health Archives - Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda

Is it ok to cook Avocados?

September 21, 2015 by Vaidya Mishra 4 Comments

“Dear Vaidyaji,

Is it OK to cook Avocados or it should be had raw always?

Thanks,

Pavithra”

Vaidya replies:

Dear Pavithra: cooking avocados is not a good idea because avocado oil and other nutrients in avocado are very heat sensitive. However, raw avocado has a lot of soma, and if your digestive agni is low (pachak agni), and you consume raw avocados, you may make ama (semi-digested material or toxins) from avocado. For high pitta and high agni individuals, raw avocado is a great treat, because their overactive digestion can fully metabolize the raw avocado, but if you tend to have slower digestion, here is a recipe you can try. It will help you in transforming the soma of the avocado into ojas.

You will need:

1 ripe medium avocado – take out the seed and keep the pulp

1/4 tsp. Mum’s Masala

1 tsp. lime juice

Soma Salt per taste

½ teaspoon olive oil

Mix altogether to make a rich creamy texture. If you like chilies, you can add 1 fine shredded green thai chili.

The spice mixture of Mum’s Masala supports digestion and overall metabolism and will help process the richness of avocado so you get the most out of its nutrients without making any ama.

Filed Under: 2015, Archives, Health & Nutrition, Q & A, Recipes, Sauces / Chutney / Marinades, Snacks / Appetizers Tagged With: aguacate, avocados, cooked, health, healthy, nutrition, raw

The Benefits of Iron for Health through SV Ayurveda

August 3, 2015 by Vaidya Mishra 4 Comments

Iron is an important necessary ingredient in our blood. But do you specifically know how many ailments and imbalances it can address? Long before we could scientifically study the importance of iron for our body’s overall health, its health benefits were already well known by the ancient sages. One 16th century text called “Rasa Tarangini” covers the topic of mineralogy in Ayurveda exhaustively. I will be using it to describe the health benefits of iron for day to day modern life. Here is one verse:

Properties and health benefits of Iron!

As the verse above explains, iron in sanskrit is called “loha.” In terms of quality, it is rough and dry. Its taste is sweet, but it carries a post-digestive bitter taste. Its vidhya, or potency, is cooling and heavy. It is also astringent, stimulating and supports weight-reduction.

In addition, the verse explains that iron is very good for the eyes. It is invigorating, and supports sexual stamina. It corrects imbalances of the stomach and helps eliminate pitta and kapha related imbalances!

Furthermore: it enhances the skin’s complexion, supports the mind’s functioning: dhi – power of learning, dritti – power of retaining, and smritti – power of recall. Iron supports virility in men, and the overall body. When used properly, it can address many imbalances and diseases.

In another verse of the Rasa Tarangini (Chapter 20 Verse 84), we read:

This verse explains that loha, or iron, enhances the digestive power, supports the body and rejuvenates it. It helps correct chronic skin problems. Nourishes and thus supports the body in its fight against tumors, bacteria. Iron maintains optimal hemoglobin levels, even as it enhances fat metabolism. Iron is great for sugar metabolism; helps one get rid of nausea; supports the lungs. It also helps optimize the properties of different herbs, thus acting like a “yogavahi” – it helps carry and deliver herbs to their destination faster and more efficiently in the cellular system.

Yet another verse explains:

This verse says that iron can be as fierce as a lion when ridding the body of herpes. Iron can help with chronic pain conditions, supports the

body’s inner vitality, and addresses chronic inflammatory conditions. It can help with several liver disease conditions. It also helps with hemorrhoids.

Another verse says:

This verse explains that iron helps with chronic problems of absorption, chronic inflammation of the glands in the neck. In addition, it supports the menstrual flow, and pacifies inflammation in the kidneys. Iron supports the heart, and helps the body fight combat chronic fever.

In verse number 89, we read that:

This verse explains that iron is good for diabetic conditions, that it supports and nourishes the

muscle tissue, and nurtures the female body against overall decay after childbirth.

Verse 90 says that:

This sutra explains that iron helps heal the throat, helps with rheumatoid arthritis. It can also have a healing effect on liver related fistulas, when used in combination with different proper herbs. Iron can help heal sinusitis, and hyperacidity.

In verse 92, we read that:

During puberty, iron can help go with hormonal balance, allowing for a smoother puberty, in terms of the menstrual cycle. It can also be used to help support and heal the duodenum, and balance the flow of blood.

Verse 93 says that: iron helps blood supply to the nerves, it helps give better deeper sleep for anemics, it supports the bone tissue in rheumatoid arthritis individuals, and helps maintain the bone tissue by supporting the detox of amavisha, or virulent toxins from it.

Even more, in verse 94, we read that it helps relieve fatigue from the body, enhances overall mental strength, supports hemoglobin levels for women in menopause, specially if there is significant blood loss during menopause.

In verse 95, we read that iron helps with imbalances created by the weakness of the nervous system.

And there are still many more verses covering the benefits of iron for the human physiology, when it is used properly, and with the synergistic

combination of other ayurvedic herbs.

You will also have noticed that these ancient verses list all the possible benefits of iron, specially all the ones modern medicine has also delineated for us. In my SVA lineage, we use iron in combination with distinct additional ayurvedic herbs, for added benefit as well as for targeting distinct conditions and situations. Currently, I have made available a total of 4 kinds of iron Herbal Memory Nectar drops, to address the general deficiency of iron, as well as for advanced specific needs.

SVA Loha and Maha Loha Herbal Memory Nectar Drops

The first two are SVA Loha and Maha Loha, These are identical formulas, except that Maha Loha carries a four times higher quantity or concentration of iron molecules than the regular version, made specifically for those who need the higher concentration. The following herbs are also added to enhance the absorption and delivery of the iron molecules. In addition to loha, these

formulas contain the following ingredient-wise properties:

• Bhring raj (Eclipta alba) is a famous ayurvedic herb that helps enhance the intelligence of the liver and thus supports the physiology so it can properly metabolize and use iron.

•Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) I add so as to enhance the intelligence of the iron molecules to be delivered to the bone marrow.

•Bhumi amla (Phyllantus niruri) to nourish and enhance the intelligence of liver

•Mahasudarshan churn is a classical formula that contains a great number of different ingredients. It supports the intelligence of the liver as well as the detox of the liver.

•Green cardamom pods (Cardamomum) to enhance the efficacy of iron.

• Wild amla (Phyllantus emblica) enhances to absorption of the iron molecules, and secures their delivery into the muscle tissue

• Triphala is made up of Amla (Phyllantus emblica), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and Bhibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica). I add this to prevent from the common possible side effect of iron: constipation.

SVA Amla Loha

This specific formula is called “Dhatri Loha” in classical Ayurveda. The word “dhatri” is almost identified with the name amla, because of the health- bestowing properties of the fruit. The literal meaning of “dhatri” is: that which gives, that which takes care of, that which is – in its

giving nature – like a nurturing, sustenance-giving, woman! In this formula the amla is added in very high potency to enhance the absorption and use of iron, and give it the potency of heme iron. Scientific studies have confirmed the ancient ayurvedic knowledge which states that in the presence of ascorbic acid, the potency and delivery of iron becomes as powerful as heme iron. However, the embellic acid contained in the amla plant is even more potent than ascorbic acid, and it empowers the iron even further. In addition, amla enhances protein synthesis, so this protein synthesis property of amla, synergistically combined with iron, acts as a highly nurturing formulation for the muscle tissue. I have also added DGL in good quantity in the formula to help pacify and keep overall pitta of the liver and stomach in check.

SVA Guduchi Loha

Guduchi is a very famous herb used to enhance and support the intelligence of all seven physical bodily tissues. It is ideal when used for targeted delivery to the bone marrow. Countless scientific studies have also found that Guduchi can boost the immune system. Guduchi is a very balanced herb for nurturing and detoxifying, so in this formula along with iron, I’ve synergistically added enough quantities of guduchi, so that the micromolecules of iron can reach the bone marrow. In addition, ginger, “pippali,” and black pepper together make up a very ancient

formula called “trikatu.” Trikatu is the best “yogavahi,” a product or herb that facilitates targeted delivery for greater faster effectiveness. I have

also added a SVA formulation called “Soma Shakti” to these drops. This is a classical formula whose main ingredient is shilajeet. The ayurvedic shastras say that adding shilajeet to the iron bhasma makes the iron more potent and useful for the body.

These two formulas contain nano-particles of iron, infused in the intelligence of the herbs, spices and essential oils found in the formula. These two formulas are very potent; however, for best results, use under the guidance of a SVA expert.

Disclaimer: the description of herbs, plants, ingredients, and combinations offered in the above articles and verses are meant for educational purposes only. If you have, or suspect you have, any medical condition, check with your medical doctor or physician before using any of the herbs or products mentioned above to your daily protocol.

Filed Under: 2015, Archives, Featured Products, Health & Nutrition, Knowledge, New Arrivals Tagged With: amla, anemia, anemic, anemics, bhumi amla, blood, FE, guduchi, health, hemoglobin, herbal, herbs, hierro, iron, maha, menopause, nutrition, puberty, sexual stamina, stamina

Alopecia Universalis

March 6, 2015 by Vaidya Mishra 12 Comments

This little girl (age 9) came to us, along with her twin, who had the same diagnosis, in February of 2014. The hair in their entire bodies (including facial hair, leg hair and eyebrows in addition to their scalp) had fallen out entirely, at age 3 1/2. They had been to numerous endocrinologists, dermatologists and family practitioners. They were prescribed thyroid hormone (at age 6!) and had therapies directed toward the scalp, including steroids and laser therapy — all to no avail.

This case history is an excellent example of why the Ancient Doctors always said get to the hetu, or underlying problem, before determining how to fix any health problem. It was true that their thyroid glands were weak, and it is quite common for the hair to fall out when the thyroid is weak like this.

But this wasn’t the underlying problem. It was just a symptom.

So when I saw them, I had them discontinue their thyroid hormones. Instead, our approach was to fix the REASON why the thyroid was weak, take away that problem, and allow the thyroid to heal, giving it every opportunity to make its own hormones again.

Here is what I found: The thyroid was being attacked by the immune system. As we’ve talked about in previous case histories, there is too much pharmaceutical intervention during the early childhood years — with 70 shots, flu shots every year, recurring rounds of antibiotics — so that the foundation of the immune system, the friendly bacteria in the gut, are killed with each round of new shots or each new antibiotic. The friendly bacteria are the foundation for the rest of the immune system — so when they die off, the immune system starts spiraling out of control, and quickly loses its intelligence, going into the attack mode, and starts attacking the body. In this case, the immune system was attacking the girls’ thyroid gland.

Another part of their hetu was that the girls were given soy formulas as babies. It is a well-known fact that the isoflavones in soy depress the thyroid gland function.

So, once we regrew their friendly bacteria and a few other parts of the gut’s normal physiology, directed gentle support to the thyroid gland to help heal it, changed their diets, and gave them our beautiful scalp oils to 1) nourish the hair follicles and 2) regrow the hair follicles, the hair started growing back almost immediately!

I took their pictures every time they came in for their 2-month check-up — and they just continued to show steady progress, until this last visit, last week, which marks our one year anniversary of working together — as you can see the hair is fully grown back now!

I am very appreciative of Vaidya Mishra’s family lineage, and Vaidya Mishra himself, for their work in the field of dermatology and hair loss in particular. Vaidya sat with me for 15 years, seeing these types of imbalances that are so prevalent in this modern day and age, and created hundreds of new formulas for everything he saw. The ancient doctors left the chapters of Ayurveda open for any new practitioner to come along and cognize what was needed for these very types of things they couldn’t foresee.

Vaidya Mishra is writing the new chapters of Ayurveda, to make it easy for us practitioners out in the field, to help our patients overcome these types of imbalances that the ancient doctors couldn’t have predicted would arise. Thank you again Vaidya, for making our work not only

easy, but highly effective.

Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum

Cinnaminson, New Jersey 856-786-3176

Filed Under: 2015, Archives, Health & Nutrition, Knowledge, Q & A Tagged With: alopecia universails, child hair loss, DIET, hair loss, hair maintenance, hair mist, hair oil, health, hormones, natural

Diet for Women’s Health

May 8, 2014 by Vaidya Mishra 1 Comment

We received more questions regarding women’s diet and general health. This week Vaidya replies to:

Sofia I.

1. I read two very important articles about pre and post period diet in your last newsletters, what should be a diet for women during the period as blood is lost.

2. Is it normal to have a period on a new moon or it is best to have it around the full moon.

Vaidya Mishra replies:

1. The diet to follow during menstruation for each woman depends on her flow:

· Heavy Flow – Women with a heavy monthly flow should eat less estrogenic foods during this period. For example: do not consume asparagus, papaya, pineapple, fennel, or any type of dairy products. Also it is advisable to stop eating sweets and sugars. If you are craving sweets, have pears, apples, grapes. Add more cooked leafy greens – kale, collard, swiss chard, etc (vitamin K helps with reduction of blood flow).

· Regular flow- Women who experience regular balanced monthly flow should incorporate some estrogenic foods into their diet during this period. But not excessively. Have some pineapple and/or papaya every your meal. Have an estrogenic vegetable at one of your daily meals (asparagus or fennel).

· Light flow- For women with light and/or delayed flow, they need to incorporate estrogenic products, fennel seeds, papaya, asparagus, pineapple in large doses to support the menstrual cycle and a fuller cleansing.

These are general guidelines. For anyone with specific concerns, please consult with a SVA expert to tailor a detailed protocol suited for your individual needs.

2. The ayurvedic shastra-s, ancient medical texts, explain that the expected time for the menstrual cycle is during the full moon. During the full moon, women have access to the flow of uninterrupted soma. However, due to stress, hectic lifestyle, imbalanced diet, and many other factors, many women will tend to have their cycle erratically, not with or around the full moon. Most have their cycle during the new moon. This is an indication that there are imbalances that need to be addressed. It is a sign to pay more attention to restoring the natural cycles of her body, and to support it, so that she can get back on track and have her flow with the full moon.

Filed Under: Knowledge Tagged With: cycle, diet for women, flow, health, menstrual, menstrual cycle, period, women's

Is it ok to cook Avocados?

The Benefits of Iron for Health through SV Ayurveda

Alopecia Universalis

Diet for Women’s Health

About SVA

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