Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian science of healthy living. In fact, Ayurveda is more a philosophy and a lifestyle than a branch of medicine. Unlike other alternate therapies, Ayurveda is preventive in nature.

What Is Ayurveda?

The word Ayurveda originates from the Sanskrit words ‘Ayur’ and ‘veda’ meaning ‘Knowledge of life’. Ayurveda thus teaches important skills of living that help to keep us healthy. Ayurveda has its origins in the ancient Indian Vedic texts that are more than 5000 years old. The Vedas are the world’s oldest available classics. They have detailed information and knowledge about every aspect of life from town planning to philosophy to spirituality and healthy living.

Ayurveda thus is about healthy living. It is a way of life. It is not a method of curing the ill or treating sickness. It is more about preventing disease of the body and enhancing the quality of life. Ayurveda aims to teach its followers how to maintain harmony and balance between mind and body. A non-invasive technique, it does not use any external aids or drugs. A balanced diet, herbal remedies, gentle exercise and physical therapies are the different methods with which Ayurveda aims to achieve healthy living.

Basics Of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a traditional system of healing that aims to balance the energies of the mind, body, senses and soul. If one follows the Ayurvedic way of life, the physical, mental and spiritual aspects are all in sync and well balanced. When we keep late nights and forego sleep, eat preserved or stale food and indulge in mindless activities imbalances are caused. These result in toxins building up in our body and causing a myriad of health problems.

The Body, Senses & Mind

Humans tend to identify themselves with their bodies. Yes there is far more to us than what meets the eye. Our bodies too are more than just skin and bones. The human body performs colossal feats every single day. It contains 206 bones that are five times stronger than steel of equal weight. The skin is waterproof, bacteria resistant and self-rejuvenating. It has over 3 million pores to help regulate body temperature. The lungs have over 300 million air sacs. To help keep our bodies running in top order we must look after them.

Ayurveda recognizes 10 senses. 5 are the feeling senses or perceptual senses: taste, smell, sight, hearing and touch. The other 5 are the doing senses or the working senses: feet or mobility, hands or manipulation, voice or speech, genitals or reproduction and anus or excretory. All 10 senses work together in harmony to enable us to carry out our daily functions.

The mind is the master 11^th sense and controls and regulates all other senses. The mind and emotions have a direct impact on the body. Modern science has established that people with a positive outlook in life tend to lead healthier and more productive lives than pessimists.

The Atma or Soul

Ayurveda also believes that the physical body is just a manifestation of the soul. Every living being has a soul with prana or life force cannot exist. The ‘Gita’, which is the holy book of Hindus, propounds that we exist only as souls. Life and death are in fact the same thing because it is the body which is living or dying. The soul is permanent. If one’s soul is alive one cannot die. And if one cannot die then how can one live? In a complex narrative to Arjuna, Lord Krishna gives out the philosophical discourse, which is the very foundation of Hindu religion and Ayurveda – the soul is true being. The body is only a physical manifestation of the soul and therefore not as important.

Principles Of Ayurveda

• An individual is made up of five primary elements: space or ether, air, water, fire and earth. These elements when present in the environment influence us as well.
   

• Elements combine with each other to produce various physiological factors.
   

• Ether or space and air combine to form the Vata dosha. Vata governs movement. It controls the nerve impulses, respiration, circulation and excretion.
   

• Fire and water combine to form the Pitta dosha. Pitta governs metabolism and the process of transformation. The process of digestion by which our body transforms food into nutrients is a function of Pitta.
   

• Water and earth combine to form Kapha dosha. Kapha governs growth and protection.

Humans are made up of a unique blend of the three doshas. However, each of the three doshas is present in every individual in different ratios. This accounts for the difference in human physical make ups.

Because individuals are made up of a combination of the three doshas, Ayurveda designs treatments based on the presence of the doshas in the body. Accumulation of any of the doshas can lead to imbalances that affect bodily functions. Ayurveda then prescribes lifestyle and dietary changes that will help restore balance by reducing the excessive dosha. Herbal supplements are often used to restore the balance quickly and alleviate any pain or suffering.

Ayurveda also prescribes the Pancha Karma healing process if the toxins in the body have become too high. Pancha karma is a process of elimination whereby the body is cleansed of all toxins. It is generally recommended that Pancha Karma should be performed at the beginning of a new season. It is also performed before the start of any Ayurvedic treatment to maximize the benefit of the herbal supplements.

Therapeutic vomiting to cleanse the stomach, purgation to clear the intestine, enema to clear the colon and nasal drops to clear the head and sinus are all ways to eliminate toxins used in the Pancha Karma process. Warm oil massage and sweat therapies are also used.

The Pancha Karma approach is an excellent way to rid the body of all toxins because it does not use any outside elements or addictive ingredients. In addition, it does not cause any harm to the body or underlying tissues at all. It is essential to keep in mind that a special graded diet must be followed after this cleansing process to allow the body to rejuvenate and recover.

Ayurveda Works

Thus, Ayurveda is a healthy living style that not only explains the functions of the mind, body, senses and the soul but also successfully explains why the human race is so diverse. In addition, it promotes a healthy lifestyle to prevent disease and also provides relief therapies for the sick. It is hardly any wonder then that Ayurveda is fast becoming the medical treatment of choice world over!