Ayurveda, a traditional holistic health care system, older than any other system of medicine, has been practiced in India for more than 5000 years. Ayurveda, recognized as alternative medicine now, represents the science of life and longevity originating in the Vedic traditions of India. Based on the principle of eternal life, this holistic health care system has a vast body of knowledge covering eight branches. Its major premise involves the symbiosis of mind, body and spirit. Any imbalance in this synthesis results in physical ailments. This ancient Indian medicine seeks to reestablish the harmony between the body and its habitat by creating the optimum health environment.
Ayurveda emphasizes prevention of disease, rejuvenation of our body systems, and extension of life span. The profound premise and promise of Ayurveda is that through certain practices, not only can we prevent heart disease and make our headaches go away, but we can also better understand ourselves and the world around us, live a long healthy life in balance and harmony, achieve our fullest potential, and express our true inner nature on a daily basis.
Over the centuries ayurveda has had a nurturing influence on ancient Chinese systems of medicine, Unani medicine, and the humoral medicine practiced by Hippocrates in Greece. The current knowledge about this ancient Indian medicine is primarily drawn from the Charaka Samhita (though there are earlier versions, Charaka Samhita in its present form is estimated to date from 1st century AD), Vagbhatta's Astanga Hridaya (approximately 500 AD), and the Susruta Samhita (the Susruta Samhita is believed to have originated in the last centuries BC, but the date of its present version is fixed by researchers at 7th century AD). These three classic texts describe the basic principles and theories from which this alternative medicine has evolved. They reflect an overwhelming wealth of clinical as well as surgical information, enriched further by later research, on the management of a multitude of diseases and ailments.
The entire science of ayurveda is based on the 'Five Great Elements' (Panchmahabhuta) theory. These five elements are earth (prithvi), water (jal), fire (agni or tej), air (vayu) and ether or space (akash). In popular tradition, the universe is understood to be made up of these elements. Ayurveda comprehends body, mind and spirit likewise and has specific methods for working on each. It divides the constitution of people into three humoral categories—Vata (ether/air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water/earth). Vata rules mental mobility. Pitta, or fire, governs digestion and assimilation on all levels from food to ideas. And kapha or water governs form and substance and is responsible for weight, cohesion and stability. Using these three types in combinations of two creates six more subtypes. A seventh subtype also exists, which is a combination of all the three categories.
Although the principles of Ayurvedic medicine have never been substantiated by contemporary medical science, and only a few rigorous studies can attest to its effect on specific diseases, certain Ayurvedic practices such as yoga are believed to increase strength and vitality. Moreover, Ayurvedic herbal preparations are currently being studied in many countries for their apparent therapeutic effects.
Working of Ayurveda :
Ayurveda views the human being is being comprised of five elements, space, air, fire, water, and earth. The five elements correspond to the five cognitive senses: hearing, touch, site, taste, and smell. As in Chinese medicine the vital force or the energy of the body is the main concern. In Ayurveda, the vital force is referred to as prana.
The three doshas:
Pitta, the force of heated energy associated with the sun, which controls digestion in biochemical processes
Kapha, the force of water and tides, which is influenced by the moon, which stabilizes and influences the fluid metabolism in the body.
Vata is linked to the wind and is the force, which controls movement and functioning of the nervous system.
Under normal conditions, these three forces are in balance and work together to promote a healthy body. Disease follows if these forces and not in balance.
The theory behind Ayurveda is that sickness is caused by an imbalance in one or more of the doshas. There are many things that can affect this balance, from dietary choices to the change of seasons. Stress at work or in one's family can throw off the harmony of the doshas as well. The result is the accumulation of toxicity in the body and mind.Once the causes of an illness are identified, measures can be taken by an individual, under the guidance of an Ayurvedic practitioner, to restore balance and to remove toxicity. Proponents say that when energy is balanced, the body's natural defenses strengthen, making it easier to prevent or recover from illness.
Ayurveda encompasses a range of treatments including medicinal herbs, changes in diet, meditation, massage, and yoga to maintain or restore health. The word Ayurveda is Sanskrit, meaning "science (or knowledge) of life." Perhaps the oldest continually practiced health-care system in the world (the tradition has been handed down from masters to pupils in India for more than 5,000 years), Ayurveda is rooted in the belief that health results from harmony between mind, body, and spirit. Ayurvedic practitioners in India receive state-recognized training on par with that of Western medical specialists.
Benefits :
Research has shown that individuals who practice Ayurvedic methods such as yoga are at decreased risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stress, all factors for heart disease. Studies have also shown yoga to be particularly helpful for musculoskeletal ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis.Ayurvedic herbal remedies are being investigated for a number of ailments including allergies, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, menstrual cramps, Parkinson's disease, and digestive disorders, including constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.
