Understanding Ayurveda
by Joyce d’Souza
You’ve probably heard of the word Ayurveda; but may not know the meaning of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is a combination of two words: ‘Ayus’ and ‘Veda’. Ayus means life and all aspects of life comprising of the mind, body, senses and soul; and Veda mean science or knowledge. Ayurveda means a science or knowledge of Life.
Ayurveda is an ancient form of medicine that was developed by the sages of India, many centuries ago. It’s mention is made in the pre-historic books of wisdom called the Vedas which was written in the Sanskrit language the earliest and only language that was used by the wise and learned men of India, to document its findings almost around 6000 BC; which actually means that Ayurveda was studied and came into existence even much before Yoga.
The RigVeda which was written in 6000 BC contains a series of prescriptions that helped humans overcome various ailments. Since then, it has gone through various stages of study, continuous research, development, and fine tuning over the past 5000 years and now offers a whole stream of medicine or philosophy whereby one can prevent unnecessary suffering and live a long, healthy and qualitative life. This component of science that deals with health and disease is known as Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Medicine.
Its basic purpose is two-fold:
* Swasthyas swasthya rakshanam - To protect health and prolong life
* Aturasya vikar prashamanamcha - To eliminate diseases and malfunctions of the body
Ayurveda is a whole and comprehensive system that uses the basic concept of body, mind and spirit and believes that science, philosophy and spirituality are all necessary aspects of a healthy living. Yoga can be called an addendum to Ayurveda, adding to this field of medicine a more detailed and clearer form of practice. Ayurveda employs the use of nutrition, herbs, exercises, asanas, meditation, and specifically developed therapies like oil massages made from different concoctions, shirodhara, panchkarmas . . . for rejuvenation and purification of the body systems. It studies each individual their style of living, the food habits, the exercise regime, work habits, stress levels focusing on the body-type of person who has the disease, rather than understanding the type of disease or the actual disease of the person. As in other ancient forms of medical treatment from India, Ayurveda too is a holistic system of medicine; which studies each individual and their medical problems by observation, inquiry, and direct examination, and then provides them the guidance regarding food and lifestyle so that healthy people can stay healthy and people with health challenges can improvise on their health.
Ayurveda believes that we are all part and parcel of nature. The proponents of this school observed that animals and plants who were amidst nature, lived in harmony utilizing the laws of nature which kept them healthy and balanced thereby allowing them to live their life-span to the fullest in an healthy surrounding. They applied the same techniques to the system of Ayurveda, governed by nature’s laws whereby the principles of nature were used to bring the individual back into balance and equilibrium with one’s true self.
The main principles underlying the science of Ayurveda are the five primary elements that are also mentioned in the books of Yoga space, air, fire, water and earth. Ayurveda believes that these five elements must be in perfect balance with each other in order to live a healthy life, free from all diseases. The five elements are present in our system as much as in nature and in the environment; for example, the foods we eat and the weather around us are two examples of the presence of these elements in our bodies.
The elements work in different permutations and combinations to create different physiological functions and energetic forces known as ‘doshas’ in Ayurvedic terminology. The three doshas or tridoshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ether and air combine to form the Vata dosha; fire and water combine to form the Pitta dosha and water and earth elements form the kapha dosha. These doshas influence nature and our bodies simultaneously in order to harmonize the imbalances present in our bodies; for imbalances lead to different kinds of diseases. These doshas vary in different proportions in our bodies and it is important to have a perfect balance of these doshas to attain a perfect healthy body, free from diseases. Every individual has a distinct balance, and our health and well-being depend on getting a right balance of the three doshas. An imbalance creates and enables the presence and deposits of toxins in our bodies which sets the onslaught of diseases in our bodies.
The science of Ayurveda looks at each person individually, finding out what are the doshas that are present or in excess and begins to treat the person accordingly, by suggesting a specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the individual in reducing the doshas that are in excess through herbal supplements to hasten the healing process; or if the toxins in the body are in plenty that a cleansing process known as Panchkarma is recommended to eliminate these toxins. Each line of treatment differs from person to person and according to ratio of the elements present in his or her body and their constitutional pattern; and therefore its mode of treatment and recommendations will often be different for each person regarding which foods and which lifestyle they should follow in order to stay completely healthy.
Ayurveda sees a strong connection between the body and mind; and believes that the mind is the main component, underlying our physical bodies and the focus of all our thought processes. It assists us in carrying out our day-to-day activities such as respiration, circulation, digestion and elimination. Therefore, it has to be kept in perfect balance and order; since it works in conjunction with the different parts of our bodies to regulate our physiology. When the mind registers a particular food that is entering the gastrointestinal tract, it sends signals to release the relative enzymes for digestion. Therefore, it is important to keep our senses in perfect order to allow the mind and body to function at its best.
Ayurveda treats each individual as a unique person; and with this belief it addresses specific health concerns of each individual in an independent way, which also explains why one person responds differently than another to a similar problem.
Maintaining an Ayurvedic life using the natural form of medicine, keeps you fit and healthy!!
Joyce d’Souza is a regular contributor of Yogic Arcles to Six Senses Yoga Society. She is a trained instructor of Yoga, and a Yoga Therapist having studied Yoga at the Gurukul and at University level. Joyce lives in India.
© 2007 Six Senses Yoga Society
Aditi is a very common name for a girl in India. It’s a Sanskrit word, originating from Hindu Mythology and has great power-packed meaning. It means a boundless and eternal, secure, free, boundless, unbroken, entire, unimpaired, happy, freedom, security, safety ; boundlessness, immensity, inexhaustible abundance, unimpaired condition , perfection, creative power and infinite energy of Mother Nature. To get its true meaning “ A + diti “ where A means ‘non’ and diti means ‘binding’. So, literally, Aditi means non-binding.