“I just listened to your MP3 audio on Tofu and you mentioned that Ayurveda avoids large beans. Would that include garbanzo beans – which are also called chick peas?
Christine C.”

Dear Christine: white garbanzo or chickpeas are not a desirable food item according to the SVA lineage, as they are considered clogging or channel blocking. However, another member of the chickpea family is a good substitute, this is called: “kala chana” or “black” chana. Kala chana carries more “agneya” or metabolic properties, so that is it not clogging but actually supports digestion while it carries all the nutritional benefits of the chickpea – protein, fiber, etc. One recommendation before you use the kala chana bean (available from any Indian grocery store) or the kala chana besan or flour which is highly flavorful as well, be sure to cook them well, you can also soak your kala chana overnight to ensure more thorough cooking, or dry toast your besan before adding to your cooking meals. Stay tuned to our SVA Health YouTube channels where will be featuring many kala chana recipes in the future.

“Dear Vaidyaji,
Thank you for your illuminating newsletter and for your detailed replies to questions. I am recommending your blog and websites to everyone to comes to our Bhagavat Life cooking classes and events (www.bvtlife.com).
I would like to ask you two questions about oils:
1) Do you recommend cooking with olive oil? For example, in making Green Protein, adding it to a soup or dal in the beginning of the cooking. There are many opinions that olive oil (and most vegetable oils) have lower burning point and they oxidize and become toxic. On the other hand, I’ve heard that mixing it with water (as in soup) or with ghee protects it from burning. I am confused and beg for your expert opinion.
2) Is Pumpkin Seed Oil recommended to use, especially for men suffering from prostate disorder?
Thank you so much. I’ve been listening to recordings from the inaugural SVA conference in  August-very educational.
Yours in service,
Divya Alter
Bhagavat Life, New York City
www.bvtlife.com

Dear Divya: It is true that olive oil has a lower smoke point. This means it cannot handle high cooking heat, and that is why I always say that when you want to sauté something in olive oil, it is best to mix it in with some ghee (made from yogurt butter) or Mum’s Ghee. Otherwise, always add olive oil to your meal after having cooked it. If you want to cook with olive oil, then I always recommend that you add water as well along with the olive oil. I would personally recommend that you first cook your protein and vegetables in water, however, and then add the olive oil at the very last phase. This will ensure that the the fatty chains of olive oil are not broken, plus you will fully retain all the flavor of the oil.

As to what concerns the pumpkin seed oil, within the SVA tradition, it is known that the “prabhava” or post-digestive and post-absorption effect of the pumpkin is clogging. Although the pumpkin carries very many nutritients, it unfortunately is very heavy. And we know, through the SVA tradition, that we do not want, under any circumstance, to clog the physical or vibrational channels – they are our lifelines, connecting different parts of our physiology to each other, as well as our physiology to the universe we live in. This is why Ii personally will not recommend that oil for any one. Plus, in Ayurveda, we have so many other options for prostate health, such as: Kanchenar, Gokhru (Tribulus terrestris), Yasad or Zinc. These, when combined with a good SVA diet, will go much further than pumpkin seed oil ever would. For more specific guidelines may I also suggest you contact Dr Marianne Teitelbaum, who practices out of New Jersey, and will be able to help you.

“Hello Vaidya Mishra,
Thank you for your very informative newsletters and for the wonderful knowledge. May I ask if it would be possible to have your advice on dry fruit (dry figs, dates, raisins, apricots): should they, like fresh fruit, be consumed away from meals, or is it ok to mix them with a meal, rice, oatmeal, etc.? Thank you very much in advance,
Maria”

Dear Maria: you may cook dry fruits with your oatmeal in the morning. Otherwise it is best to eat dry fruits not with your meals but as a snack. To make it easy on your digestion and to add more flavor to them, you may soak them overnight. You can consume soaked dry fruits as a mid-morning snack between breakfast and lunch, or a mid-afternoon snack between lunch and dinner. However, if you prefer to consume them with your meals, then best way is to make a chutney out of dry fruits to eat with your meals. A chutney, by definition, supports agni or the digestive fire, and adds a burst of flavor to your meals. Here is a recipe:

Dry Fruit Chutney

4oz any soaked dry fruits of your choice
¼ tsp Soma Salt
½ tsp olive oil
1 tablespoon clean and chopped cilantro leaf
¼ tsp Mum’s Masala
Add all the ingredients together and add some water, blend nicely. Do not store overnight. Make fresh batches daily. Enjoy!

“Dear Vaidya: hope you are doing well. […]What effect does altitude have on our daily health? I have recently moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, which is at 7000 ft above sea level. It feels so much lighter up here! Are there any transitions that take place when one relocates to a high altitude? If so, what can one do to assure good health through this transition? Also are there any benefits or concerns one should have in a relatively high altitude environment?
Thank you for your ever-flowing knowledge, and your open heart,
Aaron S.”

Dear Aaron: it is well known, in modern science, that altitudes above approximately 5000 feet have a definite effect on the human physiology. With higher altitudes, the atmospheric pressure decreases, and this in turn affects an individual’s intake of oxygen. Medicine lists ailments such as “altitude sickness,” or “high altitude pulmonary edema,” or “high altitude cerebral edema” as resulting from residing at higher altitudes. In general, when on resides at higher altitudes, the body has to work a little extra hard – breathing is faster and heart rate increases in order to supply enough oxygen to the physiology – since the higher the altitude the less readily available oxygen is. In this sense, higher altitudes add extra pressure on the physiology.

I myself lived in Colorado Springs for 6 years – Colorado Springs is at an altitude of 6000 feet. I have been to Flagstaff Arizona as well. What I have observed, practically, is that the different members of my family, based on their individual body types, had different experiences, based on how old each one was as well.

In general, according to ayurvedic precepts, higher atmospheric pressure and a thinner layer of oxygen will aggravate Vata. So Vata type individuals, as well pitta-vata type individuals, will tend to feel the altitude increase in more acute way. This is also partially due to the increased penetration of the sun rays the higher the altitude.

In pitta and vata individuals, they will experience imbalance more readily. They may experience a throbbing pressure in the head; overall fatigue; dryness in the overall physiology; dryness in the nostrils and the mouth; a burning sensation in the hands and feet; in general, poor circulation in the hands and feet; and ultimately a lack of quality deep sleep. These would be some common symptoms for pitta and vata dosha physiologies.

To counterbalance this, it is important to maintain a vata pacifying diet and routine: never skip or delay meals, eating nourishing unctuous well cooked meals, go to bed early, etc. Along with this, you can add a SVA Transdermal protocol, such as: abhyanga massage for vata people with Vata Massage oil with Vit D and Magnesium. For pitta individuals, Pitta massage oil with Magnesium. Also, applying and massaging hands and feet with Anushudhi and Mahakanchenar transdermal creams before going out will support overall circulating. Then using Ida and Pingala nasya oil 2-3 times/day will be recommended. For supporting overall sleep, SV Soma Nidra tea, or Soma Nidra oral spray, and/or Soma Nidra roll-on will be a great addition to the daily regimen.

Kapha individuals may not feel the pressure of dryness as they tend less dry bodies by nature, but they will also need to maintain a kapha pacifying diet and routine. But most of all, they will have to maintain their channels open so they are able to handle the higher altitude better. For them SVA Shroto Shudhi masala and tea will be great, in addition to regular exercise and yoga. Plus kulthi lentils once or twice a week. They can also apply DGL and Mahakanchenar on hands and feet daily.

“Dear Vaidya,
I am using 2 drops of ghee daily in my nose especially now in the dry season. Is this the best thing to use for dry sensitive nostrils or do you have something more enriching?
Thank you. I appreciate your sharing of this beautiful knowledge with us all.”
Carol B.

Dear Carol: ghee is good, but it may be a little clogging. In addition, it is good to think of the whole picture and consider not just the physical but the vibrational channels that run through the nostrils as well. In this sense, I would suggest that you use SVA Ida and Pingala oil instead. This will not only lubricate your physical nasal channels, but it will also unclog your vibrational nadi-s, your “ida” and “pingala.” Ida is the vibrational channel that receives and circulates Soma – the cooling and nurturing lunar energy. Pingala, on the other hand, receives and circulates Agni – the fiery transformational energy that runs through your right nostril. Try this oil. Apply two drops at night before bed. If you live in a cold windy climate, then you may also apply two drops in each nostril in the morning. If you need to, you may also apply additional drops during the day as needed.

“Is it possible to still get too much zinc taking the Yasad Bhasma Nectar drops daily? As per this article I just read…
What happens if I take too much zinc?
Taking high doses of zinc reduces the amount of copper the body can absorb. This can lead to anemia and weakening of the bones.
What does the Department of Health advise?
You should be able to get all the zinc you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take zinc supplements, it is important not to take too much because this could be harmful.

Do not take more than 25mg of zinc supplements a day, unless advised to by a doctor. Christiane F.”

Dear Christiane: at SVA we do not promote zinc supplements as these do have side effects when used without the guidance of a medical physician. Our SVA Herbal-Memory zinc drops are different. The zinc molecules in that formula are contained in an herbal synergy formula balanced by many ingredients, amongst which are cardamom and coriander. The cardamom helps prevent nausea, while coriander enhances the intelligence for the absorption and elimination of unused zinc. In addition, you are using the Herbal-Memory nectar drops inminimal quantities with plenty of water. For example you may be adding 1 drop of Zinc, which contains 4-5 mg of micro-molecules of zinc. This amount is easy for the body to absorb and use. Then, you are mixing 1 or 2 drops into one liter or 32 oz of water – this disperses the molecules in the water.
In addition, water is the best delivery medium because it is safe and effective. Finally, when you sip this water slowly throughout the day, it gives slow and sustained delivery of the zinc molecules without overwhelming any organ or organ systems in the body. It’san all benefits and no side-effects formula! Zinc is great to support the immune system, and this is the best season to start taking it to build your immune system.

“Hello,
I remember once hearing Dr. Teitelbaum speaking about women being unable to become pregnant due to lack of whole milk and ghee in the diet.
I currently have a “dairy-free” friend who is having trouble getting pregnant.
I was wondering if Dr. T (or Vaidye) could outline some of the key things that every couple should consider before conceiving (e.g. detox), if unable to conceive, and after conceiving.
Thank you,
– Joseph R.”

Dr Teitelbaum responds:
“When I was younger, women stayed at home while their husbands went out to work. They had as many children as they wanted -­ many had 3, 4, 5, 6 or more. We never heard of the word “infertility” back then. Then, in the early 1970’s women went into the work force, working full-time jobs, while trying to maintain their household duties as well. Then, slowly but surely, women began to experience infertility. Now, it is almost at epidemic levels. So let’s see what happens in the physiology when someone is under stress.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, Vata dosha (remember this is the element in nature of air, lightness, dryness, movement, coldness) goes out of balance when there is too much stress placed on the physiology. Since it is the element of movement, too much movement, such as working too many hours in the day without having enough rest, will throw Vata out of balance.

In particular, the subdosha Apana Vata, that which resides in the pelvic and low back regions, will go out of balance. This is where the uterus and ovaries are located. So when apana vata becomes imbalanced, the uterus and ovaries become disrupted.

So, first you must check and see if the patient has vata disturbed, and especially apana vata.
If so, they must be instructed as to how to keep vata (anda pana, and other vata subdoshas that might be out of balance) balanced. Some things that come to mind, might be (and if she were a patient of mine, we would get much more specific): go to bed by 10:00 p.m., don’t rush during the day, don’t over-extend the senses, such as talking too much or too quickly. Since Vata is the element of coldness and dryness, we would recommend an unctuous diet utilizing warm cooked foods, as opposed to cold or raw foods. Unctuous means that the diet would contain whole milk and ghee.

(There are numerous other considerations we must take into account, but here we are only discussing why someone might need more milk and ghee in the diet to help make them more fertile).

Unfortunately, we are living at a time when low-fat diets are in vogue, partly because modern medicine has convinced us that cholesterol clogs the arteries. We try to re-educate the patients that come to our office so they can see why cholesterol is in fact good for you, if you eat the right kind, which is not channel-clogging, such as warm milk and ghee.

If you combine living in a stressful world with a low-fat or even worse, a vegan or raw foods diet, then Vata dosha will definitely go out of balance increasing one’s infertility.

And one other thing to always keep in mind -­ the female hormones that make you fertile -­ estrogen and progesterone -­ are made out of cholesterol…and so are the adrenal gland stress hormones! So we must give our bodies the raw materials to make these hormones.”

Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum
Cinnaminson, New Jersey
856-786-3330

“I’m over 50, vata dosha for as long as I can remember. I live in the Northeast (Massachusetts) and started using SVA Vatta Abhyanga Oil with Magnesium & Vitamin D last winter. My question is that in our cold climate I want to apply it just  before getting out of my steam shower in the morning and then putting on warm layers of clothing. Last winter I followed the recommendation of applying, turning on the fireplace in my room and waiting 20 minutes to shower it off. Is it less effective if I use it at the end of the shower and don’t wash it off?
I also do the Samadhi set each day before meditation.
Any insight is much appreciated,
Namaste,
Wendy P.”

Dear Wendy: yes, it is possible to do it at the end of your steam shower. Just make sure you apply only a thin layer of oil, not a thick one. Although this is a massage oil rich in nutrients that nourishes your physiology, it is also, by its nature and by definition a detoxifying medium. By definition, oils pull out toxins, they bind the fat soluble toxins through the skin and pull them out of the cellular system. This is why I recommend to wait 20 minutes before washing it off, so you allow time for your body to detox and let your cellular system be nourished. Since this oil has additional nutritional content, you may apply and leave it on after shower for optimal absorption since your channels will be open and even more receptive of the transdermal nutrients. But make sure you are applying only a very thin layer, and not soaking yourself in oil, and make sure that you are wearing warm clothes after applying it, because the oil molecules retain temperatures for a long time.

“Namaste SVA Support Person
I have a request for Vaidya Mishra : Please could he discuss Chyavanprash. Is it always good for everybody of all ages or should it be avoided in ama conditions like, low jatharagni, heavy phlegm, flu, sore joints, white coating on tongue etc, because it is a rasayan and therefore heavy to digest? I would like clarification because some vaidyas  say to avoid if there is ama and some say it is good anyway, especially for coughs and colds or boosting immunity. I have been reading Vaidya Mishra’s newsletters for the past 2 years and I take his word as the last definitive word on any topic. He has such depth of knowledge and such clarity in imparting the wisdom of Ayurveda.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Gita K.
Melbourne Australia”

Dear Gita: the Shastras say that all the “avaleha”s (semi-liquid pastes almost always made with sugar and ghee) including chyavanprash should only be taken when/if “jatharagni” (also known as “pachakagni” or the metabolic fire in the stomach) is sharp and optimal; otherwise consuming chayavanprash results in ama or toxins. There is no doubt that chyavanprash is a great rasayana, a rejuvenating blend of herbs and spices, an ancient effective formula; however, in the case of the flu, phlegm, congestion, etc, it is best to first address those with other ayurvedic means before resuming the use of chyavanprash.

But your question incites me to addressan important point in this context: you should be aware of using the chyavanprash available on the market, for many reasons. For one, many of the ingredients in the original classical formula are very hard to procure. It contains more than 45 original ingredients, and many of these ingredients are not easily available. The cost of gathering those ingredients is increasing. Many commercial chyavanprash brands are competing against eachother lowering their price. It makes me wonder how any company can manage to put together a pure and original chyavanprash formula but selling it at extremely low prices. In addition, one of the primary ingredients, the amla berry, is not even used in the form it should be: nobody makes chyavanprash with wild harvested amla, but rather with hybridized, and probably genetically modified, amla because wild amla has less yield and more fiber including larger seeds. Wild harvested amla is not a commercially viable product, specially since chyawanprash is in such high demand as a natural herbal product good for boosting immunity health from 6 to 66 years old! Yet another problem in the commercial manufacturing of chyavanprash nowadays is the use of refined white sugar crystals, as well as ghee derived from milk butter instead of yogurt butter. Last but not least, almost all brands of commercially available chyavanprash are packaged in plastic jars. Amla, its primary ingredient, being acidic in nature, will interact with the container leaching plastic molecules into the “prash” or mixture making it highly toxic. In addition, you should check the label, as sometimes they add preservatives. The original formula, when made right, has what it takes to preserve itself. However, when it is not done right with the right ingredients, a preservative is needed to make sure it can be stored on shelves for extended periods of time.