Guest guest Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Hi all I am new here and have been just reading for about a week. I have had chronic heartburn for about 5 years. I had all the testing, took the medications, which didn't work. It has gotten better in the last 6 months, I actually have days where I have very little. When I first started getting it I had it 24 hours a day. I read a book about 4 years ago concerning Ayurveda but did nothing with the information and since have forgotten all of it. I have had chronic constipation most of my life. I am what I would call a hyperactive adult, as I have a hard time sitting down. I feel anxiety a lot and several years back was plagued with panic attacks. I don't have them anymore as I went through counseling and learned to control them. THANK GOD! I am 50 years old and am going through peri-menopause. I haven't had my period since May. I am currently taking bio-identical hormones (estrogen and progesterone) due to extreme hot flashes, night sweats, foggy brain, dry female area, and lack of libido. I started taking Triphala yesterday, hoping to help my digestion. My constipation has been better the last month or so since I have started to include a very high fiber cereal in the am. I am having one bowel movement most days. Does any one have any suggestions for the heartburn? Thanks so much Sherry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Hi Sherry ... Sounds to me like you have a Vata/pitta imbalance. If I were you I would start with the Digestive Ease for Banyan Botanicals. It has the unique ability to pacify Pitta and build Agni at the same time; Not an easy feat. And at the same time I would start a Vata/pitta pacifying diet. Vata - Pitta Food Program Introduction: Those people with a Vata - Pitta nature or imbalance experience more lightness and heat in their bodies and minds. They may be oily but are usually dry. The following diet is designed to be nourishing (heavy) and temper fire. It is a little moist. The best taste to bring balance to people of Vata - Pitta nature / imbalance is sweet. Sour may be used in moderation. Foods should be taken warm and cooked in the winter. In the summer, fall and spring, vegetables should be taken raw. Grains and dairy are exceptionally good and can be taken in abundance. Make any necessary adjustments if you are lactose intolerant. Remember, it is not what you eat now and than, but what you eat on a regular basis, that determines your health. Foods that can be eaten: Grains: Cooked oats, white or brown rice, whole wheat. Occasional use of the following: Barley, millet, corn, amaranth, and quinoa. All breads should be un-yeasted if possible. Dairy: Most dairy products can be eaten in moderation. This includes milk, soft cheeses, butter, and ghee. In small amounts you may have yogurt (fresh), kefir, buttermilk, sour cream, etc. Milk is best warm, or room temp, and raw. It is more digestible if it is heated with a little fresh ginger, and a pinch of cardamom. Sweeteners: Raw-uncooked honey, molasses, maple syrup, rice syrup, jaggery (raw sugar, Sucanet), or maltose. Moderation is important. Overuse will increase Vata. Small amounts, and occasional use of date or grape sugar is OK. Oils: Many oils are OK; sesame is the best. Other good oils are olive, ghee, almond, avocado, castor, coconut, and flaxseed. Fruits: Sweet well ripened fruits such as: apricots, avocados, ripe banana, berries, coconut dates (not dry) figs, grapefruit, grapes, lemon, lime, mangos, cantaloupe, nectarines, oranges, tangerines, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, persimmons, fresh figs, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries (ripe). In small amounts you may have the following: cherries, papaya, apples and pomegranate. Note all citrus should be sweet and well ripened. Vegetables: Beets, carrots (not as a juice). Sweet potato, onion (well-cooked), leek, shallot, water chestnuts, parsnip, avocado, mustard greens, okra, acorn squash, winter squash, tomatoes. The proceeding can be eaten in large quantities. The following can be eaten in smaller quantities. Mushroom, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, eggplant, spinach, broccoli, green beans, kale, celery, chili's and hot peppers, sweet peas, potatoes, radishes, seaweed and zucchini. The following can be eaten uncooked with a creamy or oily dressing. Lettuce, spinach any leafy green (occasional use only and with a spicy heavy dressing). Nuts/seeds: All nuts can be eaten in small quantities only and not dry roasted. Light roasting is best. Almonds are best. Nut butters are OK, except for peanut butter. Pumpkinseeds can be eaten, in small amounts only along with sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Legumes: Mung beans and infrequent tofu. Spices: Chamomile, cardamom, cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, catnip, dill, lemon, verbena, peppermint, saffron and spearmint. In smaller amounts bay leaves, basil, black pepper, caraway, cinnamon, fenugreek, fresh ginger, oregano, thyme and rosemary. The overall spicing should be moderate. The recommended spices are generally cooling and can be used in abundance. Those to be used in smaller amounts are a little warming. Meats: Chicken or turkey (white meat only), eggs fresh water and sea water fish venison duck beef and lame in very small amounts infrequently. Shellfish may be eaten in small amounts infrequently; meat can be eaten 2-3 time per week. Condiments: Mayonnaise is fine. Vinegar can be taken in small amounts. Beverages: At least three to eight cups of room temp water per day. Spice teas are good as well; cinnamon and chamomile are best along with peppermint. Take more in warm weather and with exercise. Foods to avoid: Grains: Buckwheat, dry oats, rye, and corn-flour products Dairy: Ice cream, frozen yogurt, and hard cheeses. Oils: Peanut, mustard, safflower (the least recommended), and toasted sesame. Sweeteners: White sugar and brown sugar. Avoid sweets concentrated with them; a small amount of it in food is OK. Fruit: Dried Fruit of any kind should be avoided as well as cranberries. Cranberry sauce is OK. Vegetables: Raw veggies, Brussels sprouts, cabbage (even if cooked), alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, artichokes (unless with a butter lemon sauce), asparagus, snow peas, hot chili peppers, mustard greens, raw onion, and tomato paste. Nuts: Peanuts. Spices: Cayenne, hot mustards, asafetida, raw garlic cloves, and dried ginger. Legumes: Avoid Mexican beans Aduki, black beans, chick peas, kidney, navy, pinto beans, lentils, lima beans, and soy beans (except as tofu or soy milk.) Meats: Do not overdue eggs or beef, lamb, pork, rabbit or venison. Eating meat is generally rajasic and does not promote a sattvic lifestyle. Occasional use however can be good for grounding Vata's lightness. Condiments: Catsup. Beverages: Soft drinks carbonated mineral water black tea coffee. All alcohol should be avoided. Noel Gilbert Counselor Body, Mind & Soul LifeStyle Counselor Ayurveda - Herbalism Nutrition - Medical Astrology Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 ayurveda, Sherry <sr@s...> wrote: > I have had chronic heartburn for about 5 years. I had all the testing, took the medications, which didn't work. > It has gotten better in the last 6 months, I actually have days where I have very little. > When I first started getting it I had it 24 hours a day. > I have had chronic constipation most of my life. I am what I would call a hyperactive adult, as I have a hard time sitting down. > > I feel anxiety a lot and several years back was plagued with panic attacks. I don't have them anymore as I went through counseling and learned to control them. THANK GOD! > Hyperactive and constipated?? very clear vata aggravation. Severe constipation alone can cause heartburn and other symptoms you mentioned. That (constipation) should be the first thing you should attempt to take care of. -yogaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Yogaman wrote: Hyperactive and constipated?? very clear vata aggravation. Severe constipation alone can cause heartburn and other symptoms you mentioned. That (constipation) should be the first thing you should attempt to take care of. Yogaman, I think your right the constipation does need to be addressed first. A couple of months ago I started to address it when it became more of a problem than it had ever been. I also think that the hormones I am taking has helped it some. I think your are right that it can cause so many problems in the body. It only makes sense all that waste staying in the body longer than it should is bad. Thanks you so much for your post! Sherry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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