Let's talk Ayurveda—what is it?

Ayurveda, the Sanskrit word meaning science, or wisdom of life, addresses the uniqueness of each person on a case by case basis in an effort to facilitate protection and health from within. It takes a comprehensive and holistic approach inclusive of spirituality and lifestyle and promotes careful consideration of and harmony with nature—as well as full immersion and engagement of ones senses, you know, taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing and then some!! It teaches that all illness affects both the body and the mind and that illness and treatment of ailments of the mind and body unity are inextricably intertwined. It teaches that human beings are highly complex organisms comprised of matter and antimatter and that a constant interaction and balance between these two is what determines the state of our mental and physical health. A dogma of Ayurveda is that no life function operates independently and that where there is imbalance, illness ensues. Ayurveda also asserts that the body is comprised of universal elements of air, earth, fire, water, and ether. These five elements also comprise the three doshas or bio-energies. These are vata, pitta,  and kapha and their influence is said to affect all mechanisms of the body. In most individuals, a dosha predominates and defines body type and temperament. The basis of treatment in Ayurveda is promoting balance of ones doshas. This balance is promoted via varied practices including lifestyle and dietary modification as well as detoxification therapies.

So, in health, embrace your senses!! Connect with our natural world and your nourishment in each form. In India, they eat with their hands. Go ahead and try it, and remember food is medicine.

Comments

[Annette Tinker]

This was a very informative and useful study. What impressed me the most, being a student in Complementary Alternative Medicine course at Cleveland State University in the Spring of 2011 was the research and the conducting of the study. There are many subjects and alternative therapies that still need to be researched and adopted my the Western Medical community. This study on the elders could very well be an example for all students and researchers to follow when conducting future studies on health and wellness.