AYURVEDA
Ayurveda means "science of life" in Sanskrit. This comprehensive system of medicine originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. Basic Concepts: According to Ayurvedic beliefs, the physical and mental characteristics and well-being of each individual are determined by that person's dosha, or metabolic body type. There are three doshas or energy types: vata, pitta, and kapha. Most people have a predominant dosha, though all three doshas are present in everyone to varying degrees. Vata individuals tend to be slender and restless, with cool, dry skin and dry hair. They eat and sleep erratically, and are prone to anxiety and insomnia. Pittas usually are of medium build, strength and endurance. They have a strong appetite and good digestion. They are warm blooded with a tendency toward excessive perspiring and an inability to tolerate sunlight and heat. Kaphas tend to be big-boned, heavy and strong. They are often overweight, with slow digestion, thick hair and oily skin. Good health requires a balance between the three doshas within each individual. However, factors such as an unhealthy lifestyle, stress, seasonal imbalances, genetic predisposition and toxic substances can throw us out of balance. Our daily habits - diet, exercise, sleep patterns and thought patterns - influence the intensity of our dosha characteristics. Therefore, once individuals become aware of their dosha type and predispositions, they can make lifestyle changes to restore balance. Ayurvedic practitioners first diagnose a patient by taking an extensive personal and family history and performing a physical examination that includes close attention to the pulse, tongue, nails, eyes, and urine. The practitioner then creates a program of lifestyle changes to bring the doshas into balance. Ayurvedic therapies include purification to rid the body of toxins, meditation, dietary modifications, herbs, massage, yoga, and breathing exercises. Evidence: Research has looked at various Ayurvedic practices, such as yogic breathing. A study of 18 asthma sufferers, published in the June 1990 issue of the journal Lancet, showed that slow, deep breathing over the course of two weeks controlled asthma symptoms. A 1998 study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found an Ayurvedic herbal laxative to be just as effective as a conventional laxative but better-tasting and less expensive with fewer side effects. A 1989 Dutch study documented improvements in 79% of patients with certain chronic conditions?asthma, hypertension, arthritis, constipation, headaches, eczema, bronchitis and non-insulin dependent diabetes?after Ayurvedic therapies were used.