mala
Mala is a spicy and numbing seasoning made from Sichuan peppercorn and chilli. Most commonly, mala is made into a sauce (麻辣醬 málàjiàng) by simmering it in oil and other spices. Characteristic of Sichuan cuisine, particularly Chongqing cuisine, it has become one of the most popular ingredients in Chinese cuisine, spawning many regional variants.
The sauce is used in a variety of ways, from stir-fry, stews, and soup, to being used in hot pot or as a dipping sauce. In the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces mala powder (麻辣粉; pinyin: málàfĕn) is used on snacks and street foods, such as stinky tofu, fried potatoes, and barbecued meat and vegetables.
Traditionally, a restaurant hired a chef specializing in making this sauce; the recipes were kept secret to the chef himself. Today, prepared mala sauce can easily be found in supermarkets, and chain restaurants often produce their own sauce on a large scale, while many others still blend their own one. Like curry, there is a constant debate about the 'best' recipe and numerous variations are available on the market.
A mala is a strand of beads (traditionally 108, or a fraction thereof) used for keeping count during meditation. Mala beads have been in use for thousands of years, with the earliest examples dating back to the 8th century B.C.
Most importantly, it is a tool focusing our awareness and concentration during your spiritual practice, meditation, prayer or reflection. Also, if you wear your mala throughout the day, it serves as a constant reminder of your intentions.
With use, particularly if you have set it with your intention, the mala becomes infused with your personal energy. The more you meditate and use your mala, the stronger the bond will become between you and your beads.
Patients often present with vague signs and symptoms. They may initially complain of gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and/or diarrhea, which are commonly seen with metformin use and toxicity. The patient may also complain of dyspnea, dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, or general malaise in the setting of acidosis.[19] More severe cases may present with altered mental status (AMS) or coma.