:: January/February 2006 Volume 5/Number 1

Ayurveda Q & A

By Dr. Jay Apte

Ayurveda has been practiced in the U.S. only about 25 years, yet it is the 5000 year old Indian system of medicine and yoga's sister science. Readers are invited to submit questions for "Ayurveda Q & A" to ayurveda@layogamagazine.com

Q: What is your opinion on magnetic mattress pads and other magnet use for health?  Are these favored by Ayurveda? Thank you for your insight, I really enjoy your column!

Dr. Apte: We have electromagnetic fields around us. In a disease state this field gets disrupted. Magnetic mattresses or other magnetic products try to restore these forces. But you have to wear the magnetic belts or other gadgets which could be troublesome.
Ayurveda emphasizes healing from within, by maintaining the balance of doshas. When you achieve this through daily routine, seasonal routine etc. the magnetic field gets restored and you experience health 24/7 without using magnets.
So, it is your choice. One thing is for sure, the magnets will not cause any harm.

Q: Do Ayurvedic doctors use gem therapy?  If so, how would I expect it to be used in a treatment or maintenance program?

Dr. Apte: Astrology is a related science to Ayurveda. We are the part of the whole universe and the planets around the earth such as Mars, Jupiter, Venus etc. have an effect on us. Astrologers create and read birth charts and explain the effects of those planets on our health or ill health. Astrologers use different gems to strengthen the effect of certain planets. Ayurvedic doctors who also are astrologers, may use gem therapy in their healing practice (I don’t). Keep in mind that using gems without complete knowledge about astrology may be harmful, as using wrong gems may cause adverse effects.

Q: I never seem to escape a winter cold and they hang on for about six weeks, often turning into an ugly cough with congestion.  I am a kapha vata type. What can I do to avoid it this year or at least get rid of it sooner?

Dr. Apte: Nature and our life is constantly changing. There are cycles of kapha, pitta and vata predominance daily and year around. Kapha starts accumulating in late winter and starts showing its signs such as runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and sniffling and congestion in spring. You mentioned that you are kapha/vata person. You may be eating all vata balancing foods in late winter, which is causing you kapha problems. The best way to prevent congestion in the Spring is to start following kapha balancing diet and life style in the beginning of December.
Stop drinking cold water and foods, avoid cheeses, ice creams, sweet foods and salty junk foods. Emphasize adding more spices in the food such as ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, chilies, etc. Food should be grilled, broiled or baked to make it light, dry, and warm (to balance kapha qualities).
Start drinking ginger tea in the morning.

Here is the recipe:
1 glass warm water
1/8 tsp fresh grated ginger root
1/4 - 1/2 lime (juice)
1 Tbsp honey
Mix all the ingredients. You will love this tea.

Q: What is mucous?  And, what is the difference between mucous and ama?

Dr. Apte: Among the three doshas – kapha is heavy, liquid, moist and sticky. Mucous also is sticky, moist and heavy. So mucous is excess kapha in the body caused by kapha aggravating foods.
Ama is a result of weak agni. If the food is not digested well, by digestive enzymes (pachake pitta), ama is produced. All three doshas if not in balance, may produce ama. So, excess mucous is ama, but ama is not only mucous but excess blood sugar, high cholesterol is also ama.

Ama blocks subtle nadis (channels) in the body. Doshas also get blocked causing many diseases. Signs of ama are white coated tongue, lethargy, heaviness, lack of taste, aversion to food, swelling on the body, and others.

So our effort is to create “No Ama” state. For this, it is advisable to follow dietary rituals such as:
• Eat three meals and zip your lips in be tween
• Eat only when you are hungry (If you eat only three meals you will be hungry at meal time)
• Stop munching
• Add more spices in the food
• Avoid cold foods or drinks

Q: There are a lot of people who work night shifts, as do I, at a hospital: 11 P.M. – 7 A.M, four consecutive nights per week. I don’t know when to eat! 

Dr. Apte: It is very difficult to get into routine when you are working night shifts, but since it is part of our life, we have to go around it and try to maintain a balance and health.
Since you work four nights, what you do on the other three days is very important. Follow this routine for four days (your work days):
When you come home around 7:30 – 8:00 A.M., drink a cup of tea/herbal tea and eat a very light breakfast (depending on your body constitution - small bowl full of oat meal, a toast, etc). In an hour or so, sleep for four hours. Get up around 1:00 P.M., get ready, eat lunch and run your errands. Around 6:30 – 7:00 P.M. eat your dinner and at 8:00 P.M. or so take a nap for couple of hours. Have a cup of tea or a fruit and head to work.

Even if sleeping during the day is a “No, No” in Ayurveda, night shift-ers are an exception. Six hours of sleep during the day will compensate for eight hours of night sleep.

Follow a more vata balancing life style – abhyanga (warm sesame oil massage), meditation, yoga, a relaxing schedule instead of running around. This will help you achieve balance in your odd working hours. (I don’t know your body constitution, so I can’t recommend any food choices).

On your off days, sleep at 10:00 P.M. and get up at 6:00 A.M. Do yoga, meditation and start your day. Along with other things like errands and such, exercise for at least one hour on these three days, it is very important.

Jay Apte, BAMS, earned her degree in doctor of Ayurveda (BAMS) in India. Dr. Apte schedules consultations in Los Angeles at Dancing Shiva Yoga & Ayurveda. Reach her at
(800) 313 – 4372; www.herbalcare.com.

 

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