Travels to India and Ayurvedic Medicine

I was so fortunate to be able to accompany my husband to India over the holidays. We spent New Year’s in Goa, where all the hippies went in the 60’s and 70’s, and the next week in New Delhi. We took a side-trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal – and it is as beautiful as everyone says. Our hotel had an Ayurvedic doctor on staff and so I took this amazing opportunity to have a session with a doctor trained in traditional Indian medicine.
 
Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced for more than 5000 years. Ayurveda means in Sanskrit “The Science of Life,” and comes from the ancient Vedic culture. Emphasis is placed on prevention and encourages balance in life. Everyone has a unique pattern of energy – a mix of three basic types: Vata (connected to movement); Pitta (the metabolic system); and Kapha (the energy forming the structure of the body). I am no expert and enjoyed meeting with the doctor. She was trained in southern India where most people use traditional ways of keeping themselves healthy. In my next blog post, I’ll tell you more about what I learned in India.