Episode 43: The Science of Ayurveda with Dr Deepa Apte

Dr Deepa Apté is a fully qualified Indian medical doctor, Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic practitioner.

She lectures widely on Ayurveda and Yoga and regularly writes articles for, and features in, magazines and the press. After having run successful practices in India and Germany, she now runs her practice from The Ayurveda Pura Health Spa & Beauty Centre in London where she offers Ayurvedic consultations, individual Yoga sessions and workshops.

She lectures as a guest speaker at numerous international health and wellbeing exhibitions and is the lead lecturer of the Ayurveda Pura Academy. As a post graduate lecturer at University of Wales, Dr Apté is an experienced teacher with knowledge on both theoretical and practical aspects of Ayurvedic medicine and treatments.

As well as running her practice Dr Deepa Apté helped to set up Ayurveda Pura in the UK and is the lead Ayurvedic practitioner in charge of products, their production and ingredients.

In this episode, we talked about:

Dr Deepa Apte studied to become a medical doctor but continued her studies by training to become an Ayurvedic doctor and yoga teacher. Since she moved to London from India she focussed on Ayurveda and Yoga
Her medical background comes in useful for teaching students and seeing clients with medical presentations
Ayurveda means ‘science of life’. “There is nothing un-Ayurvedic out there”. It’s a natural, holistic science that draws inspiration from the environment around us
Ayurveda addresses body types/ constitutions: vata meaning air, pitta meaning fire and kapha meaning water + earth
Vata types are active, restless and creative
Pitta types are focussed, sharp and hot
Kapha types go with the flow, are patient and stable
We are born with a unique constitution, that will never change. There will also be a body type based on lifestyle and environment factors
The analogy of the original constitution you are born with being like a solid surface and the body type being like dust on the hard surface
Five approaches: food, herbs, manual therapies, yoga and lifestyle
Even though Ayurveda is an ancient science, it is relevant today because it reflects the world around us
General routines include: a hot drink (water or tea) upon waking to stimulate the digestive fire, eating only when hungry, ensuring eliminations are clear each day
There are two types of hunger. The first comes from the stomach, the second comes from desire and is not true hunger
70% of illnesses are believed to arise from sluggish digestion. Ginger and lemon tea 3-4 times a day can help to correct constipation
Writing by hand for 15 minutes each day helps to feel younger from the inside. This activity uses the 5 sensory functions as well as the motor functions and helps to keep the nervous system to be active and maintain memory
Eat according to your body type. Food has medicinal properties. Avoid raw foods.
If you find it hard to have a hot meal at lunch when you’re working, then have a herbal tea alongside your food
For kapha-related imbalances, symptoms such as water retention, mucous congestion and heaviness mean that restricting dairy in the diet is helpful
For vata-related imbalances, dryness is a common symptom and cooked dairy is beneficial
Applying oil for massage is ‘snehana’. ‘Sneha’ means love, ‘ana’ means to apply. This means that the application of oil offers love and care to the receiver
There are important energy points, known as marma points that can be addressed in self-massage. These are gateways into the body. Four important points: middle of the palms of the hands and middle of the soles of the feet. These relate to the heart and lung regions
Apply warm oil for massage. First in an anti-clockwise direction to remove toxins and then clockwise to nourish with prana (energy)
Oil on the navel point is the entry of life and is calming
Massage over the heart region
Massaging over the third eye (between the eyebrows) brings about change in the hypothalamus and pituitary
Massaging over the crown chakra: find the point by taking four fingers from the eyebrows and then four fingers on top
For someone with insomnia, try massaging the marma points for 5-10 minutes with warm oil. Then have a shower and go to bed
Sesame seed oil is suitable for all body types, especially in colder environments. It has good antioxidant properties to stimulate the immune system
In warmer climates, coconut oil is a good option
If you don’t have access to oil, massage without it
Herbs can be taken daily and don’t have adverse effects with allopathic medication
Lighting a candle or incense stick each day for a mindful moment
Panchakarma is a cleansing process to rid the body of excess doshas
Detox and cleansing are two different terms
Ama is a toxin and is produced when the digestive fire is weak and can lead to illnesses
Excess vata can cause nervous illnesses
Excess pitta can cause acidity, inflammation and ulceration
Excess kapha can cause water retention and mucous congestion
Pancha = 5, karma= actions. Therapeutic vomiting, purgation, medicated enemas, nasya (nasal oil application), and blood letting. These are applied over 2-3 weeks, with the body cleansing in a specific order
After panchakarma finishes, you have to slowly adapt to everyday life
There are different ways of fasting for different body types. It’s about the withdrawal of the 5 senses. Fasting is recommended for stress and insomnia
Rest during the first days of the menstrual cycle, avoiding exertion and inversions
Oil-pulling with sesame seed oil can help to regulate the menstrual cycle
The sub-lingual veins beneath the tongue directly drain into the heart
The tongue is like a map of the whole body
During the period, the downward flow is strong and should be enhanced. Tampons and mooncups should be avoided