Ayurveda local or Indian?

It has come up once this last week and it took me back a little then it came up again and that got me thinking. Ayurveda local or Indian?

The first time the question came up recently was when I was on a radio talk show. I was giving information about abhyanga and the use of various custom oils. I made the suggestion of mahanarayan oil to help comfort rheumatic joints. A caller came back with the request not for the best source of organic mahanarayan oil but what could I suggest that could be sourced more locally. I suggested ginger or garlic oil.

The second time was on an email contact from a company in Peru asking if using Ayurvedic spa techniques with local herbal oils and plant materials would be something I thought would be a viable idea.

My response in both cases is on the one hand, we are blessed to have Ayurveda because it is a very complete system of totally trust worthy principles and, on the other hand, I believe the spirit of Ayurveda calls us to apply these principles in our own lives, in our own way with the materials we find talk to us. So yes, I support the idea of oils made from local ingredients, and I think Amazonian Ayurveda would be fantastic. I am all for honoring the principles and discovering American Ayurveda or in my case Californian Ayurveda. I look forward to the day when I can get castor oil from Californian castor plants or understand our native plant medicine enough to heal ourselves.

My latest find is powdered plantain leaf form Mountain Rose herbals. It is a gentle facial exfoliant and terrific mask ingredient even for my very sensitive skin.

Let us know your Ayurveda Local remedies.

melaniesachs@earthlink.net

Benefits of a Good Hot Bath

For the last two weeks I've been struggling with one of the nastiest, fluish colds I've ever experienced in my adult life. As I flopped around the house wondering what to do help myself some words of wisdom from my wonderful mother floated up in my consciousness. She would always say, "What you need is a nice cup of tea and good hot bath and you'll fell so much better." So that is exactly what I do. A herbal tea, a hot bath and an afternoon nap and I did feel so much better. So much so it really got me to thinking and feeling deep gratitude for the wonders of modern pumping. A hot bath was not something available in the average household a hundred years ago. You would have had to have been wealthy or near a natural hot springs to experience such a thing.
The benefits of bathing are talked about in Ayurvedic texts but they are also very much part of the European spa tradition. As I was mooning around unable to focus for long on anything I rediscovered the book, Inner Cleansing by Carlson Wade. It is one of those slightly funky natural medicine texts that promises miracle cures for pennies using ingredients you might find in your pantry. I was trickles to discover in first chapter a few paragraphs on how to take a bath for joint health. I've followed his instructions to the T for the last three days and I really think it is the main thing that has helped in my recovery. So when ever you feel tired, achy, have joint pain or just want to perk up a bit try this. Be sure to pay attention to times and temperatures because they make all the difference.
CARLSON WADE - "STEAM CLEANING"
Fill a bath with water that is 96-103 degrees.
Immerse yourself and rest covered by the water for 15-20 minutes.
Stay in the bath but let it drain.
Stand up and put on a hot shower then gradually reduce the temperature to tepid. Stay in the tepid shower for 5 minutes.
Pat yourself dry and get into bed and rest.
Bathe like this once in the morning and before you try to rest at night.

BENEFITS
The soak opens your pores and allows toxins to float out.
The warm soothes the nerves, allow the body and mind to relax and heal.

It is great to oil the body afterward with one of Diamond Way Ayurveda Body oils.
You can also try the Tension or Joint Lotion on particularly sore spots before you soak.