Normally, the intestines contract in a wave-like motion called peristalsis, propelling the food or fecal matter smoothly through the intestinal tract. Sometimes, the intestines contract in an irregular way leading to colicky pain and cramping. This...
Intestinal perforation is an emergency, life threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Parasites cause digestive disturbances such as gas, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, and vomiting, as well as bowel changes including diarrhea, loose stools, or mucus and blood in stools. Accurate diagnosis is best performed by a medical doctor...
Lie down comfortably on your back and gently press into the lower left side of your belly, just above your left hip bone. Use your fingertips to apply light to moderate pressure in small circles. If you feel a firm, rope-like ridge or tender, lumpy...
Iron overload damages organs by stimulating ractive oxygen molecules. It causes muscle and joint pain, fatigue, inflammation liver damage, and cardiac injury. Iron overload is caused by Hereditary factors,...
An irregular heartbeat is also known as arrhythmia. In some arrhythmias your heart beat speeds up and slows down, skips an occasional beat, or feels significantly different throughout the day. Some different types of arrhythhmias include: ...
Irregular meal times create unstable blood sugar levels which can lead to binging on junk foods. Skipping meals aggravates Vata as well. If occaisonally you must eat off schedule, choose easy to digest, nourishing foods. For example, an almond milk,...
Routine is the first pillar of health. It creates structure and the ability to monitor and plan, putting you in the driver's seat of your health. An irregular meal schedule scrambles your biological clock. Your digestive organs may not be ready for...
An irregular sleep schedule aggravates the liver and creates emotional instability. Although the mind loves freedom, the body loves stability. Regular mealtimes and bed schedule is the foundation of a healthy routine. There are many causes of poor...
It takes a strong digestion to get thirsty. Otherwise, water will feel heavy in the stomach. Vata individuals often forget to drink water, or fail to notice they are thirsty. Excess mucus and insufficient acids can also drown healthy thirst. Your sense...
Irregular tense breathing makes the nervous system tense and fails to oxygenate the blood adequately. Instead, practice slow, deep, smooth breathing.
The appetite is often small when there is Insufficient acid production in the stomach. This may be due to chronic dehydration. In that case, drink a glass of warm water with a pinch of salt and a wedge of lime a half hour before meals to rehydrate your...
Nail health is related to bone, hair and teeth health in Ayurveda. Irregularly shaped nails may be a sign of poor metabolism, often associated with the lungs and blood.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder of the colon characterized by cramping pain & discomfort. Bowel habits may shift between diarrhea, constipation, or sometimes both. Other signs include bloating, gas, and a feeling that you haven't...
Itchy skin may be secondary to dryness (Vata pushing Pitta). Skin may be itchy due to cyst formation (Pitta/Kapha type). Skin may feel itchy when sweating, or when heat (Pitta) is trapped in the body. When wounds are healing, the skin is...
Fungi grow easily in warm, damp areas of your body like the groin, armpits, vagina, and colon. They also tend to lodge in areas with poor circulation, including the toes and joints. Often a fungal infection in the foot is a sign of a deeper fungal...
The causes of joint pain can be multi-factorial. Poor posture or alignment of bones places stress on surrounding joints and muscles. The following procedure may help to correct alignment issues: Schedule an appointment with a chiropractor,...
Joint pain after eating could imply an overgrowth of candida or other bacteria that become active whenever blood sugar levels increase. The bacteria may infest the joint space itself, or other tissues of the body. These pathogens release toxins into...
According to Ayurveda, arthritic conditions are related to toxicity in the colon. Joint pain in the fingers can also indicate dryness and poor circulation to the extremities.
Judgement implies an individual is confident in their analysis of another's behavior. This confidence may mask an underlying inability to empathize with an individual. Judgement may be unnecessary to decide consequences, or you reaction to another's...
Keloid scars are due to poor formation of collagen - either type III (early) or type I (late) collagen. They form rubbery, firm lessions or shiny fibrous nodules. They occur more often in people with darker skin or Asian descent.
Kidney stones are the result of accumulation due to supersaturation of minerals, or low urine filtration in the kidney. Kidney stones can be composed of calcium, oxylates, or uric acid crystals. If you pass a kidney stone, have it tested for the...
Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) cause cloudy urine and pain in the kiney area, in the back, on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage. A kidney infection is a medical emergency. If you suspect one, go to urgent care or...
Proper alignment from studying yoga can help protect your knees from arthritis and pain. A significant cause of knee pain is carrying heavy objects, or gaining too much weight. Age can also cause arthritis in the knees.
Moderate movement typically refers to activity that noticeably increases your heart rate and breathing but still allows comfortable conversation. Examples include brisk walking, cycling at a steady pace, dancing, swimming, or...
Fasting from dairy for several months can lead to lactose intolerance, as your body no longer produces dairy digesting enzymes. Many lactose intolerant clients report that they can eat ghee without symptoms.
Mucus is generally a sign of "sweet blood". Blood that is high in sugar, fats, or proteins is sweet blood. Sweet blood is thicker than dry blood and causes mucus. Sweet blood causes thick mucus while toxicity generally creates thin, clear mucus.
You've probably heard the infamous phrase "your eyes are bigger than your stomach" and for those who struggle with large portions, this often rings true. There are diverse reasons for indulging in large portions, such as emotional eating, an attempt...
Kapha's stable, generous, and nurturing nature is clearly reflected in their facial expressions—especially in their soft, affectionate, and peaceful eyes. Kapha eyes also tend to be moist, and the sclera a bright white. The phrase "doe-eyed"...
Laryngitis may follow an upper respiratory infection & swelling, excessive use of the voice, acid reflux, or other causes.
Leaky gut occurs when the intestinal lining becomes too porous, letting toxins and food particles into the bloodstream. At home, signs may include bloating, fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, food sensitivities, or skin issues. If you suspect leaky gut,...
The pyloric valve may leak when the stomach is overstuffed, when damaged, or when there is poor coordination.
Stagnant stool sitting in the digestive tract may begin to putrefy, releasing irritating toxins. Moving the bowels flushes the toxicity. Mild or intermittent constipation can cause a buildup of toxins, making you anxious or emotionally unstable....
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that causes an overproduction of immature or abnormal white blood cells. These defective white blood cells can't fight infection like their healthy counterparts. They also crowd out the red blood cells, meaning there...
Dry eyes can be a sign of dehydration or irritation. Sours taste generally flushes the eyes and skin (for example: lime).
Yellow or green stool indicates quick transit time through the bowels. A light brown stool (the color of cardboard or lighter) may be lacking sufficient bile, a sign of Vata type dryness in the liver. This is especially true if the light colored stool...
Kapha 'Light sleepers' are often sensitive to disturbance by light or noise. Vata 'Light sleepers' are often woken up by digestive distress, dreams, or a racing mind when stress hormones are activated between 4am-6am. Many people wake up to to the...
Adventure and excitement are useful in moderation. They can help you find a more authentic version of yourself. Sometimes you have to break ties to find your true home. However inspiration, adventure, and awe are addictive. Constant dreaming feeds the...
Limited sense of smell could come from various causes. Toxins in the body reduce the sensitivity of the nose. Sinus inflammation or sinus infection could reduce sensitivity. Acid reflux may affect smell. Injury or trauma to the septum, or sphenoid bone...
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
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