Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Treatment

Explore the seven classical categories of cikitsā (treatment) and their role in Ayurvedic healing.

Understand the formation, types, and functions of agni and āma, and how to assess and treat imbalances.

Learn to evaluate the malas (waste products) and recognize normal vs. abnormal states through observation and inquiry.

Study prāṇa, tejas, and ojas, how they relate to the doṣas, signs of imbalance, and methods for restoration.

Gain skills in recommending appropriate śamana (palliative) and bṛṁhaṇa (tonifying) therapies within scope.

Examine the relationship between the five elements (mahābhūtas), the senses, and their impact on health.

Learn the effects of sensory stimulation on the mind and doṣas.

Develop strategies to support healing through aromatic, gustatory, tactile, auditory, and visual therapies.

Understand the proper and improper use of the senses in daily life and their therapeutic applications.

Explore nasya therapies, appropriate oils for sense therapies, and variations of abhyaṅga and touch therapy.

Prāṇa (vital energy) –Tejas (radiance) –Ojas (essence of life)

Demonstrated ability to determine the state of prāṇa, ojas and tejas.

Demonstrated ability to assess the state of prāṇa (vital energy), tejas (radiance) and ojas (essence of life) through observation and the interview process (consultation) which explores the state of prāṇa (vital energy), tejas (radiance) and ojas (essence of life).

In-depth Knowledge of:

• Definition of prāṇa (vital energy), tejas (radiance) and ojas (essence of life)
  Relationship of prāṇa (vital energy), tejas (radiance) and ojas (essence of life) to vāta, pitta and kapha
• Signs of healthy or balanced prāṇa (vital energy), tejas (radiance) and ojas (essence of life)
• Symptoms of high ojas (essence of life)
• Symptoms of low ojas (essence of life)
• Displaced ojas (essence of life)
• Factors causing imbalance in prāṇa (vital energy), tejas (radiance) and ojas (essence of life)

Senses

Demonstrated ability and knowledge to recommend or prescribe sātmyendriyārthasaṁyoga (the appropriate use of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing). As follows:

• Aromatic Therapy: The doctor can identify excessive utilization, deficient utilization, and mis-utilization of the sense of smell and instruct the client to adjust their aromatic environment to support the healing process. This might include identifying substances that are disturbing the sense of smell as well as recommending the use of doshically appropriate aromatic herbs.
• Taste Therapy (diet and herbs): The doctor can identify excessive utilization, deficient utilization and mis-utilization of the sense of taste and instruct the client to adjust their gustatory environment (form more information see the food section) to support the healing process. This might include correcting a diet that is too salty, too pungent, too sweet, etc. and recommending a doshically appropriate balance of tastes.
• Touch Therapy (self-massage): The doctor can identify excessive utilization, deficient utilization, and mis-utilization of the sense of touch and instruct the client to adjust their tactile environment to support the healing process, such as by instructing the client in Ayurvedic self-massage.
• Sound Therapy: The doctor can identify excessive utilization, deficient utilization, and mis-utilization of the sense of hearing and instruct the client to adjust their auditory environment to support the healing process. This might include identifying exposure to loud music or work-related noise as well as recommending methods to mitigate such exposures.
• Visual Therapy: The doctor can identify excessive utilization, deficient utilization, and mis-utilization of the sense of vision and instruct the client to adjust their visual environment to support the healing process. This might include identifying aspects of the client’s work or leisure environment, such as excess screen time, which are stressful to the sense of vision and recommending methods to mitigate these exposures.

In-Depth Knowledge of:

• The sensory and motor facilities.
  Relationship of pañca mahābhūtas (five elements) to each sensory and motor faculty.
• Effect of appropriate, excessive and absence of sensory stimuli on each of the five sensory faculties and mind.
  Sensory stimuli affecting the doṣas.
• Appropriate and inappropriate use of senses.
• Different oils used for nasya.
  Touch therapy including different forms of abhyaṅga (oil application), and appropriate oils used for abhyaṅga (oil application).
• Different tastes and influence on doṣas.
  The mind is and its functions.
• Relationship between the five elements and their respective tanmātra (five subtle elements), sense and motor organ.

Categories of Cikitsā (Treatment or Therapies)

In-depth knowledge of the categories of cikitsā (treatment), as listed below:

• Ekavidha
• Dvividha
• Trividha
• Caturvidha
• Pañcavidha
• Saḍvidha
• Saptavidha

Duration: 24 hours delivered over 12 weekly lessons (excluding school holidays)

Class Time: Mondays, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST

Format: Live, interactive online classes with recordings available for review

Important Details:

Classes are conducted weekly, providing 24 total hours of live instruction.

All sessions will be recorded and accessible for students unable to attend live.