Virtual learning is a ‘new’ term.  Certainly, no Ayurveda college is offering Virtual Learning yet! Some are offering distant learning, and, others – where you attend classes once a month.  SDCOA is offering Ayurveda course from $6 per Credit Hour for selected courses. It is affordable, flexible and experiential.

Normally, when we think of online or distant learning course – we imagine receiving a learning packet, or a book. Perhaps some audio video resources.

A virtual classroom, whereby, students are sitting at their homes in front of a computer, or even logged in through a mobile device –and watching their instructor talk to them, write on a ‘virtual’ whiteboard, share presentations, interact, –is exactly like in a real classroom.

Except the instructor is sitting at his or her desk. Everything is conducted virtually.

San Diego College of Ayurveda offers online and Virtual Learning Environment. (Also known as VLE!).

Please remember, virtual learning is very flexible, cheaper and more affordable. Yet, it is not for everyone.

If you find navigating your computer a problem, or, are not tech savvy, it may be daunting at first.

It also depends on your learning style. Some people are Hands on learners, and, need to be in an actual classroom setting to understand a concept. Others may learn by audio or visual training aids.  Our college offers the best choice to audio and visual learners, who are comfortable navigating an online learning environment – email, chat, website and online conferencing.  Which is why the cost is very low. Our course prices start from $3.50 per credit hour in some online courses, and, $9 onwards for foundation courses .

According to wikipedia, “VLE will normally work and provide a collection of tools such as those for assessment (particularly of types that can be marked automatically, such as multiple choice), communication, uploading of content, return of students’ work, peer assessment, administration of student groups, collecting and organizing student grades, questionnaires, tracking tools, etc. New features in these systems include wikis, blogs and 3D virtual learning spaces.  This kind of Blended learning model is often used in schools and other educational establishments in order to make the learning experience more interactive.”

Virtual learning in Ayurveda is practically unheard of. So, San Diego College of Ayurveda is actually a pioneer in offering an ancient knowledge with cutting edge technology.

Virtual learning is also now called blended learning. We run our courses on servers, share multimedia and web page resources. However, if you are not computer savvy, you  may be confused.

A good Internet connexion is also required.

Our college offers a Blended learning environment from WEBEX. It is similar to a face-to-face classroom environment in that it allows direct communication with the teacher. Students can use emoticons to “raise their hand,” show that they are confused, show that they understand what the teacher is saying, and even give applause for something that the teacher says. Students are also able to talk to the teacher when called on. In many of these virtual learning environments the students are able to write on the “virtual classroom chalkboard.” This allows them to show their work for the rest of the class to see. Students can also be split up into groups in order to work with each other and discuss topics that the teacher introduces. Many virtual learning environments give teachers the ability to share multimedia files such as video and audio files as well as the ability to transfer important documents (Word, PDF,…etc.) directly to students.

In ‘Virtually There’, a book and DVD pack distributed freely to schools by the Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation (YHGfL), Professor Stephen Heppell writes in the foreword:

“Learning is breaking out of the narrow boxes that it was trapped in during the 20th century; teachers’ professionalism, reflection and ingenuity are leading learning to places that genuinely excite this new generation of connected young school students — and their teachers too. VLEs are helping to make sure that their learning is not confined to a particular building, or restricted to any single location or moment.“^[1]

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Panchakarma workshop and retreat will include:

• Shirodhara
• Abhyanga
• Svedanam
• Marma
• Nasya
• Basti •
Karnapurnam

Introduction to Panchakarma (detoxification) & Shaman Chikitsa

Therapy workshop for Massage Therapists, Ayurvedic Practitioners, and Herbalists. Registered Nurses can also attend, as well as Physical Therapists.
Learn and experience first hand the cleansing detoxification therapies of Ayurveda that include Abhyanga, sweat therapies, purgative herbs, Vamana, Nasya and Shirodhara. Learn to cook Panchakarma detox therapeutic food and principles of Ayurvedic nutrition.

Introduction to Panchakarma Theory
We will discuss the theory of Vamana, Virechana – Shodhana and Rasayan therapies herb protocols. • Shamana Chikitsa and minor health imbalances. • Panchakarma DETOX recipes due to diet, season and environment.

Dosha Imbalances

Kapha Imbalance - Diabetes 2, congestion, sinus issues, insomnia and extreme stress. Pachaka Pitta, Sadhaka Pitta and Rakta Dhatu Imbalances – Acid reflux, Pitta headaches, skin disorders and adult
acne.
Vata Imbalances that affect Asthi Dhatu, Mamsa Dhatu and Apana Vata – arthritis, joint pains, muscle issues and chronic constipation.

Workshop Location

430 North Cedar Street

Escondido 92025

email- info@ayurveda-california.org

San Diego College of Ayurveda

http://www.sandiegocollegeofayurveda.com/panchakarma_workshop

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San Diego College of Ayurveda

San Diego College of Ayurveda

In the 21st Century, the popularity of holistic methods has grown, especially in the United States, as people realize the importance of mind over body and choosing homeopathic alternatives rather than Western medicine. This could be because of the expense of healthcare costs and medications. As a result, benefits of the low cost of Ayurvedic treatments, the World Health Organization in 1978 has recognized Ayurveda as being beneficial to economically impaired countries as it reduces expensive drug dependence on industrial states, especially those in the pharmaceutical industries. In 1983, the first International Ayurveda Congress was formed.

Ayurveda has also become popular because of such supporters as Deepak Chopra, Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. David Frawley and my personal favorite, Brigit Heyn who is a Viennese pharmacist and has studied Ayurveda over many years and publish books such as “Ayurveda, The Indian Art of Natural Medicine & Life Extension” from her studies and research.

Ayurveda has now spread out into many countries all over the world. It is classified as a system of complementary and alternative medicine or CAM but not a replacement to Western medicine. Though the struggle to become recognized by mainstream society has been long, there are signs that Ayurveda will not only become main stream but a standard way of life for many.

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It is true that “intellectual strength is more important than just physical strength”. This is all time true statement. For significant achievement in any field, Intellectual performance is rather most important tool and there could be hardly anybody who will disagree to this. Every parent dreams about best scoring of their child in academics in all the fields. There are end numbers of products available in the market today claiming such therapeutic benefits and also new products are coming up every other day. It creates confusion amongst consumers as to which products are genuine and which are not. The advertisements are also rivaling and hence it is essential to identify the appropriate one. Besides this, what are the other treatment options, what are the correct doses, how these formulations work, how is the knowledge stored, how does the recall process work, what diet is good for nourishing the activity of brain, importance of diet, importance of prayers, significance of exercise and rest? Here you will find answers to all such questions and their scientific basis. Ayurveda and Memory:

Ayurveda and Common Cold: While during common cold, blockage of olfactory nerve there is a total loss of sensation of smell. This is very common example experienced by most of the people. Similarly, if there is any kind of blockage in the optic nerve, the sensation of visual experience will be blocked; auditory nerve will result in impaired listening etc. You can buy a Kapha Massage Oil with Mustard, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Camphor for and rub in and around nose, outer lips.

For acquiring the knowledge, the body uses 5 sense organs. Ears, Skin, Eyes, Tongue and Nose are collectively called sense organs. The sensations experienced by these sense organs are transmitted to the brain. The sensory nerves conduct messages through chemical transmission and then they are stored in the brain. Unless the knowledge is stored properly, one can not use it at any point of time. To explain this concept, I wish to give one example. An infant, who is deaf since birth, remains dumb throughout the life. His vocal organs may be absolutely normal despite he could not process the knowledge of speaking which is essentially linked with hearing. Hence he or she will never know “what word is and how to pronounce it”. The prerequisite for uninterrupted transmission of these senses is to have the healthy state of the nerves and also they should be properly lubricated. The myelin sheath of nerves is made of about 80% lipid and about 20% protein. Therefore it is essential to maintain the lubrication by way of providing adequate unctuous vehicle. Proper lubrication to the sense organs help to improve the oxygenated blood supply and thereby help to establish the physiological functioning of specific sense organ. Applying a drop of oil or any other lubricant to finger facilitates inserting the odd-sized ring easily. This is an easy example to understand the importance in relation to the grasping ability of the sense organs. Oil and ghee are the main natural lubricants available since time immemorial. Ayurveda has described the properties of cow-ghee as follows:

“शस्तं धी स्मृति मेधाऽग्नि बलायुः शुक्र चक्षुषाम् ….”

It means that cow ghee improves grasping, storing and recall, the three aspects of brain function. You can buy cow-ghee for common cold here. It also stimulates appetite, improves quality of life, physical endurance, vigour and eyesight. Nose is the gateway of brain and any product introduced through the nostril has immediate access to the brain tissue. Even modern medicine has identified the potential of this path which bypasses the blood brain barrier and without much efforts, the valuable drug can be made bio-available in plasma and CSF in just 1.5 minutes. Use of nasal insulin is a well-known example to understand this phenomenon. Recently there is also nasal spray for calcium supplementation. Here is the first step towards improving the grasping capacity of the brain which mentions administration of ghee based product through nostrils. Ayurveda has described this mode of administration 5000 years ago by the name of ‘Nasya’ treatment. Besides cow-ghee, some valuable herbs like saffron help to impart phenomenal antioxidant effects on brain cells. It is scientifically proved and possesses a strong supporting reference. Nose is directly connected to the brain through olfactory apparatus; it is connected to ears through Eustachian tube, to eyes through lachrymal ducts. Therefore nasal treatment helps to restore the physiological functions of all these organs and nourish the brain’s grasping capacity. Ayurveda recommends 4-4 drops in each nostril daily to achieve the said therapeutic benefit. Despite improvement in intellectual competence, unknowingly this treatment imparts lots of other advantages like prevention of recurrent attacks of common cold, arrests hair fall, overcomes fatigue of eyes due to excess-reading, combats burning of eyes, protects occasional blocking of ears, protects vision defects etc. The ideal time to administer these nasal drops is early morning or late evening after the sun-set. One should lie-down for 5 minutes afterwards. Rarely the feeling of the drops coming into throat is noticed which may be ignored or one can have a sip of warm water. This nasal medication helps to speed up the grasping process of knowledge without any difficulty. A readymade preparation by the name of Cleverin nasal drops has been recently developed and approved by the Food and Drug administration which possess multiple therapeutic benefits attributed to grasping of knowledge by empowering the neurotransmission by cleansing and lubricating the sense organs.

Ayurveda to Build Memory in Children: After grasping, the second step of improving the intellectual process is of increasing the storage capacity. The knowledge acquired has to be stored properly which can be utilised later as and when required. It is scientifically proved that the active constituents from herbs like Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Shatavari, Ashwagandha helps in improving the intellectual performance by different mode of action. Some help by way of enhancement of protein kinase activity, Increase in protein in hippocampus, alleviate stress and help to minimize the release of stress hormone, some have neuro-regenerative activity, some help by improving the oxygenated blood supply to the brain and some prevent oxidative damage by imparting anti-oxidant activity. In short these herbs play a major role to improve the storage capacity of the brain. It is as simple to understand that if more books are ordered in the library, it becomes essential to make additional arrangement of accommodating them by adding number of shelves. Most of the marketed Ayurvedic and herbal formulations work on this principle. The activity starts in about 2 weeks. Nobody can deny the fact that memory related functions can’t be measured like body temperature. Even then their efficacy remains unquestionable as huge amount of data is available across the world and also the safety parameters are well established. The important aspect is to know the quantity of each item in the formulation. If inadequate quantities are consumed, one can not expect the therapeutic benefits in desired time. Besides improvement in intellectual abilities, these herbs also possess several other benefits like improvement in physical endurance, improves hemoglobin level, keep RBC, WBC in right shape, improves the immunity, hair melanin, prevent calcium depletion, and delay ageing process. Besides dosage, it is also important to check the taste of the product as children are very fussy about taste. The herbs are basically bitter in taste but many brands are available which mask the bitterness perfectly and make the product not only palatable but worth loving. Cleverol is one of such approved brands which possess chocolate flavour and acceptable palatability.

The third step: The 3rd and most important step of memory enhancement is the “recall process”. Many factors are responsible for affecting this process. Stress, fear, loud noise, lack of interest, inadequate exercise, wrong diet, weak concentration etc. are some major factors, which should be taken care of during the course of studies. Recently German researchers found they could use specific perfume at night to re-activate new memories in the brains of students during sleep and the volunteers remembered better on the next day. The test conducted showed the 97 % result and the control group performed only 84 %. During the studies, fMRI scan showed that the activity of Hippocampus was stimulated during inhalation of particular odour. Based on this research, a novel product in the form of Dhoop stick is prepared. This Cleveroma stick does not contain strong perfumes but it is composed by Ayurvedic aromatic herbs like Tulsi, Jatamansi etc. which improve the recall function of the brain. Students should light this stick in the bed room where they intend to sleep because the activity of hippocampus is at its best during sleep.
Prayers have scientific base: Prayers towards God and offering respect to seniors helps to strengthen the brain’s overall performance. This statement can be scientifically proved here. To understand this, we must match up few things together. It is an established fact that cortisol hormone is released due to stress or fear. This is therefore called stress hormone. Cortisol causes serious damage to the brain. Hence in acute and serious situations an individual becomes insane. He or she could not make any logical decision. Second situation when a child is thrown up, he laughs as he enjoys it. The confidence level of the child is to the extent that he is 100% sure about his security. Therefore in a situation where he should be afraid, he rather takes pleasure out of it. The hormone cortisol is not released and the brain remains away from its ill effects. A prayer towards God and offering respect to the seniors gradually builds the confidence level that a person feels enormous support. In olden days, it was a tradition but has a scientific base to offer respect to seniors and pray God before leaving for long journey. As there were no vehicles and even roads, people used to travel in either bullock-cart or ride on horses. Getting food during travel, climatic conditions, and possibility of attack from wild animals were major hurdles and only blessings used to be the moral support. The customs were simply followed but the hidden treasure is now understood by the modern world.

The purpose of lighting candle or oiled light during prayer also has a scientific implication as it plays a role of Tratak (a yogic practice for improving concentration). Lighting of Agarbatti and the aroma helps to improve the blood circulation to hippocampus which plays key role in recall process of the acquired knowledge. There are lots of Mantras to perform during prayers and the aroma helps to rehearse them in proper order and manner.

Importance of regular exercise: How much exercise you do is not important but how regular you perform it is rather more important. A 76 years old man reached the wedding hall slightly late for his own wedding is a fact known to the author. This was because he did not want to compromise with his exercise schedule. No doubt those taking rigorous exercise look well-built but, most of the times, their immunity is not up to mark. Their bones are also brittle and get fracture even with a small trauma. It is also found that such well-built individuals do not have an issue. This is because the optimum nutrition is utilized by the muscular portion and other systems remain under-nourished. Therefore is good to perform little but regular exercise. Apparently such people would not look as attractive in physical built, but their overall physical and intellectual abilities will be far better than a robust individual.
Intellectual exercise: As regular exercise can build good muscle power, same is the case with brain tissue. The more you keep them functioning, their performance will improve to the top. In the course of exercise, the muscular action is repeated in the same sequence many times which tones-up the muscle fibers. The brain also achieves improved ability by repetitively doing the same task. Forgetting is a natural process in living creatures. Man forgets more because his mind is diverted to too many subjects throughout the day. Intellectual performance can be further improved by meditation as it tones up the brain to stick to one subject and not to get diverted. Very few people remember the dreams on the next day. The only reason for this is the moment you get up, you see the watch, then think of the studies, then think of the bank balance, then the medicine to be consumed on empty stomach and so on. There are hundreds of such things that vanish off the experience of dream. Same is the case with studies. Try to focus more and more on the task and nothing other than your commitments. This is nothing but an intellectual exercise.

Some important things about diet: Human digestive system is fabricated by the creator of the universe for consuming vegetables only. If non-veg diet is cherished; make sure that it should not be more than once a week. There is a special recipe described in Ayurveda by the name “Pancha Khadya” which contains following 5 items. Dry dates, Raw dates, Coconut, Poppy seeds and cane sugar. This recipe helps to improve various brain functions and is extremely delicious too. Instead of fast-food, wafers, cookies,etc, this can be a best alternative to schooling children as recess time breakfast.

Tatak: Focusing vision at a particular point like a flame of candle or incense stick light for 2-3 minutes can help to improve concentration.

Many people ask as how long should the treatment be continued. It is essential to understand that these recommendations should not be considered as treatments. The recommendations are for improving intellectual performance. For better understanding, I always quote one example. Regular exercise is good for health. There are many people who do not perform any exercise at all even then they survive. But ultimately an overall health profile of both such individuals will differ in long term. These recommendations improve mental well being and also physical fitness. It is up to the consumer as how long they wish to be fit and fine.

Kapha Massage Oil for Common Cold

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Remembering the universe is made up of the 5 elements, there is always a strong existence between life and nature. We must consider where we live, daily routine, profession etc. Our doshas change under the influence of seasons so it is best to try and control them in order to stay healthy.

During summer pitta is raised, kapha is reduced which increases stability. During windy times Vata is raised, kapha and pitta are reduced.

A cold dry day would even raise kapha. The year can be divided in two where we lose strength, stability, vitality and another when we build up those qualities. The year can also be described as the 6 seasons being separated in 2 adana (associated with the sun) and visarga (associated with the moon). Adana represents winter, spring and summer and visarga represents rain autumn and winter.

Many cultures especially India are influenced by ritucharya and therefore they follow a daily routine according to the seasons in order to maintain good health. Other cultures celebrate the seasons, Japan for example during the summer send their loved ones cards to ask how their health is during the heat and wish them good health. Or in August they eat unagi which they believe helps them survive the summer.

Others follow seasons to start planting, harvesting or look forward to a new year. Each culture has its own unique beliefs and is accustomed to following the seasons. In the Bahai fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset during the Bahai month from March 2-March 20. Buddhist monks and nuns who follow the Vinaya rules commonly do not eat each day after lunch.

This is a disciplined regimen which helps in meditation and good health. In Islam, fasting for a month is an obligatory practice during the holy month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk.

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Student: San Diego College of Ayurveda

Right diet is the main factor in the treatment of the physical body. Without changing our diet, we cannot expect the body, which is its product, to be completely cured. By correcting the diet, we eliminate the causes of disease. Herbs and foods follow the same energies and can be looked at according to the same principles. Both involve taste, energy, elements, and doshas. Herbs provide subtle nutrition while foods provide more substantial nourishment. One’s diet may enhance, or counter-act the effect of healing herbs.

Ayurveda is primarily concerned with the quality and energy of food as a means of balancing the doshas. Its concern is that the food we take in, and the manner in which we take it, is in harmony with our nature. Furthermore, food and drink affects our mental processes, both emotionally and spiritually. While care should be taken about the nature of food, other factors of food intake should be considered. These include right preparation of food, right combination of foods, right amount of food, right frequency of meals and right times and places for eating.

Seasons, climate, age and sex all have a lot to do with the kind of diet we should have. In old age and anti-Vata diet is more appropriate. In middle-age an anti-Pitta diet is better. In childhood an anti-Kapha diet should be considered. Because male energy is more Pitta (fiery), men should consider an anti-Pitta diet. Women should consider a more anti-Kapha diet because female energy is more Kapha (water). These factors should enhance, not replace, the basic diet for balancing one’s dosha.

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Student: San Diego College of Ayurveda

Nadi- Literally, a river, a channel or passageway; the pulse; there are innumerable nadis in the human body, from the very subtle to the very gross, carrying substances into, out of, or throughout the body.
(Lad, M.A.Sc, Vasant, 2002)

In many eastern health sciences, nadis are considered channels or tubes in the human body that carry prana. Prana is also known as energy or life force. These energy channels, or nadis, can be found in both the physical and the subtle body (Kripalu, 2008). In Chinese medicine, nadis are known as the meridians. “Although unlike meridians, nadis are not defined in the limbs” (McAllister, 1998). According to yogic philosophy there are said to be 72,000 nadis in the human body (Johari, 2010).

Our life experience is the flow of substances and energies through these tubes, or nadis. In order to remain healthy, these tubes must remain freely open and unblocked. Painful life experiences can cause restriction in nadis, often leading to survival mechanisms such as “numbness” and “disassociation” (Kripalu, 2008). These blockages can ultimately lead to health problems. Coming back in touch with our true selves through opening these channels, or nadis is important for our health and wellbeing
(Kripalu, 2008).

There are nadis found within the physical body. These nadis make up the nervous system, the circulatory system, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the lymphatic systems, etc. Any blockages in these nadis can result in physical health conditions (Kripalu, 2008).

Additionally, nadis can also be found in the subtle body. These nadis carry thoughts, feelings, and nerve impulses. When these nadis are blocked, we loose our ability to feel, to truly connect with others, to connect with our environment, and to even connect even ourselves. Various pramayama techniques aid in helping to keep these nadi channels open (Kripalu, 2008).

The chakras are also closely related to the nadis. According to website, Human Spiritual Structure: The Nadis, McAllister states, “the petals of the manipura chakra all correspond to nadis. The lotus aspect of the chakras is due to the nadis connecting to them. The seven chakras play a very important role in governing the energetic body, and the nadis are closely linked to them.

Although many subtle and gross nadis exist throughout the human body, there are three primary nadis and fourteen standard nadis. The three primary nadis are Sushumna nadi, Ida nadi, and the Pingala nadi (Johari, 2010).

The Sushumna nadi is different from all the other nadis because it is said to flow from the physical body directly to the soul. When prana flows freely through the Sushumna nadi, human beings experience a strong sense of inner focus and meditation comes easily. This nadi enables a strong connection to our inner being (Kripalu, 2008). The Sushumna nadi is located along the spinal column. It begins at the base of the spine in the Muladhara Chakra, or root chakra, and ends at the Sahasrara Chakra, or crown chakra. As it winds its way up the spine it dives into the anterior and posterior branches along the spinal column (Johari, 2010). This nadi can become activated and purified through pranayma and yoga asanas (Kripalu, 2008).

Another nadi is the Ida nadi. The Ida nadi travels to the left of the Sushumna nadi along the spinal column. The Ida nadi is considered to carry feminine energy. It ends in the left nostril, but activates the right side of the brain. This nadi helps to purify and nourish the mind and body
(Johari, 2010).

Additionally, the Pingala nadi is the nadi that travels to the right of the Sushumna nadi along the spinal column. This nadi carries male energy. It is also considered to carry solar energy, vitality, physical strength, and efficiency. It ends in the right nostril, but activates the left side of the brain (Johari, 2010).

Moreover, other notable nadis are Gandhari, Hastijihva, Yashasvini, Pusha, Alambusha, Kuhu, Shankini, Sarasvati, Payasvini, Varuni, and Vishvodara (Johari, 2010).

Gandhari nadi travels behind the Ida nadi and is associated with the Urinary Bladder.

Hastijihva nadi is also associated with the Urinary Bladder. It travels with the Ida nadi, the left big toe, and the right eye or ears.

Yashasvini nadi runs behind the Sushumna nadi along with the Hastijihva nadi and is associated with the Urinary Bladder as well.

Pusha nadi travels behind the Pingala nadi to the right ear. It is also associated with the Urinary Bladder.

Alambusa nadi runs from the anus to the mouth. It is associated with the Conception Vessel.

Kuhu nadi starts near the pharynx and then ends at the tip of the nose or genitals. Kuhu is associated with the Liver. It lies in front of the Sushumna nadi.

Shankini nadi lies in the throat, but travels to the anus, penis, and the ears. It is associated with the Kidneys.

Sarasvati nadi travels to the left of the Sushumna nadi and is said to be linked to the Spleen.

Payasvini nadi runs between the Pusha and Sarasvati nadi and ends at the ears. It is associated with the Gall Bladder.

Varuni nadi is said to be linked to the large intenstine, urethra, and fallopian tubes.

Vishvidara nadi is corresponds to the stomach. It is said to run between Kuhu and Hastijihva nadis. (McAllister, 1998).

Although there is said to be over 72,000 Nadis found in the body, these are some primary Nadis that are, “deemed of particular significance” (McAllister, 1998). Maintaining open and unblocked Nadis is extremely helpful peoples for overall health and wellbeing.
References

Kripalu, . (2008). Kripalu yoga teacher training. Stockbridge, MA: Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Lad, M.A.Sc., Vasant. (2002). Textbook of ayurveda fundamental principles. Albuquerque, NM: The Ayurvedic Press.

Johari, Pratibha. (2010). Tantra-kundalini, ancient teachings of tantra and kundalini. Retrieved from http://www.tantra-kundalini.com/nadis.htm

McAllister, Alan. (11, 1998). Human spiritual structure: the nadis. Retrieved from http://www.wholebeingexplorations.com/matrix/SpSt/nadis.htm

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I believe that herbal medicines are important to us because they connect us with the very source of our life that is the nature, which is full of vitality and pure energies. Further more, herbal medicines are the time tested holistic and preventive medicines that have least side effects if at all.

It is said that the many of the herbs on the market are wild grown and the destruction of the natural habitats and the growing needs for herbs are inviting the phenomenon of over harvesting which are risking the extinction of potent and popular herbs grown in wild.

By choosing herbal medicine, one must recognize the value of the nature and the five elements within. Herbalists must become aware of the environment that surrounds not only themselves but also the environment that surrounds the very plants that save us from suffering. It is crucial for herbalists to learn about the local cultures and the lives of local people and how the plants are harvested.

It is important that we become aware of the circumstances of the plants and that any suffering of the source we use for the medicine will directly affect the effect of our medicine not to mention the extinction of the source. It is also important that herbalists
and the practitioners of traditional medicines unite themselves in the protection and conservation of the nature.

To protect the future of the herbal medicine, cultivation and certification of herbs must be encouraged and the practitioners of Traditional Medicine and herbalists should make a conscientious choice of correcting cultivated and certified herbs instead of wild grown endangered herbs for their practices.

By choosing the way of herbal medicine, not only we have chosen the holistic health for ourselves but also chosen the holistic way of life in which we must stand aside with the nature and wildlife and participate in a conscientious and ethical practice of collecting herbs.

DOSAGES

In general, low dose restores, stimulates, or cleanses the target system by balancing related dosha; medium dose directory affects the target dosha and counteracts to the symptoms of its imbalance; and high dose dramatically increases or decreases the target dosha whereby causing aggravation of non-target dosha.

I would prescribe low dosages as prevention of imbalances, medium dosages for treatment for mild imbalances, and high dosages for severe imbalances. I also would monitor the patient during the medium and high dosage treatment and follow up with treatments for the secondary aggravation of doshas that may occur during or after the primary treatment.

Sweet taste restores and nourishes Vata and Pita in low and medium dosages, calms nervous system and Vata imbalance but aggravates Kapha in high dosage.

Sour, salty, and pungent, tastes stimulates Agni but sour, salty and pungent increases Pitta in low dosages.

Sour and salty moistens and balances Vata but sour aggravates pitta and salty aggravates Kapha in medium dosages.

Sour contracts the organs in high dosage and salty breaks accumulations but aggravates all doshas.

Pungent stimulates circulation and increases Pitta in medium dosage but aggravates Vata and Pitta in high dosage.

IAhrb101 Module 1 Student Assignments Midori Hatakeyama September 12, 2010
Student: San Diego College of Ayurveda
Bitter stimulates digestion, clears Kapha and activates nervous system in low dosha, detoxified the liver and blood and reduces ama, in medium dosages, cleanses bowel and bladder and clears Pitta in high dosages but decreases Agni and aggravates Vata.
Astringent taste clears mucus, Pitta and Kapha in low dosages, maintain the organs and tissues in place in medium dosages, stagnates the blood, liquids, and prana movements aggravating Vata.
What sour, salty and astringent have common is that they become more harmful than beneficial in high dosages.

Ayurvedic Herbs

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To read the recipe on how to make herbal decoction, CHAI, Ayurvedic Chai..go to

http://www.ayurvedayogatraining.com/basic-chai

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