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| Ayurveda & Alzheimer’s |
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How
can Ayurveda Retreat help with Alzheimer's?
 Early detection of Alzheimer’s provides greater opportunity to delay or reverse the existing symptoms of these disorders. While currently available drugs are somewhat effective in reducing some aspects of cognitive decline, they do not appear to have an impact on the course of Alzheimer's.
Changes in diet and lifestyle are currently the only proven means of affecting the onset and progression of Alzheimer's. The addition of Ayurveda offers a comprehensive system of effective interventions beginning with early detection and preventive treatment programs.
Early Detection
Alzheimer's starts early in life and progresses to noticeable declines in cognitive functions such as memory gap or loss. Early diagnosis provides greater opportunity to delay or reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Our Ayurvedic Consultant uses the ancient technique of pulse diagnosis to determine specific imbalances in the physiology, many of which can be asymptomatic. These imbalances could predispose an individual to the onset of Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders. This individual diagnosis is a powerful tool for designing the specific aspects of the treatment program and recommendations
Don't Let Your Brain "Dry Up"
Ayurveda states that with advancing age, the makeup of the brain and body gradually becomes more and more agitated and dry. Alzheimer’s is often associated with marked shrinkage of the brain. This "drying" effect is a powerful tendency that must be remedied by proper diet, digestion, routine, and rejuvenation programs offered at Ayurveda Retreat.
Our Ayurvedic Consultant also offers personalised recommendations to regain balance in the physiology, nourish the brain in the effort to counteract the natural "drying" influence of the brain and establish optimum levels of mental and physical functions. Ayurveda Retreat offers treatments of herbalised oils that create a deep nourishing influence to the brain and to the entire physiology.
Ayurveda Retreat Prevention Program for Alzheimer’s
The Alzeimer’s Program includes an evaluation by our Ayurvedic Consultant using the ancient diagnostic technique of pulse diagnosis followed by various treatments as necessary.
The overall design of the program is to enliven the body’s inner intelligence and thereby restore balance to the fundamental modes of physiological and psychological functioning. These fundamental modes or forms of intelligence in Ayurveda are termed Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
The Secret to Longevity and Health
Ayurveda Retreat’s treatment plans balance the body’s inner intelligence. The treatments are prescribed individually by our Ayurvedic Consultant. Highly trained Ayurvedic therapists administer the treatments.
The secret to successful ageing is to keep Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in balance in accordance to your unique constitution. Longevity and health can be augmented by supporting Kapha, thereby increasing lubrication and stability and decreasing Vata thereby decreasing dryness, unsettledness, and disruption of mind and body.
In the later years, the element or mode of Vata, with its quality of motion and dryness, becomes predominant. With time, the mind and body have a tendency to become more unsettled, dry and less flexible. These tendencies greatly increase the likelihood of disease, including insomnia, anxiety, stroke and dementia.
Treatments
These programs include an individually determined set of rejuvenation treatments such as Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Pizzichili, and Nasya, which help counteract the age-related “drying” effects of age by “lubricating” the brain.
1) Herbalised Oil Application (Abhyanga)
This is a comprehensive and soothing oil massage carried out by a synchronised team of two technicians. The oil application uses herbalised oils prescribed to suit your individual needs. The treatment promotes the penetration of nourishing oil deep into the tissues so that impurities are loosened and separated from the cell structure.
2) Relaxation Treatment (Shirodhara)
A soothing, continuous flow of herbalised oil poured slowly and gently across the forehead settles and balances the nervous system. The effect is delightful, and many guests experience profound relaxation during the treatment.
3) Full-Body Herbalised Oil Massage (Pizzichili)
A warm, soothing stream of herbalised oil is used to bathe the entire body, settling agitation in vata, balancing the nervous system and providing a deeply relaxing experience.
4) Nasal Treatment
In Ayurveda, the nose is considered the gateway to the brain. The purpose of Nasya therapy is to remove impurities from your head via the nasal passages. This treatment features an herbalised oil application to your head and face followed by the inhalation of herbalised steam. A localised heat treatment and various herbal preparations are then administered through the nasal passages, purifying the head area and bringing increased clarity to the brain physiology. This treatment is also helpful for chronic sinusitis, allergies and other problems from the head and neck areas.
Ayurvedic Herbs
An individualised set of herbs will be prescribed to improve brain function and circulation, reduce oxidative stress and promote natural rhythms of activity and sleep.
Yoga Classes
Yoga classes provide soothing physical activity during treatment.
Scientifically Documented Benefits
Modern scientific research has identified a number of mind/body function imbalances that correlate with improper ageing and significantly increased risk for age-related disorders such as dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease.
Early and holistic intervention is vital to promoting health and longevity. This is particularly true of Alzheimer’s disease. “The disease may develop several diseases before the onset of symptoms…” National Institute of Ageing, 2001-2002 Progress Report on Alzheimer’s Disease.
The physiological purification treatments available at Ayurveda Retreat produce the following scientifically documented benefits that influence risk factors of many diseases:
- Reduced cardiovascular risk factors
- Decreased lipid peroxide levels (LP)
- Reduction in total cholesterol levels
- Increased HDL cholesterol
- Reduced diastolic blood pressure
- Reduced anxiety levels
- Reduced levels of toxins such as lead, PCB, and dioxins
Practical Tips
The most important factors for nourishing your brain and promoting health and longevity are proper diet and exercise. These provide maximum benefit when tailored specifically to your constitution.
BEGIN NOW
Start taking care of yourself today and everyday.
MENTAL
Stay active mentally like reading, playing cards, crossword puzzles, and writing.
PHYSICAL
Stay active physically by walking, playing some enjoyable sport.
FOOD
- Eat a wide variety of green vegetables and include milk products in your diet. (If you are vegetarian, only milk contains significant levels of vitamin B12, which is absolutely essential for proper nervous system function.)
- Check your vitamin B levels (especially vitamin B12) if you are feeling mentally weak and experiencing memory loss.
- Include plenty of anti-oxidants in your diet. Free radicals and oxidative stress are major factors in premature ageing of the system. Include plenty of fresh, organic fruits and green vegetables in your diet.
- Include high quality oils sautéed with spices in your diet. Majja is the Ayurveda name for nervous system tissue. Majja tissue is most nourished by oils especially ghee. This is logical as the brain is over 50% fat in composition. Ayurveda recommends sautéing spices into your cooking oils to make them the most active in the body and help them nourish the nervous system tissue. Black pepper has the most profound effect among the spices in helping oils get past the blood brain barrier and nourish the brain. Organic ghee and olive oil are best for cooking.
About Alzheimer's — Latest Scientific Findings
The primary risk factor for acquiring Alzheimer’s disease is AGE! Alzheimer’s starts early in life and progresses to a point that we detect noticeable declines in cognitive functions, such as memory gap or loss. As depicted in the Life Path chart, age-related disorders are influenced from an early age by our lifestyle as well as genetic makeup.
Research in three areas offers hope
1. Brain Mechanisms
Glial cell’s role in the symptomatic period of Alzheimer’s disease and in the very early, preclinical stages is getting more recognition. Glial dysfunction and myelin breakdown occur as early as midlife and progress over the next 30 to 40 years. The age risk factor for Alzheimer’s may be early, progressive, and related to glial dysfunction. Therefore, treatments and lifestyle changes targeted to support glial function may significantly delay the onset and severity of Alzheimer’s.
2. Early Diagnosis
Early diagnosis and treatment provides greater opportunity to delay, if not reverse, symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
PET or MRI may detect and track early preclinical changes as early as 30 years of age. PET research offers dramatic insights into changes in brain metabolism, blood flow, and receptor functions. This neuro-image shows two ageing brains: on the left, one of a healthy individual; and on the right, one of an Alzheimer’s individual with greatly reduced metabolism.
3. Available Treatments
Currently available drugs are somewhat effective in reducing some aspects of cognitive decline, but they do not greatly influence the course of the disease.
However, a natural holistic medicinal approach may offer the best chance to slow or reverse the cognitive and pathologic changes of Alzheimer’s. This suggests the possibility of halting these changes and perhaps restoring normal brain function in affected patients.
Don’t Let Your Brain “Dry Up"
Ayurveda states that with advancing age, the makeup of the brain and body gradually becomes increasingly agitated and dry. Alzheimer’s is often associated with marked shrinkage of the brain. In the diagram, the difference between a normal healthy senior and a brain of an Alzheimer’s patient are evident. This “drying” effect is a powerful tendency that must be remedied by proper diet, digestion and routine.
Our Ayurvedic Consultant can diagnose imbalances in the physiology that would predispose a person to Alzheimer’s. The expert then offers recommendations to regain balance in the physiology, nourish the brain in the effort to counteract the natural “drying” influence of the brain, and establish optimum levels of mental and physical functioning.
Consciousness, Physiology, and Ageing
Consciousness-based methods, including meditation, help increase and restore balance in brain physiology. Meditation has been shown to significantly increase brain coherence and integration, leading to greatly improved physiological and psychological health.
Over 40 years of research indicate the ability of meditation to enliven the body’s own inner intelligence to promote healthy mind/body functions, including reductions in chronic diseases, some of which are risk factors for Alzheimer’s, and a wide ranging set of measures of ageing.
In addition, the practice of meditation allows individuals to become more flexible in their thinking and behaviour and thus more likely to explore, accept and use alternative lifestyle choices that promote health. Thus, Ayurveda, by offering a powerful contribution to enhancing brain integration, specifically the health of glial cells and myelin insulation, can help us delay, if not prevent, the onset of Alzheimer’s.
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Opening hours : Monday – Friday 9.00am – 8.00pm | Saturday 9.00am – 6.00pm | Sunday 10.30am – 4.30pm.
32 Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1DX, England. Email: info@ayurveda-retreat.co.uk |
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