Ayurveda FAQs
What is Ayurveda?
Ayu
means life and Veda means knowledge, therefore
Ayurveda means the science of life. Ayurveda is the
traditional Indian health system which is more than 5,000
years old. This system was propounded by the Rishis
of India - they understood the resonance of the
universe and how the body works through its anatomy and
physiology. They realized that good health can be maintained
through diet and lifestyle as well as taking Ayurvedic
medicine. The principles of Ayurvedic medicine and the
harmony between mind and body have been documented and
practiced in India for thousands of years.
How does the Ayurvedic system
work?
From
observing the universe, macro-cosmos, climate differences in
various geographical locations and seasons the Rishis
discovered that these principles can be applied to the human
body. We are a micro-cosmos living in macro–cosmos. They
realized that the body has certain rhythms, similar to
nature. When these rhythms are balanced the body is healthy;
when they are imbalanced the body becomes sick - this system
is governed by Dosha, biological force or humor,
constitution, Prakriti or nature. Dosha is the
“password” of your body, once you understand your unique
password you will be able to understand how your body works
and how to keep it balanced.
What are the different
types of Doshas?
Dosha is
a Sanskrit word meaning the one which can pollute the body,
however all three are needed to create balance in the body.
If one is too low or too high this produces imbalance. So
this aggravation is called Vikriti and the balance is
called Prakriti.
There
are three main types of dosha:
Vata –
the air type which means all movements in the body and mind
- for example, breathing, heart beat, elimination,
pulsation, blood circulation, and thinking. These are all
due to air. Our body weight is due to air and the pressure
it creates on our bodies. When the air element is too high
all of the things listed above will increase and the person
will become sick or mentally imbalanced.
Pitta –
the fire/heat type. This is responsible for the metabolism
and digestion in the body. Without adequate heat, your food
cannot be properly digested and will become toxic in your
system. Pitta is also responsible for keeping the
body warm.
Kapha –
the water type. Our body is made up of 70% water and this is
controlled by Kapha dosha. It is also responsible for
lubrication in the body and provides stability. Lubrication
is needed in the joints, skin and mouth.
According to this, people are called Vata type,
Pitta type or Kapha type. Everybody is composed
of all three doshas; if one of them is predominant
the person is called mono–doshic. If two are predominant
this is bi-doshic and if all three are dominant then this is
tri-doshic or mixed.
How do I find out my Dosha
type?
To
get an accurate assessment you should consult an Ayurvedic
practitioner or you can go through the dosha analysis
chart. These charts may or may not be accurate. This is
because you may select certain traits that are more a result
of dosha imbalance influencing your decision, than your
actual constitution. Even if two people have the same
dosha they can be different, therefore it is best to
consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner.
What is ama?
Ama is
the by-product/waste material of metabolism that can be in
any form: solid, liquid or gas.
The
body is like a factory, which manufactures a variety of
things and produces a range of products. During the process
of manufacturing waste products are naturally formed. The
body must have a management process to eliminate these waste
products. If it does not, the waste will accumulate on the
nearest available extremity or organ. This will then cause
various types of problems in the body. Therefore ama
is the cause of many bodily conditions. If the ama is
not cleared from the organ or extremity the ama will
become part of it and consequently impair its function.
Does Ayurveda work for
Everybody?
Up
until now I have seen that Ayurveda works in 95% of cases.
The other 5% is due to intense karmic sickness.
What is Karmic Sickness?
According to Ayurveda and Indian philosophy, this is a
sickness caused by wrong doings in past lives, intentionally
or unintentionally.
Is there any remedy for
Karmic sickness?
Yes
there is. However even if someone is feeling good from the
first treatment they will not continue with the course. When
asked if this is due to money or time they usually say no
and find that they do not know why they won’t continue. This
is the indication of intense karmic sickness.
What does an Ayurvedic
consultation involve?
In
the initial consultation, which is for a minimum of an hour,
a pulse diagnosis would be done. This is to assess the
amplitude, rhythm, volume, temperature, movement and
strength of the pulse. The eyes are also checked to see the
color, shape, movement and shine. Tongue diagnosis is done
to check the color, coating, thickness, shape and surface.
The breathing is observed to watch its rhythm for example
slow, rapid, deep, shallow, long or short. The breath is
checked to see its temperature, moisture and how far it can
be felt from the nose. The skin surface is also touched to
assess whether it is soft, dry, rough, smooth, cold, warm,
clammy, moist or oily. The person’s aura is read and the
face diagnosed by looking at its shape. Questions about the
person’s lifestyle and diet would be asked. If the patient
is a woman they would be asked about their menstrual cycle
and any pregnancies.
Through checking all of these things and asking questions a
proper assessment of the patient can be made, medicine and
lifestyle/diet advice can be given.
When should an Ayurvedic
Practitioner be consulted?
A
person can consult a practitioner at any time whether sick
or not. If they are in a state of imbalance, medicine can be
prescribed. If the person is healthy they can be advised on
how to keep their body in a balanced state and according to
their prakriti be told in what ways their body may
react if the balance is not kept.
How long does it take to
return to health?
This
depends on the individual condition, severity of the illness
and how long the person has had it. After dietary advice and
herbal preparations have been given feedback is needed to
assess how long the whole process will take.
What are the Ayurvedic
remedies made from?
It is
made from a combination of many herbs and minerals.
Traditional Ayurvedic herbs are those native to the Indian
subcontinent - Raman Das formulates a blend of these Indian
herbs according to your needs after consultation.
How soon can the effect of
the Ayurvedic remedies and treatment be felt?
Usually some effect is felt within 1-4 weeks, sometimes
more, of first taking the medicine and following other
dietary/lifestyle advice given.
Is there any treatment for
chronic disease?
There
is very good management in Ayurveda for chronic diseases.
Can Ayurvedic medicine be
taken at the same time as orthodox prescribed medicine?
Up
until now I have seen that when taking Ayurvedic medicine
alongside orthodox medicine no side effects have occurred
nor the strength of the orthodox medicine altered.
Can Ayurvedic medicine help
after a course of orthodox medicine has been taken?
According to individual needs Ayurvedic medicine can help to
alleviate the after effects of orthodox medicine in
conjunction with the Ayurvedic diet recommended.
Are there any side effects to
Ayurvedic medicine?
Generally I have seen that there are no side effects,
however if the dose is high some discomfort may be felt.
Ayurvedic medicine has many positive effects; it can
indirectly help with other conditions apart from the one
being treated. This is because the herbs have been chosen
due to the fundamental principles of the body.
Is there anything in Ayurveda
which can be helpful during Chemotherapy?
Up
until now I have found that during chemotherapy people have
problems with nausea, constipation and hair loss. I have
been able to help them considerably in the relief of all
these side effects.
Ayurvedic Child Care
In my clinic I have found
that the Ayurvedic system has been very helpful in the
management of childhood sickness for example - colic, bed
wetting, jaundice, anemia, constipation, diarrhea, eczema,
dry skin, adenoid problems, blocked nose, anxiety, mental
stress, sleep disturbance, hyperactivity, loss of appetite
and ADD.
Beauty
Care
There
are a number of Ayurvedic herbal combinations which help to
promote radiance in the skin, hair and nails. They work for
both men and women. Often the beauty of the person is
enhanced through the taking of Ayurvedic preparations which
were prescribed for another condition but have an indirect
effect on the skin, hair and nails.
What kinds of Ailments can
Ayurveda help with?
According to Ayurveda, many diseases arise as a result of
dosha imbalance, so by bringing the doshas back into balance
according to your constitutional type, through the use of
dietary and lifestyle modifications and Ayurvedic herbs, can
result in reduction or elimination of many disease symptoms.
Some typical health concerns helped through Ayurvedic
principles are given below:
Management of Chronic and
Recurring Sickness
