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TriDosha Wellness

Helping You Recover From Injuries and Improve Performance Using Physical Therapy and Ayurveda.

Ashwagandha Builds Strength, Boosts Energy, Promotes Relaxation, and Enhances Libido

Ashwagandha is one of the top 10 herbs in Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.  It’s also called the Indian Ginseng, Winter Cherry and Withania Somnifera.  It is an adaptogen (increases the body’s ability to adapt to internal or external stress).  It is used to invigorate and strengthen the whole body while calming the nervous system.  It is said to impart the strength of a horse.

Ashwagandha-Ginseng-Build-Muscle

It is traditionally used in Ayurveda to:

Combat stress:  it is used as an adaptogen (it increases the body‚ its ability to adapt to internal and external stress.)  It’s shown to help lower cortisol levels a powerful stress hormone.

Calm the mind and promote restful sleep, its latin name Withania Somnifera refers to its calming and relaxing properties.  Wonderful for nervousness, anxiety and a sense of being ungrounded.

Gives vitality and strength.  The Sanskrit meaning of the word Ashwagandha implies, imparts the strength of a stallion.   It is a natural strength builder.

Boost energy levels, it helps with general fatigue, improves energy level and general well-being.

Support healthy libido, it is one of the best herbs for strengthening the male reproductive system.  It is also used as an aphrodisiac in Ayurveda.

Buy Organic Ashwagandha from a reliable source of organic Ayurvedic herbs.

Suggested Use:
1-2 capsules or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon once or twice daily or as directed by your health practitioner.

Contra-Indications:
None known. Always seek the advice of a professional Ayurvedic practitioner or your physician before using herbs during pregnancy.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Persons with known medical conditions should consult with their physician before taking this or any other dietary supplement.  Information on this web site is not intended to replace a one-on-one  relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not  intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge  and information from the research and experience of us and others; we  encourage you to make your health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Triphala One Of The Most Famous Anti-Oxidant, Detox and Rejuvenative Ayurvedic Formulas

Triphala is one of the most important detoxifying and rejuvenative herbal formulas in Ayurveda. It has been used for thousands of years to promote internal cleansing, improve metabolism and nourish tissues.  It is a combination of three fruits Amalaki, Haritaki (haritaki means “that which destroys disease”) and Bibhitaki, which are an important part of many classical healing compounds.

Amalaki (Embellica Officianalis) + Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula) + Bibhitaki (Terminalia Belerica)

Triphala-Detox-Anti-Aging

Benefits:

It tones the gastrointestinal tract to promote proper peristalsis and has a slight laxative value which helps the body to eliminate regularly but without dependency.

It removes ama (toxins) from the gastrointestinal tract and from deep tissues.

Promotes better absorption and assimilation of nutrients and minerals in the GI-tract.

Balances all three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Herbal antioxidant and rejuvenative for the whole body, it is used to prevent the effects of aging.

Click here for Organic Triphala 

Suggested Use:
2 capsules or 1/2-1 teaspoon or as directed by your health practitioner.

Contra-Indications:
Avoid if pregnant,  suffering from diarrhea or have fever.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Persons unknown medical conditions should consult with their physician before taking this or any other dietary supplement.  Information on this web site is not intended to replace a one-on-one  relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not  intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge  and information from the research and experience of us and others; we  encourage you to make your health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Ayurvedic Potli Massage To Build Muscle Without Weights

Ayurvedic Potli Massage To Build Muscle Without WeightsDuring the course of my 28 day Panchakarma (Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation), I received various treatments that are unique Ayurvedic therapies practiced in Kerala, India.  In two earlier posts I shared treatments I received during the first 14 days – Pizhichil (herbal oil massage) and Shiro Dhara (stream of oil, milk or buttermilk poured over the forehead).

For the second half of my Panchakarma I received Kizhi/Potli treatment.  Potli is a therapeutic technique that uses a small poultice filled with various herbs or specially prepared rice which is warmed in milk or medicated oils.  These are used to massage and provide heat to the whole body or specific areas like the low back, neck and joints.

My first set of Potli treatments were using specific herbs to improve circulation and stimulate the whole system.  The therapists would dip the poultice in hot oil and then tap the poultice on the joints.  This was followed by rubbing the poultice up and down the entire length of the body.  The herbs in the poultice, the hot herbal oils, the tapping and rubbing actions are all meant to improve circulation, relieve pain, improve mobility, reduce stiffness and tone the skin.  I found this type of Potli treatment to be less relaxing than the second Potli treatment called Navara Kizhi or Shashtika Pinda Sweda.

Navara Kizhi uses special rice that is cooked in a decoction of the herb Bala and milk.  This cooked herbal rice is placed in the poutice and massaged all over the body.   The fomentation and soothing effect of this Potli is effective for various neuro-degenerative conditions, weakness, muscle wasting, low back or neck pain, Sciatica, etc. I preferred this treatment better than the herbal Potli treatment I received initially.   Felt much more relaxed and stronger after the Navara Kizhi treatment.

After the poultice massage I was asked to rest for one hour before taking a shower.  While I was resting a warm herbal paste was applied to the the neck and wrapped in bandages (addressing some old injuries from years of wrestling and other sports)…more on this in another post.

Benefits of Potli:

1.   Pain relief

2.  Improves circulation

3.  Build Muscle Without Weights

4.  Relieves stiffness

5.  Opens the fine channels within the body

I would highly recommend anyone to experience this treatment.  The sense of well-being and a settled feeling in the nervous system is quite amazing.

Share one thing that you want to learn about Potli massage?

Share one thing that you want to learn about Potli massage to help you recover from your injuries, build strength or improve your health.

Cheers, and here’s to an amazing 2015 for you and your health! Happy New Year!

Tweetables:

Massage For Faster Recovery, Pain Relief and Increasing Growth Hormone  [Click To Tweet]
Pizhichil Ayurvedic Herbal Oil Massage For Detox And Rejuvenation [Click To Tweet]
Ayurvedic Prespective On Joint Pain Treatment  [Click To Tweet]

Pizhichil Ayurvedic Herbal Oil Massage For Detox And Rejuvenation

Pizhichil Ayurvedic Herbal Oil Massage For Detox And RejuvenationUpdate on Kerala Ayurvedic Hospital Panchakarma (Ayurvedic Detoxification and Rejuvenation) trip…Today I’m at half-way point. The first 2 weeks the treatment involved 3 main therapeutic methods. I’m going to share with you one of these treatments in this post.

Pizhichil (Thailadhara) – This therapeutic massage is a combination of two classical Ayurvedic treatments, Snehana (oleation) and Swedana (sudation). The whole body is bathed in streams of warm herbal oil with simultaneous massage. The warm oil and massage opens the pores and drives the herbal oil deeper into the tissues.

[Read more…]

Shiro Dhara Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Therapy For The Modern Lifestyle

I hope you are doing well and getting ready for Christmas…for those of you who celebrate.

Shiro Dhara Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Therapy For The Modern LifestyleAs promised I am going to share with you another Ayurvedic treatment I received during the first 2 weeks of my Panchakarma (Ayurvedic Detoxification and Rejuvenation Therapies) – check out my last email from a week ago for more on my trip to Kerala and Panchakarma.

[Read more…]

Shin Splints Yoga Stretch

Vajra asana or Diamond pose is an excellent yoga pose for shin splints. It can not only help improve the mobility of the muscles but also great for knee and ankle mobility. It’s also a good pose for improving digestion and helps one become more grounded.

Tweetables:

Yoga to heal and prevent Shin Splints [Click To Tweet]

Shin Splints Treatment [Click To Tweet]

Yoga to heal and prevent Shin Splints  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript

Hey guys, this is Manu Kalia, physical therapist and herbalist. So in this video I’m going to show you how to stretch some of the front muscles of the lower leg, especially your anterior tibialis. So that’s that muscle right here, runs along the shin. So the function of not only the anterior tibialis but some of the other muscles, the extensors, the foot muscles, is to lift your foot up as well as the toes.

So if you get a lot of achiness, a lot of tightness on all these structures or, for that matter, pain, and if those tissues are too tight whether due to too much walking, too much running, any of those of activities, there’s one way to stretch that very effectively, is the yoga Asana which is called Vajrasana, which is diamond pose. So in that pose, remember the function of these guys is to lift the foot up, so now they’re on, they’re activated as I dorsiflex or lift the foot up. So this is the area we’re targeting, which tends to get tightened up.

So the opposite, to stretch it will be the opposite direction, which is essentially going the other way. So an easy way to do that is to place this under you and you can start in this position first, all fours, and slowly work at sitting back down to see how far you can come down. Eventually, your goal is to work at coming all the way down, which is the Vajrasana, when I sit completely in this position. The spine, of course, you want to work at maintaining an upright alignment, and I’m sitting comfortably with my shoulders relaxed, my arms, my hands on my thighs. So not only does this help, of course, stretch all of these structures, the front of the ankle, also some quad stretch, knee stretch.

Now, if you have ongoing issues with your knee or ankle, if you have an injury, you can’t bend the knee, or for that matter have ankle issues, avoid this position or modify it by not sitting as far down. But otherwise, for the rest of you, this is a good way to work at improving mobility of these tissues and this is a great position in yoga to improve the digestion. So it’s a good position after eating to sit in this position for a little while to help with digestion. It also helps ground you and it helps reduce vata, which is settling down of the nervous system. So, great post, five to 10 minutes hanging out here and just relaxing and doing some deep breathing in this position. Very effective.

So I hope you found that helpful. If you have any questions, leave a comment. And make sure you subscribe to the channel and check out the site. Lots of information on the site. Thanks, guys.

Low Back Pain Yoga Upward Facing Dog

Protect your low back when doing Yoga upward facing dog pose. These tips can help you if you suffer from low back pain and arching or extension causes you pain while doing yoga. Often hip joint, hip flexor tightness, upper and mid back stiffness can increase the stress on the low back. Resulting in more compression, pinching and pain. The recommendations in this video will help you protect your spine.

Tweetables:

How to Do a Safe and Proper Yoga Upward Facing Dog  [Click To Tweet]
Yoga Poses for the Lower Back  [Click To Tweet]
Beginners Yoga For Back Pain – How To Do Upward Facing Dog  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript:

Hey guys, this is Manu Kalia, physical therapist and herbalist. So, today’s video, I’m going to show you a slight modification for the up dog position or upward facing dog position in yoga.

Some of you guys asked me that when you do the up dog position in yoga you tend to get some discomfort or pain in the low back because there is excessive compression taking place. This is often…well, you could have of course a pathology or some problem going on in the low back that you’re more flexion-biased – you don’t like extension arching which closes down to the joints and it irritates them.

But some of it can also be because you’re moving too much, hypermobility, in certain segments of the low back because you’re too stiff not moving enough in the front of the hip. Your hip flexors are tight maybe, your front hip capsule is tight, possibly lower thoracic is stiff, upper back is stiff, so you end up moving too much in that low back when you’re going in the up dog position. So I’ll show you a couple of modifications that you can do to want to protect your back, you won’t have pain, as well as to take some of the pressure off that low back so you can continue doing that pose.

So as I said, this is the upward facing dog in yoga. I’m going to do it on the table—it’s easier for you to see—and usually the position is where you come up into an arching position and you come up here. And a lot of times as people come up, they complain of pain in their low back in this region, and because they end up hinging at that spot and because they’re not moving enough or they’re too stiff in the front, they’re not getting that range from here, they’re not getting that range from their midback or upper back, so they end up hinging in their low back, causing compression of pain.

So what we’re going to do is, I recommend if that’s happening, you have a few options but one of the things you can do is you can right away tighten your glutes first. So if I tighten my glutes, it puts me in a little bit of posterior tilt, so that protects my low back, causes less compression. So I’m going to tighten my glutes lightly and I might pull in, and as I come up it takes away some of that pressure in my low back. And the second thing I can do is I can engage my lower abdominals a little bit, by pulling inand that again helps me avoid some of that compression. And then, I can work it as I arch up: I can squeeze my shoulder blades down and now I’m going to engage my upper back also. So that will really help relieve a lot of that compression in your low back.

Those are just two simple tips. There are many other things you could do also. And you can of course limit how high you go up in that position. So try engaging your glutes. Try engaging your lower abdominals, especially your glutes throughout the movement, and before you start the movement kick them on and maintain that through the movement as you’re extending it, holding that position.

So I hope you found that helpful. Make sure you subscribe to the channel. Leave a comment if you have questions. Thank you.

How To Improve Flexibility, Mobility And Suppleness?

In this video I discuss the 4 main components of mobility, flexibility and suppleness. Proper joint, muscle/tendon/myofascia length, tissue glide and proper functioning of internal channels (for flow of energy, chi or prana and circulation).

Tweetables:

Ways to Improve Flexibility [Click To Tweet]
4 Main Components of Mobility, Flexibility and Suppleness [Click To Tweet]
Exercises to Improve Flexibility, Mobility And Suppleness  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript:

In this video, I’m going to share what it means to have good mobility, being flexible or supple. There are four major components of having good mobility throughout your system, so when you design your mobility program, you want to consider these major factors.

So, first one, and let’s get some of the external ones first or the more obvious ones first, so the first one is good mobility at the joint. So you want to have good joint range of motion, good mobility at that joint capsule. So, for example, if it’s my elbow, I need to have good mobility at that elbow joint whether for flexion, bending or extension, and for that matter, for rotational movements and side-bending movements too. So that’s the first component you have to restore first, so joint mobilization techniques or techniques to improve the joint’s mobility so you have full range of motion in that joint so that that specific joint can function properly.

So the second part is thinking about the flexibility or mobility of the length of the local muscles and tendons and tissues around that joint. So, for example, does my bicep muscle have or the bicep tendon have good range of motion or good mobility? Or is it too tight or shortened, it’s not long enough? So it’s going to restrict my ability to extend my elbow completely if the muscle is shortened.

The actual tissue glide in between layers of tissues where there are adhesions, where there’s thickening, there’s scar tissue, where things are just bound up whether it’s the myofascia, the actual muscle, the tendon, any of those soft tissue structures, are bound. Again, it’s not going to allow for proper mobility of that specific muscle or that tendon. So you have to make sure the lengthening, stretching, for example, or mobility exercises, you have to make sure that there are no restrictions. The layers or tissues are gliding properly. So they’re gliding properly. If there’s good glide in between layers of tissues, there’s good movement there, it will be able to lengthen or move properly.

So that’s the third component you want to consider. You’re looking at the joint, you’re looking at your length of that muscle or tendon or that unit, restrictions between layers of tissues. So that’s your third component.

From a holistic medicine standpoint, is the proper flow of chi, prana or energy as well as circulation. So if the channels are open and chi moving properly, there’s going to be proper movement of energy as well as circulation in that particular region and there will not be blockages. So if there are blockages in those channels and various organs that are affected by those channels or are related to those channels, it’s going to also cause poor functioning or for that matter restrictions or lack of mobility in certain joints or tissues.

So this is a different perspective you have to consider. It’s the internal perspective, internal functioning of the various systems. This is how you want to think about mobility and when you’re trying to work on a program, a flexibility or a joint mobilization or a massage or various things you’re incorporating into your program to improve the mobility of a tissue.

Share the video if you think you can help somebody else. And we’ve got our program coming out, it’s almost there, it’s launching very soon, and if you’re interested make sure you go to the site and you sign up for it. Subscribe to the channel, and if you have any questions leave a comment.

 

Ayurvedic Prespective On Joint Pain Treatment

Ayurvedic Prespective On Joint Pain TreatmentAyurveda treats musculo-skeletal problems holistically, taking into account the whole physiology, psychology and physical presentation of the person and the problem.

The goal of the treatment is to restore balance and to bring the person back to their natural psycho-physiological baseline or constitution.

Joint pain treatment is based on bringing the disturbed Dosha (Energetic principles that govern all biological processes in the body – Vata, Pitta and Kapha respectively) back into a balanced state.

[Read more…]

Intermittent Fasting – Is it Good To Starve Yourself?

For thousands of years various cultures have practiced fasting for religious or health reasons.  Over the past decade or so, fasting has been gaining popularity again in the medical and fitness community.   Intermittent fasting is not dieting; it is a life style and lots of people are using it to lose weight.  Weight loss is not the only potential benefit of intermittent fasting, increase in growth hormone, reduction in blood sugar levels and better heart health are amongst some of the other health benefits.

 

Intermittent fasting – how does it work?

[Read more…]

Moxibustion Eliminating Pain Without Drugs

Moxibustion Eliminating Pain Without DrugJust read on the news FDA is looking to implement stricter controls on use of Vicodin and other hydrocodone-based painkillers.

Nearly three out of four prescription drug overdoses are caused by prescription pain medications, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, which is a 300 percent increase in sales since 1999.

Deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses have risen 400% for women and 265% for men since 1999.

In 2010, 2 million people used prescription painkillers without a prescription and for getting high.  These number are very alarming and I have treated lots of patients who were addicted to pain medications because of chronic injuries.

There are much safer alternatives for pain relief and healing injuries. A good friend of mine who’s a holistic medicine practitioner introduced me to Moxibustion which is steadily gaining popularity in the US.

If you suffer from chronic pain, Moxibustion is a natural therapy for pain relief that can help ease discomfort without the side effects of medications and surgery.  I find it to be really helpful for treating low back pain and knee  arthritis.

It’s a traditional therapy used in Chinese medicine that involves burning an herb over or near an acupuncture point to improve circulation and stimulate flow of Qi or energy for pain relief and faster recovery.

Dried leaves of the herb Mugwort (Folium artemisiae) are ground into a paste called Moxa. This mixture is then heated on the patient’s skin or on acupuncture needles.

Tweetables:

Benefits And Uses Of Moxibustion  [Click To Tweet]
Types Of Moxibustion Therap [Click To Tweet]
Physiological Effect Of Moxibustion  [Click To Tweet]

History of Moxibustion

The practice of moxibustion was first seen in China around 500 BC and according to some authors it was extensively used by the legendary Chinese doctors Bian Que. It was a way to treat chronic conditions without use of acupuncture for patients who were too weak for the traditional needle-based therapy.

The practice has become common throughout Asia, particularly in Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand. While moxibustion is often considered a form of acupuncture, experts actually think that moxibustion came about first. Acupuncturists often combine the two therapies for maximum pain relief.

Benefits And Uses Of Moxibustion

Moxibustion was first used to prevent illness and promote healing. Today, practitioners use it more for pain relief by increasing blood flow to areas damaged by injury, balancing flow of Qi (energy) and stimulating specific acupuncture points along meridians.

The heating effect of burning moxa is similar to using a heat lamp or heating pads that are often used to ease stiffness associated with arthritis; the heat also provides a soothing effect while relaxing the muscles and improving circulation.

Moxibustion is also used in combination with other substances like ginger to treat abdominal pain, menstrual cramps, and diarrhea. Since it’s used to treat all sorts of different health problems and injuries, it is important to choose an experienced practitioner.

Types Of Moxibustion Therapy

There are two types of moxibustion therapy: direct and indirect. Direct, in which the moxa is burned directly on the skin, is rarely used in the United States because of the potential for a burn injury. Though the traditional Chinese practitioners consider the burn and resulting scars as an important part of the therapeutic effect.

With indirect therapy the herb mixture is wrapped into a cigar-like stick called a moxa pole, which is lit and held an inch or two from the skin. The tip of the pole is moved in small circles above the acupressure point till the areas gets a little red and warm. This is done for 5-10 minutes to slowly build a sensation of heat, allowing for the therapeutic effects of heat and oils from the mugwort to penetrate the skin without risk of burning. The oils have penetrating and blood activating properties independent of the radiant heat.

A third method combines indirect moxibustion therapy with acupuncture. The herb is burned on top of an acupuncture needle while the needle is inserted into an acupuncture point. This method is used to deliver heat to a specific acupressure point via the acupressure needle. Moxibustion combined with acupuncture is one of the most common methods used by Acupuncturists to use this therapy for pain relief.

For best results, heat should be applied to the specific acupressure point for a specific length of time. Though some people notice relief right away, you may need to have several sessions to get lasting benefits.

Physiological Effect Of Moxibustion

Heat from the burning herb increases warmth, helps with pain relief and stimulates specific acupressure points resulting in overall well being. The herb mugwort is a natural emmenogogue, meaning it increases blood circulation.

Chinese practitioners believe that the burning moxa increases a specific frequency of infrared energy, which supplements the life force, or “qi,” that your body needs to heal. They also note that applying indirect heat to specific pressure points can raise the body’s immunity and metabolism.

Moxibustion For Pain Relief

Moxibustion therapy is very effective for treating all sorts of injuries. It’s generally done after the acute stage of injury, once the heat and swelling has gone down. I have had good success using moxbustion in combination with acupressure points for back pain, knee arthritis and other joint, muscle and tendon injuries.

It’s also a wonderful treatment for relieving muscle stiffness and menstrual cramps. For back pain, most experts recommend that moxibustion should be used with acupuncture. I have also seen good results when it’s combined with acupressure or cupping therapy.

It is used to:

• Reduce swelling, pain and stiffness.

• To remove blockages and congestion due to accumulated blood and fluids after an injury.

• To warm the injured area which is cold to touch (Vata and kapha condition in Ayurvedic medicine). This is often seen in chronic injuries where pain is worst in cold or damp weather.

Contraindications / Precautions

Indirect moxibustion therapy is very safe as long as the hot elements are handled safely in a controlled setting. For maximum safety without reducing effectiveness, a small slice of ginger can be placed on the skin to shield it from the burning effect of the heat.

Avoid if you have a fever.

Avoid if you have active inflammation, redness and heat.

Avoid over the abdominal area and lower back during pregnancy.

Avoid over open skin lesions or ulcerations.

Avoid if skin sensitivity is poor, eg. diabetic neuropathy.

For patients with sensitivity to smoke or those with respiratory problems, smokeless moxa sticks are also available.

Additional Posts You Might Find Helpful…

1.   Joint Pain Relief Using Natural Solutions

2.  Acupressure – Pain Relief Without Meds

3.  Ayurvedic herbal remedies for joint pain – treatment for hip pain and injury

4.  Magic Of Cupping Therapy

5.  Stop Using Ice Bad For Healing Injuries

 

Pain Relief Without Meds…

acupressure for lower back pain

Acupressure is an ancient therapeutic method used to relieve stress, promote good health and treat various diseases.  It is similar to Acupuncture except that it’s done without use of needles.

Acupressure involves application of physical pressure on trigger points that lie along the Meridians.  Meridians are channels within the body where Qi or energy flows to maintain equilibrium and health.

[Read more…]

Magic Of Cupping Therapy

cupping therapy for low back painCupping therapy is an ancient treatment that has been around for thousands of years and is still used in Traditional Chinese Medicine today.

It’s an under utilized treatment which can help with all sorts of different health problems.

 

What Is Cupping Therapy?

Just like the name suggests, Cupping therapy involves use of a cup or cups, which are applied over the skin and a vacuum is created inside the cup.  This is done using either heat (fire) or a suction device (manual or mechanical) to pull and hold the skin and underlying muscles inside the cup.

[Read more…]

All You Need To Know About High Intensity Interval Training

High Intensity Interval Training

When it comes to fitness and weight loss, there is an overwhelming amount of information on the internet.  For most people this information overload is too much to handle and prevents any action at all.  For those who do start a fitness program, sticking with a program that gets slow results can be very frustrating.

 The right program shouldn’t require hours and hours of exercise and should get results within a reasonable time.  There is a lot of research supporting the use of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) as a fitness program to get rapid results with little time investment.

Though I personally follow a more complementary approach to exercise and fitness – incorporating Yoga, weight training and some aspects of cross fit, I wanted to share more about interval training since it’s becoming a popular form of exercise.

What is HIIT?

HIIT is an enhanced form of Interval Training which improves fitness, boosts weight loss while building strength and stamina.  It has a unique approach which combines very intense exercise with intervals of rest and recovery to achieve optimum workouts. Not only does it build muscle strength but it also improves cardiovascular endurance.   It’s intense, fast, requires less time and gets rapid results.

How To Do HIIT Workouts?

Though there are lots different HIIT programs, the basic protocol is alternating high intensity workout followed by low intensity or short rest periods for a total of 20 minutes.

To prevent injury, it’s best to do a light warm up before starting the high intensity exercise.  A high intensity bout of cardio or strength training can last anywhere from 20-60 seconds, followed by a low intensity or rest period ranging from 10-75 seconds.

A period of high intensity training is designed to achieve maximum muscle fatigue, which translates to maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 Max) by the body.  Basically, the maximum amount of Oxygen your body can use during exercise.  This is used as one of the most important measurements of overall cardiovascular fitness and aerobic conditioning.

Exercising close to the VO2 Max will result in an after-burn effect – even after the end of the workout session, intense oxygen consumption will continue in the body for 24-48 hours. Higher oxygen consumption means more calories are burned.  Since one liter of oxygen consumption burns about five calories, intense training is a sure way of shedding off extra pounds really fast.

Interval training also helps boost metabolism much faster than a steady intensity workout.  It helps build lean muscle much faster than steady intensity training.  Due to the high demand on the body, HIIT workouts should be done only two or three times a week.  It’s ideal for someone who’s looking for an intense work and has limited time for exercise.

HIIT Programs

In the last 20 years or so HIIT has been undergoing an evolution with modifications and improvements in training methods. Here are some of the more well known HIIT programs.

Tabata method – This protocol came into being in 1996 following a study done by Professor Izumi Tabata of Japan. The study was aimed at finding the most ideal protocol for aerobics. This protocol consists of twenty seconds of high intensity exercise, upwards of 170% of VO2 Max.  Which is then followed by 10 seconds of recovery. The entire workout lasts 4 minutes, covering 8 cycles. Training by this method is done two to four times a week.  This is a really tough workout routine, so best for someone who is really fit.  If you are just starting out, some of the other methods might be better to start with.

Turbulence method – Developed by a former athlete, Craig Ballantyne, this method combines cardio and weight training.  It alternates between 1-2 minutes of cardio and 8 repetition weight training sets.   Recommended for 3 times a week, each workout session lasts 45 minutes.  This is great for people who are interested in building strength but also want cardio as part of their routine.

Little method (also known as Gibala method) – This HIIT method was created by Drs Johnathan Little and Martin Gibala in 2009.  It is based on cycling at max intensity (at 95% of VO2 Max) for 60 seconds, followed by cycling at a low intensity for 75 seconds.  These fast/slow bouts are repeated for 12 cycles, which takes 27 minutes to complete the workout.  This is done three times a week. This method requires about 30 minutes so better for those with a little more time and who are at least at an intermediate level of fitness.

Timmons method – By Professor Jamie Timmons, where you can pic any activity (bike, running, etc.)  Start with a 3 minute warm up.  Followed by 2 minutes of light exercise and then 20 seconds of all out exercise.  Repeat 3 more times for a total of 4 sets.  Finish with a 3 minute cool down at the end.  It is done 3 times a week with the warm up and cool down at the end.

Research Supports HIIT

According to research HIIT has a powerful effect on improving overall fitness and very quickly. It helps burn calories faster, during the workout and for up to 48 hours after the workout.  It boosts metabolism and builds lean muscle mass while promoting fat loss.

Boosts Human Growth Hormone Production

Unlike other exercise methods, HIIT has been shown to boost Human Growth Hormone (HGH) production….aka “anti-aging hormone”.

Improve Insulin sensitivity

It improves the body’s ability to utilize insulin.  Insulin works to convert blood sugar into stored sugar (glycogen) in the liver and muscles.  Improved insulin sensitivity means better utilization of blood sugar and less sugar (calories) being stored up in the body as fat. The Journal of Obesity published a study report in 2011 by Boutcher and showed that HIIT decreases insulin resistance while promoting oxidation of fat in skeletal muscles.  This study may even point to the positive effects of HIIT in helping prevent Diabetes.

Weight Loss

By pushing the body to workout at such a high intensity level, HIIT helps with faster weight loss by burning more calories during and after the workout.

Boost Metabolism

HIIT affects the body’s metabolism in a number of ways.  It has a positive effect on both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. It increases the resting metabolic rate during training and for more than 24 hours after the training bout. It also boosts VO2 Max or cardiovascular fitness much more in comparison to long workouts.  Shown in study by King, East Tennessee State University, ‘comparison of effects of interval training versus continuous training’.

Better Endurance And Athletic Performance

HIIT also increases the body’s lactate threshold.  This is the level at which lactate builds up at a rate faster than it can be removed from the body.  Usually, people reach this threshold at about 50-80% of their VO2 Max.  HIIT training pushes you to workout above the normal lactate threshold level, resulting in a higher lactate threshold.  A higher lactate threshold means being able to exercise or train harder and longer…often translating to better performance.

Tweetables:

All About High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)  [Click To Tweet]
Guide and Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training [Click To Tweet]
Hiit it! What you need to know about High Intensity Interval Training  [Click To Tweet]

Pros And Cons Of HIIT

There are lots of health benefits of HIIT listed above, ranging from faster weight loss, increased metabolism, reducing insulin resistance, boosting Human Growth Hormone levels and overall health and fitness.  It is also really powerful training method for athletes looking to enhance sports performance.   If you have limited time and are in fairly good shape, HIIT is a good option to get in better shape.

I my view HIIT is not appropriate for a number of people due to risk of injury and the demands it places on your system. From pregnant women, obese individuals, those with previous injuries (knee, ankle, etc.) and serious medical conditions like heart disease, etc.   Also, if you are really out of shape, might be better to get to a moderate level of fitness before starting HIIT.

If you are looking to start HIIT, better to get cleared by your doctor before you start.
Hope you enjoyed this post. Don’t forget to leave a comment or question.

Share it with loved ones and friends who might benefit from this info. Also share it on Faceboook and also tweet it on Twitter as well and feel free to plus one on Google Plus as well, too. This article is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician, physical therapist or medical practitioner before starting any exercise program or trying any of the herbal products/recommendations mentioned in this video/article.

Natural Secrets For Knee Pain Relief

Natural Secrets For Knee Pain ReliefKnee pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems I see in my clinic.  Studies indicate that almost 25% of the US population suffers from this problem and it’s one of the most common injuries which brings people to their doctor.

These numbers are even higher for athletes.  If knee injuries are not treated properly they can turn into chronic problems often resulting in people taking medications or having surgery.

[Read more…]

Quadriceps Tendonitis Treatment With Cupping

Quadriceps tendonitis or quadriceps tendon injury treatment using cupping. Helps remove congestion and blockages, improves circulation, stretches scar tissue, muscles and fascia. Cupping has been used for thousands of years and is still practiced throughout the world and routinely practiced in TCM to heal injuries. Quadriceps tendon injury can be as a result of direct trauma to the muscle or tendon or after a forceful contraction of the muscle…usually an eccentric contraction while coming down onto the leg when jumping. It can also be due to overuse of the quadriceps tendon from too much running or over training. This has really helped my patients get better much faster. Can do cupping for 5-10 minutes with or without movement.

Tweetables:

Cupping and Quadriceps Tendonitis Injury  [Click To Tweet]
Knee Quadriceps Tendon Inury Treatment [Click To Tweet]
Advanced Cupping Techniques  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript:

Hey guys, this is Manu Kalia, physical therapist and Ayurveda herbalist. So I’m going to show you something pretty cool to treat quadriceps tendonitis issues and I use this a lot with my patients. We’re going to do some cupping, and cupping is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncturists use it is used by a lot of different health practitioners throughout the world.  It is very effective for improving circulation to the local tissue.  It opens up and removes blockages, removes stagnation and congestion in a tissue as well as promotes circulation to that area.   If you have stagnation and blockages that are remo
ved and you have better circulation to the tissue, the tissue is going to heal better.

Second thing it does is the suction that holds the tissues up and separates layers, so stretching the tissues – different layers of muscles, fascia and connective tissue get stretched as well.  It’s a great way to get at that quadriceps tendon.

I like to use an herbal oil first to massage the tissue first.  I get right in that area and massage that area, and I’ve also shown some cross friction massage techniques in the past in some of the other videos that help to break down scar tissue and adhesions that form all along that quadriceps tendon. Remember that it sits just above your kneecap and that’s where a lot of times people get these injuries.  If you come down too hard while you’re jumping and runners also often get these quadriceps tendon issues due to overuse, or due to a forceful landing of the leg causing a strain or micro-tears in the tendon, that develops into a tendonitis or tendinosis or irritation of the tendon.

So after doing your cross friction massage techniques I’ll use cupping.  You have to pick the right size cup from the setdepending on the size of your leg and your thigh muscle.  I’m going to place it right above the knee here and I’m going to suction that straight up. As you can see, it pulls that skin right up. I’m doing it in this partially bent position. You can also do it with the leg straight too. So it works quite well, and if you notice I’m trying to pull that up and it doesn’t really come off. Here’s my kneecap and it’s stretching out all those fibers.

Now, you can leave it there in static position.   Just leave it there for five to 10 minutes and it stretches all the tissues and opens up channels there. But the other thing I like to do sometimes with my patients is that I like to put the cup on and then I like to have them do some movement.   Gentle movement back and forth as they’re moving while it’s maintaining that pull there. Now, we’re not doing any squatting or loading of that tendon. We’re just doing gentle oscillations and movement to see if we can promote circulation there while we’re stretching it also and relieving that tension there.So I’ll just have them do 10, 15, 20, 30 times, moving back and forth, and then we’ll just leave it there for about five to 10 minutes to stretch the tissues.

After you do that, follow with heat. So I always use heat. I don’t use ice. My patients put heat there. You can also do a warm water soak with Epsom salt, baking soda, even ginger water sometimes. Depending on the condition, I’ll use various combinations. So, great way to do that, and you can remove the suction by pulling this up. You can see a little bit of that redness there. You can get some redness in that tissue where you’re doing that. Obviously, be cautious first time you use the cups. Don’t suction it too tight and make sure that your skin is not too sensitive. If you have thin skin, if you’re diabetic, and if you have open wounds or a cut, don’t do the cupping. And first time you’re doing it, don’t pull it up too tight. Test it out five minutes or so and then see how it does.

Like I said, you can have a little redness and usually some people get more red than others depending on the severity of the condition and how much congestion or blockage is going on in that area, and it can last a couple of days sometimes or even a little bit longer but it should go away. And so do it every other day or two in between your cupping sessions, so you can do it every other day or every two days and then do that again for about five to 10 minutes.

It’s an awesome technique. I love it and I use it for a lot of my patients and it works great with these conditions. I use it with tons of runners and it works really well.

So if you have any questions, leave a comment. Thanks.

25 Minute Simple Meditation Practice For Pain Relief

25 Minute Simple Meditation Practice For Pain ReliefAwareness, focus and calm are essential whether you are a competitive athlete or someone trying to heal from injuries.  I often have my patients meditate so they have more control over their health issues and can address them more effectively.

Very hard to do all the right things to take care of your physical health when the mind isn’t working at the optimal level. [Read more…]

Get The Chi Flowing Side Lunge Prehab Warmup

This is one my prehab, warmup, get the blood flowing, Chi moving and pre exercise movement series. It is designed to get your body and mind ready for exercise and athletic activities.

It’s a great to open up the hips, good for flexibility of the legs, feet and spine. Also good for coordination, motor control and general warm up.

***Remember not to force the movement, move in a comfortable range.
***Focus on relaxing and breathing naturally.
***For balance and support hold a chair or step stool in front of you

Tweetables:

The Complete Guide to Chi Flowing Side Lunge Prehab  [Click To Tweet]
Exercsie for Coordination, Motor Control and General Warm Up [Click To Tweet]
Learn to do the Chi Flowing Side Lunge Prehab Warmup  [Click To Tweet]

Detox At Home For Faster Recovery

Detox At Home For Faster Recovery“The body is the outcome of food. Even so, disease is the outcome of food. The distinction between ease and disease arises on account of wholesome nutrition or the lack of it respectively. ”

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana (Great Ayurvedic Physician)

“The digestive fire in the intestines (jataragni) is the root of all the digestive fires in the body. As it causes the increase or decrease of the elemental and tissue digestive fires it should be treated with great care.” Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita

According to Ayurveda proper digestion and absorption of food and water are essential to maintain good health, while improper elimination of toxins (ama) from the body can cause disease.

Ayurveda considers health of Agni (digestion or digestive fire) as the most important aspect of maintaining health and preventing disease.

[Read more…]

Cupping for Patellofemoral Pain

In this video I am going to show you a natural therapy that’s been practiced for hundreds if not thousands of years throughout the world.

Cupping treatment is still used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine for treating injuries, pain, improving circulation and removing toxins.

I have been using this treatment to treat patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. This is a common overuse knee injury that affects a lot of runners and is often called Runner’s knee pain.

This treatment has helped a lot of my patients suffering from patellofemoral pain.

Cupping is very effective for improving circulation, removing blockages, opening channels and facilitating the healing process. It also helps improve myofascial mobility.

Tweetables:

Advanced Cupping Techniques: Patellofemoral Pain  [Click To Tweet]
Patellofemoral Pain Holistic Treatment [Click To Tweet]
Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treating Injuries, Pain, Improving Circulation and Removing Toxins  [Click To Tweet]

Massage For Faster Recovery, Pain Relief and Increasing Growth Hormone

In this video I am going to share with you some amazing benefits of massage for faster recovery, pain relief, increased growth hormone, stress relief, relaxation and general well being.

Regular massage helps improve overall health by pacifying the nervous system and balancing the hormonal systems. It improves the integration between the nervous system and endocrine system.

Here are some oils for various body types and conditions:

1.  Sesame oil is heating, heavy and has penetrating qualities – best for Vata and Kapha types, people who tend to feel cold, have dry skin, cracking or popping joints.

2.  Coconut and sunflower oil is more cooling and best for Pitta types, feel very hot, during the hot season, for inflammed, red, hot tissues.

3.  Restore Oil for pain relief, reducing swelling, cracking, popping joints, tendonitis, arthritis

Tweetables:

How To Recover Faster and help boost GH  [Click To Tweet]
Speed Healing: Remedies To Heal Faster [Click To Tweet]
Regular Improves the Integration between the Nervous System and Endocrine System  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript

Hey guys, this is Manu Kalia, physical therapist and Ayurveda herbalist. So today I wanted to share with you benefits of massage. And so I have been recommending my patients do massage for themselves or have massage done to them for quite a while now, and the specific type of massage we’re going to talk about is Ayurvedic massage called abhyanga, which is a massage with herbal oils or oil in general, and the herbal is more of a delivery mechanism to deliver herbs via the oil into the tissue and the oil itself has its own healing properties. And different oils or different herbal oils are used for people with different constitutions and also for certain conditions, but I’m just going to give you a general overview also about the benefits of massage itself.

If you can have somebody do the massage for you, even self-massage done for 15 to 20 minutes a day or even every other day, it has amazing and tremendous benefits for the system, and not just from the standpoint of healing and for injuries but also for recovery. If you’re an athlete or if you’re working out or trying to get in better condition, whether build more muscle or for that matter improve endurance or just general well-being and overall health, massage is great for that. In fact, I would say, as I’ve said in some of my previous videos also, that the actual exercise or actual activity that you’re doing should be 25, 30% or even about 50%, I would say, but good bulk of the rest of the time has to be spent on other things you can do for yourself to improve recovery time and just improve the overall functioning of the system, and so massage is a great tool you can use for yourself.

So what are some of the benefits of doing massage for you? And one of the main things is it’s stress reduction, and specifically with that, it reduces the amount of cortisol, which is a stress hormone in your system, which will help reduce the breakdown of the body and also some of the things you might have read. A lot of you guys might have read increase in weight gain is due to increase in cortisol in your system, so reducing cortisol in your body and improvement of other hormones such as oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, all of these hormones, affect the mood, and they are the feel-good hormones and so they are also very important for overall health of the system and how you feel. It is also beneficial for improving growth hormone in the body. So increased growth hormone will lead to reduction in fat, improvement in muscle mass and just overall recovery of the system.

So I think the benefits to doing massage are great. It’s almost like the massage is an integration of your nervous system as well as the endocrine system, your endocrine system being all the hormones that are functioning in your body, so it’s like a bridge between those two systems. So you balance out those two systems, your body will function better. So the massage will affect the nervous system in terms of settling down, pacifying the nervous system. And the endocrine system, which is a hormonal system, as I mentioned, reduction in the stress hormones, the feel-good hormones, and your growth hormone. So it improves the overall functioning of the endocrine system also, which is really important for recovery especially after if you’re playing sports or athletic activities and just for overall well-being.

Now, the actual act of doing massage itself will also improve circulation in the body and lymphatic flow, so clearing up toxins out of the body. And even the friction of massage increases the heat in the local region, which opens up channels, so removes waste products back into circulation so they can be excreted out, affecting the hormonal system, affecting nervous system, improving circulation, removal of waste products and toxins out of the body. So as you can see, there are lots and lots of benefits to doing massage.

So how often should you be doing massage? Massage can be done, as I said, you can use just regular oil or you can use…I mean, there are also dry massage techniques too, but I think different oils have different therapeutic qualities, so it also affects the system in that way. And then, it can be done for about, if you’re doing self-massage, 15 to 20 minutes. If you have more time, you can do it for longer periods. And for people with busy schedules, even if you do it two to three times a week, it’d be great. And wait about a half-hour to about an hour and then take a warm shower so the heat in itself opens up the pores and drives the oil deeper into the tissues.

And it can also affect with, as I said, stress management and better sleep for you. So if you’re sleeping better and you have less stress in the system, psychological as well as physical stress, it will also affect your immunity too. So it increases the ability of the system or improves the immunity of the system to fight disease and infections and all sorts of things.

So I think it’s a great tool that you can implement in your daily life, and if you want to learn more about massage and the specific oils to be used for improving the health of the system, I’ll post the oils for specific constitutions and also for certain conditions and different oils or herbal oils that are really good for a lot of those things, whether it’s for pain management or just to strengthen the system or for a calming effect. So I’ll list a bunch of those oils in this video, so check out the video on my site and it’s TridoshaWellness.com.

If you have any questions leave a comment. Thank you.

 

Everything you need to recover faster after injuries and boost performance

Hey guys, here’s everything you need to recover faster after injuries and boost performance for sports. I am going to give some key concepts that most people ignore which slows down their healing and limits their performance and gains.

Tweetables:

Build Muscle Increase Strength and Recover Faster After Injuries  [Click To Tweet]
Boost Sporting Performance and Speed Up Recovery from Injury [Click To Tweet]
How To Recover from Injury Faster  [Click To Tweet]

Stop using ice bad for healing injuries

Why is ice bad for healing injuries?

Ice is probably the most widely used therapeutic agent following injury in modern medicine today.

Although its use has developed over time it’s not based on adequate research or proper study.

The cooling effect of ice on injured tissues actually stops the natural inflammatory process needed for proper recovery.

Inflammation is a natural part of the healing process and needs to take place for removal of metabolic waste products and arrival of growth factors to the injured area for regeneration.

Icing most definitely decreases circulation, causes blockages and stops the natural inflammatory process needed for healing.

Ayurveda (East Indian holistic medicine system), Traditional Chinese Medicine, etc. are against the use of ice for healing after injuries.

Research On Detrimental Effects Of Icing On Injuries.

Dr. Nick DiNubile, Editor in Chief of The Physician And Sports Medicine Journal “Seriously, do you honestly believe that your body’s natural inflammatory response is a mistake?” [Read more…]

Build Muscle Increase Strength and Recover Faster After Injuries

In this video I am going to share with you some key insights for building muscle, improving strength and recovering faster after injuries. Why most people are overtraining and not focusing on what’s important for achieving maximum fitness and faster recovery after injury.

These tips have helped my patients and clients get dramatic results. Most people don’t know about these and are focusing on the wrong things when comes to building muscle, increasing strength and for rehab.

Tweetables:

Best Way to Increase your Strength and Recovery  [Click To Tweet]
How to Build muscle, Improve strength and Recover Faster after Injuries [Click To Tweet]
How To Maintain Muscle After Injury  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript

Hi everyone!  This is Manu Kalia.  I’m a physical therapist and ayurvedic herbalist.  I am going to answer a common question that I’m asked by my patients, and also by athletes, which is how to recover faster whether from injuries or after injuries or after exercising?

If I want to increase my muscle mass or I want to improve strength, how do I recover faster so I can achieve those goals?

Remember, exercise and nutrition is just a small part of the whole thing.  It’s not just the amount of exercise you are doing or the amount of proteins or supplements somebody is taking in but it’s also the other things which are important for facilitating the recovery, the rehabilitation or the rejuvenation process of the whole system.

Even when it comes to the amount of exercise…that’s an important topic because most people, in my opinion, either tend to over train or they do improper training when they are trying to get stronger or build more muscle, which often leads to or results in all sorts of joint, ligament or tendon injuries due to over training..

So, here is where I like to use something called an 80/20 principle.  This was actually a principle that was put forth by an Italian economist Pareto in the early part of the twentieth century which basically states that 20% of actions or things will give you the 80% of the desired result.

So when it comes to training, you also want to think of it that way — and this is remember applicable not just in terms of economics but also in terms of medicine and all sorts of different fields.

So focus on figuring out what the 20% is that gives you the best or the desired result you are achieving or looking for and rinse and repeat the process — refine the process.

So it’s not just over exercising or just lots of exercise that’s going to give you the desired results.  It’s the appropriate exercise or appropriate amount of exercise for the person, for the individual.  So that is the first part.  I think it’s very important which will prevent injuries, overtraining, and wear and tear on the system.

Find out what works best for you and take that 20% and refine it, rinse it, repeat it, and keep repeating the process over and over which will give you your 80% results.

The other part which I think is very important is the other things besides exercise, taking in the right amount of protein or vitamins and all these things, which is the recovery component you have to focus on, and which is things like improving the digestion of the system, so you can actually break down and assimilate the nutrition you are taking in.

If your digestive system is not working properly, you are not going to break down the food or assimilate it properly into the system.  So you are basically flushing the money down the toilet, all the supplements and protein and all the stuff that you might be buying and using.  So improve the digestive capacity of the system.

Next thing that is important is make sure you don’t have accumulation of toxins within the body.  If you have too many toxins in the body obviously the system is not going to function optimally, not only in terms of recovery after injuries or rehabilitation but just overall health and fitness also.  You are not going to be functioning as well.

So make sure to check out the signs and symptoms, what are signs and symptoms that you actually have of toxins in your body?  And if you are interested in this, you can click on the link below and it will take you to my website and I actually have much information on not only signs and symptoms of toxins within the body but what are some detox strategies to eliminate those toxins within the body.

So that brings us to the next point which is the detox part.  Once you know that you have accumulation of toxins within the body, detoxify the system.  When the system is detoxified and it is clean, it will function better which will improve not only your recovery after injuries but also just overall fitness, increasing muscle mass, strength, all those things will come.

To follow through with that, the next part I think that is important is incorporating some form of fasting or intermittent fasting within your lifestyle and daily routine.

Fasting is important not only in terms of improving your digestion and metabolism; it also releases more growth hormone, which is important for recovery, rejuvenation, building strength, and all those things.

Next thing I think which is very important for recovery is massage.  Massaging your whole body from head to toe is essential and actually is one of the best antiaging and strengthening strategies I believe and not only does it improve circulation, it improves lymphatic flow, cleanses out the channels, removes waste products and also it improves the strength and functioning of the joints, the muscles and releases growth hormone again which means you are going to have better recovery, faster recovery, better muscle mass gains.

Overall it promotes well being and improves your health also.  So that is a very important component.  Regularly administering massage in your daily lifestyle, I think, really improves your ability also in terms of recovery.

And then of course rest and getting proper sleep.  So if you are not getting adequate amounts of rest and proper sleep, you know you are going to have hormonal imbalances, more cortisol in the system, more stress hormones floating around which will hinder your ability to recover faster.

So that is very important for maintaining proper hormonal balance and settling down the nervous system, having the appropriate amount of rest.  Rest, relaxation and sleep, so decompression time is very important too in terms of recovery.

I think incorporating all these other principles besides exercise or the amount of nutrition you are taking in are as essential, maybe even more essential I think then the actual exercise and what you are consuming.

If you are going to do all the exercise you want or tons of exercise you want but if you are just pushing your system so hard and you are not giving time to rest and recover, you are not going to see the gains, plus you are going to risk injury and excessive wear and tear on the system.

If you want to learn more about some of these strategies and also detoxifying and improving strength for the system and herbal supplements or other things that can facilitate that process, make sure to click on the link below.  It will take you to my website and I have tons of information there with lots of details on these things and make sure to subscribe to the channel.

I also have my e-book available for downloading on my site.  It’s “Herbs for Fitness” and it’s free and you can get the e-book there.  If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I look forward to sharing more stuff with you.  Thank you.

How to Detox Lose Weight and Recover Faster After Injuries

In this video I am going to share with you why some people have a difficult time healing after injuries and have poor health. One of the main reasons why people don’t heal is because of accumulation of toxins in the body. Excess toxins in the body will block channels, impair proper functioning of the cells and prevent the injured tissue from healing.
[Read more…]

Weight loss for women over 40 and after menopause

 

Weight loss for women over 40 and after menopauseWomen over 40 are a special group when it comes to weight loss. Weight loss methods that work for women in their 20s and even 30s just don’t seem to do the job for women over 40 and especially after menopause.

Often women in this age group continue to use popular weight loss plans which are not tailored to meet the unique needs of their changing body.

Add to this the crash dieting or “yo yo dieting”, where the body goes through a physical and emotional roller coaster ride every time the person loses weight only to gain it back.

This is not only devastating to the self esteem but has a harmful effect on the body.

[Read more…]

Weight loss detox secrets

One of the most popular resolutions whether at the start of the New Year or for the summer season is to lose weight.

Yet so many people struggle or fail to meet their weight loss goals every year.

Weight loss detox secretsBesides the emotional pain and suffering caused by lower self-esteem and lack of acceptance from society, increased weight gain is linked to various medical conditions including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc.

[Read more…]

Ultimate Herbal Fitness Supplement

In this video I discuss the ultimate herbal fitness supplement. Ashwagandha is an herb that is the best natural fitness supplement for anyone looking to improve their fitness level, boost strength, improve energy and overall health.

This herb is not only a fitness supplement, it is extensively used in Ayurveda to address various health problems. I would rate this as one of my top 10 herbs in Ayurvedic medicine.

Tweetables:

A Complete Guide of Ashwagandha and it’s Benefits  [Click To Tweet]
How to Improve Fitness Level, Boost Strength, Improve Energy and Overall Health [Click To Tweet]
Ashwagandha Ultimate Herbal Supplement for Fitness  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript

Hi everyone!  This is Manu Kalia.  I’m a physical therapist and ayurvedic herbalist.  Today I want to share with you guys about one of my favorite ayurvedic herb, ashwagandha.  Ashwagandha is essentially the Indian ginseng.

The genus and species is Withania somnifera.  Ashwagandha has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and I would have to say this is probably one of the top ten herbs or that I consider one of the top ten-ayurvedic herbs and also one of the most common ones used in ayurvedic medicines.  Not only the ashwagandha has amazing qualities for improving overall health but it’s great for addressing various health problems.

There are lots of positive points of ashwagandha but I am going to share some of the key ones.  If you want to learn more about ashwagandha, you can go to my website by clicking on the link below and you can download my free e-book on ‘Top 5 Herbs for Fitness’ and there is tons of information on ashwagandha in the e-book.

One of the key qualities of ashwagandha is that it is an adaptogenic herb.  It improves the ability of your system to handle internal and external stress.  It essentially builds resilience of the system or it builds strength of the system to handle stress.  I think that’s a pretty amazing quality that it has that it really improves the overall strength of the system to not only handle physical but emotional and psychological stress also.

The second important quality of ashwagandha is that it’s a potent analgesic and antiinflammatory, especially in terms of ayurvedic medicine.

It is used extensively in ayurvedic medicine as part of many formulations to address joint pains, arthritic conditions and also for post injury recovery and for overall strength and fitness.

So that is the other quality of ashwagandha with its ability to heal tissues, it’s like a natural anabolic herb, so it improves the muscle tone and power.  So it has a positive anabolic effect not only in muscle but also on nervous system, it strengthens the nervous system.

Even the name ashwagandha stands for back, which imparts the strength of stallion.  The genus and species isWithania somnifera and the word somnifera having to do with sleep, so it also affects the nervous system in terms of letting it relax and settle down which promotes restful sleep.

Ashwagandha has lots of qualities and I have mentioned here some of the key ones.  I would have to say that this is one of my top ones and I have used it and I have had lots of patients benefiting from it, not just in term of recovery after injuries but just building overall strength and fitness also.  I think it can be probably one of the most important herbs for most athletes as it can really help the recovery process.

If you want to learn more about ashwagandha, make sure to click on the link below and it will take you to my website where you can download my free e-book ‘Top 5 Herbs for Fitness’.  I have tons of information there on ashwagandha and many other herbs also.  If you have any questions make sure you leave a comment.  Please subscribe to the channel as I look forward to sharing more information with you guys.

 

How to detox your body naturally, detox your liver, kidneys and digestive system

In this video I am going to share with you how to detox your body with one of the best detox formulas called Triphala.

This is one of the most famous and widely used Ayruvedic formulas to address all sorts of health problems. it has been used for thousands of years to detox and rejuvenate the whole body.  It is an anti aging formula that can be taken by almost anyone to improve health and fitness.

It contains three herbs: Haritaki, Amalaki, and Bibhitaki.

Tweetables:

Here are Ways to Cleanse Your Body Naturally  [Click To Tweet]
Simple and Natural Ways to Detox your Body [Click To Tweet]
How to Detox Your Body at Home using Triphala  [Click To Tweet]

Where to buy Triphala?

  1. Organic Triphala

Transcript..

Hi everyone!  This is Manu Kalia.  I’m a physical therapist and Ayurveda herbalist.  Today I want to talk to you guys about one of my favorite ayurvedic herbal formulas. This formula is probably one of the most widely used herbal formulas in ayurvedic medicine and it is a part of lots of other formulations.  It’s probably one of the top 10 formulas out there in ayurvedic medicine.  The formula is quite amazing in terms of its ability to detoxify the system and rejuvenate the whole body.

The name of the formula is Triphala which essentially means three fruits and it is comprised of Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki.  As I mentioned it has been used for a thousand years in ayurvedic medicine to address all sorts of health issues as well as just overall rejuvenation and detoxification of the body.

I think it is probably one of the formulas that’s good for almost everybody to take with few exceptions, of course.  So I am going to discuss or share with you guys some of the key qualities of Triphala.  If you want to learn more about Triphala make sure you click on the link below and go to my website where you can get lot more information on Triphala.

One of the key qualities of Triphala is that it is a powerful detoxifier.  This formulation helps to remove toxins from the system at a macro level which is helping with proper bowel movements or elimination. It also helps at a micro level and opens up cellular channels within the body.  It opens up lots of channels, it removes toxins from them and also helps at a macro level where it helps you do proper elimination and proper bowel movement.

The good thing about Triphala is that it is non-habit forming.  It’s a mild laxative so it gently helps you to eliminate or removes toxins from the system.  Remember your liver, your skin, your GI system and your kidneys are some of the main excretory organs or systems so they help with elimination of toxins.  Triphala has the ability to rejuvenate or improve the health of these tissues which in effect improves the ability of the body to remove toxins and detoxify the system.

The other important quality of Triphala is that it has powerful antioxidant effects.  In fact one of the herbs in Triphala, which is Amalaki, is one of the highest sources of vitamin C.  The type of vitamin C it has is non-acidic and alkaline in nature.  Quite often lots of the other vitamin C sources out there such as citrus fruits and other things are very acidic, so some people cannot handle that.  But Amalaki is not acidic; it is more alkaline in nature and in addition to Vitamin C, it has lots of other antioxidant properties that are essential for rejuvenating and strengthening the whole body and preventing free radical damage to the cells, due to our modern lifestyle and constant exposure to environmental toxins.

Triphala is also a powerful anti-inflammatory formula.  It reduces the inflammatory effect that is taking place within the body which can help in all sorts of health issues also.

So I think it is a great formula to take and can be taken regularly. Of course there are few exceptions such as pregnancy, diarrhea, fever and few other things where you should avoid taking Triphala. Also you should always consult with your physician or your herbalist before you decide to take any herbal formula depending on the type of condition you’ve.  But Triphala is one of the best ones I think that can be taken regularly just to improve overall health and strength of the system, just improving the resilience of the system to handle external stresses.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Persons unknown medical conditions should consult with their physician before taking this or any other dietary supplement.  Information on this web site is not intended to replace a one-on-one  relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not  intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge  and information from the research and experience of us and others; we  encourage you to make your health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

(C) Copyright 2016 Manu Kalia All Rights Reserved

Best Detox Formula for Your Busy Life

Triphala is one of the most important herbal formulas in Ayurveda.  The recipe for this herbal mixture dates back thousands of years and is part of hundreds of formulations to treat various health problems.

Best Detox Formula for Your Busy LifeA popular Indian folk saying goes, “No mother? Do not worry so long as you have Triphala.”   This statement shows the importance given to Triphala throughout India.   As a mother cares for her children, Triphala takes care of your health and well being.

[Read more…]

Simple tips to burn fat and boost metabolism

In this video I am going to share with you some simple tips I teach my patients who are trying to improve their digestion and increase their metabolism to burn fat.

As I have said in a lot of my other videos and articles, the ability to digest food properly is the most important factor in getting proper nutrition from your food, to burn toxins and to burn fat for optimal health.

These principles may seem simple, but are very powerful for optimal health and fitness.
[Read more…]

Ginger and weight loss

In this video I am going to share with you how to lose weight, detox and improve your digestion with ginger.

It is a common herb used in many Ayurvedic formulas to improve digestion, cleanse toxins from the body, help reduce fever, as a potent pain reliever. It helps enkindle digestive fire resulting in improved metabolism and fat burning.

Hope you enjoyed the video on ginger to lose weight.  Don’t forget to leave a comment or question if you want to learn more about natural weight loss with supplements.

Tweetables:

Ginger Benefits for Health and Weight loss  [Click To Tweet]
How to Lose Weight and Detox with Ginger [Click To Tweet]
Natural Home Remedies to Lose Weight  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript

Hi everyone!  This is Manu Kalia, a physical therapist and Ayurveda herbalist.  Today I want to share with you guys about benefits of ginger.

Most of us know about ginger as it’s used as a spice in cooking but ginger has lots of health benefits also.  Some of the common ones that most people know about are for upset stomach, for digestive issues, for nausea and for upper respiratory problems like colds and coughs.  But the other benefit that ginger has is that it is very effective for improving digestion.

So regular intake of ginger not only enkindles your digestive fire to help you breakdown food better, it also helps with extraction of nutrition from that food.

The other benefit of ginger is that it helps to detox the body.  So a small piece of ginger sliced with a pinch of salt and few drops of lemon taken about 20-30 minutes before meals really helps improve your digestion — at least as per the ayurvedic medicine paradigm.

In Ayurveda it’s definitely recommended to have a piece of ginger before the meals, especially if you are trying to improve your digestion, improve your metabolism whether for weight loss or just for overall health.

You can also take ginger by making fresh ginger tea.  So about an inch long piece of ginger boiled in water and having that tea after your meals will help you digest that food and also detox the body.  Just keep in mind that dry ginger tends to be more heating while fresh ginger is not as heating.  So if you have heartburn or ulcer or those types of issues, better to stick with the fresh form of ginger, and use it in moderation.  I have brought a piece of ginger with me just to show you guys.  This is a fresh ginger root, which you can get from most grocery stores.  I think it is very effective not only for improving your digestion and metabolism, detoxifying the body but also for weight loss.

If your digestion is better, your system is detoxified, you are assimilating nutrition better, you are going to be not only healthier but itcan also really help with your weight loss too.

I hope you find this helpful and if you have any questions please leave a comment.  Make sure to click on the link below.  I have tons of information on gingers and lots of other herbs on my website and also lots of other natural fitness solutions.  Subscribe to the channel and I look forward to sharing more information with you guys.  Thank you.

This article is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician, physical therapist or medical practitioner before starting any exercise program or trying any of the herbal products/recommendations mentioned in this video/article.

Turmeric natural anti inflammatory and antioxidant

This video discusses the benefits of turmeric as a natural anti inflammatory and antioxidant herb.  Turmeric has been used in India and throughout the East for thousands of years.  Most people know of turmeric as the spice used in Indian cooking or curry.  It is what gives curry its yellow color.

However  is used to treat lots of diseases and it is such an amazing herb for maintaining health & fitness. Two important qualities of turmeric are its anti inflammatory function and antioxidant effect.

As one of the top anti inflammatory spices, it is a common ingredient in Ayurvedic formulas for pain relief and reducing inflammation associated with injury or degenerative joint disease. It is commonly used as one of the important anti inflammatory herbs and pain reliever immediately after injuries and for arthritis.   One of the active ingredients curcumin

Helps immune system as one of the most potent antioxidant foods. It is many times more powerful than Vitamin E and C, and one of the important sources of antioxidants to fight against damaging effects of free radicals.

Hope you enjoyed this video.  Click on the link to check out more  info on turmeric.

Tweetables:

How the Turmeric is one of the World’s Healthiest Foods  [Click To Tweet]
Benefits of Turmeric as a Natural Anti Inflammatory and Antioxidant Herb [Click To Tweet]
The Amazing Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin  [Click To Tweet]

Transcript…

Hi everyone!  This is Manu Kalia.  I’m a physical therapist and Ayurveda herbalist.  Today I want to talk to you guys about an ayurvedic herb, also used as a spice in majority of Indian cooking which is very effective for addressing all sorts of health problems and just maintaining overall health.  There has been a lot of research on this specific herb in the last few years and lots of talk about it also.  In fact a lot of my patients have been asking about this herb for quite a while now and whether they should use it regularly or it should be used to address certain health conditions.

The herb we are going to talk about is called turmeric.  Turmeric is something that gives Indian cooking or the curry more specifically that yellow color.  It’s used as a spice but it has tons of therapeutic benefits also.  Once again, it has been used for thousands of years throughout India, China and Southeast Asia and that entire region.  In fact even in Europe it has been used for over 700 years brought over by the traders, European traders, in 1200 or around that point.  So it has a long history of usage with great benefit to it.  I just want to highlight some of the important benefits of it although it has tons of beneficial effects.

Turmeric has a potent natural antiinflammatory effect.  In fact it’s part of many ayurvedic herbal formulations to reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis or other types of joint pains and also post injury recovery.  In fact in India after an acute injury or immediately after an injury turmeric is often given boiled in milk to somebody to internally affect the inflammatory process.  Externally also it is applied whether in sauté, heated oil or some other substances and then the paste is applied locally where it acts as an antiinflammatory.

Turmeric is also a potent antiseptic and antibiotic agent.  So it has multiple actions and its antiinflammatory effects are because it reduces the production of inflammatory chemicals like cytokines and also increases the production of chemicals that reduce inflammation.

So for regular consumption I take it regularly and I also often recommend my patients to take it for recovering after injuries or just to prevent inflammation and pain associated with that.

Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and it helps fight free radical damage.  What are free radicals?  Free radicals are basically any substance or molecule that has an unpaired electron which causes damage to other tissues and even to the DNA.  It is a highly reactive molecule and so we are constantly exposed to these environments. Overtime this exposure results in excessive wear and tear of the system and also premature aging.  Turmeric being a very potent antioxidant agent, possibly many times more powerful than vitamin E and vitamin C; it can be quite effective when regularly consumed and acts as an antiaging agent.  So that’s another beneficial effect of taking turmeric.

The other thing for which it’s used quite often in ayurvedic medicine is as a potent liver and blood cleanser.  As it cleanses the liver and blood, it can be very effective and helpful for regulating blood sugar levels and also for reducing cholesterol or just fat in the body.  In addition to all sorts of other health benefits it also gives you clear, beautiful and supple skin and so it’s used in lots of ayurvedic beauty products, and also because it cleanses the blood and the liver so it is quite effective for that also.

In fact there is a lot of research being done on Turmeric’s effectiveness even for Alzheimer’s.  It has been shown to prevent plaque formations that take place in Alzheimer’s, and anticancer properties such as suppressing the growth of tumors.  It might be part of the reason why Indians have low rates of certain types of cancers and even possibly low rates of Alzheimer’s because they are regularly consuming turmeric as a part of their diet; so basically they are getting some dosage of it in every meal.  I think it is very effective and also it can be a part of regular diet and provide great benefit to most of us and even just in terms of prevention and maintenance.

I brought a couple of actual samples.  This is the raw form of turmeric.  It looks kind of like ginger root, kind of the same family but not quite.  It’s a little bit darker in color.  If I just break it off and show you guys, you can see the distinctive deep yellowish color that it has.  This is a raw root, turmeric root.  You can of course consume it in raw form also and in powder form which is more easily accessible.  It has deep saffron or yellowish color and you can see this color right here, which can be added to your cooking, it can be added also or can be taken with little bit of warm water, can also be consumed in milk as it is quite often done in India.  It is boiled in milk and consumed that way also.

Turmeric has lots of benefits and these are just some of the main one I have just discussed.

I hope you find this video helpful and if you have any questions please leave a comment and also make sure to click on the link below and that will take you to my website where you can get lots of information of not just turmeric but lots of other herbs and natural fitness solutions also.  Make sure you subscribe to my channel and I look forward to sharing new information with you guys in the future.

Thank you.

This article is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician, physical therapist or medical practitioner before starting any exercise program or trying any of the herbal products/recommendations mentioned in this video/article.

 

Turmeric a natural anti inflammatory agent and potent antioxidant – many times more powerful than Vitamin E and C

Turmeric a natural anti inflammatory agent and potent antioxidantFor the past few years there has been a lot of news about benefits of Turmeric.  Quite a few of my patients ask me whether they should be taking turmeric regularly. I decided to write about turmeric because it is such an amazing herb and can benefit most of us.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been used for thousands of years to treat various health problems.  It is still used throughout India, China and the neighboring regions as a regular part of the daily diet.

Its use is not isolated to the East, Turmeric has been used in Europe for over 700 years brought over by the European traders from the East.  Present day Hawaiians use it too and call it Olena.

As one of the main spices used in most Indian dishes, it gives curry the distinct yellow color.  As you might remember from my last article, spices are not just for flavoring food, they are added to food for a therapeutic reason.

[Read more…]

5 weight loss spices ! Why these should be part of your regular diet?

Modern science is starting to discover the health benefits of spices for improving digestion, to achieve weight loss and for preventing diseases.

Although human beings have been using spices medicinally for thousands of years, most of us in the modern world use spices mainly for flavoring food.

[Read more…]

5 Things That Can Stop Your Weight Gain For Good

5 Things That Can Stop Your Weight Gain For GoodWe often talk about maintaining an ideal body weight for good health, but our body weight is not always an accurate indicator of our health.

As we grow old our activity level goes down, digestion becomes weaker and metabolism slows down resulting in loss of muscle mass and fat gain.

If our body weight remains the same in such a situation, it may be an indication of declining health and should be a matter of concern.

It’s not just the actual body weight, but the body composition or make up of your body that actually determines whether you are healthy or not.

[Read more…]

Fasting For Detox Weight Loss

Hi everyone, in this video I am going to share with you benefits of intermittent fasting for weight loss, to improving your digestion and speed metabolism.

Benefits of Fasting For Weight Loss

1. Improves digestion and relieve bloating, heaviness and slow sluggish digestion
2. Boosts metabolism to burn more calories and promote weight loss
3. Detoxification of the body to remove waste products
[Read more…]

Simple Ways to Lose Weight Naturally

Make sure you are not starving yourself to lose weight.  There are many simple and powerful solutions to help you lose weight.

In this video I am going to share with you some simple ways to lose weight naturally by improving your digestion to boost your metabolism and lose weight.

If you are asking yourself what do i do to lose weight here are some simple suggestions:

1. Avoid cold drinks, ice and cold or uncooked foods – these impair digestion and slow down the metabolism

[Read more…]

Tips On How To Lose Weight Without Eating Salads

In this video I am going to share with you reasons why you shouldn’t eat salads to lose weight. I am going discuss the eastern medicine perspective on weight loss.

Salads have a cold, dry, rough and hard quality which makes them difficult to digest causing digestive problems and slows down the metabolism.

[Read more…]

Tips on how to lose weight fast with herbal supplements

Guggulu or Commiphora Mukul is known in Sanskrit as “one that protects against diseases”. This statement shows the respect given to this botanical for its therapeutic and medicinal action in Ayurveda.

It balances all systems of the body and is one of the most important herbs for removal of “ama”. “Ama” refers to toxins that accumulate in the body because of poor digestion and slow metabolism.

[Read more…]

Best fat loss supplement – Shilajit

In this video I am going to share with you info on one of the best fat loss supplement in Ayurveda – Shilajit.

Shilajit is a herbo-mineral compound collected from the rocks of the Himalayas in summer and has a pale-brown to blackish brown color. This amazing herb is known in Ayurveda as the “conqueror of mountains and destroyer of all weakness” and “conqueror of rocks”.

It is classified as a “Rasayana” or herbal tonic and immuno modulator in Ayurvedic medicine. An immuno modulator is a substance which balances and improves body’s immune response to fight bacteria, viruses, etc., while maintaining health. It is composed of humus, organic plant matter and fulvic acid and traditionally used as an antioxidant, anti aging and adaptogenic compound to treat a variety of diseases. Its role in promoting overall fitness is well known in India.

Shilajit is one of the best fat burning weight loss herbal supplements

It has well established “fat scraping action” to lower body fat and increases lean muscle mass. According to Ayurveda, Shilajit possesses “lekhaniya” or fat scraping qualities that remove excess fat and accumulations in the body. In addition, it helps cleanse your body while boosting thyroid function for a healthy metabolism and a toned physique. All these qualities make is a powerful natural weight loss supplement.

Tweetables:

Shilajit is the Best Fat Burning Weight Loss Herbal  [Click To Tweet]
Weight Loss and Weight Control with Shilajit [Click To Tweet]
Safe and Effective Fat Loss Herbs You Need To Know About  [Click To Tweet]

Thank you  for watching this video.

This video is for educational purposes only. Please consult with you physician or physical therapist before starting any exercise program or trying any of the recommendations mentioned in this video.

Joint pain relief using natural solutions

Ayurvedic (East Indian holistic medical system) perspective on joint pain relief.

Joint pain relief using natural solutionsAyurveda treats musculo-skeletal problems holistically, taking into account the whole physiology, psychology and physical presentation of the person and the problem. The goal of the treatment is to restore homeostasis and to bring the person back to their natural psycho-physiological baseline or constitution.

Joint pain relief treatment is based on bringing the disturbed Dosha (Energetic principles that govern all biological processes in the body – Vata, Pitta and Kapha respectively) back into a balanced state.

This is achieved by diet, lifestyle, Marma (Ayurvedic Acupressure) massage with herbal oils, use of herbal poultices, Nadi Svedan (herbal steam treatments), herbal oil dhara (oil dripping) treatment on the affected body parts, herbal formulations and Panchakarma (detoxification and rejuvenation therapies).

The focus is on opening up blockages in micro-channels of the injured tissues, to remove toxins or metabolic waste products from these tissues, to improve metabolic capacity of the injured tissue for proper uptake and assimilation of nutrients and to improve macro and micro digestion of the whole system.

Opening up of channels facilitates flow of Prana or Qi or energy.   Prana is the cellular intelligence that controls proper movement and functioning of the whole system.   Removal of blockages also allows for proper circulation at the micro-cellular level providing nutrition and removal of metabolic waste products.    With right movement of Prana and circulation the tissue is given an optimal environment for recovery.

[Read more…]

Medicinal herbs for health and fitness

Manu Kalia herbs for health and fitness

Medicinal herbs for health and fitness …

Medicinal herbs have been used to treat disease, promote health and used as a food source throughout human history.  Ancient medical systems such as Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Western Herbalism have thousands of years of experience treating disease and maintaining health and wellness.  These systems have used scientific inquiry with experiential knowledge to learn how diet, lifestyle, environment and herbal therapies affect human beings.

Herbal medicine is an important pillar of health and is currently being used by billions of people throughout the world.   The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the world’s population continues to use herbal medicine for health care.  Even in the US, surveys have found that nearly half of all Americans use herbs.   Though this contemporary use of herbs in the US has become more accepted in the past 25 years or so, there are still a lot of misconceptions and concerns when it comes to using herbs.

There are many good reasons to take medicinal herbs to supplement your health.  The best reason is the fact that medicinal herbs and herbal products have been used for thousands of years, throughout the world by various civilization and contemporary cultures while providing real benefit and an excellent safely record.   All herbs considered to be poisonous or toxic by FDA are not available to the public for use.   According to a 174-page report just published in the National Poison Data System, in 2008 there were zero deaths across America by vitamins, minerals, amino acids or herbal supplements.

Compare this to the 100,000 or so Americans who die every year due to pharmaceuticals alone.  Aspirin and aspirin containing products alone account about 30,000 deaths per year.  After heart disease and cancer, Iatrogenic death, or medicine induced death is the third leading cause of death in the US today.
[Read more…]

Ayurvedic perspective on joint pain and herbal remedies

Ayurveda looks at the problem much more holistically, taking into account the whole physiology, psychology and physical presentation of the person and the problem.   The goal of the treatment is to restore homeostasis and to bring the person back to their natural psycho-physiological baseline or constitution.

Treatment is based on bringing the disturbed Dosha (Energetic principles that govern all biological processes in the body – Vata, Pitta and Kapha respectively) back into a balanced state.  This is achieved by diet, lifestyle, Marma (Ayurvedic Acupressure) massage with herbal oils, use of herbal poultices, Nadi Svedan (herbal steam treatments), herbal oil dhara (oil dripping) treatment on the affected body parts, herbal formulations and Panchakarma (detoxification and rejuvenation therapies).

The focus is on opening up blockages in micro-channels of the injured tissues, to remove toxins or metabolic waste products from these tissues, to improve metabolic capacity of the injured tissue for proper uptake and assimilation of nutrients and to improve macro and micro digestion of the whole system.  Opening up of channels facilitates flow of Prana or Qi or energy.   Prana is the cellular intelligence that controls proper movement and functioning of the whole system.   Removal of blockages also allows for proper circulation at the micro-cellular level providing nutrition and removal of metabolic waste products.    With right movement of Prana and circulation the tissue is given an optimal environment for recovery.

Assessment focuses on the affected Dhatu or tissue, the state of the Dosha, the type of pain, state of Agni (digestive fire or digestive/metabolic capacity of the system), presence of Ama (toxins) and functioning of the excretory systems.  This detailed examination of the person allows an Ayurvedic practitioner to accurately determine the disturbance in the system and choose the appropriate therapies to treat the whole system.

In addition to looking at the location of pain, the cause of injury and the structures involved – joint, muscle, ligaments, tendons, etc, Ayurveda pays close attention to the type of pain one is suffering from.  It classifies pain according to the Doshas and presence of Ama.

Tweetables:

Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Hip Pain and Injury  [Click To Tweet]
Keep Your Joints Healthy With Ayurveda Herbal [Click To Tweet]
Ayurvedic Medicine: Natural Treatment of Joint Pain  [Click To Tweet]

Types/nature of pain:

-Vata type of pain is radiating, shooting, shifting, cutting, pulsating, moving, fluctuating, vague/confusing, comes and goes, worst at dawn or dusk, shivering, body can feel cold, person feels restless or anxious, creates insomnia, emotionally person might have fear or anxiety, standing creates pain, worst during Autumn season, worst with movement, feels better with heat, moisture and firm pressure.

-Pitta pain is burning, pulling, sharp, inflammatory, fever, might have complaints of nausea and vomiting, irritability and anger, penetrating, worst at mid day and mid night, increased perspiration, body feels hot and with redness, flushed face, insomnia, perforation, diarrhea and vomiting, worst during summer season, aggravated by firm pressure or deep massage, feels better with cold.

-Kapha pain is heavy, dull, deep, mild, aching, long standing, pain with stooping or bending over, chronic, worst early AM and PM, congestion in lungs, swelling, heaviness, able to sleep in pain, emotionally can feel depressed or lousy, generalized pain throughout the body, pain worst in spring season, lingering, worst in cold or damp weather, feels better with dry heat, deep massage and deep pressure relieves symptoms.

-Ama or toxin related pain is heavy, dull, mild, aching, even the hair hurts, debilitating, generalized pain all over the body, pain varies according to Ama level, heavy coating on tongue, bad breath, deep pain, sluggish or sleepy, mental confusion, pain anytime and can be all the time, feeling drowsy and lousy.  Feel better with ginger tea and fasting.

For example, a Vata problem would present as a complaint of cracking, popping in the joint, feeling of instability or giving out, possibly muscle atrophy or wasting might be present, moving or shifting pain, pain is aggravated by movement and increased activity level, dry, cold or windy weather would aggravate these symptoms.  Symptoms are relieved by heat, massage with warm Mahanarayan oil or Sesame oil, rest, staying warm and avoiding movement and excessive activity.  Nadi Svedan (herbal steam therapy) or warm herbal poultices can also be applied to the joint to relieve pain, improve circulation/lymphatic flow and facilitate healing.  Use of herbal formulas like Yograj Guggulu and herbs like Ashwagandha, Tagar, Jatamamsi, Musta, Bala, etc. can be very beneficial for reducing pain and inflammation while strengthening the joint and local muscles.

Pitta related pain would be treated with a Pitta pacifying diet and lifestyle.  Emphasis of treatment is on cool, soft, dry therapies reducing excess heat, sharp and penetrating qualities of Pitta.  Herbal formulations like Kaishore Guggulu, Gulwel Satva or herbs like Turmeric, Musta are good anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.   Cold pack, Castor oil or Mahanarayan oil massage is recommended to relieve Pitta type of pain in the joint.

Kapha related pain would be treated with a Kapha pacifying diet and lifestyle.  Emphasis of treatment is on warm, light, dry and mobile therapies to reduce the slow, congestive, cool and sluggish nature of Kapha.  Herbal remedies for joint pain like Punarnavadi Guggulu, herbs like Punarnava, Musta, Ashwagandha, Shilajeet, etc. would be used to control swelling, heaviness or dull ache.    Massage with Mahanarayan oil, application of dry heat and movement of the joint is recommended to relieve Kapha type of pain in the joint.

Ayurvedic treatments can be very effective in removing the specific cause of the problem and achieving lasting relief.  This ancient medical system can help the body heal from within while bringing the person back to their natural state of wellbeing.

Natural pain relief solutions discussed in the post:

  1. Kaishore guggulu tablets for pain relief and natural anti-inflammatory
  2. Ashwagandha powder for improving strength
  3. Mahanarayan oil for massage
  4. Yogaraj Guggulu tablets for joint recovery and pain relief
  5. Musta powder strengthens digestion, eliminates natural toxins, natural pain reliever
  6. Punarnava one of the best herbs for balancing and reducing kapha
  7. Punarnavadi Guggulu tablets for kapha type of dull or heavy pain, swelling

Research

1.  Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Waterman PG, Chapman J, Mhango GJ, Provan GJ. Anti-inflammatory activity of resins from some species of the plant family Burseraceae. Planta Med . 1993;59:12-16.

2. Sharma JN. Comparison of the anti-inflammatory activity of Commiphora mukul (an indigenous drug) with those of phenylbutazone and ibuprofen in experimental arthritis induced by mycobacterial adjuvant. Arzneimittelforschung . 1977;27:1455-1457.

3. Singh BB, Mishra LC, Vinjamury SP, Aquilina N, Singh VJ, Shepard N. The effectiveness of Commiphora mukul for osteoarthritis of the knee: an outcomes study. Altern Ther Health Med . 2003;9:74-79.

 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent anydisease. Persons unknown medical conditions should consult with their physician before taking this or any other dietary supplement.  Information on this web site is not intended to replace a one-on-one  relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not  intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge  and information from the research and experience of us and others; we  encourage you to make your health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

(C) Copyright 2016 Manu Kalia All Rights Reserved

Side Effects of Anti inflammatory and Analgesic Medications and Injections – NSAID’s

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are used both for pain control and for controlling inflammation.  Drugs in this category include Ibuprofen, Naproxyn, Aleve, Orudis, Feldene, Relafen, Ansaid, etc.  All of these drugs have shown to have side effects.

1.  Gastrointestinal Side Effects: Some common complaints include nausea, stomach upset and bloating.  More serious side effects include gastric bleeding and ulcers.  Urgent problems such as complaints of significant fatigue, lightheadedness, vomiting blood, stools with blood or black discoloration might indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.  NSAIDS may also cause liver abnormalities, manifesting as Jaundice, yellow skin or yellow discoloration of the eyes.

[Read more…]

Herbal pain relief following arthroscopic knee surgery for Chondromalacia Patella

What are some natural solutions for recovery following arthroscopic knee surgery for chondromalacia patellae?

I recommend you get a  Physical Therapist to make sure your rehab is successful before you  get back to exercising or athletic activity.  Non-weight bearing exercises will help you strengthen the local muscles above and below the joint.  Avoid bending the knee over 45 degrees if you have too much pain with bending the knee while doing the exercises.  You can also keep the knee straight while doing exercises if repetitive bending causes more pain.

Using a stationary bike can help with cardiovascular fitness without loading the joint.  However you have to make sure  the bike seat is raised to atleast 100 degrees of knee bending to make sure there isn’t much compressive load on the patello-femoral joint.  Make sure there is no resistance on the bike.

Rehabilitation guidelines will also depend on whether there is any ligament, meniscus, articular cartilage or other soft tissue injury.

For more information on Physical Therapy and natural solutions refer to our knee injury recovery kit here

In Ayurveda, treatment guidelines would include massage with Mahanarayan oil or castor oil.  Herbal formulas such as kaishore guggulu for joint inflammation, swelling and pain.  Ashwagandha for muscle and joint healing and improving strength.  Yogaraj Guggulu for healing the joint and reducing pain.  Triphala for to detox the body and improve metabolism.

Ayurvedic herbs and oils for recovery:

  1. Kaishore guggulu tablets for reducing pain and inflammation
  2. Ashwagandha powder for improving strength
  3. Mahanarayan oil for massage
  4. Yogaraj Guggulu tablets for joint recovery and pain relief
  5. Triphala powder for detoxification

Tweetables:

Herbal pain relief solutions  [Click To Tweet]
Herbal Pain Relief Solutions Following Knee Surgery [Click To Tweet]
Chondromalacia Patella Treatment [Click To Tweet]

Research

1.  Duwiejua M, Zeitlin IJ, Waterman PG, Chapman J, Mhango GJ, Provan GJ. Anti-inflammatory activity of resins from some species of the plant family Burseraceae. Planta Med . 1993;59:12-16.

2. Sharma JN. Comparison of the anti-inflammatory activity of Commiphora mukul (an indigenous drug) with those of phenylbutazone and ibuprofen in experimental arthritis induced by mycobacterial adjuvant. Arzneimittelforschung . 1977;27:1455-1457.

3. Singh BB, Mishra LC, Vinjamury SP, Aquilina N, Singh VJ, Shepard N. The effectiveness of Commiphora mukul for osteoarthritis of the knee: an outcomes study. Altern Ther Health Med . 2003;9:74-79.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent anydisease. Persons unknown medical conditions should consult with their physician before taking this or any other dietary supplement.  Information on this web site is not intended to replace a one-on-one  relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not  intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge  and information from the research and experience of us and others; we  encourage you to make your health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.


(C) Copyright 2016 Manu Kalia All Rights Reserved

Detox diet recipe to improve digestion and improve metabolism

Detox diet recipe to improve digestion and improve metabolismKitchari is a mixture of rice and Mung dal (bean) with added spices for taste and to facilitate digest.  Ayurveda considers both Basmati rice and Mung dal Sattvic foods (foods that are light and easy to digest).

Kitchari is balancing for all three Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha).  It is a complete food where Mung bean provides the protein source, rice is the grain, vegetables for vitamins/minerals and spices for helping proper digestion of the food.

Mung beans and Turmeric also help detoxify the Liver and blood.  Since Liver is the main organ responsible for removing toxins, this recipe cleanses the body while improving health and vitality.

Detox Diet Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice
½ cup split mung dal
2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds/powder
1 pinches hing (asafotida)
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon salt 4 cups water (add up to 6 cups for soupy consistency)

Wash the rice and mung dal well.  In a saucepan, heat the ghee and sauté the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, tumeric and hing for a few minutes.

Add the rice, 2-3 vegetables, Mung dal and salt. Sauté over low heat for a few minutes. Add boiling water and bring to boil.  Stir and cover to simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Cook until tender and serve warm.

Herbs discussed in this post:

  1. Turmeric
  2. Cumin seed powder
  3. Kitchari spice mix – the complete kitchari spice mix with all the herbs and spices included

Tweetables:

Safe Natural Ways to Detox for Improving Metabolism  [Click To Tweet]
Powerful Tips to Improve Your Digestive [Click To Tweet]
How Kitchari can help Improve Digestion  [Click To Tweet]

*This information is for education purposes only.  Please consult your Physician, Physical Therapist or Wellness Practitioner before starting any rehabilitation, wellness or fitness program.  These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

(C) Copyright 2016 Manu Kalia All Rights Reserved

How to Detox safely to improve digestion and metabolism

How to Detox safely to improve digestion and metabolismHere are some Ayurvedic lifestyle and dietary guidelines on how to detox safely.  I hope these help you on your journey to better health. According to Ayurveda proper digestion and absorption of food and water are essential to maintain good health, while improper elimination of toxins (ama) from the body can lead to various health problems.

Improper food combining, suppressing natural urges, insufficient water intake, a diet low in fiber, excessive meat consumption and lack of exercise amongst other reasons can lead to constipation and other digestive problems.

[Read more…]

Better sleep and rest with natural sleep aids

Insomnia can be defined by one or more of the following:

—Trouble falling asleep

–Waking up a lot during the night with trouble returning to sleep

–Waking up too early in the morning

–Not feeling well rested even after sleeping 7 to 8 hours at night

Insomnia and fatigue are considered amongst some of the common health problems facing people today. More and more people are experiencing sleep problems secondary to increased stress levels caused by hyper-active lifestyles and lack of balance in their daily lives. Sleep problems have been linked to various health problems, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and depression.

[Read more…]

Eliminate stress and improve your health and fitness

Poor health habits combined with a stressful lifestyle can contribute to excessive wear and tear on our bodies, resulting in various health problems and a poor quality of life.

Eliminate stress and improve your health and fitnessThe purpose of this article is to educate you regarding the healthy living paradigm, enabling you to achieve and maintain physical and mental well being.  Emphasis is on stress and lifestyle management to help you achieve your life purpose.

Common symptoms of increased stress level:

Prolonged exposure to stress increases your risk of everything from heart disease, obesity, and infection to anxiety, depression, and memory problems.

Common symptoms of poor health habits:

Ranging from various diseases, pre-mature aging, increased incidence of injuries, mental and emotional unrest and overall poor quality of life.

Components of a health living paradigm:

[Read more…]

Health benefits of drinking water from a copper cup…modern day proof for the Ayurvedic health practice.

Interesting article supports widely used practice of drinking from, eating in and cooking with Copper, Silver and even Gold cups, plates and pots in India.  Ancient Ayurvedic practices hold true to testing in the modern age.

Water kept overnight in a copper cup and consumed first thing in the morning.  Beneficial for reducing excess Kapha and fat.  Good tonic for liver, spleen and the lymphatic system.

Silver is benficial for reducing excess Pitta or inflammatory conditions.  Improves strength, stamina, anti-bacterial, antiseptic and disinfectant.

Gold for strengthening heart, nervous system, improve stamina and to improve mental faculties.  Gold is best used for Vata and Kapha constitutions.  It has heating properties and thus should be used sparingly for Pitta constitutions.

Copper effective at inactivating H1N1

Tweetables:

Drink Water from a Copper Vessel To health Benefits  [Click To Tweet]
Why Copper Cups Are The Newest Health Trend [Click To Tweet]
The Healing Properties of Water Stored in Copper  [Click To Tweet]

*This information is for education purposes only.  Please consult your Physician, Physical Therapist or Wellness Practitioner before starting any rehabilitation, wellness or fitness program.  These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

(C) Copyright 2011 Manu Kalia All Rights Reserved

Having trouble sleeping? Consider these natural sleep aids

Insomnia or problems with sleep can fall under one or more of the following:

–Trouble falling asleep

–Problem sleeping through the night

–Waking up too early in the morning

–Not feeling well rested even after sleeping 7 to 8 hours at night

[Read more…]

What’s your mind body type?

Vata (comprised of air + space): is the controller (neurological system), principle of change, principle of movement,  whether it is the physical movement of the body or thought, neuro-electrical impulses, wind blowing outside, gas/burping – air in the body.   Also the catabolic, degenerative principle.  Psychologically give us imagination, flexibility.

The psycho-physiological manifestation in a person with these qualities (constitutionally/genetically, whether physical or mental): Ectomorph, thin frame, small muscles, bones, dry skin, frizzy hair, dandruff, prone to constipation, insomnia, fast movements, always moving (changing jobs, relationships, religions, etc), can’t sit still, psychologically – ungrounded (prone to anxiety, fear, nervous), emotionally unstable “next mood swing in 5 mins”.  Prone to arthritis or other neurological issues.  Dysmenorrhea, Amenorrhea, Irregular menstruation, difficulty conceiving, etc.  Weakness, fatigue – neuromuscular system.

However when in balance, will not have the above mentioned negative issues.  The predominance of excess Vata constitutionally in the system makes them more prone to having these problems.  Your excess qualities always get vitiated.  Like increases like.

[Read more…]

Meditation for mental fitness

Meditation for mental fitnessMeditation is constant observation of the self.  It is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, “thinking” mind into a deeper state of relaxation.  It helps one to become calm from external distractions and influences.

Meditation techniques can help one develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight.  It gives the ability to halt the incessant chatter and focus the mind.  When the waves of the lake are stilled you can see the bottom clearly.

[Read more…]

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