CHAPTER 8: Alternative Medical Systems: Ayurveda and Its Practices Flashcards
What is Ayerveda
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means “science of life.” It is derived from two roots:
Ayur meaning “life” and Veda meaning “knowledge or science.”
- 5000 - 10000 years ago
- Ayurveda places equal emphasis on body, mind, and spirit, and strives to restore the innate harmony of the individual
- Today, Ayurveda focuses on naturalistic healing
methods, and surgery is no longer common for Ayurvedic physicians or practitioners, although it was historically.
What are the 4 main principles in Ayurveda
- Principle of Inner Balance
- Principle of Universal Cosmos (Five Elements)
- Principle of Body Energies (Doshas)
- Principle of Disease Causation
Principle of Universal Cosmos: 5 Elements
(or tattwa) that form the
sum and substance of the physical universe as well as serve as the building blocks of nature, and they originate from and are composed of an energy called Prana
- The tattwa combine to make the seven tissues (dhatu) that give the body its structure—plasma, blood, muscle, lipid, bone, and nervous and reproductive systems.
Principle of Inner Balance
to maintain inner balance by placing major emphasis on maintaining health by preventing disease and illness
- Diet, exercise, positive lifestyle, and balancing one’s life (physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially) are encouraged
- both internal and external factors
- examples that may cause imbalance: weather, seasons, work related stress
prana
is the prime moving force in the body and the universe
- pra means foreword or before and ana means breath
- Prana provides
the elements with energy and gives them power to become the building blocks for all bodily functions
Definitions of the Five Elements
Ether: represents the space or field in which everything happens
Air: Air is matter in a gaseous form. It is moving and dynamic. All energy transfer reactions require oxygen
within the body
Fire: is powerful because it can change solids into liquids and gases. responsible for our nervous reactions, our feelings, and even our thought processes.
Water: No living thing can survive without water. regulate body temp, carry hormonal info
Earth: represented in our bodies as the bones, teeth, cells, and tissues. manifests stability, performance
Principles of Body Energies (Dosha)
There are three mental doshas and three body doshas
The three body doshas are
1. vata (movement)
2. pitta (transformation)
3. kapha (structure)
- Each person’s combination
of doshas (or body constitution) is established at birth - When all of the types are evenly distributed, a person is said to be tri-doshic (good)
Vata Dosha
LEAD DOSHA
(most illness = vata disorders)
- is composed of space and air
- Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement and is located in the brain, large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears, and thighs
- governs breathing, blinking muscle and tissue movement, heartbeat, and cellular activity
- most important dosha
Constitution
each persons unique energy pattern (temperament, predisposition, makeup, baseline)
Pitta Dosha
- is made up of fire and water
- governs digestive functions
such as absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, and body temperature - promotes understanding and intelligence
Kapha Dosha
Kapha is made of earth and water
- supplies water for all body parts and systems
- provides support for bones, muscle and insulating fat
- Analogous to endomorph body time
- said to cause obesity and diabetes
4 main causes of disease
- mental factors
- lifestyle habits
- dosha imbalance
- metabolic toxins
health and family history and physical examination
- utilize observation more than laboratory testing, but will utilize blood, stool, and urine laboratory testing
- examining in detail the pulse, tongue, lips, eyes and nails
- conduct systemic examinations of body systems
pulse diagnostic technique
- use the pulse to describe the balance (or imbalance) of the three
doshas and to diagnose body illnesses such as heart disorders - snake, frog and swan pulse tests
tongue diagnostic technique
- examine the size, shape, surface, margins, and color of the
tongue - a blemish, discolouration or coating on some part of the tongue is used to indicate a body problem
