Lori M. from Sacramento asked: “I am really enjoying your newsletter, and I must say, I never considered the possibility that skin may also need probiotics! This is really exciting news, and thank you for writing about this. My question: I have often wondered if some of my chronic health problems might be due to the way I treat my skin. One thing I love is a very long, hot shower, or a bath which gets very steamy. But I think perhaps I strip my skin, while I’m singing in the shower??? Do I have to give up my favorite showers, or is there a way to protect my skin while I am getting a long, hot soak?”
Dear Lori: thank you for your question. Yes. Long hot showers are not good for the yoginis of the skin – regardless of body types (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) or season. In addition, that is why in the SVA lineage, after every long “swedana” (herbal steaming) there is a special exfoliation program which includes a mixture of chickpea flour and yogurt that is applied to the skin to replete the friendly bacteria. For you situation, try to cut down on the temperature of your showers, and try not to be in the hot water for longer than 6-7 minutes. Then, once a week, do a full body treatment with the Pre- and Pro-biotic cleanser and creams for the body every week. Also use the Probiotic cream for the face every day to replenish the yogini-s.
In the big picture, however, you may also want to see why you feel the need to have these long hot soaks/showers. It may be that your overall circulation is slow, your body needs more thermogenesis and you are intuitively seeking that through hot showers and soaks. There are many ways of turning things on internally through ayurveda. And you may find that once you do improve overall circulation and your body’s thermogenesis, your need for hot showers/soaks may diminish or disappear. We would recommend a session with a SVA practitioner to determine things further. Hope this helps.
Anne O. from Seattle asked: “Hello Prana Center: I have just seen the newsletter today and am excited to see the new probiotic skin care products you are offering. I have had a rash on both underarms area for 2 years now. I keep hoping it will eventually go away but it never does! It can be itchy at night, and also after eating pitta-provoking foods – spicy foods in particular.
It seemed to have started after using tea tree oil in that area, which (I am speculating) may have killed off all the good flora.
So my question is, would you recommend the pre/probiotic clay and cream for this type of problem.
Thank you. Your products and newsletters are a joy to my life.”
Dear Anne: Thank you for your feedback, we appreciate it.
Your rash may be related to the use of Tea-tree oil. I have seen in my practice, and some researh ahs been conducted that indicate that Tea-tree oil can in fact cause such rashes. But you may also have some amavisha (reactive toxins) in your fat tissue stored there or that are being released through that area. So: yes, you can try to use the pre- and pro-biotic cleanser and creams. You may also alternate applying Surya Maha Shanti cream one day and Pro-biotic cream on the next. Do this for a couple of weeks and see how you feel. In the big picture, you may also need to consult with a SVA practitioner who would check the “hetu” (etiological trigger factor) of your condition.
MVM from Northern California asked: “I was chronically constipated all my life, until the past few years practicing SVAyurveda. So, I now consider it a big success that I have a daily bowel movement. But the BM does not happen right when I awake. It usually occurs after drinking a cup of tea (1 clove, 1/2tsp coriander, 1/2tsp fennel, 3 mint leaves), which I have after I get up. I dream of the day when I will have a BM upon awaking, but in the meantime, is there anything one can do to encourage a BM immediately upon arising, besides of course, a sattvic diet and lifestyle?”
Having a first-thing-in-the-morning BM is also a learnt process, that is: your body learns that that is what you want it to do at that time, so you may want to train it by spending a minute or so giving it a chance to happen first thing in the morning. When you do so, calm your mind and do not think about anything else, as we know the mind and the gut are closely connected. In general, however, delay of BM first thing in the morning is usually due to the channels not being fully open and energy flowing. That is why your channel-opening tea recipe (with clove and mint, etc) is helping you. With time, as you refine your diet and train your physiology, you will find that it will happen… The science behind this is the connection behind Prana and Apana through the Sushumna Nadi by enhancing the reception of Prana from the environment. Apply the Mahamarma Oil on your Adipathi Marma and Supersport or Mahakanchenar Transdermal creams on your lower spine. On a final note: make sure you avoid reading material or listening to news or any such distracting mental activities while attempting to have a BM!
Benoit G. from Canada: “Hi everybody !
You should add a “Recipe” page to your website; and also, a recipe book ! Learned in your last newsletter about “Mum’s ghee”; but how do we make it ???
Best regards,
Namaste, Benoit”
Dear Benoit: thank you for your suggestions. We will add a recipe section to our website. Vaidya’s Recipe book is in its final editing stages and should be out very soon. We will keep all informed. Making Mum’s ghee is a long process (first start with raw cream and make yogurt, churn the yogurt to make butter, cook the butter to make ghee). We have discussed this elsewhere and we also have a brochure on www.chandika.com that discusses it (look up Mum’s Ghee). We may make a video available in the future. But in the meantime, we like to make things easier by making Mum’s Ghee available for sale through www.chandika.com.
Jim P. from Santa Barbara wrote: “It has been so good reading the newsletters. I have been soaking up the knowledge. Especially the knowledge in the recipes.”
Thank you for your feedback dear Jim.
Linda from Argentina asked:
“Dear Malavika,
You are mentioning in your recipe on youtube “yoghurt starter” – there is some special kind you use? could i use my probiotic capsules instead and empty them in the coconut milk – i am in argentina and dont know where to get youghurt starter as mentioned…
Also i am not clear on why its not good to consume the probiotics in capsules in large cuantities. I read the newsletter from today completely but still not understanding this point…
thank you
Linda”
Dear Linda: thank you for your question. The yogurt starter that I use is from a company called “Natren: Probiotic Yogurt Starter,” it containsLactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria (plus Nonfat milk solids and whey as carriers). You can order this brand through the Prana Center (1.818.709.1005) or directly from Natren (1.800.992.3323). Depending on what is in your capsule of probiotic, it may or may not be a good idea to use. Check the ingredients. In Argentina, see if you can find a yogurt starter with similar minimal ingredients and additives. As to your final question: it is an excellent question. A very quick answer would be given by Vaidya Mishra in the following manner: Probiotic bacteria are living organisms that need a specific environment and temperature to grow and thrive. You know this from making yogurt for example. If your milk is too hot they die and the milk does not turn into yogurt. Similarly if your milk is too cold they cannot be activated and thrive. In the same manner, when you ingest probiotic bacteria they have to be able to survive in your physiology, to safely bypass the low pH of your stomach (normally so for everybody) and end up in your gut so they can thrive. If your body’s overall pH is too low, and if you don’t protect these bacteria by ingesting them with a Soma-genic medium, then they will die in your body and create gas, and other problems. That is why SVA does NOT recommend just swallowing the capsules on their own. I hope this clarifies your question. Let me know. Thanks.
Mary from Northern California asked:
“Thank you for another wonderful newsletter. I am very grateful to have the rest of a SVAntastic day outlined for me. I tried the upma recipe and am delighted to have a savory breakfast alternative. However, as a high pitta, I found 1/8 tsp of fenugreek made me feel like a volcano with the hot lava roiling around in my chest for a few hours. Are there any spices that a high pitta could substitute for fenugreek?
Also, I wonder if exercise is part of a SVAntastic Day, and if so, when is the best time for exercising?
Thank you,
Mary”
Dear Mary: Thank you for your feedback, we appreciate it. And we definitely want to avoid aggravating the pittas out there! So: if you find fenugreek too heating for you, you may substitute it with cumin seeds. They will flavor up your quinoa upma and help with digestion without overheating your system. As for exercise: SVA recommends gentle yoga, however, exercise is definitely an option if/when you prefer it. It is best done during the Kapha times of each day when you have more Soma available in the environment, thus either between 6-9am or 6-9pm. If you do it in the evenings, unless you have a really sturdy somagenic built, it is best not to be too vigorous otherwise it may affect your sleep. Hope these answers help!
MVM from Northern California asked: “I was chronically constipated all my life, until the past few years practicing SVAyurveda. So, I now consider it a big success that I have a daily bowel movement. But the BM does not happen right when I awake. It usually occurs after drinking a cup of tea (1 clove, 1/2tsp coriander, 1/2tsp fennel, 3 mint leaves), which I have after I get up. I dream of the day when I will have a BM upon awaking, but in the meantime, is there anything one can do to encourage a BM immediately upon arising, besides of course, a sattvic diet and lifestyle?”
Having a first-thing-in-the-morning BM is also a learnt process, that is: your body learns that that is what you want it to do at that time, so you may want to train it by spending a minute or so giving it a chance to happen first thing in the morning. When you do so, calm your mind and do not think about anything else, as we know the mind and the gut are closely connected. In general, however, delay of BM first thing in the morning is usually due to the channels not being fully open and energy flowing. That is why your channel-opening tea recipe (with clove and mint, etc) is helping you. With time, as you refine your diet and train your physiology, you will find that it will happen… On a final note: make sure you avoid reading material or listening to news or any such distracting mental activities while attempting to have a BM!
