While Ayurveda has had a presence on Kaua'i for about a year, through the Kaua'i Center for Holistic Medicine, it is just beginning to surface on O'ahu.

A shop called India Emporium, at 2239 S. King St., owned by holistic healer Dr. Raj Kumar, a clinical psychologist, offers a selection of Ayurvedic herbs, massage oils and skin products, as well as books on the ancient practice.

Ayurveda combines natural therapies with a personalized approach to the treatment of disease, as Kumar explains it. It focuses equally on the health of body, mind and spirit.

Ayurvedic practitioners begin working with patients by identifying their metabolic type, Kumar said. "Vata is the multitasker who is always rushing around, pitta is a sharp person who is often moody and has oily skin, and kapha is someone who may move more slowly, at their own pace."

Ayurvedic medicine employs yoga, exercise, meditation, massage, herbal tonics and sweat baths. Among the Ayurvedic herbs stocked at India Emporium: chyan prash, ashwagandha, ginger, gotu kola, guggul and turmeric. Kumar said he researches the companies selling the herbs to make sure there is no lead in the products he sells.

Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar, who earned a doctor of medicine degree in India in Ayurvedic medicine, runs the Kaua'i Center for Holistic Medicine in Kapa'a, where he also teaches Ayurvedic medicine to other health professionals.

In addition, Kshirsagar offers workshops at the Pan Pacific Cultural Center in Manoa. The Manoa workshops, which began in September, attracted 17 students. He also conducts a more extensive series of classes on Maui, where he has 17 students, and Kaua'i, where his students number 18. (For information, call the Kapa'a clinic at (808) 823-0994.)

A ONE-STOP INDIA SHOP

In addition to focusing on holistic health, Kumar's India Emporium is sort of a one-stop shop for imports from India. It carries yoga accessories and meditation products, home décor, Indian CDs and movies, and hard-to-find food products such as ghee (clarified butter) and saffron.

Just as Indian clothing is making a fashion comeback, India Emporium has racks of imported clothing.

There are the classic white-on-white embroidered tunics as well as embellished and patchwork skirts, tunics, shirts and camisoles with a hippie-chic vibe. One eye-catching cami is white cotton with a smattering of embroidered flowers, laced from waist to decollete.

There are also some kitschy clothes: We spotted a Santa vest made entirely of sequins.