What is Ayurveda?

    Ayurveda is a 5000-year-old art of treating various diseases and conditions that originated in India. Traditionally, the word Ayurveda means the science of life. Ayur means life, Veda means science or knowledge.
  • 'Ayur' meaning Life
  • 'Veda' meaning Science of Knowledge
So what does this ancient art of healing do to your body? Well, this ancient art of healing helps your body to stay vital by making the person realise their full body potential. More than being an ancient art of healing, this art professes that our health is in balance with the environment, body, spirit and mind. These 4 factors draw the basis of Ayurvedic medicine.


Interesting Facts About Ayurveda

Ayurveda has more than just healing, in fact, it ensures that you live a healthy lifestyle. This system is a far more superior form of medicine that provides treatments for a number of various ailments that is usually not found in other forms of medicine. Before getting an Ayurvedic treatment, here are some interesting facts that you need to know about this ancient art of medicine and healing.

  • If you believe that Ayurveda is all about medicinal herbs, then you could be wrong. This art involves the use of butter, honey, rock salts, milk and ghee as its components in its healing process.
  • This form of medicine has many specialties such as Shalya-chikitsa (Surgery), Kaayachikitsa (Internal Medicine), Bhutavidya (Psychiatry), Shalakya (Disease located above the shoulder), Kaumarabhrutyam (Paediatrics), Rasayanam (Rejuvenation) and Agadatantram (Toxicology).
  • The effects of Ayurveda on the human body is extreme and can give you long time relief. This is because this practice believes that the body is made up of 5 elements such as water, air, water, earth and fire all of which plays an important role in the way your body functions.
  • Ayurveda is said to cure the cause of the problem more than the fighting its symptoms. This means that an Ayurvedic doctor will concentrate on the root of the problem more than paying attention to the symptoms.

What is an Ayurvedic Diet?

An Ayurvedic diet involves consuming a healthy diet consisting of when you have to eat, what to eat and how to eat in order to boost your health. This diet will help you multiple ways such as weight loss, reduces inflammation, stabilising diabetes etc. All you need to do is to consult an Ayurvedic doctor, and he/she will put you on a fixed healthy diet.

Is Ayurveda recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO)?

Ayurveda is recognised by the UNO as a traditional system of medicines. Moreover, the organisation adopted the definition of the term from some of its teachings. India has also signed an agreement with the WHO for promoting this traditional medicine. These traditional medicines include Ayurveda, Unani and Yoga. Ayurveda existed way before western medicine was even thought about. This art was suppressed by foreign invaders coming into the country for their own selfish motives. Moreover, the introduction of modern medicine had buried this art. In the process, it lost it's very meaning and existence as western medicine was treated to be a safer and faster way that could heal a person. Currently, modern medical practitioners are understanding the value of this ancient art of healing and trying to build the link between Ayurveda and modern science. With more research on Ayurveda, there will be new advancements in medicine that can benefit people in a much faster way.


Ayurveda Medical Benefits

Ayurveda is categorised into three different types of life forces (Doshas) namely Vata dosha, Pitta dosha, Kapha dosha. So what are these dosha's and what do they have to do with the human body? Well, it is believed that every human has any one of the above dosha's or life energy. Moreover, an Ayurvedic doctor will first identify which dosha you belong to and then decides upon the treatment you should go through. Here are some health benefits that this ancient healing art provides:

Stress Buster
Yoga and Ayurveda are inter-linked with each other in Vedic Knowledge. Thus, it is important to understand both roles of Ayurveda and Yoga together. Vedic knowledge was designed to show the inner workings of the universe in relation to our consciousness. There are many Ayurvedic methods to release stress namely:
  • Dinacharya: This refers to waking up early before the sun rises. This practice is said to give you peace of mind.
  • Meditation: This will help you stay relaxed and reduces stress hormones.
  • Drink Green Tea: This has stress properties such as L-theanine that keeps you calm and reduces anxiety.
Ayurveda helps you reduce weight without affecting your physical and emotional stability. An Ayurvedic doctor will prescribe a healthy diet plan that will aid in weight loss. The diet plan will benefit you in many ways such as:
  • Detoxify your body
  • Removal of excessive fat from tissues
  • Skin purification and toning
  • Removes body odour
  • Regulates blood circulation
  • Reduces cholesterol
Ayurveda helps balance hormones which result in health menstrual cycle and pregnancy-related issues. Ayurvedic treatment for regulating menstrual cycle involves detoxification of your body, getting enough rest, regular exercising and Abhyanga (Starting the day with full body massage). In order to get a suitable medication for an irregular menstrual cycle, it is recommended that you consult an Ayurvedic doctor.
Inflammation is usually caused due to poor diet and lack of sleep. Ayurveda consists of herbal treatments that are used for controlling excessive inflammation. Some of these herbs include turmeric, ashwagandha, boswellia and ginger that are combined with each other to reduce inflammation. Boswellia is usually recommended for people suffering from acute back pain, arthritis and bowel disease. On the same lines, turmeric is used as a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation. Ashwagandha is recommended for the purpose of rejuvenation. Rejuvenation helps keep your mind strong and healthy thinking will keep you away from developing health issues.
Ayurveda cleanses your mind, body and soul. A vital Ayurvedic treatment called 'Panchakarma' is used to get rid of toxins that interfere with the normal functioning of your body. Also, a full body massage will rejuvenate your body and keep you functioning normally. In order to get the right Ayurvedic treatment, you will have to consult an Ayurvedic doctor, and he/she will put you on a natural diet that is specific for the condition or illness you are dealing with.
Having a healthy diet, sunbathing, and having a breathing exercise will help you avoid the risk of developing any disease. Prevention is the first and most important step that is followed in Ayurveda. There are two goals in Ayurveda i.e. to look at the disease from where it arose and secondly finding a natural way of curing the disease. Ayurvedic treatment will reduce your risk of diseases because it concentrates on preventive measures rather than curing the disease. While modern medicine has X-rays to detect a disease in its later stage, Ayurvedic medicine detects a disease even before you could get it and provides preventive measures to curb it.
Ayurveda is an ancient medicine focuses on the individual rather than the disease itself. In Ayurvedic treatments, all that matters is the root of the disease and using preventive measures to curb it from affecting your body. Moreover, it helps the body both internally and externally. The different medicinal herbs used in this ancient art are turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, saffron and Tulsi (Holy Basil). These herbs have inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can prevent you from diseases or illnesses.
If you are looking for healthy and radiant skin, then here is how you can make use of Ayurveda and get it done naturally. All you need to do is to consume a lot of leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach and cucumber that is easy to digest and aids in glowing skin. Leafy greens have purifying properties that can make your skin look young and bright. It is also recommended that you consume a lot of nuts and seeds because they contain Omega-3 healthy fatty acids that can make your skin look vibrant and also reduces inflammation.
Bloating is usually the aftermath of eating too much and disturbances in bowel movements. It is usually caused due to excessive production of gas that can cause severe pain, feeling stuffed and discomfort. Ayurveda can manage bloating and aid in good digestion. Ayurvedic herbs, spices and roots such as cardamom, ginger and cumin can cure indigestion in the body. All you need to do is to simply chew cumin along with some ginger and this will aid in digestion.