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When I am working at the drugstore in my capacity as a community pharmacist one of the common complaints that presents itself is people coming in to buy Tylenol ( acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) for headaches. Of course there is also Tylenol #1 which is a mixture of acetaminophen, caffeine and codeine. I am always amazed when the same people come on a regular basis and buy upto 200 tablets.  I always say "Before taking a tablet for your headache be sure you drink 2 -8 oz cups of water and then wait 10 minutes."  It has been my personal experience that when I wake up with a headache, I am often dehydrated. I drink 2-3 cups of water which often induces a bowel movement and 99% of the time the headache is gone. So before reaching for the tablet for pain be sure you drink that water. Also you might consider adding "Smart Water" to your daily routine. The herbs help to carry the water into the cellular systems. This is important because often th...

Shaka Vansya Ayurved teaches that there is a flow or cascade of tissue development.  And that the most superficial tissues are the easiest to "cleanse" of toxins. When we nourish our bodies and minds the food we ingest is processed by the liver to make intelligent blood or plasma that then is carried to various parts of our physiology.  The plasma or white blood cells have two component or layers. One stays as plasma and the other is converted to the next layer or depth of tissue which are the red blood cells. And so the cascade continues.  The red blood cells then form muscle tissue which form fat tissue, then bone, bone marrow, reproductive tissue and finally Ojas the "liquid light" that gives us vitality and that healthy glow.  Below you will see the cascade. Rasa ( white blood cells or plasma)            Rakta (red blood cells - RBC)                          Mamsa...

Recently a friend called about not being able to eat anything hot as it caused extreme radiating pain in the face and jaw. This person had a pure (sattvic) life style and was very conscious about choices he made for his health.  So the question was what could be the source of the problem. We chatted a bit and started talking about various Ayurvedic protocols for the head and face.  The conversation got around to "pulling" which is a procedure where one hold oil in the mouth first thing in the morning to pull toxins out - the oil is then spit out.  He had decided the Coconut oil was good. It seems everyone is talking about the benefits of Coconut oil these days.  As we continued to discuss the situation the thought came that possibly Coconut oil might not be the best choice as it tend to be clogging of channels - both physical and vibrational.  Possibly this was contributing to the blocking of pranic flow in the mouth and jaw and causing pain. Hmmm. Well what i...

Medhya mean memory in Sanskrit and Vaidya Mishra has created a glyceride drop which is called Maha Medhya. It is recommended that one be under the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner knowledgable in the SVA protocols when taking the HP or high potency glycerides. So working with someone who can recommend dietary and life style protocols that would support the SVA herbs. This formulation  contains a special blend of herbs known to support memory and good calm mental functioning: Bacopa (Brahmi, Gotu Kola, Jatamansi, Black pepper and Nutmeg However we should also remember that a brisk 30 minute walk improve circulation and strengthen memory. Yoga postures, especially inverted ones bring more blood flow to the brain. Good fresh food and following a good routine. I have a friend who's wife was recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and he has he memorizing poems and phone numbers and she is improving. We also have her on Maha Medhya glyceride drops. One really...

I was recently asked what SVA would recommend for migraine headaches.  From a preventative perspective the basic principles of good daily routine with regular meals and going to bed on time would apply. And as in all Ayurvedic treatments you treat the patient not the disease. Therefore even though 20 people would have migraine headaches they could have it due to many reasons. It could be either a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha disorder. However it is primarily a Pitta disorder where "the systemic pitta moves into the cardiovascular system, circulates, and affects the blood vessels around the brain" ( from Dr V. Lad ) When reading the medical literature on migraine headaches and the various types and symptoms one can get overwhelmed with the number of types and the methods of treatment. However the primary treatment with pharmaceuticals is by using vasoconstrictors when the acute symptoms arise. But where would one start if one wanted to try an ayurvedic approach.  If migraines are...

Here we were standing on a beautiful spot looking out at the ocean and what did we talk about? Bowel movements! Yes! It has become a big topic of conversation. People are not so squeamish to talk about the frequency of our bowel movements, and colour and shape.  Years ago I saw a movie about and young emperor or China and how the physician used to examine his bowel movements on a daily basis to be fully aware of his health. One of the first things I would recommend if someone was having more frequent movements is a good hydration program with the "Smart Water" that I have written about in the past. Upon getting up in the morning boil 1-2 liters of good spring water (water that has not been chlorinated) and then add 1/2 to 1 teaspoonfuls of seeds of coriander, fennel, cumin and also a pinch of marshmallow root. The seeds support kidney, liver and digestive function and the marshmallow root is a good lubricant of the intestinal walls. Often just doing this will help. Then w...

It is just routine. When I walk into a restaurant and they ask me if I want coffee or some beverage I always ask for hot water and lemon. The waitresses seem to be used to this request now. But even better than having Hot water and lemon with your meals is drinking it first thing in the morning upon awaking.  Lemon water helps stimulate the liver and helps the bowels to eliminate naturally. It also helps to reduce phlegm which may accumulate over night or at any time of the day.  This simple ritual of some hot water with 1/2 a lemon or lime in the morning is a purification / detox process. Great way to start the morning. SVA prefers limes to lemons as the post-digestive "taste" of lemons is still sour whereas the post-digestive taste of limes if sweet and more nourishing. Whether lemon or lime it these wonderful little citrus fruit have many benefits besides just kick starting the liver in the morning and cleansing our system. They are also high in Calcium, Magnesium, Pot...