Ayurveda Resource Guide Issue #3 (February 1993) Available free for a self-addressed stamped envelope or through electronic mail Paul E. Hoffman 2140 Shattuck Ave., Suite 2024 Berkeley, CA 94704 phoffman@well.sf.ca.us Greetings! Welcome to the third issue of the Ayurveda Resource Guide, a listing of all things ayurvedic. Being a young newsletter, it is much shorter than future issues due to lack of information on my part. I've found a few more items to add to the list, but I haven't gotten much in the way of responses from the outside world. I'm sure you will find large holes in the listings; those holes will hopefully fill up within the next few issues. The best way for the holes to fill up is for you to send me any information you have that you want to share. Also, please let me know of any typos or wrong information you find here. The Ayurveda Resource Guide is a source of sources. It lists the books, stores, magazine articles, practitioners, classes, workshops, events, and so on, that might be of interest to people who practice an ayurvedic lifestyle. I intend to update it every month initially, then every few months after that. However, I think I'm going to put out new editions of this newsletter less often unless I get more from you folks in the community. Most of the material (other than calendar listings) will remain in every issue. Issues of the Ayurveda Resource Guide are always free. To get the latest issue, simply send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address above. You may photocopy the entire issue to give to others if you wish. If you can get electronic mail from the Internet, send me email at the above address and I'll send you the text of the latest issue. If you also have access to news on the Internet, the news group "misc.health.alternative" has recently gotten off the ground, although there is not yet much discussion of ayurveda. In the coming months, I'll also try to set up an electronic mailing list or news group for discussion of ayurveda. I recognize that this list is heavily weighted towards ayurveda as taught by Dr. Vasant Lad. So far, that's what I'm most familiar with. In the future, I'll also list resources relating to Tibetan ayurveda and Maharishi ayurveda (as taught by Dr. Deepak Chopra). Books The following are the books I have read. There are, of course, dozens others, many from non-US publishers. Please feel free to send me listings and a short (approximately 50 words) review. Be sure to send all information, including the ISBN number (which is very important for ordering). Please note that the following reviews are my own opinions. I would love to run two or three short reviews of each book from different people. Please send in additional reviews for these books for possible inclusion in future issues. After the Baby's Birth: A Woman's Way to Wellness by Robin Lim, Celestial Arts, 1991, ??? pages, ISBN 0-89087-590-1. Chapter 15 of this book on post-partum care for both the mother and child is an excellent description of ayurveda as it applies to childbirth. It includes a good description of ayurvedic herbs for this time. I have only read this one chapter, but the book came well-recommended to me by a friend. Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing by Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, 1985, 175 pages, ISBN 0-914955-00-4. This best-selling short tome describes both the spirituality and practice of ayurvedic health. The writing is concise and direct, and the illustrations are excellent. It is highly recommended as a first book that exposes a bit of everything and gives a good feel for the breadth of ayurveda. The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar with Urmila Desai, Lotus Press, 1990, 351 pages, ISBN 0-914955-06-3. As a non-cook, I really appreciated the recipes here. The introductory material is wonderful, and the ayurvedic description of common foods very helpful. One appendix is an exhaustive (if not a bit inconsistent) list of VPK recommendations for 370 foods and herbs. If your practice of ayurveda is mostly just cooking, this book may be all you need. Ayurvedic Healing by David Frawley, Morson Publishing, 1989, 368 pages, ISBN 1-878-423-00-2. This book seems more aimed at ayurvedic practitioners than at individuals. The organization and presentation are somewhat jumbled, but the book goes into more depth in its discussion of disease and rejuvenation than other books. A very dense medical book that may primarily interest professionals. Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra, Harmony Books, 1990, 328 pages, ISBN 0-517-58421-2. An easy introduction to ayurveda. I read it before Frawley's Ayurvedic Healing, and it gave me the framework for basic understanding of Frawley's book and Lad's workshop. Chopra has written other books on ayurveda that I haven't read yet. (Reviewed by Ellen Wheeler.) Prakruti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution by Robert Svoboda, Geocom (distributed by Lotus Light), 1989, 206 pages, ISBN 0-945669-00-3. A well-rounded guide to ayurveda for the Western mind. I found this to be more intuitive and less rule-oriented than other introductory books, and the writing style is light and easy. Also, there is more on spirit and lifestyle, less on nutrition, making it a great book for those who want to go beyond the basic lifestyle changes. The Yoga of Herbs by David Frawley and Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, 1988, 251 pages, ISBN 0-941524-24-8. An in-depth reference of herbs used in ayurveda. The descriptions of preparation and ingestion methods is much more complete than in other books. This book will be particularly useful to people with a working medical vocabulary, and it should be a part of the reference collection of all serious practitioners. Stores and Mail Order There are many stores and mail order houses that carry ayurvedic herbs, foods, books, and so on. Some are mail order, some walk-in, others both. I would like to give about 30 words about what the store carries and any specialties that they have. Please note that the few listings in this issue are only from my personal experience: I'm sure there are at least ten times as many out there. Note that many Indian stores have some of the foods and spices commonly used in ayurveda, even if they say they don't. For example, most Indian stores have mung dal and basmati rice, the main ingredients for the staple food kichiree (also called kichidee). Most of these stores also have hard-to-find spices such as asafotida. Ayurvedic Institute, PO Box 23445, Albuquerque, NM, 87192; (505) 291-9698. Original tinctures, oils, herbal products, cassettes of Dr. Vasant Lad, and books. Bazaar of India, 1810 University Ave., Berkeley, CA, 94704; (510) 548-4110. Many ayurvedic herbs and oils, as well as a wide selection of Indian foods. EverGreen Herbal, PO Box 1445, Placerville, CA, 95667; (916) 626-9288. Wide variety of ayurvedic herbal products and spices, Chinese patent formulas, and books. Mind/Body Connection, 575 Byron Street, Palo Alto, CA, 94301; (415) 853-8332. Herbs, teas, books, oils, and music aimed at Maharishi ayurveda. Also sponsors lectures. Articles Ayurveda pops up in magazines occasionally. Please keep an eye out for articles of interest. I think this list should also include articles that are up to two years old. Practitioners This one is a bit trickier than the other listings. Just as anyone can have an ayurvedic lifestyle, anyone can call themselves an ayurvedic practitioner. Many of us seek guidance from others who are more thoroughly versed in ayurveda, yet finding a practitioner is often difficult. This list will contain names, addresses, and phone numbers for anyone calling themselves a practitioner. It will also contain a 20 word summary of their work. For many reasons, I will only accept listings from the practitioners themselves, not from their clients. If you have a practitioner you like, please be sure to tell her/him about the Ayurveda Resource Guide. Janhavi Nancy Morton, 114 Leland Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, (707) 523-8470. A graduate of the Ayurvedic Institute of Albuguerque (1988), Janhavi has twenty years of study and experience in holistic health, nutrition, and herbology. She offers private consultations and classes. Classes, Workshops, and Events This will list any scheduled events of interest to the ayurvedic community. Of course, these will include classes and workshops in ayurvedic lifestyle and healing. In addition, it will include events such as lectures, on-going classes, and social gatherings. February 1993 Santa Rosa, CA. February 27, introduction to ayurveda by Janhavi Nancy Morton. (707) 523-8470. March 1993 Gilroy, CA. March 18-21, workshop by Vasant Lad at Mount Madonna Center. (408) 847-0406. Santa Rosa, CA. March 27, advanced ayurveda by Janhavi Nancy Morton. (707) 523-8470. On-going Albuquerque, NM. Full time courses taught by Vasant Lad October through May; also weekend intensives. The Ayurvedic Institute, PO Box 23445, Albuquerque, NM, 87192; (505) 291-9698. Placerville, CA and Sacramento, CA. 50 hour (3 month) course in ayurveda and herbology. Candis Cantin Packard, PO Box 1445, Placerville, CA, 95667; (916) 626-9288. Santa Rosa, CA. 7 part course in ayurveda. Janhavi Nancy Morton, 114 Leland Street, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404; (707) 523-8470. Miscellaneous A catch-all for anything ayurvedic that doesn't fit in one of the above lists. For example, I will hopefully have more information in the next issue about ayurvedic discussions on the computer networks. Correspondence courses in ayurvedic healing and Vedic astrology (Jyotish) created by David Frawley are available from the American Institute of Vedic Studies, PO Box 8357, Santa Fe, NM, 87504; (505) 983-9385. Each course is $225. Please Share The Ayurveda Resource Guide can only be complete if you help by sending in anything you see missing. Even a reference to a single article would be appreciated by all readers. Because ayurveda is not yet widely practiced in the US, many people find it difficult to get enough information on it. Also, if you have ideas for other headings you would like to see in the Ayurveda Resource Guide, please send them in. Of course, if you also have information to include under that heading, you should certainly send that in as well.