Introduction to Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of health first written down in the Vedas some 3000 years ago. It is closely allied with yoga, and Ayurvedic practitioners may prescribe diet and lifestyle advice and herbs as well as breathing exercises, meditation or massage.

In the UK, Ayurveda is primarily used to treat chronic health complaints such as gastro-intestinal problems, sleep disturbances, hormone imbalances and stress - the type of complaints that GPs don’t have a good answer for. Ayurveda looks for the underlying causes of illness, considering the patterns of health of the person over their lifetime rather than giving symptomatic treatment. There is also a growing interest in Ayurveda as a preventative measure to maintain and improve quality of life, for example, in pregnancy, menopause, and old age.

In a consultation, a thorough medical history is used to determine your constitution (known in Sanskrit at your dosha) and any current imbalances that may be causing health problems. This gives a refreshingly positive and individualised approach to health, aiming to balance the mind and body to achieve a natural state of well-being.

Consultation - lasts an hour and includes a full medical history along with Ayurvedic tongue and pulse diagnosis.

E-mail: jo.mingay@lineone.net if you have questions about how Ayurveda can help you.

Jo is a member of British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners