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What has to exist, exists, no matter what way the world changes. Any science, that is applicable survives through different generations and flows from one generation to another. Nature has its unique way to make or break a system, and we remain just an onlooker, erased by the passage of time! So Ayurveda is a science which has faced the turmoil of all times and is still emerging as a leading alternative health care system. Ayurveda is the world's oldest science of health care. The written tradition dates back around 5,000 years, but the oral tradition of this science is timeless.
The Basic Principles of Ayurveda
There are three basic fundamental biological humours described by Ayurveda- The Vata, Pitta and Kapha also called the "tri-energies". These are the ones who are totally controlling the universe and are responsible for planetary movements (Vata), their formation and destruction (Pitta) and generation and maintenance of new life (Kapha). Same tri-energies are found inside every living being and are responsible for health and disease. Their balance is "health" or "harmony" whereas the imbalance is "disease" or "chaos".
These govern all the processes in all levels of our life. Vata governs all movement, Pitta all heat and transformation and Kapha all growth, structure and lubrication.
Our diet, our behavior, the seasons, emotions and our life style all have impact on balance of tri energies. The main principal of healing in Ayurveda is to maintain the balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha by alteration in our lifestyle, our thoughts, our diet and understanding nature and through herbal medicines.
Samadosha samagnisch samadhatu malakriya
Prasanna atma mana swastha iti abhidhiyate. (Sanskrit Verse)
It States that:-
Having a balanced state of Doshas, Agni (digestive fire), Dhatus (tissues) and normal functioning of Mala (waste products), cheerful state of Atman (soul), sensory organs and mind are the symptoms of healthy life.
- If "Vata" gets out of balance, for instance, it leads to overactive mind, poor circulation, poor nerve conduction, loss of memory, irregular elimination & uncomfortable menses etc - all things related to movement.
- If "Pitta" is out of balance, we can get excessive digestive fire, resulting in heartburn, excess stomach acid, hot temper & inflammations etc -all things related to heat and digestion.
- If "Kapha" gets out of balance, it can lead to chronic congestion, weight gain, cellulite, cholesterol buildup, acne & oily skin etc - all things related to structure and lubrication.
Herbs in synergistic combination, diet, routine & meditation etc are used to restore balance, to restore proper operation of the various systems & to restore health. Ayurveda does not focus on decreasing symptoms, it focuses on increasing health. Where there is health, there is no room for disease.
Due to foreign invasions in India for hundreds of years, Ayurveda became fragmented and it on its comeback trail from around last 35 years. As a result of growing scientific verification at major research institutions, it is the worlds' fastest growing health care system.
According to Ayurveda, the five elements (fire, earth, water, air & space) in their biological form combine to form these 3 energies in the body. These 3 basic energies are the primary life forces or biological humors, called doshas in Ayurveda - The Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They regulate physical functioning within our body, besides providing us with individual physical characteristics. The constitution of a person is primarily determined by the dominant dosha.
It is such a unique combinations of doshas that no two persons are alike. The determination of constitution gives insight into deeper working, behavior, body type and with this it is possible to know which herbs, diet, medicines and activities will be suitable for a particular individual to maintain his health whole life. It also becomes easier to outline the disease tendencies of the different body types so that a preventive lifestyle may be observed. Accordingly, a person can plan diet and other routine activities affirming to his / her constitution. This individual constitution analysis is an important step to ascertain about types of diseases and to help a lot in maintenance of good health and prevention of diseases.