Ayurveda
in Sanskrit means "the science of Life". It is an ancient,
unfailing system of treatment based on medicines prepared from herbal plants
found in abundance in India. Ayurveda is an integral part of the people of
India. In the recent years this ancient knowledge system of medicine has
gained global acceptance especially for alternative ways of preventive,
curative and rejuvenative processes making life a more pleasurable
experience.
We can find historical evidence of Ayurveda in the ancient books of wisdom
known as the Vedas. In the Rig Veda, over 60 preparations were mentioned
that could be used to assist an individual in overcoming various ailments.
The Rig Veda was written over 6,000 years ago, but Ayurveda has been around
even longer than that.
Ayurvedic colleges, Hospitals, Health farms & Resorts and Nature cure
Federations provide Ayurvedic treatments and recreational holidays all over
India.
In addition Beauty parlours, at all major hotels, once catered exclusively
to women, now have men's section offering hair cuts and shaves. Today, there
is a comprehensive range of skin and hair treatments for both men and women
- hair massages with herbal oil, herbal face packs, manicures and pedicures.
Herbal cosmetic products, tonics and oils are widely used in India and a
massage with herbal oils after a hectic day of activity is marvelously
relaxing. Many of these are now available in department stores in the West.
We are all part and parcel of nature. Just as the animals and
plants live in harmony with nature and utilize the Laws of Nature to create
health and balance within their beings, we, too, adhere to these very same
principles. In essence Ayurveda has been in existence since the beginning of
time because nature's laws have always governed us. Ayurveda is made up of
two Sanskrit words: Ayu, which means life, and Veda, which means the
knowledge of To know about life, is Ayurveda. However, to fully comprehend
the vast scope of Ayurveda let us first define "Ayu" or life.
According to the ancient Ayurvedic scholar Charaka, "ayu" is
comprised of four essential parts. The combination of mind, body, senses and
the soul.
Mind, Body and Senses
We tend to identify most with our physical bodies; yet, in actuality, there
is more to us than what meets the eye. We can see that underlying our
physical structure is the mind, which not only controls our thought
processes but also helps assist us in carrying out day-to-day activities
such as respiration, circulation, digestion and elimination. The mind and
the body work in conjunction with one another to regulate our physiology. In
order for the mind to act appropriately to assist the physical body, we must
use our senses as information gatherers.
We can think of the mind as a computer and the senses as the data that gets
entered into the computer. Smell and taste are two important senses that aid
in the digestive process. When the mind registers that a particular food is
entering the gastrointestinal tract, it directs the body to act accordingly
by releasing various digestive enzymes. However, if we overindulge the taste
buds with too much of a certain taste, such as sweet, we may find that the
ability of the mind to perceive the sweet taste is impaired; and thereby the
body becomes challenged in its ability to process sweet foods. Maintaining
the clarity of our senses is an essential part in allowing the mind and body
to integrate their functions and help in keeping us healthy and happy
individuals.
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