Beware of people who tell you to trivialize your feelings by "practicing gratitude" or comparing your situation to that of others - especially if these people are healers or spiritual advisors. This approach is all too common and not at all compassionate. Your feelings are valid and you are allowed to feel them. Denying your feelings by telling yourself to just "be grateful" when you really feel another strong emotion is a form of self-violence. When other people tell you things like, "at least you don't have it as bad as...", those people probably mean well. What they're really telling you to do is deny your true feelings and stuff them deep down (where they will fester and turn into deep psychological traumas and ultimately physical illness). Is it nice to be grateful? Absolutely. But don't get sucked into the violent practice of gratitude. Don't deny your human feelings because you think that you should be able to just choose happiness in all situations. Practice compassion to self and others. Feel your feelings and give others a safe place to do the same.
Since it's the season of GI viruses, I'm sharing this healing recipe. Here is a very effective Ayurvedic recipe to stop diarrhea: Cut up 1 banana into small slices. Sprinkle with a pinch each of nutmeg and cardamom. Drizzle 1 teaspoon melted ghee over the mixture. What is Ayurveda? The U.S. Association for Healthcare Research and Quality describes Ayurveda as "a complete medical system", and indeed it is. As an example of the diversity of Ayurvedic practice, here are some of the healing techniques that I use with my patients: -herbal medicines -dietary modification, which is healing by using food as medicine -energy healing (Reiki, pranic healing) -chanting and mantra -meditation -pranayama (breathing exercises) -Yoga -dinacharya: daily self-care rituals -exercise -music therapy -art therapy -EFT and other emotional release techniques -crystal and gem therapy -color therapy -journaling -spiritual practices Ayurvedic practitioners look at the individual health condition and recommend the healing tools that best fit. For example, we may see someone who has depression. A conventional practitioner would be working within the framework of a uniform definition of depressive diagnoses and is likely to prescribe an antidepressant drug and exercise. The Ayurvedic practitioner will determine if the depression is Vata, Pitta, Kapha, or mixed type, and also uncover the physiological and emotional events for that individual that led to the development of the depression. Recommendations for treatment are likely to include herbal medicines specific to the type of depression for that individual, but also are likely to include additional therapeutic strategies from the Ayurvedic toolbox. Such strategies include specific Yoga postures, meditations, daily self-care practices such as oil massage, and dietary recommendations. Ayurveda is a complete medical system which has a wide variety of healing strategies available to the practitioner depending on the individual's condition, lifestyle, spirituality, and interests. As Ayurveda is a holistic system, practitioners look at not only physical conditions, but their relation to spiritual states, emotional storage in the body, and psychological conditions. Ayurvedic healing includes not only techniques for the physical body, but also emotional release and letting go of past traumas. "Ayurveda" is the "science of life". As such, the Ayurvedic practitioner is able to see how all aspects of life can be utilized for healing purposes. The Ayurvedic life is one of mindfulness and intentional action. Every time we eat, every time we exercise, every time we choose an activity to participate in during our free moments, we have opportunities to make either balancing or unbalancing choices. The work of the Ayurvedic practitioner is the process of participation in each person's healing journey. It is helping individuals to learn about themselves and how to create an entire life structure that will allow their gifts to shine and keep their health in balance. |