Doctor in the House. 3 Tips for Future-Proofing Your Health.
Dear Friend,
Did you know that your gut health (microbiome) plays an important part in your overall health?
Roughly 70% of your immune system is in your gut and the gut-brain axis means that poor gut health can be the underlying cause of mental health issues.
Given this importance of your gut, ‘navel-gazing’ can be good for you.
The reason is that the equivalent of your personal doctor is also stationed in your stomach (Nabhi chakra), according to yoga.
To understand how to use this information to support your health and wellbeing, knowing something about the origin-story of the ‘divine physician’ helps.
In an episode from the Puranas (semi-mythological ancient texts of India) called the Samudra Manthana (‘Churning of the Milk Ocean), the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) worked together to produce amrit, the ‘nectar of immortality’ (no ageing, no sickness).
In the course of this yagnya (work), there are said to be 9 to 14 ratnas (desirable things) that emerged.
These included, firstly, Surabhi, The Holy Cow; Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and finally, Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, holding in his hands the pot of amrit.
Since myth, is the way a culture has of preserving and transmitting Truth from the collective unconscious, it’s not surprising that in India the story of the Samudra Manthana is taken seriously and commemorated with the world-famous, largest human gatherings on earth known as the Kumbha Mela.
For your purposes it’s sufficient to know that Dhanvantari is an aspect of Vishnu, the deity of your Nabhi chakra.
Three things, all centred around your Nabhi chakra, that you can do as part of your daily self-care, are:
The additional benefit of this is that as your Nabhi chakra improves with this practice, your Lakshmi ( wealth), Surabhi (generosity) and Kalpavriksha (fulfillment and satisfaction) are also enhanced. More below.
Also below: Lifting your spirits with a soprano; and, making good use of the ground.
Best wishes
P.
PS.
Moon Calendar (at end) this coming week: Mon 29th June - Full Moon (Early to bed) ; Sat. 4th July - Sankashti Chaturthi (Effortless solution to long-standing problem).
