HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Ayurvedic Therapy
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yurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning “Laws of Health”. Ayurveda originated as part of “Vedic Science”. It was the healing gift of the ancient enlightened Vedic culture in India and has been practiced since before 4000BC. Ayurveda therapy is interested in the whole person that includes, the physical, psychological and spiritual attributes of a person. Its the theory of three elements, air, water and fire which are taken very seriously. Ayurveda believes that a person must be considered as a body, psyche and soul without separation. Ayurveda has what they call three Doshas.The body is divided into three areas according to the characteristics of the three doshas, which are Vata, Pitta and Kapha VATA: belongs to the function of the air. This is then connected to the respiratory system the throat and the digestive tract. It controls the movement in the body such as breathing, swallowing etc. PITTA: belongs to the sun, and connected to fire and earth elements. Related to the liver, spleen, heart and eyes, which is connected to the way food is taken into the body. As we chew our food, saliva is produced the element water which helps when it enters the stomach and starts to produce heat element fire. The transport of the food from the stomach through the liver and other organs produce blood that is carried to the heart, this pitta movement helps our circulation. KAPHA: belongs to the moon and connected to the water element, which controls the flow of moisture in the body.The secretions in the skull to maintain efficient working of the brain, salivary juices and cardiac fluids and gastric juices are all under the control of the Kapha. VATA Physique: tall, thin Weight: low Complexion: dull Skin: dry, cold Hair: scanty, dry, wavy Eyes: small, dry, brown
PITTA Physique: medium, moderate Weight: moderate Complexion: red, flushed Skin: warm, moist, freckles Hair: moderate, fine, greys early Eyes: medium, inflame easily, green
In Ayurvedic, diseases are products of disharmony of the three doshas. The biological humors are factors of both physical and psychological disease. They indicate wrong humor, emotional disorders or imbalance in the mind. With Ayurvedic this aims to balance the humors and to neutralise the disease process. It is not interested in the classification of the disease as in Western medicine it is more concerned with what is the underlying cause, so this may be rectified. As you
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Ayuveda is to maintain the balance of all three of these doshas within the body. An example: If we take asthma, an Ayurvedic therapist would observe that the element air was excessively dominant. They would then prescribe a diet that excludes any Vata foods such as rice and spices and then use a remedy, which would stimulate the other two elements. In a chronic condition the physician would first begin with diet before medication, on the assumption that the milder the remedy, the less the danger from side - effects. Once you know which type you are then you can see if your body is in balance. I was born Pitta but I now have a tendency towards Kapha. KAPHA Physique: short stout, well developed Weight: heavy Complexion: white and pale Skin: thick, cold, moist Hair: abundant, oily thick and wavy Eyes: wide, prominent, attractive
study Ayurvedic more deeply you find that each dosha is then split into five parts, and each part reflects an area of the body and which foods should or should not be eaten. I have investigated Ayurvedic and it’s combination with aromatherapy which can then take you off into another direction completely! If you are interested to know more please let me know. colette@need4change.com
by Colette Garside
