Top 3 Alternative Secrets to Adopt

 Alternative Medicine, Fitness  Comments Off on Top 3 Alternative Secrets to Adopt
Mar 222010
 

The top 3 alternative secrets to adopt as per the top 3 pioneers of alternative medicine are:

  1. A Cleanse – once or twice a year.  Give your body a chance to detox f0r 21 days to reboot.  Give up: sugar, alcohol, caffeine, gluten, and animal products.  There is plenty left, such as beans, legumes, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit.
  2. Omega 3 Fatty Acids – important for cardiovascular disease, joint health, and infant brain development.
  3. Meditation – A simple process:  have your feet on the ground, hands open on your lap, close your eyes, watch your breath, be aware of your body, don’t have expectations or worry about noises or thoughts, surrender to the moment.

Source:  Dr.Oz

Meditation Techniques

 Alternative Medicine, How to find balance, Meditation, Self-Care  Comments Off on Meditation Techniques
Dec 012009
 

Many of us know  the effectiveness of meditation for many aspects of our lives.  Some benefits include more energy, a calmer mind. What some may not know is that meditation increases levels of melatonin.  This hormone helps our immune system and also promotes restful sleep, slows aging and cell damage, and even inhibits cancer cells.

Managing our lives to make time for meditation requires organization and planning.  I know that I have had a challenging time fitting it into my current life with a newly-crawling, nine-month-old infant who likes to be up by 5am to be nursed.  My day starts early and there is not a break to be able to quietly meditate by myself.  My husband and I have talked about trying to squeeze in some meditation together in the evening, which has not transpired yet. Once the kids are put down to sleep by around 8:30, we are left with about an hour before we are ready for bed (the next day will start by 5am!).  I will need to consider maybe trying to get a few minutes in when my baby naps, along with my shower, food, and everything else. What I want to get in during this limited golden 1-2 hours a day is increasingly ambitious. So much so, I forget to do things like have lunch, which I remembered today at 3pm.

Regardless, I commend all of you who can manage any time for meditation.  It is best in the morning, as close to your waking up time as possible and before going to bed.   A few minutes any time during the day is better than none.  There are many types of meditation, including the following two types.

6-7.09, CA 042a

Mindful Meditation

  • Find a quiet place to sit, either on the floor or chair, keeping your head, neck, and back straight, yet not stiff.  Try to keep your mind in the present.
  • Become increasingly conscious of your breathing, feeling your belly rise and fall and noticing each breath change.
  • Notice your thoughts come and go, without judgment, trying to use your breathing as an anchor.  Keep bringing your mind back to your breath.
  • At the end of your allotted time, sit for a few minutes becoming aware of your environment and slowly getting up.

Relaxation Response

  • Find a quiet place to sit comfortably and relax your muscles.
  • Choose a word or phrase that has special meaning for you and helps you feel peaceful.  If none come to mind, try “Ham Sah,” a Sanskrit mantra meaning “I am that.”
  • While breathing in, slowly state the mantra, making the sound “hammm” as you breathe in and “saah” as you exhale, as if you are sighing.
  • Breathe slowly, pausing after inhaling and exhaling.
  • Don’t judge how you are doing and when thoughts intrude, simply return to your repetition.
  • When ending your meditation, focus on your breathing and sit quietly, slowing becoming aware of your environment and getting up gradually.

Source: About.com: Alternative Medicine

Super Spices

 Alternative Medicine, Cooking  Comments Off on Super Spices
Oct 302009
 

turmericBeing from India, I grew up eating Indian food and then making it.  I’ve loved getting to know the different spices and their flavors.  More recently, I’ve come to appreciate the spices for their medicinal purposes as well.  It seems that I am often learning about some new benefits to the various spices.  Most recently, I learned more about asafoetida, or “Devil’s Dung.”  The spice is being looked at by drug manufacturers to prevent colds and the flu.

I’ve used the spice in primarily lentil dishes to prevent flatulence.  I know that Hare Krishna devotees use it instead of onion and garlic, which they don’t use.  It was once believed that the spice enhances singers’ voices.

Another super spice is turmeric, the yellow spice used in mustard and in curry powder.  Turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat conditions such as jaundice, bruises, colic, and menstrual difficulties.  It has even been effective in treating Crohn’s disease, arthritis, and Cystic Fibrosis.

There are many more spices with many additional health benefits.  As the weather gets colder and I try to protect my family from the cold and flu, I intend to cook more Indian food.

Source:  World’s Healthiest Foods

Adult On-set of Allergies

 Alternative Medicine, Self-Care  Comments Off on Adult On-set of Allergies
Sep 012009
 





I’ve never had allergies and thought I was immune, particularly since I started my life in India and particularly a village where I was exposed to everything it seemed. Then for the first time this past Spring and now late summer, I’ve been struggling with allergies.

I’m learning that adult allergies are on the rise.  Since I am still nursing my infant, I’m not inclined to take the regular allergy medications as they apparently negatively impact milk supply.  I recently heard about a product called a Neti Pot, which seems to be effective according Web MD without impacting lactation.  After some lack of coordination, I think I’ve got the hang of it and am trying to use it regularly.  There are different types and can be purchased in stores or on-line.  I purchased mine from the local drugstore for about $15.  The concept behind the product lies in the idea of nasal irrigation, which originated within ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of healing.

The sad information I am learning is that my new adult allergies will most likely stay with me the rest of my life.