Ayurveda: A Natural Health 101 Article


What It Is

Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of sub-continental India. With an archeological record going back 7000 years and an unbroken written history dating back to around 1500 B.C., Ayurveda is easily the oldest medical system still in existence and is also one of the most comprehensive. Though it's often treated by westerners as nothing more than folk medicine, Ayurveda in India is always practiced alongside technology-based medicine. Unlike other "natural" medicines Ayurveda happily embraces techniques like micro-surgery and CAT scans.

Modern medicine, both mainstream and alternative, owes much to Ayurveda. Ancient practitioners studied medical theories including psychiatry, optometry, general wellness and surgery. Both Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbology were build on Ayurvedic foundations and Ayurveda offers the largest catalog of herbal therapies ever known.

Perhaps the thing that sets Ayurveda apart from other therapies is its use of body typing. Ayurveda groups people according to how the natural forces, or elements, influence them emotionally, mentally and physically, then assigns nutritional, meditative and herbal therapies according to the dominate "dosha" each person displays.

What It Can Do For You

Today's Ayurveda is strongly influenced by Hindu and Buddhist practices and that can make it difficult for Americans to fully appreciate. But if you have the right motivation and are willing to keep an open mind Ayurveda can be a powerful ally in your search for wellness. Ayurveda teaches that the spiritual and the physical aspects of healing are equally important and that neither takes place without the other. Detoxification is an important part of Ayurveda and practitioners strive to balance the natural forces (or doshas) in the body through nutrition, exercise, meditation and massage. Ayurveda is primarily concerned with longevity and quality of life and puts great emphasis on disease prevention.

Finding a Qualified Practitioner

American Ayurveda is very different from authentic Indian Ayurveda and you may have considerable difficulty finding a qualified practitioner--most American practitioners focus on the herbal side of Ayurveda and virtually ignore the rest. But if you can find a well-trained practitioner (preferable an M.D.) he or she can take the place of your existing family practitioner.

What The Critics Say

Critics of Ayurveda dismiss it as just another folk medicine and point to its emphasis on spirituality as proof that it's outdated and backward.

My Opinion

When I started working on my Ayurveda Certification I was looking for just enough information to confidently answer my clients' questions. Years later, I'm still learning and no longer describe Ayurveda as a "Indian folk medicine".

Lisa Barger is a traditionally trained naturopath specializing in illness prevention counseling. Ms. Barger holds certification in Ayurveda, Iridology, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and American Herbology.


More Resources

How to Use the Subconscious to Cope with Lifestyle Triggers of Your Pain
Emotions, food and lack of sleep can all be potent triggers of pain signals in your body. Here's a way to use your subconscious mind to try to lessen the impact of those triggers.
Our New Years Resolution - Get Rid of The Toxins in our Lives
It is hard to believe, almost unthinkable. Everyday we are exposed to so many toxins in our lives.
Home Spa and Bodys Adaptation. The More the Better?
The More The Faster The Better?Or Some Words About The Body's Adaptation."Change your mindand you will changeyour life"Today we will talk about the tendency in our busy world to make more activity and procedures in one spa day to get fast results.
5 Simple Steps For Ridding Yourself Of Back Pain
Millions of people suffer from back pain unnecessarily when there is actually a very simple solution, according to Jesse Cannone , certified personal trainer and back pain specialist. "Unfortunately, many people are led to believe that back pain is normal and were all supposed to experience it.
Homeopathy: A Natural Health 101 Article
What It IsIn Homeopathy, extremely dilute preparations are given to a patient to spur the patient's immune system into action and re-balance the body's "vital force". The preparations are extremely dilute--often going well beyond Avogadro's Limit--but are "succussed" or rapped firmly onto a padded surface to, as Homeopaths believe, send healing vibrationationl energy throughout the remedy.
Why DO the Japanese Have the Longest Lifespan? Part 2: Live the Lifestyle
Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month you learned to eat the things Japanese people eat, and now you will learn how to live like they live. Fast, long, and lively best describes a usual day in Japan.
Teas From Plants Around You and Their Benefits
All teas unless specified are brewed with 1 teaspoon dry material or 2 teaspoons fresh material to 1 cup of water. Always steep.
Ayurveda, Indias Science of Life, Health and Longevity
Ayurveda is India's ancient science life, health, and longevity. It is thought of by many scholars to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
Secrets Of Aromatherapy Part I - Physical Remedies
Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of awide range of minor physical complaints including burns,colds, flu, sinus problems, cold sores, eczema, headache,indigestion, menopause, menstrual irregularities, muscleaches, nausea and toothaches.Diluted in healing carrier oil such as aloe vera,essential oils can relieve the pain of minor burns.
Acupuncture Arthritis Treatment - Using Acupuncture to Treat Arthritis
Acupuncture treatment for arthritis and joint pain has been with us for centuries. Acupuncture provides many arthritis pain sufferers with an alternative (or an addition) to modern arthritis medication - which can at best be unpalatable and, at worst, potentially toxic.
Different Detox-cleansing Regimes
Your body should clean itself naturally, but today's diets make that process difficult. Many turn to internal body cleansing to rid the body of waste products and toxins.
When Your Emotions Become Like Ticking Bombs & Cause Disease
So, where does disease come from? How does it get manifested in your body in the first place? Do environment and diet really play key roles in causing disease? Well, the information contained in this article will shock you to say the least. For years now health officials have told the public about how diet and environment specifically contribute to most illnesses.
Achieve Instant Calm
For instant calm, try one or more of the following simple calming exercises, herbal allies, or movements, and can give you more details on how and why they work: Unfreeze yourself: Curl up in a fetal position (on your side with keens drawn up), breathe deeply, and hum. You may want to rock back and forth.
Immunological Profile In Postpartum Women
Post-delivery, the whole of immune system is restored to normalcy during puerparium. One of the extensively studied immunological markers is the assessment of CA- 125.
Treating Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Without the Use of Antibiotics
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)? A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) -- commonly known as a bladder infection, kidney infection, or cystitis -- is caused by bacteria that attach to the inside lining of the urinary system or tract.In over 90% of all urinary tract infections, the culprit is the bacterium E.
Eucalyptus Oil for Colds and Flu
Recently I came down with a cold, flu, and some heavy chest congestion. My 8-year daughter also became sick.
Aromatherapy - a World of Frangrance
The ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy thousands of years ago. Aromatherapy, a word that derives from 'aroma' meaning fragrance or smell and 'therapy' meaning treatment is based on an ancient principle that the spirit and the body should be in harmony.
Can I Be Hypnotised?
If you are conscious, have an IQ higher than about 80 (average is 100), have the ability to concentrate, and also have the ability to dream - then you can be hypnotised.You see, hypnosis is a perfectly normal state of consciousness that you will enter into maybe several times a day.
Use Digestive Enzymes to Reduce Hemorrhoid Inflammation
Using digestive enzymes when you have hemorrhoids is a good idea. Digestive enzymes help reduce inflammation, reduce fibrin, and clean the blood of foreign particles.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a pernicious little devil; it can hold us back, freeze our creativity and diminish our ability to fight our way out of trouble. Anxiety leads to a 'vicious cycle' in which anxiety feeds poor performance which increases anxiety and .

More Alternative Information:

Related Articles

Alternative Fibromyalgia Therapies
Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disease that is effecting more and more people, as increasing numbers of patients are being diagnosed with this disorder. What is fibromyalgia, and what are some alterative therapies and treatments for this often-times debilitating disease?Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic musculoskeletal disorder with symptoms of widespread and persistent muscle and soft tissue pain, fatigue, and tenderness in several key points of the body such as the neck, shoulders and hips.
Aloe Vera - No Wonder They Call It The Miracle Plant
Aloe Vera is a member of the Lily family. It is a succulent that looks a lot like a cactus and is known by various names such as the burnt plant, the miracle plant, the natural healer and the medicine plant.
Nerve Pain: Try Using Visualizations And You May Get Some Relief
"Neuropathic" means nerve damage and refers to nerve pain. So far there's very little that science can do about it.
How Visualization Is Different from What You May Have Tried for Pain Relief
You've probably tried everything you can think of to ease your chronic pain. But chances are that in your search for relief you haven't tried anything quite like visualization statements.
Green Tea prevents and fights the risks of Cancer, why you should be drinking Green Tea
Do you drink Green Tea?Then you should read the information below.Lately, green tea has been getting a lot of attention, recent reports and scientific studies found that green tea has the ability to reduce greatly the risk of many cancers and in some cases it has shown signs of reducing tumors.
Getting More out of Your Massage with a Epsom Bath Afterwards!
As a massage therapist, I often recommend taking a Hot Epsom salt Bath after a massage because of several factors. One I have moved alot of metabolic waste as I manipulated the muscle tissues.
Home Remedies
Ever have a bee sting? Try rubbing an aspirin on it.Gum in hair? Soak the gum-coated hair in CokeŽ and it should wipe out easily.
You Don't Have to Live With Stiff Neck Pain
Getting quality sleep has, for many, become an elusive goal in the modern day. We work longer hours, take less time off, and try to overcompensate by micromanaging what little free time is available to in order to enjoy all facets of our lives.
Teas From Plants Around You and Their Benefits
All teas unless specified are brewed with 1 teaspoon dry material or 2 teaspoons fresh material to 1 cup of water. Always steep.
Understanding Holistic Living
Holistic living is simply living your life with all aspects of it in mind, not just in reference to one part or a few of them. Your entire lifestyle must come under scrutiny and improved upon for the betterment of your existence.
Self Hypnosis CD Recordings
The purpose of this article is not to offer an opinion about the efficacy of hypnosis as used by any hypnotherapist. The BMA has long since acknowledged its place as a useful psychological intervention method.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal Medicine, also referred to as Herbalism or Botanical Medicine, is the oldest healthcare known to mankind. Herbal medicine is the utilization of herbs for therapy or medicinal purposes.
How to Sense Low Levels of Asbestos in Your Daily Environment. (Part II)
Most people find it difficult to believe that a tiny dust material, too small to see, can cause such havoc with the human body. As a construction worker, I may have an advantage in identifying the materials which shed this residue, but this also tends to make me more vulnerable to it's effects.
Holistic Medicine
Holistic Medicine involves natural treatment options like holistic nutrition, herbology, environmental medicine, energy work, mind-body medicine, anatomy, and many other holistic medicine practices.Holistic medicine allows an individual to be treated naturally and establishes a positive balance between body, mind and spirit.
5 Ways to Deal With ADHD
With an increasing number of our youths suffering ADHD, stress syndromes, unemployment, depression, drug use, crime and higher rates of youth suicide than ever before, today's parents and teachers are finding their roles more and more difficult.According to renowned family relationships specialist, Marguerite Clancy, there are no overnight solutions for issues such as ADHD, but there are a few quick things struggling parents can do now to start dealing with it:1) Get into a routine and stick to it (try to include fun times and laughter)2) Set up a punching bag or get your child playing a sport3) Be consistent with discipline and offer rewards where appropriate4) Use positive language, keep directions short, maintain calm5) Agree on consequences for behaviour together"There are many options available to parents and carers.
Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Phantom Pain
Much of what goes on in our bodies is controlled by the subconscious mind. A simple example is the process of moving from a sitting to a standing position.
Prevent Disease By Thinking Differently Than Experts
Did you know that all physicians and medical researchers have been indoctrinated with a flawed model of thinking dating to the 17th century?These "experts" cling to a Cartesian model of thinking.Cartesian refers to the philosopher Descartes who declared, "I do not recognize any difference between the machines made by craftsmen and various bodies nature alone composes.
The Universal Calibration LatticeŽ - Your Own Personal Connection to the Universal Energy Source
Now is an incredible time to be on Earth. All of us in our divine wisdom agreed to be here doing the journey of human at this most auspicious time in the annals of humankind.
Natural Remedy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder of higher brain functioning. ADHD is common among the disorders that get affected in childhood and adolescence.
How to Use the Subconscious to Cope with Body System Triggers of Your Pain
The musculoskeletal, immune and endocrine systems can all be potent triggers of pain signals in your body. Here's a way to use your subconscious mind to try to lessen the impact of those triggers.