Tell me about Nadi Vigyan - Pulse Diagnosis
Author: Linda Sinden Date Posted:19 August 2019
If you are new to Maharishi Ayurveda you are likely to be surprised by the depth of information an Ayurvedic doctor or specialist can gain from feeling your pulse for a few minutes. It is a health and wellbeing consultation with a difference!
The knowledge of nadi vigyan - pulse diagnosis is drawn from Ayurveda, a healing tradition that is 5,000+ years old and provides textbooks and a body of knowledge that is truly amazing in its depth and volume.
With the visit of Dr Arora who is a 6th generation Ayurveda Doctor in early September, I thought you may like to know a little more about what happens when the pulse is taken. Having your pulse taken by Dr Arora is an experience not to be missed. His subtle diagnosis, settled awareness and astute recommendations are amazingly accurate. For example, during Dr Arora’s last visit to New Zealand he diagnosed a heart valve issue which was later confirmed by an echocardiogram with a cardiologist. The subtle art of pulse diagnosis has much to offer, both in health care and prevention.
This analysis of information is made possible through the unique diagnostic tool of nadi vigyan - the Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis. It is in the wave of your pulse that the Vaidya finds their most reliable source of information about your physiology and what is needed to restore and maintain balance.
The whole person
Vaidya’s (Ayurvedic doctors) consider Ayu - the field of life - and aim to balance the whole person through balance of the four components of life:
- The physical body
- The senses
- The mind and heart and their coordinated functioning
- The soul
You could say that the vaidya studies the whole field of life, individual and cosmic, not just the field of medicine. They aim to find out, for each person, what is good or bad in each of the four components of ayu (life span) and then to assess what would be helpful for restoring balance and wellbeing for the individual in terms of diet, lifestyle, daily and seasonal routine and behavior. Then the Vaiya provides practical recommendations and herbals as required for the client, to empower the individual to restore and maintain health and wellbeing.
About Pulse diagnosis
Through deep training in how to read the pulse along with experience of taking many pulses, the expert in Maharishi Ayurveda gains a deep understanding of the physical, mental and emotional aspects of healing and wellbeing.
The healing art or science of Pulse Diagnosis provides a deep connection of stillness or settled awareness between the physician and patient, which creates an experience of balance when the pulse is taken.
What happens?
The radial pulse is felt using the left wrist for a women and the right wrist for a man. Three fingers are placed gently over the radial artery at the wrist. The three fingers represent the three doshas, or organising principles of nature.
- The first finger feels Vata, the dosha responsible for movement and communication, space and air.
- The second finger feels Pitta, the dosha responsible for transformation through digestion, metabolism and heat. Pitta’s elements are fire and water.
- The third finger feels Kapha, the dosha responsible for structure and fluid balance, water and earth.
- There are 5 sub areas under each of the doshas called sub-doshas. This provides finer discrimination of balance and imbalance within each dosha.
Deeper levels
When the Vaidya feels the deeper levels of your pulse your birth body-type or doshic make-up (how much of air, space, fire, earth or water is in your original constitution) can be identified.
Then the vaidya considers the status of the seven types of body tissue in terms of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, ama (toxins) and ojas (the finest product of digestion that supports life), and the shrotas — the channels of the body that carry nutrients to the cells, or wastes out of the body.
Next, from the pulse the vaidya considers the state of your heart, mind and senses and how well coordinated they are with one another. All this information helps the vaidya identify where imbalance exists, and what the nature of that imbalance is.
In addition to your pulse the vaidya observes your face, your eyes, your irises and conjunctiva, the texture of your skin, your stance, movement and many other factors. Considering you in this holistic way is what makes the seemingly simple examination so comprehensive.
What next?
Based on the detailed information available the Vaidya then creates a personalised programme for you that may include dietary, lifestyle and seasonal recommendations with some herbal recommendations as required. As food is considered medicine in Ayurveda the Vaidya may also provide guidance about everyday foods and spices to favour in order to support balance.
Don’t be surprised if the Vaidya asks some targeted questions about your sleep, exercise or stress levels. The subtle and deep diagnostic methods of pulse analysis can target even behavioural choices that are contributing to your imbalance or discomfort.
What can be amazing for a person who is new to Maharishi Ayurveda is that small choices, such as drinking warm water every 30 minutes, or sitting to eat with full attention, or going to bed at a regular time can be precise and permanent solutions to chronic problems.
Join the Dr Arora 12 week Balance Programme
Dr Arora is visiting Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch beginning in September. If you live outside of New Zealand consider coming for a holiday and having a consultation. Programme cost is NZ$189.99. At each venue the programme includes:
- Introductory talk with Dr Arora open to everyone
- A personal consultation providing a personalised programme including dietary, lifestyle and herbal recommendations
- 2 week, 6 week and 10 week check-in via online conferencing
- Access to a private Facebook group with weekly posts of supportive information
Come join us by booking for a consultation
Auckland https://auckland-vaidya.youcanbook.me
Wellington https://wellington-vaidya.youcanbook.me/
Christchurch https://christchurch-vaidya.youcanbook.me/
We are here to support you in your journey to greater balance and wellbeing.
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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