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Articles and Editorials by Dr. Jani MBBS FRCS |
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Go organic and local
I have spent the past few days visiting the regional
cultivation and collection farms and centres in
Gujarat in western India for our organic Ayurvedic
herbs.
New organic farm projects are being developed
some 20 miles from the capital, Ahmedabad.
For centuries, Gujarat enjoyed a tradition of
small-scale rural farmers growing wheat, corn,
sesame seed and cotton using natural fertilizers
made from cow and goat dung, dry hay and urinary
waste from farm animals such as cows, buffalo,
goats and horses.
These natural wastes are rich in urea and hormones
which help produce robust crops full of healthy
nutrients. They also rejuvenate the soil and prevent
the destruction of helpful bacterial flora which
produces nitrogen.
Natural pesticides are made from plant extracts
such as neem seed and bark, garlic and chrysanthemums.
Organic farming has many advantages. Firstly,
it helps restore the natural ecology and produces
higher yields of crops rich in nutrients. Healthy
farm ecology is made up of life both within the
soil and on its surface and affects the quality
and composition of trees and other vegetation
as well as crops. It is less expensive and more
productive for small-scale farmers in the long
run to adopt organic farming.
Recent research has shown that harmful levels
of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are found
in many foods, including herbs and herbal products,
massage oils, wheat, rice, vegetables, fruits
and various drinks. With fears that the presence
of traces of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
have the potential to cause such illnesses as
ME, heart disease, blood disorders and cancer,
farmers and consumers in many countries have reverted
to organic produce wherever they can.
But while Cuba and Indonesia have banned 57 types
of pesticides, in Britain we are still using masses
of chemicals, including pesticides, for our farms
and household plants.
It is worrying to consider how much of the spray
gets into the atmosphere and the air we breathe.
While research in India is well advanced and natural
fertilizers and pesticides have been in use for
centuries, economic and pharmaceutical pressures,
particularly in underdeveloped countries, have
seen increased use of chemicals in the past few
decades in order to produce larger quantities
of produce but with compromised quality.
We in Britain need to increase our efforts in
identifying natural plant extracts which may be
used as natural pesticides. For our own health,
we can start by using more organic vegetables
and grain. We could also grow our own organic
vegetables and herbs in our gardens or allotments.
This can be doubly beneficial, as a good way of
managing stress and a connecting with nature. |
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Happiness
is key to health
A Happy Soul Is A Healthy Body. This was the theme
for my workshops and lectures at the Good Health
Show at Birmingham NEC last weekend.
I was surprised and pleased to receive a high attendance
of around 30 people for each session, all keen to
learn yogic breathing, self-help head massage and
meditation.
It seems people are hungry to learn more about natural
ways of looking after themselves and want to take
control of their own health rather than depend on
pills. Certainly, most of the show's visitors were
trying to find natural answers to their chronic
stress, anxiety, fatigue and depression.
The many facilities available to try - beauty makeovers,
aerobics and yoga classes, gadgets to relieve back
and neck tensions and soothing aromatherapy massages
- helped to cheer up thousands of people.
It was very encouraging to see the Birmingham Primary
Care Team (PCT) taking part in the show for the
first time, providing information for visitors about
local health strategies and healthcare services.
I spoke to the PCT manager and was pleased to hear
that Birmingham PCT has an active policy and funding
to train nurses in aromatherapy, which is available
to patients in hospital.
Health authorities are beginning to realise the
potential for saving expenditure by encouraging
people to look after themselves through complementary
medicines such as yoga, yogic breathing, massage,
osteopathy and herbal and homeopathic supplements.
Prevention is better than cure. Learning about common
herbal remedies, attending group classes of yogic
breathing or yoga, taking aerobic exercise and even
attending singing and laughter clubs can have enormous
impact on our general happiness and relief of stress
- which is the key to our good health.
Charak, the father of medicine, says, in his ayurvedic
medical text, written in 600BC at the University
of Taxilla, northern India, that if we maintain
an equilibrium of our body, mind and spirit - a
healthy balance of the three driving forces of nervous
energy (Vata or air and ether element), hormonal
and metabolic energy (fire element) and growth energy
(water and earth elements) - we will maintain positive
health.
He goes on to say that if we maintain wholesome
nutrition of our body tissues, ensure a healthy
elimination of toxins and waste products and maintain
a strong immunity and inner strength, we can always
enjoy perfect health into old age and never fall
ill.
But above all, he says happiness is the key to health.
A happy soul is a healthy body so find ways of being
happy naturally and lift your spirits.
If any one wants to learn the simple but powerful
techniques of self help that I practice, I will
be running some regular courses this year |
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How
to still your mind
In this day and age, with the many pressures and
demands of society, a happy balance of our mind,
emotions and senses is difficult to maintain.
Many young people, in particular, seem to be under
enormous pressure and there are high expectations
of them in terms of their studies and work-related
issues.
Recent media coverage of eating disorders among
young women highlights the scale of the problem.
More common conditions such as anxiety, depression
and stress need to be managed on a daily basis in
order to prevent nervous breakdown or disease.
Prevention of mental and emotional disturbance is
better than cure.
As I have written before, the secret of survival
is to strengthen our atma vishwas, or self-confidence,
at a deeper level.
All counselling and cognitive therapy is aimed at
enabling the individual to change the negative way
they think and feel their way into a more positive
and joyous inner experience.
Awareness of the powerful chetna shakti, or power
of consciousness, that governs our resolve and our
willpower is the real tool for overcoming or preventing
stress, anxiety, panic, grief and distress.
Being in touch with our inner spiritual being gives
us the power to face and address the issues we think
are disturbing us.
Even when we are distressed, we should always make
an effort to love ourselves and try to overcome
bitterness with loving thoughts.
We can control our own reaction to the world around
us. Positive strength can be gained from recognising
our true being as an omnipotent spirit which cannot
be hurt or damaged.
This spirit takes physical form to experience the
world and, when it has had enough, it returns to
the almighty creator.
I have no doubt in my own mind, from my own experience,
that imbibing true spiritual knowledge and awareness
and constantly being aware of the spirit protects
you from trouble, even in adversity.
This is why I believe there should be more meditation
centres - Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, whichever
you feel comfortable with.
Stilling the physical body is easier than stilling
the mind and yogic breathing is the simplest way
to start controlling your mind because it is a physical
exercise.
Concentrating on the breath while sitting quietly
helps still the mind. Yogic breathing can help many
mental and physical illnesses by providing oxygen
and the healing power of the life force. |
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The
valuable gift of peace
Body, mind and soul. Freedom, peace and love. Satyam
(truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), brahmacharya
(self restraint).
These have been an intertwined trilogy of human
existence from time immemorial.
Great civilisations flourished on these lofty principles
for thousands of years before being beaten into
the ground by five powerful weapons of mass destruction:
Lust (Kama), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha
(attachment) and ahamkar (ego), leading to a struggle
for power.
According to the enlightened saint of recent times
Swami Chinmayananda: "Aryan India raised its
entire culture of living, thinking and feeling on
the sacred principles of truthfulness, non-violence
and self restraint which would lead to freedom,
peace and love.
The ancient wise men planned their individual, domestic,
communal, social, national and international life
upon these three fundamental duties of man unto
himself."
Jesus Christ laid the very foundations of Christianity
on the same divine principles as did the tenets
of Islam, Budhism and Taoism.
Many people visited the Mind, Body And Soul exhibition
at the race course in Brighton last weekend. It
was a healing alternative to watching a constant
barrage of human suffering on television.
Most of us are reasonably free from serious disease
of body or mind yet it is quite obvious people find
enormous healing from prayer, a relaxing Indian
head massage, spiritual healing, meditation, crystals
or incense sticks.
The positive vibration alone of an event like this
has a lifting effect on the mind and a soothing
effect on the soul.
Philosophers throughout the ages have proclaimed:
"If you conquer your mind, you conquer the
world."
I feel we have not yet mastered the art of living;
resolving the conflicts in our hearts and minds.
We have more than we need to enjoy our lives yet
we are still unhappy and want to search for peace
elsewhere.
My favourite stand at the Mind, Body And Spirit
exhibition was run by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual
University.
This organisation has helped many of my patients
with stress through its selfless service in teaching
universal meditation and positive change (meditation
classes are free. Call: 01273 279481).
Its books of wonderful and inspiring thoughts, written
by enlightened and loving ordinary people like you
and me, are a reminder that human values are not
lost after all.
Here is a quotation from the booklet The Gift Of
Peace (www.bkpublications.com):
"Values are related to each other as if they
were members of a great family. From peace and happiness
emerges joy. From this state of wholeness, love
awakens and, with it, the desire to share and give.
Two of its relatives are tolerance and respect.
All values have a shared origin which unites them
- the peace of spirituality. When you lose the peace
you begin to lose everything." |
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The
way to a healthy heart
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the largest killer
in UK, according to the latest statistics published
by the British Heart Foundation.
It accounts for around 125,000 deaths a year; approximately
one-in-four deaths in men and one-in-six deaths
in women.
CHD is also the most common cause of premature death
in the UK. The good news is, we are becoming more
aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and,
as a result, death rates for CHD have been falling
in the UK since the late Seventies.
For adults under 65 years, they have fallen by 40
per cent in the past ten years.
Last Saturday, I was invited to talk at a seminar
on heart disease and stroke awareness among Asians
in Watford, organised in collaboration with the
Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Team.
The event encouraged a holistic approach preventing
heart disease and a team of speakers gave advice,
including a conventional cardiologist, a dietician,
a yoga teacher and a holistic GP.
Three hundred people participated in this community-awareness
event, taking advantage of the helpful advice and
a range of useful literature.
Dr Henry Nouriel, the cardiologist from Barnet General
hospital, talked about the causes of heart disease
and emphasised that smoking, lack of exercise, obesity,
high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
remain the major causes of heart disease and heart
attacks.
Did you know that more than 1.5 million people in
the have angina, half a million have heart failure
and that these numbers are rising?
Dietician Mina Patel, from Welwyn Garden City Hospital,
highlighted Asian dietary habits which cause heart
disease.
Lack of exercise and a high intake of oily and sweet
foods are common among the Asian community and lead
to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart
disease.
This also applies to all communities in Brighton
and Sussex. My message to the community was that
holistic approach is vital in order to create motivation
to empower yourself to heal. is about creating better
health for yourself.
As I said in my last column: A happy soul healthy
body. Learning to live with less stress, tension
and anxiety is, I believe, key to preventing heart
disease.
The fact is, a large percentage of coronary heart
disease is preventable by adopting healthy lifestyle
and yet we are happy to create our own illness and
suffering.
Adopting a moderate, wholesome lifestyle and doing
regular exercise is all we need do.
Get into the habit of doing simple exercise at home.
Yoga, yogic breathing, meditation and brisk jogging
have all been shown to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol
and heart disease. |
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Best
advice on Ayurveda
With Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicine grabbing the
attention of doctors and herbalists in the UK, Ayurvedic
herbs are starting to appear in the shops.
But I feel I should sound a note of caution. Single
Ayurvedic herbs available in UK are only the tip
of the iceberg.
Traditional Ayurvedic medicine boasts some 8,000
Ayurvedic compound formulations, made from herbs
and minerals and scientifically processed, for the
treatment of disease as well as rejuvenation.
Just as in Western medicine, practitioners must
undergo a five-year Ayurvedic medical training period
and take a lifetime to master.
As more British experts write about Ayurveda and
as popular journalism tends to focus on only the
superficial aspects of such systems, I believe it
will become increasingly important for qualified
Ayurvedic doctors to comment on articles to avoid
Western dilution of the ancient medical system.
There is also an increasing need for authentic information
manuals on Ayurvedic herbs for the general public.
I am in the process of writing one which I hope
will help consumers choose Ayurvedic herbs and treatments
that are safe and effective.
At the moment, there are a selected few Ayurvedic
single herbs on the market in UK such as Ashwagandha
(withania somnifera, Indian winter cherry - often
wrongly called Indian ginseng), brahmi (centella
asciatica or bacopa monnieri, another species of
brahmi popularly called gotu kola in the West),
neem (azadirachta indica), guggul (gum of camiphora
mukul), boswellia (frankincense gum ), satavari
(asparagus racemosus) and curcumin (turmeric root).
Ideally, the source, purity, dosage and contamination
of the herbal product needs to be ascertained before
buying.
Unfortunately, there is much choice but little authentic
information accompanying the herbs on the shelves.
Most of the patients I see are confused about the
appropriate herbal remedy to choose from the hundreds
available.
Generally, most sales assistants are poorly trained
in herbal medicine.
If you suffer from a condition, you must obtain
proper professional advice from qualified Ayurvedic
practitioners or doctors trained in Ayurveda in
order to gain maximum benefit, just as you should
see a qualified herbalist to get proper advice on
Western herbs.
Ayurveda is a very sophisticated system of natural
medicine which requires proper training to practice.
To find out about accredited practitioners in the
UK, contact the British Ayurvedic Medical Council
on 0207 224 0908. |
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Supplements
for the brain
Our desired assets in old age are lucid brain function,
memory, alertness of mind, healthy use of muscles
and joints and a healthy heart and lungs.
Is it not worth looking after them from a young
age?
Dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are
all similar afflictions of the brain where memory
loss and gradual loss of brain function and co-ordination
devastate the life and dignity of the individual
and their carer.
Generally speaking, these illnesses are a result
of reduced circulation in various parts of the brain.
When brain cells are deprived of oxygen, nutrients
and adequate rest, various chemical reactions taking
place in the cells get disturbed, causing damage
to DNA and preventing repair. Other causes relate
to the production of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters
- protein chemicals which relay messages in the
brain.
While there is a genetic predisposition to these
illnesses, they only express themselves given the
favourable disturbance in the internal environment
of your body. For example, blocked arteries can
reduce circulation in the brain and in other parts
of the body. Smoking, an unhealthy lifestyle, poor
nutrition, injury to the skull and excessive stress
can all contribute to an early decline in brain
function.
Recent research reported in the British Medical
Journal suggests functional decline in early Parkinson's
disease may be slowed by dietary supplementation
with coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), a naturally-occurring
compound found in the mitochondria.
Patients with Parkinson's have impaired mitochondrial
function and tissue levels of coenzyme Q10 fall
with age. Dr Clifford Shults, lead author of the
study, reported that patients taking coenzyme Q10
(dose 600-1,200mg) with vitamin E for 16 months,
slowed down deterioration by 44 per cent.
In a clinical trial in India, Dr Vaidya, a neuro-physician,
and a team from Bombay found that the seeds of a
natural Ayurvedic herb, mucuna pruriens (atmagupta),
reduced tremors and rigidity and improved coordination,
concentration and memory.
It was found to be a natural source of dopamine
- an important neurotransmitter.
Researchers also found that centella asiatica (brahmi)
improves memory. Ginkgo biloba is another herb which
has been shown to improve circulation and brain
function. Taking foods rich in antioxidants Vitamin
A, E and C, zinc, magnesium, selenium and bioflavanoids
or antioxidant herbs like ginger, curcumin and Indian
gooseberry should also help prevent degeneration
of brain cells.
I recommend daily self-massage of limbs with mahanarayan
oil or eucalyptus oil before a shower or bath to
improve muscle tone and relieve rigidity. The practice
of proper meditation and yoga has been shown in
various studies around the world to reduce the rate
of ageing and to improve brain function and muscle
co-ordination.
Ayurveda also advocates tranquillity of the mind
and a control over our emotions and outbursts, as
these can drain the brain.
Dr Milind Jani works as a conventional and
holistic GP and Dr Asmita Jani as Ayurvedic Consultant
from 3 Eaton Gardens, Hove. |
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Cycling
is so good for us
The one thing that strikes you as you walk around
Amsterdam is everybody cycles, walks or takes the
tram.
Men in suits, women wearing hipsters and mums with
their little ones in the front seat. And there is
hardly a car in sight - except taxis which are all
luxurious Mercedes.
The air is clean and the canals and waterways give
the streets an extra healthy feel. All the roads
have dedicated cycle routes and the people of Amsterdam
seem to pedal away so effortlessly, I felt breathless
watching their calf muscles working away at the
pedals.
Next to Centraal Station, there is a huge multi-storey
bicycle park alongside a multi-storey office building,
presumably for the employees. Where have you seen
bicycle park in Brighton? That is something for
the council and public to think about. Could the
humble bike be the way forward for a solution to
our traffic congestion?
Bringing back the bicycle into our travel culture
could also stop so many people taking time off work
because of sore throats, allergies, chest infections
and even chronic fatigue from breathing polluted
And please bring back the ice-cream man with his
tricycle.
The commonest mode of transport into and out of
Amsterdam is trams - and they look lovely. In fact,
I saw hardly any car parks or roadside parking spaces.
Isn't it crazy that we would rather go to gym for
our cardiovascular exercise and cycle away behind
closed doors while breathing trapped air full of
carbon dioxide? When doing cardiovascular exercise,
you need pure air full of oxygen feed your muscles,
otherwise lactic acid builds up and you get cramps.
Cycling has several health benefits. Firstly, you
exercise the abdominal and the leg muscles, particularly
the thighs. So, for those people who want to shed
some unwanted fat around these areas, cycling is
ideal.
Cycling also exercises the abdominal organs, particularly
the liver which is the main factory and detox centre
of the body.
When you are cycling and breathing lungfuls of clean
air, it is helping both your liver and your heart.
If you, like me, are out of cycling practice, you
will probably stop every ten yards. don't give up.
You have to be careful about one or two hazards
of cycling. It does put a strain on your back so
it is a good idea to do some stretching exercises
for the back, legs and shoulders to release any
strain there.
We are lucky we don't have to make do with the old-style
bicycles I saw in Amsterdam. We can choose modern
mountain bikes that have so many gears they make
cycling a treat - particularly up and down Brighton's
hills. And we also have the seafront with its special
cycle routes.
Dr Milind Jani works as a conventional and
holistic GP and Dr Asmita Jani as Ayurvedic Consultant
from 3 Eaton Gardens, Hove. |
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Keep
young and beautiful
Our body is constantly producing free radicals,
supercharged chemicals formed when oxygen and nitric
oxide react with our tissue to form unwanted charged
molecules.
These free radicals cause a chain reaction with
our cells and DNA and damage our tissues.
As this damage builds up, the body's tissue starts
ageing, our hearts get weaker, our blood vessels
start clogging up and our brains start degenerating.
But our bodies are smart. They constantly produce
antioxidants to neutralise the free radicals and
protect us by repairing the tissue and our DNA.
These antioxidants are intimately involved in the
prevention of cellular damage which, eventually,
is the pathway to cancer, ageing, arthritis and
various other illnesses.
Strenuous exercise and long-standing emotional,
mental and physical stress, can produce large amounts
of free radicals in the body.
If the body cannot produce enough antioxidants,
damage starts accruing and you can develop illnesses
such as heart disease, muscle aches and pains, ME
and diabetes.
Sometimes, the body's immune system's cells creates
free radicals of its own to fight infection. However,
environmental factors such as cigarette smoke, herbicides
and pollution can weaken the killer cell system.
Junk foods, uncooked food or food which has not
been digested properly can cause other toxins such
as cholesterol and lactic acid in the body. Antioxidants
are found in wholesome foods and herbs. Perhaps
this is why the ancient Ayurvedic physicians said
we are what we eat.
Fruits and vegetables are rich in the main antioxidants
such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, beta carotene and
selenium. A word of warning: Mega doses of antioxidants
such as Vitamin C and Vitamin A can be harmful in
themselves.
Other natural materials such as bioflavanoids in
herbs and fruits also offer protection and healing
to the body tissues. The best advice is to eat five
servings of fruit and vegetables daily and do regular,
gentle exercise.
Ayurvedic medicine describes a concept of Rasayan
- meaning "rejuvenator herbs" - a selection
of herbs which have been taken by people in India
and China for thousands of years in order to live
a long, healthy life.
My favourite antioxidant and tissue-healing formula
in Ayurvedic medicine is Chyavanprash.
It is made from Indian gooseberry and 44 herbs and
spices in honey which boost the immune system and
help heal damaged tissue to prevent ageing and illness.
It is delicious and revives one's energy instantly
but is also a medicine given to patients suffering
from chronic disease, stress, fatigue and cancer.
Other antioxidants are tinospora cordifolia (guduchi),
which helps protect blood cells in cancer chemotherapy,
trifala, which detoxifies the liver and blood, and
tribulus terrestris, which helps eliminate toxins
from the kidney. |
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De-stress
in five minutes
Why does there seem to be a growing interest among
people from all walks of life in spiritual healing
and Ayurvedic herbs?
The answer is simple. We have allowed our fantasies
of modern life to drag us into a highly-demanding
workaholic and aspirational lifestyle, resulting
in stress levels that require supernatural intervention
to make us at peace with ourselves.
Crushed in the middle of all this, young people
struggle to work in an enjoyable environment where
they can see some healthy future.
Mental and emotional stress is the biggest problem
we need to tackle if we are to build a healthy nation.
The only way to prevent stress and find release
from our negative frame of mind is to interact with
those around us with a flow of love and affection.
Here is the five-minute holistic de-stress technique
that we teach at management futures (www.managementfutures.co.uk)
which you might find useful in your daily life:
Take one or two-minute breaks every half-hour to
revive your brain cells. This allows time for the
neurotransmitters in the brain to regenerate so
you can maintain interest in your work.
Pain in the neck? A brisk, firm massage of the head
and neck from time to time helps enormously to relieve
tiredness, stress and anxiety.
Neck and back release: Do some regular, simple stretching
and rotation of the neck and back. Swing your arms
and twist your waist. Get up from that chair.
The breath of life: Two to three exercises of deep
diaphragmatic breathing have the power to unwind
and enliven you in seconds. Sit upright, close your
eyes and breathe out your stress with a deep sigh.
Take a deep breath in and say: "I am breathing
in my life force". Hold your breath for a few
seconds and see your smiling, blissful self behind
your eyes. Then breath out slowly and say: "I
am breathing out my stress."
Mood in a cup: Drink energising and calming herb
teas such as ginger, mint, chamomile, lemon or other
fruit teas and plenty of water to prevent dehydration
and headaches.
Team work: Help one another by giving a shoulder
and back massage with gentle thumps. This is very
comforting and generates a good laugh which is healing.
It disperses the tension in the back muscles and
the mind.
Common sense? Then let's do it.
Remember: Women function differently from men. They
can listen to men talking while operating a computer
and answering the phone at the same time. Men haven't
got the corpus callosum for it.
Read Allan and Barbara Pease's Why Men Don't Listen
And Women Cannot Read Maps if you don't believe
me. |
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Call
in the fat-busters
My programme for losing and maintaining weight is
based on Ayurvedic Panchakarma detoxification of
the body.
This includes Ayurvedic deep-tissue massage and
herbal steam treatment followed by a herbal enema.
It also features Ayurvedic herbal formulations to
burn fat and a well-balanced diet with foods according
to your body type and tastes.
Start daily exercise at home with deep yogic breathing
and meditation, two or three simple yogic stretching
exercises, and gradually build up to more vigorous
exercise to suit individual strength.
Maintainance of a happy, loving and contented feeling
rounds off the programme.
The aim is to unclog the physical and subtle channels
of the body, allowing blood and the life-force to
flow properly throughout body and mind, supplying
vital nutrients and oxygen.
Remember, the brain, blood and endocrine system
control fat deposition and every tissue and cell
in the body communicates with each other and with
the brain through energy channels.
Cognitive therapy is essential to address any emotional
issues. Celebrating your successes, re-affirming
you are a wonderful person and rewarding yourself
for your contributions and achievements go a long
way in maintaining an even weight.
You can follow your own detox at home every week
as explained in my previous article. Start with
a gentle stretching schedule every day to release
stiffness in the back and neck.
Learn some simple abdominal, waist and thigh exercises.
Gradually increasing the intensity will help tone
the muscles without putting too much strain on you.
Follow them with a self-administered, deep-tissue
massage of your neck, back, waist and buttocks.
Then have a warm bath or shower.
Warm herbs and spices such as black pepper, sage,
ginger and garlic are definite fat-busters and should
be included in your daily diet.
Ayurvedic herbal formulations that can help you
control and lose weight include trifala guggul.
Made from a special resin from the camiphora mukul
tree found in Gujarat and Rajasthan, it has been
shown in several modern clinical trials and studies
to help control fat and glucose metabolism, lower
cholesterol and help the pain and swelling of arthritis.
Garcinia (kokam), mainly cultivated in southern
India, is the dried flower of a tree which is used
in Indian cooking and can be combined with acacia
powder and star anise extract, said to be astringent
and weight-reducing herbs.
Pure ispagula husk with a lot of water is the best
bulk-forming agent to fill up your stomach, along
with fruits and steamed vegetables garnished with
herbs and a little sesame seed oil.
Remember to eat foods with all six tastes to leave
you feeling satisfied. Starvation diets can make
the brain think there is going to be famine and
instruct the body and liver to conserve fat. |
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Make
detox a way of life
Our bodies and minds are heavily laden with toxins
due to bad diets and eating habits, negative feelings
and aggressive actions.
Non-organic methods of farming have ruined the nutritional
quality of much of our food.
Our mental toxins come from ego, greed, anger, possessiveness
and lust or desires ñ the five passions of
the mind that burn the soul.
When we go away to a retreat in a spiritual and
compassionate atmosphere and spend some quality
time living on a simple diet of steamed vegetables,
bread and rice, we experience a great feeling of
lightness and happiness.
Ayurveda prescribes panchakarma ñ a five-fold
detox of body and mind which can be performed at
home regularly to rid the body of toxins as they
accumulate.
Try this simple regime and see if you can make it
your lifeís routine.
Once a week, observe a fast with a light diet. Sunday
is a good day so you can prepare yourself for the
next weekís onslaught.
In the morning, drink fresh fruit and vegetable
juice made with sweet grapes, an apple, carrot and
broccoli floret to which youíve added diced
fresh root of turmeric and ginger, fresh green coriander
and mint leaves.
Add a dash of rock salt and black pepper to make
a refreshing drink which will purify your liver,
blood and brain cells.
Fresh turmeric or dry turmeric powder is a potent
anti-cancer vegetable due to its curcumin and bioflavanoid
content.
It also has natural antiseptic, anti-worm, anti-candida
and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric can help chronic skin diseases, liver disorders,
intestinal problems, asthma and catarrah. Because
of its anti-inflammatory effect, it can also help
people with arthritis.
This is why it is used in Indian cooking and in
Ayurvediv medicine formulations.
Fresh root turmeric is not poisonous, as some people
believe. Indian people eat it regularly in salads
or on its own.
As a light meal, Ayurveda recommends khitchri ñ
rice and split, green lentils cooked together with
a touch of rock salt, cumin seeds, turmeric and
coriander.
This is the lightest and most nutritious food with
a detoxifying action.
Khitchri is best eaten with a yoghurt drink made
by blending three tablespoons of fresh, live yoghurt
with a glass of water added to which is one teaspoon
each of dry cumin and coriander powder with a dash
of black pepper and rock salt.
This is a cooling, cleansing and easily digestible
drink.
Finish your detox with a gentle laxative herbal
mix of trifala ñ the three myrobalan fruits.
They also cleanse the liver and blood.
Both turmeric and trifala help protect the liver
from damage due to alchohol and hepatitis. |
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Massage
and migraines
Migraines are quite common and debilitating.
They can be caused by a variety of situations; where
intense concentration is required, where there is
a lot of strain on the eyes, where a lot of talking
is involved, as a result of hightension scenarios
and even sleepless nights.
Ayurveda suggests migraines are more common in vata
and pitta body types ñ the air and fire types
ñ if you are hyperactive, dynamic,
ambitious, like to work constantly under challenging
conditions and are fiery with high body heat, acidity
and acne, then beware of migraines.
I saw a typical pitta person, a 28-year-old teacher
who had acne and red skin and had suffered from
migraines for three years.
Like many others, she had been prescribed diazepam,
imigran and tramadol ñ strong, addictive
medication ñ to control this.
In my practice, I've observed that poor neck posture
and slouching causes spasm of the neck muscles.
When this goes untreated for a long time, it can
cause migraines.
I used to suffer from migraines myself, as a surgeon
working long hours with poor sleep.
So, I changed my work culture and developed a series
of self-help neck exercises.
Two or three times a day, I performed Indian head
and neck massage on myself to relieve the stress
.
Referring to the Ayurvedic medicine texts, I discovered
the description of ancient marma points on the head
and neck.
Massaging these points with firm finger pressure
and rubbing with Ayurvedic oil, trikatu ñ
made from extracts of ginger, black pepper and long
pepper, which are natural pain relieving herbs ñ
my migraines soon lessened.
Aroma oils, like sandalwood, lavender and lemon
balm are also helpful.
Avoiding foods like alcohol, cheese and chocolates
may help. Ayurvedic medicine prescribes Panchakarma
detoxification, designed to cleanse the body of
toxins and help prevent migraines.
Pouring warm, soothing oil on the forehead (Shirodhara),
and Ayurvedic herbal nasal drops (anu oil), instilled
into each nostril regularly on alternate days, can
prevent migraines.
The shavasana pose in Yoga for deep relaxation and
meditation, pranayam breathing through alternate
nostrils, a healthy diet, good digestion, avoiding
acidic foods, regular breaks from work, good regular
sleep and regular bowel motions are all important
in the holistic treatment of migraines.
If GPs could learn the marma massage and manipulation
of the neck to release the vertebrae and muscle
spasms of the neck, they may not need to prescribe
so much medication to the patient.
Please contact Wendy Miller at our British Holistic
Medical Association office on 01273 725951 to register
and support us. |
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The
cancers in society
Travelling in India is always a fascinating, eye-opening
experience.
The noisy activities of an affluent, modern society
which lives in harmony with traditional India in
a symbiosis that baffles logic, is overwhelming.
The magnificent bungalows, cars and roads with five-star
hotels are in stark contrast to the humble huts
next door.
One gets confused by attitudes of corruption, complacency
and greed on the one hand and a contagious enthusiasm,
expertise and drive for progress on the other.
While genuine friendliness, hospitality, humility
and spirituality make up the framework of social
life, one also needs to take care while shopping
in the congested market places and old shopping
malls, at railway stations and outside airports.
In an economy where there is a shortage of resources
or lack of will for the development and maintenance
of facilities for people to enjoy a stress-free
living, how can we address the cancers that plague
society?
Returning to Brighton, you switch on the television
and are bombarded with pictures of jubilant heroes
of war and the suffering of poor people.
The rest of us will try to help those poor people
over Christmas while our leaders sort out their
political and economic differences.
Within the framework of our affluent society, one
only needs to have the will to see the hidden poverty
behind the facade of clean streets and houses, numerous
cars and well-dressed people.
Take a glimpse into the lives of hundreds of people
struggling to survive in a society which demands
ever-higher standards of living, with children demanding
designer clothes while parents find it hard to make
ends meet.
What shall we do about those in our community who
live in fear and have to provide a mobile phone
for their 13-yearolds who, in turn, use them to
chat to pals because that is what the marketing
and advertising people tell them.
Magazines on healthy living don't attract the same
level of attention as those featuring flashy cars,
cosmetics, designer clothes, fast foods, liquor
and sex.
Shelves in shops and programmes on the internet
are soaked with pornography.
Yet we in the affluent West take pride in a society
which has achieved enormous material progress, is
civilised, courteous, trustworthy and can boast
a sharp, scientific intellect.
But what about the young woman who sacrifices her
marriage and holidays to please her demanding employers
for fear of losing her job?
Or the man who hardly sees his young family and
has to take Viagra because of stress?
There is no cure for physical cancer but can we
prevent it by addressing social cancers of a different
kind for a healthy future? |
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Health |
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Dr Jani writes for the Brighton Argus
and the Observer Magazine |
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Gingering
up bug busters
As many of you may have noticed, there are a lot
of bugs going around with many people suffering
from bad colds and coughs or a flu-like illness |
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Oils
soothe and heal
The use of vegetable oils, herbalised oils and essential
oils has been a rich Indian tradition for centuries.
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The power of
the group
It is good to come together in groups and talk. |
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Herbal
help for the heart
A Recent report by the British Heart Foundation
warns of the possible effects some herbs have when
taken in combination with modern medicines. |
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Finding
the energy inside
Hindus recently celebrated Diwali and the New Year,
while for Christians, Christmas is drawing near. |
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Helping
the community
Friday, October 10, was World Mental Health Day.
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Living
a long, healthy life
Here I was at last, on a well-deserved break, savouring
the beauty, peace and tranquility of the Spanish
mountainside. |
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Search
for inner peace
As you move through life, savouring its sweetness
as well as rolling with the punches, do you ever
wonder what is the purpose of life itself? |
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Warning
on fizzy drinks
A recent clinical study looked at the damaging effect
of fizzy drinks on the bones of teenage girls. |
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The
herbal alternatives
Herbal Medicine Awareness Week, organised by The
National Institute of Medical Herbalists, runs until
September 13. |
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Adjusting
to the weather
The environment and atmosphere certainly has an
effect on how we feel and how our bodies function.
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Soothe
those aching legs
Many men, women and children suffer from aching
leg syndrome, which can disturb sleep and make you
feel tired and weak. |
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Re-balancing
remedies
Continuing with last week's theme of HRT (hormone
replacement therapy), shall mention some more natural
ways of dealing with the symptoms of menopause.
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Dealing
with the change
Menopause can be a distressing time for some women
while others sail through it. |
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How
to heal yourself
Why are we miserable? The key factor we all have
as human beings is love for others. |
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Healing
with autogenics
One of the ways in which we can take control of
our health in mind, body and spirit is to learn
self-help techniques which we can practise easily
and which are proven to work. |
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Recovering
from ME
Last week, I met up with the ME Society to talk
about the holistic management of ME - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). |
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Getting
kids into sports
Last weekend, I participated in the Sports Show
2003 at Earl's Court, London (www.liquidexhibitions.co.uk),
a new event encouraging children to take up different
sports. |
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Exercise
the holistic way
Football, tennis and cricket tournaments are in
full swing again and many people are motivated by
these to play sports for their own health and enjoyment.
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Saints'
guide to happiness
The teenage years require direction and support
from caring adults. |
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How
to still your mind
In this day and age, with the many pressures and
demands of society, a happy balance of our mind,
emotions and senses is difficult to maintain. |
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The
problem with alcohol
Recent reports in the media reveal that some four
million people suffer from alcohol dependence and
4,000 people die of alcohol-related deaths in the
UK every year. |
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The
power of herbs
Continuing the theme from last week, let us look
at some more rejuvenating herbs everyone can use
regularly. |
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Using
herbs for health
In the Vedic Hindu civilisation, which flourished
on the banks of the Indus valley 5,000 years ago,
the scholars and the people detoxed and rejuvenated
the whole being. |
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Detoxing
needs care
Living under the constant mental, physical and emotional
pressures of life today coupled with pollution is
causing disease in more people at an earlier age.
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Behavioural
problems
This week we are continuing with the theme of personality
types and patterns of behaviour. |
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Patterns
of behaviour
Many of you may have heard a recent item on the
radio which reported that some men get so upset
if their football team loses a game, they suffer
a heart attack. |
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The
benefits of Pranayam
Why is correct breathing and posture so important?
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New
virus is here to stay
With the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome,
the Government has warned against travel to Toronto,
Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangdong and Shanxi. |
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Spring
fever is in the air
Spring is in the air, the sun is shining and the
pollen from grass and flowers of trees are being
wafted on the breeze. |
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The
valuable gift of peace
Body, mind and soul. Freedom, peace and love. Satyam
(truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), brahmacharya
(self restraint). |
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Revival
of the spirit
Conflict causes insecurity, damping down the spirit
which allows us to feel joyous. |
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A
message of love to all
On my 50th birthday, I want to send a message of
love and compassion and prayers and condolences
to those suffering the effects of war. |
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Obesity
and the mind
Since 1980, the number of obese adults and children
has doubled in UK. |
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Reducing
cholesterol
Last week, I promised I would tell you how to lower
your cholesterol naturally. |
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The
threat of a heart attack
The focus of the medical and pharmaceutical industry
is currently levelled at high cholesterol levels
in the blood as one of the main causes of coronary
heart disease. |
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The
way to a healthy heart
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the largest killer
in UK, according to the latest statistics published
by the British Heart Foundation. |
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Happiness
is key to health
A Happy Soul Is A Healthy Body. This was the theme
for my workshops and lectures at the Good Health
Show at Birmingham NEC last weekend. |
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Best
advice on Ayurveda
With Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicine grabbing the
attention of doctors and herbalists in the UK, Ayurvedic
herbs are starting to appear in the shops. |
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Remedies
to beat the cold
The sudden change in the weather - with snow, ice
and cold winds - looks lovely from indoors when
the sun shines on the snow. |
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Fully-trained
in ayurveda
Shirodhara is an ayurvedic treatment which has become
fashionable among therapists in the UK and the West.
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Tasty
foods for detoxing
Since the detox season is in full swing and so much
is being said about the subject, I thought it would
be the right time to put things into perspective.
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Advice
from the experts
After the cold, depressing winter months, one way
to boost your mood and stimulate your energy is
to attend the Good Health Show at Birmingham NEC
next month. |
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Detox
for a lighter liver
After the Christmas season's indulgence, with all
that alcohol and chocolate, many of us may be feeling
quite heavy in the liver. |
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Having
faith in the future
Christmas is a time for festivities but also a time
to rest and reflect. |
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Healing
spirit of Christmas
Christmas is a time to rejoice and let the festive
mood heal you. |
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Easing
the menopause
Concerns over an increased risk of cancer when taking
hormone replacement therapy have worried many women.
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Treatments
for asthma
Asthma is a condition in which the tubes carrying
air in and out of the lungs go into spasm and cause
distress and great difficulty with breathing. |
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Sensible
weight loss
Products that claim to bring about rapid weight
loss within days have hit the headlines again. |
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Keep
smiling, stay healthy
"Body,
mind and spirit is the tripod of life," says
Charak in his ancient Ayurvedic medicine text. |
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Supplements
for the brain
Our desired assets in old age are lucid brain function,
memory, alertness of mind, healthy use of muscles
and joints and a healthy heart and lungs. |
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Living
to a fine old age
Governments around the world are worried about the
problems of looking after our ageing population. |
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Preventing
early ageing
What is the link between your actual age and the
inner ageing process? For example, why do some of
us look young and others old for their years? |
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How
to stay feeling young
Recent trends suggest that even people as young
as 20 are worried about ageing and, therefore, the
use of anti-ageing creams and beauty treatments
is on the increase. |
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The
brighter side of life
Antidepressants are gaining bad press at the moment
because of the undesirable side effects they cause.
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How
to keep colds at bay
An influenza epidemic is predicted for the UK this
winter. |
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The
burdens of anxiety
The upward trend in stress-related conditions such
as depression, anxiety, worry and nervous breakdown
among our young and middle-aged population is very
worrying. |
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Cycling
is so good for us
The one thing that strikes you as you walk around
Amsterdam is everybody cycles, walks or takes the
tram. |
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Eating
your way to health
We are what we eat. In recent years, I have seen
a growing trend in patient awareness regarding diet.
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Holy
herb in the garden
Tulsi, or holy basil (ocimum sanctum), is considered
to be a spiritual herb bestowed with great healing
powers. |
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Addressing
cancer fears
The incidence of cancer continues to rise, in spite
of our highly sophisticated health-care system. |
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Spices
for a healthy diet
Spices have been used in traditional Indian cooking
from ancient times, both to stimulate the senses
and for their medicinal value. |
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Keep
young and beautiful
Our body is constantly producing free radicals,
supercharged chemicals formed when oxygen and nitric
oxide react with our tissue to form unwanted charged
molecules. |
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It's
time to think again
Who doesn't want to live a long, happy and healthy
life? There is so much to enjoy and experience on
this physical plane of life on earth. |
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Listening
to your instinct
Did you hear on the television how working for more
than 40 hours a week can cause heart a | |
