Ayurveda
About Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a holistic system of healing that originated in ancient India over 5,000 years ago.1 The word Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term which translates as the science of life - Ayur means life, Veda means knowledge.2 As a healing system, Ayurveda is often considered to be the medical branch of Yoga.3
As a natural healing system, the goal of Ayurveda is to support the body and mind through the process of self-healing with non-invasive natural ayurvedic herbs, ayurvedic medicines, and ayurvedic treatments. However, the first line of ayurvedic treatment for illness and disease is proper diet and lifestyle. Once this has been established, ayurvedic herbs are administered - followed by medicines and treatments considered appropriate for one's own unique bodily constitution, known in Ayurveda as Prakruti.
Ayurveda has a very deep understanding of the body's energy systems through it's foundational doshic theory which considers that the human body is governed by the three bodily dosha's (energies) Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Ayurveda teaches that the Five Great Elements found in the universe (ether, air, fire, water, earth) are contained within the human body as energies called Vata Dosha (ether and air), Pitta Dosha (fire), and Kapha Dosha (water and earth.)
References:
Vasant Lad, Ayurveda: the Science of Self Healing (Santa Fe, NM: Lotus Press, 1984), 18
Vasant Lad, Ayurveda: the Science of Self Haling (Santa Fe, NM: Lotus Press, 1984), 18
Additional references:
https://www.ayurveda.com/ayurveda-a-brief-introduction-and-guide/
https://www.keralaayurveda.biz/blog/different-body-types-ayurveda
Purpose of Ayurveda
The object of Ayurveda is to protect the health of the healthy person and to alleviate disorders in the diseased person. Charaka Samhita SU 30:26
Ayurveda's Eight Branches
There are eight branches of Ayurveda:
Internal Medicine
Ears, Nose, and Throat
Toxicology
Pediatrics
Surgery
Psychiatry
Aphrodisiacs
Rejuvenation
Understanding Ayurveda
To understand Ayurveda requires a knowledge of some important ayurvedic concepts which include:
The Five Great Elements - ether, air, fire, water, and earth.
Doshic Theory - the three bodily doshas vata, pitta, and kapha.
The Subdoshas - 5 subdoshas of Vata, 5 subdoshas of pitta, 5 subdoshas of Kapha.
The 20 Gunas - qualities associated with the doshas for example: Vata - dry, light, rough, mobile; Pitta - hot, sharp, penetrating; Kapha - heavy, dense, static.
Samprapti - the process (six stages) of disease.
The Six Tastes - sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
The Seven Dhatus (tissues) - rasa, rakta, mamsa, medha, asthi, majja, shukra/artava.
Prakruti & Vikruti - prakruti is the true state of balance while vikruti is the present moment balance/imbalance.
Prana - the vital life force.
Agni - digestive fire.
Ama - toxins..
Srotamsi - the bodily channels and systems.
Ojas - immunity.
The Senses - Ears, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, & Skin.
To better understand Ayurveda requires that we have a working knowledge of these concepts for Ayurveda to help us with our own self-healing.
Below is a list of Ayurveda books to help you learn more about ayurvedic concepts and principles:
The Science of Self Healing - Vasant Lad
Ayurvedic Cooking - Vasant Lad
Ayurvedic Home Remedies - Vasant Lad
Ayurveda for Women - Robert Svoboda
Healing your Life - Marc Halpern
Yoga & Ayurveda - David Frawley
The Yoga of Herbs - David Frawley, Vasant Lad
Ayurveda Encyclopedia - Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
Please read the EMF Ayurveda Consultation Service Terms of Use, and Disclaimer.