What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is ancient Indian system of preventive health care. The name Ayurveda means "knowledge of life." According to this system, bodily health is determined by three biological principles, called doshas: Vata, which regulates movement; Pitta, which regulates metabolism; and Kapha, which regulates structure.
Ayurveda is more than 5,000 years old. "Ayur" means life and "Ved" means knowledge. This holistic science is the knowledge of complete balance of the Body, Mind and Spirit, including the emotions and psychology, on all levels. It includes in its principles, longevity, rejuvenation and self-realization therapies through herbs, diet, exercise, yoga, massage, aromas, tantras, mantras, and meditation. According to Ayurvedic tradition health is the balance of elements air, earth, fire, and water-and illness is as excess or deficiency of any particular element. Ayurveda treats illness at its source, rather than at the level of symptoms, and helps an in individual to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.
How does it work?
In Ayurveda, the five elements of space, air, earth, fire and water make up everything in the universe including the human body. These elements come together to create three different constitutional types, or doshas, known as Vata (airy), Pitta (fiery), and Kapha (earthy). Each of the three doshas are represented by certain physical and emotional characteristics in the individual. According to the proportion of each of the three doshas in the body, patients are classified as a certain ‘type’. For example, a ‘vatha’ is often alert and active but prone to restlessness and worrying. Physically they may be small-framed or underweight with pale skin. A vatha person may be advised to avoid spicy foods or increase intake of sweet, sour and salty foods to try and restore balance between the doshas. By assessing your constitution, the practitioner aims to ensure that doshas are well balanced to aid healing in the present and prevent illness in the future.
What does it involve?
Each individual is treated differently, even if the symptoms they display are the same, but treatments do follow a similar format. At the initial consultation, the practitioner will ask detailed questions about the client’s health and then do a physical examination and pulse diagnosis (which is thought to indicate the state of the doshas). After the examination, the practitioner gives advice on lifestyle, diet and exercise, which may include recommending massage, breathing techniques, meditation or yoga to assist with tension. Some practitioners may recommend intestinal ‘cleansing’ through the use of laxatives or enemas, and the client will often be given herbal preparations suitable for their individual condition. In addition, ayurvedic therapy centres offer special therapies such as panchakarma (detoxification treatment); shirodhara (relaxation treatment); abhyanga (herbal body massage) and swedhana (herbal steam bath).
What are the benefits?
Because ayurveda is a total system, emphasising the benefits of a healthy diet and moderate lifestyle, it can have dramatic effects on general well-being if clients are prepared to adopt its principles wholeheartedly. On their own, a series of treatments may help the client to detoxify and reassess life choices that may be having an adverse effect on their health.
What are the side effects and when should it be avoided?
There are unlikely to be any negative side effects from the treatment session itself, or the recommended meditation or yoga. Some people may experience adverse effects from herbal preparations, and diet recommendations may not be suitable for people with restrictions, such as diabetics.