Role of Taste

It is as important to realise that every food's unique combination of attributes will influence its taste and the action it causes in the body. With every taste having a different action – as detailed below. Astanga Hrdayam clearly describes the characteristics of each of the six tastes and problems that might be experienced from its habitual over-consumption. Most foods being a combination of two or more of these tastes e.g. coffee is bitter and pungent.

Sour

Comprised of the elements earth & fire, it increases pitta and kapha and is good for heart and digestion. Stimulates agni, moves inactive Vata energy down the pelvic cavity, sets the teeth on edge and increases salivation. Excess use may cause looseness and flabbiness, loss of strength, giddiness, itching, irritation, a whitish yellow pallor, herpetiform lesions, swelling thirsts and fever, and diseases arising from excess pitta and kapha.

Sweet

Related to earth & water, it mitigates pitta and vata, producing greater strength in the tissues and of value to the aged, wounded, emaciated and children. Universally liked, it often adheres to the inside of the mouth, giving a feeling of pleasure, contentment and comfort. Good for the complexion, hair, senses and ojas, it also increases breast milk and helps unite broke parts like bones. By its virtue it prolongs life and helps life activities. In excess however it may cause diseases arising from fat and excess kapha e.g. obesity, dyspepsia, unconsciousness, diabetes, enlargement of neck glands or malignant tumors.

Salt

The water & fire in salty taste increases pitta and kapha. It clears obstruction of channels and pores and increases the digestive activity and salivation. Also responsible for lubrication and sweating, it penetrates the tissues. An excess of it may cause baldness and graying of the hair, wrinkles, thirst, skin diseases, blood disorders, herpetiform leisons and loss of body strength

Pungent

Fire & air in pungent increases vata and pitta and mitigates kapha. Increases hunger, is digestive, causes irritation, brings secretion from the eyes, nose & mouth, and gives a burning sensation to the mouth. Dilating the channels and breaking up the hard masses. But an excess use of it may cause thirst, depletion of reproductive tissue and strength, fainting, contracture, tremors, pain in the waist and back, and other disorders related to excess of pitta and kapha.

Bitter

Air & space being its elements, it mitigates pitta and kapha. Drying up moisture from fat, muscles, faeces and urine. It cleans the mouth and destroys the perception of taste. It is said to cure anorexia, worms, bacteria, parasites, thirst, skin diseases, loss of consciousness, fever, nausea, burning sensation. But in excess, it increases vata, causing diseases of vata origin and depletion of tissues.

Astringent

Air & earth increases vata and mitigates increased pitta and kapha. It cleans the blood and causes healing of ulcers. Like bitter, it too dries up moisture from fat. It absorbs water, causing constipation and hindering digestion of undigested food. Its excess use causes stasis of food without digestion, flatulance, pain in the cardiac region, emaciation, loss of virility, obstruction of channels and constipation.

(See also: Diet , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

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small bag, containing charms or talismans, worn around the
neck for power, protection and so on

(See also: mojo bag , Magic, Shamanism, Pagan Dictionary)

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Panchkarma Basic Principles

Panchakarma consists of medicated emesis (vamana) to remove excess kapha, therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta, medicated enema (vasti) to eject excess vata, nasal drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck and bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood disorders. Five purification procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste material in the body.

As the humors and tissues are related closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects the tissues indirectly by the strong elimination of related humor. For example, the pronounced elimination of kapha by herb induced emesis causes an effect on the nutrient tissue fluid pool, containing water and electrolytes, plasma, muscle, fat. Or the large release of pitta by selective purgation similarly causes an indirect effect on the total colouring material in the body or blood. Vasti is somewhat different, as it is meant to nullify excess vata and contains warm oleation substances. During its long contact with the membrane of the large intestine, it separates layers of faecal matter and thus enhances better absorption, which is responsible for the ultimate nourishment of all tissues. Nasya in turn cleans the sinus and thereby improves the function of sense organs.

Physical and mental diseases occur due to the vitation of somatic doshas vata, pitta and kapha and due to mental doshas Rajas and Tamas. Volitional transgression, effect of time and senses are the three primary causes responsible for vitation of biological and mental doshas. Food, drinks & environmental factors with similar properties to the doshas vitiates them and cause disease. Panchakarma's purificatory therapies balance out the three doshas, acting both as a curative and a preventive measure.

(See also: Panchkarma , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

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Pranayam term is formed of joining two words- pran and ayam. It means strengthening and expanding the life force. Pran is the life energy or force, which empowers all the work of mind, body and senses. Without pran, our body is dead.

Ayam means expanding or strengthening this pran. It is essential for keeping our body and mind healthy and powerful. Pranayam is important for protecting us from diseases, sickness.

It is very important to understand the methods of pranayam before actually practicing it.

(See also: Pranayama , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Pranayama: Basics of Pranayam

Inner ear causes: benign paroxysmal postural vertigo labyrinthitis Meniere's disease perilymphatic fistula neurinoma of the acoustic nerve vestibular neuronitis Eye causes: new glasses optical illusions Neck causes: arthritis cervical vertigo Whiplash and other strains Central nervous system causes: arteria basilaris syndrome concussion migraine multiple sclerosis orthostati ...

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Dizziness, Dizziness - Causes

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The Six Chakras

9. There are six chakras. Muladhara is in the anus. Svadhishthana is near the genital organ. Manipuraka is in the navel. Anahata is in the heart. The Vishuddhi Chakra is at the root of the neck. The sixth Chakra, the Ajna is in the head (between the two eyebrows).

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Six Chakras

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part I

Sometime after 350 B.C. a great yogi sage wrote the "Yoga Sutra". This brief translation should wet your appetite. This describes the transformation of mind that will unfold over a course of sadhana (spiritual practice), focusing on the relationship between the mind and the object of meditation.

Read more here: » Meditation: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra

Lymphodrainage: Non-evasive therapeutic massage to the face and neck that uses a delicate pumping technique to purge swollen tissues (lymph nodes) of water and trapped toxins.

(See also: Lymphodrainage , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

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An inspiring article by Manish Maladkar about how we can take responsibility for our lives and our own happiness.

Read more here: » Spiritual Inspiration: Learn to be Free, To be Joyous

Redneck - Possible Scots-Irish Etymology. The word redneck was first cited in Scotland. In Scotland, the National Covenant and The Solemn League and Covenant (a.k.a. Covenanters) signed documents stating that Scotland desired a Presbyterian Church Government, and rejected the Church of England as their official church. Many of the Covenanters signed these documents using their own blood, and many in the movement began wearing red pieces of cloth around their neck to signify their position to the public. Th ...

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Redneck, Redneck - Etymology, Redneck - Possible Scots-Irish Etymology, Redneck - Possible American Etymology, Redneck - History, Redneck - Modern usage, Redneck - Stereotypes, Redneck - Popular culture, Redneck - Urban Rednecks, Redneck - Extraterritorial Conclaves, Redneck - Claims, Redneck - Related terms, Redneck - Australia, Redneck - Barbados, Redneck - Brazil, Redneck - Chile, Redneck - North America, Redneck - South Africa, Redneck - Similar terms, Redneck - Sources

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Proper breathing is the essence of yoga. The correct breathing technique is, when you inhale, bring the abdomen out; then breath out and take the abdomen in. This process should be as slow as it can be.

Benefits and instructions for:

-       Pavanmukt asana

-       Dhanur asana

(See also: Yoga and Health , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Yoga for digestion

The guitar has come to be called many different colloquial names over time such as: box, guit-fiddle and axe. The pitch bend arm found on many electric guitars has also had slang terms applied to it, such as "tremolo bar", "sissy bar", "whammy handle", and "whammy bar". The latter two slang terms led stompbox manufacturers to use the term 'whammy' in coming up with a pitch raising effect introduced by popular guitar brand "Digitech". Interestingly, Leo Fender, who did so much to revolutionize the modern electric guitar, also created m ...

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Guitar, Guitar - History, Guitar - Parts of the guitar, Guitar - Headstock, Guitar - Nut, Guitar - Fretboard, Guitar - Frets, Guitar - Truss rod, Guitar - Inlays, Guitar - Neck, Guitar - Neck joint, Guitar - Body acoustic guitar, Guitar - Body electric guitar, Guitar - Pickups, Guitar - Electronics, Guitar - Purfling and Binding, Guitar - Bridge, Guitar - Pickguard, Guitar - Strings, Guitar - Tuning, Guitar - Acoustic and electric guitar, Guitar - Guitar terminology, Guitar - Guitar/synthesizer, Guitar - Notes References and Sources

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Thyroid - Gross anatomy. The thyroid is situated on the front side of the neck at the level of C5 to T1 vertebral bodies, just below the laryngeal prominence (Adam's apple), near the thyroid cartilage over the trachea but covered by layers of skin and muscle. The thyroid is one of the larger endocrine glands - 10-20 grams in adults- and butterfly-shaped: the wings correspond to the lobes and the body to the isthmus of the thyroid. It may enlarge substantially during pregnancy and when affected by a variety of diseases. See also:

Thyroid, Thyroid - Anatomy, Thyroid - Gross anatomy, Thyroid - Blood supply, Thyroid - Histology of the thyroid, Thyroid - Physiology, Thyroid - T3 and T4 production and action, Thyroid - T3 and T4 regulation, Thyroid - Calcitonin, Thyroid - The significance of iodine, Thyroid - Diseases of the thyroid gland, Thyroid - Diagnosis, Thyroid - Treatment, Thyroid - Medical treatment, Thyroid - Thyroid surgery, Thyroid - History, Thyroid - External link

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Critics, including many mainstream medical doctors and scientists, often reject the claims of some chiropractic associations and schools as pseudoscience, quackery, or fraud. Advocates believe at least some of this criticism was encouraged by the American Medical Association during the 1970s and early 1980s in what they have labeled "anti-chiropractic prejudice". In 1985, The National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), a non-profit healthcare watch-dog group, issued a position statement critical of chiropractic.

Chiropractic, Chiropractic - History, Chiropractic - Chiropractic subluxation, Chiropractic - Usage, Chiropractic - Chiropractic education licensure and regulation, Chiropractic - United States, Chiropractic - Philosophical schools of chiropractic, Chiropractic - Criticism of chiropractic, Chiropractic - Safety concerns

Read more here: » Chiropractic: Encyclopedia II - Chiropractic - Criticism of chiropractic

The poloneck sweater, like most sweaters, first emerged in the 1890s as an article of sportswear. It had a varied application but was most often used for the more static players in field sports (a use preserved for the soccer goalkeeper as late as the 1950s in the UK). It was also used in some equestrian activities, though no evidence exists for its use in polo, which might otherwise have explained its name. Originally a thick woollen garment, lighter versions were designed for those who found coarser wool uncomfortable against their skin. T ...

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Polo neck, Polo neck - History, Polo neck - Workwear, Polo neck - Casual wear, Polo neck - Womens wear, Polo neck - Feminist wear, Polo neck - Return to fashion

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In medicine, a person's pulse is the throbbing of their arteries as an effect of the heart beat. It can be felt at the neck, at the wrist and other places. The pulse results from pressure waves moving through the blood vessels, which are pliable; it is not caused by the forward movement of the blood. When the heart contracts, blood is ejected into the aorta and the aorta stretches. At this point the wave of distention (pulse wave) is most pronounced, but relatively slow-moving (3 to 5 m/s). As it travels towards the peri ...

Including:

• Pulse - Common pulse points

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Haya-griva:

Haya-griva: Horse-head.The Lord took Form as Yajna, in a Brahma-yajna, above the neck, He had the Form of a Horse, He was called Haya (horse) griva (head) (BV-36).

(See also: Haya-griva , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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Breath, sound and meditation are the main resources of kundalini yoga. For example, a school of Kundalini yoga is probably best recognised for its frequent use of 'Breath of Fire' and the mantra 'Sat Nam'. Breath of Fire is a breathing exercise where you inhale and exhale rapidly through the nose without pausing, and pump the navel point while using the abdomen as a bellows. Sat Nam means 'truth is my identity' and, as a chant, is used to stop mind chatter by creating a rhythm that produces higher consciousness.

Read more here: » Yoga: Kundalini Yoga - Techniques and Pitfalls

A pillow is a type of bedding— a small (and usually soft) support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. By analogy, in engineering and construction, supporting elements may also be called pillows. Pillow - Pillow construction and parts. The pillow has parts and can be dissected. Starting at the center, pillows contain a ...

Including:

• Pillow - Pillow construction and parts
• Pillow - Types of pillows
• Pillow - History
• Pillow - Modern pillow sizes

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On the ranch, the cowboy is responsible for feeding the livestock, branding or marking cattle and horses, and tending to their injuries or other needs. They also move the livestock to market. In addition, cowboys repair fences, maintain ranch equipment, and perform other odd jobs around the ranch. These jobs vary depending on the size of the ranch, the terrain, and the number of livestock. On larger ranches, or on those with lots of cattle, a cowboys may specialize in one task or another. On smaller ranches with fewer cowboys—often just family members—the cowboy tends ...

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Cowboy, Cowboy - History, Cowboy - Paniolo, Cowboy - Cowboys of other nations, Cowboy - Working cowboys, Cowboy - Dress, Cowboy - Tools, Cowboy - Cow pony, Cowboy - Vehicles, Cowboy - Rodeo cowboys, Cowboy - Cowgirls, Cowboy - Popular Culture, Cowboy - In art and culture, Cowboy - Additionally, Cowboy - External references

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Nadis are the astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry psychic currents. The Sanskrit term ‘Nadi’ comes from the root ‘Nad’ which means ‘motion’. It is through these Nadis (Sukshma, subtle passages), that the vital force or Pranic current moves or flows. Since they are made up of subtle matter they cannot be seen by the naked physical eyes and you cannot make any test-tube experiments in the physical plane. These Yoga Nadis are not the ordinary nerves, arteries and veins that are known to the Vaidya Shastra (Anatomy and Physiology). Yoga Nadis are quite different from these.

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Phoenix

(Egyptian-House of Enoch) Egyptian mythological bird of gorgeous plumage, sacred to the sun, reborn from the ashes of the funeral pyre which it made for itself when each life span of 500 or 600 years was over.

"At the top of a palm tree a bird's nest catches fire. It has been ignited by a spark struck from the hooves of celestial steeds drawing the chariot of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Amid the flames a beautiful Arabian bird extends its golden neck and purple wings, but instead of flying off, it dances. Eventually, it is consumed by the fire and reduced to ashes. but this is not the end. Indeed, it is only the beginning - for 500 years later a new bird is reborn from the ashes. It seals the remains of the nest in myrrh, wraps it in aromatic leaves, and molds it into the shape of an egg. This it carries as a sacred offering to the temple of the sun at Heliopolis, then flies away to paradise. Five hundred years later it returns to earth, where it begins again the cycle of selfimmolation and resurrection - a process that continues forever. "

The phoenix, originating in the mythology of ancient Egypt, has become a universal symbol of rebirth and the most famous of all fabulous birds. Clad in feathers of red and gold, the color of the rising sun, it had a melodious voice that became mournful with approuching death. Other creatures were then so overcome by its beauty and sadness that they themselves fell dead.

According to legend, only one phoenix could live at a time. The Greek poet Hesiod, writing in the 8th century BC, said that the phoenix lived nine times the lifespan of the long-living raven. Other estimates went up to 97,200 years. When the bird felt death approaching, it built itself a pyre of wild cinnamon and died in the flames. But from the ashes there then arose a new phoenix, which tenderly encased its parent's remains in an egg of myrrh and flew with them to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis, where it laid them on the Altar of the Sun. These ashes were said to have the power of bringing a dead man back to life.

The profligate Roman Emperor Elagabalus (AD 205-22) decided to eat phoenix meat in order to achieve immortality. He dined off a bird of paradise, sent in place of a phoenix, but the substitute did not work. He was then murdered shortly afterward.

Scholars now think that the germ of the legend came from the Orient and was adopted by the sun-worshipping priests of Heliopolis as an allegory of the sun's daily setting and rebirth.

Like all great myths, it stirs deep chords in man. In Christian art the resurrected phoenix became a popular symbol of Christ risen from the grave. Strangely, its name may come from a misunderstanding by Herodotus, the Greek historian of the 5th century BC. In his account of the bird he may have mistakenly given it the name "phoenix" because of the palm tree (Greek: phoinix) on which it was customarily pictured sitting in those days. In their attempts to identify the gorgeously plumed phoenix of Egyptian myth with a real bird, scientists tended to discount New Guinea's birds of paradise otherwise likely candidates because of the island's great distance from Egypt. In 1957, however, Australian zoologists discovered that New Guinea tribes had exported bird of paradise plumed skins for centuries and that among those visiting the island, as long ago as 1000 BC, had been traders from Phoenicia in the Middle East.

Another significant discovery was that the tribespeople used to preserve the skins for export by sealing them in myrrh, molding them into an egg shape, and wrapping this in burned banana skins - a procedure that tallies almost exactly with the mythical bird's reputed treatment of its destroyed nest. Perhaps most significant of all is the fact that the brilliantly colored males of Count Raggi's bird of paradise are adorned with cascades of scarlet feathers that, during their courtship dance, they repeatedly raise aloft, while quivering intensely - a spectacle reminiscent of the phoenix dancing in its burning nest. On reaching the Middle East, descriptions of this spectacle, combined with the egg-like parcels of skins, may well have been sufficient to inspire the myth of the phoenix.

(See also: Phoenix , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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