Ayurveda is the world's oldest system of natural healthcare,
originating over 5,000 years ago in India. It is universal in its application and is formally recognized by the World Health
Organization as a complete natural health care system.
1. What is Ayurveda
?
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, consists of two different words; Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and
Veda means knowledge. Thus it indicates 'The knowledge of Life'. Ayurveda is not only the science of diseases, but it also
deals with Life. The definition of Life is - The flow of consciousness. Life is known as 'The union of the mind, body and
spirit'. The science of life is that which makes life understood. It imparts the knowledge with regard to what substances,
properties and actions are promotive of life and what are not so. Here in Ayurveda, it is laid down the good and the
bad of life, and what is wholesome and what is unwholesome in relation to life as also the measure of life. Thus
the subject matter of Ayurveda is not only a physical body but the mind, body and spirit - the tripod - the Mann ; he
is the conscious agent and regarded as the subject matter of this science. Ayurveda gives us the formulas for living
a long life filled with joy. Ayurveda is not limited to the physical body but also deals with the mental, emotional
and spiritual aspects of life
2. About origin of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is a part of Vedas. Veda means pure state of knowledge. As a preventive science and medical system,
it is described thousands of years ago in the Rig-Veda (one part from the four fold of Vedas ). Veda dates back an estimated
5,000 years so Ayurveda is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world. Ayurveda has influenced many
other medical sciences. For this reason, Ayurveda is often referred to as the "Mother of all healing."
3. What are the basic principles of Ayurveda ?
Ayurveda is bestowed upon us by our ancestors,
who were eminent and wiser and having insight into our being. Basically Ayurveda is Health promotive - preventive -
curative and nutritive - all self contained.
The two principle objectives of Ayurveda are :
(a.) "Swasthyas swasthya
rakshanam" - To prolong life and promote perfect health ( add years to life and life to years )
(b.) "Aturasya vikar prashamanamcha"
- To completely eradicate the disease and dysfunction of the body.
Ayurveda takes the individual as whole and seeks
to re-establish harmony between all the constituents in the body. Perfect balance of the tripod - Mind, Body and Spirit means
perfect health.
4. What is the definition of health according to Ayurveda ?
Ayurveda has Holistic concept of Health. Disease free status of
the body does not mean health. Swastha (Health) means to be 'established in the self'.
The Ayurvedic view of healthy person
is :
Samadosha, samagnischa,
Samadhatumalkriyah,
Prasannatmendriyamanah,
Swastha iti abhidhiyate.
(Sushrut
Samhita, Sutrasthan, Chapter 15, Shloka 10)
"He whose doshas are in balance, appetite is good, all tissues of the body
and all natural urges are functioning properly, and whose mind, body and spirit (self) are cheerful or full of bliss, he is
a healthy person.
5. How does Ayurveda approach to diagnose and to treat the diseases ?
Ayurvedic approach to diagnose the illness is very systematic and scientific. The logical thoroughness and minuteness
of methods employed in Inquiry and Investigation of each and every factor or phenomenon of the patient concerning his habit,
constitution, illness and environment are the prime factors for the perfect diagnosis. Tridosha ( Vata, Pitta and Kapha )
are the three Bio-Energies, which governs the body. The concept of these three Bio-Energies is unique. Balance of Tridosha
means perfect health, and this is the basic principle of Ayurveda.The theory of Tridosha - three bio-energies is very similar
to concepts of immunology and stress. The Ayurvedic approach to Life-style (swasth-vritta) teaches us the practical rules
of behavior that prevent Tridosha being disturbed. Because every disturbance in the normal balance of Tridosha, results in
an illness. In Ayurveda, primary attention is being given to
re-establish or balancing the Tridosha. "Balance of Tridosha
is Life and imbalance means illness".
6. Approach to Life-style according to Ayurveda.
Health is greatly influenced by Life-Style (Swastha-vritta). According to Ayurveda, Life-style (the rules
and guidelines) is divided into three parts:
-- Dincharya (Diet and regimen for the daytime)
-- Ratricharya (Diet and
regimen for the night)
-- Ritucharya (Seasonal Dietary and regimen) - Sandhikal (diet instructions for the joint period
of two seasons)
One more thing that is very helpful for the knowledge of proper life-style 'Samsarjan kram' means specific
diet program after illness or after Panchkarma Treatments. For perfect health, long, diseases free body status - one
must follow these instructions.
7. How Tridosha works ?
Ayurveda describes each individual as a state of balance of the
three doshas, which governs different aspects of the body. Vata dosha controls the principle of self-transportation, Pitta
dosha controls internal processes such as digestion and metabolism, Kapha dosha encompasses our bodily protection, strength
and growth. Because no two people have the same combination of these three doshas, everyone is a unique individual and individualized
care and attention is needed for the treatment. When an imbalance occurs, proper diet and lifestyle changes can be implemented
to bring the doshas back in balance. In such a case, one may be advised for specific dosha-reducing / aggravating foods, activities
and medications or may even opt for Pancha Karma, an internal cleansing system of Ayurveda.
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