* Note: Please don’t take this to mean you can have as much of these things as you want as long as you take the ‘remedy’. Prevention is always better than cure…though if you like smashing your head against the wall, it is worthwhile having something to reduce the damage!!!
Over-indulgences & Their Antidotes:
CHOCOLATE: In Ayurveda, chocolate is a classic ‘Srota Blocker’. Srotas are the ‘channels’ of the body that when kept clear ensure good health & vitality…when blocked they lead to all major disease. The main culprit in chocolate is the milk solids, so the first thing where you can is to try and get varieties without milk solids – organic or good quality (European) usually best.
Antidote: Hot water(boiled) with ‘cardamom pods’. The hot water helps ‘melt’ any poorly digested foodstuffs & cardamom pods are renowned for re-opening up the srotas/channels. * Good after heavy ‘cheese’ dishes or rich desserts etc also.
ALCOHOL: One of the most common effects of (excessive) alcohol is in destroying liver cells/compromising liver function.
Antidote: Turmeric – Recent research has shown a tremendous reduction in alcoholic liver damage’ through the intake of turmeric. 1-2 pinches can be taken in a glass of water, but best is just to add it to normal cooking / morning cleansing drink etc as part of a general routine.
WESTERN MEDICATIONS (for those headaches / hangovers etc):
Antidote: Turmeric – Drugs/medications etc also aggravate the liver, so turmeric (as above) is good here too.
SEAFOOD/SPICY FOOD etc: Even in summer, these things are being eaten more commonly these days – Seafood for Christmas lunch etc (good for you though Mum!). These things being ‘hot/heating’ by nature, can often result in ‘digestive heat related problems’ – acid stomach etc.
Antidote: Peppermint Tea – Peppermint Tea is often very good for reducing the symptoms of acid stomach, excess stomach heat, diarrhea etc. I think this is related to where ‘peppermint’ after dinner mints came from…don’t know where the chocolate came into the equation though!!!
*Note; this is merely alleviating symptoms it is in no way a treatment. Proper food selection & eating habits are needed to ‘prevent’ these problems.
SUNBURN (FOR THOSE IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE) :
Antidote: Aloe Vera – Fresh Aloe Vera (or a good quality natural commercial aloe gel) is sensational for sun-damaged skin. Apply regularly to reduce skin damage & hasten repair, if you get a bit too much sun.
EYE SORENESS / RED EYES (due to sun, wind etc):
Antidote 1: Rose Water Eye Spray
Antidote 2: Eye Baths with Cold Milk
Antidote 3: Sliced Cucumbers on both eyelids (it’s a good look too!).
CAR TRAVEL (motion sickness, nausea etc):
Antidote: Fresh Ginger
Both Ayurveda & modern research has shown fresh ginger is terrific for reducing nausea/motion sickness etc. Take 1/4 tspn with a little lemon juice & pinch of salt every few hours. * For kids / adults who don’t like it fresh, you can get ‘Crystalised Ginger’ at supermarkets/health shops etc. Don’t overdose in summer (ginger is heating!).
HANGOVERS: While alcohol does a number of well-known things, one of the key ones from the standpoint of Maharishi Ayurveda, is that it dries out what’s known as ‘Ojas’. Ojas is the finest product of digestion and the primary link between consciousness & our bodies. It’s the material equivalent of bliss and is what gives maximal health, immunity, radiant skin, bright eyes, mental clarity & resistance to disease. So I guess you could say it’s pretty important!!!
Antidotes:
1. TIME TIME TIME… Do the Crime…Do the Time!!!
2. Plenty of ‘re-hydrating’ fluids – plain water / fresh juices best
3. Avoid de-hydrating substances – ‘caffeine (coffee, coke etc)
4. The Morning Cleansing Drink (morning after) – see www.healthaa.com/food_recipes.php?p=6
5. Ojas Increasing Foods/Drinks – fresh juicy fruits, boiled milk (and homemade ghee!), oil massage, lots of nourishing fluids.
From The All-Time Classic Show – Cheers on 8/26/2003
In an episode of ‘Cheers’, Cliff is seated at the bar describing the ‘Buffalo Theory’ to his buddy Norm.
“Well you see, Norm, it’s like this…A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive drinking of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”
