An introduction to Ayurveda

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the traditional natural medicine of India dating back over 5000 years. It is a unique holistic system of healing based on the interaction of body, mind and spirit. Effectively it is a fully developed system of medicine, but while an early exponent of Ayurveda (Susruta) became the father of modern western surgery, in fact the surgical side of Ayurveda has not been developed, and so the current focus is on general medicine.

Originally the wisdom of Ayurveda, and other ancient Indian wisdom, was passed orally from one generation to another. Eventually it was written down in Sanskrit poetry to form the Vedas, which distilled the prevailing historical, religious, philosophical and medical knowledge to form the basis of Indian culture. The name Ayurveda derives from two Sanskrit words, broadly Ayur meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge or science. This conveys the fact that Ayurveda is more than a system of medicine. It is a way of life that aims to enhance our well being, and increase longevity through a union of physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Ayurveda is truly 'holistic'. It is considered that we human beings are part of a whole, which is this cosmos. No aspect of human existence can be taken independently. Thus from a holistic point of view, when we are talking about health we cannot separate it from its many other contexts.

This is expressed in the following Vedic poem:

As is the individual, so is the universe.
As is the human body, so is the cosmic body.
As is the human mind, so is the cosmic mind.
As is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm.

Ayurveda in the 21st Century

One thing we may ask is what relevance a 5000 year old system of medicine may have to today’s world. Western medicine has made significant advances in the post-war years, however, its limitations and the side effects of drug related therapies are becoming only too evident, and there has recently been a growth in interest in the West in alternative therapies and medicines. In India Ayurveda operates very successfully alongside western medicine.

Ayurveda possesses probably the longest clinical experience of any medical system in the world, with a history of Ayurvedic Colleges and hospitals going back well over three thousand years. It has carefully examined every sort of disease and life condition and their impact on health and well being. There is a growing body of research evidence, particularly in India, to support the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatments.

Ayurveda treats each person as an individual. The key to health is an understanding of each person’s individual constitution and the way they live physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

According to Ayurveda (and the Hindu philosophy which underpins it) the five fundamental elements ether, air, fire, water and earth form the material reality of the universe. These five great elements combine into three bio-energies (Vata, Pitta and Kapha), which are present in varying degrees in everyone. These are known as the three Doshas. We are each born with a particular balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha known as our Prakruti. To be healthy we need to keep our Doshas in this balance. If this balance is disturbed by our diet, lifestyle or state of mind, illness of one kind or another eventually results.

What conditions may Ayurveda be able to treat?

Generally Ayurveda will benefit both those in good health (by helping to keep them that way) and those who are ill. It is used in India in relation to almost every kind of illness but may be particularly helpful in a number of common conditions, for example:

• Arthiritis
• Skin ailments
• Digestive disorders
• Stress
• Chronic fatigue
• Anxiety and depression
• Migraines
• Sinus problems
• Respiratory disorders
• Hair loss
• Weight problems
• Menopausal symptoms
• etc

However, Ayurveda is not magic, so beware of those who make exaggerated claims and check their training and experience of Ayurveda.

What is involved in a consultation?

An initial consultation will take some time, and will have the objective of assessing the nature of your illness (or wellness!), its development and your current health status. Therefore, expect that the practitioner will:

• Take a detailed case history;
• Ask questions regarding diet, lifestyle and bodily functions;
• Complete an Ayurvedic examination of the body

Traditionally an Ayurvedic examination pays specific regard to, for example, the pulse, tongue, voice, eyes and general appearance. The proper functioning of the digestive system is seen as central to good health. The ultimate aim of an Ayurvedic diagnosis is to detect any imbalances in the body and deal with these before they result in serious illness, or alternatively to combat any illness that is present.

Ayurvedic treatment

Ayurveda has a broad range of available treatments. The most important relate to advice on diet and lifestyle, which might encompass suggestions for exercise, and avoidance of certain foods. Meditation and/or yoga would also be seen as beneficial in many cases.

In addition Ayurveda offers probably the greatest variety of herbal preparations in the world. These are a fundamental component of Ayurveda and range at one end from culinary herbs such as coriander, garlic, cumin, and tumeric, which may be combined with food and incorporated into the diet, to more specialist herbs aimed at combating particular problems. Ayurvedic preparations may comprise single herbs, but more often herbs are combined into formulations that may be in the form for example, of powders, pastes, or liquids. This generally gives an improved effectiveness against particular complaints.

A wide variety of massage techniques are also used, which have a number of beneficial effects. These include abhyanga (body massage), plus a large number of associated treatments, and use a variety of oils, or even powders and pastes depending upon the individual needs of the patient. Ayurveda also makes use of herbal steam treatments (sudation).

Massage and steam may be used independently, or more often in combination with a series of detoxification/cleansing measures known as Panchakarma. These procedures are often performed in a residential setting, and certainly by someone who is qualified and experienced in their use.

Choosing a Practitioner

In India Ayurveda is regulated and those wishing to practice as an Ayurvedic doctor normally complete a degree programme in a University lasting for at least five and a half years including an element of clinical practice. Eventually they will be registered as doctors with the Central Council for Indian Medicine. This perhaps gives an indication of what is required to fully practice Ayurveda in a professional manner.

There is a distinction in India between an Ayurvedic doctor (who will diagnose and prescribe) and what is effectively an attendant/practitioner/nurse who provides the massage treatments and possibly other support to the patient. In the latter case the period of training is much shorter, and the knowledge requirement less.

Currently (September 2005) in the UK Ayurveda is not regulated, although this is set to change from 2006 when a regulatory system will be developed. The number of practitioners is still fairly small, and scattered. Many current practitioners were trained in India, or via a variety of training programmes in the UK or Europe, and a number may have developed experience over many years. It is likely that regulation in the UK will require a mix of degree level training, and some minimum hours of clinical practice, although this has yet to be finalised.

In the UK you are likely to come across three (maybe more!) types of practitioner. One type of practitioner may offer a full diagnosis and prescription service – in which case you should expect a level of training and expertise comparable to that experienced in India.

Other practitioners may seek just to offer Ayurvedic dietary and lifestyle advice in which case the level of training can be less.

Finally there are practitioners who seek to offer an Ayurvedic massage service. I can thoroughly recommend this as a treatment, having personally experienced a number of such treatments in India and Sri Lanka, but again check the experience of the practitioner – ask what specifically makes it Ayurvedic massage – sadly some practitioners in the UK do not offer authentic Ayurvedic massage but some variant on Swedish massage. While both are beneficial, the techniques and rationale are actually quite different (as very often is the cost).

In choosing a practitioner in the UK, therefore, check the nature and period of the training undertaken against the treatment that is being offered. Find a practitioner that you feel comfortable with, and where you are able to develop a rapport. This is all part of the healing process. This may require a little research and time, but will be ultimately worthwhile. The task should be made easier once a regulatory framework is introduced.

In the meantime some useful websites as starting points are: www.ayurvedagb.com, www.maharishi.co.uk, www.apa.uk.com

Alternatively, contact John Capper who qualified as a massage therapist in 2000 and has been studying Ayurveda since, having recently completed a degree in this subject.

John's contact details are: Telephone: 01483 821961 Email: john.capper@ntlworld.com