“the essence of all beings is Earth. The essence of the Earth is Water. The essence of Water is plants. The essence of plants is the human being.”
“Esam bhutanam prthivi rasha, prthivya apo raso-pam osadhayo rasa, osad-hinam puruso rasah.”
Chandogya Upanishad- Vedas
Ayurveda, the oldest system of healing emphazies on practising healthy lifestyle habits.
Ayur means life and Veda means science, so it is the science of living.
Well, how do we lead our life?
How do we eat, drink, exercise, spend our time? It is very important to make healthy choices to enjoy a healthy life. Respect your own potential to heal and to be whole, such respect is the essence of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda treatment begins with lifestyle recommendations to increase energy and promote longevity. Ayurveda recommends complete and comprehensive health regimens from birth to old age.
When treating conditions, Ayurveda uses all healing susbtances that nature provides us, a special energetic language in which we can understand their language.
The ayurvedic science of healing or AYURVEDIC PHARMACOLOGY is called in sanskrit, Dravyaguna Shastra, or the science of susbstance and quality. It deals with all aspects of herbal and mineral medicines such as identification, usage, dosage and methods of processing.
Ayurveda prescribes herbs based on the law of uniformity in NATURE. According to this law, healing substances and living bodies are similar in composition, both being products of the cosmic forces. Our body is made of the 5 elements, that is, space, air, fire, water and earth and like wise these herbs are made with the 5 elements too. These 5 elements are known as PANCHMAHABHUTAS.
Herbs influence the body according to their nature and attributes. Substances of opposite attributes serve to correct conditions of imbalance. This is the main approach used in Ayurvedic healing.
IMMUNITY
Immunity is the power of the body to prevent the development of a disease or to resist a disease that has already started. All people do not have the same resistance to disease as we can easily observe by how different people respond to contagious diseases. Several bodily conditions reduce immunity . Persons who are too heavey, flaccid, or fat generally have weak immune system. Conversely, those who are too thin, whose blood, bones and muscles are not well developed , who take an unbalanced diet or who are weak or nervouse have a lower power to resist. Individiuals with good opposite qualities -who have a normal body weight, good digestion and emotional stability – are able to resist disease. AYURVEDA believes that if the body is kept healthy and its strength maintained properly, there is little chance of falling ill even to very contagious diseases. In Ayurveda, strenght of the body has two main aspects:
Physical stength and the other is , Resistance to disease
Good quality tissues like plasma, blood and reproductive tissue – sufficient Kapha and good Ojas (vital energy) maintain strength and the natural resistance of the body. These are similar to the factors that promote longevity, because achieving longevity depends upon a strong immune system.
Resistance to disease is classified under three main types:
Genetic or inborn, exists from birth,
temporal -under the influce of time, such as seasonal change and the person’s age
Developed – Produced by right action in life, like appropriate food, rest, control of sexual energy, and use rejuvenative therapy.
For prevention of disease, Ayurveda stresses maintaining the natural defense mechanisms of the body by observing the appropriate Ayurvedic health regimens. The doshas are always in a state of flux or shifting equilibrium. They must be adjusted to ever changing environmental conditions as these factors may initiate the disease process. For maintenance of optimal health, even transient disturbances should not go unnoticed. If a person follows the prescribed life regimen as described, he can attain full longevity and remain healthy throughout life. Ayurveda advises three important regimens for this purpose
DAILY REGIMEN, SEASONAL REGIMEN AND ETHICAL REGIMEN
DAILY REGIMEN
COVERS CARE OF TEETH, TONGUE,MOUTH, FACE, EYES,NOSE, EXERCISE,BATHING, OIL MASSAGE,
SEASONAL REGIMEN
Weather changes during the transition of seasons affect the health of all living beings. Some of these changes, such as from winter to spring, are generally beneficial while others such as autumn to winter are detrimental. In order to achieve the maximum benefits from the good qualities of the atmosphere and protection from its bad effects, Ayurveda prescribes certain rules in regard to diet, behaviour and medicines called seasonal regimen or RITUCHARYA.
All activities in the universe are governed by the two energy principles of heat and cold. Based on this concept, the year is divided into two parts, ACCUMULATION AND RELEASE.
In accumulation period, nature takes aways energy and strength from all living beings by increasing heat and dryness. During the release period, NATURE gives energy and strength beack to living beings through increasing moisture and coolness.
Climatic change in the environment is a stimulus for all living beings. To compensate for this stimuls, a modification in the response pattern is essential.
In the hot season, or summer we should cook cooling fo, herb, and lifestyle. Fruit juices, salads and walking during the evening. In the cold season, or winter, we should resort to warming food (food with heating properties, not based on temperature) warming herbs and lifestyle . Cooked grains, root vegetables, spices, and aerobic or vigorous work outs.
In the dry season, mainly autumn, we should take moistening foods like dairy products, tonic herbs and oil massages.
In the wet season, usually spring, we should take more drying food like breads, spices and enjoy the sauna
