L6-Ayurveda Medicine Flashcards
Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems originating from India.
What is it?
a. k.a Ayurveda
- A “whole medical system”: Defined by NIH as “complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western medicine.”
- Holistic: integrates balance of body, miind and spirit
The term “Ayurveda” combines 2 Sanskrit words.
Ayur=?
Verda=?
- Ayur = life
- Veda = knowledge or science ( “the knowledge of life” or “the science of life”)
T/F: Ayurvedic Medicine is considered a CAM.
TRUE
Provide e.g. of popular therapies (4).
-yoga, meditation, massage, herbs
Describe the history.
-handed down by word of mouth and written records
-over 2000 yo
>main texts: Caraka Samhita, Susruta Samhita
-has long been the main system of health in India
Describe the education & training centres around the world.
(hint: India & NA)
India:
-approx 200 colleges/schools
-~5.5 years of training including an internship
NA:
-US: growing # in US
-no licensing boards in Canada/US - b/c of this it is important to ask A practitioner about their training.
List the 3 diff training & scopes of practices.
- Ayurvedic practitioner
- Ayurvedic therapist
- Ayurvedic counsellor
Ayurvedic Philosophy.
Describe the 5 guiding principles.
- Health is not the absence of disease, but state of balance between body, mind and spirit
- Universal interconnectedness
- 5 elements
- Life forces (doshas)
- Body’s constitution (prakruti)
Ayurvedic Philosophy.
State & describe the 4 balanced states of health.
- Health consists of balanced state of:
1. 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta, Kapha - govern all body’s activities
2. 7 tissues: Dhatus - responsible for structure of body and functioning of organs
3. 3 wastes: Malas - > feces, urine, sweat
- produced and eliminated appropriately
4. Gastric Fire: Agni - biological fire/ heat energy that governs metabolism
- Interconnectedness.
Describe
- all things in the universe (living/non) are connected
- health probs can result when person is out of harmony w universe
- disruptions to balance can be phys, emotional, spiritual or combo
- The Five Elements.
Describe.
-provide the foundation of the physical world (space, air, fire, water and earth)
=building blocks of all material existence
- Doshas.
Describe.
- life forces; life energies
- govern all physical and mental processes of the human body and mind
- Doshas.
State the 3 doshas.
What are they composed of?
-also derived from the 5 elements, but 2 elements are predominant in each
Vata – composed of space and air
Pitta – composed of fire and water
Kapha – composed of earth and water
- Doshas.
What does each dosha correspond with?
How does this affect an indie?
- Corresponds with a certain body type and personality type, and a greater chance for certain health problems
- It is the varying combinations of these doshas that contributes to an individual’s unique mind-body constitution
- Constitution/Prakruti.
Define Prakruti.
-a unique proportion of doshas which is derived from the union of your parent’s doshas at the time of conception
- Constitution/Prakruti.
T/F: Prakruti can change over one’s lifetime.
FALSE!
-Prakruti is aunique blueprint that does NOT change over one’s lifetime
- Constitution/Prakruti.
In most individuals, one dosha ___, and a second dosha ___
- Predominates
2. Strong influence
Restate the 3 doshas & what they are composed of.
- Vata – composed of space and air
- Pitta – composed of fire and water
- Kapha – composed of earth and water
- Vata
Define.
Vata - energy of movement
- Physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of space and air
- Quick-thinking, thin, fast- moving
- Vata
Vata is described as “King of Doshas”. What does that mean?
Gives motion to Pitta and Kapha
- Vata (Stephanie)
List the 8 characteristics and provide examples for each.
- Dry: dry skin, hair; constipation
- light: thin body frame, light sleep
- cold: cold hands/feet
- rough: cracked skin, nails
- subtle: subtle fear, fine tremors
- clear: clairvoyant
- astringent: likes sweet, sour and salty
- mobile: fast walking, many dreams
- Vata
Describe re: physiologically & psychologically.
-Physiologically: governs breathing, talking, nerve impulses, movements in muscles and tissues,
circulation, assimilation of food, elimination, urination, menstruation
-Psychological: governs communication, creativity, flexibility, quickness of thought
- Vata
If balanced, what happens?
Active, creative, gifted with a natural ability to express and
communicate
- Vata
If unbalanced, what happens?
Anxiety, bodily disorders related to dryness dry skin and constipation
- Vata
List common vata disorders.
- arthritis
- high/low bp
- urinary disorders
- headaches
- dry, scaly skin
- low energy
- chronic energy
- heart disease
- low back pain
- intolerance to cold
- Pitta
Define.
-The energy of digestion and metabolism
-Physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of fire and water
>Fiery personality, reddish complexion
- Pitta (Andrea)
List the 11 characteristics and provide examples for each.
- hot: good digestive fire, strong apetite
- sharp: sharp teeth, distinct eyes
- light: light/medium body frame, fair shiny hair
- oily- soft oily skin, does not like deep-fried foods
- spreading- rash, acne, inflammation; want to spread their name/fame all over the country
- sour- sour acid stomach, sensitive teeth
- bitter- n/v
- pungent: heartburn, feelings of anger
- fleshy smell- foul smell under armpits or mouth
- red: flushed skin
- yellow: yellow eyes, skin
- Pitta
Describe re: physiologically & psychologically.
- Physiologically
- Provides body with heat and energy through breakdown of food
- Governs digestion and related to hormones - Psychologically
- Governs joy, courage, willpower, anger, jealousy and mental perception
- Pitta
If Pitta is balanced, what happens?
Joyful disposition, sharp intellect, courage and drive
- Pitta
If Pitta is unbalanced, what happens?
(the fire of the body and mind becomes “unruly”)
- Anger, rage and ego
- Infection, inflammation, rashes, ulcers, heartburn and fever
- Pitta
List common Pitta Disorders.
- heartburn
- ulcers
- GI disorders
- rashes
- eye disorders
- intolerance to heat
- Kapha
Define.
- energy of lubrication and structure
- Provides the body with physical form and structure
- Helps maintain strength and immunity and control growth
- physical and mental qualities that reflect the elemental qualities of earth and water-> solid body frame, soft temperament
- grounded and smooth flowing