WEIGHT BALANCE,
OBESITY & AYURVEDA
Obesity is the carrying of excessive weight, the amount we consider excessive depends on the culture which we belong. Therefore, it should be noted that attempts to stay artificially thin may be unhealthy and aggravate Vata. Overweight is only truly a disease when it is quite high and leads to other conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis. Still, according to Ayurveda, it is healthier to be too thin than too heavy. It is easier to build up tissues than it is to reduce them. A heavy body is a good breeding ground for ama (toxins)and may reduce life expectancy.
Causes of overweight including overeating, eating too much heavy or cold food, too frequent meals, excessive sleeping, and lack of exercise. Hormonal imbalances may exist. Emotional factors include attachment, sentimentality, and clinging. Lack of self-esteem can be an important factor and sometimes extra weight is used as security, greater insulation from the world. Generally, the agni (digestive fire) is weak in this condition of low or slow metabolism. It is most often a Kapha (water) disease in Ayurveda.
Weight reduction and appetite suppressive drugs also lower the digestive fire, and in time, further weaken the metabolism. They will also aggravate Vata and therefore nervous-type obesity.
General treatment requires a lightening (langhana) or reducing method, with light diet, fasting, spicy herbs to improve digestion, mild laxatives to keep bowels clean. Some tonic herbs provide a deeper kind of nourishment which we may be looking for in excessive eating. Guggel and myrrh are good general herbs, as is shilajit. One gram of shilajit taken two to three times a day with ginger and honey can correct most kinds of obesity over a period of several months. Aloe vera gel with ginger or tumeric is another good combination.
Nervines are helpful to calm the tendency towards nervous excessive eating. Best is Gotu kola. The following weight reduction formula can be taken: 6 pts triphala, 2 pts katuka, or gentian, 1 pt dry ginger, 1 pt gotu kola. One to 4 grams before meals, best taken with raw honey in warm water by all dosha types. Planetary Formulas herb company has expanded their offering of Triphala formulas to include one called �Triphala Herbal Diet Formula� containing further bitters, diuretics and trace minerals.
There is a rasayana for weight reduction called Somalata Rasayana. It contains a blend including Ephedra vulgaris (American - desert tea). Strong reducing therapies should not be started in the winter months, for they can lower heat and resistance. Mild, long-term reducing therapies and steady improvement of habits are by far the best way to normalize metabolism, digestion and body weight.
Kapha (water) type: Overweight is most common in Kapha types. Their metabolism is slow, appetite continuous, and they often eat to reduce stress and tension. They tend to become attached to food and the joys of cooking and eating. Hypo-thyroid or other hormonal conditions may make them hold on to weight.
Kaphas excessive weight is largely water and fat. It is usually related to the weak function of the pancreas and kidneys, the pulse and energy levels may be low. The individual is usually pale, flabby with moist skin. There will be excessive phlegm and saliva. Subcutaneous fat deposits and benign tumors are common.
Treatment is primarily dietary, following an anti-Kapha diet for an extended period of time. Sugar, sugar products and salt must be avoided as much as possible. Dairy, sweet fruits, breads, pastries, meat, fish and oily foods should be omitted as much as possible. Sprouts, enzymatic agents should be taken to help in the process of digestion. Food should not be taken before 10am and after 6pm. Hot spices will raise the metabolism, along with fasting, unless there is a debility. Rather than fruit juice fasts, spice teas and vegetable juice fasts should be followed. Avoid all cold drinks; soda will derange the balance of water in your tissues. As the condition is from a long-term metabolic imbalance that the system has become used to, these measures should be implemented gradually as to not shock the system.
While it is preferable to eat less in quantity, it is even better to eat a different quality of food - more vegetables, preferable steamed without oil or salt, beans, whole grains, and less of the heavier foods. Mung beans are excellent.
Excessive sleeping, and sleeping during the day should be avoided. Exercise, particularly that of an aerobic nature should be undertaken. However, if the patient is weak, exercise should not be done to the point of sweating, shortness of breath or fainting.
Herbs include hot spices to increase metabolism: cayenne, black pepper, ginger, garlic, and tumeric; bitter herbs to reduce fat, katuka, barberry, gentian, myrrh. Barberry is considered a rejuvenative for fat tissue, both eliminating excess fat and producing better quality tissue. The usual combination of tumeric and barberry is also useful here. Guggul or myrrh (preferably as a tincture) is specific for obesity and can be taken along with spices or bitters.
Ayurvedic formulas include Trikatu as a digestive stimulant. Mild laxatives such as Triphala, aloe gel or cascaras sagrada are good. Strong purgatives may lower the metabolism further. Trikatu and Triphala together with honey is excellent.
Mild diuretics - plantain, corn silk, or gokshura can be helpful as well as herbs for improving kidney function such as shilajit. Nervine herbs such as gotu kola and calumus combined, or skullcap counter the habitual side of overeating. Chinese formulas including Citrus and Creteagus are good for overeating and food stagnation. Additional western herbs include alfalfa, dandelion and chicory root.
Vata (air) type: Vata type obesity is characterized by fluctuating, irregular weight. Gain and loss may be sudden or unpredictable. Appetite and digestion will also be variable. Excessive carbohydrates and sugars are taken to calm the nerves and contribute to obesity.
Psychological factors are fear, anxiety, worry and nervousness. Extra weight gives a greater feeling of stability, groundedness and security.
The most difficult form of obesity is a combined Kapha-Vata type whose physical being has a slow metabolism, and nervous mind. Mental habit and physical weakness combine in ways which are difficult to counteract. Under such conditions it is better to concentrate on calming the excessive Vata nerves than applying a restrictive diet. Treatment includes an anti-Vata diet with emphases on complex carbohydrates, whole grains, starchy vegetables. Pure sugars must be avoided. Fewer hot spices are employed (cayenne, pepper) and more spicy-sweet (fennel, cardamom, coriander). Herbs to calm the mind include gotu kola, calamus, jatamansi, nutmeg and valerain. Guggul or myrrh is helpful also.
Pitta (fire) type: Pitta obesity is usually caused by overeating. The appetite is high and digestion is usually good, so the tendency is to eat more. As fire types an best digest sugar, they can become addicted to it. There is a tendency to eat more red meat. Weight involves more developed muscle and tissue, not just flab.
Treatment involves anti-Pitta diet. Meat, fish, oily or greasy food and alcohol must be avoided, as well as sugars and pastries. One should take salads with green herbs and chlorophyll. Digestive bitters are specific, as are bitter laxatives.
Ayurvedic herbs include aloe, katuka, barberry, tumeric, liver regulating formulas. the major Chinese Bupleurum combination is excellent. Helpful western herbs include barberry, gentian, dandelion, cascara sagrada and Swedish bitters formula.
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