Therapies: Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means “the science of lifespan.” The word ayurveda is made up of two roots: ayur means life and veda means knowledge. According to ayurveda, every human being was created by the cosmos as either male energy, Purusha, or female energy, Prakruti. Purusha is choiceless passive awareness, while Prakruti is choiceful active consciousness. A person’s self-identify, called Ahamkara, is affected by three universal qualities: satva, rajas, and tamas. Satva equips an individual with the ability to have clarity of perception. Conversely, tamas is responsible for periods of confusion and deep sleep, as well as the tendency towards inertia and darkness. Rajas causes movement, sensations, feelings and emotions, everything that makes us human beings.
Structurally, the human body is composed of five basic elements: space, air, water, fire and earth. Man is considered a miniature of nature. Functionally, however, there are three body types, or doshas, that explain the actions, gestures, and metabolic activities of an individual. These three body types are analogous to both western medicine’s body types of thin, fat, and muscular, or Sheldon and Krethchmer’s psychosomatic bodytypes of endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph. The three doshas of ayurvedic medicine are called vata, pitta, and kapha, respectively. Ether and air together constitute vata; fire and water make up pitta; water and earth, kapha. Although vata, pitta, and kapha exist in every cell, tissue, and organ of the body, including the male’s sperm and the female egg, each individual has one dominant metabolic body type (dosha). Most people are a mixture of dosha characteristics (such as vata-pitta). All in all, while there are only three doshas, there are really seven body types in ayurveda: mono-types (vata, pitta, or kapha predominate), dual-types (vata-pitta, kapha-pitta, or vata-kapha), and equal types (vata, pitta, and kapha in equal proportions). Health occurs in an individual when he or she develops a balance or equilibrium among the three doshas. This equilibium prevents disease and gives the individual a peace of mind.
The most outspoken proponent of ayurvedic medicine has been Deepak Chopra, M.D., Western-trained endocrinologist who recently appeared on Larry King Live on CNN to discuss with several alternative medicine advocates and conventional medicine physicians the importance of his discipline as well as alternative medicine in general. He has written many books in an attempt to introduce ayurvedic medicine to the public at large.
According to ayurvedic medicine, there are seven major factors that can disrupt physiological harmony: genetic, congenital, internal, external trauma, seasonal, natural tendencies or habits, and magnetic and electrical influences. Unlike most other alternative therapies, ayurvedic medicine takes into account how the seasons and time of day influence health. Ayurvedic treatment usually includes music, herbs, massage, steams, facials, and aromatherapy. Particularly close attention is paid to the sensory organs by an ayurvedic physician. The manipulation of a patient’s life as well as his or her behavior and lifestyle is prevalent in ayurvedic medicine.
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