ancient healing
is the health system of ayurveda right for you?
By James Rosati
Imagine a health system that starts with determining the formula of your own personal conception: the natural factors that were all in a row at the moment you were healthy enough to be created.
This health system, known as Ayurveda, analyzes how you have deviated from that formula as a result of your lifestyle, environment, emotions and current habits. Then it helps you apply simple laws of nature in a realistic way to help boost your natural immunity, remove the damaging variables and guide you to re-finding and living your original balance that will enable you to enjoy complete health again.
Ayurveda — pronounced Ah-your-vay-dah
— means “science of life.” It is the oldest medical system on earth, intuited by spiritually enlightened sages more than 5,000 years ago, and it is listed as one of the world’s major health systems by the World Health Organization. Spreading east into Indonesia and Indochina and west to Greece, its roots formed the base of all current medical systems. Ayurveda includes herbal medicine, dietetics, bodywork, surgery, psychology and spirituality. By using natural laws to correct any emotional, spiritual, physical and dietary imbalances, the practitioner and client work together to restore health.
The practitioner works with the client to understand the client’s physical, mental and spiritual constitution (Prakruti) by looking at fundamental energies (doshas) of the client. Each individual has a unique blend of these energies which include vata, responsible for movement within the body and mind, pitta, responsible for physical and mental digestion, and kappa, responsible for building of tissues and lubrication of the body and mind. The unique and individual balance of the doshas at birth is similar to our genetic inheritance.
In the initial evaluation, the practitioner uses astrology, touch, observation and questioning to assess imbalances on three levels: body, mind and spirit. Astrology is used to understand the client’s soul-purpose and health challenges inherent in the birth chart. Touch, including pulse-taking, is used to assess the tissues and underlying structures. Observation of the tongue, nails and general body structure looks for pathologies and health deviations. Questions about current, lifelong and family patterns of health explore potential genetic pre-dispositions of the imbalances.
In Western medicine, medications alleviate symptoms designed to ease the body so the natural healing process can occur. This approach of medications, however, may cause other problems and do not address the root causes of the disease, often leaving the body in a weakened state. Ayur
veda approaches each person as a unique individual holding the keys to his or her healing. The client takes an active role in his or her health by working with the practitioner to understand the underlying cause of the disease and correct the imbalances to restore health through changes in lifestyle, including diet, herbs, yoga, meditation and other therapies that address the individual constitution and its imbalances.
In severe cases, surgery and other invasive techniques are used in combination with other techniques to provide a true and lasting recovery.
Ayurveda works with Western medicine, and the systems are often used in a complementary manner. Western medicine, with its “big guns,” works well for trauma and acute bacterial infections. Ayurveda works in conjunction to help alleviate chronic conditions and rebalance the body after any disease or invasive procedure, allowing the body to heal more completely. Ayurveda also works with the body to stop diseases from taking root in the first place.
Many spa programs across the country are beginning to offer Ayurvedic services such as Abyanga (warm herbalized oil full body massage) or Shirodhara (a stream of warm herbalized oil applied to the forehead to induce a deep state of relaxation). These services can have therapeutic effects, but are designed as customized treatments specific to a client’s complete care plan.
Indeed, using Ayurveda without customi-zation removes its core basis. There are some therapies that are good for everybody, but not without customizing the oils or herbs used in them and not without knowing the client’s lifestyle habits and contributing factors. If these therapies are used without looking at the client’s big picture, harm can be done at worst, and it can feel relaxing at best. For this reason, true Ayurveda requires years of training under the direct supervision of a qualified master teacher or at an accredited institution.
Although Ayurveda requires specialized care that is uniquely tailored to every person, its greatest strength lies in the fact that the client is in control of his or her own choices and health. Most clients develop a better understanding of life and health and are able to apply their learning to maintain health after working with a qualified practitioner.
 James Rosati, is director
of spa services at
Geneva Ridge Spa and Resort, Lake Geneva, WI.
He may be contacted at (262) 249-3860.
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