The number of spas that offer ayurvedic treatments appears to be steadily increasing. The purpose of this article is to provide you with a basic understanding of Ayurveda. Hopefully you will gain enough knowledge to be able to ask questions about Ayurvedic treatments spas offer and how they will benefit you. You can find further information at the Spa Site's Spa Services: Ayurveda page. A link to a large resource library on ayurveda is at the end of this article.

Julie Register
Spa Guide

AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is an ancient system of disease prevention, health care, and healing that originated in India thousands of years ago. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: Ayu which means life and Veda which means the knowledge of. In Ayurveda, the diagnosis of disease and individual constitutions is done by  balancing the different energies in the body. These energies are called doshas or body humors. The specific names for them are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The literal meaning of dosha is 'fault' because these three humors are the three ways in which the body tends to move out of balance. The Doshas are the three main combinations of the five elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth). When any of these elements are present in the environment, they will in turn have an influence on us. The foods we eat and the weather are examples of the presence of these elements. These five elements in the body can be balanced through diet and herbs that possess the essence of these element. Each person's constitution is made up of a unique combination of these doshas. The ratios of the doshas vary in each individual, and because of this, Ayurveda sees each person as a special mixture that accounts for our diversity. The following table identifies the properties of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

	Vata	Pitta	Kapha
Elements	Air Ether	Fire Water	Water Earth
Function	Moving force Concerns the nervous system and bodily movement Processes: Chews and swallows food Moves nutrients into and wastes out of cells Circulates blood and air Retrieves and stores memories	Governs biological fire Concerns the body's balance of kinetic and potential energies Processes: Digestion of food and nutrients Digestion of thoughts and theories in the mind	Substance and support Concerns providing the physical field for the Vata and Pitta energies Processes: Governs cell structure Bodily secretions Gives the mind stability
Essence	Prana, the Life Force	Tejas, Inner Light and Radiance	Ojas, Primal Vitality
Body Type Frame       Hair       Skin     Eyes	small thin very tall or very      short little muscular      development average amount, tends to be dry and light brown cool dry rough   small brown grey slate blue	medium good muscular development average amount, tends to be reddish or gray' straight, and thin warm soft oily prone to reddening or blemishes medium sharp lustrous bright blue light brown	large rounded build good muscular    development   thick, wavy, dark brown or black  which tends toward oiliness  cool smooth moist oily   large attractive brown
Mental Picture	Short term memory is best Changing moods and thoughts Creative Light sleeper	Good memory Sharp intellect Quick temper Goal oriented Organized Sound sleeper	Good long term memory Calm, steady and stable Slow to be irritated Compassionate Thorough Heavy sleeper
In Balance	Alert Spontaneous	Enterprising Joyous	Strong Calm
Out of Balance	Worried Mood swings	Angry Impatient Frustrated	Dull Lethargic
Key words	Light Cold Dry Fast Quick Changing Movement Restlessness	Hot Fiery Perceptive Intense	Slow Steady Solid Heavy Accumulation Regularity

Symptoms of imbalance that Ayurveda can help alleviate include problems with memory, sleep, skin, allergies, indigestion, heartburn, elimination, low energy, back pain, and respiration. Ayurveda provides a model to look at each individual as a unique makeup of the three doshas and to thereby design treatment protocols that specifically address a persons health challenges. When any of the doshas ( Vata, Pitta or Kapha ) become dominant, Ayurveda will suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the individual in reducing the dosha that has become excessive. Herbal supplements may be suggested to facilitate the healing process. If toxins in the body are abundant, then a cleansing process known as Pancha Karma is recommended to eliminate these unwanted toxins. The following descriptions are the treatments used in Pancha Karma. Many of them are performed by two ayurvedic therapists working together. Two, three and sometimes four of these therapies may be given in a single day.

Pancha Karma

Garshana - dry lymphatic skin brushing with either a wool or a silk glove. Enhances circulation and cleans the skin so subsequent oil and herbal treatments can penetrate deeply into freshly cleaned pores of the skin.

Abhyanga - individually prepared herbal-oil massage that deeply penetrates the skin, relaxes the mind-body, breaks up impurities and stimulate both arterial and lymphatic circulation. Enhances the ability for nutrients to reach starved cells and for the removal of stagnant waste. Heightens awareness that will direct the internal healing system of the body.

Vishesh - deep muscular massage that breaks up adhesions and improves circulation deep within the muscle spindles.

Swedna - individually herbalized steam bath. The head and the heart are kept very cool during the steam bath while the body is heated to remove mental, emotional and physical toxins lodged deeply within the tissues. The cool head and heart provides a sense of calm and openness while the therapeutic steam over the entire body can penetrate and cleanse deeply without the body becoming overheated and stressed.

Shirodhara - administered by gently and methodically pouring warm herbalized oil over the forehead. Synchronizes brain waves. Coordinates and calms the mind, body and spirit.

Pizichili - a continuous steam of warm herbalized oil soothingly poured over the body by two ayurvedic therapists as they massage the body in unison. Deep tissue cleansing. Heightened state of awareness.

Udvartina - deeply penetrating herbal paste lymphatic massage. Exfoliating treatment conditions the skin while pressing stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body.

Nasya - individually prescribed herbs and oil drops that are inhaled through the nose. Clears the sinuses of excessive mucous. Combats the deep dryness that exists at the root of many respiratory and allergic conditions.

Shiro-Ahhyanga-Nasya - luxurious combination of a deep head, neck and shoulder massage, a facial lymphatic massage, followed by deep inhalation of therapeutic aromatic steam and a nasal and sinus nasya with herbalized nose drops. Balances most head, neck and respiratory disorders.

Pinda Swedna - deep cleansing treatment where rice boiled in milk and herbs are massaged deeply into the tissues and joints. Relaxing, rejuvenating, and detoxing.

Vamana - emesis (vomiting) therapy promotes elimination from the stomach and thoracic cavity. Rarely used.

Rakta Mokshana - blood letting. Rarely used.

Five Senses Therapy - combines the therapeutic effect of all five senses working in concert. Sound therapy are specific vedic hymns and mantras recommended for each imbalance. Touch therapy enlivens specific vital points on the body called marma points. Taste therapy uses certain herbal medicines. Sight uses ayurvedic color therapy, and smell was accessed with combinations of rare aromatics. The effect is to use the senses in concert to bring ones awareness to the source of thought and feeling in the heart.

Basti - herbal enema specially prepared to pull toxins out of the colon. Also utilized to transport ayurvedic medicines into the blood and tissues needed to transform the memory of damaged and toxic cells. Considered one of the most important and most powerful aspects of the Pancha Karma treatment.

Resource Books about Ayurveda

Other great spa-related books can be found at the Spa Site Book Store.

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