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Ayurveda,
which means
'Knowledge of the life forces', is universal or valid even today as
it was 5000 years ago.
Harmonies, Balance, Integrity,
Simplicity, Well-being, these are concepts fundamental to the system
of Ayurveda
Ayurveda uses
very simple, easy to understand principles, to determine individual
constitution and the imbalances in it. It considers the individual
as a whole connected with the world rather than looking at the body
as some kind of a machine with different parts and functions. The
great sages of seers who developed this system could see beyond the
physical framework.
The body
- made up of the five great elements earth, water, fire, air and
ether or
the 'Pancha bhoothas' The three Doshas
- Vata, Pitta, and Kapha which are forces in the body produced by
normal metabolic processes and not physical substances.
The six tastes
- of sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent that
influence the balance of the doshas in the body. The seven dhatus -
or classes that are rasa, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, shukra
into which all body tissues are divided Prana, tejas and ojas which
are not doshas.
These basic
elements dwell with in the system and it will make us realize that
the body is not just a sum of its parts. Ayurveda is not just a
science for the simple reason that it has an expanse, which is
beyond ordinary science or physiology.
What we
eat and drink play an important role in our well-being.
It is not only what we eat, but the way
we eat it, the setting in which we eat, the internal setting during
the time of consumption and the attitude of the person who prepares
the food too should be considered. According to Ayurveda incorrect
food habits is the main physical causative factor of diseases.
There is no
standard diet for everyone, or any minimum daily requirements. Its
concern is that the food we take in and the way we take it is in
harmony with our own body constitution and it should be adjustable
for seasonal variations as well as the various stages in an
individual's life. ' We are what we eat holds a lot of truth here…
There are
various branches in Ayurveda because each sage saw things from a
different viewpoint and it was augmented by personal experience. But
the overall treatment includes removal of the cause, purification to
eliminate excess doshas, balancing the doshas, rejuvenation to
rebuild the organism and of course no treatment is complete without
complete faith in the system as well as in the self. It teaches you
that your health is a dynamic condition and redesigning our belief
system is the key towards individual development.
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