Ayurveda - The Emotions and Color Therapy - Aroma Therapy

The first time a vaidya read my pulse he asked me if I was sad, had I been crying?
'No', I insisted, 'I'm not sad', shaking my head. 'I am not sad.' He has no idea what he is talking about I thought to myself.
He gave me his recommendations despite my insistence that he had a wrong diagnosis for me. He said  a change in my diet, some herbal water and certain herbs would help. It was advice I ignored.
Two weeks later I became furious at that vaidya. He had planted a suggestion, I fumed. That is why I'm sad and crying now!
A year later I was now working with this same vaidya.
I watched in wonderment as the vaidya asked a young man he had never met, "How long have you been smoking marijuana?"
The young mans' eyes popped nearly out of their sockets, mine too. How could he tell by reading a pulse what this man had been doing privately? There were certainly no outer indications.

Pulse diagnosis when read properly by an experienced vaidya is one of the most accurate gauges of a persons overall heath and well-being. How such detailed information is disclosed by a touch of the pulse is still a mystery to me.
A pulse diagnosis not only shows the current physical, mental and emotional condition of a persons current status, it shows what is coming and what has been.

During the years I worked with Vaidya Mishra I saw many impressive improvements in the people he counseled, if they followed his recommendations and observations.

I learned to observe myself and others. What I did, what I ate and what I thought, all had an effect on my health and well-being. But it went further then that. What I smelled and the colors I exposed myself to also had an effect on me.
Color? I experimented with it. I would wear pink and red! If you knew how conspicuous I felt wearing those colors in those days you would understand my exclamation point. I had always prefered  monochromatic colors on my body and in my surroundings. Beige, grey, black, cream and occaisionally a deep forest green were the colors of my life. For one entire year I wore only brown, but that is another story. I will tell it some other time.

My mother always chose colorful clothing. Her closet was bright and lively, full of life like her. She was always quick to smile and laugh.  I never saw a piece of black clothing in her wardrobe. Not even her shoes were black. On the other hand my friends who wore trendy black clothes often, seemed moody and more likely to indulge in arguments and depressive moods.

Over time I got rid of all my black clothing except for shoes. When I felt a little down I put on a bright pink shirt, it seemed to help. People smiled at me. Did I seem friendlier in pink then in black?

I studied color therapy. In Ayurveda it is said that bright colors speed up the rotation of the energy centers of the body called chakras. The speed at which the chakras spin is an indicator of health. Too fast could make a person feel nervous and anxious, but too slow will impair health more severely.  Wearing too much black slows the rotation of the chakras. That was simple, bright clothes could be uplifting, and if they smelled good, all the better.

Scent has always preoccupied me. I would pinch leaves and flowers as I strolled the neighborhood as a child , smelling every blossom hoping for a sweet escape that would make me close my eyes and imagine a fairyland that smelled like heaven. I would breath in the cultivated rosemary along a pathway, the medicinal scent of eucalyptus trees along the roadside. Later, inhaling the flowery rich aroma of the wild yellow broom flowers as I drove along the coastal highways of Southern California enlivened me.

I recall the early breakfast  aromas of my step father's cooking. Those were smells that wafted through the house making me want to float through the house to the kitchen where a hearty breakfast awaited even before the sun came up.
Aroma held memories, my mother's  scent was chantilly lace, my brother's room was to put it politely , sporty. My first boyfriend's leather jacket smelled strong and safe, a newborn baby smell melted me, jasmine or orange flowers on a summers evening made me feel romantic. These are scents I can recall vivdly whenever I want to.

I first heard the word aromatherapy in the '70's and I understood it completely. But I was astounded to learn that there were literally thousands of aromas that had been captured in small vials for use in healing, massage, bathing, room perfuming, anointing, inhaling.

In 'Aromatherapy' a therapist chooses a particular aroma to add something that is lacking or to strengthen what is already present, in a person. It is a subtle approach with an aim to alter vibrations or energy patterns to bring about a state of harmony. (Dis-harmony causes disease)

Nowadays everyone is familiar with the calming effects of lavender and chamomile or the uplifting feeling of smelling fresh oranges, but did you know that smelling and applying certain aromas can help stop hair loss? Yes. Chamomile, Peppermint and Rose oils combined and applied to the scalp helps cool the system. Hair loss is a sign of Pitta aggravation, excess heat in the body.Those particular scents cool the system. Rosemary and Mint can help with mental clarity. Pine, Lavender, Eucalyptus are antiseptic. Thyme and Chamomile are antifungal. The subject is one worth studying. You may find simple remedies for irritating ailments are at the tip of your nose.

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Re: color therapy/ aroma therapy
Colors affect emotions black makes us sad
Aroma can uplift emotions
some emotions are not our own we are vibratory beings sending and recieving feelings all of the time

The Doshas-Vata, Pitta, Kapha

In Ayurveda the doshas are considered only one aspect of an all encompassing science. A science that takes into account every angle of a persons life including; what time the person goes to bed at night and what time the person gets up in the morning, what season it is, what their job is and what they eat.

What a person eats can affect the being on many levels. Everyone knows the importance of good nutrition, but in Ayurveda good nutrition is not just about eating salads. Many more elements are taken into consideration. Activating the taste buds with the use of spices and adding bitter foods to the diet are well known in Ayurveda to improve health and increase the digestive fire. A good digestion and the bodies ability to absorb protein and nutrients are key components to health in Ayurveda.

The human tongue is equipped with taste buds that enhance the pleasure of eating. The tastes we recognize are; sweet, salty, sour, bitter and astringent and pungent. When each meal incorporates all of these tastes, there will come a quicker natural feeling of satiation. In other words, feeling full with less food.

From psychological stress to nutritional deficiency, allergenic overload to environmental pollutants, from physical overload, electromagnetic pollution to negative thought energies, almost everyone is struggling to maintain a physical, mental, spiritual balance.

There are many ways in our busy world to create a physical imbalance, overeating, smoking, drinking, even staying at the computer too long are some of them. A vaidya (Ayurvedic physician) I once worked with said scary movies could cause an imbalance.

Symptoms of good health; a happy mind, a well functioning body and a love for life, can be nurtured. An unhealthy body can be coaxed back to health.
Knowing what to eat and what types of lifestyle changes to make for your body type are some of the ways of achieving this.

The constitutions referred to as 'doshas' are Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Each dosha is related to elements in nature that also affect our bodies.

Vata/ air -ether
In balance a person with a predominantly Vata dosha is quick witted and mentally alert, has normal bodily functions free of constipation and insomnia.

Pitta/ heat-fire
In balance the Pitta predominant person has a strong digestion, lustrous complexion and a sharp intellect

Kapha/ water-earth
In balance the Kapha predominant person is strong, affectionate, courageous and full of vitality

How does a person find out his or her dosha? The simplest way would be to visit an Ayurvedic specialist. Although much information can be obtained about a person by simple observation. For example, say you just saw someone red in the face angry. Say this person is a man with a balding head and an explosive case of bad skin, without having visited the vaidya it could be said the man was experiencing  Pitta aggravations. Aggravations related to excess heat in the body.
This does not necessarily mean that the man was born with a Pitta constitution. It could mean that through lifestyle extremes and other unwholesome habits the man has created aggravated Pitta symptoms in his body.

A vaidya would be able to tell what the man's birth or core constitution is.

I am not against self diagnosis and I have successfully helped myself  to alleviate many conditions and illnesses with Ayurveda.

Here follows a very brief description of doshas out of balance and a few tips that can help.

Imbalances/ aggravations related to the doshas:

Vata- A Vata type person out of balance needs calming. They are anxious, talkative, unable to sleep.They have dry-rough skin, and are often too thin. Their eyes are quick moving, their speech is fast. The person seems worried, feels cold, has chills and pain. They need warm comfort foods, a regulated schedule, and less mind activity.
 -Favor sweet, sour and salty foods. Warm soups, peaches and cream, hot chocolate, creamy, rich, warm, grounding foods. Clothing should be soft and warm, made of silk, wool or cashmere, also good are thick wool socks.  Enjoy relaxing quiet music, time without the computer or TV on. Avoid loud music, crowds and violence.

Pitta- A Pitta out of balance needs cooling down. They are fiery, easily angered or upset. There could be redness on the body especially the face with skin breakouts of acne or other rashes. The eyes are sharp and seem to bore a hole through you, can be balding, have indigestion, can be irritable or bad tempered, even aggressive and hostile. Sexual frustration, excessive ambition and competitiveness are Pitta related aggravations, has excessive hunger or thirst, heartburn, acidity, seems to be hot all of the time or have burning sensations. Menstrual problems, fibroid and problems with the liver are related to excess heat in the body, Pitta.

To cool the Pitta:
-Pitta aggravation can be brought on by heat in the quality or temperature of the food or environment, skipping meals, stress, deadlines, heated emotions, EMF overload (Electromagnetic Frequency) from Television, computers or microwave.
Too much conflict in childhood could result in adult Pitta aggravation.
-Avoid or decrease sour, salty and spicy foods, drinking alcohol and too much time in the sun. Spend time by the sea and outside when it is cool. Spend time under the light of the moon.
Light cotton and silk clothing are best.
Foods that are astringent and pungent are good for their cooling effects. Pasta, rice, milk, raspberries, pears, cucumbers. Most sweet juicy fruits will have a cooling effect.
Spices like cumin, coriander and cilantro are cooling. Jasmine and mint tea cool Pitta. Avoid coffee and alcohol.

Kapha- A Kapha person out of balance needs stimulation. They can tend to feel unmotivated which can lead to depression.Their eyelids can sometimes seem heavy giving a sleepy appearance, or if the thyroid is affected their eyes will appear too large. A Kapha out of balance tends to be overweight, has congestion, mucus, breathing difficulties, asthma, foul smell, itching, excessive sweating and  fluid retention. Can be lethargic, have oily skin, tend toward diabetes, tumors, joint swelling, may oversleep often and sleep in the daytime.
-Favor spicy, astringent and bitter tasting foods like leafy greens, avoid eating heavy oily foods. Take walks, dance to music with a strong drumbeat, climb the stairs instead of using the elevator.

A few examples of the tastes:
Sweet: bread, milk, pasta, rice, sugar, grains and nuts
Sour: cheese, pickles yogurt, sour cream, citrus fruits
Salty: salt
Pungent: ginger, radishes, spicy food, onions, garlic, chili peppers, cumin
Bitter: turmeric, fenugreek, green leafy vegetables, endive, romaine lettuce
Astringent: apples, pears, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, lentils, potatoes, pomegranate.

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Well Being- Ayurveda

I wish I had known Ayurveda when my children were young. How easily I could have cooled and soothed my daughter whose blood often coursed like a heated rage through her. And my sons, one reminding me of a beached whale, the other with a computer brain who always stayed up late into the night.
I would have known their doshas were Pitta the fire element, Kapha-water/earth and Vata, air/ethers.

If I had known the brain, body temperature, metabolic rate, sleep, hunger, blood chemistry and so much more, could be balanced and regulated through Ayurveda we could have all transitioned through the years more smoothly.

In the early 1990's I had the good fortune of meeting and then working closely with a Vaidya named Rama Kant Mishra.
Vaidya Mishra is one of the rare, true experts of Ayurveda still alive today.
He recounted many stories of how his family passed down knowledge from generation to generation dating as far back as the the time of Krishna.
It is told that when Lord Krishna's grandson contracted leprosy he called upon Mandan Mishra an ancestor of R.K. Mishra  to heal him. Mandan Mishra is renowned in Vedic texts for his interactions with the great spiritual teacher Shankaracharya, but that is a different story.

Through auspicious circumstances I came to know and work with Vaidya Mishra. His talent is unsurpassed as he brings the ancient knowledge to work in modern maladies. A continuous circuitry has kept the knowledge of this ancient wisdom intact.

Vaidya Mishra had one complaint about the way Ayurveda was presented to westerners today and that was 'doshas' as the end all of Ayurveda.
Starting with doshas he said, was like starting in the middle of the book. Background knowledge is needed to understand and accept the that these teachings help save lives. An example of how this works in Ayurveda was made clear to me once when I was offered hot chili peppers to eat at a Vedic Temple.
The cook proudly presented the crisp dry chillies on a silver platter offering them to all present. I was against eating them. I am sensitive to spicy food and am all too familiar with the repercussions of spicy food in my system.
These chillies will not hurt you! Eat! She implored. I continued to refuse the chillies until her husband came into the room. He said, she needs to understand how these chillies were prepared, then she will know they are not hot at all. I listened as he explained that the chillies had undergone an extensive process which had transformed their heating qualities to cooling qualities. First the chillies had been soaked in yogurt, then they had been set out at night under the moonlight, then placed in yogurt again, for eleven days and nights. They were then laid out to dry only at night, under the light of the moon. When dry, the cooling spices of cumin, coriander and fennel had been used to season them before they were cooked.
With this knowledge of how the chillies had been prepared I knew they could not harm me. All of the qualities of heat had been leached out of them. They were very tasty and no symptoms of hot chili peppers in my system plagued me.
Similarly, Ayurveda teaches that our bodies can be treated to regulate any aggravations. Using lifestyle, food, spices and the elements of nature, such as the sun the moon, gemstones, aromas....
One of my favorite treatments for an argumentative or heated temperament is a sweet juicy pear. Simple and effective. A cup of warm milk blended with a few dates, sipped at bedtime will help calm the Vata mind which tends to keep spinning through the night. Kapha aggravations can be greatly reduced by eliminating cold, sweet, oily foods.

A few examples of simple treatments follow.

(Check with an Ayurvedic physician or your Doctor before using any Ayurvedic remedies.)

Here are a few simple, safe remedies for common ailments which can be made using water and a few spices. A safe amount is one quart of water to one half teaspoon spice. Drink warm or at room temperature.

-Boiled water:
Water boiled well for five minutes and sipped after it has cooled to room temperature increases agni. Agni is the bodies digestive power. Use a good source of water or bottled water.
-Cumin:
Water, boiled, to which cumin seeds are added balances Vata, helps cool Pitta.
-Coriander:
Adding coriander to boiled water helps indigestion, vomiting and heartburn.
-Ginger:
Water boiled with a few thin slices of fresh ginger increases agni, helps reduce Kapha, helps with conditions of a runny nose, diarrhea, and cold.

The complete knowlege of Ayurveda would take at least a lifetime to completely understand , but many aspects of this science are are easy to understand and utilize.

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