FAQs
What is Āyurveda?
Ayurveda is a traditional science of natural healing that emphasizes maintaining the harmony of body, mind and spirit through food, lifestyle and natural herbs. Ayurveda can also include yoga, cleansing practices, breath work, meditation, marma energy work, oil treatments, and other modalities. In Ayurveda, the emphasis is not on disease, but on maintaining the balance of the individual’s constitutional nature. Ayurvedic therapies are never one size fits all, but customized to each individual. The goal of Ayurvedic medicine is to help create balance within the body, mind, and spirit in order to maximize the body's ability to heal itself.
Is an Āyurvedic Doctor a real Doctor?
Ayurveda is considered a form of medical care, like western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathic medicine, and homeopathic medicine. Practitioners of Ayurveda undergo state-recognized, institutionalized training. Although these models may differ in approach, they can work together in the best interest of an individual.
Is it effective?
Incredible results can be achieved when we give ourselves the tools we need to heal naturally. However, a successful Ayurvedic experience requires the active participation and personal responsibility of the client. Ayurveda is not simply about taking an herbal formula and waiting for the results. Instead, Ayurveda encourages you to learn about yourself, so that you can be an active participant in your own journey toward healing.
Is it safe?
Ayurveda strives to create balance within the body, mind and spirit with diet, lifestyle, and herbal support. Although many of the herbal and diet recommendations are safe and do not react with prescription medications, occasionally an individual may experience a reaction to a recommendation. It is important that you disclose all allopathic and/or herbal medicine you are currently taking during your initial intake, and immediately disclose any changes made to your current prescriptions.
What are the benefits and limitations of Āyurveda?
Ayurveda uses the understanding of bio-characteristics inherent in nature to restore balance to the individual so that healing can take place naturally. It can be used to address existing imbalances and minimize discomfort within the body, mind, and spirit. Ayurveda is a tool to assesses each individual to make appropriate, customized recommendations for diet, lifestyle, and herbal support. Ayurveda is not used to diagnose, treat illnesses, or give western medical advice. If you are suffering from a disease or severe symptoms that have not been evaluated by a medical doctor or another licensed health care professional, it is strongly recommended that your primary care physician evaluate you. Ayurvedic Practitioners do not diagnose diseases or prescribe medications to treat any physical or mental illness, and nothing said in the course of any consultation should be construed as such. Ayurveda should be used as a compliment to allopathic medicine, not as a replacement for allopathic medicine.
How can Āyurveda support my pregnancy and birth experience?
Ancient Ayurvedic text provide wisdom for all stages of female reproduction, from menstruation to menopause. Whether you are struggling with menstruation complications, in the pre-conception phase and preparing your body, struggling with fertility, currently pregnant, planning for the fourth trimester of postpartum, or past your child-bearing years and interested in ways to naturally assist during menopause, Ayurveda has tools to support each special stage. Please read more about my pre-conception/fertility, birth doula, and Ayurvedic postpartum doula offerings on our Services page. If you are struggling with menstruation complications that may be interfering with conception or are seeking menopause support, please book an Ayurvedic Consultation through our Home page.
Do I have to take herbs and supplements?
You do not have to take herbs and/or supplements if you choose not to. Some of the most profound healing can be achieved with diet and lifestyle adjustments alone.
How does it interface with allopathic medicine?
Ayurveda and allopathic medicine can successfully work together to achieve optimal health. For your safety and the effectiveness of Ayurvedic guidance, it is important that you disclose all allopathic and/or herbal medicine you are currently taking during your initial intake and immediately disclose any changes made to your current prescriptions. I do not recommend altering or discontinuing prescriptions or medications without your request. In the event that you would like changes made to prescription medicine, it must always be done under the approval and guidance of your prescribing medical professional. Ayurveda should be used as a compliment to allopathic medicine, not as a replacement for allopathic medicine.
Is Ayurveda new?
Ayurveda is over 5000 years old. It is one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine and is practiced worldwide.
If it is over 5000 years old, how can it be relevant for the health challenges of today?
Ayurveda has the ability to adapt to modern times by applying traditional principles to new health challenges. Ayurveda uses the elements as tools to understand disease pathology, so a modern diagnosis is not necessary to achieve balance or bring relief to a suffering individual. It's been said that unwritten medical texts would be completed by future Vaidya (Ayurvedic Doctor) using the ancient principles. Ayurveda is a living system and understands that as humans evolve disease and health evolve; if the imbalance can be understood, then the potential to restore balance exists.
