joint pain progress

[Guest guest]

Dear Shannon;

Even with the many missing pieces in my ayurvedic training, we can

look at some interesting correlations. Pain is a vata word, usually

causative except for accident etc although even then, the etiology

involves vata dosha.

 

> Ysha, I have seen joint pain in newly pp women, mainly of the wrist

due to the relaxin that was mentioned, and the holding of a new babe!

I have also seen it in pp women at 1 yr, even 2yrs, usually it is

associated with hypothyrod. What does ayurveda say about this?

 

So, I don't know the relaxin explanation in ayur terms, but as

explained the previous post on subject, accumulations later postpartum

months and years are very common of vata impurities. The assoc with

thyroid, which is about our metabolic function, as I understand it

gets compromised by doshic impurities, weak agnis, kapha accumulations

resulting also from both insufficient digestive fire and increased

appetite from the demands of nursing and motherhood in general, going

for the needed nutrients by, very commonly, reaching for fast burning

and filling carbohydrates, cold foods, leftovers, sweet snacks and

other acid forming residue foods. We need them, but in right balance.

 

Veggies take longer to prepare, often get underused or just steamed

without the both appetizing and agni enhancing culinary seasonings and

otgher sources of balance for the needed 6 tastes and 6 qualities of

foods and herbs. It is easy to understand with maternal lifestyle

when it isn't rooted in the kinds of culture which really knows the

importance and ways of extended good care/support system.

 

My son is 9 months. The joint pain travels all over hip, shoulder,

elbow, finger...I had a homebirth with this baby. 7 hour labor. I

stayed in for 40 days other than little walks around the neighborhood.

I did my best to stay warm. I'm really interested in what you were

saying about short term pp affecting long term. This is what I need to

understand as a midwife as we are usually only health care providers

during the first six weeks. Important job!

 

Definitely! I was so impressed my first lecture 13 years ago, 3 hours

on the subject to midwives and birth assistants - the midwives knew

significance immediately and were taking notes intensely, asking for

handouts, etc. And the woman about to deliver who very much needed

tridoshic balancing, benefitted greatly, just doing home self care

things, following their guidance, and a few non-ayurvedic massages,

some self-abhyanga, etc.

 

It is amazing, isn't it, how we can do so much for " ideal " healthy

lifestyle, and discover things were not all as ideal as we thought.

Add to that the postpartum window of first 6-8 weeks when all tissues

and systems are in state of transition after the birth, programmed for

total reset given the chance at deepest level ...but guided ideally -

to the extent we can support the natural and necessary process of

restoring restructuring rejuvenating balance, guided by the heart.

 

Well of course, you will say. But consider the difference between the

times when our heart is able to move through a vital, balanced, alert

and uncongested physiology at all levels, and when our ATTENTION, for

all the best INTENTION, is divided by our internal self-mothering

needs. Mind - or heart - over matter by force of will and divided

strength to is not the same experience or gift of mothering for our

babies and families as the natural integrated spontanaeous service of

love. Mother Nature wants our heart which is opened with initial

bonding to become more deeply integrated into our psychophysioolgy to

serve on all levels of our being with this quality of devoted love.

 

Postpartum is a time when the veil is still parted to some extent. It

happens that our ability to serve in BLISS happens even when ignoring

maternal needs, for a time. But when those doors close, when the

structures become more reset, the accumulations of impurities and

weakening in other ways easilly grow. Because it is such a rare

condition of openness of physiology as well as heart, these things all

can happen easily.

 

Hence the practices in so many cultures around the world to give so

much support for the early postpartum days to the mothers. " 42 days

for 42 years " Dr. Shrestha says. Impact of what we can do for

mothers/ourselves as mothers during this time has very far reaching

effect on our health, happiness, ability to mother and partner well.

Potency of choices/what is done at this time is then explainable, to

have so much greater effect than other times. Preexisting conditions

aside, look at Bonding time, Breastfeeding, Dietary, Oleation, REst,

being Mothered, and the Maternal/Infant warm oil applications daily

are most important. The dietary choices are much bigger factor than

folks realize.

 

Please look again at the cooking for postpartum mothers sheet in the

files and you can give feedback from there what was observed and what

was not in first 2 months, as well as now. Simple advice, very

significant. Over summer weather and stronger agni later postpartum

needs shift, of course.

 

>teething son, but tend towards insomnia regularly. I do yoga and jog

and hike. I eat fairly healthy, but definately tend towards the acid

producing foods, am trying hard to be more alkaline. I don't tend to

be constipated, but do tends towards candida definately. I live in the

San Francisco Bay Area and it is chilly here!

 

" fairly healthy " - this probalby means organic, ample salads, low fat,

low salt, soy foods? iced herb teas?...any of these less than

favorable, very not good early postpartum what are your

tendencies/ideas of healthy?

 

>What else? If there are any essential oils for application please

let me know, as any other recommendations you may have for me and

other moms experiencing this.

 

Shannon, many oils in increasing strength and other varying doshic and

other properties are valuable for sleep, just like with the herbs and

foods. For the joints, similarly.

 

Essential oils are to varying degrees antioxidant - free radical

reducing, agni/ama favorable and some analgesic. If you want more

tools/the simple bath suggested by Dr. Bhate isn't enough fast enough

- bear in mind first warm (herbalized if possible) baths are part of

home medicine and postpartum essential when possible for vata

reduction protocol. It is not just about temporarily feeling good, the

warm moisture expands the body channels (shrotas) facilitating removal

of toxins as well as other benefits.

 

Re eoils, they are very handy, including to help the client get the

home routines and ayurvedic practices in place which make for long

term change. Eoils can also create long term change, but in this case

they are more palliative in relation to cause. Simplest you could

begin with lavender, ofen best on joints combined with peppermint

(this combo cooling, nervine, decongesting). Lavender or lemongrass

(more connective tissue specific, especially valuable postpartum to

strengthen the weakened connective tissues) with oregano (more for

burning the impurities), many report benefits.

 

For candida, we have much good info in the files, my favorite simple

is capsules filled on use of Oregano with a little chamomile, to

balance the heat/dry effect. One has to determine length of use based

on multiple factors.

 

These all on inexpensive side. There is a kit great for midwives

called Essential 7 from the Young Living company which has lavender,

peppermint (helpful for some with difficulty/dizziness on blood draws,

fever, many uses) and a powerful pain blend call PanAway, along with

another one good for sleep (if not lavender) called Peace & Calming,

more citrus/patchouli combo, some prefer. Please see order link on

www.sacredwindow.com. Several in that kit are then are supportive

with blues and depression, a couple of them mildly helpful with

microbial support.

 

Shannon, ginger is good for warming and drying, Helps the body to

process the impurities of the joints, increasing to agni among many

virtues you may know.

 

> Any insights on why this joint pain happens will be much

appreciated. And feel free to share any of my experiences. Again

thanks to all sooo much. Loving to learn about this! Shannon

 

YOur participation and sharing is of value to us all as well. I to

look forward to Dr. Bhate's enriching explanations.

 

Warmly;

Ysha

[Guest guest]

The baby in the womb keeps drawing minerals from mother for all bone

formation; that is why calcium tablets is a favourite prescription

during pregnancy. How much calcium you absorb and how much goes through

expensive urine is a research matter. This is also reason you are

unable to bear pregnancy pain and opt for epidurals or c-section. Those

on natural food, without any pills and tablets will deliver normally,

without babies growing too large in womb, and pelvic muscles will flex

to give smooth birth. and vaginal birth will cause adequate neuro

triggers to secret enough milk.

 

Baby grows after birth too, and demands more calcium now through milk.

Mother did not get enough through calcium tablets, she passed on what

she got through green diet. post partum, her diet should have more

greens and milk, but with industrial milk available plenty, you are not

inclined to drink it, leaving only fruits and veggies to supply. But

how much fruits and veggies you will keep grazing like cows? This is

all the crux of the problem. The magnesium is also depleted. lack of

adequate magnesium, phosphorous is the reason, calcium absorption is

poor. nearly 400 chemical reactions in body need magnesium as catalyst.

And on top of that, more than 9 months you have been taking mineral

stripoped iodized salt. more iodine in salt is already proven to cause

hormone imbalances in endocrine system, causing thyroids hormones out-

of-whack. as per recent chinese research.

 

http://health.ayurveda/message/8006

 

and glands act as a system not in isolation. This may also explain

gestationla diabetes for PCOS women when they are pregnant.

 

Now when you do sea sal+epsom salt water fomentation, minears are

getting absorbed transdermally. the deficiency of calcium, magnesium is

being reduced, nerves and muscles are relaxing now. How this work is

beautifully explained by an expert here:

 

http://health.ayurveda/message/7710

 

Ginger as well as turmeric are anti-inflamatory herbs and when ginger

boils with milk, its " hot " property changes to " sweet, cooling " after

its digestion in the body causing vata pacifying results.

 

Yes, Ysha has said it correctly. Vata shouts through pain, Pitta

through burning, pricking sensation and Kapha through itch.

Though this is a general classification, mixed situations can exist,

and pulse is the barometer of each dosha.

 

Calcium, Magnesium are ingredients of bone tissues, termed " asthi " in

ayurveda. God is more kind on baby as compared to mother, as mother is

his angel sent to earth to give birth to a baby. so baby's requirements

are taken care by loss of minerals from mother bones. That is dhatu

Kshya, which sets up Vata or pain. Already she is suffering from empty

uterus, filled with air, adding to Vata. This is figurative, do not

treat vata as air. That is the reason, after birth she is given ginger,

fenugreek, guggulu, turmeric, peeper longum, black pepper, garlic,

ghee, oil, fomentation to reduce vata vitiation. Aswagandha is the

vata herb, used in most problems related to nervous system. Should

boiling of ginger powder be less by any chance, crystal sugar and

cardamom take care of pitta vitiation which would othervise result.

 

Author wrote this in hurry. ask doubts if any. Forgive spellings too.

 

 

 

ayurveda , Shannon <nourished33

wrote:

> Dr Bhate, I have tried both the recommendations and I am amazed that

after one application my joint pain did improve. It's not gone, but it

felt better after salt water over knees. I am waiting on the herbs in

the mail but have gone ahead with the drinks just with ginger powder.

I'll let you know as it progresses how I'm doing. It makes sense what

you said about the vata due to breastfeeding. I'd like to hear more.

>

> Any insights on why this joint pain happens will be much

appreciated. And feel free to share any of my experiences. Again

thanks to all sooo much. Loving to learn about this!