35 years old female came with complaints of backache and previously diagnosed fibromyalgia (tender points at hands, arms, back) for last 7-8years. Anxiety and stress for 7-8years. Acid reflux for last few years. Upper back pain aggravates with stress. Decreased appetite and indigestion, bloating etc. Disturbed sleep due to body ache. H/o umbilical hernia 1year back.
Ayurvedic Assessment:
- Doshas involved- Prana vata, pachaka pitta, samana vata, sadhaka pitta, vyana vata
- Dhatus- Mamsa,(Muscle and soft tissue) majja (Bone Marrow) and Asti (Bone)
- Srotas- annavaha srotas, majjavaha, mamsavaha and Astivaha srotas
- Organs- Stomach, nervous, muscles, and bones
- (Prodromal symptoms) Poorva roopa- Decreased appetite, sleep disturbances and lethargy
- Signs and Symptoms : (Roopa)- Pain, tenderness and fatigue all over the body, decreased appetite.
- Samprapti- Due to longstanding stress and anxiety and due to the excess consumption of vata aggravating foods the vata dosha got vitiated. This vitiated prana vata and vyana vata along with pachaka pitta, samana vata vitiation and agni dushti causes the issues with inflammation in Asti (Bone), mamsa (Muscle) Dhatu.
The formation of ama (toxins) which was carried to throughout the body. This ama and vitiated vata then got lodged in the mamsa and asti dhatu causing body pain, tenderness, fatigue as the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Ayurvedic Assessment:
Diet and lifestyle advise-
- Avoid eating food which aggravates vata like cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cold food. Take more precautions in the vata season. Also avoid fried and heavy food, sugary food and drinks to control ama.
- Improve posture for backache. Yoga is advised but very gentle.
- Drink ginger, lemon hot water in the morning to kick start digestion. Have coriander paste before food for digestion. Look for the recipe below.
- Drink lot of hot water throughout the day. Always eat warm, fresh food, fruits and drinks.
- Make lunch your biggest meal of the day. Do not eat when stressed or while working in the office. Eat in a calm atmosphere with calm mind and with mindfulness.
- At night massage feet and head before going to bed. Meditates while on the bed morning and night or at least once.
- Exercise daily or do yoga poses and breathing techniques.
- Cinnamon tea, fennel tea, CCF tea are good for digestion throughout the day.
Recipe given below:
- Coriander Cumin Fennel Tea (CCF tea)-Great After Dinner Drink
- ¼ tsp coriander seeds
- ¼ tsp cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp fennel seeds
Preparation:
Boil 1.5 cups of water, add seeds to boiled water. Steep for 5 minutes, remove seeds and drink when the temperature is comfortable. OR steep overnight. Seeds can be used in cooking.
- Take golden milk with nutmeg and other spices at night for good sleep. Hot milk with ½ tsp cardamom, 1/2tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp turmeric, black pepper, ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Add digestive spices to all meals to help with digestion and absorption, such as cumin, fennel, ginger, or coriander.
Recipe Coriander Mix Paste – high in iron, vitamin C and folic acid. Add to foods as required.
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup brazil nuts
- 1/3 cup sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
- 2 cups fresh coriander
- 2/3 cup flaxseed oil (or hempseed oil)
- 4 tablespoons lemon / lime juice
- sea salt to taste
Blend all ingredients into a paste. Store in dark glass jar if possible. Instead of milk can have digestive lassi
Digestive Lassi/ Butter milk
Lassi is a great drink to have regularly as it has digestive & probiotic qualities, it’s best consumed after your main (lunchtime) meals.
- ½ x fresh green chili
- ¼ tsp size piece of fresh ginger
- Coriander leaves (as many as you like!)
- ¼ tsp cumin seeds
- a little Salt, to taste
- ¼ cup yoghurt
- ¾ water
Place all ingredients into a blender & blitz!!
To combat stress do Nadi Shodhana Pranayama:
Highly beneficial in reducing stress. Primarily aimed at clearing and purifying the subtle channels of the mind & body, balancing all aspects. It is pacifying for all Doshas and is a suitable daily practice.
Inhale/Exhale Close the right nostril with your right thumb and inhale through the left nostril. Do this to the count of 4. Immediately close the left nostril with your right ring finger and little finger, and at the same time remove your thumb from the right nostril, and exhale through this nostril. Do this to count of eight. This completes a half round.
Inhale through the right nostril to the count of four. Close the right nostril with your right thumb and exhale through the left nostril to the count of eight. This completes one full round. Complete at least four rounds to begin with and gradually increase up to eight to ten once you feel comfortable with the practice.
The information in this article is for education purpose only, for professional help kindly contact our practitioners at Jeeva Health at info@jeevahealth.com.au or call us at 03 99399474.
