I have ADHD​

Ayurvedic treatment for ADHD in London and in India

Should you wish to undertake the holistic route of treatment, please contact me, treatment would comprise of consultations with Dr Kumar and myself, Depending on the medical history and symptoms the treatment would primarily be undertaken by me in London.  However it could include a time for treatment in India, in at the IIMT hospital setting whereby the treatment would be more holistic and concentrated, thereby achieving positive results more quickly.

Natural treatment for ADHD

Attention Deficit  Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is a condition in children whereby they are restless and have trouble concentrating.  It normally includes fidgeting, speaking without thinking and having a short attention span.  It is a condition treated by the NHS it is treated with either prescribed medicines and / or talking therapies.  In both allopathic medicine (the NHS) and Ayurveda the cause behind ADHD  is thought to come from an under-developed Cerebral Cortex, during childhood and therefore the mind and attention span are affected.

It is a very unsettling diagnosis for the children and adolescents who are in their educational years trying to navigate their way through school, making friends, puberty, and school work.  The children often have low self esteem, poor academic performance and a low quality of life.  The medicines that are prescribed in this condition can have side effects that can cause even more stress on the individuals taking them. Common side effects includes, emotional symptoms like aggressive behaviour, anxiety, depression and mood swings, digestive issues, headaches and insomnia.  High blood pressure and dizziness can also present.

Talking therapies such as Behavioural Therapy, Social Skills Training, CBT and food diaries are common.  Supplements can be given too such as Omega 3 and 6.  Foods that are abundant in these polyunsaturated fats (healthy fats) are oily fish, flaxseeds and seaweed.

The doshas are examined during Ayurvedic Diagnosis. In general the condition is predominantly Vata which means that the brain and its learning centres are the area affected, Ayurvedic treatments include Shirodhara (warm fluid poured on the forehead for 30 minutes a time), Nasya (nasal oil treatment that treats the brain directly), Digestive treatment (agni balancing), herbal medicine and yoga.  It can include Rasayana treatment which is an exceedingly nourish treatment for the nerves in the abdomen.

There have been Ayurvedic research studies undertaken in India,  but unfortunately they had small sample groups.  There were positive changes but the conclusion is clear that more funding for research and studies would be beneficial.
I work closely with an Ayurvedic Paediatric doctor, Dr Kumar, based in India at the IIMT Ayurvedic College and Hospital in Uttarakhand.  He has experienced good results with adolescents with ADHD to date and other neurological conditions for that matter. 

Should you wish to explore the holistic route of treatment, please contact me, I would be happy to carry out an initial consultation to help you understand what would be involved.  The treatment might take some time, but there is no quick fix in ADHD, up to 3 years. The objective is to work on nourishing the brain to gain better function longterm.  Treatments would comprise of consultations with  Dr Kumar and myself, and depending on the symptoms and medical history the treatment pattern would be mostly  undertaken by me.  But it could include a times for treatment in India on a yearly basis, which are in Dr Kumar's hospital setting. The treatment's aim is to be more intense holistically thereby achieving positive results more quickly. 

Joint problems, hot flashes what is it?

On average women's peri-menopause begins at the age of 45 and ends around age 55. That's 10 years!  If your joints are feeling loose, painful or stiff, and if at times you experience a hot flash which consumes the head and body for 2 - 5 minutes, if your menstral cycle is becoming heavy, irregular or painful, if your memory is failing you and anxiety, anger or depression are heightened, then it is likely your reproductive hormones are fluctuating.  The are other symptoms too that you can experience and the root cause are the sex hormones Oestrogen and Progesterone, an aging reproductive system and body.  In Ayurveda, peri-menopause and menopause are mainly contributable to the Vata dosha.  Pitta and Kapha can be involved too, but if you treat Vata first you are on the right path. 

Don't panic, don't get depressed, it's normal.  Imagine, 3.9 billion women have to experience this, you are not alone.  Although it is a very unsettling time, in time you will learn to accept the changes.  It's my job to help you embrace them.  Ayurveda has a range of life practices that help on a holistic level.  Most important is make time for you.  Stop looking after everyone else and look after yourself properly.  I will repeat that one more time... make time for you.  It's the key to feeling better.  You may never conquer the symptoms forever but you will manage them confidently.  Even without the menopause we all experience good and bad days. 

Change the habits that you fell into when you were in your 20's. 
You are older now, it's time to consider lifestyle elements that make
you
feel confident and nourished, be consistent, introduce self care
routines on a daily if not weekly basis, enjoy mindful practices,
cherish good tasty foods prepared by you, massage yourself.

As a peri-menopausal Ayurvedic practitioner these are all practices I do on a daily/ weekly basis.  Once your body becomes accustomed to them when a symptoms strikes you can work on yourself and be sure that the symptoms will be short lived.  The symptoms often arise due to stressful moments, lifestyle inconveniences.  The more you know yourself the better you know what will work best. 

Key aspects to be aware of that increase the symptoms:
  1. Sharp foods and stimulants: tomatoes, coffee, alcohol, chilli, red meat, going to bed late
  2. Processed and refined foods
  3. Smoking
  4. Stress

Aspects that harmonise:

1. Self Massage ( Abyanga)
2. Daily Routine (Dinacharya)
3. Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation
4. An honest diet, cooked at home
5. Portion sizes, hunger and mindful eating practices

You will need help working these routines into your lifestyle.  I can help you with recipe ideas that are relevant to your Ayurvedic doshic constition.   Contact me and we will work on it together, I wlll coach and support you.  You will need 3 - 6 months to change the trajectory of the symptoms.  Imagine that is less than 1/10 of the time you will be undergoing the change towards menopause. 

Check out the treatment page on my site to find out more.

Kitcheri

Before you start plan the detox in:
1.  Spend a couple of days observing your routine.  The time you wake up, the time you do you oblusions, the times you are hungry the times you are sleepy.  Write it down.  If you aren't feeling hungry and if your ablusions are off you need to detox.  (you can contact me if your routine is completely off track and you need help to get it back on).
2.  Decide what your routine is going to be. Write down, when you will wake up, when you will exercise, when you intend to eat, when you will sleep.  Decide and do it.
3. It's important that when you eat you feel hungry, therefore if you just aren't feeling hungry ever then you need to do a Honey Detox.  This is something that I should guide you through as it's important to get the details right.  I charge £70 to guide you through.
4. If you do feel hungry make a kitcheri and eat that for 3-7 days dependent on. your plan.


Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup Basmati Rice (If you can get Aged Rice it is best). Wash.
  • 1/4 cup Mung dal (let the mung dal soak for a 24 hours before.
  • Seasonal vegetables - maybe 1/4 of a carrot, some beetroot or a leaf of cabbage, jerusalem artichoke.  Ensure you wash it first.
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • Small knob of ginger chopped (1/4 of an inch)
  • 1 garlic glove (if you wish)
  • A little black pepper if you wish

To p p i n g :
  • 1/2 tsp ghee or olive oil
  • A sprinkle of crushed nuts or/and seeds
  • 1 handful Fresh Coriander leaves chopped
  • A squeeze of lemon

1.Wash basmati and mung dal.
2.Chop the seasonal veg into small cubes or pieces. Add only a little of each sort to ensure you don’t make too much.
3.Put rice, dal and fennel seeds and cumin seeds, ginger and pepper into 3 cups of water.
4.Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered for up to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5.Cook until the mixture looks like watery soupy porridge. You want the consistency to be soupy not sticky if you can. If it is sticky it will be heavy to digest and will take longer.
6.Squeeze in some lemon, add 1/2 a teaspoon of ghee (if you don’t have ghee use olive oil), the chopped coriander leaves and ground nuts/seeds as a topping
How to make homemade ghee
 
So what  is ghee anyway?

In Ayurveda ghee is an 'amrit' a sanskrit term meaning 'immortal nectar'.  Ghee was the product that was made during the churning of the ocean milk made during battle between the gods (devas) and the demons (asuras).  It was this very time when the Devas (gods) attained immortality by consuming the ultimate 'elixir' ghee.

It is mentioned all the Ayurvedic texts.  It is used in cooking and in herbal medicines too.  It is a adjuvant which helps herbs to increase the efficacy or potency of herbs and carries it to the particular organ.  In Ayurveda, there are herbal preparations that are made with ghee and taken as a jam. 

It is highly concentrated in Omega 3's, and full of Vitamin A, D, E and K.  It reduces acidic pH in the gastro-inestinal tract and aids in the promotion of a healthy microbiome.  It helps bile to flow and supports a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.

It is the closest replica of the 'cholesterol' in our body.  Which means it is a priceless resource for the nourishment of our brain and cell membranes as both are made from cholesterol.

In Ayurvedic terms it is:
Vata and Pitta decreasing

 




How to make ghee:

  1. One pack of unsalted organic butter
  2. Get a small milk pan (preferably made from steel)
  3. Gas on a medium, low heat
  4. Put the butter in the milk pan, let it melt
  5. Once it has fully melted it will foam and you will hear a crackling noise
  6. Continue to heat...
  7. After 5 - 10 minutes give the melted butter a stir with a teaspoon.  You will notice white milk solids on the bottom
  8. Once you have stirred the butter it may begin to crackle - this is a good sign
  9. Continue to check the colour of the milk solids from now on.  Ultimately you want them to be a a uniform chocolate brown colour.  No white milk solids should be there.
  10. Keep checking the colour and also the smell.  When ghee is ready it smells like popcorn.
  11. When the milk solids are all chocolate brown and the ghee smells of popcorn it is ready.
  12. Decant by pouring the hot ghee through a sieve into a jam jar.  The milk solids will stay behind in the sieve.
  13. It's ready!
Don't put yourself down.  Don't focus on the entire problem, don't lump it into one big problem.  Ask yourself how you are right now? Breathe, imagine how you want to feel, remember a happy moment, remember a happy place.   Imagine every muscle is soft and free.  Feel that moment, feel that place.  Just concentrate on that right here, right now.  Take a deep breath

The future we can't bet on and the past is the past. 

Now is the time, now is the moment.  The only moment that matters, it won't last and neither will your anxiety.  If you can get that into your perspective. The present is precious.  Don't waste it! 

You are special remember that!  The rest is your circumstance. 
Anxiety
Forgive yourself

RUTACHARYA
(seasonal regimen)

Health and Wellbeing towards Summer​


Looking towards the ummer solstice

We are headed towards summer, the clocks have changed and the days are longer.  

Massage yourself with warm Sesame Oil for about 20 minutes in the morning.  It's good daily but otherwise look to do it 3 times a week at least.  After the massage have a hot bath or shower, it helps to moisturise the skin and nourish the nervous system.

Our agni (digestive fire) can become stagnant and therefore it is important to continue to eat warming foods, eat when you are hungry, be careful of over eating which can cause blockages in your digestive system and lymph.  Ginger tea is a must right now.


Regimen as always:
  • Exercise - get the circulation going,  this can be a brisk walk, a run of even yoga.
  • Eat warm spices, sour and salty.  Both heat the system and help to keep you warm.  A perfect meal includes the 6 tastes though as they balance all three doshas.  Make sure you add sour (a squeeze of lemon) and salt (add rock salt)
  • Scrub your skin in the shower or bath with a natural exfoliating mitt.  It keeps heaviness in the body balanced (kapha) and increases the circulation.
  • If you are feeling dry and ungrounded meat stock soup mixed with deep green vegetables will help to relieve vata, (vegetable soup with sesame oil if you are vegan with heating spices or ghee if you are vegetarian).
 
Bear in mind that the kapha dosha (qualties: hardness, heaviness, stoutness, blocking) increases throughout the winter.  In the spring towards summer the kapha melts much like the snow melts on the moutains.  Ensuring that your lymph and minute circulatory channels are clear is key.

Diet:
  • Always avoid large heavy meals eat smaller portions expecially in the evening
  • Eat when you are hungry
  • To keep your agni high it is recommended to a small knob of ginger with rock salt 20 minutes before eating.
  • If you crave salads make sure they are winter salads, eat raw leaves (no cucumber)  eat them with a dressing that contains, olive oil, black pepper, lemon and honey and rock salt.  Eat them only at lunchtime when your digestive system is equipped to digest them
  • Avoid snacking: sweets, crisps, cake, biscuits, chocolate
  • Limit fizzy drinks and alcohol
  • Fast for 24 hours, once a week, it optimizes the immune system
  • Limit how much meat you eat to 3x per week (or less, think about the commercial food market and our planet).
  • Use rock salt, which contains essential minerals for the body and is cooling.
  • Use the astringent taste (cabbage, potatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, pulses and beans) and pungent taste (black pepper, ginger, leeks, turnips, spinach)  in cooking to balance the kapha dosha (beans and lentils)



Low energy?  How can I increase my energy?
Prana! How can I increase my Prana?

You have low energy; it can be from a number of factors.  First try to understand what part of your life is causing this low energy?  Could be, 'working long hours', 'not sleeping properly', 'no time to eat'  'totally stessed out', 'my kids'.  Any of those resonate? These are all causes for low energy.  If they are not kept check at some point your health will be affected, short term or maybe worse long term.  Don't panic!  There are many ways to regain your energy.  

Most commonly I advise my clients 'You need more Prana; breathe!

In a nutshell Prana is subtle energy that is present in our atmosphere and the universe in other words 'the god particle' - Boson-Higgs .  By breathing it in our bodies are given energy; this life force.

How can I increase my Prana? 
1. Go for a walk in a park, or the country side and breathe deeply a number of times the smell emittin from the trees.
2. Introduce yourself to and research the meaning of 'Pranayama', which was written in the Yoga  Sutras more than 5000 years ago..  It is a type of breathing technique; it's source is the in the Yoga Sutras 1.34.  Yoga International couldn't put it better.  Read it and be enlightened.  A positive step to re-vitalising yourself.
3. Contact me, you may need more support and further exploration into why you have continuously low energy levels


I have Chronic Pain...

 The British Pain Society estimate that 2/5 of the UK population about a whopping 28 million of us live in chronic pain. Thankfully Ayurveda is very reliable at relieving pain on a chronic level.  A course of treatment is the most effecitve route.  I have treated clients successfully who have had painful joints and backs. Another experienced short term relief in fibromyagic pain, but unfortunately was unable to  continue the treatment to it's end. 

The only problem with chronic pain and Ayurveda is the client's budget.  It is a condition which people may have lived with for over 5 years.  The usual story is that costicortoroids, steroids, co-codomal, paracetamol and NSAID's are a part of their daily routine with no real long term relief.  It is my opinion that true abundance is 'true health'.  Therefore my only advice to someone living with pain they should seek Ayurvedic healthcare.  It's an investment; not a waste of money.

It is unfortunate that Ayurveda is not regulated by the government and is not part of private health insurance; I earnestly believe that this must change so that more people can benefit from the treatment that patients need.  I am working towards this goal.

The doshas

Every person in Ayurveda has a unique constitution, which is like their genetic profile.  This profile is called Prakruti (a sanskrit term) and comprise of three doshas:

    • Vata Dosha: principle of movement and regulation
    • Pitta Dosha: principle of metabolism and thermogenesis
    • Kapha Dosha: principle of cohesion and structure

The definition of dosha is 'that which undergoes decay and exists inside the body'.  They have a direct correlation with the laws of nature and the universe.  As above so below and made up of the five physical elements), they are:

    •  Akasa - ether
    •  Vayu - air or motion
    •  Tejas - fire or radiant energy
    •  Jala - water or cohesive factor
    •  Pritivi - earth or mass

When the doshas become imbalanced the delicate physiology of a person's mind and body are affected.  In the early stages of imbalance is it relatively easy to return the individual back to their natural homeostatis.  However, if left untreated the immune system is affected and an environment which is susceptible to develop a disease. 

To cure a disease takes more time in Ayurveda. It changes the internal environment to return a person back to their natural physiological doshic constitution.  Treatements include; diet, lifestlye alterations, exercise, herbal treatments like massage and herbal medicines.

How do I get better with Ayurveda?

I have a chronic condition; how can I rely on an complementary or alternative medicine to help me?

Ayurveda is mistakenly known as a spa treatment.  It is however a medical system with knowledge that derives from our ancient past.  It can treat most diseases (subject to individual consultation) just as our primary healthcare system can (NHS). 

The difference between the two systems are:
  • the body and mind are treated in Ayurveda to reverse the condition at its core.  The treatment time takes longer as the body needs to address the problems.
  • primary health treats the symptoms primarily, treatment is usually surgery and long term prescriptions are common.  The treatment is quick (subject to waiting lists) but doesn't target the cause. 

Ayurveda uses Panchakarma to treat chronic conditions.  Pancha means five and karma means the therapies which bring about a therapeutic action and homeostasis in the body. 

These five procedures are:
    • Vamana: means therapeutic emesis (vomiting).
    • Virechana: means therapeutic purgation (laxative therapy). 
    • Niruha Basti: means herbal medicated decoction enema (cleansing).
    • Anuvasana Basti: means herbal medicated oil enema (nourishing).
    • Nasya: administration of medicated oils/ fluids in the nasal passages.

Panchakarma targets the dosha system and eliminates the disease out of the body by these five therapeutic procedures.  It cleanses the organs and channels in the body, renews the tissue and cleans the underlying plasma system and cells.  

Panchakarma takes time it is advised that you undertake treatment in-house.  Treatment can last from a minimum of 2-3 weeks up to a month depending on the severity of your condition.  A daily routine will include resting, exercise, yoga, meditation, sound therapy, a specialist Ayurvedic diet, support on how to change your mental health, your routine and lifestyle.  If you are ill you have to change your lifestyle to become well and remain well.

Panchakarma has no side effects and uses natural ingredients and herbs which are recognised by the body and don't toxify the system. 
Not all of the Panchakarma therapies are commonly practiced in the UK by Ayurvedic practitioners as they are procedures which are usually carried out under hospital conditions.

What is Ayurveda

Why Choose Amla Health?
Why Ayurveda?

I am passionate yet professional and will help you without doubt.  Your health is my goal.  GP appointments are too short you are unable to tell you medical history in full.  However your history is welcomed at Amla Health, with consultations lasting one hour at least.  Valuable time for you to get to know me and me to evaluate your current health condition.  Thereafter I tailor make a health plan right for you.   It may include detoxification (panchkarma), diet and lifestyle alterations, therapeutic treatments and massages; all to ensure for deeper healing. 

In Ayurveda, the road to a 'happy healthy you' is a journey  you will discover that there is vast knowledge to tap into.  As an Ayurvedic practitioner it is my duty to empower you with that knowledge, to enable you to learn well-being strategies that will take care of you.  It involves understanding the signs and or symptoms that are detrimental to you.  Understand them and alter your diet or daily duties in order to fulfil the need at hand.  This is the role of preventative medicine.

We will work together, we become a team.  Our aim is to regain control of your energy and well-being.  It doesn't matter what the state of your health is now; you could have had back problems for years, or joint problems, mentstrual problems or headaches, you could be housebound with a chronic debilitating condition or stressed out or depressed.  All conditions are welcomed.  

Do not hesitate to just call me Susie on 07900 422915 and talk through the problem with me.  It may just be the call you needed to make!  You don't need to make any rash decisions over the phone.

Sometimes we are frightened it won't help or we don't have the money.  All can be worked out.  My advice is to just call.  I am very approachable and would love to help.  It's not a big sell; this is your health the most important aspect of your life.

Dinacharya

Keep going part two of the daily routine:

  • Exercise do yoga asanas, go for a walk, run, swim or go to the gym.  The Ayurvedic rule for daily exercise is to do it until you experience sweat on your forehead and then stop.  This is enough for your body.  Exercise keeps the body supple and strong.  It also keeps fat under control.

  • Abyañga with sesame oil should be resorted to daily as it balances the vata dosha and keeps you young.  It is good bestows healthy skin, is nourishment for the joints and the body and keeps the vision good.  Ensure that you massage the head, ear and feet too (if you are experiencing an increase in the kapha dosha it is advised to skip this step).

  • Udvartana with fragrant powder is in the original texts which reduced kapha and controls the fat imparting strength to the body.  In place of this it is recommended to brush with a natural bristle body brush which will do the same, unless you are suffering from high vata then skip this step.

  • It is now time to take a bath or a shower.

  • After you shower you can eat.  However it is important to mentally note if you are hungry or not.  If you are not hungry wait until you have that urge and eat.  *please not that if you are not hungry at all for hours or for the entire day then your agni is imbalanced and you need to act on increasing your digestive fire (call me I can help).

Now that's the key to health!

The daily routine:

The daily routine is described in detail as Ayurveda’s premise is prevention and not cure.  It is advised that to remain healthy one should carry out a routine on a daily basis which in turn cleanses and prepares the body for the day ahead.

3am-6am:
It is recommended that we wake up at a time between 3am - 6am.  This time is known as the Brāhma Muhūrta, it is a time when the air is lighter and the amount of prana (life force) in the atmosphere is at its height.  It is the best time to study or obtain divine knowledge through yogic practice like meditation and pranayama.

  • Wake up: look at something pleasing to the eye like a flower or a candle; if you are more spiritually minded you can look at a deity.
  • Get up and go to the bathroom.  Empty your bladder and bowel if you can.
  • Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper.  If there is any residual coating on your tongue it means you need to eat light today and wait until you feel hungry to eat. Then check your tongue tomorrow.  If you are not hungry however it could also mean that your Agni (digstive fire) is affected.
  • Clean your teeth.
  • Drink one glass of water at room temperature, it cleans the digestive tract and encourages the digestive system to get working.  If you have a Vata imbalance drink warm water.
  • Two drops of sesame oil are sniffed into the nasal passages to clean, coat and protect them.
  • Gargle with sesame oil for at least 2-5 minutes.  It is also call oil pulling and leeches out the impurities in the tongue and mouth.  It also softens and protects the gums.