As we listed some frequently asked questions on Ayurveda, if you did not find an answer to your question, please contact our expert Ayurvedic practitioner will answer your questions.
How effective is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a very effective system of health that is being more and more recognized in the West. It is one of the primary systems of health care in India and has been used for thousands of years for all sorts of ailments and disorders. Thousands of people around the globe have turned to Ayurveda and today Ayurveda is popular all over the world. Hospitals and clinics offer it, the media reports on it, researchers examine it, and people love it. Ayurveda has stood the test of time; people continue to practice it privately and openly, from little clinics in India to large spas all over the world. The word is out today– ‘Try Ayurveda, it works.’
Its full effectiveness will depend on various considerations, including the age and state of health of the individual, how much effort they are willing to put into making the necessary changes toward better health, and how compliant they are with taking their formulas and following the recommended guidelines. Since an Ayurvedic regimen is very individualized, its results will depend on individual factors as well as follow-up treatments and adjustments with close supervision are necessary to obtain optimal results.
How is Ayurveda different than Western medicine?
The Ayurvedic practitioner first determines the client’s unique constitution, which is a blend of the three doshas; Vata: air & ether, Pitta: fire & water, and Kapha: earth & water and identifies any imbalances. Ayurvedic practitioner works with the client creating an individualized plan to help nourish, stimulate, and balance vital energies. Recommendations may include specific foods and herbs, ayurvedic therapies, daily routines, Ayurvedic lifestyle and customized therapeutic program. These recommendations work together with Western Medicine to support desired balance and vitality.
How does Ayurveda rebalance the body?
Ayurveda offers life-style guidance, food, herbs, yoga, meditation, daily routine and other therapies that reinforce the healthy individual constitution while working to correct imbalances. These essential life changes made by the client are the key to restoring well-being. Follow-up consultations are important to allow the client and practitioner to gauge effectiveness of recommendations and in making adjustments as needed.
Examples using Vata, Pitta, and Kapha:
Vata : An elderly female client was experiencing an imbalance of vata dosha; trouble sleeping at night. I recommended an Ayurvedic herbs and a drink using warm milk mixed with specific herbs at night also changes in diet for reducing vata. She took some therapy like shirodhara, abhyanga and she reported after few months sleeping good through the night. She continued using the milk based herbal drink with success.
Pitta : A middle age male client had an imbalance of the pitta dosha; manifesting as an irritating skin condition. I recommended detox and changes his exercise routine to early morning, cooling breathing exercises, following a pitta pacifying diet and few herbs for eating and applying specific herbal oil. He reported his skin condition had improved significantly.
Kapha : A middle age female client had an past imbalance of the kapha dosha; which manifested as being overweight. She was looking for ways to increase awareness of her eating habits. I recommended Detox, Ayurvedic herbs and therapies, sipping a specific herbal tea throughout the day, meditation, deep belly breathing and following a Kapha pacifying diet. She reported feeling an overall increase in health & well-being.
Do Ayurvedic medicine have side effects?
Ayurvedic medicines used in Australia are made from natural ingredients such as plant based herbs. If taken according to the instructions of your Ayurvedic practitioner, these medicines are safe sometimes due to taste makes you nauseous, but you can mix with juice, honey, or water as per instruction. Ayurvedic medicines work primarily on the root cause of the disease. Hence, just having the medicines is not enough. You need to follow a proper diet and lifestyle to control the condition and work towards healing the problem. For example, if you complain of burning and itching sensation on your skin, you will be given Ayurvedic treatment to help in problem. At the same time, you will be advised to stay away from food and drinks that causing the problem.
If you do not follow the diet prescribed by the Ayurvedic doctor, you may develop some problems. You may think these as side effects of the medicine, but, it will be because of your faulty diet and lifestyle. Make sure that you inform the Ayurvedic practitioner if you are allergic to any food or herb to avoid any complications during the treatment.
Do Ayurvedic medicine have bitter and pungent taste?
Not all Ayurvedic medicines taste or smell bad. There are plenty of formulations that are not bitter but have a specific herbal taste, like sweet, pungent, tangy and sour. The final taste of the medicine will depend upon the ingredients used to make it.
For instance, we prescribe blood purifiers for skin diseases, which tend to be bitter. But that is only because the body /skin need a bitter/pungent tasting herb to effectively facilitate the cleansing process. In such cases, the Ayurvedic practitioner will suggest you take with honey, juice or with food.
It is important to remember that these medicines are formulated to provide help in problems. While taking the medicines, you should be thinking about the relief you will get from the problems, and how it is bringing you closer to good health rather than being worried about its taste. After all, medicines are not manufactured for delighting the taste buds, they are meant to be effective in helping in disease or disorder.
Will Ayurveda take long time to help in problems?
One of the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is to help individual on a holistic level. Instead of just providing relief from symptoms, it identifies the root cause of the disease and aims to give you a permanent solution, wherever possible. Instead of a short-term cure and instant relief, Ayurveda focuses on giving you long-term health and well-being, which is bound to take some time. In Ayurveda the time taken for improvement in conditions depends upon the severity and type of disease. The stage at which you go for Ayurvedic treatment makes a huge difference. If you have been living it for the last 5-10 years, you can’t expect to see improvements in a few days .However, if you sincerely follow the diet and lifestyle advice given to you by your Ayurvedic practitioner, and take your medicines regularly on time, Ayurvedic treatment is sure to show improvements in a relatively shorter period of time.
Do I have to follow food restriction while undergoing Ayurvedic treatment?
An Ayurvedic practitioner will advise food restrictions depending upon the state, severity, and the type(s) of disease you are suffering from. There are some food restrictions in Ayurveda because while a food can be beneficial for a specific disease or problem, the same food can worsen another disease or aggravate the symptoms. As such, diet plans are carefully designed by your Ayurvedic practitioner so that the food you take works as medicine provided you take them as per instructions. The Practitioner may ask you to avoid certain foods because they have the capacity to aggravate symptoms, while others are recommended because they have the capacity to not only alleviate symptoms, but aid in making the treatment more effective. If you follow dietary restrictions and a proper diet plan, you can avoid further deterioration of the disease and take a step closer to healing. This is regardless of whether you are taking Ayurvedic or some other types of treatment.
What are benefits of doing Ayurvedic Detox?
The most important benefit is the removal of toxins from the body. We all accumulate toxins due to improper food habits, polluted atmosphere, and stressful situations. Over accumulation of these toxins hamper the normal rejuvenation of body cells. Once the toxins are removed, the body cells regenerate quickly and the person gains good strength. Also, it allows all systems to function normally. Proper purification also increases immunity.