Heal Your Mind, Body and Soul with Ayurveda

Sri Lanka is not just a vacation destination that only offers a few experiences that are either adventure or sight seeing. Plenty of visitors arrive here in Sri Lanka each year to partake in traditional Ayurvedic procedures like Abhyanga, Shirodhara, and Panchakarma (Ayurvedic cleanse), hoping to detoxify, reenergize, and lose weight. Sri Lanka is known for its natural splendour, diversity in culture and religion, diversity of experiences and also for its traditional system of medicine that dates back to a very long time. Whether you need to meditate, engage in yoga or get yourself a mind and body therapy treatment, Sri Lanka is the greatest destination for your healing journey.

Known as the "Mother of All Healing," the oldest known system of medicine in the world is Ayurveda meaning "The Science of Life" in Sanskrit. This traditional method emphasises how important it is to preserve vitality and also acknowledges that true wellness in health requires balance between the mind, body, and spirit. It prioritises preserving stability by taking care of one's mental health, their way of living, and the diet for their overall wellbeing. The greater part of engaging in ayurvedic treatments is its ability to heal you solely through natural methods without having to perform complex surgery procedures therefore it not only heals your body but also heals your mind and soul through other methods such as meditation and yoga.

The 3 Causes (Tridoshas/Doshas) of Health Problems

Vata Dosha

The Vata Dosha, which controls basic body functions like cell division, mental state, respiration, blood flow, cardiac activity, and eliminating waste from the body, is regarded as the most powerful of the three doshas in Ayurveda. It can be disturbed by things like eating too quickly after a meal, fear, sadness, and insufficient sleep. People may be more susceptible to ailments including anxiety, asthma, heart disease, skin problems, and rheumatoid arthritis if vata dosha becomes more dominant in the body.

Pitta Dosha

This is another important energy that controls the metabolism of your body, which determines how well the food is broken down and also it ensures how certain hormones that control your hunger works. The process of this energy could become disrupted when you eat sour or spicy meals and also when you spend too much time in the sun. If that energy rules your body, you can be more at risk for illnesses like Crohn's disease, heart problems, hypertension, and infections.

Kapha Dosha

This is the energy that controls the immune system, weight, stability, physical strength, and the growth of muscles and this energy and all these processes could be disrupted by sleeping during the day, eating too much sweets, and consuming too much salt or water. Practitioners advise that you could be more prone to diseases like asthma, respiratory issues, cancer, diabetes, post-meal nausea, and obesity if this energy becomes dominant.

Ayurveda Treatments for your Healing Journey

There are different ayurvedic treatments for different ailments and some of these are combined together to heal you considering your body type. These treatments could be personalised according to your health needs and doha types of your body.

  • Panchakarma is a series of therapies that cleanses and detoxifies the body, balances the doshas and revitalises tissues through oil massages, nasal treatments and herbal enemas.
  • Abhyanga is a herbal-oil based full-body massage that promotes relaxation, better skin and circulation.
  • Shirodhara is a treatment that calms the mind, relieves stress and improves mental stability as it targets the third eye chakra through a continuous stream of warm oil poured onto the forehead.
  • Swedana is the Ayurvedic steam bath where you have to sit in a steam chamber that is immersed in Ayurvedic herbs which enhances blood circulation and eliminates toxins from the body.
  • Shiro Abhyanga is a head and scalp massage done using specific oils which aims at hair nourishment, scalp soothing and relaxation.
  • Shiro Basti is a treatment that involves retaining warm herbal oil within the head by placing a cap. This treatment is known to relax the mind, nourish the brain and to reduce insomnia and stress.
  • Kati Basti is another treatment which involves pouring warm herbal oil onto the lower back. The oil is retained through a border made by dough. This treatment aids in reducing lower back pain and stiffness.
  • Marma Massage is a massage that aids in releasing blocked energy in your body which promotes overall health wellness. The massage is focused on discrete energy points, known as “marma points” of the body.
  • Nasya treatment is conducted by placing herbal oils or medicated powders into the nostrils. This is a treatment that can improve your respiratory health, relieve congestion, and also balance the doshas.
  • Karna Purana treatment is performed by pouring medicated oils into the ears which aids in removing excess earwax, to improve hearing, and to relieve any discomforts in the ear.
  • Netra Tarpana is a treatment that nourishes and rejuvenates the eyes by reducing eye strains which also improves vision. This treatment is executed by creating a border of dough around the eyes and pouring in herbal oil to fill it.
  • Gandusha is a treatment that boosts oral hygeine by strengthening the teeth and gums which also improves the voice quality. This treatment is done by holding herbal and medicated oil or a decoction in the mouth for a period of time.
  • Udvartana is a massage treatment that is executed with the use of herbal powder and is performed to stimulate the lymphatic system, exfoliate skin, and to aid weight loss by improving the metabolism process of the body.
  • Pinda Sweda is a massage therapy done by utilising boluses filled with rice, herbs, and milk, which are heated before application, to massage the body. This therapy is used to aid in reducing pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the body.
  • Pizhichil is an ayurvedic treatment performed by gently massaging the body while warm herbal oil is poured in rhythmic patterns over the body. Balancing doshas, improving the health of the skin, and promoting relaxation are the main goals of this treatment.

How Yoga and Meditation is used in Ayurveda

Yoga is a way of practise that harmonises the body and mind together to achieve certain goals related to the mental and physical well being of a person. The Sanskrit word "Yuj," which means "joining" or "harnessing," is where the word “yoga” is derived from. Yoga consists of both physical and spiritual components; however modern Western yoga, which is an adaptation of this ancient practice, focuses more on the physical fitness with the use of more postures and body relaxation.

Meditation is a technique that is practised to enhance the consciousness, mental focus, and inner serenity and is very closely related to Hindu and Buddhist practices. The benefits of engaging in meditation goes beyond spiritual contexts where it serves in reducing tension and anxiety which encourages relaxation because the mind is a very powerful asset when properly trained with meditation therefore aiding in healing the body. Yoga and meditation together produce a greater enhancement in your health and wellbeing overall.

Yoga ensures physical health and well being, mental and emotional health, and improves the quality of life overall. In the past, Ayurvedic treatments made use of yoga and meditation along with traditional healthcare to help people recover from various illnesses because these practices have been able to show an improvement on how patients’ bodies and minds positively react to the ayurvedic treatments. Recent Western research supports these methods and bears witness to their many real benefits.

Sri Lanka is one of the top tourist destinations and has the most mind relaxing environment that encourages mind and body healing so visit this beautiful island and receive a spiritually healing vacation.