Ayurvedic Living

The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is that an imbalance of your doshas will cause illness. Therefore Ayurvedic healing, as well as Ayurvedic living require a complete, integrated balanced approach.

Imbalance of the three doshas is believed to result in the blockage of the prana or life force. Therefore the goal in Ayurvedic healing is to cleanse the body of waste materials that build up because of this blockage.

The process of cleansing is known as Panchakarma. It can include massage, medical oils administered through the nasal passages, enemas, laxatives or purgatives, and blood purification.

The goal in Ayurvedic living is to restore and maintain balance in each individual’s three doshas. This balance is unique to each individual, but the same treatments can be applied for everyone to achieve their natural balance.

These treatments include: herbs, vitamins, metals, minerals, meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, stretching exercises, breathing exercises, changes in diet, and certain plant based spices and oils. Perhaps the most prominent of the herbal treatments is ashwagandha, which is so important in Ayurvedic medicine that it will be discussed separately.

Ayurvedic healing has not been well known in the west, as explained on Nirogi Tan, but that appears to be changing. In the last decade it has been increasing in popularity due partly to the influence of Deepak Chopra, M.D., a widely known Indian physician and philosopher who uses Ayurveda in combination with western medicine.

Today, some spas will offer Ayurvedic herbs, medicines and treatments, and there is growing interest in seeking out trained Ayurvedic practitioners.