"As long as we are not living in harmony with nature and our constitution, we cannot expect ourselves to be really healed. Ayurveda gives us the means.” ―David Frawley
“The balance of the doshas is health, and imbalance is disease” – Swami Sivananda
Change in the lifestyles, diets and practices are greatly influencing changes in the disease pattern. Hypertension, Diabetes, Cancers, etc. termed as chronic (or long term), Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health disorders are on a rise. The patients are exploring alternative remedies that can complement modern medicine to enhance health, wellbeing and quality of life. There is heightened awakening within the masses to embrace a lifestyle that is preventive and can also promote optimal health and wellbeing. ‘Ayurveda’ is increasingly sought after as a solution in the current context.
The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit word “Ayu” which means “Life” and “Veda” which means “Science”. It means “Science of Life” and comprises a vast body of knowledge about ‘Healthy Living’ and ‘Treating Disease’. It originated more than 5000 years ago and Charakha, Shusruta and Vaghbhata are regarded as the first few who described the approaches to healing and wellbeing in detail.
Ayurveda believes that each Individual is unique and is made of 5 basic elements- Air, Space, Fire, Water and Earth. These elements combine to form three different Doshas or energies or fundamental bodily bio-elements that govern the individual’s physiological, mental and emotional make up and functioning. Air and Space combine to form Vata dosha. Fire and Water combine to form Pitta dosha. Water and Earth combine to form Kapha dosha. The natural proportion with which these three doshas combine to make up an individual, forms the individual’s Prakriti. Health is achieved only when all the three doshas are in equilibrium as per the person’s Prakriti. When there is an imbalance in this equilibrium, the condition resulting is known as Vikriti. This results in the setting up of disease process in the individual’s system.
The changes in the constitution are triggered by natural and acquired factors such as age, time and seasons as well as the changes in foods, lifestyles, emotions. Excess in a particular dosha affects the digestive fire (metabolism) leading to accumulation of undigested metabolic waste (referred to as ‘Ama’). Inadequate and untimely excretion of waste either urine, stool or sweat (called Mala) also lead to accumulation of waste leading to disease.
Hence Ayurveda gives importance to ascertaining each individual’s original constitution (Prakriti) and its extent of deviation (Vikriti). By techniques of cleansing (detox) and/or treating with medicines, it aims to minimise the Vikriti, bring the equilibrium of doshas as close as possible to the individual’s Prakriti to restore health and wellbeing.
At ANIRASA Integrative Health and Wellbeing Clinic, we first undertake a detailed assessment of individual’s body-mind constitution through a combination of tools – self assessments, lifestyle and diet history, physician aided assessments including the pulse (Naadi) examination. The diagnosis will inform the Ayurveda management plan that comprises of treatment using Ayurveda medicines and cleansing treatments, education and personalized coaching toward embracing an Ayurvedic lifestyle.
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