Dear Subscribers,

Last night, I added Manjistha to our product line. This is another rasayana herb, meaning that it is endowed with very specific properties that support regeneration and rejuvenation. It is the number one blood cleanser in the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia, but it is also used in almost every formula that improves complexion. So, let's review the theory of the skin and see why most Ayurvedic doctors treat skin conditions internally as well as externally.

The skin is actually the largest organ of the body but we seldom think of it as an organ. It is also an auxiliary eliminatory organ so when the normal organs of elimination are inefficient or over-taxed, the skin begins to exhibit signs of toxicity. This is not very pleasantly described in Ayurvedic textbooks so perhaps we will stay within the bounds of polite society by merely suggesting that regardless of how careful your external hygiene is, the internal hygiene is just as important.

What is unique about manjistha is that it accomplishes all its work without precipitating any crises. Many of you have written telling me of your intolerance for this or that herb. What happens with many detoxifying formulas is that toxins are dislodged from their storage places and kicked into circulation. This can cause all sorts of irritability and what are sometimes diagnosed as Herxheimer reactions. What is so elegant about manjistha is that it is powerful enough to address eczema and psoriasis without any undesirable side effects. This makes it exceptionally safe and useful, especially for people who are fragile and vulnerable.

My obsession with manjistha started some years ago when I ordered an oil from India that was a beautiful red color and had a fragrance that was completely alluring, better than most perfumes. In general, I am quite passionate about herbal resins and love the aromas of some very potent medicinal oils like myrrh and guaiac wood but that particular oil was truly heavenly, but it was blend, not pure manjistha. Then, after the Fukushima disaster, I became convinced of the need for antioxidants, especially the ones that have bright colors, like the gorgeous red of manjistha. So, when I formulated the Hibiscus Elixir and Para Plus, I included manjistha. Now, I will explain why.

Hibiscus Elixir is basically a heart tonic, but the heart, as we all know, plays a major role in blood circulation. I am not going to say that the heart is a pump because cutting edge science might not support this otherwise well-accepted description of the heart, but we know that blood passes through the heart and that the heart is particularly sensitive to electromagnetic fields, electrolyte balance, and infection by microorganisms and parasites. In most cases, "heart attacks" are not what people think, but we are all living in a sea of frequencies for which our genetics have not equipped us adequately. I tried therefore to increase our coping margins when formulating the Hibiscus Elixir. When it was on the drawing board, I referred to it as the "Red Elixir" and almost went with that name, but . . .

With Para Plus, the role of manjistha is a little different, but it is still there to help with the die off. When parasites die, they could be flushed out with normal eliminatory functions, but "intestinal parasites" may also decompose and become targets of bacteria, in which case there will what is usually interpreted as a bacterial infection even though it is part of the clean up after die off. However, if someone takes antibiotics or other medications that interfere with the bacteria, there will be secondary fungal infections, usually yeast infections and these can lead to some fairly unpleasant complications. Manjistha is there to help with the detoxification after the more aggressive herbs have done their work.

With the blood parasite formulas, I sequenced the formulas: Arjuna's Arrows, Dragon Dreams, and Phoenix Rising. The reason is that blood parasites are relatively easy to destroy but the same complications arise after the parasites die because there is debris in the plasma that has to be removed.

"Intestinal parasites" are often quite mobile. As we all ought to know by now, they can travel to the brain, gonads, liver, pancreas, heart, and just about anywhere else. They are foragers so they race to the stomach when there is food being ingested, but during the night, they can move around almost anywhere. The die off can also therefore occur anywhere. Being very concerned about the brain and the labels that are often put on patients who try to have meaningful dialogues with their physicians about creepy sensations, I formulated Brahmi Elixir. It is the most protective of the brain of any of my formulas, but hardly a day goes by that someone doesn't write me about fear of damage to the brain. This formula is antiparasitic and neuroregenerative. It also supports memory and other functions upon which we depend.

There is no manjistha in these formulas because the lab did not have the herb at the time I formulated these products. However, anyone can add manjistha to these protocols, especially if they have blotchy skin or eruptions on the skin. Manjistha roots are very red and are sometimes the source of a red dye called rose madder. However, they are quite precious and good quality roots can sell for ten or twenty times the price of lesser quality plants. Our roots are wildcrafted, and, for the record, I generally prefer wildcrafted herbs to organically grown herbs because the plants tend to be stronger and free of the allowed chemicals on organically certified plants. The roots are astringent and therefore can be used to staunch fluid loss.

Anyone who has lost a lot of blood or suffered from toxic exposures should consider taking manjistha as a single herb or as part of a formula. I will be coming out with two more formulas in which manjistha plays a role. One of these new formulas is vexing me somewhat because in the last post, I wrote about the importance of sangre de grado. It is an herb that belongs in every medicine cabinet because it stops blood loss. Anyone could have an accident and bleed, but with the heavy burden of radioactive particulates in the air and water, we need all the protection we can get. I told you that I had put sangre de grado into Goji Tonic or Goji Elixir when I hemorrhaged. I think people just skipped over this. Those two goji formulas are actually the same. The elixir is sweeter but they have exactly the same herbs in the same proportions, just more glycerine in the elixir and more alcohol in the tonic. I formulated those a long time ago for people who are undergoing chemotherapy. Taken correctly, the heart, liver, and blood will be protected from some of the side effects of chemotherapy.

However, now I will formulate another product for rebuilding the blood after exposure to radiation, both medical use of radiation and industrial and military pollution of our planet and bodies. This new formula will have manjistha and a number of other radioprotective herbs plus sangre de grado. I am sure it will work better when combined with a good quality oil such as black cumin oil or ghee. The reason is that gamma radiation causes electroperforation of erythrocytes so the blood is truly massacred by the exposure. I can test these formulas rather easily. With hemorrhaging, the bleeding has to stop in seconds. Among other properties associated with manjistha is that it improves platelet aggregation. To be effective in a radioprotective formula, the platelets would have to survive the gamma radiation. They might if the person takes a formula prior to exposure but after the fact, we do not know yet. These are the sorts of questions we will address when the Institute is started.

In the meantime, I hope you will take your own health challenges seriously and undertake the preventative maintenance and repair necessary for functioning optimally.

Many blessings,

Ingrid
http://bioethikainternational.com/
http://shop.kitchendoctor.com/

Copyright by Ingrid Naiman 2014

Introduction to the Dhatus
Essay #1 || Essay #2 || Essay #3 || Root Chakra
Chyawanprash || Ayurvedic Herb Import
Hair Color || Energetics Behind Vision || Air-Water Balance

Dosha Balance Questionnaire || Articles on Ayurveda || The Ayurvedic Bazaar

Design by Damien Francoeur