Frequently Asked Questions

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Ayureda FAQs

How does Ayurveda work?

The main purpose of our organism is to keep us alive. That is its function, its duty. Every cell has the intelligence to support that duty, but it can be a difficult task due to environmental, emotional, nutritional, and genetic factors. These factors can affect the doshas and bring about ailments and disease. Ayurveda’s main objective is to balance the doshas according to your original constitution. When the doshas are in balance, the organism can function properly. Ayurveda focuses on removing the underlying cause of symptoms, which are the result of doshic imbalance. For that purpose, Ayurveda uses medicinal herbs, cooking methods, rejuvenating therapies, and daily routines (called dinacharya). A diet and lifestyle in harmony with your original constitution will strengthen your body, mind, and consciousness, and prevent disorders at all levels.

Is Ayurveda safe?

Ayurveda is a truly holistic natural system of health and herbal medicine for all ages, and even for animals. Since Ayurveda considers food to be medicine, it focuses on diet and lifestyle as the foundation for good health, allowing you to take more control over your health and well being. Along with proper nutrition, it uses Ayurvedic herbs and Ayurvedic therapies that have been utilized for thousands of years. Medicinal herbs have many properties and potential actions, and, when manufactured and used properly, they achieve the desired results without creating further imbalances. So, as with any type of health care, it is important to have the guidance and close supervision of a trained clinician through regular follow-ups and good communication. At Blue Lotus Ayurveda we use only high quality, wildcrafted, and organic herbs and herbal preparations.

How effective is Ayurvedic Medicine?

Ayurveda is a very effective system of complementary and alternative medicine that is rapidly gaining recognition in the West. It is one if the primary systems of health care in India and has been used for thousands of years for the treatment and management of a wide range of ailments and diseases. Its full effectiveness will depend on various considerations, including your current state of health, health history, quality of daily nutrition, and compliance with dietary and lifestyle recommendations and treatment with traditional herbal medicine. In the two decades of offering Ayurvedic health care, we have full faith in the power of this profound, yet practical system of healing. To achieve optimal results in Ayurveda, it is essential to follow-up periodically with your Ayurvedic physician, so adjustments to your regime can be made, as your body changes over time.

Can Ayurveda help me with chronic or serious diseases?

As a holistic system of medicine, Ayurveda does not focus on disease or pathology per se. Rather, it maintains that all life must be supported by energy in balance. It views health as the harmonious functioning of the organism as a whole, and states that no system can work in isolation. Therefore, its goal is not just to treat or suppress symptoms, but to bring balance to the doshas so as to restore the natural harmony of your organism as a whole. When the flow of energy is harmonious, everything works properly and there is a sense of well being. In other words, when the balance of the doshas is restored, the root cause of imbalance is removed, and your organism works properly (i.e., symptoms disappear). Furthermore, Ayurveda has a unique cleansing and rejuvenation program known as Panchakarma to detoxify and rejuvenate the organism at a cellular level, which can remove long lasting ailments while further promoting overall health and longevity.

Can I keep taking my medication when using Ayurveda?

Ayurveda can be used in conjunction with Western allopathic medicine. Drugs can save lives, but because of their toxicity they can also weaken or damage the body with side effects. Ayurveda can help protect and make the body stronger after or along with drugs or surgery. It is very important to let your Ayurvedic practitioner know what medications you are on, so he can recommend the appropriate ayurvedic regime for you.

Can Ayurveda help me with acute ailments and first aid?

Yes. Ayurveda offers many practical and simple treatments for acute and first aid ailments with medicinal substances you may even be able to find in your own kitchen. Most people are amazed at how simple preventing and treating common ailments can be with a basic Ayurvedic knowledge. As you continue on your journey to optimal health at Blue Lotus Ayurveda, you will learn how to integrate a ‘kitchen pharmacy’ into your lifestyle.

How soon will I see any results with Ayurveda?

That would depend on your particular state of health, your lifestyle, and how disciplined you are in following an Ayurvedic regime. Often times, following an Ayurvedic regime can have rather quick effects, but since Ayurveda is a holistic system and herbs act more gently and synergistically, patience and self-effort are important. As far as diet and lifestyle changes are concerned, we believe that slow change is lasting change, since trying to make radical changes all at once can often times become overwhelming. Remember that true healing and optimal health is a journey, not a one-shot deal.

Do I have to completely change my lifestyle to follow Ayurveda?

It really depends on what your health state, age, lifestyle, and goals are. Ayurveda defines imbalance as the end result of living out of harmony with your original constitution. Your constitution is the inherent balance of energies within your body-mind complex. It determines everything from your bone structure and temperament to your predisposition toward certain health challenges. Since we all have a different balance of energy, the path to optimal health will vary from person to person. How close you are to your constitutional balance will determine how many changes you need to make to get the results you want from your health program. Ayurveda is practical and can be flexible, but you are responsible for achieving the results you want through common sense and discipline.

What is the difference between an Ayurvedic massage and a regular massage?

Generally speaking, Ayurvedic therapies utilize two main elements to promote healing and relaxation: herbal oils and heat to help the medicated oils further penetrate into the tissues. The most common type of Ayurvedic massage is known as Abhyanga. It consists of one or two therapists vigorously massaging warm oil onto your body from head to foot, using specialized strokes. This kind of massage takes you into a state of deep relaxation, both physical and mental, while nourishing all your tissues and promoting cleansing and healing. The use of specialized herbal oils helps bring your body back into balance.

Another popular form of Ayurvedic massage is Shila Abhyanga, or Ayurvedic Hot Stone massage. In this case, the use of heated basalt stones help the herbal oils further penetrate into the tissues and allowing the therapist to go deeper into the muscles to release tension.

Another form of Ayurvedic massage is Marma Massage, which consists of utilizing vigorous strokes while focusing on specific vital energy points (marmas) to release tension, stimulate your blood circulation and energize your whole body.

What is unique about Ayurvedic Massage?

Ayurvedic massage is traditionally known as Abhyanga. It consists of one or two therapists massaging warm herbal oil onto your body from head to foot, using specialized and synchronized strokes. This kind of massage takes you into a state of deep and profound relaxation, while nourishing all your tissues and promoting cleansing and healing. Another aspect of Ayurvedic Massage is the focus on specific vital energy points (marmas) to release tension, stimulate circulation, remove energetic blockages, and restore balance to your whole self.

What are medicated oils and why are they used in Ayurveda?

Medicated oils are oils infused with medicinal herbs that have been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic clinics. They are used according to your specific needs and dosha imbalance. Warm oil has a penetrating quality that helps the body absorb the substances infused into the oil for health purposes. They are applied in many Ayurvedic Ayurvedic therapies and can also used for self-massage as a part of a daily routine for self-healing (called dinacharya).

What is Ayurveda’s approach to diet?

Ayurvedic diet is not a specific ethnic cuisine, rather it is based on each individual’s needs. It emphasizes wholesome, nourishing food and the avoidance of highly processed foods and artificial ingredients. Ayurveda is not a strict vegetarian diet but does encourage eating a balanced diet including a wide variety fresh plant-based food. Sustainable agriculture is essential for the health of our environment, so we strongly encourage that food be as well sourced as possible including local, organic produce and ethically raised animal-based foods including eggs, meats, fish, and dairy products. If you have any food sensitivities or follow a particular type of diet that works for you, Ayurveda can help to fine tune it, to assist in you in your healing process.

How does Shirodhara promote mental rejuvenation?

Pouring warm oil on the forehead has an extremely soothing and relaxing effect. This therapy quiets both the mind and the senses, allowing your body’s natural healing mechanisms to release stress and impurities. When deep relaxation is achieved, the subtle “imprints” of imbalance or disease are also released. This therapy calms the subtle aspects of the doshas in the region of the head, thus promoting mental rejuvenation. It is performed with herbal oils that nourish the nervous system and the subtle channels in the head. Because of the profound effects it has upon the consciousness, it has often been called “Bliss Therapy.” Most people drop into a deep state of relaxation during this therapy, especially when it is performed after an Ayurvedic massage.

Is Marma Therapy similar to acupuncture or acupressure?

Marma point therapy is similar to acupressure in that it triggers energy to different organs and systems of the body, but it differs from it in that marma points follow different pathways of energy (called nadis) and usually cover a bigger area than Chinese meridian points. There is no use of needles. Our Marma Therapy session includes a blend of massage and acupressure focused on marmas, passive yoga therapy to free blocked energy and promote flexibility, the use of Ayurvedic essential oils, and application of mild heat over specific areas, depending on your individual needs.

Can I get an Ayurvedic consultation online through your web site?

Yes, we offer long distance Ayurveda consultations and follow-ups, via Zoom video meetings. We truly believe that proper Ayurvedic health care requires a more personal interaction with our clients and regular follow-ups. If you live at a distance, but need to access quality Ayurvedic health care, this method has worked well for many of our clients living out of state. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding our long-distance health consultations.

Panchakarma FAQs

What Is Included in My Panchakarma Program?

All Panchakarma Retreats include a Panchakarma preparatory consultation, all traditional treatments, and therapies, medicated herbal oils (used during therapies), all meals, and close supervision throughout your program. A special diet is followed during Panchakarma, so all meals are prepared for you during stay by our vegetarian chef.

What is included in my Panchakarma Program:

Initial & Preparatory Ayurvedic Health Consultation with Vishnu Dass
Daily support and guidance from our highly trained Ayurvedic Physician and Panchakarma staff
All Ayurvedic herbal medicine during your scheduled Panchakarma program

All daily treatments include:

Any Panchakarma treatments (5 Cleansing actions) administer during your detox program, as per Dr. Vishnu Dass’s guidance.
Abhyanga (Ayurvedic massage with two therapists)
Nasya (nasal/sinus treatment with medicated oils)
Herbal-infused Steam Sauna (bashpa swedana)
Shirodhara Therapy (pouring of warm medicated oil over the forehead)
Udvartana (herbal scrub)
All custom-made Ayurvedic food during your program

What Therapies Are Done During My Panchakarma?

Along with Panchakarma Program, adjunct detoxification therapies are preformed daily including• Abhyanga(Ayurvedic warm oil massage) with integrated Marma Chikitsa (Energy Point Therapy with attars and essential oils);• Bashpa Swedana (full herbal steam);• Shirodhara (Bliss Therapy for mental rejuvenation);• Udvartana (herbal scrub/dusting) or Lepa (herbal paste), followed by a warm shower;• Delicious meal provided daily, according to your needs and dietary restriction. Your daily program takes about 3 hours.

What Is Not Included in My Panchakarma Fee?

Herbs before and after Panchakarma are not included. Optional adjunct Ayurvedic therapies (such as Netra Basti, Hrud Basti, Nadi Swedana, etc.) are not included in your fee, but can be added to enhance your program, as per your request and specific needs.

Where do people stay while receiving Panchakarma?

Check out our Asheville area Panchakarma lodging page here.

When selecting your lodging, make sure that it has good online reviews and proper amenities including total privacy, full kitchen and close to the clinic (10-20 minutes drive is ideal).

We have a Panchakarma Day Sampler and Ayurvedic Weekend Getaways, as well as other Ayurvedic Day Spa packages if you are not able to do a full Panchakarma Program at this time but would like to get a taste of what it is like, and to experience our excellent client-focused care.

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