Intrigued by Ayurveda? Want to know more? Read on for a beginner’s guide to the practice
A number of naturapaths are schooled in the traditional Indian science of Ayurveda and acupuncture based on Ayurvedic principles, Nadhi Chikitsa, as well as other naturopathic modalities.
A naturopath with these skills can analyse your current state of health and provide skilled treatment protocols using Ayurvedic medicines, herbal and nutritional complex formulas.
They can also offer dietary and lifestyle advice for those wanting to avoid the pitfalls of drug therapies.
If you’d like to read more about how Ayurveda may help with common ailments, see here.
In essence, a skilled Ayurveda naturopath can treat a patient’s ailments by harnessing the body’s own resources and natural healing powers through gentle, non-invasive treatments and remedies aimed at redressing body imbalances.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a holistic and complete approach to better health, incorporating and balancing the four aspects of life: physical, psychological, nutritional and spiritual.
Ayurveda literally means “the science or knowledge of life”.
According to Sanskrit text books, Ayurveda has existed and been practised in India for at least five thousand years!
How Ayurveda works
Ayurveda has some general principles which can be applied to everyone.
The primary factor is in the identification of the unique individual constitution or body type.
After determining the body type, your practitioner is able to identify if there are any bodily imbalances.
This is achieved by identifying which of the three dosha (VATA, PITTA, KAPHA) is out of balance, either too low or in excess. The constitution never changes, but what does change is the predominant dosha within the constitution.
How can Ayurveda help me?
According to Ayurveda, diseases are due to an imbalance of the dosha and the accumulation of toxins.
Treatment aims to bring the dosha back into a more normal balanced state, as well as to eliminate toxic substances (AMA) from the body through herbal supplements, dietary and lifestyle changes, meditation and detoxification.
This is done predominantly through panchakarma (five types of detoxification procedures) which are a unique treatment of Ayurveda.
The preventative health aspects of Ayurveda include:
- Setting sensible lifestyle rules
- Setting a daily diet according to your unique constitution
- Treatments with Ayurvedic herbal medicines, metal-organic mineral compounds
- Various techniques of Ayurvedic massage, breathing exercises and meditation
Ayurveda can help with the following:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Skin problems
- Digestive system disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic fatigue
- Circulatory system disorders
- Women’s menstrual and menopausal problems
- Infertility in men and women
- Weight-loss and many more.
If you would like to learn more about the principles of Ayurveda, see here.
