About Ayurveda
Ayurveda means science or knowledge of life. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "ayur" meaning life and "veda" meaning science or knowledge. Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine originating in India over 5,000 years ago which sees each person as an individual and aims to treat him or her as a whole person, looking not only at physical problems, but also any mental or emotional imbalances that may exist. Ayurveda aims to achieve optimum balance and health by examining the body, mind, emotions, and spirit and suggesting proper diet and daily lifestyle habits that complement each individual. According to Ayurveda there is a strong connection between the mind and body. If there is an imbalance in one system (either physical, emotional, or spiritual) the other systems are also affected. Ayurveda seeks to treat the root causes of disease instead of simply treating the symptoms. By focusing on the root cause of disease Ayurveda believes the symptoms of disease are also alleviated.
More about Ayurveda
The concept of Ayurveda is based on five natural elements (Pancha-Mahabhuta): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, & Ether. Ayurveda believes that these five elements are present in all living and non-living beings in nature. These five elements combine to form three different doshas or constitutions. As the universe is composed of these five elements, so too is each individual formed of these same elements. Each individual is a reflection of the universe at large.
The Tri-Doshic Theory –Three energies
The five elements combine to form three different doshas or energies or constitutions. These doshas are:
Ayurveda treats each individual based on his or her unique prakruti and vikruti. Ayurveda's goal is to bring the vikruti back to the prakruti using various methods. These methods include proper food combinations tailored to a person's prakruti and vikruti imbalance, medicinal herbs, marma therapy, yoga, meditation, pranayama (breathing techniques), aromatherapy, sound and color therapies, and massage, among other therapies. Ayurvedic treatment is customized to each individual rather than the one-size-fits-all approach of modern allopathic medicine. According to Ayurveda each person has the innate ability to heal him- or herself.
Ayurveda is the healing side of Yoga. Likewise, Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga help a person reconnect to their true nature through direct experience to bring a complete approach to the well-being of the body, the mind, and the spirit.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Treatment
To learn more about Ayurveda please see our Links page for further resources.
Ayurveda means science or knowledge of life. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "ayur" meaning life and "veda" meaning science or knowledge. Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine originating in India over 5,000 years ago which sees each person as an individual and aims to treat him or her as a whole person, looking not only at physical problems, but also any mental or emotional imbalances that may exist. Ayurveda aims to achieve optimum balance and health by examining the body, mind, emotions, and spirit and suggesting proper diet and daily lifestyle habits that complement each individual. According to Ayurveda there is a strong connection between the mind and body. If there is an imbalance in one system (either physical, emotional, or spiritual) the other systems are also affected. Ayurveda seeks to treat the root causes of disease instead of simply treating the symptoms. By focusing on the root cause of disease Ayurveda believes the symptoms of disease are also alleviated.
More about Ayurveda
The concept of Ayurveda is based on five natural elements (Pancha-Mahabhuta): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, & Ether. Ayurveda believes that these five elements are present in all living and non-living beings in nature. These five elements combine to form three different doshas or constitutions. As the universe is composed of these five elements, so too is each individual formed of these same elements. Each individual is a reflection of the universe at large.
The Tri-Doshic Theory –Three energies
The five elements combine to form three different doshas or energies or constitutions. These doshas are:
- Vata: a combination of ether and air;
- Pitta: a combination of air, fire, and a little water; and
- Kapha: a combination of water and earth.
Ayurveda treats each individual based on his or her unique prakruti and vikruti. Ayurveda's goal is to bring the vikruti back to the prakruti using various methods. These methods include proper food combinations tailored to a person's prakruti and vikruti imbalance, medicinal herbs, marma therapy, yoga, meditation, pranayama (breathing techniques), aromatherapy, sound and color therapies, and massage, among other therapies. Ayurvedic treatment is customized to each individual rather than the one-size-fits-all approach of modern allopathic medicine. According to Ayurveda each person has the innate ability to heal him- or herself.
Ayurveda is the healing side of Yoga. Likewise, Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga help a person reconnect to their true nature through direct experience to bring a complete approach to the well-being of the body, the mind, and the spirit.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Treatment
- Brings wellness to the body and mind.
- Helps to understand an individual's unique constitution. By following simple dietary and lifestyle guidelines that are unique for our constitution we can maintain our health.
- Natural everyday spices, herbs, plants, seeds, and flowers are used either directly or in a derivative form as medicine. These medicines are readily available and can be used for minor ailments. This limits visits to allopathic doctors to only essential visits. Ayurveda is a combination of preventive healthcare, balancing, and healing.
- There are few to no side effects of Ayurvedic medicine.
- An effective natural treatment to detoxify the body.
- Strengthens body’s natural immunity and helps defend against disease.
- Highly perfected rejuvenation treatments.
- Preventive as well as curative treatments.
- Helps prevents diabetes, hypertension, builds immunity, reduces stress, cleanses the body. Ayurvedic treatments can improve inflammatory, hormonal, digestive, skin, all five senses diseases, and autoimmune conditions.
- Ayurveda is beneficial for cancer patients in initial stages and during cancer treatment to help them go through the cancer treatment smoothly.
- Ayurvedic modalities of therapies can give relief from stress and rejuvenate the body as well as the mind.
- Since Ayurveda is a holistic approach to illness, it offers physical, emotional, and/or spiritual remedies to each individual. Ayurveda also helps in preventing the occurrence of illness or disease.
- Ayurveda is good even for healthy individuals because it restores a person’s natural condition, helps nourish the body, and enhances mental ability. It brings harmony with nature and happiness, and therefore peace to the mind and body.
- It is cost effective when compared to other medicines.
To learn more about Ayurveda please see our Links page for further resources.