Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach to Health and Happiness

Feb 18, 2024

Ayurveda is an ancient and well-known system of medicine that originated in India around 5000 years ago. The term "Ayurveda" is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "Ayur," which means life, and "Veda," meaning knowledge. Essentially, Ayurveda is referred to as the 'science of life.'

This ancient system of medicine is being globally embraced. However, despite its widespread acceptance, the rich knowledge within this traditional medical system remains largely unexplored. This article aims to shed light on the historical roots and fundamental principles of Ayurveda, explore its relevance today, and glimpse into the promising future it holds. Keep reading to discover a holistic approach to health that has stood the test of time.

History of Ayurveda

Ayurveda has a long history, dating back to the 2nd Century BC. It was founded on the ancient Hindu philosophical principles known as Vaisheshika and the school of logic known as Nyaya. Around the same time, the Samkhya manifestation framework also played a role in shaping Ayurveda.

The Vaisheshika School focused on inferences and perceptions to understand a patient's condition for treatment. On the other hand, the Nyaya school emphasised the importance of extensive knowledge about the patient and the disease before starting treatment. These schools collaborated and formed the “Nyaya–Vaisheshika” school, which later became instrumental in spreading knowledge about Ayurveda.

Even before these schools existed, and even today, the origin of Ayurveda is considered divine, originating from the Hindu God Brahma, the creator of the universe. According to belief, Brahma passed on this holistic healing knowledge to sages for the well-being of humanity. The sages then shared this knowledge through writings and oral traditions, describing the healing properties of herbs in poetic verses called "Shlokas."

The Hindu system of healing is rooted in four important compilations of knowledge called Vedas: Yajur Veda, Rig Veda, Sam Veda, and Atharva Veda. Rig Veda, the most well-known, describes 67 plants and 1028 Shlokas. Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda mention 293 and 81 medicinally useful plants, respectively. Ayurveda's practice is based on the knowledge found in these Vedas. Atreya, attributed to Rig Veda and Atharva Veda, received the knowledge from Lord Indra, who got it from Lord Brahma.

Agnivesha compiled this knowledge, which Charaka and other scholars later edited into "Charaka Samhita." This compilation covers all aspects of Ayurvedic medicine. Sushruta Samhita, describing the Science of Surgery, is another crucial text. Both are still utilized by traditional medicine practitioners. These ancient texts have been translated into various languages like Tibetan, Greek, Chinese, Arabic, and Persian. Although there are other minor compilations, Charaka Samhita holds the highest regard among them.

About Ayurveda

Ayurveda is based on the idea that everything in the universe, living or not, is interconnected. When your mind, body, and spirit are in harmony with the universe, you enjoy good health. Imbalances caused by factors like genetics, injuries, climate changes, ageing, and emotions can lead to illness.

This ancient healing system is built on the belief that the universe is composed of five elements: Vayu (Air), Jala (Water), Aakash (Space), Prithvi (Earth), and Teja (Fire). These elements, collectively known as Pancha Mahabhoota, form the three fundamental principles in the human body – Vata dosha, Pitta dosha, and Kapha dosha, collectively referred to as Tridoshas.

Everyone inherits a unique mix of these doshas, with one typically being more dominant. The doshas influence various body functions, and their balance is believed to impact overall health.

The Three Doshas in Ayurveda

Vata Dosha

According to Ayurveda, Vata dosha is considered the most powerful of the three. It influences fundamental body functions such as cell division, as well as mental aspects like mood, breathing, blood flow, and heart function.

Individuals with a dominant Vata dosha are:

Creative
Intelligent
Experience quick mood changes
Physically tend to be thin
Lose weight easily
Feel colder than others

Imbalances in Vata can lead to overstimulation, anxiety, phobias, forgetfulness, and may be associated with conditions like asthma, heart disease, skin problems, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Balancing Vata involves grounding practices like meditation, massage, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and consuming warm, mild foods.

Pitta Dosha

Pitta dosha governs digestion, metabolism, and certain hormones related to appetite. Pitta-dominant individuals are

Goal-oriented
Competitive
Confident
Medium-sized, muscular build
Usually feel hot

Factors that can disrupt Pitta include consuming sour or spicy foods, excessive sun exposure, and irregular meals. Imbalances in Pitta may lead to excessive competitiveness, irritability, anger, and impulsiveness. Conditions associated with Pitta imbalance include Crohn’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, indigestion, and fever.

Focusing on cooling and light elements like salads, cucumbers, and practicing moderation or restorative yoga is recommended to restore balance.

Kapha Dosha

Kapha dosha is believed to regulate muscle growth, body strength, stability, weight, and the immune system. Those with a dominant Kapha dosha may:

Prefer routine
Stick to expectations
Be accepting, calm, and patient
Have a broad frame
Gain weight easily

Disruptions in Kapha can result from daytime naps, excessive consumption of sweet or salty foods, and overhydration. Imbalances in Kapha may cause fatigue, reluctance to take on new projects, possessiveness, stubbornness, and depression. Conditions associated with Kapha dominance include asthma, cancer, diabetes, post-meal nausea, and obesity.

Balancing excess Kapha involves incorporating more fruits and vegetables into the diet and engaging in blood-pumping exercises like jogging or yoga sun salutations.

Therapies in Ayurveda

The techniques included in Ayurveda are:

Natural Remedies
Herbal medicines containing herbs, minerals, or gems (known as rasa shastra medicines)
Dietary modification
Panchakarma therapy
Yoga
Acupuncture
Massage
Meditation
Breathing exercises
Sound therapy, including the use of mantras

Disorders that can be treated with Ayurveda

The combination of the above therapies is effective in treating a range of disorders, a few of them are:

Current Status and Future Perspectives of Ayurveda

In recent decades, Ayurveda has undergone a significant transformation in its approach, and has caught the interest of researchers. The therapeutic principle of Ayurveda centres around “doshas” help determine how individuals respond to medicines, environmental conditions, and diet.

A new area of research called 'Ayurgenomics' has also emerged which links genomics (the study of genes) with Ayurveda. This field helps us understand why different people respond differently to therapies for various diseases. It particularly focuses on studying differences among people with similar ethnic backgrounds. Ayurgenomics uses genetic markers to predict illness risks and adapt Ayurvedic therapies for more effective results. The field combines Ayurvedic knowledge with current genetic research, establishing the path for more targeted and personalized treatment methods.

Ayurveda is now being considered to address some of the limitations faced by Western medicine, such as the need for personalized treatments, potential side effects, and a lack of desired therapeutic effectiveness.

By integrating modern analytical techniques with Ayurvedic principles, there is potential for wider acceptance of Ayurveda globally. Researchers are focusing on establishing the scientific basis of Ayurvedic principles to ensure its continued relevance in the future.

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Summing up!

There are ongoing studies to prove the effectiveness of Ayurveda through scientific methods. As research continues, this system od medicine may find new applications and become more widely recognized as a holistic approach to health. This traditional approach has not only survived but continues to thrive.

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