7 - Ayurvedic Medicine Flashcards
(43 cards)
1
Q
What is ayurvedic medicine?
A
- Considered CAM therapy
- “Whole medical system” - evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western medicine
- Ayurveda = life and knowledge/science (knowledge of life or science of life)
- Aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit
2
Q
What are the 3 types of ayurvedic professionals?
A
- Practitioner
- Therapist
- Counsellor (can give advice about diet and lifestyle, but can’t prescribe herbs)
3
Q
Describe the ayurvedic philosophy
A
- Health is not the absence of disease, but state of balance between body, mind, and spirit
- Health consists of balanced state between 3 doshas, 7 tissues, 3 wastes, and gastric fire
4
Q
What are the 3 doshas and what is their function?
A
- Vata, pitta, and kapha
- Govern all body’s physical and mental processes
5
Q
What are the 7 tissues called and what is their function?
A
- Dhatus
- Responsible for structure of body and functioning of organs
6
Q
What are the 3 wastes, what are they called and what is their function?
A
- Feces, urine, and sweat
- Called malas
- Produced and eliminated appropriately to balance health
7
Q
What is the gastric fire called and what is its function?
A
- Agni
- Heat energy that governs metabolism
8
Q
What are the 5 elements?
A
Space, air, fire, water, and earth
9
Q
Which elements are predominant in each dosha?
A
- Vata = space and air
- Pitta = fire and water
- Kapha = earth and water
10
Q
Describe prakruti
A
- Aka constitution
- Everyone is born w/ a unique proportion of doshas that is derived from the union of your parent’s doshas at time of conception
- In most people, one dosha predominates and a second dosha has a strong influence (called dual-doshic constitution)
11
Q
Describe vata
A
- Energy of movement
- Physical and mental qualities that reflect elemental qualities of space and air (quick-thinking, thin, fast-moving)
- “King of doshas” - gives motion to pitta and kapha
12
Q
Characteristics of vata
A
- Dry (skin, hair, lips, tending toward constipation)
- Light
- Cold
- Rough
- Subtle (fear, anxiety, insecurity)
- Mobile (fast walking, talking)
13
Q
What does vata govern physiologically and psychologically?
A
- Physiologically = breathing, talking, movements in muscles and tissue, circulation, urination, menstruation
- Psychologically = communication, creativity, flexibility
14
Q
What happens if vata is balanced and if it’s unbalanced?
A
- Balanced = active, creative, gifted w/ natural ability to express and communicate
- Unbalanced = anxiety, bodily disorders related to dryness (dry skin and constipation)
15
Q
What are some common vata disorders?
A
- Arthritis
- High/low BP
- Insomnia
- Low energy
- Low back pain
16
Q
What can be done to balance vata?
A
- Keep warm and calm
- Avoid cold, raw foods and extreme temperatures
- Keep a regular routine
17
Q
Describe pitta
A
- Energy of digestion and metabolism
- Physical and mental qualities that reflect elemental qualities of fire and water (fiery personality, reddish complexion)
18
Q
What are some characteristics of pitta?
A
- Hot (good digestive fire, strong appetite, hates heat)
- Sharp (teeth, distinct eyes, pointed nose, sharp memory and understanding)
- Light
- Oily
- Spreading (rash, inflammation all over the body; want to spread name and fame all over the country)
- Sour, bitter, pungent
19
Q
What does pitta govern physiologically and psychologically?
A
- Physiologically = digestion and related to hormones
- Psychologically = joy, courage, willpower, anger, jealousy, mental perception
20
Q
What happens if pitta is balanced and if it’s unbalanced?
A
- Balanced = joyful disposition, sharp intellect, courage and drive
- Unbalanced = anger, rage, ego; infection, inflammation, rashes, ulcers, fever
21
Q
What are some common pitta disorders?
A
- Heartburn
- Ulcers
- Diarrhea, GI disorders
- Rashes and psoriasis
- Infections
- Eye and liver disorders
22
Q
How can pitta become balanced?
A
- Avoid excessive heat, oil, and steam
- Limit salt intake
- Eat cooling, non-spicy foods and drink cool drinks
- Exercise during cooler part of the day
23
Q
Describe kapha
A
- Energy of lubrication and structure
- Physical and mental qualities that reflect elemental qualities of earth and water (solid body-frame, soft temperament)
24
Q
Characteristics of kapha
A
- Heavy
- Slow
- Cold
- Oily
- Damp
- Smooth, soft
- Static
- Viscous, cloudy
25
What does kapha govern physiologically and psychologically?
- Physiologically = moistens food, lubricates joint, gives bulk to tissues
- Psychologically = love, patience, forgiveness, greed, attachments
26
What happens if kapha is balanced and if it's unbalanced?
- Balanced = naturally good health, rugged body, mental peace
- Unbalanced = obesity, nasal congestion, mucous, lethargy, depression
27
What are some common kapha disorders?
- Obesity, diabetes
- Cold and flu, sinus congestion, allergies
- Anorexia and bulimia
- Asthma
- Hypothyroidism
- Excessive sleeping
28
How can kapha become balanced?
- Exercise
- Avoid heavy foods
- Vary your routine
- Avoid dairy and iced foods and drinks
29
What can cause an imbalance in a dosha?
- Unhealthy diet or lifestyle
- Too much or too little mental/physical activity
- Being unprotected from environmental factors
- Weather, chemicals, or germs
30
How does diagnosis and treatment take place in ayurvedic medicine?
- First must determine the persons prakruti (constitution)
- Then determine their vikruti (current state of the doshas)
- A person in excellent health will have the same prakruti and vikruti
- Imbalance in a dosha will produce sx that are related to that dosha
- Tx is based on categorizing and balancing an individual's dosha
31
What are the 3 doshic states?
1) Balanced (all 3 doshas present in their natural proportions)
2) Increased (one dosha is aggravated)
3) Decreased (one dosha is reduced or depleted)
32
What are the methods of diagnosis for ayurvedic medicine?
- Questions about diet, lifestyle and sx
- Observation of teeth, skin, eyes, nails, tongue, and weight
- Taking the pulse (each dosha thought to make a particular kind of pulse)
- Examining stool and urine
33
Goals of ayurvedic medicine
- Eliminate cause of disease
- Reduce sx
- Correct and prevent doshic imbalances
- Rebuild and support the body
34
Tx options in ayurvedic medicine
- Yoga, stretching, breathing exercises
- Meditation (recommended for all 3 doshas)
- Herbs
- Specific foods and diets
- Hands-on therapy (massage of "vital points")
35
Describe panchakarma
- Cleansing to eliminate impurities
| - Combination of tx including fasting, herbs, special diets, enemas, sweating, etc.
36
What is yoga used to treat?
- Depression, anxiety
- Low back pain
- HTN
37
How does ginger help w/ digestion?
- Increases pancreatic lipase and amylase activity and bile acid volume and secretion => improves digestion of fats and carbs
- Increases pancreatic trypsin => improves digestion of protein
38
What are the primary active agents in turmeric?
Curcuminoids
39
What is turmeric used for?
- Anti-inflammatory effects (arthritis, cancer prevention)
- Digestive aid
- Alzheimer's
40
What is ashwaganda used for?
- Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties
| - Possible benefit for anxiety
41
Describe triphala
- Remedy of dried fruits from 3 ayurvedic plants
| - Amalaki for pitta; haritaki for vata; bibhitaki for kapha
42
What is triphala used for?
- GI health
- Mild laxative, possible benefit in IBS
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
43
What are the heavy metal concerns w/ ayurvedic medicine?
- Sometimes intentionally combined w/ herbs to increase their potency, called "rasa shastra"
- Often mercury, lead, or arsenic
- Often exceed recommended daily intake levels
