Modern Ills, Ancient Measures

From the Western perspective, stress results from feeling like we're not in control, that life is throwing more at us than we can handle. We tend to blame external causes: long commutes, unsatisfying jobs, relationship problems. But an Eastern health system called Ayurveda takes a decidedly different view. By this ancient Indian perspective, stress results from fundamental imbalances within the body, mind, senses, and spirit — imbalances that promote frustration now and disease down the road.

"Think of your body as the chariot, the senses as the horses, and your mind as the charioteer," explains The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians. "Things fall out of balance when we allow the horses to take over. Accidents happen. The mind loses the capacity to stop the senses from causing harm in the form of too much TV, smoking, overeating, staying up late." The more we live our lives driven by the whim of the senses, the more tense and anxious we become. Until we get back into balance, stress just begets more stress.

So how does the mind lose control? Ayurveda sees overuse, misuse, or no use of mind and heart (emotions) as the first step. Our capacity for dhi, dhriti, and smriti — learning, retaining, and recalling knowledge and information — weakens, and day-to-day challenges seem insurmountable. We lack coordination between heart, speech, and action. Desire-driven, we need more and more stimulation, to the point that we almost work to keep the stress response going.

To this overall scenario, Ayurveda adds the complexities of individuality. Most of us have a predominant dosha, or mind-body type, that governs how stress will manifest (see "What's Your Dosha?" to determine yours). Vata, or space and air, types will find mental stress a particular challenge, with insomnia, irritation, uneven appetite, and weight loss some common results. Pitta, or fire and water, individuals have more problems with emotional stress — anger, insecurity, depression accompanied by grief — and also experience vision problems, heartburn, and burning hands and feet. Kapha, or earth and water, types tend toward physical manifestations: fatigue, weight gain, unfulfilling sleep, poor immune system function, joint pain, and even chronic fatigue.

Ayurveda offers several general lifestyle recommendations to appease these problems. Eating in accordance with your dosha is a main focus. The Council explains, for instance, that those with excess vata can achieve balance through a vata-pacifying diet. "Favor warm, nourishing, unctuous foods," he suggests, pointing to almonds, dates, and stewed apples as examples of choices that temper vata's cold, dry, light nature. Pitta's fire increases with hot, spicy, sour, and salty foods, so avoid these if you have pitta in excess. "Turn to sweet, cooling fruits like mango and pear instead," adds The Council. Kapha individuals should favor light, dry, and warm foods to counter the heavy, oily, and cold nature of this dosha. They should avoid sweets except honey, as well as salt and red meat, and incorporate ginger and lemon into the diet to increase digestion. All three doshic types benefit from black pepper and turmeric, which enhance bioavailability of food to the brain.

Herbs complete the stress-reduction approach, with Indian staples like brahmi, a sedative and muscle relaxant, and ashwagandha, an adaptogen, often appearing in preparations combined with other herbs like aloeweed, which improves mental function. These herbs, taken as part of overall diet and lifestyle changes, can precipitate a profound shift in our stress level — one borne of balance. As Howard Bloomfield, a physician with an honorary Ph.D. in Ayurvedic medicine, explains, "Ayurveda means science of a blissful life. When we cultivate bliss in the nervous system, stress recedes and we're able to achieve what we all really want: quintessential peace and higher consciousness."

Resources

• Auromere (800) 735-4691; auromere.com — Ayurvedic books, products
• Ayurveda Holistic Health Center (526) 628-8200; ayurvedahc.com — Herbal formulas, Ayurvedic consultations, education
• Ayurvedic Institute (505) 291-9698; ayurveda.com — Products, Ayurvedic treatments, coursework
• Maharishi Ayurveda Products (800) 255-8332; mapi.com – Ayurvedic formulas, health information, research
• Sundari (800) 552-0203; www.sundari.com — Luxury skin care line based on the philosophy of Ayurveda

What’s Your Dosha?

To determine which dosha, or energy type, is most dominant in your body, circle the individual features that apply to you. The column with the most features circled will indicate which mind-body type you are. If you have almost the same score in two columns, your body type is a mix of two doshas. If your score is equal among the three types, you have a tridoshic body type. This questionnaire will only give a rough indication of your dosha. Accurately determining your body type requires an in-depth evaluation by a trained ayurvedic doctor.