
The cecum or 'second stomach' marks the beginning of the colon in the lower right abdomen. Pain in this area is usually due to stagnant digestion. The cecum may feel bloated or full. Eventually, a painful cecum could lead to appendicitis. This area...
The liver is located near to the right upper abdomen. You may experience aching in that area when the liver is inflamed or enlarged. Congested fecal matter in the colon may present as pain in the upper right side.
The upper back supports the neck, rib cage, sternum, lungs, and heart. Pain in any one of these areas can masquerade as an upper back ache. Abnormal posture, such as hunching the shoulders, a sunken sternum, as well as scoliosis, can create...
Pain that wakes you up at night is considered serious and should be checked immediately by a medical doctor.
Menstruation is a time of cleansing and rejuvenation in a women's reproductive cycle. However, for many women, menstruation comes with fatigue, cramping, and irritability. Type of Menstrual Cramps Menstrual cramps before your...
The body releases toxins through the digestion, urine, skin & lungs. Rashes may result when there are too many toxins, or the liver becomes otherwise aggravated. Some rashes may be infectious and require a visit to a medical doctor. All rashes are a...
Pale lips may be a sign of anemia or other blood deficiencies. It could be a sign of vasoconstriction due to cold or other circulatory issues.
Pale nail-beds may be a sign of a blood deficiency, or a circulatory issue.
Pale skin can come from anemia or other blood deficiencies (Vata), low basal body temperature, or poor circulation at the surface of the skin. Often, poor circulation is related to thick, rich blood (Kapha).
A moving palpable mass in the abdomen could signify the presence of gas or impacted fecal matter. An immovable mass could indicate tissue changes. Either way, this condition should be reviewed by a medical doctor. Enema and purgation therapy may be...
In exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) the pancreas is unable to secrete adequate amounts of digestive enzymes. This leads to loose, greasy stools with undigested food; gas & bloating; and weight loss. Since many imbalances can cause the above, it...
Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, creates terrible, sharp pain just below ribs. Pancreatitis happens digestive enzymes released by the pancrease are activated too soon, and auto-digest the pancreas, damaging the tissues. This is a...
Weight often becomes the object of our attention when we are feeling anxiety, uncertainty about the future, or hopelessness. Self-inquiry is thus a useful strategy in addressing panic about size and weight. When did you first notice yourself panicking...
When thick blood blocks circulation to the brain, a person may be more prone to panic attacks. Heavy, rich foods such as ice-cream make the blood thick.
Passing a parasite in your stool is a definitive sign you have parasites. Parasites are organisms that live within another organism, often causing harm to the host. They can live in multiple locations in the human body, but many prefer the digestive...
Parkinson's Disease tends to occur in ambitious individuals who burn out their nervous system. Parkinsons is related to dementia.
Chemotherapy causes cellular division to cease, leading to hair loss, and often severe indigestion.
Emotional trauma is an event that is overwhelming to the nervous system. The event need not be significant in the eyes of others, and may even seem trivial to ones-self. Nevertheless, it overwhelms the person's nervous system and makes them unable, or...
Why do we love nuts? Humans have a long history of eating nuts. Nuts were the primary source of fats and proteins prior to the agricultural revolution. Unfortunately, peanuts...
In this condition, fats are deposited in the lower body only. Fat is deposited on your hips, buttocks and thighs while you may even experience a loss of fat in the arms / breasts. This condition points to blocked circulatory issue in the lower abdomen,...
Pelvic congestion syndrome is a condition where varicose veins in the lower abdomen cause heaviness and pain in the pelvic area. Hemorrhoids, vaginal varices, varicose veins, and varicocele (testicular congestion in men) are common in this...
Perimenopause may start in the mid-30's with a drop on estrogen or progesterone. Fluctuations of estrogen during perimenopausal years can cause hot flashes. Many of the same herbs that are helpful after menopause are helpful during menopause.
A bright red tongue can indicate heart heat or blood stagnation.
Pink skin appears predominantly pink in color. It can be a sign of strong, healthy circulation of blood to the surface of the skin. However, in some cases, skin may appear pink if it is inflamed, irritated, or there is sun damage. Pink or inflamed...
Pins and needles are a sign of poor circulation. Circulation may be poor when the blood vessels are blocked by plaque, the blood is too thick, of the heart is not strong enough to pump the blood. Stress, cold body temperatures, a sedentary lifestyle,...
Let's face it: Pizza happens. Growing up, one of my favorite memories was when my dad would take my sisters and I to Brother's Four Pizzeria. We would have so much fun picking out toppings, watching the cheese become stringy as we pulled up a slice,...
Pneumonia is a lung infection causing inflammation of the deepest lung tissue (lower bronchial tubes and airsacs). Common respiratory infections typically affect the upper branches of the lung only and does not descend into the air sacs (alveoli) of...
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone disorder of high testosterone and luteinizing Hormone (LH). Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio may be low. This causes multiple cysts on the ovaries, and is one of the most common causes of...
A poor diet is a diet 1) high in refined foods & empty carbs (sugar, corn syrup, white bread, potatoes, etc), processed foods (TV dinners, canned foods), Fried foods, 2) Low in vegetables and fire, or 3) High alcohol, caffeine, or other substance...
Poor discernment of temperature is the inability to distinguish sensations of hot and cold. Inadequate circulation to peripheral nerves in the skin causes poor discernment of temperature.Your peripheral nervous system requires fresh blood and ample...
Vata people live for the moment and buy on impulse. In a fit of excitement, they have difficulty discerning the value of a thing.
A popping or clicking jaw is generally related to stress making the jaw tense, poor alignment of the neck and spine. The jaw is related to the throat chakra issue - responsible for filtering as well as integrating thoughts, desires and moral...
The liver becomes congested when fibers replace healthy lung parenchyma and liver comes fatty. Liver blood congestion can back up and cause portal and pulmonary hypertension. The liver repairs and regenerates itself at night. Good sleep hygiene is...
It may take several years for hormones to stabilize during menopause. A more relaxed lifestyle and stress reduction techniques help make the transition smoother.
Is your nose constantly drippy? If you are one who can't leave the house without tissues on hand, you probably have post nasal drip. The nose is one of the body's pathways to eliminate toxins, and a major site of immune system activity. Post nasal...
Premature ejaculation may occur if your nerves are on edge, and easily stimulated. In Chinese medicine, this comes from Kidney Yin deficiency. In Ayurveda, this is the dry quality of Vata. Rebuild ojas with rich, sweet, and salty drinks. Slow down in...
Pre-menstrual syndrome refers to a group of symptoms women experience between ovulation and menstruation, including one or more of mood swings, irritability, depression, food cravings, fatigue, headache, back ache, tender breasts, water retention &...
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.
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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’