WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
Ayurveda, or “Science of Life”, is a vast and very ancient therapeutic system, it deals with life and all ways to maintain a good state of health. In Sanskrit, the word “Swastha”, “Being stable within Themselves”, means keeping body, sense organs, mind and soul in balance.
According to Ayurveda, the human body, as any other form of matter in the universe, consists of 5 elements, Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, given in different quantities in each individual. Combining with one another, they form the 3 dosha: Vata (Ether and Air), Pitta (Fire and Water), Kapha (Water and Earth).
Based upon the amount of each dosha, the Individual Constitution (“Prakrti”) is determined, it already starts forming at conception and continues until birth. Due to the external environment, lifestyle and diet, dosha can go out of balance (“Vikrti”) and this can lead to physical and emotional imbalance, which, through time, if not counterbalanced, can originate actual diseases.
“The three dosha, when in balance, support the body, but, when imbalanced, they cause every sort of disease”
(Caraka Samhita)
AYURVEDIC TREATMENTS
“Ayurvedic massage doesn’t exist!”
This is the first thing I learned during my course to become an ayurvedic therapist.
In fact, there is a wide range of treatments that works on different aspects and problems, adjusting techniques and different substances to each case. Of course we start first from evaluating the “imbalance” affecting the person who comes for ayurvedic treatments.
“The body of one who uses oil massage regularly does not become affected much even if subjected to injury or strenuous work. By using oil massage daily, a person is endowed with pleasant touch, trimmed body parts and becomes strong, charming and least affected by old age.”
(Caraka Samhita)
Ayurvedic treatments are part of the program aimed at reestablishing the health of the person relying on Ayurveda and they work on all levels, physical, emotional and subtle. They are performed by the Ayurvedic therapist, who, according to the Indian tradition, closely works with the Ayurvedic Doctor. The therapist is also called “Upasthata”, which means “The one who is next to” the person they are treating. With “Heart of a Lion, Eyes of an Aegle, Hands of Lord…”, the therapist establishes a direct and profound contact with the person they are treating and they stand by the person’s side along their path to rebalance.
We don’t offer a list of treatments to choose from since, following the tradition, the therapist (or the doctor) is the one who evaluates, after the first consultation, what treatment or path suits you the most at that given moment. However, below is a short description of all types of treatments that we can perform in our center.
FULL BODY ABHYANGA TREATMENTS
These treatments are full body and performed with warm medicated oils. They last 60 minutes or more.
Sarvanga Abhyanga: full body treatment, head included, extremely relaxing and rejuvenating, it gives strength and a sense of union and connection.
Nala Abhyanga: treatment for flowing, with pratiloma movements, from the peripheral parts of the body to the heart, it drains and detoxifies, it improves the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Nadi Abhyanga: treatment for flowing outwards, from the heart to the peripheral parts of the body (anuloma), it brings energy and vigor, it helps peripheral circulation.
Garbha Abhyanga: treatment for pregnant women, it is useful for all conditions related to pregnancy and for the best preparation to the delivery.
PARTIAL ABHYANGA TREATMENTS
These treatments are performed on specific areas of the body with warm medicated oil. They last 30/40 minutes each and they might include the stimulation of marma (energy points) in some cases.
Pada Abhyanga (treatment for the feet), Siro Abhyanga (treatment for the head), Thanda Abhyanga (treatment for the back), Hasta Abhyanga (treatment for the hands), Mukha Abhyanga (treatment for the face), Udara Abhyanga (treatment for the abdomen).
UDVARTANA
This treatment is full body and performed using powders and moving upwards (pratiloma). It is performed with powders of herbs only or adding oils or decoctions. It detoxifies and re-energizes, it improves the metabolism and makes the complexion glowing, it helps eliminate cellulite and excess of fat.
PINDA SWEDA
Sweating treatment, pummeling with warm bags filled with herbs and/or rice, it purifies and strengthens all tissues of the body. It energizes and detoxifies, it helps against fatigue, it reduces stiffness, heaviness, swelling, stagnation, joint pain, and it promotes action (towards a specific direction).
EXTERNAL BASTI
External Basti treatments consist in holding warm medicated oil on a specific area of the body in a well made of dough. This treatment is always followed by a local sweating with warm steam (swedana) to allow the oil to penetrate and be absorbed deeply.
Kati Basti (lower back), Greeva Basti (neck), Nabhi Basti (abdomen), Hrdu Basti (heart, front/back), Prisha (or Dhara) Basti (oil flowing along the backbone), Janu Basti (knee), Siro Basti (head).
TREATMENTS FOR SENSE ORGANS
“One who is able to withdraw the senses from their objects, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its shell, is established in divine wisdom.” (Bhagavadgītā)
Netra Tarpana – Holding ghee on the eyes
Nasya – Treatment through the nasal cavity
Karna Purana – Treatment for the ears
SHIRODHARA
Special treatment for the head where medicated oil, milk or decoctions are poured on the forehead. It promotes clarity of mind. It improves sleep quality and reduces stress, hypertension, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.
OTHER TREATMENTS
To some of the here-listed treatments, we can combine sweating baths (swedana), poultice with powdered herbs or other substances on the face or other parts of the body (lepa), compresses with medicated oil (pichu) on various areas of the body (head, back, heart, abdomen, knee).
AYURVEDIC CONSULTATIONS
For those who would like to go deep into a more specific path, especially in case of particular conditions and diseases, it is possible to book an ayurvedic consultation with Dr. Dacia Dalla Libera.
