Ayurveda

Ayurveda Is The Science of Self-Healing

Born in 300 BC Maharishi Charaka was one of the principal contributors to the ancient art and science of Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in Ancient India. Maharishi Charaka has been crowned as the “Father of Medicine”.

Maharishi Sushruta was a physician in ancient INDIA known today as the “Father of Plastic Surgery” for inventing and developing surgical procedures

Ayurvedic medicine is a practice of health and healing from India. We feel that though Ayurveda is an ancient science, it is most modern in its individualized approach to well-being. Each person and the story they've lived has profound relevance to their physical, emotional, and mental health, be it healthy or less than. Using the elements of nature as a guide, we look upon current or potential imbalances and determine optimal ways to heal using lifestyle, diet, herbs, yoga, and other therapies. As the heart of our center, Ayurveda is woven into every class taught and every treatment given.

Roots

Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words Ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge). Translating as the Science of Life. Ayurveda is a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, originating more than 5,000 years ago, and is often referred to as the "Mother of all healing arts."

Ayurveda is the most ancient of all healing systems and has had a profound impact in many health practices around the world including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), modern naturopathy and aromatherapy.

Ayurveda works at preserving one’s health, by arresting the root cause of illness or disease, rather than a symptom-based treatment. Ayurveda teaches individuals how to take ownership of their health through individualized diet and lifestyle practices, by adopting new daily and seasonal routines, as well as incorporating necessary herbs and spices specific to your personal health needs.

The aim of our practice is not just to arrest disease, but rather maintain and preserve health, striving for quality of life, mind, body, spirit. Our goal is to not only help guide your body and mind back to wellness, but to empower you with knowledge and a deeper understanding of who you are.

Principles of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words Ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge). Translating as the Science of Life. Ayurveda is a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, originating more than 5,000 years ago, and is often referred to as the "Mother of all healing arts."

Ayurveda is the most ancient of all healing systems and has had a profound impact in many health practices around the world including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), modern naturopathy and aromatherapy.

Ayurveda works at preserving one’s health, by arresting the root cause of illness or disease, rather than a symptom-based treatment. Ayurveda teaches individuals how to take ownership of their health through individualized diet and lifestyle practices, by adopting new daily and seasonal routines, as well as incorporating necessary herbs and spices specific to your personal health needs.

The aim of our practice is not just to arrest disease, but rather maintain and preserve health, striving for quality of life, mind, body, spirit. Our goal is to not only help guide your body and mind back to wellness, but to empower you with knowledge and a deeper understanding of who you are.

Vata— Air/Space Element

Vata in our bodies behaves with the same characteristics of air and ether. It is drying, cool, and light. It is responsible for movement including circulation, elimination, nerve impulses, and breathing. Mentally, it can be seen in the flow of thoughts.

Vata Imbalance

• Dryness of the skin

• Insomnia

• Constipation

• Anxiety and worry

• Nervousness

Pitta—Fire/Water Element

Pitta presents in our bodies with the characteristics of fire and water. It is hot and oily. Pitta is responsible for transforming food into nutrients and waste, and for the metabolic functions in all our organs and tissues. Mentally, pitta represents fire in the temperament, commonly seen as passion and drive.

Pitta Imbalance

• Anger

• Irritability

• Skin irritation and rash

• Indigestion and heartburn

• High blood pressure and other circulatory problems

• Hot flashes

Earth/Water Element

Kapha presents in our bodies with the characteristics of earth and water—moist, heavy and cool. Kapha gives stability, structure, growth, protection, endurance, calmness and cohesion. Examples of kapha dosha in our body include the cerebral-spinal fluid, the structure of our cell walls and the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Mentally, kapha governs memory, learning capacity, and promotes the qualities of love and calmness.

Kapha Imbalance

• Overweight

• Sluggishness

• Slow digestion

• Oily skin

• Sinus congestion and colds

• Chesty cough

• Allergies and hay fever

• Cysts and other growths

There are three types of doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. You can understand them as personality types or body constitutions. None of the doshas are inherently bad or good. The objective is to maintain your doshic balance, that is, your own unique mix of these three doshas that are your body's natural state. When they’re not in balance, they tend to cause health issues.

Once you understand your constitution, then you are better able to prevent and reverse disease.

Dosha Profiles

Common Symptoms of Imbalanced Doshas

According to Ayurveda, all ailments, mental or physical, are caused by an imbalance of the doshas, through misuse of the mind/body through the sense organs, or through seasonal changes, aggravating the biological humors.

Treatment

Ayurvedic treatments are tailored to each person’s individual constitution. Clients must be active participants in their plan, as many Ayurvedic treatments require changes in diet, lifestyle, and habits.

Treatment Practices

Ayurvedic treatment goals include eliminating impurities, reducing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, and reducing stress and increasing harmony in the patient’s life. The practitioner uses a variety of methods to achieve these goals:

Eliminating impurities through a process called panchakarma, intended to cleanse the body by eliminating ama, better known as toxins. Ama is described as undigested food that sticks to tissues, interferes with normal functioning of the body, and leads to disease. Panchakarma focuses on eliminating ama through the digestive tract and the respiratory system. Use of herbal preparations through enemas, massage, and medicinal oils.

The practitioner may suggest various options, including physical exercises, stretching, breathing exercises, meditation, massage, lying in the sun, and diet change. The client may take certain herbs—often with honey, warm water, or milk, to make them easier to digest. Sometimes diets are restricted to certain foods.

6 Eating Rules

• Eat 70-80% of your appetite. There must be some space left inside your stomach for the food to mix well and digest further.

• Lunch must be the heaviest meal of the day, since digestive fire and the human body mimic the sun, digestion is at its highest when the sun is at its highest.

• Late night dinners are a NO-NO

• Reheating your food is a sin. Avoid stale, reheated food.

• Fast if you have indigestion. If you feel that your previous food isn’t fully digested and you’re still getting gas or bloating well after a meal, skip the next one and just drink water w dry ginger.

• Eat all your meals warm. It is soothing and nourishing to the digestive system.

Natural Healers in your Kitchen

There are several key spices used in the Ayurvedic kitchen, which represent the six different tastes, of which have varying healing properties.

• Turmeric

The “queen of spices” which is good for congestion, colds, and digestion.

• Cinnamon

Good for circulation, blood pressure, blood sugar, heart

• Ginger, known as the universal medicine. Dry ginger aids in bloating, joint pain, menstrual cramps, stomach pain, gas.

• Mint, helps w cough/cold, acidity, gas, bloating, indigestion, detox, acne, sinusitis, constipation, etc

(Boil 7-10 leaves for 5 minutes, strain and drink first thing in the morning to pacify all ailments)

• Black Pepper prevents disease manifestation.

• Honey has antiseptic and antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal properties, making it ideal for acne-prone skin. It's also a humectant, which keeps skin hydrated but not greasy. Apply directly to skin for acne, wound care, chapped lips, cold sores.

What are the top benefits of Ayurveda?

• improves vitality

• purifies and detoxes the body and blood

• boost mental health

• improves digestion

• aids weight loss

• improves skin tone

Ayurveda calls each one of us to take back our power and claim our ability to manifest a healthy life.