Three different levels of pH need to be maintained in the body, and without the integrated ayurvedic approach, medical science might occasionally offer correct observations but fail to formulate solutions or answers.
Articles
Vaidya
R.K. Mishra shares his insight of Ayurveda in a series of articles and cutting
edge white papers.
The Secrets of Ayurvedic Pulse Assessment
With Vaidya R.K.Mishra
Vaidya
R.K.Mishra is an Ayurvedic health practitioner, product formulator,
researcher and educator born into a family of Raj Vaidyas that boast
of a 5000-year-old history of healing – his familial lineage
is traced in the ancient Vedic text, the Puranas. His in-depth theoretical
knowledge of the classical ayurvedic texts is accompanied by his
unparalleled compassionate practical healing skills.
This is a course for beginners as well as those already familiar with basic or advanced ayurvedic principles, for it re-introduces the science of Ayurveda from a perspective enhanced by a) the living knowledge passed down orally from father to son in the age-old familial practice; b) an informed awareness of the latest scientific research; c) a personal life-long experience as a healer.
Vaidya
R.K. Mishra has been living and teaching in the United States for
the past 8 years. Innumerable health practitioners working with him
note that the steady dissemination of his knowledge has been gradually
yet radically transforming the growing reception of Ayurveda in the
Western hemisphere. For example, Vaidya Mishra explains that while
most contemporary Western as well as Indian ayurvedic practitioners
are familiar with the central concept of “ama” – toxic
build-up – and readily design dietary and herbal recommendations,
tailoring panchakarma guidelines to cleanse the physiology of toxicity,
they are oblivious of the different categories of “ama.” More
often than not, this unwitting omission leads to incomplete treatments,
even resulting in grave complications. Vaidya R.K. Mishra explains
that there are four distinct categories of toxicity:
• Ama
• Amavisha
• Garvisha
• Indrabajraabhidagdha.
In this course, Vaidya R.K. Mishra will not only show how the knowledge of
these four categories can be readily available to the savvy reader in the
canonical ayurvedic texts (the Charak, the Susrut, and Bhagvat Samhitas),
he will also draw on formulations from his ancestors’ living tradition,
supported by classical ayurvedic sutras and in the light of contemporary
scientific research, to address the question of the identification and elimination
of the different types of ama. Vaidya R.K. Mishra will also teach the course
participants simple, holistic, yet proven healing strategies that go beyond
the intake of herbal supplements, such as: designing personal herbal water
recipes and spice mixtures addressing an individual’s specific imbalances
at the root.
Dr. Doug Beech assists in teaching the Pulse Assessment Course (Nov. 2004)
The knowledge that will be made accessible to the course participants will thus primarily draw on the familial ayurvedic legacy as supported by the classical canonical ayurvedic texts, in line with the latest scientific research. All indications and counter-indications will thus derive from three sources: a) ancient textual knowledge – the Shastras; b) R.K. Mishra’s own experiences as a healer on the Indian sub-continent, in Europe, as well as the United States; c) contemporary cutting-edge scientific research.
To further illustrate Vaidya R.K. Mishra’s knowledgeable and effective pedagogic strategy, consider the popular consumption of licorice by alternative health practitioners. Licorice is an all-time favorite amongst Western as well as Indian ayurvedic practitioners for its many attributes, more specifically for its pacifying effects on the vata dosha. Vaidya R.K. Mishra’s experience and research over the years has led him to restrict the use of crude licorice in favor of DGL (de-glycerized licorice) exclusively. Modern scientific research validates his informed choice by showing how the excessive use of licorice results in sodium retention - a primary factor isolated in cases of hyper-tension.
COURSE OUTLINE
I. The human physiology according to Ayurveda: dhatus, doshas and sub-doshas, ojas, agni and ama, malas, prana.
II. Introduction
to Pulse Assessment
A. The concept of pulse assessment
B. The significance of pulse assessment
C. Mechanics of the physical pulse assessment
D. Localizing the heart-mind-body connection through pulse assessment
III. Reading
the pulse
A. The pulse and the doshas (VPK)
B. The pulse and the “vibrational gaps” – “sandhi”
C. Reading the pulse on the level of the 7 dhatus – the tissues and fluids : rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, shukra (nutritional fluid, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone-marrow, and reproductive fluid). Definition of role, function, and inter-relations.
D. The
pulse and the 15 subdoshas – how to “read” them:
a. Vata Subdoshas: in charge of the circulatory functions of the physiology,
the mobility of the mind, the respiratory tract and the nervous system
1. Prana: located primarily in the head, the nostrils, it governance extends
to the whole physiology. It regulates the intake, circulation, and elimination
of prana from nature and the surrounding environment, primarily through the
adhipati marma and the nostrils. It is the dosha in charge of mental energy
and abilities, creativity, consciousness.
2. Udana: is seated in the chest, it is in charge of regulating the downward
movement of nutrients from the oesophagus to the stomach, as well as ensuring
the circulation of prana vayu to the respiratory tract, and the entire chest
area, supplying prana to the heart and lungs.
3. Samana: located in the stomach area, it ensures the proper movement of
nutrients through the digestive tract. It supports the activities of kledaka
kapha and pachaka pitta within the stomach, supplying prana to that area.
4. Vyana: is located in the heart, and governs the proper distribution of
blood to the entire physiology, supporting the distribution of nourishment
to the vibrational and physical channels overall.
5. Apana: is the down-ward movement extends from below the navel area covering
the colon. It is in charge of regulating the peristaltic motion of the intestinal
tract responsible for the proper elimination of “malas” (waste
products such as urine and the stool) and hence of the overall purification
of the physiology.
* How to read imbalances on each vata subdosha (prana, vyana, apana, etc)
in every single dhatu (rasa, rakta, mamsa, etc), i.e. prana imbalance in
rasa dhatu, rakta dhatu, mamsa dhatu, etc. vyana imbalance in majja dhatu,
apana imbalance in shukra dhatu… the participant will also be taught
how to detect imbalances in the gaps between the dhatus.
b. Pitta
subdoshas: in charge of all metabolic transformations within and
outside the digestive tract, as well as the processing of emotional
and intellectual thoughts carried out in the heart and the mind
1. Ranjaka: located in the liver and the spleen, and responsible for the
bio-chemical transformations that support the five “flames” of
the liver – the “bhutagni.”
2. Bhrajaka is located in the skin and is responsible for the enzymatic activities
being delivered from the surface of the skin.
3. Alochaka is seated in the visual system, i.e. its site is the eye. It
is characterized by the luminous aspect of “fire” rather than
its heat and is responsible for the transformational process enabling vision.
4. Pachaka is located in the digestive system. It is the “fuel” for
the digestive “flame” – the “jatharagnI”– regulation
of the digestive heat, breakdown of food separating nutrients from waste.
5. Sadhaka: seated in the emotional heart, governs the emotions by processing
thoughts and supporting the “flame” for “sadhakagni.”
*similarly, the participant will learn how to detect pitta subdosha imbalances on every dhatu as well as in the gaps.
c. Kapha
subdoshas: responsible for the balance of bodily fluids, the strength
of the physical frame, the stability of the emotions and the mind
1. Shleshaka: is located throughout the physiology within the mucus membrane
and the body’s circulatory (blood and otherwise) channels. It serves
as the lubricating factor for the skin as well as the circulatory channels.
2. Avalambaka: seated in the chest and lumbar area, it maintains the equanimity
of the mind and the heart, it is the “confidence factor.”
3. Tarpaka: located in the brain and lubricates the physical and vibrational
channels, involved in the activities of sadhaka pitta and prana vata.
4. Kledaka: seated in the stomach, lubricates and balances the digestive
environment, countering the drying effect of samanavata and the burning effect
of pachaka pitta.
5. Bodhaka regulates the olfactory and gustative senses, it governs the salivary
system.
* kapha subdosha imbalances in the dhatus and the gaps.
E. Reading
the pulse for ama, amavisha, garvisha, indrabajraabhidagdha
F. Reading the pulse for malas
G. Ojas : monitoring its presence. How to enhance its presence in the dhatus
and the gaps
H. The prana-pulse connection
I. The twenty gunas in light of pulse reading
III. Designing ayurvedic protocols according to TMS ™, individual herbal water recipes and spice mixtures.
IV. “Welcome
to the family!”