Ayurveda

At physical nutrition western nutritional therapy is combined with the holistic health system, known as Ayurveda. In this way patients can be sure that they receive advice and treatment plans to suit their individual needs.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a comprehensive system of holistic health care that originated in India several thousand years ago. It means the ‘art of living wisely.’ In simple terms, Ayurveda is a holistic system which guides us so that we can live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. It recognises that we are all unique and focuses on food, lifestyle, massage, yoga and herbal remedies to suit our individual make-up.

Ayurveda is timeless - it has existed for over 4000 years but yet it still applies to modern day life. The key to its longevity is because Ayurveda is logical. An early description given in the Charaka Samhita (the earliest Ayurvedic literature) written circa 150BCE-100CE says:

“It is called ayurveda because it tells us which substances, qualities and actions are life enhancing, and which are not.”

The wisdom of Ayurveda encourages us to take responsibility for our own health according to the different stages of our lives, the seasons, and the environment we live, work and play in. These factors all have a big impact on our health and it makes sense to adapt our lifestyle accordingly so we can continue to live in harmony with our body and stay at optimum health.

What does an ayurvedic practitioner do?

An Ayurvedic practitioner arrives at a diagnosis through a variety of observation techniques and enquiries, which include pulse or tongue reading and other forms of body examination, an in-depth assessment of diet and lifestyle habits, an analysis of mental and emotional states as well as a very detailed history taking. Most importantly though, an Ayurvedic practitioner listens with great attention to detail and gives patients the required time and space to express themselves. Therefore, a typical first consultation may take up to 2 hours.

Treatment is always tailor-made to the individual and can include simple diet and lifestyle advice, herbo-mineral supplements or medicines, physical treatments like full-body massage or local applications, psychological and emotional consulting, meditation, yoga or other forms of subtle therapies.

 

The Doshas

In Ayurveda we are said to have our own individual constitution or Prakriti. This individuality is determined by our bio-energetic forces known as dosha and they consist of vata, pitta and kapha. Each has its characteristic site and unique function in the body. They are interrelated and, in their normal state, maintain the integrity of the living organism, giving strength and maintaining normal physiological functioning as well as longevity. The three doshas need to be in a state of equilibrium for the body to remain healthy.

Generally we are a combination of dosha but one will usually dominate. If a dosha becomes out of balance, which can happen for a number of reasons, it can effect how we behave and even our health.