I would be very glad if you please could shed some light on how birth control pills affect the body from an ayurvedic point of view.

The 5,000-year-old ayurvedic textbooks don’t have much to say about oral contraceptives, but they do have a lot to say about the seasons, rhythms, and cycles of life. Ayurveda recommends that we honor our rhythmicity and the cyclical nature of our body and the universe.

It is possible for a woman who is tuned in to her reproductive cycle to minimize her chances of an unwanted pregnancy. Assuming that you are in a committed relationship, you don’t want to get pregnant, and you are worried about the side effects of birth control pills, I’d suggest that you have an honest conversation with your partner about sharing responsibility for contraception.

I have received a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and would like to know more about the ayurvedic approach to treating this disease? Thanks for all your help.

In our experience at the Chopra Center, fibromyalgia responds well to a holistic ayurvedic mind-body healing approach. The overarching goal is to generate more natural pain relievers in your body. In many cases, lifestyle changes not only relieve pain but also eliminate behaviors that caused it in the first place. For example, researchers have found that meditation is an effective technology in dealing with chronic pain. In one study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, chronic-pain sufferers who learned a mindfulness meditation technique experienced substantial improvements.

I been having back pain off and on for years, and lately it seems to be getting worse. My doctor prescribed a pain killer that just makes me feel loopy. What else can I do to relieve the pain? Does yoga really help?

Answer: Human beings have probably been having problems with our backs ever since we first stood up on two legs a few million years ago. Chronic back pain is one of our most common health problems, resulting in substantial physical, emotional, and financial distress. The costs associated with acute low back injuries have been estimated at over 50 billion dollars annually when you add up the expenses of diagnosis, treatment, and missed work.

I’ve been having problems lately with dizziness and a lack of balance. I feel like I’m going to fall. . . very unstable, like I’m walking on a wave. Could you help me? Thank you.

Considering that the earth is spinning at approximately 1,000 miles per hour, it’s amazing that we don’t all feel perpetually dizzy. The fact that we don’t is a testimony to the fact that we have an amazing brain, nervous and balance systems that give us the illusion that we’re standing still. There are many causes of dizziness, and it’s important that you get a full evaluation by a neurologist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist to make sure that the cause is benign.

I was referred to your web site by a friend and have been greatly impressed with all of the information. Our first little baby is 7 weeks-old, and the medical profession is strongly insisting on immunizing her. The thought of this is making me nervous as I would like to make an informed decision.

Because of concerns that immunizations have played a role in the increased incidence of autism, many parents are understandably anxious and confused about the risks and benefits of having their children immunized. However, the scientific evidence to date hasn’t revealed a clear association between immunization and autism. Although there has been a great deal of controversy over the chemical compound thimerosal (previously used as a preservative in vaccines), vaccine makers in the U.S. haven’t used thimerosal in vaccines since 1999. Against the questionable link between immunizations and autism, parents must weigh the known risks of their children being infected and developing a preventable illness.

I come from a large family. We keep in touch, but we are not particularly close. We center our family reunions on the holidays, and tensions always run high—stress builds as typical family patterns rear their ugly heads. I love my family, but I dread these concentrated “get-togethers.” Since I can’t opt out, is there anything I can do to help make this a better experience?

It’s important that you begin by recognizing that you can opt out. If you realize that you are making a choice to be there, you will be in a more empowered state of mind to stay centered, rather than defaulting to your long-standing childhood patterns.

My boyfriend tends to express himself in a passive aggressive way. I find myself afraid to dig deeper and at the same time resentful that I have to be the one to initiate open and direct communication. How can I handle this?

The first thing you can do to improve communication with your boyfriend is to look at the language you are using to describe him and your relationship. If your internal conversation is that he tends to express himself in a passive aggressive manner and rarely wants to engage, chances are high that you will reinforce your interpretation of him and perpetuate your resentful feelings.

Is candida a real illness? I'm 45 and have been taking a lot of antibiotics for ear, upper respiratory, and bacterial infections since I was 14. I've also been addicted to sugar, but have gotten better. I've had a poor diet most of my life. My symptoms say I have candida, but the medical tests all come back normal. I always have a yeast infection and the different doctors I’ve seen don’t know what else to offer as I've become resistant to all of the yeast meds they've tried. Candida diets supposedly have a 95 percent relapse rate if you ever cheat on the diet. That sounds strange to me and I'm very confused. Please help.

Answer: Candida albicans is a common yeast present in our environment that usually does not cause any major health challenge. People whose immune systems are severely suppressed may have difficulty maintaining healthy defenses against candida, which can cause serious infections.

Most people who carry the diagnosis of candida are better served by thinking in terms of accumulated toxicity rather than infection. Due to a weak digestive fire, known in ayurvedic medicine as agni, the body accumulates toxins or ama that inhibits one’s natural vitality and immunity.

I have been a diabetic for over 25 years. Despite my many efforts, including some of the best medication, I have never been able to get my diabetes under control. Could you please advise?

There are two major forms of diabetes: Type I is primarily due to insufficient production of insulin due to a loss of cells in the pancreas, while Type II is characterized by insulin intolerance. People with Type II diabetes are often overweight, and their treatment becomes much more effective when weight is reduced. I would encourage you to start by making the following three lifestyle changes:

I am suffering from insomnia. I’m being treated by a psychiatrist but I still cannot sleep. I also have less of an appetite and am feeling unhealthy and weak and have less sexual desire. I have a habit of using chewing tobacco and am 51 years old. I’d kindly appreciate guidance. Thank you.

According to ayurveda, sleep is the nursemaid to humanity. Unfortunately, with the turbulence in people’s personal lives and in the world at large, many of us suffer from a lack of adequate rest, which influences every aspect of our health and outlook on life. Although sleep medication can provide a temporary altered state that resembles sleep, it doesn’t offer the level of rejuvenation that comes with normal sleep. Restful sleep is an essential component of a total balanced lifestyle that includes diet, exercise, and optimal daily routine. Here are the major steps for creating a restful sleep routine: