What is Ayurveda?

How to Understand Ayurveda: A Beginner's Guide

Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical sciences used to treat various diseases. It originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is alternatively known as the Mother of All Healing.

It was scripted in ancient Vedic Culture and taught for thousands of years in the oral tradition. Many natural healing systems in the West, including polarity therapy and homoeopathy, have their roots in Ayurveda.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda got its name from two Sanskrit words: Ayuh, meaning life, and Veda, meaning science or sacred knowledge. The definition of Ayurveda roughly translates as the science of longevity or the sacred knowledge of life.

Ayurveda is a holistic tradition and way of life that can help us celebrate our capacity for well-being. It helps us in the following ways:

• Synchronising with our true inner self.
• Developing and honing our strengths.
• Sharpens to tackle our challenging areas.
• Helps in redirecting detrimental tendencies.
• Maintaining balance in the face of adversity.

What is the Basic Principle of Ayurveda?

Ayurveda has a certain principle and works on three prime important foundation tools. These tools are as follows:

• Interpretation of the law of nature.
• Identification of the various states of health or imbalance.
• Framing a course towards overall well-being and health improvement.

If you carefully examine these three prime principles, you can illustrate why Ayurveda is a timeless science and art.

What are the Five Elements of Ayurveda?

According to Ayurveda, the whole universe comprises five elements, also known as Panchabhuta. These five elements are the building blocks of nature, which include:

• Prithvi (Earth)
• Vayu (Air)
• Teja (Fire)
• Jala (Water)
• Akasha (Ether)

Every matter of the universe consists of these five elements. Some of these elements are more predominant than others.

What are the Three Doshas in Ayurveda?

These are the three Doshas in Ayurveda:

1. Vata Dosha : It is one of the most powerful of all three doshas in the field of Ayurveda. It controls the body’s cell division and controls all the vital physiological functions. If any individual’s vatsa dosha is dominant, they may be creative, smart, and vibrant and experience frequent mood changes. They can meditate, massage, and keep a regular sleep and wake schedule to balance out excessive vata.       
2. Pitta Dosha : This dosha controls the digestion and metabolic functions linked to your appetite. Eating spicy foods, missing meals, and spending excessive time under the sun can disrupt the pitta dosha. Individuals with this dosha dominant may be natural leaders, goal-oriented, or competitive. Conversely, if anyone has pitta as the main dosha, they may suffer from conditions like Crohn’s disease, high blood pressure, and indigestion.  
3. Kapha Dosha It controls the body's strength, stability, immunity, muscle growth, and weight. Daytime naps and eating sweet foods can disrupt the Kapha dosha. Someone with Kapha as the main dosha may like to have expectations, maintain a routine, and be calm and patient. They tend to put on weight due to their body structure and intense muscle growth.

What are the Branches of Ayurveda?   

Let us discuss the different branches of Ayurveda:

• Vishagara Vairodh Tantra (Toxicology)
• Shalakya Tantra (E.N.T)
• Kaumar Bhritya (Paediatrics)
• Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)
• Shalya Tantra (Medicine)
• Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
• Vajikarana (Aphrodisiacs)
• Rasayana (Rejuvenation)

Different scholars like Shushrut, Charak Acharya, and Vagbhata used these branches to treat diseases during the Vedic age.