About Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the knowledge or science of Life. Ayur means Life and Veda means science. This science has existed for over 3000 years.
The main aim of Ayurveda is preservation of health in healthy people and curing of diseases in people with ailments.
Ayurveda is a science of natural medicine. It teaches us how to practice natural Living. It puts into practice the principles of 'Loka Purusha Samya' - We, the human beings are miniature replicas of Universe around us. Just as the powers of elements wind, fire and water in the environment affect the Universe, they function similarly at biological level in our bodies. Just as fire can burn us, extreme fire in the body can cause damage to internal organs. By direct observation of Nature within us we can understand how to deal with our bodies.
Ayurveda is a science of self-healing. It is more important to do for ourselves than for others to do for us. Just as our actions are responsible for bringing on illness to our body we should be equally responsible to take steps to eliminate the illness. According to Ayurveda, how we live everyday has a tremendous impact on our health and well-being rather than taking care of the body once in a while by visiting a doctor. We cannot expect to get well through Natural healing methods if we are not living in harmony with Nature. Ayurveda provides treatments that includes diet and lifestyle guidance , herbs, cleansing treatments or Panchakarma but puts great importance on daily regimen of diet and lifestyle.
Ayurveda is a holistic and a spiritual science that takes into consideration body, mind and soul when treating a person. Body can be treated at physical level but if at emotional level we are disturbed we cannot truly heal ourselves. The aim of all Ayurvedic treatments is to go to root cause of disease and not just treat effects of disease. By balancing the life force within us is the basis of Ayurvedic treatment. This is done through guidance with diet and lifestyle, herbs and other natural treatments.
Ayurveda proposes that every living and non-living Being on this Universe is a Unique combination of five elements called Panchamahabhutas- Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether. Our bodies are also composed of these elements in various degrees. There are three physiological temperaments or principles known as Tridosha, by means of which all the bodily functions are regulated. These are Vata from Air and Ether, Pitta from Fire and Kapha from Earth and Water. Health evaluation for each person is based on doshas in a person, his age, his strength to digest food and if disease exists, then, the strength of causes of disease and the duration of causes. Therefore, treatment for each is customized to a person's need. This aspect is unique to Ayurveda as compared to Modern medicine.
Following is definition of Ayurveda:
"Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam"
"Aturasya vikar prashamanam"
- To prolong life and promote perfect health ( add years to life and life to years )
- To completely eradicate the disease and dysfunction of the body.
I hope you are well convinced of the merits of this divine science and may it guide your life.
Namaste,
Nina