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Indian Ayurveda
cont....
Kapha is formed from Earth and Water and
is the energy that forms the body's
structure--bones, muscles, tendons--and
provides the "glue" that holds the cells
together. Kapha supplies the water for
all bodily parts and systems.
It lubricates joints, moisturizes the skin,
and maintains immunity. In balance,
kapha is expressed as love, calmness and
forgiveness. Out of balance, it leads to
attachment, greed and envy.
Life presents us with many challenges
and opportunities. Although there is
much over which we have little control,
we do have the power to decide about
some things, like our diet and
lifestyle.
To maintain balance and
health, it is important to pay attention
to these decisions. Diet and lifestyle
appropriate to one's individual
constitution strengthen the body, mind
and consciousness.
The basic difference between Ayurveda
and Western allopathic medicine is
important to understand. Western
allopathic medicine currently tends to
focus on symptomatology and disease, and
primarily uses drugs and surgery to rid
the body of pathogens or diseased
tissue.
Many lives have been saved by
this approach. In fact, surgery is
encompassed by Ayurveda. However, drugs,
because of their toxicity, often weaken
the body. Ayurveda does not focus on
disease.
Rather, Ayurveda maintains that
all life must be supported by energy in
balance. When there is minimal stress
and the flow of energy within a person
is balanced, the body's natural defense
systems will be strong and can more
easily defend against disease.
 It must be emphasized that Ayurveda is
not a substitute for Western allopathic
medicine.
There are many instances when
the disease process and acute conditions
can best be treated with drugs or
surgery. Ayurveda can be used in
conjunction with Western medicine to
make a person stronger and less likely
to be afflicted with disease and/or to
rebuild the body after being treated
with drugs or surgery.
We all have times when we don't feel
well and recognize that we're out of
balance. Sometimes we go to the doctor
only to be told there is nothing wrong.
What is actually occurring is that this
imbalance has not yet become
recognizable as a disease.
Yet it is serious enough to make us notice our
discomfort. We may start to wonder if it
is just our imagination. We may also
begin to consider alternative measures
and actively seek to create balance in
our body, mind and consciousness.
Ayurveda encompasses various techniques
for assessing health. It assesses
prodromal symptoms, cardinal signs and
symptoms, and one's suitability for
treatment to help determine the etiology
and pathogenesis of an imbalance.
Various methods are utilized to help
acquire information during an assessment
with a client. These methods include:
questioning, observation, palpation,
direct perception and inference.
Techniques such as taking the pulse;
observing the tongue, eyes and physical
form; and listening to the tone of the
voice are employed during an assessment.
Palliative and cleansing measures, if
appropriate, can be used to help
eliminate an imbalance along with
suggestions for eliminating or managing
the causes of the imbalance.
Recommendations may include:
implementation of lifestyle changes;
starting and maintaining a suggested
diet; and the use of herbs.
In some cases, participating in a cleansing
program, called panchakarma, is
suggested to help the body rid itself of
accumulated toxins so it can gain more
benefit from various suggested measures
of treatment.
In summary, Ayurveda addresses all
aspects of life--the body, mind and
spirit. It recognizes that each of us is
unique, each responds differently to the
many aspects of life, each possesses
different strengths and weaknesses.
Through insight, understanding and
experience Ayurveda presents a vast
"database" of the relationships between
causes and their affects, both immediate
and subtle, for each unique individual
VATA - The Energy of Movement
A person with vata predominant is
blessed with a quick mind, flexibility
and creativity.
Vata provides the essential motion for all bodily
processes and is extremely vital for
health. One purpose of lifestyle
considerations is to "ground" or
stabilize this motion.
On an annual basis, vata is most prominent in the
fall and at the change of seasons, and
these are the most important times to be
careful of diet and lifestyle. Routine
is very useful in assisting the vata
individual to effectively ground all
this moving energy.
Vata types have variable appetite and
digestion. They are often attracted to
astringent foods like salad and
vegetables, but their constitution is
balanced by sweet, sour and salty
tastes. Vata people tend to produce
little urine and their feces are hard,
dry and small in size and quantity.
Mentally, vata people usually grasp
things quickly but then forget them
quickly. They are alert, restless and
very active. They walk, talk and think
fast, but are easily fatigued. They have
less willpower and often feel unstable
and ungrounded.
They have less
tolerance, confidence and boldness. When
unbalanced, vata types have a tendency
to become fearful and nervous, and may
experience high anxiety. In the external
world, vata types tend to earn money
quickly and spend it quickly. They are
not good planners and as a consequence
may suffer economic hardship.
Vata
resides in the colon, as well as the
brain, ears, bones, joints, skin and
thighs. Vata people are more susceptible
to diseases involving the air principle,
such as emphysema, pneumonia and
arthritis.
Other common vata disorders
include flatulence, tics, twitches,
aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve
disorders, constipation, and mental
confusion. Vata tends to increase with
age as is indicated by drying and
wrinkling of the skin.
Since the attributes of vata are dry,
light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile,
clear and dispersing, any of these
qualities in excess can cause imbalance.
Frantic travel, especially by plane,
loud noises, continual stimulation,
drugs, sugar, and alcohol all derange
vata, as does exposure to cold and cold
foods. Like the wind, vata types have a
hard time becoming and staying grounded.
Routine is difficult but essential if
vata is to be lowered and controlled. In
general, people with excessive vata
respond most rapidly to warm, moist,
slightly oily, heavy foods. Steam baths,
humidifiers, and moisture in general are
helpful.
General food guidelines for decreasing
vata are:
50% whole grains: whole grain cooked
cereals, some breads and crackers
20% protein: eggs, high quality dairy
products, poultry, fish, seafood, beef,
tofu, black and red lentils
20-30% fresh vegetables with an optional
10% for fresh fruits
General guidelines for balancing vata:
Keep calm
Avoid raw foods
Avoid extreme cold
Avoid cold foods
Eat warm foods and spices
Keep a regular routine
PITTA - The Energy of Digestion and
Metabolism
Pitta people have many of the qualities
of fire. Fire is hot, penetrating,
sharp, and agitating. Similarly, pitta
people have warm bodies, penetrating
ideas, and sharp intelligence.
But they can also become very agitated and short
tempered. The pitta body type is one of
medium height and build, with ruddy or
coppery skin. They may have many moles
and freckles.
Their skin is warm and
less wrinkled than vata skin. Their hair
tends to be silky and they often
experience premature graying or hair
loss. Their eyes are of medium size and
conjunctiva is moist. The nose is sharp
and the tip tends to be reddish.
Pitta people have a strong metabolism,
good digestion, and strong appetites.
They like plenty of food and liquids.
They tend to love hot spices and cold
drinks. However, their constitution is
balanced by sweet, bitter and astringent
tastes. Pitta people sleep well and of
medium duration.
They produce large
quantities of urine and feces, which
tend to be yellowish, soft and
plentiful. They easily perspire. Hands
and feet stay warm. Pitta people have a
lower tolerance for sunlight, heat or
hard physical work.
Mentally, pitta
types are alert and intelligent and have
good powers of comprehension. However,
they are easily agitated and aggressive
and tend toward hate, anger and jealousy
when imbalanced. In the external world,
pitta people like to be leaders and
planners and seek material prosperity.
They like to exhibit their wealth and
possessions. Pitta people tend to have
diseases involving the fire principle
such as fevers, inflammatory diseases
and jaundice. Common symptoms include
skin rashes, burning sensation,
ulceration, fever, inflammations or
irritations such as conjunctivitis,
colitis, or sore throats.
Since the attributes of pitta are oily,
hot, light, mobile, and liquid, an
excess of any of these qualities
aggravates pitta. Summer is a time of
heat, the pitta season. Sunburn, poison
ivy, prickly heat, and short tempers are
common. These kinds of pitta disorders
tend to calm down as the weather gets
cooler.
The diet and lifestyle changes
emphasize coolness-cool foods, avoidance
of chilies and spices (especially
difficult for New Mexicans), and cool
climates. People with excessive pitta
need to exercise at the coolest part of
the day.
Dietary guidelines for pitta are:
50% whole grains--whole grain breads,
cereals, cooked grains
20% protein--beans (except lentils),
tofu, tempeh, cottage cheese, ricotta
cheese, raw milk, egg white, chicken and
turkey (white meat), shrimp, rabbit,
venison
20-30% vegetables with an optional 10%
for fresh fruits
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