Ancient Medicine for a New Millennium
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was introduced to the United States on a wide scale in the 1970s. At the time, it was considered exotic; today, acupuncture is a household word, and widely accepted. Now we are witnessing a repetition of this phenomenon. In the past few years, an even older system of healing has been gaining popularity in this country: Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India.
Ayurveda, in its original form, was an extremely complex system of healing, with a great emphasis on prevention. In fact, Ayurveda was not restricted to what we might think of as "medicine;" it was a guide for living and daily routine. A rough translation of ayurveda from Sanskrit is "science of life." In that sense, it formed one branch of the triad of human development: Ayurveda, for physical health; Yoga, for health of the mind; and Tantra, for evolution of consciousness.
Just as TCM has been adapted for "Western" patients, so the essentials of Ayurveda can be incorporated into an overall therapy program. TCM speaks of the complementary forces of yin and yang in human physiology; Ayurveda teaches three basic characteristics, or doshas. Some think of doshas as body types, but this is only one facet. One or two doshas predominate in most people, dictating certain physical attributes. However, all diseases are viewed as an imbalance of doshas, either in the whole person, or in a particular organ system.
The first dosha is Vata. Vata dictates movement and change in the body; therefore, it is associated with nerve impulses, respiration, and gastrointestinal motility. As a body type, or constitution, people who are predominantly Vata are slender, have a high metabolic rate, and tend to be cold. They learn quickly, but forget quickly; they may be considered "flighty."
Pitta is the only warm dosha. It is the "fire" of the body, and its realm is digestion. Not only does it control the digestion of food, but also the "digestion" of raw sensory input into higher cognitive interpretation. Pitta people tend to have medium build, and may have red hair. They have more endurance than Vata types, and usually have a quick temper.
Kapha is the dosha that governs the structure of the body. Of interest to chiropractors is its relationship to the musculoskeletal system. It also deals with body fluids, including synovial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid. People with a Kapha constitution tend to be heavier, and move at a slower pace. Learning is difficult; but once they grasp a concept, they always remember it.
Diagnosis in Ayurveda is similar to methods in TCM: Patient history, pulse taking, and examination of the tongue help determine which doshas are out of balance. Some traditional Ayurvedic therapies may seem extreme by our standards. Prevention includes a two-hour daily routine of meditation, massage, yoga postures, and other techniques that most would consider a luxury, given today's hectic schedules. Treatments such as bloodletting and emetics may lead to poor patient compliance in modern America.
Fortunately, Ayurveda offers other therapies that can easily be incorporated into a treatment regimen. Rasayanas are complex herbal formulas, with a tradition at least as old as Chinese herbal medicine. In order to balance the patient's constitution, the physician may prescribe a diet of foods that either stimulate or suppress a particular dosha. Aromatherapy takes advantage of the unique property of olfaction as the most direct input to the cerebral cortex, to influence changes in the central nervous system. Manual therapies similar to acupressure may be used as well.
Like TCM, Ayurveda is intimately bound up in its culture of origin. Also like TCM, Ayurveda is slowly being adapted for Western use. I do not view this as a dilution of "pure" Ayurveda, since true holistic health is a social construct as well as an individual condition. The wisdom that this long tradition has to offer is another valuable tool to add to our physician's bag.
Resources
Two books are excellent introductions to Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda: The Science of Life by Vasant Lad (Wilmot, WI: Lotus Press, 1984) details the traditional practice of this healing art, and includes an excellent summary of the philosophical constructs that form its foundation. Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra (New York: Harmony Books, 1991) takes a more contemporary American approach to Ayurveda. As a primer, it is detailed enough for the professional, yet accessible to the lay person.
Also, don't forget to check out the Association for Complementary Therapeutics (ACT) folder, on reserve behind the circulation desk at the LRC. It contains the ACT Resource Guide, with information on Ayurveda and other therapies.
Reprinted from The Synapse, April 1998.
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