What is Ayurveda?
About Ayurveda
Ayurveda (pronounced eye-yer-vay-dah) is a 5,000 year old medical system that was developed in India. It is a comprehensive and holistic system that considers the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of a person. It is a sister practice to yoga and incorporates the philosphies of yoga. While yoga focuses more on the spiritual-emotional aspects of a person, Ayurveda focuses more on the physical-emotional health. Practiced together they provide a complete and holistic approach to health.
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In Ayurveda, the approach to health is constitution-specific and based on a person's dosha (mind-body type). There are three different doshas that contain different combinations of the five elements: Vata (space and air); Pitta (fire and water); and Kapha (earth and water). Everyone has all three of these doshas, but in different proportions, and that is what makes us unique.
Pillars of Health
The main pillars of health in Ayurveda include: diet, lifestyle and sleep, and these pillars can be addressed in an Ayurvedic health plan.
Digestion of both food and experiences is one of the most important factors for good health. In Ayurveda, we say "you are what you digest", and that "food can be a medicine and also a poison". In order for us to fully digest, absorb, and assimilate the nutrients from our food, and eliminate any wastes, our digestive fire (agni) must be optimal. Improperly digested food creates toxins (ama) that can accumulate in the body and may lead to disease. While a particular food might be good for one person, it may be like a poison to another. Diet should be constitution-specific to ensure imbalances are not created through our food.
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The proper 'digestion' of experiences is equally important to ensure we do not accumulate mental ama. Much of this processing occurs during our sleep.
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Lifestyle practices can include the incorporation of a healthy daily routine that aligns with the Ayurvedic clock, and daily (circadian) and seasonal rhythms.
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Aromatherapy
Ayurvedic practices include taking care of our five sensory organs (skin, nose, mouth, ears, and eyes) as that is how we interact with the world. We can use these sensory organs in ways that can bring balance (e.g., massage) or imbalances (e.g., watching violent TV) to the mind and body. Aromatherapy / Essential Oil Therapy uses essential oils from aromatic plants to support balance through our sense of smell, and also through application to the skin. Essential oils can be inhaled, or diluted in a formulation so they can be safely applied on the skin to have further health benefits (e.g., muscle ointments). Aromatherapy has been an Ayurvedic practice for thousands of years through the use of aromatic plants such as Jasmine, Sandalwood, and Rose.
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Essential oils can have positive effects on the mind and body through absorption on the skin, inhalation through our lungs, or through our nervous system via olfactory receptors in our nose. From our nose, there is a direct connection with the limbic system in the brain, which includes our centers for memory and emotional regulation.
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Aromatherapy can be a wonderful way to practice self care, and can provide support for many things from pain management, to relaxation, to hair and skin care.
