|
 |
Pharmacy |
|
|
Over
10,000 products currently online...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Ayurvedic Approach to Doshas
From Stess to Bliss in Four Easy Steps
Brain cells create ideas. Stress kills brain cells. Stress is not a
good idea," says a modern philosopher. Noted ayurvedic physician
Ramakant Mishra agrees. "This is what I tell people all the time—
worry is like a rocking chair; it keeps taking you back and forth,
but doesn"t really get you anywhere," says Vaidya Mishra, his
cheerful eyes twinkling.
A descendant of Raj Vaidyas—physicians to the erstwhile kings of
India, Vaidya Mishra has been educating people in the United States
on the ayurvedic approach to wellness for the last several years.
Over time, he has learnt to simplify for his patients the Sanskrit
terminology that ayurveda is replete with. "A surprisingly large
number of my patients say they're stressed," says Vaidya Mishra,
Director of Product Research and Development at Maharishi
Ayurveda. "I could tell them to balance their doshas and clear their
shrotas—but I know most people have a fear of new words. What I
do
tell them is to follow simple lifestyle changes that can make a big
difference in their lives," says Vaidya Mishra. A sampling of the
Vaidya's time-tested tips on how to beat back modern stress:
Don't be a Time Struggler
The human body is simply not suited to time struggle. Research
strongly suggests that people who suffer from hurry sickness—the
anxious feeling that there"s never enough time—may be at
increased
risk of developing health problems such as high blood pressure and
heart disease. Impatient clock-watching is also linked to hostility,
resentment and sudden cardiac death.
Are you a time-struggler? Take this simple test to find out. Just sit
idle for five minutes, eyes closed. At the end of that time, analyze
those five minutes. Were you restless, bored, anxious? Or calm,
comfortable and relaxed? Did you open your eyes to check if five
minutes were over yet? Did your shoulders and neck feel tense? Were
you, in that period, able to filter out the noise of life and tune in
to yourself? Your answers will give you all the clues you need.
Why this time-anxiety happens, says ayurveda, is because we lose
connection with our innermost needs, and chase ephemeral outside
goals. Result: your body, mind and heart develop conflicting
interests—the mind insists on going on while the body feels tired
and
the heart feels heavy. To reset your clock, therefore, you need to
find your inner integration again. This you can do by listening to
what you really, really want. Once your body, mind and heart all want
the same things, your natural balance will be restored and you will
hum instead of being caught up in the humdrum.
On a more physical level, stress generates deadly free radicals,
which wreak havoc on the brain, nervous system, heart and overall
immunity. The answer? Antioxidants, designed by nature to combat free
radical damage. One such power antioxidant is Amrit: proven by modern
scintific research to nourish the body and mind like no other
supplement ever has. The unique combination of rare herbs and fruits
in this formulation beats back free radical damage caused by stress,
improving immunity and restoring balance between mind, body and
spirit.
Recreation is Re-creation
Don't be afraid to give yourself quiet time. The logic is simple: all
life evolves, grows and is sustained through cycles of rest and
activity. Rest is the basis of dynamic activity. It"s there for you
to see in the rhythm of the heart, and in the wheel of day and night.
Don't limit your re-creation to just before setting out to work hard.
Each time you come up with a brilliant idea or achieve a pivotal
goal, reward yourself with something that pleases your senses and
winds you down. Find creative ways to achieve your
workload—eliminate
unnecessary steps, avoid procrastination, prioritize, delegate. Each
of these will free up some of your time and energy for more
productive, creative work.
Most importantly, get good sleep. It is for a good reason that
library shelves brim with books on how to cure insomnia and other
sleep disorders. More than half of America is not sleeping well. An
uncomfortable night sets off a series of unhappy events—your
appetite
is low, your digestion is slow, you feel irritated and fatigued, your
strain tells on your performance, relationships and life. In such a
state, you cannot hope to be creative.
Ayurveda offers some wonderful ways to sleep better naturally. Simple
tips like: follow a regular bed-time, wind down an hour before you go
to bed, do a warm oil self-massage everyday, or use a relaxing aroma
oil to help you sleep.
Herbs like Indian Valerian and Muskroot are natural herbal sleep-aids
with a calming influence and have been used in ayurveda for
centuries. Winter Cherry helps resistance to stress, and helps
balance the mind and emotions. These and other rest-friendly herbs
come together in Maharishi Ayurveda"s Blissful Sleep formula,
prepared in the traditional ayurvedic way, using only the best-
quality ingredients.
Work your Body to Rest Your Mind
Sounds like a contradiction, but actually, exercising to get
relaxation is a perfectly fine thing to do. Simply walk away from
stress. Even ten minutes everyday will show results. Walking puts you
in touch with yourself, howsoever briefly.
Walk your dog, take out the trash, shovel snow, play frisbee in the
park-exercise in bite-sized chunks all day, and you will balance your
physical as well as mental energies. Research indicates that the
happiest, healthiest people at every age are those who exercise
regularly.
A word of caution from Vaidya Mishra here: do not over-
exercise! "Ayurveda recognizes the concept of balaardh: bala means
strength and ardh means half). That is, at any given time, use up to
half your total individual energy, and conserve the rest. This
concept makes a lot of sense, for I have seen people die of over-
exercise."
If you tend to over exercise or if you simply want to get more out of
your workouts, the Sports & Fitness System herbal supplements can
help. These formulas boost the body"s ability to repair itself and
quickly recover from vigorous exercise, and also help reduce strain,
increase your energy level and metabolize body fat.
Eat to Live Stress-Free
Food can truly be your medicine. Fruits and vegetables are ace stress-
fighters. Get five to nine servings of them each day, and they will
offer you more than just complex carbohydrates and fiber. Rich in
anti-oxidants, they beat back free-radical damage, cutting your prone-
ness to stress, fatigue and disease.
Vaidya Mishra suggests eating foods that please your individual
constitution. For example, if you are prone to ulcers and rashes,
don't eat hot Chinese food. Stop eating when your body says "Enough!"
Common-sense self-regulations like these will help you choose your
foods wisely, leading to improved digestion and an overall feeling of
well-being.
Vaidya Mishra also recommends using a variety of herbs and spices in
everyday cooking. "You'll be surprised how a pinch of turmeric or a
dash of fennel can bring down tension levels and help the body
assimilate nutrients better," says Mishra. "The seemingly tiny grains
of spices used in Indian cooking have big roles to play. Cumin and
fennel, for instance, help build tissue and flush out toxins from the
system."
Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.
For more information on Ayurveda or to subscribe to free newsletters,
plaese visit http://www.mapi.com
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
