Ayurveda ...

• Consciousness
• Physiology
• Behaviour
• Environment

Mental stress can be relieved by meditation.

Physiology is addressed by dietary changes that include avoiding stimulants and eating a balanced diet to suit the individual constitution and by incorporating Abhyanga (Ayurvedic herbal body massage) into the daily routine.

Behaviour modification involves adhering to a daily routine, with regular hours for work, sleep and meals and an organized lifestyle.

A suitable environment is created through music, aromatherapy and such other things to soothe and balance the individual's constitution giving a cleaner and more restful living space.

Ayurveda is a great science with complete detail on all the areas of holistic living.

... and Panic Attacks

Ayurveda considers anxiety as primarily due to aggravation of vata dosha in the nervous system. So, the primary treatment for panic attacks is to balance vata dosha. A full body massage and Shirodhara help to reduce onset of attacks.

Yoga and meditation are recommended for long term relief from panic attacks. Avoiding tamasik (fried, over spiced, over-cooked) foods and consuming Brahmi (Gotu Cola) or Chamomile tea regularly are also effective in treating panic attacks and cholesterol.

Panchakarma has been scientifically investigated in relation to cholesterol levels and studies have shown that panchakarma helps to significantly reduce cholesterol. VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), a neuropeptide that dilates the coronary arteries, rose by 80% three months after panchakarma. HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol rose 75% after three months in those subjects who had original values that were low.

Other studies have also shown that panchakarma does reduce lipid peroxide levels. During the week of panchakarma treatment, the blood level of lipid peroxide actually went up but in three months after the treatments, the levels were far lower than when the treatment began. If you sweep your room, dust will fly temporarily but soon the room is cleaner than before. Apparently, the ghee, sesame oil and other aspects of panchakarma had loosened the lipid peroxides from cell membranes and set them free, circulating in the blood. In the weeks after panchakarma, the body eliminated these circulating lipid peroxide molecules- and the rate at which new ones were being produced also apparently declined.

[Next: Ayurveda and cancer...]