Ayurveda

Overview

Ayurveda means 'Knowledge of Life'. This system of medicine is derived from philosophical theories propounded in India over 2,000 years ago. More than being a system of treatment this system's thrust is the prevention of disease, through a harmony in body composition.

The basic concept of ayurveda is that the body is composed of three principles: pittha, kapha and vatha. These are called the tridoshas. Each dosha is located in a certain organ of the body and is a combination of the five natural resources (earth, fire, water, air and space or ether). Depending on the predominance of a particular dosha, an individual falls into a particular character type and is prone to particular types of diseases. For example people of the pittha type are said to be hot tempered and competitive. They are thought to be more prone to ulcers and rashes.

Depending on the analysis of the patient type, ayurveda advises a particular diet, treatment and care. There are different types of treatments in ayurveda.

Who is a healthy person?

Equilibrium is ayurveda’s buzzword. If you acquire it in body and mind, then, your health is ensured.

If the answers to all the above questions are yes, then you are physically healthy.

However ayurveda does not see the body as separate from the mind. Even for all the above functions to be in order the mind must be in the right mode.

• prasanna atma (blissful soul)
• prasanna mana (blissful mind)

Why do we fall ill?

According to the tridosha theory, each individual must have the proper balance of the three basic forces of vatha, pittha and kapha. But this is not always possible. Each individual’s prakruthi (nature of constitution) is determined at the time of birth. It depends on the prakruthi of the parents and the state of their mind at the time of conception, etc. If one dosha is predominant in a person, then that imbalance results in certain kinds of susceptibilities. It can be aggravated by improper habits and diet. These can be treated by medication.

The second possibility for falling ill, according to ayurveda, cannot be analyzed on material terms. The karma (the merits and demerits of actions of the past birth) that an individual has accrued is responsible for this. Karmic diseases require atonement or some qualitative change from within.