Ayurveda, the ‘Science of life’
‘Ayurveda’ is generally understood as ‘Science of life’ translating ‘Ayuh (r)’as life and ‘Veda’ as science. Ayurveda is an ancient system of life and also the oldest surviving medical system in the world. Dating back almost 5000 years, it is also considered to be an ancient science of healing that enhances longevity. It has evolved from the quest to have a happy life, through a deep understanding of creation and its maintenance, perceived and conceived by the rishis or seers of ancient India. Ayurveda emphasizes upon life in general with bit more emphasis on human life.
Its influence can be found in many ancient traditional methods of healing including Tibetan, Greek, and Chinese medicines thus making it the ‘mother of healing.’
The fundamentals on which the Ayurvedic system is based are essentially true for all ages and so can be easily adopted time after time, century after century. The philosophy of Ayurveda teaches a series of conceptual systems characterized by balance and disorder, health and illness. It teaches that a person’s mental, emotional and spiritual being are all interconnected and any kind of imbalance between them results in health disorder and diseases. Therefore, to be healthy, harmony must exist between the purpose for healing, thoughts, feelings and physical action.
Health and disease are defined in a very special way in Ayurveda. Ayurveda’s central tenant is that life is a manifestation of mind, body, soul and spirit. Body and mind are prone to suffering while the spirit is free of any such trappings of life. Thus, to remain healthy and happy, efforts are required to be made in the direction of maintaining harmony among all these elements and only then can one get closer to the goal of longevity and disease-free life.
Ayurvedic science is not merely a traditional Indian form of medicine but a perennial naturopathic system of healthcare that has survived the test of time as well as onslaught of modern science and methods of treatments. Based on wisdom acquired through the centuries, the main aim of Ayurvedic science is to achieve perfect health by creating an equilibrium of perfect harmony between human body and the environment its habitats.
Ayurveda is also known as the science of living a healthy and illness free life. It is built on the premise that in olden days, man used to live close to nature and whenever he got exposed to some disease, he used to cure himself using resources and material provided by the Mother Nature. It therefore would not be wrong to say that Ayurveda charts out a health patter based on nature and its natural resources.
The Vedic philosophy believes that human beings are all a part of nature. Just as animals and plants are interdependent on each other to create balance within their beings, there is a concurrent and inherent connection between the universe and human beings. The complex world that the human beings reside in, is perpetually exposed to environmental changes. Any amount of change in weather, lifestyle, diet, work, emotions and relationships can easily tip the balance and negatively influence an individual's state of mind, body and soul.
Ayurveda calls for a complete harmony of human body with the elements of nature and the surrounding environment for a stress free and healthy life. The Ayurvedic science does not merely deal with medical science but its scope goes much beyond the universe of the conventional science. It also includes factors like herbal medicine, body works, and surgery apart from social, psychological, ethical, spiritual and intellectual life of human beings.
Ayurveda, the ‘Science of life’
Ayurveda is a holistic Indian system of medicine that uses a constitutional model. It works to provide a flexible guidance to attain a state of positive health. Its treatment and techniques are also flexible for people with health challenges.
Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit root words: Ayu, which means Life, and Veda, which means the Knowledge. Thus, it would be safe to call Ayurveda as the ‘Science of life’ more than a mere system of treating an illness.
The ancient Rishis of truth, discovered truth by means of religious practices & disciplines. Through intensive meditation, they manifested truth in their daily lives. Ayurvedic system of health is conversance of practical, philosophical & religious experiences of the great sages. The historical evidence of Ayurveda can be found in ancient books of wisdom known as the Vedas. Atharva Veda, that is known to have been written over 10,000 years ago, describes Ayurveda as a system that helps maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual back into equilibrium with their true self.
Ayurveda is based on the principles of three Doshas or the three basic energy types which are further classified as Vata, Pitta & Kapha. According to Ayurveda, these Doshas or energies can be found in everyone and everything thus making them the essential building blocks of the material world. All the three Doshas combine to create different climates, different foods, different species, and even different individuals within the same species and perform different physiological functions in every individual body. In fact, the particular ratio of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha within each of us has a significant influence on our individual physical, mental, and emotional character traits.
Here’s explaining you the three Doshas and the different functions they perform within the body.
Vata is predominantly composed of the space and air elements. It is the energy that is linked to creativity & flexibility and controls bodily functions associated with motion, including blood circulation, breathing, blinking, tissue movement, cellular mobility, heartbeat and the communication between mind and the nervous system. When an imbalance of Vata dosha occurs in the body, it can produce fear and anxiety.
Pitta is principally made up of the fire and water elements and is an amalgamation of the hot, sharp, light, liquid, oily, and subtle qualities. Pitta is neither mobile nor stable, but spreads. It controls the body’s metabolic systems including digestion, absorption, nutrition, and your body’s temperature. When in balance, it lends contentment & intelligence and its imbalance can cause ulcers and anger.
Kapha is composed primarily of the earth and water elements. It is the energy that lends structure and solidity to all things and provides the cohesiveness needed to maintain a particular form. It controls growth in body and provides water to all parts of the body. As a result, it hydrates all cells and systems, lubricates the joints, moisturizes the skin, maintains immunity and protects the tissues. When in balance, it is expressed as love and forgiveness; and when it goes out of balance it can lead to feelings of insecurity & envy.
Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is made up of five the basic elements. These elements are classified as earth (Prithvi), water (Jala), fire (Agni), wind (Vayu) & space or ether (Akash). Collectively these five basic elements are known as Panchamahabhutas.
Since, Ayurveda believes that the components and functioning of the nature is similar to the functioning of human body, the concept of Panchamahabhutas is considered to be the foundation of Ayurveda and also pivotal to the understanding of the functioning and movement of human body.
These Panchmahabutas are present in every being (living or non-living), substances, materials and objects that are present in the universe. These elements can also be called Mahabhutas due to their large size in comparison to their precursor Bhutas (minute forms of Mahabhutas) or due to their extensive presence. But in a nutshell, the fact remains that everything in the creation is made up of these Panchamahabhutas and there is nothing present in this universe that can be called devoid of these 5 elements.
So, how does the physical body come to function with regards to the Panchmahabuta? When these 5 basic elements making up the composition of the human body gets impregnated with Atma or soul, the life gets manifested in the mass of 5 elements which we call as physical body. Imbalances occurring with respect to one or more elements in the body would lead to the diseases pertaining to that particular element or elements which have undergone imbalance. For example, the bone tissue is made up predominantly of the Prithvi (earth) element and when this element undergoes any kind of imbalance, it leads to bone related diseases like osteoarthritis etc.
The Ayurveda treatment principles are also largely based on correcting the imbalances of Panchamahabhuta in the body. Thus, it becomes very important for one to understand the concept of Panchamahabhuta, before anything else especially with regards to the treatment.
Ayurveda is best described as the art of living in harmony with the laws of nature. An ancient Indian system of natural and holistic medicine, it promotes living a balanced life by bringing about healthy and natural lifestyle changes. The age-old wisdom contained in Ayurveda is as relevant today as it was back in the time. Ayurveda and its principles can easily be adapted in today’s fast paced life to maintain and lead a healthy, stress free and balanced life.
Ayurveda has three main focuses: healing, prevention & healthcare. Health care includes maintenance of good health as well as rejuvenation and methods to achieve longevity. Ayurvedic Home Remedies can prove effective in treating various ailments. But the main focus is on prevention as it is easier to maintain health than to restore it once it has become a wreck.
Ayurveda places great amount of importance on one’s Pathya (lifestyle), eating habits and daily routine. It also provides guidance on how one can adjust his/her lifestyle according to the surroundings and inclusion of ayurvedic products and medicinal plants to lead a healthy lifestyle. Including Ayurveda in your everyday life does not require you to undergo a major lifestyle change. Small and minor things like opting for natural or organic ingredients instead of chemically treated products and food items can do the trick.
Moving on from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one that would include routine exercises like walking can go a long way in keeping you healthy and fit. Drinking fresh juice instead of canned or preservative laden juices and including seasonal & fresh vegetables in your meal will block creation of ama or toxins in the body thus keeping you fresh and active whole day long. Apart from this, Ayurveda also recommends drinking plenty of water through the day as it will help flush out harmful toxins from the body and a glass of warm, before bedtime, to prevent indigestion and get a relaxing and good night’s sleep. If you suffer from indigestion, try these easy natural remedies for indigestion for instant relief.
Benefits of Ayurveda Based Lifestyle
Not “one size fits all”, why should your health care?
The key to Ayurvedic wellness and healing is the knowledge that health is not a “one size fits all” proposition. One must understand the unique nature of each person and situation, taking into account the individual, the season, the geography, and so on.
Have you ever wondered why some people are hyperactive while others stay calm? Why some people do not put on weight despite eating more than what is required while others gain weight by eating a simple three course meal? Ayurveda resolves all these questions with the three Doshas or body types
In Indian Ayurveda, there are mainly three types of body types—Vata, Pitta & Kapha. The Doshas are described as biological energies found throughout the human body and mind. They govern the physical and mental processes and provide every living being with an individual blueprint for health and fulfilment. These Doshas are derived from the five elements of nature and its related properties, wherein Vata is composed of space & air, Kapha of fire & water and Pitta of earth & water.
The balance of Doshas in the body goes a long way in keeping you healthy. According to Ayurveda, if the proportion of Doshas in your current state is close to your birth constitution, then you remain energetic and healthy. Any imbalance or divergence between these states can lead you to feel sick and unhealthy. In Ayurveda, Vikruti is the term used to describe this imbalance or deviation away from the Prakruti.
Since we are most susceptible to imbalances related to our Doshas, having a deeper understand of what really constitutes them and what kind of a Dosha you belong to is important.
The Vata dosha is derived from the elements of space and air and it is known as the energy of movement that governs all the biological activities of the body. It is also called the ‘king of Doshas’ since it governs the body’s greater life force and gives motion to other two Doshas of Pitta and Kapha.
People born with Vata dosha are usually active, creative and are gifted with the natural ability to express and communicate. They are also quick learners, have a lively and fun personality, and are full of joy and enthusiasm when in balance. But when their Vata goes out of balance, they start showing tendencies to act on impulse, mood swings and respond to stress with fear, anxiety and worry. Some of the common signs of Vata imbalance also include bodily disorders related to dryness of skin, dry cough, constipation, lower back pain, menstrual disorders and abdominal pain among others.
People of Vata body type are generally physically underdeveloped. Their chests are flat and their veins and muscle tendons are usually visible. They usually have brown to whitish complexion and their skin remains dry, rough and cracked.
They can be rather too shot or too tall and usually are on the slim side. Because of poor muscle development, their prominent joints and bones are usually visible. Their hair is usually curly and scanty and have thin eyelashes. Most of the times, they have sunken eyes, hands and feet often remain cold, nails are rough and brittle while the shape of their nose is bent and turned up. They might have a disturbed sleep pattern and so sleep less than other two body types.
Vata people love to gorge on sweets and love their drinks hot.
Psychologically, Vata people are characterized by short term memory and yet have a quick mental understanding and so are able to grasp things quickly and easily. Though they might understand things quickly, but also have the tendency to forget it with equal speed. They have little to no will power and possess little tolerance, confidence and boldness. Because of weak reasoning power, people belonging to the Vata type are usually nervous, fearful and easily get anxious.
Pitta Dosha is the energy of digestion and metabolism in the body. It functions through carrier substances such as organic acids, hormones, enzymes and bile. The main location of Pitta in the body are the small intestines, stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, blood and eyes. It is known to provide heat and energy to the body through the breakdown of complex food molecules and governs all the processes related to conversion and transformation throughout the mind and body.
People of Pitta type are usually intelligent people and are governed by the emotions of joy, willpower, courage, anger, jealousy and mental perception and.
People of Pitta body type is usually of medium height and have a delicate and slender body frame. Their muscle development is moderate and usually have a fair or reddish kind of complexion. They are blessed with a soft skin and hair is usually silky but more on the thinner side and may have a tendency for premature greying. The colour of their eyes usually ranges from green, grey or copper brown and be of medium prominence.
The Pitta people have a strong metabolism and good digestion which results in them having a strong appetite. They have a natural craving for both sweet and bitter food items and may take food and liquids in large quantities.
People with Pitta body type have a sharp mind with excellent concentration powers. They tend to quickly comprehend situations and react with agility. They are considered to be good orators and generally possess good management and leadership skills. They are usually competitive by nature and enjoy challenges.
Kapha dosha is the energy of building and lubrication that provides the body with physical form, structure and smooth functioning of all its parts. The main location of Kapha in the body are chest, throat, lungs, head, fatty tissues, connective tissues, ligaments and tendons. It aids in lubricating the joints, store energy and give bulk to the tissues.
Kapha people are usually loving in nature, easy going, relaxed and slow paced. They are compassionate and non-judgmental people and have a graceful appearance. They do not get upset easily and are known to be possessive by nature and so hold on to things and people for a long period of time. They are usually good in money matters and possess good amount of wealth.
Kapha people usually constitute well-developed bodies but also have a tendency to carry excess weight. Their chests are expanded and braod and their veins and tendons are not visible because of thick layer of skin and good muscle development. They usually have fair complexion and have lustrous and oily skin. Their hair is thick, dark and of wavy kind and eyes are often dense and large and of black or blue shade.
They have a regular appetite but due to slow digestion they tend to consume less amount of food. They possess good stamina and generally remain happy, healthy and peaceful.
People of kappa mind set are usually calm and do not get aggravated easily. They are of forgiving and peaceful nature and believe in maintaining harmony in their surroundings. However, they do exhibit traits of greed, attachment, envy and possessiveness. Though they have slow comprehension, but once they understand a thing the knowledge is retained and stays with them for long.