Friday, August 15, 2014

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine

Many times a patient might do everything their doctor tells them to, without any visible results. There may be many reasons for unproductive treatments, but in most cases the therapy is not the most suitable approach for the patient. Everybody’s different. Some of us are heavy build, some are naturally thin while other people are extremely strong. There is a medical reason for this distinction. While most of the time, your weight depends entirely on how you handle your food, many times it depends on our body type. In Ayurvedic medicine, everything you are, do and feel is connected to our body type. In this eastern medical practice there are many key points. Whatever the reasons are that made you choose this type of treatment, you will soon realize you’ve made the right decision. As one of the oldest medical systems, this practice will show you that you only need a different approach to life, your health and the universe, to function as a whole. If you are a typical American, then you must always be talking on the phone while washing the dishes. Eating on your way to work, doing your taxes on the bus and possess other multitasking skills. This type of life might get you through the day faster but it doesn’t stimulate your health. It would be a cliché to tell you that no matter how much money you have, you have nothing if you’re not healthy. Instead, we will show you what the ancient science of life has to offer, and you can be the judge afterwards.
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The concepts behind ayurvedic medicine

This ancient whole medical system called Ayurveda originated in India. The name comes from the two saskrtit words Ayur and Veda that translate into life knowledge. The first documented texts that form the foundation of this traditional medicine date back to the earliest centuries of the common era. Since then, this eastern medical analysis advanced tremendously and today other medical systems borrow techniques and remedies to complete their practice. The purpose of all treatments is to unite and stabilize the spirit, mind and body into a universal equilibrium. During a treatment, the Ayurvedic specialist will teach you how to study your body, how to understand your mind and connect them all with the spirit. Unbalanced work between the body, mind and spirit is known to have disturbing outcome. All diseases, mental ailments and physical discomforts come from unbalanced work between these three entities. According to this medical system every human is interconnected with other humans, living beings and the universe. Every element found in the human body is found in the universe as well, in one form or another. It's only when the human body, spirit and mind are aligned, that the being finds harmony within itself and the universe. When one of these units is unbalanced or remarkably asymmetrical from the other two, we discover some sort of disease or mental discomfort. You don’t have to Buddhist or Hindu to believe that you are one with the universe. More or less, every other religion describe the same idea. Even modern scientists, oldschool philosophers and fundamental psychiatrists agreed that there is a universal consciousness and we all are a part of a complexed, ordered and conscious grand design.
Another concept of Ayurvedic medicine is known as Prakriti. This belief is associated with the physical composition of our bodies. At the moment of our conception, mental and physical qualities are determined. They are inherited from our parents and we are stuck with them forever. From time to time, depending on life events and circumstances these qualities will change, but the essentials will stay the same and eventually bounce back to their customary ratio. Holistic experts call these qualities Doshas or life forces. There are three doshas: Kapha, Pitta and Vata. Every dosha has its unique potential, energy and element. They are responsible for how the body responds to illnesses, how fast or slow recovers after a disease and they show how the metabolism works. Every process and activity in the body is controlled by these life forces and their energy. They determine the person's lifestyle, mental power and physical shape. Every person is a unique mix of the three doshas. And there is always one dosha dominant over the other two. They are constantly changing according to the lifestyle, food choices, bodily processes, diseases and daily activities. You can find a test online and calculate your body type according to this holistic practice, but a holistic doctor can help you organize your lifestyle according to your body type. Each dosha is made out of two of the five basic elements found in nature.
The Vata dosha is considered to be the most powerful life force. It controls the most basic processes in the body like breathing, cell division, the mind, the heart and waste discharge. This dosha associates the elements air and ether. Ether is the substance found all around us, pure energy, vibration and space. The element air on the other hand, represents movement, circulation and elimination. Together these elements make the person lively, full of energy and vigor, naturally thin, creative and enthusiastic. People with Vata dominant are always on the go, they talk fast and have agile minds. Energy, emotions and feelings tend to come out in bursts, but they also fade away very easily. Because they are always active, they might start missing meals which will lead to weight loss, body imbalance, irregular digestion and constipation. That will cause this energy force to weaken and people with Vata insufficiency will feel restless, stressed out, start worrying over trivial matters and suffer from insomnia.
The Pita dosha is made of the elements water and fire. These elements might seem opposite from each other but they are characterized by the same qualities: intensity, penetration, sharpness and dominance. This life force controls the metabolism, digestion and energy production. People with Pita dominant have exceptional digestion, strong sexual drive, healthy appetite and they can eat anything. Their intellect is powerful and analytical, nothing scares them off, they respond quickly and sharply. When the natural balance between their doshas is disturbed, they are argumentative, angry and hot tempered. When this dosha starts to predominate the balance excessively, heartburn, hypertension, skin rashes and infections are probable.
The Kapha dosha keywords are: structure and fluency. This life force has solid qualities such as steadiness, heaviness, coldness and lethargy. Water and earth are the elements that assemble this dosha and they control the immunity, strength and body growth. Kapha body types are strong as rocks, stable, persistent and they enjoy routine. Kapha dominant people don’t like changes and they are comfortable working the same jobs and being with the same friends. When this dosha is completely dominant, problems like obesity, nausea, diabetes and cancer might arise.
These dosha descriptions are just informational. Changes in their balance may happen with weather seasons, diseases, physical activities and moods. In order to get the most of your body predisposition, consult an Ayurvedic doctor. He will tell you which dosha and element is dominant to your nature, how to balance them, which foods to avoid and which one will stimulate your best health.

Ayurvedic medicine for modern day problems

There are eight different branches that make this ancient medical practice a complete science. In India and certain places in the West, there are schools and hospitals that teach and practice Ayurvedic medicine. They cover internal medicine, head and neck diseases, surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, toxicology, sexual vitality, psychiatry, senior care and rejuvenation. In India and most eastern countries, 80% of the population use this practice exclusively or together with Western medicine. In America and the rest of the world, this medical practice gained popularity in the last few decades, because the information and evidence about its effectiveness is more available than ever. Before you proclaim this medical practice as voodoo, make sure you collect all important information. Determining the dominant life force is just one approach to defining a person's health constitution. This holistic doctor will observe your lifestyle, recent diseases, physical characteristics like, teeth, tongue, eyes, skin condition, weight, food preferences and your overall physical and mental condition. Standardized tests will be made to check your stool, urine and blood, but also your pulse, voice and speech. There are several treatment approaches as well, depending on the patient's health situation. The elimination approach is called Panchakarma. This treatment includes several programs for cleansing the body and mind from toxic interference. With the help of this mind-body therapy you will be able to reverse the negative effects of the modern living. The application of the process is simple and painless but its effects are powerful and will lead your body to self healing, better health and wellness. Each individual is analyzed separately. Oil massages, nutritional management and lifestyle and exercise recommendations will be provided according to the individual physical and mental makeup.
When a person already diagnosed with a certain disease or condition applies for a particular Ayurvedic treatment, the practitioner will suggest herbal remedies to be taken daily. Physical exercises that will reduce the symptoms will also be advised, as well as, mineral and metal nutritional management. A complete change in diet might be in order too. Conditions connected with high blood pressure and cholesterol can be easily monitored, digestive complications eliminated and immune system strengthened.
Ayurvedic experts have grouped all known herbs and their health promoting compounds into categories. Tell your doctor what is it that you need. Healing, relieving pain or stimulating vitality, can be treated and stimulated with the right combination of minerals, vitamins and metals. There are no magic pills of course, but Ayrvedic medicine suggests that you can have a well balanced life, free of health complications if you get rid of the things that are bad for you.

The benefits of ayurvedic medicine

The list of diseases that can be prevented, cured and reduced can be endless. To make sure we have your attention and interest we are going to name a few. Anemia is a common ailment nowadays. In Ayurveda this condition is called Pandu. It is a disorder where the red blood cells fall below their healthy normal ratio. It can happen after severe blood loss during an accident or surgery, presence of parasitic flatworms in the body, defective liver function, inadequate diet or other circumstances. Weakness, fatigue, dizziness, weak memory, shortness of breath and pale skin are among the most common symptoms. When diagnosed with this condition the holistic doctor will advise you to eat almonds, sesame seeds, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, apples, bananas, blackberries, strawberries and implement herbs like Aloe Vera, Indian gooseberry, spreading Hogweed. Ayurvedic supplements known to reverse the poor production of red blood cells are Lohasava, Lauh Bhasma and Dhatri Lauh. Several yoga poses are effective for curing anemia: Sarvangasana or shoulder stand, Paschimotthanasana or Posterior Stretch and Shavasana known as Corpse Pose. The sun is also known to stimulate the blood production, so your doctor might advise you to spend some time outside. Hair loss is an unhealthy wellness state that can also be embarrassing. There are many factors that can cause your hair to fall prematurely. Nutritional deficit and dietary imbalance are just two of the causes. Stress, a body weakened from illness or cancer treatment, endocrine disorder and genetic factors might also play a role. Modern day causes for hair loss are the use of abrasive hair products, water and air pollution, overexposure to the sun and using common brushes in public hair salons. Your Ayurvedic specialist will prescribe Amla, false daisy and Jaba herbal remedies. He will also tell you to keep your scalp clean, because excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells will damage the hair follicles and prevent them from forming new hair.
Brushing is a must if you notice that you start losing hair. Bent your body forward, lower your head over your knees and brush your hair from the back of the head to the forehead. Avoid actually touching the scalp, because that might irritate his skin further. This will improve the blood circulation, the forward bent will bring more blood to your head and activate the skin surface. Other more upsetting health conditions can be cured and prevented with the help of this eastern medical practice. Gonorrhea, kidney stones, intestinal worms, myopia, rheumatism and many heart diseases. Before you take your prescribed Ayrvedic herbal medicine or supplement, make sure that both, your conventional and Ayurvedic doctor knows about your treatment. There is always a healthier alternative option for the disease, but it can be dangerous if you treat yourself. Your doctor knows what's best and safe for your health, so make sure you visit the nearest Ayurvedic clinic to find the answers.

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