UMEBOSHI PLUM PASTE From the macrobiotic tradition. Excellent for Vata types. Take a bit with meals to increase digestive fire. (Too salty for Kaphas, too heat-producing for Pittas.) Take only with food. Powerfully effective. Do heat slightly. Do not boil or simmer more than a moment. Alkalinizing. Makes intestinal environment very inhospitable to amoebic invasion. Take regularly with meals when travelling where water may contain harmful micro-organisms. When buying, do not get kind off the shelf in the basg, that has been pasteurized. That kills the helpful stuff. Get the good stuff out of the refrigerated case.  I took this along when visiting Mexico. My travelling companion scoffed, but then asked humbly for some after getting Montezuma's Revenge. Quickly recuperated. We had been eating the same food, etc. I had no problem.

-- Shivani Arjuna (SArjuna@aol.com), October 23, 1999

Answers

Hi Shivani,

Wow! Thanks for the leads on turmeric and Umeboshi plum paste (never heard of the latter). I've already looked up references to turmeric (which I've used as seasoning, but didn't know about it's healthful effects). Shame I can't gro it in Iowa.

Now I've got to look into this plum stuff.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@midiowa.net), October 24, 1999.

We have a family acquaintance who worked in the Peace Corps for many decades. After he came home for a while and was scheduled to return, he would prepare by eating yougurt.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), October 24, 1999.

Shivani, you always share such valuable information with us that I wish to thank you on behalf of all of us who benefit from your posts.

Will you explain the different types you mention above, i.e., Vata, Kapha and Vittas? How does one know which she is thus whether it will be of benefit? Am stocking natural remedies of all sorts. Thanks!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), October 25, 1999.

One way to get information on body types is by reading one of Deepak Chopra, M.D.'s books called Perfect Health. Check your local library, new age book store or an on-line bookseller. He goes into a good level of detail on Ayurvedic body types.

Ginger is another good product to have on hand for Vatas-- for warming in tea and help with nausea.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), October 27, 1999.

http://health.indiamart.com/ayurveda/pitta-dosh.html Describes the 3 constitutional types. Check out other areas of this website as well. The book I mentioned, Perfect Health by Chopra, is very good. Has a questionnaire you can fill out to determine your constitutional type. (One error, which he has realized. -There are other kinds of meditation that will also give great results, besides TM.)

-- Shivani Arjuna (SArjuna@aol.com), October 27, 1999.