Ayurveda Article - Fight Fatigue Effectively

[Guest guest]

You have permission to publish this article in your print or

electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety

including the resource box, all links and references and copyright

info. If you decide to use this article please send me an email at

drmishra

----

 

 

>From Fighting Fatigue to Fighting Fit --

 

A Practical Ayurvedic Guide

 

We've all felt it sometimes.

Just plain deep-down dog-tired.

Head, neck, forehead, arms, legs, and toes-everything feels strained.

Everything hurts.

 

Research tells us that 30 per cent of all visits to the doctor's

office are on account of the same complaint: fatigue.

 

The Trouble With Tiredness

 

The trouble with tiredness is that its roots can be pretty tough to

trace. That is why, doctors often recommend a battery of tests

(blood, urine, stool) to try and rule out the usual suspects: thyroid

problems, sleep disorders, anemia, anxiety.

 

The real reason you're feeling tired, however, could be as simple as

not having slept well for the last few nights. Or having been too

hard at work. Or neglecting your lunch. That is why it might well be

worth your while to try and ferret out the cause of your fatigue

yourself, before you make that doctor's appointment.

 

Ayurvedic physicians believe-and Western doctors agree-that fatigue

is your body (and mind's) distress signal to you. All those aches and

pains are indications that you should take a closer look at what you

are doing-or neglecting to do-for yourself from day-to-day.

 

Four Reasons You Could Be Feeling Exhausted

 

Overuse of your body: Plain and simple physical exertion is perhaps

the commonest reason for that tired feeling. All three doshas-Vata,

Pitta, and Kapha-tend to go out of balance when you exert yourself

beyond your capacity. What's more, in recent years, over-exertion has

rapidly becoming an alarming trend.

 

Every day, more people are crossing the line between healthy and

hurtful exercise. Gym junkies have been known to become exercise

addicts, giving their workout priority over everything else in life.

Not only that, sports experts observe such exercise addicts suffer

actual withdrawal symptoms if they are forced to go without their

daily quota of exercise.

 

The fix: Vaidya Ramakant Mishra, Director of Research and Product

Development at Maharishi Ayurveda, recommends certain foods that

combat fatigue. In his list of favorites are herbs like ashwagandha,

brahmi and arjuna; spices like black pepper and fenugreek; and nuts

like almonds and walnuts. Moreover, says Vaidya Mishra, if these

ingredients are combined in the right proportions and blended in

precise, traditional ways, they can take the exertion out of

exercise. They revive the body, improve fat metabolism during a

workout, nourish the mind and imbue the whole being with a zest for

life. Formulations like Maharishi Ayurveda's Herbal Energy, Almond

Energy, Herbal Burn and Amla-Berry are designed to give you all these

health benefits, without any side-effects.

 

Underuse of your body: Although there is not a lot of research to

show that not exercising can actually make you feel tired, it is a

logical conclusion: a body that is not worked or moved enough tends

to get into a pattern of lethargy, inactivity, and fatigue. The

result, says Vaidya Mishra, is that ama or undigested toxic matter

builds up in the physiology, creating a feeling of tiredness.

 

The fix: It's simple. Quit being a couch potato. Get up and go. Even

a few minutes every day of light exercise such as a brisk walk or

some yoga asanas will help improve your digestion, boost circulation,

and promote a state of general well-being.

 

Along with light exercise, make sure you take a light and detoxifying

diet. Stay away from ama-generating and Kapha-aggravating foods such

as heavy sweets, ice-cold drinks, and heavy grains. Eat fresh, juicy

fruits such as apples and peaches-for a complete list of Kapha-

pacifying foods, visit

http://www.mapi.com/recipes/kaphaguidelines.html

 

In addition, start taking the Fatigue Free formula, which

combines 18 herbs and minerals that help clear out the channels of

the body for the uninterrupted flow of energy and quickly build

energetic new cells to replace tired ones. You'll feel revitalized

and full of life.

Irregular/unhealthy diet: Volumes have been written in classical

ayurvedic texts about the value of nutrition. In a nutshell, the

ayurvedic philosophy of food is "Annaha Brahmaha"-"food is divine."

That is why, according to the ayurvedic perspective, to delay or miss

a meal is to fail to accord it the respect it deserves. And hence, it

means setting yourself up for an end-of-the-day tired and irritable

feeling-and slowly, for the onset of disease. Besides, certain foods,

such as caffeine, alcohol, deep-fried foods and fat-laden desserts,

sap the body of its vital energy-prana-and leave you feeling tired.

 

The fix: Eat your breakfast, lunch, and dinner on time and do not

compromise on the quality of your meals. Choose foods that are

digested easily and nourish body, mind and spirit. They include fresh

fruits and vegetables, milk, ghee, whole grains and light beans like

mung dhal. When you eat such foods, you are sure to feel rested and

yet energetic.

Irregular or insufficient sleep: There's no universally correct

amount of sleep. But your body sure knows when it hasn't had enough.

A recent study published in the British journal Occupational and

Environmental Medicine showed that getting less than six hours of

sleep a night can affect coordination, reaction time and judgment.

And that people who get too little sleep may have higher levels of

stress, anxiety and depression.

 

The fix: Drink a glass of warm milk with a little honey just before

you sleep. This has a settling influence on the mind and body. Milk

contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is a precursor of

seratonin, a brain chemical that facilitates sleep. Use honey that

has not been heat-treated and be sure not to heat it above 60 degrees

Fahrenheit, as this eliminates its beneficial qualities.

Transcendental Meditation® also cuts the daily build-up of stress,

making it easier for the mind to shut off for the night.

 

Also, the herbal formulations in Maharishi Ayurveda's Blissful Sleep

System will complement your diet and lifestyle efforts--take the

appropriate herbal formulas to help promote a deeper, more

rejuvenating quality of sleep. Natural and non-addictive, these

herbs nourish the mind-body connection for a long-term solution.

 

Herbs to Help You Along

 

While your own efforts will help you combat fatigue to a great

extent, a little help from Mother Nature will make matters much

easier. Nature has an astounding pharmacy, and each herb it creates

has its own concentrated synergy and intelligence. Traditional

researchers and experts at Maharishi Ayurveda pick the best and the

ripest of herbs, fruits and spices, then combine and process them in

traditional ways to ensure maximum benefit.

 

The most respected of the Maharishi Ayurveda rasayanas-ayurvedic

formulations for overall health and longevity--is Amrit Kalash, which

strengthens the immune system and refines the functioning of the

physiology. Amrit promotes bala or vital energy. Scientific studies

have now established that Amrit fights free radical damage 1,000

times more effectively than any other anti-oxidant.

 

Note: If you have been suffering chronic fatigue for some time, do

see a physician to rule out any medical disorders. By consulting a

physician trained in Maharishi Ayurveda, you can get specific

recommendations for restoring your natural energy levels based on

your unique body type and imbalances.

 

 

 

 

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

For more information on Ayurveda or to to free newsletters,

plaese visit <http://www.mapi.com>