Dr. Craig’s Heart Healing Journey to India: Part 2
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | October 1, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008 - Pune, India
Hello, friends. Dr. Craig here, and this is the first of my weekly reports from India where I’ve come to have Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments under the care of our friends and colleagues, Dr. Narendra Pendse and Dr. Aruna Pendse.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!
First, I want to thank those of you who made comments on the ezine or sent e-mails. I’m heartened by your support. Thank you. I was especially touched by the note of one woman who wrote something to the effect of that this was a journey of growth and spirituality. That’s so true. I feel that this experience is an opportunity for going forward, not for regaining something.
I WILL NOT BE A “VICTIM”
The common parlance is that someone “suffered a stroke” or is a “stroke victim.” This isn’t something that I want to be. None of us can afford the luxury of negative thoughts, and this is all the more true when dealing with an illness or physical challenge. If we recover with that negativity in tact, we run the risk of “victim” becoming a permanent part of our personality.
It may seem crazy to some of you to travel halfway around the globe, turning my back on Western medicine to seek out a different and strange cure. I think so too, at times. But I think it would be crazy or even “brave” to do the opposite: stay home, wait and hope for the best. If Western medicine had anything more to offer me, I would’ve jumped at it. I was fully prepared to have heart surgery if that was offered as an option. And since it’s not, I’m jumping into uncharted waters!
My wife, Dr. Helen, has been practicing Ayurveda for over 20 years. We have had a working relationship with the Pendses now for 6 or 7 years. We’ve been here a few times and on our last visit in February, we got to see firsthand examples of what Western medicine would call “miracles” - healed diabetic wounds, healed non-union fractures, and cancer cures. Knowing thse things, I would’ve been crazy not to come to India.
DR. PENDSE’S AYURVEDIC TREATMENTS: PULSE READINGS
I will resist the tempation to make this a travelogue. It’s a “medicalogue” or a “healthlogue.” Nevertheless, some texture and context will creep in. Unavoidably so, for Ayurveda is embedded in the history and culture of India.
After 20 hours of flying - interrupted by an 11-hour layover in Heathrow - I stumbled out of the Mumbai airport to find myself awash in the sights, sounds, and yes, smells of India. I was happy to see Dr. Pendse’s smiling face waiting for me. I wasn’t much company, though: on the drive back to Pune, I slept most of the way.
After a long night’s sleep, I presented myself the next afternoon at Dr. Pendse’s clinic for examination. I had previously e-mailed him with my records of blood work, cardio tests, CT scans, and MRI, so he was familiar with my case. The very first thing he did was to reach across the desk and take my pulse. (This is a very important part of Ayurveda and one which gets overlooked or bypassed outside of India for the simple reason that it is so difficult to master.) He then conducted a physical examination, concentrating on palpation of my abdomen. (None of the other doctors did this kind of examination. Western medicine in compartmentalized; Ayurveda looks at the whole person.)
Based on my pulse, my records, and his examination, Dr. Pendse decided on a course of action. He gave me Ayurvedic medicines (pills, tonics, and a jam-like substance) to take for 5 days. Then I will have a panchakarma treatement for 3 weeks in accordance with his specific instructions. As he explained it, these remedies would help the swelling in my extremities subside, help my bowel to work better, and allow me to recover from jet lag. Depending on my pulse, panchakarma procedures begin on Wednesday.
AYURVEDIC HEAVY METAL (NO, NOT THE MUSIC)
A word about these remedies I’m taking: they contain heavy metals like gold, silver and mercury. That’s one of the reasons I’m doing this here and not back at home. These remedies are not available in the U.S. because they contain these heavy metals. The FDA won’t allow it.
Now, of course, a metal like mercury in its pure form is extremely toxic and event lethal. Only a fool would knowingly ingest a substance containing mercury. But Ayurveda has been using heavy metals in compounds for thousands of years. They long ago figured out how to neutralize the toxic effects of heavy metals and leave intact the healing qualities of the metals. I saw how this is done in 2006 when we attended the World Congress of Ayurveda here. It’s a fascinating process involving extremely high temperatures. Needless to say, I’ve survived three days of these heavy metals without ill effects. Thousands of years and millions of patients are enough clinical trials for me!
CAN’T SHAKE MY JET LAG…YET
I’ve been sleeping a lot the past few days. Jet lag. I discovered that the effects of my particular stroke are nearly identical to having jet lag permanently. I’m so glad I only had a minor stroke; I can only imagine what a major stroke is like.
That’s all for this week. If you would like to e-mail me directly, please feel free: care@effortlessayurvedicliving.com.
Thanks again for all of your support. Until next week…
Namaste,
Dr. Craig Thomas, D.C.
DR. PENDSE IS COMING TO THE U.S.
Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig are welcoming their friend and colleague, Dr. Narendra Pendse, for a series of seminars and consultations at the Thomas Ayurveda and Chiropractic clinic in Santa Rosa, CA this November.
Learn Ayurvedic daily regimens and diets (including cooking demonstrations) to treat and prevent:
Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia - November 11th
Headaches and Migraines - November 13th
Pre -, Mid-, and Post-Menopausal Treatments - November 18th
Dual Ayurvedic Pulse Examination and Treatment Plan consultations with Dr. Narendra Pendse are also available at the Thomas Ayurveda and Chiropractic clinic on: November 10, 12, 17, and 19th.
Please call for more details or to schedule an appointment:
1-707-527-7313
P.S. COMING SOON!
Hi, folks. Dr. Helen here, and I just wanted to give you a heads-up about a new product that I’m developing called The Ayurvedic Approach to Healthy Heart Care. We have only one heart to keep our life blood flowing through us, so we’d better take care of it! Ayurveda has incredible healing techniques and all-natural medicines to promote heart health, and I want to share them with you.
The Ayurvedic Approach to Healthy Heart Care program is three-fold:
Part I: Learn more about the ancient healing science of Ayurveda with my What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Body Types downloadable PDF booklet. What dosha represents YOU? Which daily regimen - Vata, Pitta or Kapha - will lead you on a path of well-being and health?
Part II: Discover the Ayurvedic methods and treatments to strengthen your beautiful heart with my Heart Care the Ayurvedic Way downloadable PDF booklet. This special report delves into the safe, natural practices of Ayurveda that will nuture your heart and improve your overall health.
Part III: Listen as I and Dr. Craig (with special guest moderator Michelle Yozzo Drake) discuss his personal treatments and dig more deeply into heart health the Ayurvedic way with the Ayurvedic Heart Health Audio Presentation.
I’m so very excited to be able to offer you this program because I want you - and your heart - to be balanced and healthy for years and years to come. Ayurveda has so much to offer, if you embrace it. Trust me, your heart will thank you for it.
Stay tuned for more details on The Ayurvedic Approach to Healthy Heart Care program!
Topics: Ayurveda & Heart Health, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine, India & Ayurveda | 3 Comments »
Dr. Craig’s Heart Healing Journey to India: Part I
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | September 24, 2008
For the next few weeks, I’m turning over this ezine to my husband, Dr. Craig Thomas, D.C. so that he can post and share with you entries about his month-long journey to India for Ayurvedic treatment.
After recently suffering from a stroke and seeking help from Western medicine, Dr. Craig decided that more could be done to improve his condition if he went to India, the heart of Ayurvedic medicine, to work with Ayurvedic practitioners in facilities that specialize in this ancient healing science.
I’ll let him tell you more about this himself…
Hello, friends. This is Dr. Craig Thomas here, husband and partner of Dr. Helen Thomas. Over the next few weeks, I want to share with you a very personal story of healing and Ayurveda. The following is only a beginning: as you will see, the story is not finished.
On August 13, 2008, our world changed completely in an instant. I had a stroke. I was visiting our son in Puerto Rico where he is currently attending medical school. That night, I was feeling tired and decided to go to bed early. As is my usual practice, I was laying in bed meditating when suddenly, I felt as if I was hit in the back of my head with a baseball bat. I blacked out.
When I came to the next morning, I crawled out of bed and stumbled into my son’s living room. I was wobbly on my feet, the left side of my body was numb, and my speech was slurred. For a moment, my son thought I was drunk, but he soon realized that something serious had happened to me. My symptoms persisted for the day, and I decided to cut my trip short and fly back home to California.
The day before I left for Puerto Rico, I had been to see a cardiologist. I’d been feeling a little tired and short of breath for a few weeks, and the doctor scheduled me for cardio testing after my trip.
A CT scan at the local hospital confirmed our worst fears: I had indeed suffered a stroke, and that tiny part of my brain that it affected was now ischemic (dead).
For those of you not familiar with medical terminology, there are two kinds of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic, like mine, is where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted for a period. Hemorrhagic is when a blood vessel, or vessels, bursts and causes bleeding or swelling.
Over the next two weeks, I underwent a series of tests and exams. I had multiple blood tests, an echocardiogram, a stress EKG with contrast dye injections, an MRI of both my brain and brain circulatory system, and I med with a neurologist.
The medical analysis is that I have diasystolic disfunction of the heart which causes less blood, and hence, less oxygen to get to the brain, putting me at risk for strokes and further cardiac problems. This was likely caused by hypertension, and that was most likely related to my weight. I was surprised to learn that I have neither clogged arteries nor high cholesterol (although the medics wanted to put me on Statin drugs…as a precaution!).
The past month has been maybe the most challenging of my life. There is improvement: I no longer slur my words - unless I’m very tired - and the numbness on my left side is almost all gone. What I’m left with is extreme fatigue, muscle aches and pains throughout my body, and an inability to concentrate or focus. My head feels like it’s one mass of cotton, and I walk like the proverbial drunken sailor.
The doctors say that there is nothing more they can do. There is no surgery to be done on my heart, and apart from basic high blood pressure medication, there are no drugs that I can be given to help me. I was told to lose 50 pounds, exercise every day, and hope for the best. In six months, we’ll know if any of my symptoms are permanent.
Well, that’s not good enough for me! I aspire to be more in life than a potted plant! I’ve been getting great Ayurvedic herbs and world-class chiropractic adjustments, and I’m still not back to my old self.
Fortunately for me, our friend and colleague, Dr. Narendra Pendse, has offered to supervise and direct my recovery through intensive Ayurvedic treatments known as Medical Panchakarma - if I will come to his clinic in India! The reason that this treatment must be done in India is that it will be done in a hospital setting, and they do things there that aren’t done outside of India. I’ve witnessed firsthand the miracles that Ayurvedic physicians perform in India, so I’m jumping at the chance! I’m leaving on Monday, September 22nd for a month in Pune, India, so by the time you read this, I’ll already be there.
As I understand it, the goals of treatment will be several: first, lowering the blood pressure. Second, rebuilding the muscles of the heart. Finally, reworking the metabolic mechanisms so that I can lose weight and utilize food more efficiently. I’m not sure what procedures will be used, but I’m going to report back and let you know exactly what’s happening every step of the way.
The next four issues of this ezine will be devoted to my progress reports, so stay tuned!
Namaste,
Dr. Craig Thomas, D.C.
Topics: Ayurveda & Heart Health, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine, Ayurveda and Modern Times, India & Ayurveda | 22 Comments »
The Heart of the Matter: Menopause and Heart Health
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | September 17, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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The Number One Killer of Women: Heart Disease…and How to Keep Your Heart Healthy During and After Menopause… |
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The Ayurvedic Path Toward Heart Health: Understanding Our Pitta Disorders… |
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The Heart Health-Menopause Connection: Going Beyond Hormones and Into Our Entire Bodies with Ayurveda… |
I don’t want to start out this ezine with a depressing tone, but there are a few statistics out there that we should…no, we NEED to be aware of, and they concern heart disease. The number one killer of women is heart disease; in fact, 1 out of 3 women will die because of it, according to an article published in TIME Magazine, “The No. 1 Killer of Women” by Christine Gorman. This article goes on to say that “more than 500,000 women die in the U.S. each year of cardiovascular disease, making it, not breast cancer (40,000 deaths annually), their No. 1 killer.”
Those are sobering statistics indeed. And because the natural cycle of menopause causes so many changes of our bodies, it can also increase our risks in developing imbalances and disorders (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity, to name a few) that are directly responsible for even greater health issues - especially heart disease.
BACK TO THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS HEALTH: KNOWING YOUR DOSHA
Heart health starts with learning about the three doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - and pinpointing the dosha that is predominate in your body. Do you know your dosha? My guide “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types” has everything you need to figure out which dosha best represents you. (Receive it FREE when you sign up for my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program - details below.)
When you know your dosha, you can then eat and live according to the regimen that supports your body type (regimens for Vata, Pitta and Kapha are also available in my “What Is Ayurveda?” guide). By following these practices, you’ll not only recover from (and avoid) the doshic imbalances that cause the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause, you’ll also be on a path toward greater heart health!
HEART-BREAKERS: PROBLEMS WITH YOUR HEART
My old “friends” in the pharmaceutical industry will have you believing that heart attacks and other heart ailments are all about cholesterol and clogged arteries. But if you’ve been reading my ezines, like “Stop Blaming Cholesterol,” you know that this is a dangerously narrow point of view. So narrow, in fact, that it’s misleading to women searching for ways to combat their health problems and sending these women in the wrong direction.
There are two basic problems concerning the heart:
1. Heart “plumbing” problems such as clogged arteries, and
2. Heart “electrical” problems such as a racing heart (leading to the implementation of a pacemaker)
Ayurveda addresses each of these types of problems by examining the body as a whole, not just one tiny area of it! These issues, in Ayurveda, are connected to digestion, enzymes, hormones and how the electricity of the brain works with the electricity of the heart. Ayurveda uniquely maps out how each body type - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - is more or less likely to get which type of heart disease: electric or plumbing.
And because menopause affects digestion, enzymes and hormones, this is crucial for every menopausal women to understand if they want a healthy heart! (And I’ll go into more depth about the heart health-menopause connection in my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program tele-seminar - details below.)
I “PITTA” THE FOOL WHO DOESN’T LEARN THE AYURVEDIC PATH TO HEART HEALTH
In Ayurveda, the heart is intimately connected to digestive health. As a matter of fact, heart function is one of the five main functions of Pitta. As you know from our last discussion, “The Hot Flash Culprit: Fat Tissues, Hot Feet and Menopause,” Pitta is the fire that makes all metabolism work in the body. Fat tissue imbalances are directly linked to common menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, hot feet and water retention, and they are also a cause of obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and heart disease.
But that’s not the whole story: hormones are also involved, and Ayurveda expands on that knowledge and teaches methods and practices that can prevent heart disease and heart attacks - the main focus for women in menopause and after menopause who are experiencing fluctuations in their hormone levels.
Heart function, and specifically problems with heart function, fall under the category of Pitta disorders and eventually (if not properly addressed through Ayurvedic treatment) Pitta diseases. Now, try and turn off your western “science” mind and switch gears to your Ayurveda fascination for a minute. Ready? Okay. Now say the word “sadhak” (pronounced like “saw dak”). Sadhak is the Sanskrit word for the energy signature of the heart muscle. It refers to the unique physiology of chemistry and emotions that work together to bring us our physical power and our emotional reality. Our focus in Ayurveda is to attain balance and health in our sadhak, particularly during and after menopause.
UNDERSTANDING OUR HEARTS THE AYURVEDIC WAY
Because of the strong connection between the physical energy of our heart and our emotions, when the heart is unhealthy, our understanding, our perception and our emotional and physical selves suffer. The heart is responsible for the relationship we have to our ego, emotions, thinking processes, and how we understand the world and people around us. That’s why it’s so important that we take care of our beautiful hearts for our total well-being and health!
If you allow me to get medical for a moment, it’s our hearts’ involvement with the neuroelectric and neurochemical health of our brain cells that allow us to communicate our emotions - including compassion, our highest emotion - to the world. The heart also secretes enzymes and amino acids for the physiology of our nervous systems.
During menopause, the emotional menopausal symptoms we feel - selfishness, confusion, egotism, unhealthy attachment, jealousy, and other negative emotional states - are caused by imbalances in the energy of our hearts, imbalances in our doshas, and imbalances in our fat tissues.
Physically, many of our menopausal symptoms are related to heart and Pitta disorders and can manifest themselves as other diseases and ailments such as herpes, shingles, stiffness in our shoulders, and problems with our muscles (fever, soreness and inflammation).
In short, every aspect of the body is directly or indirectly involved with the heart. This should come as no surprise: when our hearts cease to function, we cease to function.
THE HEART-MENOPAUSE CONNECTION
So much has been written about the role of hormones play in menopause as well as how they affect the causes of and prevention heart disease (and stroke) in women. Simply Googling the term “hormones and heart health” will give you over 500,000 results.
As you know, during menopause, women begin to produce lower levels of estrogen and other hormones (“Menopausal Self-Care the Ayurvedic Way“). The varying levels of these hormones cause different changes in the organ systems, particularly the heart and blood vessels, which may increase or decrease the risks of heart disease. So it becomes ever more important to understand how to take care of your heart during and after menopause using the safe, natural ways of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda addresses everything you need to know to stay healthy because it focuses on the entire body and all of its symptoms - not just one specific area. How can you maintain health if you have a narrow view of where the problem lies? Your body has hundreds of pieces, all working together, and so Ayurveda teaches you now to keep them ALL in balance for vitality and health.
To prevent heart disease - and save ourselves from suffering through menopausal symptoms - we must treat our doshic, hormonal, and fat tissue imbalances! Help me help you re-align your entire body by signing up to be part of my amazing Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program! This combination of guides, recipes, regimens and a tele-seminar (where YOU can ask me questions about your personal journey through menopause) is guaranteed to set you on a path of wellness and vitality through menopause and beyond.
*STEP 1: The “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types” downloadable PDF booklet. Determine which of the three doshas - Vata, Pitta, or Kapha - guides you and discover which regimens will work with your body type and digestive tendencies.
STEP 2: The “Menopausal (And Menstrual) Remedies for Your Body Type” downloadable PDF pamphlet. Soothe your menopausal and menstrual symptoms with five-sense therapy and daily lifestyle regimens to re-align your doshic imbalances.
*NOTE: Both booklets will be presented in one, easy-to-download PDF file, available after you finish the purchasing process.
STEP 3: The “Ayurvedic Menopausal Balance Tele-Seminar” on Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET. There’s only so much information I can give you in my e-zines and booklets, and because every woman’s journey through menopause is unique, I want to address YOUR specific issues and offer you personal Ayurvedic insights and knowledge. On this call, I’ll go into more depth about everything we’ve discussed so far and answer any questions you may have.
We’ve only scratched the surface of the wonders of Ayurvedic treatments for menopausal balance! By purchasing my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program for the low price of $29.95 (or you could spend thousands of dollars on other “remedies” that may do more harm than good), you’re opening yourself up to a world without the suffering of menopausal symptoms.
Enjoy this beautiful time in your life by attaining balance through menopause the Ayurvedic way!
Ordering this program is safe and easy (brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.). When you complete the purchasing process, you’ll be e-mailed both pamphlets - in easy-to-download PDF format - and the information on the tele-seminar call-in number and access code.
Take your menopausal care into your own hands and order today!
Link not working? Copy and paste the following URL into your browser to purchase this program today:
http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=ADE2B53F-4767-4C34-ABB1-A6E74AFFD170&pid=2e26c14f40c6b224d2dd44162b9782eb
Topics: Ayurveda & Heart Health, Ayurveda and Menopause | No Comments »
The Hot Flash Culprit: Fat Tissues, Hot Feet and Menopause
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | September 10, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Straight From a Menopausal Woman’s Mouth: Michelle Yozzo Drake Talks to You About Her Experiences with Menopause and Ayurvedic Relief from Its Symptoms… |
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Fat and Menopausal Symptoms: Our Familiar Foe Could Be Causing More Menopausal Problems Than You Think… |
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I Need Air Conditioning…When It’s Snowing Outside! The Real Cause of Hot Flashes and Other Menopausal Symptoms… |
Ah, the wonders of menopause. In the last few issues of my e-zine, I’ve explained the natural cycle of menopause, toxic HRT treatments vs. safe Ayurvedic practices, the medical definition of menopause, and the tri-doshic imbalances that cause menopausal symptoms. And there’s still so much to cover on the topic!
Ayurveda goes further in offering more than just the standard definitions of menopause and its symptoms. It takes into account the entire body, not just your hormones, thereby providing you with a plethora of safe, natural remedies for common menopausal ailments. Cures for menopausal symptoms are no longer relegated to either risking harm via HRT or suffering through discomfort and embarrassment.
My colleague, friend and Ayurvedic patient, Michelle Yozzo Drake, has had her own share of menopausal woes, and with few options available to treat her, she turned to HRT (that was before she met me and I introduced her to Ayurveda!). The results were mixed at best: though some of her symptoms were alleviated, the HRT brought forth an entirely new set of issues that she then had to deal with. Now, utilizing the Ayurvedic treatments I’ve prescribed for her, she is free from HRT and her menopausal symptoms!
But don’t just take my word for it: hear from Michelle yourself in the following video clip:
Ayurveda is the answer to menopausal symptoms that you’ve been searching for, and my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program is the first stepping stone toward a healthy and balanced life during and after menopause - keep reading for more info!
OUR FAMILIAR FOE: FAT!
(IN MENOPAUSE, IT’S MORE THAN JUST A FEW EXTRA POUNDS)
As I’ve said before, menopausal symptoms are more than just an issue with our hormones. The doshic imbalances that occur and cause symptoms can also be traced to imbalances within our fat tissues. Though it may be a mystery to the Western mind how fat tissues affect your body during menopause, the connection is clear in the science of Ayurveda.
To begin, fat tissue is composed of cholesterol - yes, that dreaded, heart-clogging sticky stuff we discussed in my posts “The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs” and “Stop Blaming Cholesterol!“ Fat tissue is also composed of “adipose” (another way of saying the connective tissue that stores fat cells) and “lipids” (natural, fat-soluble molecules).
In Ayurveda, we call thes fat tissues “Kapha.” And it’s probably no surprise to most of us where we find it: the belly, the backside, the “love handles”, between the skin and the muscles, in our faces, our chests, and the biggest source of fat: the “omentum” (”A sheet of fat that is covered by the peritoneum. The greater omentum is attached to the bottom edge of the stomach, and hangs down in front of the intestines…” Taken from MedicineNet.com).
In Ayurveda (and modern medicine), there are two types of fat:
- “White” fat (or Kapha) that does the job of retaining water in the body; and,
- “Brown” fat (or Pitta) that does the job of retaining heat in the body.
I think you can guess what menopausal symptoms can occur if these fat tissues are out of balance!
BODY HEAT (NO, NOT THE MOVIE STARRING KATHLEEN TURNER) AND OTHER MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY FAT TISSUE IMBALANCES
Let’s do a little word association. I say “menopause” and you say…”hot flashes,” right? It’s the most common symptom of menopause and probably one of the more uncomfortable (and embarrassing) ones. It’s hard to hide your red face, your sweating, and the way your body temperature seems to shoot up a hundred degrees in an instant. And an imbalance in your fat tissues could be the culprit! (The following info is just a taste of what I’ll be discussing during my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program! - details below.
Because fat is affected by the level of enzymes in your body, you could be suffering from hot flashes at the hands of our foe, fat. Too little enzymes in your body equal a lack of digestion and a whole host of digestive disorders and imbalances. A sluggish metabolism affects ALL of your tissues, and it makes the fat tissues, in particular, accumulate: Kapha (white fat) will hold too much water (water retention; bloating) and Pitta (brown fat) will hold too much heat (those awful hot flashes and/or heat in your feet and hands).
Other symptoms of a fat tissue imbalance include:
- Being thirsty all the time
- Edema (swelling)
- Heavy feeling in the stomach
- Fatigue
- Emotional agitation
- Weight gain or inability to gain weight
Sound familiar? Why, it’s our old friends Menopausal Symptoms!
YOU COULD SUFFER THROUGH MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS…BUT WHY?
These symptoms themselves aren’t life-threatenting, and we could probably deal with them if we had to (but we don’t, thanks to the wonders of Ayurveda and information like my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program provides!). But the fat imbalances that cause these symtpoms can also cause much more serious problems such as hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, anorexia, and heart disease.
To prevent these illnesses - and save ourselves from suffering through menopausal symptoms - we must treat the imbalances in our fat tissues! Help me help you re-align your doshas and your fat tissues by signing up to be part of my amazing Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program! This combination of guides, recipes, regimens and a tele-seminar (where YOU can ask me questions about your personal journey through menopause) is guaranteed to set you on a path of wellness and vitality through menopause and beyond.
*STEP 1: The “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types” downloadable PDF booklet. Determine which of the three doshas - Vata, Pitta, or Kapha - guides you and discover which regimens will work with your body type and digestive tendencies.
STEP 2: The “Menopausal (And Menstrual) Remedies for Your Body Type” downloadable PDF pamphlet. Soothe your menopausal and menstrual symptoms with five-sense therapy and daily lifestyle regimens to re-align your doshic imbalances.
*NOTE: Both booklets will be presented in one, easy-to-download PDF file, available after you finish the purchasing process.
STEP 3: The “Ayurvedic Menopausal Balance Tele-Seminar” on Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET. There’s only so much information I can give you in my e-zines and booklets, and because every woman’s journey through menopause is unique, I want to address YOUR specific issues and offer you personal Ayurvedic insights and knowledge. On this call, I’ll go into more depth about everything we’ve discussed so far and answer any questions you may have.
We’ve only scratched the surface of the wonders of Ayurvedic treatments for menopausal balance! By purchasing my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program for the low price of $29.95 (or you could spend thousands of dollars on other “remedies” that may do more harm than good), you’re opening yourself up to a world without the suffering of menopausal symptoms.
Enjoy this beautiful time in your life by attaining balance through menopause the Ayurvedic way!
Ordering this program is safe and easy (brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.). When you complete the purchasing process, you’ll be e-mailed both pamphlets - in easy-to-download PDF format - and the information on the tele-seminar call-in number and access code.
Take your menopausal care into your own hands and order today!
Link not working? Copy and paste the following URL into your browser to purchase this program today:
http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/SecureCart.aspx?mid=ADE2B53F-4767-4C34-ABB1-A6E74AFFD170&pid=2e26c14f40c6b224d2dd44162b9782eb
P.S. Many of my patients have recommended Dr. Christiane Northrup’s book The Wisdom of Menopause. I’ve read it, and I thought it was such a beautiful and informative book, I wanted to tell you about it as well. Dr. Northrup goes beyond the symptoms of menopause and discusses how to process the emotions that go along with the physical changes. Because mind and body must be approached simultaneously, I recommend this book - along with my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program - to all of you out there who are beginning or are in the midst of menopause! Check out The Wisdom of Menopause today.
Topics: Ayurveda and Menopause | 1 Comment »
Menopausal Self-Care: The Ayurvedic Way
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | September 3, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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The Physical and Emotional Wear-and-Tear: Understanding the Medical Aspects of Menopause… |
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My Dosha Needs Re-Alignment: Doshic Imbalances and Their Menopausal Symptoms… |
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The Easy Ayurvedic Solution to Menopausal Symptoms: Attain “Sama Dosha” (All 3 Doshas In Balance) During Menopause and Beyond… |
Menopausal self-care is essential on many levels, and I’m so excited to see women taking their care into their own hands! The physical and emotional wear-and-tear menopause has on a woman’s “young-gevity” and longevity must be properly understood and addressed. And Ayurveda provides the tools - in its principles and practices - to confidently lead the way toward vitality and life through the menopausal cycle and beyond.
MENOPAUSE: AS IF WE NEED MORE COMPLICATIONS IN LIFE!
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is the “leading nonprofit scientific organization devoted to promoting women’s health and quality of life through an understanding of menopause.” NAMS defines menopause as “a normal, natural event - defined as the final menstrual period and usually confirmed when a woman has missed her periods for 12 consecutive months (in the absence of other obvious causes). Menopause is associed with reduced functioning of the ovaries due to aging, resulting in lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. It marks the permanent end of fertility. Menopause occurs, on average, at the age of 51.”
NAMS also cites the changes that the body goes through during “perimenopause” (the “transition phase between menstruation and menopause”) and menopause itself: “In addition to irregular menstrual periods, some women experience symptoms of hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, and/or vaginal dryness.” Other symptoms can include: mood swings, changes in libido, and headaches.
But there are other more serious health issues that women may face an increased risk of during menopause. NAMS lists them as: heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. (Visit the NAMS website to learn more about the medical aspects of menopause.)
Scary stuff to be dealing with during this “fall and winter” (or Vata) time of life when we should be enjoying the fruits of our lives thus far and focusing on our own self-discovery.
LOOKING AT MENOPAUSE THROUGH THE LENS OF AYURVEDA
Ayurveda considers menopause to be a tri-doshic condition; that is, all three doshas (”governing principles”) - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - are involved. We possess all three doshas inside of us; however, each of us is predisposed toward one particular dosha. To understand your predominant dosha, read more about doshas in my downloadable guide “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types” (available through my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program - details below).
The symptoms of menopause are a result of our doshas being out of balance. The physical and emotional tendencies and issues you’re facing are a red-flag as to which of your doshas is out of balance and needs to be re-aligned.
A VATA IMBALANCE is present when you feel a loss of concentration, distracted, and often confused. A PITTA IMBALANCE occurs when you feel anger, rage, and jealousy. And a KAPHA IMBALANCE is the culprit when you feel cluttered, stagnant emotionally, and engage in “greedy thinking.”
The physical signs of these imbalances can be painful, embarrassing and extremely uncomfortable, and may even force you to seek medical attention - i.e. hormone replacement therapies - that can be even more toxic to your body.
THE PHYSICAL AILMENTS OF DOSHIC IMBALANCES
What are you feeling in your body? Look through this list and count the number of symptoms you’ve been experiencing and note which doshic imbalance is causing it.
Vata Imbalance:
- Excessive hair loss
- Irregular periods with excessive or scanty bleeding
- Vaginal dryness and itching
- Sleeplessness
- Lassitude
Pitta Imbalance:
- Anemia and weakness
- Feeling intense heat in your body
- Profuse sweating at night
- Burning and increased frequency of urination
Kapha Imbalance:
- Oedema (excessive fluid in the tissue; swelling)
- Joint pain
- Lethargy and dullness
- Weight gain
In Ayurveda, we first treat the dominant dosha that’s out of balance, and then we address the secondary doshic imbalances. My downloadable pamphlet “Menopausal (And Menstrual) Remedies for Your Body Type” (available through my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program - details below) will give you the safe, natural ways to regain your doshic balance during and after menopause and menstruation.
EASY WAYS TO ATTAIN MENOPAUSAL BALANCE
The science of Ayurveda provides a self-observation examination process that helps make Ayurvedic self-care choices easy, clear and correct. Learning and sharing the Ayurvedic system means good menopausal care for you and your loved ones!
One of my favorite Sanskrit words is Sama Dosha. This means that all the doshas are in balance, and that’s our goal in diagnosing menopausal signs and symptoms and treating them with Ayurveda. By simply chanting “samadosha” 108 times a day, we can practice a little Ayurvedic sound therapy to restore the vibrational balance of our doshas through menopause.
But I want to go beyond that remedy and give you the gift of my knowledge on Ayurvedic treatments for menopausal symptoms. That’s why I’ve created my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program, a combination of guides, recipes, regimens and a tele-seminar where YOU can ask me questions about your personal journey through menopause.
*STEP 1: The “What Is Ayurveda? Understanding the Principles of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Body Types” downloadable PDF booklet. Determine which of the three doshas - Vata, Pitta, or Kapha - guides you and discover which regimens will work with your body type and digestive tendencies.
*STEP 2: The “Menopausal (And Menstrual) Remedies for Your Body Type” downloadable PDF pamphlet. Soothe your menopausal and menstrual symptoms with five-sense therapy and daily lifestyle regimens to re-align your doshic imbalances.
*NOTE: Both booklets will be presented in one, easy-to-download PDF file, available after you finish the purchasing process.
STEP 3: The “Ayurvedic Menopausal Balance Tele-Seminar” on Wednesday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET. There’s only so much information I can give you in my e-zines and booklets, and because every woman’s journey through menopause is unique, I want to address YOUR specific issues and offer you personal Ayurvedic insights and knowledge. On this call, I’ll go into more depth about everything we’ve discussed so far and answer any questions you may have.
We’ve only scratched the surface of the wonders of Ayurvedic treatments for menopausal balance! By purchasing my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program for the low price of $29.95 (or you could spend thousands of dollars on other “remedies” that may do more harm than good), you’re opening yourself up to a world without the suffering of menopausal symptoms.
Enjoy this beautiful time in your life by attaining balance through menopause the Ayurvedic way!
Ordering this program is safe and easy (brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.). When you complete the purchasing process, you’ll be e-mailed both pamphlets - in easy-to-download PDF format - and the information on the tele-seminar call-in number and access code.
Take your menopausal care into your own hands and order today!
Topics: Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Menopause | 5 Comments »
Menopause: A Natural Cycle Not a Terrible “Disease”
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 27, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Menopause Myths Annihilated: No, It’s Not a Life-Threatening Condition… |
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Your Unique Experience: We May Have the Same “Equipment” But That’s Where the Similarities End… |
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Ayurveda vs. Modern Medicine: How Comfortable Are YOU With the Cancer Risks of Combined HRT… |
Mere mention of the word “menopause” to most women elicits a chorus of groans and moans. “The hot flashes!” they cry. “The mood swings! The bloating! It’s awful!!”
While dealing with the symptoms of menopause can be uncomfortable and even embarrassing at times - breaking into a feverish sweat in the middle of an important meeting or a romantic dinner for two certainly isn’t ideal - we often forget that menopause isn’t a life-threatening condition. It’s not a collection of syndromes, and it’s not just the hot flashes, mood swings and bloating.
Menopause is quite simply a natural and healthy cycle that occurs in women. And because of this, we need to learn how to work with it instead of fighting against it.
IF WE CAN SURVIVE CHILDBIRTH, WHAT’S A LITTLE MENOPAUSE?
The female reproductive system is a wondrous and beautiful thing. You might find that hard to believe when you’re suffering with menopausal symptoms after a lifetime of dealing with the ups and downs of menstruation, but it’s true. After all, it is we women who hold the magic and honor of giving birth because of our systems!
In general, we have the same “equipment” in common, the basic pieces of female anatomy that are affected by menopause: the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vaginal cavity. But that’s were our common bond ends. Each of us also have unique factors, unique body types, digestive tendencies, genetics, life histories, and toxic levels within us that make menopause a different experience from woman to woman.
According to the principles of Ayurveda, these unique factors and how we incorporate them in our approaches to dealing with menopause will determine whether we enter the menopausal cycle primed for a healthy or unhealthy journey through it and beyond.
PUT DOWN THE COMBINED HRT AND NO ONE GETS HURT
The narrow view of menopause is that the keystone issues behind it is hormone levels; namely, that we have to add to our estrogen levels - through practices like combined HRT (progestin and estrogen Hormone Replacement Therapy) - in order to get on a path toward menopausal balance. We mistakenly think that we can’t get enough natural tools to help us maintain this balance.
Not only does this leave us feeling powerless against the forces of nature, it often spurs us into taking on unsafe and toxic practices to “combat” menopause and its symptoms, practices like combined HRT.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has an interesting “summary of published medical studies” on their website here. The highlights (or lowlights, if you think about it) include disturbing links between combined HRT and cancer risks.
The ACS article states that the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) studies “have shown that daily use of combined HRT increases a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer by about 5% to 6% with each year of use…The longer HRT was used, the more the risk increased.” The ACS article also reveals that though “combined HRT did not increase endometrial cancer risk…more of the women getting HRT had abnormal vaginal bleeding (a possible sign of endometrial cancer) that needed further testing.”
You can read more about the cold, hard facts about cancer and HRT here.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather NOT increase my chances of getting cancer by subjecting my body to synthetic drugs!
TAKE THE HIGH ROAD: THE HOLISTIC AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO MENOPAUSE
The Ayurvedic approach to menopause is as unique as each woman’s response to this natural cycle. The Ayurvedic formula is an exact science practiced for centuries, and it’s centered around diagnosis of the personal imbalances and management protocols on how to return to comfort and health during the menopausal cycle.
Ayurveda has designed a logical, easy-to-understand system to follow that addresses your personal imbalances and restores your health, vitality and beauty, and I’ve created a program around it - available in the coming weeks - because I want you to be a strong, healthy woman through menopause and beyond.
My Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program will provide you with the Ayurvedic techniques you can use - in combination with those you’ve discussed with your health care provider - to restore your balance during and after menopause.
The first step in my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program is my booklet on the three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Determining your particular dosha is the key to figuring out which menopausal remedies will work with your body type and digestive tendencies.
The second step in my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program is my “Menopausal Remedies for Your Body Type” report. In it, you’ll find specific Ayurvedic remedies that are tailored to each of the doshas. (Both pamphlets are easy-to-download PDF files that will be e-mailed directly to you upon completion of the purchasing process.)
The third and final step in my Ayurveda 3-Step Menopausal Balance Program is a tele-seminar with me, Dr. Helen. I’ll go into more depth about the doshas and menopausal remedies, and this will be your opportunity to talk to me directly! Ask your questions, get clarification on your personal issues, and tap into my vast expertise in Ayurveda. (When you purchase this program, an e-mail will be sent to you with the call-in information.)
Take the lead in your success in health and vitality using and ancient science that people have used in continuity for 8,000 years! Details on the tele-seminar date and time and how to purchase this amazing program will follow in the coming e-zines. Stay tuned and stay healthy!
Topics: Ayurveda and Menopause, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine | 2 Comments »
Ayurveda Weighs In On Childhood Obesity
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 20, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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Hugs (and Ayurveda) Not Drugs: Treat childhood weight and obesity disorders the SAFE and NON-TOXIC way… |
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Choose the RIGHT Labels: Vata, Pitta, or Kapha - NOT “Fat” or “Lazy”… |
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May The Force (of Ayurveda) Be With You: Harness the power of this healing science with the help of Dr. Helen’s “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy” tele-seminar… |
Well, friends, we’re coming to the close on my Ayurvedic series on childhood obesity - and there’s still so much to cover! I’ve started to given you the building blocks for using Ayurveda to manage and cure any weight or obesity disorders and issues plaguing the children in your life, but this is only the beginning.
In addition to this installment of my eZine, I want to continuing giving you the gifts of knowledge and guidance so you can be in the driver’s seat of your child’s well-being and balance now and for the future! That’s what my fantastic tele-seminar “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy!” is all about.
But before I go into the details of that, let’s do a quick recap of the insights on Ayurveda and weight management you’ve learned so far…
JUST SAY “NO” TO (STATIN) DRUGS!
In the simplest terms, using chemicals and drugs to treat childhood obesity is a big no-no. Despite what the American Academy of Pediatrics is proposing, feeding our children cholesterol-lowering drugs (Statins) means putting them at risk for tissue damage and a whole host of other side effects. And it’s setting them up for a life of dependence on unsafe, unnatural, “silver bullet” answers to whatever ails them.
Wouldn’t you rather teach them safe, natural ways to combat their health issues…knowledge that they can use now and as they grow into adulthood?
That’s where Ayurveda comes in! By diagnosing which of the three main types of digestive imbalances and tendencies your child may be suffering from - “Visnagni” or “nervous stomach”; “Tiksnagni” or “acid stomach”; or “Mandagni” or “too much stomach mucus clogging fat channels” - you can use Ayurvedic techniques to relieve them of their pain and keep their weight at healthy levels. Refresh your memory about these imbalances with my post “The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! - NOT Statin Drugs.”
DO YOU KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY?
You do if you read my post “Childhood Obesity: Not Just a ‘Fat’ or ‘Lazy’ Problem“! I cringe when I hear people refer to an overweight child as “fat” or “lazy.” It’s unfair and inaccurate - and we should know better than to force such a stigma upon the innocent. As the adults in our relationships with kids, it’s our responsibility to get them to the root of their weight issues and provide them with the love and the methods to keep them on a path twoard happiness, health and well-being.
Determining your child’s “dosha” or “governing principle” is the first step on that journey. Does your child have a “vata” dosha? A “pitta” dosha? Or a “kapha” dosha? Each dosha carries with it its own set of physical, spiritual and nutritional characteristics. By simply observing their behaviors and key elements of their physiques, you can figure out which dosha your child possesses. And once you do, you and your Ayurvedic doctor can create safe and natural lifestyle changes that will help your child thrive and grow into healthy individuals.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? OF COURSE YOU DO!
AND I’M HERE TO ANSWER THEM…
As I said, this is only scratching the surface of what Ayurveda can do to help you help your children win the battle of weight and digestive issues. And if your child is lucky enough to have avoided obesity? Well, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), studies have proven that the “*prevalence of overweight [children] is increasing: for children aged 2-5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6-11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12-19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%.” *Taken from data from two NHANES surveys (1976-1980 and 2003-2004).
If those percentages are correct, then I’m sure there’s a child in your life - your daughter or son, your niece or nephew, or even your neighbor or a friend’s child - that is suffering from issues concerning their weight. Be a beacon of hope and help for them by sharing my eZines with them and their parents. Help them - and yourself - learn a more efficient system to examine and manage childhood weight and obesity problems.
Ayurvedic management begins with knowlege of the child you want to help; that’s not info you can get from any public source. You need to observe them and map out their unique systems to understand how to apply Ayurvedic techniques. And those techniques ARE available to you through my “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy” tele-seminar.
In this tele-seminar, I’ll share my Ayurvedic expertise with you: you’ll learn the Ayurvedic way of health - and that doesn’t include processed bars and shakes, shame and deprivation, or toxic chemicals and their side effects. Ayurvedic management is about daily oil massage, diet knowledge, support for the mental-emotional balance, all natural herbal regiments, and activity and recreational choices. Ayurveda is the MOST TRUSTED and MOST ENJOYABLE approach to life.
My “Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy” tele-seminar will feature detailed information on all of these topics and more. Plus, you’ll be able to ask questions! Who doesn’t have questions that they wish they could ask an expert, right? I’ll be there, and so will my husband, Dr. Craig, and we’re ready and excited to listen to you and guide you directly toward greater health and balance that you and your child have ever known. Join us on this tele-seminar so together, we can discuss the Ayurvedic diet and daily schedule for your child’s unique body type.
The cure for obesity and the help you need for a healthier, happier child are just a phone call away!
The Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! tele-seminar will be held on August 26th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The information being presented and the live-and-direct insights and Q&A with Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig could cost you $$$$ in books, seminars and products, but we’re offering you a special rate, loyal Friends of Ayurveda, and a minimal cost of only $22.95.
Your health and the health of your child are WORTH it!
Ordering is safe and easy!
(Brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.)
To sign up, simply click here to start the purchase process.
Hope to “hear” you there!
Topics: Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Digestive Health, Ayurveda and Weight Loss | No Comments »
Childhood Obesity: Not Just a “FAT” or “LAZY” Problem
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 15, 2008
Revealed in this week’s issue…
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The Surprising TRUTH About Childhood Obesity: (Hint: check out the title of this post!) |
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Dosha, Dosha, Dosha: The Ayurvedic secret weapon against the battle of the bulge… |
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“My Child’s Dosha is _________”: A handy list of dosha characteristics to pinpoint your child’s predominant dosha… |
Last week, I wrote to you about the dangers of using Statin drugs to lower cholesterol in high-risk children (”The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs“), and because I’m devoted to helping our children achieve balance and health in their lives, this week, I’m continuing my three-part series on the topic of childhood obesity.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS NOT JUST A “FAT” OR “LAZY” PROBLEM!
I’ve encountered so many people who look at an overweight child and immediately begin pointing fingers at them, labeling them as “fat” or “lazy.” Then they turn to the parents and accuse them of letting their children eat too much junk food or of not encouraging their children to be more active. What better example of this stereotype is there than the infamous glutton “Augustus Gloop” and his mother, a woman who proudly supports his overeating, in the popular Willy Wonka movies?
AUGUSTUS GLOOP AND OTHER OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN NEED TO HAVE THEIR DOSHAS CHECKED!
Even the most active children with proactive parents can struggle in the fight to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Rather than shame children or stuff them with “diet” foods (or worse, drugs and chemicals), we should employ safe, natural Ayurvedic methods to gently guide them toward a healthier lifestyle.
The first step on this path is determining your child’s dosha.
“DOSHA” WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S GOVERNING LIFE FORCE?
A “dosha” - as many of you already know - is a Sanskrit word translated as “governing principle.” Everything in nature is composed of the five glorious elements of air (known as “Ant” in Ayurveda), space, fire, water, and earth. Combinations of these elements with three forces (doshas) to keep them in the right relationship with each other, dictate all functions of the body, mind and universal consciousness. There are three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha, and knowing which dosha is predominant in your child will give you a more effective way of responding to his or her physical, nutritional, spiritual and emotional needs.
Here’s a quick and handy list you can use to determine which dosha your beautiful and unique child possesses:
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THE VATA CHILD:
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THE PITTA CHILD:
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THE KAPHA CHILD:
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NOW YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD’S DOSHA. THE NEXT STEP?
DIAGNOSE THEIR WEIGHT PROBLEM!
Through simple observations and a little note-taking, you can start to diagnose the type of weight problem your child has. Just take a look at their beautiful faces, paying close attention to their ears and throat (if you’re not sure, ASK ME! I’ll be taking all of your questions at my upcoming tele-seminar on Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! The details are at the bottom of this post!)
When observing your child, answer the following questions:
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Their skin: What color is it? Any discolorations or growths?
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Their throats: Feel any lumps?
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Their eyes: The whites not-so-white? Growths on the eyelids or bags under the eyes? Do they blink a lot?
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Their chest, arms, hands and fingers: Notice any distinct changes?
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Their body frame: Small, medium, or large? What’s their form and constitution? How do they stand and walk?
These are just a few of the things you should be looking for. And as far as finding solutions to weight problems, start observing their lips, tongue, palpate abdomen, urine, feces, and speech patterns as well. And don’t forget that I’ll go into much more detail during my Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy tele-seminar!
Ayurveda teaches that by monitoring all of these aspects, parents and their Ayurvedic doctors can determine exactly what steps need to be taken to ensure the health, balance and well-being of our children.
Remember: this is more than just a question of being “fat” or “lazy” - I hate those labels and the consequences of placing them on a child. Too often, we turn to the “easy” answers of deprivation, shaming and pharmaceuticals that not only don’t seem to be working, they set our children up for a lifetime of struggle.
The easiest answer to childhood obesity is also the healthiest and safest: Ayurveda! Take your child’s health into your own daily Ayurvedic practices and see how they bloom and grow into balanced and happy individuals!
P.S. Please feel free to send this onto all of your friends with children. Weight management for ALL children is a prevention wellness life path!
P.P.S. THE DOCTORS ARE IN!
Announcing Dr. Helen’s brand new tele-seminar Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, but there is an answer - and it’s NOT pharmaceuticals, fad diets, or shame and deprivation. AYURVEDA is the key to managing the weight of your child! It’s gentle, loving, safe and natural - all the things you want for your child…and it’s as close as Mama’s spice rack!
The Ayurvedic Answers to Getting Our Children Healthy! tele-seminar will be held on August 26th, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This phenomenal event is more than just valuable advice and tips: it’s an opportunity for YOU to ask YOUR QUESTIONS! Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig will be there, ready and willing to share their vast knowledge on the ancient science of Ayurveda.
The information being presented and the live-and-direct insights and Q&A with Dr. Helen and Dr. Craig could cost you $$$$ in books, seminars and products, but we’re offering you a special rate, loyal Friends of Ayurveda, and a minimal cost of only $22.95.
Your health and the health of your child are WORTH it!
Ordering is safe and easy!
(Brought to you by Michelle Y. Drake and The Cove Group, Inc.)
To sign up, simply click here to start the purchase process.
Hope to ”hear” you there!
Topics: Ayurveda and Children, Ayurveda and Weight Loss | 1 Comment »
The Answer to Childhood Obesity? Ayurveda! NOT Statin Drugs
By Dr. Helen Thomas, D.C. | August 6, 2008
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read in the New York Times that the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines to “aggressively screen and medicate for high cholesterol in children” and that they plan on administering cholesterol-lowering drugs - called statins - to kids as young as age 8! Age 8!
WHAT’S NEXT - PUTTING YOUR NEWBORN ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS BECAUSE IT DOESN’T SMILE ENOUGH??
But before we go into that, let me remind you of the simple facts about cholesterol…
DON’T ACCUSE CHOLESTEROL OF A CRIME IT DIDN’T COMMIT!
Back in April, I posted an article that dispelled the myths surrounding cholesterol, so allow me to reiterate a few things: in Ayurveda, there is no “bad” and “good” cholesterol - it’s all good. High cholesterol is the informant, a warning sign, that something else is not right in your body - it’s not the criminal. Don’t blame the cholesterol!
Use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins, also known as Lipitor - Pfizer; Pravachol - Bristol Myers Squibb; and Lescol - Novartis) rose by 156% (from 15.8 million people to 29.7 million people) between 2000 and 2005. Spending on these drugs catapulted from $7.7 billion to $19.7 billion, and prescriptions rose from about 90 million to nearly 174 million during that same time period.
In 2004, the U.S. government’s National Cholesterol Education Program advised those at risk for heart disease to reduce their LDL (”bad”) cholesterol to the ridiculously low levels of less than 100 (or even 70). If you want to meet these dangerously low targets, you would generally have to take multiple statins in combination.
Big business shouldn’t dictate how we treat ourselves or especially our children, and statins are not the solution to the “problem” with cholesterol. Don’t just take my word for it. Dr. Joseph Mercola, D.O., (www.mercola.com) has spoken out against the use of statins for children.
“I do not find it particularly heartening that these drugs are as safe for children as they are for adults, considering that they are highly dangerous for adults to begin with,” Dr. Mercola notes in his article “Now They Want to Treat Kids with Statins.”
Dr. Mercola also lists some of the known dangers of statins (”Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk?“) including: “potential increase in liver enzymes…muscle aches, weakness, immune system suppression, an increase in cancer risk, and a serious degenerative muscle tissue condition called rhabdomyolysis.”
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER!
So where do we go from here? There’s no arguing with the fact that there is an obesity crisis among the kids in this country, and it’s time for it to end - the natural way. Rather than putting their lives in more danger with harmful drugs, let’s look to the ancient sciences of Ayurveda to get them healthier and happier in the short- and long-term.
Ayurveda teaches that obesity is a predisposition based on body type, but just because it might be in the genes, that doesn’t mean we can’t fix sluggish metabolisms and even fat tissue disorders! The first step on a path to weight loss is identifying your child’s digestive body type and then steering them toward wellness by supporting their unique digestive tendencies.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY CAN BE MANAGED AND CURED THROUGH AYURVEDA
There are three main types of digestive imbalances and tendencies according to the child’s body type:
1. “Visnagni” - characterized by irregular appetite, overstimulated stomach and intestines. A child with a “nervous stomach” will have problems with indigestion, nausea, stomach pains and may want to eat at odd times. Johnny or Susie’s tummy aches and refusal to eat for hours at a time can be an indicator of a Visnagni digestive body type. So can their emotional stress, fear, anxiety and sleeplessness. In severe cases, they may even have dark rings around their eyes. Not the recipe for a happy, balanced child!
2. “Tiksnagni” - or an “acid stomach.” If Johnny or Susie gets cranky when they’re not fed on time, or if they exhibit hot, red skin, there’s nothing irregular about this child’s digestive fire. Rather, they could be agitated because the acidic stomach overcooks the food, causing a lack of nutrients being absorbed. The key to this type is regular feedings: same time every day.
3. “Mandagni” - indicated by a heavy, slow and clogged up digestive system. Too much stomach mucus causes undigested foods to clog the fat channels and all other tissues. Johnny or Susie is lethargic, always hungry, and susceptible to colds and mucus problems. With their un-metabolized food toxins clogging their body channels, they gain weight easily and lose it slowly.
Each one of these digestive disorders can lead the way to childhood obesity, and by identifying which category your child is part of, you are taking the first step towards creating a wellness weight loss program for your unique little one.
And as far as their cholesterol is concerned, there are studies out there (including one from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that you can read about in Mike Adams’ article “Healing Foods Beat Statin Drugs for Lowering High Cholesterol“ on NaturalNews.com) that prove eating certain foods can lower your cholesterol levels just as well as taking statins - only without all of the dangerous side effects. Eating these foods, including “soy products, plus almonds and cereal fiber” can not only regulate “biochemical markers such as cholesterol” but they can also be effective “in treating conditions such as chronic depression” (”Healing Foods Beat Statin Drugs for Lowering High Cholesterol” by Mike Adams, June 7, 2005).
Wouldn’t you rather feed your child - and yourself - a hearty serving of healthy foods instead of processed chemicals?
Next week, we’ll talk about the “Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Weight and Obesity Disorders” so stayed tuned!
P.S. Please feel free to send this onto all of your friends with children. Weight management