Introduction to Ayurveda
About Ayurveda
Brief Introduction to Ayurveda
As recent years have witnessed people all over the world shifting to more natural ways of healing, Ayurveda has seen unprecedented growth in popularity throughout the globe. Derived from Sanskrit, the term ‘Ayu’ means life and the term ‘Veda’ refers to knowledge. Ayurveda (literally meaning the knowledge or science of life) is the system of traditional medicine developed over centuries in India. It is one of the oldest medical systems in the world. It is essentially a form of alternative medicine that follows a more holistic approach to health and wellness. Ayurveda prioritizes the prevention of illnesses by enforcing a healthy and balanced lifestyle. This goes a long way towards boosting immunity and preventing diseases. Even in the case of an illness, Ayurvedic medicinal wisdom resorts to more natural yet effective ways of treatment.
Nature lies at the heart of Ayurveda as it is believed that all living things, including humans, are comprised of five basic elements of nature. These five elements are Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Space. Humans are believed to be made up of the same five elements. The nature of these elements is believed to be determined at the time of birth. As long as these five elements are in order, good health prevails. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, illnesses are a result of an imbalance in these constituent elements. Ayurveda refers to such imbalances as Dosha. It further goes on to classify these Doshas into Pitta (fire) dosha, Vata (air) dosha, and Kapha (earth) dosha.
To restore the balance in these Doshas, Ayurveda suggests a number of solutions, such as meditation, herbal medicine, yoga, fasting, and various other lifestyle modifications. Different diseases necessitate different treatments in order to reestablish their balance. Unlike western medicinal practices that mostly target visible symptoms as a form of treatment, Ayurveda heals the body from the inside. It seeks to fix the cause of ailments rather than only treating the symptoms. In other words, it heals the body from the inside out.
Ayurvedic Knowledge
Ayurveda follows the principle of preserving the wellness of the healthy. While Western medicine views the body as an open system and intervenes in order to treat illnesses, Ayurveda considers the body to be a closed system. It works by strengthening the immune system with minimum interference. A strong immune system empowers the body to fight against illnesses. This is in no way meant to indicate that one system is superior to the other. All forms of traditional medicine, as well as modern medicine, play a key role in ensuring the well-being of people. However, the ardent followers and practitioners of Ayurveda firmly corroborate the multitude of benefits it provides.
Along with physical health, Ayurveda lays an equal amount of emphasis on consciousness as well. Consciousness is the awareness of one’s existence. Consciousness transcends both mind and body. When Ayurvedic practices are followed as a routine, they strengthen the synergy between mind, body, and consciousness, thus enforcing and preserving good health.
THE EIGHT BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA
Ayurveda is represented by the lotus flower as the eight petals of the Lotus signify the eight branches of Ayurveda. The Atharva Veda makes mention of these eight branches. These branches are:
Kayachikitsa – Internal medicine
Salya tantra – Surgery
Salakya tantra – the study of ears, nose, throat, eyes, and teeth
Agada tantra – the study of poisons (toxicology)
Bhuta Vidya – Study of the mind and mental illnesses (Psychiatry)
Bala tantra – Study of gynaecology, obstetrics, and paediatrics
Rasayana tantra – Science of rejuvenation and longevity of life
Vajikarana tantra – Science of virility
The petals of the Lotus (Kamal), the national flower of India, represent the eight branches of Ayurveda.
THE THREE GUNAS
Prakruti (nature) is composed of three prime qualities, or gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. They are more subtle than the five elements that arise through their activities. They also precede the Tanmatras.
From Sattva arise five sense organs.
From Rajas arise the five organs of action.
From Tamas arise the five elements.
Everything in the universe is a different combination of the three Gunas:
Sattva is of the highest quality as it represents light, harmony, virtue, happiness, clarity and intelligence.
Rajas is the quality of movement, distraction, turbulence and activities.
Tamas is the quality of dullness, darkness, decay, inertia and rest in order to enable regeneration.
They represent the potential for differentiation in Prakriti, the causal factors of creation, while the five senses (Tanmatras) are the subtle factors and the five elements are the gross effects.
The five elements, in turn, are influenced by the three Gunas. Ether is made up of Satva, fire is made up of Rajas, the Earth is made up of Tamas, the air is made up of Satva (lightness) and Rajas (movement), and water is made up of Rajas (movement) and Tamas (heaviness). All three gunas are essential for different bodily functions. When all three gunas exist in balance and harmony, Satva becomes the dominating guna.
The goal of Ayurveda is not only to treat bad health and diseases but also to maintain good health by strengthening the immune system. Introduction to Ayurveda medicinal wisdom resorts to more natural yet effective ways of treatment.
The Lotus (Kamal) is a truly divine flower as it represents purity, peace, prosperity, perfection, awareness, and righteousness.
Ayurveda has many aims but two are basic aims:
First, to safeguard the health of healthy people and to help them accomplish the five principle goal of life (integrity, purpose or wealth, pleasure, family life and release or freedom from cycle of rebirth;
Second, to treat bad health, illness and disease
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