruits that can be used all the time....the universal fruits Notice that they are all sweet because the sour taste will provoke Pitta
Fruit that can be used all the time: Sweet apples(apple a day keeps...), applesauce, sweet berries, sweet cherries, sweet cherries, soaked prunes, soaked raisins
Particularly during the summer when central agni is low, fruits make an excellent way to protect an already compromised agni Try to use locally grown fruits when you can and support the organic growers
Remember the general rule to not mix other foods with fruit If you eat fruit before or after a meal allow 30minutes as a separating time interval Fruits and yogurt is a particularly nauseating combination
Fruits and Improving Digestive Fire(Agni)
Consider using fresh fruit for the below to charge up your agni berries
Fruit fast (PV every 2w...PK evergy week)
Fruit juice fast
Fruit as meal subsititutes
Fruit as snacks
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How to Counter Decision Fatigue
We have likened the mindbody as a energy battery that can become drained in many different ways One of the more common ways is chronic disease When there is constant daily discomfort for long periods of time there will be a high chance that an energy drain can occur
In the world of psychology this can lead to more often than not decision fatigue This is a situation where after several decisions "pile up", say while grocery shopping, that by the time we're done we are mentally fatigued That's why the candy bars are at the checkout stand because with decision fatigue impulse buying happens to increase(unless a high will power quotient is present)
But add on the energy depletion from chronic disease and you're more likely to start in the hole even before you get started with the shopping in the first place
So protecting your energy when you have the IC bladder pain syndrome is an important thing to look at
7 Ways to Protect Your Energy
Establish a daily routine In the energy science a daily ritual in which foundational "to do's" are always done such as brushing your teeth These foundational activities require no decision making and allow you to put yourself on "auto pilot" but at the same time they provide a structure that you can always rely on
So going to bed by 10 to 11p each night is a great start to be able to get up preferably at sunrise or by 6-7a each day This early morning rising then establishes a time when the bathroom ritual done and do some form of centering work(contemplation, meditation) Then you can get in a hour of exercise of your choosing...pranayama, asana practice, walking etc Typically the choices are based on your energy constitutional makeup
Having regular mealtimes with the biggest meal at noon is essential to maintaining good health rinking room temperature fluids(ice is not nice!), using spice mixtures(churans at foodsheal.com), simply paying attention to what you're doing when eating(few meals a week in silence), or not eating when busy helps replenish your body's energy
Reduce mental turbulence Perhaps a surprise to some is that the mind is the biggest drain of them all! Often the mind is running in the background even though you think it's quiet This incessant turbulence shows up as fear, anxiety, depression, worry, and of course fatigue because the body gets beat up with this kind of mental activity Solution Spend 5-10 minutes twice a day(morning and evening) closing your eyes and watching the breath
Remove nutritional stressors There are foods that drain the body's energy such as refined sugar, coffee, chocolate(what the heck?) carbonated drinks
Improve food choices Foods that bring about balance for you according to the nutritional formats at foodsheal.com after you take the mindbody questionnaire will help you sort this out
Using proper food combining stops the depletion of energy expended due to difficult to digest food combinations
Avoid snacking Eating before you have digested the last food that you've ingested requires the mindbody to use more energy so this habit is depleting At least 4 to 6 hours between meals or better yet wait until your hungry since appetite is the best gauge of the body's readiness for food
Toxicity If you have poor digestion, chances toxic formation will occur leading to the qualities in the bladder being held there and unable to be released But this toxicity is everywhere and it reduces the mindbody's efficiency in functioning The mindbody can no longer function with "ease" but now functions with "dis-ease"
So there you have it....7 ways to reduce energy drainage by protecting your energy battery with rituals that allow you to put it on semi auto pilot
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