Further Reading
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the world’s oldest system of
health care, originating in India more than
5,000 years ago. It is a holistic approach to
well-being that emphasizes prevention of
disease and rejuvenation of the body. In
Sanskrit,
ayur
means “life” and
veda
means “science” or “knowledge.” Thus,
Ayurveda is literally the “science of life.”
According to Ayurveda, all of creation is made up of five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. In human beings, these elements combine in certain ways to form three types of doshas [literally, “that which goes out of balance”]. These doshas are known as vata (ether + air), pitta (fire + water), and kapha (earth + water), and they determine all of our physiological and mental activities. At birth, each of us has a unique constitution, or prakruti, determined by a specific balance among the doshas. Ill health develops as we drift further and further from that native state. Numerous factors in life affect our doshas, including diet, lifestyle, where we live, the weather and seasons of the year, and even our interpersonal relationships.
In the practice of Ayurveda, the individual is evaluated to determine his prakruti as well as his vikruti, or current state of imbalance. A customized therapy program is then formulated. The program can include herbal formulas, oil therapy of various kinds, diet and lifestyle changes, aroma therapy, sound therapy, yoga asanas, and more. Re-evaluation is scheduled at regular intervals to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments in the treatment plan.
Conditions that represent minor imbalances can resolve fairly quickly. Those that have developed over a longer period of time will naturally take longer to heal. Ayurvedic treatments are gentle by nature and can be combined with Western medical treatments very effectively.
Ayurveda is a powerful approach to health in that it is able to address the root cause of a condition rather than merely treat its outward symptoms.
According to Ayurveda, all of creation is made up of five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. In human beings, these elements combine in certain ways to form three types of doshas [literally, “that which goes out of balance”]. These doshas are known as vata (ether + air), pitta (fire + water), and kapha (earth + water), and they determine all of our physiological and mental activities. At birth, each of us has a unique constitution, or prakruti, determined by a specific balance among the doshas. Ill health develops as we drift further and further from that native state. Numerous factors in life affect our doshas, including diet, lifestyle, where we live, the weather and seasons of the year, and even our interpersonal relationships.
In the practice of Ayurveda, the individual is evaluated to determine his prakruti as well as his vikruti, or current state of imbalance. A customized therapy program is then formulated. The program can include herbal formulas, oil therapy of various kinds, diet and lifestyle changes, aroma therapy, sound therapy, yoga asanas, and more. Re-evaluation is scheduled at regular intervals to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments in the treatment plan.
Conditions that represent minor imbalances can resolve fairly quickly. Those that have developed over a longer period of time will naturally take longer to heal. Ayurvedic treatments are gentle by nature and can be combined with Western medical treatments very effectively.
Ayurveda is a powerful approach to health in that it is able to address the root cause of a condition rather than merely treat its outward symptoms.
My Ayurvedic Practice
As a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) and
Pancha Karma Specialist (PKS), I am trained
to understand a client physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. At the first
visit, I perform a comprehensive assessment
to identify the client's unique constitution
and the nature of any imbalances. This
assessment involves a detailed analysis of
lifestyle and an examination of the pulse,
tongue, skin, and eyes. I then design an
individualized treatment program that can
include one or more of the following
Ayurvedic therapies:
• A special diet plan
• Shirodhara (a treatment where herbal oil is poured over the third-eye area in a continuous stream)
• Abhyanga (oleation and massage of the entire body using herbal oil)
• Nasya (instillation of herbal oil or ghee into the nostrils)
• Karna purna (instillation of warm herbal oil into the ears)
• One or more herbal formulas
• Yoga asanas
• Pancha Karma (“five actions”)
• Aroma therapy, color therapy, and/or sound therapy
• Udvartana (an exfoliating massage using a formula made from powdered grains, lentils, and herbs)
• Lepa (application of herbal oil and herbal paste on affected areas of the skin; for itching and other skin conditions)
• Ayurvedic facial (a tonifying and moisturizing facial massage using a constitution-specific herbal formula)
• Shirobasti (a treatment wherein a pool of herbal oil or ghee is held in place on the head using a dam made of dough)
• Netra basti (a treatment where the eyes are immersed in herbal ghee)
• Pranayam (yogic breathing exercises)
• A special diet plan
• Shirodhara (a treatment where herbal oil is poured over the third-eye area in a continuous stream)
• Abhyanga (oleation and massage of the entire body using herbal oil)
• Nasya (instillation of herbal oil or ghee into the nostrils)
• Karna purna (instillation of warm herbal oil into the ears)
• One or more herbal formulas
• Yoga asanas
• Pancha Karma (“five actions”)
• Aroma therapy, color therapy, and/or sound therapy
• Udvartana (an exfoliating massage using a formula made from powdered grains, lentils, and herbs)
• Lepa (application of herbal oil and herbal paste on affected areas of the skin; for itching and other skin conditions)
• Ayurvedic facial (a tonifying and moisturizing facial massage using a constitution-specific herbal formula)
• Shirobasti (a treatment wherein a pool of herbal oil or ghee is held in place on the head using a dam made of dough)
• Netra basti (a treatment where the eyes are immersed in herbal ghee)
• Pranayam (yogic breathing exercises)