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What is Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient holistic medicine that has been practiced in India for more than 6,000 years. In the Sanskrit language “Ayur” means life and “Veda” means knowledge. Literally it means “The Science of Life. Ayurveda is a natural healing and preventative system that offers its wisdom and instruments to experience wellness, and true long term health. Ayurveda is the first holistic system that integrates the body, mind and spirit.
Ayurveda states that all human beings are made of the 5 elements: air, space, fire, water and earth in varying proportions, which are defined in 3 categories called Doshas or bio-elements
Vata is the energy of movement, Pitta is the energy of digestion or metabolism and Kapha is the energy of lubrication and structure. Every person has the qualities of Vata, Pitta and Kapha but one of the three doshas predominates in each person and determines one's constitution or mind-body type. The other dosha is secondary and the third one is the least prominent. The first step in the method of diagnosis in Ayurvedic form of holistic medicine is to determine the constitution of the person or the “pakruti”.
According to Ayurveda, our health exists where there is a balance between the three doshas and the causes of disease is viewed as an imbalance due to an excess or deficiency of Vata, Pitta or Kapha. Diseases also can be caused by accumulation of toxins.
Ayurvedic treatments include a guided balanced diet, panchakarma cleanse programs (a unique detox therapy), rejuvenation massages, ayurvedic massages with herbal oils that focus on specific pressure points of the body (marma), ayurvedic therapies, pranayama (breathing exercises), guided meditation and yoga exercises.
The Ayurvedic principle is the prevention and cure of diseases, the protection of health, and the promotion of longevity. Ayurveda does not focus on curing the symptoms of the disease but rather finding the root of the disease.
Modern medicine treats every individual by grouping them inside a category and prescribing a lifestyle or medication based on that group. In Ayurveda there is no “one diet” or “one lifestyle” that fits all. Currently, the interest and acceptance of this wonderful science of life grows around the world because it offers solutions to the problematic factors of the western medicine.
“The Ayurvedic principle defines every individual person as unique, and treats them accordingly, with a unique diet and lifestyle. It focuses on preventing disease, or treating the cause of disease, rather than treating the symptoms.”
HOW IS AYURVEDA DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SYSTEMS OF MEDICINE?
Ayurveda treats the root causing the disease.
Medicines used by Ayurveda are free from side effects.
Body and mind are always together. According to Ayurveda diseases are not considered as exclusively psychic or somatic.
Ayurvedic treatments for the mind may cure the body from diseases.
Ayurveda focuses on providing specific advice and guidance on how to maintain physical and emotional health.
Ayurveda medicine is not a substitute for Western medicine.
Ayurveda is developed from the roots of nature.
The nature of Ayurveda is prevention rather than traditional medicine.
In Ayurveda a balanced diet, proper exercises, massages, adequate lifestyle help to maintain the health of human beings therefore, there is no need for other medicines.
Yoga is an integral part of Ayurveda.