In the United States the type of Ayurvedic medicine practiced is similar to the ancient form, but somewhat refined to suit western culture.
Illnesses are diagnosed by observing the action of the pulse and the state of the tongue. Patients are divided into three metabolic body types (doshas): vata, pitta and kapha and treated accordingly. Vata people are thin, quick and energetic, pitta types are competitive and quick to anger while kapha individuals are calm and stolid. Each type is prone to certain illness patterns for example a pitta type will suffer ulcers, inflammation and rashes.
When you visit an Ayurvedic practitioner he or she will ask detailed questions about your temperament, skin, food likes and dislikes and other seemingly strange questions.
Ayurvedic medicine practitioners must determine the patient's 'tridosha'. This is a unique combination of the three doshas and determines the type of diet, exercise, lifestyle or therapies that should be followed.
The duration and frequency of treatments will vary depending on the ailment. Of course diet and exercise is something the patient carries out on a daily basis on his or her own but there are other therapies that may be carried out in the practitioner's home or office.
These may include a warm sesame oil massage followed by breathing exercises and herbal saunas and enemas to detoxify the body.
A treatment program called panchakarma may be prescribed with the aim of general purification and rejuvenation.
Each dosha is said to be rooted in specific organs of the body that are linked to two of the earth's elements i.e. earth, water, fire, air and space or 'ether'. It is believed that combinations of the doshas in varying proportions yield ten body types. Each body type determines the character and ailments of the person.
Accurately identifying the tridosha means a unique treatment can be prescribed for a specific person. Dietary advice is based on flavor rather than nutritional content. For example it is thought that increasing the amount of sweet, sour and salty foods you eat will balance vata types. Herbal medicines are derived from a plethora of Indian remedies and include those that induce purging.
