Ayurvedic Information - An Overview
Information on Ayurveda and Fibromyalgia with emphasis on Ayurvedic treatment of Fibromyalgia
In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means "science of life (longevity)" and originated in India approximately 5,000 years ago when medicine and philosophy were utilized in tandum. Ayurveda has been making a strong resurrgence in both the East and also the West. It is a complete system, a qualitative holistic science of health and longetivity, a philosophy, and a system of healing the whole person, body, and mind. Ayurveda offers specific recommendations to each individual on lifestyle, diet, exercise and yoga, herbal therapy, and even spiritual practices, to restore and maintain balance in body and mind.
Overview
Fibromyalgia is perceived as a Vata imbalance. An aggravated Vata destabilizes the nervous system and can create hypersensitivity leading to pain and tenderness. An accumulation of Ama (toxins) and shrotorodha are also contributing factors. Pre-purification measures, such as snehan and swedan, are useful in balancing Vata and loosening the toxins.
Physiology
All matter is thought to be composted of five basic elements (panchamahabhutas), which exhibit properties of: Earth (prithvi), Water (jala), Fire (tejas), Wind (vayu), and Space (akasha). These elements always exist in combinations, where one or more elements dominate. According to Ayurveda, the body is composed of derivatives of the five basic elements, in the form of doshas, tissues (dhatus), and waste products (malas).
Doshas
The most fundemental and characteristic principle of Ayurveda is called "tridosha", or the Three Humors. Doshas are the physiological factors of the body. Doshas are categorized into Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Together, these three doshas determine the physiological constitution of an individual.
Vata - regulates movement and is represented by the nervous system.
Pitta - principle of biotransformation and is cause of all metabolic processes.
Kapha - principle of cohesion and functions through body fluids.
Dhatus
The tissues are classified into seven categories: plasma (rasa), blood cells (rakta), muscular tissue (mansa), adipose tissue (meda), bony tissue (asthi), bone marrow (majja), and reproductive tissue (shukra).
Malas
The three main waste products are urine (mutra), feces (purish), and sweat (sweda).
When doshas become unbalanced, then disease results. Ayurveda will suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the person in reducing or increasing the doshas that has become unbalanced.
Examples
Obesity - Is mainly due to absence of physical activity. Other causes could be sleeping during the day, intake of Kapha (increasing foods, finally resulting in accumulation of fat). These block channels of nutrition.
Rheumatism - Caused by eating incompatible foods, lack of physical exercise in general, doing exercise particularly after eating fatty foods, incorrect use of purgatives causing improper digestion. The half digested food (Ama) associate itself with Vata and moves about, then fills the seats of Kapha, blocking transport channels of body. This blocking of channels produces weakness of the heart, which is the seat of the disease. This results in loss of strength, feeling of heaviness, stiffness of the body, and small and big joints alike.
Indigestion/dyspepsia - Caused by taking in excess of water, taking small or large quantities of food at odd times, suppression of natural functions of the body, loss of sleep at night/sleeping during the daytime. Results in gastric fire (Jatharagni), which is responsible for the weak digestion and absorption of nutritious substances.