First published 'Aura' magazine, Wales October-November 2009.
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word from 'ayura' meaning life and 'veda' meaning knowledge, an ancient East Indian form of traditional medicine, which dates from about 2500BC. It is a unique system of healing that is used as a practice for every day living and also as an assessment and diagnosis of health by an Ayurvedic practitioner. In India, Ayurvedic medicine is an integrated part of the department of health, alongside conventional medicine.
Many health professionals and scientists also study Ayurvedic traditional herbs and plants recognising they have provided vital extracts and compounds for the pharmacological basis of modern drugs. Drugs are the mainstay of Western medicine and where a pill may be prescribed for example by a general practitioner (GP) for a headache: the Ayurvedic doctor will adopt an approach that treats the person and not the disease. This may include advice for a change of lifestyle including for example some yoga or a regular enema. In some instances, this form of healing may appear unusual and at times extreme.
Ayurvedic medicine is a complex system and modality that addresses the total health and wellbeing of a person. It looks at the body as a whole and also as related parts that maintain function and balance. Depending upon the person's constitution and lifestyle, their mental, emotional, spiritual health and their diagnosis, recommended treatment is based on herbal preparations, diet, exercise, yoga and purification.
To a lesser degree, complementary and alternative health therapy in the west is now more widely popular with growing public support and a new government regulatory body to protect the public from unqualified therapists. Stand alone Ayurvedic treatments are available and are becoming more well known such as 'Abhyangam' which is the Sanskrit word for oil application, when the massage is carried out by two therapists simultaneously, making the same moves in unison with each other. A few health spas now offer this unique experience. Many therapies and products have embraced the Ayurvedic concept forming new modalities such as 'Indian Head Massage', 'Padabhyanga' or Ayurvedic Foot Massage, Ayurvedic Reflexology, Ayurvedic Aromatherapy and blends. There are various herbal remedies which cleanse or aid detoxification, massage techniques or pain relief. All of these promote and advertise themselves as health benefits.
Helen applying Bowtech Ease - the ayurveduc product to a clients' bunion
In line with the Ayurvedic view, the way a person functions in their life depends upon how much energy or vitality they have, or in some cases, too much or too little in one area. This is sometimes known as the life force, for which the Ayurvedic name is 'prana.' Yoga and breathing techniques are part of the health programme to maintain the prana to energise the immune system and help normalise weak or too strong constitutions. Prana also comes in the form of the five elements - fire, earth, air, water and ether are called Padchabhutas. These are likened to the Creation of Life or cosmic forces and are part of the natural world that surrounds and is part of us.
The Ayurveda discipline believes each person is attributed their own metabolic pattern, (called metapatterns) placed in one of three classes called 'doshas.' These doshas are each called Vata, Pita and Kapha. These have predictable features that occur if the body is out of balance. Checking the person's diet and how well their body functions, may be a deciding factor for change of habits.
A well known practitioner and the first Western graduate to be licensed to practice in India, Dr Robert Svoboda says:
"By examining metapatterns in an organism we can help the individual decide what kind of food, exercise, meditation and other healthy habits will be most beneficial. When therapeutic intervention is called for, we generally focus on plant materials, at least initially. In choosing herbs for a patient we focus primarily on the pattern that the disease has generated rather than the specific symptom alone."
When choosing an Ayurvedic route to better health, the consultation and diagnosis called 'Ayurveda Nidana' is thorough and lengthy. Lifestyle, environment and the constitution of the person together with any health imbalances will be recorded. Therapeutic treatment or 'Ayurveda Chikista' includes a massage technique and a choice of oil to use. 'Marma point' massage targets vital energy centres, linked together through energetic pathways called 'nadis' (similar to acupressure) which help the energy or prana to flow more evenly around the body. Daily yoga instruction and practice, together with breathing exercises is part of the lifestyle changes. A certain type of yoga practice will also be recommended: Ashtanga for more energetic exercise as opposed to Hatha yoga, which is more relaxing. Herbs, plants, formulations and preparations may be prescribed.
The diet, preparation and cooking of food is valued as some foods are for medicine while others are for health. This practice is called Pathya Apathya, it indicates which foods are helpful and which are contra-indicated in various diseases. Purification or 'Panchakarma' is considered an important contribution to wellbeing, especially where there is terminal disease or addictions. This can include enemas, vaginal douche, nasal, ear and eye cleansing, detoxification by heating, sweating, vomiting and blood letting.
Purification of the mind and environment are included. Meditation and relaxation help to implement new routines something that westerners find hard to do.
The house and environment where the person lives also provides a quality called 'Vaastu,' This is the natural science of architecture, its history starts from the manuscripts called Vedas written over 5,000 years ago by wise men called maharishis (great seers.) One aspect of the Vedas was the science of Vaastu which corresponded to the influences of cosmic forces in nature and on the populace. It is said that the maharishis were able to meditate on this divine knowledge and gain sacred formulas for spiritual enlightenment. They were then able to direct how buildings were to be designed and where they were situated. In the consultation, questions may be asked about the layout of the house such as the direction of the front door, or the direction being faced when preparing and cooking a meal. The Vedas also contained information about the cosmic forces surrounding the body like a grid system in and throughout the body, connecting the nadis and affecting the general pranic quality. Vaastu may be a part of the ongoing consultation, as lifestyle and diet are considered the starting point.
In conclusion, the philosophy of Ayurveda views our aches and pains or disease as a helpful message, indicating there may be negative patterns in our lives that need changing. Through care of our health, consideration and purpose we can strengthen our immune systems to maintain health and happiness. In today's stressful environment where social, personal and professional values have perhaps become muddled, Ayurveda may be the new science of life.
The author, Helen Mary Perkins, is a highly experienced and qualified complementary therapist who uses Ayurvedic blends as part of her treatment for specific complaints... www.bowtechease.com
News Date: 31/10/2009