Even if you have already adopted a daily routine to help keep you on top of mental and emotional stress from COVID19, you may find that things take a different spin at night after the sun sets, and you are unable to fall asleep; or your sleep is not as deep and restorative, and you wake up tired and stressed and unable to handle another day of bad news in the world. Remember: going to bed late just because your work routine has been disrupted is not a good idea. It’s important to go to bed by 9:30pm and wake up early to maintain overall health. Here are some ayurvedic insights and tips we recommend you adopt to help you navigate these difficult days, but most of all to boost your immunity. The connection between good sleep and a sturdy immunity is now a scientifically verifiable fact, let’s take a look and see how it works.
Did you know that Sleep is Detox for the Brain?
Yes, it’s true, there simply are NOT enough hours in the day to accomplish all we want or need to do, specially if you think of sleep as a not-so-necessary pause that disrupts your creative life flow. But sleep is so much more than a mindless pause. Literally. Modern science now confirms what Ayurveda has known for thousands of years: the irreplaceable benefits of sleep. The latest lab findings indicate that the brain needs sleep to wash off toxins created during the day’s activity. Yes, you read right: sleep is brain-detox! How is this washing-off of mental stress accomplished? Pioneering research has found that brain cells – glial cells – shrink during sleep to open up the interstitial gaps between neurons to allow fluid to flush out neurotoxins in the brain through a network of plumbing pipes – glymphatic system. If the brain is not allowed this detox process through proper sleep, toxic proteins may be formed and/or left behind – and such toxic proteins may be playing a major role in chronic brain disorders – Alzheimers, Parkinsons, dementia. So don’t think of sleep only as nightly restoration, but more as housekeeping to flush out lethal neurotoxins. Remember also how Vaidya Mishra taught us the importance of sleep by stressing the “shodhana” and “rasayana” values of nightly restorative rest, much like what modern science now knows.
Shodhana and Rasayana: Detox & Rejuvenate
The detoxing and rejuvenative functions of sleep (“shodhana” and “rasayana”) have long been known in Ayurveda, and the Carak Samhita Sutrasthana says that sleep (“svapn”), along with a healthy diet (“ahar”) and ethical balanced behavior (”Brahmacharya”) is one of the 3 sub-pillars of life, or “traya upastambah:”
The sutra continues to explain that with proper regular sleep the body gains “bala” or physical and mental strength; its immunity is enhanced; complexion improves; digestive and post-digestive activities are optimal; the mind gets more balance and nourishment from the physiology ; there is overall improvement in the assimilation and transformation activities on the cellular and vibrational levels. But sometimes sleep can be the most elusive thing. No matter how tired we feel and want to sleep, we are not able to wind down, fall asleep, nor stay asleep.
Trouble Sleeping through the Night?
There are different ways to correct sleep imbalances, based on external and internal factors. Sleeplessness occurs when the brain is unable to disconnect from the activities of the senses. When the brain remains engaged in the objects of the senses – something that happened during the day – either extremely exciting or stressful; a task that was unfinished; an emotional charge that remains unprocessed; a stressful thought that won’t leave you. Your mind keeps running the episode over and over again. Due to different hetu-s or original causes, people are not able to disconnect or detach their minds from their senses, and then sleep eludes us. There is not one way to correct a sleep imbalance, because there is not one reason that may cause insomnia. In SVA, Vaidya mishra insists on following the “hetu ling aushadi gyanam” principle: first investigate and isolate the actual cause of the sleeplessness to be able to correct it fully and effectively.
In this sense, based on one’s physiology, there can be 3 distinct ways of approaching problems in sleep, each is based on one of the 3 cosmic energies, Soma, Agni, Marut, that are expressed in our bodies as imbalances known as: Kapha, Pitta, and Vata, based on our body’s prropensity to receive more or less of each energy.
In general, it is good to turn down the lights, reduce the use of TV and computer, turn off the wifi in your home, and do gentle yogic exercise or meditation to ease the body into the rest period of the day. But here are specific guidelines for those who need a little more pacification.
Vata
Sleeplessness that is caused by too much Vata, or air and space accumulation, can result from:
• the overuse of EMF devices such as computers, cellphones, etc.
• from eating or drinking too much dry or drying foods or drinks (snacks, caffeinated drinks);
• from skipping meals or not eating enough, or eating on the go;
• eating too much pungent and spicy meals; or cold food;
• over-engaging in physical or mental labor without taking proper breaks;
• travelling for long hours (flying, driving too much) without a break to recover and reset the body
In this case, the mind gets overwhelmed, it needs a nourishing nurturing break to relax and recover, so that it can detach itself from the senses in order to be able to fall asleep.
Sometimes, even if one falls asleep, they wake up fatigued and foggy – sleep is scattered and not grounded enough. In this case, one should adopt one or more of the following steps:
• proper vata pacifying foods that are more unctuous and grounding in nature;
• may drink a milk date shake before sleep (boil milk with a couple cardamompods, a stick of cinnamon; take off the heat, pour into a blender and add 1-2 pitted medjool dates and blend. Drink warm before bed).
• do self-massage with SVA Vata oil with Vit D and Magnesium;
• Drink Soma Nidra Tea half an hour before sleep;
• Use the Soma Nidra Oral spray
• Shower with Soma Nidra Soap;
• Take a bath with Soma Nidra Sleep Pouches
• Apply Soma Nidra Aroma oil blend on your wrists and behind your ear lobes, or put a couple of drops in an aroma diffuser to release the aroma in your room during your sleep
• Apply Mastishk Shamana transdermal cream on your lower spine.
PITTA
All of the above Vata pacifying recommendations can be done to help with sleep by an individual of any constitution, but sometimes things need to be addressed specifically for Pitta problems. Pitta imbalance prone individuals may experience lack of sleep primarily due to food related imbalances. If they do not eat a proper meal that has high protein content, their fiery high metabolism will not settle down enough to allow soma to ground them in deep rejuvenative sleep. They will wake up during high pitta time, between 12am and 2am, restless, emotionally strung, and unless they pacify their pachak or digestive pitta with a sweet juicy pear, they will not be able to fall back asleep. Not addressing pachak pitta or digestion and trying to fall back asleep through transdermal, transmucosal, aromatherapeutic, or yogic means will fail to work for a high pitta individual!
High Pitta individual must also make every effort to go to bed no later than 10pm, as they will receive second wave when pitta time kicks in, making them prone to engage in creative activities instead of allowing the physiology to rest and detox. As the night ages, it will become harder for them to fall asleep, accumulating more pitta, and resulting in pitta related imbalances – mood swings, excess heat in mind and body that can result in imbalances in different ways.
Pitta organs become more active during pitta time: liver, spleen and pancreas. During the night shift of Pitta, these organs’ activity amounts to detox and transformation of the whole body, including the brain.
If the person is in a sleeping state between 10pm to 2am, then transformation based detox and rejuvenation is not impaired, waste products go into proper detox pathways and the outcome is the body’s nourishing nurturing substance known as Ojas. The shastras or ayurvedic texts highlight that proper sleep produces Ojas as well as toxin-free cellular system.
If pitta types consume alcohol or meals that are high in spices as well as pungent, their physical brain will need an extra-boost of Soma to reset itself. Soma is the raw material for neurotransmitters. When there is not enough soma, the brain starves and it becomes difficult for it to get disconnected from the horses or the senses, resulting in poor sleeping patterns. What to do?
• Eat protein rich light meals before sleep
• Consume some Rose petal preserve with/after dinner
• Have more squashes during the day or for dinner and reduce pungent spices
• Drink the milk/date shake recipe given above (Vata imbalance section)
• Make a cup of Soma Nidra tea and sip slowly 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Apply DGL transdermal cream on your liver and stomach area, gently massaging
• Take a shower with Soma Nidra soap, spray the Rose Body Silk lotion after shower
• Give yourself a gentle calming massage with Pitta oil with Magnesium
• Laugh every day, specially in the evening, at the end of stressful day!
KAPHA
Lack of sleep related to kapha imbalance can result from eating heavy clogging meals; not having enough exercise; consuming yogurt at night; sleeping during the day. In all these instances, the physical channels between mind and body get clogged, and the mind cannot communicate properly with the senses, making it difficult to disconnect the senses and mind.
If you are prone to kapha imbalance – your body tends to have a slower metabolism and accumulate more Soma – you can balance things by:
• Incorporate daily exercise/yoga into your life
• Eat spice rich food for lunch and dinner – you may also add fresh ginger and thai green chilies if your pitta is not off and your agni needs support
• Apply SuperSport roll-on or cream on arms legs as well as your lower spine morning and evening
• Use Soma Nidra oral spray – 2-3 squirts before bed
• Drink a cup of Soma Nidra Tea or use any of the other Soma Nidra products to help induce sound sleep, however, all these will work best when you incorporate exercise and balanced meals into your routine
• most important is to make sure you do not sleep beyond 6am as that will accumulate more Soma in your physiology resulting in more clogged channels
Sometimes, you may need to pacify both pitta and vata, or pitta and kapha. You will learn to understand the signal that your physiology is giving you as ayurvedic knowledge unfolds in your awareness once you invite it to be part of your routine.
In these challenging days, a good night’s sleep is even more important to help us cope with the daily stress and maintain mental and emotional balance. Wishing you blissful full of soma sweet nights…
4 herbs for instant Stress Relief
Ashwagandha: settles the mind and nervous system so we don’t overreact to high stress
Mandook Parni (Gotu Kola): nourishes and grounds the mind by regulating the activites of “dhi, dritti, smritti”
Aindi (Bacopa Monnieri): nurtures and supports the mind by cooling things down and grounding mental activity;
Jatamansi (Nardostachys): reputed antidote for mental stress.
3 squirts for transmucosal instant delivery. Silence the anxious mental chatter by supporting your nervous system with these 4 time-tested ingredients. These herbs also support more alertness and sharpness of mind. As Vaidya Mishra always said: learn how to surf the big waves, don’t dread them.
Support & Boost Immunity with our unique SVA formulations still on sale to service your needs
1. Vaidya Mishra’s Tridoshic Nasal Oil, which nourishes and lubricates the nasal cavity. With over 15 herbs in a synergistic blend it detoxes and supports the immunity of the nasal passages, enhancing the intelligence of the physical and vibrational channels. Since COVID-19 or any other virus or airborne pathogen enter through the nose by breathing in or touch, this oil provides a barrier.
What’s in it? All the good antiviral and antibacterial herbs, plus calms the mind! Here’s the list: Black Pepper, Cumin, Turmeric, Sunthi, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Large Cardamom, Tulsi, Boswelia, Greater galangal, Bacopa, Lodhra, Guduchi, Kantakari, Manjishta, Saffron, Jatamansi, Clove leaf and Sweet basil in a blend of Sesame and Jojoba oil base
2. I love his Sinus Cough ‘n Cold Inhaler which not only unblocks the nasal cavity and lung channels, but supports the resistance to infection. This inhaler will also support the chest area when there is a mild cough. Contains Organic Camphor, Peppermint, Ajwain, and Holy Basil (Tulsi) - see below for more details.
Protect, Unblock, Support Sinus and Lungs with
SVA Sinus Cough’n Cold Inhaler
This inhaler contains natural essential oil that are known for millenia in Ayurveda to help unblock the nasal cavity and support the lung channels. The aromatic molecules instantly travel through the sinus pathways without irritating them, and support the nasal cavity to resist bacterial infection and contamination. This inhaler will also support the chest area when there is a mild cough. Carry this inhaler with you in flu season, or any time, for a quick and easy way to unblock, protect, and refresh your sinus pathways. Whether carried in your purse or pocket, this inhaler is your sinuses’ best friend. Ayurveda has for millennia used aromatherapy with an array of delivery systems – incense, perfumes, balms, etc. Vaidya Mishra has introduced this new delivery system with his convenient to carry nasal inhalers. These nasal inhalers are based on Sugandha Vigyan - the Ayurvedic wisdom of how scents and aromas enter into and affect the mind and body. The aromatic molecules of the SVA inhalers readily travel to the nervous system through the nostrils – directly yet gently. Vaidya Mishra’s nasal inhalers are easy to carry with no spill or stain risks. They contain all organic essential oils where available and contain absolutely no synthetic or artificial ingredients or fixatives.
What’s in your Inhaler?
Ingredients and their ayurvedic properties: Organic Camphor, Holy Basil or Tulsi, Ajwain, and Peppermint.
Camphor is an FDA-approved topical antitussive (anti-cough), Camphor has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties; Holy Basil or Tulsi, in Ayurveda, is known to relieve symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, colds, congestion, coughs, flu, sinusitis, sore throat, and similar ailments. To clear your sinuses, inhale the steam from a fresh cup of tea before you drink it, or just use Vaidya’s Cough’n Cold inhaler;
Ajwain: helps clear nasal blockage by discharging the mucus easily; Peppermint: helps reducing the harmful bacterial growth in the mouth, is a great decongestant when inhaled; is used for treatment for cough and cold or throat irritation.
3. Sneh Gandush for oil pulling, which is a procedure to hold and swish 1-2 teaspoonfuls of herbalized oil in your mouth for 5-10 minutes. Medical News Todays list the following benefits:
Killing harmful bacteria in the mouth. The mouth contains hundreds of bacteria, some of which are harmful and may lead to tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease. …
Reducing bad breath. …
Preventing cavities. …
Reducing inflammation and improving gum health.
Vaidya Mishra’s formulation accomplishes lipid oral detox with a mixture of sesame and coconut oils into which different herbs have been synergistically infused to address the different needs of the oral cavity. By killing harmful bacteria in the mouth oil pulling encouraging the growth on beneficial bacteria keeping the oral cavity healthy and preventing airborne pathogens from penetrating and invading.
4.Zinc Bhasma glyceride drops.
Another way to stop the COVID-19 in its tracks is by using Zinc. If you google the benefits of Zinc one of the first things that comes up is that is modulates the immune system. You will find many scholarly articles on Zinc and its antiviral properties.
Journal of Virology (American Association of Microbiology) states “the requirement for zinc ions for the antiviral activity is further substantiated. Therefore, an increase in intracellular zinc levels provides the basis for a new antipicornavirus mechanism.”
An easy to assimilate Zinc products are the “bhasmas”
Sinus Support: discourages bacterial growth and support your sinus cavity when inhaled. Spray it on a scarf and gently inhale. Keep away from your eyes.
Sanitize and prevent infection: apply on your toe and finger nails after clipping them to ward off the chance of infections;
Anti-bacterial air-freshener: spray it in your room – on your couch, pillows, carpet, desk, or just in the air. All the ingredients in this formula help remove bad odors through their “krimigni” or anti-bacterial properties. You can also use with it with an essential oil diffuser.
Uplift and pacify the mind: Tribindu pacifies Vata dosha through its thermogenic properties and support kapha dosha by improving circulation – it’s your best friend in the winter time and in cold weather; and when you are feeling vata-ed out or stuck and stiff!
Ward off mold and fungus: through its potent bactericidal properties this formula can be used in area where there is mold and fungus growth. Spray on directly (carpets, upholstery; drawers; nooks and crannies!) – 2-3 times a day.
CAUTION: if you inadvertently get the spray in your eyes, rinse with cool/cold water and it will wash off easily and immediately.
As the situation worsens with more cases detected nationwide, we need not panic. There are many things you can do to prevent infection. Did you know that pathologists who have been studying Corona viruses for decades say that these viruses can be killed by zinc?
In SV Ayurveda, we use zinc bhasmas which are meticulously prepared metallic zinc processed through various calcinations, as depicted in this article, into a nanoparticle. This resultant nanoparticle is an extremely small particle which can enter the cell much easier than its unprocessed large heavy metallic zinc.
Known as “Yasad Bhasma” this zinc nanoparticle has been shown to be highly effective in treating the various forms of Corona viruses.
We have two strengths, and are in the process of stockpiling them for the expected epidemic coming our way.
Add 5 drops to a glass of room temperature spring water and stir. For added potency, add 5 drops of Boswellia Nectar Drops. Stir well and either sip on it slowly throughout the day or drink it down immediately.
We use the zinc primarily in adults but may use it in some children who have weak immune systems but in different dosage.
Read the article HERE which shows all the steps involved in processing the zinc so it is more biologically available and thus more active in your cells.
In our 4th session yesterday April 2, we covered the Susumna Marma – a marma protocol unique to the SVA lineage. We also discussed the relationship between Soma, Kurma, Trika, and the Heart Lotus. We learnt the Mantra that Vaidya taught us for recitation with Susumna marma. We had a lively discussion about so many aspects of the knowledge. A big “thank you” to our SVA instructors, specially Dr Mark Vinick, for an excellent session, and all the certified SVA educators from the USA and Canada for making this online portion of the course so special and so powerful. We have added additional sessions free of charge, as we want to delve even deeper into the knowledge that’s been so healing to all instructors and participants alike. More news next week!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: info@prana-center.com, or call us: 1.818.709.1005
