Food supplements in Ayurveda
Some call them herbal pills, others spice powders, healing schnapps or medicines. No matter what name we want to assign to Ayurvedic products, one thing is certain: no health system in the world has a variety of herbal products and formulations comparable to Ayurveda. The science behind these products is called „Dravyagunavijnana“, which translates as the „science of substances and their properties“. The basis [...]
Examination methods in Ayurveda: 7. the anamnesis
Our tour of Ayurvedic examination methods and diagnostic techniques began with pulse diagnosis and led us on to tongue inspection, analysis of excretions, examination by hearing and feeling and finally to eye and face diagnosis. The Ayurvedic anamnesis, called Prashna Pariksha, now forms the conclusion of our journey. Prashna means question, pariksha means examination. The word „anamnesis“ comes from [...]
Examination methods in Ayurveda: 6. reading the eyes and face
It only takes 100 milliseconds: the first, decisive impression. We look into the eyes and face of the person opposite us and immediately make an intuitive judgement about trustworthiness, likeability, attractiveness and approachability. We also utilise the psychology of first impressions in Ayurvedic diagnostics. The more experienced the diagnostician, the more accurate the first impression. Even after a [...]
Examination methods in Ayurveda: 4. listening to health and illness
In ancient India, there were no diagnostic imaging techniques such as ultrasound, X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging. Traditional Ayurvedic doctors were therefore dependent on examining health and illness using their five senses. Dr Arora from Rishikesh, my first Ayurveda teacher, gave me a piece of advice in 1994: learn to listen to your patient, to feel, to [...]
Determining constitution in Ayurveda: more than just „typing“
Vata, Pitta or Kapha - who am I? For many people interested in Ayurveda, this question is the starting point for booking an appointment in an Ayurveda practice. What importance does Ayurveda actually attach to this topic? Is it even possible to determine your personal constitution in a consultation? The fact is that the individual constitution of a person plays a [...]
Examination methods in Ayurveda: 2. tongue diagnosis
In addition to the pulse examination, the inspection of the tongue Jihva Pariksha is one of eight classic examination procedures in Ayurveda. The traditional compendium Ashtanga Samgraha Samhita already described signs of a tongue „spoilt“ by Vata, Pitta, Kapha and blood. Our tongue lies on the floor of the oral cavity and is a muscular organ belonging to the upper digestive tract. It [...]
Examination methods in Ayurveda: 1. pulse diagnosis
Ayurvedic diagnostics is multimodal. It consists of verbal questioning in an anamnesis interview and a physical examination. All the results are then analysed in order to gain a holistic understanding of the origin and development of the complaints and all the factors involved. In my series of articles „Examination methods in Ayurveda“, I introduce you to the 8 most important Ayurvedic procedures: Pulse, [...]
How reliable are Ayurveda constitution tests?
Vata, Pitta or Kapha - which „Dosha type“ are you? Numerous online providers and print media attract interested parties with questions like these, using a questionnaire to identify health strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, inclinations and needs in just a few minutes. Is this even possible from a classical Ayurvedic point of view? How reliable are such constitution tests? And how can a layperson recognise professional tests [...]?