WHAT IS AYURVEDA?

Ayu is life and veda is science.

Ayurveda means science of life.


Its has two aspects:

1.Prevention of diseases by following daily regimen, seasonal regimen etc.

2.Treatment of diseases.

Aim of Ayurveda

1. To lead a healthy life:-
This is achieved by following different regimens told in ayurveda such as the daily regimen, seasonal regimen, ayurvedic diet principles etc.

By following dincharya (daily regimen) and ritu charya (seasonal regimen) one can prevent diseases, stay healthy and fit and lead a healthy life both physically as well as mentally.

2. Treatment of diseases:-
By not following these ayurvedic principles of living one is prone to disease and thus ayurveda also talks about various kinds of treatment for curing these diseases.Panch karma or the five therapies forms a major part of the treatment and is also done as a preventive measure of disease.

Ayurveda is the only science which first guides us as to how to live a healthy life by giving detailed regimens and for those who have any ailment various treatments are mentioned.


Philosophy of Ayurveda
Ayurveda considers that the nature of the universe or prakriti is identical to human nature or prakriti .
The wind , fire, and water are the three basic elements in Nature , similarly every human body has these three basic elements within him in the form of the three doshas i.e. vata(wind), pitta (fire), kapha(water).



BODY CONSTITUENTS

1. Dosha - three biological humors.
2. Dhatu - seven tissues.
3. Mala - three waste products.


1. Dosha – 3 biological humors or doshas :

a. Vata -
Vata is responsible for all movements in the body .
It is the energetic part or nerve force in our body.


b. Pitta-
Pitta is responsible for digestion and metabolism of the body.


c. Kapha-
Kapha acts as a binding element.
It is responsible for the gross structure of our body.

2. Dhatu –
Dhatus or the tissue layers are seven in number.
They are the supportive body pillars.

These are:-

1.Rasa dhatu - Plasma or lymph

2.Rakta dhatu - Blood

3.Mamsa dhatu - Muscles

4.Medu dhatu - Body fat

5.Asthi dhatu - Bone/skeletal

6.Majja dhatu - Nerves/Nervous system

7.Shukra dhatu - Reproductive system.

3. Mala :– Malas or the waste products are constantly eliminated from the body.
Three waste products are :

1. urine
2. stool
3. sweat

Maintenance of health depends on the proper elimination of these three waste products from the body.

Their accumulation in the body results in the formation of “ama” or toxins which is the root cause of all diseases.
Prakriti / Constitution

The predominance of elements, gunas, and doshas at the time of fertilization decides the constitution of an individual.

Based on the permutations and combination of the three doshas , seven types of constitution can be formed:
1. vata

2. pitta

3. kapha

4. vata pitta

5. vata kapha

6. pitta kapha

7. sanmipata or balanced constitution (sama prakriti)

Purely single constitution and the samprakriti is seldom found.

Mainly we come across dual constitutions.

Prakriti does not regard disease as a factor in itself but only as complication of constitution imbalance.

Hence it regards disease more as a product of how we live rather than any external factor.