Ayurvedic Nutritional Healing & Kichadis

By Chania Adam

In Ayurveda the body is made up of three body types, Vata, Pitta, Kapha

Every person has an individual combination of these body types and often a predominance of one or two of these body types. The purpose of using various foods and spices in Ayurveda, is to bring balance and sense of health and well being to the body and soul.

ABOUT KICHADIS

Kichadis are at the core of Ayurvedic nutritional healing. They are a relatively, simple stew of basmati rice and slit mug dal, which are suitable for almost every dosha (body type). Kichadis take on endless variations depending on the herbs, spices and vegetables used in them. They are the primary food in Pancha karma. They are considered Ayurvedic cleansing therapy because of their ease of digestion and assimilation. The Chinese have a similar dietary food therapy called congees.

The kichadis which follow are designed for specific purposes. They are best eaten fresh when used therapeutically. Let your own sense of the herbs and your constitution guide you as you create healing modifications.

BASIC FORMAT

Ghee: for lubrication and assimilation

Warmed with: Spices, any of the following

Asafoetida (hing): cals Vata, aids assimilation, potent carminative

Bay leaf: Warms, digestive

Black mustard seeds; digestive with pronounced warming effects

Black Peppercorns; warms, digestive, carminative

Cardamon; calms and stimulates digestion

Cinnamon; warms and sweetens, a digestive

Cloves; quite heating, digestive

Coriander; cooling, soothing, carminative and digestive

Cumin; carminative, digestive, balances all doshas

Fennel; cools, sweetens, digestive, tonifying to the stomach

Fenugreek; warming, digestive tonifier, reducer of mass

Garlic; warming, strengthening, reduces ama

Ginger; warms, potent digestive stimulant

Kombu; non-traditional ( a seaweed); digestive, removes heavy metals

Neem (curry leaves), cooling, bitter, clears and removes wastes

Saffron; cooling, tonifying, digestive, balances all doshas

Tumeric; tridoshic, Specific for adding protein digestion

COMBINE THESE WITH : Split mung/ mooing Dal, basmati rice and vegetables. This is sometimes varied; other beans and grains can be usd specific healing purposes, if they are very well-cooked. For example here we use aduki beans in kidney kichadi, as adukis are outstanding in their ability to support the kidneys. Similarly, we utilise non-traditional herbs or spices when they are especially useful, e.g., dandelion root to promote the excretion of fluids or burdock root to cool and purify the blood. Again, allow your intuition and self-knowledge to guide you in these adventures.

COOK: Cook until both beans and grain are very soft, but not gummy.

A COOLING KICHADI FOR SUMMER

Preparation time: about 2 hours

Half a cup Basmati Rice

A quarter of a cup split Mung/Moong Dhal

Half burdock root, (about 8 inches)

1 and a half cup green Beans

2 Tablespoons ghee

half a teaspoon Fennel seeds

1 teaspoon Cumin seeds

1 Tablespoon amaranth (optional)

1 Stick Kombu

6 to 10 cups of water

Half a teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Tablespoon Coriander powder

Garnish: Chopped Coriander Leaves

Wash raise and Mung until the water is clean; drain. Wash Burdock root and peel it; then slice in inch slices like a carrot. Wash green Beans; Chop into 1 inch pieces.

Warm ghee in medium saucepan. Add fennel and cumin seeds and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add rice and mug and saute for another couple of minutes. Put burdock and green beans in immediately after the rice and beans, stir saute for 1 minute. Add 6 cups of water and bring to boil, and reduce to medium-low heat. Cover and cook until tender, 1 to 1 and a half hours, adding water as needed to keep the mixture moist. Before serving, add the Coriander powder, stir well. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves.

Comments: This dish is a potent blood purifier: Burdock clears the Kidneys and Blood, while the green beans act as a diuretic. This is a good one for the summer sin breakouts, or excess water retention. Useful in diabetes, as well as in increased Pitta States.

Seasonal allergies & Acupuncture

Written  by Eeka King B.H.Sc (Acup)

Prescription and over-the-counter medications are widely available, but do nothing to help overall health and prevention of allergies, plus come with a host of not so lovely side effects. Natural remedies such as acupuncture, however, not only clear symptoms of allergies, but they also help the body come into balance: clearing the underlying condition causing allergies and improving overall health.

Seasonal allergies occur when someone reacts to the pollen of flowers in trees, grasses and weeds, and causes symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, headaches, and fatigue. Allergies are a sign of an imbalance in the body and a weak immune system. Strengthening the body and the lungs can be the best thing to decrease or even rid oneself of seasonal allergies altogether.

Some natural tips include:

·         Eat local and organic, seasonal foods. This keeps us in tune and in balance with the natural cycles around us.

·         Eat local raw honey, and - if you do not have a reaction to it, test by having only a tiny granule at first - local bee pollen. The local honey and bee pollen is made from pollen of local flowers, in a form that is utilized by the body. Thus, when the body is later exposed in the environment, the immune system does not see it as an invader and react against it.

·         Take a regular multivitamin/mineral supplement year round to ensure that your body is functioning at its best.

·         Eat more raw foods, especially in the warmer months. This puts us in tune with the seasons, and helps our body function at its best.

·         Receive acupuncture and take a Chinese herbal formula specifically tailored to your presentation

How Acupuncture Helps Treat Allergies

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is a great way to treat symptoms of seasonal allergies such as itchy eyes, stuffiness, headaches and fatigue and to also treat the underlying cause or imbalance in the body to begin with. When your body is balance one need not suffer seasonal allergies in the future.

Treating the symptoms

Acupuncture is excellent at treating symptoms of allergies. Many allergy symptoms are located above the neck, that is, in the head (stuffiness, headache, itchy eyes, etc.) This means the energy is not flowing smoothly from the head into the rest of the body, and vice versa. All the yang meridians flow from the hands up to the head, or from the head down to the feet. We need to open the channels in the neck and shoulders and allow the energy to flow.

Acupuncture can also treat the symptoms very locally: by placing small, sterile needles right on points of pain or symptoms like the head or side of nose, allowing the stuck energy to dissipate and move more smoothly throughout the body.
Treating the root cause
Secondly, though most importantly, acupuncture helps balance the body in general. Acupuncturists treat very specifically and individually, making sure the underlying cause of allergies (and any other symptoms) is cleared. When the body is in balance, symptoms disappear and health is restored. This is the main benefit of acupuncture: bringing a person into balance so that the body may heal itself of any ailment physically, mentally or emotionally.

While allergies can put a damper on enjoying the best the season holds, there is natural relief for allergy sufferers. And the relief need not be temporary. In fact, when the body is brought to a higher level of health, we enjoy renewed energy, flexibility and joy of living.

© Eeka King 2011 for Bayside Acupuncture Clinic

Chinese Cupping for Cellulite Reduction

By Eeka King (B.H.Sc(Acu)

 When I was a student of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture I read in some old text that Chinese cupping may be beneficial in reducing cellulite. At that time I had a busy massage business on the Gold Coast, a great many of whom where dancers and who needed to maintain fit and beautiful looking bodies. Could Chinese Cupping be the natural solution for women who have cellulite on their legs and thighs?

Chinese Cupping is a therapy in which glass or plastic jars or cups create a vacuum when applied to the skin. The vacuum is created by introducing heat; usually a swab or cotton ball dipped in alcohol and lit, to create a negative pressure within the cup. Many years ago the Chinese used horns or bamboo cups. The cupping method has the function of warming and promoting the free flow of Qi and blood in the meridians, dispelling cold and dampness, diminishing swellings and pains.

 In western terms it also breaks up muscles fibres and increases blood circulation to areas of contraction and stiffness. Occasionally a cup may be placed over the top of an acupuncture needle or often they are moved up and down a channel or large muscle (migratory or sliding cupping). Sliding cupping is done with oil and feels like an amazing massage when done on your back to relieve muscle tension and knots.

I began trialling sliding cupping on the problem areas of some of my clients to see if this could really reduce or clear cellulite. I was utterly blown away, the results where amazing! I spent months working on and formulating cellulite cupping procedures and techniques to see what worked the best. I began to refine the techniques, positions and strengths to suit the individual needs of the client.

What I found was that the vacuum affect of the cups broke up the fatty tissues or cellulite deposits and increased blood circulation to the area, clearing away any stagnation. The cellulite and dimples are ironed out and the thighs and butt begin to feel firm and toned. The other advantage I found with the treatment was that muscle tightness and knots in the area where also releasing and the women were reporting increased flexibility and suppleness.

The results and number of sessions varied from woman to woman, depending on body type and lifestyle factors. Some women I would treat 2-3 times and their cellulite would be completely cleared. Some needed a few more sessions. I had some clients that were requesting a regular weekly maintenance treatment to keep the cellulite at bay. One client I had would come every 6 months when some cellulite returned, have a few sessions and not have any more problems for another 6 months. That woman discovered later though that when she gave up drinking so much alcohol and coffee the results would last a lot longer for her.

An interesting fact is that now all the latest cellulite machines are all working with this same vacuum concept. After having tried these new devices I am even more impressed with the traditional cupping method. It is done with glass, and a proper flame and more importantly, and individual who can adapt to your pain tolerance and needs. Cellulite cupping is achieving good results and is giving women more confidence. If you are feeling self-conscious in your bikini this summer and you want to feel better about your body, why not give it a try?

Hi Eeka,
I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful treatments that you provide, especially the cupping.

This is the first time that I have tried alternative therapies and I have been delighted with the acupuncture and the cupping cellulite treatment.

I really didn't believe that I would see such a dramatic change in my cellulite and my husband was amazed at the results.  Even after the very first session, I was back wearing shorts and reinvigorated to exercise.

One of the major benefits, apart from the visible changes, is that the circulation in my legs has improved and my legs feel warm - for the first time in years!

I have thoroughly enjoyed my sessions in the warm and relaxed atmosphere you have created and would definitely recommend your service to anyone.

Thank you again, regards

Helen Duddington
 

Phone the clinic on 02 66851 088 or email heal@baysideacupuncture.com to make an appointment with Eeka