Ayurvedic Medicine
Dating from before 1000 BCE, Ayurvedic medicine is a health care system that is native to India,
Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Even today, it is the main medical modality used by millions of people.
The name Ayurveda is a compound of ayus, which means life or life principle, and
veda
which refers to a system of knowledge. So, it is a system of knowledge, or science of life,
that offers therapeutic measures to enhance physical, mental, social, and spiritual harmony.*
The central concept of Ayurvedic medicine is that health exists when there is integration and
balance between the body, mind, spirit, earth, and universe. To cleanse the body and restore balance,
Ayurvedic medicine uses herbs, metals, massage and other products and techniques. Prakriti is a
balanced state of health that is directly associated with that individual at birth, whereas Vikruti
is the perpetual state of imbalance in which we currently fluctuate. The goal is to bring
one's
current situation into homeostasis with the Prakriti.
Three fundamental qualities of the Prakriti are the body humours or doshas, called Vata, Pitta,
and Kapha. People may be of one predominant constitution, or dosha. Doshas are made up of space,
air, fire, water, and earth. Each person has their own balance of the three doshas, although one is
usually prominent.
Doshas
- Vata, the air and space principle is responsible for the function of the nervous system,
all movement and transferal of energy, thought, communication, nutrients, etc. It manifests
as dry, rough, light, subtle, and cold.
- Pitta is the fire and water principle that is associated with transformation, transmutations,
digestion both mentally and physically processes information and food into nutrients.
It manifests as hot, sharp, light, oily, spreading, and fleshy smelling.
- Kapha, the earth and water principle, and whereas pitta transforms, Kapha absorbs,
congeals, condense and solidifies. Kapha is oily, damp, cold, heavy, soft, clay-like.
An Ayurvedic Consultation
During the initial 90 minute consultation we review your past health
history, review of your current health concern, determine your original
ayurvedic constitutional type (Prakruti), determine your current doshic
imbalance (Vikruti), discuss in detail your present diet and lifestyle
practices, identify areas that may be causing doshic (constitutional)
imbalance, create a cleansing program to remove accumulated toxins, or
rejuvenation program for areas of depletion, create a detailed diet plan to
suit your individual constitution as well as your lifestyle, agree on
lifestyle recommendations to help you maintain balance, determine if basic
Ayurvedic Yoga, body work, breathing exercises or other suitable therapies
might help to target imbalance and help maintain balance.
Ayurvedic Treatments
Ayruvedic treatments are designed to regain or maintain physical, mental,
and spiritual balance within one's own unique constitution. They often
support the removal of impurities. Treatments offered include:
- Abhyanga: Warm herbalized oil, specific for the client's Dosha
is applied from head to toe and massaged into the skin. It promotes
healthy circulation and joints, it does not deeply penetrate the soft
tissues of the body. It draws out impurities, improves immunity by
increasing lymphatic circulation. Abhyanga massage can be paired with
Shirodhara, however this treatment includes Nasya and Karana Purana.
Afterwards you may want to take a shower to bring clothes that can get
oily.
- Shirodhara: This beautiful, profoundly relaxing treatment
involves pouring slowly a continuous stream of warm oil over the forehead.
Shirodhara is a powerful treatment for relieving mental stress and nervous
tension. Shirodhara has been used to treat a variety of conditions
including eye diseases, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, greying of hair,
neurological disorders, memory loss, insomnia, hearing impairment,
tinnitus, vertigo, Ménière's disease and
certain types of skin diseases like psoriasis. Not recommended for
pregnant women.
- Nasya: Nasya clears sinuses,
enlivens senses and relieves tension and congestion. This cleansing
therapy is indicated for headaches, allergies, and problems of the neck
and head region. During this treatment up to 5 drops of medicated oil are
administered to each nostril and head, face, and neck receive a marma
massage.
- Karana Purana: The ears are filled
with warm oil, which lubricate the ear canal, dislodging impurities and
improve hearing. This treatment creates a feeling of deep restfulness and
may be useful in treating insomnia, earaches, ringing of the ears and
headaches. A hand and foot massage is included, if not an add-on to
Abhyanga or Shirodhara.
- Netra Basti: The eyes are
intimately connected to the brain and nervous system. This soothing
treatment is ideal for many eye conditions and for general calming and
balancing of the mind. A reservoir is made from whole wheat flour and
placed around the eye. Warm glee (clarified butter) is gently poured
inside, bathing the eye, and surrounding tissues. As the ghee penetrates,
the entire nervous system receives the therapeutic effects. Only one eye
at a time is treated, so this treatment is scheduled two consecutive days.
- Kati Basti: This treatment helps
with acute back aches, osteoporosis, sciatica. Like Netra Basti, this
treatment uses a dam of dough filled with warm oil inside the dam. This
special technique is aimed at providing relief to specific areas of the
back.
- Marma Point Massage: A calming and
balancing therapeutic massage focusing on pressure points (marmas),
enhanced by warm medicated herbal oils and essential oils tailored for
your body. It is applied in a special sequence. By stimulating the marma
points, energetic and physical blocks are opened. Blocks can be caused by
inadequate circulation, stress and improper diet. This treatment will make
you more aware of your body-mind connection, leaving you feeling centered
and grounded. Marma Point Massage has been used for centuries in India to
release toxins, stress, nervousness, and muscular aches. These points
correspond to internal organs and body systems and manipulation of these
points helps to promote physical and mental wellness.
- Ayurvedic Facial: This facial
includes a cleansing step with all natural and fresh ingredients. It is
followed by a facial marma point massage with light application of dosha
appropriate oil, hot towels to prepare the skin for the next exfoliation
step: using chickpea flour and herbs (rose, sandalwood, or herb) for the
dosha appropriate mask. After cleansing again a second rejuvenating mask
is applied using only ultra fresh prime materials which may include fresh
fruits, avocado, organic dairy, or fresh pressed juices and therapeutic
grade essential oils.
Panchakarma
Panchakarma refers to the five actions or modalities. This is a collection of purification
techniques that Ayurveda prescribes for some diseases and for periodic cleansing. A course of
Panchakarma may include a short-term dietary prescription, massage, herbs, purgatives, sweat baths,
medicated enemas, and nasal cleansing.
Ayurvedic Massage
The massage modality was mainly developed in Sri Lanka and the Indian state of Kerala.
Ayurvedic Massage is a form of treatment for common conditions. This therapy can relieve pain,
improve circulation, relieve stress, enhance sleep, improve flexibility and athletic ability,
and relieve emotional issues. It can also loosen and release deep-seated toxins that reside
in the joints and tissues. Then these toxins can then be released and eliminated through a natural
toxin-release process.
Ayurveda Now
Ayurveda is now a recognized medical system like any other (including Western) existing in India.
The Council of Indian Medicine of India (CCIM) governs and recommends policies for research and
development. See the Encyclopedia on Ayurveda at Ayushveda.com for additional information on Ayurveda*.
* Thanks to National Institutes of Health, Erin Jones,
Annberlin Schaad, Yogita Wengatz, and Wikipedia for this information!
