Radiance Ayurveda

Vaidya Yolande Manson -
Ayurvedic Medical Practitioner
USEFUL ARTICLES:
updated 19th August 2002

KAPHA LIFESTYLE PLAN.doc
PITTA LIFESTYLE PLAN.doc
VATA LIFESTYLE PLAN.doc
Ayurveda & BTD Research Paper.pdf
Anti-Ama Diet - for all types

I can't believe how many times people ask me about whether Ayurveda has any similarities with the Blood Type Diet (BTD) - a diet by Dr Peter D'Adamo (in his book The Eat Right Diet).  I always tell them that they're in luck, because in 2000 I did a research paper on exactly this topic!

I too, was fascinated by the many similarities I could see between Ayurveda and BTD.  The main similarity is that people are grouped according to their body/mind type and given specific lifestyle and diet recommendations based on this type.  In BTD, as in Ayurveda, not all people are treated equally, in fact the blood types have vastly different diets and modes of treatment.

The Blood Type Diet
Based on a theory that Blood Types evolved with the evolution of man from Hunter-Gatherer, to Farmer, to Merchant/ Trader/Nomad, and lastly to Industrial age modern man.  Our blood types evolving with changing environment and diet.
The earliest blood type is 'O', which eats a lot of meat, berries etc and little grains (Hunter-Gatherer); a strong, assertive and instinctive type.
The Farmer blood type is 'A', which contrasts by being specifically vegetarian, lots of beans and vegetables and no meat; they are slightly nervous, with active minds.
The Nomad type is 'B', who eats a range of wild-type meats, dairy and eggs, but little farmed produce (beans etc); they are creative, emotional and flexible.
The newest type is 'AB', a quite versatile type who can eat a wider range of foods (a mix of A and B diets essentially), and is more spiritually-minded and adaptable.

Ayurvedic Theory
Based on the theory of the five elements (space, air, fire, water, earth), everyone is a unique mix of these elements - so diet and lifestyle recommendations are usually based which elements are not in balance.  For example - a person with excess fire in their body/personality is put on a fire-reducing diet/lifestyle.  This imbalance can change quite rapidly, especially due to seasons and time of day fluctuations.

There is also a base constitution which remains constant - and it is this which is often likened to BTD, as there are three main body types, and seven combinations of body type.  The three main types are Vata (air and ether), Pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (earth and water), and the combinations are mixes of these constitutions - VP, VK, PV, PK, KP, KV, or VPK.  A person is are unlikely to have a body element make-up exactly the same as another person of the same type - each person has a unique balance of elements, and we each have all the elements in our body, but only some in predominance.

Vata type has a poor or inconstant digestion, so requires easily digested warming foods, they are also a nervous type, so require grounding lifestyle regimes and earthy foods.
Pitta type is prone to excess stomach acid, bile and hunger, so requires cooling foods without too much oils or fats, and lifestyle routines to prevent irritation and frustrations.
Kapha type has a sluggish digestion and a body which tends to hold weight, so requires light easily digested warm foods - in small amounts, they can be lethargic so require stimulation and exercise.

Similarites
Based on individuality, not on 'one diet/treatment for all'.
Recommend cutting out peanuts and tomatoes for all people (except AB - who can eat some tomatoes),
and recommend cutting out nightshade family vegetables for rheumatoid conditions.
Recognise that our main 'type' comes from our parents (although Ayurveda says this is only in part),
and not from our race or culture, it will not change.  Our parents' environment during
pregnancy/conception affects our type.
There are basic types, but also sub-types (in Ayurveda this is subtle element differences in all the types,
in BTD this is MN, Lewis, Rhesus factors etc)
Recommend mainly cooked foods.
A major factor in disease is a type of toxin in the body which damages and disturbs cellular function
('ama' in Ayurveda, ‘lectin’ in BTD).
Recognise food choices as a cause in mental and psychological disturbance.

The 'Types'
According to my rough approximation of diet, personality and disease-patterns:
A blood type = Vata (72%)
O blood type = Pitta (74%)
B and AB blood types = Kapha (56%) - so this correlation is only slight and not particularly reliable.

Main Differences
BTD believes new types will continue to emerge with evolution,
Ayurveda believes the laws of nature and the elements are stable and unchanging.
BTD doesn’t take into account anything which can’t show up on slides or scales,
no energetic properties are relevant in its scientific view of the world, Ayurveda is based on subtle
energy and things we can't see.
BTD says the dangerous lectins are be more powerful than our digestive power,
Ayurveda says that ama is destroyed by proper digestion and chewing.
In BTD there is no way you can negate the effects of a bad food choice, whereas Ayurveda
has food antidotes, as well as least harmful times and seasons to consume such foods.  But according
to Ayurveda, your thoughts can also influence the quality of the food you eat turning 'Nectar to Poison
or Poison to Nectar', BTD says a good food is good and a bad food is bad!
BTD recommends meat and animal products for all people but 'A's, Ayurveda recommends
meat and eggs for no one.
Ayurveda has many millenia of historical usage and has remained effective and unchanged.  BTD is less
than 100 years old - the main theories were put together in the 1980s, and they are already changing.

Conclusion
I think BTD it is definitely on the right track, but in it's infancy.  This is proved by the fact that, great as it sounds, BTD does not work for everybody.  D'Adamo did admit in the back of his first book that - in his estimation - as much as 10% of your body type is affected by other factors (Rhesus etc) not considered in the book.  I have also heard that he has recently put out a new book about how your parents' blood types (if different to yours) also affect your dietary needs.  So the case is not closed on BTD, but it has a long way to go - in my opinion - before it could ever match the simplicity and effectiveness of Ayurveda.  Just look at these points:
Ayurveda has ten main types, and infinite variations of these types.  BTD has four types, and
unresearched other factors and combinations.
BTD is complicated, it does not work on any common theories which you can easily apply - you need to memorise or carry with you a huge food list, and if there is a food item missing, you may never know if it is good for you or not.  Ayurveda chooses foods according to elements, all you need to understand is how to discern the elemental quality of a food and you can decide for yourself on the spot whether a food is good for you or not.
Many people do not conform to their blood type personality/body.  There are many 'O's with poor digestion, whose bodies cannot digest all of the meat they are supposed to eat.  This is why BTD does not work for everyone - it is too simple.  Ayurveda takes into account many other factors apart from your body types when deciding what you should eat and when - and digestive power is a main one.  BTD makes the fatal mistake of assuming that all 'O's have great digestion and all 'A's have terrible digestions - when this is often not the case.

These conclusions may sound biased, but I tried to be as objective as possible.  Obviously I do tend to believe Ayurvedic theory before anything else, but I really believed the BTD when I read the book.  It was only my dismay at having it fail dismally which made me decide to take up this study.  So now it's up to you to decide!  You don't need to ask me what I think…

Yolande Manson (A.M.D., N.D.) is a qualified Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner and Naturopath, who was among the first three practitioners to graduate with the Ayurvedic Medicine Diploma in New Zealand.  The A.M.D. is the highest qualification in Ayurveda available in the Western World.  After training with her teacher, Dr S Ajit in Auckland, she now lives in Hamilton and runs her own Traditional Ayurveda practice - the first of its type outside of Auckland.

Ayurveda is …

An Ancient healing system, the world's oldest health science.  It originated on the Indian sub-continent, around 5,000-10,000 years ago.
Thought to be the 'original' medicine, which gave birth to all others throughout the world - Chinese, Tibetan, Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Persian, and Ancient Greek (which is the ancestor of modern Western Medicine).
A completely and truly holistic healthcare system, we believe in finding the true cause of an ailment and removing that cause before treating the symptoms.  Therefore we aim to truly heal a person rather than just 'patch' them up.  Ayurvedic Medical Practitioners work on Physical, Mental and Spiritual levels, no need to have more than one health, lifestyle or spiritual adviser!
 Said to be a medicine for all people and all times - it is not just applicable to the natives of India, who still practice it today, and neither is it out of date, it is still highly relevant in modern times.
Tried and proven successful across the ages.  Ayurvedic Doctors are taught in universities in India alongside Western Medical Doctors, and there are a lot of modern studies and literature proving that Ayurvedic Medicine works in the modern world!  It is recognised and utilised by the Government of India.
Revolutionising modern healthcare around the globe, it is one of the most popular medicines in the USA (especially California) today and is quickly becoming the next 'big thing' in Australasia.   Ayurveda is not a fad, it is a legitimate and complete medical system which has remained unchanged for thousands of years.  True Ayurveda practitioners will not bow to the trends and pressures which are becoming prolific in the Natural healthcare field.
BECOME PART OF THE REVOLUTION!!

Who can Ayurveda Help?
Ayurveda can benefit everybody!
Ayurveda helps those who are unwell with treatments to relieve the symptoms of the ailment, and changes to help strengthen the body prevent it's return.
Ayurveda helps those who are well to predict and prevent future illnesses. Illnesses are prevented by strengthening any weak areas of the body and changing any details in your life which may predispose you to certain ailments.
Ayurveda specialises in helping people with 'untreatable' ailments or ailments not understood by Modern Medicine.

How does it work?
Each person is diagnosed and treated uniquely and treated as the unique individual they are, no two people will be treated in the exact same way.
It works like this:
Your  birth constitution (prakruti) and current imbalances(vikruti) are diagnosed (through pulse and consultation) based on a system of the 5 elements (space, air, fire, water, earth).  The pulse also shows the condition of your bodily organs, digestive function, metabolism, and presence of toxins (ama).
Psychological, lifestyle, environment and dietary factors are taken into account.
Treatments are prescribed relating to diet, lifestyle, exercise, meditation, counselling, massage, purification therapies, and herbal formulations.  Treatments for ailments can be expected to run for about 3 months, but changes will be noticed immediately by dedicated people.  Ongoing treatments or regimes are available for people who are unable to change details of their lives which may predispose them to illness (eg. ongoing unpreventable stress)
The aim is to return the body to it's naturally balanced and healthy state which allows it to heal itself, function correctly, and prevent disease or illness.
Therefore, the  system of Ayurveda is useful for PREVENTION of disease or illness in well people, and for EFFECTIVE TREATMENT of disease or illness in unwell people.

© 2001   Yolande manson (N.D., A.M.D.)
c/o Bader St Pharmacy, 5a Bader Street, HAMILTON
ph: (07) 843-5566;  fax: (07) 843-3974; ayurveda@orcon.net.nz

Its unique to you!  Each person's body is made up of their own individual mix of the five elements (as mentioned on the previous page).  These elements differentiates you from every other person in the world, and is known as your 'Prakruti' or Ayurvedic Constitution.
There are three main 'Doshas' or Constitutional Types, but most people are a mix of two of these types.
Most people are born with a naturally balanced constitution (and this can be determined from the pulse).  But as we grow, our environment, diet, lifestyle and upbringing affect the balance of elements in our body, and often creates a 'Vikruti' or Imbalanced State.  In this state of imbalance, our body can show signs of ill health, and if allowed to continue, more serious ailments or diseases can develop.  We aim to return you to your birth balance.

Your Constitution Determines Your:
Body Shape, Size, and Build; Skin, Eye and Hair Texture and Colour.
Metabolism and Body Functions (eg. digestive strength, energy levels, sleep patterns, fertility...)
Personality, Temperament, and Mental patterns (eg. dreams, learning style, memory…)
Likes and dislikes (season, climate, food…); Immune and organ strength/weakness (when you get ill…)

 General Attributes of Vata ('waa-ta')
Consists of Air and Space.  Light and sometimes weak and susceptible in the body. Often very tall or short, loses weight under stress. Hair, skin, nails and teeth are thin and can be dark and dry. Their lifestyle is generally irregular and spontaneous, energy levels come in bursts.  Like to day dream and read, are very quick in thought, speech and action, and are often intellec-tuals or creative.  Don't sweat much.  They love hot, wet weather/ food.
Prone to disorders of: Joints, bones, circulation, digestion (colon), mind (due to stress).*

General Attributes of Pitta ('pi-ta')
Consists of Fire and Water.  Medium build body, can be athletic. Hair, skin, nails and teeth are medium, and can be yellowish and oily. They love regularity, order, logic, planning, and working.   They enjoy competitive sports, and games of skill (chess, squash).  Very passionate, they often have very fast metabolism, and get hot easily (in mind as well as body!).  Sweat easily, and a lot. Love cool, dry weather/foods.
Prone to disorders of:  Stomach, liver, small Intestine, heart (attack, blood pressure), eyes, inflammation, rashes.*

General Attributes of Kapha ('ka-fa')
Consists of Earth and Water.  Larger body build, hard to lose weight, easy to gain.  Hair, skin, nails and teeth are thick and can be pale and oily. Very calm and sometimes slow in mind and body. Good memory, can be sentimental, generally even-tempered, love sleeping and eating! Good endurance and strength of body, but can be lazy. They love warm, dry weather/foods.
Prone to disorders of: Heart (cholesterol), lungs, sinuses, bladder/kidney, fluid/weight retention, sluggishness, depression.*

The Presence of Ama (Toxins) in Your Body:
Is due to poor or sluggish digestive function, or poor diet (it is mainly formed in the digestive tract), though it can also be formed by negative mental patterns.
Is a sign that your body is not functioning well, and can create ill-health.  Even minor infections (such as colds, viruses, and candidiasis) can only occur in the presence of ama.  If you do not already have an ailment, illness, or disease, you are probably currently already experiencing at least one of it's many symptoms:
Tiredness, Sluggishness, Low energy, Mental Fogginess, Poor memory, Insomnia, Mental/Emotional disturbances, Rashes, Infections, Coughs/Colds/Flus, Weight Gain, Joint or mobility problems, Mucus discharge, Sunus/Lung problems, Hayfever, Poor appetite, Very smelly urine, bowel motions, gas, sweat, breath, Coated tongue…*

*For more detailed information:
On constitution and ama
For diagnosis of your true constitutional type
For information on diet and lifestyle techniques to balance your constitution and cleanse the body of ama
Please ask for a 'LIFESTYLE CONSULTATION' ?

© 2001  Yolande Manson (ayurveda@orcon.net.nz, 07-843-5566)
 
 

If the diet and lifestyle recommendations below are followed correctly, it may be possible to reverse the progress of and even to heal and prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis, (especially if it is in its initial stages).
Rheumatoid arthritis is due to a build-up of toxins (free-radicals/oxidants) in the body, which travel to the small joints, where they aggravate and inflame the joints, causing pain. It is an auto-immune condition according to western medicine - the body is destroying itself. To reverse, heal and prevent this occurring, the digestion needs to be improved and all hard-to-digest and irritant substances need to be removed from the diet. There are also mental and lifestyle factors which should be addressed, as without this, the body will be unable to correct digestive function and regain balance.

1 DIET
(A) Completely eliminate (in order of importance - first is most dangerous - this may be done gradually) - All alcohol, coffee, nightshades (tomatoes, chili, capsicum, tamarillo, potatoes, eggplant, cape gooseberry), fried foods, margarine, peanuts, vinegar, fermented/pickled/smoked foods, yeast, animal meats (red meats and oily fish are the worst - eat only white meats and light white-fleshed fish if you must), softdrinks, refrigerator-cold foods/drinks(all foods should be warm hot), white sugar, olive oil.
(B) Cut down - table salt, pre-processed/packaged foods, leftovers, frozen/canned foods.
(C) Eat lots - fresh foods, well-cooked foods (little raw food), red/yellow/orange/green vegetables, fruits (cooked is best or dried and soaked), basmati rice, herbs and spices (garlic, mustard seed and ginger- in moderation; onions, cumin, coriander, turmeric, oregano, basil, thyme, black pepper, fennel, lemon juice, dill), hot drinks, ghee/sunflower oil.

2 MIND
Focus on reducing stress, anxiety, overwork and eliminating emotions such as worry, greif, fear, anger, frustration, resentment, and mind states such as inflexibility, intolerance, lack of ability to adapt... All of these conditions will reduce digestive power (therefore increasing free-radical formation in body and lowering immune power). Inorder to address these issues, think about the following ideas:
(A) Why would your body want to destroy itself? Are you having feelings of lack of self confidence or self-dislike? Is someone else creating feelings like this within you? If so, this is the major fact which needs to be worked on, sort out these problems and you will see major differences in your health.
(B) Why is your body becoming rigid and inflexible? Does it reflect similar mental states? Are there certain issues you may be being to controlling/rigid about? Do you feel intolerant of other people or a person around you? Are you being inflexible or unable to adapt in certain situations? Do you feel unable to assert/express yourself or be yourself? If any of these factors are involved, look at solving the issues causing them and you will again notice a great physical (and mental) weight has been lifted.
(C) Why is your body full of toxins/poison? Do you have negative emotions which may be 'poisoning' your mind (and therefore body)? Let go of the past, and therefore greif, anger, resentment. Do not repress any emotions. Say what you feel without fear of the consequences, and have faith that whatever happens to you as a result of your actions/words is a good learning experience for you and the other people involved. The main factor here is lack of fear, don't worry about the future - live in the present moment and concentrate on making the present happy and fulfilling for you.

3 TREATMENTS
These can help ease the pain and symptoms a little, but will in no way cure or reverse the disease, only diet and mental treatments can remove the cause and therefore allow for true healing.
(A) Castor oil rubbed on joint and apply dry heat (eg. hot water bottle over a flannel), will ease the pain. Do twice daily - morning and night.
(B) Sunbathing can help reduce pain in joint.
(C) A poultice of dry ginger (and turmeric if possible) mixed with a little water/castor oil, can help eliminate some toxins from the area.
(D) alfalfa, nettle, liquorice (if no history of blood pressure problems) or green tea (3-4 cups/day), aloe vera juice (1 tsp in water, twice daily with food) will help digestion and aid in antioxidation of toxins. Best is ginger lemon and honey tea (made with fresh ingredients) before meals, at least once a day (before breakfast) to aid digestion and reduce toxin formation.
(E) There are many complex and expensive (and mostly useless or with only short term benefit) pills, capsules and formulas you can take for arthritis. But not many of these will help deal with the cause of the problem, and none of them will eliminate the cause to allow for reversal of symptoms - only you can do that, it's your choice what you choose to do and therefore which results you will get.

I advise removing the cause early before irreversible damage is done to the joints (deformation of joints and spreading of arthritis to all other parts of the body - shoulders, back, neck, knees, elbows...).