What is Ayurveda? Like yoga and meditation, Ayurveda, ''the science of life'', is also an invaluable gift of the ancient sages of India to mankind. It is one of the oldest scientific medical systems in the world with a long record of clinical experience to validate it. It not only deals with the treatment of disease, but also teaches us how to maintain and protect health and promote longevity. It is a truly holistic and integral medical system and surpasses all modern healthcare systems in its range of therapeutic modalities.
It's Philosophy of Healthcare The five basic elements, space, air, fire, water and earth (called Panchamahabhutas) are the ultimate physical constituents of the physical worlds as well as of the human body. Hence man''s oneness with the universe and harmony with nature is the basis of his healthcare. Originating from the five elements, the three bio-energies corresponding to the active elements of Air (Vata), Fire (Pitta) and Water (Kapha) are the ultimate all-pervasive metabolic principles governing the psychosomatic structure and processes of growth and decay of all organisms. Keeping them in balance is the key to health. No two individuals have identical combination of the 3 bio-energies or identical constitution, therefore what is wholesome in terms of diet, lifestyle and medication would vary from individual to individual. Life means a combination of body, sense organs, mind and soul and their healthy harmonious functioning is ''true health''. For true health Ayurveda insists on holistic healthcare. Key Principles of Ayurvedic System of Healthcare Holistic healthcare involves
a) maintaining good health by observing the prescribed rules of healthy living, dietetics and moral conduct.
b) regular use of rejuvenate therapy to promote health and to improve immunity against disease.
The key principles of therapy are: avoiding the cause; making sure it is contrary to etiology; treating the whole person; treating any disorder while it is still in its infancy; making sure pacifying one disorder does not trigger another one and ensuring against their recurrence by elimination rather than suppression. Generic concomitance is the cause of augmentation of all beings/things; the variant factor of their diminution, therefore any metabolic disorder could theoretically be restored through rational and targeted used of natural substances. Prayer to Lord Dhanvantari I bow down to the lotus feet of Dhanvantari, the foremost celestial being whose feet are prostrated by both gods and non-gods.
The destroyer, in the world, of old age, illness, fear and death, master and giver of various herbal medicines, curer of all diseases.
I bow down to the founder of Ayurveda - the nectar of immortality.