balance

December 6, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Ayurveda

Ayurveda Uses and Health Benefits

Known as an ancient healing system originating in India, Ayurveda is a holistic medical system that focuses on a spiritual way of life. Highly individualized, the Ayurveda treatment can incorporate a wide variety of methods such as changes in diet, exercise, herbal therapy, massage, and meditation.

History

Written between the second and fourth centuries, the first recorded book of Ayurveda is believed to be based on an older oral tradition. Focusing most of its attention on digestion, the book discusses all the principles of Ayurveda. Ayurveda tradition influenced the development of traditional Chinese medicine, which served to further the development of Ayurveda.

The Principles

Ayurveda states that the body contains three forces known as the tri-dosha. The dosha are vata, pitta, and kapha and work in unison. It is said that each person is dominated by one of these dosha. Other aspects of the body that Ayurveda considers are 5 sub-dosha, 7 tissues, 4 states of agni, and 14 body systems.

The principle of Ayurveda is that all of these body systems must be working in balance in order for the body to be healthy. It is believed that disease occurs in the body when one or more of these systems is out of balance. For example, excessive kapha is said to cause people to suffer from obesity.

The Practice

Ayurveda does not only focus on the physical health of a person but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness in order to obtain perfect health and to treat and prevent disease. The path to healing is specific to an individual, as each person’s body is unique and may respond in different ways.

Diet is one of the basic principles in Ayurveda, and is used as one of the primary methods of healing. It is believed that different foods strengthen or weaken different dosha; therefore, people are prescribed a specific diet according to their personal needs. This differs from our usual approach to food where we categorize foods as healthy or unhealthy. In Ayurveda, a specific food may be healthy for one person unhealthy for another.

Herbs are also used in Ayurveda in the same way. Herbs that balance one person’s body may create imbalance in someone else.

Scientific Evidence

We are all individuals. It makes sense that our medical treatments should be individualized, but modern medicine is grounded in protocols that treat people as a similar group rather than individual parts. Ayurveda treatment is grounded in the individual’s reality.

Since the treatments are so highly individualized it is challenging to find scientific measurements to provide proof for the theories of Ayurveda. Although Ayurveda as a whole is somewhat lacking in scientific proof, the herbal remedies have been studied in several trials and were shown to improve heath dramatically.

Uses and Benefits

Ayurveda focuses more on preventing diseases rather than curing them. Treatments are not given to the ailments, but to the body as a whole. Ayurveda is used to eliminate toxins from the body and create a natural balance to reach optimal health. Ayurveda is not a treatment for disease, but is a way of life thought to further the prevention of disease. Here are a few of the benefits of practicing Ayurveda:

Treat Respiratory problems – Studies have shown that using Ayurveda can help address respiratory issues that accompany colds and flus.
Improve circulation – Treatments such as the use of essential oils or massage help to relax your body and herbal treatments help improve blood flow as well as oxygen distribution throughout the entire body.
Skin issues – Bloodletting by use of leaches or needles has been shown to help with issues such as acne, eczema, and skin blemishes.
Relaxation benefits – Treatments such as medicated baths or massage help with the relaxation of the mind and body. Along with relieving stress, these treatments are said to help balance and heal one’s mental state.

Research is ongoing when it comes to the treatments used in Ayurveda. Even though a robust body of scientific proof is not available, those who have used the practice rely on their own experiences as the evidence of its validity.

For more information, see the resources available on the internet.

November 30, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Adrenal Fatigue

,5 Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

With the complex lives we lead today, more and more people are suffering from stress-related conditions. The negative impact of stress can affect many areas of the body. One area in particular that can be adversely affected is the adrenal glands.

The adrenal glands are located near the kidneys and produce the hormones that are needed for the body to function properly. Stress adversely affects these glands because when the body is under severe stress the glands start producing more hormones to help the body cope. This is the classic ‘fight or flight’ response. The main stress hormone produced is cortisol, which regulates metabolism.

Of course, in some circumstances a stress response is needed. But when stress is experienced over a long period of time, these glands weaken. The result is adrenal fatigue. So what are the symptoms of adrenal fatigue?

5 Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

1 Excessive, unexplained tiredness. Adrenal fatigue makes a person very tired. This is because under stress the hormone levels are elevated, making it harder to sleep. Over time, the body’s cortisol levels are affected and this leads to the body being in an almost permanent state of alertness. All of this can affect a person’s ability to fall asleep or stay asleep for the recommended 8 hours per night.

2 Cravings for salty or sugary foods. One way that adrenal fatigue affects the body is to lower the blood sugar level. When this happens, cravings for energy foods increase. Foods high in sugar are comfort foods, and stress can cause a person to increase the intake of sugar-high foods.

Adrenal fatigue can also result in cravings for salty foods. This is because the adrenal glands affect how the kidneys regulate mineral fluctuations. When we suffer from fatigue, the body releases more minerals in the urine, which can increase the desire for salty snacks.

3 Heightened energy in the evenings. An adrenal fatigue sufferer could find that she is tired all day but gets a burst of energy later in the evening. Usually cortisol reaches a peak in late morning and then reduces during the day.

4 Difficulty in handling stress. The normal body’s response to stress is to release specific hormones so that stress can be handled effectively. The three specific hormones are cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine. Knowing how these affect the body helps us understand the relationship to stress.

Cortisol. Gives the body extra energy to cope with the stress, it increases memory function and lowers sensitivity to pain. However, the body needs a rest period after cortisol has been released in a stress-related situation. If a person is suffering, from adrenal fatigue rarely gets to have the ‘rest period’, over time less and less cortisol is produced.

Adrenaline. Probably the most well-known stress response hormone. This gives us the initial burst of energy needed to respond to stress. Once again, adrenal fatigue will affect the amount of this hormone and therefore the response to stress is reduced.

Norepinephrine. This hormone helps the brain to focus on the stress. Without this active hormone, the response to stress could be described as lethargic.

5 More infections. Cortisol helps to regulate the immune system in the body and cortisol works as an anti-inflammatory. Too much cortisol over an extended period of time hinders the response of the immune system and this can result in an increased number of infections throughout the year. On the other hand, if the adrenal glands are so weakened that they produce too little cortisol, then the body’s response is to over-react to infections – resulting in certain autoimmune disorders.

Final Thoughts

If you are living in a perpetual state of stress, get on my calendar so we can explore ways to bring down your stress levels. We may find some simple steps you can take without major disruptions to your life that will allow you to bring your body back in balance and allow it to come back to its normal state of being.

November 3, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Anti-Aging

Holistic Approach to Anti-Aging

As people live longer, many of us search for a way to slow down the effects of aging. Many people use different creams and gels, or use plastic surgery to keep their youthful appearance. But there is a holistic approach that we can use to combat aging.

Holistic healing, unlike the topical creams and gels, treats the underlying cause for the problem and not just the symptoms of the problem. While we may never be able to stop the aging process, we can use holistic practices to slow down the aging effects.

Your Skin

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is easily impacted by day to day factors. You cannot have good skin if you are not eating right, getting enough sleep, or if you live your life in a state of constant stress.

Inflammation and Free Radicals

Understanding that free radicals cause inflammation in the body is very important because, according to Dr. Michael Klentze, international medical director of the Vitalife Corporation at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, inflammation is what causes us to age. Free radicals occur naturally and, if your body does not get enough antioxidants to fight them, they are free to go about the body and do their damage.

Damage caused by free radicals can be stopped by eating antioxidant-rich foods or taking supplements such as vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, zinc, and magnesium. Water is also an important factor in slowing the signs of aging. Your body is made mostly of water and if you allow it to dehydrate you will see more wrinkles. Ensuring that you get enough water will also allow your skin to retain its elasticity over time.

Proper Circulation

Using holistic healing to maintain proper circulation is important when it comes to slowing down the aging process. Your entire body relies on proper circulation, and without it you will quickly see your body start to age and “fall apart”.

How Holistic Healing Works

There are reasons one person ages faster than another, and it is those reasons that can be treated with holistic healing. You cannot separate the health of your skin, your mind, and your body. You must be treated as a whole person. The chances of you reducing the signs of aging by simply focusing on your skin are slim, but if you focus on your entire body ensuring that you are physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy you will see that you can significantly reduce the signs of aging.

Reversing the Signs of Aging

It is also possible to reverse the signs of aging with holistic healing. One way to do this is to ensure that your body is getting enough essential fatty acids. Each cell must have essential fatty acids in order to function properly, help to nourish the skin, and provide tone. You can find essential fatty acids in foods such as leafy greens, walnuts, fish oils, and flax seed oils.

Exercise

Physical activity is an important factor when it comes to reversing or slowing down the aging process. Our bodies are made to move, and physical exercise can help to raise your metabolism as well as reduce your weight. Ensuring that you are not over-stressing your body by causing it to carry around extra weight is an important part of slowing down the aging process.

Through adding exercise and supplements to your daily routine, ensuring you are getting enough water and sleep, and keeping stress levels at a minimum, you can help to reduce the signs of aging. The best way to slow down the signs of aging is to focus on your body as a whole ensuring that you are in the best health possible instead of focusing on your specific physical aging symptoms. This way you will be likely to keep your youthful appearance for years to come.

Balance

Keeping your body in its optimal state of balance will keep your stress levels low, your cells oxygen-rich, and your emotional and physical health at their peak. Knocking down the walls of resistance to exercise, healthy eating, and emotional stability are key to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Schedule your next healing session now to explore your possibilities. You may even find your own personal Fountain of Youth!