 The lips are a beautiful and uniquely important part of our body. It is my hope that by reading this article you can feel empowered to view your body in a new light. Here are some facts about the lips:
The lips are a doorway of expression from within and an opening for nutrients to enter and nourish the body. They play a major role in the way we communicate our emotions and feelings with one another. A smile, a frown, a kiss all have very significant meaning. According to Ayurveda and other traditional modalities of medicine, the lips can help us see the inner workings of the body. The upper lip represents the lungs, thyroid, heart, stomach, liver and kidneys while the entire lower lip is a reflection of the intestines. Vasant, Dr. Lad. Ayurveda: The science of self-healing. (39) It takes experience and a seasoned practitioner to read the lips with precision. However, the following information is a great start for you to view your lips in a new way. Have you ever thought about why kissing feels so good? Or why whistling automatically relaxes and gives you a sense of ease? Or maybe you tend to press your lips together when you are tense or nervous. Much of this has to do with the correlation between the inner workings of the body and the points on the lips for which they represent. For example, when we kiss, sing or speak words of kindness the heart automatically becomes activated via the upper lip where the heart meridian or pressure point is located. Ayurveda is said to be one of the oldest practiced modalities of medicine and healing in the world. Practitioners were encouraged to use their senses (touch, smell, sight, sound) and intuition to truly understand their patient’s needs to becoming healthy and whole. This modality of diagnosis and healing is still used successfully today among Ayurvedic practitioners and doctors. It has been proven time and time again that the health of the outer body reflects the health of the inner body. Here are some examples of what the lips represent both physically and emotionally: Dry/chapped lips: Dryness in the body due to climate, dehydration, tension, anxiety, fear. Cracked/peeling lips: Heartache, worry, dryness in the body, feeling cold. Dis-coloration or faded color in the lips: lack of proper circulation throughout the body. Hot/burning/ red lips: inflammation or too much heat within the body due to overly spicy foods, too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine. Heated emotions such as: anger, jealousy, resentment, irritation, lack of compassionate expression. Wrinkles in the upper lip: Smoking, physical or mental tension, irritation, worry, fear. Quivering lips: fatigue, weak nervous system, fear, self-doubt, emotional tension. Tips for solutions:
Lip balms/salves: There are many things you can put on your lips to help you maintain moisture, soothe irritation and heal the skin. It is important to choose something that you feel good about eating because most of what goes on the lips ends up in our bellies by the end of the day. If you do not feel good about eating it, do not put it on your lips. Believe it or not, this can greatly effect the digestive system. 2. Internal treatment: Water: dehydration is the number one cause associated with chapped, cracked and even bleeding lips. Simply increasing your water intake on a daily basis will help restore the lips to their full glory. Diet: If you pay close attention and notice how your lips feel after every meal, you will start to understand which foods are healing for you and which foods may be depleting your vitality. With a diet high in processed foods, sugar, coffee, meat and dairy you may notice a tendency towards cold sore outbreaks and dry or burning lips. Finding a diet that is balanced for you and your constitution is best. Simple, home cooked meals, non-gmo foods and organic foods is a good place to start. 3. Habits: Most of us have tendencies that become habits which don’t necessarily serve us. The lips can take the brunt of these habits through biting, tensing or even peeling of the lip’s skin. It is beneficial to notice where you might be damaging your lips due to stress and take a moment to breathe instead of biting down or being aggressive with this delicate body part. 4. Meditation: Healing the physical and emotional body. If you read my blogs you may know that I usually provide a meditation and a “yogic” solution for every challenge. Meditation helps to heal the physical and emotional bodies. This is something that you do not need to find outside of yourself; meditation gives you the tools to heal from within. I encourage you to try this Whistling Breath that will nourish your lips in a most dynamic and beautiful way: Whistling Breath (beak breath) Description: Sit with a straight spine in Easy Pose or a chair. To whistle on an inhale, pucker the lips and inhale through the mouth, making a high-pitched whistling sound. Focus on the sound of the whistle. Exhale through the nose. To whistle on an exhale, first inhale through the nose and then exhale through the puckered mouth, making a high-pitched whistling sound. Focus the ears on the whistling sound. To whistle on both the inhale and exhale, pucker the lips and inhale through the mouth making a high-pitched whistling sound and then exhale through puckered lips making a high-pitched whistling sound. Focus the ears on the whistle. Eyes: Closed and rolled up to the third eye point between the eyebrows, unless otherwise specified. Time: None, unless used in a specific meditation. Benefits: Yogi Bhajan, my teacher taught that whistling stimulates the vagus nerve through the action of the lips. The vagus nerve participates in speech, breathing, digestion, and other bodily functions. He also said that Whistle Breath affects the glandular system and if practiced at least three minutes a day, can bring relaxation. Note: As with any pranayama, if you become dizzy or lightheaded, stop the pranayama and resume normal breathing. From www.spiritrisingyoga.com Remember that every part of your body is meaningful and important. There is no part of you that is “out of place” or “does not serve a purpose”. Take time to acknowledge all of who you are and enjoy being You! With love and blessings, Hari Simran
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 Don’t let the heat get the best of you! Enjoy the summer months without compromising your health. These are my top 5 tips for balancing Pitta (the fire element within our body and mind) during the Pitta (Summer) time of year.
Get the most of your summer and include at least one of these tips. Give it 2 weeks and notice how you feel. For more details on how to balance your unique constitution and feel better, connect with Hari Simran for an Ayurvedic consultation. Knowing the art of self healing is the right of every human being. |
AuthorHari Simran is a Clinical Ayurveda Specialist and Kundalini Yoga Instructor. Archives
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