Ayurveda
Optimizing functions of the body
Ayurvedic system of medicine and its role in healthcare
Ayurveda is the traditional Indian system of medicine that focuses not only on curing the diseases but also for prevention of other illnesses.
Ayurveda, is often looked at as a way of optimizing the functioning of the body. By assisting in the healing of many conditions as well as extending life. The knowledge of Ayurveda has its roots in the Vedas, the sacred texts of India from which many spiritual philosophies and religions have sprung. These include Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Yoga and others. It is a science not only of the physical body, but it goes beyond into the understanding of consciousness itself.
Ayurveda sees disharmony as the sole cause of disease. Healing takes place through a harmonious relationship with our environment.
Ayurveda prescribes many regimens to bring about harmony or sattva in our lives. These regimens are numerous and to the beginner can seem overwhelming to perform. Examples of such regiments include eating slowly in a peaceful environment, using proper aroma and color therapy, going to bed early, awakening with the sun or earlier, applying oil to the body, meditating, doing yoga, and many more.
Ayurveda is based on the idea that each person has a fundamental balance of energies in their body which make up their particular constitution, with each person's constitution being uniquely their own. Determined at the moment of conception, an individual's constitution determines what is in harmony and what is out of harmony for each person. If a person exposes themselves to environmental influences (sound, color, aroma, and food) that are not harmonious with their fundamental nature, disease will result! As a person reestablishes a harmonious lifestyle, people heal and diseases no longer express themselves. Ayurveda understands that symptoms are only the body's way of communicating disharmony. When an area of disharmony is corrected, the symptoms disappear.
By contrast, the Western method of drug treatment defines cure as the alleviation of symptoms. This is most often accomplished by providing patients drugs that cover up symptoms. This method essentially silences the body's voice. With the voice (symptom) silenced, a person is able to continue a disharmonious lifestyle. However, the body's voice cannot be silenced forever. Eventually, either the symptoms return or new symptoms emerge-often more severe than the original.
There are many holistic health traditions and each has its own idea about the cause and correction of disease. Ayurveda is unique in that it begins with an understanding of a person physically, emotionally and spiritually. In this way, Ayurveda is truly holistic, accounting for the whole individual. Most alternative health care systems only address either the physical body or the mind-body connection.
Mind
Body
Soul
Ayurveda's body-mind-spirit approach is capturing the hearts of people throughout the Western world who realize that we are indeed individuals at each and every level. One of Ayurveda's basic tenants is that nothing is right for everyone and everything is right for someone. This principle teaches that all disciplines and therapies have value. Ayurveda is a science of understanding what will work best for a specific person. It is not a dogmatic science stating that everybody must live one way or take one path toward healing. Ayurveda is defined as the "science of life". Hence, it encompasses everything that affects one's life. Ayurveda is a path of finding out what has value for an individual. Some people thrive on spicy foods while others get indigestion. Some people need more sleep than others do. Through Ayurveda, people learn what foods, herbs, colors, aromas and sounds are best for them.
Ayurveda heals
In today's modern world, stress is the number one cause of disease and unhappiness. Ayurveda's basic principle is that where there is harmony, there is health. Where there is disharmony there is disease. Ayurveda is the path of returning to harmony. This concept of harmony means living in harmony with one's environment through each of the five senses. This way of life is stress free. And, by reducing stress on the system, Ayurveda heals. Ayurveda focuses on natural, holistic therapies that create an optimum environment in the body for healing to take place. By maximizing the body's healing potential, the body has the best possible chance of healing itself. Ayurveda utilizes dietary, herbal, aroma, color, sound and massage therapies as well as yoga and meditation to bring about healing.
Today's Ayurvedic practitioners are well trained in each of these areas allowing them to work with nature to correct imbalances within the body. In the Western world today, Ayurveda is growing into a complete health care profession that is based on timeless natural laws of health and healing. The Ayurvedic profession, though relatively new in America, is growing rapidly. Demand for Ayurvedic practitioners is also growing rapidly.