Ayurvedic Treatment

With the mushrooming of day spas, medispas, Ayurveda centers, and Ayurvedic healthcare retreats, both in India and abroad, the age old principles and techniques of Ayurveda are becoming much more accessible to the common man and thus, gaining prominence the world over.

First Things First – What is Ayurveda?
If we were to define Ayurveda in simple terms, all we would need to say is that Ayurveda refers to the ‘Science of Life’. However, looking more closely at Ayurveda would mean appreciating its holistic view on life and dependence on all things natural to treat ailments.

Unlike most modern day healing sciences, Ayurveda looks at the human body and it’s functioning at a much deeper level and propagates the philosophy that in order to look good on the outside, one must feel great from the inside. And this is the reason why, all Ayurvedic Treatments are aimed at treating and correcting the root cause of problems.

Though Ayurveda originated in India many centuries ago, Ayurvedic concepts have never been more relevant than they are today. With burgeoning competition, rising stress levels in all spheres of life, failure to follow a healthy lifestyle and incorrect eating habits, more and more people are suffering from nagging heath problems and diseases. The need for a natural, holistic and safe solution is what is making individuals choose Ayurveda over modern medicines.

Where to Begin?
If you are interested in knowing more about how Ayurvedic treatments and Ayurveda philosophies can bring about a positive change in your life, the best place to start is by understanding your body type.

Each human body is made up of a combination of three types of energies or doshas, namely – Vata (air and space), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth). These in turn are composed of 5 main energies that include Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. For you to live a happy, healthy and wholesome life, it is important to maintain an optimum balance between all 3 doshas. It is recommended to consult an Ayurvedic Doctor to find out which dosha is aggravated within your body and then take corrective steps (diet, faulty lifestyle and your body’s functioning) to bring a balance in your dosha.

Popularity of Ayurvedic Treatments
Ayurvedic treatment has become popular in India and abroad. There are many aspects to such a treatment which broadly includes – balancing the doshas through an Ayurveda diet and corrective lifestyle, removing accumulated toxins (ama) and cleansing the body, building immunity, relieving the body of all aches, pains and lethargy as well as providing relaxation through oil massages and therapies, etc. By consulting a qualified Ayurveda practitioner, you can find out which ayurvedic treatment is most suitable for you based on your specific needs.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Common Diseases and Health Issues
By visiting a reliable Ayurvedic Treatment Center or enrolling yourself for an Ayurvedic Spa Treatment, you can find solutions to some of your most nagging problems, the safe ayurvedic way.

Though a plethora of Ayurveda Treatments are available which cover almost all forms and types of illnesses, here, we will talk about some of them. For more detailed advice, please visit an Ayurvedic Doctor.

1.Ayurveda Panchakarma Treatment is a combination of 5 different therapies aimed at purifying the body and cleansing the body of all toxic wastes (ama) that accumulate over time due to faulty lifestyle, poor eating habits, excessive stress and prolonged illness. Based on your need, only a few of the five therapies may be performed. These include pre-treatment, Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Basti and Raktamoskshana.

Before the actual procedures, the body is prepared for purification using Snehana (oil massage and bath) and Swedana (liquefying the body toxins). Special diets may be given to open all the channels of the body to accept purification therapies.

Next, Vamana, also known as therapeutic vomiting is used especially for those people who suffer from nasal congestions and respiratory tract problems such as repeated bronchitis, asthma attacks, cold and allergies.

Purgation therapy or Virechana is used to cleanse and purify the pitta dosha and clean the gastro intestinal tract by using herbs that act as laxatives. Besides removing the toxins that collect in the liver and gallbladder, it is also known to treat problems such as constipation, diabetes, headaches, gout, worms and piles etc.

Also known as nose cleaning therapy, Nasya uses oils to cleanse excessive kapha toxins that collect in the nose, sinus, throat, and head areas, thus treating problems such as sinusitis, allergies of the nose, headaches, migraine, and loss of smell / taste etc.
Basti or the Enema or Colon Therapy cleanses the colon through the use of medicated herbs and oils which are given in a liquid as enema. Basti improves piles, digestive disorders, backache, arthritis, & constipation, among others.
Shiro-Abhyanga-Nasya involves a deep massage of the neck, head and shoulders while making use of deep inhalation and nasal drops.
2.Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that leads to severe inflammation of the skin and makes the skin flaky and reddish in color accompanied with dry, scaly silvery patches.

Recommendations: Avoid eating curd, fish and urad daal & food items which are too oily or pungent. Keep your skin hydrated and improve your digestion. Opt for Ayurveda Panchakarma.

3.Ayurvedic Treatment for Diabetes: Though Ayurveda recognizes almost 24 forms of Diabetes, also referred to as Prameha, the ten Kapha pramehas (Madhumeha) are the root cause of Diabetes Mellitus.

Recommendations: Introduction of a low calorie diet and insulin enhancing food items such as raw and bitter vegetables, grape fruit, soy, fish, bitter melon, powder of Jamun seeds, cucumber, butter milk, garlic etc. Herbs such as garlic, fenugreek, neem, jamun, onion, amla, turmeric / haldi powder, triphala and cardamom are beneficial. Reduction in sugar intake present in items such as rice, sweets, potato, fruits, banana etc as well as a decrease in fat content & simple carbohydrates. Some lifestyle changes include avoiding sleeping during the day, regular practice of yoga, etc. Cleansing and healing techniques such as Panchakarma and oil massages are also recommended to heal diabetes.

4.Acne Ayurvedic Treatment – Improper diet and poor eating habits can accelerate the growth of pimples and make it difficult to control their spread.

Recommendations: Eat fresh, well cooked food including seasonal fruits and vegetables. Reduce your intake of food that is too oily, spicy or heavy and avoid stale food. Eat food that helps in balancing your dosha and don’t mix items which are incompatible with one another. Include all 6 major tastes in each of your meal. Instead of chemical based face washes, try a glass of boiled milk mixed with fresh lime juice to wash your face. Opt for ayurvedic home treatment and remedies such as these – make a paste of orange peel in some water and apply on the pimples. Rub the juice and leaves of crushed mint and apply on the affected areas. Rub garlic on and around pimples. Application of tomato is also a good option when it comes to dealing with acne scars.

5.Ayurvedic Liver Treatment: People suffering from liver problems are advised to make use of Ayurveda liver detox and cleansing programs to flush out the toxins (ama) that interfere with the proper functioning of the liver.

Recommendations: Some simple Ayurvedic Liver detox methods include intake of prescribed herbal churnas & other herbs, minimal intake of non-vegetarian food, increased use of jamun, turmeric etc to cleanse the liver, purify blood and improve digestion.

6.Ayurvedic Treatment for Obesity: Obesity is a common problem seen in people who follow unhealthy eating patterns and often eat the wrong kind of foods. By knowing your constitutional type, you can start eating an Ayurvedic diet that is a proper mix of nutrition, tastes and dosha balancing ingredients.

Recommendations: for weight loss in Ayurveda stem from the logic that one should eat healthy food that balances your constitutional dosha. Moreover, it is imperative to eat food on time and not miss any meals. Take a tblsp of honey and a tsp on lemon juice with hot water early morning. Each meal of the day should be wholesome and should not leave you feeling hungry or too full. Regular exercise is very important.

7.Ayurvedic Treatment for Hair Loss: People with a dominant Ayurveda Pitta Dosha or body type are most susceptible to hair fall and hair thinning.

Recommendations: Opt for a high nutrition diet and include berries, cherries, ripe mangoes, apples, oranges, potatoes, cucumbers, green beans, broccoli, peas, parsley, cauliflower, chicken, milk, butter, ghee, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom in your diet. Reduce your intake of alcohol, coffee, pickles and vinegar. Every once in a while, get an Ayurvedic Head Massage using natural, herbal essential oils and lime juice.

8.Ayurvedic Treatment for Stress, Lethargy & Pains: Ayurvedic Massages are a great way to relieve stress, improve the metabolism of a person and detoxify the body by flushing out harmful toxins and wastes. Full body massages as well as head massages are known to relax strained joints and muscles, improve the body’s blood circulation, revive the physical strength and vitality in a person as well as relax the mind.

Some of the most well known Massages include Pizhichil, Shirodhara, Abhyangam, Dry Garshana Massage and Swedish massage, etc.

Contact an Ayurveda specialist to benefit from the wonders of Ayurvedic treatment.