Congratulations! You have scheduled your first Ayurvedic consultation, or are considering making an appointment. If you feel apprehensive about your first consultation, you are not alone. Many people feel the exact same way just because they don’t know what to expect.
Let’s face it; you might not know someone who has had an Ayurvedic consultation before to discuss what one is like. You may have questions such as; will it be similar to a western doctor’s visit? Do I need to bring anything? Do I need to understand what Ayurveda is? The answer to these questions is no. So what should you expect?
And by this I mean, it’s in the details you write on your client intake form, which is a very important part of your first visit. It gives your Ayurvedic Professional an idea of what you are all about, and how they can help you. Information such as what dosha balance you were born with (your prakriti) as well as your current doshic imbalance (your vikruti) is derived in part from the details you provide in this form.
Be prepared to not only provide current information, such as what medication and herbs you are taking but also questions about what you were like as a child. Don’t worry about giving too many details. Ayurveda is all about the details, and how those details fit together to paint a picture of your total health and well-being.
Try to relax while filling out your form. There are no good or bad answers.
Analyzing your tongue is just one of the many diagnostic tools that an Ayurvedic Professional may use. Other tools may include taking the pulse and physical observation.
Should you really concentrate on cleaning your tongue before a visit? No, please don’t bother. Stick to your normal oral hygiene routine. They need to see what your tongue looks like normally.
Your Ayurvedic Professional is going to check the shape of your tongue, the color of it if there is a coating and if so, what the color is. These are only a few of the things that they check for. Your tongue can give us an idea of your overall health and indicate any imbalances.
Will they check the pulse like in the western medical system? Not exactly. An Ayurvedic professional will place the four fingers of both of his or her hands onto each of your wrists. Diagnosis will measure your prakriti and vikruti and may reveal imbalances within the organs or body systems.
One way you can help your Ayurvedic Professional is by making sure you are relaxed. You may close your eyes and simply sit while your pulse is being read.
Does it matter if your Ayurvedic Professional did not check your pulse? Not really as pulse diagnosis is just one of the many diagnostic tools available to your Ayurvedic Professional.
Yes, I know everything about your health is personal, but your Ayurvedic Professional may ask you other questions too. Be prepared to answer questions about your current relationships, your daily routine and lifestyle, and the significant events of your life.
Ayurveda does not separate mind from body. All life’s twists and turns may have an effect on your current health. Please share as much information that you feel may be pertinent or helpful. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing personal information with your Ayurvedic Professional that is perfectly okay too.
Your first appointment may be a longer visit so that your whole health and person are taken into consideration. Alternatively, your Ayurvedic Professional may request an additional visit or a series of visits. They will analyze everything that you have given them, discuss their findings with you and come up with a detailed treatment plan. Your plan could include herbal, lifestyle, and dietary recommendations as well as body treatments and cleansing procedures.
Your Ayurvedic Professional may like to monitor your progress and make adjustments along the way.
Even if you are perfectly healthy and not showing any imbalances, they may request that you come back to see them once a year, with every season change or whichever schedule they feel would be best for you. Ayurveda is very good at identifying imbalances in the body before they lead to health problems so it’s a good idea to check in with a visit periodically.
Whether you have only one bothersome symptom or have been suffering for quite a while with several, please do share your experience. Remember that most Ayurveda protocols involve lifestyle and diet changes that take time for most people to implement. Every small step you take will move you forward on your healing path. In time, you will look back and see how far you’ve come. Make one change at a time and the changes will last.
Lastly, I would be amiss not to stress that all Ayurveda suggestions and protocols, including taking herbs or any medical changes should be disclosed and discussed fully with your medical doctor.
Now that you know a few of the things that could happen at your Ayurveda consultation, I hope you feel a bit better about your first visit or scheduling one. Remember that you also have the option of doing a consultation via the phone or Skype. This is a great option if you do not have an Ayurvedic Professional in your local area.
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