Relevance of Agni and Microbiome to Health

From previous blogs the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, anf vulvodynia) is a neuropathy that stems from an imbalance in the agni of the colon specifically the rectosigmoid and rectum. This leads to an energetic imbalance in the colon leading to an imbalance in the pelvic nerves.

From an AY perspective agni is central to the disease process  If one has a balanced agni then physiologic dis-ease cannot occur  Due to our choices around diet(ahara), lifestyle(vihara) and medicines/supplements(dravya) gunas or qualities of the doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha produce disturbance of the agni.  The net result of this agni disturbance is the production of toxic load(ama) which clogs the energy channels and over time becomes hot(amavisha). This toxic load clogs the channels leading to blockage of energy which leads to pain in the pelvic organs, namely the bladder, vagina, prostate, and rectum.

So the essence of treating physiologic dis-ease of any type is to restore balance to a disturbed agni.  This takes time because there has to be a gradual release of the dosha qualities and the gradual elimination of stored up ama/amavisha or toxic load in the energy channels.

An aspect of agni in the physiology is represented by the gut microbiome(gut bacterial flora).  Although agni has a pervasive physiologic impact throughout the entire mindbody, a healthy microbiome in the gut provides immense support to the mindbody’s health.

The first step in providng support to the gut agni is to alter the diet to one that is alkalanizing as we have discussed in the past with the green composite protein recipe. The second step is to begin to restore the microbiome with “good guys” and overwhelm the growth of the “bad guys”.

If you want to know more about which is the best probiotic to get started with email me at drbilldean@gmail.com

IC Treatment by Supporting the Microbiome

In the world of Ayurveda the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic prostatitis, fibromyalgia) arises from a disturbance in the ability to digest food. This impaired digestion leads to toxic buildup that then leads to toxins collecting in areas outside the bowel. One of the areas where this buildup occurs in the pelvic nerves surrounding the large bowel. This leads to all the bladder symptoms that occur in IC such as urinary frequency, urgency, and episodic burning on urination but also the peripheral symptoms that arise in IC, such as vaginal burning, pelvic floor pressure, and even at times perineal pain.

Part of the treatment of the IC bladder pain syndrome then means that one has to deal with the underlying gut disturbance that leads to the toxic buildup in the first place. Ayurveda has the answer to this in the concept of agni.

Agni essentially means digestive power. There are many factors which disturb agni but when agni suffers toxins begin to accumulate. And when the peripheral tissues such as the nerves become involved with these toxins the stage is set for diseases such as IBS and IC.

Part of agni in the body is the microbiome. If the microbiome is healthy then agni is healthy. If the microbiome is disturbed so is the agni and so it’s obvious that if one is going to treat IC one of the major foundational strategies is to bring back to health the microbiome.

There are 3 supporting supplements that can do that over time. And surprisingly one of them are mushrooms! Stay tuned in the weeks to come as we roll out these 3 very important ingredients.

IC and Inflammed Gut: How to Deal With It By Diet

Through the Ayurvedic lens of seeing disease in the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, GERD, IBS, fibromyalgia) the GIT(gastrointestinal tract) is inflammed with acidic blood pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5  Alkalinizing the GIT using diet is fundamental to healing the disease  This also helps heal over time the microbiome that is universally affected in these conditions

A unique combination of alkalinizing greens and protein can make a complete meal or as side dish for other foods on the table(can be used with squash, grain, and chutney).  Using ghee and water separates the lipid and water soluble materials from the ingredients which aids in the digestion, absorption, and assimilation of the food. The alkalinizing impact of the steamed greens heals an acidic inflammatory environment of an unhealthy GI tract and its agni

Equipment  Food processor

2 quart skillet with cover(preferably glass so you can see when the greens are done….see below0000000000000000000000000000)

Ingredients

Green source (choose one and vary from day to day)   Collard greens, Kale, Spinach, Chard rainbow

Can also initially steam broccoli, white daikon radish with asparagus, yellow crookneck squash before adding above greens

Subtle greens(choose one)   Cilantro, Fresh basil, Parsley, Mint

Lime juice

Ghee

Culinary spice mixture:  Mom’s masala or High Pitta Masala(chandika.com)

Soma salt(chandika.com)

Protein(choose one): white chicken, eggs, vegan powder(available at chandika.com), split mung dal, mung dal, split red, kulthi, black beluga, green-gray du puy, green french dal

Spring water is preferable(has more soma) in preparation

Instructions

Heat 1-2 inches water into a 2 quart pan with 2T ghee and 2t spice mixture.  Add greens(remove the fibrous steams in kale and collard greens using only the leaf) and steam with cover on the pot. If adding denser vegetables steam them first eg broccoli before adding the greens. Steam until the greens become bright green.  If you want a juicier green dish you can add00000000000 water.  Place in food processor and process after adding soma salt, lime juice, and tapioca flour. Place a bunch of subtle greens and complete processing. Do not cook the subtle greens with the rough greens.

The vegan powder(chandika.com) can be mixed 4T powder and 8oz water and added to the green composite in the food processor or you can simply sprinkle it over the greens

Add 1t olive oil if not cooking with chicken which is best when boiled. If using eggs cook scrambled and can then add to the green processed mixture. Another way to add the eggs is to poach them is boiling water, place them on toast with ghee, and place the green composite over the top of the poached eggs.

Detoxification and the Green Composite Protein Recipe(GCPR)

Toxins(Ayurveda calls this ama) will be liberated using this recipe so you may have some mild physiologic effects when beginning. If you have a more severe reaction you should contact me. The use of the GCPR can be beneficial as any liberation of toxin can be easily received as the GI tract is alkalinized and healthy.

Release of toxic load has to be done in order to regain health and clear the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome.

The Neti Pot and IC: How It Works Energetically

It’s not just one thing that you do energetically to heal a problem but a multiplicity of things because it takes a multipliticity of things to cause IC in the first place  Neti is one on those things

Kapha is the energy pattern of stability in the physiology  It is composed of the qualities of heavy, slow/dull, cool, slimy/smooth, liquid, dense, soft, hard, static, and sticky  Think of the mucous from the common cold and you will have a good understanding of the qualities of Kapha which supports bodily structures

When Kapha becomes excessive in the physiology it brings the static and heavy qualities in excess which block the lighter qualities of Vata and Pitta which are the primary instigators of the symptoms of the IC bladder pain syndrome  This blockage of the free flow of the Vata and Pitta energy patterns leads to their expressions of hot and mobile which leads to urinary frequency and burning on urination

The Kapha energy pattern is involved in the majority of cases of the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia)  One of the simplest ways to deal with this imbalance is to use the neti pot in order to remove excess Kapha from the sinuses but in the process remove excess Kapha from the body  This practice followed by a breath technique of kapalabhati followed by oil drops in the nose will gradually and slowly loosen Kapha’s blockage in the physiology

Releasing this blockage allows Pitta and Vata to move once again and unblock the channels in the pelvis leading to the IC bladder pain syndrome

To do neti one needs a good sized container…500cc available on Amazon  If you’d like more information I can send you more on request

Happy Holidays from IC Solutions

Wishing you all the best of health in your journey to eliminate the energy imbalance of interstitial cystitis from your life

And the best of holiday cheer in sharing this season with your loved ones