Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian
subcontinent. Even today it is very common in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and is used by millions of people.
Ayurveda is also gaining popularity in the west. The word "Ayurveda" is a tatpurusha compound of the
word ayus meaning "life," "life principle," or "long life" and the word veda, which refers to a system of
"knowledge." Thus "Ayurveda" roughly translates as the "knowledge of life," "knowledge of a long life" or
even "science of life." According to Charaka Samhita, "life" itself is defined as the "combination of the body,
sense organs, mind and soul, the factor responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the
body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth." According to this perspective, Ayurveda is concerned
with measures to protect "ayus", which includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures that relate
to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony. Ayurveda is also one among the few traditional systems of
medicine to contain a sophisticated system of surgery (which is referred to as "salya-chikitsa").
What has to exist, exists, no matter what way the world changes. Any science, that is applicable survives
through different generations and flows from one generation to another. Nature has its unique way to
make or break a system, and we remain just an onlooker, erased by the passage of time! So Ayurveda is a
science which has faced the turmoil of all times and is still emerging as a leading alternative health care
system. Ayurveda is the world's oldest science of health care. The written tradition dates back around 5,000
years, but the oral tradition of this science is timeless.
The basic principles of Ayurveda
There are three basic fundamental biological humours described by Ayurveda- The Vata, Pitta and Kapha
also called the "tri-energies". These are the ones who are totally controlling the universe and are
responsible for planetary movements (Vata), their formation and destruction ( Pitta) and generation and
maintenance of new life (Kapha). Same tri-energies are found inside every living being and are responsible
for health and disease. Their balance is health or harmony whereas the imbalance is disease or chaos.
These govern all the processes in all levels of our life. Vata governs all movement, Pitta all heat and
transformation and Kapha all growth, structure and lubrication.
Our diet, our behavior, the seasons, emotions and our life style all have impact on balance of trienergies.
The main principal of healing in Ayurveda is to maintain the balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha by alteration
in our lifestyle, our thoughts, our diet and understanding nature and through herbal medicines.
"Samadosha samagnisch samadhatu malakriya Prasanna atma mana swastha iti abhidhiyate."
(Sanskrit Verse)
It states that-
Having a balanced state of Doshas, Agni (Digestive Fire), Dhatus (tissues) and normal functioning of Mala
(waste products), cheerful state of Atman (soul), sensory organs, and mind are the symptoms of healthy
life.
If Vata gets out of balance, for instance, it leads to overactive mind, poor circulation, poor nerve
conduction, loss of memory, irregular elimination, uncomfortable menses, etc. - all things related to
movement.
If Pitta is out of balance, we can get excessive digestive fire, resulting in heartburn, excess stomach acid, a
hot temper, inflammations, etc. -all things related to heat and digestion.
If Kapha gets out of balance, it can lead to chronic congestion, weight gain, cellulite, cholesterol buildup,
acne, oily skin, etc. - all things related to structure and lubrication.
Herbs in synergistic combination, diet, routine, meditation, etc. are used to restore balance to restore
proper operation of the various systems. Balance restores health. Ayurveda does not focus on decreasing
symptoms, it focuses on increasing health. Where there is health, there is no room for disease.
Due to foreign invasions in India for hundreds of years, Ayurveda became fragmented, and it on its come
back trail from around last 35 years. As a result of growing scientific verification at major research
institutions, it is the worlds' fastest growing health care system.
Constitution Analysis
According to Ayurveda, the five elements (fire, earth, water, air & space) in their biological form combine to
form these 3 energies in the body. These 3 basic energies are the primary life forces or biological humors,
called doshas in Ayurveda-The Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They help regulate physical functioning within our
body, besides providing us with individual physical characteristics. The constitution of a person is primarily
determined by the dominant dosha.
It is such a unique combinations of doshas that no two persons are alike. The determination of the
constitution gives insight into deeper working, behavior, body type and with this it is possible to know
which herbs, diet, medicines and activities will be suitable for a particular individual to maintain his health
whole life. It also becomes easier to outline the disease tendencies of the different body types so that a
preventive lifestyle may be observed. Accordingly, a person can plan diet and other routine activities
affirming to his / her constitution. This individual constitution analysis is an important step to ascertain
about types of diseases and to help a lot in maintenance of good health and prevention of diseases.
