Common Ayurvedic treatments

 

Ayurveda promotes health, cures diseases and prevents diseases. Ayurveda directly addresses the root cause and restores equilibrium of the physiology. It deploys panchakarma methodology i.e. medicine, diet, activity, regime and strengthens body mechanism for prevention and cure.

Following are basic elements of Ayurvedic treatment:

1. The skill, knowledge and wisdom of the physician.
2. Holistic analytical diagnosis addressing the causative factors instead of latent symptoms.

Panchakarma (Detoxification)

Ayurveda uses Panchakarma to eliminate built up toxins from the physiology. It can be applied upon both diseased and healthy individuals. It prevents, restores, and rejuvenates the physiology. Panchakarma is applied through the following process:

• Deepana and Pachana – Purpose is to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning.
• Oleation and Sudation – This prepares the body for receiving treatment through external or physical application such as medicated oils in combination with synchronized massages.
• Depending on the situation, the physician applies Panchakarma treatment in the Eliminative phase.

Some of the examples of Panchakarma treatment are as follows –

• Virechana (Purgation),
• Vamana (Emesis),
• Snehavasthi (Medicated Oil Enema),
• Kashayavasti (medicated decoction enema), and
• Nasya (Nasal Administration).

Rejuvenation (Rasayan Chikitsa)

Sages from ancient times successfully formulated rasayanas or immuno-modulating drugs. These drugs address the body’s resistance against diseases. It also addresses the body’s aging process through toxins and free radicals. Rasayan chikitsa provides body-mind harmony, muscle toning and vibrant skin.

Stress Management

Simultaneously with medicines, synchronized exercises (Pranayama, Pizhichil, Sirodhara) along with meditation terminates stress and strain related problems.

Weight Reduction

Panchakarma therapy, in combination with massages, using specialized oil boosts the body to tackle metabolic disorders. This, in turn, helps the physiology to successfully counter obesity and weight related problems.

Spine and Joint Care

Application of Panchakarma therapy, in combination with Yoga and other synchronized massages helps in the treatment of joint and spine problems for instance slip disc, sciatica, spots injury, osteo-arthritis, scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Some of the therapies are Pizhichil, Pathrapotalaswedam, Choornawsedam, Kadeevasthy, Pichu and lepam Greevavasthy etc.

Lifestyle Disease Management

Panchakarma therapy in combination with herbal medicine, Yoga and therapeutic massage helps in correcting lifestyle disorders such as Hypertension, Diabetes, High Cholesterol and associated complications.

Urine Therapy

Drinking of one’s urine has been mentioned to be of tremendous therapeutic value in treatises like Sushruta Samhita, Bhaava Prakaasa Yogaratnaakaram, and Ashtaanga Sangraha.

Role of Diet in Ayurvedic Treatments and Health

Diet is one of the most essential components of Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy. A balanced diet is of tremendous significance of a healthy metabolic situation. The diet is also directly correlated with heating or cooling energy of food or veerya, post-digestive (metabolic) effect or vipaaka, taste or rasa of the food item, constitution or prakriti of an individual, digestive power (or agni).

Constitution Or Prakriti

Prakriti is the inherent constitution of an individual. It consists of the vaata, pitta and kapha. The prakriti determines the particular specialized diet of an individual.

Digestive Power Or Agni

The digestive capacity of an individual is directly related to the balance of the doshas in an individual. The different types of Agni are as follows:

1.   Vishama Agni: The vitiation of gastric fire causes digestive disorder and consequently emotional imbalance.

2.   Teekhna Agni: Owing to Pitta dosha this type of disorder takes place. It may be causative factor for hypoglycemia, heartburn, hyperacidity and hyper- metabolism.

3.   Manda Agni: Excess kapha condition leads to slow metabolism, overweight, congestive diseases and allergies.

4.   Sama Agni: A balanced tridoshas helps an individual to eat almost any type of food without difficulty.

Advantages of Ayurvedic Treatments

·         It is essentially preventive, curative and protective in nature.

·         It is believed to be a divine gift.

·         It is indigenous and native in character since it uses local herbs, flowers, leaves and plants.

·         It provides hopes even for stubborn diseases and is often regarded as a safe last resort.