Ayurvedic Medicine & Diet
Written by Debra Kirchhof-Glazier
The term “alternative medicine” is a relative one. What is considered outside the mainstream in the United States is very much a part of the conventional medical system in other cultures. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health does an excellent job of outlining the various modalities and systems that are currently under the rubric of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) in the U.S. on their website http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/ . One of these, Ayurvedic medicine, or simply Ayurveda, is a healing system that has been practiced in India for over 5000 years.
The first exposure I had to Ayurveda and its integration into Indian culture was when I made a trip to India in 2002 as part of a faculty seminar offered through Brethren Colleges Abroad. The evidences of this kind of medicine were apparent everywhere, but my personal encounter came with an Ayurvedic meal, served to our group on banana leaves. At the time I had no idea what Ayurvedic medicine was, but I was struck by how good I felt after the meal; both nourished and centered. After learning a little bit about this complex system, the main features of which are described below, I suppose that the foods resonated with my physiology.
Resonance and energy form the basis of Ayurveda, which maintains that the material world results from an interplay of different frequencies of energy, from the most subtle to the most dense. These energies are symbolized as five elements, which combine to make up three major “doshas” that produce various temperaments and body types. The five elements are “akasha” (ether), air, fire, water, and earth. Ether is the most subtle of the energetic frequencies and gives rise to air. Air gives rise to fire, fire to water, and water to earth. It is believed that the human body is an energetic manifestation of these primal energies and that these energies continue to nourish and maintain the body.
The physiological counterparts of the five elements are the doshas. Each dosha represents a composite of two elements; “Vata” (Wind) is made of the energies of ether and air, “Pitta” (Bile) results from the combination of the energies of air and fire, and “Kapha” (Mucus) is made of the energies of water and earth. These doshas can be summarized as aerial, fiery, and liquid forms of life energy, respectively. Good health results when the three doshas are in balance. If one is disturbed, a person experiences a brief illness or condition that is easily cured. If two are out of balance a chronic condition results. If all three are unbalanced death often results.
Ayurvedic philosophy describes the doshas as active energies that combine in various proportions in different individuals to produce different temperaments and different nutritional needs. Doshas are affected by climate, season, diet, place, and many other factors, although a person’s overall temperament remains the same. Each dosha has a list of definitive qualities, but not every one of these is present in all individuals of that type. In addition, an individual may be characterized by primarily one dosha or by a combination. Wind-dominated individuals are usually tall and thin, have restless minds, a good sexual appetite, dislike the cold, often stammer when they speak, have thin hair and dry skin, and are often constipated. Hot and oily foods suit them well. Bile-dominated people sweat profusely, anger easily, eat (and go to the bathroom) often, have moderate to weak sexual desire, and tend toward obesity. Cold, heavy, and dry foods are suitable for this type of person. Mucus-dominated individuals are fond of order, are good-natured, shy, calm, and enjoy good digestion, sexual energy, and overall health. Hot, light, and dry foods are most suitable for this temperament.
Ayurvedic physicians treat patients with the doshas and energy balance in mind and focus on promoting wellness in terms of recommending various diets according to the person’s constitution. A general recommendation is to start a meal with sweet food, progress to salty and sour foods in the middle of the meal, and end with pungent, bitter, and astringent foods. All foods and spices have their own energies and can be used to balance the energies in one’s prevailing dosha(s). If a dosha becomes too prevalent, it is important to eat foods that counter or subdue it. For example, foods that subdue Wind include apples, eggs, fish, meat, and wheat. Foods that subdue Bile include butter, cucumbers, grapefruit, ice cream, lemons and oranges, watermelon, and spinach. Foods and spices that subdue Mucus are alcohol, cinnamon, eggplant, pickles, onions, and grapes. It takes an in-depth understanding of Ayurveda and years of experience to put this philosophy into practice.
It is interesting that modern science is now shedding some light on this ancient medical system. Einstein has affirmed the connection between matter and energy in his famous E= mc2 equation (Energy = Mass times the Speed of Light, squared), which translates into the fact that energy and matter are two forms of the same thing. Perhaps the quaint terminology of the three doshas will one day be understood in the form of specific equations.
In the meantime, for those interested in pursuing this fascinating subject, I recommend Ayurvedic Healing Cuisine: 200 Vegetarian Recipes for Health, Balance, and Longevity by Harish Johari. The first part of the book covers the basics of Ayurvedic medicine, the healing properties of foods, and balanced nutrition according to this philosophy. The second part is dedicated to the recipes. Even if the principles of Ayurveda seem overwhelming, the recipes are tasty and nutritious for people of all doshas. Enjoy!
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.