Ayurveda, médecine préventive et holistique - MYCELAB

Ayurveda, preventive and holistic medicine

June 13, 2023

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda , meaning “ knowledge of life or longevity ” in Sanskrit, is a traditional Indian medicine dating from Antiquity, having come into being thanks to Rishis (great sages). It is the oldest holistic medicine, meaning that it focuses on its object as a whole. In other words, Ayurveda considers that the body and the mind are closely linked and that Man is an indivisible whole.

What are its principles?

The Rishis consider that everything is composed of 5 elements: ether (or space), air, fire, water and earth, present in variable quantities. These elements are therefore present in nature, but would also be present in humans in the form of doshas , or biological humors. There are 3 doshas, named: vata dosha, pitta dosha and kapha dosha . Ayurvedic medicine is based on these 3 doshas, considering that each of us is composed of a unique combination of them, called Prakriti, determined from birth. These doshas are responsible for all physiological and psychological processes in our body and mind. When in balance, they imply good health. On the other hand, if any external factor causes a temporary imbalance (called Vikriti), it can lead to illness.

The Vata dosha means “that which blows”, that is to say that which moves, and represents the elements ether and air.

The Pitta dosha means “that which burns”, that is to say that which transforms, and represents the elements Fire and Water.

The Kapha dosha means “that which binds”, that is to say that which supports, and represents the elements Water and Earth.

The principle of Ayurveda is therefore to maintain the balance of these 3 doshas. When you know your dominant dosha(s), it is entirely possible to act preventively to maintain their balance. But unfortunately it is not that simple, because many factors can lead to an imbalance, such as climate, age, thoughts and emotions, time of day, or even drinks, food or chemicals that we ingest. This disruption leads to the state of Vikriti, which manifests itself through signals.

How to rebalance your doshas?

The first step in treatment is to identify your natural composition and therefore your dominant dosha. This identification is based in particular on your physical traits and your metabolism. For this, various tests are available on the internet , but it is advisable to consult a professional, who, through his experience, will be able to better determine your Prakriti and advise you on the approach to follow. Several different disciplines allow you to rebalance the doshas.

Massages

Ayurvedic massages are both a body therapy and a healthy lifestyle practice. They offer multiple benefits, such as toning the skin, increasing concentration, eliminating waste outside the body and improving the immune response.

Different types of massages exist. The choice is made according to the dominant dosha and the existing imbalance. Thus, we can find massages with more or less oil (most often sesame oil), or dry massages.

Phytotherapy

Ayurvedic herbal medicine recognizes the principle of the intelligence of life and nature, and Ayurvedic plants represent more than 80% of the remedies used in Ayurveda. Plants are not chosen at random. Indeed, they are used in accordance with the person's constitution, in order to support the body's dominant mood. This therefore involves knowing constitutional metabolism, namely the general state of the digestive system, water metabolism and the body's ability to eliminate waste. Among Ayurvedic plants we find, for example, dandelion root or rosemary.

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Dietetics

In Ayurveda, foods are not classified traditionally, but according to 6 tastes: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent. Each food therefore has a flavor, but also an energy (heating or cooling) and a post-digestive action. There are 8 golden rules:

Consume fruits outside of meals: in fact, they ferment in the stomach and prevent the digestion process.
Consume water and drinks at room temperature, but never cold to promote digestion. The same goes for food, do not eat it straight out of the fridge.
Avoid eating leftovers stored in the refrigerator.
Eat in a calm environment and chew food well.
Do not eat under strong emotion or without feeling hungry.
Eat the main meal at lunch and not at breakfast.
Wait until you have fully digested a meal before eating another.
Vary the menus and foods consumed.

Ayurvedic dietetics also advises favoring organic and fresh foods, eliminating foods containing no nutrients, eliminating refined oils and hydrogenated margarines, reducing or even eliminating stimulating products, reducing animal proteins, and finally eliminating the use of aspartame and all products containing it.

Aromatherapy

Essential oils come from plants that grow in the earth and which absorb particles from the air, and are then distilled using water which is heated, so as to obtain aromatic molecules. Thus, essential oils are made up of the 5 elements, and are therefore useful for rebalancing the doshas. In Ayurveda, each smell represents an emotion, for example valerian soothes anxiety and fear and will be used during a vata imbalance. Likewise, ylang-ylang will be used during a pitta-type imbalance to calm outbursts of anger and become more tolerant.

Meditation and yoga

Meditation helps calm the mind and therefore has an impact on health. It is practiced on the floor, in a seated position with legs crossed and a straight back: this is the Sukhasana position, which means “position of ease”. It is recommended to practice meditation daily, at least 5 to 10 minutes a day. Meditating will allow you, among other things, to improve certain symptoms linked to stress, but also to improve your sleep or to achieve a feeling of vitality, form and motivation.

Yoga, which means “union of oneself with the absolute”, allows us to heal the mind through the body. The mind is freed and the body can then regain clarity, balance and harmony.

Finally, even if we hear more and more about Ayurveda in France, you should know that this medicine is not officially recognized in France and is not taught in medical schools. This is why in France Ayurveda is considered a well-being practice. On the other hand, the World Health Organization recognizes Ayurveda as a true traditional health system.

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