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Covid – 19 Recovery Support Program
CME on Ayurveda and immunity
The Secret Behind Beaming Smile
The Secret Behind Beaming Smile
In today’s world it is very common to see sullen faces all around us. We are sulking and people around us also being sullen. It affects our mood positively when we see a person smiling. We feel good. But we find it difficult to smile back. How to keep smiling when someone hauls bad words towards you.So how does Dr. Pashupati Nath does it? How does he keep a smile on his face even when faced with unfavourable situation or a person?We had a word with Dr. Pashupati Nath regarding the same. Here is an excerpt from the talk.In a conversation with him we asked him how he manages to do so in today’s world when people can’t smile normally and he keeps a very peaceful smile on his even in adverse situations. To that he said there is no big secret behind it. Whenever someone comes to you with bad words or bad mood, then all you have to do is give them a smile as a return gift and thank them. It all comes from the compassion one has towards other people. They are more in need of a smile. They are not in a bad mood because of you. They are personally going to through something themselves and they are dumping the garbage on you. Here he told a story of an angry young man and Buddha. One day the Buddha was going to a village. A very angry and rude young man came up and started insulting him, using all the rude words.Buddha did not get upset by these insults. Instead he asked the young man. “Tell me one thing, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not accept your gift, then whom does the gift belong to?”The young man was taken aback by such an unexpected question. He said, “It would belong to me.”To this Buddha smiled and said, “That is correct. And this is exactly the same with your anger. If you get angry at me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. Then you are the one who becomes unhappy, not me. All you have done is hurt yourself”.I really loved this story. This is not just a story but a practical tool which we can apply in our everyday life. When someone is angry and rude then they must be suffering themselves. They must really be troubled with something if he just did that. We must pray to god for them, because he is obviously in great need. One should think that the words had nothing to do with you, although that person might be looking at you and addressing them to you. Don’t let the other person change your vibes.Everyday we might experience that people bring us gifts hidden in an ugly package with gems inside. And other times nicely packed, but inside, there are rotten apples. So, it all depends on you. The choice is always yours. Whether to accept it or not. He gave this knowledge to us in a very casual manner. But to me it was a big secret, a big change, a need of today’s world. So, keep smiling, keep spreading the happiness.AuthorBharvi Khatri
Breast Cancer and Mental Health
Breast Cancer and Mental Health
Everybody affected by breast cancer knows the physical hardship associated with it. What’s not commonly talked about, but also important, is how breast cancer affects patients’ and survivors’ and as well as the care taker’s mental health.
It is very common to experience a wide range of emotions following a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, which includes fear, stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and depression. They can have long term effect on one’s mental health.
As one discusses the treatment options with the doctor, one should keep in mind that treatment of the physical symptoms of metastatic breast cancer is just one part of a comprehensive plan. It’s equally important to consider the mental and emotional effects of the diagnosis, which is usually surpassed.
A history of mental illness can be aggravated by a breast cancer diagnosis, and the rigors of treatment — while life-saving — are difficult, leaving many women depressed, anxious, or feeling alone.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize women affected by breast cancer and raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. Many breast cancer survivors talk about their struggles with mental illness. To honor their voices, here’s what you need to know about breast cancer and mental health.
How Breast Cancer Can Negatively Influence Mental Health
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you know first-hand that a diagnosis can have long-lasting mental health effects. From anxiety about the future to the stress of treatment, it’s totally normal to feel a mix of intense emotions after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Even though normal, this mayhem can cause lasting mental health challenges. Studies show that a majority of people with breast cancer will subsequently develop symptoms of PTSD, and these symptoms tend to last longer than a year. Even after successful treatment, fear of recurrence affects many women and can get so severe it undesirably influences their quality of life.
After a breast cancer diagnosis, a woman’s relationship with her body might change as well. While life-saving, mastectomies can decrease women’s body confidence, effect their relationships to their sexuality, and have a negative outcome on overall mental health.
Effects of Your Mental Health on Your Physical Health
Mental illness doesn’t just cause distress to breast cancer patients, it can actually impact their physical health as well, including their mortality risk.
It can become harder for a patient to cope up after a breast cancer diagnosis with pre-existing mental health conditions, in turn negatively affecting their long-term physical and emotional well-being. A history of trauma can increase breast cancer survivors’ risk of chronic pain even after treatment. More alarmingly, women with depression have a higher risk of mortality both from the cancer itself and from other factors — up to double the risk of death in elderly women.
While unattractive, these findings make sense. As the American Psychological Association points out, a breast cancer diagnosis is a traumatic event and it’s normal to have a range of emotional reactions to the diagnosis. Meanwhile, mental illness can aggravate these natural feelings, making it even harder for patients to do things that benefit their health, like eat healthy foods, exercise, connect with friends and family, and perhaps most importantly, observe with their medical treatment.
Prioritizing mental health can actually be lifesaving. Research shows that women with breast cancer who take benefit of mental health support have a decreased risk of recurrence and death, even years after therapy.
Caretakers Deserve Care, Too
If someone in your life is diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s normal to want to do everything you can to support them. That’s a great instinct, and your loved one deserves all the care and support you can offer. But in looking out for your loved ones, don’t forget to care for yourself.
A breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the mental health of the person with cancer; it can also have a serious effect on the mental health of family and friends. One study revealed that men whose partners had breast cancer were at an increased risk of hospitalization for an affective disorder like depression subsequent to the diagnosis. While it’s easy to feel that you don’t deserve support since you’re not the one with the diagnosis, that’s simply untrue: taking care of yourself makes you better able to care for your loved ones.
How Providers Can Help
There are a number of things that providers can do to help patients manage the psychological effects of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Try not to let the stress posed by the cancer experience prevent you from continuing your life. Consider these 10 resources for mental health support.
- Visit a mental health professional
A mental health professional can help you cope with your diagnosis on many levels.
A professional can do more than just listen to your concerns. They can also teach you how to explain your illness to your children or how to deal with your family’s response. In addition, they can provide tips on controlling stress and teach you problem-solving strategies.
You can meet individually with a counsellor or psychologist or participate in small group sessions. Many non-profits also offer help over the phone.
- Be open with your family and friends
It’s important to avoid hiding from family and friends during this stressful time. Be open about your emotions and fears with them. Remember that it’s OK to feel frustrated or angry. Family and friends are there to listen and help you manage those sentiments.
Women with breast cancer who are more socially isolated experience an increase in cancer-related mortality. Try not to keep your feelings bottled up. Reach out to your loved ones for support.
- Join a support group
Support groups are helpful because you get to talk to other people who are experiencing some of the same things that you’re going through. Support groups can be in-person, online, or over the phone. Many support groups are tailored to your age or stage of breast cancer treatment or recovery.
You can ask your doctor or social worker to refer you to a local group.
Support groups aren’t for everyone. If you’re not comfortable expressing your feelings with a group, you may want to start with one-on-one counselling. But consider giving a support group a try to see what it’s like. You can always come back to it at a later date when you’re feeling more comfortable.
- Stay active in your community
Volunteering in your community can make you feel empowered. Helping others can be a rewarding experience. You can volunteer for an organization or a society. You can also contact a local charity to see if they need help.
- Reduce stress
Stress reduction can help you manage depression and anxiety. It also has a positive effect on your blood pressure and overall heart health. Reducing stress can help you manage fatigue as well.
Stress management comes in many forms. Here are a few good ways to relieve stress:
- deep breathing exercises
- mindfulness meditation
- yoga
- tai chi
- guided imagery
- music
- painting
- Consider additional medication
Up to 1 in 4 people with cancer have clinical depression, according to the American Cancer Society.
Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, loss of pleasure in daily activities, and trouble thinking and concentrating that lasts for two weeks or more.
You may spend substantial amounts of time worrying about your future. Anxiety can be consuming and lead to panic attacks.
Don’t be ashamed if you need to take an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication to help you deal with your diagnosis.
Work with your doctor or a mental health professional to find a medication that works for you. Make sure they’re aware of all the other medications you’re taking before you start taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. Keep in mind that these medications may take a week or two to take effect.
- Meet with a social worker
Figuring out the planning and financial aspects of treatment, such as insurance, can be a lot to think about. Ask your doctor to refer you to a social worker who has experience working with people with breast cancer.
A social worker can act as your contact person for sharing information between your medical care team and yourself. They can also refer you to further resources in your community and provide you with practical advice about your overall treatment.
- Seek further education
Uncertainty can have a negative effect on your mental health. The more you know about your diagnosis, the more equipped you may feel at making important decisions about your care. Ask your doctor for informational brochures or to refer you to websites to learn more.
- Exercise
Physical exercise is known to reduce stress and can even help you feel more in control of your body.
Exercise releases neurochemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins can help increase feelings of positivity. While it may not seem possible, physical exercise can also decrease fatigue and help you sleep better at night.
Activities like walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, yoga, and team sports can be both fun and relaxing. Exercise can also get your mind off your diagnosis for a bit.
- Eat right
Your diet can affect how you feel. Consider avoiding highly processed foods, fried foods, sugar, and alcohol. While there’s no perfect diet for metastatic breast cancer, aim for an overall healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Takeaway
When you have metastatic breast cancer, taking care of your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. Staying positive may be challenging. Take advantage of every resource available to you to support your mental health.
Visit your doctor or see a mental health professional right away if you’re finding it hard to eat, sleep, get out of bed, or you’ve lost all interest in your normal activities.
About the Author
Dr. Pashupati Nath is a well renowned Ayurvedic Doctor (MD),a coach, consultant. With 18+ years of experience as an Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Pashupati Nath works with his patients to help them unearth dormant capacities that lead to more fulfilling life through the physical, psychological and spiritual way of Ayurveda.
Besides being an inspiring Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Pashupati Nath is a gifted holistic coach as well and incorporates his knowledge of Ayurveda, myths and philosophy in his treatment – and by doing so, always manages to inspire those around him
He is a well renouned Ayurvedic Doctor (MD), he gives treatment to the patients through the physically,psychological and spiritual way of Ayurveda
Who are you..?
Check out this review of Dr. Pashupati Nath Sharma on Google Maps
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Basic problems of digestion
After checking most of my patients I tell them that your abdomen is not troubling you, YOU are the one who is troubling your abdomen.
My patients will always say, doctor who, what should I tell you, we are very troubled with our abdomen, it pains, it bloats, constipation, gas, acidity… and from piles to heartache all the complaints start opening up.
Then I ask them-
How frequently do you eat? The answer comes, anytime.
Then I ask them again, what time do you take your dinner and when do you sleep after eating food.
They answer, somewhere between 10-12 pm and they sleep while watching tv.
How many cups of tea in a day?? Starting from 3 cups to 10-12 cups a day.
Do you take tobacco, cigarette etc? Most men says yes to it.
Do you drink hot water or cold?
They reply how will we quench our thirst with hot water?? So we take cold water.
Do you take salad or fruits?
Sometimes.
How many kms do you walk in a day? Most of them laugh and some says they take stairs in the
house only for 5 to 6 times a day.
These questions automatically makes them aware about how they are torturing their abdomen and on top of it they are blaming their abdomen only.
Still I ask them whose fault is it… yours or your innocent abdomen’s?
So if you are also troubled with your abdomen, then think about it once that your abdomen has troubled you or YOU have troubled your abdomen… If you eat at a fix time, walk daily for 3-4 kms, drink hot water (if not much then at least 3 to 4 glasses), eat 4 hours before you sleep, have fruits and salad daily, and then if your abdomen disturbs you then we can agree that yes your abdomen has indeed troubled you.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis
This picture is of one of our patients.
Very frequently people tend to ignore skin plights like rashes or red itchy skin and recourse to self-medication. However, it is significant to note that patches and red rashes on the skin can be more than just a skin allergy. Predominantly if they appear on the elbows, scalp, knees, lower back or intimate areas since these are the most patronized psoriatic areas.
But what exactly is psoriasis? First, let’s comprehend it.
Psoriasis According to Ayurveda
Our skin customarily sheds its layer every 30 days, and a new layer substitutes the older one. In psoriasis, this procedure becomes much faster and the skin cells are produced in 3 or 4 days. With the new skin ready to replace the dead skin and the dead skin unable to shed fast enough, there is a pile up at the surface. This leads to psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic dermatosis disorder characterised by an erratic course of diminution & relapse. It is a non-infectious skin disease characterised by scaly, silvery patches mainly on the scalp and exterior surface of the body. But it can appear on any part of the body. Its exact cause is unknown. In Ayurveda, it closely resembles with ekakushta. The features of ekakushta explained in Ayurveda, resembles with the symptoms of psoriasis. Psoriasis has remained a challenge for modern science. There is no certain treatment for psoriasis in modern science till today. The drug available in the market used to treat psoriasis are not very effective and have local and systemic effects.
In Ayurveda, Vata pitta and Kapha dosha is the main causative factor for the disease. Due to vitiation of three dosha, the disease manifest and main line of treatment for psoriasis is panchakarma and internal medicine. It is considered the best method for skin disorder in Ayurveda.
Can I Use Ayurvedic Treatment for My Psoriasis?
Prescription medications used to treat psoriasis may cause uncomfortable side effects. As a result, you might seek natural treatments to help manage your psoriasis symptoms. One form of natural medicine is called Ayurveda medicine.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an ancient, holistic form of treatment. It originated in northern India. Ayurveda is based on the premise that good health depends on a healthy body, mind, and spirit. It relies heavily on herbal remedies and living a healthy lifestyle, which includes:
- a healthy diet
- exercise such as yoga
- meditaion
- detoxification
Practitioners of Ayurveda believe that every person has a distinct energy pattern made of three types of energies. These energies are known as doshas, and include:
- Vata energy, which controls bodily functions
- Pitta energy, which controls metabolic functions
- Kapha energy, which controls growth in the body
Ayurveda practitioners believe if your doshas are out of balance, you may feel stressed or become sick. The goal of Ayurveda is to keep your doshas balanced for optimal health.
Ayurveda is not mainstream in Western medicine, but it’s gaining momentum. Its principles may be applied to most health conditions and are sometimes used to complement traditional medical treatments.
Ayurvedic psoriasis treatments
The main Ayurveda treatment used to treat psoriasis is Panchakarma therapy. Panchakarma treatments use plant-based remedies and dietary changes. These are meant to detox and purify the body. A vegetarian diet is often recommended.
The Panchakarma treatments include:
- consuming medicated ghee, a form of clarified butter
- purging and vomiting
- dripping medicated buttermilk on a person’s head
- covering the entire body in a paste of medicines and mud
- performing medicated enemas
The length and success of your treatment depends on the severity of your psoriasis and your commitment to the treatment.
Talking to your doctor
If you’re interested in holistic health, Ayurvedic treatments may be an option. You should not use them in place of traditional care, however. If you suspect you have psoriasis, it’s important to consult a medical doctor for a diagnosis.
Speak with your doctor and a trained Ayurveda practitioner if you have psoriasis and think Ayurveda may help. The mind-body connection seems to play a large role in overall wellness. Most mainstream doctors would not object to standard Ayurveda lifestyle changes such as:
- eating a healthy diet
- practicing yoga
- meditating
- exercising
Ayurveda remedies that help one person may not help another. It may be that developing a treatment plan that includes both mainstream and Ayurvedic medicine will give you the best of both worlds and the best results.
To help prevent drug interactions and negative side effects, be sure to tell anyone involved in your medical care about all the medications, supplements, and herbal remedies that you use.
Keeping an eye on the psoriasis progression, timely intake of medication, proper diet, regular exercise and most importantly, working closely with your Dermatologist to seek clear skin is key.
Like most chronic illnesses, psoriasis may be associated with other health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. There is no cure for this disease so far, but with Ayurveda you can maintain it well.
We understand that Psoriasis is not just skin deep and may have a detrimental impact on life than what is visible. So, don’t hide anymore, and aspire for clear skin, now possible with the power of new biologics.
It’s time to UNHIDE psoriasis!
What is Psoriasis?
It’s easy to think of psoriasis as just a “skin condition.” But psoriasis actually starts underneath the skin. It is a chronic (long-lasting) disease of the immune system that can range from mild to severe.
Like most chronic illnesses, psoriasis may be associated with other health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. There is no cure for this disease so far, but with Ayurveda you can maintain it well.
Underneath the Skin
To fully understand psoriasis, you need to see what’s happening underneath the skin.
What happens underneath your skin when you have plaque psoriasis.
- While symptoms may appear on the surface of the skin, what you can see is only part of the story.
- With normal skin, your body takes about 28 to 30 days to produce new skin cells and shed the old ones.
- When your body has plaque psoriasis, your immune system is overactive, triggering skin inflammation and causing skin cells to be produced faster than normal. New skin cells are pushed to the skin’s surface in 3 to 4 days instead of the usual 28 to 30.
- But your body can’t shed the new skin cells at that fast of a rate. So while new skin cells are being produced, the old, dead skin cells pile up on top of each other.
- As more and more new skin cells are produced rapidly, the old skin cells are pushed to the surface, forming the thick, red, itchy, flaky patches known as plaques.
- The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown.
Our diagnostic system is very scientific in nature.
First we diagnose whether is actually psoriasis or any other skin disease. We adopt the methods of investigation like blood and skin biopsy and clinical method of investigation based on BSA and severity. As it has already been proved that psoriasis is caused and gets aggravated with stress. So we include psychological parameters as well. We use both the modern scientific and ancient approach to diagnose and management.
We design the protocol of the treatment only after knowing the psychosomatic constitution (an ancient way of ayurvedic diagnosis)
About the Author
Dr. Pashupati Nath is a well renowned Ayurvedic Doctor (MD),a coach, consultant. With 18+ years of experience as an Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Pashupati Nath works with his patients to help them unearth dormant capacities that lead to more fulfilling life through the physical, psychological and spiritual way of Ayurveda.
Besides being an inspiring Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Pashupati Nath is a gifted holistic coach as well and incorporates his knowledge of Ayurveda, myths and philosophy in his treatment – and by doing so, always manages to inspire those around him
For further details please contact us at Dr. Pashupati Nath – +91-9414043106
Spirituality
“Spirituality” – A Different Perspective
It all started on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri. My wife asked my son to get better pooja material for worshipping Lord Shiva. She asked him to get better Bael Patra (Stone Apple / Aegle Marmelos). She sent him back three times. All the Shiv Temples were crowded with devotees and cost of all the pooja materials are very high on this day or any other festival for that matters. Is this the only way to worship God, on this particular day, place with only these kinds of materials? When the fact is that we have been taught that God is everywhere and in everything. Then why there is so much of fuss all about?
I was driving to go to my clinic and it struck to me, what exactly are we doing? What are we teaching to our kids?
Let’s go back to where it all started. I was born into a typical Hindu family, where I had been taught all about the rituals and also that God is everywhere and resides in everything. I accepted it the way it was told to me. But I was not able to understand it completely at a very tender age. So on this day when I was looking at all the people celebrating this day with so much of vigor I thought are we understanding it or just doing it blindly as we were taught? Why worship just one Idol? Then it dawned to me that according to Hindu Mythology we have been worshipping everything in different forms.
We worship different idols like Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The Trimurti is the trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism in which the cosmic functions of Creation, Maintenance and Destruction are personified as a triad of deities, typically Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. So we worship even the DESTROYER.
We worship and celebrate days, weeks, months and all the five elements in different forms. We worship days in the form of Chaitra Pratipada( New Year Celebration), we worship Darkness (Amavasya – Laxmi Poojan ( Goddess of Wealth) in the form of Diwali, a Festival of Lights. We celebrate different times of the day in many forms like Morning as Brahma Muhurat, Noon as Abhijit and Evening as Godhuli Bela.
We even worship all the five elements, Ether/Aakash, Air/ Vaayu, Fire/Agni, Jal/Water, Prithvi/Earth in many forms. As we all know that everything is made up of all these five elements. Hence we can say that God is there in everything at any given moment and according to Hindu Mythology, we have been worshipping them in all the forms.
This is what a group of people are following a particular process of worship before knowing that every process of worship is suitable for their individual identity (Svadharm). So before following any kind of worship do research in your inner (psychological & spiritual) laboratory. Like in the outer world scientists keep researching in the laboratories, looking for ways to explain everything. Scientists are looking for answers outside. Spirituality sends us inwards. We have to search for answers in the lab inside us. Only then we will be able to find our own unique path which would be explored only by us.
Being an Ayurvedic doctor, these are my personal thoughts on the success of this journey. There are four milestones to it – health, wealth, love and peace. First you have to love yourself, love your body, and take care of your physical health. When you are physically fit then you can enjoy everything. Then take care of your thoughts. Nourish good thoughts about yourself, about people around you. Give love to yourself but others as well. You should send such vibes even to your enemy that he/she could feel the love even without talking to you. Spread it around. You would feel at peace with yourself.
Now you are free to worship any element, any time, or any path you feel more connected to. It’s completely your choice, not based on your birth or society in which you are born in. Explore all the paths of spirituality and then make your own path which would be individual as you are unique on this planet earth. Then there would be no conflict and peace would be there everywhere.
All I can say is Hinduism is not a religion; it’s a way of life. It’s about celebrating all aspects of life. Ayurveda helps you in achieving that.
Dr. Pashupati Nath