Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. This is a condition where the cells of the body are not receiving enough fuel from glucose. Low blood sugar is commonly understood as a side effect of Type I Diabetes. It also can affect people without diabetes.
Reactive hypoglycemia – blood glucose levels fall within 2-4 hours of eating a meal.
Fasting hypoglycemia – very low levels in the morning upon waking.
Symptoms of low blood sugar can vary depending on where there is a lack of glucose in the body. Symptoms caused by a lack of glucose to the brain can include confusion, dizziness, and fainting. Symptoms caused by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system – in an attempt to bring low blood sugar levels back to normal – include sweating, nervousness, tremors, and heart palpitations.
Glucose levels vary throughout the day in healthy individuals, however it is low level blood sugar measurements in conjunction with symptom patterns that results in a diagnoses of hypoglycemia.
Blood Sugar Variability & Vata Dosha
From an Ayurvedic perspective, hypoglycemia is primarily a vata/air imbalance. Pitta/fire can also combine with vata, making it more difficult to treat. The condition can oftentimes be mild and go undiagnosed. Causes often include irregular eating habits, fast paced lifestyle and hormonal imbalances, all of which are vata-aggravating factors. When the doshas are balanced, they result in balanced blood sugar levels. Treatment for hypoglycemia involves balancing primarily vata dosha, the energy of motion and variability.
There are five primary subtle energetic winds of the body that are governed by vata dosha: prana vayu (energy that moves up and in to the body as a process of consumption), samana vayu (energy that moves to the center of the body and assimilates or digests), apana vayu (energy that moves down and out of the body through elimination), vyana vayu (energy that moves away from the center and circulates) and udana vayu (energy that moves up and out of the body and provides forward motion).
When considering the energetics of low blood sugar, balanced flow of each vayu matters. Vyana vayu, however, stands out as a particularly important physiological and energetic process to help deliver balance.
Vyana vayu is situated in the heart and lungs and flows throughout the entire body. Vyana vayu translates to “outward moving air.” Vyana vayu flows from the center of the body to the periphery. It governs the circulation of all substances and assists the other vayus with their functions. Vyana vayu, as the energy responsible for circulation, has a strong effect on blood sugar levels and the ability for cells to receive glucose.
Vyana vayu can be strengthened through breathwork that emphasizes a breath retention such as box breathing or alternate nostril breathing. Sun salutations in the morning strengthen vyana vayu by circulating prana and blood. Focusing on fluid movement between postures further emphasizes this connection with vyana vayu.
Cinnamon & Blood Sugar Balance
Cinnamon is a wonderful spice used in Ayurvedic medicine to stimulate vyana vayu and open circulation to the cells and the joints. Cinnamon also stokes digestive fire and can strengthen samana vayu, the subtle vata energetic that is responsible for processing and assimilating food that is taken in. Samana vayu helps us take in what we need and release what we don’t.
Cinnamon is warming, sweet, pungent and astringent. Cinnamon has a sattvic energy, meaning it is clear and soothing to vata dosha. It strengthens the heart, warms the kidneys, and promotes agni (digestive fire). Be sure to source organic CEYLON cinnamon over cassia cinnamon. Long term or excessive use of cassia cinnamon can have negative health effects to the liver. Ceylon cinnamon is lighter and brighter than cassia which tastes stronger and hotter. Ceylon cinnamon is tan brown and cassia has a reddish dark brown colour.
Modern studies have found that cinnamon can provide glucose regulation in cases of Type II Diabetes by helping to lower blood glucose levels. It can also increase your insulin sensitivity, making insulin more efficient in delivering sugar to the cells. From an Ayurvedic perspective, this makes sense as cinnamon has an overall balancing affect on vata dosha and especially on vyana and samana vayus, making it a wonderful complementary therapy in treating both hyper and hypoglycemia. You can start your day with a Cinnamon Water or sip on cinnamon tea throughout the day. Or, try incorporating cinnamon into your meals with one of the simple recipes below:
Precaution: taking Ceylon cinnamon along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
If you are interested in learning more about the Ayurvedic approach to blood sugar regulation, reach out to us at hello@path-wellbeing.com or book a free 15-min consultation today.
Article authored by Chloe Chaput, who is dedicated to her role as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist to work with women’s health, male and female fertility challenges, parents or caregivers, and children to address a variety of clinical health concerns at the root of their cause.
The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
