Ayurveda comes from India and, as far as is known, has been practiced for at least 6,000 years. The beauty is that this ancient knowledge is still applicable in these modern times.
Ayurveda encompasses both a science of what health, as well as well-being, is, and how to achieve it, as well as medicine. Literally, the word Ayurveda means science of life. Central to Ayurveda are the three bio-forces in the body. These are called the doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In most people, one or two of these bio-forces naturally predominate. Which dosha is dominant says something about how your body’s metabolism functions.
When the basic types are individually and mutually balanced, they protect and support the body. A disturbance can occur through lifestyle habits, excessive diet, food that does not suit you, wrong food combinations or natural influences such as season, time of day and age. Also certain emotions or suppressed emotions can lead to disturbance of Vata, Pitta or Kapha, or vice versa, a disturbance of one of the three types can lead to certain emotions.
Ayurveda treatment
A treatment is unique for everyone; you look at the body type, so which dosha(s) are naturally dominant, which dosha(s) are currently dominating, which characteristic of the dosha is causing the total disturbance, which characteristic of the dosha will need to be treated.
A treatment plan usually consists of nutritional and lifestyle advice and herbs. How a food affects the dosha is based on the six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent and on the effect of the food on body tissues; does it stimulate or suppress metabolism and, in the long run, does it increase or decrease body tissue. In this, Ayurveda is unique.
The mesologist uses the ayurvedic pulse diagnosis and observation of the body to examine one’s constitution-which dosha predominates naturally-and one’s disturbance.