A Magazine of People and
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Now Celebrating 17 Years In Print and 11 Years Online!
Ayurvedic Medicine
by Dr. Raj Rakhra
Ayurveda, which literally means "the science of life",
is the natural healing system used throughout India. Ayurveda
was originally known to have been first developed and established
by the great sages who developed India's original systems of meditation
and Yoga. The study of Ayurveda includes herbal medicine, diet,
body work, surgery, psychology and spirituality. It not only deals
with medical science, but also with the social, ethical, intellectual,
and spiritual life of man. According to Ayurvedic science, a living
creature is composed of soul, mind and body. It is the combination
of these three elements that constitutes the science of life.
The human body is composed of the three fundamental elements called
doshas, dhatus and malas. The doshas govern the physio-chemical
and physiological activities of the body, while the dhatus enter
into the formation of a basic structure of a body cell, thereby
performing some specific actions. The malas are impurities partly
excreted in a modified form after serving their physiological
functions. These three elements are said to be in a dynamic equilibrium
with each other for the maintenance of health. Any imbalance of
their relative importance in the body results in disease and illness.
Ayurvedic Doctors teach patients to understand their unique bodily
constitutions and show them how to use diet, massage, herbs, and
lifestyle adjustments to harmonize body, mind, and spirit. In
recent years Ayurvedic science has spread to distant parts of
the world including the United States, where it has begun to flourish
alongside other holistic, patient-oriented, natural, non-invasive
medical systems such as Naturopathic medicine, Homeopathic Medicine,
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
Ayurveda is a philosophy of health care believed to have originated
around 4500 BC and was first documented in 2500 BC. In the Sanskrit
language, Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge. Ayurveda is
a complete system of health for the mind, body and spirit.
Using a holistic approach, this ancient wisdom restores and maintains
metabolic equilibrium through herbs, minerals, and the power of
Nature - Sun, Light, Air and Water. Ayurveda deals with the human
system, not in isolation, but integrated with the forces of the
Universe to provide a healthy life in harmony with social, ethical,
intellectual and spiritual components of life.
Ayurvedic Medicine is not merely a kind of folk medicine. It is
a science in its own right. Yet it is a science based upon the
observation of living beings and their actual reaction to their
environment. In this way, it classifies not only individuals but
also foods, herbs, emotions, climates, and lifestyles in an energetic
language that reflects the entire living world around us. Ayurved
possesses perhaps the longest clinical experience of any system
of medicine, with a history of Ayurvedic hospitals and colleges
going back for over hundreds of years. It is a science of anatomy
and physiology that follows a ritualistic model based upon the
biological humors. It has an extensive herbal and mineral industry,
including what is probably the greatest variety of herbal and
pharmaceutical preparation in the world. These include herbal
wines, jellies, confections, resins, balsams, pills, and an extensive
system of mineral preparation. Perhaps most importantly, it also
has a whole science of self-care, including an entire methodology
of right living for optimum health and the promotion of greater
awareness and creativity. All of this follows a constitutional
model that considers the unique nature of the individual as the
primary factor in health, not disease as an entity in itself.
While western medicine has focused upon pathogens and how to control
disease from the outside, Ayurved concentrates on individual basis
to control disease through balancing the life-force within the
individual. Such regimes strengthen our own internal physiology
and immune system which may be crucial for our present health
and in the future due to the extensive use of toxic drugs that
our society consumes, which have a devastating effect on our health
in general.
The human body is a part of Nature; conceptually there are five
elements or forces of Nature, which are the building blocks of
Nature: Earth (Prithvi), Water (Jala), Fire (Teja), Air (Vayu)
Ether, Space (Akash).
In addition, there are three forces: Mind (Mana), Intelligence
(Budhi), Ego (Ahankar).
In order to stay healthy, we must maintain the natural balance
of all these elements.
Using a combination of yoga, meditation, Herbal Nutrient Supplements,
and following sound dietary advice, we will be able to be in control
of our own health.
Ayurveda also includes Panchakarma - a therapeutic five-fold detoxification
process, a classical form of treatment. The procedure consists
of massage, steam therapy, emesis, laxatives, Shirodhara and or
nasal drops. The idea is to incorporate prevention, preservation,
and treatment through Panchakarma and other suitable methods.
Personal Ayurvedic Consultation - includes:
Personal medical, family and social history.
Evaluation of current health status & problems as well as
thorough Nutritional Evaluation.
Determination of Body Constitution and evaluation of Ayurvedic
Doshas for imbalance.
Ayurvedic Physical Examination including personal medical history,
physical examination, pulse, tongue and skin.
Recommendations for lifestyle management, diet & specific
problems.
The Ayurvedic Consultation allows an Ayurvedic Physician to determine
your unique body make-up and specific problems as well as make
recommendations. This is the starting point for comprehensive
and specific Ayurvedic therapies.
Dr. Rakhra's clinic is
located at 121 - 14 Street North West in Calgary, Alberta.
He may be reached at: 403-270-7033.
See display ad in this issue for more information.
Visit his webiste at: www.aynh.com
A Magazine of People and Possibilities
Now Celebrating 17 Years In Print and 11 Years Online!