CHAPTER 8: Alternative Medical Systems: Ayurveda and Its Practices Flashcards
What is Ayerveda
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means “science of life.” It is derived from two roots:
Ayur meaning “life” and Veda meaning “knowledge or science.”
- 5000 - 10000 years ago
- Ayurveda places equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit, and strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual
- Today, Ayurveda focuses on naturalistic healing
methods, and surgery is no longer common for Ayurvedic physicians or practitioners, although it was historically.
What are the 4 main principles in Ayurveda
- Principle of Inner Balance
- Principle of Universal Cosmos (Five Elements)
- Principle of Body Energies (Doshas)
- Principle of Disease Causation
Principle of Universal Cosmos: 5 Elements
(or tattwa) that form the
sum and substance of the physical universe as well as serve as the building blocks of nature, and they originate from and are composed of an energy called Prana
- The tattwa combine to make the seven tissues (dhatu) that give the body its structure—plasma, blood, muscle, lipid, bone, and nervous and reproductive systems.
Principle of Inner Balance
to maintain inner balance by placing major emphasis on maintaining health by preventing disease and illness
- Diet, exercise, positive lifestyle, and balancing one’s life (physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially) are encouraged
- both internal and external factors
- examples that may cause imbalance: weather, seasons, work related stress
prana
is the prime moving force in the body and the universe
- pra means foreword or before and ana means breath
- Prana provides
the elements with energy and gives them power to become the building blocks for all bodily functions
Definitions of the Five Elements
Ether: represents the space or field in which everything happens
Air: Air is matter in a gaseous form. It is moving and dynamic. All energy transfer reactions require oxygen
within the body
Fire: is powerful because it can change solids into liquids and gases. responsible for our nervous reactions, our feelings, and even our thought processes.
Water: No living thing can survive without water. regulate body temp, carry hormonal info
Earth: represented in our bodies as the bones, teeth, cells, and tissues. manifests stability, performance
Principles of Body Energies (Dosha)
There are three mental doshas and three body doshas
The three body doshas are
1. vata (movement)
2. pitta (transformation)
3. kapha (structure)
- Each person’s combination
of doshas (or body constitution) is established at birth - When all of the types are evenly distributed, a person is said to be tri-doshic (good)
Vata Dosha
LEAD DOSHA
(most illness = vata disorders)
- is composed of space and air
- Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement and is located in the brain, large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears, and thighs
- governs breathing, blinking muscle and tissue movement, heartbeat, and cellular activity
- most important dosha
Constitution
each persons unique energy pattern (temperament, predisposition, makeup, baseline)
Pitta Dosha
- is made up of fire and water
- governs digestive functions
such as absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, and body temperature - promotes understanding and intelligence
Kapha Dosha
Kapha is made of earth and water
- supplies water for all body parts and systems
- provides support for bones, muscle and insulating fat
- Analogous to endomorph body time
- said to cause obesity and diabetes
4 main causes of disease
- mental factors
- lifestyle habits
- dosha imbalance
- metabolic toxins
health and family history and physical examination
- utilize observation more than laboratory testing, but will utilize blood, stool, and urine laboratory testing
- examining in detail the pulse, tongue, lips, eyes and nails
- conduct systemic examinations of body systems
pulse diagnostic technique
- use the pulse to describe the balance (or imbalance) of the three
doshas and to diagnose body illnesses such as heart disorders - snake, frog and swan pulse tests
tongue diagnostic technique
- examine the size, shape, surface, margins, and color of the
tongue - a blemish, discolouration or coating on some part of the tongue is used to indicate a body problem
facial diagnostic technique
that disorders and/or disease may
be indicated by wrinkle pattern, looks of the eyelids and eyes, appearance and shape of the nose, and appearance of the lips.
Purva Karma Therapy
ghee (made from cows milk)
- In internal Snehan, patients are given medicated edible oil or medicated edible butter
- to get rid of body impurities
also can be done by a massage so the body
- can absorb it and carry into bloodstream
Swedana/Swedan therapy
the use of dry or wet fomentation or heat therapy to facilitate sweating
- liquefies toxins
and increases the movement of toxins into the gastrointestinal tract.
Vanama
Forced vommiting
- intended to remove kapha toxins collected
in the body and respiratory tract
Virechana
Forced purging
- is intended to remove pitta toxins that accumulate in the liver and gallbladder by completely cleansing the gastrointestinal tract.
Basti
is medicated enema or colonic irrigation
- inserted in rectum to clear it up
- oil/ghee/herbal enema (8-30 days)
Nasya
Saltwater for nose and sius cleaning
Raktamokshana
bloodletting
- detoxify the blood
- has a high risk of infection
Herbals and plants in ayurvedic medicine
- according to NCCIHI there is not enough evidence to support the practices of these herbal medicines
- concersn about toxicity, formulations, interactions
- meds having lead, mercury and arsenic
Feb 2022 Health Canada
- health canada had a recall for these medicines posing health risks
- says to stop using meds and products in this field
- buy or beware
- not authorized for sale
training and education
- none in US or canada bc its not recognized
- in india u can go to school and get certified
3 Gunas (mental)
Sattva:
- balance, harmony, positive, peace, clarity, creativity
Rajas:
- movement, activity, energy, excitement, passion, desire, agittaion, anxiety, egoism
Tamas:
- inertia, inactivity, negative, apathy, dullness, dark, delusion, depression, irgnorance
from video:
- your food matters for your gunas
