SCIENCE OF AYURVEDA

The ancient science of ayurveda originated in India several thousands of years ago and is a medical system that comprises of both preventive and curative medicine with a great emphasis on practicing a “way of life” to prevent diseases. Literally too, the word Ayurveda combines 2 words “ayu” meaning life and “veda” means science of. Hence rightly called the science of life and differs from most other systems of healing, as it defines not just symptomatic cure but identification of the root cause of disease and its cure using herbs, metals and minerals.

Ayurveda also has some basic beliefs about the body's constitution. The combination of the panchmahabhutas govern the nature and type of human body. “Constitution” refers to a person’s general health, how likely he is to become out of balance, and his ability to resist and recover from disease or other health problems. The constitution is called the prakriti. The prakriti is thought to be a unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics and the way the body functions. It is influenced by such factors as digestion and how the body deals with waste products. The prakriti is believed to be unchanged over a person’s lifetime.

The changes in lifestyle, habits etc would bring about a deviation in the physical and psychological characteristics and the way the body functions. This deviation of the body is called vikruthi. Diseases are said to arise when there is a major deviation of the vikruthi from the prakriti, thus upsetting the balance of the doshas in the body.

Three qualities called doshas form important characteristics of the constitution and control the activities of the body. Each dosha is made up of one or two of the five basic elements: space, air, fire, water and earth.

o “Vata” being a combination of space and air,

o “Pitta” combination of fire and water,

o “Kapha” combination of water and earth.

A person has her own balance of the three doshas, although one dosha usually is prominent. Doshas are constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity, and bodily processes. Each dosha is associated with a certain body type, a certain personality type, and a greater chance of certain types of health problems. An imbalance in a dosha will produce symptoms that are related to that dosha and are different from symptoms of an imbalance in another dosha. Imbalances may be caused by an unhealthylifestyle or diet; too much or too little mental and physical exertion; or not being properly protected from the weather, chemicals, or germs. In summary, it is believed that a persons chances of developing certain types of diseases are related to the way doshas are balanced, the state of the physical body, and mental or lifestyle factors.