Frequently asked questions and discussed topics...
What's ayurveda?
Ayurveda is deifnened as the art of natural or holistic living. Its the first natural or holistic medicine. Originated about 6,000 years back around Himalayas it quickly spread to Tibet (Tibetan medicine or Tibetan Ayurveda) and then to China (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Japan (Japanese healing systems such as acupuncture) to the east. Sri Lanka, middle east and most asian countries follow its principles in 'natural medicines' and 'natural therapy'. Its used on differently for each person. Its very simple. Its scientific.
How dos Ayurveda compare to Chinese medicine, Herbalism and Naturopathy?
Chinese medicine deal with most physiological aspects life. Naturopaths and herbalists use modern science to understand the disease and use "naturally derived chemicals" and supplements to correct it just like your local G.P. Its progressively moving towards 'evidence based medicine' by almost fully abandoning holistic approach. Ayurveda attempts to remove the cause, while addressing the disease process, keeping it holistic and natural. It utilises wisdom from all healing systems.
What does a 'natural doctor' do in health management?
Interestingly, the 6,000 year old Ayurvedic laws and principles of health, disease and management (healing) are essentially the same in modern medicine. The difference is the holistic approach. Ayurveda specialises in accelerating the healing with natural products and time-tested techniques for the benefit of the whole mind and body. This is what we call holistic. An Ayurvedic / natural doctor or physician attempts to address a condition so that the client heals faster with less side effects making the condition more bearable.
How many herbs and therapies are used in an Ayurvedic clinic?
Over 21,000 herbs are used in India. 7,000 of them are scientifically studied and categorised. Over 200,000 recipes are found in various Ayurvedic text books. An Ayurvedic physician would have immediate access to over 10,000 recipes and 2,000 single herbs. Many Ayurvedic doctors alter the traditional recipes to suit the client. Including panchakarma, purvakarma, shodhana, rasayana and paschat karma there are over 30 therapies and their variations.
Whats dosha?
Dosha is the most mis-understood term in Ayurveda. Doshas are functional units. Its based on three universal life-triggers. Everything is anc can be classified into three dosha category.
What is an Ayurveda diet?
Ayurvedic diet is a holistic nutritional approach based on over 30 individual factors that accelerates healing while resting and nourishing the entire body. The common notion that its based on your body type is inaccurate, unscientific and illogical.
Ayurveda Recipes
Ayurvedic recipes are those put together for a specific health condition with six flavours, at least four textures. Ingredients are all natural, harvested in season and locally. Combination is synergistic and eaten before sunset.
Is Indian cooking Ayurvedic?
Indian cooking may not be Ayurvedic cooking. Ayurvedic cooking uses local, seasonal and natural ingredients and simple processing methods. Most Indian meals are, sadly, over-cooked, over-spiced and grain predominant.
Whats dosha diet?
Dosha diet is one of the basic classifications of food items. There are dozens of other factors in health and diseases. Before clinical application we need to consider over 30 different other individual factors such as agni, vayah, balam, rtu, shareera and so on. Dosha diet addresses a just dosha. Addressing just dosha can be detrimental in 99% of the health conditions.
What is body-typing?
Ayurveda uses for different body typing techniques to understand what are you designed for. Dosha typing is one of them. Body type is entirely different from body, tendencies, personality and preferences. The current dosha-based body type analysis is virtually useless as all the five categories are squashed into something totally unintelligible.
Ayurveda massage
Ayurvedic massage is an amazing tool to rest your mind and body to accelerate healing. Its performed on a daily basis during Panchakarma. The original technique is drawn from the oldest martial art system called Kalari Payattu. In abhyanga massage a trained therapist uses one of the 700 different herbal oils.
How old is Ayurveda?
Based on the modern historians, Ayurveda could be 3,000 to 6,000 years old. Considering Australian Aboriginal stories it could be 60,000 years old. Age has nothing to do with the efficacy of something. Most views and principles of Ayurveda are extremely similar to our modern science!
What is dosha balancing?
Traditional Ayurveda talks about normalising and correcting health issues. It doesn't use the word balancing, ever. If a dosha is excess it needs to be brought back to normal. Its called normalising. E.g. a heat / acidity excess is normalised using alkalising techniques. By definition 'balance' doesn't work with health or healing.
What is body type balancing?
This concept is a basic mistake by modern ayurveda gurus. Pathology needs to be normalised or corrected and physiology needs to be supported. Body type is neither a mistake or nor a health condition. None needs to or can 'balance' /correct it. Body type tells us what we are designed for.
What is panchakarma cleansing?
These are five advanced therapies performed by a fully trained ayurveda doctor. Each therapy takes at least 3 weeks in a fully equipped ayurveda hospital. A week to prepare mind, a week to prepare body, cleanse and a week to bring them back to normal diet. No one needs all the five. Requires round the clock supervision, counselling during the therapy and innumerable herbs for this.
Isn't it life about 'balance'?
Balance is defined as 'an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady'. Guess what would happen if everything in our body or life is equal to each other! Equal amounts of - iron and calcium or diastolic and systolic pressures! Life and health are about priorities, not balance.
About Ayurveda Elements & Australian Ayurveda Academy
Ayurveda Elements & Australian Ayurveda Academy were born in 1996 in Cairns, the tropical paradise of Australia.Moved to Sydney in 1997 and evolved into a complete Ayurveda centre quickly. Established a successful training and treatment centre in Sydney's northshore. Runs educational and training programs in India and Bali apart from Australian cities. Has conducted over 300 presentations during the past decade at various Australian centres.
What does Ayurveda Elements offer?
Offers workshops, seminars and certificates in Melbourne, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney and Cairns. Conducts south India disorders), tours and helps clients with health resort referral. Uses traditional and modern compounds sourced locally and imported from India. Specialises in back pain, neck pain, weight loss and bowel diseases.
What is Ayurveda good at?
Ayurveda is fantastic with all aspects of health maintenance, prevention and cure. We successfully treat health conditions like allergies, arthritis, bursitis, back pain, colitis, dermatitis (skin digestive hair loss, hepatitis, irritable bowel syndrome / disease, migraine, nasal allergies, neck pain, thyroid conditions, ulcerative colitis, tendinitis and more. Has clinics and training programs in Melbourne, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney and Cairns.
What are the specialities of Ayurveda Elements?
We specialise in fertility disorders, bowel (colitis, irritable bowel etc.), autism, back and neck pain.
What's common to most diseases?
Stress damages digestion resulting in ama (toxins). Toxins migrates into channels and end up in weak tissues. Body is all tissues. Tissues attack the toxins, resulting in inflammation and sometimes infections. They are called 'itis' as suffix to the tissues affected. This is the story of most diseases.
