A Thai Yoga Hand Reflexology VinyasaDr. Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND, MD(AM), SMOKH

Director of Education at The Thai Yoga Center and The SomaVeda™ Institute of Natural Healing

A Thai Yoga Hand Reflexology Vinyasa

This beautiful little Hand Yoga Therapy flow is easily incorporated into any healing session. Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as other traditional spiritual and energetic based systems have long held the value of working or bringing energy, attention, consciousness, breath and pressure to the hands and feet. Hands and Feet are considered Reflex Zones.

Thai Yoga Reflexology may also be considered a traditional form of acupressure and the techniques are very similar. Doing a general Yoga Therapy Reflexology treatment to the hand is nurturing and relaxing. As all the reflex zones and points are treated there is a balancing of both Nadi and meridians, Marma and Lom (Sen Kalathari), and Chakra energies. There is especially emphasis of the 4th Chakra and the microcosmic orbit, heart, lung, pericardium and large instestine meridians.

Take the relationship of the hands to Fourth Chakra for example. In Ayurvedic Chakra theory, the hands are the “Organs of Expression” for the Fourth (Anahata) Chakra.  We also see a cross over with the Fifth Chakra as well in the hands. The Fifth (Vishudda) Chakra represents the “Communication and Expression of Being”. Ask your self how important the hands are in communicating and expressing exactly who you are in the world? Is it any wonder that disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are so debilitating?

Aside from the ability to work issue if your hands are in distress then it is as if your tongue is tied!  We recommend and do this Thai Yoga Hand Flow or Vinyassa with or as part of any treatment for a hand specific disorder.

Psychologically, considering the connect (connect is not a noun…you need a noun here like connection) to the heart and its related issues, we also work on the hands in sessions because they relate (are linked) to heart issues and unresolved emotional blockages in that area.

From a physiological point of view, we address issues of alignment of the bones and connective tissue, and constrictions and restriction on the venous blood flow from the heart to the lungs. The techniques used in this treatment traction and decompress the joints and ligaments, increase directly circulation of blood, lymphatic and interstitial fluids, and increase oxygen to reduce spasm, trigger points and any concurrent referral pain from them. Aggregates of waste and body byproducts such as lactic and uric acid salts, which have settled out of solution and accumulated in the interstitial pockets between the tissues and structures of the hand are broken up and dissolved back into solution where they can be handled and removed from the body. These are the “Crunchies” you will feel grinding under your thumbs as you do this breakout routine.

Twelve Steps in SomaVeda Level Two Hand Flow or Vinyasa

1) Gently Pull the Arm and Luft or bounce to release tension in arm and shoulder.
2) Reinforced Thumb Circles on the Wrist Lom or Joint.
3) Klai Sen or Snake Thumb on two lines.
4) Shake Hands with point Hoku (Li4)
5) Twist or “scrunch” each of the fingers.
6) Cross Thumbs on 5 lines on the Palm of the Hand.
7) Stretch the Fingers from Base to finger tip
9) Circle and Pull the Finger joints (Not necessary to make them pop!)
10) Break Bread Technique 3 times
11) Bicycle Technique: Slow, fasy then slow again.
12) Shake Vigorously and Drop

Not only is there a nurturing and relaxing aspect to Yoga Therapy for the Hand, this sequence can be beneficial for a wide range of symptoms from stress and headaches to constipation and low back pain.

In order  to create a spiritual space in which to heal and  frame of mind to maximize the contact and experience we are sharing with the client, we incorporate Puja (Therapeutic Prayer) before and after we  do a hand reflexology session.

SomaVeda™ Integrated Traditional Therapies are a spiritual, energetic and competency based therapeutic healing system or Spiritual Medicine (See: What is SomaVeda™?). In the SomaVeda™ system there are over 1000 different therapeutic postures used commonly. SomaVeda™ is a complete holistic system on Natural Medicine.

For info and live courses with Aachan James at the Thai Yoga Center, visit ThaiYogaCenter.Com

Traditional Thai Yoga, Thai Massage, Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy by definition are spiritually based healing arts.

To be effective in promoting our spiritual healing practices and our ministries of healing, we must be able to claim the principles and precedents which validate our right to practice. To claim the higher ground including specific legal protections we must be clear about our understandings for the basis of what we claim to do!

You’re a practitioner of healing arts and sciences such as Thai Yoga and Thai Massage, Ayurveda, TCM, Acupuncture, Reiki, Naturopathy and Herbology, Aroma Therapy, EFT/ BET, etc. You may claim a “Spiritual”, “Energetic”, or “Natural” basis for your work, distinguishing it from the secular conventional medicine. But do you know why your spiritual medicine or healing work is considered so? There is more to this equation that that we just feel that our work is spiritual!

We say SomaVeda™ Integrated Traditional Therapies (which includes our Thai Yoga and healing is a spiritually based system, but do you know why we say that?

Do you really know what “Spiritual” means?

What if you had to prove that your healing work is spiritually based? Could you do it? What if being spiritually based was the only legal umbrella under which your practice could operate. If this was challenged could you defend your practice in court?

Spiritually based healing and medicine is NOT alternative! This course will clearly show you that spiritual, energetic and natural medicines have from ancient history throughout every known civilization been the only legitimate and successful medicine. It will show you how the mechanistic, Descartian, reductionist, western “scientific” medicine may not be as rational and complete as you have been led to believe.

All traditional healing methods such as those based on Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and various native traditions are by definition Vitalistic Therapies.

You may already be practicing Vitalistic Therapeutics. Find out how and why.

FREE Vitalism Course! (Click Here)

This course is FREE for the next two days only. PanAmerican is offering this amazing course as a gift of service. After the 15th of this month it will still be available for a small cost. If interested, at least take the offer and register so you can complete the course at your leisure.

Please pass this offer on to everyone and anyone you know who is interested in practicing spiritual, energetic, vibrational or natural medicine legally.

If you have any questions regarding this course feel free to communicate with us here at ITTA or directly with our sister school PanAmerican.

Be well.

In Service,

Dr. Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND, MD(AM), SMOKH
Director of Education ITTA/ Thai Yoga Center
Adjunct Professor PanAmerican School of Natural Medicine

Dr. Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND, MD(AM), SMOKH

Director of Education at The Thai Yoga Center and The SomaVeda™ Institute of Natural Healing
SomaVeda™ Thai Yoga Supported Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana).

Here are some key points of the SomaVeda™ Thai Yoga Supported Shoulder Stand (Salamba Sarvangasana) and discusses fundamental principles for facilitation that emphasize proper shoulder position. This traditional Thai Yoga/ Thai Massage posture brings the benefits of a safe and controlled inversion to the client.

The shoulder stand is a classic Yoga Asana that is said to balance all of the Chakras. According to classic Indian yogic texts, shoulder stand, performed in sequence every day with a forward bend, a back bend, and a twisting pose will allow the Yogi to achieve the full natural term of his/her life.

Inversions are counter poses to the normal postures we find ourselves in 99% of life. There are several distinctive reasons why everyone should do inverted postures as a regular part of their Yoga wellness practice.

Inversions:

• - Help regulate blood pressure
• - Bring oxygen and blood supply to the viscera, endocrine glands and brain.
• - Release strain on abdominal ligaments.
• - Release tension around the Shoulder Blades ( Scapulae).
• - Focus Prana into the upper chest, neck and head drawing energy to 5th and 6th Chakras.
• - Relieve lower back pain.
• - Relieve neck and shoulder pain
• - Relieve trigger point induced headaches.
• - Support healthy bowel function.
• - Support detox.
• - Balances the Prana Nadi and Meridian Energies.
• - Grounds and Centers while helping support a healthy alignment of the spine.

Metabolic waste tends to aggregate in the interstitial fluid and deposits according to gravity’s pull on the body. When we invert, we expose these pockets of toxic build-up to different fluid dynamics, which help to flush the interstitial reservoirs. The accumulated waste such as lactic and uric acid salts then dissolve and go back into solution making them available for evacuation  and elimination from the body.

Many people note that after they do an inversion they experience feelings of happiness and euphoria. We attribute this to an increase in neurotransmitters triggered by the posture. In other words being upside down can make you happy!

SomaVeda™ Integrated Traditional Therapies are a spiritual, energetic and competency based therapeutic healing system or Spiritual Medicine (See: What is SomaVeda™?). In the SomaVeda™ system there are over 1000 different therapeutic postures used commonly. SomaVeda™ is a complete holistic system on Natural Medicine.

For info and live courses with Aachan James at the Thai Yoga Center, visit ThaiYogaCenter.Com

Dr. Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND, MD(AM), SMOKH

Director of Education at The Thai Yoga Center and The SomaVeda™ Institute of Natural Healing

More Foxes in the Hen House. Guess who is now in charge of our food safety?

I know this news is a few days late. However, considering the rampant assault our food is under well, better late than never. President Obama recently (August 2011) appointed Michael Taylor, Monsanto’s Vise President as Senior Advisor to the Commissioner at the FDA. We have been educating the public regarding the Monsanto companies push towards controlling the worlds food supply for over five years and this is a blatant and typical example of the revolving door between the FDA and the vested interest they are supposedly to regulate. This is the same individual who over saw and promoted first rBGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) under his first term with the FDA in the 90′s. Now of course he’s coming back to promote the use of GMO’s (Genetically Modified Foods).  As a physician and naturopath I teach that the single most significant thing we can do to promote our health, reduce illness and enhance recovery is to eat better food. The powers that be seem hell bent to deprive us of the ability to access healthy food. Our garden seems more important every day.

For the full story with details and links visit Jeffrey Smiths Bog at http://networkedblogs.com/lMhWu

Would you would like to learn more about healthy nutrition and food safety? Consider joining one of our educational programs at The Thai Yoga Center. Our SomaVeda™ Thai Yoga Practitioner Program (CTP) has included course work on healthy eating and nutrition for the past 7 years. We cover all the major bases including sources of contamination such as misuse of antibiotics, steroids, artificial sweetners, BGH, GMO’s etc. and there toxic role in your health. Our Thai Yoga Ayurveda and wellness nutritional program emphasizes solutions to these common threats.

To learn more about SomaVeda Programs visit our website at ThaiYogaCenter.Com

Neck and Facial Massage techniques can be incorporated in to almost any sequence or attitude of a SomaVeda Thai style session.

Working on the client in in sitting postures: Sukhasana, Sidhasana, Svastikasana, Padmasana, or Baddha Konasana and or kneeling in Vajrasana or Virasana working both sides of the posterior neck, the head and a facial sequence standing behind the client.

Basic Steps: (Remember to focus on the breath. All techniques are to be visualized as extensions of the breath and Prana. Our primary goals in treatment are Promiiwihan Sii or Love, Compassion, Joy and Equinimity. Our techniques for sharing our love are sophisticated and affect mind, body and spirit.)

1) Forearm wedge and Rolling Forearm:  (Both knees are down) Leaning forward work one side at a time. The hands are together in Namaskar Mudra. The upper fore arm is placed gently over the ear and levers the head directly to the opposite side to resistance. The Lower arm is the power arm and starting in the “palm down” position presses and rolls from palm down to palm up. Work at last three positions or points on the line directly on top of the should and trapesius muscle. Start as close to the neck as you can get and work out as far as you can without falling off.

2) Tiger Hand: (From a Lunge position supporting the forehead) The Tiger Hand is strong and uses a type of “C Clamp” compression with all of the fingers held tight together. Pressure is on the finger tips which are held stiffly. This gives a “bite”! Start low on the neck / posterior cervical muscles and work or squeeze five points from just above C-7 to the base of the head or Atlas/ Occipital area. There is a squeezing and kneeding motion as you work into the muscles and soft tissue on either side of the neck. Work the line three times.

3) Hand V technique: Now extend the fingers out so that the pressure will come from the actual base of the 1st and 2nd Carpal bones. This is also a kneeding and squeezing type of technique. Work the same line again as worked with the Tiger Hand. Work the line three times.

4) Vise Thumb: Interlace and lock the fingers together and then invert the hands, turning the palms out. Lean slightly forward and raise the elbows like wings while extending the thumbs. To create pressure it’s more a matter of dropping the elbows than squeezing the thumbs. Work the second and or third outside neck lines lateral to the spine. Work five points three times.

5) Cranial Lift: Sit close behind the client in Virasana. Place the thumbs in the two cranial base points (GB-20) on either side with the fingers spread out over the temple. This technique has two steps. First roll the clients head back and face up towards the ceiling. This places the base of the head directly on top of the thumbs. Then drop the elbows and project the thumbs upward creating leverage against the base of the head and decompressing the Atlas/ Occiput. Hold for ten count.

6) Posterior Cranial Base Points: Pretty simple. Simple support the forhead with one hand and thumb press into the cranial base point. Focus the energy towards the center of the head. Hold for Five count and then do the opposite side.

7) Thai Head and scalp Massage: Still sitting from the back. Finger circles on the temples and thumb press with side to side snake thumb up the center of the back of the head.

8) 12 line Facial: This is our basic facial. The strategy is to use thumb circles and pressure to simply draw 12 lines on the face each terminating at the Lom or wind gate in front of the ear. This point is over the madibular joint area of the upper jaw. Lines 1, 2, and 3 are upper forehead, middle forehead and lower forehead. Do each of these lines one time each. Line 4 is the eye brow ridge above the eyes. Do line 4 three times. Lines 5, 6, and 7 are upper, middle and lower nose being careful not to invade the nostrils. Line 8 is the Maxilla point dead center between the nose and mouth. Line 9 is just outside the corners of the mouth. Line 10 is the cleft or upper chin point found directly between the mouth and point of the chin. Line 11 is the front edge of the jaw bone or mandible. Finally line number 12 is directly under the edge of the jaw, All twelve lines terminate at the same Lom in front of the ear.

9) Auricular/ Ear Massage: Grasp the outside edges of the ear and using thumb and finger pressure squeeze and massage the entire ear from top to bottom three times.

10) Ear cupping: Rub the hands vigorously together until warm. Take a deep breath and as you release the breath gently cup the ears and hold them for a ten count. As you do this visualize your breath circulating through your heart (Micro-cosmic orbit) down your arms and through your hands circulating right through the clients head.

SomaVeda Thai Yoga, Nuad Boran Seated Neck and Facial Massage by Aachan James

One practice idea is to exchange this flow before doing a long seated meditation and or Pranayama and see what happens!

This lovely elegant flow is one of many beautiful Vinyasana flows incorporated into the SomaVeda™ system. To learn the SomaVeda™ Thai Acupressure model we have very detailed professionally produced DVD at BeardedMedia.Com

To learn from Aachan Dr. J in person come to class!

SomaVeda Thai Yoga offers an amazing sequence or flow to reduce or eliminate back pain and back related issues. One of the top three issues we commonly see everyday is dealing with back and spinal issues. This is true for both the Yoga community as well as the lay public, our clients , our selves. According to some sources back pain issues are the number one reason for missed days at work. Anyone suffering from the pain and restriction of back pain and restrictions knows this in their bones!

Stress and strain injuries to the back and torso are quite common in Yoga practice and because of them many students either drop out entirely or shy away from developing an otherwise productive self practice. For those of us who teach Yoga we need concrete ways both to prevent and to restore health and vitality to the spine. The beautiful thing about this particular little back Vinyasana is it’s simplicity and graceful way of bringing energy, attention, consciousness, breath and pressure to not only the spine it’s self but to the entire torso. It’s up close and personal too. This enhances the nurturing qualities latent in all close physical contact.

This spine and torso yoga therapy flow brings a nurturing and balancing focus to all the primary Chakra and Sen Lines (Prana Nadi) of the clients torso front, back and side. It lengthens and releases all of the primary torso musculature including the abdominal, quadratus, paraspinals and psoas/ diaphamatic complex. As it incorporates the forward bend as the compensating posture we see a release for the hamstrings and posterior gluteal muscles. Follow the angles and see where compression of the sciatic nerve is facilitated from several different angles. Compression of the sciatic nerve is almost always indicated in chronic low back pain.

There is a neuromuscular re-educational focus in that as we accumulate little (or big) injuries and strain, scar tissue etc. reducing our access to back motility and communication we become increasingly tenuous in the way we use our back and torso. This leads to a progressive further deterioration typical of atrophy and Sensory Motor Amnesia based spinal syndromes. As we take the client through this sequence and as they are not the motive force for the movements themselves nor the angles they represent there is less antagonistic resistance. There is less antongonistic muscular resistance. The client experiences the movements without the inhibition to do them and this new way of moving educates the nervous system.

The various postures in this sequence also bring much pressure to bear on the internal organs, tissues, fascia and connective tissue of the abdomen. The postures compress, release and create both direct and indirect movement of  not only the physical tissues but the interstitial fluids as well. Since as much as 80% of the superficial lymph nodes are on the torso, chest and groin then bringing energy to them also facilitates the movement of lymph and is beneficial to the immune system.

There is a very strong emotional component to back injuries. Even if the actual injury is long healed the previously injured client will still want to guard, to protect against full movement “just in case”. Quite often they have a sense of despair attached to their injury as they may actually that they don’t know why or how they injured themselves in the first place! The nature of the full support and high level of support this sequence provides allows the client to release and relax into the support every step of the way.

We have often observed that after this flow clients experience either a sense of giddy highness and euphoria and or a release into a very deep relaxation response, apparently according to what their innate has determined is the best.

When practiced and performed from the practiced place of familiarity the Yoga therapists should be in complete control at all times. You should be able to work relaxed and feel where the client s at at all times and be able to literally stop on a dime. Breath is vital and very important in this Vinyasana as the breath is where the keys to release are found. As you move the client through the sequence and you feel the inhibition, the restriction, the guarding, the holding that is where you pause and coach the breath with guided Pranayama. Breathe into the tight place is good coaching. Work on your visualization and see from the inside where the blockages are and then bring your attention directly to them. Of course, it should go with out saying that the therapists themselves should also be monitoring their body mechanics, posture breath and be sure to be grounded and come from a calm stable place at all times.

Back Viyasana is not just for rehab! If your an advanced and healthy Yogi/ Yogini then on the receiving end this flow is amazing. Amazing like a time machine is amazing in that it can show you both the possibility of good extension you have yet to explore but also where you hide and help yourself around your own restrictions, inhibitions and old unresolved injuries etc. This will give you a personal and deeper insight into the possibilities for further development in your own practice.

SomaVeda Back Magic Vinyasana Flow Basic Steps:

1) Seated Back Bridge

2) Full Forward Bend working unilateral back points.

3) Rotation from the back

4) Rotation from the front. Adding the tilt over for extension if this angle is available.

5) Big Seated Spinal Rotation: Both Sides (interlaced fingers held behind the neck and therapists on the side lightly kneeling across the front thigh for compensation.)

6) Padmasana rotation into Big Twisting Bridge (Both Sides)

7) Raised Back extension with locked fingers and elbows high.

8) Simple full forward bend

Relax into Savasana Corpse Pose for a few minutes at the end of the sequence.

Of course as always the Key is practice! Be happy, Touch many, Be well

Dr. J

Don’t forget to check out our many professional SomaVeda Thai Yoga Certification program at http://www.ThaiYogaCenter.Com

The SomaVeda Thai Yoga Dak Kha or Bent Inward Knee Asana in the Supine Position.

The Thai Dak Kha provides an elegant and deep way to address restrictions in the anterior thigh Sen Lines, Meridians and musculature in a gentle and supportive way. This basic position a facilitated Ardis Supta Virasana is an asymetrical hip, pelvis, groin and thigh opener. It emphasizes Sen Thawari and or Sahatsarangsi and is a wind relieving pose strengthening male and female sex organs, curing indegestion, piles and constipation. I have also found this particular therapeutic asana very helpful for pelvic edema, chronic and acute low back, sciatica, abdominal cramps and bloating as well as knee pain.

The rick to helpful and safe facilitation is to fully support the clients leg and knee throughout the extension.We bring the therapists inside leg up close and firmly under the clients leg and knee from the beginning. For those seemingly more common clients who struggle to “almost’ get the the asana, I recommend that you move your whole body up and actually start with your hip against the knee and then slowly sit down lowering the leg as far as it will go comfortably. One important note is that the heel position is important. Keep the clients heel as tight and close to their bottom as possible. This great reduces any torsional stress or inner rotation which might cause undue paid. If you can’t control the heel then I don’t recommend you do this posture as you might cause an injury to the knee!

We seek to leave the client/ patient in at least the same or better shape than we found them! This is Ahimsa principle in practice.

In SomaVeda™ we use this  protocol:

1) Test: Test for range of motion. Guide the knee downward towards the floor with support using two finger pressure only. If the knee goes all the way to the floor terrific. If not , that is the “bottom” for the motion. Bottom means the functional vs. structural limit in a given range of motion. Come or slide your support leg back under so your leg becomes the floor.

2) Palm: Palm Press the line with the outside hand while supporting the clients knee firmly with the inside hand. As you palm press keep your hand soft and the fingers turned out or away from the center line as this keeps you from poking them in the groin!

3) Hit: Two Hand Hacking and or other striking techniques such as cupping or hammer fist etc. Again we stress to use either both hands or the outside hand to hit with. Be gentle and the line on top of the leg is under tension.

4) Stretch: Stretch the knee, pushing with both hands as far towards the floor as your client can comfortably tolerate. Remember to coach and follow the breathing.

Now release cleanly! This means to simultaneously lift the knee straight up while pulling the foot on the same side directly up and under the knee. Whatever you do do not try to straighten the leg out before you lift the knee as it twist the knee strongly and could cause an injury!

This is an actual demonstration from a SomaVeda Thai Yoga Practitioner Certification program at the Thai Yoga Center, June 2011.

See you in class!

Ardis Matsyendra, or the asymmetrical facilitated whale/ fish pose or back bend.

SomaVeda™ Seated Position:

We normally teach this therapeutic position in the Fundamentals of Thai Yoga and Thai Massage Level One course as part of the full Level One seated Vinyasana or flow.

The client starts in Padmasana and the therapists is in Virasana at right angles behind the client. This Yoga bridge emphasis one side of the spine more than the other . This allows the asymmetrical emphasis to address a one sided imbalance more specifically. can be done with the hands in the low position when the client is restricted or with the hands extended for full emphasis. Back bends are considered one of the most important of Yoga asana and generally have the following benefits: Release and extension of the anterior spinal muscles.

The posterior range of motion counterbalances head forward postures both in practice and pathological such as inclinations to “Red Light” or emotionally guarding postures. Red Light postures are guarding postures which are like the “Turtle” i.e. head forward and down, chin down, shoulders up and forward, chest sunken or back and pronounced curve or mid shoulder arch. We say that individuals with the Red Light posture are guarding or protecting the heart, heart chakra and or throat and may have history or issues of emotional and or physical abuse as well as issues with communication and expression of being who they are.

In practice if we do forward bends we always want to include back bends as counter poses. Because the client is actually bending over our thighs we can actually feel in real time the spinal segments from sacrum to head including spinal, thoracic and cervical vertebrae which are not responding. These locked or unresponsive spinal segments could indicate many issues such as actual spinal damage, spinal lesions and scar tissue to areas relating to emotional guarding and issues.

This posture presents all of the primary chakra and energy lines: Sen lines, especially Sen Sumana or Sushumna to view and consciousness and available for attention and pressure. The therapists legs are bring energy attention, consciousness breath and pressure to the posterior lines: Sen Ittha, Pinghala and both anterior and posterior meridians such as conception vessel, governing vessal and Bladder meridian. The psoas / diaphrammatic complex from knee to thorax is activated and accessible. The rib cage is open and in and extended position. The lower part creates abdominal space encouraging circulation for the various abdominal organs and is a good opportunity to actually do an abdominal focus and the entire position facilitates the flow of prana from neck to groin. This posture coupled with Pranayama or deep breathing is nothing less than amazing.

Because the bridge is fully supported with the client passive, the normal antagonistic muscular reflexes and control mechanisms common to almost all back bends are reduced or not present. At the top there is good potential for a safe release of the neck affecting both posterior and anterior cervical structures and there is little o no risk of hyper-extension of spinal or cervical structures.

Once in the position hold it until the client completely releases all holding and tension and literally collapses into the support. Rocking while holding works great and should be done before and after any specific point or line work.

Come learn this position in person by attending one of our Certified Thai Yoga Practitioner programs at the Thai Yoga Center in Plant City. Click here for CTP details!

Constipation Symptom of Metabolic Disorders?  (Continued from part 3)

4) Metabolic disorders can cause constipation. In our way of thinking, we say that is a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha imbalance. If you have extremes of any of the Doshas, it can cause constipation. If there is any big distortion in the balance between the tridosha, one of the symptoms is constipation. The way it is referred to in traditional Vedic literature is “anything that effects the healthy function of the machine and which interferes with the vitality and luster of the skin is to be evidence of a dosha imbalance.” What does that have to do with your gut? Once you understand the way that the prana works and the energy works from the point of view of doshas, the inside of your gut is the same as the outside of your skin.

Epsom salt as a laxative is a last resort  (Continued from part 2)

Even if I were going to recommend it, we would have already tried many other things. Even if you were clinically diagnosed as constipated and this was an appropriate treatment we would have already tried several other things. Actually, fourteen other things, before I would do this. At best, I would recommend magnesium sulfate as the fifteenth possible alternative treatment.

Two Kinds of Constipation Disorder

There are two kinds of constipation. You must be aware, before any treatments, what type of constipation your client has. There is atonic constipation and spastic constipation. Atonic constipation is called lazy (lacking muscular tone) bowel syndrome and it could be a result of having ingested laxatives or antibiotics! Antibiotics can cause lazy bowel syndrome, leaky bowel syndrome, and those kinds of things. As a health care provider I have to understand this because what I am going to recommend to you as a solution is based on what kind of constipation you have. I would never recommend that someone take something for a disorder unless I knew what that disorder was.