What should I expect from my Ayurvedic consultation?

What to anticipate from your Ayurvedic consultation: Your initial session (90 minutes – $100) involves a thorough review of your health history, current diet, and lifestyle. Prior to the appointment, intake forms will be provided for completion.

During this session, your Ayurvedic Practitioner will identify your unique Mind-Body Constitution, assess your goals and health challenges, and provide a personalized protocol.

This protocol may encompass dietary and lifestyle adjustments, exercise and yoga recommendations, as well as suggestions for Ayurvedic herbs and supplements sourced from trusted websites.

Follow-up appointments (30 minutes, $50) will be recommended as needed.

Is Ayurveda safe?

Ayurveda, meaning "the science of life," is the oldest medical system that has been practiced in India for centuries.

Ayurveda is a very effective system of alternative medicine that is gradually being recognized in the West. 

Since an Ayurvedic regime is personalized, its full effectiveness will depend on various considerations, including your age and state of health, how much effort you are willing to put into making the necessary changes toward better health, and how disciplined you are with taking your formulas and following the recommended guidelines.

Despite its perceived benefits, it's crucial to acknowledge the potential side effects and risks of ayurvedic remedies. Similar to other medical practices, ayurvedic treatments may result in adverse reactions, particularly if used without expert guidance.

Consulting a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before commencing any treatment is essential for ensuring safety and effectiveness.

WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST SELF-MEDICATION

How do I order the suggested Ayurvedic herbal medicines?

There are two options available:

• Option 1 - I can provide you with website links to purchase the suggested herbs online.

• Option 2 - Alternatively, I can handle the purchase for you and have the items shipped directly to your address. In this case, you would make the payment to me directly, covering the cost of the purchased items as well as shipping charges.

How is Ayurveda a Holistic Medicine?

Ayurveda is a holistic system that considers the body, mind, and spirit as interconnected. It views disease as a disruption of the entire organism, rather than isolated to individual organs.

Ayurveda emphasizes addressing the underlying imbalance of body and mind rather than merely treating symptoms. It takes a personalized approach, treating the individual as a whole entity rather than focusing on specific body parts.

Are Ayurvedic remedies merely comprised of spices commonly found in the kitchen?

Ayurveda utilizes food as medicine, leveraging the healing properties of kitchen herbs and spices to balance gut flora. However, Ayurvedic medicines involve complex processes beyond simple kitchen remedies, requiring specialized expertise and formulations.

Can Ayurveda address all types of illnesses?

Ayurveda, as a holistic medical system, doesn't target specific diseases but instead emphasizes restoring balance to the body's energy.

It considers health as the harmonious functioning of the whole organism, with no system functioning in isolation.

The goal is not merely symptom management but achieving balance in the doshas to restore overall harmony. When energy flows smoothly, the body functions optimally, resulting in a sense of well-being.

Essentially, by rebalancing the doshas, Ayurveda addresses the root cause of imbalance, leading to symptom resolution and proper bodily function.

Does Ayurveda promote or advocate for any specific religion?

No! Ayurveda does not preach any religion. Ayurveda transcends religion, emphasizing intention behind actions and choices impacting health. It advocates spirituality for accountability and achieving balance across all aspects of life.

What are doshas?

The bio-energies known as VATA, PITTA, and KAPHA are the three DOSHA in Ayurveda, representing fundamental forces of nature.

• VATA, derived from WIND and SPACE, governs voluntary and involuntary movements.

• PITTA, a blend of primary FIRE and WATER, oversees transformation and conversion processes.

• KAPHA, formed by WATER and EARTH, provides sustenance and stability to the body.

Do Ayurvedic treatments take a long time to work?

The timeframe for Ayurvedic treatments to take effect varies depending on the condition's severity and the individual's adherence to recommended protocols.

With dedicated and disciplined adherence, Ayurvedic regimens can often yield quick results. However, for chronic or long-term conditions, achieving sustainable resolution by addressing the root cause may require more time.

How does Ayurveda look at illness?

Illness originates in the mind, where the influence of Rajas or Tamas drives sense organs towards unhealthy objects, leading to repetitive patterns.

Poor eating choices made under such influences disturb Agni, the digestive fire, generating digestive toxins (Ama) that provoke Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Ama associated with dosha disperses throughout the body, accumulating in tissues and organs, weakening them and giving rise to various diseases.

What are the main treatment techniques?

The Ayurvedic approach to health is holistic and inclusive, incorporating various elements such as diet, spices, herbs, supplements, Yoga therapy, breathing techniques, counseling, detox procedures, body therapies, and rejuvenation methods.

A certified Ayurvedic practitioner can assess your body type and dosha imbalance, devising a personalized program to enhance overall health or address specific imbalances.

Does Ayurveda limit dietary choices to exclusively Indian cuisine?

Any cuisine can be prepared in accordance with Ayurvedic principles. It involves focusing on the six tastes and determining which tastes are suitable for our bodies. This is not exclusive to Indian food but pertains to the ingredients and cooking style utilized in preparing the dishes.

In this modern age, does Ayurveda remain relevant, and if so, how?

Ayurvedic principles of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha stem from the five elements of nature. This ancient system's adaptability allows it to be practiced globally, providing tools for self-care and health management in diverse environments.

Is it safe to continue taking my medication while incorporating Ayurveda?

Ayurveda can complement Western allopathic medicines. While medications can be lifesaving, they may also have toxic effects on the body. Ayurveda can aid in protecting and strengthening the body, whether used alongside drugs or post-surgery. It's crucial to inform your Ayurvedic practitioner about your current medications, enabling them to tailor a suitable regimen for you.

Do I need to be vegetarian to practice Ayurveda?

No! Ayurveda has no compulsion of being Vegetarian/Vegan.

Ayurvedic principles can be applied to all diets and every cuisine can be made Ayurvedic.

Ayurveda suggests controlling meat intake only in cases where meat intake is the cause of a person’s disease and discomfort. Sometimes, some digestive systems are very sensitive to meats. For those people, meat intake is suggested to be limited.

Does insurance cover Ayurvedic services? If no, is Ayurveda expensive because of no insurance coverage?

Unfortunately, at this time in the United States, Ayurveda is not considered mainstream or allopathic medicine, but alternative medicine. Therefore, insurance does not cover Ayurveda costs at this time.

Ayurveda is a Wellness practice and not a medical practice in the West. That is the reason it does not have insurance coverage. However, the cost of Ayurvedic treatments is affordable and pocket friendly to a large extent. 

The difference is many invisible costs to lab, medicines, diagnostics, insurance premium etc.

And Ayurvedic treatments are usually designed to help you take health in your own hands after a few visits with the Practitioner to set up a routine.

The cost in most cases is quite like a one-time investment and in the range of a couple hundred bucks for a few visits.

Do Ayurvedic herbs contain heavy metals?

Ayurvedic herbs sourced from reputable providers undergo rigorous testing and treatment to mitigate heavy metal content.

While some herbs may naturally contain trace amounts of metals from the soil, trusted sources ensure thorough testing and treatment to eliminate any potential toxicity before producing herbal medicines.

How can Ayurveda address newly emerging health conditions?

Ayurveda, originating 5,000 years ago, provides principles applicable to a broad spectrum of conditions, including modern ailments like cancer and COVID-19. By comprehending the underlying qualities of these imbalances,

Ayurveda enables management through root-cause analysis.

Do I have to completely change my lifestyle to follow Ayurveda?

Whether you need to make significant lifestyle changes to embrace Ayurveda depends on factors like your current health, age, lifestyle, and goals. Ayurveda views imbalance as a result of living out of sync with your inherent constitution, which encompasses the balance of energies within your body-mind complex.

This constitution influences everything from your bone structure to your predisposition toward certain health issues. Since each person has a unique energy balance, the journey to optimal health varies.

The proximity to your constitutional balance dictates the extent of changes required to achieve your health objectives. Ayurveda offers practicality and flexibility, but achieving desired results relies on your commitment, common sense, and discipline in aligning with its principles.

Since we all have a different balance of energy, the path to optimal health will vary from person to person. How close you are to your constitutional balance will determine how many changes you need to make to get the results you want from your health program.

Ayurveda is practical and can be flexible, but you are responsible for achieving the results you want through common sense and discipline.

What are medicated oils and why are they used in Ayurveda?

Medicated oils are oils pervaded with medicinal herbs that have been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic clinics. They are used according to your specific needs and dosha imbalance.

Warm oil has a penetrating quality that helps the body absorb the substances infused into the oil for health purposes. They are applied in many Ayurvedic therapies and are also used for self- massage as a part of a daily routine for self-healing and maintaining health (called dinacharya).