Category Archives: What is Ayurveda

What is Ayurveda

Free 4oz Essential & Fragrance Oils

Holistic Healing Methodologies of Ayurveda

Posted on by

Purity is one exemplary attribute of anything on this earth, which when accomplished is bestowed with undying veracity. Purity at home escorts a perfect place of peace to live in; Purity of self ends in an indigenous dwelling source of pure thoughts & actions; Purity at nature escorts a perfect ecosystem and so on. One which attains this purest form of existence will have its presence carved for ages!!! Ayurveda, the purest form of an ancient holistic healing methodology serves as a perfect paradigm to illustrate this fact.

Ayurveda – The perfect striker of balance: Every human being will find himself/herself in the quest to acquire skillful mind, solid physique free from ailments and stress free soul in some part of his/her life. This never ending mission of mankind results in ending up with a wide variety of options, most of which serve to be temporarily fruitful instead of a unrelenting voyage in search of a pure, holistic healing system of medicine. Ayurveda is that one complete approach of therapeutic handling, which focuses on Cure & Prevention with equivalent importance. Ayurvedic healing methodologies include a wide variety of techniques that aim at bringing just the right balance between the human mind, body & spirit.

Holistic Healing approach of Ayurveda: Ayurveda claims that the human body is manifested by the five building blocks of nature, which when convenes with an imbalance due to external forces results in ailments. In Ayurveda, prior to detecting the deformity a perfect study of the individual is done to analyze his/her body type as defined by his/her doshas. Based on this study, the Ayurvedic practitioner proceeds with Panchakarma, which is the process of treating ailments through purification of toxins in the body. This treatment varies with an individual’s unique constitution.

Ayurvedic treatments are provided using Yoga, Aromatherapy, Marma therapy, Nasya therapy, meditation, adherence to a healthy Ayurvedic diet, Abhyanga or Massage therapy with Ayurvedic essential oils that deals with the sensitive points on the body called Marmas. Natural Ayurvedic supplements that encompass intrinsic Ayurvedic oils & herbs play a vital role in treating the patients. All these methodologies of holistic Ayurvedic rejuvenation are used in a well organized manner with respect to the unique attributes of the individuals thus making each one of them distinctively revived with nature. Thus Ayurveda makes itself the most distinct medical methodology when compared to the other existing modern ones.

One more descriptive fact to be shared!!!! Ayurveda is not meant just for those who suffer from ailments; even the healthy individuals can follow an Ayurvedic way of living which includes a healthy diet, holistic meditation, highly beneficial exercise patterns & high end spiritual well being practices to remain fit throughout their lifetime.

I can sense some of your sigh of grief for not practicing this holistic healing approach, as well as some of your sigh of relief for choosing the right mode of treatment well before in hand. Kudos for those who follow this spiritual healing approach in their life and for those who are yet to start incorporating this invaluable essence of nature – ‘No time is a bad time’.

Ayurveda makes you holistic & wholesome when taken whole-heartedly!!!

Thought for the day:

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.  Buddha

Suggested Reading:

  1. Ayurveda and Panchakarma: The Science of Healing and Rejuvenation by Dr. Sunhil, M.D. Joshi
  2. Panchakarma (The Five Cleansing Therapies) of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Medicine By C. Scott Ryan
  3. Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation (Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times) by Har Sharnjit Singh Puri

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurvedic Healing Methods-Panchakarma by Liane Angerman
  2. Ayurvedic Healing Methods by KarunaShala
  3. Rasayana: Rejuvenation by Ayurvedic Healing

What is Ayurveda? All You Need To Know About Ayurveda

Posted on by

What is Ayurveda? There are thousands of definitions to this ancient science and even if you are confused and thinking ‘Why am I focusing on this historical healing methodology, when the world is going digital and moving at a rapid pace while leaving its impact in every passing micro second?’ There are plenty of historical books, modern writings, journals, publishing; research studies and millions of websites that compete with each other in explaining Ayurveda and its impact on mankind. Most of the books and websites forget about one essential factor that ‘Not all of us knew Sanskrit’. Yes! The ancient Ayurvedic texts have originally been written in Sanskrit and have its roots deeply vested with the Indian mythology. Let’s explore what Ayurveda is actually about and why this age-old healing practice has gained so much of importance in the west in recent times?

The ancient wisdom of healing:

Ayurveda is the primordial system of treating human illness and aims at absolute human wellness. Think, if something is not working as it is said or is just an eye wash, can it survive even for a year? Decisively a big NO! Right???? Then think of Ayurveda in these terms. This spiritual science of healing has been in existence for a huge number of 5000 successful years. Yes! This is the power that makes me blindly trust that Ayurveda is the real knowledge of life meant to live a hale, hearty and a meaningful life in the pink. It is considered as an integral part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Why is it called as a holistic treatment?

When someone says holistic, they mean everything. Since Ayurveda has realistic remedies for all kinds of human illnesses, it is rightly known as the holistic remedy and the mother of all healing sciences. It respects human beings as individuals and not just as a mere assembly of organs with a soul in it. Ayurveda understands the individual constitution by means of the unique combination of the five essential elements of life, namely earth, water, air, space and fire. This helps in knowing what is good for our individual body type ranging from your food to your daily exercises.

With this thorough understanding, Ayurvedic treatment has a strong reason to justify that a particular disease has resulted due to your discord with nature. Ayurveda never stops with just treating your physical illness but looks beyond it and treats you psychologically, emotionally and spiritually to breathe the air of liberal health. Dr. Vasant Lad, the celebrated Ayurvedic Physician rightly said in his ‘Textbook of Ayurveda’ that ‘Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the organ or system involved’.

What does Ayurveda actually do to you?

You will be astounded to know that Ayurveda acts as a relationship bridge between Mother Nature and its children, none other than human beings. Many a times when adverse health effects hit us, this realistic science helps us realize that we or our habits have moved away from the natural rhythm. With its natural medications like herbs, Ayurvedic essential oils, surgical treatments and other comprehensive branches of Ayurvedic treatment along with Ayurvedic massage therapy, meditation, good eating habits, yoga, doable physical exercises and an energizing Ayurvedic routine, Ayurveda supports you in reconnecting with nature, which means it guides you to a healthy state of living.

Not just an aid for treatment but a ubiquitous lead for betterment:

Ayurveda can be called as an all-in-one or a one-best-solution for all your health concerns throughout the journey of your life from your first stay in your mother’s womb till the end of your life. It is not like your contemporary treatment that gives you an injection and prescribes antibiotics to treat your fever and wait till these medications fight against the harmful organisms or recall you for a second visit to treat the illness. Whereas an Ayurvedic therapy doesn’t stop with treating your sickness but helps you lead a better life with a healthy lifestyle.

Ayurveda is indeed a positive energy and practicing this in our daily lives aid us in leading a harmonious life with our near and dear ones. It has the power to revitalize your life by inculcating spiritual, humane and peaceful values that can change your way of living completely and mold your personality to a greater extent. This is the authentic reason behind its growing importance in the West, where life is often mechanical.

Thought for the day:

Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open. -B.K.S. Iyengar

Suggested Reading:

  1. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles by Vasant Lad
  2. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice by Sebastian Pole
  3. Ayurveda: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional Indian Medicine for the West by Frank John, M.D. Ninivaggi

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda by Wikipedia
  2. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention and Longevity
  3. Ayurveda Overview by University of Maryland Medical Center

Ayurvedic Body Types: Determining The Real ‘YOU’

Posted on by

Ayurveda is an interesting science of life guiding us to learn more about ourselves. It throws light into our unique system and aids us in exploring who we are, what suits us the best and how to live a holistic and comprehensive life?

Ayurveda trusts that the entire Universe inclusive of the human body is made up of 5 predominant elements known as Devanagari, popularly known as ‘Panch Booth’, where Panch indicates 5 and Booth stands for the chief elements of the universe namely:

  1. Water called as Jala
  2. Earth called as Prthvi
  3. Air known as Vayu
  4. Sky called as Akasa
  5. Fire known as Agni

According to Ayurveda the human body constitutes of 7 primary elements known as ‘Saptadhatu’ and they are:

  1. Rasa dhatu defines Plasma or Chyle
  2. Rakta dhatu indicates Blood
  3. Mamsa dhatu means Flesh
  4. Medha dhatu stands for Fat
  5. Asthi dhatu means Bone
  6. Majja dhatu stands for Marrow
  7. Sukra dhatu denotes female reproductive tissue or semen

Based upon these elements and its constituents, human body is classified and expressed as the equilibrium of 3 fundamental energies (Dosha) also known as humors or principles of mind and body. Ayurveda uses the 5 primary elements of the Universe to define human body types as a combination of these five elements namely air, water, fire, ether and earth in different proportions within the humors. The Ayurvedic science says that every individual is made up of a unique combination of 3 body and mind principles, creating our explicit physical and mental personality. The 3 major Doshas are:

Vata Dosha: Vata Dosha is a representative of wind and is a combination of air and space (ether) where air dominates. It can be called as the controlling authority of the power vested with our body and it directs the other two doshas. This humor regulates the circulation, function of the nervous system, and the movements of our body along with emotional and bodily development.

Predominant characteristics: When an individual has a chief composition of Vata, he/she will look lean, act faster and stay flexible while being creative, conversational, visionary, artistic and fervent with full of energy. Imbalance of this energy can cause loss of memory, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, fear, dry skin, bloating and few other digestive disorders like indigestion, intestinal gas and constipation.

Pitta Dosha: Pitta Dosha is a blend of fire and water and it signifies bile. With fire being the superior element, Pitta is responsible for all kinds of corporeal actions concerning heat like digestion, creation of energy with the help of hormones and takes care of metabolism, body temperature and absorption.

Predominant characteristics: A proper balance of Pitta upholds intelligence, confidence, competitiveness, glowing complexion and leadership capabilities with a sizzling temper. Pitta disparity can cause jealously, anger, annoyance, disgust and other bodily problems like ulcer, high blood pressure, skin irritation, heartburn and soreness.

Kapha Dosha: With water as the overriding element, Kapha or phlegm is an arrangement of water and earth responsible for connecting bones, tissues, muscles and tendons. It is wholly in charge for the structure of the body by supplying fluid strength to all parts of the body while maintaining consistency, stability, solidity, skin health and proper lubrication of joints.

Predominant characteristics: Kapha balance aids in exhibiting tranquil, trustworthy, lovable and compassionate personalities, generally with hefty body structure. The unevenness of this type will lead to obesity, congestion, lethargic attitude and slow digestion.

Ayurvedic discipline states that the human body is said to be healthy when it strikes a balance between these 3 energy elements and when there is discrepancy, the body tends to become unwholesome and turns detrimental.

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda by Wikipedia
  2. Ayurvedic Body Type: Find Your Dosha by The Dr.OZ Show
  3. Ayurvedic Principles For Mind-Body Balance by Ayurvedic Talk