The ancient texts of Ayurveda extol the virtues of WHEAT, as a nourishing, strengthening food. Its properties are heavy, oily, sweet and cooling. 

Wheat has, and still remains an important food item widely used in Ayurveda, particularly for the airy Vata and fiery Pitta types, owing to its nutritive nature. For the watery Kapha types, who tend towards being overweight and/or have sluggish, impaired digestion it should be generally avoided. Aside from balancing Vata + Pitta, grains are considered nourishing and comforting, they improve the Ojas, and they are sattvic in nature; meaning they promote contentment and harmony. 

But the wheat we eat today has undergone some pretty major changes over the last few millennia, and what we’ve done to wheat in that space of time, has  been incredibly detrimental to our health. While humans have likely been consuming grains for at least 30,000 years, it was roughly 10,000 years ago when we began cultivating wheat in the Fertile Crescent (an area in the Middle East). Since then, we have been hybridising with other varieties from all over world resulting in a shortening of the stem allowing more weight to be carried on the plant and faster harvesting. Furthermore, since gluten gives wheat products enjoyable textures, we began creating wheat strains with soaring levels of gluten, before we even knew what gluten was. Our increased scientific understanding of agriculture has led to wheat products with much more gluten than those humans historically consumed. 

Gluten intolerance, also called gluten sensitivity, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or non-celiac wheat sensitivity, is a disorder, more common than celiac disease , that can cause problems with your digestive system. Unlike celiac disease, these reactions to consuming gluten or wheat products won’t cause permanent damage to your stomach, intestine, or other organs, but if you suffer from an autoimmune condition such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the gluten can trigger inflammation, which may be heavily influencing your symptoms and the progression of your disease.

While there is no doubt that gluten is to blame for the debilitating symptoms of celiac disease, we might have been too quick to assume that this protein, found in wheat and some other grains, is also entirely responsible for the symptoms associated with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Some individuals diagnosed with NCGS might actually be sensitive to one of the many other components of wheat, possibly a different protein, carbohydrate, FODMAPs and amylase trypsin inhibitors (involved in starch and protein degradation. In addition to that and more importantly, more than half of bacterial species in the human gut microbiome are potentially sensitive to glyphosate; the herbicide that most dry crops are sprayed with. Glyphosate increases homocysteine, a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and disrupts the gut microbiota. Glyphosate has been associated with several diseases, including thyroid disorders rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus. Decreased gut microbial diversity has been associated with a range of autoimmune conditions, obesity, diabetes, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

Because we already know that gluten causes problems in those who have celiac disease, the common assumption when someone claims to feel better after eliminating wheat from their diet is that the symptoms had been a reaction to its gluten. However, wheat is a complex structure with an estimated 95,000 genes, which is several times more than the amount that scientists estimate are contained within the human genome. Wheat’s genes could contain many varied compounds, any one of which, other than gluten, could be causing symptoms. While avoiding gluten makes these individuals feel better, it could be because they are also avoiding all the other compounds in wheat, including whichever one is the true source of their symptoms. 

Asatmya is the term used for intolerance. According to Ayurveda, food intolerance or allergies occur due to the imbalance of Doshas and Agni. When a persons digestive fire is low, and they eat foods that are heavy to digest, the food is then not digested or assimilated properly leading to malabsorption. Food and/or experiences that are not digested and eliminated correctly, accumulate and become ama (toxins), leading to the clogging of the channels of circulation. Now, if Agni is already weak, heavy foods like grain will straight up, be difficult to digest, but eliminating this food, is a band-aid solution. On the surface it will appear as if the issue has been resolved. However, not only have we not addressed the root cause, we are also further weakening the Agni, as grains contain enzymes that support digestion (especially that of proteins). This leads to more systemic issues. 

For years, I waged a war against wheat containing products; blaming gluten as the sole culprit, and not taking into account the other villains in this story;  farming and agricultural pesticides, fertilisers and chemicals, hybridisation, seed oils, thickeners, preservatives, and very importantly a poorly functioning digestive system. My eldest daughter is a Vata, through and through; creative, joyous, effervescent, dynamic, high energy from dawn until dusk. She has a natural aversion to greens in their whole form, but will consume blended with fats and mixed into meat or rice, she is naturally drawn to the heavy grounding foods that soothe her Vata; Breads, Pasta, Butter, Ghee, Lassi and Warm Milk; all of which I had previously substituted with “gluten free”, or “dairy free”, alternatives. These alternatives made no difference in improving her gut health, and if anything we found her energy levels and behaviour to be exacerbated. After studying Ayurvedic Nutrition, I came to the realisation, that I had been looking at nutrition for her ( and myself if I’m honest) all wrong, and if these were the foods I could get her to eat without argument, then I needed to do two things: source the purest of ingredients and/or prepare these foods myself, and also work at rekindling our digestive fires. This post is a little lengthy, so if you are interested in how to improve your Agni, please reach out, or grab a copy of my book, but a very long story short; we are now 9 months into making our own breads/bread products, making our own ghee, yoghurt/lassi and we are fortunate enough to get our hands on RAW cold-pressed Jersey Milk; the difference these little changes have made are profound! Firstly, these foods have such a calming effect on her, the opposite when she consumes processed/packages versions. The process of making these foods in itself are a soothing activity for both her Vata and my Pitta, but on top of that we have been able to eat real bread, bread and dairy products without becoming reactive (inflammation, bloating, mood/behavioural changes, etc).

In my book OJAS I speak about the flour I sourced, which is grown here in Australia, in the sun-drenched, naturally clean environment of the southern Flinders Ranges. Their wheat has been bred by traditional methods and does not have any genetically modified material, and is traceable from paddock to baker. I still adore this gorgeous flour, but with the amount I use, the 1KG bags + postage weren’t cutting it. Since writing OJAS I have also discovered Einkorn Flour or Emmer Flour. Emmer Wheat is a traditional heirloom wheat grain, a variety of wheat that was used during earlier periods of history. It has not been manipulated or hybridised (a cross pollination of plants) by modern methods. Wholegrain Milling Co. in Gunnedah, NSW has been producing sustainable stone ground ancient grain flours, without the use of chemicals, fertilisers or pesticides for over 4 decades. Their farming methods support soil improvement and only use natural inputs. Improving the long-term environmental sustainability of the land they farm. Emmer flour is my personal preference, but other non-gmo ancient grains you could try (if you aren’t celiac) are Spelt, Khorasan (kamut), and Rye. 

So when it comes to gluten and wheat intolerance, or any food intolerance for that matter, you need to check in with the strength of your Agni, and that will determine a yay or nay on the bread front. Since weak Agni affects our ability to digest food, I suggest you address that before anything else. Then, when Agni is functionally correctly, if all the doshas are balanced, and if it's the right season, have fun making your breads, your pastas, yoghurts and ghee. Take comfort in knowing that your ingredients have been sourced from a clean environment, and have been prepared lovingly by your own hands. 

Your liver works hard to keep metabolic processes running smoothly and your body free of harmful toxins. This is a challenging set to build a strong and healthy liver.

Christmas time in Australia is Summer time!

Tis the season when our body heats up and pitta is highly aggravated. Even Vata and Kapha body types suffer from aggravated pitta, and your body can dry out totally if you are of Pitta constitution. Irritability, heartburn, UTI’s, skin eruptions and stomach acid are the signs of aggravated Pitta.

Cooling foods TO CONSUME in summer :

• It is natural to grab a cold drink to pacify a hot day. Cool and room temperature liquids help to hydrate the body and flush the toxins out of the body. But ice cold liquids give the opposite effect. They dampen Agni (the digestive fire) inside the body and disturbs the digestion process. Carbonated drinks also give the same effect. So, it is wise to drink to drink a lot of room temperature water throughout the day to prevent the body from being dehydrated.

• Take some herbal teas like CCF tea and fresh coconut water as beverages.

• Avoid or consume minimal foods with sour, salty and pungent rasa (taste).

• Consume more sweet and astringent tastes. Enjoy sweet, nourishing full ripe fruits like mango, cherry, grape, melons, and sweet pineapple. They are nourishing and cool for summer.

• Consume more leafy bitter greens (kale, rocket, endive, lettuce, watercress) and enjoy avocado, zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, bitter goard, green beans, peas, potatoes, sprouts, pumpkin, fennel, and beetroot.

• Dairy products also help to balance the heat of pitta. Ghee, Raw Milk, Pure Cream, Goats Cheese, Paneer + Fresh Ricotta is best.

• Mint, fennel, and coriander, are some of the best fresh herbs/spices that can be added as coolants in diet.

• Wheat, cassava, rice, barley and basmati rice are cooling grains.

• Coconut oil, Sunflower oil + Ghee have cooling effects on the body.

Apart from food, make time to exercise before the heat of the day, and engage in slow, cool and calming activities like meditation, yin yoga, cooling pranayama. Take adequate rest, spend time in nature; walk along the beach of an evening, bask in the moonlight and enjoy a cool and calm Summer.

Recipes + a Home Practice to keep you Cool Calm + Collected this Christmas and New Year

Embed Block

Add an embed URL or code. Learn more

This week we dive in to the Water element starting with the Yang channel, the Bladder. Fire may animate, warm and invigorate us but water is the basis of life. The Yin Yang pair of Kidney and Bladder work together to preserve our deepest essence. Interestingly, it is the Bladder channel that contracts when we are exposed to cold weather or a cold or flu virus. Sometimes one of the earliest signs of catching a chill can be more frequent urination, stiff neck or painful upper back.

The bladder is responsible for storing and excreting the urinary waste fluids passed down from the kidneys.  It is the Yang partner of the Yin Kidneys, associated with the element of Water. As an organ the bladder has only this one function.

However, as an energy system the bladder channel is intimately related to the autonomous nervous system. That’s because the Bladder meridian runs from the corner of the eye, over the top of the head and down the back of the neck before running either side of the spine and down the back of the legs, along the outside of the foot and exiting from the little toe. These four branches of the bladder meridian directly influence the sympathetic and parasympathetic trunks of the autonomous nervous system, which regulates our fight-flight response and in turn all the body’s basic vital functions. 

In the pressures of modern life many people suffer an overly-activated sympathetic nervous system, causing a constant state of apprehension, fear or worse. This can be accompanied by headaches, tension and pain along the spine and its periphery. Tension and pain can be relieved by stimulating the energy flow along the spinal branches of the bladder meridian. Such stimulation induces total relaxation by switching the autonomous nervous system over to the restful, restorative parasympathetic mode. Really notice how the poses in this flow bring gentle stimulation to these energy lines. If you want to enhance this practice, try the below meditation as you come to rest in Savasana.

VISUALISATION MEDITATION TO CLEAR THE BLADDER MERIDIAN:

Set a clear intention to build physical and mental health. In your mind's eye, trace backwards once from the end point at the outer edge of little toe, up the outside of the foot, up the back of the leg to the hip and sacrum, up the back to C-7 at the centre of the spine. Finish by tracing up forward around the back of the head and over Baihui to BL-1 accupoint, the inner corner of the eye. Then trace forward 3 times, both sides together or one at a time.

In this yin flow, we care for our spine in all the ways it moves to support us in our daily life. Stimulating each area of the spine through flexion, lateral flexion, rotation, and extension. In addition to this, we make use of our props for support and also marma therapy.

Marma therapy is enhanced by the application of Ayurvedic Herbal Oils during the therapy. An Ayurvedic practitioner would usually determine the specific herbs and oil formulation based on the individual and the root cause of their pain. But if you are looking to incorporate this into your home yoga practice, a good generic oil for leg and back pain relief, would be Dhanwanthrum Tailam or Pinda Tailam. Stimulation of marma can produce analgesia by secreting a number of prostaglandin inhibitors, endorphins, interferon, and other opioid-like substances providing instant pain relief.

Kshipra Marma is found in the hands and the feet. In the feet, they are located in the web between the big toe and first toe. Kshipra marma is useful in complaints of the shoulder region, anterior triangle of the neck and in ailments like cervical spondylosis, tonsillitis, and thyroid conditions. It also act as a utilitarian in case of backache.

The sacroiliac joint which is situated next to the bottom of spine on each side, below the lumbar spine and above the tailbone is the house of Kukundara marma. Sacroiliac joint connects the bottom of spine (i.e sacrum) with the pelvis thus plays an important role by acting as a shock-absorbing structure and helps to transfer the load of upper body while standing or walking to your hips and legs. Whenever we experience stress and fatigue we stretch ourselves backward by placing both hands on our sides as a natural gesture, our thumbs automatically pressurises the point of Kukundara marma. As self marma therapy stimulating Kukundara marma when you are fatigued, energises the body and releases the tension held in the lower extremities. 

There are mainly 14 important marma points of back region, of which Katikataruna marma gets primordial importance. This marma point controls bones and the skeletal system (asthivaha srotas), lubrication of the joints (sleshaka kapha), and the sweat glands (swedavaha srotas). It relieves Vata, and thus relieves pain. You can either stimulate in a prone position as pictured, or make a slight modification to vajrasana (kneeling) for an easy way to self stimulate this marma point.

Every person on the planet has intuition, but not every person chooses to listen to it, and for many of us it is clouded by negative emotions and experiences that we are holding on to and not processing. This third-eye chakra yin flow targets the hips; which offer a window into emotional healing. With a clear mind and a calm heart, we can then not only tap into our intuition for greater clarity, but also be able to trust it as well.

When we’re stressed, our emotional and physical health can both suffer. People with trauma or other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression often experience physical symptoms as well. Through it all, there may just be a common link: the hips. Of course, each body is different. Where one person holds stress in their body may not be exactly the same for another. However, neuroscience and somatics point to the hips as a potential storage vessel of emotions, and here’s how.

The hip is the area on each side of the pelvis. The joint itself is one of the largest and most unique joints in the human body, responsible for bearing weight, stabilising the core, and moving the upper leg. The tighter your hips are, the less mobility your body has. This can result in pain and hinder daily activities like walking and climbing stairs. Tight hips can also cause an anterior tilt of the pelvis which results in poor posture and misalignment of the head and neck. The big story within the hips revolves around the iliopsoas muscle — a deep muscle group located toward the front of the inner hip.

The psoas is the deepest support of our core. The pelvis is full of our creative, reproductive organs and contains the centrally located psoas muscle that connects the upper and lower body (the breath and diaphragm to the legs) making the core of our body important both physically and emotionally. Many types of pain can be linked to a dormant or tight psoas muscle, especially because it stabilises the spine and affects posture. In this case, your lumbar spine may lose its natural arch by becoming overly flattened or overly curved.

Here’s the interesting part: Nestled into the psoas are the kidneys, responsible for filtering toxins in the body, as well as the adrenal glands, which control the fight, flight, or freeze response. This is how we begin to understand where emotions come into the picture.

This response is your body’s natural reaction to perceived danger. When you’re under any kind of mental or emotional stress, your psoas muscle responds by tightening.

Even after the stress is gone, the tension may still linger in the body and hip area, contributing to things like headaches and lower back pain. When someone is really traumatised, certainly the hips are an area that’s holding it, that gut pain and fear make you curl up and hide, so you’re going to be contracted.

Neuroscience also offers a look at how emotions become stored in the body.

In 1985, neuroscientist Candace Pert found that small proteins known as neuropeptides activate the circuits linked to emotions. Pert’s research suggests that emotions are electrochemical signals that carry emotional messages throughout the body. They are then expressed, experienced, and stored within the body and mind.

This can influence activity in the brain and change the cell to either have a positive or negative effect on the body. Pert’s work proposes that each cell carries a kind of consciousness that stores memories and emotional states, and current research supports this as well.

So as you work through these hip-opening postures, really sit with it, and notice there’s a lot more going on than just a simple stretch.