Ayurveda – In Sync with Nature

We hear about the need for ‘saving the environment’ all the time. Despite knowing everything, what do we really do about it – plant trees, use non-polluting gases for transportation, and organize campaigns like Save Water or Protect Forests? But is that enough? On this World Environment Day, I urge our readers to follow Ayurveda, the world’s oldest science of healing, which helps individuals get in sync with nature to lead a balanced, happy and productive lives.

According to Ayurveda, everything in this universe is the product of different combinations of the five basic elements: Earth (Prithvi), Water (Jal), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), and Space (Akash). The human body too is physically made up of exactly the same elements that form all of the other entities that inhabit the earth. Ayurveda propounds the principle of natural balance within the body and harmony with the environment. People are seen as an integral part of their habitat – not as a separate entity from the natural world. Obtaining and maintaining balance within the body and mind, and with the external environment, is one of the goals of this knowledge. Living in harmony with nature and according to natural principles ensures complete physical health and peace of mind.

The basic elemental compatibility between the universe and humans tells us why substances found in the natural world (plants, herbs, foods) are usually harmonious with the human system. They can be easily absorbed and cause no adverse reactions or side-effects (if consumed in appropriate quantities) because they are fundamentally the same in character and composition. Foods and herbs are able to repair and restructure humans because they share a common elemental basis.

The nature gives us ample resources to maintain the balance in our bodies and in the environment. However, we seldom make use of them due to our own ignorance. Because we are forever short of time, we prefer to opt for quick-fix solutions instead of giving nature a chance to help us. At Jiva, it is our mission to propagate an Ayurvedic way of life that helps in maintaining health and benefiting the environment. We believe, if every human being adopts Ayurveda as part of his life – eats fresh, natural food, leads an active lifestyle by exercising regularly, practices Yoga and meditation, and uses herbal medicines and products – we can together make a big contribution to the world around us.

To help people adopt an Ayurvedic way of life, I have developed the Jivananda (Jiva means ‘soul’ and Ananda means ‘bliss’) program – a lifestyle regimen that includes simple routines and practices to usher in perpetual happiness into our lives. It uses a balanced and holistic approach that is easy, comfortable and entirely convenient. It teaches people in the busy life of today to lead a natural life. While living a natural life one can experience all the benefits of flowing with the powerfully creative energy force, rather than resisting it, which many do, unconsciously. When one lives a life in accord with natural laws, so much more can be achieved by doing less. This is the supreme style of living.

Let’s take a pledge that we will not just ‘plant trees’ or ‘save water’; we will also do something real and long-lasting to help the environment. Start leading an Ayurvedic way of life with Jivananda and see the difference it makes to the environment you live in.

Wishing you Health and Happiness

Psoriasis – A Jiva TeleMedicine Center Case Study

Monsoon is one of the worst seasons as far as the skin is concerned. Whether you have a seasonal infection or a chronic skin disease, Ayurveda offers the right natural solution for your problem. Through this case study of Psoriasis – a common skin disorder – we would like to highlight how Ayurveda helps treat skin ailments.

The Case

Mr. Kushal Singh (name changed), a 67-year-old retired government official from Kanpur, India, had the problem of cracking of heels from the age of twelve. For the last ten years, he has had red patches of thickened, raised and dry skin on his hands and legs. This skin flaked off sporadically and he even experienced swelling in winters. The patient had additional complaints of constipation, flatulence and anorexia.

History of Treatment

For ten years, Mr. Singh had been taking medicines for his condition. The patient was administered bath solutions and moisturizers, mineral oils, and petroleum jelly to soothe affected skin and reduce the dryness which accompanies the build-up of skin on psoriatic plaques. He was also taking strong medication on a daily basis to keep the problem in control.

On someone's recommendation, the patient called the Jiva TeleMedicine Center to try Ayurveda as an option in addition to his ongoing treatment.

What is Psoriasis?

The Modern View

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disorder that causes scaling and inflammation. It is suspected to be autoimmune in origin. The scaly patches caused by Psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production.

The Ayurvedic View

According to Ayurveda, Psoriasis or Mandal can be caused by an imbalance of any of the three Doshas or Ayurvedic humors in the body. In Mr. Singh’s case, the prime doshas involved are Vata and Pitta. Vata symbolizes air or wind and is cold, dry, mobile, and light in nature; Pitta symbolizes fire and is heating in nature. Vata and Pitta manifest in the skin and cause accumulation of ama or toxins. These toxins accumulate in body tissues such as rasa (nutrient plasma),rakta (blood), mansa (muscles) and lasika (lymph). These toxins cause further contamination of deeper tissues, leading to skin conditions like Psoriasis.

Jiva’s Treatment Plan

According to Ayurveda, most skin problems have deep-rooted causes that are often ignored. Use of local creams or antibiotics can only mask the symptoms; they do not provide long-term relief. Therefore, Jiva recommended a customized treatment plan to Mr. Singh that included right diet, lifestyle and some specialized herbal combinations.

The Ayurvedic medicines worked on pacifying the aggravated Vata and Pittadoshas. They also helped in purifying the blood, cleaning the channels of toxins, and rejuvenating the skin cells. This resulted in an improvement in digestion levels and ultimately helped in healing the skin rashes and inflammation.

The Result

Mr. Singh took Jiva’s medicines and adhered to our diet and lifestyle guidelines for ten months. After the treatment, there were no new eruptions in his skin and the subsequent winter passed off very calmly. The patient is continuing with the medicines in order to get long-term relief from his problem.

“Skin disease can be really painful and embarassing. In my case, despite applying creams and taking antibiotics on a daily basis, I could not get a sustainable solution to my problem. I tried Jiva Ayurveda on someone’s recommendation and I would say it’s been like a boon for me. In ten months of treatment, my skin eruptions had stopped completely – something that had not happened in ten years! I am continuing with the medication in the belief that a permanent cure is near.”

Peace – The By Product of a Healthy Mind

The mind is considered to be the prime cause of bondage, as well as misery and liberation, enmity and friendship. Mind is our link to the world outside as well as a link to inner peace. By itself, mind is neither friend or foe, nor good or bad. It all depends on how we make use of it. A mind attached to sense pleasures is our greatest enemy. We do not need to fight an enemy outside in the world as we are carrying it with us, no matter where we go.

Sometimes, people think that they can find peace in a solitary place, in the forest, on top of a mountain, at some holy place, or in a monastery. But, this is a myth. If the mind is restrained, peace can be found even in our own living room.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna gives the formula for peace very succinctly. He says, “He who lives devoid of all attachment, giving up desires, egoism, and sense of I and mind attains peace.”

Peace is not an object outside of ourselves that we need to attain. It is already there within us. But, we have created disturbances by innumerable material desires. We work day and night only to give rise to anxiety, tension, and frustration because we are chasing the chimera of material desires. What we don’t understand is that material desires are endless, like a bottomless pit; they never come to an end. As soon as one of our desires is fulfilled, it gives birth to the next desire. Then, we begin chasing these new desires and this goes on for all of our existence. It is just like a mirage in the desert. As soon as you reach close to it, you find it has moved further up ahead. You can keep running after it until you drop dead from thirst. Trying to satisfy material desires is like trying to quench our thirst by seeking water from a mirage or by trying to put out a fire by pouring fuel into it.

Mind is considered as the king of all senses. Therefore, it should rule over the senses. But if it becomes attached to material desires, it becomes a slave to the senses. When this happens, the mind loses its potency. For example, if a master has some weakness and the servant knows it, then the servant will take advantage of the master by exploiting his weakness. The master also fears that if he does not submit to the will of the servant, the latter can expose his weakness. Therefore, the master always dreads his servant.

A mind attached to material desires and sense pleasures is in a similar position. Instead of controlling the senses, it gets pulled in different directions by them. This is the cause of disturbance. Disturbance is nothing other than the senses or material desires pulling the mind all around. Peace is realized when the mind is not agitated by such desires.

If a person is walking and says, “What do I have to do to be stationary,” the simple answer is that he should just stop walking. He does not have to do anything extra to become stationary. Rather, he has to give up the activity of walking. Similarly, nothing special has to be done to gain peace. The peace is already there; we have to merely stop creating disturbances. And this is possible only by renouncing all material desires. This will bring an immediate end to all agitation of the mind.

Lord Krishna advises us to forsake all material desires. Even if there is one desire, it will be disturbing and might give rise to other desires. So, desires must be renounced completely. The next thing he says that we should do is to give up our material ego. We should not identify with our ‘designation’ based upon these material bodies. This will bring peace in the whole world. There are wars between people, family members, religions, organizations, states and nations because of ego-based material identifications. Unless we give up the thought that we are a person of a certain caste, creed, gender, color, or nation, we will remain sectarian and thus have biased feelings for those who have a different designation.

The last requirement for peace, according to Krishna, is to renounce the feeling of possessiveness over the body, people, and things related to the body. This includes insentient things such as a house, car, etc., and sentient beings such as mate, children, etc. Does this mean that one should not possess anything? No! The problem is not with the body or possessions, but with our attachment to them. Attachment to anything will bring bondage, distress, and loss of peace and happiness.

Without peace there can be no happiness. Thus, if we want happiness, we should follow the principles of the Bhagavad Gita, which are universally applicable to people of all nations and religions.

Jiva saves Fibroadenoma Patient from Surgery

Anu Jajodia, a 38-year-old patient of Fibroadenoma from Nasik, India, called the Jiva TeleMedicine Center after she had exhausted all possible options of treating her condition. For the last 6-7 years, she had multiple cyst formation in her breasts, and most doctors had suggested surgery to her. To make matters worse, she was also experiencing associated problems of leucorrhoea and hyperacidity. It was then that she decided to give it a last try and take help from Ayurveda.

“I am eternally grateful to Jiva Ayurveda for treating my condition of Fibroadenoma. Their medicines as well as diet and lifestyle advice worked wonders on my health. Thank you Jiva!”

Upon detailed analysis of her case, a Jiva Ayurveda doctor identified aggravation of Pitta dosha (Ayurvedic humour representing Fire) to be the main cause of her problem. She was given custom-made herbal formulations as well as a customised Diet and Lifestyle Plan in accordance with her body constitution.

In just two months, her lumps had reduced in size and she witnessed remarkable improvement in her condition. Within seven months of treatment, all her cysts had dissolved. Not just that, with the help of preventive medicines and a regulated lifestyle, she was able to control her hyper-acidic nature.

Today, Ms, Jajodia is a happy woman, looking forward to a life free of Fibroadenoma and the pain that goes with it.