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Ayurveda

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AyurvedaisanancienthealingsystemfromIndiathatdatesbacksome5,000yearsormore.It
encompassesawiderangeoftechniquestotreatillnessandencouragegeneralwellbeing,
including:

Herbs
Yoga
Acupuncture,alsocalledmarmapuncture
Diet
Breathingexercises
Massage.

TranslatedfromSanskrit,Ayurvedameansthescienceoflife.Thecentralphilosophyisthatthe
mindandbodyareoneandthesame,andthatphysicalhealthcantbeachievedwithout
emotional,mentalandspiritualhealth.
SinceAyurvedaisonlynowgainingsomepopularityintheWest,thenumberofscientificstudies
hasbeensmall.Fromtheevidencesofar,itseemsthattheAyurvedicapproachcanbeeffectivein
treatinganumberofdisorders,includingdigestiveproblemsandallergies.
A range of disorders
Ayurvedacanbeusedtotreatarangeofdisorders,including:

Anxiety
Digestiveproblems
Eczema
Highbloodpressure
Highcholesterollevels
Rheumatoidarthritis
Stress.

The five elements and doshas

AccordingtoAyurveda,thefiveelementsthatmakeupeverythingintheuniverseareearth,water,
fire,airandether.Eachelementisrepresentedinthehumanbody.Forinstance,bonesandteeth
areearth,bloodandlympharewater,themetabolismisfire,oxygenisair,andetheristhespaces
foundbetweenmatterandrepresentedbestbyvibrationorsound.Thesefiveelementspairupto
formthreeforces,ordoshas,withinthebody:

Vatamadeupofairandether.Responsibleforsuchfunctionsastheheartbeat,
locomotionandtheworkingsofthenervoussystem.ToomuchVatacanleadtosymptoms
suchashighbloodpressure,whiletoolittlecanresultinconstipation.
Pittamadeupoffireandwater.Responsibleforsuchfunctionsasdigestionand
temperature.ToomuchPittacanleadtosymptomssuchasulcersandacne,whiletoolittle
canresultinindigestion.
Kaphamadeupofwaterandearth.Responsibleforsuchfunctionsasimmunity.Too
muchKaphacanleadtosymptomssuchasarunnynoseorproductivecough,whiletoo
littlecanresultinpoorconcentration.

An individual blend of doshas

Eachpersonhasanindividualblendofthethreedoshas,withoneorsometimestwodoshas
predominating.SomeonewhoismainlyaVatatypewillbecreativeandnervous;aPittatype,
confidentandcompetitive;andaKaphatypewillbepatientandpossessive.Apersonsdosha
balancecanbeupsetbyavarietyoffactorsincludingdiet,stress,emotionalupsetandthe
weather.

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Doshas and their effect on prana

AnAyurvedicpractitioneraimstobalancethepatientsdoshasinordertoincreasetheirlifeenergy,
orprana.Onlythenisgoodhealthpossible.Wetakeuppranafromthefoodweeatandtheair
webreathe.Foodcanaffectapersonsdoshalevelsbecausefoodisalsomadeupofthefivebasic
elementsandcanbepredominantlyVata,PittaorKapha.
A range of therapies
AnAyurvedicpractitionerusesarangeofhealingtherapiestobalancethedoshasandbolster
prana,including:

Aromatherapy
Dietarytherapy
Herbalmedicine
Acupuncture(practicedbysomepractitioners)
Massage
Meditation
Panchakarma(fivetherapies)aspecialisedtreatmentconsistingoffivetherapies
resultingininternaldetoxificationandbalancingofthedoshasorthethreeenergies(Vata,
PittaandKapha)
Soundtherapy,ortheuseofmantras
Yoga.

Special considerations
Herbalmedicinescanbeaspotentaspharmaceuticaldrugsandshouldbetreatedwiththesame
cautionandrespect.Neverstoptakingyourconventionalmedicineoralterthedosewithoutthe
knowledgeandapprovalofyourdoctor.
Where to get help

Yourdoctor
Ayurvedicpractitioner
AustralasianAyurvedicPractitionersAssociationTel.(07)55311141

Things to remember

AyurvedaisanancientIndianhealingsystemthathasbeendevelopingoverthepast5,000
years.
Illnessisbelievedtobecausedbyanimbalanceofthebodysthreevitalforces,or
doshas.
Treatmentoptionsarevariedandcanincludeyoga,acupuncture,herbalmedicine,
massagetherapyanddietarychanges.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

InternationalAssociationofAyurvedicAcupuncture

Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at
nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe
copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission.
ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore
informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

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