laura dean bennett
staff writer
In recent years, Westerners have become increasingly familiar with Chinese medicine.
West Virginians, in particular, have long understood the value of medicinal plants in the Eastern medical tradition because of the market for medicinal plants that grow here, such as ginseng, goldenseal, cohosh, and ramps.
However, before Chinese medicine, there was Ayurveda, an 8,000-year-old medical system that originated in ancient India.
The word Ayurveda (eye-ur-vay-da) is of Sanskrit origin and means “wisdom of longevity.”
It is a complete roadmap to a balanced and healthy lifestyle and is still practiced around the world today as it provides solutions to modern lifestyle and dietary dilemmas.
As chronic diseases continue to rise around the world, Ayurveda is growing in popularity as more people seek answers and alternatives to the causes of our poor health.
Dr. Julie Hare has been exposed to many local patients and their health issues through her work at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital’s Rural Health Clinic.
She and Christy Lanier, owner and chef of Marlington cafe Dirt Bean, have teamed up to offer a series of Ayurveda-based dinners and discussions about this ancient tradition.
“Kristi and I are both educated in the core principles of Ayurveda and have received extensive treatment in the Ayurvedic medical system,” Hare said.
“We have both experienced the same deep positive impact that Ayurveda has had on our lives.
“When I tell people that Ayurveda saved my life, I’m not exaggerating,” Hare insisted.
The core of Ayurvedic practice is “proper diet” and “proper lifestyle.”
Ayurveda, like traditional Chinese medicine, uses herbs and a type of acupuncture.
We also employ regular detoxification methods as our most powerful tool.
However, none of these advanced approaches work well if a person is eating and living incorrectly.
There is an Ayurvedic maxim that says, “When the diet is wrong, medicines are useless, but when the diet is right, there is no need for medicines,” Hare continued.
“The purpose of our Ayurveda Night is to share some of this wisdom,” she said.
As we all know, reading about something and experiencing it firsthand are two different things.
Many of us believe that we have to spend a lot of money to eat healthy, but Hare disagrees.
“We hope to demonstrate that fallacy and bring deeper knowledge and awareness of how Ayurveda puts together a healthy diet,” she added.
Dinner will be held at DirtBean on 2nd Avenue in Marlington.
The meals are prepared by Lanier, and anyone who has eaten her cooking at the Dart Bean can tell you that Lanier knows her way around a kitchen.
“I’ve always served healthy, fresh food at Dirt Bean,” Lanier said.
“I have been incorporating Ayurvedic principles into my cooking for some time now, and I am happy to see that my customers are enjoying them as well.”
Lanier and Hare will host a total of three dinners, the first of which will be held on Saturday night, January 27th.
Mr. Ranier’s Ayurvedic-inspired meal will be served starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by an interactive discussion centered around specific Ayurvedic principles with Dr. Hare beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The first Ayurvedic dinner will offer a vegan dinner menu including allergy and gluten-free options, stewed root vegetables, barley oat biscuits with chutney, soup, dessert and tea.
The tasting portion is priced at $12. For a complete dinner, the cost will be $20.
The overall focus is on providing guests with delicious, healthy food and an evening of fun and learning.
“Ayurvedic principles are easy to understand, but sometimes they feel completely new,” Hare explained. “It just changed the way we looked at the world, food and health.
“Food is our most powerful tool in the pursuit of a long and healthy life and in the fight against disease,” she continued.
“Christi and I look forward to introducing Ayurveda to our guests. We look forward to introducing its principles to you. Food is truly our most precious medicine, so it is important ” she added.
Especially as we enter a new year, now may be a good time to find ways to prevent disease and live longer, healthier lives.
If you can do that with a healthier Ayurvedic-based diet, I say it will increase your appetite.
You can follow Dr. Julie Hare at AlleghenyIntegratedMedicine.com and Kristy Lanier/The DirtBean on Facebook.
