Amrita Veda, FAQs

Answer: Ayurveda doesn�t just work on particular symptoms; instead, it works on balancing the doshas, addressing the cause of the symptoms so that, ultimately, the symptoms disappear. Their work is in balancing rather than on fixing specific situations, so it is not really so important for you to know specifically what they do.

The herbs work on four levels at the same time. One level addresses the cause by bringing the doshas into balance. The second increases immunity. The third removes the toxins. The fourth rejuvenates the body. The herbs work on all four levels simultaneously.
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2. Do all the herbs work on all the four levels?

Answer: Not all, but many. Some herbs are only detoxifiers, like Moksha, which removes Pitta (fire) from the system totally. It not only gives you clean bowels; it removes the toxins that lie at a deeper level by drawing them out and removing them. The blood is actually purified when Pitta is removed.
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3. Is it correct to say that the herbs work first on the physical level, and then the physical affects the mind and emotions?

Answer: No, each herbal formula is made up of a combination of herbs that work together. Some herbs are working on the body, some on the mind and others on the emotions. Again, they are working on the doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Look at Viveka and Shanti, for example. Viveka nourishes the nervous system and strengthens the intellect and memory. Shanti is for both the emotions and circulation. If something happens that evokes a strong emotional response in you, and you are taking the herbal combination Shanti every two hours, then your emotional balance can be restored very quickly. Taken for a longer time, Shanti can help you to get a better picture of your whole life and feel calmer.
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4. If one of the groups of herbs you have prescribed is not available now, is it okay for me to continue taking the rest of my program/regimen?

Answer: It’s okay to take whatever herbs are available. The whole package is most effective, but taking a portion of your prescribed regimen will also benefit you.
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5. I try not to eat sugar. Is there any sugar in your herbal preparations?

Answer: Mukti Pisti does have some sugar, but this sugar is very natural. It is like eating a fruit. So, unless you have a great sensitivity, it is fine to take it.
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6. What about tea and coffee? Is it okay to have caffeine everyday?

Answer: If you take them moderately – one or two cups a day – it is okay. But it’s best not to drink too much caffeine.
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7. When I began taking the herbs, I experienced gas and, sometimes, burning in my stomach. Why?

Answer: It was not the herbs creating the gas. Ayurveda does not believe in suppressing anything. When the toxins are coming out, they can create disturbances as some of the herbs eliminate toxins through the digestive system, but these are all temporary disturbances. After a few days, or a week or two, everything balances again. Ayurveda does not merely remove the symptoms. It works on accumulated toxins that are lodged within the body. As the toxins are removed, so the gas will stop.
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8. So when I have gas, should I keep taking the herbs?

Answer: Yes, definitely! Don’t stop, because this is a very good sign. It’s great! When you start detoxifying the body, the body is a bit shocked. It is shaken up. You may also find yourself going to the toilet more than usual. All these things show that the herbs have started working.
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9. When I first started taking my herbs, I felt some effects that quickly passed. Then after a few weeks, I suddenly started having gas. Why?

Answer: The reason is a second block that the herbs are trying to break through. These herbs follow a unique process to do their work in each person. Depending on what is going on inside your body, they break through layer after layer of toxins. Since Ayurveda does not go for symptoms but rather to the deeper cause, it may take a period of time to see the results. The important thing is to continue taking the herbs so the blocks are removed.
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10. At the beginning, I felt results, but as time went by, I felt nothing. Should I keep taking the herbs?

Answer: It’s true that sometimes you may feel very good results at first, and then suddenly you don’t think anything is happening. This doesn’t mean the herbs are not working. It means there is a second block that the herbs are trying to break through. We never know how long it will take, but the process is going on – all four processes are going on – circulation, rejuvenation, breaking the block, and digestion. So, you must continue taking the herbs regularly. It may take some time to see the results.
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11. Are there ever severe reactions to the herbs?

Answer: No, there are never severe reactions. Never, never. Due to your particular health condition, some symptoms may already exist, but aching joints, gas, bloating and such are never due solely to the herbs.
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12. Is there anything I can do diet-wise, like drinking water or juice, if I have these reactions?

Answer: If there is a lot of gas, you can try this home remedy: Mix 1 tsp. cumin powder, ½ tsp. natural sugar, ¼ tsp. coriander powder and ½ cup water. Drink this twice-a-day to reduce gas and acidity. If these persist, add 1/8 tsp. cardamom powder. This will take care of everything – gas, acidity or bloating.
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13. Should I drink more water while taking the herbs?

Answer: If you feel thirsty, take more. If not, that is fine too.
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14. While on your program, I also needed to take antibiotics or prescription medication at one point. Is it fine to do both? Or should I stop taking my herbs?

Answer: It’s fine to take both, but it’s best to wait 15 minutes after taking the antibiotics or prescription medication before taking your herbs. Don’t take them at the same time . This would also be true while taking any homeopathic medicine.
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15. I take a lot of vitamins. Can I continue to take vitamins while taking your remedies?

Answer: Yes, it is fine to continue taking vitamins while taking the herbal supplements.
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16. Can I take the herbal supplements if I have the flu or a cold?

Answer: Yes, you can continue to take the supplements if you have the flu or a cold.
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17. You say that Ayurveda works on the physical, mental and emotional levels. Do you feel all that when you take the pulse?

Answer: Yes, it is very subtle. We are able to distinguish 350 different combinations of the pulses of Pitta, Vata, and Kapha and each combination tells a different and very precise story. Within a few moments, the pulse tells what is happening right now in your body, mind and emotions and how your body, mind and emotions are working. Based on what is happening now, we are able to tell things that may have happened in the past. With a very focused awareness, you are able to see these things.
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Answer: No, you should do both because herbs are only one of the instruments in Ayurveda. There are six instruments and only with all of them can you depend solely on Ayurveda in your situation. Here in America, we don’t yet have a complete Ayurvedic Center. In the future, this will happen. Then we will provide panchakarma, marma, and lifestyle guidance, and we will have the right home remedies and the right food. Then we will be able to properly manage a wider range of conditions.

Taking the herbs will benefit you for now. They are like supplements and will work to increase immunity, reduce toxins and improve circulation and digestion. Many people start feeling better when they take the herbs because of these actions.
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19. Do blocks in the physical body affect the mind and emotions?

Answer: This is one possibility. There are also blocks in the emotions. Blocks exist everywhere. A physical block can also affect the mental level.

Let’s say you have a block in your legs from a serious injury. Because you cannot move, you feel stressed. Or sometimes you may feel nervous, for example, walking on the snow and ice if it is winter. Maybe you are 50 years old and you think, “O my God, I’m in menopause, maybe I have osteoporosis!” So now you have the fear of brittle bones on top of everything else. This physical block in your leg is creating a mental block of imaginary fear and anxiety. The real cause is the leg, not the mind. You cannot really do anything with that mental fear. But what you can do is to manage the block in the leg. This is what we do.
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20. In the above example, was there a block somewhere else that may have caused the block in the leg? Why did the injury occur in the first place?

Answer: Now, this is much more advanced. If you want to know something much deeper like that, then I can discuss it with you and help you understand it with the right perspective. But the question is “Are you ready for that?” Sometimes you are not ready, and then you get more shocks.

Our job is to make shanti, peace, and not create further agitation. There are times when knowledge can create more agitation, so we have to see if a person is strong enough to take it. If they are not, then fine. Leave it. It is better to first help a person get strong and then give the knowledge.

Often I will tell a person everything after some time. By then, people have enough faith that they are in the right hands and next time, they will tell you more. Actually, to know the truth of why things happen, you need to be strong enough to hold it. Otherwise, it creates a mess, and we are not helping a person, we are destroying them. A person has the right to know; but is the person prepared to know? Is he ready? If he is not ready, he becomes very upset.
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21. Why do some people get quick results from the herbs and I don’t?

Answer: It depends on how long the toxins have been building in your body, on how long you’ve had the blocks inside. If there are simple blocks, some people feel good soon. If the toxins have built up for a long time, it may take longer to feel the results. You cannot say results will happen within a certain timeframe – like allopathic medicine. The herbs work in their own time, depending on the level/amount of toxins in the body.
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22. I am wondering about my prakriti, my specific Ayurvedic type. Am I more a Kapha, Pitta or Vata? Will you tell me more about this?

Answer: Prakriti is actually an American concept. It is not a real thing, and it is not important. The important thing is not a person’s nature, temperament and particular features. The important thing is “What is your problem?” If you are feeling very well, you will never even go to a doctor. So, what is the problem that has brought you to see a doctor at all? What is the cause of that problem? How to balance that problem is more important than knowing what your prakriti is.

Prakriti is the nature of the body, but it has nothing to do with the real problem. From a medical standpoint, what is happening now is more important than “Who am I?” That is a very different thing. That you deal with on a physical, emotional and spiritual level when you do panchakarma. When those five weeks of internal cleansing are done, then you know who you are on a very deep level. A lot of fear and other issues, like suppressed greed, can come up during panchakarma. You cannot deal with who you really are until after that process. When it is over, you are able to deal with these things. Then there is real balance.

So, because it is not very easy to know prakriti, it is better not to focus on that term. Prakriti is very difficult to truly know.
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