Ayurveda: A Natural Health 101 Article

What It Is

Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of sub-continental India. With an archeological record going back 7000 years and an unbroken written history dating back to around 1500 B.C., Ayurveda is easily the oldest medical system still in existence and is also one of the most comprehensive. Though it's often treated by westerners as nothing more than folk medicine, Ayurveda in India is always practiced alongside technology-based medicine. Unlike other "natural" medicines Ayurveda happily embraces techniques like micro-surgery and CAT scans.

Modern medicine, both mainstream and alternative, owes much to Ayurveda. Ancient practitioners studied medical theories including psychiatry, optometry, general wellness and surgery. Both Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbology were build on Ayurvedic foundations and Ayurveda offers the largest catalog of herbal therapies ever known.

Perhaps the thing that sets Ayurveda apart from other therapies is its use of body typing. Ayurveda groups people according to how the natural forces, or elements, influence them emotionally, mentally and physically, then assigns nutritional, meditative and herbal therapies according to the dominate "dosha" each person displays.

What It Can Do For You

Today's Ayurveda is strongly influenced by Hindu and Buddhist practices and that can make it difficult for Americans to fully appreciate. But if you have the right motivation and are willing to keep an open mind Ayurveda can be a powerful ally in your search for wellness. Ayurveda teaches that the spiritual and the physical aspects of healing are equally important and that neither takes place without the other. Detoxification is an important part of Ayurveda and practitioners strive to balance the natural forces (or doshas) in the body through nutrition, exercise, meditation and massage. Ayurveda is primarily concerned with longevity and quality of life and puts great emphasis on disease prevention.

Finding a Qualified Practitioner

American Ayurveda is very different from authentic Indian Ayurveda and you may have considerable difficulty finding a qualified practitioner--most American practitioners focus on the herbal side of Ayurveda and virtually ignore the rest. But if you can find a well-trained practitioner (preferable an M.D.) he or she can take the place of your existing family practitioner.

What The Critics Say

Critics of Ayurveda dismiss it as just another folk medicine and point to its emphasis on spirituality as proof that it's outdated and backward.

My Opinion

When I started working on my Ayurveda Certification I was looking for just enough information to confidently answer my clients' questions. Years later, I'm still learning and no longer describe Ayurveda as a "Indian folk medicine".

Lisa Barger is a traditionally trained naturopath specializing in illness prevention counseling. Ms. Barger holds certification in Ayurveda, Iridology, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and American Herbology. For more information about Ms. Barger's private practice or to take a free online natural health class please see our web site at http://www.LisaBarger.com.

---

Using Essential Fatty Acids for Reducing Arthritis Joint Pain

Essential fatty acids provide protection for the whole body. In... Read More

Herbology

Herbology is one of the oldest healthcare sciences known to... Read More

Health Benefits of Hemp Oil

Hemp oil has long been recognised as one of the... Read More

Neroli: The Fragrance that Exudes Contentment

One whiff of this unique fragrance will be enough to... Read More

3 Quick Herbal Remedies

In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has skyrocketed... Read More

Hypnosis Way of General Indications of Deceit

When the subject is changed, he's in a better, more... Read More

Why Do So Many People Seem To Have Allergies?

Allergies and asthma arise from loss of the body's natural... Read More

Improve Your Eating Habits To Save Money On Prescriptions!

Do you like the arthritis pain relief you get from... Read More

Health - Its All in the Mind

Do you ever listen to other people's conversations? I mean... Read More

Cause Of Stuttering

When a person has a stutter or a parent realises... Read More

How to Treat Your Liver Right

The liver has many functions, but the one I will... Read More

Stuttering Treatment, Stammering Treatment

There are many different treatments for people who stutter/stammer. In... Read More

Tap Away Your Fears

In my workshops we use energy techniques that involve tapping... Read More

Understanding Aromatherapy

In the 1920's, a French cosmetic chemist named Rene-Maurice Gattefosse,... Read More

Complementary Medicine

Complementary Medicine is the use of natural therapy and medicines... Read More

Herbal Therapy

Herbal Therapy, also referred to as Herbalism, is one of... Read More

Neuro Emotional Technique

NET or Neuro Emotional Technique is one of the newer... Read More

Freedom Is Found In Detachment

I am looking for freedom in my life. And I... Read More

How to Sense Low Levels of Asbestos in Your Daily Environment. (Part II)

Most people find it difficult to believe that a tiny... Read More

What Causes Osteoporosis and Ten Changes You Can Make to Reduce Your Risk of Osteoporosis

Ten Simple Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Reduce Your... Read More

The Universal Calibration Lattice® - Your Own Personal Connection to the Universal Energy Source

Now is an incredible time to be on Earth. All... Read More

An Aspirin A Day Can Give You Cancer

I want to share a health alert with you. So... Read More

Cure Arthritis? Right!

Arthritis sufferers are daily bombarded with new, better, more exciting... Read More

Moles, Warts & Skin Tags Remedy

Are you worried about your moles, warts, and skin tags?... Read More

Heart Healthy

"Open your heart to me, my own," whispers Grandmother Growth... Read More

Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility

For thousands of years knowledge of the herbs and wild... Read More

Herbs ? Natures Potent Remedies

Use of herbs for health and as a medicine has... Read More

The Sense of Smell

Disturbed vibrations occur in the body as a precursor of... Read More

How to Stop Hair Pulling With Hypnosis

Stress caused by the day-to-day issues of home life and... Read More

Aromatherapy - Essential Oils for Physical and Psychological Well-being

What is Aromatherapy?It is the practice of using volatile plant... Read More

Holistic Methods: Color Therapy and Aura Soma in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

The human body is recognized as a series of colors,... Read More

Aromatherapy

Although the word aromatherapy has not been around forever, the... Read More

MEDICINES use and ABUSE

Friends, The study below done a few years ago should... Read More