|
Welcome to Varanasi and
Kerala Ayurveda !
Ayurveda Ayurveda is the traditional
medicine of India, which originated there over 5,000 years ago.
Ayurveda emphasizes re-establishing balance in the body through
diet, lifestyle, exercise, and body cleansing, and on the health of
the mind, body, and spirit.(Devanatari : the 'science of life') is a
system oftraditional medicine native toIndia, and practiced in other parts of
the world as a form ofalternative medicine.InSanskrit, the word Ayurveda comprises the
words ayu, meaning 'life' and veda, meaning 'sacredbooks'.Widely
regarded as the oldest form of healthcare in the world, Ayurveda is
an intricate medical system that originated in India thousands of
years ago. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu
scriptures called the Vedas — the ancient Indian books of
wisdom. The Rig Veda, which was written over 6,000 years ago,
contains a series of prescriptions that can help humans overcome
various ailments.Ayurveda is
the knowledge that indicates the appropriate and inappropriate,
happy and sorrowful condition of living, what is auspicious or
inauspicious for longevity, as well as the measure of life
itself.
Ayurveda is based on the premise that the universe is made up of
five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. These elements are
represented in humans by three "doshas", or energies:
Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When any of the doshas
accumulate in the body beyond the desirable limit, the body loses
its balance. Every individual has a distinct balance, and our health
and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the three
doshas ("tridoshas"). Ayurveda suggests specific
lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to help individuals reduce the
excess dosha.
A healthy person, as defined in Sushrut Samhita,
one of the primary works on Ayurveda, is "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 are cheerful..."
What is 'Tridosha' or the Theory of
Bio-energies?:
The three doshas, or bio-energies found in our body
are:
- Vata
pertains to air and ether elements. This energy is generally
seen as the force, which directs nerve impulses,
circulation, respiration, and elimination.
- Kapha pertains to water and earth elements.
Kapha is responsible for growth and protection. The
mucousal lining of the stomach, and the cerebral-spinal fluid that
protects the brain and spinal column are examples of kapha.
- Pitta pertains to fire and water elements. This
dosha governs metabolism, e.g., the transformation of foods
into nutrients. Pitta is also responsible for metabolism in
the organ and tissue systems.
- More than simply medical
care,Ayurveda offers a philosophy whereby one may prevent
unnecessary suffering and live a long, healthy life.
The aim
of this system is to prevent illness, heal the
sick and preserve life.
|