What is Ayurveda? Assessment, Diet, Treatment, and More. A healing system that originated thousands of years ago in India, ayurveda is based on the notion that good health depends on the balance between mind, body, and spirit. Considered a complementary health approach in the United States, ayurveda focuses on restoring balance in the body through a personalized plan that can include massage, specialized diets, herbs, aromatherapy, and exercise. How Popular Is Ayurveda in the United States? ![]() Using data from the 2. National Health Interview Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 0. The percentage of respondents who had used ayurveda was unchanged from the 2. National Health Interview Survey. Ayurvedic Concepts. According to ayurvedic theory, everyone is made of a combination of five elements: air, water, fire, earth, and space. These elements combine in the body to form three energies or life forces, called doshas: vata, kapha, and pitta. The Thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck. It only weighs about one ounce, yet it is one of the most important endocrine glands in the body. Although there is a unique mix of the three doshas, one dosha is usually the most influential. In ayurveda, the balance of a person's doshas is thought to explain some of his or her individual differences and the likelihood of illness. An imbalanced dosha is believed to interrupt the natural flow of vital energy, or prana. The disrupted energy flow is thought to impair digestion and allow the build up of body waste, or ama, which further impairs energy and digestion. The vata dosha is a combination of space and air. It controls movement and is responsible for basic body processes such as breathing, cell division and circulation. Vata body areas are the large intestine, pelvis, bones, skin, ears, and thighs. People with vata as their main dosha are believed to be quick- thinking, thin, and fast, and be susceptible to anxiety, dry skin, and constipation. The kapha dosha represents the elements of water and earth. Ayurvedic Body Type Vata Diet Ayurveda YogaKapha is believed to be responsible for strength, immunity, and growth. Kapha body areas are the chest, lungs, and spinal fluid. People with kapha as their main dosha are thought to be calm, have a solid body frame, and be susceptible to diabetes, obesity, sinus congestion, and gallbladder problems. The pitta dosha combines fire and water. It is thought to control hormones and the digestive system. All rights reserved. Maharishi Ayurveda, TM, Transcendental Meditation, Maharishi Amrit Kalash, Vata, Pitta. The three doshas are known as: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. To find out your dominant dosha, take this quiz. Your dosha type will be determined by the majority of (i.e. ![]() Pitta body areas are the small intestines, stomach, sweat glands, skin, blood, and eyes. People with pitta as their primary dosha are thought to have a fiery personality, oily skin, and be susceptible to heart disease, stomach ulcers, inflammation, heartburn, and arthritis. A Typical Ayurvedic Assessment. ![]() Ayurvedic Body Type Vata Diet Ayurveda IndiaAn initial assessment with an ayurvedic practitioner may last an hour or longer. The practitioner will usually ask detailed questions about your health, diet and lifestyle. He or she will listen to 1. An ayurvedic practitioner also examines your tongue for clues about areas of the body that may be out of balance. The appearance of the skin, lips, nails, and eyes is also observed. Home > Ayurveda Diet > Vata Body Type. Ayurveda Vata Body Type: Balance Your Vata Dosha with these Ayurveda Diet & Lifestyle Tips. 7 Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine 1. Helps Lower Stress and Anxiety. Because stress is related to nearly every aspect of overall health, an Ayurvedic medicine. In Ayurveda, there are six tastes or Rasas: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. Ayurveda recommends including each of the tastes in every meal. In Ayurveda there are three main body types also known as doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Determine your Ayurvedic body type by answering these questions. At the root of all Ayurvedic treatment is the concept of balance. But to understand this, we must first understand what it is that gets out of balance. After the assessment, the practitioner will determine your unique balance of doshas. One dosha is usually dominant and may be imbalanced. ![]() ![]() ![]() The practitioner also determines your constitution, or prakut. What Might an Ayurvedic Treatment Plan Involve? After the assessment, the practitioner typically creates an individualized treatment plan including diet, exercise, herbs, yoga, meditation, and massage. The treatment plan generally focuses on restoring balance to one or two doshas. Diet - A specialized diet may be recommended to balance a person's doshas. See a list of foods thought to balance each dosha. Cleansing and detoxification - This may be done through fasting, enemas, diets, and body treatments. Herbal medicine - Examples of ayurvedic herbs and spices are turmeric, triphala, ashwaghanda, gotu kola, guggul, and boswellia. Yoga. Meditation. Exercise. Massage and body treatments - Examples include abhyanga, an ayurvedic- style massage, and shirodhara, a treatment that involves a stream of warm herb- infused oil poured on the forehead. Other bodywork treatments include swedana, udvartina, and pindasveda. Herbal tea - Pitta tea, vata tea, kapha tea. How Are Ayurvedic Practitioners Trained? Currently, there are no national standards for the certification training or licensing ayurvedic practitioners in the United States or Canada. Are There Any Potential Safety Concerns With Ayurveda? In the United States, ayurvedic products are regulated as dietary supplements, and aren't required to meet the same safety and effectiveness standards as drugs. A 2. 00. 8 study examined the presence of metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic in ayurvedic products sold online. The researchers identified 6. August and October 2. Of the 2. 30 purchased, 1. Nearly 2. 1 percent of the ayurvedic products tested were found to contain detectable levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic. There is a lack of research on the effectiveness, safety, side effects, and potential drug interactions of ayurvedic herbal products. Although some research has been done, there have generally been problems with the design of the studies. In North America, the use of certain traditional ayurvedic practices, such as emesis and blood cleansing, is considered highly controversial and may be unsafe. If You Are Considering Ayurveda.. Talk with your doctor first to weigh the pros and cons and discuss whether it's appropriate and safe for you. Ayurveda shouldn't replace (or delay) standard care. If you have health concerns, consult your primary healthcare provider first. Be aware that ayurvedic products have been found to be contaminated with metals such as lead and mercury. Sources: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. October 2. 00. 5. National Institutes of Health. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian- manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. Aug 2. 7; 3. 00(8): 9. Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen. PRAKRTI- the body type you were born with, vata pitta kapha. At the root of all Ayurvedic treatment is the concept of balance. But to understand this, we must first understand what it is that gets out of balance. Each of us is born with a genetically determined constitution, or prakrti. Two conditions influence the development of the prakrti: the balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energies (doshas) and the prenatal conditions in the womb. The preponderance of one or another dosha in our prakrti establishes our natural body type and determines our strengths and weaknesses. Once established at birth, our body types do not change. The slings and arrows of life do not often permit us to remain in that state, however, and we frequently find ourselves out- of- balance. In this imbalance, the seeds of future illnesses take root. In most people, one dosha or a mixture of two dominates body type. In rare instances, the three doshas may be in almost perfect balance. It is important to understand that illness is not caused by the balance of doshas in the prakrti, but rather by the imbalance between our prakrti - the natural body type we were born with - and our current dosha balance (known as vikrti). Individuals with a Vata- dominant body type tend to be thin and active, but lack the stamina for prolonged activity and therefore often depend on caffeine and sugar for stimulation. The dryness of the Vata constitution and the consequent creakiness of their joints make them seem almost brittle. Restlessness, hyperactivity, curiosity, and creativity mark the Vata- dominant personality, as do rapid, chaotic speech and frequent changes of mind. The Pitta- dominant body type typically manifests itself in a well- proportioned, muscular frame. Pitta- dominant types tend toward lighter, more sensitive skin, often overly sensitive. They are usually active, particularly in sports, where they can be fiercely competitive. They are passionate and dedicated, but can be overly competitive, intolerant, and irritable. Kapha- dominant individuals have big bodies and big bones, thick hair, strong, big teeth, and large, attractive eyes. They move slowly and gracefully, and exhibit great endurance. They are similarly slow to anger, and their loyalty makes them valued friends. Physically, Kapha- dominant individuals tend toward obesity; mentally, they can be selfish, greedy, and easily offended. To discover your body type, try our dosha self- test. Not intended as a replacement for an evaluation by a competent Ayurvedic practitioner, it will nonetheless give you some idea of your original body type, your current condition, and your mental and emotional states. With a clear understanding of the doshas, the gunas, and prakrti, we are now ready to explore the Ayurvedic concept of wellness. MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPICRETURN TO THE PREVIOUS TOPIC.
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