Ayurveda- A Complete Science of Life
Welcome to read about the most ancient and traditional
science on one of the most modern systems, the Internet. How
can this ancient system of health care be relevant to people
of today, when technological advances have radically altered
our lifestyles, our environment and our medicine?
The principles of Ayurveda are an invaluable link to
understanding, in detail, naturally healthy living. People
everywhere are realizing the importance and benefits of
taking personal responsibility for one's own well being,
making Ayurveda the perfect system of health knowledge for
today's world.
Ayurveda is a science of life so to know more about
it, we must know what is life? Life according to Ayurveda is
a combination of senses, mind, body and soul. So it is clear
from this definition of life that Ayurveda is not only
limited to body or physical symptoms but also gives a
comprehensive knowledge about spiritual, mental and social
health.
The words like soul and spirituality might sound
outdated or create a negative thinking in some of you as
they have no place in modern science. As soon as we hear
about these topics, we become uncomfortable. Actually, I
don't feel that it is our fault. No one has ever spoken
about these things to us. We are always trapped in the
attractions of outer material world to become happy and
peaceful.
The modern society, education, culture and the
television- everything speaks about materialism. If this was
everything why is it so that most of us are unhappy. There is
unrest, anxiety, mental tension, fighting and terror every
where despite best efforts being made to stop them. This is
because some part of our body is not being nourished
properly.
Be open minded and try to understand.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda literally means "science of life and
longevity." and is considered to be the traditional system
of medicine of India.
Ayurveda is a science in the sense that it is a
complete system. It is a qualitative, holistic science of
health and longevity, a philosophy and system of healing the
whole person, body and mind.
Historians have not pin-pointed the exact time Ayurveda
came into being. Most agree that Ayurvedic classical texts
were written in India between 3,500 and 5,000 years ago.At
this time, philosophy and medicine were not separated.
Therefore, philosophical views have strongly influenced the
Ayurvedic way of thinking.
What is unique about Ayurveda ?
There are several aspects to Ayurveda that are quite
unique:
Ayurveda offers reference points for managing
treatment decisions specific to each case. Ayurvedic theory
is profoundly useful in analyzing individual patient
constitution and understanding variations in disease
manifestation.
The Ayurvedic framework can be used to structure
working models of the unique state of each patient, and to
project a vision or goal for a whole state of health, again
unique to each case.
Ayurveda offers specific recommendations to each
individual on lifestyle, diet, exercise and yoga, herbal
therapy, and even spiritual practices to restore and
maintain balance in body and mind. Ayurveda sees a strong
connection between the mind and the body, a huge amount of
information is available regarding this relationship.
This understanding that we are all unique
individuals enables Ayurveda to address not only specific
health concerns but also offers explanation as to why one
person responds differently than another.
Physiology of Ayurveda
All matter is thought to he composed of five basic
elements ( panchamahabhutas ) which exhibit the properties
of earth (prithvi), water (jala), fire (tejas), wind (vayu)
and space (akasha). These elements do not exist in isolated
forms, but always in a combination, in which one or more
elements dominate. According to Ayurveda, the human body is
composed of derivatives of the five basic elements, in the
form of three humors(dosha - 3 ), tissues (dhatus -7 ) and
waste products (malas-3 ).
Disease Process(Pathology) in Ayurveda
Under normal conditions, the doshas, dhatus and
malas correspond to certain standards regarding their
quantity, quality and function. However, this situation is
not static, and due to several endogenous and exogenous
factors, the doshas may become unbalanced, resulting in
disease. Every disease is related to an imbalance of the
doshas. Other coherent factors can be: the disturbance of
the biological factors (agnis), the formation and
accumulation of undigested nutrients (ama), obstruction of
the body channels (shrotorodha), and a disturbed
assimilation in the tissues.
Disease Management(Pharmacology and Treatment) in Ayurveda
There are four main classifications of management
of disease in Ayurveda: shodan, or cleansing; shaman or
palliation; rasayana, or rejuvenation; and satvajaya, or
mental hygiene.
Ayurveda gives us a model to look at each individual as a
unique makeup of the three doshas (Prakruti) and thereby
design treatment protocols that specifically address a
persons health challenges. When any of the doshas ( Vata,
Pitta or Kapha ) become imbalance, Ayurveda will suggest
specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the
individual in reducing or increasing the doshas that has
become imbalance.
The drugs used in Ayurveda are made by several
processes from vegetable and mineral raw materials. Mostly
plant alkaloids are the active ingredients. Obviously
barring some chemical changes it is mostly natural
deviates.
If toxins in the body are abundant, then a cleansing
process known as "Pancha Karma" is recommended to eliminate
these unwanted toxins.This "panchkarma" or Five internal
cleansing methods,is a most profound therapy in Ayurveda.
We hope that you will continue to explore Ayurveda
to enhance your health and to gain further insights into
this miracle we call life.
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