Traditional Methods of HEALTH Restoration In diagnosing a patient, the practitioner will
• Ask about diet, behavior, lifestyle practices, and the reasons for the most recent illness and symptoms the patient had
• Carefully observe such physical characteristics as teeth, skin, eyes, and weight
• Take a person’s pulse, because each dosha is thought to make a particular kind of pulse
In addition to questioning, Ayurvedic practitioners use observation, touch, thera- pies, and advising. During an examination, the practitioner checks the patient’s urine, stool, tongue, bodily sounds, eyes, skin, and overall appearance. The practitioner will also consider the person’s digestion, diet, personal habits, and
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resilience (ability to recover quickly from illness or setbacks). As part of the effort to find out what is wrong, the practitioner may prescribe some type of treatment. The treatment is generally intended to restore the balance of a particular dosha.
The practitioner will develop a treatment plan and may work with people who know the patient well and can help. This helps the patient feel emotionally supported and comforted, which is considered important.
Patients are expected to be active participants in their treatment, because many Ayurvedic treatments require changes in diet, lifestyle, and habits. In gen- eral, treatments use several approaches, often more than one at a time. The following are the goals of treatment:
• Eliminate impurities. A process called panchakarma is intended to be cleans- ing; it focuses on the digestive tract and the respiratory system. For the digestive tract, cleansing may be done through enemas, fasting, or special diets. Some patients receive medicated oils through a nasal spray or an inhaler. This part of treatment is believed to eliminate worms or other agents thought to cause disease.