AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that translates to 'knowledge of life. It's an age-old tradition that has existed for over 3,000 years. The ideology of Ayurveda views the human body as part of its environment, which means any changes in the environment will manifest in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual faculties of the human body. This holistic ideology furthermore extends to how Ayurveda treatments are performed. Ayurvedic treatments target the root cause of the problem rather than merely suppressing the symptoms contrary to the modern medicine system. It focuses on achieving the perfect harmony between the mind, body, and soul to live a disease-free, active life.

What Is Ayurvedic Treatment/Therapy?

Ayurvedic therapy or treatment is administered as a combination of herbal concoctions and lifestyle changes that help balance the three principal energies of the body: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These principle energies or doshas are present in every individual with varying strength and magnitude. The one dosha that is predominant among the rest determines the overall constitution of the individual, also known as Prakriti. According to Ayurveda, diseases arise when these doshas become vitiated because of an external or internal stimulus linked to eating habits and the amount of physical exercise you get in a day.

Ayurvedic treatments ensure all three doshas are at their optimum levels. The duration and method of the treatment may vary depending on the Prakriti or inherent constitution of the individual. Ayurvedic treatments harness the power of nature and the body's inherent qualities to heal itself when treatments are performed in a certified Ayurveda center under the supervision of experienced practitioners and nurses. As far as oral medications go, it is recommended to seek the advice of your Ayurveda practitioner to avoid major side effects and disappointment because of poor results.

Diagnosis

The most common techniques of diagnosing an illness in the Ayurvedic system are Naadi Pariksha and Ashtavidha Pariksha. Naadi Pariksha translates to checking the pulse, whereas Ashtavidha Pariksha is more elaborate and involves checking the pulse, urine, faeces, tongue, voice, skin, eyes, and overall body appearance. A knowledgeable and well-trained Ayurveda practitioner can determine the underlying condition using these methods. It helps understand an individual's basic physiological and psychological makeup, ‌providing insight into the dosha imbalance.

Treatment

Your Ayurveda practitioner will consider your symptoms, Nadi pariksha, dominant dosha and overall constitution to create a tailored treatment for you. Then, the practitioner will prescribe herbal remedies, diet, exercise, and certain lifestyle adjustments to start the healing process and effect positive changes in your body. It’s a misconception that Ayurvedic treatments cannot work alongside modern therapies. If your doctor allows, you can seek Ayurvedic treatments in a supplementary manner to expedite healing and recovery.

 

 

 

What Are The Advantages Of Ayurveda Treatment?

Ayurveda is one of the oldest whole-body healing systems in the world. Research shows that Ayurveda has the potential to regenerate cells and have the power to begin healing of certain ailments simply by the way we treat our bodies. As discussed above, Ayurveda is a way of life prescribed by ancient sages after an extensive study of the human body about its environment. Although western medicine has progressed by leaps and bounds, there are several reasons you should practice Ayurveda.

Let's have a look at the various benefits of Ayurveda.

1)      Weight Management

Ayurveda helps maintain an ideal body-mass index, ensuring a healthy weight according to age and height. Whether overweight or underweight, Ayurveda's balanced approach promotes healthy metabolism to get your body weight back to normal.

Ex: Obesity-When used in a supplementary manner, Udvartanam and Kashaya Vasti can help you shed those extra kilos and get back in shape

2)      Healthy Skin and Hair

Chronic stress, poor eating habits, and irregular sleep patterns can take a toll on your skin and hair. Following Ayurveda-recommended dincharya can help you get in sync with nature. When you wake up at sunrise, go to bed before midnight, eat seasonal fruits and vegetables and manage everyday stress through yoga, the results will manifest in glowing skin and healthy hair. It's a common belief that planning your day, according to Ayurveda-recommended dincharya, can delay the signs of aging, helping you look 5 to 10 years younger than your age. You can also include herbal remedies in your routines. Nourish your skin and strengthen your hair naturally with therapies like Ubtan, Soundarya, Shringara, Udwarthanam, Thalapothichil, and Mukha Lepa. These therapies can help reduce acne, prevent dark spots and improve scalp health.

3)      Stress Management

Stress is part and parcel of the modern lifestyle–you cannot avoid it, but you can learn to manage it and preserve your peace of mind. For example, people who feel stressed out at work or in their personal life can rely on Ayurveda practices or herbal remedies.

Ayurveda's holistic approach to stress management combines therapeutic massages, breathing exercises, and herbal remedies for improving the autonomic nervous system. As a result, you can divert your focus from 'stressing out' to 'figuring out.' Some popular stress management treatments include Shirodhara, Abhyanga treatment, Shiroabhyanga, and Padabhyanga. Combining Nasyam, and Pizhichil can help soothe tense nerves and naturally reduce stress levels.

4)      Body Cleansing

Ayurveda recommends a thorough cleanse and detox to promote efficient bodily functions and overall wellness. Traditionally known as Panchakarma, this treatment enables your body to get rid of toxins through bloodletting, enemas, and purgation.

Panchakarma Treatment

It's a holistic treatment performed over a week to naturally send the body into overdrive to get rid of toxins. Panchakarma treatment has been around for centuries, designed and prescribed by ancient sages to nurture healthy living.

Let's understand the five therapies that makeup panchakarma treatment.

Ø  Vamana Therapy

This therapy involves administering medicated oil or ghee for a few days to agitate doshas and eventually induce vomiting. Vamana is performed to treat illnesses caused by elevated Kapha doshas by eliminating toxins from the tissues.

Ø  Virechana Treatment

This therapy involves administering herbal laxatives to evacuate the bowel, eliminate toxins from the GI tract and treat the ailments caused by elevated Pitta dosha.

Ø  Basti Treatment

This therapy involves administering an herbal enema into the rectum to clear the colon. Although this technique is used to treat vitiated vata dosha, it's an essential step in panchakarma treatment for gut cleansing and detox. The therapy is minimally invasive and mostly painless.

Ø  Nasya Treatment

Nasya therapy is one of the practices which is a part of Panchakarma or full body detox. Toxin build up is a major issue for those who suffer from congested sinuses, heavy headedness, neck pains, swollen cheeks and so on. This therapy involves administering herbal nasal drops into the nostrils to help the recipient find relief from Kapha affiliations above the head, shoulders and neck region. Nasya is done by gently massaging the shoulders and neck with warm oil. This is to relax the patient and the muscles in the region. Following this, the head is tilted backwards and the Nasya oil, which contains necessary herbs as decided by the ayurvedic doctors based on the patient’s body composition, is slowly poured through the nostril. During this, shoulders, neck, palms and feet are massaged slowly and gently. Then, the patient is asked to draw the oil into his throat and spit it out. Care must be taken to ensure the oil is not swallowed. After this, herbal smoking and gargling with herbal decoction is done to rinse the mouth of any toxins. The patient is left feeling extremely light and stress-free. Nasya therapy has been proven to have numerous benefits for bodily health and well-being. Nasya also stimulates the nerve endings through the membrane inside the nostrils and promotes healing. In order for Nasya to be effective, care must be taken to ensure the procedure is done with utmost care and caution. The comfort of the patient is also extremely important to see the best results. This is because Ayurveda is a holistic healing science which believes in mental and physical wellness.