About Us

An imbalance of ‘agni’ (Internal fire), responsible for the digestion of food, is the starting point of a disease. If it is not balanced, it results in the creation of ‘ama’ (undigested food products) and an upset in the balance of the tridoshas that will eventually result in the onset of disease.

In order to provide the correct treatment for a disease, early recognition is important. The accumulation of doshas most regularly take place due to the intake of excessive or disagreeable food, the change of seasons, smoking, drinking alcohol, suppression of urges (urination, defecation, fasting) or due to mental worries like pressure of work and stress.

Method of Diagnosis

The traditional physician diagnoses the patient by eight different procedures known as the Ashtasthana Pareeksha, the most important of which is the examination of the pulse whereby the physician elicits the doshic imbalance. Other tests may include urine, faeces, tongue, ear and eye examinations. The physician may also consider any causes of the disease, its prognosis, premonitory symptoms, characteristic features, and pathogenesis. According to the original ola leaf texts these tests form part of a five point programme:

1. Darshana – Inspection
2. Prashna – Interrogation
3. Sparsha – Palpitation
4. Akotana – Percussion
5. Sravana – Auscultation

The physician may also attempt to understand the pathological condition through rasana (taste) and gandha (smell).

Treating a disease

Having diagnosed the disease, the physician will then prescribe the appropriate treatment procedure: Shamana to neutralise or Shodhana (Panchakarma treatment) to cleanse. The physician will decide upon the necessary medicament that may include a special diet and recommend a way of life that is most suited to the treatment of the disease. Meditation, yoga and other spiritual healing processes are also advised.

Medicaments and diet

Ayurvedic medicines and oils are composed of herbs, minerals and animal products either purified or detoxified before they are used in a medicinal form. Prepared medicines are in the form of decoctions, pills, powders and oils. In the age-old way, traditional physicians prepared all of their own medicines, passing down the recipes from father to son.

Diet plays an important role in treatment as well as in maintaining good health. In order to prescribe a special diet for a certain disease, the doctor will take into consideration the taste of a substance (bitter, sweet, salty, acidic), its temperature.

< 1 - 2 >