Stop Diabetes

Type one, insulin-dependent diabetes is incurable through both Western and Ayurvedic medicine though both can help with management. Once the cells that produce insulin are destroyed, there is no known way to bring them back. Thus, it is necessary to take insulin into the body via injections.

Avoid Diabetes – Eat Right and try an Ayurvedic Lifestyle

Fruits, while having so many health benefits should be avoided by those with diabetes as they increase fluidity and have a high sugar content.  Patients should use less oil in general but light oils like safflower are better than heavy oils like sesame and olive. Of course, simple sugars as found in sugary snacks should be completely avoided.  It is also important to reduce salt while increasing the hot, spiciness of food. This diet not only balances kapha dosha but it will help a person who is heavy to lose weight. In addition to following a proper diet, exercise is important. Not only does it help a person lose weight, exercise actually opens up the gateway into the cells allowing sugar to enter. It does this all by itself without the help of insulin. While diet and exercise are important, herbs can be used as well to lower blood sugar levels. Bitter herbs in general are beneficial but the most famous sugar lowering herbs are gurmar (Gymnea sylvestre) , Shallajit (Asphaltum) and Saptaranga (Pteracarpus marsupium ) are all renowned for this purpose.

If you suffer from Diabetes Mellitus, consider an ayurvedic program. It might just change your life!

Tulsi

In another story Lord Vishnu tricks the wife of a demon, who is causing great havoc, into believing that her husband, the demon is dead. He then appears to heal the dead body and Lord Vishnu himself takes the form of her husband. She embraces him with passion. In India, it is a disgrace to embrace a man who is not your husband, even if tricked. This is necessary to weaken the demon as his strength came from the purity of his wife. This new impurity within her weakens her husband and he is defeated. His wife then commits suicide. This causes Lord Vishnu to become depressed. He did not intend to harm the demon’s wife. To alleviate his depression the other Gods plant Tulsi on the cremation ground. Tulsi is considered one of Lord Vishnu’s favorite herbs and this lifts him from depression.

It is the leaf of the Tulsi plant that is most commonly used as medicine. Tulsi is light, dry, rough and sharp. These qualities increase in the body when the herb is ingested. Because of this, tulsi is an excellent herb to take when you have a mucous cough and stuffed sinuses. Tulsi helps dry up the mucous so you can breathe freely. It also reduces the formation of new mucous. People with asthma who cough up a lot of mucous also benefit from taking this herb. Tulsi is classified as an expectorant (makes it easier to expel mucous), cough suppressant (reduces the intensity of a cough) and a bronchodilator (makes it easier to breath). However, the benefits of Tulsi go even further. Tulsi has antimicrobial properties which help the body defeat bacteria and viruses. Naturally, this makes it even more effective as a part of complete treatment program for the common cold and flu.

The benefits of Tulsi go beyond the body. Tulsi is a wonderful herb for the mind. A study published in 2008 in Nepal followed 35 patients taking tulsi. The results showed tulsi to be effective in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression. It decreased the effects of stress and improved attention (1).

Given the story of Lord Vishnu above and the recent studies on Tulsi, it is clear that taking Tulsi will support your mind. It eases anxiety and it lifts you out of depression. Tulsi takes your mind into a good place, a place where you can reach toward the divine, a place where you can reach your full potential, a place where you can fly.

Tulsi by itself is best for alleviating kapha dosha. Mixed properly with other herbs, it can be a part of a formula to bring any dosha into balance.

References:
1. Nepal Med Coll J. 2008 Sep;10(3):176-9. Controlled programmed trial of Ocimum sanctum leaf on generalized anxiety disorders.

Jojoba

Jojoba oil is famous for applying to the skin of patients with acne as well as for patients with dry or cracked skin. The natural wax esters found in the oil are classified as emollients. Emollients penetrate the epidermis (outer layer) of skin and make it softer and more pliable and thus less likely to crack when stretched. They also create a layer of protection for the skin against wind and sun, both of which cause water to evaporate from the surface of the skin, drying the skin out. By sealing in the moisture and at the same time making the skin more pliable, it is difficult to imagine better oil for dry skin. Because of its extraordinary hydrating ability, jojoba is also on the front lines of oil that are being used to reduce small wrinkle lines on the face.

Scientists believe that its unique biochemistry makes it very similar to the natural oil secreted by the sebaceous glands within our skin. These oil secreting glands produce oil called sebum. When jojoba oil is applied to the skin, it is believed that the homeostatic regulatory system of the body perceives that adequate oil has been produced. As a result, the local sebaceous glands produce may secrete less oil making the oil safe to use on oily skin. And, because the jojoba oil is not exactly the same as sebum, it is less likely to participate in the formation of acne.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, jojoba oil has a cooling, moist and light nature. This makes it most beneficial for skin that tends to be red or dry as well as skin that is prone to boils and cysts. It pacifies all three doshas but is best for vata and pitta dosha. Because it is lighter than many other oils (jojoba is a monounsaturated oil) it is safe for kapha dosha even though it increases moisture in the body. The light quality of the oil prevents blockages within the skin pores that are common to heavier oils.

Liquid wax esters have played a very important role in our history. They are the basis of lubricants used in the gears of most machines, most notably, the automobile. The gears of machines need to be lubricated to avoid excessive friction, which leads to breakdowns. Liquid wax esters are protective against heat and against oxidation. For this reason, most oils have some liquid wax esters added to them. This prevents the oils from going rancid (oxidation) and increases the lubrication factor. For decades, the most common source of liquid wax esters was sperm whale oil. After its use was outlawed in 1972, scientists went looking for new sources. Some tried to synthesize it. Others found natural alternatives. Jojoba oil is the only known plant source of liquid ester. Its oil is more than 97% wax esters, the highest known percentage of any plant or animal oil. (1)

Because the jojoba tree is difficult to grow in regions outside of the Sonoran Desert, jojoba seed oil has not become a replacement for Sperm whale oil in mechanical devices. Most machines now use synthetic oils instead of sperm whale oil. Today, jojoba seed oil mainly comes from cultivated trees grown on farms. The cosmetic industry consumes most of the production of jojoba oil, namely for its remarkable healing effects upon the skin.

A 2012 peer-reviewed study, published in Germany, showed that a facial mask (clay) prepared with jojoba oil applied 2-3 times per week for 6 weeks resulted in a greater than 59% reduction of lesions in patients with mild acne vulgaris. (2).
I highly recommend jojoba oil, and products containing jojoba oil for anyone looking to improve the complexion of their skin.

References
1. Studies on Wax Esters in Fish: http://nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/animal/5E.pdf
2. Clay jojoba oil facial mask for lesioned skin and mild acne—result of a prospective observational pilot study. Immanuel Hospital, Department of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Charite’ University Medical Center, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Berlin, Germany. Forsch Komplementmed 2012;19(2):75-9. Epub 2012 Apr 19.

Acai berry (Euterpe olercea) is about the size of grape and native to the region of the Amazon rain forest. It comes from the Acai Palm tree, the same tree that gives the delicious “Hearts of Palm”. The berries can be taken internally and the oil of the seeds within the berry can be applied topically. One of the exciting findings about acai berries is that they are a whole food rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants have numerous benefits in the body. One of them is to protect the cells of the body from damage, particularly damage to the DNA.

The acai berry has very large seed content. These seeds are gathered and then pressed into natural green oil. The cold pressed oil has a very high antioxidant value and can be applied topically to the skin. Applied topically, acai prevent the skin from being damaged.

Acai Fruit Harvest and Market

There are a few major causes of skin damage. The key players are sunlight, cigarette smoking, polluted air and the intake of pesticides. These substances damage the skin cells creating what is called “free radicals.” Free radicals are rogue cells that then go on to damage other cells creating more free radicals. Some of the cells however with damaged DNA go on to become cancerous cells.

Free radicals are normally kept in check by antioxidants in the body. The goal of super-nutrition and the use of topical products are to prevent the formation of free radicals and to destroy the free radicals that are formed. The chemicals that destroy free radicals are called antioxidants. Antioxidants are found throughout nature in our fruits and vegetables. They help to combat the effects of environmental toxins. However, as environmental stress rises, so too does the need for the use of those substances that have a high concentration of antioxidants. Acai berry appears to be one of those substances. The Acai berry has high levels of vitamin C, poly phenols and anthocyanins (flavonoids) each of which are powerful antioxidants. In fact, the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value of Acai berries is extraordinary. The ORAC value is a system of rating the antioxidant benefits of various substances. The ORAC value of Acai berries are one of the highest among all fruits!

There is not much that is known about the ayurvedic energetic of Acai at this time. Neither the fruit nor oil are used in India. I’ll continue to experiment with the oil and write about its ayurvedic energetic at a later date.

The pure science supports the benefits of Acai berry however it is important to note that human studies have not been performed and thus it cannot be stated with certainty that Acai offer miraculous benefits. However, there is enough evidence to suggest that it is beneficial and there is no evidence to suggest that it is harmful. For these reasons, I highly recommend the use of acai berries internally and its oil topically.

References:
1. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010 Jun; 9(6 Suppl):S72-81; quiz s82-3.Innovations in natural ingredients and their use in skin care. Fowler, Woolery-Lloyd H, Waldorf H, Saini R. Source University of Louisville, Division of Dermatology, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. fowlerjoe@msn.com.
2. ORAC Values: http://www.oracvalues.com/sort/orac-value