Approximately two-thirds of India’s population depends upon farming for their livelihoods.  In Ayurveda, many of the herbs that are recommended grow only in India, so many of the supplements we take come from plants that are farmed there.  Organic farming is the practice of growing crops without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.  Instead, organic farming uses crop rotation, organic fertilizers, and plant based pesticides and herbicides to maintain productivity.  While this is beneficial for obvious health reasons, it is also of great benefit for the environment.  Farming organically is one way we can reduce the negative effects of global warming.  It also helps to keep harmful chemicals out of our eco-system.  In India, there are farms that have gone totally organic.  Organic India is one company that supports this practice by working with thousands of family farmers who cultivate organic farmland.  They are also going beyond organic, and using biodynamic agriculture, a holistic program that helps to actually restore the balance and health of the eco-system.  We can encourage this industry and contribute to a better world by buying products that have been grown organically, and we reap the health benefits as well!  Organic farming is a win for everyone, as it also helps to support the farmers by bringing a living wage and vital training to thousands of Indian people.

In the northern hemisphere, we’re well into Pitta season.  The sun is hot and the days are long.  The sun gives us energy for our mind and body, and as a source of Vitamin it has some benefits for our skin.  The trick is to protect our skin, without over-protecting it.  Ayurveda has some tips for us.

-Avoid exposure to the sun when angry, hungry or upset.  These factors increase Pitta, which makes the skin more susceptible to sun damage.

-Protect yourself with sunscreen, and also with clothing, hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses during times when you are most sensitive.

-Avoid the mid-day sun.  Early morning sun is more gentle to the skin.

-Cool yourself from the inside by eating cool foods, salads, fresh sweet pears, and raisins.  Avoid hot foods, like peppers and chilies.

-Cool down skin with a mask made of watermelon puree.  Avoid the eye area, and rinse off with lukewarm water after about 15 minutes.

-Rosewater is wonderfully soothing to the skin.  Dab some on with a cotton ball after exposure to the sun.  The healing properties of rose are especially Pitta balancing: cooling, moisturizing, and soothing.

Gotu Kola (also known as “Brahmi”) is a perennial plant native to India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.  The leaves and stems of the plant have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes.  It has been called of one of the “miracle elixirs of life” because there is a legend tells of an ancient Chinese herbalist who claimed that he lived for more than 200 years as a result of taking Gotu Kola.  Gotu Kola has been used to treat arthritis, hepatitis, fever, and asthma, but it is best know as a kind of tonic for overall brain health and nervous system support.  It helps to improve memory, and enhance physical, mental, and emotional clarity.  Because of these properties, it has also been used to increase focus and concentration for people with Attention Deficit Disorders. 

Hatha Yoga combines the Sanskrit words ha, meaning sun, and tha, meaning moon.  Together hatha means “force.”The word yoga means union.  So Hatha Yoga is the yoga of force.  It is the practicing of balancing opposing energies of the body: sun and moon, male and female, shiva and shakti, left and right, hot and cold.  Hatha yoga says that we unify these energies with physical postures, or asanas, breathing, or pranayama, and meditation.  The idea is to still the mind and create balance, to purify and activate the energy centers of the body.

“Guna”is a Sanskrit word that represents the three qualities of nature, or types of energy.  The three qualities are:

Rajas: Comes from the root verb raj, which means “to glow.” It is a state of motion, vibrant, active, where the mind is overactive.

Tamas: Comes from the root verb tam, which means “to perish.”   It is a state of dullness, inertia, dormancy, where the mind is underactive.

Sattva: Comes from the root sat, meaning “being.” This is a state of beingness, where there is nothing to do, no desire, just light and bliss.  Sattva is a balance of rajas and tamas that is purity, harmony and lightness.

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system.  Most men are unaware of their prostate until middle age, when prostate health becomes an issue.  But even though the prostate seems to be an older man’s health problem, the imbalances start much earlier in life.  However, simple lifestyle changes can restore balance and most of these issues can be avoided.  Here are some tips:

-Drinks plenty of water throughout the day to prevent the urine from becoming too concentrated.  If you have a prostate problem, avoid fluids after 7 pm as a full bladder can disturb your sleep.

-Always empty the bladder completely.

-Avoid alcohol.

-Avoid caffeine.  Both alcohol and caffeine irritate the bladder.

-It you must sit all day at work, take short stretch and walking breaks.

-In cold weather, keep the body warm.  When body temperature drops, urine is retained, which aggravates the prostate.

-Maintain regularity with fiber and cooked vegetables.

-Abhyanga, or daily self-massage is helpful.

-Get a good night’s sleep.

-Avoid extremes in food: anything too cold, too hot, too spicy, too dry, or too oily.
-Eat sweet, juicy fruits.

Ayurveda has recommendations to help alleviate PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome.  In Vatas, PMS usually shows up as anxiety, insomnia, or lower backache.  In Pitas, PMS manifests as hives, acne, irritability and migraines.  Kapha PMS results in fluid retention and bloating.  By keeping your dosha in balance with your Ayurvedic lifestyle routine, you can help relieve some of these symptoms.  In general, Ayurveda also has these suggestions:

-Avoid salt.

-Avoid saturated fats.

-Avoid caffeine.

-Avoid alcohol.

-Enjoy foods rich in Vitamin A: carrots, cantaloupe, spinach, sweet potato.

-Spend time in the sun to absorb vitamin D.

-Foods rich in vitamin C help to reduce stress broccoli, sprouts, orange juice.

-Vitamin E helps with hormone fluctuations and depression; look for it in olive oil, sunflower oil, apples and blackberries.

-Calcium helps to prevent cramps and pain.  Magnesium helps the body to absorb calcium.  Foods with these minerals include leafy greens, beans, peas, tofu, spinach, and fish.

-Practice yoga stretches, take a morning walk.

-Shatavri is an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to help tone and strengthen the body, providing relief from symptoms of PMS and menstrual and menopausal imbalances.

The story of the prince who awakened to become the Buddha is one of the most dramatic and compelling stories of all time.  My mentor, Deepak Chopra, has a new book out today that beautifully lets us experience just what the life of the Buddha was like as he embarked on his spiritual journey.  We can really feel the natural internal conflict that he goes through as he seeks both wisdom and transformation.  Deepak is a gifted writer.  I’m sure you have read many of his non-fiction work; I have a whole “Deepak” bookshelf at my house! “Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment” is a novel, and an inspiring read.  As an added kind of “bonus” to all of us on the path who crave nonfiction, Deepak has included a guide with commentary and teachings on core Buddhist principles.  This book is destined to be a classic.  And I could totally see it being turned into a movie.  Two thumbs up from me!

Ayurvedic Massage typically uses warm sesame oil, or a blend of oils and herbs specifically to balance your particular dosha.  A foot massage can be a self-massage, or you can indulge your partner.  The Ayurvedic massage technique doesn’t involve deep muscle massage, the goal is to stimulate the subtle energies of the marma points and nadis (similar to acupressure points) in the body.  Start with the right foot, then repeat the same steps on the left.

-Start with the point located in the middle of the arch of the foot.  Massage this area with your thumb, it is good for the heart.

-Using the thumb, massage the point located in the middle of the underside of the big toe. This area regulates hormonal activity.

-Starting with the big toe, massage the underside of the base of each toe.  Then massage each toe all around by gently pulling upward from the base to the top.  Each toe corresponds to a major organ: brain, lungs, intestines, kidney, heart.

-Now work on the top of the foot.  Using both thumbs, massage the groove between the base of the big toe and the second toe.  Massage up toward the ankle until you feel the bone.

-Now hold the foot with both hands and massage upward from the toes to the ankle.

According to Ayurveda, swedana, or sweating, helps us to detoxify the body by liquefying ama, or accumulated toxins.  It also helps with the elimination of wastes by activating the sweat glands.  Sweating also stimulates the digestive fire, and relieves coldness, stiffness, and heaviness due to bloating.  Ayurvedic sweat baths can be done using wet heat, such as a steam shower or bath; dry heat, such as saunas or hot stones; or self-generated heat, such as exercise or body wraps.  Try to do the swedana treatment at home once a week to see the most benefits.  If you have a Pitta imbalance, avoid swedana until you get back in balance.  Always finish off swedana with cleansing and moisturizing the skin.