According to Ayurvedic Medicine (the Ancient Medicine of East India) digestion is an intricate process that involves the physical body as well as the subtle bodies that contain the life force and the principles of light energy that course through the physical..
Solid food and liquids are carried through the stomach and nutrients are absorbed within the small intestines, while more water is absorbed through the large intestine and waste products are expelled. The energy responsible for this downward movement of fluids and solids is called apana energy. This energy is part of the life force responsible for downward flow of liquids and solids through our system.
Notice that urine and solid fecal waste matter flow downward, is it not so? And, notice how the digestive system and urinary system work to move its contents downwards to the bottom of our body. Also apana is responsible for the forces that govern the uterus during menstrual downward flow and the forces that expel a child during labor and delivery. Apana also forces semen out of the penis during ejaculation. Without apana energy, we cannot dispel anything downward and out of our body. We know that the parasympathetic and sympathetic are involved in this process. Ayurvedic medicine takes it a step further and says that one of the subtle energies known as apana guides the nerves to do its work to keep things moving downward as the life force is an intelligent guiding energy.
This is how miraculous these subtle forces work --and they are very precise, systematic, highly intelligent and are impregnated with the consciousness of "Source"--Divine light, and so on.
Nutrients are absorbed across the membranes of our omentum that are connected to the small intestine. If one looks at an anatomy book the omentum is is a shear, somewhat transparent tissue that one can see blood vessels in great numbers carrying nutrients to the tissues.
Ayurveda says that the shrotiyas---the subtle digestive, ethereal channels, correspond to the omentum and related physical structures including the small and large intestine that absorb nutrients. These shrotiyas must be kept open and flowing in order to have proper digestion and absorption. One cannot see the shrotiyas physically but they can be felt. The downward apana energy moves through them and this can also be felt. Or, if one's spiritual eye is opened--one can see these shrotiyas. Sometimes they are red or yellow or pink color and they move through the omentum and small intestine. They are quite interesting to watch...when one sits in meditation.. They are part of our light body or astral body that carries the prana and apana and move through our physical structures, just like water flows through pipes.
So where am I going with all this?
One tip is to wake up and drink one to three warm or even semi- hot plain fresh water upon arising before eating anything, even drinking coffee or tea. Do not take cold water. Pure, warm water opens the shrotiyas and so apana (the downward moving energy in the body can function properly)-- Water carries its own energy that opens our physical stomach, intestines and omentum and also affects the subtle energy of apana that moves through the shrotiyas. As one takes the water gentle massage of the abdomen can also help to open them in them morning. Starting at the navel in a clock wise position rotate with one hand gently along the inner and outer abdomen in circular motions. Then gently massage the abdomen from right to left across the abdomen in straight rows to also help the apana energy move downward.
When we do this the prana or vital energy within water mixes with the vital energy of our body and allows greater flow to occur. One can also add a little lime juice, or tamarind juice with a little salt and pinch of fresh or powdered ginger.
When the shrotiyas are opened each day in this way--one will notice that one's digestive fire and appetite increase and one feels a sense of well being. If we do this regularly, we will begin to have automatic, very regular bowel movements (remember apana energy moves downward)-- and feel fresh and clean---because apana is moving well through the shrotiyas.-- It is not just because we are drinking mere water, but it is that the shrotiyas which are somewhat closed when we sleep have a chance to open in the morning upon awakening ---much like valves need a little time to get the fluid moving.
The net result is that we are more alert and that we are can eat and drink that keeps our body balanced.
Dr. Rama in Dallas
remember--Dr. Rama is not diagnosing or rendering service on the blog---he is presenting--Ayurvedic theory and its application to modern day life and living always consult your physician for conventional treatment as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment