Support for angina
Author: Maharishi Ayurveda Date Posted:4 April 2016
Should you experience chest pain due to the lack of blood flow to your heart muscle then your doctor will diagnose a condition called angina pectoris.
Modern medicine identifies these blockages as plaques. Maharishi Ayurveda understands them to be a result of ama, which basically means the waste product from anything that has not been properly digested.
An important distinction
Ama refers to the physical build up found in arteries due to poor diet and too much of the wrong fats. But the concept of ama does not stop there. Ayurveda explains that every experience (including mental and emotional experiences) are processed or digested. When we are unable to fully or completely digest an experience then ama is created. If left to build up in the body it can disturb healthy function wherever it localizes.
The health of our heart is governed by all three doshas. With angina the build up of ama is localized in three key subdosha areas
- Sadhaka Pitta is a subdosha of Pitta and is responsible for emotional balance
- Avalambaka Kapha is a subdosha of Kapha and governs strength and stability of the chest area
- Vyana Vata is a subdosha of Vata and is responsible for the blood flow, circulation and heart beat.
What triggers an attack?
An angina attack is often triggered by
- Mental stress, physical exertion or artificial stimulants when there is already congestion in the heart.
- In Ayurvedic terms, angina is caused by Vata or Pitta imbalances when there is already excess Kapha, or a build up of ama (impurities).
How to maintain or restore balance
Read the descriptions below to identify your tendencies. Then consider adopting the recommendations that follow.
When out of balance Sadhaka Pitta can give rise to anger, frustration and a tendency to drive yourself and others. This can result in high blood pressure and in extreme cases heart attack, stroke and chest pain. Overwork, anger, stress, stimulants such as alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and excess caffeine all contribute towards increasing Pitta.
- Sadhaka Pitta is soothed by relaxation, meditation, gentle, non-competitive exercise and being in nature. Foods such as sweet, juicy, fresh fruit, sweet lassi, asparagus and leafy greens are most suitable when Sadhaka Pitta is aggravated. Avoiding excessive amounts of red meat, chilli and food additives will also assist in pacifying Pitta’s fire.
Helpful herbals
Cardio Support to help support physical and emotional heart health, strengthen different levels of the heart muscle and support healthy blood flow.
Blissful Joy specifically balances Sadhaka Pitta and thereby supports balanced emotions, self-confidence, healthy desires, motivation and a feeling of fulfillment.
When out of balance Avalambaka Kapha can cause lethargy, chest congestion and heart pain. Combined with toxins and poor digestion, excess Kapha can contribute towards the build up of cholesterol and plaque in the arteries.
To balance Avalambaka Kapha and reduce the build up of fatty deposits
- Reduce heavy, hard to digest foods such as red meat, cheese, saturated fats and sugar.
- Favour whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Sipping warm boiled water helps to digest the build up of impurities and cleanse the system.
- Regular exercise without strain will enhance the overall metabolism and bring balance to Avalambaka Kapha.
- Improve your digestive strength and eliminate impurities with gentle regular exercise, sipping warm, boiled water throughout the day, eating the main meal at lunchtime and avoiding or reducing hard cheese, chocolate, red meat and processed food especially in the evening.
Helpful Herbals
Cardio Support to help support physical and emotional heart health, strengthen different levels of the heart muscle and help to improve blood flow.
Cholesterol Protection Helps to balance ratio of good and bad cholesterol by supporting the body’s ability to properly metabolise fats.
When out of balance Vyana Vata can contribute to problems in blood pressure and heart arrhythmia. Stress, anxiety and overstimulation of the senses all aggravate Vyana Vata.
Vata is balanced by
- Resting – be in bed by 10pm and wake naturally without an alarm
- Adopt a good daily routine of regular meal times and balance of work and relaxation and social time
- Favour warm meals
- Give yourself a daily warm oil massage See instructions
- Gentle exercise such as walking, swimming or yoga is also beneficial in keeping Vata pacified.
- Transcendental Meditation is particularly soothing for Vyana Vata, as the heartbeat is found to become balanced and steady and blood pressure problems are found to normalise with regular practice. In fact, in the CSIRO book called The Healthy Heart Program, Transcendental Meditation is cited as the only meditation technique which has been found to be of significant benefit to the heart.
Helpful Herbals
Cardio Support to help support physical and emotional heart health, strengthen different levels of the heart muscle and help to improve blood flow.
Healthy Heart A heart tonic to support and nourish healthy heart function and healthy heart rhythm.
Wishing you the bliss of balance.
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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