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MoonDragon's Alternative Health Information
Medicinal Therapies: Ayurveda
AYURVEDA - What Is It?
The major traditional holistic healing system of the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda covers all aspects of health, encouraging physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Practitioners believe well-being is affected by three doshas, or "vital energies," which constantly fluctuate. Treatment aims to restore health, or doshic balance, through purifying techniques, diet, yoga postures and breathing exercises, massage, and herbal remedies. Ayurveda is currently undergoing a government-sponsored revival in India, and is attracting much interest in the West, particularly the United States.
This anatomical guide, annotated in Sanskrit, was used by doctors in Nepal, where Ayurveda has been practiced for thousands of years.
HISTORY
Ayurveda (Sanskrit for "science of life") is said to have been revealed by the Hindu god Brahma to human beings. Ayurveda, "the knowledge of long life," the traditional Indian medicine was developed by ancient sages and derived from the Vedas, ancient Hindu texts by rishis, or holy men through keen observation of life and functions. This system of medicine has prevailed for the past 5000 years, and has been used on the Indian subcontinent since about 2500 B.C. It is a sophisticated, comprehensive health system and has similarities with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). For thousands of years Ayurveda was a well-regulated oral tradition. It remained the most accessible form of health care for Indians until the 19th century, when the British Raj attempted to stamp it out, resulting in a proliferation of poorly trained practitioners. Following Indian independence in 1947, Ayurveda underwent a revival. A Central Council now monitors training and practice, with colleges offering a degree course that includes a basic study of Western medicine. In the U.S. Ayurveda is daily practiced as part of "Maharishi Ayur-Ved," a system set up by followers of the yogi Maharishi Mahesh, and the health guru and writer Dr. Deepak Chopra has also focused attention on Ayurveda.
KEY PRINCIPLES
Ayurveda visualizes the universe as a constant play of energies an imbalance of which induces disease and discomfort in the body. In this system of medicine priority has always been on prescribing an appropriate life-style blended to astrological, climate and geographical conditions. Indian people have a rich tradition in Ayurveda and adhere to a strict Ayurvedic life-style. At the core of Ayurveda is the belief that people are a totality of body and soul within the universal context and that those who live in harmony with nature and their inner being are healthy. Ayurveda teaches that people and nature are linked by the five great elements - ether, air, fire, water, and earth - which underlie all living systems and are constantly changing and interacting. These are expressed in the three life forces, or vital energies, the doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In the human body, the levels of the doshas are believed to rise and fall daily, affected by factors such as different foods, time of day, season, levels of stress, and repressed emotions. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that people get sick when the balance among the doshas is disrupted, which disrupts the flow of prana, the "life energy" that enters the body through food and breath, and to impede agni, the body's "digestive fire," which processes food and experiences. If agni is low, toxic substances called ama, said to be a major source of illness, are produced. Ayurveda therefore places great importance on diet and detoxification techniques designed to purge ama by means of sweat, urine, and feces - known as the three malas. Herbal remedies, affusions, diet changes, yoga, massage, and meditation are also believed to balance and harmonize the doshas and increase prana, and are all practiced and may be prescribed as part of Ayurveda. It is thought that when you understand your doshas, you can make diet and lifestyle changes that will help you live a healthier, longer and happier life.
THE THEORY OF THE DOSHAS
Ayurvedic practitioners classify a patients' health based on the degree of imbalance of the three doshas. The doshas are three constantly fluctuating energy qualities that define all things on Earth. Each is made up of a combination of two or the five great elements of Ayurveda:
- Vata is formed from air and ether. Vata is that which constitutes bodily movement and activity.
- Pitta is formed from fire and water. Pitta is the entire bio-chemical process operating in a body.
- Kapha is formed from water and earth. Kapha is the entire physical volume in living organisms.
Although the doshas cannot physically be measured or experienced, each has distinctive attributes that can be recognized in human beings and in the environment. A disturbance in any of the three doshas results in a particular disease and the treatment administered accordingly.
CONSTITUTIONAL TYPES
Every individual has a unique combination of doshas, known as prakriti, determined by the doshas of his or her parents at the time of conception. Physiological strengths and weaknesses, intellectual capacity, and personality are governed by one or, in some people, two dominant doshas.BALANCING THE DOSHAS
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that good health depends on "pacifying" excesses in the doshas and keeping fluctuations to a minimum. Each dosha has a "seat" in the body that is able to absorb and eliminate small excesses, but disease can result if the seat cannot cope with larger imbalances.
VATA
Vata Types: Are either tall or short and of slight build, they are creative, with quick nervous movements, but tend to waste energy.
Dominant Element: Air, then Ether.
Seat of Vata: Colon.
Shared Quality: With Kapha: coldness.
Tastes that Increase Vata: Pungent, bitter, astringent; vata types should avoid raw foods.
Tastes that Pacify Vata: Sweet, sour, salty; moist, warming foods, such as casseroles; cooked root vegetables. 
A. The vata seasons are autumn and early winter.
B. The seat of vata is the colon.
C. Carrots pacify excess vata.
PITTA
Pitta Types: Are evenly proportional and of average height; confident and ambitious, they can be aggressively competitive.
Dominant Element: Fire, then Water.
Seat of Pitta: Stomach and small intestine.
Shared Quality: With vata; lightness.
Tastes that Increase Pitta: Sour, salty, pungent; pitta types should avoid red meat.
Tastes that Pacify Pitta: Sweet, astringent, bitter cooling foods especially salads; also fish, chicken tofu, and mushrooms. 
A. The pitta season is summer.
B. The seat of pitta is the stomach.
C. Mushrooms pacify excess pitta.
KAPHA
Kapha Types: Are heavily built, slow-moving and physically strong; they are stable and patient, but inclined to possessiveness.
Dominant Element: Water, then Earth.
Seat of Kapha: Stomach and lungs.
Shared Quality: With pitta; oiliness.
Tastes that Increase Kapha: Sweet, sour, salty; kapha types should avoid dairy products.
Tastes that Pacify Kapha: Pungent, bitter, astringent; hot and spicy foods; apples and pears; also leafy vegetables, beans, and lentils. 
A. The kapha season is the middle of winter.
B. The seat of kapha is the lungs.
C. Apples pacify excess kapha.
DAILY PATTERN OF THE DOSHAS
Vata, pitta, and kapha are said to exert their greatest influence at dawn, at midday, and in the evening respectively; each dosha also has a second, weaker period of influence. Healing foods and herbal remedies should be taken at the correct time of day to pacify the dosha that is causing the imbalance. For example, a vata-related illness may flare up in the early morning and can be alleviated by taking calming remedies at night, when kapha - which promotes rest - is in the ascendant.
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH
Much research into Ayurvedic medicine has been carried out in India. In clinical trials at the Government Medical College, Jammu, in the 1980s, 122 out of 175 rheumatoid arthritis patients improved after treatment with Boswellia serrata (common name: Frankincense), an herb commonly used in Ayurveda. In a 1990 study at Ohio State University, a Maharishi Ayur-Ved herbal remedy that appeared to contain antioxidants was shown to reduce tumors in rats. A study by the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology indicated in 1993 that panchakarma reduced cholesterol and anxiety levels in patients with heart disease. In the U.S., the National Institutes of Health has funded some research on Ayurveda and its compatibility with other therapies.
Internet Health Library: Ayurvedic Medicine Research Index
Aroor Ravi Memorial Ayurvedic Research Centre
All Ayurvedic: Ayurvedic Education & Research
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Sidhha
MEDICAL OPINION
Many Western medical practitioners accept that they cannot discount the medical systems of other cultures. Ayurvedic herbal remedies have been tried and tested by centuries of use, but their quality and efficacy cannot be guaranteed, since very few scientific tests have been carried out. Conventional medical practitioners find Ayurveda's emphasis on health promotion and its belief that illness is caused by factors such as diet and lifestyle, easier to accept than some of its treatments. Most would consider that anyone with a critical illness is better off with conventional medicine.
The Ayurvedic Treatment: In order to obtain a complete picture of a patient, Ayurvedic practitioners note age and ethnicity as well as nutrition, lifestyle and spirituality. Their examination takes into consideration the patient's body structure as well as results from Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis and palpation of important parts of the body. There are few Ayurvedic practitioners in the United States, but this has been changing as more schools are opening and/or offering educational programs in Ayurvedic medicine. If you are interested in this type of treatment, it is recommended to choose a practitioner who combines Western medical training with Ayurvedic training. Or perhaps your regular health care provider would consider using an Ayurvedic consultant.
CONSULTING A PRACTITIONER
At the first consultation the practitioner identifies your doshic constitution (tridosha) and any imbalances in it. He asks detailed questions about your personal and family history and about your lifestyle, from eating and bowel habits to relationships at work. As in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), taking the pulse is an important part of diagnosis. The practitioner checks the pulse at three points on both wrists, each thought to correspond to one of the doshas and to reflect the condition of specific internal organs. You may also be asked for a sample of urine, taken in midstream early in the morning; its color and odor will be noted.
Your practitioner will recommend dietary changes to rebalance your doshas. He will advise you to eat at certain times of the day, depending on your age and condition, your doshic type, and the season of the year.
If your practitioner is qualified to prescribe medicinal remedies, he will also treat you with herbs or minerals according to your constitution and particular doshic imbalance. This is part of a program known as shaman, which aims to pacify and calm th doshas.
If the practitioner considers you strong enough, he may begin treatment with a cleansing and detoxifying regime called shodan which takes the form of enemas, laxatives, therapeutic vomiting, and washing out the nasal passages, collectively known as panchakarma. Saunas may also be used in preparation for detoxification. Some practitioners offer Ayurvedic massage with oils. This lasts about an hour and is carried out by two masseurs, who work together on either side of you, stimulating your body's marma points (similar to acupoints) to encourage the flow of prana. Or you may receive chavutti thirumal, a massage given with the feet.
Finally, the practitioner may suggest rasayana, a rejuvenating regime that may include herbal remedies, yoga, chanting, meditation (satvajaya), and sunbathing.
ASSESSING THE STATE OF THE DOSHAS
The patient's physical appearance and the way she moves are closely examined as aids to diagnosis. The eyes and nails can be important indications of doshic constitution. Pitta types, for example, tend to have bright, sparkling eyes.
STANDARD TESTS
The practitioner may listen to your internal organs and use other diagnostic techniques shown here.
The tongue is examined for signs of toxins in the body.
The pulse is taken to reveal the doshic state of related body organs.
Palpating or feeling the abdomen may reveal doshic imbalances.
TREATMENTS
Treatments vary in duration and intensity. Treatment is either with medicines or with oil baths and massages. Ayurveda recommends Panchakarma processes of Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purgation), Vasti (enema), Raktamoksham (bloodletting) and Naysa (nasal medication) for rejuvenating the body and mind.
THE FOREHEAD AFFUSION
A very popular Ayurvedic application is the forehead affusion, called Shirodhara. An affusion requires oils to be dripped on or poured on the suggested site. It is made with warm sesame oil and, when dripped on the forehead, it serves to relax the autonomic nervous system. Adding an essential oil tot he affusion can emphasize the doshas; Use Basil for Vata; Sandalwood for Pitta; and Eucalyptus for the Kapha type.
Kerala, in India, has a special type of Ayurvedic treatment. Though the texts of lessons studied are the same the system of treatment is entirely different and far more effective as well. These special Kerala treatments include Pizhichil (oil bath), Ilakizhi (leaf bundle massage), Navarkizhi (rice bundle massage) etc. which are widely and effectively used in the rheumatic astringent, paralysis, facial palsy, motorneuron disease, ankylosing spondylitis, acute infective polyneuritis, various spinal problems, gastric or peptic ulcers etc.
Pizhichil: In this treatment, luke warm herbal oil applied all over the body by two to four trained masseurs in a special rhythmic way continuously for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is very useful for rheumatic diseases like arthritis paralysis, hemiplegia, paralysis agitanus, nervous weakness and nervous disorder etc.
Navarakizhi: It is a process by which the whole body or any specific part there of is made to perspire by the application of certain medical puddings externally in the form of boluses tied up in muslin bag. This treatment is for all types of rheumatism, pain in the joints, emaciation of limbs, blood pressure, cholesterol and certain kinds of skin diseases.
Dhara: In this process, some herbal oils, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc. are poured on the forehead in a special method. This treatment is mainly for insomnia, vata predominated diseases and mental tension.
Sirovasthi: Certain lukewarm herbal oils are poured into a cap fitted on the head. This treatment is highly effective for facial paralysis, dryness of nostrils, mouth and throat, severe headaches, burning sensation to the head and other vatha-originated diseases.
Udvarthanam: This is a typical massage with herbal powders. This treatment is for diseases like hemiplegia, paralysis, obesity (excess fat) and certain rheumatic ailments.
Snehapanam: Medicated ghee is given internally in a proportionally increased quantity. This treatment is for osteoarthritis, sporaris, leukemia etc.
Kizhi: Herbal leaves and herbs or herbal powders are applied to the whole body in boluses with hot medicated oils. This treatment is for osteoarthritis with swelling, spondilosis, sports injuries etc.
Rejuvenation: This treatment includes Yoga, meditation, body massage with hand and foot by medicated oil, head massage and face massage with oil and cream, internal rejuvenative medicines, medicated steam bath etc. This therapy is to rejuvenate mind, body and soul, to tone up skin, to strengthen all systems so as to achieve ideal health and longevity.
Other Treatments: These are Vasthi, Abhayangam, Nasyam, Medicated Steam Bath, General Massage, Rejuvenation massage etc.
Healthy mind is seen only in a healthy body - Ayurveda believes. Mental aberrations can lead to ill health and vice versa. According to Ayurvedic Theory, no one can cure mental diseases permanently but reassurances, consolation and dietetic treatment with the aid of drugs which have got soothing effect and which will restore the mental equilibrium will help in correcting the condition.
Ayurveda is not merely a collection of effective drugs, herbs and remedies, but is essentially knowledge of the art and science of living which man will need as long as there is life on this earth.
How long does a treatment session last? An initial consultation may take up to an hour; later sessions last 15 to 30 minutes.
How many sessions will I need? Minor ailments may require only two or three sessions; long-standing disorders may need weekly appointments over several months.
Will it be unpleasant? Powerful cleansing treatments, such as enemas or induced vomiting, may cause temporary discomfort.
Will there be any aftereffects? When used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, Ayurvedic therapies should not cause aftereffects.
AYURVEDIC PRECAUTIONS
Make sure that your practitioner is fully qualified to prescribe herbal remedies, and that long-term treatment with herbs is carefully monitored.
Avoid enemas and other purgative treatments if you are pregnant or elderly, or if you have heart disease. Enemas are not suitable for the very young.
HERBAL PRECAUTIONS
Consult a qualified herbalist before taking an herb if you are taking prescribed medications, and do not discontinue a medicine without telling your health care provider.
Consult a qualified herbalist before taking an herbal medicine if you are pregnant, or if you have heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), or glaucoma.
Epilepsy and insulin-dependent diabetes are best treated with conventional medicine.
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY PRECAUTIONS
Consult your health care provider before embarking on any non-conventional form of treatment if you have any medical condition or symptoms of illness.
Do not stope taking any prescribed medication without first consulting with your health care provider.
Tell your complementary practitioner about any prescribed medication you are taking, and any other complementary treatments you are receiving.
Tell your health care provider about any complementary treatments you are taking. This includes herbal remedies and nutritional supplements as well as treatments.
Do not embark on vigorous exercise without first consulting with a health care provider if you have any serious medical condition, such as back pain, high blood pressure, or heart disease, or if you are pregnant.
Do not begin a course of complementary therapy without first consulting with your health care provider (or midwife) if you are pregnant, or if you are trying to conceive.
Advise your practitioner if you have any sexually transmitted disease.
Consult your health care provider before allowing babies or infants to receive complementary treatments, since some treatments, such as enemas and certain herbal remedies, are unsuitable for small children.
See your health care provider if symptoms persist or worsen.
MEDICINAL REMEDIES
Ayurvedic remedies are made from up to 20 different herbs, minerals, and vegetables, and should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner. Each prescription will vary according to environment, season, the patient's constitutional type, and his or her current doshic imbalance. Remedies may be administered orally, anally, through the nose, or rubbed into the skin as oils to avoid being broken down by enzymes in the digestive tract.
The practitioner mixes a remedy of Ghee, Licorice, Nutmeg and Long Pepper to suit the patient's individual type. An Ayurvedic prescription is likely to include at least ten different herbs.
Remedies will be given in powder form, or as dried herbs, pills, or pastes. Medicinal wines and jams are sometimes prescribed. If a powder is to be taken internally, the practitioner may recommend that it is mixed in food with a "carrier," usually water, honey or ghee (clarified butter). Dried herbs may be boiled in water to make a tea or decoction. Traditionally, practitioners repeat a suitable mantra over the mixture as it is prepared; this is thought to increase its potency.
A PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE
Karen, a 29 year-old actress, was troubled by insomnia: "I've always been a nervous person and my career has meant that my life has little routine. The practitioner asked lots of questions about my lifestyle and took my pulse. I am a typical Vata type and the insomnia was due to excess Vata energy made worse by a run of bad luck in my career. She suggested I eat cooked vegetables, dairy food, and fish, with hot cereal for breakfast. At bedtime, I should give myself an oil massage - preferably with sesame oil, but grapeseed will do - and drink warm milk with ginger, cinnamon, or cardamom. I haven't had a real problem sleeping since."
PANCHAKARMA
Panchakarma, which means "five actions," is a purification process to remove ama, or impurities, in the body, and rebalance the doshas. Treatment requires physical strength, and should always be carefully monitored by a trained practitioner. Traditionally, panchakarma is performed in three stages after a restricted diet or fast. Massage with medicated oils is followed by induced sweating, said to return the doshas to their seats in the body. The main purging process is achieved with herbal or oil enemas, herbal laxatives, or induced vomiting. Panchakarma aims to restore the mind as well as the body; a treatment called shirodhara may be given for this. Rasayana, in the form of herbal remedies or lifestyle changes, helps the body to recuperate. In India, panchakarma may take a month, but in the West it often lasts only 3 to 5 days.
SELF HELP
Ayurveda is a holistic system of health care and a way of life for millions of people in the Indian subcontinent. According to Ayurvedic tradition, harmony and balance are the prerequisites for good health. To help obtain this balance, a practitioner first asks the patient about her symptoms and lifestyle. He then classifies the patient according to the three basic dosha types. The objective is to use an appropriate combination treatment that corresponds to the patient's nature, or dosha.
The essence of every person is based on a combination of 3 doshas. The doshas carry all of a person's most important features:
- Vata personalities are small-boned, nervous and usually quickly roused.
- Pitta types are strong, good at getting their own way and quick tempered.
- Kapha type people are athletic, wiry and generally emotionally stable.
Therapeutic practices such as yoga or special diets can easily form part of a daily routine, and some herbal remedies, such as teas, can be made in the home. Replacing one regular cup of tea or coffee with an Ayurvedic tea, such as ginger, will help detoxify the body and support the digestive system.
Minor conditions may be treated in the home using widely available herbs and spices. In India, ripe bananas and fried cumin powder are taken for insomnia, while turmeric in milk is taken to relieve flu symptoms.
Stimulating Digestion: Fresh ginger is good for all constitutional types, stimulating the digestion and circulation. Add grated ginger to a cup of tea or warm milk.
Reducing Stress: An overactive Vata is often characterized by stress and headaches. To offset Vata tendencies and strengthen the weaker doshas - Pitta and Kapha - Ayurvedic practitioners may recommend slightly spicy foods, which accentuate Pitta characteristics, as well as meditation, music, and aromatic oils with Pitta and Kapha qualities.
Daily Ritual: To beat stress, try this 5 minute meditation - Sit up straight and close your eyes. Loudly breathe in and out 3 times, and then gradually breathe more softly. Focus strictly on your breathing.
Yoga & Meditation: Both yoga and meditation are appropriate for rebalancing the 3 doshas. For example, Ayurveda recommends daily practice of the "Prayer to the Sun" yoga exercise, an easily learned sequence of 12 yoga positions. When performed every morning, this exercise helps to promote a harmonious day.
Herbal Medicine & Stress: A Vata imbalance with stress symptoms and headache can be treated with a combination of burdock root, coriander seeds, fenugreek and valerian root, which work together to combat excessive Vata. Mix the herbs together and pulverize equal parts of the plant products. Take 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture with a small amount of milk 3 times daily.
Oil Applications: A quick-and-easy technique to do yourself is to frequently rub your entire body gently with warm sesame, coconut or sweet almond oil. It harmonizes all 3 doshas and calms the autonomic nervous system.
Nutrition Therapy & Diet: Each dosha type has certain foods associated with it. People with tendencies toward 1 dosha type should eat food that brings out properties of the other 2 doshas. For example, sweet, greasy food stimulates Kapha and therefore may be eaten by Pitta and Vata types looking to strengthen their Kapha. But Kapha types should avoid sweets to keep their Kapha tendencies in check. Warm foods and beverages accentuate Pitta qualities, while cooling foods bring out Vata qualities.
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