Principles of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.” Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.” It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples. It is called eternal because nobody knows when it was not there. All this shows its long tradition and deep attachment to the Indian culture.

The principles and philosophy of Ayurveda view man as a complex whole, including our external and internal environments. The principles are derived from universal laws of nature that have changed little through time. Ayurveda defines life ‘Ayuh’ as the intelligent coordination of our four parts, the soul, the mind, the senses, and the body, with the totality of nature and the cosmos. We interact with the seasons, planetary changes of the earth, and moon, other planets, as well as orbiting relationships within our lives, our loved ones and friends, co-workers etc. We affect and are affected by every other animate and inanimate thing in existence. Bringing all of this into balance is the key to living healthy. In Ayurveda the whole life’s journey is considered to be sacred.

There are several aspects of this system of medicine which distinguish it from other approaches to health care:

1. Ayurveda describes three fundamental universal energies which regulate all natural processes on both the macrocosmic and microcosmic levels. That is, the same energies which produce effects in the various galaxies and star systems are operating at the level of the human physiology in our own physiology. These three universal energies are known as the Tridosha.
2. It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.
3. It recognizes the unique constitutional differences of all individuals and therefore recommends different regimens for different types of people.
4. Ayurveda seeks to heal the fragmentation and disorder of the mind-body complex and restore wholeness and harmony to all people.
5. To balance the elements and the doshas of the body and the senses, there are many treatments, therapies, and exercises available to balance the elements of the mind, meditations, mantra, and exercises are often used.
6. Ayurveda believes five basic elements Panchamahabhuta (space, air, fire, water and earth) manifest in the human body as three basic humours known as tridosha (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). These three govern creation, maintenance and destruction of bodily tissues as well as the assimilation and elimination. Each person is born with a unique combination of these doshas which decides their basic constitution called Prakruti.