Herbal Traditions of Ayurvedic Medicine: Ayurvedic Practitioners

If you are interested in exploring what Ayurvedic medicine can do for your health and well being, you must locate an Ayurvedic practitioner and undergo an examination before receiving any treatments. In this article, you will learn what to expect when you finally meet up with an Ayurvedic practitioner.

A Typical Examination

When you have located an Ayurvedic practitioner in your area, you will undergo an examination, which is typically broken down into three parts. First, the practitioner will observe you, which is referred to as ‘darshan.’ They will take a look at your general physical health, observing your movement, shape of your body, the color of your skin and eyes, the shape of your nose. They will analyze the lines and ridges on your face, as well as check out the health of your hair, nails, and lips.

Next, comes ‘sparsha,’ which involves the sense of touch. They will press down on certain parts of the body and listen to the kinds of sounds that your internal organs make. They will tap on certain body parts and zero in on your pulse (most likely using a complex technique developed by Ayurvedic practitioners), tongue, speech, and nails. Some practitioners will also use laboratory testing to get the most accurate assessments.

Finally, they will ask you questions, known as ‘prashna,’ in Ayurvedic medicine. They want to know what is ailing you and the kinds of symptoms you experience. If you suffer discomfort, they will ask you how long they have lasted. They will also want to know the progression of more serious conditions, like chronic diseases.

Possible Treatments

After a complete examination, an Ayurvedic practitioner will then determine the best course of action for your treatment. This may include the use of herbs, medicated oils, changes in diet and nutrition, massage, and other techniques. To read up on common Ayurvedic treatments, the article titled, “Herbal Traditions of Ayurvedic Medicine: Other Common Treatments” will present more information.

You never know where a traditional herbal Ayurvedic treatment will come from. Some of the items used to cure and treat medical ailments are found right in your kitchen cabinet, such as nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg & Mace: While they both come from the same tree, nutmeg and mace are used for completely different reasons within the practices of Ayurvedic medicine. In the past, Indians would create a paste made of nutmeg to treat eczema, while mace serves as a warming herb for infections of the stomach. Some of the ways that nutmeg and mace is used to treat medical concerns, includes:

·    Powdered mace: gas and bloating
·    Essential oil of nutmeg: vomiting
·    Grated nutmeg: eczema
·    Nutmeg infusion: mix with peppermint infusion to treat gastroenteritis