AYURVEDA
Ether . Earth . Fire . Air . Water
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Ayurveda: Knowledge of Life
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Ayurveda signifies "Knowledge of Life '' and is more than centuries old clinical system from India. As indicated by this medicine system, everything on this planet including our body and mind, comprises of five different components: Ether, Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Each individual is a unique blend of these five components. Diseases occur when we separate ourselves from nature, when we fail to remember where we come from and who we really are. Ayurveda assists us with understanding of our constitution, so that we know which food varieties, exercises, yoga forms are best suited for us.
Ayurveda: Aim of Medicine
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The aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and balance the body, mind and spirit. This helps to prevent illness and promotes wellness.
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Ayurveda: Holistic Medicine
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The word "holistic" comes from the word "whole", Holistic medicine looks at you as a whole individual, not a specific disease or organ. Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the organ or system involved.
Ayurveda identifies three basic types of energy or functional principles that are present in everyone and everything. They are called, in Sanskrit, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These principles constitute the basic biology of the body.
Vata is the subtle energy associated with movement — composed of Space and Air. It governs breathing, blinking, muscle and tissue movement, pulsation of the heart, and all movements in the cytoplasm and cell membranes. In balance, vata promotes creativity and flexibility. Out of balance, vata produces fear and anxiety.
Pitta expresses as the body’s metabolic system — made up of Fire and Water. It governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism and body temperature. In balance, pitta promotes understanding and intelligence. Out of balance, pitta arouses anger, hatred and jealousy.
Kapha is the energy that forms the body’s structure — bones, muscles, tendons — and provides the “glue” that holds the cells together, formed from Earth and Water. Kapha supplies the water for all bodily parts and systems. It lubricates joints, moisturizes the skin, and maintains immunity. In balance, kapha is expressed as love, calmness and forgiveness. Out of balance, it leads to attachment, greed and envy.
"Sama dosha sama agnishikha samadhatu mala kriyaaha | Prasanna atma indriyah manah swastha iti abhidheeyare"
The ancient sage of Ayurveda, Acharya Sushruta has described the features of a healthy person. It follows that the one is in perfect wellbeing when each of the three doshas (vata pitta and kapha) must be in equilibrium. The digestive fire (digestion, assimilation and metabolism) must be in a balanced state and the dhatus (tissues) and malas (physiological functions of urination and defecation) must work in a normal way. The sensory and motor organs and mind, atma must also be in a pleasant state. Such a person is called a healthy person or Swastha.
SAMDOSHA
The doshas that are present in the body and mind, namely vata, pitta and kapha, must be in a balanced state in order to keep a person healthy. When the balance of the doshas is disturbed, either aggravated or decreased (vitiated) it produces a state of Dosha Vaishamya, which is called disease. If you understand that the bioenergies of vata, pitta, kapha are constantly in flux and are brought back to balance by our food choices, activities, exercise to prevent from disease.
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SAMAGNI
In order to keep an individual healthy and digestive fire (koshtagni) and dhatuagni (tissue enzymes) must be in a proper state. When agni is less in quality (Mandagni) it will cause many diseases and problems ("Rogaha Sarvepi Mande Agnou"). It is a well known that the health of an individual depends on the proper strength of his digestive power.
SAMA DHATU MALA KRIYA (BALANCED STATE OF DHATUS AND MALAS)
According to Ayurveda there are seven Dhatus namely Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Medas, Asthi, Majja and Shukra. And the excreta or Malas - purisa (faeces), Mutra (urine), Sweda (sweat). The dhatus of the body must function properly and so also the malas of the body.
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PRASANNA ATMENDRIYA MANAHA
Sensory and motor organs are given extremely important attention in Ayurveda. When these are not in equilibrium and not functioning properly, it will lead to a state called diseases. Even when all is functioning properly the everyday activities must not vitiate (decrease) the sensory and motor organs and mind. Ayurveda says the state of mental health is more important than that of the physical health of a person.
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SWASTHA
Swastha or the healthy state is maintained from birth where the three doshas remain in a balanced state. When this occurs the person achieves a well balanced constitution, beautiful appearance, muscular strength and complete contented mind.