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A Few Words about Ayurveda
| Up until sometime in the early '90s, not many people in the west had heard of Ayurvedic medicine. Since then, public figures and physicians like Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Vasant Lad and Dr. Robert Svoboda have brought this science to light in the west. This is not a young science though. Depending upon the source of information, this medicine is between two and five thousand years old and has a practical and lively history and current practice in India, its country of origin. |
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Many westerners have heard of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its herbal medicines and acupuncture. Ayurveda is to India as TCM is to China. Both countries, even today, use their traditional medicines hand in hand with western (allopathic) medicine in hospitals, clinics, private practices, cities and villages.
As a medical science in India, Ayurveda includes a comprehensive study of anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostic systems and treatment strategies. An Ayurvedic physician in India must undergo a 5 ½ year post-graduate degree program (Bachelor's of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) to become qualified. Ayurveda is recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective, traditional health science.
One of the elegant features of Ayurveda is that, with a minimum input of effort and study, we can learn some simple, valuable practices that enable us to manage our health and change our lives for the better. We can learn from Ayurveda how to understand our individual constitution and our current condition. This can help us understand what an appropriate diet and lifestyle is, and which herbs or remedies may help us gain or maintain optimum health in our bodies and minds.
The concept and importance of constitutional variety is fundamental in Ayurveda. This is the notion that we are all different and so what may be medicine for one person may even harm another. There are as many unique constitutions as there are human beings. For the sake of practicality, Ayurveda has categorized three main constitutional types. These types (or doshas) are called “Vata,” “Pitta,” and “Kapha,” very roughly translated as “Air,” “Fire,” and “Water/Earth” respectively.
The word dosha literally means “fault.” Vata, Pitta and Kapha are positive forces in the body but they are also faults, in a way, because they can change. They can increase or, less often, decrease beyond what is appropriate for our constitution. This vitiated dosha causes an imbalance in the body or mind, creating an environment for disease to flourish. There are ways to bring an increased dosha back into balance through diet, lifestyle and herbal supplements.
Ayurvedic herbal supplements are used to reduce or pacify one or more doshas that have increased in our bodies. So, for instance, if you have too much Pitta or “fire” in your body, this may manifest as a hot, red, burning rash. Then you would choose an herb, or a combination of herbs that are cooling, and thereby “reduce” or “pacify” Pitta.
To understand more about your basic, underlying constituion, your current condition, the natures of Vata, Pitta, Kapha, how to balance them with
herbs, lifestyle, massage and diet; choose from the menu below.
Copyright
The above information was written by Dr. Claudia Welch and edited by Melissa A.Sfida for the exclusive use of Banyan Trading Co. The information is protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without the written permision of Dr. Claudia Welch and Banyan Trading Co. More about Dr. Claudia Welch
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