What is Ayurvedic Medicine?
Ayurveda (a-yur-ve-da), which means “the science of life”, is an ancient philosophy that is based on a 5,000 year-old system of natural healing stemming from the Vedic culture of India. The idea of Ayurveda is achieving ideal health when your mind and body are in harmony with the universe. When this occurs, the body is in balance and able to better heal itself. Ayurveda addresses the body’s imbalances allowing natural healing of the whole person (mind, body and soul). The more modern form of Ayurveda practiced is called Maharishi Ayurveda, based on the idea that “consciousness” is the basis of health and life. Ayurveda helps to understand one’s self and explain how internal and external factors affect them and create certain ailments.
Ayurveda is a safe and effective way to heal one’s self in a more natural way. There is growing scientific research supporting the effectiveness of ayurvedic treatments. Rather then looking at each body system individually, Ayurveda looks at the body as one whole system and focuses on three basic functions that are essential for life:
- Movement
- Transformation
- Stucture
These basic functions at a cellular and organic level are made up of the five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. These five elements are composed into three governing mind-body types called Doshas, which are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.