Ayurveda has its own medical discipline, the science of rejuvenation (Rasayana), to positively influence physical aging processes. With the help of specially selected plant preparations a premature aging is prevented. To follow the technique of Rasayana is to lead and promote a healthy life. It is about recognizing harmful behaviors and transforming them into a positive lifestyle.
Today it seems to be a challenge for many women and men to accept their own body because of the pressure of beauty ideals and the pressure of personal marketing. The beauty industry advertises with fat-away syringes and wrinkle-free juvenile smooth skin through artificial surgery. Success because of beauty is guaranteed. The tailor-made body seems to be easily accessible through surgery without having to consider the life, nutritional, and behavioral habits. Like a serpent that skins itself, a new skin is gained on demand: smooth, fresh, and young – provided that there is enough money available. Does such a treatment really abandon the causes that lie behind? The well-known Stuttgart facial surgeon Wolfgang Gubisch corrects up to 50 percent of unsuccessful surgeries. In an interview in the newspaper “Stuttgart Aktuell” he said last December: “I know surgeons who use silicone prostheses as a substitute for a washboard belly. I think this is absolutely reprehensible. As a plastic surgeon, I want to help people who are disfigured after a disease or an accident.”
Surgical procedures since 2000 years
The fact that surgeries have been done in India for more than 2000 years is hardly known in the West. The physician Sushruta, who lived in India about 600 BC, is regarded as the father of surgery in Ayurveda. With his records of the Sushruta Samhita, we have a comprehensive medical compendium of surgery, including plastic surgery, which has already been used successfully, for example after war injuries. The goal of the doctrine was and is, however, the surgical treatment of pathological disorders and changes in the organism.
An important part of the Sushruta Samhita includes the localization and treatment of the Marma points, which can cure diseases or alleviate pain. In Ayurveda, Marma points are regarded as the seat of life energy (Prana), as vital points these points combine body and mind, similar to the Chinese acupuncture points. They can be located exactly. The entire body is traversed by a network of 72,000 channels called Nadis. These pass along the blood, lymph, nervous, respiratory, metabolic, and digestive system from one Marma point to another Marma point. They combine these vital points and provide the body and mind with Prana (life energy). The question arises how the interventions of the cosmetic surgery influence this Marma and Nadi system. Isn’t it possible to “skin” without surgery – in a natural way?
“Now is exactly the right time to nourish weakened connective tissues.”
Time for spring cleaning
Spring is approaching – a good time to clean our bodies and to clean and regenerate the accumulated slags of winter and the “sins” of the Christmas season. The rigidity of the cold season dissolves and with the spring sun awakens the new life. Nature supports us with wild growing herbs and regional vegetables, such as the blueweed – also called common chicory or succory – coltsfoot, watercress, bear’s garlic and dandelion. A cure accompanied by bitter herbs activates the excretory organs and stimulates the liver, bile, and kidney activity. Pollutants and ballast are excreted and organs and tissues are intensively cleansed. Chronic diseases such as rheumatic complaints, infections (including Candida albicans), depression, fatigue, bad mood, and inertia can be addressed and overcome.
Now is exactly the right time to nourish and strengthen weakened connective tissue, and to free from accumulated fat cells and so-called cellulite – without scalpel and ongoing.
But why do these tissue changes occur? The causes of connective tissue weakness may on the one hand be found in the extreme burden on our connective tissue by wrong nutrition and on the other hand in the lack of physical exercise as well as overweight. The consequences are an acceleration of the aging process and a multitude of chronic diseases.
Strengthen the connective tissue
Through the connective tissue, nutrients are delivered to our cells and metabolic waste products are transported away. When the nutrients are not entirely split due to a malfunction of the digestive fire (Agni), slags occur and are deposited in the connective tissues during the transportation to the cell. Due to the metabolic disorders, the individual tissues can no longer be optimally nourished. Therefore, poor quality tissues are produced with the wrong quantity, e.g., cellulite in the connective and adipose tissue occur.
Cellulite is a tissue alteration mostly found in women.
Women have connective tissues of parallel arranged collagen fibers, which ensures an enormous stretchability during pregnancy, while the collagen fiber of a man crosses like a scissor-lattice. If there is an increase of weight due to a weakness of the connective tissue, the enlarged fetal cells push themselves through the weakened connective tissue and cause the typical cellulite dents. A weight reduction through a balanced diet and physical exercise is recommended.
”To take self-responsibility for the body means to maintain it in good health”
Diet should be predominantly warm and easy to digest and adapted to the imbalance of the affected constitution. Vegetables prepared with spices and herbs that stimulate digestion and metabolism should be the preferred meals. Eat dairy products with caution. Consuming meat, fish, and bread should be reduced accordingly. Drinking hot ginger water in the morning until about 2 pm supports the digestive fire and stimulates the tissue fire, supports the cleansing of the tissues and strengthens the immune system.
Although a weak connective tissue can be hereditary, the collagen fibers can be strengthened and the connective tissue vitalized.
Much physical exercise in the fresh air is recommended: extended walks and special yoga exercises, which build up the muscle tissue of the abdomen, legs, and butts and strengthen the connective tissue make it elastic and help cleansing of adhesions, should be on the training program.
Cleansing massages
Activating and cleansing Ayurvedic massages can in problematic areas lead to intensive purification of the tissues in combination with a targeted nutrition and exercise program. A visible influence on the structure of the tissues may be achieved with a curative application of five to seven herbal treatments. The tissues are tightened, elasticity is built-up, and slags are excreted. It is recommended to consider the different moon phases. Removal of the slags and their excretion is positively influenced during descending moon.
According to the constitution a treatment of the belly, butts and thighs can be applied with herbal stamp massages using selected herbs and oils. Their effect is to promote dewatering of the tissues, to reduce the fatty tissues, and to achieve a tightening and vitalization of the skin. Using Garshan gloves, raw silk gloves, helps vitalize the tissues and has an excretory and dewatering effect on the tissues, especially in case of a strong Kapha disorder. This massage may – after a corresponding instruction – be very well done at home to support the cure.
Wrap cures in Austria
I learnt and experienced physically in Austria how the knowledge from Ayurveda can be combined with the European knowledge. Bernadette Stöckl, Director of Hotel Schick, and her team created a combination between long-established conception of wrapping cures with the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda:
A 15 minutes sweat bath in the bio-sauna at 45 degrees centigrade opens the pores and prepares the tissues for the Ayurvedic herbal wraps in an optimal way. These consist of selected Ayurvedic herbal essences and oils being adjusted in an optimal way according to the individual Dosha type. A tightly wrapped film provides that the active agents may be absorbed at an optimum. When returning to the bio-sauna the wrap may fully unfold its effect in combination with the warmth. After 30 minutes the person is “unfolded” and may enjoy a refreshing contrast shower. A special massage to promote the excretion of toxins in the tissues terminates the Ayurvedic wrap treatment. This cure is accompanied by a corresponding diet.
To take responsibility for the body means to keep it healthy, nourish it with a healthy diet, clean it, and train it. Appreciate your body’s daily service, care for its beauty with joy in a natural way – in all phases of life.
…to be continued
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