Maharishi Mahesh Yogi came to the West with a simple plan: to create Heaven on Earth by giving every human being the opportunity to know the true Self by experiencing and sustaining deep inner silence — the Transcendent, the source of bliss and healing, and the home of all of the laws of Nature. And how do you do this?
By using sensory and mental techniques from the ancient Vedic tradition he re-established. Maharishi taught us how to utilize all of the senses — hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell — to transcend or "go beyond" our thoughts and feelings to experience this silent source of Bliss.
He brought out Transcendental Meditation®, a Vedic mental technique, which uses the subtle sense of hearing. Specific sound vibrations allow the mind to take the path of increasing bliss and settle down.
Aromatherapy allows the mind and physiology to settle down through the sense of smell. The scents of essential oils have been used in the ayurvedic tradition for millennia, as documented in the Vedic texts.
The revival of the complete knowledge of Vedic Aromatherapy, which is an aspect of Maharishi Vedic Medicine, delivers to us the ancient wisdom of one of the most natural systems of promoting holistic psychological and physical health and well-being.
Essential oils are the "essence," "life force," or "soul" of the plant. This life force is present in the flowers, fruits, leaves, branches, seeds, root or rind of the plant.
When used properly, the innate intelligence in the herb awakens the inner intelligence of your mind and body.
Essential oils can quickly uplift us; calm and relax us; enliven, motivate, and inspire us; harmonize and balance our emotions; relieve physical symptoms of imbalances; and improve many basic physical and psychological functions. We all know how powerful smells and sounds can be for us: the expansive fragrance of certain flowers, the smell of freshly-cut grass, the smell of the earth after a summer rainstorm, the repulsive smell of rotting food.
Certain types of incense, specifically sandalwood, have been used through the centuries to enhance spiritual experiences. Special blends of aromas have been developed over time to bring balance to the doshas.
Calming Vata Aroma Oil soothes the body and mind. Cooling Pitta Aroma Oil settles and cools off high emotions.
Stimulating Kapha Aroma Oil energizes the physiology. This line includes several more specifically designed aromas: Blissful Heart Aroma Oil, which is sweet and uplifting; Slumber Time Aroma Oil, which fosters deeper, blissful sleep; Worry Free Aroma Oil, which settles the emotions; and Sniffle Free Aroma Oil, which opens up the nasal passages for easier breathing. I have recently moved my medical practice into a new office complex that houses practitioners of many different complementary health systems.
In addition to my family practice and ayurvedic practice, we have other evidence-based practices of massage, occupational therapy, cranial-sacral therapy, psychology, midwifery, chiropractic, naturopathy and acupuncture.
My three new exam rooms are designed to be dosha specific. Room One is Vata-pacifying; Room Two is Pitta-pacifying and Room three is Kapha-Pacifying. Each room utilizes appropriate colors, artwork, textures, music and aromas to pacify one of the doshas through all the senses.
A patient with anxiety, insomnia, constipation and dry skin would enter the green Vata Room and immediately feel more grounded and settled. Another patient with anger management issues, skin inflammation and heartburn would enter the Pitta room with its cooling blue colors and emotionally soothing aroma and begin to feel cool, calm and collected. A third patient, sluggish, sleepy and overweight, with recurrent sinus infections, would sit in the Kapha room and instantly begin to feel more energetic.
Designing and working in these rooms has been great fun for me as a physician. I'm grateful to Maharishi for giving us so many Vedic technologies to create balance, health and bliss.
© 1999, 2021 Maharishi AyurVeda Products International, Inc. (MAPI). All Rights Reserved. MAPI does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. See additional information.
