I am a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and studied at the California College of Ayurveda. I have practiced for the past year with both Ayurveda and clinically-based Ayurvedic and western herbalism. Currently, I presently live in Boulder, Colorado where I work one-on-one with clients seeking to harmonize their emotional, physical, and spiritual body. Whether it is digestive issues or emotional problems, Ayurveda can provide long-lasting relief for a variety of conditions.
I also am an organic gardener in the area. I believe strongly in healing from the root of the problem and thus have studied herbal medicine from seed to full medicinal potential as well as believe that the health and nourishment of plants is synonymous with the health and nourishment of the body. Getting in touch with your inner self and also getting in touch with the untouched natural world for full healing is something I truly believe in.
I met my client when I was living in northern California. He was a professional athlete, suffering from digestive issues and attachments to certain foods and drinks, such as coffee. These were not particularly supporting his digestive system or his nervous system. His digestive issues involved gas, bloating, and diarrhea, all of which Ayurveda identifies as imbalances. He also was experiencing nervous system imbalances in the form of mood swings, anger, and disassociation. Overall, this client was internally overheated, overwhelmed, and leaning on outward food and drink items as a coping mechanism.
Ayurveda diagnoses clients using the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. In Ayurveda, my client would have a Pitta dosha imbalance. Pitta in Ayurveda has an association with the fire element. Ayurveda says that those with a Pitta imbalance experience too much heat in the digestive tract, the ways they interact with others, and their day-to-day life, as well as generally feeling burnt out and a lack of flow and ease in their life. My client was primarily experiencing this Pitta imbalance. The attachment to certain foods and drinks may be associated more with Kapha, though I chose to focus on balancing Pitta first to see if all of the other doshas would then balance themselves out.
I treated my client by giving him a full Ayurvedic treatment plan. I make my initial plans simple to not overwhelm my clients with too many lifestyle changes. Since my client had a Pitta imbalance, I suggested he cool down his digestive tract a bit. He could do this with a more consistent routine and by introducing more cooling and lighter foods to his diet.
He had been eating heavy and oily foods such as pizza and pasta, as well as pre-packaged energy bars. Also, he also was consuming coffee throughout the day. This amount of heat, heaviness, and acidity in his diet were not ideal for treating a fiery Pitta imbalance. I suggested he eats more fruits and vegetables, as well as try his best to limit is coffee consumption. As a clinical herbalist, I gave him some digestive herbs that have cooling effects such as fennel, cumin, and coriander. I also provided skullcap to calm and cool his fiery mind and emotions. I gave these to my client in the form of herbal teas. My client was initially resistant to some of these changes, though eventually he was able to incorporate all of my suggestions as he saw the immense benefits. He even chose to forego coffee and replace it with green tea.
As part of my Ayurvedic treatment plan, I also incorporate aromatherapy, self-massage or abhyanga, breathing techniques—also known as pranayama, and meditation mantras to assist in healing. For this client, I incorporated cooling essential oils into a coconut oil as a self-massage oil. Self-massage, or abhyanga in Ayurveda, is a great way to show yourself love and go inwards. I suggested my client practice lunar pranayama, also known as left-nostril breathing, to generally cool his system down. Lastly, I offered my client the meditation mantra of “let go” as he breathed inwards and “I flow” as he breathed outwards. My client was already very familiar with meditation, but incorporating a mantra helped instill a sense of inner peace.
In conclusion, my client was very pleased with the results of his treatment plan. Ayurveda strives to address the root of the problem— which typically happens in digestion and general lifestyle habit— for thriving health and wellness.
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