AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is a whole-body (holistic) system of medicine.

It began in India more than 3,000 years ago.

Ayurveda means the study of life.

It takes a natural approach to all aspects of health and well-being.

Ayurveda is based on the idea that each person has certain life forces and everything in the
universe is connected.

An imbalance in one area can affect another. When the imbalance is not fixed, disease and illness
can occur.

Ayurveda mostly uses nutrition, lifestyle changes, and natural treatments. These are used to
support balance and a return to health.

Ayurveda is very focused on overall health. But it may use specific treatments for some diseases.

Herbs and other plants are often used. These include oils and common spices.
Ayurvedic Tridosha
 Every individual constitution has its own unique balance of vata, pitta, and kapha (VPK) according to its own nature.
 This balance of VPK is the natural order. When this doshic balance is disturbed, it creates imbalance, which is
disorder.
 Health is order; disease is disorder.
 Within the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder, thus once one understands the nature and
structure of disorder, one can re-establish order.
 This exists when the digestive fire is in a balanced condition; the bodily humors (vata, pitta, and kapha) are in
equilibrium, the three waste products (urine, feces, and sweat) are produced and eliminated normally, the seven bodily
tissues (plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow, reproductive tissue – sperm, ovum) are functioning normally,
and the mind, senses, and consciousness are working harmoniously together.
 When the balance of these systems is disturbed, the disease (disorder) process begins.
 Out of Balance:
•hypertension
•constipation
•weight loss
•weakness
•arthritis
•prone to worry
•insomnia
•digestive challenges

In Balance:
•excellent agility
•dry skin and hair
•thin frame
•creative
•energetic
•flexible
•love excitement and new experiences
 Out of Balance:
•skin rashes
•indigestion
•excessive body heat
•burning sensations
•short-tempered
•Argumentative

In Balance:
•perfect digestion
•lustrous complexion
•strong appetite
•precise
•sharp-witted
•direct
•outspoken
 Out of Balance:
•sleep excessively
•overweight
•suffer from asthma
•depression
•diabetes
•resistance to change
•Stubbornness

In Balance:
•excellent stamina
•large and soft eyes
•strong build
•thick hair
•smooth skin
•loyal
•patient
•steady
•supportive
 Herbal Medicine

Diet

Lifestyle changes

Ayurveda
Yoga

Massage

Panchakarma

Meditation
and black pepper.
•Diet
A special diet is often recommended, including a variety of spices, fruits, vegetables, rice, nuts, and honey.
•Lifestyle changes
Ayurveda emphasizes dosha balance, and lifestyle changes are often recommended to restore this balance.
•Yoga
Yoga combines movement, meditation, and breathing exercises to improve circulation and digestion.
•Massage
Massage therapy with different types of oils is used to increase blood circulation and remove toxins from
the body.
•Meditation
Meditation combined with mantras is used for rejuvenation.
•Panchakarma (Internal Cleansing – Purification – Five Therapies)
A specialized treatment that uses emesis, enemas, purgation, nasya and blood-letting to detoxify the body.
In Ayurveda, doshas or humors are the three fundamental energies that regulate the body,
mind, and behavior:
•Vata
Regulates cell division, movement, excretion, and cognition. Vata is made up of air and ether.
•Pitta
Regulates metabolism, energy homeostasis, vision, and attention. Pitta is made up of fire and
water.
•Kapha
Regulates anabolism, growth, storage, and stability. Kapha is made up of water and earth.
 Each person has a unique combination of doshas, with one primary dosha, one secondary, and
one least prominent. The balance of these doshas is important for good health. When a dosha is
out of balance, it can impact physical and mental health.
 Ayurveda attributes disease to an excess or deficiency of one of the doshas, which can lead to
toxins building up in the body. Ayurvedic Panchakarma is a cleansing program that can help
restore balance to the doshas.
Emesis Therapy - Vamana
 When there is congestion in the lungs causing repeated attacks of bronchitis, colds,
cough, or asthma, the Ayurvedic treatment is therapeutic vomiting, to eliminate the
kapha causing the excess mucus.
 Once the mucus is released, the patient will feel instantly relieved. It is likely that
congestion, wheezing, and breathlessness will disappear and that the sinuses will
become clear.
 If vamana is administered properly, the person should feel relaxation in the lungs, will
be able to breathe freely, will have lightness in the chest, clear thinking, a clear voice,
and a good appetite, and all symptoms of congestion disappear.
Purgation Therapy - Virechan
 When excess bile, pitta, is secreted and accumulated in the gallbladder, liver, and
small intestine, it tends to result in rashes, skin inflammation, acne, chronic attacks
of fever, biliary vomiting, nausea, and jaundice. Ayurvedic literature suggests in
these conditions the administration of therapeutic purgation or a therapeutic laxative.
 Purgatives help relieve the excess pitta causing the bile disturbance in the body. In
fact, purgatives can completely cure the problem of excess pitta. When purgatives
are used, the patient should not eat foods that will aggravate the predominant humor
or cause the three humors to become unbalanced.
Enema Therapy - Basti
Vata is a very active principle in pathogenesis (disease). If we can control vata through the
use of basti, we have gone a long way in going to the root cause of the vast majority of
diseases. Vata is the main etiological (causal) factor in the manifestation of diseases. It is
the motive force behind the elimination and retention of feces, urine, bile and other
excreta.
Vata is mainly located in the large intestine, but bone tissue (asthi dhatu) is also a site for
vata. The mucus membrane of the colon is related to the outer covering of the bones,
which nourishes the bones. Therefore, any medication given rectally goes into the deeper
tissues, like bones, and corrects vata disorders.
Nasal Administration
 The nose is the doorway to the brain and it is also the doorway to consciousness.
The nasal administration of medication is called nasya.
 An excess of bodily humors accumulated in the sinus, throat, nose, or head areas
is eliminated by means of the nearest possible opening, the nose. Nasal
administration, nasya, is indicated for prana disorders, sinus congestion,
migraine headaches, convulsions, and certain eye and ear problems. Breathing
also can be improved through nasal massage.
 For this treatment, the little finger is dipped into ghee and inserted into the nose.
The inner walls of the nose are slowly massaged, going as deeply as possible.
This treatment will help to open the emotions.
 Since most people have a deviated nasal septum, one side of the nose will be
easier to penetrate and massage than the other.
 In this way, breathing patterns will change as the emotions are released and the
eyesight also will improve.
Blood-letting – Rakta Moksha
Note: This treatment is NOT a part of treatments at The Ayurvedic Institute.

 Toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract are absorbed into the blood and
circulated throughout the body. This condition is called toxemia, which is the
basic cause of repeated infections, hypertension, and skin disorders.
 In such conditions, along with internal medication, the elimination of the toxins
and purification of the blood is necessary.
 Leeches have been used as an alternative to bloodletting. Bloodletting also
stimulates the spleen to produce anti-toxic substances that help to stimulate the
immune system.
 Toxins are neutralized, enabling radical cures in many blood-borne disorders.
 Certain substances such as sugar, salt, yogurt, sour-tasting foods, and alcohol are
toxic to the blood. In certain blood disorders, these substances should be avoided
to keep the blood pure.