Ayurveda is an ancient, Indian system of medicine, the name of which means the 'knowledge of life'. It dates back over 5,000 years and is currently followed by over a billion people worldwide, including Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Demi Moore.

Ayurveda is based on a belief that your body, like everything else in the universe, is made up of five elements: earth, ether (space), fire, water and air. These combine to form three internal forces, or doshas, known as Pitta (the metabolic force centred in the stomach), Kapha (the fluid force centred in the lungs) and Vata (the driving or moving force, seated in the colon). The balance between the relative levels of each dosha is said to rise and fall according to the time of day, season, the food you eat, stress levels and the extent of your repressed emotions.

Discover your dosha
Everyone has one or two dominant doshas, which determine your constitution, physique, and the type of illnesses to which you are susceptible. When the doshas are unbalanced, your body's flow of life-force energy, or Prana, is affected, leading to ill health. Vata imbalance can result from irregular meals and working long hours, for example, leading to anger and exhaustion, Pitta imbalance can cause indigestion, while Kapha imbalance can occur as a result of lack of exercise.

Ayurvedic practitioners use a variety of techniques to help balance the doshas. These include diet, meditation, posture control, breathing exercises, yoga, hydrotherapy, massage, herbal medicines and a daily regime to care for the body and its functions. This regimen, designed to balance the doshas, involves applying eye, nasal and ear drops, inhaling medicinal smoke, brushing the teeth with medicinal powder and gargling with a medicinal infusion. Laxatives, enemas and even emetics (to encourage vomiting) may be used in specialist centres to remove toxins.

Ayurvedic foods
Foods each contain a balance of the three doshas, and are used to normalise dosha imbalances in your body. Foods are often selected according to the season and time of day. For example, you may be advised to eat oats for breakfast (helps boost clear thinking), meat and spices at lunchtime (to help raise energy levels), but only cooked vegetables in the evening. Typically, Vata types should avoid 'windy' foods, such as beans, sprouts and broccoli, Pitta types should avoid hot, spicy foods, while Kapha types should avoid dairy products and oily foods.

Ayurvedic massage
Ayurvedic massage and the therapeutic application of oil entails lying on a large wooden table made of neem wood. A therapist then constantly rubs half a litre of medicinal oil into virtually every inch of your body – hair, scalp, face, neck, armpits, chest, breasts, back, buttocks and limbs - for around 45 minutes.

Each therapeutic oil is produced over a period of one to three months by boiling a selection of medicinal herbs in sesame or coconut oil. Therapeutic oils are selected by a physician during an initial consultation in which your constitutional type and any ailments are considered. Therapists use synchronised downward movements to spread oil over your body and penetration of oil into your skin may be encouraged by sitting in a steam room for 15 minutes. The oil is then showered off, using a green paste made from gram flour and herbs to absorb the last traces of grease.

Ayurveda is especially helpful for general rejuvenation, and for treating stress, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis and stroke.

Further information
For general information on Ayurvedic medicine visit: www.ayurveda.com or www.ayurvedic.org.
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