Miles VickstromMiles Vickstrom Insurance Authority Lincoln City Oregon Coast

Excerpted from Dr. Aruna Bakhru’s upcoming book entitled “The Guru Principle”

Ayurveda is an ancient and holistic system of medicine, which originated in India more than five thousand years ago. The word Ayu means life (span) and Veda means knowledge i.e. knowledge of life or the science of life. One of the basic tenets of Ayurveda is that life is meant to be lived in balance and in harmony with nature. Illness happens when we move away from a life of balance to excesses or deficiencies of any kind, whether it is the way we eat, sleep, work, exercise, think or feel. Ayurveda believes that one has to live in harmony with the seasons, the time of day, the place you live etc.

According to Ayurveda, people are divided into different body types and if you follow the diet, purification routines, exercises, etc. specific for your body type you can correct many of the problems you may be suffering from.
Ayurveda places a great deal of emphasis on the mind. According to Ayurveda many of our physical problems and imbalances are first created in the mind. Unlike western medicine, which has divorced the mind from the body, Ayurveda says they are seamlessly connected and each affects the other. The place where the mind and the body connect is the place where matter interfaces with energy.

The three Doshas of Ayurveda:
According to Ayurveda, the doshas lie at the place where the mind connects with the body. If the mind and the body are not coordinated, an imbalance is created in the Doshas.
There are three Doshas and they are as follows:
1. Vata corresponds to Air.
2. Pitta corresponds to fire.
3. Kapha corresponds to water.

Each and every person has all the three doshas or principles to varying degrees, but usually one or other is dominant. i.e. if you are a Vata type then the Vata principle is dominant. This is important because your body type governs how you should live and what you should eat to maintain a life of balance.

Vata Dosha:
Corresponds to air, ether.
Function is movement, breathing, and circulation.
Emotions are fear, anxiety, and pain.
Seat of Vata is in the colon, pelvis etc.
The Vata constitution is thin, tall or too short, bony joints, thin eyelashes, sunken eyes, bent nose, variable appetite, tends to constipation, poor sleep, creative, restless, alert, poor willpower and tolerance. Cold hands and feet.

Pitta Dosha
Corresponds to fire and water.
Function is metabolism, digestion, absorption and assimilation.
Emotions are anger, hatred and jealousy.
Seat of Pitta is stomach, small intestine and blood.
Pitta Constitution is medium build, premature graying, medium sleep, warm hands and feet, short tempered, intelligent and ambitious.

Kapha Dosha
Corresponds to water and the earth.
Function is that of cementing material of the body, connective tissue, joint lubrication, and memory retention.
Emotions are greed, attachment, envy, forgiveness, calmness and maternal emotions.
Seat of Kapha is chest, sinuses, ears, nose, throat area, joints etc.
Kapha constitution is solid build, slow, deliberate, good strength and endurance, prolonged sleep, obese, calm, forgiving, loving, greedy and possessive. They are slow to grasp information but once they do they retain it i.e. good memory retention.

According to Ayurveda, the imbalance or disease may originate in the mind in the form of some negative emotion, which affects the doshas, and in turn the body or, it may originate in the body and then affect the mind. Diet and environment are the key causes here affecting the doshas, which in turn can affect the mind. We saw earlier that Vata is connected to fear and anxiety, Pitta to hate and jealousy and Kapha to greed and possessiveness.

Western medical science has not recognized the importance of the relationship between the immune system and the gut. Only now are some people beginning to recognize and label the “leaky gut syndrome” as being the cause of many diseases. Ayurveda recognized this connection five thousand years ago when it talked about disease being caused by accumulation of toxins or “ama” as a result of impairment of the “Agni” (the process of digestion and assimilation). If the agni does not function properly, then the ama accumulates in the intestines and leaks into the circulation and subsequently accumulates in other parts of the body clogging them, impairing their resistance and immunity and causing disease of that organ.

Imbalanced emotions also cause disease by impairing the agni and therefore the immune system. In the Bhagwad Gita, the Lord tells Arjuna that He Himself has become the digestive fire or Agni in the human body, serving to illustrate the importance of agni. I.e. it is the Lord’s energy, which is powering the digestive system and thus all the metabolic processes and also strengthening the immune system. Disrespect of your digestive fire by eating the wrong foods or an imbalanced lifestyle is disrespecting the Lord within you and inviting disease.

The Ayurvedic physician usually performs a detailed history and physical examination. The examination includes but is not limited to pulse diagnosis, examination of the tongue, facial diagnosis including the lines and wrinkles of your face, your lips, eyes. Examination of the nails and hair, examination of the urine, feces, sweat etc. examination of the mind and emotions. He may also check your astrological chart as this may predict disease proneness. Modern medicine treats the body as though it is a machine with various parts and each part is treated by a different specialist. The problem with a machine is that you can repair it with spare parts. The human body on the other hand functions as a whole. An Ayurvedic physician tries to assist the body in its attempt to repair itself.

Treatment in Ayurveda consists of: Panchakarma (purification or cleansing of the body), herbs, yoga, mantras, gemstones, color therapy, sound therapy using classical ragas, dietary manipulation to balance the doshas, fasting, meditation etc. Treatment is individualized to the person and not the disease. Whereas in allopathic medicine, two patients with arthritis will usually get the same treatment, its not so in Ayurveda.

Panchakarma is employed to eliminate toxins from the body. Massages using oil and herbs, enemas, nasal purgation and induced vomiting are some of the methods used. I remember as a child being taken by my parents for treatment to a local Ayurveda center and the doctors there would make me drink tons of water then come up from behind and press my upper abdomen and all the water would come out. Although disconcerting at first, I did feel really cleaned out afterwards. However, do not try this at home. It can only be done under the supervision of an Ayurvedic physician. Oil or water enemas are used depending on the imbalance present. I would not recommend getting treatment from someone who has taken a two month crash course in Ayurveda. These people can do more harm than good. The idea behind panchakarma is to open the channels and begin getting rid of the accumulated toxins. It can be very effective in getting rid of the chemicals that we are polluting our bodies (and our planet) with, in our so-called modern society.

In Ayurveda, the underlying philosophy is a reverence for all life. Therefore herbs are grown, cultivated and harvested with respect, reverence and purity in mind with the result that the healing effects of such herbs are powerful and in tune with nature. Remember the four sheaths that cover the soul. According to Ayurveda each sheath can be healed with different methods. The physical body can be healed by a vata, pitta or kapha pacifying diet, herbal treatment and yogic exercises. The astral body by the use of herbs, pranayama, color, sound, gemstones magnets (and homeopathy works at this level also). Mantras and meditation reach the causal body.

Aruna Bakhru M.d.
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/living-a-life-of-balance-an-introduction-to-ayurvedic-medicine-10917.html

Once you make the decision to get out of debt and get a handle on your finances, whether it be through steady payments, debt consolidation, or a debt settlement program, you will finally begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Although the road to financial freedom is not a short trip and it may have a few bumps along the way, reaching the finish line is more than worth the trials of the journey.

There are many obvious reasons to be debt free, including extra cash in your pocket, not having to pay high interest rates every month and never again having to worry about late fees. But, what about the less obvious benefits? Are there any reasons that are nonetheless important, but we don’t seem to think of them right away? Of course there are and it is these very benefits that may be the most important of all when it comes to seeking debt relief at the appropriate time.

If you want to purchase a home, a vacation getaway or invest in real estate, you may need to obtain a conventional loan in order to secure the deal. The truth is that few real estate transactions are done with cash, which is why lending institutions play an important role in your need as a homeowner. With that being said, it is nearly impossible to get financing if you already have a lot of debt. When a lender pulls your credit file or compares your debt to income ratio, they may find that you cannot afford another payment. If this happens, your loan would likely be declined. If your pursuit of debt relief is successful, however, this will not be a concern as you will be better equipped to repay a loan when potential lenders view your credit status.

When you apply for a job, you will probably be required to sign a form giving the employer permission to access your credit report. If you have a lot of debt or your credit score is poor, some employers may not be able to offer you a position that you would otherwise be perfect for. This is especially true if you are applying at a location that handles a lot of cash, such as a bank or casino. Your credit report says a lot about you, including your ability to responsibly handle money. If you are debt free, you will have a much better chance at getting the perfect job without having to worry about your credit score.

In a world where so many people live from one paycheck to the next, it is so nice to have some extra spending money in your pocket. Whether you want to plan a vacation, purchase something without having to charge it on a credit card or simply want to know that you can buy something if you want it, the best way to accomplish these goals is through debt relief with the use of a debt consolidation and/or debt settlement program.

One of the final, but most important, benefits of living a debt free life is to lessen the stress and anxiety all too often associated with bills. If you worry about making monthly payments or borrow money from one credit card to pay another, then you are already experiencing the need for debt relief. Being free of debt will also help to prevent you from being irritable with family just because you are stressed about finances. One of the leading causes of divorce is arguments over, you guessed it, money. When you are out of debt and have a few extra dollars in your wallet, you will soon begin to adapt to a cash-only basis and wonder how you ever lived without it.

Brian Dolezal
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/the-benefits-of-living-a-debtfree-life-97823.html

Life is certainly not easy for a tenant, that too in some parts of UK where the cost of living is much high.

As a tenant, you have to meet different kinds of expenditures both on a daily basis as well as on a monthly basis. With the inadequate amount you earn as your monthly salary, you might find it very difficult to meet all the expenditures regularly and on time.

Tenant loans are loans designed to provide relief to tenants who find it difficult to make ends meet due to different reasons. Basically, a tenant loan is an unsecured loan where the borrower does not need to put any asset as collateral. This is one of the main reasons why tenant loan is ideal for a tenant who does not own any property like a home.

Gone are the days when lenders used to decline opportunities to people seeking loans. The lenders did this due to the reason that the borrowers did not possess any asset to guarantee payback to the lenders. But now, the high street lenders are being rapidly replaced by online lenders, who are more than willing to help people despite their inability to provide collateral against the loans they take.

Tenant loans come with an interest rate that is usually higher, since there is no collateral and the borrower is a tenant. However, with the increasing competition in the online ambit of lenders, you can find attractive rates in tenant loans. Even if you have an adverse credit history, you still stand a good chance to find something that will suit your platter.

You can availtenant loanfor different purposes like pay your bills, pay monthly rentals, pay off some of your debts in full and final or for any valid and substantial reason. Some tenants in UK also avail tenant loans to consolidate all their debts.

Not everyone owns a home or can put a valuable asset at risk to avail loans. But does that mean you won’t be able to meet your financial requirement? Certainly, not as long as tenant loans are there to support you in your endeavour.

David Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/loans-articles/make-your-life-worth-living-with-tenant-loans-111948.html

Along with carbohydrate intolerance, many people are afflicted with an intolerance for gluten. How might you know if you are someone who needs to pay attention to their intake of gluten? If you are one of the many unfortunate people who has suffered the inability to lose weight, no matter which diet or how much exercise you have tried. If you haven’t tried the gluten-free diet it just might be the next, and hopefully last, diet you need to try.

What is gluten and where do you find it? Simply put, gluten is a protein found in certain grains, such as barley, wheat, and oats that helps flours form the structure of the bread dough. Gluten provides many important qualities to breads and bread products. One example is that gluten helps keep the gases that are released during fermentation in the dough, so bread is able to rise before being put in the over.

Now that we know what gluten is, why would we want to live a gluten free life? For many people, eating gluten will cause a range of unhealthy responses in their body. For example, eating gluten might cause an inflammation in the mucous membranes of your intestinal lining which triggers a systemic immune response. Because of this immune reaction, you may experience, for what appears to be an unknown reason, such symptoms as rashes, fatigue, mental fog or confusion, gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation or diarrhea, and chronic headaches. Hyperactivity disorders in children have also been linked to excess dietary gluten.

What can you do about this? If you suspect you are one of the many people who may be sensitive to dietary gluten some simple dietary changes can start you on the road to recovery. You can do an Internet search for more complete information but here are some steps you can take including foods that you can avoid.

Do not eat any foods that contain wheat, rye, or barley. For many people this will seem an impossible task since bread makes up such a large part of our diets. It is not just bread that contains glutens but grains are processed and used in many other processed food items. For example, soy sauce contains wheat. Food stabilizers, found in many of the processed foods we eat, contain glutens, as do many types of flavorings and emulsifiers. The simple version, so you don’t become neurotic, is to stop eating bread.

What should you eat? There are some grains that are 100% gluten free and safe to eat. For example, brown rice, quinoa (also very high in protein) as well as buckwheat. Eating some of these foods will require you to reeducate your taste buds but it can be done! Also, vegetables and fruits are safe and should be eaten in abundance no matter which diet you are on.

Is this going to be simple? Nope, it will not. But with a sense of definiteness of purpose, a desire to lose weight and improve your general state of health, and some persistence, I know you can do it! Happy Gluten Free living!

Ken Hassman
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/living-the-gluten-free-life-98383.html

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe it’s my relatives?, either way I don’t fit into peoples concept of a 21st century individual. Wanting more technology to do things I normally do myself doesn’t interest me – even if it makes life easier, except maybe when I’m too old to get out of bed without the aid of a hoist.

I like technology, I simply choose to incorporate a very limited amount of it in my life, like the computer, it’s great as far as communicating and exchanging ideas etc., but, do I really need a refrigerator that’s networked with my computer to share my internet connection should I feel the need to talk to my frig?… no. A quick scan of the frig in the morning when I reach for the half and half and I know what I have and might need.

Making what should be easy and simple into a complicated multistep process – that is my definition of technology for the consumer. When they said, “Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your doorway” they were right, but, what happens when you’ve built the best mousetrap? you’ve streamlined it and refined it to perfection, now what? you complicate it of course. You add bells and whistles then lastly, the “ultimate”, you give it a brain – an onboard computer to perform the simplest of tasks, we have now reached TECHNOLOGICAL UTOPIA. The gadget people will love you.

So, when I was accused of being a “Luddite” recently, I couldn’t entirely disagree with them, but, I would call it selective luddism. Growth, whether it is intellectual or technological, is necessary if a society is to remain viable, vital, intact. Every society that existed and failed did so because of natural disater, conquest or stagnation, so I’m all for progress, so long as I’m free to persue my life of, consiously sought, simplicity. Notice I said progress not development, that is a whole other story.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. – George Santayana. The Philosopher had it right, truer words have never been spoken. If you forget where you’ve come from or the “simple” elements that have been built upon to get you where you’re at, you are doomed to failure. How are you going to fix a complex piece of machinery without knowing the basics – you’re not – you’re going to have to reinvent the wheel.

Give me a shovel and some dirt to dig in and I’m a happy man, did I say I liked simple? that goes for simple pleasures also; usually the least complicated and simplest things are the purest and longest lasting. My case for Homesteading.

Jesse Turner
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/living-the-simple-life-119258.html