About Ayurveda — Why Choose Ayurveda?

Ayurveda versus Western Medicine

Western (allopathic) medicine tends to take the “ambulance approach”: acknowledgement of “feeling bad” which leads to identification of symptoms and then seeking remedies for these symptoms which may lead to a lessening of these symptoms but, neglects the underlying causes and the systems within the body in which they lie.  Sometimes the original symptoms return or there is manifestation in another set of symptoms.

Although Ayurveda is incredible for dealing with disease conditions, the approach of Ayurveda is not reactionary to diseases or symptoms. Ayurveda takes the holistic approach.  The first step is awareness where we pay keen attention to the body.  If symptoms are present, we consider which systems are affected, looking for the root causes.  Deeper curiosity is often needed to find the conditions within that lead to the symptomology and possible manifestation.

With awareness comes understanding of bodily systems and what fosters balance.  A balanced harmonious system is one in which optimal conditions for ongoing health and healing are possible. Support of nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle therapies helps to maintain and expand the harmonious state. Ayurveda focuses on removing the causes and conditions of imbalance of disease, rather than waiting until you have already become diseased to take action.

Ayurveda is not necessarily a substitute for Western medicine. Drugs, emergency services and surgery can be absolutely necessary when symptoms or diseases have become chronic. In these cases, Ayurveda is used as a method to be used with Western approaches to medicine — to either help reduce the likelihood of being afflicted with disease in the first place, to help strengthen the body after being treated with drugs or surgery, or to support to the Western treatment.

In our western way of thinking – you wait until you “feel” sick, you go to the doctor, and the doctor does something for you, or to you, to remove the “feelings” of being sick at that time. Once the problem has passed, people tend to go right back to doing (or not doing) whatever it was they were doing before they became sick. Ayurveda does not follow this approach. Instead, along with symptomatic relief, Ayurveda addresses your lifestyle, habits, and choices that will inevitably lead to you developing illness and disease. Ayurveda is a lifestyle program, and not a quick fix.

So why would someone choose Ayurveda?

Often it is because of awareness, the realization that they keep getting sick, and are faced with two choices:  They can either continue taking pills (and more pills, and then more pills to offset the side effects of all the other pills), or change what is causing them to get sick in the first place. This is precisely where Ayurveda shines, and Western approaches to lifestyle changes fall flat.

Let’s face it, the “diet industry” is a multi-billion dollar enterprise… and we as Westerners have never been more obese and more unhealthy. The Western approach obviously isn’t creating vibrant beings.  It is a system that feeds on itself.

Ayurveda is a mind-body healing system that recognizes that an individual is the totality of their experience.  So a person’s condition is affected by everything in their life, including diet, what one thinks, feels, what behaviors one inherits from parents, lifestyle patterns, and stress levels.  While a person may not have imbalances within all those arenas, the Science of Ayurveda helps address each area and find a state of balance where it is needed.

Because Ayurveda knows the outer manifestation of illness and disease comes from an imbalance of either the physical body, the energetic body, the mental body and/or the consciousness, it’s important to address all four of these levels, otherwise issues will continue to return.

Ayurveda acknowledges that we are unique, and each of us responds differently to the pressures of life. The patient is required to participate in the process. Often the lifestyle changes required to bring the doshas into balance can feel extreme, especially to the undisciplined person. Often there are things a patient needs to begin, and quite a few things a patient will need to cease. This process happens one small step at a time.  And your qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner will be with you each step of the way.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone is capable of vibrant health. The wisdom of Ayurveda states that we all are divine. Remembering your divinity will lead to better and better choices and a more harmonious life.

Please choose the best for yourself and use a qualified Ayurveda Practitioner who has the proper education. Learn more about me and my qualifications here. I invite you to contact me to schedule an Ayurvedic consultation.

With deep respect for your path,