What’s your Dosha?

When I started my Natural Health ‘journey,’ I made it a point to explore the field in all its practical and cultural contexts.  Natural wellness is apparently a globally-coveted state of being… almost every country practices some variation of alternative medicine.

I find myself a pretty flexible naturalist. I’m not loyal to one particular practice, but I’m drawn to some interesting concepts from each. Ayurveda, for example, is the form of natural health traditionally practiced in India.  They have a strong belief in the natural elements that make up human physiology: space, air, fire, water, earth . According to Ayurveda, every person is composed of  some combination of these elements within three energy fields in our bodies. These energies are called doshas and are characterized as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

The Vata dosha is made up of space and air, the Pitta of fire and water, and the Kapha of water and earth. While equality among the three doshas is possible, a person typically has one predominant dosha. The proportions of your doshas create your unique ayurvedic identity, or prakriti. Your prakriti allegedly accounts for your physical, mental, and behavioral characteristics.

• People who have a dominant Vata dosha tend to be thin with dry skin and hair. They are light sleepers. They embrace change or simply gravitate towards it. They tend to favor warm environments.  
• Those who have a dominant Pitta dosha typically have a medium frame with warm skin and thin hair. They are ambitious and self-confident, and these intensity shows in their demeanor. They favor cool environments.
• Those with a dominant Kapha dosha are more robust with smooth skin and thick, wavy hair. They are stable, calm, and generally loyal. They are very heavy sleepers.

Regardless of your dosha proportions, you need to maintain their natural balance to achieve wellness. This balance can generally be achieved through a proper diet. Some Ayurvedic doctors say that each dosha is more predominant at a different time of day: Vata in the morning, Pitta in the afternoon, and Pitta at night. To allow your metabolism to flow with these natural energies, it is suggested to eat your heaviest meal during lunch, when fire (your most energetic dosha) has the most influence.

For more on how to balance your doshas, take these diagnostic tests to determine where your discrepancies are and what you can do to correct them.

Many Names, One Remedy

Silybum. Marium. Mary Thistle. Carduus marianus. No matter what you call it, Milk Thistle might be the next big thing on the Natural Wellness scene. This medicinal plant has been long considered a natural cure for various intestinal ailments, particularly those that involve the liver. Ancient Eurpeans swore by the stuff… and they didn’t even have it available in convenient capsule form!

Here’s how it works: The plant contains a bioflavonoid complex known as silymarin that has the alleged ability to block toxins from entering your liver. This includes alcohol and processed food. Milk Thistle may also remove harmful toxins that have already been stored away in your liver cells, and will then rebuild these damaged cells by speeding up the protein synthesis process.

The plant also has great heart benefits, as with any other powerful antioxidant.

 Milk Thistle has been suggested for people who are undergoing chemotherapy, have chronic hepatitis, experience senstivities to environmental pollutants, consume alcohol in moderate to large quanitites, or want to counter the negative effects of prescription medication. The medical disadvantages of Milk Thistle are few, except for those with plant allergies. Still, it is always suggested that you consult a doctor before taking ANY supplement, even if it is herbal.

ONE PRECAUTION: Not all Milk Thistle supplements are created equal! It is important to look for a product that is certified natural and in its purified form. This will ensure that the supplement has not been contaminated with outside toxins.

Try WholeHealth Milk Thistle, which uses 100% Vegetarian capsules with no artificial or animal ingredients.

Turning off in the Bedroom

For better or for worse, television has become a cultural staple…our go-to device for information, entertainment and cathartic release. While I don’t consider myself a huge TV-buff, I enjoy it for the company and an occasional dose of HGTV. In most situations, it dissolves into a source of background noise to break up the monotony of everyday routines. For many, including myself, this includes sleep.

It occurred to me just recently that television probably isn’t conducive to a goodnight’s sleep. It seems like an obvious assumption, but it becomes a serious problem when applied to Natural Wellness. By interrupting the REM cycles and cutting into snooze time, television could be a huge factor in the disturbance of one’s natural inner balance. Rest is, after all, one of the six essential elements required for the body to function properly.

I did a little web surfing to see if there was any conclusive research on this theory. Yahtzee. in 2006, Finnish scholars published a study in the Journal of Sleep Research that revealed a pretty significant correlation between television and sleep deprivation.

The study focused on child subjects and drew a link between television content and distrupted sleeping patterns: when kids were exposed to mature subjects, even on the nightly news, their stress will subconsciously increase and make it harder for them to get to sleep at night.

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that adults are also affected by television viewing because the nature of the medium is so engaging, appealing to one’s emotional, visual, and auditory senses. Once the senses are stimulated, it’s like waiting for a boiling pot to cool…and even after you fall asleep, your subconscious is still affected by the residual sound and light.

Besides turning off the tube, there are a few things you can do to ensure some quality Z’s.

1. Respect the Bed- If you spend a lot of time in your bed doing things other than sleeping, you could weaken your mind’s natural connection between the location and the act. When you get into bed, your body should think “It’s time to go to sleep,” not “It’s time to do work,” etc.

2. Avoid the Pre-Bed No-Nos- Right before you hit the sack, there are a few things that you should stay away from: Alcohol, Caffeine, Spicy/Sugary foods, and Exercise. All of these will get your blood pumping, making it harder for your body to relax.

3. Practice Relaxation Techniques- Controlled breathing and light meditation before bed can help you shed stress and release body tension that would have otherwise kept you awake.

4. Have a Snack- I’m usually against eating before bed, but a snack that contains tryptophan will help you doze. There are a lot of contradictory reports about this amino acid, which is found in most protein-based foods, but it has been proven in some cases to promote sleepiness. A small helping of milk, yogurt, or banana will do the trick without filling you up.

Spring Healing

One of the Naturopathic principles addresses the Healing Power of Nature. This is true year-round, but I feel that Nature’s healing capabilities are strongest in Spring. We have just spent months cooped inside against the cold weather. We have little choice but to seek refuge in manmade shelters that are choked up with unfiltered germs and artificially-generated heat. The sunlight has been dull at best, but more often cast over by snow clouds. The winter tends to take its toll on us physically and emotionally, throwing off our natural balance. Our bodies suffer from the lack of exposure to nature and it’s healing powers.

But Spring marks a turn in the downward trend. Everything is reborn. The weather is warmer, the sun is brighter, the air (which we can now breath in abundance) is fresher. This Say goodbye to head colds and seasonal depression…is the time for physical and spritual healing.

This is also the time to make significant changes to your natural lifestyle. Now that the earth is in bloom, your diet and activities can change to correspond to the new season. Start taking outdoor walks. Plant an herb garden. Spring clean those areas in your life (both physical and mental) that have been collecting bad energy.

A new beginning could be exactly what you need…

Toxic Foods

There are certain foods that will always carry a stigma. You know you shouldn’t touch them, but their off-limit status makes them that much more desirable. Don’t deprive yourself only to have a binge breakdown later. Everything in moderation.

That said, there are a few products that should be approached with caution.

According to many Naturopathic doctors, there are three food groups that are classified as toxic. They make it hard for your body to flush out metabolic by-products and can lead to a build-up of toxic nutrients in your body.

1. Alcohol- No surprise here. We hate to love it. A couple glasses of wine or cold beers can seem like an innocent vice, but too much alcohol can cause more than just a morning lag. It will throw off your body’s natural balance and interfere with it’s ability to function effectively.

2. Sugar- The sugar discussion always comes back to the infamous carb argument, but it has more serious effects than weight gain. White processed sugar depletes body of nutrients such as magnesium and zinc, slows metabolism and the immune system, increases appetite, and interferes with the transportation of Vitamin C through the body. It also converts to saturated fat, which leads to heart disease. If you need to sweeten food, opt for natural sweeteners like honey or molasses. DON’T opt for artificial sugar subsititutes. This is a whole other issue…

3. Dairy- Some claim that this is a necessary food group, and there is some truth to that, but dairy products are not always kind on the body. Dairy usually takes a very processed form (ie. cheese singles, chocolate milk, sweetened yogurt). What dairy can offer you in terms of nutrients is often overcome by preservatives and other no-no ingredients. If you must get your dairy fix, try for organic products.

Just Breath: Self-Healing Meditation

It’s hard to find inner peace amidst external chaos. Particularly in the current economy, there are a lot of tense energies circling around. I have found that one of the best methods for diffusing stress and regaining your center is just by breathing…

Breathing meditation is a traditional Buddhist practice that requires maximum concentration but minimal time and supplies. This is perfect for all of us who seek composure in the middle of a busy work day.

For breathing meditation to be effective, you need to remove yourself from distraction– find an empty room or secluded park bench– and allow yourself to momentarily let go of your stressors. Controlled breathing has therapeutic benefits, such as a reduction in heart rate and oxygen intake and an increase in focus and mental clarity.

It’s beneficial to read some instruction on breathing meditation before attempting it. There are also many videos that will verbally instruct you through the breathing process, accompanied by soothing music. Give it a try… you have nothing to lose but stress!

Beware of Health Food Imposters!!!

When shopping for produce, not all fruits and veggies are created equal. Stick to Organic Certified to weed out products that have been treated with hormones and pesticides. Here’s a clever little video that shows you the triumphs and tribulations of organic foods…

Riot against the Diet…

Natural Health is primarily centered on nutrition. What we put into our bodies influences so many components of our lives: our health, our state of mind, our sex drive. As a culture, we underestimate all the effects that food can have on us… besides just determining weight. In fact, I think we as a culture are entirely too preoccupied with this idea of weight, of weight loss, of DIETING. This word has adopted some irritating connotations. A “diet” is defined as something a person consumes, but we have altered it to mean what a person DOESN’T consume..what’s forbidden by the laws of Hollywood. Of course, there certain health conditions that require food control, but we have taken it to a level that defies logical reasoning. Most ‘fad diets’ are aimed at unhealthy eating habits aimed at temporary weight loss. Health is not even a factor. Does cutting out carbs only to consume large quantities of artery-clogging meat and meat products really sound like a good idea?

The best ‘diet’ is to eat natural…fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fresh dairy… don’t cut out anything but the processed and sugar-coated stuff. You will feel fuller, healthier, more satisfied…without depriving yourself of a full meal. By sticking to natural foods, you will automatically deduct the ‘bad calories’ that can be found in sugary and high-sodium products.

The key to any nutritional shift is creativity. No one expects you to munch on barley and granola all day. The objective here is to appreciate the diversity and possibilities of natural foods. Experiment with new recipes and organic ingredients; the fresher the food, the better it will taste. This is one of my favorite recipes from The Organic Authority. It will appeal to almost any palette and incorporates some great fresh spices and natural fats (Olive Oil is one of my personal kitchen staples). If you need to cut down for cholesterol reasons, replace the meat with lean turkey or chicken and form smaller patties.

BLUE CHEESE CABERNET ORGANIC HAMBURGERS
By Laura Klein

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 750-ml bottle organic Cabernet Sauvignon
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
2 pounds ground organic beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Olive oil
Blue cheese – enough for four slices, one per hamburger
4 organic hamburger buns
8 large vine ripened tomato slices
2 cups arugula

Method:
Boil wine, shallots, rosemary and thyme in a medium saucepan until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter and brown sugar; whisk until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Mix beef, salt, and pepper, and 1/4 cup wine, shallot, rosemary mixture in bowl. Form meat into four 5-inch rounds. Brush grill rack with oil. Grill burgers until brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn burgers and brush with wine, shallot, rosemary, thyme mixture. Continue grilling burgers until cooked to desired doneness, brushing occasionally with wine mixture, about 4 minutes longer for medium-rare. Place slice of blue cheese on burger after last turn and grill until cheese melts.
Grill buns, cut side down, until golden, about 2 minutes. Arrange bread grilled side up on plates. Top bottom halves of buns with burgers, then tomatoes and arugula. Cover with top halves of buns.

Out with the Old, in with the Natural

If you’re trying to start fresh, like me, your first step should be detox. Over the years, we’ve accumulated what Hippocrates referred to as sludge, or a build-up of nutrients caused by its sluggish progression in the cells. This sludge can occur in your tissue and blood and in various bodily processors, like the lympathic system. This build-up causes bodily functions to lag, which can lead to weight gain, pain, overall lethargy, and even cancer (according to some Natural scientific theories).

To some extent, sludge is inevitable, even for the healthiest individuals. This means that cleansing and detoxification are essential to allow the body to perform most efficiently.
There are a few ways that I know of to rid the body of bad nutrients.

Antioxidant + Colon Cleansing- I am currently on a regimen of Acai Extract and a natural colon cleansing supplement. Acai is a “superantioxidant” that originates in the Amazonian rainforest. It hosts some powerful polyphenols and anthocyanins that will rid the body of free radicals. It is important that these toxins have someplace to go, so I have paired my twice-a-day dose of Acai with a natural intestinal cleaner that uses a powerblend of seeds, roots, and other natural constituents to give the body a gentle flush. It’s not as gross as it sounds; the product is essentially just a big boost of fiber that you take in with a glass of 100% fruit juice. It won’t put you out of commission or in any embarrassing social situations. In fact, the change will be subtle, but incredibly effective.

Apple Cider Vinegar- ACV has been hailed by many health buffs as the tonic of the Gods…. Okay, not quite so dramatic, but it does have some proven and some suggested benefits. Hippocrates himself identified Apple Cider Vinegar as an excellent antioxidant and cure for various ailments. Its curing power can be attributed to its cleansing beta-carotene and a host of vitamins. Because the vinegar is sold organic and unfiltered, all of these nutrients have been preserved. You can take it in a water mixture or use it in marinades or dressings.

Water- This is the be-all end-all of system flushers. Your body needs it. It can’t work without it. So why deprive it? Pour yourself a icy glass of tap water and let it work it’s magic. Check out my Journey Pack for more on how to make sure your H20 is A-Ok.

The Artemis Method

Tips on establishing natural order in a manufactured world, based on the principles of Naturopathy and personal experience.