In the first month, we focus on detoxification using food and herbs (based on your individual body type) that aid in the removal of accumulated Ama (toxins) from the body. We then focus on the restoration of healthy microbes (gut flora) and rejuvenation for the next two months.
3 Months to Heal:
Habits are hard to break. Over time we become comfortable with them, which may or may not serve us in the long term. Due to ingrained habits with foods and lifestyle, we tend to accumulate certain conditions that can be detrimental to our health. Fortunately, habits are learned and can therefore change to heal from the root of the problems rather than just putting a bandaid on the symptoms.
Ayurvedic Perspective on Gut Health
In Ayurveda, everything revolves around gut health. Modern medicine is now showing incredible research into the gut as the source of thousands of diseases. Ayurveda, for 5,000 years, has shown how to heal through looking at an individual's gut health. Gut microbes are the powerhouse of everything from the production of energy to healthy immunity.
Ayurveda is now a focus of research on health conditions related to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, strokes, and many more. In short, the microbiome (the gut and its array of microorganisms) is completely dependent on what it is fed. This provides us a relatively straightforward path to make minor changes in diet and lifestyle that have powerful impacts on your energy and well-being.
This is why Ayurveda, for thousands of years, has proven to heal not only through what you eat but more importantly, what you digest. The gut is where food first begins to be broken down to become useful to your body. With the help of what in Ayurveda we call Agni (digestive fire), food is broken down so the nutrients can be assimilated into every cell of the body. If we don't cultivate healthy microbes, and our digestive fire (Agni) is low, the undigested food becomes toxins, or what we call Ama, which will then be stored in fat cells.
The undigested food gets trapped in the intestinal tract, especially the intestinal villi, resulting in the buildup of toxins (Ama).
How will it help you?
Our gut healing protocol works to detoxify the body of accumulated toxins (Ama), restore healthy microbes in the gut, and unclog the intestinal tract, resulting in the proper assimilation of nutrients for a healthy body and clear mind.
Our goal is to restore the natural harmony in the gut so that we can have more energy, radiance, and vitality in life.
Monthly ayurvedic consultations are focused on internal detoxification through diet, lifestyle, and herbs.
Ayurvedic massage (Abhyanga) is focused on external detoxification since our skin is our largest organ and is able to directly release toxins. Ayurvedic massage is very different from other forms of massage since it is focused on moving lymph through the application of herbal infused warm oil with specialized strokes. Abhyanga increases circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system, improves joint health, calms the nervous system, and improves skin tone.
Science and Research
There is a lot of research that proves the correlation of Gut biome with our brain.
Ayurveda considers food as medicine. It uses spices and herbs to help create and maintain balance in the physiology, and to treat specific disorders. Recent research shows that both ginger and a herbal preparation called Triphala can have beneficial effects on the microbiome.
Testimonials:
Manish Chandra is a friendly and well-informed practitioner who helped me immensely. I was diagnosed with severe diverticulitis by my trusted medical doctor. He sent me to a surgeon here in Santa Cruz who, of course, wanted to "cut" right away. I asked for a delay in order to seek other help and other opinions. Santa Cruz Ayurveda was one of the most helpful places I went. Under Manish's direction, I made some simple changes to my diet and added some herbal remedies. This helped greatly in diminishing the irritation in my digestive track and "balancing" my system. After several months of this new approach, accompanied by some Chinese herbal remedies provided by my acupuncturist Dale Strawhacker and the continuing good advice of my M.D. Thanh Vu, I was sent to Stanford Hospital for a "second opinion." Dr. Andrew Shelton, a surgeon, and teaching doctor there pronounced me healthy enough to avoid surgery. I plan to continue with "Dr. Chandra" to keep in balance and on the path to health (and away from the knife).
- Dr. T. Marshall
Manish has helped me and my family members to heal and maintain vibrant health. I am continually learning to see food as enjoyment and as medicine, a way to nourish my body, mind, and spirit. There are too many positive changes in my life to list. From gentle, conscious, and mindful caring for my body, establishing beneficial daily routines, eating seasonally and taking time to cleanse and relax deeply, increased understanding of how certain foods affect me and how I feel, curing illness through food and herbs, and increased energy and vitality are just the starts of what I now have in my life. The difference with Manish is his unfailing commitment to his profession, his community, his own life, and the lives of those he connects with. I love what he does for me, my family, and our community. Namaste Manish.
- C. Schneider
If you want help balancing your life, hormones, diet, cravings, pain, emotions and more..come see Manish. He has a wonderfully supporting presence and can help heal a number of health issues, physical or mental. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner, he has an ocean of knowledge. As a native to Nepal, he grew up with Ayurveda in his everyday life. His wisdom comes from years of personal experience as well as from the astute Mount Madonna Institute. Get on board and tune into your true nature!
References:
Wallace, R.K. The Microbiome in Health and Disease from the Perspective of Modern Medicine and Ayurveda. Medicina 2020, 56, 462.
