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Sahasa (Stress) – An Ayurvedic Perspective

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020A Healthy Body, AyurvedaLeave a comment

“I’m so stressed” is probably one of the most common complaints we have in our modern society. Stress is inevitable yet we throw the word around so much that the meaning is lost and the experience so standard that we don’t take it seriously. Honestly, I wish it was mandatory for every human being to take a basic anatomy and physiology class because then we would be less disconnected from our body’s high intelligence and natural processes that are meant to keep us healthy and much more respectful of its need for proper mind/body/spirit nourishment.

In Ayurveda stress is known as Sahasa and thousands of years ago it was written about in the Caraka Samhitas, the oldest compilation of medical texts in the world. The Samhitas clearly state that Sahasa causes ojahksaya- loss of immunity and increases the susceptibility of the body to various infectious diseases. In Ayurveda, avoiding causative factors is the golden rule in preventing disease but one has to also be self-aware to be able to identify the stress response to be able to avoid it. This is why self-awareness and listening to your body’s intelligence is the second golden-rule for preventing disease. Continue reading

Manas Roga – Mental Disease. PART I How It Starts.

August 9, 2020August 17, 2020AyurvedaLeave a comment

I know there is a lot keeping you up at night. You’re tired and worried. You want to snap out of it but feel overwhelmed and to top it off, your mind is conditioned to always go to negativity, worry and anxiety at the first sign of stress. You are so deeply affected by the outside world, that you neglect your inner world that is your light and your spirit.

Just like proper digestion of food is necessary and core to your overall immunity and physical and mental health so is proper digestion of information (external stimuli) and the thoughts and emotions that arise from them. Agni (digestive fire) is not just located in our GI tract and governed by Vata, Pitta and Kapha but is also a element in every one of our cells, fluids and tissues. Our liver has agni. Our kidneys, eyes and so on…Agni of the mind is responsible for our intellect, understanding and comprehension. Continue reading

The Everlasting Effect Of Chyavanaprash

June 28, 2020UncategorizedLeave a comment

~ by the use of this medicine, Chywana, who had become exceedingly old became young once again ~ Chraka Samhita 1st century B.C

Chyavanaprash holds supreme position amongst all Rasayanas in ancient Ayurvedic texts and here was are, over 6,000 years later, and it is still one of the most popular and most-recommended Ayurvedic remedies.

The first recorded recipe for Chyavanaprash is found in the Caraka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic texts of Internal Medicine. In it, Chyavanaprash is noted for being superior to all other herbal rejuvenative tonics and is “beneficial for allaying cough, asthma and other respiratory ailments; it nourishes the weak and degenerating tissues, promotes vigour, vitality and is anti-aging”. Continue reading

Managing Pitta During It’s Peak Seasons

May 16, 2020May 16, 2020A Healthy Body, Ayurveda, Seasonal SkincareLeave a comment

Is your skin red and hot? Are you constantly craving salty and sour foods? Are you feeling especially irritable, angry, and impatient? If so, you could very well have a Pitta imbalance.

In Ayurveda it is determined that our bodies are governed by three physical humors, each with specific locations in the body, specific seasons for accumulating and aggravating and times of the day when each is at its peak.

Everyone is a combination of all three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha –but there are one or two that are going to be dominant in every person. The goal for optimum health is to maintain that inherent balance. Ayurveda is very precise in its understanding of the disease process and how qualities of certain doshas accumulate in one season and aggravate in another. Any increase in your doshas will create an imbalance which will create illness i.e. skin conditions or digestive upset just to name a few. Continue reading

How To Make Your Needs A Priority

May 9, 2020A Healthy Body, LifestyleLeave a comment

We tend to make excuses for the fact that we spend no time tending to our needs. We rush through any time we do make for ourselves and then we spend that time not thinking of ourselves but the needs of everyone else. We feel guilty for the time we do take. We move fast, without a mindful touch when we wash our face, apply a crème or take a shower. We are slowly burning ourselves out and possibly even harboring resentments for those we love, as we see they get all the love and care while we “have to do everything”. Continue reading

The Coronavirus And Your Immunity. Elique Says This…

March 12, 2020March 12, 2020A Healthy Body, Ayurveda, Lifestyle2 Comments

With news of the Coronavirus spreading as rapidly as minutes in a day it is important to keep our head above water and remain calm. This will protect us from added stress which compromises our immunity and of course, our respiratory health.

So before I get into it, let’s backtrack for a second to 2002, when the first of two coronaviruses, SARS (severe acute Respiratory Syndrome) was responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and caused global outbreaks. There was also MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus, which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and affected at least 2,500 people. We survived then and if we take care of ourselves, listen to our body’s intelligence and follow some guidelines, we will survive this now as well.

Coronaviruses generally target and affect respiratory systems i.e.nose and lungs and can pass to another person via droplets from their nose or mouth. While time is necessary to understand the full extent of how Coronavirus is transmitted and how people are infected, we know what we know and that is that we must strengthen and maintain the integrity of our respiratory and immune systems so we are not vulnerable in the elements. Continue reading

Tired Of Sleepless Nights?

February 17, 2020UncategorizedLeave a comment

Sleep. Deep, rested, waking up refreshed, not aching in your body glorious sleep. Oh, how you wish you had some!

Studying Ayurveda is the most enlightening experience and though our teachers tell us that we cannot legally claim Ayurveda cures people I will say that in my humble opinion (not fact) from what I have learned, experienced and witnessed with other clients in our University clinic, Ayurveda makes everything and everyone whole again. It is absolute perfection. Again, just my opinion.

Ayurveda, focuses on preventing dis-ease before it manifests into a chronic condition and one fundamental essential needed in place is restful, solid sleep. In fact, if you are not sleeping well and haven’t for some time, problems with all system’s of your body are inevitable. There is no better time than now to bring your body in balance. As you’ll see it has less to do with medications and more to do with you. And your routine. Continue reading

Why You Are Doing More Harm Than Good
With Your Vitamin C Serums & Creams.

February 2, 2020February 2, 2020A Healthy Body, Nutrition, The Healthiest Skin5 Comments

Why You Are Doing More Harm Than Good <br>With Your Vitamin C Serums & Creams.

My clients always ask me about Vitamin C serums and for years, I have said the same thing; Vitamin C is one nutrient that is best received from our diet, not topical products.

Vitamin C serums are a hot commodity with research backing their efficacy that is often flawed or validated by the Big Beauty companies that are making these products.

Ever wonder why your Vitamin C serum turned brown? That’s because when Vitamin C is exposed to air, light, heat and the constant contact our dropper has with our fingertips, it oxidizes and this is most likely the cause of a lot of your skin woes. And forget Vitamin C creams packaged in pots that you are dipping into. I recommend immediately throwing those away. Continue reading

An Apple A Day To Take Your Skin Woes Away

January 5, 2020A Healthy Body, Nutrition, Skin Foods, The Healthiest Skin, Ultimate Hydration2 Comments

There are many skin foods that will hydrate you on a cellular level but there’s nothing quite like the simple little apple to create a dewy tone, revive your skin and also nourish your nervous system for a body that is more alert, clear, energized, well-rested and better able to handle stress. All of this equals gorgeous skin.

Apples are filled with fiber and little sugar which makes it a slow-burning and constant source of energy for our body to balance blood-sugar levels and sustain nourishment to our brain, which is one very hungry organ.

Apples are loaded with flavonoids (powerful antioxidants) that boost immunity and fight free-radicals but quercetin and catechin, the flavonoids in apples, go the extra mile for our skin. In a study published in 2016 quercetin was noted for its ability to reduce redness, itching, and inflammation of damaged skin and it is also thought to help restore skin barrier function, increase hydration, and reduce water loss. Hello supple & hydrated skin!

Catechins (also found in green tea) protect against inflammation caused by Ultra Violet Radiation and inhibit the death of fibroblast cells, which are responsible for making collagen and elastin. And a study published in 2011 revealed women who regularly consumed catechin-rich foods and beverages (like apples & green tea) noticed a boost in their skin, with improvements in hydration and elasticity.

And an apple’s skin also benefits our skin. The skin of an apple contains phloridzin, another powerful antioxidant that has been shown to mark against glycation, a primary culprit for premature aging, hyperpigmentation and skin dryness. Glycation happens when sugar and carbs stick to proteins in the blood and form large clumps that damage arteries, cells and tissues. Phloridzin keeps glucose in the small intestine where it can work to maintain balance in the gut, manifesting into a healthier skin and keeping it out of the bloodstream. Phloradizin has also been shown to increase type 4 collagen found at the base of the epidermis.

Apples are also high in potassium to hydrate us on a cellular level and protect our heart and calcium too so our nerves communicate smoothly and nourish our brain’s need for this mineral.

And last but not least, apples have a pretty significant dose of omega 3’s and 6’s and that means gorgeous skin, healthy eyes and again, a healthy heart and well-nourished brain!

Some fun ways to get your apple a day:

Eat an apple a day.
Make an apple tea. Just cut up an apple and put it in a small pot to simmer with about 3 cups of filtered water.
Apple pancakes, apple muffins, apple pie and apple sauce (keep the skins on).
Smoothie with apple.
Baked apple w cinnamon for added glucose to boost hydration.

Isn’t it amazing to know that we have such an abundance of options for keeping our skin glowing and that simple everyday foods, when eaten on a regular basis have insanely powerful beautifying benefits?

Hello Gorgeous!

The Well-Intentioned Mistake You Make Every Day
That Contributes To Your Dry Skin.

December 29, 2019January 4, 2020A Healthy Body, The Healthiest Skin2 Comments

The Well-Intentioned Mistake You Make Every Day <br>That Contributes To Your Dry Skin.

While in the midst of my skin care routine yesterday, I was thinking about my dry skin and how cold and rainy it has been in Los Angeles. Also, I am in my 40’s and the texture definitely has changed over the years.

Then I started thinking about my client’s dry skin and the conversations we have about it. In my office we definitely discuss dietary changes like water intake and essential fatty acids but the one thing I always hear is how much moisturizer they are applying every day and still their skin is dry. If you haven’t been in a consult with me, then you are likely also unaware of this one common mistake you are making, thinking it is helping your dry skin but it isn’t.

Envision This:

Skin cells rise to the surface of the skin and slowly die while bound in an intercellular cement that keeps them intact. When we are young, the process of dissolving it and sloughing off the dead skin cells is fast and efficient but as we age, cell turnover slows down and a denser ‘glue’ with tougher layers of dead cells remain piled up on the surface creating a dry, rough skin. But then we do that ONE THING that makes everything worse. We add moisturizers and lotions day after day without a proper deep cleanse, hoping to remedy it but what we are doing is applying moisturizers and serums to skin that is layered in a buildup of waste. Continue reading