AYURVEDA
Asian Secrets of Wellness, Beauty and Balance
AUTHOR KIM INGLIS
PHOTOGRAPHER LUCA INVERNIZZI TETTONI
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
Tokyo • Rutland, Vermont • Singapore
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759, USA and 61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 534167
Text © 2009 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd
Photos © 2009 Luca Invernizzi Tettoni
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0701-4 (ebook)
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CONTENTS
Ancient Wisdoms, Today’s Practices 6
wellness 18
Abhyangam:—Traditional Ayurvedic Massage 20
Chavitti Thirumal: Pressure Point Massage with Feet 23
Hot Stone Abhyangam 24
Marma Massage:—Pressure Point Massage 25
Champi:—Indian Head Massage 26
Udwarthanam:—Dry Massage with Herbal Powder 27
Sirodhara:—Oiling the Third Eye 28
Vasthi: The Medicated Enema 32
Unani: An Holistic Graeco-Arab Medical System 36
Siddha: Tamil Herbal Healing 38
Soba Rig-pa: Traditional Tibetan Medicine 42
Panchakarma: Ayurvedic Revitalization 46
Mud Therapy 50
Ksheera Dhooma: Medicated Milk Steam 52
Netra Tarpanam: Vasthi Therapy for the Eyes 53
Kizhi Therapy:—The Hot Herbal Pouch 54
beauty 58
Ayurvedic Facial Care 60
Hand Care 68
Foot Care 70
Hair Care 72
The Art of Mehndi 76
Body Wraps 78
Body Scrubs and Polishes 82
Water Therapies 86
Rasashastra:—Healing with Gems, Crystals, Metals and Minerals 94
balance 98
Yoga 100
Amulya Uphar:—Lazy Man’s Yoga 112
Pranayama:—Therapeutic Breathing Exercises 114
Meditation 118
Chakra Therapy 126
appendix 130
Nattu Vaidya:—The Barefoot Doctor 132
Healing Plants 136
Ayurvedic Preparations 142
Listings 144
ancient wisdoms,
today’s practices
At no time in the history of the planet have India’s stress-busting, all-encompassing therapies had more importance. While we strive to improve material gains, we often neglect the
