Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, RN, EdD

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that combines two roots: ayus, which means daily living, and vid, which means knowledge. It is both a system of health and healing an a philosophy of life.

Where did Ayurveda come from?

Anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago on the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda was born. Ayurvedic knowledge is considered to originate from divine sources.

What are the 5 basic elements?

According to Ayurveda, the cosmos is composed of 5 basic elements or mahabutas. These are: earth, air, fire, water, and space. In living matter these 5 elements come together and give rise to the fundamental physiological energy that regulates the body and is called the dosha or force.

What are the doshas?

The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Most people are a combination of doshas, but one often predominates. Vata is a combination of space and air, pitta of fire and water, and kapha of water and earth.

What is ama?

Digestion is considered by Ayurveda practitioners to be one of the most important functions that takes place in the human body. When digestion is not working well, undigested food or ama, occurs. Ama is a principal cause of maladies.

How does an Ayurvedic practitioner diagnose maladies?

A practitioner is likely to use visual observation, touch and interrogation, pulse exam, urine exam, exam of body parts, signs and symptoms, exploratory therapy (or what diet, drugs and other reigmens are being used), and pathogenesis (determining which dosha is in imbalance).

What kind of treatments does an Ayurvedic practitioner use?

Treatment might include purification (sweating, use of purgatives, or enemas), or the use of herbs and foods, meditation, fasting, proper diet, aromatherapy, self-massage, the use of oils, and regularity in daily routines. There is an emphasis on prevention through adoption of a healthy lifestyle. It is a holistic therapy because the mind, body and spirit are integrated.

What kind of conditions do Ayurvedic practitioners treat ?

Ayurveda is most appropriate for the treatment of chronic illness, rehabilitation from acute injury, prevention of disease, and maintenance of health.

How does Ayurveda work with traditional medical practice?

Ayurveda can be effectively used with many mainstream Western modalities.

Why is Ayurveda effective?

The goal of maintaining harmony and balance through diet, meditation, and lifestyle changes can be especially beneficial if you are motivated to maintain or improve your health. Sticking to a daily routine by attending to diet, meditation and daily routine, can reduce stress and increase the feeling of connectedness to reality.

This article is excerpted from The Encyclopedia of Complementary Health Practice. For more information on Ayurveda and other holistic and complementary practices, see The Encyclopedia. It is available from www.springerpub.com or www.amazon.com. You may be able to find the book at your local library or ask your book store to order it.