Ayurvedic therapy: regulating wind, fire and water

The core of the so-called adjustment of wind, fire and water in Ayurvedic therapy is never to adjust the three energies to the "standard value" common to everyone, but to first find the baseline of your innate constitution, and then bring the currently unbalanced energy back to your own comfort zone - it is essentially a set of lifestyle adjustment logic adapted to the individual, rather than a metaphysical therapy that can cure all diseases.

I first came into contact with this system when I was working as a sea turtle protection volunteer in southern Sri Lanka in 2019. I stayed at the spawning site for a week in a row. I felt so weak that I had a headache when I blew the sea breeze. The old doctor who opened an Ayurveda clinic next to the camp didn't even prescribe pills. He only asked me to apply warm sesame oil on the soles of my feet before going to bed every day, wear socks to sleep, and drink hot milk with dried ginger for three days. I actually recovered within a week. It was then that I realized that this thing was not as mysterious as what was posted online.

You can think of these three energies (called "Dusha" in Ayurveda) as three little partners in your body: Wind energy (Vata) governs all moving parts, including breathing, gastrointestinal motility, and nerve signal transmission. When the wind is too strong, it will be like people running back and forth in the office, and the whole place will not be quiet. You will naturally suffer from insomnia, anxiety, forgetfulness, and even constipation and hair loss.； Fire energy (Pita) governs metabolism and digestion, and is equivalent to the heater in the office. When there is enough fire, digestion is good and the energy is sufficient. If the fire is too strong, it will easily cause people to get angry. Oral ulcers, temper tantrums, and acid reflux after eating spicy food are all common. ； The water energy (kapha) tube is lubricated and stable, just like the humidifier in the office. When there is enough water, the skin will be moist and the mood will be stable. If there is too much water and it will overflow and become stagnant, the whole person will be like a sponge soaked in water, sinking and panicking. Edema, inability to wake up, and weight gain after eating a little are all signs.

The current controversy over Ayurveda is actually quite polarized. One group thinks that it is a pseudo-science of ancient India, and that all problems can be attributed to the three energies.； The other group praises it too highly, thinking that even cancer can be cured by it. I have met many practitioners, and everyone agrees: This logic is aimed at functional imbalance, that is, if you go to the hospital and no organic problems are found, but you can't sleep well, have no appetite, and always feel tired. If problems such as gastric ulcers and thyroid abnormalities are found, it can never replace formal treatment, and can at most be used as a lifestyle supplement during the recovery period.

Many people fall into the trap because of the "general guide". A reader came to me before and told me about the Wind Energy Balance Guide that I found on the Internet. It said that you should drink more ginger tea to keep away the cold in winter. She drank it for a week and had nosebleeds every day. When I asked, I found out that her natural constitution is a fire type. Even in summer, she can't wait to drink ice Coke. Wouldn't drinking ginger tea just add fuel to the fire? Most of the generic prescriptions on the Internet only take into account the current season or symptoms, and do not take into account each person's natural physical background, which is naturally prone to problems.

If you really want to prepare your own medicine, there is no need to buy thousands of Ayurvedic treatments or imported herbal medicines. You just need to find out your current state first. A while ago, I worked on a project for a week and kept forgetting things. My hands and feet were as cold as ice cubes, and my stomach kept rumbling. It was obviously because of the strong wind. So I applied sesame oil on my feet for three days as the old doctor taught me, and drank warm millet porridge for a few days. I soon fell asleep soundly. Don't tell me, it is more effective than taking melatonin. If you have been suffering from internal heat, oral ulcers, or acid reflux after eating something heavy lately, it is probably because you are too angry. Stop drinking espresso, white wine, and spicy hot pot for a while, and replace your afternoon tea with fresh coconut water. My friend who works in sales had oral ulcers three times a month ago, but after switching to coconut water, she stopped having them in half a month. She even thought it was amazing. If you can't wake up in the spring, your face is so swollen that you can't put on the contact lenses from the day before, and your legs are so swollen that you can't zip up last year's boots, then it's water stagnation. Don't always slump on the sofa. Take 20 minutes a day to go out for two brisk walks, don't touch anything sweet and iced, and just drink warm barley tea. This is what my colleague used to do before, and he can wear the boots in less than a week.

I have also talked with practitioners in different places, and the adjustment ideas of different schools are actually quite different: Traditional doctors in India recommend that people with serious imbalances do Pachikama, which uses herbal medicine, essential oil massage, enemas and other methods to expel excess energy. The whole set takes less than half a month, and is suitable for people who have sufficient time and whose imbalance has lasted for a long time.； The improved Ayurveda in Europe and the United States is much simpler and prefers to incorporate rules into daily life without any complicated rituals. When eating cold salads, sprinkle some grated ginger, when eating spicy curry, add some coconut paste, cold ingredients with warm ingredients, and hot ingredients with cool ingredients. It is especially suitable for people like us who are too busy at work to think about health care.

Speaking of which, I have been using it for so many years. What I like most is that it never gives you any "perfect health template". It does not require you to be vegetarian or get up at five o'clock. It just teaches you to listen to your body's signals: close the windows when the wind is strong, pour some water on it when the fire is burning, and clear the drains when there is too much water. After all, it is just to get along well with your body. How can there be so many complicated rules.