Post by Dr. Jai MaharajPromote Ayurveda, wellness treatment: Expert
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Inside Ayurved: An Independent Journal of Ayurvedic Health Care
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[ Subject: "Inside Ayurveda: An Independent Journal of
[ Ayurvedic Health Care."
[ From: Fidyl <***@yahoo.com>
[ Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2005
Ayurvedic medicine
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603
By Douglas Dupler
sbchopra.sgm
Definition
Ayurvedic medicine is a system of healing that originated
in ancient India. In Sanskrit, ayur means life or living,
and veda means knowledge, so Ayurved has been defined as
the "knowledge of living" or the "science of longevity."
Ayurvedic medicine utilizes diet, detoxification and
purification techniques, herbal and mineral remedies,
yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, and massage
therapy as holistic healing methods. Ayurvedic medicine
is widely practiced in modern India and has been steadily
gaining followers in the West.
Origins
Ayurvedic medicine originated in the early civilizations
of India some 3,000-5,000 years ago. It is mentioned in
the Vedas, the ancient religious and philosophical texts
that are the oldest surviving literature in the world,
which makes Ayurvedic medicine the oldest surviving
healing system. According to the texts, Ayurved was
conceived by enlightened wise men as a system of living
harmoniously and maintaining the body so that mental and
spiritual awareness could be possible. Medical historians
believe that Ayurvedic ideas were transported from
ancient India to China and were instrumental in the
development of Chinese medicine.
Today, Ayurvedic medicine is used by 80% of the
population in India. Aided by the efforts of Deepak
Chopra and the Maharishi, it has become an increasingly
accepted alternative medical treatment in America during
the last two decades. Chopra is an M.D. who has written
several bestsellers based on Ayurvedic ideas. He also
helped develop the Center for Mind/Body Medicine in La
Jolla, California, a major Ayurvedic center that trains
physicians in Ayurvedic principles, produces herbal
remedies, and conducts research and documentation of its
healing techniques.
Benefits According to the original texts, the goal of
Ayurved is prevention as well as promotion of the body's
own capacity for maintenance and balance. Ayurvedic
treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be
used safely as an alternative therapy or alongside
conventional therapies. Ayurvedic physicians claim that
their methods can also help stress-related, metabolic,
and chronic conditions. Ayurved has been used to treat
acne, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic
fatigue syndrome, colds, colitis, constipation,
depression, diabetes, flu, heart disease, hypertension,
immune problems, inflammation, insomnia, nervous
disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcers.
Ayurvedic physicians seek to discover the roots of a
disease before it gets so advanced that more radical
treatments are necessary. Thus, Ayurved seems to be
limited in treating severely advanced conditions,
traumatic injuries, acute pain, and conditions and
injuries requiring invasive surgery. Ayurvedic techniques
have also been used alongside chemotherapy and surgery to
assist patients in recovery and healing.
Description
Key ideas
To understand Ayurvedic treatment, it is necessary to
have an idea how the Ayurvedic system views the body. The
basic life force in the body is praan, which is also
found in the elements and is similar to the Chinese
notion of chi. As Swami Vishnudevananda, a yogi and
expert, put it, "Prana is in the air, but is not the
oxygen, nor any of its chemical constituents. It is in
food, water, and in the sunlight, yet it is not vitamin,
heat, or light-rays. Food, water, air, etc., are only the
media through which the praan is carried."
In Ayurved, there are five basic elements that contain
praan: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These elements
interact and are further organized in the human body as
three main categories or basic physiological principles
in the body that govern all bodily functions known as the
doshas. The three doshas are vatt, pitt, and kaph. Each
person has a unique blend of the three doshas, known as
the person's prakriti, which is why Ayurvedic treatment
is always individualized. In Ayurved, disease is viewed
as a state of imbalance in one or more of a person's
doshas, and an Ayurvedic physician strives to adjust and
balance them, using a variety of techniques.
The vatt dosh is associated with air and ether, and in
the body promotes movement and lightness. Vatt people are
generally thin and light physically, dry-skinned, and
very energetic and mentally restless. When vatt is out of
balance, there are often nervous problems, hyperactivity,
sleeplessness, lower back pains, and headaches.
Pitt is associated with fire and water. In the body, it
is responsible for metabolism and digestion. Pitt
characteristics are medium-built bodies, fair skin,
strong digestion, and good mental concentration. Pitt
imbalances show up as anger and aggression and stress-
related conditions like gastritis, ulcers, liver
problems, and hypertension.
The kaph dosh is associated with water and earth. People
characterized as kaph are generally large or heavy with
more oily complexions. They tend to be slow, calm, and
peaceful. Kaph disorders manifest emotionally as greed
and possessiveness, and physically as obesity, fatigue,
bronchitis, and sinus problems.
Diagnosis
In Ayurvedic medicine, disease is always seen as an
imbalance in the dosh system, so the diagnostic process
strives to determine which doshas are underactive or
overactive in a body. Diagnosis is often taken over a
course of days in order for the Ayurvedic physician to
most accurately determine what parts of the body are
being affected. To diagnose problems, Ayurvedic
physicians often use long questionnaires and interviews
to determine a person's dosh patterns and physical and
psychological histories. Ayurvedic physicians also
intricately observe the pulse, tongue, face, lips, eyes,
and fingernails for abnormalities or patterns that they
believe can indicate deeper problems in the internal
systems. Some Ayurvedic physicians also use laboratory
tests to assist in diagnosis.
Treatment
Ayurvedic treatment seeks to re-establish balance and
harmony in the body's systems. Usually the first method
of treatment involves some sort of detoxification and
cleansing of the body, in the belief that accumulated
toxins must be removed before any other methods of
treatment will be effective. Methods of detoxification
include therapeutic vomiting, laxatives, medicated
enemas, fasting, and cleansing of the sinuses. Many
Ayurvedic clinics combine all of these cleansing methods
into intensive sessions known as panchakarm. Panchakarm
can take several days or even weeks and they are more
than elimination therapies. They also include herbalized
oil massage and herbalized heat treatments. After
purification, Ayurvedic physicians use herbal and mineral
remedies to balance the body as well. Ayurvedic medicine
contains a vast knowledge of the use of herbs for
specific health problems.
Ayurvedic medicine also emphasizes how people live their
lives from day to day, believing that proper lifestyles
and routines accentuate balance, rest, diet, and
prevention. Ayurved recommends yoga as a form of exercise
to build strength and health, and also advises massage
therapy and self-massage as ways of increasing
circulation and reducing stress. Yogic breathing
techniques and meditation are also part of a healthy
Ayurvedic regimen, to reduce stress and improve mental
energy.
Of all treatments, though, diet is one of the most basic
and widely used therapy in the Ayurvedic system. An
Ayurvedic diet can be a very well planned and
individualized regimen. According to Ayurved, there are
six basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter,
and astringent. Certain tastes and foods can either calm
or aggravate a particular dosh. For instance, sweet,
sour, and salty decrease vatt problems and increase kaph.
Sour, salty, and pungent can increase pitt. After an
Ayurvedic physician determines a person's dosh profile,
they will recommend a specific diet to correct imbalances
and increase health. The Ayurvedic diet emphasizes
primarily vegetarian foods of high quality and freshness,
tailored to the season and time of day. Cooling foods are
eaten in the summer and heating ones in the winter,
always within a person's dosh requirements. In daily
routine, the heaviest meal of the day should be lunch,
and dinner should eaten well before bedtime, to allow for
complete digestion. Also, eating meals in a calm manner
with proper chewing and state of mind is important, as is
combining foods properly and avoiding overeating.
Cost
Costs of Ayurvedic treatments can vary, with initial
consultations running anywhere from $40 to over $100,
with follow-up visits costing less. Herbal treatments may
cost from $10 to $50 per month, and are often available
from health food or bulk herb stores. Some clinics offer
panchakarm, the intensive Ayurvedic detoxification
treatment, which can include overnight stays for up to
several weeks. The prices for these programs can vary
significantly, depending on the services and length of
stay. Insurance reimbursement may depend on whether the
primary physician is a licensed M.D.
Preparations
Ayurved is a mind/body system of health that contains
some ideas foreign to the Western scientific model. Those
people considering Ayurved should approach it with an
open mind and willingness to experiment. Also, because
Ayurved is a whole-body system of healing and health,
patience and discipline are helpful, as some conditions
and diseases are believed to be brought on by years of
bad health habits and require time and effort to correct.
Finally, the Ayurvedic philosophy believes that each
person has the ability to heal themselves, so those
considering Ayurved should be prepared to bring
responsibility and participation into the treatment.
Precautions
An Ayurvedic practitioner should always be consulted.
Side effects
During Ayurvedic detoxification programs, some people
report fatigue, muscle soreness, and general sickness.
Also, as Ayurved seeks to release mental stresses and
psychological problems from the patient, some people can
experience mental disturbances and depression during
treatment, and psychological counseling may be part of a
sound program.
Research & general acceptance
Because Ayurved had been outside the Western scientific
system for years, research in the United States is new.
Another difficulty in documentation arises because
Ayurvedic treatment is very individualized; two people
with the same disease but different dosh patterns might
be treated differently. Much more scientific research has
been conducted over the past several decades in India.
Much research in the United States is being supported by
the Maharishi Ayur-Ved organization, which studies the
Ayurvedic products it sells and its clinical practices.
Some Ayurvedic herbal mixtures have been proven to have
high antioxidant properties, much stronger than vitamins
A, C, and E, and some have also been shown in laboratory
tests to reduce or eliminate tumors in mice and to
inhibit cancer growth in human lung tumor cells. In a
1987 study at MIT, an Ayurvedic herbal remedy was shown
to significantly reduce colon cancer in rats. Another
study was performed in the Netherlands with Maharishi
Ayur-Ved products. A group of patients with chronic
illnesses, including asthma, chronic bronchitis,
hypertension, eczema, psoriasis, constipation, rheumatoid
arthritis, headaches, and non-insulin dependent diabetes
mellitus, were given Ayurvedic treatment. Strong results
were observed, with nearly 80% of the patients improving
and some chronic conditions being completely cured.
Other studies have shown that Ayurvedic therapies can
significantly lower cholesterol and blood pressure in
stress-related problems. Diabetes, acne, and allergies
have also been successfully treated with Ayurvedic
remedies. Ayurvedic products have been shown to increase
short-term memory and reduce headaches. Also, Ayurvedic
remedies have been used successfully to support the
healing process of patients undergoing chemotherapy, as
these remedies have been demonstrated to increase immune
system activity.
Training & certification
In the United States, there is no standardized program
for the certification of Ayurvedic practitioners. Many
practitioners have primary degrees, either as M.D.s,
homeopaths, or naturopathic physicians, with additional
training in Ayurved.
Key Terms
Dosh
One of three constitutional types, either vatt,
pitt, or kaph, found in Ayurvedic medicine.
Meditation
Technique of calming the mind.
Panchakarm
Intensive Ayurvedic cleansing and detoxification
program.
Prakriti
An individual's unique dosh pattern.
Praan
Basic life energy found in the elements.
Yog
System of body and breathing exercises.
Vatt Pitt Kaph
Physical Thin Average build Large build
characteristics Prominent features Fair, thin hair Wavy, thick hair
Cool, dry skin Warm, moist skin Pale, cool, oily skin
Constipation Ulcers, heartburn, Obesity, allergies,
Cramps and hemorrhoids and sinus problems
Acne High cholesterol
Emotional Moody Intense Relaxed
characteristics Vivacious Quick tempered Not easily angered
Intelligent Loving Affectionate
Imaginative Articulate Tolerant
Enthusiastic Compassionate
Intuitive
Behavioral Unscheduled sleep Orderly Structured Slow, graceful
characteristics and meal times sleep and meal Long sleeper and
Nervous disorders times slow eater
Anxiety Perfectionist Procrastination
Further Reading
For Your Information
Books
Gerson, Scott M.D. Ayurved: The Ancient Indian Healing
Art. Boston: Element Books, 1993.
Lad, Dr. Vasant. Ayurved: The Science of Self-Healing.
Wisconsin: Lotus Press, 1984.
Lad, Dr. Vasant. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home
Remedies. Minneapolis: Three Rivers Press, 1999.
Tiwari, Maya. Ayurved: A Life of Balance. Vermont:
Healing Arts Press, 1995. Organizations
American Institute of Vedic Studiess. P.O. Box 8357,
Santa Fe, NM 87504. (505) 983-9385
Ayurved Holistic Center. Bayville, Long Island, NY.
(516)759-7731 ***@Ayurvedahc.com
http://www.Ayurvedahc.com
The Ayurvedic Institute. 11311 Menaul, NE Albuquerque,
New Mexico 87112. (505)291-9698. ***@Ayurved.com
http://www.Ayurved.com
Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic. 10025 NE 4th
Street, Bellevue, WA 98004. (206)453-8022.
Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences. 144 N.E.
54th Street, Seattle, WA 98105. (206)523-9585.
Center for Mind/Body Medicine. P.O. Box 1048, La Jolla,
CA 92038. (619)794-2425.
The College of Maharishi Ayur-Ved, Maharishi
International University. 1000 4th Street, Fairfield, IA
52557. (515)472-7000.
National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine. (914)278-8700.
***@erols.com http://www.niam.com
The Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurved. P.O.
Box 1091, Boulder, CO 80306. (303)443-6923.
Other
"Inside Ayurved: An Independent Journal of Ayurvedic
Health Care." P.O. Box 3021, Quincy, CA 95971.
http://www.insideayurveda.com.
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group,
2001.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/g2603/0000/2603000014/p1/article.jhtml?term=yoga
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Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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