HERMITAGE @ DrTPS: 2009

Body Type and Seasonal Influence Described in Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, the first requirement for healing is the understanding of the three doshas. Tridosha Concept inside the body govern the phyico-chemical and physiological activities. Three doshas are Vata (from ether and air), Pitta (from fire and an aspect of water), and Kapha (from water and earth). A balance among the tridosha is necessary for health. For example, the air principle kindles the bodily fire, but water is necessary to control fire, otherwise the bodily fire would burn the tissues. Vata moves Kapha and Pitta, since Kapha and Pitta are immobile. Together, the tridosha governs all metabolic activities; anabolism (Kapha), catabolism (Vata), and metabolism (Pitta). When Vata is out of balance, the metabolism will be disturbed, resulting in excess catabolism, which is the breakdown or deterioration process in the body. When anabolism is greater than catabolism, there is an increased rate of growth and repair of the organs and tissues. Excess Pitta disturbs metabolism, excess Kapha increases the rate of anabolism and excess Vata creates emaciation (catabolism).
Ayurveda has the ability to detect disease at the very onset. For example let’s say that excess pitta has accumulated, perhaps because you are a pitta type wgo finds himself under heavy stress or just suffering through the discomfort of a very hot summer. Once there is enough excess pitta has accumulated, it starts to move around the body, leaving the places where it is supposed to remain. In short order it finds a place where ama (toxic residue) is present; it now gets stuck to the ama. This event concludes the first three stages of disease. At this point, as no text book disorder is present, no symptoms of disease can be detect by a normal medical doctor. But ayurveda terms the body is no longer healthy, and prescribes medication. If you are evry much aware of your body, you can sense the initial onset of the dosa imbalance. Everone recognizes the subtle changes that indicates a cold of flue is diseases, feeling out of sorts registers as a vague discomfort that cannot be localized or identified. It usually baffles the doctor, who tries to find overt symptoms like muscle weekness, low-grade fever, or simply lingering fatigue. This sort of vague premonition in the body holds true even for a sudden heart attack of stroke, which is rarely sudden at all. The victim is usually given warning in advance about his dosas but doesn’t heed them.

Once a dosha gets stuck somewhere, it generally ushers in the fourth stage, where the first distinct symptoms of sickness begin to appear. If pitta is lodged in the skin, you may feel a little inflammation or itching. If it is in the stomach, you may feel heart burn or upset stomach. (We are not blaming just pitta for disease symptoms. Any dosha can lodge anywhere. If excess vata has lodged in a joint, one of the most likely places for it, since joints readily pick up ama, you might feel a twinge of arthritis). Except for such vague signs, there is still no indication that a serious disease might be in the offing.

Because ayurveda works at such a subtle level of our bodies, symptoms can be relieved that are often quite mysterious, including unexplainable pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and so on.

Factors that increase vata
Explosure to cold , no routine in yur life, eating to much dry, frozen or leftover food, or food with bitter, pungent or astringents taste.Fasting, too much traveling, too much or inappropriate exercise, suppressing natural urges, abdominal surgery.Not oiling the skin.
Factors that increase pitta
Exposure to heat, eating too much red meat, salt, spicy or sour foods. Indigestion and irregularity of meals. Exercising at midday, Drugs especially antibiotics. Too much intellectual work/thinking. Alcohol, Fatigue.Anger,Hate fear, emotion.
Factors that increase kapha
Exposure to cold , eating too much sweet ,meat ,fats, cheese, milk, ice cream, yogurt, fried food, excessive use of salt. Excessive intake of water , taking naps after meals. Doing nothing. Sedative and tranquilizers. Doubts, greed, and possessiveness. Lack of comapation.

Mansoon Month is Poor Mans’ Days

It is widely regarded as the most inauspicious of months on the Malayalam almanac. The Malayalam month of `Karkidakam' has a tradition of evoking varied responses from the devout- minded and spreading panic in the minds of the superstitious. But for many, it is a different one. The monsoon months of June and July were exclusively reserved for rejuvenation therapies that helped to relax and unwind the tired body and soul of the health. The rain fury would keep the people indoors relieving them from the daily grinds of cultivation activities in farms and the paddy fields. The Malayalam month of ‘Karkidakam’ (July) is also known as Ramayana month during which the epic would be read out in temples and all Hindu homes at crack of dawn.

Women, after taking an early morning bath wear shoots of ten specific plants (‘dasapuspam’) in their hair and wear home- made kajal in their eyes and the dark green juice of ‘mukutti’ leaves (a small shrub with yellow flowers seen in Kerala) on their forehead.

Karkidaka Chikitsa (Monsoon Treatment)
In monsoon season all the Tridoshas (Vata, Pitha, Kapha) aggravates. It is the ideal time to flush out all impurities and to bring back all the tridoshas to balanced state. `Karkidakam' is usually referred to as the month when the resistance power of human body drops dramatically. Most persons reinforce their worship of the Lord to help tide over the gloomy month with minimum hardship. There some who go the spartan way, proclaiming a month-long abstinence from indulgence of any sort. For many a fatigued body and mind the season is considered ideal to undergo ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurveda Health Maintenance in Season
First Process is cleansing, this comes under Sodhana Chikitsa (Elimination and purification). This therapy purifies the whole body to attain proper balance of Thridoshsas (Vata, Pitha, Kapha) and enhances immunity thus to maintain health. Treatment includes Snehapana, Abhyangam (General Massage), Nasyam (Medicated Oils poured through nostrils), Pizhichil, Dhara, Virechanam, Njavarakizhi, Tharpanam (Medicated ghee or medicines kept over eyes), Karnapooranam (Medicated fumes applied to ears), Medicated steam bath and Vasthi.

Many herbal oil massages and ayurvedic treatment regimens puts them back on their feet to get along with the demanding daily routines for the rest of the year. Though the life style in this part of the world has undergone a sea change with many traditional customs and life styles fast eroding with the onslaught of time, Keralites still value the timeless charm of rejuvenation therapy known in local parlance as ‘sukha chikitsa’ which would roughly translate as pamper sessions.

Special Ayurveda Food

Rice porridge enhanced with an array of ayurvedic medicines along with homegrown vegetable and sprouts forms the lunch. During this month, the body is ensured plenty of rest and relaxation. Tender shoots and leaves of countless useful plants including pumpkin and drumstick are lavishly included in the vegetarian food through out the month (if u ask me its same through out the year, they do not know any other vegetable). The abstinence from alcohol and smoking are strictly propagated during this period.
Made up of as many as 27 medicinal herbs including `Muyalcheviyan' , `Cheroola', `Poovamkurunnu', `Kodiyaavanakku', `Kurunthotti', `Nilappana', `Uzhinja' and several others by boiling with `Njavara rice', the `Oushadakkanji' is being sold like hot cakes in the afternoons.