Introduction To Ayurveda Arbor Vitae 2016 Anne McIntyre FNIMH MAPA

Transcription

1 Introduction To Ayurveda Arbor Vitae 2016 Ayurveda is the traditional healing system of India which embraces ancient philosophy based on a deep understanding of eternal truths about the human body, mind and spirit. It is thought to be the oldest health care system in the world with its roots going back over 5000 years into the Vedic Age. It evolved on the far reaches of the Himalayas from the deep wisdom of spiritually enlightened prophets or rishis. Their wisdom was transmitted orally from teacher to disciple and eventually set down in Sanskrit poetry known as the Vedas. These writings, dating approximately 1500 BC distilled the prevailing historical, religious, philosophical and medical knowledge and form the basis of Indian culture. The most important of these texts are the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda. Ayurveda encompasses medical science, philosophy, psychology, spiritual understanding as well as astrology and astronomy. Though based on the accumulated knowledge and understanding of millennia, it is very up to date, offering practical and effective treatment for many modern disorders such asthma, IBS, anxiety and skin disease. Clinical trials are being carried out all over the world as the search continues for treatments that are safe and effective through reviews of Eastern as well as Western medicine. Ancient wisdom is constantly being verified by modern research. The name Ayurveda derives from two Sanskrit words: ayur meaning life and veda meaning knowledge or science, telling us that Ayurveda is more than a system of medicine; it is a complete way of life that aims to enhance health and well being and increase longevity through a union of physical, emotional and spiritual balance as a prerequisite for attaining moksha or self realisation. The Five Elements Five Elements According to Ayurveda, everything in the universe is composed of energy and this energy exists in 5 different states of density giving rise to 5 factors or elements, (pancha mahabhuta) namely: Ether /space (akasa), Air /motion (vayu), Fire /radiant energy (teja), Water /cohesive factor (jala) Earth /mass (prithvi). These elements are not to be interpreted literally but rather as metaphors which help us to understand the universe. They represent 5 states or qualities of energy that we can recognise as we experience them daily in our physical, mental and emotional lives. The 5 elements exist together everywhere in all things, constantly changing and interacting, in an infinite variety of proportions and each of them has a range of different attributes. Ether means space that allows for the existence of everything including communication between one part of the body and another, (e.g. synaptic space, intracranial space, abdominal space), as well as self expression. Air is gaseous and has airy qualities. It is light, clear, dry and dispersing. It governs all movement, direction and change, stirring all of creation into life. Air is present in the lungs and abdomen for example, and its quality of movement can be seen in all movements in the body particularly the movements of messages throughout the nervous system.

2 Fire has the quality of light and heat, and it is dry and upward moving. It governs digestion, perception and all transformation in the body. It is responsible for the temperature and colour of the body, for the lustre on the cheeks, the sheen of the hair, the brightness in the eyes and the light in the mind. Water is liquidity or flowing motion It is protective, it gives cohesiveness and holds everything together. It is cool and downward flowing and has no shape of its own. It is present in all the body s fluids, as well as blood, urine, stools, saliva, and mucus. Earth is matter, solidity or stability. It is heavy and hard and gives the body form and substance. It is present in physical structure of the body, the organs, muscles and bones, teeth and tendons, Human beings are constantly interacting with the universe and vice versa. We fill space which gives us a place to live, we breathe the air, drink water, keep ourselves warm with heat and light and consume food provided by the earth. As long as our relationship with the universe is healthy and wholesome we can be in optimum health. According to Ayurveda when this harmonious interaction breaks down it predisposes to dysfunction and disease. The Three Doshas There are three primary life forces or humours derived from the five elements known as doshas, vata, pitta and kapha, which are responsible for all functions in the body, physical and psychological. Ether and air create the air principle, vata Fire and water yield the fire principle, pitta Earth and water produce the water principle, kapha We are all born with our own particular balance of doshas which creates our basic individual constitution and that balance remains unaltered throughout our lives. The predominant dosha, or doshas, determine our physique, our mental and emotional tendencies and our predisposition to certain health problems. We generally have a predominance of one or two of the doshas in our basic constitution which is known as our prakruti and remains unaltered throughout our lives. Our constitution (prakruti) is largely determined when we are conceived and depends on our parents constitution, the balance of their doshas and their mental and emotional state at the time of conception, and of course karma. The characteristics of our dominant dosha(s) will be most apparent in our make-up but naturally they are diluted by those of the other doshas. To be alive and well we need all three doshas and all five elements. When our doshas are in balance, that is they remain in the proportions we were born with, they maintain our health and well-being and when unbalanced we become unwell. The first requirement for health in Ayurveda is proper balance of the doshas. If the balance is disturbed by our diet, lifestyle or state of mind for example, illness of one kind or another eventually results. The disruption may be felt in physical discomfort and pain, or in mental and emotional suffering such as fear and anxiety, anger or jealousy. Our current state of imbalance causing such symptoms to manifest is known as our vikruti. Vata

3 Vata, a combination of ether and air, is the principle of movement. The word vata means wind, from the Sanskrit root va to blow, direct, move or command. Vata is our life force (prana), derived primarily from the breath. It is the energising force for everything in body and mind, and this is reflected in the circulation of blood and lymph and every impulse of the nervous system. It is the motivating force behind the other 2 doshas, which are incapable of movement without it. For this reason disturbances of vata tend to have more far-reaching implications than those of the other 2 doshas and often affect the mind as well as the entire body. The qualities of vata are dry, cold, light, irregular, sharp, hard, mobile, subtle, rough, and clear. Vata traits A thin frame, erratically proportioned Tend to be underweight or lose weight when under stress Rough, dry skin which can crack easily Eats irregularly and quickly Erratic appetite Erratic memory, takes things in quickly and forgets easily Prone to anxiety, fear, insecurity Light sleeper, prone to insomnia Active, restless, thinks and does things quickly Difficult to sustain energy, concentration, activity. Changeable mood, intense feelings Feel the cold, often dislike wind. Symptoms worse in cold weather Dreams of running, jumping, flying, often fearful Causes of Vata aggravation Irregular, erratic lifestyle, Irregular eating patterns Stress, grief, anxiety, fear, shock, loneliness, change, Too much movement, exercise, running, jumping etc Flying /travelling, Change of season especially autumn Dawn and dusk, 2-6 am and pm Suppression of natural urges, eg defecation, eating, urination, passing wind, resting when tired, sleeping etc. Being over the age of 50 Dry cold weather, Lack of sleep, exhaustion Bitter, pungent and astringent foods Dry, light, rough, cold foods, Talking too much, Loud noise Signs of Vata Aggravation Constipation, wind, colic, distension, explosive diarrhoea (aggravated by anxiety), Aching pain in the bones, cracking joints, low back ache, Fatigue, lowered resistance to infection, Tinnitus, tingling and numbness, Poor circulation, Dry skin and hair, brittle nails, Pain- cutting/ migrating,

4 Poor coordination, Insomnia, restless sleep, Tension and anxiety, mental agitation and restlessness. Symptoms are worse at dawn or dusk and between 2 6 am and pm. Symptoms are better in warm weather and aggravated by cold. Pitta Pitta is composed of fire and water and is the principle of transformation and heat, being responsible for the chemical and metabolic conversions in the body that create energy and heat. All pitta s processes involve digestion or cooking, including the cooking of thoughts into theories in the mind. It governs our mental digestion, clarity, perception and understanding. Pitta comes from the Sanskrit root tap meaning to heat, cook or transform. Pitta digests nutrients to provide energy for cellular function. Enzymatic and hormonal systems are the main field of pitta activity. The qualities of pitta are oily, hot, light, subtle, flowing, mobile, sharp, soft, smooth, clear and malodorous. Pitta Traits Medium build and weight Regular features, well proportioned body Smooth oily skin, often with moles and freckles, which burns easily Good, regular appetite, but not prone to gaining weight easily Fine shiny hair which falls out easily and goes grey early. Men are prone to baldness. Profuse perspiration, smelly secretions Highly intelligent, good memory Tendency to be irritable, angry, intolerant and judgmental Decisiveness and leadership qualities Dislikes intense heat, symptoms often worse in hot weather or if over heated Dream of fire, war, aggression, competition Causes of Pitta Aggravation Heat and damp, hot weather, summer, getting overheated Inflammatory situations, anger, jealousy, arguments, irritation, Frustration, perfectionism, 10-2 am and pm, midday and midnight, age Missing meals, suppression of emotions Overwork, over-commitment, over competitive environment Pungent, sour and salty foods, caffeine, hot spices Going to bed late, too much reading at night Bright light Signs of Pitta Aggravation Inflammation eg. in stomach and intestines causing heartburn and acidity, skin problems (such as eczema and boils), eye problems such as conjunctivitis and blepharitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, hepatitis, appendicitis, cystitis, Heat and burning symptoms, Increased appetite, hypoglycaemia, Profuse sweat, strong smelling when there is toxicity

5 Yellow discolouration (of the eyes, skin, nails, teeth, sweat and urine), Fevers, Dizziness, Irritability, anger, aggression, arrogance, perfectionism, over competitiveness, Insomnia. Symptoms are worse in heat and between 10-2 am and pm and better in cool weather. Kapha Kapha is earth and water, and is responsible for potential energy, the growth and structure of the body as well as for lubrication and protection. The qualities of kapha are wet, cold, gross, dense, smooth, static, dull, soft, cloudy and heavy. Kapha traits Large frame, heavy bones Big muscles Prone to overweight, feeling heavy Thick lustrous, oily skin and hair Large clear eyes Tendency to over sleep Tend to be lazy and inactive Resistant to change, slow to react Loyal and dependable Calm, affectionate forgiving and compassionate Slow to learn and slow to forget Symptoms worse in cold, damp weather Dreams of water, mature, birds and gentle romantic images Causes of Kapha aggravation Sleeping in the daytime, excessive sleep Lack of exercise, laziness Cold damp weather, winter 6-10am and pm, overeating Sweet sour and salty foods Heavy, cold and damp foods Signs of Kapha Aggravation Colds, catarrh, bronchial congestion, hay fever, asthma, Low agni, slow digestion, slow metabolism, overweight, Lethargy, laziness, poor motivation, foggy mindedness, Constipation, Poor circulation, Excess salivation, Possessiveness, acquisitiveness, greed, stubbornness, aversion to change. Symptoms are worse in cold damp weather and between 6-10 am and pm. In terms of the cycle of human existence, kapha is responsible for the growth of children to physical maturity, age 0 to 16, pitta is responsible for the maintenance of the body in its maturity, 16-45, and vata is responsible for the decline of the body, 45-death. These cycles can be extended as we

6 achieve greater longevity (one of the aims of Ayurveda) so that the pitta cycle could continue in some people until age 50 or 55. The Seven Dhatus According to Ayurveda the human body is composed of 7 dhatus, (from the root dha meaning to support) or tissue layers. While the balance of the doshas can predispose to ill health, the dhatus can become the sites of disease, in which case they are called dushya meaning that which can be spoiled. For health and strength the 7 dhatus need to be functioning optimally. The dhatus are formed from digested nutrients and the waste products are eliminated though faeces and urine. Rasa is the basic plasma of the body from which all other tissues are produced. Each is produced by digestion out of the other, so that each one becomes food for the next one. This means there is actually only one tissue in the body which undergoes 7 levels of transformation, so problems in any one tissue can easily affect all the rest. Starting from the gross to the subtle the 7 dhatus are: 1. Rasa / plasma-composed primarily of water 2. Rakta / blood, specifically haemoglobin-composed of fire and water 3. Mamsa / muscle, skeletal and visceral-composed primarily of earth and secondarily of water and fire 4. Medas / fat or adipose tissue-composed mainly of water 5. Asthi / bone-composed of earth and air 6. Majja /marrow and nerve tissue-composed of water and earth 7. Shukra / reproductive tissues, male and female-the essence derived from all tissues The Three Gunas Everything in creation is composed of 3 prime qualities or gunas - sattwa, rajas and tamas, in varying proportions. Sattwa is the quality of love, light, harmony, goodness and virtue. It promotes wisdom and intelligence, perception and clarity as well as joy and contentment. Sattwa enables spiritual awakening and development of the soul, as well as the awakening of the 5 senses enabling us to experience the physical world around us. From sattwa comes the clarity or inner peace through which we can perceive the truth. Rajas, This is the quality of action, mobility, imagination, energy, motivation and turbulence. In the mind rajas can create agitation, aggression and competitiveness. In excess it can cause self motivated or self seeking action that leads to pain and suffering and attaches us to the material world. Too much rajas can dissipate our vital energy and lead to exhaustion. Tamas. This is the quality of steadiness, solidity, dullness, heaviness, darkness and inertia that causes sleep, decay, degeneration and death. From tamas comes confusion, delusion or ignorance which covers our true nature. It is mainly on a mental level that the gunas have a significant effect. When in balance the gunas promote harmony and health. When rajas or tamas predominate, they can predispose to imbalance and ill health. The Six Tastes Ayurveda classifies foods and herbs according to six tastes, sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. Understanding the effects of each taste on mind and body and the balance of our vata, pitta and kapha, means that foods and herbs can be more specifically related to the needs of indi-

7 vidual. This can make foods and herbs more effective tools for prevention and treatment of imbalance and disease, and has been of enormous value to me in formulating prescriptions and giving dietary advice in my practice. In fact each substance in nature is composed of all 5 elements although one or two may predominate. So when we experience a food as sour for example, it means it is mainly sour but contains other secondary tastes. Rasa is the Sanskrit word which means both taste and emotion. This suggests that taste and emotion correspond with one another. An emotion tends to produce in the body its corresponding taste, just as eating foods or herbs of a specific taste tends to create its corresponding emotion. How much of each dosha your body produces depends primarily on which tastes you consume. Like the doshas, the 6 tastes are derived from the 5 elements. Elements Ether and Air Air and Fire Fire and Water Water and Earth Earth and Fire Earth and Air Tastes Bitter /Tikta Pungent /Katu Salty /Lavana Sweet /Madhura Sour /Amla Astringent /Kashaya Sweet, sour and salty substances increase kapha and decrease vata. Pungent, bitter and astringent tastes decrease kapha and increase vata. Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes decrease pitta. Pungent, sour and salty tastes increase pitta. Agni Digestive Fire Just as our bodies are made up of the 5 elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether, so too is the food we eat. Out digestive power enables our bodies to utilise the 5 elements in food, to extract the nutrients and transform them into bodily elements through the process of digestion. According to Ayurveda, most diseases arise from poor functioning of the digestive system. Our appetite and our ability to digest and absorb nutrients with the help of digestive enzymes is known as agni or digestive fire and this is central to health. Maintaining the balance of the digestive fire is the key to preventative health, as well as to the treatment of all digestive problems. Agni has all the qualities of fire:- Hot, dry, light, fragrant, subtle, mobile and penetrating. It is increased by hot fragrant spices like ginger, black pepper and cayenne as these have a similar nature. According to Ayurveda, when agni is sufficient it prevents the build up of toxins in the body, the mind and senses are clear and acute and we have the energy to direct our lives in a positive direction. When deficient it causes a build up of toxins in the body which gives rise to dullness, heaviness, stagnation and cloudiness of mind and perception.

8 Digestive fire (agni) works on the food mass that has been swallowed and liquefied. It separates the pure or nutritive part of the food (sara) from the waste material (kitta). This it breaks down into the forms of the 5 elements. These in turn are absorbed and transferred to the liver where the elemental agnis turn them into the respective elemental tissues for the body. The earth elements digested and transformed from the food serve to build up the basic bulk or protein of the body, like the muscles. The water element builds up the vital fluids, plasma, blood and fat. The fire elements build up the enzymes and haemoglobin. The air elements build up the bone and nerve plexuses. The ether elements build up the mind and senses. Prana vata helps in digestion of food. Samana vata controls peristaltic movements and absorption of food. Apana vata controls defecation and expulsion of gases. The Undigested Food Mass : Ama If digestive fire is low it leaves a residue of undigested or partly digested food that can accumulate, stagnate and ferment. This is known as ama, from the root am to harm or weaken. Its formation and accumulation is said to be the beginning of the disease process for all diseases. It weakens the defence system and lowers resistance to diseases starting from the common cold. Hence agni is the key to health. How To Raise Digestive Fire: Agni deepana Agni is increased by pungent, sour and salty tastes and a small amount of bitter taste. Spices are the best thing for increasing agni. They generally have the same qualities as agni, being hot, dry, light and fragrant. Popular remedies for raising digestive fire include: Trikatu, (ginger, long pepper and black pepper), Trikulu: (clove, cinnamon, cardamom), Pippali (long pepper) Ginger, Hingwastaka: (salt, asafoetida, trikatu, ajmoda, kalijeera, jeera How To Clear Toxins: Ama Pachana Bitter and pungent herbs generally have the ability to clear ama from the GI tract. Remedies for cleaning toxins include: General use for all 3 doshic types: triphala which is a mixture of amalaki, haritaki, bibhitaki For Vata: haritaki; hingwastaka; lavan bhaskar (5 salts) For Pitta: guduchi and ginger, coriander, amalaki For Kapha: triphala guggulu, trikatu The 6 Stages of Disease A good understanding of the stages of the development of disease is very helpful for early diagnosis, prognosis and for the correct use of preventative and curative measures, so that treatment can be as effective as possible. All diseases pass through the same 6 stages of disease and at each level the disease can be halted and addressed if appropriate changes are made to balance the doshas. It is useful to ascertain the stage of any disease as it gives a clear indication of the prognosis. The early 3 stages are represented by vague and ill defined symptoms which often lie below the threshold of awareness. Only the 3 last stages give rise to clear symptoms that are normally associated with illness. If subtle imbalanc-

9 es can be perceived in the first 3 stages, steps can be taken to remedy the situation and full disease can be prevented. According to Ayurveda all disturbances of the doshas starts with the mind; Avidhya: Ignorance (we take in wrong information and act accordingly) Asatya indrya samartha: Misappropriate attachment of the senses (we make incorrect judgements, e.g. drinking excess alcohol even though we know it is harmful and addictive) Prajnaya paradha : Crimes against wisdom (we don t learn from experience and repeat the same mistakes e.g. eating sugar even though last time it gave us a hyperglycaemic attack) Such crimes against wisdom lead to: Accumulation / Chaya Aggravation / Prakopa Overflow/ Prasara Relocation / Sthansan shraya Manifestation /Vyakti Diversification specification / Bheda Seasonal Variations The 3 doshas are affected by the season and their qualities such as heat/cold/ wet/dry/heavy/light, and can be aggravated as a result. At certain times they accumulate and are alleviated at others. Late winter/spring Pitta accumulates Kapha aggravated Vata calm Summer Pitta aggravated Vata accumulates Kapha calm Autumn Winter Vata aggravated Pitta calm Kapha calm Kapha accumulates Vata and Pitta calm Treatment of the Doshas

10 Once the prakruti (basic constitution) and the vikruti (present state of health) have been established through the various diagnostic methods incorporated into case history taking, treatment aimed at balancing the doshas can begin. The aim is not to balance the doshas per se but to return to the balance of one s prakruti. Generally speaking if one dosha is out of balance treatment should be relatively straight forward. If 2 doshas are out of balance it is more challenging and when 3 doshas are out of balance it can mean that treatment might be more palliative than curative. When more than one dosha is disturbed treatment needs to be aimed at balancing the dosha that is causing the most significant symptoms producing discomfort or distress. Treatment of Vata problems: (Vata Shamana) Relaxation and rest Less anxiety Oleation i.e. internal and external use of oils particularly sesame oil (see below), followed by application of heat or a warm bath/shower. Oils used for external use include: narayan oil, nilyadi oil, sesame oil, mahanarayan oil, castor oil, Light purgation using triphala Nasya, i.e. nasal administration of oil, often used for psychological problems, eg. mahanarayan oil Breathing exercises (pranayama) Herbs: ashwagandha, shatavari, brahmi, bala, gokshura, guduchi, castor oil root, garlic, herbs particularly aimed at balancing apana vata Formulae: triphala guggulu, hingwastaka, talisadi, trikulu Rasayana: ashwagandha, chayawanprash, rasayana for digestion: trikatu Treatment of Pitta problems: (Pitta Shamana) Gentle laxatives such as, dandelion root or triphala to reduce excess pachaka pitta Oleation/massage oils for external use: sunflower oil; coconut oil; aloe vera oil; bringaraj oil; brahmi oil Meditation to release suppressed emotions/anger. Counselling, talking, relaxing in cool areas, eg. by water Soft words/music, uncompetitive activities Cold water, milk, goat s milk/meat Sweet, bitter and astringent foods and herbs Reduction of pungent, sour and salty foods Medicines prepared in ghee are good nerve tonics for pitta, as ghee nourishes the brain and nerves. Ghee combines well with bitter herbs enhancing their properties by its pitta-reducing properties. They are usually followed by milk. Herbs: coriander, cumin, sandalwood, aloe vera, amalaki, turmeric, shatavari, guduchi, punarnava, manjishta, neem Formulae: chandanadi, pippaliamla, nimbadi, pushyanuga Rasayana: amalaki; guduchi. Brain rasayana: brahmi

11 Treatment of Kapha problems: (Kapha Shamana) More exercise Reduction of sleep if activity excessive Vamana: vomiting/ therapeutic or expectorant herbs Inhalation of oil/steam, application of heat Nasya nasal administration of oils including: eucalyptus oil; nilyadi oil; ginger; lime; Herbs: punarnava, turmeric, ginger; pippali, asafoetida, amlavetasa, haritaki; bilva fruit, guduchi Formulae: trikatu, triphala, triphala guggulu, talisadi with lime juice Rasayana: for digestion trikatu. Rasayana for thyroid problems kanchanar guggulu Less sweet, sour and salty foods More bitter, pungent and astringent herbs and foods Hot drinks and foods Cleansing Kitchari The classic Indian comfort food to warm, strengthen and rejuvenate. Kitchari Heat ghee in pan add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 1teaspoon of grated ginger, ¼ teaspoon each of cardamom, clove powder and 3 bay leaves or curry leaves for a couple of minutes Add 1/3 cup split mung dal with 2/3 basmati rice (or other grain) Add 3-4 cups of water (a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4). Add 1/4 tsp each of organic turmeric, roasted cumin, coriander and salt. Add seasonal vegetables: spinach, carrots, peas, or seaweeds, shitake mushrooms for an all round healing, healthy and agni enkindling meal. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer on low heat for approximately minutes until soft. The rules are to cook it on a very low heat in a covered saucepan and DO NOT stir, once all the ingredients are added. Add a teaspoon of ghee or hemp seed oil before eating. Kitchari is considered a fasting food and is used to enliven the digestion and clear toxins from the system. Ayurvedic physicians prescribe a kitchari diet before, during and after panchakarma, a rejuvenative treatment that cleanses toxins stored in bodily tissues and restores balance in the body.

12 Kitchari provides solid nourishment while allowing the body to devote energy to healing. You can safely subsist on kitchari any time in order to build vitality and strength as it helps balance all three doshas. For restless vata, it is warming and grounding; for fiery pitta, it is cooling and calming especially if made with more cooling spices such as cumin and coriander; and for chilly kapha, it can provide healing warmth. Ayurveda believes that all healing begins with the digestive tract, and kitchari can give it a much needed rest from constantly processing of more heavy foods while providing essential nutrients. The blend of rice and split mung beans offers an array of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Its mixture of spices is believed to enkindle the digestive fire, which can be weakened by indigestible foods and wrong food combinations. A Guide to Spices: There are endless variations of Kitchari recipes. Experiment with different herbs and spices and let your constitution and intuition be your guide you as you create modifications. Asafoetida (hing): calms vata, aids assimilation, potent carminative Bay Leaf: warms, digestive Black mustard seeds: digestive, warming Black peppercorns: warms, digestive, carminative Cardamom: warms, stimulates digestion Cinnamon: warms, sweetens, digestive Cloves: digestive Coriander: cooling, soothing, carminative, digestive Cumin: carminative, digestive, balances all doshas Fennel: Cools, sweetens, digestive, tonifies stomach Fenugreek: warming, digestive, tonifier Garlic: warming, strengthening, reduces ama Ginger: warming, potent digestive stimulant Neem (Curry Leaves): cooling, bitter, clears and removes waste Saffron: cooling, tonifying, digestive, balances all doshas Turmeric: tridoshic, specific for aiding protein digestion

13 Artemis House, Great Rissington, Cheltenham, Glos. GL54 2LP UK Tel Questionnaire Complete the checklist below and tick the box or boxes in each row with the attributes that most closely resembles your own. Try to answer all questions for a more accurate assessment. Go through the questionnaire twice. The first time make an assessment of how you have been for most of your life, ie your prakruti, and mark the relevant box with a tick. Then go through the questions a second time and answer them according to how you are now, ie your vikruti. Then you can see how the doshas have moved and which if any are out of balance. Characteristic Vata Attribute Pitta Attribute Kapha Attribute If none specify Weight low medium heavy Body frame small medium large Muscles not muscular muscular soft, flabby Height unusually short unusually tall medium height small and stout large and stout Hips narrow medium wide Shoulders narrow medium wide Chest small normal large Hair dry, brittle curled thin dark straight oily blond, red early balding early graying thick oily curly lustrous Body hair scanty moderate thick Face irregular features prominent features rounded

14 Eyes small dry medium red large moist Nose small long, bent medium straight, pointed large wide Lips small dark medium soft, red large velvety Teeth not straight medium, straight large, straight Skin rough, dry cold thin tans easily brownish oily warm, moist burns easily, freckled radiant soft and smooth cool and oily thick and pale tends to burn Veins easily visible moderately visible not visible Nails brittle dry, ridged well formed soft strong, thick smooth Fingers small, long regular wide, plump Hands and feet cold, dry warm, pink cool, damp Body fat around the waist evenly distributed around thighs and buttocks Energy level very active normally active lethargic Movement rather fast medium speed slow and steady Lifestyle erratic busy, regular steady, slow Memory for- good short term quick to grasp quick to get medium sharp clear good long term slow to grasp never forgets Mood changes quickly intense, changes quickly, steady, non-changing Speech fast, chaotic interrupted sharp clear and precise slow, monotonous melodious Creativity rich in ideas inventive, technical methodical, business minded Sleep light, easily interrupted 5-6 hours short and even 6-8 hours long and deep over 8 hours Eating habits irregular regular snack between meals Appetite variable strong, cannot miss meals mild, can miss meals

15 Artemis House, Great Rissington, Cheltenham, Glos. GL54 2LP UK Tel

16