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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.
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