Ayurvedic Treatment in India Guideline

What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the most ancient and natural healing system known to man and practiced now for over 5,000years. Ayurvedic treatments and rejuvenation packages have become very popular in India off late as an alternate medical practice. It is able to detoxify the human body, boost immunity, root out the causes of illness, and restore youth, vitality and beauty. Further, Ayurveda is able to cure chronic illnesses where modern medicine stumbles. For reasons such as these and the relaxation and rejuvenation that the treatments provide, Ayurveda has become very popular in India and with foreign tourists visiting India. Infact, Ayurvedic treatments and Spas are a major contributing factor to the rise in medical tourism to India.
Ayurveda is a pranic system of medicine, which works to balance the body’s life energy — referred to as the “doshas”. This is achieved by diet, different types of massage, pouring herbal liquid onto the body, and covering the body with herbal leaves and powders. A qualified doctor assesses the person and a treatment program is tailor made to address the root cause of the problem. Generally, it takes at least a couple of weeks to complete a full course of treatment.

Benefits of Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic medicine is a good course of treatment in-Increasing metabolic rate; Reducing stress; Chronic conditions; Relieving the effects of chemotherapy and other treatment side-effects; And, most popularly for general rejuvenation, detoxification, weight loss, beauty, and glowing skin.
* Ayurvedic and herbal medicines ensures physical and mental health without side effects. The natural ingredients of herbs help bring ‘arogya'(health) to human body and mind.
* According to the original texts, the goal of Ayurveda is prevention as well as promotion of the body’s own capacity for maintenance and balance.
* Ayurvedic treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be used safely as an alternative therapy or alongside conventional therapies.
* Ayurvedic physicians claim that their methods can also help stress-related, metabolic, and chronic conditions.
* Ayurveda has been used to treat acne, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, colitis, constipation, depression, diabetes, flu, heart disease, hypertension, immune problems, inflammation, insomnia, nervous disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcers.

The Popular Ayurvedic Treatments in India
In India we find two types of Ayurvedic treatments. First, the Ayurvedic Resorts and Spas that cater to relaxation and rejuvenation and second, the Ayurvedic hospitals that provide medical treatments for more serious illnesses. The Ayurvedic Hospitals are much less expensive than the resorts that cater mostly to foreign tourists.
We will look more closely at Ayurvedic Rejuvination Therapy which includes Rasayana Treatment and Panchkarma Treatment.
Rasayana Treatment aims at restoring youth and vitality through conservation, transformation and revitalization of pranic energy. It is the 8th branch o Ayurveda. It detoxifies the body of its toxins and impurities, nousishes it, boosts immunity and makes the body and mind healthy and consequently attempts to increase longevity. According to ancient ayurvedic texts, Rasayana can bring back youthfulness long after old age sets in!
Panchkarma Treatment is the traditional detoxification treatment and aims at elimination the root cause of illness. Panchakarma treatment replenishes tissues, provides nourishment, softens and soothes nerves and bones and promotes tranquility of mind and body. It also has anti-aging effects.
The above two Rejuvination Treatments increases ‘Ojas’ (primary vitality) and improves ‘Sattva’ (mental clarity) and thereby increases the resistance of the body. It includes head and face massage with medicated oils and creams, body massage with herbal oil or powder by hand and foot, internal rejuvenative medicines and medicated steam bath. Herbal baths are also used.

Benefits of Rasayana and Panchkarma are listed below.
• Rejuvenation, youth and agility
• Good health and longevity
• Increase in physical and mental capabilities
• Improvement in skin complexion
• Increase in memory power
• Increase in Immunity and Resistances to diseases
• Increase in the sensing capacity or sensitivity of sense organs
The treatment is most effective if undertaken before the age of 50.
Some of the treatments are described as under.

Body Sudation (Sweda Karma)

Medicated steam bath eliminates impurities from the body, improves the tone and complexion of the skin, reduces fat and is recommended for certain rheumatic diseases, particularly for pain. Precious herbs and herbal leaves are boiled and the steam is passed over the entire body for 10 to 20 minutes daily. Hand massage with herbal oils or herbal powder improves blood circulation and tones up the muscles.

Body slimming

Medicated herbal powder and medicated herbal oil massages, an Ayurvedic diet of herbal juices etc. are part of the programme.

Beauty care
Herbal face pack, herbal oil massage, intake of herbal tea etc. improves complexion and beautifies the body.

Mental and physical well being (Meditation and Yoga)

Mental and physical exercises meant to isolate ego from the body and mind – designed to hone your concentration, improve health and help attain peace of mind through eight stages of training : 1. Disciplined behaviour (yama) 2. Self purification (niyama) 3. Bodily postures such as the lotus position (asana) 4. Control of breathing (pranayama) 5. Control of the senses (pratyahara) 6. Fixing of the mind on a chosen object (dharana) 7. Meditation (dhyana) and 8. Samadhi – a state of being where you experience absolute tranquility and well being.

Overall fitness (Panchakarma Treatment)

A five-fold treatment for mental and physical well being – tunes the body, organs, mind, breath, nerves and purifies the blood.