What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda signifies "Knowledge on 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 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.
"The aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit. This is believed to help prevent illness and promote wellness."
TIMELINE OF THE AYURVEDIC EVOLUTION IN MODERN DAY
5000- 1700 BCE
ORIGINS OF AYURVEDA
A Pre-Vedic civilisation settled in the Indus Valley which is now a part of Pakistan. In 1700 - 500 BC the food that they grew was part of the Ayurveda diet.
IRON AGE AND START OF AYURVEDA
The most early Ayurvedic Songs were composed around 1500-1000 BCE, and The Vedas were written in Sanskrit between 1000-500 BCE. Vedic writings were composed around 500BC - 550 CE laying out clinical practices and ideas including restorative medicinal value and properties of more than 10,000 organic plants.
AYURVEDA CONTINUES TO GROW
The practice of Ayurveda becomes more influential and spread across the world. The ayurvedic texts became more philosophical. They were further refined and became the Vedic texts throughout the Gupta Empire
1300 - 1600 CE
AYURVEDA IS WIDELY PRACTICED IN INDIA
Ayurveda continued as the medicine of choice for centuries under multiple rulers in India
1600 - 1858 CE
MEDICINE AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
The East India Company arrived in India in the 1600s. The British East India Company employed surgeons from Europe to work in India and Indian people were not allowed to fully practice Ayurveda. All classes at institutions were banned and ended. Ayurvedic practices declined massively.
1858 - 1947 CE
AYURVEDA'S DECLINE UNDER BRITISH RULE
The British Crown ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1858 to 1947. The Practice of Ayurveda declined as western medicine was positioned as superior to old practices. Ayurveda continued to be practiced, unofficially and often in houses, increasingly in rural areas.
1947 - 2000 CE
AYURVEDA AFTER INDIAN INDEPENDENCE
India strived to restore Ayurvedic practices. Ayurveda and Western medicine were studied equally in colleges. Ayurveda was formally and legally integrated into society again. Numerous colleges, hospitals were built. Legislation and government policies were also formed to assess Ayurvedic practice and education.
21st CENTURY MODERN AYURVEDA
Today, Ayurveda is massively popular across the globe, with Ayurveda centres and classes teaching the benefits of Ayurvedic medicine and diet. In 2014 the India government set up The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) to study and research indigenous alternative medicine in India.
What is Holistic Medicine?
The word "holistic" comes from the word "whole" , Holistic medicine looks at you as a whole individual, not a specific disease or organ. When you have an imbalance, holistic medicine wants to know what's going on with you as a whole, which will help to determine what is the root of the problem. "Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the organ or system involved."
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 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,excersise to prevent from disease.
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.
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.
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.
ACHIEVING YOUR LIFE GOALS
Good health can be maintained until death through the practices of Ayurveda. This can happen by the focused following of Ayurvedic notions and teachings. Only then will a person enjoy an optimum life span of a hundred years without contracting diseases. The person will also gain recognition in society, strong friendship with people, honour and wealth as he has the energy and ability to achieve all the goals in life. The aim of this system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve life.
