Digestive Health and Triphala

Today I want to discuss a very important Ayurvedic herb. Ayurveda is Ancient Indian Medicine and has been used for over 2000 years. Many of the spices and herbs used in Indian cooking are well known to us here in the west but what we may not know is that Indians have significantly less cancer than Westerners. For instance, MD Anderson Cancer Hospital (where I worked prior to coming to Columbia) has done studies with Tumeric and its anti-cancer benefits. In fact MD Anderson has even opened a Division of Integrated Medicine to study the effects of alternative practices and healing cancer.

Digestive health is imperative to overall health and well-being. I have a firm belief that if we are not eliminating properly, the toxins in our digestive tract are re-absorbed back into the body causing sickness and disease. There is much to discuss about the digestive tract and I plan to devote a post entirely to this at a later date. I want to introduce you to Triphala because I believe the sooner you start taking this herb the sooner you will feel its extraordinary benefits.

Triphala literally means three fruits. It is an herbal combination of three very strong anti-oxidants: Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki. People in India take Triphala for a variety of benefits but most commonly, it is used for constipation. There is a saying in India, "If you don't have your mother, at least you have Triphala!"

For most people Triphala is a mild laxative. It is excellent for clearing toxins from the digestive system. In very rare cases it has a stronger laxative effect, but usually it is an ideal bowel cleanser especially because it is mild. In moderate doses it is gentle, and detoxifies the body slowly. Because it is slow, you can take Triphala for longer periods of time which then lends itself to a deeply purifying effect. It works at the cellular level to release toxins. It detoxifies the blood, muscle and fat tissues, and so, it is excellent for preventing skin disease. It is as well known for balancing cholesterol levels appropriately.

Below are listed some of the benefits of Triphala:

-Triphala corrects constipation, and cleanses and tones the gastro-intestinal tract.
-It detoxifies the whole body and improves digestion.
-Triphala reduces high blood pressure and hypertension; and improves blood circulation.
-It is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, a powerful anti-oxidant, and has anticancer, and anti-allergy properties
-Triphala is also helpful in liver disorders, acting as an expectorant.
- It corrects Diverticulitis (diverticulosis).
-It is very effective in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis.
-Triphala is a powerful eye rejuvenator for treatment of conjunctivitis, progressive myopia, the early stages of glaucoma and cataracts.
-It is highly anti-inflammatory, anti-viral while stimulating bile-flow and peristalsis.

You can find Triphala at most health food/supplement stores. Read the instructions. Usually, it comes in pills of about 500-750mg per tablet. I recommend taking 2 tablets in the morning and two at night. Take at least one hour before or after meals, not directly with a meal. Also, you may experience intestinal gurgling. This is normal. At first, you may have a loose stool. Bear with this loose stool for a while and wait for your body to adjust to the herb. After about a month you may want to take one pill in the morning and one in the evening. Give it time and see what works best for you. Be patient and remember its amazing detoxifying benefits. It's good for you!

Let me know what you think. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section. Take care and don't forget to eat your plants.

Plants For Food

I am hoping to create a forum for those of us who believe that eating a wide variety of plant based foods is vital for good health; a place where we can share ideas and knowledge about diet, nutrition, and holistic health practices.

I believe in the body's ability to heal itself through nutrition using whole plant based foods and herbs.

As a medical professional, I have learned that disease is best tackled by prevention; and prevention is obtained by education. I believe in a person's ability to make the right choices for oneself if given all the facts; not just what big industries want to sell.

Diseases like Diabetes, Cancer, and Heart Disease, are "Diseases of Wealth". What are we eating? Why are we sick? All too often I have taken care of sick, hospitalized children whose diets are filled with fat, sugar and animal protein. Most people don't eat vegetables, whole grains, or even legumes. It is no secret that the Western diet is unhealthy. Look at other cultures that do not have these diseases. What are they eating? I believe a healthy plant-based diet is the best medicine.

Join me on this journey towards better health and better quality of life, where we can share our knowledge about eating plants for food!