AYURVEDA:
MEANING AND HISTORY
Ayurveda means the knowledge of life or the Science of life. “Ayur” is derived from Ayuh, meaning Life and “Veda” from Vid which means ‘to know’ or ‘Knowledge ‘.
Overtaken by negative emotions like lust, anger, greed, fear, etc. man started drifting from a perfect state of dynamic harmony and balance. Continued excesses or deficiencies with respect to food, emotions and lifestyle brought man from a once perfect state of balance or ease to a state of imbalance or dis-ease.
Knowing that the physical and mental ailments of man were preventing them from experiencing dharma(vocation or calling), artha(prosperity), kama(fulfillment of desires) and moksha(emanicipation or realization of their Divinity), the ancient Sages and Seers(wise men, enlightened beings), in great sympathy and compassion, went into deep meditation in order to find a solution. The remedy came to them as the timeless principles of Ayurveda, which they handed down to humanity in the form of written scriptures which in turn were validated by observation, inquiry, direct examination and knowledge derived from the ancient texts.
PRINCIPLES BEHIND AYURVEDIC THERAPEUTICS
Several important precepts govern the therapeutic principles behind Ayurveda.
1. All therapies in Ayurveda are aimed at restoring a dynamic balance in the body-mind.
2. Tridoshas, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha, each with specific qualities, are the subtle energies of the body and Satva, Rajas and Tamas are the subtle energies of the mind. Every individual has a combination of two or three of the doshas of the body and mind and exhibit the qualities of the doshas that are in a preponderance in their physical and mental makeup. Balanced state of these energies keep the body and mind in a state of health and their imbalance brings ill health. Herbs and therapies are unique to each individual, based on their body-mind type or doshic inclination.
3. All things in this manifest world are made up of different combinations of the pancamahabhutas or the five basic elements namely earth, water, fire, air and sky or space. Each element possesses a set of unique gunas or qualities. As they combine in different proportions to form matter, matter exhibits different qualities based on the proportion of the five elements. Thus man is composed of the pancamahabhutas, which when in a balanced state work in harmony and are disrupted when out of balance.
4. Similar things when brought together cause growth or increase and dissimilar things cause diminution or decrease. Therefore when there is an imbalance in the body and mind, food , activities, herbs and therapies which have the qualities necessary to restore balance are advised.
5. The body and mind are the substrata of all diseases. All kinds of ill health are brought about by improper, under or over utilization of the faculties of time, mind and sense organs. These result in the formation of ‘ama’(undigested matter or energy) or toxins within the body-mind system. This ama, in turn causes the aggravation of the three subtle energies of the body, Vata, Pitta and Kapha and Rajas and Tamas of the mind and leads to a state of dis-ease. Balanced utilization of the faculties of time, mind and objects of sense organs brings about harmony and health.
AYURVEDA IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Our body is a marvelous microcosm of infinite intelligence. In spite of our continued excesses or deficiencies, it is constantly working to maintain a dynamic balance within and maintain a state of health and vitality. The continued abuse finally manifests as different forms of ill-health in different individuals, based on their prakriti(doshic inclination) and points of weakness in their body-mind. Family history of diseases could be an important clue as to the body-mind parts most susceptible to our imbalances.
Ayurveda first stresses on the wisdom of prevention and gives specific guidelines, based on the doshic inclination of one’s body/mind, as to the type of food, activities, herbs and therapies that would maintain and strengthen the dynamic harmony of one’s body-mind system in health. Similarly in ill health, it delineates the food, activities, herbs and therapies that would alleviate, strengthen and rejuvenate the body-mind.