Natural Healing Through Ayurveda

Rande

The Ayurvedic Approach to Health --

Western and Yogic Exercise

According to Ayurveda, exercise should be stopped when

one has to breathe in and out quickly,

when there is a sensation of dryness in the mouth, and

when perspiration appears on the forehead.

Exercise done with such restriction is said to be of optimum use.

If exercise is stopped at his stage one can prevent bodily secretions and exudations from leaving the gastro-intestinal tract and adversely affecting other bodily sits.

The Western style of exercise, on the other hand, emphasizes the need of “warming up, “ which is indicated when perspiration appears on the forehead, and does not stop the exercise at this point.

Skeletal muscular exertions can cause hepatic, splenic, or mesenteric reserves to empty themselves into the peripheral circulation. This may lead to a movement of undigested products into the tissues resulting in disease. Therefore, the ideal exercise according to Ayurveda is based on the understanding of central and peripheral activity of the doshas or biological humors. Ayurvedic exercise lays emphasis on lightness of the body. Versatility to flex, bend or extend is another quality that is desired. Firmness but not rigidity or hardness in the architecture of the skeletal tissue is the goal. Evaluation of physical ability is not based on the size of the individual muscle or the “body beautiful: but the capacity to withstand heat, cold, hunger, thirst, or fatigue. Indian thought considers Yoga the best means of achieving the greatest physical ability. The initial states of Yogic exercise and discipline lay emphasis also on the restriction of diet and behavior which leads to purification of the body.

Smoking

Smoking a cigarette made of medicinal herbs (without tobacco) is useful for alleviating Kapha in the neck and head region. This type of smoking is also helpful for maintaining health and treating certain diseases.

II Seasonal Regimen -- Ritucharya

1. It is a well know fact that different atmospheric changes take place due to changes of season. These changes in the atmosphere affect all living beings.

2. Some changes are beneficial, while others are detrimental.

3. In order to achieve maximum benefits from the good qualities of the atmosphere and protection from the bad effects, Ayurveda has prescribed certain rules -- in regard to diet, behavior, and medicines-- called “seasonal regimen” or Ritucharya.

4. All the activities in the universe are governed by two energy principles, hot and cold. 5. Based on this concept the entire time span of the year has been divided into two parts, accumulation (Adana) and release (Visarga).

5. In India they follow the northern course of the sun (Uttarayana), the period from the winter to the summer solstice, and the southern course of the Sun (Dakshinayana), the period from the summer to the winter solstice.

6. In the Adana (taking) period, nature takes away energy and strength from all living beings, whereas during the Visarga (giving ) period, nature gives energy and strength to all living beings.

7. During the accumulation period (Adana) the increasing heat of the Sun imparts hot and dry qualities to living beings as well as to plants.

During this period, the green grass supply is scanty and consequently animal products and dairy products are not supplied sufficiently. Their quality is not very nutritious either.

Due to extreme heat, the natural decomposition of food stuff is faster.

This increasing heat reduces the strength of all individuals and also lowers the appetite.

The grains, vegetables, or herbs that grow during this period have predominantly bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes.

The incidence of disease is more frequent.

8. During the release (Visarga) period, there is a dominance of the moon and the principle of cold.

Hence the strength of creatures increases along with their appetite.

In plants, predominantly sour, salty, and sweet tastes are found.

As immunity or resistance to diseases increases during this period, people at large do not suffer from diseases and their health is maintained.

The food that is available during this period is also more nourishing since the natural process of decay is not as fast as it is in the extreme hot season.

As a result of this, the whole environment enhances the possibilities of better tissue building.

9. In general the substances to be selected in a particular season should have qualities opposite the season.

10. In India we have six seasons, each of two months duration.

Vata is provoked during the rainy season,

Pitta in autumn

Kapha in spring.

11. Therefore, one should not indulge in things like foods and acts which are likely to increase or provoke the respective Doshas.

12. On the other hand, one should resort to

Vamana or herb induced emesis in early winter,

Virechana or herb induced purgation in autumn and

Basti or medicated enema in the rainy season to eliminate Kapha, Pitta, and Vata respectively.

13. By carrying out these measures, one can prevent seasonal diseases.

14. For temperate climates the

Kapha season is early spring,

Pitta is summer, and
Vata late autumn.

III Ethical Regimen

1. A healthy mind is as important as a healthy body.

2. The mind influences many physiological actions.

3. When the body possesses a Sattvic quality of mind, it directs all desires and actions for the welfare of an individual.

Rajas and Tamas are harmful qualities of mind , and are produced by passions and ignorant actions.

Such an unhealthy mind generates wrong judgments and misconceptions by the intellect and is responsible for producing diseases.

Ayurveda prescribes certain rules for maintaining a healthy state of mind. They are called the “Ethical Regimen” (Sadvritta). Practicing them gives balance and peace tot he mind. Violating or ignoring them makes us agitated in our thoughts and feelings. These are.

* Always speak the truth

* Do not lose your temper under any circumstances

* Do not get addicted to sensory pleasures

* Do not harm anyone

* As far as possible do to expose yourself to hardships

* Try to control your passions

* Endeavor to speak pleasant and sweet words

* Meditate every day for tranquillity of mind

* Observe cleanliness in all things

* Be patient

* Observe self-control

* Try to distribute knowledge, good advice, and money to others

* Whenever possible devote yours services to God, to wise and respectable individuals, or the elderly.

* Be straightforward and kind

* Avoid irregularity in daily activities

* Consume food of Sattvic quality (Do not take overly spicy, sour, or non- vegetarian foods, or alcohol)

* Behave according to the time and place where you are residing

* Act always in a courteous and polite manner

* Control your sense organs

* Make a habit of doing all that is good and avoiding all that is bad

General Rules of Conduct

The following principles are also generally useful for everyone.

* Avoid overeating, overdrinking, too much sexual activity, and too much or too little sleep

* Never eat food at an unhygienic place, at an improper time, or with unhealthy people

* Do not disclose another’s fault or secret

* Do not take another’s wealth or property

* Do not keep company with people who break the rules of good conduct

* Do not over endeavor

* Do not do more than you can

* Control all your sense organs

The Three Pillars of Life

The key to health and disease does not lie in the application of drugs or chemicals or special therapies but in the prime factors on which our life and vitality is based.

The three most important ones in Ayurveda are food, rest and sexual energy.

I Food

1. Complexion, clarity, good voice, longevity, genius, happiness, satisfaction, nourishment, strength, and intellect are all conditioned by food in this world, as are all practices leading to liberation from this world.

2. Ayurveda generally recommends a vegetarian diet but lists the properties of meat for the benefit of those who take it.

The best food articles by type are as follows:

Grains Shali (a red variety of rice which is ready in sixty days)

Legumes Mung beans

Water Rain water collected from high above ground level or spring water at a high

attitude

Salts Rock salt

Vegetables Jivanti

Meat Aina (a type of dear), lava (a small bird like a pigeon), and rohita (a small fish)

Dairy Ghee and milk from the cow

Oil Sesame

Animal Fats Pig and chicken

Fruit Grapes

There are three special substances for alleviating the Doshas.

Sesame oil for Vata and Kapha

Honey for Kapha and Vata

Ghee for Pitta and Vata

Amalaki is the best herb to preserve youth.

Haritaki is the best herb for removing Doshas from the body.

Food sustains life, while milk strengthens life.

Wine and bathing remove exhaustion.

Properties of Food

All food articles are composed of three factors:

*The five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether

*The six tastes--sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent, and bitter

*The twenty attributes--heavy, slow, cold, wet, sticky, dense, soft, firm, subtle, and clear and their opposites.

Relation of the Rasas to the Doshas

All diets of sweet taste generally aggravate Kapha, except honey, shali rice and barley.

Usually sour taste aggravates Pitta, except pomegranates and amalaki

All diets of bitter taste generally aggravate Vata and weaken sexual vitality, except guduchi, the sprouts of vetra, and the leaves of patola.

All pungent articles except garlic and long pepper aggravate Vata and also weaken sexual vitality.

Rules for taking Food

1. Eaten in proper quantity while warm and oily.

2. Should not be contradictory in potency.

3. It must be eaten only after the previous meal has been properly digested.

4. Food must be taken at a clean place in the proper company of people, without too much talking or laughing and with concentration.

1. Warm and unctuous food is delicious in taste and it stimulates Pitta (enzymes) essential for digestion.

It gets digested properly and aids the downward movement of Vata (good peristalsis).

2. Food which is slightly oily strengthens all the sense organs and increases bodily strength and brightness of complexion. If it is taken in proper quantity it promotes longevity and does not impair the power of digestion.

While eating, due regard to one’s own constitution should be given, and the mind should be calm and quiet. If the mind is disturbed or if there is a lot of stress and strain on the mind then appetite also gets deranged.

Indications of Proper Quantity of Food Eaten

1. There should be no undue pressure on the stomach or in the sides of the chest.

2. There should not be heaviness in the abdomen, nor obstruction to the proper function of the heart.

3. Relief from hunger and thirst, proper nourishment of the senses, as well as a comfortable feeling while walking talking, and sleeping and increase in strength are additional signs that food has been consumed in proper quantity.

4. All opposite signs denote that too much food has been consumed.

Such food aggravates the Doshas.

If it is not properly digested then Ama or toxins are produced in the gastro-intestinal tract.

5. Ultimately, intake of food and d rink which is heavy, cold, dry, irritating or mutually contradictory, or intake of food when the individual is afflicted with passion, anger or grief produces Ama, which in turn produces disease.

Eight Factors Determining the Utility of Food

1. Nature of Food (Prakriti)--Each substance has its characteristic nature; for example rice is light. Sesame oil is damp and oily while toast is dry. In short all the qualities of food substances should be studied and applied harmoniously.

2. Preparation of Food (Karana)--means the transformation of food qualities through various processes like cooking, frying, and roasting. Due to this change light substances can become heavy or vice versa.

3. Food Combination (Samyoga)

4. Quantity of Food (Rashi)--This is of two types: total quantity of food consumed, and quality of each particular article.

5. Habitat Where Food is Grown (Desha)--The place where the food is grown and its variation of qualities according to the region, climate, and soil are important. The negative effect of modern inorganic and chemical agricultural practices should be considered here.

6. Time of Eating (Kala)--When food is consumed and the state of the individual (health or diseased) at that time. While consuming food the time of day and season should be considered. For example, heavy foods taken at night have adverse effects, as do hot foods taken in the summer.

7. Dietary Rules (Upayoga Samstha)

8. Condition of the Person Eating Food--Taking food according to one’s constitution, that is of the appropriate nature for it and that to which one is accustomed by habitual or repeated use. The state of mind and emotions are also considered here.

Wrong or Contradictory Food Usages

Place--Food which is wholesome in a cold region may not prove the same in a hot region. In deserts dry and pungent food should be avoided (as the climate is hot and dry), and cold and unctuous food should be avoided in marshy areas.

Time--Cold and dry food in winter and pungent and hot food in the summer should be avoided, because weather changes require the food of the opposite qualities to that of the season.

Power of Digestion--According to the nature and the power of Agni

Proportion of Certain Foods--For example, honey and ghee in equal proportions is not an advisable combination.

Food Habit--While advising the diet for any individual the habitual tolerance to particular foods must be taken into account. Eating sweet and cold foods for a person accustomed to pungent and hot food is not correct.

According to Dosha--Usage of herbs, diet, and regimens with similar qualities to one’s predominant Dosha should be avoided, such as eating dry, cold substances or fasting when Vata is aggravated.

Mode of Preparation--Improper cooking often produces negative results.

Potency--Mixing substances of contradictory (cold and hot) potency together produces adverse synergism or antagonism, like milk and salt.

Condition of the Gastrointestinal Tract--Taking food which is too drying in constipation or too lubricating when there is loose stool.

State of Health--Intake of Vata aggravating food is not advisable after exhaustion or strong physical exercise.

Order--Taking food before relieving an urge to evacuate the bowels.

Sequence--Eating food in the wrong order such as eating cold things after eating ghee.

Cooking--The source of heat used for cooking. Over or under cooking food. Using microwaving which destroys its vitality (Prana).

Wrong Combination--As sour food with milk.

Palatability--

Wrong Quality--Not mature or overly matured, preserved or even hybrid food substances.

Rules of Eating--Not observing the proper rules of eating or taking meals in the wrong company.

The Disease Process According to Ayurveda

Cause of Disease

Common Causes for All Diseases

Role of the Senses

Volitional Transgression

Effect of Time

Factors Responsible for Vitiation of the Doshas

Causes of Particular Diseases

Specific and Non-Specific Factors

Charaka has pointed out the factors responsible for keeping a person free from disease.

He states that:

One who resorts to a wholesome diet and life regimen;

Who enters into action after proper observation

Who is unattached to the pleasures drawn from the satisfaction of the senses

In whom thought, speech and deeds are happily blended

In whom the mind is controlled and

Who is possessed of knowledge, austerity, and the love for meditation;

Such a person seldom gets afflicted with disease.