Introducing Ayurveda
The word Ayurveda comes from Sanskrit and means – the knowledge of life and longevity. It is the oldest existing medical system to date, and if one is to search for its root, it would ultimately boil down to the Indian Subcontinent. India and Nepal are two of the most prominent countries that preach and practice Ayurveda. The birth of Ayurveda and its practices date back as long as 5000 years and more.
It’s believed that Dhanvantari, the Hindu god associated with Ayurveda and an avatar of Lord Vishnu incarnated himself as a Varanasi King who taught medicine to a group of physicians. One of these physicians was Sushruta. He discloses this story in his book – Sushruta Samhita, an important ancient text based on medicine and surgery.
Sushruta is known as the Father of Surgery. His work Sushruta Samhita is one of three books of the highly esteemed trilogy of Ayurvedic Medicines, Brihat- Trayi. The other two books of Brihat-Trayi are – Charaka Samhita, the predecessor, and the Astanga Hridaya, the successor. Charaka is one of the several prominent contributors to the field of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is not only a medicine system; it is a lifestyle. It is a way of living that promotes longevity. It focuses on the overall well-being of an individual. It focuses on striking a balance and emphasizes moderation. It is a system of medicine that has an enormous knowledge of nature-based medication and researches the relationship between the constitution of the human body and the elements in the universe that affect an individual.
Ayurveda breaks down the universe into five fundamental elements – Vayu (Air), Jala (Water), Aakash (ether), Prithvi (Earth), and Teja (Fire). It holds that the human body consists of – Dhatus (tissues), Malas ( waste), and Doshas (biomaterial).
Beliefs of Ayurveda
Ayurveda believes in the supremacy of mother nature in curing and preventive illness. But this is just not it. It also believes in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
It will not be wrong to say that Ayurveda has stood the test of time. Over the years, with advancements in modern sciences and medications, Ayurveda still stands strong. It highlights the inherent connection between human bodies and the universe or environment we live in.
A perfectly balanced human body is the key to a healthy mind, body, and soul. In a fast-paced life, environmental changes are inevitable. In contrast to the old times, the food we consume, the work we do, and the life we lead have undergone tremendous transformations.
Today, it is crucial to have a perfect balance of all the three-body, mind, and soul, to lead a
happy life free of illnesses. Ayurvedic science aims to balance these. It is not only curative but also preventive. It is a holistic system that calls for complete harmony inside-out.
Several individuals have turned to Ayurveda to find relief from chronic diseases after modern medications failed. In several cases, ayurvedic medicines are consumed parallelly with conventional treatment (post-consultation) as a part of complementary therapy.
Doshas: Subject of Prime Importance
Ayurveda places immense importance on Doshas. Doshas is a Sanskrit term that translates to – that which can cause problems. It literally translates to fault or defect. Doshas are three substances believed to be present in the human body. These are –
- Vata stands for air or space, equated to the nervous system
- Pitta stands for fire, representing the enzymes (metabolism)
- Kapha represents earth and water, corresponding to mucus.
It is of the opinion that these fundamental substances fluctuate in our body based on several factors like season and time of the day. A deviation in the composition of these from the natural constitution (known as Prakriti) may lead to disease.
Vata regulates the other two, and hence by balancing Vata, you can successfully balance all three doshas. Each individual has a unique composition of the Doshas. The predominance of any one or two out of the three doshas governs every individual.
Ayurvedic treatments aim at correcting the imbalances in Doshas through herbs, changes in lifestyle, massages, and practices such as meditation and yoga.
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Ayurveda holds that physical existence, mental existence, and personality are interdependent and have the ability to affect each other. It forms one of the fundamentals of Ayurveda.
Diagnosis in Ayurveda can take place in 8 ways. It takes place by checking Nadi (pulse), Mootra (urine), Mala (waste – stool), Jihva (tongue), Shabda (speech), Sparsha (touch), Druk (vision), or Aakruti (appearance). Treatment in Ayurveda places great emphasis on Dinacharya, a concept which means that natural cycles like the sleep-wake cycle and work cycle are of prime importance for good health.
Apart from this, personal hygiene, yoga, meditation, and an adequate diet are also vital. Ayurvedic medicines rely on plant-based products procured from mother nature. They are usually roots, barks, leaves, or seeds from plants. Additionally, it also makes use of aminal products, minerals, and alcoholic beverages (Madhya).
A few of the most used herbs in Ayurveda are Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Tulsi, Ajwain, Piperlongum, Gum Acacia, etc. These herbs have multiple properties that include anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, tranquilizing, sedating, anti-bacterial, analgesic, etc.
Abhyangam, Shirodhara, Kati Basti, Panchakarma, Kizhi, Ubtan, Padabhyangam, Shringara are a few of the many ayurvedic treatments and processes that assist in healing, curing, and preventing.
Benefits of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Products
- Ayurvedic products are 100% natural and organic.
- It finds its uses across generations and geography.
- They solve a broad range of problems like- skin, hair, pain relief, and health.
- Ayurveda is preventive and curative in nature.
- Ayurveda has no side effects.
- Ayurveda focuses on overall health and wellness.
- It detoxifies and cleanses the body.
- They may work slow but are beneficial in the long run.
- They effectively solve problems using a holistic approach.
